#briala-x-celene

[riddleredcoats]

Was looking for something I once said on another hellsite, unrelated to this lmao, and came across someone saying how Briala and Celene's relationship is toxic (sure, I can see that) and how Celene has so much control over Briala and that's the issue of their relationship when.... no. No.

That ain't it.

Celene and Briala, for all their issues and there are many, in the way Weekes writes their relationship is far more balanced than people give it credit for.

To the point that when it isn't balanced, it jars.

(More under the cut if you're interested.)

To get this out of the way; yes, Celene has more power than Briala. That is a fact we can't deny and even if you reunite them, while the power disparity does lessen, it doesn't go away. Celene is, by virtue of her position, always going to be more (politically) powerful than pretty almost everyone else in universe.

However, the way Weekes turns this on its head is by having Briala have more agency.

It is Briala that comes back to Celene out of her own volition every single time. She comes back to Celene after Celene sends her away when they were young. She comes and goes to Celene's bedroom at her own pleasure. She spies for Celene because she wants to - and enjoys it. Briala is the one that rekindles their reconciliations in the novel; after Halamshiral Celene doesn't even try to talk to Briala about what happened, respecting Briala's imposed distance, and only when Briala opens the door does Celene enter the conversation. It's even Briala who comes back to Court - after having rejected The Game and Orlais - with the intent of, at least, returning to Celene's side during the war: they- Well, Briala really, was already planning to work with Celene.

It is always, always Briala.

This isn't because Celene loves Briala less - it isn't, because we can see she's much more emotionally compromised than Briala due to her reliance on Briala to function like a normal human being. It is merely because Briala has the space to act towards Celene as she wishes, more or less.

The one time in the novel Celene does try to use her power to control Briala - having her arrested, so she could spend a few lavish years in prison... which yes, it is fucked, but even that panic-driven decision-making is shown to be a testament to Celene's emotional vulnerability, not necessarily her desire to dominate - it goes horribly wrong.

It - they - don't work when the relationship is THAT unbalanced and they have been working together for 15 years. That moment showed how their relationship falters when it becomes too unbalanced.

Celene and Briala aren't unconscious of the power difference. They work around it.

Especially, Celene.

She constantly says she does understand if Briala wants to leave her, she reassures Briala over and over that leaving her won't have repercussions to Briala's most dear cause. Celene's brain is always so aware of it that she always tries to give Briala the space she needs if she wants to leave. I will take joy in my love finding her people, even as my breast aches with every heartbeat I live without you. Those aren't just words, that is how the relationship works. Which is why Celene's most consistent and ardent belief - when she's being a rational human being and not the Empress of Orlais terrified for the fate of her country - is that Briala needs to be free to act as however she wills.

It's why those are the last words they say to each other.

It's why them getting back together - or the possibility of it - was almost a forgone conclusion.

Ultimately, Briala’s autonomy within the relationship is one of it's defining characteristics. She may not have the political power of an Empress, but she holds the agency to act - which is why always needed to get those Eluvians; she's the only one who CAN use them, but that's another conversation. While Celene, for all her power, respects Briala’s independence and choices, and is often hamstrung by her lack of freedom in choosing what she can do - something she pointed out in the novel as well, even though its often misinterpreted.

TLDR: This relationship is not defined by Celene’s control over Briala, but rather one shaped by Briala’s autonomy, Celene's understanding, and their shared emotional connection.

[linka-from-captain-planet]

Briala and Celene - The Lovers, in their adventuring gear because I didn’t want to draw dresses

[nandivina]

Morally gray lesbians with knives?! Yes please

[thecrownedmage]

THE GRAND MASQUERADE

[anneapocalypse]

On the one hand it's definitely a bummer to think of all the decisions we won't get to see little follow-ups on in Veilguard; on the other hand if they never tell me the consequences of Briala and Celene's reconciliation then my interpretation cannot be wrong. 😎

[ayaarts]

just finished wicked eyes and wicked hearts and the dance at the end is so rewarding like YES they do deserve that dance after being so stressed

[redlyriumidol]

Marquise Briala and I wish to convey our fondest wishes to the Inquisitor and all the Inquisition. Although I hope to pay a state visit to Skyhold in the near future, I fear the work of restoring what Gaspard has damaged requires too much of my time at present. My dear marquise has, however, found a suitable means of showing our appreciation.

so cute i love toxic yuri

[celemee]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Anora Mac Tir/Celene Valmont Characters: Anora Mac Tir, Celene Valmont, Briala (Dragon Age), A bunch of OCs Additional Tags: Previous Briala/Celene, Background Briala/Celene, What if everyone was awful, in their own special way?, Don’t look at the timeline because it’s drunk and doesn’t know when it is set, ‘Get out of jail free’ Orlesian murder coins., Assassination attempt., Fereldan Orlesian tensions, Celene lies, Briala calls Celene out, Anora is on the struggle boat, Mentions of Previous Anora/Cailan, So Anora does technically do a murder, but it's not graphic Series: Part 3 of Rituals!Verse - Ciriane Inspirations Summary:

“The King has only appointed two elves, to minor nobility.” The voice of the Empress snapped back, curt and sharp as a drawn dagger.

“By my count that is still two more than you.” The unfamiliar woman’s voice replied, matching Celene’s vicious snarl.

Anora had not expected to find herself eavesdropping on the conversation behind a heavy velveteen curtain in the Grande Royeaux Theatre. Of course, she’d begrudgingly made her peace with that gut-wrenching twist of fate that had landed her in Val Royeaux. It was specifically the curtain that she had not expected.

***

Where Anora finally meets Briala.

----

FIC REC FIC REC FIC REC!

Check out this amazing, multilayered story and series where an exiled Anora finds sanctuary in Orlais. There’s a ton of worldbuilding that leaves the story feeling rich; everything has its background, everything has purpose. The characters have complicated dynamics that are food for my soul. They leave me guessing as to what their true motives are. All in all, this series is an intriguing read; each update stays with me for days.

By the brilliant @hezjena!

[a-soul-with-no-king]

me after one (1) evening in halamshiral

i'm so happy i found this because honestly you can't find anything in this godforsaken country

i'm obsessed with orlais

i didn't expect to find my wife leliana in the first 4 pages havshsnsbwj

leliana<3

[i-am-fire-and-rebirth]

Celene x Briala

Solas x Lana Lavellan

Isabella x Beatrice Hawke

Liliana x Neira Surana

[aymayzing]

Fate of Southern Thedas Rant

Okay, so

All in all, I enjoyed Veilguard. I have some gripes with the game and I can already point to a few things and go "yeah, I don't care what the game says. I am discarding that and filling it in with some headcanons" which happens with literally every Dragon Age game.

BUT

The main thing I dislike is what the game present as happening in the South of Thedas.

I've spent three games saving the South, piece by piece, I cannot accept it falling now, in a game that doesn't care about these parts of Thedas, so much so that it's only really acknowledged in codex entries.

I say - if for some reason the devs want Veilguard to be separted from the other three games, then give us LESS infromation about the South. I don't need letters telling me that the places I've saved once are now lost and therefore it didn't really matter. Tell me that the South is fighting its own battle and leave it there.

In a perfect world, however, here is where we'd have an acknowledgement of previous games.

Mention that mages in their new orgnization have been supporting the fight. Or that the rebuilt Templar order is leading the charge somewhere. If the Inquisitor encouraged Cassandra to rebuild Seekers new and better, mention that they're a great help with fighting demons. Bring up the conclusion of Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts. If a truce was forced upon Celene, Briala and Gaspard, say that they're using the chaos to fight for power. Or that Gaspard, as a soldier, has been great at protecting Orlais. What about the decision regarding the Wardens? Say it sucks there aren't Grey Wardens in the South or how fortunate that they're here.

Mention HoF. If they're alive, they're protecting Denerim. If they allied with the Architect, say there's darkspawn infighting in northern Ferelden. That thanks to the Warden being an X, there's a strong bond between Orzammar/the Dalish/mages and Ferelden and they're fighting hand in hand or that the elves of Denerim have been especially well organized and are protecting their city.

And then it can all be in codex, in missives. It's a positive thing then. I get to know that the choices from previous games influenced something in this one and I'm happy to read about it in a codex or a letter from the Inquisitor. But my friend who's playing DA for the first time doesn't care and they can skip those codexes.

I don't think the South has fallen and will never get back up again. I see Rook defeating the gods as a deus ex machina. With them gone, everything else is saved. If Minrathous can be rebuilt after being thouroughly blighted and destroyed during the finale, so can Denerim, Kirkwall, Val Royeux.

But. I just wish it was stated in game and not something I have to come up with on my own based on some ending slides. I wish the devs didn't discard the parts of Thedas I've grown to love over the previous games twice over. I wish they made another decision here

[dragon--sage]

writing patterns

ty @cleric4vampire for tagging me in this!!! and i'm tagging @sillyliterature and @darethshirl (i'm so sorry i'd tag more of you but my brain is fried af. if you see this consider yourself tagged and i would love to see them if you decide to share!!)

rules: list the first line(s) of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern!

in order from newest to oldest! click the title for the link to each.

LINES

Radiant Hopeful (bg3, astarion x tav)

“Astarion, can I show you something?”

Nightswim (bg3, astarion x tav)

It was a quiet evening in camp, and Nyana was sitting a ways off from the fire, on a hollowed-out log, working on a few rather pathetic sketches of the local plant life.

Spark That Set the Pyre (bg3, astarion x tav, explicit)

Most nights, when Astarion fed off Nyana, she tried to keep her interest and involvement as prim and polite as possible.

The Chivalrous Charlatan (bg3, astarion x tav)

Astarion was going to kill the sorcerer.

Someone I Like Better (bg3, astarion x tav, explicit)

It was night and day, how completely things had changed between Astarion and Nyana, after Cazador had been finished—after the graveyard.

Sunstruck (bg3, astarion x tav)

“Pouting? Or plotting?”

Places of Oblivion (dragon age inquisition, unfinished solavellan modern au, explicit)

Ellana, usually, did not fuck with dating apps.

No Better Waste of Time (dragon age inquisition, unfinished solavellan fix-itish longfic, explicit)

In a darkened attic with a vaulted ceiling, many cobwebs, and one industrious family of rats (who liked to keep to themselves), Ellana Lavellan sat cross-legged in front of an inactive but intact eluvian, her reflection a glaring smudge in the warped surface of the silvery glass.

Her Eyes the Stars (dragon age inquisition, solavellan)

Her eyes — Void take him — he could easily spend a century trying to capture the way their startling amber color appeared in different lighting.

Etha, Ama (dragon age inquisiiton, solavellan, explicit)

It was Satinalia — Feastday.

and bonus even though it's not within the last 10 i have such a soft spot for this fic:

Cry Havoc! (dragon age inquisition, gen fic, background solavellan)

Marquise Briala and Empress Celene were clearly arguing, but Ellana Lavellan was going to interrupt them anyway.

PATTERNS

Um these are all products of my respective hyperfixations on solavellan and tavstarion, so there's that. I see a few long ass run ons, as I expected ahahhaa, but also short, clipped ones. Only a few are in between. Some of them drop you right into the action and others are more scene-setting. The em dash (l m a o). Other than that I think I've been looking at this too long to see anything except my own questionable grammatical choices 😂

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

my penchant for info dumping scene-setting run ons makes this extremely difficult but in case anyone else wants to try:

Vixstarria's additional rule: see if you can arrange the lines into a semi-coherent crackfic.

[linka-from-captain-planet]

"[Celene accepting Duke Remache's proposal of marriage, which would likely eliminate Gaspard's challenge to her rule] is worth considering," Briala said, interrupting Celene's thoughts. Celene glanced over to see that Briala was refilling her teacup, her eyes still downcast. "It is not." Celene took the elven woman by the shoulder and gently tilted up Briala's chin until those beautiful eyes met hers. "If I tie myself to some lord, it will be for more than good hunting grounds in the Deauvin Flats." Perhaps it was selfish. Perhaps it was a mistake in the Game, even. But Celene had lost enough of her own life to the Empire of Orlais already... as had Briala. Briala's gaze softened. "Majesty."

A favorite moment from The Masked Empire, encapsulating a lot of what I find so compelling about them, particularly the drive-by interruption by Celene's guilty conscience and how much of a colossal understatement "perhaps it was a mistake in the Game" turns out to be

[nandivina]

wip I'm really hoping I'll finish

[dekarios]

weekes wrote celene and briala (celene killed briala's parents and attempted to kill briala herself, you can make them get back together in dai). they wrote jack in mass effect 2 (many references to her abuse, including by an girlfriend). another side note is that in the same twitter thread that weekes let it be known that briala's a lesbian, they also wrote jokey fanfiction about her being intimate with solas, their self insert character.

i never saw any of that stuff with celene and briala in the game so if ur talking about book stuff or anything then i dont know nothing about it. in game they just seemed like maybe they dated in the past. that's all i got from it lol. i also don't read codex if it was in the codex?? i really . really do not remember them talking about this stuff in game . but also that sounds very classic toxic yuri like ive got ships worse than that i got oc x oc worse than that LKDSJFSF

i don't remember that stuff with jack, i do recall her talking about a guy and a girl she had like a polycule with like she was their third but they used her powers and didn't care about her? i don't remember it being abuse though just that they weren't good to her......

i mean that's also very weird yeah. but honestly this is why you don't look at anyone who makes the stuff you like on social media or nothing. be it musicians or actors or yknow writers. staying blissfully unaware they're freaks is a beautiful thing. i love knowing jack shit

[calypso707]

Dragon Age Inquisiton OS - The wolf's farewell.

I am a huge fan of the Dragon Age series, I spent hours and hours playing these games and I really love the universe so I wrote a little Solas x Fem Lavellan Inquisitor, something sad/fluff.

If you have any suggestions for me to write, I will be happy to do it !

Vocabulary :

Ma vhenan: my heart

Lethallan: casual reference used for someone with whom one is familiar

Ar lath ma, vhenan: i love you, my heart

Enjoy !

"I'm Varric Thetras, a rebellious adventurer, talented storyteller and troublemaker in my spare time. I keep telling myself that for some people, life is just a succession of bad luck. Take Inquisitor Lavellan, she was living peacefully in her low cloister, close to her kin, but now she's got herself mixed up in all this shit. And what a mess it was! A twinkling hand, a hole in the sky and now the fate of the world depends on her..." he sighed. “I can't tell you how lucky I was to fight alongside her, it was... She's an exceptional mage and a dear friend. You know, I've been through a lot and I know exactly what kind of tragic end awaits heroes. But her, damn it!," he laughed. “She always managed to get out of the biggest messes, always just barely though! So, I hoped that maybe this story would end well... The assassination of Empress Celene had been thwarted and she had been reconciled with her ambassador Briala, raising the profile of elves in society. The Vennatori had been stopped and Corypheus defeated. Lavellan deserved a moment's peace and tranquillity, some people's spirits were celebrating this victory, but not hers... Heartbreak never does you any good, does it?"

She had been listening to the stories of her companions for hours. Iron Bull was talking for the umpteenth time how he had defeated a frost dragon in the Free Marches, Sera was telling the pranks she had played on Josephine during the day, while Dorian was describing partys he had attended in Tevinter, involving sex, alcohol and conspiracy. Things she had heard before and which would have amused her, but not tonight. And everyone had noticed. She saw Lelianna making her way back to the main room of the Fort, where the thrones were held and where the current festivities were taking place. The Inquisitor rose from her chair, looking at her companions still seated at the table: "If you'll excuse me, it's been a long day. I shall return to my chambers.”

Everyone greeted her and congratulated her again on having defeated Corypheus, which was ridiculous, she thought, because it was a joint effort. She walked towards her master spy, who had a grave look on her face. Her heart began to beat rapidly in her chest, she was dreading the words her companion was about to say. "I'm sorry, but we've heard nothing from Solas, my ravens and agents have found nothing. It's as if he suddenly disappeared..."

Lavellan remained silent for a few seconds, forcing herself not to falter, constantly repressing her emotions, something she had been doing since she became head of the Inquisition. She cleared her throat as if to regain composure and straightened her back: "Very well, thank you, Lelianna”

"I can continue the search, perhaps he'll come back eventually?" added the Nightingale, even she didn't believe in what she was saying. But she didn't want to hurt the Inquisitor, who had proved to be a good friend over time.

"It's no use, he won't be back" Lavellan took a deep breath. "Corypheus is defeated but we still have work to do, so enjoy this victory too, Lelianna, you've earned it.”

She didn't wait for a reply and headed for her chambers. She climbed the stone steps slowly, alone at last and feeling as if the sky was falling. Solas had left and taken her heart with him. An emptiness had formed in her chest, an immense pain. She sat down on the bed, which was far too big for her, and let her gaze wander over the mountains that encircled Skyhold. She thought back to all the times she had spent by his side, his knowledge of worlds, what he had taught her about the Fade, his intelligence, his presence, all of which she missed. Her heart had been torn from her and broken. She looked down at the mark on her hand, which glowed for a few seconds. She lay back, continuing to stare at it, before finally closing her eyes, seeking for peace.

༄

When she was young, she had already wandered into the Fade, walking its winding paths in search of vestiges of the past. Today, she wandered there voluntarily in search of tranquillity and, above all, in the hope of drowning the grief that consumed her. It was a dangerous practice, of course, as it was well known that spirits and demons lurked there. She was standing not far from the forest where her clan had settled; there were no beings wandering around, but she was delighted to see the aravels, richly decorated with engravings and silk fabrics. She couldn't get enough of them, and came to miss her home, the clan, its members and its traditions.

As she continued to venture into the northern forest of the Free Marches, she saw a black wolf staring at her out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't worried, it was probably a lost spirit. The Inquisitor took a cautious step towards it, but it quietly moved away before she could reach it, turning to see if she was following, which she finally did. She continued to venture deeper into the woods, this wolf did not seem dangerous to her, on the contrary. But as they approached a lake, he suddenly disappeared. Two gigantic wolf statues stood nearby, like him, leading the way to the blue expanse of the lake. The view was magnificent, the lake surrounded by fir trees and behind them, the peaks of the mountains were visible, as if blending into the sky.

"Gone..." she mumbled.

"Ma vhenan" said a voice behind her.

A voice she recognised all too well, she froze in place, her heart missing a beat. With so many emotions in turmoil, she thought she was going to fall. She turned slowly, her gaze catching Solas's azure one. She took a step backwards, bumping into the statue behind her, putting her hand against it as if to hold on. He had disappeared and now he was standing in front of her, and she couldn't help noticing the armour he had put on, it wasn't like him. He had tricked her.

"The wolf.. You led me here... It’s like that dream in Haven, didn't you?" she asked finally, feverishly.

"I wanted to see you once more before..." he stopped talking, took a few steps towards her.

"I don't understand, you seem... Different..." the Inquisitor continued, examining him with her eyes. It was true, he gave off something different, something powerful and terrifying. She looked at the statues of wolves behind her; reminding her of stories from her childhood and reminding her of a particular god. Dalish legends tell of Fen'Harel, the implacable wolf, also known as the Lord of Deceit, who was vile and deceitful and showed no concern for his people. The elves turned to him for help and advice, but it always came at a price. Fen'Harel kept his promises, yes, but the way he kept them was often contested. She shook her head, as if to clear her mind of these foolish ideas. Had she fallen in love with a god?

"I am Fen'Harel," he announced. "But he came long after Solas, I inspire hope to my friends and fear to my enemies. Just like the Inquisitor"

"Was I fooled? All this time, I thought...’´She stared at him, in silence, completely lost and in disbelief.

"No, I didn't fool you, I would never have shared your bed under false pretenses" he was finally coming closer, he wanted to touch her, take her in his arms, love her but he wouldn't allow himself. He wanted to experience everything her heart desperately promised him. "I have very little time, Lethallan"

"You abandoned me, you left me. I loved you and you ran away," she said, her voice trembling. Her eyes filled with tears, she knew their love was doomed to failure but she refused to give up. He brushed her cheek with his thumb to wipe away a tear that was running down, sadness was taking hold of him, he was tortured. "Forgive me, vhenan, I never wished to cause you pain”

"We can stay together, whatever your plans are, I'll help you," begged Lavellan.

"No, this is something I must do alone. I want to save the elves, even if it means dooming this world. There is only death at the end of this journey and I can't inflict that on you" said Solas.

Lavellan looked at him for a long moment before lowering her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. The thought him alone, carrying out such a plan and destined for such a tragic end was suffocating her. She couldn't bring herself to leave him; he was the storm and she was the shipwreck that wanted to sail through the stormy waters until she sank. She loved him with a love that was immeasurable and destined to be forgotten. He closed the distance between them and ran a hand over her cheek to catch her attention, tucking a lock of hair behind her pointed ear. They exchanged a look heavy with love and pain. "My love, I'll never forget you"

And he kissed her. They kissed languorously and she clung to him desperately, not wanting him to disappear. She was terrified that she would never see him again and she prayed that he would continue to visit her in her dreams. If she hoped for a happy ending, he should have that too. They gently broke the kiss and he placed a chaste kiss next to her ear, whispering: "Ar lath ma, vhenan".

And she woke with a start, sitting up abruptly and out of breath. She looked around, she was in her room at Skyhold and Solas was gone. Her cheeks were still pink from her tears and her lips seemed moist from the farewell kiss he had offered her. As the Dalish say: "May the Dreadwolf take you away" and that's what he had done, he had taken her being and her heart with him.