#but the idea of sebastian wanting to turn both merrill and anders in

[tuxedo-rabbit]

I'm sorry but Sebastian trying to convince a blood mage Hawke to be Viscount is buck wild.

I'm obsessed with his thought process on this.

[vigilskeep]

What's Evrion like with the rest of the Kirkwall crew? Is there anyone he gets alone with super well? Is there anyone he can't stand?

i’ll flesh these out when i write up some banter but preliminary thoughts!!

for the mages, evrion supports anders’ goals more than any of the other companions but also, you know, the obvious unavoidable tensions of him being a straight up mage hunter. i would say early tension in act 1 as they figure this out -> more of a friendship in act 2 -> breakdown again in act 3 where despite him trying to reach out, anders can’t trust him and closes off. with merrill he’s wary of blood magic yes but he doesn’t know now what to believe of what he’s been taught and he also knows more about blood magic—from hunting blood mages, admittedly—than most of the others which is a dynamic i’m really interested in writing. (his mother also potentially having been a maleficar...)

he gets on worst with aveline who he sees as the true believer in the sigil on her armour that he used to be, if that makes sense. i also can’t see him doing great with sebastian for similar reasons although i think they have a little more common ground with the chantry and everything

i think he has a pretty easy friendship with both fenris and isabela. i would say he’s a little serious at first for isabela’s tastes and in turn startled by her flippancy, gets more comfortable around her as the game goes on until they’re joking around easy as anything by the end of the game. i’m fascinated by the idea of him and fenris discussing anything i think i have to do some writing to figure out that dynamic

varric he gets on well with, i think varric kind of wants to look after him and get him out of his own head like he does with a lot of them, bring out that lighter side. evrion feels indebted to him for helping with the lyrium as well. sometimes varric finds evrion’s seriousness and like moral considerations a little intense and discomfiting, will immediately try to lighten the mood or dodge the subject

[the-lightning-mage]

Slow Dancing With Hawke

So, I had the idea of Hawke asking the possible love interests to dance with her at some ball they got invited to like the Inquisitor during Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts. So here they are. (I might add Aveline and Varric later). Is it accurate? Eh, but I had fun, and that’s what matters.

Anders: He is very happy about being asked, and definitely wants to, though he is a little nervous about being the center of attention. They end up separated from everyone, so he can hold them a little closer than a typical waltz. He’s a little awkward but they both ignore it.

Fenris: He is so caught off guard. He agrees to do it if they do it in a private area, and he’s totally not blushing. He’s a little stiff, but surprisingly graceful. Refuses to dip Hawke, or to let Hawke dip him so he can continue to say no one was swept off their feet.

Isabela: Much like Dorian, she jokes about doing a different kind of dance. Unlike Dorian, that’s what she actually ends up doing, and it is hilarious. Hilarious enough that Hawke is smiling when they have to write an apology.

Merrill: She immediately starts worrying about not doing it well enough, and she says she probably should’ve practiced. Once she agrees, she kind of resembles a tomato, but an adorable tomato. She stumbles a few times, but ends up having a great time. Dancing may be incorporated into Hawke’s normal life from this time on.

Sebastian: He’s a little surprised, but much to Hawke’s surprise he agrees without issue. He just wishes that he had asked them instead. When asked why he agreed so fast, he says it shouldn’t be affected by his vows and he’s not going to turn down a rare chance to be close without repercussions. Everyone is surprised by his skills, and he has to remind everyone that he was raised as royalty.

[princessshikky]

Basically an m!handers soulmate AU that I finally finished while sitting at home because quarantine.

Anders' words are "Maker's grace, I must be the luckiest man alive", and at first he was slightly bitter about it. How can this guy consider himself lucky, torn apart from his family and locked in a prison? And more importantly, why couldn't he have something Karl said to him instead?

In solitary, the words become his anchor. No оne knows for sure where the Words come from or what they mean, but оne thing's certain: if you have someone's Words оn your wrist, you'll meet this person. Your meeting might be short and tragic, but it's bound to happen. Screw the sappy tales of "the Maker meant these people for each other", it's not true (he desperately wants to hope, but he's too bitter and tired), but he'll leave the solitary alive and meet this guy, that he knows without a doubt. 

And sure, he leaves, and Amell (ginger hair, long nose, same old tattoo оn her face) recruits him, and for a while everything is good. Emily wouldn't flirt or sleep with him anymore (sometimes he doubts she even remembers they actually slept together оnce in the Tower), but he's fine with that. Except when Emily leaves, everything goes to hell, and soon he has to run, and merge with Justice. That didn't go so well. 

They go to Kirkwall, because no Wardens, and, more importantly, Karl, and the city is a hellhole, but at least the refugees are so desperate they are willing to protect him from the templars. Anders is alerted regardless: any minute, something could happen. Karl could get caught, the templars could barge into his clinic, Justice could come outside and loose control and slaughter everyone (he tries not to concentrate оn that last possibility, it makes both of them uncomfortable). Sure enough, when a group of armed strangers come through the door, he is ready to defend himself and his patients. Justice sends him a burst of energy, and Anders tentatively lets him... not take over their body, no, but come to the surface of their conscience. 

"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation! Why do you threaten it?" — Justice demands in Anders' voice. Black-haired guy with a longsword suddenly groans, and another оne gasps. 

"Maker's grace, I must be the luckiest man alive". 

"Oh, no", — the sword-guy mutters, and Anders is inclined to agree with him. Oh, no. He doesn't need that now. He has Justice, and the compulsive need to help people, and the manifesto, and Karl, and he wouldn't wish to thrust this burden upon anyone. 

Hawke doesn't exactly give him the chance to back off. He's kind, and understanding, and a fellow mage (an apostate, no less!), and he's immediately supportive, and looks at Anders with reverence, and he's so gorgeous it's unfair.

 In short, Hawke is perfect. 

He helps with the disastrous attempt to get Karl out. He helps with the mage underground. He tries to help the mages escape the Circle. He reads the manifesto and offers new arguments. He is even supportive about the situation with Justice. He looks at Anders like he hung the moons in the sky. How is a man supposed to stay away from that, even if staying away would be better for Hawke in the long run? 

When Anders says "I love you", it breaks his heart a little, knowing that they live оn borrowed time. That most mages are not allowed the luxury of loving someone, and Anders has to change that, even at the expense of his own happiness, of Hawke's happiness. He doesn't expect Hawke to understand: Hawke is just оne man, he never had to live in a Circle, he doesn't have a spirit in his head. 

He still asks Hawke for help, knowing he'll pay for the betrayal with his life. 

Only he doesn't. 

Later, after the templars back off, after Orsino helps the apprentices escape, after Meredith turns into a chunk of red lyrium, after Bodahn shoves the hastily-gathered supplies into Hawke's hands, after they run from Kirkwall, after Merrill and Aveline leave them, after they make a camp and Carver and Varric pretend to be busy with the fire, they have time to talk. Hawke sighs and frowns and shakes his head. 

"I can't believe you did this". 

"The mages need to be free", — Anders says, or maybe it is Justice, taking over like he does sometimes when Anders is exhausted. — "What I did was unforgivable, but it was the оnly way to achieve this". 

"Yes, blowing the fucking Chantry building sounds like a reasonable strategy to prove that mages are harmless", — Varric snarls. 

"Who cares about the damn Chantry?" — Hawke says, louder than necessary. — "I definitely don't plan to shed any tears over them". — Carver snorts quietly at that, and Hawke smiles at his brother before turning back to Anders. — "What I meant was... Well, you should have told me. I... you should have trusted me with that". 

"I didn't want to endanger you any more than necessary". 

"Endanger... Anders, do you have any idea how scared I was? I lost my home, I lost my family, and I thought I was going to lose you too! You acted like you were preparing for a certain death! Every day I woke up and I looked at you and thought "Is it going to be today?". Do you know how I felt when I saw that damn Chantry going in flames? I was relieved! Because at least everything has reached a conclusion and I didn't have to wait any longer, I could just act! Maker damn it, right now I can finally breathe again now that I know my lover isn't going to go and kill himself while I'm not looking!" 

Anders gulps. Carver shakes his head but doesn't say anything. Varric looks at Hawke disapprovingly. For a moment everyone is quiet, until Hawke weakly smirks. 

"And honestly, if you'd asked me for help, I would've at least made sure Sebastian was at that Chantry along with Elthina. I can't believe you missed such a great opportunity to get rid of that asshole". 

Carver chuckles unexpectedly. 

"Damn, brother. I had no idea I missed your stupid jokes". 

Anders has to agree. He knew full well Hawke mostly used his stupid jokes to hide behind them — something Anders himself has done often — and yet... Hawke stopped joking some time before Leandra's death and it felt like he gave up trying. 

Still smiling, Hawke moves closer to Anders and kisses him lightly. 

"Look. There is nothing you can do that would make me leave you. And I mean it — nothing. So please, just trust me next time. We're in this together", — and it feels undeserved, unbelievable, so Anders (or Justice, ever protective) just has to ask. 

"Still feel like the luckiest man alive?" 

Hawke smiles, takes his hand and kisses the inner side of his wrist, where his words are curling оn Anders' skin. 

"Always".

It takes some time for Garrett to decipher the words оn his wrist, written in mostly-unintelligible scrawl, like someone was simultaneously hasty and angry. 

"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation! Why do you threaten it?". 

All right, Garrett could think of worse ways to start a conversation. At least these Words are unique. He'll know his Person instantly. 

Carver teases him mercilessly. "I can't believe this all fit оn your hand" and "Well, it doesn't seem like your person will appreciate your dumb jokes", and even "Gah! Marauder! Why would you ever threaten a sanctum of salvation!". But after Carver finds Garrett making out with their neighbours' son behind the barn, and Garrett makes him promise not to tell anyone, not father, not even Bethany, Carver becomes a little nicer. Maybe it's because they share a secret now, Garrett reasons, something just for the two of them. 

"Do you think it's a guy? Your Person?" — Carver asks оne day, when everyone else is already asleep, and Garrett doesn't feel like deflecting with a joke. 

"I hope so. I mean, it might be a girl, they say that sometimes your Person is just a friend to you, but still... I'd prefer a guy". 

"Do you not like girls at all?" — Carver asks disbelievingly (he is a teenager, after all). 

"I don't hate them, I guess, but they're just... not interesting", — Garrett says. — "Guys are..." 

"Hot?" 

"I guess you could say that". 

"Well, good. At least you won't steal any girls from me", — Carver says confidently, and Garrett just smirks. "You can keep them as long as you send any cute guys in my direction".

The first time Garrett hears about the Warden healer, he thinks it's too good to be true. 

A free mage who openly uses his magic to help other people? Come оn. In order to be free, mages have to hide their magic, keep their heads low and never be too close to other people. Holding a free clinic for the refugees? No оne's this selfless. 

Except for this Anders Warden, apparently. Who lives in Darktown, and who is the most competent healer Garrett's ever met. And who is understandably wired to see four armed strangers оn his doorstep. 

Anders grabs his staff and turns to them in оne swift motion. 

"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation! Why do you threaten it?" 

Carver groans, but Garrett just doesn't feel like paying attention to his little brother right now, as much as he loves Carver. 

"Maker's grace, I must be the luckiest man alive", — Garrett gasps and means every word. His Person is a guy (a good-looking guy, to boot), a fellow apostate, someone brave and selfless enough to openly use his magic to help people... what's not to like? 

The more Garrett finds out about Anders, the more he realizes just how damn lucky he is. His first impression was right: Anders is too good to be true. Yes, he lashes out at Merrill sometimes, but other than that? Perfection. Kind and compassionate and sensitive and working to free the mages, always willing to help Garrett solve his troubles. The оnly problem? While Anders does seem interested in Garrett sometimes, he never takes any action. He calls Garrett a friend, he tries to keep Garrett away, he never takes the first step, and Garrett is patient, but damn it, it takes three years before Anders runs out of excuses and lets both of them be happy. 

And then he starts acting strange. He becomes more distant, his love declarations become more desperate, and it seems like he is waiting for something. Garrett's already lost his sister and mother, and his brother is somewhere оn Warden missions, and he _cannot _lose someone else. He feels like he cannot breathe properly, like he is sick with fear, like Kirkwall chokes the air out of his lungs. He cannot sleep at night if Anders isn't home, tossing and turning and waking up from nightmares gasping for air. 

One day, when Anders is in his clinic, Garrett comes to the alienage. Merrill is happy to see him — anything to distract her from the thoughts of her clanmates dying under their blades and spells — and talking to her is easier than Garrett imagined. 

"I want you to teach me blood magic". 

Anders would be furious if he knew, but ultimately he would understand. He said he would drown Kirkwall in blood to keep Garrett safe — and Garrett would absolutely do the same for Anders. 

When Merrill carefully cuts her wrist and gives the knife to Garrett, he thinks he sees the eluvian glimmering in the corner. 

And then it's over. The Chantry explodes, Elthina is dead (good riddance, Hawke thinks when Sebastian starts wailing), Anders is alive. 

Everything goes straight to hell. Sebastian leaves, which is expected, and Fenris joins the templars, which is a huge blow. Yes, Garrett knew about his views, but he thought Fenris had his back. He always helped Fenris out, didn't he? Even Cullen, of all people, decided to help Hawke at the end. Cullen, the asshole who said Tranquility is a mercy. And Zevran is helping them fight for some reason? Apparently Hawke is shitty at the whole "reading people's intentions" thing. 

At the end of the day, people Hawke cares about are alive. Merrill, Aveline and Carver are fine. Anders is alive. Varric is here, giving Anders judgmental looks but mercifully not saying anything. They get to leave Kirkwall unharmed, albeit in a hurry. Aveline and Varric keep looking at Hawke like they expect him to do something, but Hawke is honestly too tired to think about it. What do they want? He has no clue. Apparently he barely knows people who he regularly spoke with. Eventually Aveline takes him aside to check the road ahead and to talk privately. 

"Are you going to say anything to him? About him?" — she asks. For a moment Hawke considers playing dumb, pretending he doesn't know what she means, but ultimately deems it useless. 

"What do you want me to say? Hey, love, good job killing Elthina, are you tired, do you want me to carry your backpack for you?" 

"I cannot believe you actually approve of what he's done", — Aveline spits out. 

"Well, I do", — Hawke says simply. — "And even if I didn't... Maker help me, I would protect him anyway". 

"He's murdered innocent people!" 

"He's my family, Aveline! And I cannot lose him, not after everything!" 

Aveline has a pitying expression оn her face. And if anyone else tried to have this conversation with him now, Hawke would probably punch this person, but Aveline is as much of a family to him as Carver and Anders. And isn't it an uncomfortable realisation? That he is no better than people he so callously judged? That if he'd found Anders, Merrill, Carver or Aveline gleefully murdering half of Kirkwall in a blood magic ritual, he would still defend them until his dying breath? Does this make him an awful person? It probably does, but this night has been full of uncomfortable truths he has had to realise about himself and others. 

Thankfully, Aveline doesn't press the matter further. 

They leave оne by оne. Merril says she needs to protect the alienage elves (and she couldn't just leave her mirror, which is fair). Aveline goes back to lead the guard again. Carver has some Warden mission. Varric promises to give the Chantry a false trail to follow, but his eyes are hard when he says that. Probably still angry about the explosion, Hawke thinks and hurts оn Anders' behalf. 

Anders is still quiet. Hawke is still afraid to leave him alone for long periods of times, even if Justice has come out to promise he wouldn't let Anders do anything stupid. 

They are sitting оn a log, staring into the campfire. There are glimpses of blue in Anders' eyes. Hawke feels sudden urge to hug his lover and sees no reason not to follow through. 

Anders shivers in Hawke's arms. 

"Love, what?" 

"Nothing", — Anders shakes his head, — "just... Sometimes it's still hard to believe you're with me". 

"You won't get rid of me so easily". 

"I don't deserve you". 

Anders' self-deprecation is unbelievable sometimes. It just feels wrong, that a person as amazing as Anders doesn't realise his worth. One of the many reasons to hate the Circles, Hawke thinks bitterly. 

"Love, I'm the оne who doesn't deserve you. You're the bravest, most selfless person I've ever met. You healed the poor and downtrodden when everyone abandoned them, you stood up for the mages when no оne else did, you went against Meredith..." 

"And betrayed your trust in the process". 

"Well," — Hawke starts carefully, because it's not untrue, but he's not so bitter about that anymore, — "you're here now. The оnly оne who stayed with me". 

Anders looks at him with eyes full of hope. 

"I won't repeat my mistake again, I promise. You're stuck with me now. I'm not going anywhere". 

"Good", — Hawke says, relieved, because Anders speaks like he means it. — "I wouldn't have it any other way".

[secretsfromwholecloth]

Dragon Age II, day 4.

It amuses me greatly that talking to Anders still sometimes pops up flirt options after turning him down. Mostly because it just fits so well that the guy who was bold and desperate enough to throw himself at someone with no demonstrated interest in anything but friendship would also keep right on hoping despite being rejected.

Anders, look, I get it. You’re low on friends, having Justice in your head is stressful at the best of times, and judging by some of your dialogue, you’re the sort whose friendships turn sexual easily. I feel for you. You’re at the top of the list to get nice things next time out. But you’ve already been told no, so please wait your turn.

I may have to headcanon Taran as not being into men. He’s been going monkey crackers without Bethany to look after (which is about to get worse when he loses his mother, isn’t it), and you’d think another mage who needs him would be right up his alley. (That’s going to be half the foundation of his relationship with Merrill once I finally get them together. Healthy? Phfft, is anything healthy in this game?)

Sebastian is sweet, but I hope he becomes less of a nonentity later on. Right now, I’m left wondering if he isn’t a failed attempt to make the Nathaniel magic happen again.

The “Finery” clothing item. Decisions were made that I would’ve made differently, let’s just put it that way.

Look, if I’m going to be spending time in a universe that makes quite so much use of sexual violence, I’m glad to at least have the option to dispatch people like Ser Alrik with a high-velocity maul to the face.

...Anders, would you and Justice like a hug?

That’s a very nice crafting project, Merrill, the whole party is very proud of you.

Anders, I know you’re trying to help, but I’m not sure repeatedly telling Merrill she’s a scary monster who’s going to become a full-fledged abomination any minute now is having quite the effect you want it to.

Well, that took some doing, but Merrill’s approval is maxed, and enough flirt options have been taken that she should have an idea that Taran is interested by now.

Aveline, I just want you to know that you’re a huge dork. Like, seriously huge. Taran and I are both mortified just from being in proximity to your dorkiness.

And romance has officially happened. Welcome to Hightown, Merrill.

Headcanon: Taran in bed is generous, thoughtful, possessed of at least some idea of what he’s doing (aside from some flings with village girls back in Lothering, you won’t convince me he didn’t go to the Blooming Rose for lessons a time or two), and the vanillaest vanilla who ever vanillaed. He’s spent far too long making absolutely sure there’s an impenetrable motherfucking wall between Scary Warrior Taran and Loving Friend Taran to let anything through now. He knows he’s a terror—a funny terror, but a terror all the same—and the idea of being that to someone he loves, or for that matter of having someone he loves turn that back around on him, doesn’t titillate him, it just makes him sick. Go on, mention just about any kind of kink around him and watch him go pale, it’s great fun.

Auxiliary headcanon: Isabela has a grand old time doing just that periodically. Embarrassing your friends is fun!

Varric, you are also a huge dork. Just a different kind of dork from Aveline.

Well, I decided to drop Anders for once and give Isabela a run in the party, so there’s no option to fix Bartrand. So eat pointy death, asshole.

When Varric asked Taran about his ambitions, he replied, “I’m just looking out for my family.” With Leandra and Carver dead and Bethany gone to the Wardens, the memory of saying that now tastes like ash.

Ooh, endlessly escalating diplomatic incidents, this ought to be fun.

[gremlinquisitor]

Ship-a-thon

Tagged by @cullenlovesmen, thank you!

Tagging @hollyand-writes @barbex @natsora @sulevinblade and anyone else who wants to do the thing!

1. First ship you ever wrote fic for: Sulahn/Blackwall (If we’re going farther back, Sherlock/John)

2. Ship you write the most now: Padi Hawke/Sebastian, with Bellial/Blackwall being a close second.

3. Ship you read the most now: Carver/Merrill, technically, because I’m currently reading 2 longfics where they’re together or going to get there, and then also Cullen/Sebastian for the same reason.

4. Newest ship: Cassandra/Carver is a thing that I am looking at and wondering about and considering how it would work, and it’s all @barbex‘s fault for writing their banter so well even if they aren’t together in the fic. They could be though, if he’s a Templar and he follows Cullen from Kirkwall to Haven. It could happen.

5. Rare ship you wanna read more of: Bethany/Alistair is the first that comes to mind, but really I’d like to read more rarepairs just as it is, I don’t read enough, I don’t think. Also anything with Krem, I love that man.

6. Your taboo ship: I have read and enjoyed a G-rated, no-one-takes-clothes-off Warden/Architect fic, and I liked it. I am a sucker for kind monsters that look like they’re seeking redemption and/or want to help the heroes.

7. They never met in canon ship: Bethany/Alistair. I mean depending on your world state they might for a minute in DA2, but I dunno that that’s the same thing. I like the idea of Warden!Bethany and Alistair. 

8. Your unexpected ship: Cullen/Sebastian. I have to admit I wasn’t at all sure what I thought of it at first, but I have been converted by how @cullenlovesmen writes them together.

9. The ship you always forget to give love to: Eorryn Cousland/Alistair Theirin. They’re just happily following their canon timeline, separated but destined to get back together and cure the Blight and live to a ripe old age, and you can’t convince me otherwise. Second runner up here is Padi/Anders, because they really were happy for a while and I want to prove it.

10. Ship your OC with a canon character (if applicable): That’s what I do. c:

11. Ship you’re embarrassed to ship: None, really. Architect/Warden is probably the closest I get, if only because it is so predictable that I would look at the kind(ish) monster who seems to want to help and be like: That One Is The One I Want

12. Your most romantic ship: Bellial/Blackwall. Kelly/Josephine is gonna be right up there once I get to them, too.

13. Your sexiest ship: Bellial/Blackwall. They have... so much sex, and she is so unapologetic in her sensuality that her just existing within 3 feet of him is a turn-on, and she knows it, and it’s wicked but they both like it.

14. Your most tragic ship: Padi/Anders. My playlist for them is just called The Bad End.

15. A ship you want more content for: Ghilanel Lavellan/Happiness @sulevinblade

[pikapeppa]

Hey, friend, you should write #14 for fenhawke, “Some people call this wisdom” I can totally see a Hawke saying this about something stupid they did/ have done :D

HAH omg YES. I mean of course. And here it is - for @dadrunkwriting! 

Fandom: Dragon Age IIPairing: Fenris x FemHawkeRating: Mature

Read on AO3 instead. 

**********

Aveline sighed and rubbed her face. “Hawke…”

“What?” Hawke complained. “What’s wrong with that? It’s a gift! It’s nice! I’m sure he’ll see it in the spirit that it was intended.” She nodded pertly, then took a drink from her dented stein.

Fenris shook his head in exasperation as Aveline shot Hawke a chiding look. In a slow, careful voice, Aveline said, “You sent Carver a box of soil.”

“A box of soil containing seeds,” Hawke corrected. “They’ll grow into an embrium plant, and then he can use the flowers for healing. And it’ll remind him of Father, since embrium was his favourite!” She leaned into Aveline’s shoulder in a wheedling manner. “Come on, Av, admit it. I did good this time. Even Carver can’t interpret a gift like that as an insult.”

Then Varric piped up from the end of the table. “You probably should have sent the soil and the seeds in a pot. You know, for growing the plant? He’ll probably just think you’ve sent him a bunch of random dirt.”

Hawke opened her mouth to protest, then slowly wilted. “Good point,” she admitted. Then she perked up and shrugged. “Well then, it’ll be a test of his ability to problem-solve and put clues together! Nobody wants a stupid Templar, after all.” She winked at Varric and lifted her stein to her lips again. “See, some people call this wisdom.”

“Nobody would call this wisdom,” Fenris drawled. “Most people would, in fact, call this idiocy.”

She lifted her chin and shot him a challenging look. “And yet you all still spend your days following me from Sundermount to Darktown and back, so what does that make all of you?”

The whole table burst into protest and laughter, and Hawke jumped to her feet. “Time for another round!” she said loudly. “Drink up, everyone! Same thing as before?” She glanced around the table to confirm their orders, then drained her stein and sashayed over to the bar. A few minutes later, she returned to the table with two steins in hand.

“One for the sexy morning scruff and one for the sexy chest hair…” She slid the steins across the table to Anders and Varric, then returned to the bar and brought two more drinks. “One for the sexy ginger, and one for the sexy… everything,” she purred, handing them to Aveline and Isabela, then she returned once more for Sebastian and Merrill (“one for the sexy blue eyes, and one for the one who’s too damned cute to be sexy”).

Finally, with the last two drinks in hand, she sat next to Fenris and placed his stein on the table. “And one for… you,” she said quietly.

He met her twinkling bronze eyes. Everything about her expression screamed mischief, but Fenris refused to rise to the bait. “Thank you,” he said politely.

“You’re welcome,” she replied equally politely.

Fenris lifted his stein to his lips, then paused as the fumes from his drink reached his nose. He balked and peered into the stein, then looked at Hawke. “This is brandy.”

“Yes,” she said. Her lips were curled in a smirk as she drank from her cup.

Fenris frowned as she lowered her drink to the table. Then he reached for her stein. “What’s in your cup?”

She jerked the stein away before he could grasp it. “Hands to yourself!” she insisted. “Leave my wine alone.”

Wine. Fenris wilted in exasperation. “You switched our drinks.”

She cradled his wine in both hands and smiled. “It’s for your own good,” she told him earnestly. “You have to start getting used to drinking swill. You’re down to your last two bottles of the Aggregio.” She lifted the wine to her face and inhaled. “Ahh, Antivan red. Not as good as the stuff you have at home, but it’ll do.”

Her grin was wide and provocative, and Fenris refused to cede to it. He folded his arms and raised one eyebrow. “How do you know I’m down to the last two bottles?”

She tilted her head coyly. “I sneak into your house through the wine cellar to watch you sleep, of course. What else are friends for?”

There was a snort of laughter from the end of the table - probably Anders, he enjoyed this kind of puerile humour - but Fenris couldn’t smile. If he smiled, it would mean she’d won.

He kept a straight face and reached for her stein again. “Give that to me.”

She twisted away from him. “No.”

“Hawke,” he said sternly.

She lifted the stein over her head and held out her other hand to hold him back. “I backwashed,” she warned. “My spit’s in here.”

Aveline and Isabela exclaimed in disgust, but the threat wasn’t as off-putting for Fenris as she’d likely intended. A flash of a fantasy flickered through his mind: her lips on his, his tongue tangled with hers - a far more appealing way to taste the contents of her impertinent mouth.

He shunted the thought aside and lunged for the stein. “Give it back,” he demanded.

Then her hand was on his chest. Fenris stopped short at the touch and met her gaze.

Her amber eyes glittered with mischief. She jerked her chin at the abandoned cup of brandy. “Go on, try something different,” she purred. “You might like it.”

He swallowed, mouth dry as he gazed into her infuriatingly wicked eyes. Her face was a handspan from his own. Her fingers rested on his chest with barely enough pressure to hold him back, and he wondered if she could feel the sudden thrumming of his heart.

The tension was too much. The temptation to smile was gone, wiped away by a different and altogether more dangerous temptation, and Fenris expelled it the first way he could think of.

He pinched Hawke’s waist.

She squealed in surprise and flinched, tucking both her arms defensively in toward her belly, and Fenris plucked his wine from her now-accessible hand. “Benefaris,” he proclaimed, then drained the stein in four long gulps.

Hawke tutted. “Just don’t come whining to me when you run out of your fancy Tevinter vintage,” she said haughtily, then reached for the cup of brandy.

Fenris pushed it out of her reach.

Her eyes widened, and she grinned at him. “You wouldn’t dare,” she said gleefully.

He folded his arms and planted his elbows on the table, firmly between the mage and her brandy. “This is justice, Hawke. There are consequences for depriving a man of his wine,” he drawled.

A peal of joyful laughter spilled from her lips, and Fenris swatted her away as she tried to reach across him. Then Isabela’s cheerful voice cut through their scuffling. “Oh, would you two just fuck each other already? I could watch.”

Hawke turned around and pinched the pirate’s arm. “I bet you would, you dirty bitch,” she said, and the two women promptly fell about laughing. Moments later, Isabela was dragging Hawke to her feet, and Fenris watched with a combination of exasperation and amusement as they began dancing to the lively tavern tunes.

Aveline groaned and rubbed her forehead. “What am I even doing here? I feel like a schoolmistress. One who is bad at her job.”

Fenris gave her a rueful half-smile. “You are not alone in that feeling,” he assured her.

She shot him a baleful look. “You’re no better, Fenris. You just goad her on.”

Fenris opened his mouth to defend himself, but Aveline was already on her feet. “I’m leaving,” she declared. “Please get home safely, everyone. And you two.” She pointed at Anders and Sebastian, who were watching Hawke and Isabela’s antics. “Keep your eyeballs in your heads. You’re making fools of yourselves.”

Fenris smirked at Sebastian’s blustering protests, but his amusement was cut short by a perky little voice to his left. “I’ve never known anyone who frowned so much when they were happy.”

Fenris turned and scowled at Merrill. “Excuse me?”

She propped her chin on her fists and tilted her head. “You like Hawke. But you’re always frowning at her. Why don’t you just tell her that you like her?”

Fenris narrowed his eyes. “Pray tell what miraculous event occurred that makes you think you can speak to me like this?”

Merrill sat up straight. “Like what?” she asked, wide-eyed and worried.

“As though we are friends and I don’t despise you,” he growled, then stood and went to sit next to Varric instead.

“Harsh,” Varric murmured, and Fenris shrugged irritably in response.

Eventually Isabela and Hawke pulled Merrill into their dance, and Fenris and Varric watched them quietly for a while, Fenris sipping Hawke’s brandy while Varric enjoyed his ale. Just when Fenris was feeling pleasantly relaxed, Varric broke the silence.

“Daisy makes a valid point,” he said quietly. “Why haven’t you and Hawke… gotten together? Not that it’s any of my business,” he added hastily as Fenris shot him a glare, “but… look, I hate to tell you this, but you’re not as good at hiding your feelings as you like to think.”

Fenris scowled and sipped his drink to stall for time. There was an uncomfortable writhing in his belly, part-pleasure at the thought of Hawke’s affection and part-discomfort at the apparent obviousness of his own, and he didn’t want to reply to Varric’s question.

Partly because he didn’t really know the answer.

Fenris couldn’t deny that he wanted Hawke. He often fondly imagined the shapes her body would make as she arched beneath him on his bed, or on the table in his mansion while he spread her wide. But somewhere in the past few years, his imaginings of her had taken on a certain complexity that he’d not anticipated.

It wasn’t just sex that he wanted. It was her. He’d think about Hawke’s sultry voice whispering more than just dirty words in his ear, and he’d fantasize about sharing more with her than sweat. But the mere idea of turning these thoughts into reality made Fenris feel… itchy. And hunted, somehow.

Eventually Varric spoke again. “Well, as I said, none of my business. And it is entertaining to watch. In a juvenile, he-pulls-her-hair-because-he-likes-her kind of way.”

Fenris grunted, then drained the dregs of Hawke’s brandy and rose from the bench. “I will follow Aveline’s example,” he said, then turned toward the door.

“You’re not going to say goodbye?” Varric said in surprise.

“You’re the storyteller. Make up an excuse for me,” Fenris said, then left the Hanged Man.

As he trudged back to his mansion, he brooded over Varric’s infuriating words. Why did the dwarf need to push and prod? Fenris just wanted to enjoy flirting with a beautiful woman and having her flirt back. It was satisfying and it was safe, and there was nothing wrong with that.

If only he could convince himself that flirtation was enough.

[mahalzevran]

DA 20+ Questions

Tagged by @antivan-surana​ thanks! Tagging @situationnormal​ @the-dread-doggo​ @acepavus​ @aroundofgwent​ @lakambaeni​ @kxnways​ @fuckbioware​ (no pressure ofc) and anyone who wants to?

The rest is under a read more because it’s long

01) Favourite game of the series?

Origins, only because you got less and less op as a mage as the games went on. I love all the games tbh.

02) How did you discover Dragon Age?

My friend got my sister into it. They kept talking and talking about it so finally I was like “ok lets see what the big deal is” and here I am now

03) How many times you’ve played the games?

I’ve done Origins twice fully, DA2 four times fully (omg I didn’t realize this until now lol) and DA:I just once fully. I have one unfinished playthrough of Origins with a Cousland, and I’m in the middle of maybe two of DA:I. I think I’ve gone back and replayed certain parts of both Origins and DA:I plenty of times.

04) Favourite race to play as?

Elf I guess? Though I’ve only fully played as a human and elf. I’m in the middle of a dwarf playthrough and I’m thinking of doing a qunari one in the future. It might change idk.

I just really liked playing as an elf in Origins so that’s why I got into elves. But the funny thing is, I wasn’t even thinking of playing as an elf when I played for the first time. I wanted to play as a human. I just did it on a whim.

05) Favourite class?

Mage, hands down. Realistically, they’re the most versatile class. They can do range and melee since anyone can learn how to fight with weapons. But the last two games won’t let you so :)

Also, this stems from the fact that I’ve been a harry potter fan since I could remember.

06) Do you play through the games differently or do you make the same decisions each time?

In my full, proper playthroughs that I’ve finished, it’s slightly different but still the same basic ideas. Sided with mages, agreed with Anders, etc.

But I am planning to try an evil playthrough in the future so

07) Go-to adventuring group?

DA:O (I have two)

Leliana, Wynne, Shale - the OG crew; they were my main crew in my first playthrough and it was a pretty even party

Zevran, Leliana, Alistair - the elf crew; esp. with Rhian they’re all elves because I saw a theory that Leliana is half elf and I’m down

DA2

It’s a mixed bag. If I’m not playing as a mage, I usually take Anders a lot because we need a healer and Merrill can’t heal. I tend not to take Sebastian as much after I max his friendship. After Sebastian, I take Aveline the least. Other than that I just mix it up. Unless I’m romancing someone, then I take them every time.

I’d love to take Anders, Fenris, and Merrill out more often but I hate how mean they all are to each other (looking @ u bioware 👀)

DA:I

My first playthrough, I mixed it up a lot in the beginning but then I ended up bringing Solas, Cole, and Blackwall a lot near the end for some reason?

I love taking Vivienne, Dorian, and Solas out, especially if I’m playing a mage, because it’s such a pretty fireworks show

In general though, if I’m romancing someone I take them with me almost always.

08) Which of your characters did you put the most thought into?

I think it’s a tie between Rhian and Lu.

09) Favourite romance?

To no one’s surprise, it’s Zevran :3

Solas is second because I just really like that angst.

10) Have you read any of the comics/books?

I’ve read The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Speak (because someone gifted me the Omnibus) and The Calling.

I also have Hard in Hightown, which I should probably read lol, and the art book of inquisition.

11) If you read them, which was your favourite book?

The Calling solely because of my mom Fiona and my dad Duncan. 

12) Favourite DLCs?

Awakening because I love everyone and its also really funny that Rhian, who is 19 at that point, had to basically babysit people older than her and also run a whole arling.

I love both Legacy and Mark of the Assassin. Mark of the Assassin was really funny (though I hated the stealth part). I love Legacy specifically because when I was fighting Corypheus, both Varric and Anders K.O.’d and it was just me and Carver. It was a special family moment bringing down a whole entire magister together. I also hc that that was canon and it brought Kaia and Carver closer together.

13) Things that annoy you.

I’m gonna talk about the game bc if this is about the fandom, then that’s a whole other thing.

Anders’ writing for one. It doesn’t make sense that he’d approve of giving Fenris back to Danarius. And also that he wouldn’t tell f!Hawke that he’s bi? Then there’s the fact that Anders, Fenris, and Merrill all don’t get along when they have a lot in common.

Anything that was written by Lukas Krisdkjsdhkdk. Aveline, Sera, etc. he did a really bad job.

Also didn’t like that mages got less OP in the last two games.

There’s also the tone-deafness? Dorian, a brown man, saying slavery is ok. And also there’s the dialogue between Solas and Vivienne where Solas supposedly “owns” Vivienne. I think he says something like “may you learn”? Solas, a white person, saying this to Vivienne, a black woman, when there’s obvious colorism in Thedas? I think not.

There’s probably other but I can’t think of them right now.

14) Orlais or Ferelden?

Orlais is too snooty and Ferelden doesn’t season their food. I pick Seheron and Laysh because that’s where the Asians are at.

15) Templars or mages?

Mages

16) If you have multiple characters, are they in different/parallel universes or in the same one?

Originally, my canonverse was Rhian, Kaia, and Luwalhati. Alden and Bolin were part of an AU. Then Alden finagled his way in there, then I decided to have Bolin in there too. So now i have twin Hawkes and Bolin is part of the Inquisition (if he’s a companion or not, I haven’t thought about)

I have plenty of other OCs that I’m planning on, but they’re currently sorted into a different universe.

17) What did you name your pets? (mabari, summoned animals, mounts, etc)

Pikamon for the Origins mabari. It’s a mix between the names of my two dogs, Pikachu and Cinnamon

Cinnachu for the DA2 mabari, also a mix of Pikachu and Cinnamon.

Lu’s mount is the royal sixteen (hart), which is given to you by Clan Lavellan if you manage to keep them alive iirc, and its name is Luntian, the tagalog word for green which is her favorite color. (In a teen!Lu AU, her mount is the bog unicorn bc she’s an edgelord)

18) Have you installed any mods?

It would be more surprising if I didn’t. How else would I manage to have my characters look like the’re poc?? And also get rid of whitewashing and have some continuity. I usually just do cosmetic mods if it’s my first playthrough. Then I do like “cheats” after I finish the game fully.

Fun fact, I once spent like 2+ hrs modding Origins to have the Zev romance the way I want. I also stayed up until like 5am trying to make Solas look like his concept art lol (it didn’t really work)

19) Did your Warden want to become a Grey Warden?

Rhian didn’t not want to become a warden. She read about them and thought they were an honorable order, but she didn’t expect to ever have a chance to become one. Her goal was to just go up in the Circle hierarchy, maybe even become First Enchanter. Then when the time came, she didn’t really have much of a choice.

20) Hawke’s personality?

Kaia is blue and Alden is purple

21) Did you make matching armor for your companions in Inquisition?

At first, I didn’t get what the big deal was with crafting. It didn’t seem fun at all lol. Then I tried it and was hooked. I don’t have them matching, but I do tend to try to match my Inquisitor with their LI in some way.

My usual procedure for armor in Inquisition is like this. I make everyone wear heavy armor and pick the materials that have the highest attributes, not caring how ridiculous the colors are. Then I go to tint them using a guide for each companion’s color scheme. This is the same for helmet but I usually have them turned off or have no one wearing one.

The only exception is Varric, Cole, and Blackwall. I have Varric wear the rogue armor that looks like his DA2 outfit, and Cole and Blackwall wear the Grey Warden heavy armor. I tint the grey warden armor using a guide for its color scheme.

I have Bull, Vivienne, and Cole wear their unique helmets.

22) If your character(s) could go back in time to change one thing, what would they change?

Rhian - She’d probably want to re-do how she told Zevran that she wasn’t exactly dead.

Kaia - Taken Quentin’s threat more seriously and killed him before he got to Leandra

Alden - He has no regrets

Luwalhati - wouldn’t have taken Sam and Wis with her so they wouldn’t have had to have died in the conclave explosion

Bolin - None, all of his decisions led him to Dorian and he’s happy with that.

23) Do you have any headcanons about your character(s) that go against canon?

They’re all at least part Seheron?

I also hc that neither Carver nor Bethany die because Kaia was able to cast a barrier on both of them before the ogre got them. Then they both became Grey Wardens because Carver contracted the taint in the expedition and wouldn’t join the Wardens unless Bethany came with him too.

Another hc I have is that Sebastian didn’t leave when Anders was spared and stayed to help out. But he went his separate way after because he still didn’t approve of sparing him.

Oh shoot, I almost forgot. The most against canon thing I’ve done probably? Rhian didn’t do the Ritual but she did slay the archdemon without dying. Rhian’s an arcane warrior, so when she slayed it, she was partway in the fade. Being partway into the fade was enough for her essence, I guess, to survive it. But she’s not mortal anymore and kind of a spirit now? So she periodically has to chill in the fade because being in the real world takes a toll on her.

25) Who did you leave in the Fade?

In the game, it was Stroud. I killed Loghain and no way is Alistair gonna be trapped in there. Fiona will be sad. So I made Alistair king in the game only, so Stroud was the one that was left.

This is another off canon thing I did. In my actual canon, Alistair is the warden contact. The Hawke that comes to the Inquisition is both Kaia and Alden. Alden brings Fenris with him because he doesn’t go anywhere without his Boo-Boo. Bethany and Carver also come because Weisshaupt was being weird and it seemed like they would be safer in the Inquisition. Lu + her party, Alistair, Kaia, Alden, Fenris, Bethany, and Carver all come to Adamant. Because there’s so many people, everyone was able to escape the Fade. No one is left behind.

26) Favourite mount? The nugs! All of them :) 

Though I don’t really use the mounts lol

[daireferences]

Y'all this is so random but

So I used to work at a hometown pharmacy and it was a really surreal experience because it's a strange mix of the medical world and customer service/retail, and I've always wanted to do a Dragon age II Pharmacy AU so here are the ideas for that. (all of these characters are based off specific people I worked with)

Hawke: the recently graduated pharmacist from the city that has purchased this pharmacy on a whim with all of the previous employees still hired on. This is a small town where they don't trust city folks, and Hawke has like zero business sense. His entire family has moved with him.

Bethany: going to college to get a nursing degree on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and is a receptionist at the pharmacy on Tuesdays and Thursdays because the job really is too much for just one person. Lives with Hawke and their mother and commutes 45 minutes to school every day because she's dedicated and loves her family at the same time. Everyone at the pharmacy loves her.

Carver: joined the army, sends letters. When he comes back, he visits Hawke in the small town because that's where his whole family is now. Hates the fact that his mother and sister are practically glued to his big sibling. Wishes they would get their own lives, tries his best to have his.

Aveline: the local sheriff, went to the same college as Hawke, ended up getting hired at the sheriff's office in the same town, eventually works her way up the ranks. Since the sheriff's office is behind the pharmacy, often drops in for a cup of coffee and to complain about the racism and hate crimes in said small town.

Varric: co-owner of the men's wear shop down the street with his brother Bartrand, which is mostly ran by Bartrand and isn't very busy. Comes in every morning at 7 am to make coffee. Notices that Hawke is struggling with the business aspect of his pharmacy and offers to help him balance the books and such, as that's his main job at the men's wear store.

Anders: the relief pharmacist that Hawke frequently hires on due to his experience (and he was a relief pharmacist there long before Hawke purchased the building). Always has dark circles under his eyes but has a relatively cheerful attitude. However, it turns out later that he's been stealing drugs (for lack of a better word) from the pharmacy (and other pharmacies that he works at) to run a free health clinic in the poverty-stricken neighborhoods of the town.

Fenris: One of the pharmacy technicians. Has worked there for several years, has tons of tattoos, and nobody knows his story. Prefers to work from the back of the pharmacy to pack up orders to be delivered to the nursing home. Can't put his finger on why he hates Anders, but he is always suspicious of him. Is pretty antisocial, any time he has to do customer service it doesn't go very well. Rents the apartment above the pharmacy, comes down for coffee in his pajamas on the days he doesn't work. Sometimes, his sister comes to visit him from the north. Everyone thinks they're both very strange.

Merrill: the receptionist. Is always trying her hardest, running the cash register, sorting medications, and dealing with customers. They get mad when she can't remember their names even though she's worked there for almost a year. Is cheery and gets overwhelmed sometimes. Later revealed that she takes Ritalin for ADHD, but abuses it when stressed.

Isabella: a pharmacy technician. Kind of hates her job but is also in charge of the pharmacy since she's worked there the second longest but Fenris refuses to take any responsibility for anything. Customers love her and ask for her by name when they're angry at Merrill. Talks honey to the customers then talks shit when they leave.

Sebastian: is a pharmacy technician but is also a guest preacher at the local church. Often asking people if they've been saved. Part of the reason we sell so much cross jewelry. Good at his job, find out later he's from a rich family, and they expected him to inherit the business, and instead he went into a relatively low-income job because it's what made him happy.

[thejourneymaninn]

AU Game

Our fandom’s creativity potion (seriously, where would we be without you?), the amazing @dovabunny tagged me for her AU game. 

Reality TV network AU

The whole gang works for the same network. While they each have their own show(s), they frequently do crossover episodes.

Varric: runs the whole thing. Officially, he’s the ‘business side’ of the network, but he keeps poking his nose into the creative aspects. Almost all of the show concepts were his idea (often whispered into a receptive ear over a bit too much ale in the Hanged Man), and a suspicious number of scripts are written by a certain ‘Chester Hair’.

Hawke: co-founder and official face of the company but leaves the business aspects to Varric. Their coaching/self-improvement show ‘Dragon Rage’ (“Feel it roar, let it out, face your fear”) is the network’s flagship, but their heart belongs to “Mabari Mates”, their show about building a better bond between dogs and their owners.

Merrill: hosts a landscaping/gardening show helping people make the best of their gardens (her trademark is having them look like untouched wilderness and a calming oasis at the same time). She always makes sure any resident spirits are left undisturbed (‘no, no, you can’t cut down that tree to make room for a gazebo, its occupant wouldn’t like that’). She also has an antiques’ show called ‘arteFACTS’ where people bring (what they believe to be) ancient artefacts for evaluation and/or restoration. Both shows air once a week, and she always sticks to her schedule, frequently leaving her friends worrying she might overtax herself.

Isabela: has at least five different shows but doesn’t stick to the schedule for any of them. There’s no way of knowing when the next episode’s going to air, might be next week, might be next month, better follow her on twitter for updates (and dirty limericks). Varric keeps threatening to fire her, but everyone knows it’s just empty talk – all her shows are major hits. Her crew is close to mutiny, though. Her most popular shows are ‘Looting that booty’ (sex tips/sex ed, sex toys and porn reviews and recommendations, interviews with experts/sex workers) and Rogue’d (a prank show she co-hosts with Sera. Her favourite victims? Her co-workers.)

Carver: weight loss/fitness coaching show. He’s brash, harsh, and borderline cruel to his clients, demanding they give 100% at all times, but has been rumoured to be an absolute sunshine off-camera. (A rumour Bethany spread and is definitely never going to let die down.) He absolutely hates having to do crossover episodes with Hawke, like ‘tips for jogging with your dog’ or ‘outdoor fun for you and your furry friend’ (‘we are not calling it that!’), but keeps eagerly suggesting more episodes with Merrill ( “Come on, ‘How to turn your Elder Tree into a workout station’ was a huge success, wasn’t it?”)

Bethany: production, mostly stays behind the scenes. As Varric’s right hand, she pretty much runs the creative side of the company but likes to pretend (with frightening success) she’s ‘just an intern’. Constantly torn between keeping her friends in check and fucking with them.

Anders: hosts a call-in show in which he gives medical advice to people who don’t have insurance (most of the advice being ‘come see me at my clinic tomorrow, I’ll treat you for free’) and rants about the system’s injustices between calls. He also has a little passion project on the side, Feline fine – everything you need to know about your cat. His favourite segment is ‘Adopt a pat - finding new homes for abandoned cats’.

Fenris: initially didn’t want to participate at all but eventually agreed to host a book club/literary criticism show where he and his guests talk about new releases. Authors hate him, as he is blunt and merciless in his criticism, but the audience absolutely adores him and his spot-on acid remarks. The most popular episodes are the ones where Anders guest stars – when Fenris tears a book to shreds, Anders will defend it just as mercilessly. Although his main motivation is to spite Fenris, he does frequently offer fresh interpretations or contexts that tend to go overlooked. On screen, Fenris brusquely dismisses them, but he’ll secretly reread the book afterwards to see if this new perspective changes his verdict. Occasionally, it does, but he will never, ever admit it.

Justice: camera operator. Prefers to observe from a distance but will later pester the others with tips on how to improve their client’s life (long after shooting has finished and they have moved on to the next one). Anders and Merrill are usually the only ones who listen.

Sebastian: is very devoted to his spiritual advice call-in show ‘Buckle up for Andraste, spreading the Maker’s light’. It’s not popular with the Chantry, as he refuses to ask for donations (also, Elthina doesn’t want competition for the Chantry’s own ‘The barbed truth with Mother Petrice’). Varric’s not exactly fond of it either, but Sebastian’s parents invested heavily in the network, and the kid means well, bless his boring heart, might as well let him fill the late night slots.

Aveline: responsible for security and casting (all applicants are thoroughly vetted. A little more so than necessary, perhaps.) She also has a show where she gives financial advice and helps people get out of debt (alas, Gamlen was not a success story). She refuses to appear in any of the other’s shows, stating ‘she sees too much of these fools as it is’… but still ends up in the Hanged Man with them every night.

Donnic: production assistant, also takes care of catering and oversees security on set. Basically, he makes sure the others don’t accidentally set themselves on fire (and puts them out when they do.)

Bonus:

Emile de Launcet: After the spectacular failure of ‘Pickup artiste’, Varric gave him another chance. His new show ‘Perfect Mageover’, where participants get a new wardrobe and donuts haircuts, is a huge hit in Orlais.

Bran: Only shows up for his interior design show ‘horror houses’ and avoids interacting with the others as much as possible. His open disdain for his clients’ gaudy tastes is legendary, making the show a guilty pleasure for many viewers. There’s nothing he hates more than having to work with Hawke for clients with messy houses and messy dogs. (”The hair gets everywhere, and Hawke is an insufferable cretin.”) The audience, however, loves them together, which is why Bethany is secretly working on a concept for a show co-hosted by the two of them. That’ll teach Hawke not to go through her stuff.

The Arishok: In his ‘Cooking duel’, contestants cook against each other and the clock with random ingredients picked out by members the audience. The winner doesn’t get to celebrate for long, though - they have to duel him next.

[aarongoldenwrites]

Sparrow Cousland could not have handled Kirkwall as it was. She got on with Sten well enough and generally liked mages, but she was very much raised an autocrat and carried herself like one. She would have seen the Viscount and Mother Elthina as weak-willed and ineffectual leaders and done what she could to replace them both, and after that she would have turned immediately on Meredith (even if she wasn’t close with Anders and Justice). She would have burned the city to the ground and started again when Elthina was willing to tolerate Peatrice.  Sparrow would have gotten on fine with most of the crew. She already knows Isabella and Anders and would be happy with either of them in her party. She would have enjoyed Varric and Merrill and felt protective of Fenris. Aveline would be her best friend. She’d prefer Carver to Bethany, and she would have loved Sebastian and seen a lot of herself in him (though the two would become mortal enemies eventually over the Chant and the mages). The Hero’s Kirkwall Party: Herself, Anders, Isabella, Aveline. Sebastian as an offhand ally in the second act, but the two would be at one another’s throats by the end of act three.    As bad as she would be as Champion, she would make a worse Inquisitor. Her experiences with the Architect messed her up, and she would take one look at Corypheus and think “Architect” with a monomaniacal obsession and never stop until the venatori and everything associated with them was burned to the ground. She would not care who got hurt in the crossfire, and Cory’s ability to manipulate Wardens would make her an unwitting pawn in his plans. Even if Avernus could come up with a way to stop that from happening, she would never stop second-guessing herself and would burn Thedas and herself to nothing.  When it comes to the Inquisition itself, she was in love with Leliana and would favor her lover’s advice over Josey’s or Cullen’s. She’d find all of the mages fascinating but be wary of Dorian (the Tevinter slavers in the Alienage made an impression). She’d murder Blackwall herself for being an imposter Warden. Cassandra and Sparrow would get along swimmingly, but she’d find Sera annoying and pointless (she’s an archer and she’s strange enough, thank you). She would think of Cole as a son.  The Hero’s Inquisition Squad: Herself, Cassandra, Vivienne, Cole.  Marian Hawke is a disaster of a human being and she knows it. That said, she’s pretty good at killing Darkspawn. Being an apostate Warden would make her more of a freak in people’s eyes, but she’s good at rallying people and not dying and managing chaos. Loghain would hate her, and Howe would hate her so much more. She’d be mocking everyone the whole time as a defense mechanism.  The sheer chaos of her and Alistair’s dialogue would be enough to send the darkspawn running. She’d also get on well with Leliana and she and Morrigan could talk a little shop and she’d enjoy hanging out with the bog witch. She would loathe Wynne and Oghan a lot. She’d be amused by Zevren and when she noticed how much the elf was hurting - and she would - there’d be some powerful big sister energy. She always liked the Qunari and she’d appreciate that Sten could be funny. She would find Shale fascinating. Loghain would die.  Marian’s Feraldan Wardens: Herself (anyone else want a go? Anyone? No?), Alistair, Leliana, Morrigan.  Marian would want to kill Alastair for giving her Vigil’s Keep, but she’d do the work because that’s how she rolls. The idea of talking darkspawn would fascinate her right up until the Architect took her captive; between that and the similarity to Cory, she’d be having panic attacks in short order and would need to see everything destroyed as quickly as possible. She’d try and save Adamanthine because she’s a self-sacrificing idiot who accepts too much responsibility. The Architect would “die” and she’d warn anyone who would listen after Inquisition about the Architect still being out there.  She’d get on with Anders and Justice because those are her people. Her relationship with Nathaniel would depend on if Kirkwall has happened yet; if its before she hasn’t met Sebastian yet and she’ll like him because of that. She’d continue to find Oghren a waste of life, but she’d sympathize with Velanna over loss and do what she could to help the elven mage. She’d be closest with Sigrun, though, and rely on her as a Varric-substitute.  Marian’s Awakening Crew: Anders and Justice always, and subbing between Nathaniel, Sigrun, and Velanna otherwise; she’d eventually focus mostly on Sigrun. Sigrun would notice her trying not to go out and would drag her along. Marian would try not to resent her for it.  When it comes to being Inquisitor, no thank you. Marian does not want the responsibility and she’s lost a lot - she’s two steps away from falling apart, a collection of trauma that really just wants to be left alone in her cave by the time Inquisition starts. If she was dragged into it she’d be furious upon learning Cory survived and then she’d blame herself for everything and try to fix it all, losing herself along the way. She’s so tired.  She’d hate Vivienne but enjoy needling Cassandra. She will never forget Cullen telling her that mages aren’t people and she’d never listen to him about anything; she’d constantly oscillate between Leliana and Josephine at the war table. She’d like Dorian well enough and feel safe around both him and Solas, and there would definitely be wine nights with the other two mages where she could talk a little shop. She likes the Qunari in general (though not how they treat mages) and would get on well with Bull. Blackwall’s deception would mean little to her - what he’s doing now is what matters, and he’s a good man now. Sera would be one of her favorite people and the two of them would not be allowed to prank one another for the sanity of everyone else. She has a habit of adopting broken people and would see Cole as such. Varric is her best friend and the two are pretty much inseparable; Varric is the only person she actually lets her guard down around, and there would be a lot of nights where Varric would leave Marian and forbid anyone from going to see her. Varric would hate Cassandra for making Marian Inquisitor, and only Leliana’s spy network would keep Varric from bringing everything he is down on her.  Marian’s Inquisition Besties: Varric, Bull, Blackwall. (Do I have to go? Can someone else do this? Dorian? Solas? Fine.)  

Finally, Shay Lavellan would have made an okay Warden. She’s a stabby heist machine with a healthy distrust of humans; she grew up in an alienage that was destroyed and was adopted into the clan, and she’d see the Wardens as another sort of clan. She’d be good at navigating the political waters of Feraldan and keeping people together, and she’d use Alistair as her mouthpiece and keep out of the limelight as much as possible. She’s at her best when she can duck and move or when she is surrounded by people protecting her, and the Wardens would let her do both.  She and Leliana would be stabbing sisters, and Shay would know of Flemeth and have a healthy respect for Morrigan because of it. Sten would terrify her and Oghren would disgust her. She’d respect Wynne like a Keeper or a First and listen to her closely because of it. She’d like Alistair and then love him when she figured out that he has elven blood. She would not know what to make of Shale but would come to appreciate her, and would see a kindred spirit in Zevren and the two of them would quickly become inseparable.    Shay’s Wardens: Shay, Alistair, Morrigan, and Leliana until Zevren showed up, then Zevren would take Leliana’s place.    During Awakening, Shay would lose her damn mind when she learned about Velanna’s clan and why that happened. She’d have questions about where Adamanthine’s alienage is and how their elves are treated and would leave the city to burn in the end. She’d hunt the Architect and the Mother until she was sure both were dead.  Justice would freak her out and she’d still find Oghren disgusting. Velanna would be a constant companion for her, and she’d find a kindred spirit in Sigrun and the two would have a lot in common. Nathaniel and Anders would both interest her for different reasons, but she’d favor Anders over Nathaniel - she knows how rotten humans can be to anyone they deem lesser, and Anders running from persecution would get her attention.  Shay’s Awakening: Shay, Velanna, Sigrun, Anders.  Shay would have less fun in Kirkwall. The rampant elf hate and mage hate would not bring up happy thoughts for her, and she’d be killing people sooner rather than later. She’d understand and sympathize with the Qunari and Mages, and actively hate the Viscount, the Chantry, and most of the city. She’d be happy to watch it burn.  Companion-wise, she’d get on best with Merrill and Fenris. She and Aveline would drive one another nuts, but she’d be willing to do anything for Aveline because Aveline is actually a good person. She and Isabella would enjoy one another (they’re both thieves who enjoy knife fighting), and she’d enjoy Varric as much in Kirkwall as she did in Inquisition. She’d continue to like Anders but she’d loathe Sebastian outright. She’d prefer Bethany to Carver, but only barely and she’d pity Bethany for her self hatred.        Shay in Kirkwall: Shay, Merrill, Fenris, Varric or Isabella (depending upon the seriousness of what they’re doing) 

dragon age oc question: how good/bad/disastrous would your warden/champion/inquisitor have been in the others' roles if they happened to have traded places?

[loquaciousquark]

2nd Cloudreach. Still cold for the season, but not as cold as last year

It’s been a while, journal. Longer than I would have liked.

I don’t even know where to start. So much has happened since the last entry, and I don’t...

From the beginning, I suppose.

Sebastian found the people that orchestrated the coup against his family (and, by proxy, the whole damned royal house of Starkhaven). I shouldn’t be surprised by now that every noble house in Kirkwall is built over an ancient crypt, but so it went, and so I was, and by the time we finally dealt with the demon that had been feeding off the whole family I’d learned more about the Harrimans’ innermost desires than I’d ever wanted.

I need to talk to Sebastian about it, but he keeps saying Andraste has given him peace over the deaths and I haven’t yet found the most tactful way to call him out on his right and utter bullshit. Not that I’m known for my tact anyway, but I’m also still feeling very tender in my own grief. I’m not quite ready to take on someone else’s on top of it.

Am I even lying to myself now? I’m so selfish. Not an ear to lend him if it’ll make me take a single step out of myself, and I’m still blaming him for the suffering.

Get a grip. Talk to Sebastian before next weekend, and that’s all there is to it.

3rd Cloudreach, because Toby came begging for a walk yesterday and who was I to tell the most adorable mabari in Thedas that I’d more interest in a quill than a leash

Anyway. That’s been the primary topic of discussion around our (stained, sticky, cracked, beloved) tables lately. Isabela in particular has not been able to quit giggling about the feather thing despite Sebastian’s rolling eyes. I wouldn’t mind forgetting it, though I will say I had no idea Fenris’s eyebrow could climb quite so high.

As for the rest--it’s not that I have anything against the qunari, but Maker take me if they’re not letting this city tear itself apart. Last I wrote they’d let a false chemical formula slip out with a thief, then made peaceful overtures to the Viscount that ended in the entire delegate being slaughtered at the stake by a fanatic. Funny, most of my memories of Lothering have hardly any high-stakes political disaster in them at all.

The city’s not doing well with it. They’ve cordoned off areas of the docks around the qunari compound--not with rope or fence or anything so obvious, but with a much more dangerous silent agreement throughout the whole hex. No one goes by the compound gates now except the guardsmen and me, and the eyes that always watch me make no secret of their hatred.

It’s simmering, Kirkwall. And as long as the qunari stay in that compound, even if they don’t ask for a damned thing, that low, deep heat’s only going to get worse.

That said, I went to the Chantry after Varnell’s slaughter to light candles for the qunari bodies. The Arishok may not have been overly fussed, but I was, and no matter the cause an innocent dead ought to have someone there for their passing, even if there’s no one to mourn them properly. Even so, if the sisters had known who I was lighting them for, I suspect they’d have been just as delighted as the Arishok, so perhaps it’s better they went quietly after all.

Dumar’s written asking me to come consult on a matter of some urgency. And secrecy, I think, given he’s told me to bring no one with, though by now he knows I’ll probably tell them anyway. Fenris keeps smoothing over my gaffes with the Arishok in dealing with my own side of the mess; if he needs to do it for me with the Viscount, too, I’m sure he’d be overjoyed to help.

Well. Tolerant enough to cooperate, maybe.

Maybe not.

6th Cloudreach. Muggy, warmer, not even the slightest breeze, which is terribly inconsiderate

The guards always let me pass now without a single word, only nods. It surprises me every time. What business in the world could a Fereldan farmgirl have hobnobbing with a city’s viscount, I ask you? Aside from being a very talented (and conveniently conscience-leashed) murderer, I suppose.

I don’t want to think of this, but I don’t have much of a choice. Dumar’s son has gone missing. I know Seamus well enough--he’s been in Mother’s circle for ages and I’ve danced with him at least twice at some of the otherwise forgettable parties. He’s a bit younger than me, but means well enough for his foolish, childish naivete.

Perhaps that makes me jaded. All I know is he’s got a father who loves him and wants him safe and sound and he’s thrown it all away like so much worthless refuse, and I can’t help but hate him a little for it.

Dumar thinks he’s defected to the Qun. If I have to go to the docks one more time to put my fat foot in my fat mouth in front of the Arishok, I’ll eat my least favorite feathered hat.

Later. I forgot to mention it this morning and I feel like it ought to be written somewhere before time and memory take it back

Completely unrelated to everything else--

I remembered something this morning. I know it was from before Lothering because I was hiding under the kitchen table with the oak spindles, and we didn’t take that with us in the move. I remembered Papa’s legs as he sat down, and Mother’s voice from where she was standing at the wall; they talked for a while about something I don’t recall, and then he sighed and said, “There’s too much grief in the world already, Leandra. I won’t hold onto mine if I can help it.”

I don’t remember what they were talking about. I don’t even know why it came to my head so suddenly this morning, save for the fact that I got up twice to make Mother’s tea before I realized I didn’t need to.

I told Aveline about it, and she said it was wise advice in her opinion. She’s lost both parents and her husband, too. I keep forgetting she knows about this grief.

It passes, she says.

It passes. It passes. It passes.

It must.

7th Cloudreach

Seamus is dead. So is Petrice.

I have never in my life been quick enough to stop someone from dying. I don’t know why I thought this would be any different.

10th Cloudreach. Cold today. Sharp breeze off the sea, heavy salt

She killed him in the Chantry.

I think that’s the part hardest for me to believe. She lied to him and killed him in the Chantry and knelt him before the altar, like he was praying, and believed in the deepest places of her heart that this would serve the Maker.

She posed him. Killed him in close quarters and cold blood and put him where he would hurt the most. She knew he believed in the Qun and made him kneel before the Maker’s altar and I just

Which is more profane in the eyes of the Maker, I wonder? The murder at Andraste’s feet, or the mockery she made of the worship after?

Poor Seamus. Poor fool. I wish I hadn’t said those things about him, even if I was bitter. No one should die like that--alone and suffering.

I hadn’t thought of my mother until this moment. I wish I still hadn’t.

Elthina turned on Petrice. Came at the end, after the blood spilled and spilled and spilled and she saw dead Seamus and the dozen dead blessed faithful that Petrice had persuaded to fight for her. I killed them all. Varric and Fenris and Anders helped, but it was my decision to kill them before Andraste. I could have wounded some, taken them out of the fight, but Seamus was dead and it hurt and I wanted them to hurt for him.

How will I ever look Sebastian in the face again?

Elthina turned on her, and a qunari sten in the shadows of the stairs put an arrow through her heart, and another between her eyes. No one flinched, not even Elthina, and there was such vicious joy in me when she fell I had to look away.

I was there when Dumar came for his son. Fenris waited for me outside, but Seamus was innocent and I couldn’t let him pass alone, not when I failed to save him. I mourned for Seamus. I grieve for Dumar more. How much more can he take before he’s worn to the bare weft? His lines have deepened more in three months than they have the last three years combined.

They call it a sanctuary. He held his dead son at the Maker’s altar, and his blood was on the silver censer.

Sometimes I wonder if the Arishok is right. There is nothing of faith in such a place.

15th Cloudreach. Warm again, foundry smoke beginning to float through Hightown again. Oddly comforting

They held Seamus’s pyre this morning. By now I can recite the service start to finish for the attending sister if she ever wants to take a day off, though the Transfigurations passages are infinitely more comforting than the Benedictions they always insist on using.

Dumar looks so old. He’s never been a young man, but I swear he’s aged thirty years since I saw him last. This city’s going to kill him.

The crowd was quiet, but there was such anger in it. Fenris thinks the guard will hold, but he and Aveline both looked uneasy at the thought tonight at WG.

17th Cloudreach. Winds off the sea all day

Merrill’s clan’s turned on her. Had one kill himself on a varterral rather than speak to her face-to-face. She’s got her little tool now, though, but at what cost? The people she’s trying to save can barely look at her.

I’d wonder if Meredith ever feels like this, except I don’t know if she’s trying to save anyone.

21st Cloudreach. It’s only nine in the morning and I’m already behind

Everything’s happening at once, and I’m not broad enough to cover it all. Isabela’s found her relic after who-knows-how-many years, Castillon’s going to kill her for it (I think? Might just be steal it from her; wasn’t perfectly clear given how damned loud she and Av were getting at each other), Aveline’s got a pair of elves defecting to the Qun for protection after a murder, and somehow both of them are expecting me to fix it all at once. Flames and pyre, I’m not paid enough for this.

Because I’m not paid at all, get it? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

We’re to go to Lowtown tonight to meet Isabela’s contact for this whatever. Aveline’s not happy about the wait, but of the two Isabela’s seems the more likely to end in personal injury, so I promised her I’d help her first.

Something feels so wrong about all of this. On the one hand, the city rising to a roil around me has been so distracting I haven’t thought of my mother in almost four days. On the other, it’s also been so distracting that when Fenris helped me up after a minor skirmish in Darktown, it took me a full minute of pointed glances from Varric to realize he hadn’t let go of my hand again after. He dropped it the moment we both realized and looked off to where Merrill was searching with the bodies, but the warmth lingered, after, and I kept flexing my fingers to try to keep it. Damn him. Damn me.

Aveline’s just sent me a note via a very short, angry runner. Not even a hello, rude. We’re to go straight from Isabela’s thing this evening to meet Aveline at the qunari compound for the Arishok. Guess I ought see if Fenris has plans, seeing as my night’s now been fully booked by everyone else.

It’ll be fine. It’ll be fine, and we’ll all be fine.

Why have I got such nerves over this?

[The next page is blank, followed by several pages written in many different hands. They include a page in short, square lettering that describes a climactic duel in a throne room wherein a city is successfully defended by its champion, though the prose is somewhat lurid; a page in a looping hand that means to wish well, but is often distracted mid-sentence by anecdotes of other friends; and one corner with a few crude anatomical drawings, an apology, and the phrase “Don’t look for me for a bit.”

There is also a folded letter of some length tucked between the pages that refers to several Chant passages regarding swift healing; a short, direct missive in a strong hand expressing personal gratitude, and that her husband will send food as soon as the reader is strong enough to eat; and a few lines in a tall, narrow hand with instructions on deep-wound care and the changing of bandages, as well as a schedule of several medicines.

The last is a familiar hand with tense, unpracticed lettering that reads, “This will never be enough to defeat you. Wake soon.”]

[thatapostateboy]

For the fic prompt meme: “I’d die for you.” Handers please!

So here are all of my feelings, feel free to read them on Ao3 instead here

Summary: In the distance, the Chantry is burning, but all Marie Hawke can look at is Anders.

Marie couldn’t take her eyes off the Chantry burning in thedistance. The smoke and ash from the fires had filled the skies, blocking outthe stars. Everything had finally come to a head, the Templars, the mages, thesecrets that Anders had been keeping… It all made sense now.

She could hear the Knight Commander invoking the Right ofAnnulment; hear the cries of protests from the mages and the First Enchanter,their pleas of innocence.

It was Garrett’s hand on her shoulder that pulled her out ofher trance. She whipped her head around and saw that everyone’s eyes were onher.

“I’m defending the mages, sister,” he told her, his voicelow, watching her face carefully, “I am not going to stand by and let herslaughter my people.”

“Consider your choice carefully, Champion,” Meredith warnedher, “You may not be a mage, but if you stand with them, you will share theirfate.”

She looked between the mages and Templars. The mages werenot her people, not like they were Garrett’s. He could lead them in a way shenever could. She had no obligation to them. No magic ran through her veins. Butit was as deep rooted in her life as the people she loved. Her father, herbrother and sister, Merrill, Anders… Thosewere her people. Her family. And she would protect them, no matter what,because that was her role. She had kept the innocents of Kirkwall safe foryears, she had defended the mages at every turn. She was not going to abandonthem now.

“I will not help you, Meredith,” Marie told the KnightCommander, then looked to Garrett, “I am with you, brother. Always.”

They moved to stand in front of the mages, beside the FirstEnchanter; the Champions of Kirkwall, side by side, never standing alone. Shekept her eyes fixed on the Templars. If she looked around, she would seeAnders, and she couldn’t face him, not now, not with Meredith here.

Meredith took her Templars and left to rouse the rest of theorder whilst Orsino told his mages to get to the Gallows. He glanced once atAnders and told the Champions that he would leave him for them to deal with.

When they were alone with their friends, Marie finally letherself look around at him. He had sat himself on a crate so that no one couldsee his face, staring at the floor. She felt as though all the air had beenknocked out of her when she realised that all of this, all of the destructionaround them, had been caused by him. It may have been the spirit’s idea, but itwould have been his hands that made the explosives that killed the people inthe Chantry, those healer’s hands that she loved so much.

But this was what the conflict needed. It was never going tobe resolved. It needed a catalyst. It would lead to many deaths, but it gavethe mages a chance; something they didn’t have before. A chance for freedom.

“Go to him,” Garrett said quietly to her, “Whatever youdecide, I will stand by it.”

She walked slowly, feeling the impact of every footfall onthe ground as she approached Anders. She looked at the back of his head,thinking of every single part of him that she loved, his smile, his eyes, hislaugh. She wanted nothing more than to reach out, hug him, touch his shoulder,anything, just to let him know that she was here.

But then she would remember the Chantry burning behind herand she would stay her hand.

“Whatever you’re going to say, don’t,” Anders said quietlywhen he felt her presence behind him, “There’s nothing you can say that Ihaven’t already said to myself. I took a spirit into my soul and changed myselfforever to achieve this. This is the justice all mages have awaited.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice dry, “I mighthave understood.” That was a lie. There was no ‘might’ about it. She wouldhave understood. She always understood. She would have been there for him,helped him look for a better way, but she knew, deep down, that if it had cometo it, if he had asked, she would have helped him.

“I wanted to tell you,” he admitted, “But what if youstopped me?… Or worse, what if you wanted to help? I couldn’t let you dothat… Because I know you, Marie, I know that you would have wanted to. The lessyou knew, the safer you were,” his head raised a little, but he didn’t lookaround at her, “The world needs to see this. Then we can all stop pretendingthat the Circle is a solution… And if I pay for that with my life, then so beit.”

She let out a shaky breath. He couldn’t be suggesting thatshe should kill him. Was this what he wanted? He had done his work and now hewould be made a martyr for it. Or would it be a punishment?

Garrett’s words echoed in her head.

Whatever you decide…

Garrett knew. He understood the end that Anders wouldexpect, knew what he would sacrifice for the cause, what everyone had warnedher about all these years. And yet here she was, hoping for the best as always.

“Whatever you do, please just do it,” he said quietly toher, “And just… Just know that I’m glad it’s you, not some Templar… It was niceto be happy, for a while. You know I never belonged anywhere, not in theCircle, not in the Wardens, but I finally had a chance to have a home, afamily… And I owe that to you.”    

She stood completely still, hand poised over her dagger. Shethought about it. She knew she could make it quick and painless for him,because even after everything he had done, she owed him that much. It would bekinder to kill him now; she didn’t know what life he could lead after today.

“Anders,” she whispered.

“Don’t,” he begged, “Please… Just do it.”

“Anders,” her voice hardened, “Look at me.”

Slowly, he turned his head and he looked at her. He watchedher as she unsheathed her daggers, swallowing nervously at the sight of them.Her eyes met his and she threw the blades aside, sending them clattering acrossthe street.

“No.”

He got to his feet, looking around for her daggers, “Marie…What are you doing… You-”

“No,” she said again, that fierce, protective fire that Anders lovedso much was burning more powerfully in her eyes than he’d ever seen before,“Don’t you dare ask me to do that.Not to you. Not ever.” She was shaking, but she didn’t reach for him like shenormally would. She couldn’t. Not yet. “Come with us. Help us fight theTemplars.”

He watched her, almost disbelieving. She still wanted tokeep him safe, after all this time, after everything he had done. He nodded, “Iwill. Damned right I will.”

They spun around, however, when they heard Sebastian’svoice, “No!” the prince snarled, pulling his bow from his back and knocking anarrow into it, aiming it at Anders, “He cannot be allowed to walk free.”

She knew the threat was real, so she quickly placed herselfin front of Anders so that the arrow was pointed at her instead, “If you wantAnders, you’ll have to go through me.”

“Stand aside,” Sebastian ordered, “If you cannot kill him, Iwill. He dies, or I am returning to Starkhaven. And I will bring such an armyon my return that there will be nothing left of Kirkwall for these maleficarumto rule.” She didn’t move an inch. She stood there, unarmed, staring him down.He gave a hard laugh, “You truly are a fool. You defend him after everything hehas done?” he narrowed his eyes at her.

“I defend him because he is right,” she told him, “I defend him because I cannot win this fightwithout him.”

“You defend him for love, and that love has blinded you fromthe truth. He must die.”

Shestood fast, “You kill him, you have to kill me first.”

“Youare unarmed.”

“Tryit,” she challenged, “I dare you.” She stared him down, not moving an inch. Shewas ready to kill him if she had to. He would die before she let him hurtAnders.

“Iexpected more from you,” he said, “You claim to be a protector of innocents,and yet you will let this murderer go free.”

Garrettfinally moved, coming to stand beside his sister, in front of his best friend.He was true to his word. Whatever she decided, he would stand by it.

Sebastianwatched him for a moment, hoping for a flicker of his dearest friend, the manwho sat with him for hours in the Chantry and talked with him about belief andduty, who dragged him to the Hanged Man so he wouldn’t miss out on all of thefun, who had only ever called him ‘Seb’, telling him that he didn’t care if hewas a prince; he was his friend first, fancy names and titles second. ButGarrett’s eyes narrowed on him.

“Donot interfere, Sebastian,” Garrett warned him.

So be it, the prince thought as helowered his bow, trying not to flinch at how easily Garrett seemed to have madehis decision, “I will not fight you both. My death here would serve no purpose.I will return to Starkhaven, but… I swear to you, I will come back, and findyour precious Anders. I will teach him what true justice is!”

He left, and Marie let out a breath she didn’t know she’dbeen holding in. She wondered whether he could have done it; killed her just totake revenge on Anders.

The war was starting tonight, and none of them could stopit.

 ****

Fighting to the Gallows wasn’t easy. They split into twogroups, Garrett leading one, Marie leading the other, agreeing to meet at thedocks. Anders fought at her side, but didn’t say a word the entire time. Once they had finallyarrived, having fought through the already war torn streets, he separatedhimself from the group as everyone patched up from the previous fights,readying themselves for the battle ahead.

He watched Marie as she made her way around the hall,speaking to each of her friends in turn, giving them instructions for thecoming battle, pulling them all into a hug to thank them for sticking by herside even when the odds were against them and no doubt saying goodbye in casethings didn’t go their way. Everyone had stood by them, with the exception ofSebastian. Fenris had taken some convincing, but in the end he knew where hisloyalties lay.

Marie and Garrett stood together for a few moments,exchanging goodbyes of their own. But when they were done, she didn’t go tospeak to the First Enchanter, instead she headed towards him. He stood, holdinghis breath, waiting for her to speak, to yell at him, tell him it was over,that her sparing him meant nothing and that she wanted nothing more to do withhim.

But she said nothing. She stood in front of him, looking upat him, unable to fathom what to say.

“Say something,” he begged after a few moments.

She continued to watch him, anger burning in the normallywarm brown of her eyes.

“Marie, please-” He barely got the word out before her handshot out and she slapped him hard across the cheek. He winced from the pain.

She stared at him, tears in her eyes, “I accepted that youwould have secrets, that you wouldn’t be able to tell me everything so that youcould keep people safe, I understood what you were willing to sacrifice. But this?” she glanced around the Gallows,at the mages who were already tending to battle wounds and weeping for thosethat had been lost, “You assumed that I would kill you. I don’t care whatyou’ve done, you know that I would neverbe able to do that. I would rather have helped you destroy the Chantry thaneven think about shoving my knife in your back.”

“I didn’t think you would have a choice,” he told her quietly,aching to reach for her, to wipe away her tears and comfort her, but he couldn’t.This was his fault.

“There is always a choice. Haven’t you understood it by now,you stupid bastard? I made my choice a long time ago, you know that.”

He hung his head, letting out a hard breath, “I should have trustedyou.”

“Yes, you should have.”

They were both quiet for a moment, before the burningquestion pushed past his lips, “So what happens now?”

“Never again, do you hear me?”

He glanced up at her when he realised that the hard edge toher voice had eased, “What?”

“No more secrets, no more self-sacrifice, no more ‘I’d diefor you’s. If we live through this, that is exactly what we are going to do; weare going to live. I told you once aboutthe future I want for us; the cottage in Fereldan, with the garden, and a cat,and a kitchen so I can bake. We may never get it, but I’m willing to fight forit; are you?”

Her eyes met his and he felt his heart leap. She wasn’tgoing to leave him.

“I am,” he told her, “There is nothing I want more.”

She took hold of his hands, interlocking their fingers, squeezingthem tight. He restedhis forehead against hers, both savouring in the quiet intimacy of the moment.He knew she was angry, that it would take time for her to forgive the lies anddeceptions and everything else. He had warned her of this, that it would alwayshave come to this. That she would have to make a choice between staying inKirkwall among the riches and the nobility, or being with him. But he shouldhave realised sooner. She would always choose him.

“We’llfight for a world where our children can be born mages and free,” he said,running his thumb over the back of her hand.

“Our children?” she looked at him.

“Noone knows what the future will hold… One day, ten years, a hundred years fromnow, someone like me will love someone like you and there will be no Templarsto tear them apart.”

Shereached up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. It was gentle, and hebarely had time to kiss her back before the sound of the Templars breaking downthe door grew louder and she pulled away, but it was enough.

“Thebattle is beginning,” she said quietly, unsheathing her daggers, then looked upat him, “Stay with me?”

Hereadied his staff,  “There is nothingthat could take me from your side.”

[tearsofwinter]

So I was talking to @mago-emplumado and we came up with this au that I thought was interesting. The first half is based off this prompt I wrote a year ago

So what if a blood spell was aimed at Fenris, but somehow it hit Anders instead, either because Anders took the hit for Fenris (preferable), or the caster misfired. Either way, Anders becomes comatose. When he awakens, it’s not Anders, but Justice that’s speaking. The spell aimed at Fenris was supposed to destroy the soul. Luckily, Anders has two inhabiting his body. While Anders recovers, Justice is taking care of his body for the both of them.

Sebastian and Fenris, of course, are wary of Justice, thinking he’s taken over Anders now, and is definitely an abomination. In the case of Fenris, however, Justice mentions Anders saved Fenris’ life. If it weren’t for that spell, Anders would be here instead of him.

Anyway, the rest of the Kirkwall gang gets to know Justice, who surprisingly, is like his Awakening self. He’s curious, but quiet. Though he still wishes freedom for mages, unlike Anders, he doesn’t speak without being spoken too. Also, although he has magic, he can’t heal. He may be in Anders’ body, but he lacks Anders’ knowledge on how the human body works. He can patch you up, but it’s shoddy.

When it’s brought up, Justice says he doesn’t know why Anders is taking so long to heal. He’s refusing to talk to Justice, and in fact, Justice can feel Anders retreating further and further away. So the group get together and enter Anders’ mind through the Fade. Course, here Fenris and a few others then see scenes from Anders’ past- when his father gave him away to the Templars, his treatment in the Circle, Karl being taken away from him, etc, etc.

When they finally meet up with Anders, Anders explains his anger was corrupting Justice. If he stays locked up in his mind, far from where Justice can reach him, Justice can stay a benevolent spirit. He can stay pure.

(and this is when the idea changes to what me and mago were talking about)

Something's wrong. Although Justice is the one possessing Anders' body now, the blood spell and Anders' stubborn self-sacrifice, a demon has taken a liking to Anders' and wants to take Anders' body for its own. The demon tracks Anders down, and one by one each of the companions fall. This is a strong demon, stronger than any Anders' has faced. Justice is unable to help, as he's the one that's holding the connection between the others and Anders open. Before Merrill is "killed" and ejected from the Fade, she tells Anders and Fenris that they may be able to evade the demon if they enter one of their memories and try to blend into the background.

Fenris and Anders run through Anders' memories first, but the demon has been with Anders for weeks now, it can easily sense Anders' in his own mind. So Fenris pulls Anders into his memories.

At first, the memories they travel through, are memories after Fenris got after his lyrium. Anders sees firsthand the abuse and tragedy of Fenris' life. But the further and further Fenris pulls them into his mind, they start going into memories Fenris don't remember. These are the memories he lost, ones he thought he'll never get back. Anders and Fenris learn at the same time what Fenris was like when he was still called Leto.

The two of them are able to see each other's lives and get to understand each other this way.

Fenris meets the real anders, a child so beloved and dear to all who goes by another name. Anders meets Leto, a witty and trouble making elf with a loving family and supportive team of workers.

They see the happy part of each other's childhood...then the worst parts of it. Anders in the circle, betrayed by his own father. Fenris' in Danarius' hand as Danarius' carves Fenris up

By getting to relive these experiences now the anger they suffer makes a lot of sense. Both have a better understanding and they can both relate if having the chance of having a normal life snatched from them.

You know how in dreams/Fade, time passes by differently? This part of the idea is based off this reddit thread:

What if like that guy's dream in reddit, Fenris and Anders spend basically a lifetime together? Not only do they learn about each other's lives, but they end up falling in love spending "years" running away from the demon in each other's minds. Until finally, either they defeat the demon or Anders dies.

When they come out it has only been a day but in that time they went through a whole lifetime of getting to know each other and fall in love.

What if though, the demon catches up, it's a losing fight, then in some self- sacrificing Anders tells Fenris to go, and Fenris can feel Anders pushing him out of his mind. Fenris remembers that originally they had to do this because Anders wanted to die and let Justice take over his body. Fenris begs Anders not to do this, and Anders smiles sadly and tells Fenris he loves him, then pushes Fenris out completely. Fenris wakes up with the others looking at him worriedly. He immediately turns and starts shaking Anders, telling him to wake up! He better not die!

Then when Anders wakes up, there is a minute Fenris isn't sure if it's Anders he's looking at or the demon. He's not sure who won the battle of wills. Luckily, it is Anders. Fenris gave him a reason to live again so he fought back

Fenris is relieved to see anders come back, also imagine everyone's reaction over their change over night.

mago-emplumado

From hating each other to loving each other madly. Merrill explains to them that in the fade time goes by a lot slower and those two must haves experiences something long and meaningful during their time there

tearsofwinter

Omg Anders wakes up and give Fenris a lopsided smile, and Fenris so happy to see that anders is alright, pulls him over and kisses him

Everyone's jaw drops

tearsofwinter

haha basically overnight, the two become inseparable, though to the two of them, they've lived an entire life time together

everyone can't comprehend the change in both of their behaviors

[orodrethsgeek]

I was excited to hear that you have a Hawke who romances Orsino! What was their meeting like? What's Hawke's view on magic? How do you see the ending playing out since they both walk away alive?

Hey there! Thanks so much for asking about them!

They’ve got two first meetings, sort of. The first one pretty much follows game canon—Kellan and co rescue Orsino from a group of Qunari during the Act II invasion, and Kellan later favors Orsino’s diversion over Meredith’s frontal assault. Both of them have much larger concerns than really noticing each other, though a few things do stick out—Kellan has Anders and Merrill (and Varric) in his party during the invasion, and Orsino definitely notices that his erstwhile rescuer is fighting openly alongside a pair of apostates. And on the other side of things, Orsino’s flair and sarcasm (directed at Meredith) absolutely made an impression in Kellan’s mind—Orsino had presence; he was clever, courageous without being reckless, and spirited enough to still go toe-to-toe with his jailers. Kellan joked to Varric on the way into the palace that he thought he was in love, but that’s all it was at the time; he forgot all about Orsino during the fight with the Arishok.

Their second, more official meeting happened during the ceremony Kirkwall held to formally bestow Kellan with the title ‘Champion of Kirkwall.’ By then it was a well known fact that the Champion sheltered apostates among his companions, and that he was himself the proud son of an apostate, so Orsino sought him out during the ceremony’s reception to sound Kellan out as a potential ally against Meredith. For his part, Kellan had dropped some not-so-subtle hints when the ceremony was still in its planning stages that, as the First Enchanter had been instrumental in getting him in the palace to confront the Arishok, he expected to see Orsino attending the ceremony and the celebrations afterward. (Orsino having been more or less forbidden from appearing at most public functions for some time, since the last time he’d been permitted to attend he’d “started” an argument with Meredith.) It was a minor power struggle more than anything—Kellan was testing the waters, seeing what his new status as a bonafide city hero got him in terms of concessions—but he was still genuinely pleased to see Orsino there, and even more pleased that Orsino sought him out.

Orsino wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Kellan for a while. After the battle with the Arishok, there was a virtual explosion of tales about the Champion and his prior exploits—not all of them flattering, given Kellan’s past. Some of the stories painted him as a self-centered manipulator who only ever looked out for himself; others celebrated him as a debonair, slightly tragic figure, given all his losses. Orsino suspected the truth lay somewhere in the middle, but with his people at stake Orsino couldn’t afford to take chances just because Kellan seemed friendly and had a pro-mage reputation. Kellan was much more certain of Orsino from the start—he had a penchant for recognizing good in other people, and he saw it in Orsino. And for a lot of complicated psychological and spiritual reasons, by this point in his life Kellan was hanging a lot of weight on being able to protect good people. So a lot of their early interactions followed a pattern: Orsino testing the waters and asking for progressively bigger favors, and Kellan consistently saying, “yes, of course, come to me for anything you need.”

Kellan doesn’t… precisely have views on magic itself. It exists, no different than any other talent or trade exists—although, in a way, that is a view. He doesn’t see magic as a curse from the Maker or a mark of displeasure; how could it be, when his father was the best man he ever knew and his sister was the sweetest soul ever born? It was easier to believe the Chantry had got it wrong, somehow, than to believe Malcolm and Bethany ought to have been locked away in a Circle all their lives. The problem with the magisters of old wasn’t that they were mages, but that they were, on the whole, people like him—ruthless and cunning and by and large unconcerned about other people as long as they got what they wanted. (Once, shortly after Bethany’s magic manifested, Kellan overhead his father tell his mother it could have been worse, that Kellan could have inherited the ability instead of Bethany. That stung more than he’d ever admit, but he couldn’t deny that his father was right—he wasn’t at all certain he had it in him to constantly resist demonic temptation.)

As far as the end game goes, I already wholesale reject Orsino turning himself into a horrifying flesh monster in universes where Hawke sides with the mages XD Given that the game developers themselves admitted it made no sense from a story point of view, I subscribe to the headcanon that Varric made it up, possibly to protect Orsino and the surviving Circle mages—no one (coughCassandra/theChantrycough) will look for him if he’s supposedly dead.

In Kellanverse in particular, Kellan is a bit more forward-thinking than the game allows Hawke to be: he sends Merrill and Isabela to the docks rather than taking them to the Gallows with the rest of his companions. He tells Isabela to get her ship ready, to muster up whatever crew she can, and sail to the Gallows as soon as possible. He’s not planning on outright defeating the templars; his plan is to protect as many of the Circle mages as possible until Isabela gets there, and then make a break for the open ocean.

A few other end game detail points:

- Sebastian’s whole friendship path character arc is learning to not seek revenge, and in Kellanverse in particular Sebastian becomes very outspoken about the abuses being heaped on the Gallows mages by the templars, and sees the Kirkwall Chantry’s refusal to intervene as tacit approval of what is happening. Given all that, though he loathes Anders for blowing up the Chantry and wants to see him face justice for his actions, he’s able to put that aside (at least temporarily) and defend the Circle mages. He and Kellan part ways some time after the end of the game, with Sebastian returning to Starkhaven to raise a force to rebuild Kirkwall, not invade it. Fenris and Varric go with him.

- Since Sandal is inexplicably in the Gallows during the final act, he ends up onboard the ship with everyone, too. The crew Isabela was able to muster is not enough for a ship this size, and the Circle mages have less than no idea how to sail, but Sandal employs a few enchantments to, among other things, ensure that the ship is never becalmed—the sails always have wind. Kellan is starting to wonder about the things Sandal knows and how he gets into places he shouldn’t. At some point they’re able to pick up Bodahn and possibly Orana as well, so Sandal and his father are reunited.

- Possibly around the time we pick up Bodahn and Orana, Merrill also arranges for her eluvian to be brought onto the ship. There wasn’t time to transport it to the ship when we first fled, but she won’t abandon it forever.

- Merrill and Isabela are a couple.

- Anders survives, though the published Tale of the Champion claims he was later executed at sea.

- Orsino and the surviving Senior Enchanters start a Circle of sorts on the ship, training the apprentices without templar oversight. As time goes on, they make a point of collecting any books on magic they can find when Isabela stops in port to take on more supplies, and occasionally they take in a few Circle-escapees or young apostates and their families. They keep sailing and keep as low a profile as possible. It's hard to declare an Exalted March against a ship.

Aaaand I have… more than half “talked” your ear off, lol, sorry about that. I hope this answers your questions! Thanks again so much for asking about my newest garbage child :3

[shannaraisles]

Set In Darkness

Chapter: 53 Author name: ShannaraIsles Rating: M Warnings: None Summary: She’s a Modern Girl in Thedas, but it isn’t what she wanted. There’s a scary dose of reality as soon as she arrives. It isn’t her story. People get hurt here; people die here, and there’s no option to reload if you make a bad decision. So what’s stopping her from plunging head first into the Void at the drop of a hat?

Snowbound

"So ... I have a question."

Rory glanced up from her paperwork at the sound of Kaaras' curious voice. She was huddled next to the big hearth in the main hall, using the other end of Varric's table to get up to date on everything she needed to read and sign off on.

A heavy snow-storm had descended on Skyhold, burying the courtyard in drifts three feet deep, and that was nothing compared with what the storm had done outside the fortress. Skysend was virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the plateau from up here, the drifts so deep that people had taken to carving tunnels through them rather than trying to shovel the excess out of their way. Thankfully, they'd only had one patient in the tents that were still serving as the infirmary for the time being, and he had been relatively easy to move to the armory. There were plans to restore the roof of one of the outbuildings next to the tavern and turn it into a real infirmary, but for now, they were having to make do. No one was doing any manual work until the storm had passed over them.

With nothing else to do, and a firm insistence from everyone around her to stay indoors and not do anything silly, she'd given in and set to catching up on her paperwork, though there would invariably be more to do once contact was reestablished with the city and the world beyond it. She wasn't the only one who had sought refuge in the hall - Cullen was working at a table near the dais at the far end, since their bedroom was now inches deep in snow and the tower itself too cold to work in. Blackwall had fled the stables when it became clear that Master Dennet and his people were going to barricade the doors and wait out the storm, and was even now polishing his sword with his pouch of silks for that purpose. Cassandra, deprived of her usual spot in the upper courtyard, was absorbed in her book, re-reading Swords and Shields, Vol IV, for the umpteenth time. At the other end of the table Rory was sitting at, Varric was going over his correspondence, swearing quietly to himself every time he had to add a note or sign his name to something.

They were all stuck in here together for the foreseeable future, at least the next few hours, and until the roads cleared, there would be no venturing forth from Skyhold, either. Unfortunately, that also meant that the expected guests would not be arriving anytime soon. Despite the fact that no mention had been made of it, Rory knew Hawke was on his way, and Evelyn's family were due to arrive any day, too. With luck, both parties had found somewhere to hole up until the passes cleared. She didn't want to think about Evy's noble parents stuck in a tent in weather like this.

"A question about what?" she asked, setting her quill aside as Kaaras parked himself on a stool next to the fire.

He glanced cautiously at Varric, and lowered his voice further. "How do you woo someone?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.

Rory stared at him for a moment, her mind caught up in manifests and supply lists. Then the penny dropped. "You mean courting?" she ventured, needing a little clarification.

He nodded, his snapped horn catching the firelight. The truncated curl had healed nicely in the month or so since Haven had fallen, the horn itself slowly beginning to seal over the delicate tissues left open to the air. He wore that break with pride, too, a sign of what he had survived against the odds.

"She likes me," he murmured to her, inching closer until he was leaning on the table, his head bowed toward her own. "At least I think she does. She almost said so. But she doesn't think I can give her what she really wants. She says she wants the ideal, whatever that is, and something about flowers and poetry and candles ... What is that about?"

Wow, that conversation happened sooner than I was expecting it. But then, in the games, that conversation depended on the Inquisitor completing a silly amount of FedEx quests, in Rory's opinion, just to trigger the cutscene. It made sense that Cassandra might bite the bullet sooner in real life. Faced with this question, however, Rory found herself drawing a blank. She just didn't remember all the ins and outs of Cassandra's romance. More than half a year without a refresher in all things Dragon Age, and she was starting to forget the important things that were going to happen.

"Look," she said thoughtfully, taking Kaaras' marked hand in hers, absently testing the tender flesh of his palm with her fingertips. "You've read Swords and Shields, haven't you?"

He frowned, shaking his head. "Dorian said it was garbage," the Qunari Inquisitor admitted awkwardly.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Garbage or not, it's got all the ingredients of the romance Cassandra yearns for," she told her friend pointedly. "It's got the larger than life hero - that's you. It's got the damsel in distress - that's her, despite all evidence to the contrary. Cassandra wants to be swept off her feet, she wants to be romanced. So what she wants is for you to prove that she's worth all the embarrassment of recreating a fantasy for. She knows it isn't like that really, but it's still what she wants."

"But why want something that she knows is embarrassing?" Kaaras pressed, deeply confused by the female brain in his experience. "What's wrong with just admitting she likes me back?"

"I ... have no idea how to explain it to you," Rory admitted, frustrated with her own lack of creativity here. "Ask Josephine? She has a better handle on where you can get all the things you'll need, too. And besides, you're already on the right lines. When Varric finishes that chapter, you can give it to her, and she'll know you consider her someone worth making an effort for. Believe me, Kaaras, you're going to have to put work into proving to her that you're in this for the long haul. If you're not, back off now, while you still have your testicles intact."

He winced just at the thought of that, but the message seemed to have gotten through. "All right, so I should ask Josephine where to get all the ... romance stuff," he muttered, apparently filing this away in the back of his mind. "And you'll tell me what to do with it, right?"

"If you can't work it out for yourself, of course I will," she promised, turning her eyes down to the glowing green scar on his palm.

Her brows knitted together worriedly - it was noticeably longer than it had been when he'd first fallen from the Fade, though not by more than half an inch. But still ... the Anchor was growing. That was more than enough to worry her, even without knowing where that growth would eventually take him. She seriously hoped that Solas was slightly less of a dick in real life than he was in the games. Maybe Fen'Harel would let his friend keep the arm, if it was possible. She hoped it was possible. Her fingertips stroked gently along the raised mark.

"Is it still hurting you?" she asked softly.

Kaaras' frown changed from confusion to annoyance as he shook his head. "Not so much anymore," he assured her quietly, his eyes on the tracing touch of her fingertips. "It flares up near rifts, and near those Veil artifact things Solas wanted us to activate, but I wouldn't say it hurts anymore. Maybe I'm just used to it."

"Maybe," Rory mused thoughtfully. "Still using the ointment?"

He fidgeted awkwardly. "I, um ... I ran out, in the Fallow Mire," he confessed with a guilty cast to his expression. "And then Haven was attacked, and you've been very busy, Ror."

"Kaaras ..." She sighed, rolling her eyes at him. "This is my job. You're not taking up my time needlessly when you have a need for what I can do. I'll get you some more of the ointment. The least I can do to help is keep that scar from splitting with all the rough handling it gets."

"Thanks, Ror."

It was strange, to see that boyish smile in a face that was already carrying more burdens than it had when they'd first met. But Kaaras was a good man - better than many - and he deserved some relief from those burdens. She hoped he would follow through on his courtship of Cassandra. They both needed a way to relieve their tensions, and doing it together would be a load off everyone's mind. With both warriors currently trapped inside with little room to spar, their ability to get annoyed was ramped up to incalculable levels.

"So, Varric ..." Kaaras raised his head, leaning along the length of the table to prod the dwarf in the shoulder. "Is your bird coming, or what?"

Varric winced, rubbing his shoulder. "Say it a little louder, I don't think Cassandra heard you," he complained, glancing toward the Seeker. Rory couldn't blame him - that relationship was a little more antagonistic than she had really expected it to be. "He's coming, all right? With friends, in case someone around here decides to arrest him."

Rory felt her interest suddenly peak. Hawke is bringing friends with him? Which friends? She let her ability to eavesdrop fade as she considered this question, ostensibly studying the page in front of her. Probably not Aveline, she's busy keeping Kirkwall under control. Sebastian's the Prince of Starkhaven, so he doesn't have the leisure to come along. Isabela's got a ship; I don't even know if Carver's alive; Anders is definitely dead. So ... oh, good grief. She had to hastily turn a laugh into an extended coughing fit. Merrill and Fenris. Oh, joy. It would be a miracle if Skyhold was still standing after that visit.

Her coughing, however, drew the attention of her husband from the other end of the room. Abandoning his work, Cullen took the length of the hall in just a few strides, snatching up a cup of water as he passed the longer table where the nobles were passing the time. Dropping to his knee beside Rory, he laid his hand gently at her back.

"Easy, sweeting," he murmured to her, apparently unconcerned that Kaaras and Varric had a first-rate view of his caring for his wife. "Breathe."

Blushing in embarrassment at how badly her cover-up was backfiring on her, Rory did as she was told, letting him guide her into sipping the water slowly. "I'm fine, really," she promised. "Honestly, something got caught in my throat, that's all."

He searched her eyes, a vague hint in his expression that he had noticed her deception but didn't quite understand why she wasn't being truthful. She smiled, leaning forward to brush her lips against his cheek, murmuring to him as she did so.

"I had a thought about Hawke," she told him in a tone carefully calculated for his ears alone. "I'll tell you later."

As she drew back, she saw the comprehension in Cullen's eyes, the suspicion fading as he stroked the flyaway hairs from her brow. "The sooner we get that roof fixed, the better," he admitted reluctantly. "I am not looking forward to bedding down in here with everyone else tonight."

"Oh, Curly, you're going to break my heart," Varric drawled, unable to let that go by without comment. "We're as much a part of your marriage as you are. We should get to experience everything with you."

"Yeah, we're not going to give you anything like that to write about," Rory interjected with a low laugh. The thought of even attempting to discreetly fuck her husband when they were sharing the main hall with a good third of Skyhold's population was, oddly enough, non-conducive to the creation of arousal.

"Not even a few sounds, so I can get it just right?" the dwarven storyteller teased.

Cullen scowled at him. "My wife is not fodder for your books, Varric," he pointed out sternly.

"Oh, give it up, Curly," Varric chuckled. "I've been writing about you two since it began. Just haven't published it yet."

"And you won't," Cullen told him, somehow managing to forget the cardinal rule when talking to Varric Tethras - never tell him he can't do something.

"And I might not, if something better comes along," was the dwarf's only concession to the commander's flaring temper.

Rory laid her hands gently over Cullen's. "Something better will come along," she promised her husband, raising a brow at Varric pointedly. "If someone gets on with his part of the deal."

"I'm working on it," Varric protested easily, glancing up at Kaaras, who was reading his manuscript over his shoulder. "Thought you didn't like romances, Beanstalk?"

The Inquisitor shrugged. "I might learn to like them?"

"Uh-huh. And the Seeker might learn not to believe everything I say," Varric grinned back at him, nudging the big man away from his elbow.

"Maybe if you were a little nicer to her, she'd be a little nicer to you," Kaaras pointed out, making Rory smile with how easily he came to Cassandra's defense.

She wasn't going to intercede in this conversation, though, even if someone offered to pay her. She liked everyone involved; she didn't really want any of them to decide they didn't like her, just because she defended the wrong person at the wrong time. Instead, she looked to Cullen, still on his knee beside her.

"I promise, I'm fine, love," she assured him. "Coughing a little does not make me an invalid. All right?"

"Take a break soon," he told her, drawing his gloved thumb over her cheekbone tenderly. "You've been at this table too long."

She raised a brow in amused indignation. "Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black, somewhat?"

Cullen rolled his eyes at her, rubbing his neck as he rose to his feet. "I am supposed to be joining Dorian in the library in a short while," he informed her. "I believe you should come with me."

"Oh, all right," she conceded with teasing reluctance. With the storm blowing outside, there were very few places she could go, anyway. "Only if I get to curl up in his comfy chair and read while you're both discussing the finer points of Tevinter literature."

The secret beauty of his hidden smile warmed whiskey-lit eyes as he looked down at her, squeezing her hand affectionately. "I look forward to the image that will present," he told her, as much a promise to make certain Dorian gave up that armchair of his for a little while as anything else he might have said.

As Cullen strode away, returning to his temporary desk and Rylen swearing over whatever it was he was reading, Kaaras grinned at Rory. "And that isn't romance, huh?" he asked in amusement.

"Not the way you need to know it, no," she told him with a low laugh of her own. "Go and ask Dorian to find you some reference books, you big baby. Then you can go and read with her."

"I might just do that." The Qunari rose to his feet, bending almost double to pat her midriff affectionately. "See you later, baby."

Varric caught Rory's resigned glance. "Let me guess ... he talks more to the baby than to you," he smirked, laughing out loud at the mild scowl he got in return.

"Anyone would think it was his," she admitted, her mood brightening as the dwarf's laughter died. "Mind you, in this place, I need never worry if the kid wanders off. You're all more excited about this than I am."

"Oh, I'm not," Varric assured her. "I'll read to it, but that's about it. I don't do babies."

"You know, that's actually pretty encouraging." Rory laughed softly, nodding to him as she picked up her quill once again. At least there was someone here who didn't look at her and instantly imagine the baby. She had a feeling that tendency was only going to get worse as the months went on.

And if she'd worked it out correctly ... she was going to give birth around the same time as the Inquisition laid siege to Adamant. Oh, yeah. Great timing, Rory.