#eryn surana

[feralrosie]

I miss Dragon Age but like... In the very specific, canon-free way I made up in my mind once.

[m-m-m-myysurana]

I'm gonna be SO self indulgent::::: Neria&Eryn with Red Lyrium and/or Waking Sea? 🥺💖

You’re self indulgent, I’m self indulgent, lets be self indulgent together.

[ghosty-ana]

Veela and Eryn Surana

My warden and @dierosenrot ‘s warden who you can meet on this amazing fic rosie is writing (double wardens AU!!) here and on AO3

[noeldressari]

Made a nice little aesthetic for my problem child Eryn and @this-is-something-idk-what​‘s sweet baby Teagan. I still love the ship between these two

[herald-divine-hell]

Eryn showing up at night to assassinate an evil!Alexandra for abusing her power and such, or the other way around?

Hm. I can see Eryn doing it, especially if she would think Leliana or Teagan could be hurt from it - though I doubt Alexandra would do that to either of them. Better safe than sorry. lol

[chaotic-good-hawke]

My OCs Masterpost - Grey Warden Edition

Here is a brief introduction to my Grey Wardens. 

Name: Ciembe Mahariel

Worldstate: Worldstate 1 (and Multi-warden AU)

Age: 19 at start of DAO (born 9:11 Dragon)

Species/Race: dalish elf

Class/Specialization: Rogue/Assassin/Duelist/Shadow

Height: 5’3

Gender/sexuality: woman/bi

Romance: Zevran Arainai

Characteristics/personality: sarcastic, dark humor, strong-willed, flirtatious, bold in words, cautious in actions, protective, questioning, says what she means, anger rises quickly

Hair: straight, long black hair that is kept back from her face, often in a braid

Eyes: golden eyes

Distinguishing features: Ghilan’nain vallaslin, various small scars

Hobbies: talking to people, exploring, hunting, keeping her friends out of trouble, playing card games, leatherworking

Brief Background: Raised in clan Sabrae alongside Tamlen and later Merrill. Ashalle was like a mother to her. Before the mirror incident, she never imagined leaving the clan. After joining the wardens, she can’t imagine going back.

Family: Ashalle; her clan; the wardens; her kids are Carmen, Wren, and Mateo.  

Random Notes: Mabari is named Bear; primary love language is physical touch; planned to be bonded to Tamlen; cheats openly at cards when she is among friends, is never seen cheating when among strangers

Name: Catheryne “Eryne” Haelia Cousland

Worldstate: Worldstate 2 (and Multi-warden AU)

Age: 21 at the start of DAO (born in 9:09 Dragon)

Species/Race: human noble

Class/Specialization: Rogue/Assassin/Bard/Shadow

Height: 5’8

Gender/sexuality: woman/straight

Romance: Alistair Theirin

Characteristics/personality: reserved, diplomatic, loyal, guilt-ridden, cold fury, ruthless, educated, charming, curious about other cultures, slow to trust, but deeply loving

Hair: Long curly black hair that she keeps in a functional bun

Eyes: brown

Distinguishing features: burn scar on her left forearm from the attack on Highever

Hobbies: spending time with family, sailing, archery, traveling, metalworking

Brief Background: A bit wild as a child, her mother and father guided her to use her energy for practical things: like sailing, archery, people politics. She was extremely close to her family, wanting to visit Antiva with her sister-in-law. Duncan had to pull her away from her parents, her deep sense of duty tearing her between obeying and protecting her family. It took her years to regain the same vibrancy she had before she lost her family, at that was due mostly to Alistair, their children, and her friends.

Family: Parents Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, Brother Fergus, sister-in-law Oriana and nephew Oren. Children twins Duncan Bryce and Rose Eleanor Theirin.

Random Notes: loves the sea and sailing; mabari named Galahad; a Ferelden lady – lead from the frontlines and work with your hands; when she is nervous or stressed, she pets her mabari, one of her few tells

Name: Damita Mavis Surana

Worldstate: Worldstate 3 (and Multi-warden AU)

Age: 18 at the start of DAO (born in 9:12 Dragon)

Species/Race: elf

Class/Specialization: mage/spirit healer/shifter/blood mage

Height: 5’2

Gender/sexuality: woman/bi/demi

Romance: Leliana

Characteristics/personality: reserved, inquisitive, clever, organized, shy, caring, often passive; forgiving to a point, her awkwardness is endearing; precise, a kind sweet soul, accepting of her friends

Hair: Long dark brown hair that she braids intricately and bangs (she lets them grow out over the course of the Blight)

Eyes: Purple

Distinguishing features: Freckles across her face and body, no scars whatsoever

Hobbies: research, magic, playing the lute, gathering potion ingredients, sketching

Brief Background: Taken from her family to the Circle when she was 4, she has the barest memories of them. Anders, Karl, and a few others took her under their wings. She was a quiet, obedient child, but she was always watching and learning.

Family: Parents, Myles and Britta Surana, siblings, Sybil, Telia, and Josiya. Cathal Tabris is her cousin on her mother’s side. She considers her companions and friends her family. Her daughters are Delphine and Beata, which she and Leliana adopt after Leliana is declared Divine Victoria.

Random Notes: Her mabari is named Sir Barkington; by the time Inquisition comes around, she wears reading glasses; primary love language is words of affirmation; gets so engrossed in research hours can pass; a bit clumsy

Name: Cathal Elga’nar Tabris

Worldstate: Worldstate 4 (and Multi-warden AU)

Age: 20 at the start of DAO (born 9:10 Dragon)

Species/Race: city elf

Class/Specialization: warrior/twin blades/champion/spirit warrior

Height: 5’6

Gender/sexuality: man/bi

Romance: Morrigan

Characteristics/personality: headstrong, sincere, protective, angry at the world, outspoken, distrusting, unsure of world outside Denerim, blunt, focused, indignant

Hair: white blond hair that reaches his shoulders

Eyes: green

Distinguishing features: left handed, various scars

Hobbies: pick-pocketing, training, map-making, crafting poisons, later traveling, sewing/quilting

Brief Background: Raised in Denerim’s alienage, Cathal has never been outside the city before. His mother taught him the basics of how to use a sword, and after her death, he continued to train in secret, observing templar’s and knights training when he could. Took every opportunity to steal or trouble nobles/guards without getting caught.

Family: Father Cyrion and his mother, Adaia (though his mother was killed many years ago by humans). He is close with his cousins, Shianni and Soris. He has some memory of his aunt’s family and he remembers that he had a lot of cousins (which he later learns was Damita’s family). Kieran is his son.

Random Notes: Has both a dislike of extremely enclosed spaces and wide-open areas; mabari is named Traitor. Loves warm bread and crisp apples. Gets a tattoo of a bear print over his heart (for Morrigan), later adds a small white print over it for Kieran.

Name: Signa Brosca

Worldstate: Worldstate 5 (and Multi-warden AU)  

Age: 23 at start of DAO (born in 9:07 Dragon)

Species/Race: casteless dwarf

Class/Specialization: rogue/archer

Height: 4’4

Gender/sexuality: woman/pansexual

Romance: poly Alistair/Zevran (in multi-warden AU – Freya Aeducan)

Characteristics/personality: sarcastic, thoughtful, grin and bear it mentality, will steal anything on a dare, daring, so very curious, a survivor, laughs easy, not shy at all

Hair: short white hair

Eyes: sky blue eyes

Distinguishing features: casteless tattoo

Hobbies: pick-pocketing, cooking (she can make anything taste good), trick-shots; parkour

Brief Background: Born in Dusttown, Signa has faced an uphill battle her whole life, struggling to fight for a living. She early on learned the value of stealing, which attracted the Carta’s attention.

Family: Rica Brosca is the only family she cares about. Well and later her nephew.

Random Notes: Mabari is named Barkspawn (she takes Alistair’s suggestion); has an incredible sense of direction; Alistair teaches her to read; When Zev confronted her about her feelings for either him or Alistair, she pulled Zev over to Alistair and forced the three of them to work it out.

Name: Freya Aeducan

Worldstate: multi-warden AU

Age: 25 at start of DAO (born 9:05 Dragon)

Species/Race: dwarven noble

Class/Specialization: rogue/double axes

Height: 4’5

Gender/sexuality: trans woman/bi

Romance: Signa Brosca

Characteristics/personality: cultured, tenacious, calculating, proud, ruthless

Hair: long black hair kept up in a braid bun

Eyes: grey eyes

Hobbies: training with her axes, studying history and strategy,

Brief Background: Freya was only 7 when she told her father that even though she was born the identical twin to her brother, Liam, she was actually a girl. Her father accepted this immediately, sending out notices that Freya would take her grandmother’s name. She tackled politics with wicked pleasure, loving the secrets and machinations. In the AU, Freya and Liam meet up with Signa in the deep roads and travel together to survive, until they meet the Wardens and then win back the throne. Freya and Signa marry and are queens of Orzammar.

Name: Liam Aeducan

Worldstate: multi-warden AU

Age: 25 at start of DAO (born 9:05 Dragon)

Species/Race: dwarven noble

Class/Specialization: warrior/two-handed

Height: 4’5

Gender/sexuality: ace/aro man

Romance: N/A (marries Rica Brosca in a marriage of convenience)

Characteristics/personality: sweet, tired, wants to be left alone with his books, wants to be a shaper

Hair: long black hair and beard

Eyes: grey

Brief Background: Liam appreciated that he would never have to rule. He is a gentle soul, having no desire for Dwarven politics.

*Art by @star--nymph and @destinyapostasy. Picrews from here and here*

Link to my OC Masterpost: Hawke Edition! 

[ofdevotedheart-archive]

COMMENT FOR A STARTER

☀️ Neria Surana

🏹 Laisa Lavellan

🤚 Elspeth Lavellan

🔪 Ferona Tabris

🔨 Asaan Adaar

🧺 Eryn Ainsley

🌙 Mallory Hawke

[feralrosie]

you must draw your beautiful mayonnaise siblings

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

I felt things while drawing, thank you

[feralrosie]

Send me a pairing and a number between 1-100 and I'll write a short scene based on my Spotify Top 100 playlist

@imjustasadsong asked: 3

3. Almost - Hozier

My dearest Rinna,

I hope I won't offend your memory by addressing my prayers to you. I can only beg for your forgiveness, but I have no hope you'll grant me this blessing.

I think, however, it is now time for me to forgive myself.

I cannot forget what I have done, and the sins of my past won't lose its weight in my soul. There's nothing I can do to change the past, but… It is not what I seek.

I am not the same man as I was before. When there was song and laughter, and my arms around you, I couldn't feel the grip of my fetters and the strings of the puppeteer around my wrists. We were so young and the birdcage was our home. We should have known better. I should have done better.

I went through the darkness and for years I yearned to follow you, to feel in me what I have done to you. And it was during this terribly long night that the light came back. I have no control of when the rain will fall or the earth will tremble, and I surely could not control when the moon decided to rise. You know what I mean, don't you, my dear?

What should have been my demise turned out to be the first day of my life. I was spared, even though I couldn't spare you. I didn't deserve it then, but my foolish heart hopes that I do now.

I wouldn't know where to start if it wasn't for her. With the fury of a wildfire, she took off my blindfold, but it was with the soft flow of running water that she brought me what I needed to heal myself, like offerings reaching the margins of a river. One by one, I tended my wounds. I stripped myself naked and was reborn in the comfortable embrace of mercy. She did what I thought wasn't possible.

Please forgive me, my dear, for talking about her like this to you. I do not wish to replace you, even if such a thing were possible, but I also do not wish to be the same me as I was before. Though she laughs with the same joy for life that you did, and though her love is as intense as the one I tried to give you, I will never be the same.

I'm almost me again, because I have grown past the reckless lad I once was. She's almost you, because she also brings the best in me.

I want to do better and show myself the mercy I should have shown you.

For myself, for her and for your memory, I will forgive myself.

Always yours,

Z.

"Zev?" Eryn called from the bedroom door, hugging her own body to shield her from the cold ocean breeze. "What are you doing here? It's late, come back inside."

The sweet music of her voice warmed his body, and from his seat on the balcony's railing, he smiled. His gaze fell on her figure when he offered a hand, inviting her to come closer.

"What is that?" Her chin pointed at the folded piece of paper in his hands, while her own caressed his torso before wrapping around him, careful to not make him lose his balance.

Zevran returned the embrace with one arm, stroking the exposed skin of her shoulders, "Nothing to worry about, mi luna. Could you please burn it for me?" He placed a soft kiss on top of her white hair and Eryn frowned, twisting her lips in suspicion. "Pretty please?" he chuckled.

The mutual trust they shared was enough for her to not ask any further questions, and instead the mage simply took the envelope from his hands to cast a slow flame over it. Both watched as the tiny pieces of burnt paper turned into ashes and flew away with the cold breeze, scattering all over Antiva City.

"Thank you," Zevran whispered to the air, and Eryn couldn't be sure if it was meant for her to hear or someone else.

[feralrosie]

I updated my oc page so now y’all have to see it

[feralrosie]

Admiration

Day 1 of the ZevWarden Week 2020 @zevraholics​ Read on AO3

“Hey Zevran,” greeted Eryn as she approached the other’s tent, a little away from the rest of the camp, “Dinner’s ready. Alistair made that weird stew-thing again, so I hope you’re not hungry.” 

“Thank you, my dear warden,” sitting on a log, he looked up to her and smiled, “I will be there in a second.”

As he spoke, the mage noticed a pile of blood-stained bandages by his side, as well as some fresh ones and a jar of water next to his bonfire. “Are you hurt?” she asked in concern, kneeling in front of him while her eyes scanned his body all over.

“Ah, yes,” he opened his right hand, exposing the palm and revealing a great wound all across it, coloured in both dark red from dry blood and vivid crimson from where the cut was still bleeding. “I got a little distracted during last night’s battle.”

“Zev!” she shouted, carefully taking his hand on hers to have a better look, “What happened?”

He flinched, but tried to contain the thin pain pumping on his wound. “One of the darkspawn knocked me down, and I lost my sword. When I tried to take it back, he pulled it away and I accidentally grabbed it by the blade. But it is alright, don’t worry. I’m just having a hard time trying to keep the bandages in place.”

“Does it hurt?”

“I’ve had worse,” he shrugged. 

“Don’t be silly,” she mumbled in return, changing her position to sit on her heels, “We have three mages in here, why didn’t you ask for help? I’m no healer, but I have a few tricks, you know?”

“I don’t mean to bother, you have more urgent matters to attend to,” the Antivan elf watched closely as the grey warden held his hand softly between both of hers, staring at it intensely. As she pressed her palm against his, dim blue light mixed with green shone through their fingers, leaking from his wound in a fresh sensation, as if he was washing his hands in an icy river. 

She ran her index and middle fingers softly across his palm and, as she did, the cut healed, leaving no traces behind. It was almost like he had never hurt himself. Eryn kept holding his hand, examining it and looking for other injuries. He had strong hands, rough to the touch and marked by years of scars and calluses, especially closer to his long fingers. She could feel where he would hold his sword to a tight grip and where it would hurt him over and over again in return. Along the lines around his thumb, on his palm, she caressed four small markings, carved deep into his skin by his fingernails, though she wasn’t sure if it was also the result of years of training. She pressed his hand between her fingers, as if to soothe the tension on his palm.

His hand was warm and, contrasting to almost everything in Ferelden, it was like touching a summer night. She thought of the first time she left the Circle, not too many months ago, and felt the same warmth from the sun in a whole different way that no blanket, fireplace or hot beverage in that freezing tower could ever bring her. Eryn spread her fingers across his hand, touching his wrist and caressing her way back to his lines, mentally tracing all the history marked on his skin.

Her tips followed his lines along his fingers and to the back of his hand, discovering his knuckles one by one. His skin was also harsh there, but she could only imagine why it felt different. If the calluses on his palm exposed his discipline, the scars on his knuckles denounced his ferocity. Using both hands, Eryn kept pressing her own fingers around his hand, massaging his muscles in circular motions while lost in her thoughts. Her own hands differed completely from his, not only because they were much smaller but also because her injuries were still all fresh, recovering with time to spare her own mana. Before leaving the Circle of Magi, she did not need to hold her staff so tightly, never had to free herself from any iron traps and most certainly never had to heal so many wounds on her body or other’s. There has never been a moment in her life when she depended so much on her own magic, and now, exhausted, she felt like it wasn’t enough. She couldn’t heal all the scars.

“Is this still part of your magic?” Zevran asked in a soft, low tone.

The sound of his voice brought Eryn back to reality, and she moved her face up to meet his. He was leaning down towards her, smiling with the corner of his lips and staring at her with tender honey-coloured eyes. Only then she realized that she was lost in their touching, massaging his hands for far longer than it took to heal his injury.

“No, uh, I’m sorry,” the mage mumbled and looked away, trying to pull back her hands, but he didn’t let her go. He closed both his hands around hers and caressed her knuckles with his thumbs.

“What is it, then?” he rested his right hand on her cheek, turning her gaze back to him. Eryn felt her face blush. Was he getting closer? Or was that just her desire to do so? Almost as if by inertia, her hands held tighter to his and leaned her face towards his touch.

“I just want to make sure you’re healed,” she knew what she meant and for some reason she thought he knew, too, “but I don’t think I’m… That skilled.”

“You’re doing far more than anyone could ask of you, Eryn,” he caressed her cheek with his thumb. His palm felt softer against her face than it did when she was examining it. “Some scars can never disappear, but with time and good care, we learn to grow around them. What I see you doing every day is far more powerful than any magic you can cast. Trust me, my dear.” 

Eryn bit her lips, switching her gaze between his eyes and hands, and smiled. “Thank you, Zev,” she whispered, “Please, be careful. I could not stand to lose you.” 

“You’re not going to,” he smiled, “After all, it seems that I am extremely hard to kill. Not even you could do it.”

“Excuse me?” she laughed, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes,” he held both of her hands again and pulled them closer, placing a soft kiss on her fingers, “I’m sure you were so marveled at my charm and wit that you had to recruit me instead.”

“Oh, of course I was,” the mage joined his play, as if she was confessing a secret, “one look at your eyes, your strong hands, inviting smile, and I knew…” she approached him, running her fingers on him up from his hands. She wouldn’t admit it, but she also paid special attention to how his skin felt like on his arms, feeling his veins and muscles carefully before finally palming his chest. Kneeling in front of him, she got close enough of his face to touch his nose with her own. “I knew that I would have to end you myself, in a moonless night such as this one, far from the eyes of anyone else.”

“Wha-” she pushed his body from the log he was sitting on, making the elf fall on his back against the grass. Giggling, she stood up and looked at him, just to make sure he wasn't hurt. “You little minx,” he laughed, covering his eyes with his forearm, pretending to be defeated.

“Let’s go, dinner’s ready.”  .

[feralrosie]

Call You Home - Chapter One

Two elven mages are desperate to leave the Circle behind, and when the Grey Wardens offer salvation, they accept it blindly. Eryn just wants freedom, and Veela seeks to return to her family. They thought that they only needed to fight the Blight to be free, but realize that what they seek might be right in front of them in the friends and family they make along the way. 

“Hey,” Eryn approached carefully, kneeling down in front of her.  “Can we start this again? I’m Eryn, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Once again, the girl said nothing, and turned her face to the right to face the stone walls around her. The white-haired girl did not give up, “So you’re from the Dalish, huh? I’ve never met a dalish elf before. Your tattoos are beautiful.”

Again, silence.

“Do you want to go to the kitchen? I’m sure we can get ourselves some cinnamon cakes if we act quickly and quietly.”

“Listen,” the other girl spoke for the first time, looking at Eryn’s eyes, “I do not mean to be rude, I’m sure you’re a marvellous person, but can you please leave me alone?”

“Oh, finally! I was wondering how long it would take for you to speak.”

Read on AO3

Art by @ghosty-ana​

[feralrosie]

Call You Home - Chapter Two

“If what works, Veela? Are you insane?”

"We can run away for good this time.”

“I don’t get why it is snowing today. It shouldn’t be.”

“We are in the middle of the winter,” Veela chuckled, caressing the other’s hair and forehead with the tip of her fingers. Eryn was lying on the floor, with her eyes closed and her head rested over Veela’s thighs as she was sitting by the windows in the Circle’s greenhouse. Snow fell heavily over the island of Kinloch Hold, but still they were surrounded by hundreds of herbs, flowers and even some trees—a kind of contradiction that did not bother Veela anymore.

“But now we can’t go outside because it’s too cold for the templars’ silly armours,” she complained, “As if they would just freeze to death if they step out of the doors.”

Veela smiled and kept her silence for a few moments. Her pinky ran across Eryn’s nose towards her forehead, tracing invisible lines of various drawings on her face, and she knew how much the other apprentice enjoyed being caressed. “Tomorrow is your birthday, right?”

“Yes,” she smiled, glad that Veela would remember such a date. “That’s why it shouldn’t be snowing. We could have had one extra hour outside today.”

“You know, in my clan, you would be preparing yourself to receive your Vallaslin,” Veela whispered, almost as if she was telling a secret. “It’s an important date to turn eighteen.”

“Do you mean your tattoos?” the other opened her eyes and got up from her spot, sitting down next to the dalish. “How is it done? The ink, I mean. What is it like? Did it hurt?”

“Calm down, Eryn,” she laughed. “Yes, it does hurt and no, I cannot tell you how it is done. Mostly because I do not know myself. All I know is from my own experience and from what I heard from others.”

“Well, then tell me!” she crossed her legs, facing her friend with eager eyes and a bright smile. Veela sighed, very used to Eryn’s endless curiosity after almost three years living together.

Read on AO3

Art by @ghosty-ana​ 

[feralrosie]

Send me a pairing and a number between 1-100 and I'll write a short scene based on my Spotify Top 100 playlist

@snarky-warden replied: 55

55. Come Undone - Tove Lo

“Hey, Vee?” called Eryn, leaving her tent in the morning and looking around the camp, “Have you seen Zev?”

The other warden was finishing packing up her things and studied the girl from head to toe. She clearly had just woken up and her hair was a mess, but it was the white piece of cotton fabric in her hands that caught her attention, “He went with Alistair to check the road ahead. Did he forget something with you?” she raised an eyebrow, but Eryn couldn’t tell if it was in judgment or friendly curiosity.

Her cheeks blushed, and she nodded before looking away, trying to conceal a silly smile. It was not a secret that both of them were having fun together—the entire camp heard them—but the way Eryn acted around the assassin was concerning. Veela let her shoulders sag and exhaled, “Lethallan…” she whispered, “You’re not having feelings for him, are you?”

The mage’s cheeks turned into an even brighter red when she tried to keep her ground, “Of course not! Don’t worry, Vee, I can handle some fun.” 

“Sure,” she scoffed, but her lips curved in a comfortable smile, “Just be careful, ok? He tried to kill you once.”

The other had no time to answer before both men came back to their camp, announcing that it was safe to continue their journey. Despite being so early in the morning, Alistair was in an incredibly good mood, stealing Veela’s attention to himself while the party finished packing up. Eryn was looking at Zevran on the other side of the clearing, his smile brighter than the rays of sunshine on his face, and she felt the most weird tingling in her stomach and chest. She bit her lips, playing with one of his shirts in her hand, and couldn’t look away. 

The sound of his laughter was hypnotising, the golden of his hair prettier than any treasures and, of course, his eyes were as intense as wildfires. Lost in thought, she wished he would stay in her tent the whole night and wake up with her. She wanted to hold him more, kiss him more, and enjoy his company as much as she could. Eryn couldn’t stop thinking about him and, honestly, it was infuriating to find herself so drawn to him like that. She was being an idiot. 

“Ah, I was looking for that,” his voice echoed in her mind, bringing her back to reality. Zevran was right in front of her, smiling, “Thanks for keeping it for me, my dear.” 

It took a moment for her to realise he was talking about the shirt, “Oh, of course! No problem, I… I was about to give it back to you.” Stuttering, she handed him the piece of clothing, only to feel his long fingers wrapped around hers, warm and strangely soft. 

“Why don’t you keep it for a while longer?” his words leaked from his lips like hot wine being poured, “Just until tonight?” Face burning with embarrassment, Eryn could only mumble in agreement, stealing a soft chuckle from him. “Thank you,” he said before leaving to gather his things.

[feralrosie]

I was tagged by @raymurata and I’m a show-off so here’s my Warden Eryn and my Inquisitor Elrian made with artbreeder. 

Not 100% what I imagine my ocs to be but I can’t edit pics even if just to add some elf ears lol Honestly I’m just glad that they look like siblings and I love them.  Gonna tag @zevranstattoos @imjustasadsong @mrtethras to fool around a lil bit and post any of their ocs too! 💖

[feralrosie]

22 for one word prompts (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Also asked by @imjustasadsong  Thank you both! ♥ I enjoyed the result enough to post it on AO3, so here it goes. ** 22. Pyre

“Lady, lady!” a thin voice shouted, running towards the party as they entered a village west to Lake Calenhad. “A treat for the spirits, lady!”, it was a small girl, dressed in funny clothes from head to toe, and showing them an open sack half full with berries and cakes.

“Oh?” confused, Eryn Surana looked down to the girl before willingly searching inside her pockets for something to give her. She could only find a pair of silver coins and put it carefully inside the girl’s bag “I’m sorry, I hope you can buy something delicious with it” 

The child did not seem to bother. Quite the opposite, she thanked the mage with a bright smile and turned around to continue her personal little quest in search for more sweets.

“Paying a fee to enter the village, are we?” chuckled Zevran, approaching his warden companion from behind and staying by her side.

“I guess” Eryn laughed back as they continued their way to the main square “I don’t know what was that, I just gave her what I had”. Around them, children ran playfully in creative costumes while a group of adults gathered firewood. 

“Well, it is All Soul’s Day. I doubt she will be the only one asking us for desserts” replied Alistair, a little behind them, “Strangers in town always means more targets for those little beasts.” he pointed with his chin to a boy dressed up with horns on his head and tree branches coming out from his sleeves. As soon as it was said, the boy ran towards the party, jumping in front of them and letting out his most infamous growl. Alistair pretended to be scared and also gave the boy a few coins, laughing afterwards.

“This seems very fun! Can we join?” the warden couldn’t hide her excitement, despite biting her lips in an attempt to contain a smile. 

“Aren’t you too old to go asking for sweets?” by her side, Alistair raised an eyebrow “Even if you’re basically the same size as the children, it would be a little odd.”, he mocked her height, patting on top of her head. 

Eryn slapped his hand, glaring at him playfully. “It’s just that we did not have this on the Circle. All Soul’s Day was more like a day for the Templars to watch us with twice the concern. They said it was a perfect day for demons to come lurking around trying to possess one of us.”

“Nonsense. They were just being idiots again.” shrugged Alistair with a natural distaste for the matter, “Well, I’m going to look for a place where we can spend the night. Go have your fun, I'll meet you later.” 

As he turned his back and walked away, Eryn noticed that all her companions were also gone, spread around the town and enjoying the celebration that had barely begun. 

“What did you do on this holiday, then?” asked Zevran, the only one left by her side, with genuine interest. 

“Besides praying? We watched the Templars build up a huge pyre and burn down a wooden figure of Andraste.” they kept on walking, watching the people go by.

“A pyre just like that one?” the rogue pointed to a bonfire in the center of the town’s square, where a thick tree trunk was being raised vertically, adorned with garlands and flower crowns all around.

“Yes”, Eryn murmured, hugging herself as a Chantry Mother climbed up the stairs to a top platform and begun a speech. They stopped to watch, but Eryn did not pay attention to her words and kept staring at a man who tried to lit up a torch. With the most slight movement of her fingers, she cast a sparkle to help him, and the cloth around the wooden stick caught on fire instantly.

By her side, Zevran noticed her magic and sudden swing of mood. He passed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his body. “Are you alright, mi amor?” 

She nodded, resting her head against him. “Yes, don’t worry. It’s just that I always found it so… grim.” they watched as the townsfolk lit the bonfire “If it is a day to honor the spirits, then why must we make Andraste relive her death all over again? Why can’t we just sing and eat cakes?” she pouted. The flames rose high enough to touch the garlands around the pyre and its heat to reach their skin. “It always frightened me that people would do this to her.” she murmured, at last. 

Zevran kept his silence, listening to her while caressing her arm tenderly. He knew there was something else in those words, something that she was not willing-or not ready- to talk about, so he did not ask any further. Instead, he looked away from the fire and turned his face to his shoulder, where she rested her head, and placed a soft kiss on her hair. Eryn smiled, though he did not see it.

Past the crowd, on the other side of the square, Zevran spotted Alistair buying what he assumed was cinnamon cakes. “Say, my dear” he started, whispering against her white curls “Do you still wish to go asking for sweets?” 

Eryn straightened her posture to look at his face, having an eyebrow raised. “What’s on your mind?” she asked. Zevran pointed discreetly to the other warden, smiling cunningly. Eryn copied his grin and bit her lips. “I bet we can scare him” 

“I raise and bet we can make him shout” 

Chuckling, the couple sneaked through the town, ready to have their turn on a personal little quest.