#fanfic collection binding

[plor-bindery]

Bound: Kinkuary ‘23 by wolfpants

Next up in my tour of binds I made for wolf: Kinkuary ‘23 by @wolfpants

When I first reached out to wolf to ask permission to bind their fic, I asked if there was anything in their fic that they wished they had bound. They mentioned their Kinkuary fics but immediately said "oh but that's impractical because it's a whole collection" or something to that effect, which of course I took as a challenge. (Authors, be warned. I will almost certainly bind the thing you say I should not try to bind.)

Anyone who is wisely subscribed to wolf's works on AO3 probably had the same delightful experience as I did throughout February 2023: namely, waking daily to a little notification that there was a small kinky gem awaiting consumption at one's leisure. Wolf writes sex incredibly well: the viscerality and immediacy of it, but also the thoughts and turn-ons and how it lights up each character's brain differently. They have a gift for making me love tropes and kinks I might not ever think to read or write otherwise.

All that being said, I felt slightly weird about being like HERE IS A BOOK OF YOUR KINK THAT SAYS KINK ON THE SPINE so (as wolf has noted) I went all Victorian and made a dust jacket to cover up the bind if wolf ever wants to make it look a lot more innocent than it is.

So many firsts in this one for me: first dust jacket, first index, first collection of fics, first table of contents... It was a blast from start to finish and I learned SO MUCH.

Materials and process chat under the cut.

Materials:

Ye olde wooqu bookcloth off Amazon, HTV vinyl, 24 lb cream letter (wrong grain, forgive me) folios, machine-made endbands, black cardstock end papers.

The dust jacket is probably the only newish thing for me: I did a print using Staples' online service (which probably contributed to my choices because I also use this service for actual work things...) It was a poster print on matte paper.

Process:

This was a pretty straightforward bind but the typeset was full of learning curves. I use InDesign for typesetting and figured out how to set up a TOC and index. Wolf is a GREAT tagger so once I realized I'd either have a seven-page run of front matter listing the tags for each fic, or an index condensing them down, it was a no-brainer. And because wolf is so brilliant with tags, this led to my favorite index entries ever under Draco's listing (see photo.) I also figured out how to use styles to make every story have a header of its title, etc.

The great artwork of Eros is from rawpixel.

The other new thing for me was, of course, the dust jacket. I was disappointed to realize I'd messed up the measurements somehow once I printed, but it was close enough, so I went with it. I tried to rub some beeswax into the cover to help preserve it a bit but not sure it did much. If I were doing it again now, I'd use some Mod Podge matte aerosol fixative.

The dust jacket artwork is from the Smithsonian online collection of vintage seed catalogues. (S/O to my librarian spouse for the tip!) I created the spine matching the style as closely as I could, and then I went to town with silliness for the flaps. (This is probably a downside to having a fic writer also be a binder. I have trouble not writing something when the opportunity presents itself in the course of binding...)

The cover design is, of course, just a whole bunch of cursive X's. I'd hoped to have the title and author be a knockout from that pattern but it proved too hard to weed/read, so I ironed black HTV over the red pattern instead.

This is the only one of the set of four binds that I haven't (yet) bound for myself as a personal copy, but I think I will probably do so at some point! I was running out of black bookcloth at the time, so I prioritized wolf's copy for obvious reasons.

[p4perhug]

MY FIRST BIND ❤️

Something a little different...

I dived into bookbinding recently, and I love it!!

This is my first proper bind, and I'm so proud and happy with the outcome.

It's Crimson Rivers by Zeppazariel on Ao3 ❤️

I needed to get creative with the cover design because I have no cricut machine or this fancy foil to make a real cover and back design....

Well, things got messy, and my room looked like 'the arena' for some days, but it was worth it!!

Let me know what you think 💌

Follow me on Insta (if you want to): @p4perhug ❤️

[vettelsbitch]

I have started my journey in bookbinding and not only do I love it (like it has gone directly to one of my top favorite crafts), I'm having so much fun typesetting stuff!

[starofthesea37]

POV: you taught yourself how to bind your favourite fanfics completely from scratch, and now you have a fancy collection!

Fics are:

“straight on ‘til morning” by merils (DC, Conner Kent centric, Mature)

“hot rod heart” by merils (DC, TimKon, Explicit)

“the courage of stars” by merils (DC, Conner Kent centric, Mature)

“androecia” by merils (DC, TimKon, Explicit)

“notes on divinity”by merils (DC, TimKon, Explicit)

“racing on the thunder” by merils (DC, Conner Kent & Lois Lane, Teen)

“Leap of Faith (Catch Me, If You Can) by erinwantstowrite (DC & Marvel, Spider-Man in Gotham, Teen)

“The Mystery of the Pears” by sonwar (Marauders, jegulus, Explicit)

“And so, Happy Christmas” by her_smile_forges_galaxies (Marauders, jegulus, Gen)

“Christmas Preceding the End of The World” by otrtbs (Marauders, jegulus, Teen)

“skeletons you hide (show me yours, i’ll show you mine)” by mraudersmoon (Marauders, jegulus, Teen)

“As If Through Water” by third_crow (Marauders, jegulus, Teen)

“Apocalypse” by jiangchxngs (Marauders, jegulily, Gen)

“Choices” by messermoon (Marauders, jegulus, Mature)

All on ao3! I highly recommend all of these, they’re all amazing!

Authors whose tumblr I know (let me know if there’s more I should add!): @mamawasatesttube @erinwantstowrite @otrtbs @sophsicle

All of these were done entirely by hand, for personal use only, and I make no profit from them. I made most of the typesets myself, and no I will not be sharing them unless I know you or you’re the author.

I learnt from a tutorial by hana_bob on TikTok if you’re interested :)

[aethon-recs]

2024 Update to Tomarrymort Longfic Recs — 8 additional fics

I wanted to add 8 lovely new longfics that have been published since the last time I put together this rec list — 6 more for the Intermediate reads list and 2 more for Advanced. Hopefully you’ll find something within these additional 950k words of absolutely brilliant Tomarrymort fic to sink your teeth into and enjoy:

Longfic rec list collection:

Tomarrymort Beginner reads are the fics I would use to introduce someone to the ship and help them get a baseline for the variety, themes, and tropes that best represent our ship;

Intermediate reads are for readers that are already familiar/sold on the ship, and are looking for fics that explore interesting new facets of the Tomarrymort dynamic; 

Advanced reads comprise challenging works of some nature, whether the writing features more complex subject matter and/or pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in a piece of fanfic.

Please enjoy these 8 additions to the list, all of which are either completed or still updating as of 2024!

*

Intermediate Longfic Recs

A Light That Never Goes Out by @kippipies (M, 80k, WIP)

Setting: Non-Magical AU Premise: If Harry is the target of a dangerous crime lord called Voldemort and his gang of Death Eaters in a modern mafia AU. Why I rec it: This is a delightful, high-energy caper of a fic in which Harry is a scrappy low-time criminal who accidentally crosses crime boss Voldemort. Naturally, Voldemort sets his sights on getting revenge, but Harry slips through his fingers at the last minute each time. The action scenes in this fic are incredibly dynamic and super fun ��� I felt like I was watching an action movie at each confrontation between Harry and Voldemort.

And the Living Will Envy the Dead by @k-s-morgan (M, 81k, WIP)

Setting: Time Travel (1940s) Premise: If Harry were flung back in time to Tom’s sixth year and almost immediately reveals he is Tom’s horcrux, setting off a chain reaction of obsession and control.  Why I rec it: An intricately crafted character study of Tom and how he gained control over the rest of Slytherin House by the time Harry meets him at the start of sixth year. Harry’s arrival throws Tom’s plans off-kilter, especially once Harry reveals he was Tom’s horcrux in another timeline. This leads Tom to believe the other version of him had somehow loved Harry, and shows him that it’s possible to form such a connection with Harry here if he wants, despite how dark, cruel, and violent he turned out and how little he cares for others. 

By Any Means by @corpium (E, 74k, WIP)

Setting: Alternate Universe Premise: If Harry has a younger brother Evan who is the Boy-Who-Lived, yet Harry’s overprotective actions towards Evan end up attracting the attention of Voldemort directly onto himself. Why I rec it: This is a really engaging and fast-paced adaptation of canon events if Harry were born 2 years earlier and his younger brother were the one that the prophecy applied to. The relationship between Harry and Evan is really sweet, as they share the burden of growing up at the Dursleys and all the adventures that Harry underwent in canon. There’s also such a fascinating exploration of magic as Harry gradually becomes more powerful as a result of all the trials that he’s put through, eventually becoming powerful enough to attract the attention of Voldemort. 

Pledged by @moontearpensfic (E, 118k, WIP)

Setting: Alternate Universe Premise: If Harry and Tom are best friends that enter together into a Hunger Games-crossed-with-Triwizard Tournament in their seventh year.  Why I rec it: This fic depicts co-dependency to such an intense degree between Harry and Tom. Not only are they inseparable best friends throughout their time at Hogwarts, they also perform a cooperative magic ritual that binds their magic to each other permanently, and allows them to share thoughts and feelings with each other across a mental link. There’s also an intriguing mystery at the heart of this story, as Harry and Tom try to figure out the origins of the Triwizard-style tournament that they enter into in their seventh year. 

Revolution of Configured Stars by @tollingreminiscentbells (E, 153k, WIP)

Setting: Voldemort Wins AU Premise: If Harry was raised in a pureblood family in a universe where Voldemort wins, and ends up attracting the attention of Voldemort in his seventh year at Hogwarts.  Why I rec it: This is such an intricate, incredibly thoughtful depiction of a society where Voldemort won and Harry was raised as a ward of a pureblood family. By the time it’s Harry’s seventh year, he’s a budding Arithmancy scholar who wants to explore whether it’s possible to choose the optimal timeline via arithmantic calculations, which catches the attention of Voldemort. Voldemort and Harry’s relationship unfolds in such a steamy way, and they truly feel like equals who hold each other in high regard, as Voldemort reveals that they have been inextricably linked by fate, whether or not he ended up trying to kill Harry as a baby in this particular timeline. 

the stars, my destination by @milkandmoon-ao3 (M, 15k, WIP)

Setting: Time Travel (Marauders Era) Premise: If Harry is sent back in time as an infant and adopted into the Potter family, growing up and attending Hogwarts alongside James.  Why I rec it: There is a dearth of Harrymort fics set in Marauders Era so it is such a delight to read about Harry’s friendships and rivalries with Marauders Era characters, like being best friends with Regulus and Quidditch rivals with James. As Harry starts his sixth year, the First Wizarding War heats up in the background and begins spilling into their life at Hogwarts as many of their classmates are recruited to fight on either side of it. All the while that he has to keep secret the strange mental connection that he’s had with the Dark Lord all his life. 

*

Advanced Longfic Recs

Hearthstone Abbey (Series) by @ramabear (E, 152k, WIP series)

Setting: Soulmate AU Premise: If second year Harry is plucked away from his canon universe by Voldemort from another universe who is his soulmate. Why I rec it: I wholly melted at all the ways Voldemort takes care of Harry in this fic, better treatment than Harry’s ever gotten in his entire life, and Harry is so lovable and adorable in turn. Voldemort has established himself as a religious figurehead/cult leader in the alternate universe, and it was very interesting to read about his alternate path to power. The soft grooming in this fic was so so delicious, ramping up in intensity as the fic progresses; Voldemort completely dotes on Harry and their dynamic is so sweet and tender, a very nice counterbalance to the sinister and predatory tones that underlie their relationship.

if we were lovers by @reggieblk (E, 277k, complete)

Setting: Non-Magical AU Premise: If Harry and Tom meet in a prestigious drama programme and fall for each other against a backdrop of high stakes threatre productions.  Why I rec it: The character work is so rich and detailed in this coming-of-age story in a modern AU setting. It’s clear there was so much thought that went into all the character interactions here, not only between Harry and Tom, but also the ensemble cast of characters who inject so much heart and humor into this story as well. I love the way that @reggieblk cleverly weaves in elements from Shakespeare’s plays and uses the theatre backdrop to depict how the love story between Harry and Tom unfolds — their developing relationship feels, at the same time, both very immersive and cozy, as well as highly fraught with tension. (As a bonus, there is an absolutely amazing original play in the interlude chapter that was written specifically for this fic!)

*

[thebibutterflyao3]

I’m not one to fear-monger, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with being prepared. If you have a favourite fic or ten on AO3, download it before the end of the year. I’m updating the list of pdfs of my fics (that remain pinned to the top of my tumblr) as well.

Here’s an old-school tip: Always have back-ups of the back-ups if you value a piece of media. If you’re a fanfic writer, save a pdf copy and an editable copy of your fics. Personally, I’ve begun printing and hand-binding my faves and my own fics. Relying on digital media isn’t fool-proof.

All that said, OTW (a non-profit which owns AO3) is more than prepared to defend their archive. The donations they collect each year are used for site maintenance, security, and legal challenges. They will do everything they can to keep the site active.

Try not to panic! Be prepared instead.

Writers will always find a way to share their work with the world, wanna-be dictators be damned.

[gilly-moon]

After several long days of working like a madman, they're finally complete!! The Shadows & Light series by @not-poignant bound and covered from scratch ♡

This fanfic is extremely near and dear to my heart, and I'm so excited to have a physical copy to pick up anytime I'm craving a reread! This was also my first binding project where everything was self-made, from sewing the pages together to making my own book cloth, and of course designing the cover and putting it all together! It's hardly a perfect binding, but it carries all my love for this series & Blackice in those imperfections.

Thank you Pia for your incredible writing and the permission to print & bind your work!

And as a bonus, a pic of my entire rotg collection ♡

[copperbadge]

Hello! I’m writing to ask a permission for making a printed copies of your fanfic “Stealing Harry”. We are a group of individuals who print fanfiction for themselves and a group of fans. We are typesetting and design books for ourselves and then print them all together for personal use. Our project is completely non-profitable and made by fans for fans. Will you be comfortable to give us your permission to add your work to our “Wolfstar” collection book and if so, how many copies do you allow ?

Hi Anon! Sorry for the delay in response!

I do have an inclusive transformative works policy -- as long as my name is credited, you can do podfic, art, and bookbinding (and other stuff, if you desire) with my stories. I love to have links to the end result but that's just because I like seeing how people play in the sandbox.

I'm a little concerned about the "how many copies" question but only because that's not something I've dealt with before -- I'm not sure whether you are binding the books yourselves ala the binding movement in fandom right now, or typesetting them to go on a print-on-demand site. The latter can get dicey, but I'm going to trust you at your word that it's for personal use and non-profit; if you are going through Print On Demand, all I ask is that the purchase link not be made public. Otherwise do with it as you will :) If you have further questions feel free to hit me up at copperbadge@gmail.com and certainly I'd enjoy seeing photos of the finished product!

And thank you very much for asking permission first. I know a number of people whose fanfic has been lifted without permission and NOT kept private (copies for sale on Etsy or Amazon, etc) so even though I have a universal access policy, not everyone does, and it's good manners to check in. Thanks for doing that. :)

[keystonepublishing]

Why Not Both by Varnes

A long time ago, I wondered if there was ever a fanfic that actually tried to resolve the whole "Hermione and Ron catfight over Viktor Krum during the Yule Ball and in Book 7". I thought, why can't they both fall in love with Krum?

Fast forward to a month ago when someone recced a fanfic in the Renegade Discord server. It was this one: why not both

My prayers have finally been answered!

For this bind, I wanted to make the book look 'modern, but classy'. This entailed looking at fashion magazines and artistic periodicals to see how they did their layouts and typesetting. I collected a bunch of pictures to create a collage that would open the first chapter and give off the 'vibe' of the fic.

I had to discard almost all of them because they. didn't. fit. the vibe.

Same thing too for the typography. An extreeeeemely large drop cap, paired with a big first line? Classy, yet also modern in a way, like some sort of fashion magazine article opener.

And lastly, because the fic does have Viktor 'BIG ARMS' Krum, I just had to make one page look like a tabloid shoot from a trashy magazine.

Very Arms, indeed!

Full thanks to Varnes for writing a rarepair fic that I didn't realize I still loved!

[bamsara]

Just wanted to say I love your work and is it ok to bookbind one of your fanfics for a personal collection?

It’s ok if not, I totally understand! <3

Of course! I'm wanting to improve my own book binding skills to have aesthetic looking books of fics myself (my own and others with explicit permission obv)

[wisewitchbindery]

🌿 I felt healed after reading this beautiful story. It features Dramione in their mid-30s, there’s lovely story building around magical land and homes, and themes of living with chronic pain. Draco is tender, Scorpius is adorable (as always), and Hermione is BAMF.

🌿 There’s a lot of themes in this story, but the recurring natural rainforest of Hermione’s occlumency stood out to me. That’s what this particular bind is designed around. I pulled from specific elements that ninepiecesofcrait portrayed for my chapter pages. The interior design is based on a book that was mentioned several times in the fic, “Magical Matrimony and the Law.”

🌿 The dust cover art is by lynnyart. Lots of gratitude and appreciation to them for permitting me to use it.

🌿 Oh, also this was my first dust jacket. I was so excited to learn that my basic printer could print this length of paper 🥰

🌿 This story is free to read on AO3. This book was handbound by me for my personal collection. Please never buy or sell fanfic.

👇🏽Have you joined the bind along? We’ve started gathering materials on 2/1! There’s still time — comment "JOIN" below if you’d like a link to the discord server. Binders of all levels welcome!

[ichorai]

ties that bind ; nanami kento ; series masterlist.

pairing ; nanami kento x reader series synopsis ; a collection of drabbles for nanami and the love of his life. themes ; fluff, slice of life, mild angst, neighbors, marriage, pregnancy, parents warnings specified on each drabble! a/n ; this series will be disregarding the shibuya incident/culling games arc and act as a fix-it, slice of life fanfic :) there's not nearly enough fluff in this fandom fr

main masterlist.

11th october, 2015. a new home should be danced in.

26th october, 2016. nanami shows up to work smelling like you, and gojo has quite a keen sense of smell.

23rd september, 2018. don't feed ducks bread!

4th november, 2018. it's movie night—bring your own tissues!

28th november, 2018. nanami worries over becoming a dad despite already being a brilliant father figure to the students.

30th march, 2019. you and nanami take an evening walk to feed the stray cats in the neighborhood.

13th june, 2019. packed lunches for four!

14th march, 2024. even the strongest sorcerers need to be saved sometimes.

more coming soon!

[go-tell-the-bees]

Ok round two of the Star Trek: Voyager fanfic binding spree. I have so much fun making all of these! Once again I highly recommend all these works and these fantastic authors! @northernexposure @neverenough37 @august_stargazer and then all the authors of the Counterpoint Vignettes collection @mia-cooper @serenlyall @caladeniablue @Helen8462 @littleobsessions90 I love you all ❤️

[fujimomozane]

Magister Merlin Starhawk Info

Magister Merlin Starhawk, aka Merlin, Starhawk, Mage of the Stars, Starry Mage, a lazy bum who forgets to bring mugs out of his room, The Godfather of Magic, among others, is a half-treesprite half-human mage who was born in 200 B.H.W (Before the Hypogean War). 

  He is renowned as the discoverer of magic in around 190 B.H.W, having discovered healing magic by saving his hamster, Hammie, from near death- she later became the first-ever familiar. It is said that Dura herself granted him the key to unlock magic as a mortal. 

  He discovered almost all types of magic, including transformation spells by turning into a starhawk, and glamour spells by binding his chest. 

  He participated in the Hypogean-Celestial War of 1 A.H.W. (After the Hypogean War). It was rumored that he had become a Celestial. 

  After centuries of critical research in magic, astronomy, alchemy, potions, and natural sciences, Magister Merlin Starhawk disappeared in the 15th century A.H.W., often called "The Fall" of the mage, in keeping with the star theme. 

  He first reappeared in 17th century A.H.W., disappeared again, and did so a second time. The legends about the mage continued to spread across the world. 

  The third time, he appeared in the current year 1824 A.H.W. without his memories. He is slowly regaining them, but some are out of reach, as though they are locked away. 

  Hammie knows only that he has been "restarted" thrice, where he was the times he vanished is a mystery to everyone. Not much changed with each restart. 

  But by the third restart, his horns were reduced to nearly imperceptible buds that grow when he finds out more about his past, and binds were placed to keep his incredibly strong magic at bay. 

  Merlin will recover his memories no matter what they might reveal and meet new people along the way. 

  Hopefully, they will steer him clear of repeating his Fall. 

  Relationships: Talene (ex-best friend), Dionel (ex-friend), Hypogeans (enemies), Hammie & Chippy (familiars), Dolly (house caretaker), Lady Illucia (???), Cecia (???), General Hogan (a friend from his second restart), Mirael (student from his second restart), Valen (good friend), Rowan (like a niece to him), Lyca (astronomy friend), Cassade (biggest fan), Bryon (bird man and friend), Soren & Alsa (friends), Silverbeak (minion), Satrana (divination expert), Sinbad (good friend), Hugin (engineering buddy), Sonja & Lucca (intimidating friends), Tasi (friend), Bols (fishing expert). 

Posted this so people have some info on Merlin before I post any fanfics, in case someone is curious or doesn't want to read future ff to get info on him. Bonus random facts I couldn't fit in properly below cut:

  Bonus random facts I couldn't fit in properly but will probably be covered in future fanfic: He's 165cm tall.  He's a vegetarian because he feels bad for animals. He faints... a lot. He's trans and intersex. Collects minerals and watches, and he is obsessed with birds and hamsters. His identity as treesprite-human has been lost over the ages so he hides his ears and horn stubs (which seem to be slowly growing as he regains his memories?) Has an enchanted hat that he seldom takes off. Has a lot of nightmares. Has endless pseudonyms, his latest being "Vulpin" (because he saw a drawing of a fox on a building) upon introduction to Valen. Eventually Valen finds out about the charade though.

Ironically, he has poor long-range vision (about -1 in each eye, but the right sees worse).  Has a penchant for extravagant outfits.  The two golden bands around his hair don't come off.   He went grey at the ripe old age of... 20. His original hair color was bronze, and he wanted to keep his brows dark even after he turned grey, but the spell went awry and now they are permanently jet black along with his lashes. 

  His eyes have always been yellow- a gift from Misarte, according to the wilders.   His mother was a treesprite musician from Vaduso, and his father was an human ex-sailor and merchant from Holistone. His mother was 210 centimeters tall (without her horns, mind you) and his father was 180 centimeters tall. Neither were short, but Merlin is the outlier in terms of height in his family. His grandmothers always blamed it on him not eating enough. He thinks he just lucked out. 

[dreamingofthewild]

100 Bloodweave Fanfic recommendations

As there are over 3,000 Bloodweave fanfics, I have been wanting to do a fanfic rec list for a while. To share some of the works I enjoyed and to offer support for the talented writers in the fandom. I opted for 100, as it is a nice number for a rec list. It was very hard to narrow it down, and there are many good fics that, unfortunately, didn't make it too the list. This is not meant as a 'Top 100' list.

The recommendations will be shared in 6 parts as it is too much for one post.

Part 3: In Universe Canon Divergent - 16 fics.

Gale Hog Day by LittleDiscoveredStars. 62,861 words. Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Unrequited Love, Fluff and Angst, Mentions of Suicide. Gale sacrifices himself at Moonrise towers, only to find himself mysteriously back in the nautiloid. Varies from canon a bit, and deals with both Astarions and Gale’s trauma.

turn on the laugh track by pepgold. 80,876 words. Time Loop, Slow Burn, Fluff. Astarion gets stuck in a time loop and has a bad time in this fic inspired by Palm Springs.

One Wish, For The Road by bloodweaver (QuintessentialNutcase). 70,248 words. Astarion meets a mysterious wizard in Elfsong Tavern in 1278 who promises to make all his problems go away, no strings attached. This is a two part series.

The Fourth Ring by Vamillepudding. 46,164 words. Hurt/Comfort, Past Abuse. Astarion is near the docks when he feels Cazador's compulsion on him snap. He doesn't think twice. He just takes the next available ship out of Baldur's Gate. Its destination: The City of Splendors. Waterdeep.

The Last Will and Testament of Cazador Szarr by AbigailMoment. Ongoing. Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Fluff, Backstory Relevant Themes, Szarr-Typical Horrors. Gale becomes a vampire as a way to disarm the orb. Cazador is dead, Amnita is enacting his will and sends Astarion to be Gale’s spawn. Gale is not handling his vampire lord duties very well, Astarion helps.

These Flowers Sprout From My Lungs (Like Grave Dirt) by dorkpatroller. 37,927 words. Soulmates, Hanahaki Disease, Curses. They say your soulmate will save your life. Astarion wanted that. He wanted it badly enough to make a deal to try and find it, but the trouble with deals is that you've got to hold up your end of the bargain. How was he supposed to know a deal he made before he was turned could come back to haunt him now? 

Seek the Star by siderealOtaku. 18,848 words. Soulmates, Backstory Relevant Themes. Astarion is convinced he has no soulmate. Gale is convinced his soulmark binds him to Mystra. This is an interesting twist on both their attitudes to love. 

Day 6 Worship/ Ascension by Curasha. 15,415 words. Astarion has been living in torment under Cazador's control for nearly 200 years. One day, he risks praying to the gods for help and to his surprise one answers: The God of Ambition. Written for Bloodweave week. 

Follow me into the endless night by dungeonsanddicey. 10,275 words. Friends to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort. Ethel curses Gale to die in a day's time if they cannot find and awaken him with true love. Now, they must journey to find him and hope they aren't too late. But how will they awaken him if they don't even know who his true love is?

It's never over (all my blood) by riteofconfession. 22,333 words. Whump, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut, Blood and Injury. Astarion has a debt. Cazador comes to collect. Gale gets kidnapped by Cazador.

Take me to church by DeadPoet. 10,255 words. Soft, Mutual Pining. Hurt/ Comfort. The God of ambition visits Cazador and Astarion gets chosen to entertain him. The God is different than he expected - lonely and kind hearted. Maybe both of them get out of this meeting what they really needed.

Glory by oflights. 104,533 words. Angst, Abuse, Slow Burn. Gale is sent on a very important magical mission at the Szarr Palace. Astarion is sent to entertain Gale during his stay. Neither Gale nor Astarion are anything like what they imagine each other to be and as a result, both their lives are thrown completely off course.

See a Future With Me by NoOneKnowsIWriteThis. 5,008 words. Time Travel, Hurt/Comfort. Astarion meddles with a magical item and finds himself sent back to the year of Gale's self-imposed isolation, where he makes an impression on the miserable wizard.

Bodies, Suns, and Other Forms of Currency by DevilsSacramentCatering. 52,068 words. Strangers to Lovers, Fluff, Angst, Disassociation, Pining, Smut. As their options dwindle in Baldur's Gate, Cazador sends Astarion to Waterdeep. Astarion has a simple plan in Waterdeep. He will seduce the wizard, learn what magic keeps Cazador at bay, then flee. Free at last. The wizard in question, though? Absolutely sexless. Impossible to seduce.

Let's pray to the stars (for another chance) by Astralia. 12,450 words.  Angst with a Hopeful Ending. Gale, born 170 years earlier than in canon, goes to Baldur's Gate after his graduation. Here, he meets a mysterious elf who promises him a night full of wonders. He accepts.

When the City Clears and Sun Ascends by LifeOfABridesmaid. 35,003 words. Fluff, Angst, Hurt/ Comfort. Hanahaki Disease, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Flower Language. A beautiful and poetic exploration of Gale’s grief over Mystra. A story of lost and found love. 

Part 1: In Universe Canon Multi-Chapter - 15 fics

Part 2: In Universe Canon One-Shots - 17 fics.

Part 4: In Universe Post-Canon Multi-Chapter - 20 fics. 

Part 5: In Universe Post-Canon One Shots - 14 fics. 

Part 6: Alternate Universe - 18 fics.

[loredrinker]

Weapon of Grief: Solas' Lyrium Dagger

In reading a fanfic from @blackcatsnest recently, their chapter on the war with the Titans (chapter 6 of Echoes Through Eternity) made me realise during the entirety of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Solas does not have the lyrium dagger. 

And the dagger really does feel symbolic of Solas’s most soul-crushing choices - doesn't it? It is a grim reminder of every violent act in his life. It is the blade that continues to carve sorrow, grief, and pain into his immortal soul. A physical manifestation of the destruction, betrayal, and failure he has wrought. 

It is his One Ring. 

Like Frodo’s Ring, the longer it is borne, the more it corrodes its bearer’s sense of self. By the end of Frodo’s journey, he cannot destroy the Ring on his own, despite his initial resolve. The Ring’s power reshapes and consumes him, a force too great to overcome alone. Similarly, the dagger’s weight on Solas is physical and spiritual. It is a haunting reminder of his darkest choices and the anguish they have caused. 

This symbolism becomes even more intriguing when considering the power of lyrium and the fan theory that the dagger holds the souls of everyone killed by it. Regardless if you subscribe to that or not, the dagger does embody the collective suffering of those whose lives were ended by its blade (the dagger brings madness wherever it goes). Carrying it would mean bearing the weight of countless voices, each one echoing the pain and destruction Solas has wrought, deepening the dagger’s role as a symbol of unending torment. 

The Daggers Absence 

The absence is symbolic as well. Without the dagger during Inquisition, this allows Solas to exist, for a time, without its ‘influence’. Almost as though the physical separation creates emotional and psychological distance, giving him space to reconnect with who he was before the dagger (and his worst choices) came to define him. 

In this time, Solas steps into the roles of advisor, confidant, guide, and companion. While he hides that he is Fen’Harel, he does not hide that he is Solas. For a time, he exists unburdened by the dark presence of the weapon that embodies his violence and destruction. This reprieve doesn’t erase who he is or what he has done, but symbolically it allows him to exist outside the physical representation of his worst mistakes and deepest guilt. 

The absence of the dagger could also symbolize Solas’s state of being during Inquisition as this time apart seems to be a period of reflection for Solas, where he begins to see the mortal people of modern Thedas as real. It offers him an opportunity to build relationships, to reconnect to his freedom fighting revolutionary days, and perhaps even to fall in love.

The dagger wasn’t even his first choice of tool to achieve his goals. He had originally intended to enter the Fade and bring down the Veil with his orb. But with the orb destroyed, he had no choice but to turn back to that dark object.  

And as with the Ring, the dagger’s return is inevitable, and with it, the unbearable weight of its power. 

The Return of the Dagger 

In Veilguard, Solas wields once again this weapon of misery, a weapon that kills Varric, that traps Rook.  Yet...the moments in the game when he is without it? In Fade prison? We get a glimpse of the Solas of Inquisition once more - the advisor, the guide, the imparter of knowledge and wisdom as he works with Rook. 

But like Gollum obsessively pursuing the Ring, Solas is fixated on the dagger. He waits for the chance to snatch it from Rook’s hands and continue on his path. When he does, he leaves Rook behind. The dagger, a chain that binds him as tightly as his past. 

And yet, all is not lost. Perhaps Rook is like Sam Gamgee, a steadfast ally who carries Solas as far as they can, working with him to challenge his destructive path. And it takes others, another force that breaks those chains and helps him let go of the dagger’s hold. 

In the atonement ending, we see Solas holding the dagger up to Mythal as if surrendering it to her. As Mythal acknowledges her role in Solas’s pain, accepting her part in the burden they share, Solas’s arms rise, lifting the dagger, holding it between them. The weight of that chain begins to lift. His posture holding the dagger seems to cry out: Take this wretched thing away from me. I cannot carry it anymore. 

It’s an act of relinquishment; he cannot bear this symbol of his misery and destruction if he is to be free.  

Instead, the dagger passes to Rook - a symbolic transition. Rook wielded the dagger to defeat the gods and protect Thedas, in contrast to Solas, who used it as a tool of destruction. 

Rook transforms the dagger. By passing it on, Solas symbolically relinquishes not only the weapon but also his role as destroyer. He cannot carry the embodiment of his misery and ruin while seeking atonement. In Rook’s hands (and with their team) the dagger now becomes a symbol of protection, its alchemical state altered by this transition and Solas' blood, its purpose renewed in the hands of new guardians. 

Freed from its weight, Solas enters the Fade, seeking atonement and beginning his own journey of healing. Just as Frodo couldn’t stay in Middle-earth, the pain of carrying his burden was too great, leaving scars that could never fully heal. He had to leave, traveling with the company of Elves and Bilbo to find healing. 

This parallel deepens my belief that atonement and salvation cannot happen in isolation. Community and connection are essential as some burdens are simply too great to bear alone.

I’ve seen this truth reflected in my own life and community. It’s why I believe so deeply in the possibility of atonement and redemption for those who seek it (my own brother is going through it right now). Healing flourishes when shared with those who care. 

Dragon Age Veilguard continues to reveal such beautiful layers of symbolism for those who choose to look for them.