#foods of thedas thoughts

[exhausted-archivist]

In Regards to the Official Cookbook

I've had it preordered and I am genuinely excited to see what lore is snuck in there as well as what other canon dishes they make. I would like to see some creative dishes for the more imaginative things mentioned in Thedas, but I'm mostly here for the lore. So, when it comes out in October, please know I will be yelling about it and I will not be quiet about it.

One of the things I enjoyed seeing is the fact that it is now within updated/current i.e. post Inquisition canon that dwarves farm giant spiders. Before that was only mentioned in the Origins game guide - where they were also used to control the giant bat population. But also in the tabletop rpg, where surface dwarves who were trying to get to Orzammar were farming giant spiders. So we got a nice bit of dwarf lore and I want more.

But along with that, I'm curious to see just how much they will stick to a more western pallet, if they'll include things like dietary restrictions, measurement conversions, things like that. This is the same publisher that made the Elder Scrolls cookbook which is honestly fantastic in it's accessibility to differing dietary restrictions. (Also kinda like their layout better in that one lol)

I'm also interested to see how the historical recipes I've chosen hold up to what they put out. I started Foods of Thedas, not with the expectation of being anywhere close, but exploring more variety than we'd likely get from canon. It would be nice to see that they slot in pretty well, even with recipes that might be more Americanized.

[dellamortethelesser]

i know other ppl saw that post about the fact that if solas had just waited out the last two blights, the veil would've fallen anyway. truly makes me insane. like his pride and regret are so powerful that, after being "awake" for only a few months? years? he decides he can't stomach this world at all and has to interfere personally to "fix" things and take the world back to the way it was before and it brings us to where we are in veilguard. he did not give any other mortal life on thedas a consideration before beginning to put those plans in motion. he couldn't wait.

[kirkwallguy]

my issue with food in veilguard is like... i'm not expecting every single fantasy video game to deal with the role luxuries like coffee and chocolate have/had in colonialism and slavery because obviously not everyone is equipped to deal with that. but if you're writing for a franchise that previously dabbled in these themes it feels extremely odd to give a companion a relatable millennial obsession with coffee. could lucanis not be addicted to smoking elfroot or something

[liaragaming]

Just a fun thought experiment:

As a vegetarian in a magical fantasy world, where do we think Emmrich gets B12?

Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt contains B12. But when Lucanis asks how Emmrich feels about cheese, he says "I've been known to indulge." So, I don't think Emmrich actually eats much dairy.

Other non-meat sources of B12 include:

eggs

nutritional yeast (fermented, deactivated yeast)

nori (specific type of seaweed)

tempeh (fermented Indonesian soybean cake)

Out of these, I imagine Emmrich eats eggs, at least.

*drum roll*

Bone broth and bone marrow both contain B12. And he's a necromancer who works with the dead. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Emmrich doesn't eat bone marrow, he just magically siphons B12 out of the dead as needed. 🤣

[theodosiani]

I have the mildest theory that most bread made under the Qun is flatbread because of that one mention of the baker adding a pinch of sugar into bread as a small rebellion. Which wouldn’t make sense if it’s a leavened bread because that needs sugar for the yeast BUT does make sense if they’re primarily eating flatbreads.

But also maybe that baker’s rebellion is making bread Worse by fucking up the recipe who can say.

[mohntilyet]

caterina's datamined character description calling her korean-italian and early lucanis designs having him look east asian . i'll just do everything myself i guess

assorted thoughts: caterina is fully 'korean' or whatever the thedas equivalent would be in this design, and clawed her way to the top of the crow food chain after years of work. their armor is something caterina forcibly incorporated to distinguish house dellamorte from the other crows, and a symbol of their status because they get it custom made or imported. of course race-equivalents do not really exist in thedas or this world but i also will never forget how gaider just implied (east) asian people don't exist in thedas because it just so happens that there are no asians on the continent of thedas (guy who forgot about boats) . explode and die. there's not the same kind of discrimination as exists irl ofc (and the dellamortes are actually treated fine, much better than a mage or elf) but a level of xenophobia against foreigners from a different continent. illario looks the least like her, and passes for being fully antivan, which changes how he is recieved by the other crows.

and sorry if the korean is bad please actually let me know if it's horribly translated i relied on google translate . if you are one of ten asian dragon age fans feel free to talk to me at any given moment.

[thedissonantverses]

I wonder if the griffons returning signifies the beginning of the end of the Dragon Age.

This largely speculative on my part so bear with me. Thanks to @racoonmaster88 and @uchidachi for helping me coalesce this thought.

So one thing about the griffons is they seem to have a mongoose to cobra relationship with the dragons. Which means the dragons as they currently are have been unchecked. Even when the griffons were alive they were tapped to serve the Grey Wardens, probably dying in far greater numbers than they ever would have otherwise. So when dragons returned to Thedas, their natural competition was gone.

Thedas’ ecology is wildly out of whack. Dragons are a super apex predator. They are undoubtedly consuming far more food than can be reasonable for sustainability. Between the dragons and the darkspawn, the biodiversity of the continent has to be suffering.

I also just don’t believe Assan and his siblings are the only griffons out there. I’ve talked before about how the devs were purposely ducking the question during the AMA. My other piece of evidence here is the Qunari are not from Thedas which means there has to be more dragons across the sea (going off the theory the Qunari have dragon blood in their origin story) which very likely means there’s more griffons if my theory holds water.

[hannahwdraws]

I want to draw the whole exchange that follows Magda'len Rook Laidir coming to dinner to meet Catarina as Lucanis' romantic partner but that will be a lot of drawing!! So I wrote it below instead.

Despite Lucanis' reassurances, Rook was having a difficult time convincing her armpits not to sweat, her stomach not to churn, or her nose to twitch in nervous anticipation.

Her first time in Villa Dellamorte had been under different albeit just as high stakes circumstances: rescuing the very woman they were coming to have dinner with. And during that first visit, she was nearly taken down by Venatori for how much she gawped at the luxuries on display.

A treasure hunter for much of her adult life, trying to earn enough coin to survive and turns out all she had to do was attach herself to the crown prince of The Crows and she’d be set for life.

Provided Catarina didn't kill her tonight.

Despite The Crow matriarch's gratitude on the night of the rescue and her promoting of Lucanis to first talon, her approval was in short supply tonight. There was no warmth in her welcome, and Lucanis all but shivered from the icy brush of her lips to his cheek when they met her outside the dining room. Her eyes slid over Rook like she wasn’t even there. Was it better to be ignored in this case? Rook would have to wait and see.

They made it through the first course (a light salad) relatively unscathed. Only polite comments on the weather, the markets, and how they might get tickets to a pantomime that swore to recount the most accurate depiction of the fight against the Elven gods in Northern Thedas and they wanted to test that claim for themselves.

Catarina found a biting comment to make in response to every one of theirs.

Rook was determined to smile through the discomfort and hope that none of the food was stuck in her teeth. Or poisoned.

Unfortunately, Lucanis caught the disdainful sneer Caterina tried to hide behind her napkin and evidently thought now was the perfect time to put his title of First Talon to the test.

"Aye, Catarina, don't make faces like that. I thought you liked Rook? Didn't you always ask me when I would bring someone home? Well now I have, and you're picking it apart," he said.

"I am happy Lucanis, but you have to understand, she isn't a Crow. How will your children continue the Dellamorte line as you need to with an untried, an untested thief?" Catarina immediately shot back.

Funny, Rook thought, that thief was worth such contempt from an assassin.

Lucanis' hands raised in disbelief, and he could only scoff,

"She rescued me from The Ossuary, she rescued you from Illario. She killed a GOD!"

"Yes? And?" Catarina sniffed, only as a grandmother with impossible standards could. "A soldier can kill a man just as well as a vagrant in the streets, a Crow is of a different stock entirely. She has no parents, so I don't know anything of her house. She has no fledglings she trained with to compare against. How am I to know she is worthy of you? For the family?"

"Mierda, Catarina," was all Lucanis had strength for. He had to rub at his forehead, realizing only now that this wouldn't be as easy as he initially thought.

"WE. LIKE! ROOK." forced through Lucanis' lips before he could clamp them together.

Catarina's eyebrows creased even more (if possible) and Lucanis flushed. It was the same feeling of shame and embarrassment as when he didn't hit every target when Catarina trained him as a boy.

His shoulders tensed. His eyes unable to meet hers. Damnit, Spite was supposed to stay quiet while they were here.

Convincing Catarina was difficult in the best of times, they didn’t need the added challenge of Lucanis’ inner demon making him look incompetent or out of control.

Rook reached over, rubbing his thigh hard enough to generate heat. She gave what weak smile she could. She was too busy biting her tongue to stop herself from jumping to Lucanis' defense. They needed Catarina's approval and ripping her a new one was the least likely way to get it.

"Thank you, Spite, but don't worry about it. We are still getting settled into life after all this... crazy Elven invasion. Marriage and kids are a long ways off, if they were to even happen at all!"

"Oh so you wish to deprive me of meeting my great-grandchildren? How selfish," Catarina scoffed.

Shit. There was no winning against this woman. At least the second course was being brought in. The words would stop coming out while they were busy putting food in.

The bowls of red had only just touched the tablecloth before there was a flash of silver coming from a butler's cummerbund.

"DOWN WITH DELLAMORTE, LONG LIVE ZARA!" was screamed, as the butler closest to Lucanis raised his blade. How he got so close, into the house, no one was sure. And it didn’t matter! All that mattered was surviving the next minute. Lucanis and Catarina both dove for their cutlery, the closest weapons they had.

But they wouldn't have a chance to use it, as their vision failed them.

A cold flash of light burned around them, a flash grenade? Smoke? They blinked away the stars in their vision, and only once their eyes started to clear did they come to find their ears were blocked too. A crashing roar of thunder rolled through. The light was at least brief, while it took their ears much longer to stop ringing.

Lucanis was on his feet, knife in hand. He appeared to be fine, no injuries, no wounds. He was a coiled spring but looking around, he couldn't see the assailant anymore.

He saw a knife fall to the tiles, clattering next to a black scorch.

Only two butlers remained in the dining room, both looking just as surprised and ready to defend the Dellamortes.

Catarina was as prepared for a fight, the knife hidden in her cane drawn and at the ready. But her eyebrows and hairline were both blown back.

Slowly, the two master assassins turned, looking at the only other person in the dining room they didn’t have in their immediate vision.

Rook's hand was extended. Sparks continued to crackle up her forearm. Her chest heaved in fury for a few more breaths. A deep shuddering breath and she let the tension leave her body. The threat was not longer in the room, so she could blink the rage from her eyes. She tossed her hand a few times, dissipating the sparks as thought they were flicking water from her fingertips.

She smiled at Lucanis and Catarina. This was a different kind of uncomfortable from before, but just as bizarre. So she might as well approach them the same.

"Is this gazpacho? It looks delicious. Is it the same recipe you make, Lucanis?"

Lucanis and his grandmother both slumped back into their chairs. Everyone was on much better behavior for the rest of the evening.

Later, Rook looked out to sea on the balcony attached to the guest room that was larger than her apartment over the canal. The wealth on display was truly mind boggling. She never would have guessed given how grounded Lucanis was.

Though he wasn't exactly grounded at that moment. He made a sinuous entrance, sliding down an eave from the roof, and dropping to the balcony. He earned the squawk of surprise Rook let loose. Her laughter didn't follow far behind collapsing into his arms.

"You scared me half to death! I couldn't have handled two assassination attempts in one night!" she laughed into his chest.

"You might have to, if you don't keep it down. Catarina will know I snuck out to see you."

"Mm... isn't this supposed to be your house now? Can she really forbid us from sharing a room?" Rook grumbled against the soft knit of his vest. Her fingers were already picking to get underneath.

"Not really, no. But it's another one of her little tests. If I'm an assassin worth my salt, she won't ever know I was here. But, if I didn't try to defy her in the name of love, she wouldn't think I was serious about you. So either way, I prove she taught me well," his eyes were hooded in a devilish smoulder and he brought Rook's gloved fingers to his lips for a gentlemanly peck.

Taught well indeed, as Rook's stomach turned molten. But it was hard to feel amorous with all the worries still piled on her shoulders.

"Well good thing you aren't the one she has a problem with. I might have bungled this beyond repair. i'm sorry if I ruined dinner. I can pay to replace the tiles if they can’t get the scorch out. At least I think I can afford to replace them."

Lucanis’ eyes were focused on the cut of her dress, on the rosy flush on her cheeks. Those were much more important than listening. He was too busy pressing his lips to her wrists, biting at the gloves and eyeing where they joined her dress. Could he take just them off just as gloves? Or would the whole dress have to go?

"Mm do not worry mi amore. You did wonderfully, genuinely, I believe Catarina will give us her blessing. As soon as she's done investigating the butler. She wants to be sure you weren't the one who hired him."

Rook snatched her hands back. Her fists clenched and pressed to her cheeks. Immediately she was confused and panicked.

"ME? She thinks I hired him?! Why? And why would she give her blessing to someone she thinks tried to kill her favorite grandson and first talon?!"

Damn the rich laugh Lucanis rolled out. He shouldn't be so relaxed around someone who allegedly wanted to kill him.

"No, she is impressed! If you hired someone to make you look good by saving my life! It shows dedication and a flair for the dramatic. Both things Catarina appreciates greatly. Or, if you didn't hire him,"

"I didn't! I swear! Lucanis I would never," she grabbed his wrist and hoped her emphatic tone expressed sincerity and not panic that her plot had been figured out.

"If you didn't," Lucanis drawled, all while taking her hands again and winding her close. Back into his arms she went, "Then you still showed great power, excellent reaction time, loyalty..." Lucanis' eyes were so soft, so glowing with admiration for this beautiful creature against him.

"And a flair for the dramatic. I cannot emphasize enough how important that is for Catarina and most Crows."

Rook hung her head, leaning forward to press her brow against his chest.

"I know everyone says their in-laws are crazy. But you have them all beat by 60 leagues."

"It's a good thing you love me then, isn't it?" Lucanis purred, only just able to hide the nerves that his family would be the reason Rook finally left.

She heaved a sigh, lifting her eyes to his, pursing her lips like she was really thinking about it. Really weighing her options. But she couldn’t let him dangle for long. She pressed upwards to brush her lips against his and slide her arms around his neck.

"Yes, it is."

[absoluteditto]

Lucanis Dellamorte is such an enigma. After a year of torture at the hands of Zara Renata, and upon learning of his grandmother's death, he says he needs to work. It is easier to bury your head in the sand and hide from the fact that you feel as though you've failed everyone who ever depended on you. And yet, as soon as he is out of the atmosphere created by such heavy grief, he begins to open up.

He has always cared far too deeply. His compassion is what angered Zara enough to act against him. Rather than stick to the contract against Ambrose Forfex, he insisted that the elves he tortured deserved justice. Retribution. He makes sure that the orchestrator of all of that misery pays for his crimes in the most painful way possible.

When Lucanis gets to the Lighthouse and realizes that his new compatriots aren't eating nearly well enough to fuel their bodies for the fights to come, he takes the initiative and begins preparing meals, alongside Bellara, who he finds refreshingly honest and surprisingly compassionate.

He buys mint for Harding to help with her dreams. He knows what it is like to be haunted by nightmares so frightening that you wake up screaming. He buys Bellara some fish for a Dalish recipe that she wants to cook. He knows how much food can connect you to your home, and help heal your heart when you feel so alone in the world. He buys fruit for Neve as she hardly eats anything more than fried fish. Except I feel that this one goes deeper. He sees so much of himself in her. She is what he could be if he opened up a bit more, perhaps if he offers something sweet it will build a bridge that allows him to come out of his shell more, to learn how to love and be loved simply for being who he is.

And, if you wait until you recruit the rest of the companions, he gets something for them as well. He gets a bone for Assan to chew on. Caterina would never let him have a pet as a child, and though he tries to act nonchalant about it, having an animal that is always so enthusiastic to be pet fills him with no small amount of joy. Of course he would want to spoil the good boy! For Taash he gets spices. They've learned so much about themselves since joining the Veilguard, and growing up multicultural introduced them to many foods. The easiest way for him to share his culture is through his cooking. And for dear Emmrich, he picks up wine glasses. Lucanis is a man who has enjoyed the fine things in life since birth, but he is far too trained in reading people to believe the same of Emmrich. The Professor enjoys the fine things in life because he worked hard to achieve them, and he respects that. So he brings a bit of his home's finery to the Lighthouse for Emmrich to enjoy. -= This next bit is about my Crow Rook & the wyvern tooth dagger =-

And once he's finally done with his shopping and ready to get back to work, Rook, the woman who broke into his prison and freed him, treated him like he was simply a man even when he felt like a monster, bought him something. A dagger. He is suddenly drawn back to many years ago, attempting to gift a dagger to the other young Crow who he was infatuated with, only to have it seen as a threat. Upon wrestling his thoughts back, he realizes it's a wyvern tooth dagger.

He meets her gaze, and she has a knowing smirk on her face. He feels a warmth in his chest as he admits that he was quite fascinated with wyverns as a child (he still is, but she doesn't need to know that) and that Caterina had never allowed him to have a dagger like this. Her smirk turns into a content smile as they head towards Café Pietra, and he begins talking to her about the different types of wyverns that you can find all across Thedas.

She doesn't interrupt him once, simply asks questions about particular habits, and inquires if his fascination with Wyverns also translates to an interest in dragons.

[lizzybeeee]

The Lucanis vs Illario story would have had greater emotional depth/intrigue if the writers didn't water down how fucked up the Crows are as an organization.

Just some thoughts about how, out of all the side villains, Illario had some great potential to be a really interesting/tragic character in my opinion.

TL;DR: Zevran Aranai has a knife with Caterina's name on it for good reason and Lucanis/Illario need therapy...or whatever the Thedas equivalent is called...talking to Rook, I dunno

Going into DATV as a new player, or even as a returning one, the whitewashing of the Crows has a lot of the potential complexities of that life simply ignored or barely touched upon. The entire 'Illario vs Lucanis' boils down to: Illario seething in the shadows about Lucanis being the 'best boy'™ of the family while Illario is an after thought - which he is.

Let's be real, Illario is not subtle and immediately comes across as the Scar to Lucanis' 'Mufasa'. It's a questline with a very straightforward villain who has pretty lackluster motivations from what info we're provided - being 'I want power and to be the First Talon'. The game does very little explore what motivations he may have beyond being jealous of Lucanis/wanting more power.

However, if you play the quest line knowing what previous games have set up about the Crows - about how cutthroat and brutal the life is behind the glamour - then you can see that the entire Lucanis vs Illario conflict has amazing potential to be a dramatic tragedy.

We've seen how the life of Crow can affect Zevran - someone who was sold into the life through child-slavery. How interesting would it be to see how the life of a Crow can affect someone who was born into it? It's pretty clear in-game that Caterina intends for her grandchildren to carry on the family tradition - despite the fact that this 'family tradition' has likely led to the deaths of most of her grandchildren and however many children she had.

If there's banter about how Illario's/Lucanis' parents/cousins died specifically I haven't heard it, but the impression I got in-game was that it was likely linked to the Crows/politics in some way? Feel free to correct me! Still majorly fucked up that she pushes her grandsons into this life regardless!

Lucanis/Illario's situation was not like Zevran's - who was sold into the Crow's through slavery, with no one to speak up for him. Caterina was a woman who had power, who knew what the life of a Crow meant, and who still pushed those she 'loved' into it because is consolidated her place in the system. For all the Crows talk of 'family' Caterina doesn't seem to give a shit about them unless if they're contributing to the family business in some way - not to mention the whole 'you fail and we kill you' clause of being a Crow in the first place.

In the 'Wigmaker Job' from Tevinter Nights Lucanis talks about how Caterina hit him [also Illario] with her cane for mistakes and had him spend days without food/water. How he used to hate her but now 'realizes' that it was her way of ensuring he survived the life of being an Antivan Crow. Did it end up protecting them? It likely pushed them both to refine their skills out of fear. It's likely that simply by association with her they would be targets and thus needed to know how to take care of themselves and fight.

But why have him as a Crow in the first place? Why not simply train them well to defend themselves? You can't deny that she doesn't benefit from having her grandchildren in the family business - intentionally wanting Lucanis to take over her position as First Talon. The Antivan Crows are a force to be reckoned with and being one brings a whole lot of power in Antiva - being part of the elite of that group even more so.

If the game showed us the ugly reality of the Crows - the brutality of the lifestyle and how cutthroat the organization is, it could have really added some depth to Illario's betrayal - having it be more than "I want more power/respect" to "this is the result of what you taught me was valuable in life."

Warden: "Do you actually enjoy being an assassin?" Zevran: "And why not? There are many things to enjoy about being a Crow in Antiva. You are respected. You are feared. The authorities go out of their way to overlook your trespasses. Even the rewards are nothing to turn your nose up at."

Illario, bitter about Caterina favoring Lucanis - resentful of the fact that she has already decided that Lucanis will be her successor, being offered power by the Venatori (at the expense of the Crows) and accepting because why not? How different is it from what the Crows do? Isn't power and status the whole point of working yourself up in the Crows? Getting into a relationship with Zara because why not? Isn't sex part of the allure of being a Crow? Why can't he have this? Why shouldn't he have this?

Rook: "When we met, it didn't seem like Illario and Caterina were close." Lucanis: "It was hard to be close to her. Even for me. And...I was her favorite."

Why would he have connections to his family? Why should he? Caterina certainly never seemed to value 'family' beyond what they could do for her and their family legacy. Most of his family is already dead, and of those that remain the only parental figure he has obviously favors Lucanis. We don't have a lot of evidence in-game to show that Illario ever really cared for Lucanis, but the prequel story 'The Wake' and Lucanis' own banter imply that they were practically brothers, best friends. Perhaps he did care and then ceased to at some point, perhaps he didn't at all, or perhaps he accepted that an early death for them both was inevitable like everyone else in their family. Dead now or later - what was the difference? At least if Illario sells him out now to the Venatori then he'll get something from it instead of another dead family member to bury.

It's the tragic result of raising a child in an environment where he was taught and experienced the need for self-preservation at all costs. Constantly threatened, punished, and made well aware of that fact that his life was an expendable commodity. Then, when things in the world went to shit he picked the only option that made sense to him. To save himself.

The irony of the potential fall of the Crows, the fall of House Dellamorte, coming at the hands of one of their own - not because he had a change of heart but because he was taught too well by them. The Crows view those that fail them as disposable, someone to be discarded - if the Crows fail Illario, what is to stop him from applying that mindset to them?

But this would require the writers to acknowledge how messed up the Crows are and we can't do that to our 'Noble Freedom Fighters'™. They'll also need to address Zevran's existence and what lore was established in past games...and we can't have that either lmao.

[the-cryptographer]

Fenris's anger towards Danarius in act 1 is so deceptive. Not that it doesn't exist - it definitely exists, is very real and all-consuming. And Fenris definitely creates a very logically sound argument for why it exists and why Danarius deserves to die and why it would be incredibly insulting to just pay Danarius for his own freedom - ie. the institution of slavery is evil! after everything he's taken from me, why does he also deserve my money?! (Absolutely a fair point. But nevermind that Fenris knows perfectly well that Danarius is already extremely wealthy, and already expending a far greater amount of money having him tracked and hunted and brought back alive than Fenris could ever hope to match.) And I think it all distracts from the fact that Fenris is just not a very ideological person and isn't actually motivated by ideological ideals. Which is what makes him a sensible and reasonable and pragmatic person (unlike Anders who is 100% fuelled by outrage against injustice in the face of every practical impossibility to his plans, and is thus insane (i say this affectionately, please keep your Anders hate/salt off my post)).

There's just a very practical reason that Fenris is so angry in Act 1 and I think it's that his anger is one of a very few things that's keeping him from going back to his abuser. Like, Danarius has gone out of his way to make as sure as possible that Fenris's time as a man free is as miserable and uncomfortable as being his slave, if not more. When you meet Fenris, he's being chased across the filthy backwaters of Southern Thedas by bounty hunters, hounded and paranoid and unsafe at every turn, without access to adequate food or housing or medical care, incredibly lonely and entirely without allies (and who would want to ally with him, when it comes with the strife of becoming a target of those bounty hunters too??). He is living a miserable grimy existence, and he knows that the easiest way to make it stop is to give in. To go back to Danarius - let Danarius be the solution to the problem that Danarius created in the first place, entirely with the intention of bringing Fenris back under his control. And the only thing stopping Fenris from doing that is him reminding himself at every inconvinient moment that he's furious with Danarius and the guy made his life hell and deserves to die miserably. And you think so too, right, Hawke?! Tell him you think so too!

So that anger is important, but the things that Fenris said in it also can't really be taken as a literal understanding of his thought process or his actual desires imho. It's just pretty obvious by the time you reach acts 2 and 3, when Fenris has far more in the way of resources and allies and security, that all his conviction and outrage in act 1 about how he'd go and hunt down Danarius and kill the man himself was an extremely empty bit of hot air. His grand plan for dealing with Danarius in act 3 is 'hope that guy has moved on and forgotten about me so I can meet my sister in peace'. Frankly, he doesn't want to kill Danarius - doesn't want to have to. Much in the same way he didn't want to have to kill Hadriana. He doesn't give a shit about revenge or whether or not they deserve it for their magical crimes. It's just that none of these fuckers will leave him the fuck alone to move on with his life.

[exhausted-archivist]

World of Thedas Vol. 2 : Recipes from The Whole Nug

Running from left to right going from the top down we have images for:

Starkhaven Fish and Egg Pie

Nug-Nug

Jellied Pigs Feet

Alamarri Pickled Krone

Pig Oat Mash

Dalish Deep Forest Comfort

Mad Bernard's Gift of Flesh

Raider Queen's Bread of Many Tongues

The Blessed Apple

Fun fact, if you look at all the foods, they have a fish included or hidden in every image.

Place of origin and page numbers for every recipe listed:

Starkhaven, p.283

Orlesian, p. 284

Free Marches, p. 285

Alamarri/Ferelden, p. 287

Kirkwall/Hanged Man, p. 288

Dalish - Orlais, p. 289

Orlesian, p. 290

Rivain, p. 293

Orlesian, p. 294

[thewardenisonthecase]

Honey and Lavender

Lucanis Dellamorte x Grey Warden!Rook

Read on AO3

Summary: Rook has never been in a relationship before. Lucanis is bad at communicating his feelings. One simple act of making dessert has strange consequences.

A/N: This was inspired by a post I saw and that scene that didn't make it into the game.

word count: 2,814

The job was not yet done. 

Caterina was still being held captive and Ilario still lived. There was still much to be done, but a small weight had just recently been pulled off his back. 

Him and Dawn. Together. 

Lucanis had contemplated how he would do it - how he’d show her how much he cared. He had never had a relationship before, his previous attempts failing spectacularly. He spent a few nights thinking about his options. Knives were out of the question, and he didn’t think he could pull off those grande declarations of love that often happened in the romance novels he read. 

No, Lucanis had to play to his strengths, and if there was one thing he knew how to do well - besides killing - was cooking. 

So he got to work, making cioccolata calda just for her. He smiled, fondly remembering that night at Café Pietra. His cousin had just left and he decided to inquire about her sweet tooth. 

“I only discovered it once I left the Circle.” She had explained in between drinking. “We weren’t really allowed this sort of food in the Gallows, but once I was out, I got to indulge in all sorts of sweets Thedas had to offer.” She shook her head and chuckled. “It only got worse after I became a Warden. I swear, the taint makes your stomach grow in size with how hungry I felt.” 

Lucanis also remembered another part of their conversation, one that had left him surprised. 

“Like a kiss goodbye, huh? And how would a first kiss be?” She asked. 

“Honey and lavender cream. Sweet, intriguing…and you? How would you describe it?” 

He noticed how Dawn’s cheeks had turned red in embarrassment, as she looked down. “I, uhm, wouldn’t be able to tell.” She sighed. “I can’t describe something I’ve never had.” 

“Oh. I see.” 

“There’s just never been…well.” She said, hesitating. 

Lucanis did his best to hide his shock. He’d thought a woman like her would have had more experience in this department than him. But it seemed the two had that in common. 

“In matters of the heart, one must be discerning.”  

Dawn looked at him, and he swore he saw a small glint in her eyes. “When it’s right, you know.” 

And now, he did know. 

. 

Lucanis confused Dawn in a way no man had before. 

First, he’d completely ignore her feeble attempts at flirting, only for then to almost kiss her before walking away, never addressing what happened. 

He pulled away and now she had known why, after visiting his mental prison in the Fade, the one he had made for himself. She thought that after all that, he would put even more space in between them as he sorted himself out, but instead, Lucanis had made dessert just for her. 

What did it all mean? 

The dinner alone and food all for herself had been good. They had talked, only a little, but it had warmed her heart. She knew he had feelings for him, and the gesture only solidified that but she was still confused. 

Dawn asked Davrin, her closest friend, what he thought of it. He put it in the simplest terms. 

“It means he likes you.” 

That had been followed by a long rant about the dangers of ‘involving yourself with an Antivan Crow’ but it only brought a frown to her face. 

If he liked her, why didn’t he say so?

Of course, the dessert had been great, but Dawn never had been in a relationship. Could she even call it that? Sure, she liked him and he liked her, but was that enough to say they were together? 

They hadn’t actually talked about that, and she felt too embarrassed to bring it up, so things continued as they used to. 

Bad attempts at flirting and stolen glances. But there had been new development. There were times where she’d turn around and find him looking at her, a stupid grin on his face. 

Where before he’d turn away, once he was caught, now he’d smile. Actually smile at her. 

Maker, what was happening. 

. 

It all came to a head because of Davrin. 

It was late in the afternoon, and the warden elf had decided to do some sparring with Lucanis. His reasoning had been “If you plan on killing a god, you have better be ready for it.” 

The crow smirked. “So you want me to pretend you’re Ghilna’ain and attempt to kill you?” 

“Don’t even think about it, Lucanis.” Davrin said, getting into a fighting stance. 

They began to throw a few punches, none that really hit as both men kept dodging. They went on like that for a couple minutes, until things began to get heated. 

“Be careful, you two.” Rook said, as she approached the two men.

“Rook!” Lucanis said through gritted teeth, as he tried to pry Davrin off of him. “What…are…you doing here?” 

“Davrin asked me to watch and make sure you wouldn’t try something when his guard was down.” 

“If anyone’s trying anything, it’s him.” Finally, he managed to shove the Warden away. “I say we’re done for today.” 

“What? Scared to embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend?” Davrin had taunted, a smirk on his face. He had meant it to be playful, unaware of what would happen next. 

Rook made a sound that was a mixture of a nervous cough and a laugh. “Girlfriend?” 

“Why, yes? Aren’t you two a thing now, after all that dessert.” 

“Yes.” 

“No.” Lucanis and Rook had said, at the same time. She looked at him confused. “No, we aren’t…right, Lucanis?”

“I…I thought we were.”

She crossed her arms, and Davrin took a step back. “But then why didn’t you say anything.” 

Lucanis frowned, matching her confusion. “But I did. The dessert…” 

“I thought that was just your way of saying thank you. I didn’t think you were asking me to be with you.” She said, a little sharper than she intended. 

Lucanis looked at her with saddened eyes. “Rook…” 

“I-” She began to say but stopped herself. She rubbed her forehead and sighed heavily, before turning around and saying. “Sorry, I-I have to go.” 

They watched as she ran inside the Lighthouse. Lucanis would have followed but Davrin grabbed his bicep. “Give her a minute, before you screw things up more.”

“But I-” 

“Look, I don’t know what you two have going on, and Rook’s never been in a relationship before, so if I discover you did something to hurt her feelings-”

“You don’t have to finish.” Lucanis said, freeing his arm. There’s nothing Davrin could threaten to do to him that would come close to what he’d to himself. 

He sighed as he ran inside, going to Rook’s room. He needed to clear things up. If she didn’t think they were together, did that mean he had made a fool of himself, thinking she’d ever reciprocate his feelings? Maybe he had been right in not opening his heart, in pulling away and- 

No. He shook his head. He mustn't think of that. Not after everything in the Fade. What he needed was to find Rook. 

But when he entered her room, she wasn’t there. 

“Dawn?” He called, but no one answered. He quickly ran to the infirmary, and also found the place empty, besides Varric’s stuff that they left there. 

When he left, he stumbled upon Bellara. 

“Oh, hey Lucanis.” 

“Bellara, have you seen Rook?” 

“I haven’t spoken to her directly today but…a few minutes ago I did see her running to the Eluvian. She didn’t tell me where she was going though.” 

“Mierda.” He whispered. “Thank you, Bellara.”

She frowned. “Is everything alright? You look troubled.” She gasped. “Oh no, is Rook in trouble?” 

He shook his head. “No, no. If anyone’s in trouble, it’s me.” Bellara looked at him, confused but he only said “I have to go.” before running to the eluvian as well. 

“Be careful!” He heard Bellara shouting as he ran downstairs. 

He stared at the Eluvian and began thinking on where Rook could have run to. 

Lucanis ruled a few of them out. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t go to Minrathous or the Necropolis if she was distressed. He considered Rivain, but remembered how much she complained about the endless sand there. 

And considering what had just happened, he doubted she’d go to Treviso. Arlathan was a possibility but he believed he had better chances in the Anderfels, as her friends were there. 

With a destination in mind, he stepped through the eluvian, journeying through the Crossroads until he reached the Hossberg Wetlands. 

. 

“Mila, have you seen Rook?” Lucanis asked the girl, as he approached the Wardens. 

“She was talking to Antoine and Evka a few minutes ago..” Mila pointed to where the couple stood. “She seemed upset.” 

“Mierda.” He whispered, hoping the child didn’t listen. “Thank you, Mila.” 

“Of course!”

He approached the two Wardens. 

“Lucanis. What are you doing here?” Evka asked. 

“I’m looking for Rook. Mila told me she had just passed through here?” 

“Yes, we were talking to her.” Antoine said, not paying much attention to the crow as he worked on some strange device. “She was seeking advice on-”

He was cut off by Evka loudly clearing her throat. The two shared a look, silently communicating with each other before Evka turned to Lucanis. “Rook was…upset. Do you know anything about it?” 

“I…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “May have something to do with it.” 

Evka’s knuckled tightening around her hammer was probably not a good sign. Antoine placed a hand on her shoulder. “For your sake, I hope you figure it out quickly.” 

“Thank you. Did she-”

“She didn’t say where she was going, but she did use the eluvian.” Evka cut him off. 

Lucanis nodded and headed back there. 

. 

In Arlathan, he also found no trace of Rook. Even places he had ruled out before, the Necropolis and Rivain, he ended up visiting just to be sure but found nothing. 

Lucanis was growing worried. What if something had happened to Rook? What if one of the evanuris agents had gotten to her? If she had been killed? 

What if he never found her and told her everything he felt?

Lucanis took a deep breath. He had to remember that Rook was a capable woman, she could fend for herself and she had the advantage of being a warden - neither the blight nor darkspawn could surprise her. 

The sun was beginning to set and he decided he’d try one more place before returning to the Lighthouse. There were only two places he hadn’t been to yet: Minrathous and Treviso. 

He had ruled out his home, but it’d make more sense for her to be there. At the very least, the city wasn’t destroyed due to her choices and there was the chocolate she liked. 

With a deep breath, he made his way to Treviso. 

. 

It was nighttime when he arrived, the moons shining bright in the sky. He could smell in the air that it would rain soon. 

He closed his eyes as he considered where he would go. As he took another deep breath, gathering his thoughts, Spite spoke. 

“Smells like...earth. Lavender. Rook was here.” The demon said. 

“Can you find her?” Lucanis asked. 

“Find Rook. Can do.” 

. 

Dawn hugged her knees, as she looked to the sky. It had begun to rain, the water soaking her clothes and hair but she did not care. 

She never had this many chances to just stop and look at the moons. Not in the Gallows and most certainly not with the Wardens. She had finished eating the last of the sweets she had bought, but there was an emptiness in her not even sweets could help with. 

Maker, what had she done? Running away like that. For all the time she spent telling Lucanis he needed to communicate his thoughts, she went and did the exact opposite. 

Grand leader she was. 

She was driven out of her thoughts by the sound of steps near her. Turning her head, she saw Lucanis, hands on his hips, also wet from the rain, breathing heavily. 

“Do you have any idea…how much time I spent today looking for you?” He said. 

“Lucanis, I- how did you find me?” 

Skeletal purple wings sprouted from his back as he said “I had a bit of help.” He walked towards her as she stood up. “Dawn, I’m…I’m sorry.”

She frowned. “Sorry for what? You didn’t do anything wrong, I’m-”

“No. Please, I have to say this.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for not being clear in my intentions. I haven’t done…this before. I was never the charming one and after the Ossuary…you’ve seen it yourself. I don’t know how to deal with these feelings.” Lucanis took a step forward. “I’m bad with words, so I did what I thought was best, what I thought would show…” He stopped himself and sighed. “I told you it wouldn’t be enough.”

“Stop.” She said, getting closer to him and holding his gloved hands. “It was more than enough.” Dawn shook her head. “I’m not used to people liking me. I’m not used to being cared for. So when you made dessert just for me, I got scared. I didn’t know if it meant more, and I was scared of asking and ruining whatever we had. And then Davrin said all these things and I’m…” She looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry too. I should have told you how I felt, I shouldn’t have ran away.” 

“And what is is that you feel?” 

“That you’re the right one.” She put it simply. 

For a moment, the two stayed like that: standing on the rooftops of an abandoned building, while it rained and they held hands, unsure of what to say. 

Dawn saw Lucanis look to the side, his lips thin, and she realized Spite was talking to him. Then he closed his eyes. 

“This is what I should have said before.” Lucanis looked at her, with those sad eyes of his, and with a deep breath, he began. “I want you, Dawn. I cherish the moments we’ve had more than you could ever imagine, and you’re in my mind more than I’d like to admit. You’re my sky, the dawn that comes after a long night of terror and I am scared of losing you, but I can’t bear the thought of us being apart. I don’t know where this journey will lead us, but I’ll go wherever you tell me, as long as you’ll have me.” 

She stared at him, overwhelmed with emotions. She didn’t know what to say, because nothing would compare to what he had said. And then she remembered her friend's words earlier that day. 

“Sometimes, you just have to go for it.” Evka said. “Like killing an ogre. You don’t think, you just..do it.” 

“Embrace the moment.” Antoine added. “We wardens aren’t afforded many of them, so you must make the most out of the ones you’ll be granted.”

Just do it, she thought to herself. 

And so, Dawn closed her eyes and leaned forward, kissing Lucanis. 

. 

Of all things that day, Lucanis did not expect to be kissed, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Much more than just pleasant, actually. 

The kiss itself was quick, ending too soon. Her lips were softer than he had imagined and they tasted of chocolate and caramel. 

When they pulled back, her pupils were blown wide and redness spread across her face. Her hair, which was usually kept in a ponytail, was down and stuck to her forehead and neck. 

For a moment, he felt breathless. She was beautiful. 

“Sorry, I-I should have asked.” She whispered. 

He shook his head, as he swept the hair from her face.

“You have no idea how long I waited for this.” Lucanis whispered. “May I?” 

She nodded. He put his hands on her cheeks, cupping them, as he brought her face towards his, their lips meeting once again. 

It was a bit awkward at first, both of them suffering with inexperience, but after a few seconds, they figured it out, Dawn’s hands finding his waist. The kiss deepened, causing him to softly moan, and Lucanis felt Spite’s wings sprouting once again from his back.

After what felt like a lifetime, the two stopped, both breathless, eyes closed as their foreheads touched. 

“This was…wow.” She said. “I think you were right.” 

“About what?” 

“About the honey and lavender.” She smirked and he gave a small chuckle. 

Then, Lucanis whispered “So what does this mean for us?” 

“It means that whatever happens next, we do it together.”

He smiled. “I quite like the sound of that.”

[thelibrarian1895]

My Mourn Watch Rook: Don't Mess With The Mourn Watch

So romanced Lucanis and also listened to some Emmerich and Lucanis banter and thought...now there's an idea

Mourn Watch Rook adores Lucanis and will do anything and everything she can to protect him and Lucanis will do the same for her.

One crow, an idiot, thinks that trying to kill the First Talon is a good idea since the Dellamorte family doesn't have anyone else to take the role once Lucanis is gone and might let their own house rise in status.

They fail of course, even if Lucanis somehow misses the effort, Spite is keeping an eye out and Rook's work brings wisps around to watch over things. But let's say that Lucanis goes into a convenient coma. Spite is piloting the body, at least until Rook convinces them to retreat to the Lighthouse, so no one thinks the First Talon is vulnerable. They're clearly up and able to move under their own power, they just have a contract that they must immediately deal with and their girlfriend gives them, and only them out of all the Crows, access to the Crossroads. Definitely not the demon taking over while they're unconscious and possibly near death.

Rook's reaction in the aftermath however is to decide that not a single Crow is going to succeed in a contract until Lucanis tells her otherwise.

Every. Single. Contract. Will. Fail.

Specifically because the contract targets are just going to fail to die.

She'll have to recruit some other watchers to help but there's probably enough that are getting real tired of all the contracts on King Marcus and this might give them the leverage they need to have at least the crows stop accepting that particular contract. Plus in the aftermath of saving Thedas, potentially banishing the Blight, and being their sweet crypt baby, Rook is a watcher favorite.

(My Rook was 100% semi raised by Vorgoth. Myrna is essentially their cool big sister)

Teia and Viago have no sway over Mourn Watcher Rook. Yes she likes them, yes she thinks they're cool, but they're not the whole reason she even relocated to this weird country with admittedly great food but also a habit of cremation that is very unsettling. Caterina actually approves and when Lucanis wakes up she gives her opal ring to her grandson, her grandson who should be making her a great grandmother.

The Crows may rule Antiva, but death is the Watcher's domain

[rederiswrites]

Conversations with Lace

[now up on AO3]

“So you’re gonna go with ‘Rook’, huh?” Lace said it through a mouthful of brown bread and cheese.

“Sure.” Arden scooped another glob of polishing compound up and started buffing out the wing of his knee armor. There was a dent he’d need to have seen next time they were in a big town. The smell of linseed oil and tallow was familiar and grounding.

“You don’t have to. Varric gives everyone nicknames. You can ignore it.”

“No, I uh…I like it.” He scowled down at his work. “Kaffas. This strap is going to break, soon. I think I’m out of replacements.”

“Fine then. Rook.” Lace grinned.

They sat for a minute in companionable silence, Lace finishing her roll, Arden rubbing the polishing cloth in practiced circles over his armor. They’d gotten close quickly over the last couple months, and not just because they were together nearly every day. Both had open, friendly natures, and as they crisscrossed northern Thedas, they’d whiled away the leagues in talk and laughter. 

They’d been staggering drunk together in Starkhaven, crawling from bar to bar while Varric took care of business in the palace, and surprised the shit out of would-be muggers. They’d hung upside down in snares together for two hours once after an encounter with one of Solas’s agents. They’d pretended to be Carta thugs for a few days once, while Varric tried to wheedle information out of a provincial Altus landowner, and mocked each other’s acting for weeks. 

“Never had a nickname before,” Arden said abruptly.

“What, never? Really?”

“I mean, basic name-calling stuff from the other boys as a kid, but I don’t think that’s the same idea.”

Lace looked surprised. “Your parents didn’t call you something? Like my ma calls me Sweet Pea, that sort of thing?”

“Nope. Just Arden. Young Master Mercar or Arden Maximus if I was about to be in trouble.”

“Wait. Your middle name is Maximus?” A positively evil grin was starting to spread across Lace’s freckled face.

Arden rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, go ahead. I’m well aware it’s incredibly pretentious.”

“Maximus!” By now she was giggling madly.

“Welcome to my childhood.”

“Maker!” Lace giggled at Arden’s disapproving look. “Alright, then, I’ll use Rook. Maximus.”

….

“Do you think they’re real fish?” Arden asked.

They stood side by side, staring into the fish tank. It was beautiful, but Arden found it unsettling. The glass and water distorted the light and made distances strange, but Arden couldn’t decide if he could see a back wall to the tank.

“I mean, I don’t know, but that one’s a Calenhad sunfish. I’ve caught plenty of them. Stupid little wastes of bait.”

“Yeah but what I mean is, is it a real Calenhad sunfish or whatever, or just…I don’t know, like a magic picture of one?”

“No idea. This place is weird.”

“I mean,” Arden went on, “if they’re real, what do they eat? There’s not even a place to put food in.”

Lace glanced up at the corners of the room. “Huh. You’re right. Maybe they’re real, but they live on magic. I dunno.” She left Arden scowling at the fish, and left to poke around the rest of the room. ��You thinking of setting up your stuff in here?”

“What? No! Why would I do that?” Arden sounded startled.

“I thought maybe the fish would remind you of the coast.”

“Yeah, a nice seaside vacation at Marnus Pell inside a fish tank. No, I’ll find a nice little room with no windows and no weirdly endless fish tanks and pretend I’m somewhere normal.”

Lace shrugged. “Suit yourself. I like the old sunroom or whatever it was. The dirt makes me feel better.”

Arden grunted an acknowledgement, still frowning at the darting fish.

….

The grinding of stone shifting against stone was deafening for a few seconds. As the last echoes died away, Arden and Lace grinned at each other.

“I did it, Rook!”

“Maferath’s ass, that’s amazing.”

“What about that one? Can you move that one? If it was just a little taller, we could skip up to the next turn of the path.”

Lace concentrated for a second.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “Doesn’t feel right.” Arden gave her a quizzical look. “Don’t ask me to explain. I don’t know. There’s just…a feeling. Like some stone talks to me and some is just…stone, I guess.”

Arden shrugged. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Give me a second,” Lace said. She moved slowly along the base of the hill, eyes narrowed in concentration. Arden trotted after her, keeping an eye on the woods. Nowhere was completely safe in Arlathan, in his experience.

“Wait! Here!” Lace held out her hands and scowled fiercely, and just ahead of them, a series of rocks rumbled and groaned into motion. When they finally stopped, there was a rough giant’s staircase up to the next turning of the path. “I did it!”

“Fuck yes you did!” Arden’s smile crinkled his eyes up and pulled in the scar on his cheek. “That’s amazing, Lace!” He put out an elbow, leaning on her head in what had become a habitual gesture of teasing affection. “Oh! Uh–” Arden let out something between a whoop and a yelp and staggered sideways.

Lace reached for him, grabbing his arm before he could fall. 

“Nope–whup!” Arden listed a couple steps forward, then barely caught himself before falling backwards. “I don’t–” His eyes rolled up in his head, and he keeled over. Spongy wood chips and rollie pollies scattered in a tiny explosion where his head hit a rotten log.

“Rook! Maker’s breath, Rook!” Lace rushed to kneel next to him, grabbing his shoulder. This time, though, she saw the ghostly lines of blue spreading from her hands. She jerked them back as if burned, scrambling away from Arden on hands and knees. “Maker’s breath!”

“Fine! I’m…fine,” Arden said, very unconvincingly. “Hoooo…gimme…second…” On the third try, he managed to roll up on an elbow. “Kaffas. Vishante kaffas.”

“Lyrium! It’s like I’m infused with lyrium! Oh, Maker, he’s lyrium addled. What if it’s permanent! What have I done?”

“Noo I’m betting. Bettering. Getting…better. Getting better! See?” Arden managed to push himself up until he was sitting. “Vishante kaffas,” he repeated, cradling his head in his hands. “‘S like I’m drunk.”

“Sweet Andraste, you scared the shit out of me,” Lace breathed, clutching the ground at her knees.

Arden snorted. “Pretty funny, though.”

“No, it is not! I could have really hurt you! Lyrium is dangerous, Rook!”

“Come on. Li’l bit funny. Ass over teakettle…lookit–lookit these poor bugs.” He gestured to the scattering of spongy orange wood and insects around him. “Like a Titan. Fall on their city–boom!” Arden giggled, ending on a loud snort.

“How in Thedas am I going to get you home?” Lace moaned. “Can’t even touch you. Andraste, give me strength.” She sat back, resigned to waiting it out. 

Arden’s head lolled to the side, and he snapped it back upright, wheezing with quiet laughter.

….

“You’re staring,” Lace said quietly.

Arden turned his head away from the other corner of the great hall, where Lucanis was cooking, to look down at her. “I’m not allowed? He’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah? Bellara’s gorgeous. Neve’s gorgeous. I know you like girls, too.”

“Sure. You’re gorgeous. What’s your point?”

“My point is–wait, I’m–oh gosh, no, I’m not–nope! Nope, I’m not letting you distract me like that! My point is that you’re staring at him specifically. Not just because he’s gorgeous.”

“Maybe so.” Arden returned his attention to Lucanis, who was busy chopping vegetables with hypnotic skill.

“Rook, he’s possessed! He’s a possessed assassin!”

“I know. And he’s mourning his grandmother, or at least I’m pretty sure he is. You kind of have to guess, with him. And he’s just been imprisoned and tortured for a year, and now he’s living in our pantry like a rat terrier. And also I’m kind of his boss? Or his employer. That isn’t actually paying him.” Arden pulled a wry face. “Don’t worry. I’m just enjoying looking.”

“I’m not convinced,” Lace said. “Plus, he’s looking, too.”

“He–” Arden sat up suddenly, banging his shin against the little table between them. “Kaffas!” He grabbed his leg, rubbing vigorously. “He’s looking?”

Lace sighed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, you should say more. Really?”

“Mmmmm. Yes, he’s looking at you, sometimes. Why do you care, hmm? I thought you were just enjoying the aesthetics?”

“Alright. There might be a little, tiny crush.”

“I knew it!”

Lucanis glanced over at Lace’s outburst, and she waved him away, smiling unconvincingly. He watched them for a moment longer before turning back to his cooking.

“I knew it,” she hissed again, quieter this time. “Rook, you can’t seriously be thinking of…of whatever.”

“No, I know. I know, Lace. That’s why I’m just looking.”

[crows-rook]

After Minrathous was claimed back from the Gods, the Venatori and the Darkspawn, those who fought tooth and nail to take a last stand all sit around just taking it all in. Healers and apprentices, medics and orderlies come sweeping in to check for wounded or the dead, volunteers soon follow with hot food brought from all different places across northern Thedas. The cleanup is going to be harsh and the rebuild long but Minrathous will stand once again.

No one notices Rhaenyra has slipped away. She's weary and sporting wounds that can stand to be cleaned but no one needs to waste time on her. She just wants to go home, go back to the Lighthouse where her family were. Never again will she hear Harding laughing, never again will she hear Varric calling her kid or giving her advice. Parts of her family are missing but it's still where she wants to be.

She steps through the Vi’ravas, stripping off her armour and weapons, dropping them without a care. All that's left is a weariness that sits in her soul. Rhaenyra finds herself in her room and the sight of it fills her with such a rage that she goes blind with rage. That's where Lucanis finds her, screaming and crying as she throws everything in reach to watch it smash. Her hands are torn and bleeding but she doesn't care, she just needs to get it out.

For the first time in nearly two years she's Rhaenyra Mercar again, she's not just Rook, she's a person again and not just a leader. She has thoughts and feelings and everything hurts, all she wants to do is scream and cry and rage. Lucanis let's her and afterwards he wraps her bleeding hands and kisses each wound one at a time whilst Spite worries like a mother hen.

That's where the veilguard find them hours later. For the first time in a long time, Rhaenyra Mercar and Lucanis Dellamorte sleep peacefully