#it was a live action cutaway too so she wasn’t even drawn it was so funny it’s burned in my brain

[coconutcows]

Just started the third season of American Horror Story. Thinking about the fact I learned how to pronounce Gabourey Sidibe’s name thanks to American Dad

[aeyemenethes-blog]

Lathbora viran Chapter Five

Lathbora viran update Chapter 5. Also found in this link. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10213937/chapters/23332674

 Orlais sparkled with pristine white walls and shops that must have had to take hours of polishing daily to retain their splendour. Statues of gold reflected the soft rays of sunlight cast on the cloudless day. The city’s population bustled about draped in attire as luxurious as it was constrictive – silks, velvets and showing not enough skin to properly identify who they were. Rich and poor shared the manicured walkways and shops none the wiser of each other’s existence. All part of a ruse well known in Orlesian society: the Game. Heads turned and hushed whispers followed our group – particularly the Herald of Andraste – as we made our way toward the place where the crowd gathered. It brought memories of another time and another city full of similar majesty and gossip; a different lifetime when living was simple and innocent. My heart seized at the flood of happier days before my hand was forced and the Wolf was born. Closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose to ward away the pain, I growled low and deep in my throat. This is inappropriate.

“Something got you tight, Chuckles?” Varric asked walking beside one. “I know the stench of human villages can be a bit much to take in.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak at that moment and, thankfully, he dropped any further questions.

“Keep your guard up, Herald.” Cassandra warned, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword.

Ellana nodded, a brief glance in my direction, which I did not return. Since the night up in the tree, I kept a suitable distance from her. It was necessary to regain control over my emotions and insatiable lust. I felt grateful that she didn’t press though the hurtful glances she threw my way spoke volumes. I did my best to keep all eye-contact cool and dispassionate, determined not to rekindle her hope.

 My eyes wandered to take my thoughts from such temptation, paying careful attention to the number of guards watching us with hands poised on swords at their waist. Another growl escaped my lips. If they posed a threat I would make short work of them before Varric could loose an arrow from Bianca. Peace talks be damned if it grew into hostile actions. I would protect my Anchor at all costs. That was all the Herald was to me.

Cassandra and Ellana approached the cleric who was spouting in a self-righteous tone to the gathering crowd about their Divine’s death. Varric and I decided to hold back, but he was too engrossed fiddling with his crossbow’s switches and glaring at the guards, to notice me walking away to examine one of the lion statues. Running my fingers along the carved mane, I fixated on its detail if only to appear as if I was appraising its architecture. No doubt it was an exquisite piece, but this lion carried a secret fashioned – upon request – by its maker centuries prior.

My thumb brushed along a shallow cut out of place from the rest of the mane, and only noticeable to those who expected it to be there. A gentle tug coaxed the switch to flip and a cutaway at the lion’s shoulder to open, revealing a small black sphere lodged deep inside. A quick check to make sure no one watched me, I plucked the object and pocketed it, replacing it with the rolled parchment the elf at the Crossroads gave me a week ago. Once the parchment fit snug, I flipped the latch back into place and the opening sealed flush as if the compartment never was.

Behind me I heard a hollow sound of something hard and metal cracking against bone followed by Ellana’s outraged shout. Turning back to the crowd, I saw the cleric now on the floor clutching her head and a man, clad in armour similar to what Cassandra wore, barking at the Herald. My eyes darkened with rage and I clutched my staff in a white knuckle grip, calling my magic to the surface without hesitation.

Ellana stood her ground staring down the new Seeker even as Cassandra attempted to reason with him. Lord Seeker Lucius, I heard Cassandra name the man. A rather pretentious title, but if I had learned anything about mortals, they loved to make their short lives grand and important. Pushing my magic down into my veins, I decided to hold back. Casually, I leaned against my staff and tipped it ever so slightly so that the crystal caught the blaze of the sunlight. I shifted it in a series of relaxed movements that might look like mere fidgeting to an observer.

My eyes caught the flash of sunlight bouncing off the shear surface of a mirror being flickered from a second story window. I rocked my staff twice more then moved to rejoin the Herald.

“Charming fellow, isn’t he?” Varric said as he stopped next to where Cassandra and Ellana stood.

“Has Lord Seeker Lucius gone mad?” Cassandra huffed at the Herald.

Watching the gathering templars leave with the Lord Seeker settled like rotten food in my stomach. Almost like when there was an itch I couldn’t reach to scratch. A familiar essence clung to the retreating man that my brain screamed I should remember.

Fade. That’s what clung to him, much like it would around a spirit or even a demon.

My eyes narrowed at this Lord Seeker Lucius. I knew that feeling first hand, and it settled ill in my stomach. This could end very badly if I didn’t watch my Anchor carefully, even if it meant getting dangerously close to the Herald of Andraste herself.

“Do you know him very well?” Ellana’s question tore me from my thoughts, and I turned my head to hear Cassandra’s answer.

“He took over the Seekers of Truth two years ago, after Lord Seeker Lambert’s death.” Cassandra answered automatically then turned her head to watch as the last templars rounded the corner out of sight. “He was always a decent man, never given to ambition and grandstanding. This is very odd.”

Because that is not the same man if truly he is even human.

Though voicing my opinion would lead to questions and answers far too complex for another’s understanding but mine. They would come to my conclusion on their own soon enough. Probably.

“Do you think he can be reasoned with?” Ellana asked, her tone suggesting how tired she truly was, and I wished I could take the weight off her shoulders. The mess she found herself in was of my own making, after all, but I was still too weak to harness control. I needed my damn orb!

Cassandra sighed. “I hope so. If not him, there are surely others in the Order who don’t feel as he does. Either way, we should first return to Haven and inform the others.”

Ellana nodded and began walking toward Val Royeux’s entrance. An arrow shot from the air striking into the cobblestone at the Herald’s feet. I brought my staff up, coiled and ready to spring to the elven mage’s defense, but no follow up arrows hit the ground. No one jumped to attack us and – after a moment – I relaxed.

“What was that?” Cassandra exclaimed, her hand poised on the pommel of her sword. “An arrow with a message?”

Kneeling down, Ellana picked up the arrow, unravelling the message from it. Her eyes flicked over the writing multiple times before giving a firm nod of her head.

“We should look into this.” She said, and headed off to the opposite direction to the entrance, deeper into the city.

. . .

A fire bolt flew through the air toward the Herald’s head, but she ducked in time and it sailed passed, almost singing the tip of my ear. My body still thrummed with the magic I used on the previous set of guards who attacked us a few moments prior. Through this door, the pyromancer was a man dressed exquisite mask. He straightened his shoulders back and huffed in a haughty demeanour.

“Herald of Andraste! How much did you expend to discover me? It must have weakened the Inquisition immeasurably.” The man stated in a snub fashion as if he truly believed we searched him out, instead of stumbling upon him by inconspicuously placed notes.

“I don’t know who you are.” Ellana said with a shrug of her shoulders.

The man scoffed and swaggered. “You don’t fool me. I’m too important for this to be an accident. My efforts will survive in victories against you elsewhere.”

I rolled my eyes at his boasting, a trace smile playing on my lips. A twang of a bowstring caused my ears to twitch before the guard’s scream drew the attention of the haughty human.

“Just say ‘what.’” A nasally voice said as a blonde elf dressed in red pointed her drawn bow toward the annoying human.

“What is tha--”

An arrow embedded itself in the man’s throat through his open mouth. He gurgled as he fell.

I raised one eyebrow at this newcomer, my fingers picking along the grain of my staff. Was she friend or foe? I knew for certain she wasn’t one of my agents, but she wore no vallislin to show she was Dalish.

The elf groaned before approaching the Herald. I held back and watched the shadows in case we sprung an ambush. As the two women spoke in low voices, I caught movement of armed soldiers stalking closer and then the elf named Sera announced the reinforcements before they launched their attack.

A dozen guards brandishing swords, bows and suspiciously naked from the waist down sprang toward the Herald and Sera. Magic surfaced without thought, pulling up bumps along my flesh and I guided it into the crystal at my staff to cast a barrier over Ellana to protect her.

Volley of arrows from both Varric and Sera flew at the two archers on the balconies, Cassandra took care of the bulk and I aided Ellana in sniping the stragglers. The loss of their breeches made them easier targets and they fell in less than a few minutes.

Then Sera began to proposition the Herald to join the Inquisition. My eyes narrowed and I felt heat blistering behind my gaze. Ellana actually smiled and laughed at whatever the elven ranger said. A low growl rumbled in the back of my throat and I dug the staff handle deep in my palms, hissing when I felt the burn of the leather.

Sera brought a laugh to Ellana’s perfect lips.

“Uh… Chuckles… are you alright? You’re all red.” Varric asked, stopping at my side and kept close as we walked back. “Your ears--”

“I’m fine.” I snapped, though in truth, all I wanted to do was rip off the blonde elf’s extra pointy ears.

Shards of fragmented lightning ran along my knuckles as I kept my narrowed gaze on the elf’s retreating back. It was all I could do to keep from shooting Sera into the Fade ass first.