#kida is sitting at my feet and giving me her big eyes and also eyeing the cats bc she doesnt wanna get smacked by one of these fuckers

[roundaboutnow]

helpppp im being surrounded by cats who want my dinner and arent afraid to steal it

[lavellansthree]

Looking Back

((First things first, there are Trespasser spoilers in this, so if you haven’t played through the Trespasser dlc yet, don’t read it. This means you @rayrayinspace

Also, I’m really nervous about sharing this with you guys. I tried out a different writing style for reminiscing than I would normally do and I didn’t have anyone to proof it for me. So yeah…)) ___________________________________________________

Cole Lavellan looks back on everything that’s changed since the conclusion of the Exalted Council.

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Kirkwall had, oddly enough, become Lavellan’s new home thanks to Varric. So much had changed after the Exalted Council, it almost made his head spin. Lavellan sighed heavily as he moved quietly through his estate in Kirkwall, a gift from Varric, his mind racing and body aching from the events of the passed six or so months. The sun had only just begun to rise when the red headed elf awoke to birdsong and soft sniffles.

With the decision to keep the Inquisition active as a peacekeeping force for Divine Victoria, things were set into motion. Leliana, while seated on her Sunburst throne, had worked in secret to have every last member and agent of the Inquisition investigated. Most that had come from Kirkwall or Orlais, had some tie to the Qun, which the elf had expected. They were quickly dismissed. All of the Elven servants and a majority of the Elven scouts had disappeared with Solas, so there was that.

After the thorough investigations, it was decided that Skyhold would be left to Cullen and his soldiers. The new Templar Order had a station there as well, thanks to the previous renovations. Cullen could act out orders from Lavellan and the Divine and set troop movements easily. He could also keep an eye out for any issues that could emerge from either Ferelden or Orlais. Of course, Kala had decided to stay with the commander as well. What better place than a fortress for a new family?

Lavellan smiled as he remembered giving his blessings to his sister and Cullen at their private and very impromptu wedding. He was elated that they had found peace and happiness with each other. He also couldn’t wait for his future niece or nephew to be born. That child would be spoiled and well loved, no doubt about that.

He ventured out of his room and down the low lit hallway, pulling a thin blanket over his shoulders. Things became a little difficult after he lost his arm. He never realized how many simple, everyday tasks required two hands. He shook his head as he continued down the hall, thinking of Kida now.

Before they had left Halamshiral, Lavellan had convinced Kida to go to Tevinter with Dorian. He could see the pain they felt at the idea of being separated and Lavellan couldn’t allow that. Kida had wanted to stay with his brother, help him adjust to his new found disability and Dorian couldn’t bring himself to ask otherwise. It took some time but Lavellan managed to convince his younger sibling that he would have all the support he’d need, that there was no reason for Kida to make himself unhappy. Besides, they were able to talk regularly thanks to the communication crystals Dorian requisitioned and Dorian would need his support in the immediate future.

He could feel the weight of the communication crystal around his neck, resting peacefully beside his half of the dragon’s tooth. He was amazed, after everything he had seen and done and even collected, that these two trinkets meant the world to him. Even brought him comfort when his spirits were low. Thinking of spirits made him look back at all the mercenaries he had worked with. Strong spirits.

The mercenary groups had been the last to be dealt with. The Inquisition had hired so many over the years and Lavellan couldn’t bring himself to just send them off. They had been the most loyal. A few had joined the Inquisition’s armies, forming shock troops and undercover groups. Something Cullen was thankful for. Others had simply taken the severance offered by the Elf and went on their ways.

The Valo-kas, on the other hand, had been taken in by the Bull’s Chargers. The Iron Bull had become rather attached to the Vashoth leader of the group, Hissera Adaar, and didn’t want to see them scattered to the wind. Lavellan smiled, remembering how excited the Valo-kas were about the arrangement. Especially Hissera, but that was probably because he would continue to work with Cassandra.

Hissera Adaar had also become Lavellan’s personal bodyguard when the Iron Bull could not be near him. It spoke volumes of Adaar’s character if Bull trusted him with his Kadan and Bull hadn’t been wrong.

While Bull and the Chargers were away taking care of a Vinatori group in the Hinterlands, Lavellan and the Valo-kas were leaving for the Free Marches. Bull had promised to meet them there in no time, though the elf knew it would be some time before he saw his big brute again. That journey was when the biggest change to Lavellan’s life occurred. He thought back on that trip as he paused to look out the window. The sun’s slow rise painted the sky with pinks and oranges.

On the way to Kirkwall, Levallan’s small party had met with many bandits, highwaymen and even a few Crow Assassins. Even with the weapon prosthetics Dagna had made him, the elf would have been a goner without the hulking Vashoth and his companions watching out for him. He was in no shape to fight at the moment, still too new to his limitations, but Hissera was determined to keep his promise to Bull to keep Lavellan safe.

The most shocking thing they had come across as they journeyed from Skyhold to the Free Marches, was the small Qunari caravan that had been attacked and slaughtered. While Levallan had an extreme dislike of the Qun for the events that transpired at the Winter Palace, no one deserved what they had seen.

Katoh, a true Tal-Vashoth, had immediately identified the caravan when she caught sight of a few butchered bodies of Qunari women. They had been Tamassarans transporting their charges. The elf felt his stomach drop when she told him, watching her scratch at the base of her broken horn. Before he could ask about the charges, she simply nodded her head in the direction of a burned carriage. Lavellan remembered how he felt at that moment. Whoever attacked the caravan did so with no regard for the young lives they took.

As the Valo-kas began to drag the horrid sight off the main road, Levallan had moved through the rubble, looking for anything and everything. That’s when he noticed movement and heard tiny noises. The elf couldn’t remember the last time he moved that quickly. Nor would he forget the feel of the world shifting in that moment.

Lavellan smiled softly as he pushed open the door at the end of the hall and quietly entered the room. A lot of things changed when they reached Kirkwall. He had a new home. He was able to meet Tobias Hawke again and had the pleasure of being introduced to Fenris and Knight-Captain Aveline. He was gifted a mabari pup, which made him grin. Most importantly, he also received a son.

When he saw the movement and heard the tiny noises, Lavellan was quick to dig through rubble and pull away scorched cloth. His eyes widened when he saw the small Qunari toddler squirming and whining softly. So much happened after he saw the toddler, it was a blur. He remembered calling out to Hissera and scooping the child up and hugging him to his chest, checking him for injuries. He remembered Katoh cursing in Qunlat and being lifted by the shoulders to his feet. The next thing he remembered was sitting inside his carriage, cradling the child.

The elf moved quietly through the room, careful of discarded toys and the sleeping pup. His smile grew as he drew near to the the cradle in the center. Lavellan peered into the cradle that housed the sleeping Qunari child and sighed happily. He wondered how he was going to tell Bull about this when he and the Chargers joined him in Kirkwall. He wondered how the big oaf would react.

The toddler sniffed softly, stretching his little limbs. The elf gently brushed his fingers over the child’s cheek as he began to whine. Lavellan carefully scooped the child up and cradled him to his chest. The elf had become quite proficient at picking up delicate bundles with one arm.

“It’s okay, Taashath,” he shushed the child, slowly walking out the room, “I’ve got you.” ___________________________________________________

((I hope you guys liked this. I wanted to share what happened with the siblings post-Trespasser. I also got permission to use my friend’s Qunari Inquisitor in my DA-verse so you’ll see a picture or two of him soon.

Also, if anyone is interested in anything particular about the Lavellans’ lives from this point, just let me know and I’ll either write something about it or answer whatever questions.))