#mercysought: anora

[immobiliter]

       “ I would not be asking the question of you if I also could not, Queen Anora. ”

       Two decades, and it still pained her to stand in this very throne room, knowing the blood that had been spilled on this very floor all those years ago. The blood of Teyrn Loghain, a man who had betrayed all Grey Wardens in exchange for power, a father; and of Alistair Theirin, a bastard son who had never wanted to be king, a lover and a dear friend. In the feuds and rebellions of decades past, much had been lost for the two women now brought once more into the same room by a threat far greater than both of them. Even with the added presence of the Queen's husband and the Inquisitor in this tête-à-tête, the atmosphere remained tense. But Val was determined to remain civil: the future of all Ferelden, after all, perhaps all of Thedas, hung in the balance.

       “ I fear the Blight has changed beyond all recognition, ” she began, wasting no further time with cordiality. “ We Grey Wardens are connected to the darkspawn, and many of us can sense that this connection has changed. I do not know what this means yet — and any information we can gather from the situation in the north would be most helpful — ” At this, Val's eyes strayed towards Inquisitor Lavellan. “ — but this is very much uncharted territory. If it is an elven god at the head of this and not an archdemon... ” To even say it out loud filled her with complete and utter dread. “ And with those elven gods currently on the other side of the continent, it may be that all we can do is stem the spread of this new Blight until the Inquisitor's allies find a way of killing Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain. ”

       It was not ideal, but when a darkspawn did not march with an archdemon at its head, how were the wardens meant to stop it? It was a question that had been haunting Val for days now, and she was still no closer to having an answer.

@mercysought / cont

[skyheld]

@mercysought | cont. from x

Oh, Hakkon says, I like her.

Ameridan can see why, watching the way she moves through the room to stand in front of him, the way she looks at him with so much disapproval and without being held back by the fear she would naturally feel for the threat he 'd pose to her if he wanted. She's right to despise him. It might have hurt him, hearing the way she speaks and seeing the curl of her mouth when she looks at him, if he didn't agree with her—but he doubts she thinks anything he has not thought himself.

"I am not trying to intimidate you." He speaks calmly, clearly, with a firmness he has kept out of his own voice for much of the last ten years. He has rarely needed it, that immutable commander's voice; he's been able to to be softer, less forceful, in the way he speaks to most people around him. It is easy to slip back into it, to put on that armour. "I doubt you would do what I'm going to ask even if I could frighten you, so it would serve no purpose. And I am not trying to comfort you. What I am telling you is the truth. It will only get worse."

Orlesian. Is that how she sees him? He was born in Orlais, yes, but he doubts she has read the book professor Kenric wrote on his life (several hundred pages of as much detail as Ameridan could suffer giving him; it was a heavy tome) so closely that she rememberes where he lived the first thirteen years of his life. But where he lived most of his life is orlesian territory now, and maybe that's enough. All things west of the Frostbacks might be Orlais to her, no matter what it was before the empire swallowed it.

"But it must threaten you. You are already surrounded by allies you would not have chosen had you not been as desperate as we are. You have the Inquisitor, a Dalish blood-mage, an orlesian apostate, and you have me. But we are not enough. You need others." Others who may be as much threat to her as the ones she already has. Others she'd once likely have considered nearly as dangerous as darkspawn. Others who would consider her the same, who would have no reason to trust the queen of Ferelden, who would never gather around her banner unless someone convinced them too. Someone they had reason to follow. Someone they revered.

Hakkon shifts, as though on the verge to break out, but Ameridan holds him back. No, they must bide their time.

"There are people living on the borders of your land with great numbers of capable warriors. They have brave leaders, strong magic. You need the Chasind and the Avvar." Maybe it was risky to speak to her like this—if she felt like he was talking down to her, she'd be more resistant to listening—but she had asked him to drop the act, to not make apologies, to speak out. And so he would. If she was the queen she was said to be, she'd see the truth of his statements.

"I can help you gain their support. But you will have to tolerate what I am."

[nobroth]

❝ i know that, deep down, you like me. Not love me. But I prefer it that way. ❞ from anora

Skells is Wounding Me Always @mercysought

"You prefer it that way?"

The words seem to echo on the stone, seem to fill that small private chamber where they meet to fulfill their... marital duties. It feels like the sentiment has lined the inside of his chest with spikes, and the beating of his heart hurts. He didn't imagine this encounter would be romantic. None of them have been, thus far. Anora's attendants track the weeks, calculate the times. And they summon him here to meet her.

He does not understand.

He's been... trying, lately. Flowers. Candles. Perfumes and soaps from Orlais, oils from Antiva, dates and other candied fruits from Rivain. He's been asking Erlina what she likes. Erlina's eyes always respond, "not you."

Being in love would make this easier, wouldn't it?

"Are you... saying that there's no chance that there will ever be love between us?"

The breath he draws is shakier than he'd like. His hands are shakier than he'd like. His cheeks feel uncomfortably hot, and his throat is tight as he swallows.

"Is there truly nothing I can do?"

[howetragic]

“what do you see when you look at me?” from anora

Skells Wrecking Me @mercysought

"What do I see?"

Perhaps it should not, but the question brings a soft smile to Nathaniel's lips. He steps just a little closer to Anora, allows his hand to come up, his fingers curling beneath her chin as his thumb sets feather-light there beneath her lips.

"A Queen," he tells her gently. "A breathtaking, beautiful, fierce woman. Made for the crown on her head. With piercing blue eyes the color of the sky. And just like the sky, they sometimes storm."

As they're doing now. A soft chuckle leaves him, and his fingers shift, dance over her cheek to cup the side of her face.

"But what I see is not half so special as all of the things that eyes cannot behold. Your Majesty."

[scvcnofswords]

❝ i’m in your debt. ❞ || anora to litriu || @mercysought

The words land like ash on Litriu's tongue, and she only just manages to avoid grimacing, looking to the queen out of the corner of her eye. The Warden has barely spoken to the human royal, and she was just fine keeping it that way.

For the stability of Ferelden, it's... Best. That Anora stay on the throne. Despite the fact that Litriu does not trust the golden-haired human worth a whit. Despite the fact that Litriu distrusts half of what the human woman says, and doesn't at all believe that she will look out for the interests of anyone but her own kind.

Litriu will not force Alistair onto a throne he wants no part of, and there is no third option. Or rather; there is, but it is not one that Litriu could swallow. The other Warden is a brother to her, and his happiness matters, just as much as Ferelden's survival.

Anora is unknown to her, and Litriu is fine leaving it that way. Her shoulders lift faintly despite herself, a visible mark of her discomfort as she watches the daughter of Loghain, as she turns over those four words.

She hates having people indebted to her. She wants no part of being owed by a monarch, does not wish to partake in politics or powerplays any more than she's already been forced to. She wrinkles her nose, but doesn't look away from the other woman, nor does she turn to fully face her.

She doesn't need a queen owing her. But to dismiss it- is foolish. Besides, it could be a figure of speech, not a truth, among human noble and royal tongues. How would she know?

Alistair would know. She keenly, sharply wishes he would hurry up and get back here. Leaving her alone with a royal is a poor idea. She has no concept of court etiquette.

"... No one will owe anyone anything, unless we end this," Litriu says finally, voice rasping as though she's unused to speaking. "I'm doing what's necessary. And that means you upon the throne."

[contrariian-archive]

@mercysought said: ’ is it really just me holding it together with one loose string that i can’t stop pulling? ’

       SOMETIMES ,  YSEULT  LOOKS  AT  HER  QUEEN  and  all  she  can  think  is  :  you  are  so  much  like  your  father .   everyone  who  knew  celia  mac  tir  will  swear  to  andraste  that  anora  takes  after  her  mother ,  and  they  aren’t  wrong ,  but  yseult  sees  so  much  of  loghain  in  this  woman  who  was  once  a  babe  she  held  in  her  arms .   anora  is  better-suited  to  ruling  than  her  father  ever  could  hope  to  be ,   but  the  crown  weighs  on  her  all  the  same .

        thankfully ,   she  has  a  general  who  would  sooner  burn  ferelden  to  the  ground  than  let  harm  come  to  her .

      ‘  you  worry  like  a  mabari  with  a  bone ,  ’   yseult  says  fondly ,  reaching  out  to  rest  her  hand  lightly  upon  anora’s  shoulder .   ‘  but  no .   it  isn’t  just  you .   the  rest  of  the  landsmeet  is  simply  as  good  as  hiding  their  stress  as  you  are .  ’    she  sighs  a  little ,  rubs  a  gentle  circle  with  her  thumb .   ‘  you  know  you  don’t  need  to  hold  it  together  alone ,  pup .  ’   normally  she  wouldn’t  dare  be  so  informal ,   but  they  are  alone  in  anora’s  chambers  and  yseult  suspects  that  the  last  thing  she  needs  right  now  is  a  reminder  of  her  title .  

      ‘  i’ve  carried  greater  burdens  than  this .  ’   and  i  promised  your  father  i’d  take  care  of  you .  i  promised  your  mother .   i  promised  myself .

 THE WORDS I SPEAK ARE WILDFIRES AND WEEDS | ACCEPTING

[archontem]

"I've always heard that it's the loneliest at the top, somehow I don't think that quite fits you." no, Radonis seemed like the sort of person that ever since coming out of the womb that he was directly placed in the position of archon, the position fitting him like a glove instead of the inverse. // it can be maxima the feeling is true though worguenrlger

« Perhaps not », he conceded.

Queen Anora was not young enough to wonder how her life as a sovereign would be; she’d sat on a throne for quite some time, since before the blight had scourged Ferelden, ten years prior or so. Indeed, she ought to know how one would feel, comfortable on the thorns of rulership. Radonis was left to wonder if she was looking for comfort or, rather, for insight into his character.

Either way, he made an idle gesture with his glass-holding hand, looking away, beyond the parapet of the terrace and towards the sea, shining like dragon scales under the sun.

« Solitude is somewhat relative, your Majesty. Anyone who thinks they can rule alone is a fool, after all — we both know that many work for us and under our orders, and none of these people might be by our side proper, but they are certainly with us. » 

A little smile, that didn’t quite touch his eyes. If not being able to have friends in the common sense of the word (though he was certain that one like Vesanin Aeducan would have feigned mortal offense at not being called one, for what value of friendship there could be between people such as them) and if not being certain whether he could call his lover also his friend, meant solitude, then one was free to call it such. To him, it hardly mattered.

« I am where I wish to be, your Majesty, and I am certain you are too. Loneliness, so to speak, is only a burden if it’s unexpected, or an unforeseen consequence. If I am at all lonely, as loneliness is usually understood, well… », he sipped from his glass, basking in the sun much like his cats would, « I cannot say it bothers me. »

[marblecarved-aa]

@mercysought sent a question: “ ❔ ”

source: send ❔ and i’ll list a couple muses that i’d like to throw at yours !

1. Aurora, Horace and Minerva for The Priestess in her Harry Potter verse. 2. Elphias and Tonks for Maxima in her Harry Potter verse. 3. Goldberry and Treebeard for The Priestess in her Tolkien verse. 3. Lucretia and Lycoris for Anora in her Harry Potter verse. 3. Rhaelle and Shireen for Maxima and Steffon.

[ourdawncomes]

CHARACTER IN FIVE QUOTES

tell us your favourite quotes from your character. give us an idea of who they are five things they’ve said. then tag your friends:

THORA CADASH

CANON:

“I decide what I deserve. Not you.”

“The eyes of every noble in the empire are upon us, your Grace. Remember to smile.”

“I didn’t come here to become a god, Corypheus.”

“The mark is... I thought it was fine. It’s been under control for years. All the demons I’ve fought... all the rifts I closed... I don’t want to die. (Sighs) Not knowing the world still needed me.”

“You all know what this is. A writ from Divine Justinia authorising the formation of the Inquisition. We pledged to close the Breach, find those responsible, and restore order. With or without anyone’s approval. But if the Inquisition now threatens the very stability it helped create, it is clear our time is done. We will not become what we once fought against. We do not have the luxury of corruption and complacency. If this organisation has become too large to do its job, there is only one solution. Effective immediately, the Inquisition is disbanded.

RP:

“Then maybe we have more in common than most people think.”

“No, I– it’s just like picking if I want to get hit by a hammer or a sword. Either way, it’ll hurt.”

“All I know is I kept walking, miles after I wanted to stop. Maybe it was the Maker that kept me going... maybe it was just me.”

[at Cadash Thaig] “Because they were better than that.” Thora’s answer is quick and sure, as if she had been there herself. “Whatever happened to the elves, whether it was Tevinter, or other elves, there were people who needed help, and Cad’halash… my people… helped them. Sometimes, being Inquisitor, it felt like people were making me out to be all the things I was never meant to be, but this… and that golem my house got exiled for. It makes everything seem more right, somehow. Like I was always meant to help, always meant to… do good. Probably sounds stupid, huh?”

“Just in this age, dwarves have invented smokeless forges and– machines, just powered by hot air. My people can do more than just imagine a world beyond the physical… they make it real.”

tagged by: i stole it from sb but its been in my drafts a while and i forget who. i had to replay trespasser to get some quotes just right. tagging: uhhhh @seahaloed (alistair), @shieldtheself, @pluresque (isabela), @willbeshot, @skyheld​ (adrian or claudine), @mercysought​ (anora), @sunlilted​ (wayu), @altusmage​, @hopewrought​. feel free to steal this, or if i tagged a muse and you’d rather do another feel free to override my suggestion.

[suresaint-moved]

❝ The question then is whether 'tis nobler in the mind to be well liked but ineffectual, or moral but maligned? ❞ from Anora

ask  ,  @mercysought .

“well, it’s selfish, isn’t it? doing nothing because you want to remain well liked.” the witcher’s brows knit together. “imagine this! a plague hits your kingdom, and unbeknownst to your subjects, you know that in the long run, to save the masses, you must impose upon them the ruling that they cannot leave their homes, cannot interact with their neighbours, their friends, their family, because that is the only way that they will not spread the disease. but you also know that, in taking away these liberties, people will be angry at you for it, and potentially dislike you for it, because people are often stupid and find it difficult to understand these things. so, you, fearful of this, give the loosest guidance you can think of, and they’re inadequate for what’s happening. but you’re content in yourself because at least the people will be ignorant enough to like you still, though more will die from it. from your choice. but they will clap for you, and applaud your hard efforts at trying to keep them safe, because they think that you did all that you could for them when the truth is all along you were only looking out for yourself. your reputation. really you have done fuck all, but how funny it is that the people you have condemned still love you for it! where is the nobility in that? there isn’t any. nobility requires selflessness. sacrifice. if you can make the hard choices, even knowing that you will not be liked for it, that is noble.”

[immobiliter]

       In another life, perhaps, his comment might have elicited a better reaction from his companion. As children, she had always found his wry humour amusing, to the point where Jamie had always taken great pains to wield it just so that he might be rewarded with a smile for his efforts — something that, on her face, proved to be more beautiful than even the most breath-taking view of the Frostbacks. Times had changed and, try though he might, control over that same curve of her lip was now fiendishly difficult to master. Jamie turned to her, exaggerating his offence somewhat — though dramatic was still a descriptor that he had a hard time accepting. “ You canna tell me that this is joy you're feeling right now, my lady. ”

       Joy at trying to keep the fire of a fledging rebellion lit and the strength of its dissenting voices under control. Joy at poring over maps and strategy and trying to do the best with the forces they could muster. Joy at appealing to arl after arl as they travelled throughout Ferelden, meeting plenty who either did not wish to throw their hat in the ring with a deposed queen or too cowardly to do anything but accept the new established norm under the Theirin bastard. Either Anora had forgotten what such a word meant, or she was not the woman that Jamie remembered from his youth. He did not think it was the latter.

       His queen spoke again, and Jamie's own lip quirked upwards, struggling with just how absurd she sounded to his own ears. But, in the process, she'd thrown down a challenge and, being as headstrong and stubborn as she was, there was no way that Jamie Fraser wasn't going to rise to it. “ You dare me, ” he repeated, not a question but a statement, arching a brow curiously at her. A moment passed as he pretended to mull over his answer. “ Very well. I call it. ” They stood on opposite ends of their makeshift war table, but Jamie slowly started to round on it, closing the distance between them one step at a time. “ You were a lass of ten, maybe eleven? I encouraged you to sneak out under Loghain's nose, taking your horse with you and, under the red, waning sky of day, challenged you to a race. ” It was a memory he remembered well, and Jamie smiled as he recalled it. “ Yours was faster than mine, but that's no' the part I want you to remember. I want you to remember the freedom as you tore through the woods at a gallop. The wind in your hair, the rush as you kent you needed to slow down, but couldna bear to let me win. ” By now he was standing before her, mere inches apart. “ And tell me with a straight face that politics can hold a candle to that feeling. ”

@mercysought / cont

[skyheld]

Also also talk to me abt Shianni and physical intimacy. Again not just sex, but you know what? Especially with Maxima.

unprompted | always accepting | @keepslore, @mercysought

So first off we need to talk about Shianni as bann because it causes a lot of trouble for her in forming intimate relationships. Before Origins, Shianni has had a few short flings and one or two longer relationships. She's not inexperienced, but she's never had anything particularly serious. It feels important to her though; she's a romantic at heart and greatly values physical intimacy, including but not limited to sex.

But then she becomes bann, she becomes noble, and suddenly she's in a position of power over most people she'd consider being intimate with. She takes her station and responsibilities far too seriously to have a relationship with any of the Denerim elves. She takes their taxes. It wouldn't be right. And while before she's slept with humans and would just as soon sleep with a dwarven woman, suddenly that's not as easy either because she's still noble and she has a reputation that already hangs on by a thread and she's just not hanging out in places where she'll meet ordinary humans or dwarves. Those she meets at the palace or on some other noble's estate will either be servants (so she's in a position of power over them too, while simultaneously already considered their rank by many, who would see her relationship with one of them as confirming that) or nobles/ambassadors/upper class and she just doesn't like most of those people. She's quite simply in a very precarious situation, and adding any relationship to that complicates matters.

So despite her romantic heart and need for physical intimacy, for the first years of being bann she shuts that out entirely. She doesn't have time for it anyway. She's too stressed to even feel a need for it most of the time, though there are probably exceptions, but really *sips tea* the only person she'd actively want is queen anora and boy is that not on the table for basically the same reasons as above---both their reputations and the fact anora is in a position of power over shianni---so that's a late-night thought for her and her alone :)))))

so that's where maxima comes in as someone who in no way fulfills the criteria for someone Acceptable to shianni but somehow gets there anyway. They're not really on equal footing, but given that most of Maxima's power base is in Tevinter and she's surrounded by people who wouldn't take her side even if the alternative is siding with an elf, that evens out somehow. She's still Tevinter, as far as Shianni knows back then she's human, she's very aristocratic and way above her in terms of wealth and education. She's not who Shianni would say is her type, she's someone Shianni would expect to actively dislike.

I don't actually remember how they started to trust each other, it was so long ago ;_; it happened fast, though. I think it was their very first conversation. Shianni saw that even though Maxima is still all those things she'd supposed to dislike, she's also a lot of thing she admires and is attracted to; not just her confidence and beauty but also her kindness, her courage and wisdom (those rose-tinted glasses do fit so well, Shianni) and I think most importantly she fully respected Shianni as both a person and a leader, without reservations. From the very moment they met.

That feeling, the trust in that feeling, is the foundation for their relationship for Shianni. It couldn't exist without it. There are people she would jump in bed with without knowing them well, even as bann, as long as they're on somewhat equal footing to her socially and not too intertwined in ferelden politics, but a Tevinter human would requires a lot of buildup of trust. Because they have that buildup though, there aren't any reservations left when they finally do get together. Of course in the sense that they're still getting to know each other, but not in that Shianni is worried about how anything she does will feel to her because of who Maxima is. She adores Maxima, she adores her body and the way she moves and touches her and the way she speaks, and she's not reserved about showing it.

There is some tension that surfaces very rarely. I just replied to an ask where Maxima said she debased herself with Shianni, and normally she wouldn't think too hard about a statement like that, but in a moment where she's already tense and worried she can't tolerate a word like that. There's noting debased about them. It never feels degrading. It's very important to her that it doesn't feel like that, no matter what they're actually doing.

Most of the time with Maxima, physical intimacy of any kind is frequent and easy. Not necessarily casual but it very much can be. The biggest hurdle is how they always have to keep it under wraps, so they always have to wait until they're in a safe place or sneak off, which... we have established that there is a very rare scenario where they'll sneak into a servant's corridor so sure, but knowing she can never talk about Maxima to almost anyone else, never flirt with her or even be affectionate to her in public is hard. It makes her more determined to make the most of their time together.

[nobroth]

❝ what’s it to you what happens to me? ❞ from anora

I Don't Keep Track of Memes I'm A Mess @mercysought

It is hard to accept that this is what life has become.

Alistair's head drops as he exhales deeply, so deeply that the crown on his head nearly topples off. His hand reaches not for it, but for the back of his neck, wrenching the skin there beneath his fingers as if he might just squeeze the stress and anger that has been gathering there, simmering like a slow heat that threatens to boil him inside out.

His head rolls to the side, against the pressure of his fingers.

"Anora."

In another world, he's a different man. A better man, even. A man enraptured with this beautiful, powerful bride. Maybe if her father wasn't who he was, he might even...

"I know we haven't... been getting along." To put it lightly.

He closes his eyes for a moment, and then opens them, looking up at her with that sad honey-brown.

"I don't hate you. I don't even— well. Everyone knows I need you here."

His throat pulses.

"And I've no mind to let people get it in their heads that they can just go tossing monarchs off the battlements. If they take you, won't be too long after that they realize I'm just as tossable. Well. Maybe heavier to lift."

He tries and fails to laugh. He steps towards her. Penitent.

"What Eamon did was wrong. He overstepped. And I would never... What he said will never make it out. To the public."

He shakes his head.

"Maybe that's not enough. I'm sorry. But the man raised me, don't you see? I've only known two men who cared what happened to me in the whole world. Your father killed one of them at Ostagar. Eamon is the other."

Still, Eamon has been making things... harder than they need to be. When Alistair tries to push back, Eamon twists at his heart. Even now, his chest pangs with the knowledge of the conversation that will come when he's done here, with her. Eamon will be angry. No, disappointed. Disappointed always feels worse.

"This isn't easy for me, either. But I don't know what else to do."

[boldrobin-a]

@mercysought​ asked: Don’t trouble yourself on my account. from anora

     ‘ I wouldn’t. ’ 

     You could be forgiven for thinking Robin didn’t know who he was speaking to - save for the fact that he is well acquainted with those who hold power in Ferelden. He has little time for them. Even those as well-received as Queen Anora hold little standing in Robin’s opinion; why should anyone stand so highly above the rest of society? 

     Especially when that society is buckling under the weight of a war, of crisis upon crisis. Fine a queen as he is told she is, Robin feels no love for the woman when he sees the struggles her people are facing. She would be wise not to expect any warmth from the outlaw. 

     He thinks to pass her by - moves, even, to do so, showing no respect. Something stops him in his tracks, however. He turns, eyeing her men only briefly before returning his gaze to the woman herself, and he frowns. Wise enough is he not to steal from her - at least not so blatantly, not in broad daylight and surrounded by her guards - but he will still speak his mind. 

     ‘ But you might care to trouble yourself on behalf of your people. Tell me, does our most gracious Queen feast well in her castle? ’ He raises his brows. ‘ Families starve all across the Hinterlands. It’s even worse in the Bannorn. Why must we rely on the Inquisition? ’ 

[howetragic]

❝ don’t pull that face. it doesn’t suit either your good looks or your complexion. ❞ from anora!

I Don't Keep Track of Memes I'm a Mess @mercysought

Nathaniel cannot help but smile.

And then, remembering exactly why she said the words in the first place, his expression sours again as he looks Her Majesty over in the half-light. His cheeks and throat flush with blush as he turns the words over in his mind. She thinks he's got good looks? But he has to stay focused.

It's hard for him to stay annoyed at her. Harder still when she's not wearing a dress.

"I am concerned what should happen to me if you and Inara were to ever join forces," he drolls, brow crinkling as he turns back to the papers in front of him.

He needs to get at least a couple of the missives sent off before the dawn, no matter what awaits him in bed.

"Between the two of you, I may never exercise free will again."

[eritvita]

❝ I have sacrificed more than you could possibly know for their futures. ❞ from anora

@mercysought

Normally, an argument with the High Queen of Blight-Fought Ferelden wouldst bring Roland to the glorious possibility for Pause: thus of the primitive fear of a beheading, a hanging, a lifetime locked in iron shackles in the dankest cell of the darkest dungeon, or e’en the living Nightmare of a Templar jailer, and all the long hours of reliving his vibrant, criminal past in dangerously-creative ways ...

But art his nerves frayed, and art his long friends dead, and is naught the sky glowing green and consistently birthing new abominations so alike his private nightmares? And wouldst Roland soon see his Father’s face amidst these howling demons, and wouldst soon smell the fresh blood of his own, slain Mother?

“But is thus enough?” argues he, naught of the raised voice but of the passionate Throat: “Is thus enough to show humanity to those that desperately require thus? Call them rebels!” invites he. “Call them black-hands and thieves and paupers, call them demons in gilded rags! The epitome of Change cannot be achieved if the entirety of Southern Thedas treats men, woman, and children as walking bombs fit for the tooth’d Void! E’en to change the common speech is necessary, my Queen, and thou art beholden to it!”

Quotes taken from Black Sails season 1.