#miri cousland

[lyriumlullaby-ao3]

“He’s Changed You” 🩵

an excerpt from my unpublished long fic 🩷 i was inspired to post this ficlet by this post today, so i hope you like it!

for context, i’m working with a world state where Alistair is King, and Warden Cousland married him and became Queen. through a lot of set up (and magical intervention) they were eventually able to have a pair of twins, despite the taint. mc here is Inquisitor Miri Lavellan :)

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Snatching a sandwich from a platter laid out in the hall by the kitchen staff, Miri ate it as she wandered through the gardens and took a seat on the steps of the gazebo. Her thoughts drifted through the planned journey into Ferelden she and a handful of her companions were to take in a few days, after the King’s departure. Miri was beginning to worry there wouldn’t be enough time to complete all the tasks her companions had asked of her—some of them were certainly more pressing than others, but she could tell how much each of them mattered to her friends, and didn’t want to delay attending to any of them, really.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice reaching her ears from behind a shrub that concealed Miri from view for anyone standing in that half of the garden. “That’s him?” the voice gasped, sounding rather breathless. “I thought he’d look… I dunno, more demonic. Tentacles and fiery breath.” King Alistair. Who was he talking to?

“He is a normal boy, Alistair,” came the irritated reply. Miri knew that voice, but couldn’t quite place it… She knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, but if she got up now, they’d know she was there, that she’d been listening. Better just to stay put and try not to listen. Right?

“Uh-huh,” the King answered. “And what does he know of… how he was made?” He sounded… shocked. Miri had never known the man to be so inarticulate. What in the Void were they talking about…?

“He knows his father was… a good man. I… I thought you deserved that much,” the woman answered. Miri’s mouth fell open as understanding came over her. The voice belonged to Lady Morrigan. And they were talking about Morrigan’s son, the King’s son, the boy she’d seen with Alistair from the battlements crossing the bridge with his mother earlier this morning! Dirthamen ash halani, she really needed to stay hidden now…

The King chuckled, then sighed wistfully. “He’s changed you.”

“Don’t be absurd,” Morrigan countered. Miri could hear the scowl in her voice.

The King’s laugh was stronger now, warmer. “There’s no need to be so defensive! I just mean… I know the twins have changed me. Elissa, too. Everything changes, once there’s a child depending on you for everything…”

Morrigan hummed in agreement as he trailed off, then after a moment, she asked, “Is it everything you thought it would be? Being a father?”

“Not at all,” Alistair replied. That wistful note was back in his voice now. “It’s so much harder than I ever could have imagined. I… I’m terrified I’ll mess it all up. Everyone always said that was all I was ever good for. I thought being king would be frightening…” He chuckled ruefully, then continued, “I had no idea. Still, I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It’s harder than I thought, but it’s… it’s better than I ever hoped.” His voice caught on the last word, and he cleared his throat, sniffing slightly.

Morrigan sighed. “You aren’t going to ‘mess it all up,’ Alistair,” she murmured.

“What?” the King laughed. “You mean to tell me you, of all people, think I might do alright at something for once? Alright, who are you and what have you done with that horrible witch I once saved Ferelden with?”

There was a loud thwack of flesh striking flesh and the King laughed harder. “If you tell anyone I said so, I will deny it,” Morrigan hissed. “But… you have a good heart, Alistair. You do not give love by half-measures. It may be the only thing you are good at,” she continued, softer now, a playful smirk evident in her tone. Her words carried a certain brusque affection, though Miri was certain she must be wearing a twisted expression that would send most people running in fear. She sighed, then finished, “Besides, your children plainly adore you. I can think of nothing you are better suited to than fatherhood.”

“He has changed you,” Alistair repeated softly after a moment’s pause. Then, when Morrigan didn’t answer, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to tell him?”

Morrigan tsked disapprovingly. “If I wasn’t certain I never wanted to tell him before I knew you would survive your encounter with the Archdemon, I most assuredly am now that you have taken the throne. What good would it do to tell him now, hm?”

“I suppose you’re right,” the King murmured. Then, after another small pause, “He’s a fine boy, Morrigan. You should be very proud.”

“Thank you, Alistair,” she intoned, almost warmly. After a moment or two, Miri heard the soft sound of retreating footsteps, and knew the King was gone.

[ramblinganthropologist]

Do you have any ocs besides Al and his sister? I would love to know about all of them!

... *looks over to closet door stuffed with OCs* maybe.

A lot of them are dragon age, such as the Origins trio Cahel Mahariel, Cherche Mahariel (belongs to reallyfuckinggay), and Miris Tabris. Then there's the 2 Duo, Avery Hawke and Moses Hawke (belongs to reallyfuckinggay). Finally there's the Inquisition 7 which include Kaaras Lavellan-Adaar, Akri Lavellan-Adaar, Jackel Lavellan (belongs to reallyfuckinggay), Hissra (reallyfuckinggay), Aeronwen Trevelyan, Ian Trevelyan, and Owain Trevelyan.

And that's just my canon run. Non canon Shepards include MK Shepard, Calliope Shepard, and Jacob Shepard. I have non canon Wardens (Rose Cousland, Vonnar Brosca, Zara Aeducan) too. I also have a Solavellan kid named Conan Lavellan-Aclassi and an eventual DA4 character named Isana Stonebreaker.

If you wanna know about any of my kids, just let me know!

[shep-writes]

The Queen for a Kingdom, Ch. 1

Fandom: Dragon Age Character(s): f!Cousland, Alistair Theirin, Nathaniel Howe, Velanna, Bethany Hawke, Sigrun, Oghren, The Architect Pairing(s): Alistair/f!Cousland, Nathaniel/Velanna Rating: T Genre: Romance/Angst Warnings: N/A Language: English Summary:  The Hero of Ferelden is missing. With the Divine Conclave fast approaching, tension is mounting between the mages and templars, especially in Redcliffe where a whole host of rebel mages has taken refuge. However, with the Blight finally starting to take hold of her beloved King, the Warden Queen finds that her fate lies down a different path than that of the rest of Thedas. A/N: N/A Read On: fanfiction, AO3 Chapter: 2/? Chapter Title: N/A

“The King is coming.”

Those were the words that greeted Miri as she threw open the doors to Vigil's Keep, lightning flashing in the distance as the sky wept. It was a cold, dreary rain, the sort that chilled one to the bone and gave them the sort of sickness from which they did not recover.

Breath clouding in front of her thin, colorless lips, Miri cast off the damp hood that shadowed her face, Nathaniel Howe—the man that had spoken to her upon her arrival—jumped, no doubt startled by her ghastly appearance. Miri could only imagine what she looked like—little sleep, dark circles ringing eyes that had once been the deep green of an emerald but now resembled the sickly yellowish hue of dying grass, skin pale and stretched thin over blue-black veins.

“Andraste's tits,” she heard Nathaniel gasp.

Purposefully ignoring the slip, the former Warden-Commander shook her hair loose, brow furrowing. “Of course he's coming. The fool.” There was no animosity in her voice, no real bite, and if one had looked at her for a moment, just that one moment, they would have seen the hard lines brought on by her frown soften.

A flash of golden hair, the echo of innocent laughter, a hawk perched on a branch—

“Miri.”

Miri shook her head, brought back to the present by Nathaniel's voice and the rapidly cooling trickle of something warm leaving her nose. Swiping her hand across her mouth, she wiped away the stark reminder of why she was there at Vigil's Keep, away from her beloved.

“When you said—I had no idea—” Nathaniel broke off abruptly, taking Miri's blood-covered gauntlet in his hands before she could tuck it away behind her back out of sight. His bright blue eyes narrowed in concern as he raised her hand up, exposing it to the light of the torches in the great hall. “Maker.”

Miri fought the urge to squirm, not needing or wanting his sympathy. He would be suffering alongside her soon enough; he'd dealt with more Darkspawn in his life than she had, traveled farther into the Deep Roads, and Blight or not, she'd only really been exposed to the creatures during her brief travels and short stint as Warden-Commander afterwords. But Nathaniel...he'd spent the past decade hunting them while she'd been holed up in Denerim, sitting on a throne.

“Miri...”

Wrenching herself free of his grasp, refusing to meet his empathetic gaze, Miri headed in the direction that she remembered lead to the stables. She must have been correct, for it wasn't long before Nathaniel quietly fell in beside her, shortening his steps to match her smaller stride. It was a mite infuriating to Miri—she was walking as briskly as she could without running and waking the entire Keep with the clanking of her armor, yet the man still outpaced her—but she pushed the irritation aside, focused instead on the larger task that lay before her.

Despite knowing otherwise, that Anders had left long ago, that Justice was now one with him, Miri was surprised that she did not see Ser Pounce rounding a corner with the mage hot on his trail, Justice in turn following with a sort of fascination that such a large being would take comfort from something so small. She half-expected Sigrun to come chasing after the lot of them—cat, man and ghoul—bubbling to the brim with questions, Oghren's drunken bawl of a laugh ringing throughout the Keep's winding corridors.

A smile slipped across the Queen's face.

Velanna, of course, would be sitting in an alcove, somehow never far from the fray she tried so desperately to avoid, her nose in a book, a cross look on her face. Her perpetually down-turned mouth would pinch together unpleasantly, nostrils flaring in annoyance as the bumbling group of Ser Pounce, Anders, Justice and Sigrun wandered by, a caustic remark about their tomfoolery following them as they stumbled into the next room. And yet, when they were gone and the Dalish mage thought she was alone, she would grin to herself before snuggling up comfortably in the blanket Nathaniel had awkwardly gifted her, cheeks painted the lightest rose red.

This was all, of course, before Miri had left and their little family had dissolved. Miri did not miss those lonely nights when she slept alone, devoid of Alistair's comfort and warmth lest the Taint that ran through his veins be sensed by the other Wardens in the Keep and it be known that the King was not only a bastard but a Warden as well, but she did miss the motley group that had become as dear to her as her own flesh and blood.

She felt her hands curl into fists where they hung at her sides.

They—Alistair, Nathaniel, Anders, Sigrun, Oghren, Velanna—were why she could not fail, why she would not. She would save them all, save them from what she had cursed them with—an heirless kingdom, a gruesome death.

Miri's armored footsteps clinked against the stone as they maneuvered passage after passage, Nathaniel lighter on his feet and more at ease with creeping and lurking than she ever would be. There was the occasional flicker of flame, the opening and shutting of a door from far off in the castle, but that was all that could be heard, silence a wedge between the two companions that had shed blood, sweat and tears side by side once upon a time.

“Velanna,” Miri spoke at last. “You've found her?”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the archer flinch and her heart twisted in agony for the raven-haired man. He had loved her—still loved her.

“Yes,” Nathaniel said after a pregnant pause. “Despite her intentions for me—us—not to, we've found her.”

“The Architect?”

Nathaniel nodded. “She's with him.”

“And Seranni?”

Nathaniel shook his head.

“….I see.”

Silence again reigned supreme between them as Miri digested this information. Velanna was alive and so was The Architect. Seranni may or may not be, but seeing as how The Architect was still in one piece and Velanna sighted with rather than against him…

“I wish you'd reconsider,” Nathaniel said, interrupting Miri's thoughts.

Miri blinked, a sad smile stretching her lips, and nudged his arm playfully. “Sorry, Nate. Sigrun's my rogue on this one. Where we're going, blades will be worth more than arrows. Why? Jealous?”

The rogue raised an eyebrow, giving the smaller woman a sideways glance. “Hardly. I've had enough of the Deep Roads to last a lifetime. I'd just feel better knowing you had someone competent with you.”

Miri's smile spread, became genuine, a spark lighting in her dead eyes. “So the truth comes out at long last. You think I'm incompetent, that years sitting on my behind dealing with stuffy nobles has dulled my blade.”

“I—that's not what—Miri.” Nathaniel's expression darkened reproachfully, though a hint of amusement could be seen gleaming in his eyes. “Your blade may have dulled, but your wit is sharp as ever, I see. Thank the Maker Darkspawn can be simply be insulted to death.”

The Queen broke out in laughter, damning the need for secrecy. She had missed this. She had missed him. The pair stopped walking as she broke out in a raucous cacophony of joy, her nerves frayed at the end and welcoming this bit of a diversion. Nathaniel stood still as a statue, only moving to support his former Warden-Commander as she rested her head against his breastplate, tears slipping from her eyes and dotting the floor.

“Nathan...” Her voice wavered.“I want you to know, I—”

“Don't,” Nathan cut her off. “Don't you bloody say it.”

Miri clamped her mouth shut. Not many could get away with ordering her around like that—Queen or not—but there had been too much they had been through together for her to be angry with him.

“Are you sure you can handle him?” she asked instead.

“The King?” Nathaniel scoffed. “If it was the other way around—you coming after him—then I'd be worried.”

Miri snorted. “Yes. I suppose that's true.”

At last they reached the door that led to the stables.

“I'm missing a mage from this little expedition of mine. Too bad you're not a mage,” Miri quipped as Nathaniel put a hand on the wooden door.

Nathaniel grinned. “Not quite. I've got you a mage, from Kirkwall.” Miri raised an eyebrow. “A former Ferelden, no less.”

“Oh?”

Nathaniel pushed open the door and Miri's eyes fell on a girl with long, curly, coal-colored hair that stood by a horse with bags hanging off its saddle, stroking it across the nose comfortingly.

“Miri!”

“Boss!”

At Sigrun's and Oghren's joyous shouts, the girl turned around, her amber eyes meeting Miri's.

“Miri, I'd like to introduce you to Bethany Hawke.”

/ /

Faster. He needed to go faster.

King Alistair spurred his horse onward with a kick. His knee twinged at the act and he suppressed a grimace; an old battle wound, nothing more. Just behind him he could hear his wife's beloved mabari panting hard, struggling to keep up with the stallion upon which he rode, and beyond that the clamor of his guardsmen on horseback. He hadn't intended for this entourage to follow him and he could still hear Bann Teagen's shouts ringing in his ears, commanding him—commanding him, the King of Ferelden!—to come back.

The bed had still been warm when he'd awoken with the gut feeling that something was very, very wrong. The letter he had found had proved his suspicions and he'd barely had the mind to throw on clothes before he'd stumbled out of his chamber with a ruckus that had woken the whole castle. As it was he'd forgotten his smallclothes and his pants were riding up uncomfortably, catching in all the wrong places.

Rain pelted him mercilessly with icy slaps across his face, but he did not slow, did not stop. He had to reach her before she was gone, before she left him and went to what would surely be her death.

She's Miriana Cousland-Theirin, slayer of Archdemons and things that go bump in the night. She'll be fine; she'll make it back from this, he told himself. Just let her go, let her do this. Trust her, as you've always trusted her before you hulking buffoon.

Yet he could not, would not let her go. He trusted her, trusted that she'd do everything in her power to make it back to him, and, Maker, was his wife fierce, but still…!

His heart raced as the landscape sped by, the road alternating between broken stone, grass, and rock. He was soaked to the bone, skin slick with perspiration and the heaven's tears, his breath coming in ragged puffs and gasps as his chest burned with fear.

The galloping hooves of his guards' horses faded as they fell more and more behind their frantic King, and even the mabari's slobbering pants grew distant. The steed beneath Alistair seemed to sense his urgency and feed on his terror, for never before had the former Warden ridden a beast so fast. Still, he feared it wasn't fast enough, and he choked at the thought, tears stinging his eyes.

“My love, wait for me. Please, please wait for me.”

[i-am-shepard-commander]

Going through old files on my laptop and stumbled across this gem! Sketch card I commissioned from @aimosketchcard! King Alistair Theirin and Queen Miri Cousland <3

[anzysart]

Inktober day 29: post DAO

Evunial returned to his clan with Anise and Faron beside him. He was welcomed warmly, and spent a year with them and his new family.

Elissa Cousland and Alistair got married, becoming the king and queen of Ferelden.

Zaion followed Morrigan through the eluvian, going to raise Keiran with her and completely vanishing to the rest of the world

Madeline Cousland went off adventuring with Zevran. They don't really have a plan, just that they'll do stuff together.

Ravar went to go to the Deep Roads, Elgadir following after him.

[queen-scribbles]

OK so...just for fun I actually just rolled a D10 for each DA:O character prompt set. :-D So, for your Mahariel: 8; for Tabris: 7; for Surana: 7 and for Amell: *also* 7, my die is stuck. For Brosca: 4; for Aeducan: 1; for Cousland: 10. I'm not actually sure if you have one of each (knowing you, I'm assuming yes XD) but if not, questions for those you don't have can carry over to the next closest origin!

Already did all of Tabris and Amell, but you’re right; I do have at least one of each(more like five *cough*), so I’ll do the rest of ‘em.

Did Mahariel join Duncan willingly, or did he have to “drag them kicking and screaming?”

uuuuuh, oh, man, it’s been so long since I played a Mahariel. *sweats* Most of them did go willingly, iirc. At least, as willingly as it can be considered with the whole “We have the only potential cure or you’ll die” on the table

Did Surana favour a particular Fraternity? What did they think about Circle politics in general?

Miri Surana was pretty firmly Aequitarian, though she tended to keep quiet about politics since no one took apprentices all that seriously anyway.

Did Brosca stop to talk with the surface merchant? If so, how did they react to hearing about life above ground? If not, did they have any ideas about what the surface must be like?

Aenya Brosca did stop to talk to the surface merchant. Life above ground was still a surprise to her bc she only half believed he was telling the truth and really, there’s only so much you can do to prepare for sky and stars and rain and grass and all the light.

How did Aeducan get along with their siblings? Their father? Gorim?

Korrin Aeducan was a model daughter who loved her father and did her best to be worthy of his favor. She got along well with both brothers; always supported Triam since he was the eldest and rightful heir etc, listens to Bhelen’s concerns, all of it. She didn’t betray Triam, and Bhelen then betraying her stung bad. She and Gorim were lovers(bc how does a girl resist Steve Blum calling her “my heart”? answer: she doesn’t), but she was happy rather than hurt to see he’d moved on when she found him in Denerim. 

How did Cousland feel about/react to seeing Howe again? About eventually killing him?

Hooo, boy, that’s a good one. Marta manages to keep her composure that first time you run into him in Denerim post-family-slaughter, but she felt like her heart was in a vise and had to go scream into a pillow soon as he left. Killing him was less viscerally satisfying and more justice for her family than anything. Marta’s a tricky one for this, because the man did murder her whole family barring Fergus, but she’s in love with his son(Thomas, not Nathaniel bc complicated is how I rollllll), so she’s this weird ball of emotions and regrets and good-it’s-what-he-deserves. Alistair spent a lot of time giving (friend) hugs and being her grounding person after that dungeon.

[sadghostdyke]

im writing an all-origins-survive dragon age fix it and here are the character bios!!

Damian Cousland- a sword-shield warrior who falls for Zevran. He doesn't understand a lot of what the others have gone through (Zev's experience as a slave, Adrian's poor experiences with humans, Kit's distaste for stupid shems, Miri and Lyanna's experience with templars, Naya's instinctive self-devaluing, Alistair's experience in the Chantry and his child abuse) but he still makes an effort to understand and learns a lot over the course of the story. He's very flustered by Zevran at first but makes a concerted effort to help him when things get rough. Post-DAO, he and Zevran go and take out the Crows and wear cool matching outfits doing it (it's mostly for Zevran's dramatic flair, because Damian would never do that on his own, but for the love of his life? of course). They settle down in Antiva, though they take a brief trip to the Free Marches to see the Amells and give them news of their second cousin. They help save baby Crows and adopt them. (Currently they have three kids, all Crow escapees.)

Adrian Tabris- a dual wielding rogue who finds himself in love with Alistair. He was named for his mother Adaia, and Cyrion often finds himself looking at his son and wanting to weep because he can see his mother in him. Adrian was sexually assaulted by humans when he was around fourteen. When he saw what was going to happen to Shianni, he leapt to her defense, wanting to save someone in the way he wasn't able to. He & Alistair love each other very much. Others would be upset to be only the King's consort, but Adrian is delighted that he can help the alienage with Alistair. He and Anora do most of the ruling, and they respect each other quite a bit- after all, Adrian is the one who introduced her to Shianni :) 

Kitranelle Mahariel- an archery-based rogue, Kit found herself falling for the mysterious Morrigan who also grew up away from humans and therefore has a more disdainful view of them. She has the vallaslin of Elgar'nan, and received it right before Tamlen died :( She used to be in a polyamorous relationship with Tamlen and Merrill that fell apart when Tamlen was taken, and she swore not to leave her heart unguarded again. She told herself that her relationship with Morrigan was just flirting, just kissing, just sex, until... it wasn't. Kit has quite a bit of trauma regarding humans, who took her father and killed her mother, and she's not prone to trust. The only one she ever particularly liked was Duncan, and he wasn't that kind at first either. She becomes a lot more open to humans during the Blight, and she's especially close to Lyanna. She did the Dark Ritual with Morrigan. Post-DAO, she tracks down Morrigan with the help of a hunter from the Brecilian forest (Ariane) and a circle mage friend of Lyanna and Miri's (Finn) and escapes with Morrigan and Kieran, who she spends the next decade raising alongside her wife.

Lyanna Amell- a Mage (obviously) focused on the entropic school and the Spirit school. She's been in love with Miri Surana since she was old enough to understand the concept. Their relationship is modeled a little bit off Steve/Bucky (aka the 'hoe don't do it' meme) and Lyanna is Bucky in this scenario, constantly apologizing for Miri being loud and quicktempered and just. All that. She wasn't aware that Cullen had a crush on Miri, because she didn't WANT to believe, because she didn't know Cullen had a crush on both of them. (Cullen likes Lyanna because she's a Good Mage, and she's so Kind and Sweet and he thinks she would actually like him back (lol she's a lesbian so no). His... infatuation with Miri is much more "i'm going to break her" and it's pretty obvious when you're looking for it.) She was best friends with Jowan, and Miri was best friends with Anders. She has a bad back from a punishment she received as a child when she hadn't learned how to be Quiet like a good mage (that incident is part of what led her to become really focused on being Good Enough). It never healed right, and she needs poultices to get through the day during the Fifth Blight with all the combat. Post-DAO, she becomes the Warden-Commanders of Amaranthine alongside Naya Brosca and Miri Surana. Post-DAA, she and Miri get married and run from the Chantry, sending Velanna and Sigrun letters as they go.

Miri Surana- a mage focused on the Primal school and the Creation school. She was stolen from the Dalish as a child, and the templars found her when she was playing with ink and with paint marks on her face in the shape of vallaslin (she wanted to have the marks of June because her parts were both craftspeople). She’s always wondered whether she’d be able to get them done someday, after learning of how they found her, and she decided to glamour vallaslin on her face (she wouldn't make it permanent because she was afraid she’d get it wrong and then she’d be rejected if she ever met a Dalish) in honor of her heritage. She couldn’t do it in public because she’d get punished for it, but she did it TONS in private. Anders was her best friend (they fooled around once, but Miri told him she was a lesbian immediately after and Anders was like am I that bad? lol) Speaking of punishment, Miri got punished for a LOT, because she never shut up. She has a broken ankle that healed wrong and so she needs her staff to walk sometimes. She was sexually assaulted by a templar and at one point entered an ill-advised poorly-conceived relationship with Cullen under the wraps before ending it when he got Weird and he's been murder-lusting after her ever since. Lyanna did not know about this, she just thought Miri was having sex with a templar. It's ... fucked up. She became one of the Warden-Commanders of Amaranthine with Lyanna (who, by the way, is the love of her life and that which grounds her.)

Naya Brosca: a casteless dwarf, dual wielding rogue, who ended up working for the Carta. She did it for her sister and her mother. Naya copes for her low self-esteem using humor, and her life really sucks. She has a complicated relationship with the Stone as a religion and hates the Ancestors. She fell for Leliana, who introduced her to Andrastianism, which broadened Naya's faith- Naya still believes in the Stone, but she also believes in the Maker. Her mother is a drunk and Naya was verbally and physically abused as a child. She tried her best to protect Rica, who in turn protected Naya from becoming a noble-hunter, which was her worst nightmare. Naya is a dual-wielding rogue but mostly she focuses on lock-picking and theft, because hey, gotta survive, amiright boys? She and Vyrim have a rivalry going on because Vyrim is an Heir, stone-blessed, and Naya is a Casteless, and they originally have it out for one another. Eventually they learn to trust each other, but there's always some level of apprehension between them because of their upbringings. Naya becomes a Warden-Commander post-Blight.

Vyrim Aeducan- greatsword-wielding warrior, the middle child of Endrin Aeducan, a very schmoozy kind of person, who got the Assembly in their pocket but never anticipated Bhelen's betrayal. They loved their brother Trian but were closer to Bhelen and believed him when he said "oh yeah, he'll kill you (and me, too)" because they grew up trying to protect their brother. That.... backfired. Vyrim is the oldest of the group at around forty, so they don't get into a relationship with anyone because UH excuse you, you're all BABIES compared to them. They have the dwarf tattoo that has dots around the eyes? i love it. They are prejudiced against the Casteless but learn Not to be after confronted with the reality of what happens against Casteless in Orzammar. They returned to the Grey Wardens and stayed there... for a time.

Those are my DAO ocs! i love them!

[gaysparkler]

First Lines

I was tagged by @jawsandbones thank you so much ❤︎❤︎❤︎ 

Rules: List the first lines of your last ten published stories. Look to see if there are any patterns that you notice yourself, and see if anyone else notices any! Tag up to ten friends! (I might cheat a bit and include things I didn’t publish yet because I’m a coward and I barely post anything)

“I did not think you would bring Fenris with you,” the Inquisitor remarked when Hawke arrived at Skyhold. (Fic - F!Hawke x Fenris)

They were in Denerim, after everything. (Fic - M!Cousland x Alistair)

Xavia helped Dalila up after her fall, watching Liara running to catch Tela Vasir. (Fic - F!Shepard x Original female character x Liara)

Ludwig could never say ‘I love you’ accidentally. (Fic - M!Cousland x Alistair)

Hawke always wanted to make Merrill smile or laugh, ideally both. (Fic - F!Hawke x Merrill)

Leliana and Eleanor lost count of how many times life pulled them apart. (Fic - F!Surana x Leliana)

On one of their first nights back together, Fenris took upon himself to discover every scar on Hawke’s body. (Fic - M!Hawke x Fenris)

No matter the cost, Samael was not to be seen. (Fic - No pairing, M!Lavellan)

Miri had gotten lost. (Unpublished - F!Lavellan x F!Trevelyan, vampire AU)

Hawke picked up the latter atop his desk, well, Gamlen’s desk, but Hawke used it much more than his uncle did, other than for piling up bills he would never pay. (Unpublished - M!Hawke x Fenris)

I only cheated for two, that’s not too bad! I’m currently working on chapter 5 of my multichapter, so as soon as that’s done, I’ll probably start posting ;) I’ll tag @aveline-the-dragon-slayer, @typhonserpent and any other writer friend!! 

[kagetsukai]

Fanfiction Writer Appreciation Day - part 1/2

I’mna make this huge, because I love SO MANY OF YOU!!! These are some of the fics that I love and adore. Please go read them, love them, lavish the authors with all the comments and kudos you can :D

Ongoing fanfics:

Heart-eye emoji - It’s a modern AU about Alistair and Olivia Cousland and it happens a lot through text messages. It would have sounded terrible if not for how WELL it’s written. I am terribly invested in their story.

How to win wars and influence nobles by @kaoruyogi - This story makes me flail every time it’s updated. The writing is superb, the characterization of DA character is fantastic, and Belle is the most delightful firecracker :D Also, lots of cursing. I love it so much!

In love, serenity by @ladydracarysao3 - I love her main ladies SO FRIGGIN MUCH. Abner, Izzy and Aurora are badass ladies and I love watching them grow and evolve into even better characters. Strong ladies FTW!

Only make believe by @blustersquall - I started reading this story while I was still iffy about the whole modern AU setup. It really made me fall in love with it and the fake relationship trope. It also helps that it has a whole lot of good representation of mental illness and how people cope with it.

The moments in between by @lonely-spaghetti - It’s a retelling of how Inquisitor fell in love with Cullen, but this time there is a mage sister and a whole lotta insecurities. I adore Daphne so much! It doesn’t hurt that the story is written really well ;)

The principle of sliver lining by @puddle--wonderful - This is my newest discovery and I’m so glad I found it! This fic assumes that the Inquisitor doesn’t come out of Haven physically sound and how that would affect people around her. Other than the neat premise, I friggin love and adore the language she uses in her prose. Must read!

Someday we’ll try to walk upright by @sirinial - I am in love with this story!!! The banter is amazing and Miri is a joy. She cannot keep her mouth shut, which frustrates Cullen to no end. It’s beautifully written and the characters are amazing. READ THIS!!!!

The revelation of all things and Truths half told beget lives half lived by @ellenembee - These two are a retelling of Lavellan adventures with the Inquisition and its companion piece about Rylen and his journey to find love. They are both fantastic and I love them SO MUCH. I watched this author grow over the course of these stories and I’m excited to see where she goes from here

Wingman by @quickspinner - This is such a cute premise!!! The first chapter was hilarious (thank, Alistair!!) and the subsequent chapters just kept making it better. The writing is lovely and I strongly recommend checking it out :D

It looks like this is getting long, so I’ll break this up into two sections. Coming right up, complete fics I love and adore!

[artminion]

Strawbeki's Miri Cousland.

Hot damn, other people's wardens!

[shep-writes]

The Queen for a Kingdom, Prologue

Fandom: Dragon Age Character(s): f!Cousland, Alistair Theirin, Nathaniel Howe, Velanna, Bethany Hawke, Sigrun, Oghren, The Architect Pairing(s): Alistair/f!Cousland, Nathaniel/Velanna Rating: T Genre: Romance/Angst Warnings: N/A Language: English Summary:  The Hero of Ferelden is missing. With the Divine Conclave fast approaching, tension is mounting between the mages and templars, especially in Redcliffe where a whole host of rebel mages has taken refuge. However, with the Blight finally starting to take hold of her beloved King, the Warden Queen finds that her fate lies down a different path than that of the rest of Thedas. A/N: N/A Read On: fanfiction, AO3 Chapter: 1/? Chapter Title: Prologue

Black roots had sprouted beneath his eyes. They were faint, barely noticeable, but they were there nonetheless, ugly, seething lines of corruption crawling beneath what once had been healthy tan. It was only natural that the flesh that covered his bones would pale overtime, for he was nowhere near as active as he was in his youth—and at that he would have undoubtedly scoffed and said “In my youth? I’m still young! I barely look a day over twenty!”—his warm, sun-kissed skin dulling as years spent wrapped in regal garb and trapped indoors slipped by.

But this.

This.

This was not natural.

The Warden Queen stood above her sleeping King, soft beams of moonlight slipping in through the partially cracked window of their bedroom to alight upon his broad, naked chest that rose and fell with each deep breath of solid slumber he took. Every ounce of self-control she possessed was required to keep her from reaching out and running her fingers through the golden hair that trailed down his abdomen. A thin blue sheet was lazily draped about his hips, hiding his lower body from sight, though the Warden Queen didn't need to remove it to know what laid beneath. She knew his body as well as he knew hers—the spots that tickled, the joints that ached when it rained, the muscles that needed massaging, the scars that crisscrossed and marked wounds of old.

Something moist and warm spilled from her nose. On reflex, she wiped the liquid away, the soft material of the glove adorning her long-fingered hands brushing against her pale skin to absorb the thick, dark glob. The dull throbbing of a migraine in remission came with it, her vision splitting and refocusing with frighteningly wild abandon.

Thick-soled boots carried her across their modestly furnished suite to the writing desk littered with stacks of books, rolls of scrolls, parchment paper, quill pens, ink bottles, a variety of poultices and tonics, and the wax stamp of the Theirin family's royal crest. Purposefully ignoring the tear-splattered letter that neatly lay atop a stack of grievances, laws, tariffs, and all other sorts of official things requiring a King's—or Queen's—touch, she grabbed a vial of deep red, threw back her head, and gulped it down in one swig.

A heady rush swept through her even as the last drop was falling from the glass rim, numbing the tips of her toes and fingers, chasing away the darkness. Leaning forward, she closed her eyes, let the cool breeze of a mild summer night brush her fevered forehead. The scent of roses danced beneath her nose, though she could not smell them. All she could smell was rot, death, decay, the goo that had begun to seep from her pores far too frequently for her taste, accompanied by the low, breathy chant of the damned.

Darkspawn blood.

The Blight.

Green eyes snapped open, bright with fiery determination.

It was essential that she move quickly. Unburdened by her Warden-Commander armor—strategically left at Vigil's Keep years ago for this very occasion—she would move swiftly and quietly in the black bodysuit lent to her by a certain fair Sister, creeping undetected through the halls of her own castle like a thief.

The irony of the situation was not lost on her; of the two classes she could have chosen, she had gone the brutal, uncaring, loud route of the warrior, a Berserker no less. The combined efforts of her rogue companions had been enough to teach her how to tiptoe stealthily in plain clothes, but not in full armor.

Casting her gaze out the window, she watched the guards that marched the grounds of the Royal Palace. It would be hard to slip by them; training by a familiar former-Crow had seen to that. But slip by them she would. She had to.

Without a backwards glance, she strode towards the heavy wooden door that led to their chambers, making sure to tread lightly lest she wake her sleeping King as she moved across rug and stone. She was surprised at how easy it was—to leave him. Perhaps it would come later, the heartbreak, the longing. Perhaps it would remain at bay, her head overpowering her heart for a change.

Tugging her hood into place, she tucked her short-cropped red hair behind her ears. Sweat plastered her bangs to her forehead, a cold, clammy dread chilling her bones while her skin remained hot.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she pulled the door open, the hinges creaking in protest.

A groan issued behind her and she froze, waiting, waiting, waiting. For what, she wasn't sure. For him to wake up and call her back to bed, sleep fogging his brain and clouding his thinking, thus preventing the inquiry of, “What in the Maker's breath are you wearing?” For him to spring to his feet, claim that he had known of her plan all along and was hurt that she hadn't included him?

Neither of these things happened, and she loosed a breath from her tight lips. Instead, she heard the mattress groan as he shifted and mumbled incoherently, doubtless searching for her even as he remained oblivious to the world in sleep.

A lump in her throat spurred her into action, steeled her resolve. Heaving the great door open, she stormed into the hall boldly yet quietly. Torches lit her path, throwing her shadow across the red carpet lining the vacated passages she walked.

He would have gone with her. He would have abandoned his post, his people, for her. She couldn't allow that. Not when she had selfishly declared herself his consort all those years ago, when she had thrown logic and reason to the wind—you can't give him children, you're a Grey Warden, you can't give him children, you're a Grey Warden, you can't give him children, you're a Grey Warden—and let love rule her thoughts, govern her actions, be her motivation. In doing so, she had doomed her homeland, subjected it once more to petty squabbles of who would inherit the throne once the barren Warden Queen and bastard King died.

And so gone was the Queen, for what she did now was not for her people, though help them in the long run it would, one way or another. If she was blessed with success, an heir would they receive, Eamon's concerns of keeping Ferelden in Theirin hands eased. If met with a crueler fate she was, well…

Gone was the Warden, for what she did now—though potentially beneficial yet devastating for the order of warriors this quest might prove to be—was not for her fellow cursed brethren, though their sufferings she longed to quell.

Gone was the Cousland, for this was not a journey of vengeance that she embarked upon, nor one that required someone of noble blood.

All that remained was Miri, once a young girl, now a grown woman, still caught in the throes of love, desperate to save the one she could not live without.

[i-am-shepard-commander]

All of them for the dragon age thing

Anon, I love you!

Put under a cut because it’s really long…

ORIGINS: The Warden

1. Character names, appearance and respective origins. (Backstoryand more elaboration on their personal origin is optional) Miri Cousland; short cropped red hair that frames her face, green eyes,upturned nose, heart shaped face

2. Class? Warrior

3. What’s their personality like? Before the events that led to the death of her parents, she was quitethe dreamer and idealist. Spoiled and sheltered, she yearned for adventure butdid not dare depart from the comforts of home. After Arl Rendon Howe’s betrayal,she seemingly became an entirely different person, gaining a much morerealistic view of life.

4. What does The Warden do for fun? Miri’s favorite activities used to be sparring and traveling (or reallyanything that got her out of lectures). While she has lost her fondness for travelingafter having served as a Warden, she still enjoys the occasional spar. AsQueen, she encounters no end to entitled nobles and snotty ambassadors; howelse is she supposed to get out all her pent-up frustration? Spending time withAlistair—talking, reading, etc.—and catching up on correspondence with oldfriends are also some of her favorite pastimes.

5. How do they feel about becoming a warden? Before actually becoming a Warden, Miri was enamored by the idea; howromantic a destiny! After the death of her parents, her rosy view of the worldforever tainted…she viewed it as a solemn duty, something not to be takenlightly.

6. How do they fill into their leadership role? Do they come to itnaturally, or does it take them time? Miriwas able to naturally take the role of leader; coming from a noble family, shehad been raised to be aTeyrna.

7. What was theirusual team to take into battle. Why? Alistair,Wynne, Leliana; Alistair to help her hold the line, Wynne to heal, and Lelianato cover long distances with her bow.

8. What was their weapon/magic of choice. Why? Sword and shield; for a good balance between offense and defense.

9. Who in the group was their best friend? Enemy? How did they feelabout the others.  Miri was friendswith everyone in the group, though she struck up a particularfriendship/sistership with Morrigan. Later on, during her time asWarden-Commander, Nathaniel Howe became her close friend and confidant.

10. Who is their romance option/significant other? Alistair

11. What major decisions did they make for the game. Elaborate onwhy. She prevented the templars fromAnnulling the Circle, saved Connor and his mother, sided with the Dalish elves,supported Harrowmount, destroyed the Anvil, and sided with Avernus. When taskedwith deciding who would rule Ferelden, she appointed Alistair as King. Inaddition, she also spared the Architect and saved Amaranthine, though the Keepsurvived due to her vigilance in prepping it for battle. Miri’s choices reflecther desire to walk the path of the least bloodshed.

12. Did your Warden end up dying, or living? Living

13. Were they a part of Amaranthine Keep (Awakening)? Yes

14. If not dead, what happens to The Warden preceding these events? Miri became Queen of Ferelden

DRAGON AGE 2: The Champion

1. Hawke’s name, appearance and respective class? Marian, default appearance with the red stripe,warrior

2. Red, Blue, Purple? Mix? Purple

3. What does Hawke do for fun?There are a lot of things Marian does for fun as she is a very fun (and loud)individual, though one of her more soothing and lesser known activities involvesher going to the Wounded Coast alone and enjoying the solitude.

4. What was your Hawke’s relations with their family? Good, Bad? Marian was always close with her father,and while she did love her mother, there was almost a tension between the twodue to the overabundance of attention Malcom bestowed upon his firstborn. Carverhad a one-sided rivalry with Marian, which she thought was adorable andencouraged for her own amusement. Bethany and Marian were always close, thoughwhen Marian decided to save Bethany’s life by giving her to the Wardens, theirrelationship soured considerably.

5. Hawke’s favourite weapon/magic and why? The Hawke’s Key; it is theonly remnant of her father she has left.

6. Is their home Kirkwall or Lothering, or neither at all. Why? Though she told King Alistair sheconsidered Ferelden her home, ultimately it is wherever her heart—Anders,Bethany, Varric, Aveline, Isabela, Fenris, and Merrill—is.

7. What was your Hawke’s relationship with the group? Marian was good friends with everyone inher merry band of misfits; they were her family and she cared for each andevery one of them, trying her best to understand and help them, though in theend, they were the ones that helped her.

8. Who does Hawke typically take to battle with them? Anders, Varric, and Aveline

9. Who is their romance option/significant other? Anders

10. What happened to the remaining twin? Bethany became a Warden

11. What were the main choices in the game for them, why did theychoose them?  All of the choices made by Marian reflected her desire to help themages. While not being a mage herself, her father had been a mage and hersister and lover were both mages. She did whatever was best for her friends andfamily.

12. Did they try to understand the Qunari? Sort of; she did gain the Arishok’s respect and she did learn a greatdeal about the Qun, but the gloves were off when they threatened her family.The reasons why they did what they did were inexcusable in her eyes, Qun or noQun.

13. How does Hawke handle their fame? She revels in it

14. Did they side with the Templars or Mages? Mages

15. Describe how Hawke feels about being dragged into all thischaos. Hawke has always been a rathergood sport (though you’d never be able to tell by the way she whines about it;it’s all part of her act though) about things and doesn’t mind chaos, as longthe chaos doesn’t hurt those closest to her.

16. What happened to Hawke preceding all of the events of the game? She and Anders fled Kirkwall, helping mageswhere they could.

INQUISITION: The Inquisitor

1. Character names and respective race. Mara Adaar, Qunari

2. Class? Warrior

3. What’s their personality like? Mara is a charitable and kind individual with a mischievous streak

4.Who do you planto romance with them? Mara romancedBlackwall

[gaysparkler]

FORCAS, LUDWIG, MADISA, FRIEDER, AND DALILA FOR THE OCS THING (I would say do all of them but you have like 10 ocs and I don't want to make you do that long of a post all at once x))

The number of OCs I have is really becoming a problem… But thank you for always leaving an ask x) This is a really long post, so I put it under the cut!

Forcas TrevelyanFull Name: Forcas Athalos TrevelyanGender and Sexuality: Male, gayPronouns: He/himEthnicity/Species: Free Marcher, humanBirthplace and Birthdate: Ostwick, 3rd day of Solace, 9:15 DragonGuilty Pleasures: Spa dayPhobias: Heights, losing those he lovesWhat They Would Be Famous For: His beardWhat They Would Get Arrested For: Well, he did run away to join the army when he was 16, so he could get arrested to be brought home, with his family…OC You Ship Them With: @aveline-the-dragon-slayer, do you think he and Jaras would get along?OC Most Likely To Murder Them: I feel like Samael would have little patience with him at first, Forcas being an Andrastian and all…Favorite Movie/Book Genre: ROMANCELeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: Love trianglesTalents and/or Powers: Not really… He can easily wield any type of sword/ax?Why Someone Might Love Them: Forcas is very free with his affections, so if he likes you, you’ll know. He’s very friendly and open-minded.Why Someone Might Hate Them: He can be slow to learn things, which could annoy some… He’s also very stubborn about certain matters.How They Change: Throughout his time with the Inquisition, he learns how to be a leader. He was never one, and was never meant to be one. His family intended to send him to the Chantry to become a Templar, then he was a soldier in the army, just a follower. He becomes more mature.Why You Love Them: He’s just so sweet. Big guy with big scary eyebrows, but he just wants to hug everyone and he’s Doing His Best.

Ludwig CouslandFull Name: Ludwig Emeric CouslandGender and Sexuality: Male, pansexualPronouns: He/himEthnicity/Species: Fereldan, humanBirthplace and Birthdate: Ferelden, somewhere in 9:12Guilty Pleasures: Reading in a quiet corner, sparring with FergusPhobias: Being rejected (just because he’s mute, for example)What They Would Be Famous For: Stopping the Blight, teaching sign language throughout FereldenWhat They Would Get Arrested For: Being a Warden? x)OC You Ship Them With: None yet ;-;OC Most Likely To Murder Them: I can’t think of a reason why one of my OCs would kill him x) They’re not the killing type (except Samael, on certain occasions)Favorite Movie/Book Genre: Mystery, thrillerLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: Turns out the villain is good and is redeemed Talents and/or Powers: He’s very good at teaching sign language.Why Someone Might Love Them: He’s charismatic and just a nice person in general (I’m sorry, he’s not developed yet, I don’t know him ;-;)Why Someone Might Hate Them: He can brag about his life as a noble and missing the luxuries of his previous life. He never thought he would be thrown in the life he has now.How They Change: He eventually accepts his new role as a Warden and matures a lot. He’s only like 19 at the beginning, after all. Why You Love Them: He’s mute and I think that will be very fun to write!! He’s also Doing His Best.

Mandisa TrevelyanFull Name: Mandisa Isabelle TrevelyanGender and Sexuality: Female, lesbianPronouns: She/herEthnicity/Species: Free Marcher, humanBirthplace and Birthdate: Ostwick, 9th day of Kingsway, 9:18 DragonGuilty Pleasures: Playing Wicked GracePhobias: Losing controlWhat They Would Be Famous For: Her magical abilitiesWhat They Would Get Arrested For: Her magical abilities OC You Ship Them With: @aveline-the-dragon-slayer‘s Miri Lavellan x)OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Forcas, if he was a Templar and if she was in a Circle. She lost control of her magic at one point, didn’t turn out well.Favorite Movie/Book Genre: AdventureLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: Cliffhangers Talents and/or Powers: She’s a Dreamer sooooWhy Someone Might Love Them: She’s funny and likes to make jokesWhy Someone Might Hate Them: She might come across like she doesn’t care about her title (but she does, she just doesn’t let anyone see it)How They Change: She learns to trust people more, something that was difficult to do after a life spent in a Circle.Why You Love Them: She’s just so great. I love her and Josie together. 

Frieder ShepardFull Name: Frieder ShepardGender and Sexuality: Male, gayPronouns: He/himEthnicity/Species: German, humanBirthplace and Birthdate: Leipzig (Germany), April 11th, 2154 (December 27th, 2150 in the AU I have with @aveline-the-dragon-slayer)Guilty Pleasures: Playing chess, getting tattoos, painting/drawingPhobias: Abandonment What They Would Be Famous For: Being Commander Shepard’s brother (yes that’s the AU), stopping the ReapersWhat They Would Get Arrested For: Being part of a gangOC You Ship Them With: I’m sorry, Frieder goes only with Kaidan x)OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Xavia HaleFavorite Movie/Book Genre: Mmm, romanceLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: UNREQUITED LOVETalents and/or Powers: Vv powerful bioticWhy Someone Might Love Them: Despite his rocky path, Frieder is a good person. He gives mercy to those deserving. When he gets to know his crew, he opens up and his true personality can shine through.Why Someone Might Hate Them: He can lose his patience very fast and snap at people when they don’t necessarily deserve it. How They Change: He was very angry before. With Dalila and Kaidan, he becomes a better person (and develops coping mechanisms)Why You Love Them: He is such a gay mess, and he has so much love to give.

Dalila ShepardFull Name: Dalila Jenell ShepardGender and Sexuality: Female, pansexualPronouns: She/herEthnicity/Species: From the Mindoir colony, humanBirthplace and Birthdate: Mindoir, April 11th, 2154Guilty Pleasures: Playing piano, reading, listening to classical music while training with James/XaviaPhobias: Drowning What They Would Be Famous For: Being Commander Shepard, stopping the Reapers What They Would Get Arrested For: The whole Arrival DLC in Mass Effect 2 x)OC You Ship Them With: XAVIA HALE, @aveline-the-dragon-slayer‘s OCOC Most Likely To Murder Them: Also Xavia Hale (more like a playful threat)Favorite Movie/Book Genre: She doesn’t have much time to read, but she loves old science-fiction novels from the 20th-21st century.Least Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: The long lost twin makes a comeback (ironic cause she has a long lost brother)Talents and/or Powers: As Frieder, she is a very powerful bioticWhy Someone Might Love Them: She never gives up on people. She tries to find anything good to those she meets.Why Someone Might Hate Them: She has made a few questionable decisions during missions. Her tendency to offer redemption to others is not always liked.How They Change: It becomes harder to get her to talk about what’s going on in her head. The war took a toll on her, and she progressively closes more. Liara and Xavia have to give her space and let her decide when she’s ready to talk.Why You Love Them: She’s my first Mass Effect OC and I just love her so much ;-; She wants everyone to be safe, to the point where she endangers herself to make sure that the others make it. 

That took me like an hour, wow x) It was great though, thanks!!

[i-am-shepard-commander]

19:How does your Inquisitor differ from your Warden? Your Hawke? Are there any characteristics all three share?

Woo! Thanks for the ask! ^^

My canon!DA protagonists are actually all quite different. In terms of alignment, you’ve first got Miri Cousland, a lawful neutral, Marian Hawke, a chaotic good, and then Mara Adaar, a neutral good.

Marian is a bit selfish in some regards and is cocky, witty, and confident. She doesn’t take some things as seriously as she should, whereas Miri tends to take things too seriously. Mara is a happy medium, knowing when to indulge in a joke and when contemplation is appropriate. Surprisingly, Miri is the one most prone to anger of the three.

Mara would get along with both of them, Marian would pester Miri, and Miri would ignore Marian lest she become extremely exasperated and have her hair grey prematurely.

[bioticbooty]

So I've got all these DA headcanons that I'm just gonna spew about Miri and Rory and the interconnectedness of their worlds, because I cannot just sit here thinking about these things and not tell people. So hey hi, welcome to a dragon age headcanoning with mrs booty.

This might be a hot mess.

Miri Cousland, well, we all know where she is when this all begins: at Highever with her family. Playing with her nephew, showing him how to pick a lock when no one is looking because that's just the type of aunt she is. Fergus knows what she's up to when he finds the little scamp sneaking around one day.

Rory Hawke, meanwhile, is in the army at Ostagar with her brother Carver. Carver refused to let her go alone, because she's an apostate and hotheaded and reckless and he worries. Bethany will be fine at Lothering with their mother, she's good at staying below the radar. Rory, though? Most of their near misses were because she has a temper. 

Neither are really ever near the King, but Malcolm taught his daughter to be a good archer, and she ends up commanding her own squad of archers as part of the vanguard. Carver doesn't advance as fast because he spends half his time running after his sister to make sure she hasn't gotten caught. Especially with all the other mages and templars running around the encampment. You can imagine what it's done for his blood pressure.

Rory has a few run ins with Alistair. Nothing grandiose. Alistair is acting on part of the grey wardens, delivering messages and tactical information, ad Rory is a squad leader, so they have to interact. But she can sense the templarness rolling off of him and it makes her uncomfortable. Doesn't matter that he's not a templar anymore - she keeps one eye on him whenever he's in the vicinity.

When Alistair finds out Carver is Rory's brother, he says, "I'm gathering the impression your sister doesn't like me."

Miri's eternally grateful for Alistair's easy humor (and a bit smitten with him, to boot) because it distracts her from the cold settling in her heart after everything she's been through. She blushes after completing the ritual and his face is the first thing she sees.

Rory and Miri don't meet, but they do see each other. Alistair points Rory out to Miri and jokes that she should be wary around that one. Miri, not knowing Alistair that well yet, arches an eyebrow at him and starts walking. They pass each other again on the bridge during the fight, as Rory's commanding the archers on the bridge.

Carver's fighting in the vanguard, in the second wave (I don't know, tactics aren't clear, but I imagine there are waves that push forward and not everyone at once). He's injured in the battle - and once everything has clearly gone to shit and Loghain's troops pull out and the army is completely overwhelmed, Rory orders what remains of her squad to retreat, putting her second in charge. Then she goes searching for Carver and uses magic but no one pays attention because darkspawn and dying and nothing else matters - even an archer who's throwing fireballs.

She finds Carver and heals him once they've gotten safely away from the darkspawn. They hide until the horde is gone and they stand a chance of getting away - and they run for Lothering.

Meanwhile, Miri runs into Bethany while they're in Lothering. Bethany is anxious for news of her brother and sister, and when she finds out a sall group of people entered the village from that direction and that they're armed, she looks for them. 

Their encounter is pretty emotional, with Miri telling her that few survived who stayed and fought. Miri feels a sense of duty and obligation to the people of Lothering, even though they're not her people and she's a warden now, not a noble - but it's just how she was raised. So she does what she can, insisting people leave and warning those in charge.

Bethany and her mother refuse to leave, hoping against hope that Rory and Carver will show up.

And this is where it gets a bit AU because Rory and Anders have met before, in his second to last escape attempt he ran into Rory on the road while she was on her way back from Redcliffe with supplies. She helped him, with much wariness, after first thinking he was a bandit (as he tumbled down a hill sneaking in the bushes, sprained his ankle, and nearly drowned himself).

This is a light-hearted pre-solitary confinement Anders, and he's easy to fall in love with. He represents everything Rory fears and the fact that he's fighting and keeps escaping no matter how many times they pull him back amazes her. But the templars catch up and Anders makes her leave, knowing he'll be caught again - but he doesn't want to take her down with him. Not when there's the chance they could just as easily kill her instead for being an apostate. (That's all very truncated and brief, this whole encounter is an entire story.)

So when Lothering is overrun by darkspawn, and Anders hears about it later, he believes she's dead. He listens to refugee news and scrounges for information, but nothing of her ever comes up. Imagine his surprise when over a year later, she waltzes into his clinic and he's completely floored.

All surprise and anguish and heartache and he just exclaims, "Rory!"

Meanwhile Varric is standing off to the side, picking up on the vibes but not really knowing what's going on. "You look like you've just seen a ghost. blondie."

He doesn't even know the half of it.

[bioticbooty]

Time to remember where I left off in DAO with Miri