#nico tabris

[drowkarios]

8, 15, and 30 for the HC asks!

Thanks so much for the questions!! <3 8. Definitely Nico. She doesn't have the most refined technique, but a life in the alienage has led to a very resourceful and brutal style that could definitely involve pencil murder. Alternately Erika, who can kill pretty much anything in any way, and look good doing it. For all her flippancy, she is intensely competent on the battlefield. Argent thinks it’s hot. 

15. You know, I don't actually have a whole lot of book smart OCs. I tend to go for scrappy resourceful urchins, which lends itself to more of a street smart narrative. I guess Hattie comes the closest. A fair portion of her knowledge came out of programming instead of books, but that just makes what she does work to learn herself mean more. She reads a lot and has a particular fondness for language learning.  30. There are a ton of options here - if the technology existed in Thedas, Marianthi would be a strong contender, and Erika lives for memes and her commitment to the bit is almost deranged. But Georgie’s the dark horse; she’s super funny in an understated way. She’ll be mostly quiet when the gc is popping off and then calmly chime in with the funniest thing you’ve ever heard. Her meme game is way stronger than you’d expect. 

[pinkfey]

rowena cousland ┆ anna hawke corintha trevelyan ┆ sabine laidir

i was tagged by darling @shadowglens and @aezyrraeshh to make some cuties in this picrew!! dragon age on da brain so i made my main protags 😵‍💫 tysm for the tags sophie and nico mwah mwah 😚💕💕

BONUS!!

kat tabris ┆ ara’na lavellan

tagging @rosebarsoap @lvllns @maxthetruman @claudiawolf @celticwoman @sorctiefling @dannyburke @elgaravel @kirnet @florbelles @gortash @ortanthaig @pavus @deadrlngers @aemondtargeryen @rosykims @rosenfey @mrs-theirin @sylkana @waspgrave @yharnams @wincott @southernreaches @druidgroves @anoras @rococoelf @vyrantium @ustalav @nocticulas @cryptwood @calenhads @aeronbracken @kymal @statichvm @jamessunderlandgf @rynegaias @avvidstarion @hylfystt @anoramactir @ehlnofaey and YOU!!!!!!

[etdraconis]

Updated Muse List

Bold denotes primary/main muses, underlined denotes secondary muses, Italics denotes tertiary/low muse, * denotes request only

Dragon Age Canons:

Cremisius Aclassi

Anders

Zevran Arainai

Blackwall

Eleanor Cousland

Fergus Cousland

Fenris

Bethany Hawke

Carver Hawke

Nathaniel Howe

Thomas Howe

The Iron Bull

Anora Mac Tir

Loghain Mac Tir

Josephine Montilyet

Dorian Pavus

Cassandra Pentaghast

Cullen Rutherford

Varric Tethras

Alistair Theirin

Cailan Theirin

Maric Theirin

Dragon Age OCs:

Arden Aclassi

August Amell

Elizabeth Amell

Julian Amell

Oliver Amell

Rosalie Amell

Pyke Brosca

Elysia Caius

Amara Cousland

Brennon Cousland

Lauryl Cousland

Victoire Ducet

Callum Hawke

Kenton Hawke

Leanore Hawke

Hava Lavellan

Theron Mahariel

Kalva Sabrae

Alim Surana

Aurelia Tabris

Claire Trevelyan

Declan Trevelyan

Evelyn Trevelyan

Everett Trevelyan

Maxwell Trevelyan

Persephone Trevelyan

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Elain Archeron

Feyre Archeron

Nesta Archeron

Azriel

Cassian

Jurian

Kallias

Rhysand

Tarquin

Eris Vanserra

Lucien Vanserra

Bridgerton

Sophie Beckett

Benedict Bridgerton

Colin Bridgerton

Eloise Bridgerton

Francesca Bridgerton

Gregory Bridgerton

Hyacinth Bridgerton

Felicity Featherington

Penelope Featherington

Gareth St. Claire

Gwendolyn Sinclaire

Kendall Sinclaire

Alexander Thorne

Charlotte Thorne

Lillian Thorne

Sebastian Thorne

William Thorne

Crescent City

Aidas

Juniper Andromeda

Fury Axtar

Baxian Argos

Ariadne

Hunt Athalar

Lidia Cervos

Ruhn Danaan

Declan Emmet

Hypaxia Enador

Danika Fendyr

Tristan Flynn

Connor Holstrom

Ithan Holstrom

Tharion Ketos

Bryce Quinlan

Rigelus

The Empyrean Saga

Andarna

Jack Barlowe

Imogen Cardulo

Ridoc Gamlyn

Aaric Greycastle

Liam Mairi

Sloane Mairi

Rhiannon Matthias

Brennan Sorrengail

Lilith Sorrengail

Mira Sorrengail

Violet Sorrengail

Grishaverse

Kaz Brekker

The Darkling

Jesper Fahey

Inej Ghafa

Matthias Helvar

Fedyor Kaminsky

Tamar Kir-Bataar

David Kostyk

Nikolai Lantzov

Zoya Nazyalensky

Genya Safin

Alina Starkov

Wylan Van Eck

Tolya Yul-Bataar

Nina Zenik

Percy Jackson

Annabeth Chase

Nico Di Angelo

Jason Grace

Percy Jackson

Piper McLean

Will Solace

Leo Valdez

Throne of Glass

Aedion Ashryver*

Sam Cortland

Lysandra Ennar

Aelin Galathynius

Evalin Galathynius

Dorian Havilliard

Fenrys Moonbeam

Chaol Westfall

Rowan Whitethorn*

The Witcher

Jaskier

Geralt of Rivia

Yennifer of Vengerberg

Other Book Muses

Daniel Arlington V (Ninth House)

Aziraphale (Good Omens)

Crowley (Good Omens)

Alexander Clairemont-Diaz (Red, White, and Royal Blue)

Arthur Delacey (Gwen and Art Are Not in Love)

Galaxy Stern (Ninth House)

Greek Mythology

Aphrodite

Apollo

Ares

Aristeus

Artemis

Asclepius

Hades

Hera

Hermes

Patroclus

Persephone

Poseidon

Zeus

DnD/Fantasy OCs

Jalana Astorio (human warlock)

Tarquin Auglathia (sea-elf rogue)

Nedri Autumnblaze (half-orc ranger)

Azure (water genasi monk)

Anders Brightwood (human bard)

Caerlin (tiefling arcane trickster rogue)

Drake (Wild Hunt shifter ranger)

Elianis Galonodel (half-elf druid)

Naivara Galonodel (half-elf mastermind rogue)

Taron Galonodel (wood elf bard)

Rhys Le'Quella (eladrin wizard)

Makaria (tiefling paladin)

Reya (tiefling storm sorcerer)

Alwyn Sulian (sun elf paladin)

Auryn Sulian (sun elf fighter)

Cerys Sulian (sun elf celestial warlock)

Emrys Sulian (sun elf shadow magic sorcerer)

Cloak Timbers (gnome cleric)

Hollis Tremaine (human fighter)

Other/modern OCs

Destin Michaels (merman)

Novah Michaels (mermaid)

Cassian Sage (werewolf)

Sophie Sage (werewolf)

Reina Solace (werewolf)

Hazel Thatcher (werewolf)

Nicolai Voss (vampire)

[f1ot3fest]

OT3 FIC REC FRIDAY!

An extra long list rounding up the remaining recs that you guys have sent me for our very last fic rec Friday! Next Friday, I'll be posting a list of blurbs for fic in the collection in advance of reveal date on December 17th, so shoot me a quick blurb/summary of your fic(s) if you'd like to participate!

make your move on me by tabris | Seb/Jenson/Lando, 6k, E

Get a little fancy with some grapeseed oil by Danubius | Seb/Charles/Lance, 9k, not rated

say you want a good time (here I am baby) by sirjaythegay | Lewis/Seb/Lance, 2k, E

beware of their appetite by fanatic4f1 | Kimi/Seb/Lewis, 19k, E

Feeling by Nimernuet | Lewis/Seb/Valtteri, 3k, not rated

For Every Action There is an Equal and Opposite Reaction by LilShiro | Fernando/Lance/Pato O'Ward, 3k, E

lewis/charles/seb (series) by dropdeaddeadass | 13k, E, incomplete

Cherry Wine by amarynas | Charles/Max/Danial, 11k, E

make me human again by bulletthestars | Jenson/Nico/Seb, 3k, E

[realife-mermaid]

this is for me btw bc spotify won’t let me add notes to my playlists and davg is coming out-

jackie & wilson -> bellany & morrigan

no matter where you are -> tahmina, alistair, & zevran

reflecting light -> bellany & tahmina

born free -> bellany tabris theme song

skye full of song -> tahmina surana theme song

grace -> irayz, fenris, & isabela

crystallized -> irayz & fenris

quarter past midnight -> irayz & isabela

alice -> irayz hawke theme song

a better son/daughter -> mordred lavellan theme song

i need songs for

morgwaine adaar theme song

mordred & iron bull (romance)

mordred & solas (mentor/one sided crush thing) (maybe)

morgwaine & blackwall theme song (romantic)

mordred & morgwaine (mother/child song)

i should post pictures of everyone. also i need to figure out who i’m using for veilguard….nicos works well with this group, einar isn’t bad for the setting, peter (would probably go with the name kephas, feels more dragon age-y) could fit well, faye or malia….technically wren but he’s too nice, i gotta have someone a little more evil this time, bellany, tahmina, AND morgwaine were all way too fucking fixated on saving the world, and mordred could only be so evil with their mother hovering……….reagan is an option…

[lords-of-fortune]

OC tag game

Tagged by @gvnseylike (thank you!!) I'm sticking to dragon age ocs for the dragon age blog because I have made so many ocs I don't think I'd be able to make these choices otherwise lmao

Favorite OC: This changes almost literally hourly. Right now I'm leaning towards Rodaine but Tierce is so close behind it's barely a difference lmao

Newest OC: of dragon age ocs I *think* it might be Halen's brother Ephraim. I just recently figured out quite a few of his character traits and renamed him so he's basically a whole new guy now lmao

Oldest OC: I literally wouldn't be able to answer this if I wasn't doing just DA ocs lmao. Of DA ocs, though, my oldest is the apocryphal Nico Tabris who was my very first Warden ever. He was a massive contributing factor to my absolute obsession with dragon age lmao

Meanest OC: I think it's Tierce? But Rodaine isn't close behind. Tierce tends to be very blunt when asked for feedback and he can also be rather glib in situations where dicking around maybe isn't appropriate. Rodaine is also very blunt and he doesn't always realize when that bluntness should probably be tempered a bit to soften a verbal blow. He tends to be a lot more apologetic about when something he says lands differently than he intended it to where Tierce tends to just shrug it off or double down because he's stubborn as fuck so that is why I think he's meaner lmao.

Softest OC: Probably Alding? Or maybe Serenity, who is Rodaine's younger sister. Hard to really say though because most of my character have a very tough edge to them even if they tend towards softness. I like that Alding and Serenity both choose that softness despite the difficult things they've been through.

Most Aloof/Standoffish OC: Rodaine. He doesn't mean to be, he's just quiet and has a resting bitch face most of the time. He's very serious and is slow to trust so he comes off as unfriendly and unapproachable and he isn't good at picking up social cues so he doesn't immediately realize when people are trying to befriend him and that sometimes makes him seem uninterested in friendship when that isn't true.

Dumbest (Affectionate) OC: all of my ocs are dumb in their own ways but I think I'm going to go with René, who's Rodaine's brother. He's just a jock and he's at peace with that and I think that's the right mindset but also he's just a himbo.

Smartest OC: Rodaine. Big gifted kid energy. He's not great with social stuff but he's smart in most other areas, clever, tries to think things through before he does them. He loves magic and has spent so long studying his craft and he's a nerd who likes to read history books

OC I'd Probably Be Friends With: this one is hard... I think maybe Alding? Soft boy but he knows how to have fun. I think Rodaine and Tierce would intimidate me in different ways lmao. I think I'd also like Annika and Rosalie (Rodaine's sisters) and Aned (Halen's sister)

This took me a second to get this one done lmao and I will tag...

@iamonlybutaneel and @my-dumb-obsessions

[wrdn-tabris]

I posted 10,789 times in 2022

That's 1,870 more posts than 2021!

505 posts created (5%)

10,284 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@zebruh

@queen-tabris

@autisticredhood

@transmascnepetaleijon

@chojuuro

I tagged 7,880 of my posts in 2022

Only 27% of my posts had no tags

#dc - 2,829 posts

#naruto~ - 776 posts

#homestuck - 765 posts

#cara speaks - 587 posts

#final fantasy - 270 posts

#dragon age - 220 posts

#star wars - 220 posts

#the batman - 195 posts

#nico lawrence - 113 posts

#little nightmares - 106 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#my cousin would visit and shed take me to blockbuster to get movies and id always find any anime one that looked interesting and id watch th

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

self indulgence 2

136 notes - Posted April 16, 2022

#4

sometimes u just love smth so much

193 notes - Posted January 8, 2022

#3

jason plays piano REAL

239 notes - Posted October 26, 2022

#2

desperately wanna see rpatts bruce wayne with dick, or jason, i just think itd be so fucking funny

259 notes - Posted February 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

im eating my hands

See the full post

889 notes - Posted October 22, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[drowkarios]

for the ask meme: who knows random facts about everything, who has very exaggerated facial expressions, and who gets lost easily?

Thanks for asking <333

1. I want to say Inbar knows a whole lot of random trivia thanks to Solas. Solas really just likes to Dispense Information, and Inbar always listens and usually remembers what he says, even if it’s something that isn’t usually her area of interest. He’s always appreciated that about her, and is sometimes surprised by how sharp her memory is.  18. Marianthi Hawke definitely has somewhat exaggerated facial expressions. She’s naturally super expressive; her smiles light up her whole face, and her frowns cloud it over. Hattie also used to have a tendency to deliberately exaggerate expressions - not overly to the point of it seeming odd or unnatural, but enough so that she came across as more approachable and relatable and human, despite being naturally inclined to more neutral/muted reactions and a whole lot of resting bitch face. It’s something the Farm instilled in her. She bothers with this much less after she escapes the second time. 

28. None of my kids have a significantly bad sense of direction, but Nico had a hard time adjusting to navigating the wilderness when she first started Wardening; she’d lived her whole life in one urban environment. This lent itself to a bit of getting lost and walking in circles, an issue exacerbated by Nico’s stubbornness (yes she knows where she’s going, no she’s not going to ask for help or directions). She does get very proficient at navigating both above and below ground later though; it’s part of the job, and she’d hate to be reliant on someone else for it. 

[royal-babey]

Nico Tabris

My Mahariel as a Tabris! :D part of an au @marquis1305 and I came up with ^^

[foxnonny]

as much as I love Mahanon..... NICO, plz tell me more about this new delight!!!! 6, 20, 22, 40, 46 ^_^

EYY I WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD ASK! Basically when I went to play through Origins I had one of two possible Wardens in mind, either Niamh (Circle Mage) or Nico (City Elf Warrior). I ended up going with Niamh for my current canon playthrough (with Garrett and Mahanon to follow on this timeline); if I’d gone with Marian and Alaine for the next two games, I would have started with Nico. ANYWAY ALL THAT ASIDE I know how Nico is as a person but I haven’t played through with him yet so there are some unknown quantities 06. Do they have any hobbies that their lover finds unusual, odd, or otherwise annoying?

I don’t know if Zevran would find it odd so much as vaguely understandable but Nico is a bit of a hoarder of useless objects (even more so than “these torn trousers and broken lockpicks are a good idea” Hawke), with sort of this stubborn and sometimes (often) wrong insistence that he can make something useful out of them. He got really good at repurposing things in the alienage out of scraps and refuse, and now he’s got the whole of Thedas as his crafting table. Not a single scrap of fabric or metal shard is safe. There’s at least one backpack dedicated to junk.

20. Does your character like animals? What are some of their favorite animals? Would they want pets? What about mythological creatures?

Nico has weird feelings about domesticated animals (outside of work animals). Lots of cats and a few dogs in the alienage, but they would sort of come and go for the most part since they’re expensive to house and feed (community pets rather than personal ones), and he knows better than to get attached. Dog grows on him (he keeps the name as Dog because again, tries not to get attached). He borderline doesn’t really believe that dragons actually exist until the first drake attack (and his eyes are kind of like O_O for a good while after).

22. What kind of tattoos, piercings, birthmarks, freckles, and other such unique physical features do they have?

Nico’s got one or two birthmarks, but nothing super exciting - just some hyperpigmentation here and there. I like to think later on he maybe gets a vhenadahl tattoo to remind him of him, but for the most part he’s pretty bare (also maybe a few piercings in one of his ears after a night of drinking with Zev. He’s not too mad about it.)

40. Does your OC have any guilty pleasures they enjoy? Hobbies, past times, music, etc that they wouldn’t want known by others?

Food. Honestly I feel like part of why Nico falls for Zev (after a while) (takes some coaxing) is because Zev introduces him to, like, spices? Flavour? Food variety would have been limited in the alienage and while they would have done what they could, the experience of trying things he’s never tasted before would borderline bring tears to Nico’s eyes, the poor guy. 

46. What is some random affectionate thing that your character always does to their lover?

Nico is a deeply practical plain-spoken (or signed; I like to think Zev would understand whatever hand language Thedas folks employ as part of his Crow training and is one of the first people outside the alienage Nico can have a good deep full in-depth sign conversation with) so affectionate gestures aren’t necessarily his thing (Zev is 500% the romantic in their relationship). Nico’s way of saying “I like you” is usually along the lines of “hey do you have enough funds to make your way if something happens to me have a gold bar just in case” or “hey you like making traps I found some junk that might help with that”.

He’s also, to his and Zev’s surprise, a damn cuddly person in his sleep. Vice-grip. RIP Zev, if you go to bed with Nico, you’re not going anywhere until he wakes up, and he’s a grumpy ass if you wake him up before he has to be awake soooo. 

HOPE THAT WAS ENTERTAINING I’M HONESTLY REALLY EXCITED TO PLAY THROUGH WITH HIM SOME DAY SOON.

[babybirbb]

mwah! @ghostlyeris @lonelyspacevagabond @tempestofshayeris @wrdn-tabris @wondergirl-lovebot @whyamisoobsessedwitheverything @nico-di-genova and anyone else that wants to

im bored here's another picrew chain

pretty cute methinks!!

@falloutcoys @trans-arthur-lester @ghost-with-teeth @pyxxie-nyxxie @nyxfaei @origami-butterfly @orangesideirrational @c-a-r-0-l-i-n-e @crows-junk-pile @arthurlestermalevolent and literally anyone else !!

[bitterleafs]

WIP Wednesday: Art Edition

Featuring a handful of ocs because why finish a piece when you can start 3 more, am I right?

[aly-the-writer]

“But I want to hear you sing.” - Van and Nico? ^^ ❤️

Heya, so this took forever to write. ^^’ Thank you for the prompt! :)

Includes some mild swearing, and features a Tabris/Nathaniel Howe relationship at the end. I’m also going to warn for PTSD and depression, but there’s very little that’s explicit.

Also Nate is made to sing A Hero in Every Port.

The damage from the attack wasbeing repaired. Anders and Oghren had mostly recovered from their Joinings.Alistair had provided them some guards to replace their dead for the time beingbut their first few days with an Arling of their own were apparently goingquite poorly. On top of it Van was emptying his private funds into the repairsfor the Keep but that could only last so long.

Nico threw the door to his officeopen without even a knock – and Van spared the short tempered Dalish elf abrief glare.

Nico, of all the strange gaggle ofWardens, had been the most perplexing at Ostagar. The Dalish elf watchedeverything with a sort of almost unnatural stillness to him save for the occasional twitchof his ears in disapproval. And he had recognized how dangerous the smilingflat-ear was from the start, marking him for a murderer where most theircompany did not realize how bloody Van’s hands had been prior to hisrecruitment. Still it meant that Nico was one of the few people in the keep towhom Van showed his true face.

Bards smiled and charmed and weremade all the more dangerous for the lie of their harmlessness. It’d beenunnerving enough to find himself at Ostagar. Let alone with a feverish Dalishsnob seeing right through him.

“Here to volunteer for theWarden-Constable position?” he asked, mustering his customary grin to his face.

“You look like shit,” Nico informedhim, then held up a lute. “Come on.”

The new one that Alistair hadgifted Van following the Coronation celebrations. A way of thanking him forbeing the one to lead through the Blight. It was a fine instrument, higherquality even than the ones he had played in the Chantry as a youth, but it hadgone untouched for nearly three months, in fact the case to it had been shoved beneath his bed.

Van shook his head, “I can’t. Thisstuff won’t wait just because the rest of my waking hours are spent dealingwith the Darkspawn crisis.”

Nico frowned, “You haven’t touchedyour instruments since before Denerim.”

Since before he’d sunk his swordinto the Archdemon’s skull, so close to the source of the song that he hadpractically tasted the Blight music on his tongue as it rattled through hisveins demanding he listen, listen, listen.

Nico was wrong – he had tried. But the song in his mind, inthat quiet inner ear had been the dying cacophony that had deafened him, theone that had filled that week of restless dreams when no one was certainwhether he would wake or not. The sorrowful echo of memory, the dirge of adying goddess.

He had woken foggily, Morrigan’spromise kept and somewhere beyond his reach, forbidden from his gaze and carehis child would be born.

He’d been silent even duringChantry services. In his youth he had considered serving Andraste. Now his throatclosed and his jaw ached from clenching when he attended. When the funerals ofthose lost in the Siege of Denerim had ended he had quit going.

Nico’s ears twitched – frustrated,fed up, or maybe worried. This wasn’t the first time they had had thisconversation, and paperwork was not the first excuse that Van had made.

“Fine, have fun with your stupidpapers that don’t matter,” he said, setting the lute on Van’s desk so that hewould have to touch it if he wishedto be productive. At least to move it.

“Nico-”

“I am leaving you alone, Evander…”he stopped in the door way, ears flicking angrily as he glared back at the cityelf, “But I want to hear you sing so I will keep doing this.”

He stalked away. Not two monthsafter the Mother’s death, Nico froze as he heard the voice drift in from one ofthe out of the way walkways. That was Van’svoice, but not the way he sang in battle when no other option was left.

It was one of Van’s favorites, herecognized it right away, about a girl who fell in love with the moon and madeher presents to prove her love. Until the moon, returning that love, broughther love up to the heavens to live in her starry palace and even to this daythe lovers dance together, laughing in the sky. Van had sung in so many timesduring the Blight that sometimes the others who had been on the journey wouldcatch themselves humming snatches under their breath.

Peering around the corner he foundthat the out of the way walkway whose parapet had never been repaired after thesecond assault by Darkspawn had been claimed for a picnic.

Nathaniel Howe’s fingers were theones playing the lute, smiling a little as he listened to Van sing the song. Abottle of wine sat between them.

As the song ended Howe leaned overto kiss Van who laughed and gestured for him to hand over the lute, “Nuh-uh, it’syour turn. Let’s see if you know this one?”

Van stole another kiss beforestriking the first jaunty chords to TheBallad of Nuggins. Howe groaned – definitely recognizing the song –

“The blight was upon us, and wefound no pardon,” Nathaniel’s voice was lower and rougher as he sang and thefond exasperation at being made to sing the ridiculous song or admit defeat wasclearly there.

Nico rolled his eyes and turnedaway – those two being stupidly in love was annoying but it was nice to hearVan singing again. Even if they didhave that stupid shem to thank for it.

“Tripped up the Darkspawn, and nowhe’s a Warden!” Van’s voice joined Nate’s full of laughter and a good deal moreconfident. “Nuggins, Nuggins! For all in the Land!”

[lords-of-fortune]

Nennril Lavellan

30(-ish? At start of game) • Mage • Dalish Elf • he/they

Romanced: The Iron Bull

HoF: it was supposed to be Alding but I fucked up my keep so I think it's the apocryphal Nico Tabris who I might remake at some point but who currently has been lost to the aether.

Champion: it was supposed to be Darien but due to the aforementioned keep screw up, it is the apocryphal Ashlyn Hawke.

Nennril is the most confused a person has ever been about anything when they join the Inquisition. He's flying by the seat of his pants and, well... it's working well enough he supposes? They don't know if Andraste exists or if she chose them. Do they even know who Andraste is? Maybe!

Hobbies include running around the Frostbacks in a crop top despite the snow and fighting with Vivienne about mage rights.

[marquis1305]

Dancing

I stole @hoehoehoelt‘s Nico once more for a further take on our Dales Royalty Au. Set shortly after Kaili’s engagement to Nelaros. With Nelaros as a Marquis, Kaili as a Duchess, and Nico as Prince of the Dales.

The ring fit her finger perfectly.  

Kaili didn't know if she should be happy or terrified. How long had her father planned this? When had he even had time considering all the troubles they had recently had in their estates. Kaili knew she wasn't supposed to know as much as she did regarding the troubles, but now, it all made sense.  

She was their solution.  

Engaged. It felt like a collar being snapped around her neck. A leash that could lead her away from the duties she had here at court.  

That would force her from her Prince's side.

The gentleman who now wore a matching ring, crafted at her father's behest, was one she had danced with on several occasions. Nelaros was sweet, deserving of so much more than Kaili could be. He was a good man, honest, hardworking. He had earned his title due to service to the king, rather than having it been handed down by an ancestral line. She knew how unusual such nobility had become.

It was also the reason why his family was willing to overlook her reputation. Why her father was willing to make a match with a lesser family.

The 'Duchess of Darkness', that is what the common folk called her, and many nobles as well. Whispers of her being a ruthless killer, or possible a vampire, a witch, a whore. So many different rumors made it nigh impossible for her father to make a proper match.  

Nelaros had dismissed all of that.  Said that it didn't matter. That it was Kaili that he was drawn to, that he had fallen for.  

How rare that she would be placed in a match born of love.  

It was something to be celebrated.  

Which was exactly why she was currently being laced into her best gown. Deep blue silks, to match her eyes, with silver lace overlays. The colors of her house. Her dark curls piled artfully atop her head, with braids places just so to keep it all in place. Zephyr always knew just how to make Kaili appear more than she was.  

Tonight she would show the entire court how proud her family was, how happy the match made her.

Even as she wore black lace at her throat, with a stone set in the center. A stone that matched another man's eyes.  

Eyes that now peaked at her from the vantage of her mirror.  

"Your father requested that I come check on you, apparently Aya has already begun to mingle with the guests. Cyrion is worried that your delay might reflect badly on the evening." Nico almost mumbled the words, his face as stoic as ever. Kaili could only tell by the soft wilt of his ears that the evening had any effect on him at all.

"Of course, Zeph was just helping me finish touch up my hair." She forced the smile in her tone. Kaili knew that tonight was a happy event, she was happy, she had to be.  

"Then we should hurry on our way. Your fiancé is eager to make announcements."

Her heart dropped. Of course Nico knew, he was hosting the event in his court. Why wouldn't he have known.  

"And I am eager for them to be made, my prince," standing, she pressed a quick hug to Zephyr. Pressing a gently kiss to her handmaid's cheek. Knowing that this hurt Zephyr as much as Kaili.

How easily were hearts given and then ripped away when one was a woman still under her father's rule.  

At least Zeph would be offered a place in her new home. Where ever that might be. At least she wasn't losing everyone with this change.  

Kaili took up Nico's offered hand.  

"My Prince," she dipped into a short curtsey.

"Kaili, you know I hate when you use my title. How many more times must I argue that we have been friends since you were still attached to your wet nurse? We don't need to stand on decorum."

"At least once more, my prince." She smirked. It amused her to no end to tease Nico with formality.  

Huffing, Nico rolled his eyes.  

It was a long walk to the ballroom from Kaili's chambers. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest, the warmth of Nico's hand against her own. The way that he held it as he escorted her was more than formal, nothing less than one would expect of a prince; but she felt the occasional press of his thumb against the skin of her wrist, making her breath catch in her throat every time. She refused to look at him, keeping her chin high. Acknowledging each noble as she passed them, seeing the rumors already formulating as others caught sight of Kaili's hand in Nico's.  

She could almost hear the whispers that this would cause. The Duchess of Darkness being escorted to her own engagement ball by the Prince, a man who was most definitely not her intended.  

She refused to let them under her skin. As she has refused to acknowledge the rumors that had circulated just months prior, regarding her relationship with the man rumored to be her brother's lover.  

Kaili never managed to brush off such rumors the way that Nico did. She could never tell if he was willfully oblivious, or just staunch in his belief that she could never be anything more than his childhood friend. An innocent.  

Kaili allowed herself once glance, just one, as they stepped up to be announced to the room. Letting her eyes drag over the man who had quite become the center of her world. He stood just a few inches shorter than her, but held himself in a way that no one would notice it. He stood tall, proud. His long hair tumbling over his back, the braids done into it just barely holding back untamed tresses. His face stoic as ever. It had taken her so long to learn how to read it for his moods. To catch the slightest of smiles, the glint in his eye when he was frustrated.

Her moment was over, the page's voice booming their names for all the court to hear.  

She met every gaze with pride, daring them to speak a word. None did.  

Then she caught one specific set of eyes. Bright and young, the smile on his face so bright she was surprised no one else seemed to see it.  

Nelaros, her betrothed.  

He came rushing forth, eagerly dropping into a deep bow before his prince. Then gently taking her hand from Nico's hold.  

Kaili didn't think she imagined the taunt hesitancy in Nico. But she forced herself to focus on Nelaros. Smiling softly as he pressed a kiss to her wrist. A bold statement of adoration, considering where they stood. Stepping forward, she allowed Nelaros to lead her towards the center of the ballroom. Listened quietly as he announced how proud he was to announce their engagement.  

Smiling the way she was expected to.  

This man honestly loved her, Kaili knew that he would do anything to make her happy. He deserved nothing less in exchange.  

She did her best, for the rest of the evening. Showing him small signs of affection. Allowing herself to open her heart once more. She listened to his eager plans to try and help the people of his small holdings. About all the ways he wanted to improve the lives of everyone around him. He listened as she spoke of her childhood adventures, the way she was always caught up in some new scheme that ended with her brother scolding her and her cousin eagerly begging for a chance to come along.  

Maybe life with Nelaros wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could love him, the way he seemed to love her.  

He wasn't the best dancer, too eager, all feet. But he tried to keep pace with Kaili. And Kaili felt herself laugh with no hesitation for the first time since her father had declared what was expected. She felt the dread begin to lift.

And then came a voice.

"May I have this dance?" Nico's eyes first flicked over to Nelaros, who smiled easily and waved his betrothed forth. Happily allowing the Prince time with Kaili, knowing well that their friendship extended into their earliest years.  

Kaili couldn't refuse, not without making a scene. And so she accepted, taking up Nico's hand once more.  

Cursing that the man had chosen a waltz. Because of course he did.  

Cursing that she couldn't stop her pulse from jumping at the way he pulled her close.  

The moved with an ease that could only come from years of practice. Born of the hundreds of times Kaili had forced her friend to practice with her, and the thousands more that she had claimed him as a dancing partner in the balls held at estates through the years. Ever since she had been old enough to attend.  

Nico knew how to reign in Kaili during a dance, pressing her with palm and hip to have her follow his steps. She could read when he meant to lead her in a turn, or to release her, only for them to be joined once more as they stepped back into place.  

It all felt wrong. Nico was too stiff, Kaili seemed too slow. This wasn't their dance. This was a dance that the court would approve of. Kaili knew that they could both feel it.

As it had happened so often, the world seemed to fade away when they danced. Focused only on each other, reading movements and faces.  

There was no need for words.  

When the song ended, they paused for only a moment, eyes searching. Then Kaili dropped into a low curtsey, allowing herself to be the first to break. Nico bowed his head. Tension flowing between the two like a live current, even as Nico escorted Kaili back to her betrothed.  

Kaili accepted the flute of champagne handed to her without pause. After a second, she felt herself ease back into something akin to comfort, and let Nelaros take the lead. Ignoring the fact that Nico had excused himself for the evening.  

Ignoring the way she wished she could run after him.  

The rest of the evening went as well as expected. Well wishes showered upon the two. Nelaros took the attention in stride, but then turned to whisper to Kaili that he would be just as happy when they could finally escape the gilded cage of court life. Talking about how much more comfortable it was at his estate by the sea.  

Kaili couldn't recall her exact response, only that her head began to swim, and then she was suddenly in her chamber, short of breath. Refusing to allow Zephyr entry as she clawed at the clasps on her gown. She felt the scream rising in her throat. Forcing herself to choke it down, less she call more attention to her panic.  

And then there was nothing. Her knuckles white as she gripped the necklace that had been choking her. Ripping it off, breaking the short chain. She trembled as she stared down at the purple amethyst.  

Pressing her lips to the stone, she tossed it to her bed. Moving with a sudden purpose as she pressed open the handle of her wardrobe. She made her way quickly through the gowns, looking for the secret lock near the back. Taking out a small silver key, she opened the hidden door, which had been lined up to meet with a secret entrance to the escape tunnels that lined the castle interior. She knew these tunnels, had played within them since she had been old enough to walk.  

The path led her to the one place she knew she should not be.  

Rapping one sharp knock.  

Kaili didn't wait for a response before pushing aside the banner that hid the entrance.  

Nico sat on the edge of his bed, palms pressed to his head, fingers curling into his hair.  

"Why did you come?"

"I don't know," was the only response Kaili could think of. Eyes already beginning to mist.

"Kaili you shouldn't be here."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"I had to see you."

Kaili moved closer to her prince. Slowly kneeling before him, gazing up until she could catch sight of a purple gaze.  

Nico reached out with a speed that Kaili didn't know he had. Arms wrapping tightly about her shoulders, pressing her forehead to his chest. His face buried into her hair. Kaili let her fingers bury into the material of his vest.  

"Kaili... Dance with me?" The words were whispered and rushed. As though Nico had forced himself to say it before he had the chance to rethink.

"Nico?"

"Please. Not the way we did earlier, but the way we meant to."

"We shouldn't... we can't." Kaili began to pull away.  

"There is not court here. It's just you and me, who says we can't." Nico let his fingers bury into Kaili's hair. Pressing back until her face was tilted far enough back that she couldn't escape looking at him. To see the way his eyes begged her to accept.  

"Just you and me. Then can it be? No Prince, no Duchess. Just Kaili, and just Nico?"

"Yes, of course."

Kaili nodded, and let Nico pull her up to stand. His fingers slowly untangling themselves from her curls. Hers releasing their grip.  

She stopped. Stepping away from Nico, ignoring the confusion written on his face. Shushing his protests. She held up her hand, staring into Nico's eyes. "Just us."

Slowly, purposefully, she let him watch as she slid the ring from her finger. She gently placed it on the mantle of his fireplace, then turned to face him once more.  

Letting Nico slide his arm around her waist, the other held up at shoulder height. Her own hand rising up to meet his, with the left one gently gripping his shoulder. He began to sway. Murmuring a song under his breath.  

Kaili couldn't catch the words, but lost herself in their meaning.  

They began to spin, slow steps moving them through the waltz than should have been. Their hearts keeping time.  

Kaili felt everything begin to slip away around them. Lifting her gaze until she could catch Nico staring at her. Nico didn't stop his singing. Their bodies didn't stop moving.  

But for that one moment, Kaili felt like she had been lost to eternity.  

And then she felt his lips on hers.  

Warm. Soft. The way he caught her surprised gasp, and used the moment to deepen the kiss. Kaili felt her eyes slip shut.  

And still they didn't stop dancing.  

She felt the edge of the bed against her knees.  

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she let Nico lead her. Laying down amongst the silks and down. Tangled within each other.  

Hurried hands pressing silks and velvets aside.  

Gasps as they joined. Swallowed within more kisses. Every moment sharp and clear in her mind. Memorizing each second of stolen happiness.  

Suddenly it was his skin burning into hers. All traps of cloth finally lost. Hands tracing long lines of tattoos and scars, earned side by side. His mouth trying to capture her every taste.  

Chasing ecstasy.  

Followed by soft sighs, words still left unspoken. Arms wrapping her even closer to him. Kaili allowed him this small thing. These few more stolen moments.  

She was gone before the dawn.  

Having been woken by the startled scream of a servant she didn't recognize. Doing her best to keep Nico from waking, she chased after the frightened girl. Kaili knew the dangers of a wagging tongue, she would not let Nico be tainted by their mistake. Her heart broke for what she must do. The way that she had to leave him.

It wasn't long before the voice was silenced.  

Kaili had earned her title once more. She could not return to Nico's side, not stained with blood. Not with the ring now snugly fit on her finger once more.

Little did she know that he had woken to see her escape.

And had felt his own heart break in turn.

[thewingedwolf]

My Wardens + Their Relationships and Onion Articles

Tamina Surana/Alistair/Zevran:

Bellamy Tabris/Morrigan:

Bellamy Tabris/Sten:

Nicos Amell/Zevran:

Jeyne Brosca/Alistair:

Evangeline Tabris/Zevran:

Ash Aeducan/Zevran:

Cersei Cousland/Leliana:

Charles Mahariel/Alistair:

Jem Mahariel/Leliana: