#you know that photo album you don't dare to touch because doing so would force you to process your feelings? there

[ndostairlyrium]

I think Varric finishes the last draft of Swords and Shields before attempting to stop the ritual. He doesn't have enough time to bind the pages properly, so it's just a pile of parchment paper held together with paper clips and good faith

Somehow, he manages to send it to Cassandra before everything goes south, and she receives it some weeks after the Inquisitor delivers to her the bad news

I don't think Cassandra would find the courage to finish her reading soon, even if she aches to know how it ends. However, she manages to find someone who binds the book properly, like so she can treasure Varric's last words in a loving way, until she's ready to say goodbye