#as did Cassandra and Morrigan

[feyreswaterybowels]

⭒The Silent One⭒

#3 Azriel x Fem!OC

⭒Part 1⭒Part 2⭒Part 3⭒Part 4⭒

Word Count: 3.6k

Summary: Azriel finds the guy that sold Cassandra. Lots of bonding happens with Cassandra, Azriel and other members of the IC. Slight cliffhanger.

Warnings/Tags: mentions/implied rape. Mention past sexual abuse. Mentions pregnancy from rape. Slow burn. Violence. Brief victim blaming. Found family. Protective!azriel. Protective!IC. GRAMMER ERRORS—I plan on going back to edit this please don’t judge me too hard I’m gonna have a busy week and just really wanted to get this posted for y’all🩵

Authors Note: all reblogs, likes and comments are welcome, appreciated and encouraged! Let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list for the next chapter. Regular italics are inner thoughts and bold italics are mental communication.

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Azriel stands in the darkness of night watching. Waiting. Body thrumming with anger. Calm cold anger. The kind that got people killed if they didn’t give him what he was looking for.

Only moments after Cassandra’s departure had his shadow returned to him. Telling him where to find this Vale. This horrid male who was taking females away from their family and selling them off—profiting off of them like livestock.

He sees the male, recognizes him from the briefs flash of memory Cassandra let slip at dinner, the one where this mad had choked her, slammed her against the wall just for needing to use the restroom.

The male is loading something up in the back of a wagon, the building behind him dark and dingy. Azriel let his shadows take him closer. Closer. Until he was standing in the alley between this man's house and another. The smell was horrid, small creatures scurrying about looking for their meal for the evening.

The male retreats into the building and Azriel lets a shadow loose to follow him—to be his eyes inside of this building. Inside is just as dark and dingy and piled high to the roof with…stuff. The blue skinned male navigates the maze of boxes and bins and trash with ease. He seems to be the only one here but Azriel knew better so he waits following the man through the seemingly endless maze.

That’s when he hears it, his shoulders going tight, his jaw clenching. Crying—no sobbing. A girl begging to be left alone as the male grabs her and pins her down to the floor.

“Fuck,” he growls. He pounds his fist against the outside of the building, taking chucks of the stone out. It’s loud enough to distract the man, to get him away from that girl as he rushed from the room under the floor, locking the locks and coming out. Looking around wildly for the source of the sound.

Azriel winnows, leaning against the wagon the man had been loading before, whistling to get the man attention. He whirls around, black eyes narrowed in anger, freezing in place when they land on him.

“Shadowsinger?” He grunts, narrowing his eyes at Azriel. “What brings you to these parts?”

Azriel looks him over, the smell of shit, piss and rot was overwhelming even from this distance.

“Vale,” Azriel says, to let the male know he knows who he is, rightfully see the fear in his eyes. “I’m looking for something and I hear you’re the one to help me.”

“I ain’t got nothing you need, pretty boy,” Vale sneers, crossing his arms, looking Azriel over. Trying to come off as tough but it’s actually laugh-able.

“Are you sure?” Azriel asks, pushing off the wagon. Letting his wings spread wide, walking closer, towering over the male. “See, I’ve got this female telling me you bought her from her dad and sold her to a pleasure house. I mean, tell me I’m wrong, man. I’ve just gotta check on these things. It’s a pretty serious accusation and all.”

“That chick’s got the wrong guy. I would never do something like that. These bitches are always trying to get us males in trouble,” Vale said, seeming to relax. Big mistake.

“You think so? Just tell me if you know her man. About this tall, really pretty, tan skin, white hair. Wings.” Azriel growls the last word, the man’s eyes widening again, taking a step back.

“Look, man, it’s not like that. Her dad owed me money, so he gave me her instead cause he couldn’t afford to pay me back, okay? So I didn’t technically buy her,” He stammered out, trying to explain himself.

“Oh,” Azriel said, nodding his head. “Well, I mean, if you didn’t technically buy her then no law was broken.”

“That’s right!” The male nods, sighing in relief. “No law was broken, man. I wouldn’t—I wouldn’t do that—”

“Yeah. I get it,” Azriel nods, shifting. Looking towards the building, then back to the low life in front of him. “And that female inside? Did you buy her? Is she here of her own free will allowing you to rape her daily?”

“Fuck,” Vale whispers, turning and running down the cobble stone road. Azriel stands there watching, a grin stretching his lips as he lets the male think he’s getting away.

“Send Morrigan,” He calls out to Rhys as he watches the male.

“She’s coming.”

Then he's gone again, just as Vale looks over his shoulder to try and spot him, only to smack hard into a body that came out of nowhere. He looks at the shadowsinger towering over him, swallowing thickly.

“What do you want from me?” The male nearly cried out as Azriel grabbed him and pulled him up, slamming his face first into a stone wall. The resounding crunch of his nose breaking is ever satisfying.

“Her name is Cassandra,” Azriel snarls into the man's ear. “She told us what you did to her. What you did to that female you have locked in that disgusting building. We know there’s more girls. We will find them all and when we do, I’ll let each one take a turn with you. Their weapon of choice. And you’ll feel exactly what they felt.”

“Ple-please. Please, just kill me,” The man begged, fighting in Azriel’s grasp but he was no match for Azriel’s strength.

“And what kind of justice would that be? Did you stop when those girls begged you to? Did you give them death with they would have preferred that over you using their bodies?” Azriel asked, scenting the smell of urine as the man pissed himself. “You deserve everything you’ve got coming to you.”

Before the pathetic excuse of a male could beg or plead any more Azriel grabbed the back of his head, smashing it into the wall, letting him fall unconscious to the ground. He left him there binded and hidden by shadows, stalking back to the building where he spotted Morrigan easily.

“Don’t tell me this is where he’s been keeping those poor girl?” She asked when she spotted him approaching.

“Unfortunately, I think it is. She said under his house but he could live here. I’ll question him more. I know there’s at least one female inside,” Azriel explained, guiding Morrigan into the building. Be could get the female on his own but he knew it was safer to have a female companion—after all they’d been through the least he could do was make sure a female was the one to comfort them.

They get to that basement floor, unlocking the various locks and pulling the hatch open. It’s as dark and dingy down here as it was in the rest of the building. Morrigan enters first, taking Azriel’s hand to steady herself on the old wobbly stairs.

“Your wings won’t fit down here,” She said, hushed. He nods at her. “Send a shadow if I call for help.” It’s said jokingly but he knows she’s serious. He’d rip the floor from this building to help her if she needed it.

Mor squinted her eyes in the dimness of the sellar, resisting the urge to plug her nose from the horrid smell.

“Hello? Is anyone down here?” She calls out, looking up from at Azriel when there’s no reply. “Hello, my name is Morrigan. I work for the High Lord. The male keeping you here is—”

Morrigan’s cut off when I body slams into hers, knocking her to the ground. She cries out in surprise when a sharp sting slices across her cheek.

“Stop, hey, stop! I’m here to help!” Mor calls out, trying to catch the hands of the female fae on top of her.

“Mor!” Azriel’s deep voice calls.

“I’ve got it!” Mor calls back, grabbing the girls wrists. “Please, stop! Vale is gone! He can’t hurt you, please, stop!”

The girl stops fighting then still tense where she’s straddling Morrigan’s middle section.

“He’s gone?” She whispers and Mor nods.

“Yes, he’s gone. He can’t hurt you any more. I swear,” She promises. Eyes finally able to take in the sight before her.

A fragile, naked, malnourished body sits atop her. Eyes not only shut but scarred as if they’d been cut—maybe by the same person that took Cassandra’s tongue. But what really got Morrigan, what had her ready to lose the contents of her stomach was the rounded belly attached to that nearly skeleton body. Her eyes welled and she helped the female to shift off of her body.

“Are you pregnant?” Mor whispers, trying to keep her voice from breaking as the female nods.

“Please, don’t let him take this one too,” She cries, reaching out to find Morrigan’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Promise me I get to keep my baby.”

“I promise, no one is going to take your baby away from you,” Morgan swears, a single tear falling down her cheek. “What’s your name, sweet girl?”

“Neema, my name is Neema,” She answers and Mors eyes widen. The girl Cassandra told them about.

“You and your baby are safe, Neema. We’re gonna take you away from here, okay?” Morrigan says, standing and helping the pregnant female stand as well.

“I have my friend Azriel here too, he will not touch you, he’s only here to make sure no further harm comes to you. He’s handing me a cloak for you to wear,” Morrigan explains so the female doesn’t feel uncomfortable. She nods, allowing Mor to wrap the cloak around her.

“Are there any other females here?” Azriel asks gently, wishing he hadn’t with the way she clenched at the deep mess of it.

“Not—not that I know of. The females come and go. There’s been no others for months…” Neema answers, grasping the fabric tighter around her body.

Azriel and Mor share a look the last females had to have been Cassandra and the other two she mentioned.

“I’ll stay and check the building before I head back,” Azriel informed, consciously softening his voice so as not to scare the female again.

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Morrigan winnows away with Neema and Azriel searches every inch of the building with his shadows. No signs of any other females. He leaves the building, needing to relieve himself of the horrible stench.

He retrieves the still bound and unconscious male, winnowing him to his dungeon. He strips him, places a gag in his mouth, dumps him into a chair and binds him to it. He would be dealt with later.

The sun would be rising soon and he wanted to be there when they informed Cassandra they found the male and the female—her friend?

He enters Rhys' study, Cassian and Mor there too.

“How is she?” He asks, glancing at Morrigan then his brother.

“Resting,” Rhys answers. “Madja looked her over. Thankfully the baby seems healthy, Madja’s main concern is getting Neema to gain some weight and begin healing herself.”

“We offered her to live amongst the priestesses in the library, she agreed,” Morrigan said, her brown eyes bloodshot and cheeks flushed.

“Good, that’s all good, they’ll help her heal,” Azriel nods his head crossing his arms. “I have the male in my dungeon.”

“Have you gotten any information out of him?” Rhys asks, standing from his desk.

“Not much. He admitted to knowing who Cassandra was, receiving her from her father and holding her. He never admitted to selling her but that information won’t be hard to get out of him,” Azriel explains and Rhys nods in agreement.

“You get whatever information you can out of him and then he’s dead,” Rhys orders, Azriel doesn’t need to confirm he already knew what Rhys decision would be.

“Are we telling Cassandra?” Cassian asks, the first words he’s said the whole time.

“We are. She needs to know he’s here, it may bring her some comfort knowing he’s locked away and Neema is safe. I think you should be the one to talk to her, Azriel,” Rhy says, turning his attention to the shadow singer.

“Me? Not Mor?” Azriel asked, a bit confused.

“Yes, you. She’s comfortable with you. You’re the one that apprehended him. I believe she would prefer to hear it from you,” Rhys nods.

“Okay, I can do that,” Azriel agreed.

“You handle that, I’ve got some business to attend to with the priestesses. We’ll all meet up in a few hours to discuss further action.” Rhys stepped around his desk, patting Azriel’s shoulder when he passed by him.

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An hour goes by before Azriel tracks Cassandra down. Finding her in the library, flipping through a book where she’s sat in the large window seat that overlooked the city below. A steaming cup of tea next to her.

“I thought you couldn’t read?” Azriel asks, leaning against the door frame, grinning when those green eyes meet his.

“I can’t. I’m looking at the pictures,” She said, holding up the book, some romance book from the looks of the two people in a colorful garden.

“Ah,” Azriel says, walking further into the room. Trying not to focus on the way her eyes track up and down his body the closer he gets. He holds his hand out for the book, flipping it over the read the title, snorting at it. “Secret Garden Romance, huh?”

She shrugs, taking the book back.

“I asked the house for a book with a lot of pictures, this is what I got,” She said, a small sweet breathy laugh escaped her lips and he couldn’t help his own smile.

“Did you end up getting some sleep?” He asks, watching her set the book down and grab the warm mug.

“I slept but not great,” She shrugs. “I can’t stop thinking about my sisters.”

“We’re gonna do everything we can to find them, I promise you that,” Azriel said, not even waiting for a beat. He would find her sisters and he’d beat the shit out of her father too.

“You know I took my older sister's place. It was supposed to be her he sold off but the way she had cried when he told her. I couldn’t let him do that to her so I told him to take me…I didn’t really know what he meant when he was selling me. I thought I’d be a servant like the ones we had when I was a kid or something. I never thought…” She trailed off, taking a deep breath.

“You’re not to blame for what happened to you. You were protecting your sister. You did a very selfless thing. You're safe now and your sisters will be, too,” Azriel said, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned towards her.

“Well, what about you?” Cassandra asked, gently changing the subject. “Did you ever get any sleep?”

Azriel sighed with a head shake. “No, actually. That’s kind of why I came to talk to you.”

Cassandra fixed him with a curious look, leaning forward as if to give him her full attention for whatever he needed to say. He looked into those glowing green eyes, filled with curious concern.

“We found that male. Vale. We found him,” Azriel said, watching the vast range of emotions flash through those emerald eyes.

“He’s here?” Is what she asks, fear tinging her voice. Azriel straightens his back.

“He will not touch you,” he declared, holding her gaze. “He won’t even come near you.”

I’ll fucking kill him if he does. He thinks but doesn’t add it out loud.

“He can’t get out of…wherever he is?” She asks, and he wants to reach out so badly to comfort her. The ache in his chest drawing him to her.

“No. He’s being held in a very secure place. I promise you’re safe here. You’re safe with us.” Azriel promises. You’re safe with me.

“Were there any females with him?” She asks and Azriel nods.

“The girl you told us about, Neema. She was the only one there—it had been only her for months.”

He watches as her eyes fill with tears, offering his hand for her to hold. She takes it, thumb tracing his scars unconsciously.

“Just her…alone with him for months. Gods, is she…I feel like okay isn’t the right word for what I want to ask,” She says, sadness written all over her face.

“She will be okay,” Azriel said. “She’s in bad shape. Pregnant, malnourished but we have an amazing healer and a library below the mountain. Many priestesses live there. Many of them have experienced similar traumas. They’ll help her heal.”

She looked thoughtful for a moment. He wasn’t sure what was going through her head as she sat there silently, grasping his hand and tracing his scars.

“I want him to die.” It’s fierce. Heated. Emotional. And it does something to Azriel’s heart, to his brain. He squeezes her hand. “I want him to feel everything we felt. To know the fear he put us through. I want him to suffer and then I want him to die.”

“He will die. I swear to the Mother. I’ll get every drop of information from him and when it’s time his death will be painful and slow,” Azriel swore, gently swiping a tear from her cheek.

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The next day is a day Cassandra would remember forever. She hadn't slept much the night before but Morrigan had practically begged her to have lunch.

Cassandra wasn’t entirely sure she was ready for a day out in the city but she felt safe with Morrigan. She nearly asked if Azriel could come too until she learned he would be spending the day collecting information from Kamari and Vale.

Morrigan picked out her outfit for the day and it was one of her favorites she’s worn since being here. A flowy silk top that tucked into a dark pair of slacks that raised high on my hips. They emphasized her longer legs in a way she had never noticed before. She had also pinned Cassandra’s hair up and out of her face.

She liked the way Azriel smiled at her when he saw her dressed this way. She blushed but was quickly rushed away by Morrigan, shouting something about wanting you to herself for the day for girl time.

Their first stop was a place she called the River House. A beautiful home that her mother would have loved. Morrigan had only had them stop here briefly to grab a few tote bags, wanting to shop while they were out but promised to bring her back and give her a proper tour of the house.

The city was even more beautiful when you were in it. The sun was shining bright in an endless blue sky. Better than any dreams she had ever had about it.

They went to bakeries, where Cassandra single handedly filled half a tote with various pastries.

Then a clothing shop where Morrigan helped her pick out some new clothes. A few everyday pieces. A gorgeous gown she wasn’t sure where she would wear it but Morrigan swore she would need it sooner or later. And then the softest, satin, dark blue nightgown—it had reminded her of the stones that glowed atop Azriel’s hands. Morrigan herself had picked out quite a few outfits and gowns of her own and a lace set that looked like something the girls in the pleasure houses would wear but she paid no mind to it—she was sure it would look gorgeous on Morrigan wherever she planned to wear it to.

Then they went to a place near the river for lunch, the glistening river was the perfect view while they ate.

“Do you feel like you’re settling in okay?” Morrigan asked, sipping on some kind of iced fruit tea while they waited for their food.

“I’m still…adjusting. I enjoy the company of everyone. I feel like I can trust you all. It’s just odd.” Cassandra says, taking a drink of her tea that was just slightly too sweet but she wasn’t complaining.

“What’s odd?” Morrigan asks gently.

“Trusting strangers more than I’ve ever trusted anyone else,” She says it like a confession, like she should be ashamed for feeling that way.

“I don’t think that’s odd,” Morrigan shrugged. “You’re around people like you, people you can relate to and get to know. It’s easy to feel safe with us in turn, causing your trust. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Cassandra smiles at Morrigan.

Their food comes soon after and they talk the whole time. Morrigan gives her the rundown of how Rhys, Azriel and Cassian all knew one another. She explained more about their titles and what each one of them did as a member of the inner circle. She told her about so much that Cassandra could believe she’d spent her whole live knowing practically none of it.

When they go to a bookstore Cassandra looks at a few before putting them back. Morrigan grabs them and tells her they’ll teach her to read—that she’ll love these books and so many more.

And when they finally get back to the House of a Wind it’s late. She's exhausted from carrying around nearly overflowing tote bags and eating more muffins then she can count.

A top the house where they have to land they’re greeted by the three males. Their solemn faces wiping the smile off your face. She caught Azriel’s eyes, sees the look of pure death there—a look that she just knows means he wants to kill someone.

And just like that, her perfect day with Morrigan took a turn straight down hill.

Tag List: @aelinwya @starlightandsouls @fullmoon-94 @aetherl0l @caticorn61 @lilah-asteria @blackgirlmagicforever @div94 @purple-writer8 @little-missbookyworm @saltedcoffeescotch @namelesssav @slytherintaco @whatsupb @little-missbookyworm

#azriel playing games with that male in the beginning lives rent free in my head #I just know he enjoys fucking with guys like that #thinking they could be all buddy buddy making them feel safe then bam he fucks them up #az and Cassandra got a bit of bonding in #as did Cassandra and Morrigan #besties for the resties #acotar #azriel #azriel fanfic #azriel x reader #acotar fanfiction #slow burn

[evaslimes]

idk if im more hurt by morrigan being straight or cassandra being straight

#da #dragon age #extremely upsetting #i would say morrigan but idk cassandra's accent and muscles and everything #like why did you have to make the most lesbian characters into male only romances i hate bioware

[signal-fire]

accidentally didn’t sleep last night and all i’ve done with my small amount of brainpower today is mentally hash out which romanceable dragon age characters aren’t war criminals. i think it’s 4 out of 17 of them. putting this important information in the tags before i forget it. it’s very long

#josephine because she’s never done anything wrong. alistair because he’s never done anything #merrill because being a shut-in who accidentally gets people killed is not a war crime. sera because all her beef is personal& not political #everybody else is at least a little bit of a war criminal #dorian is perfect but he is a necromancer and i think it’s probably a war crime if you reanimate your enemies’ corpses and make them fight #for you. leliana has done the most war crimes overall but blackwall’s crime is the most straightforwardly war crimey #solas wins most cosmologically impactful war crimes #anders did terrorism. isabela stole relics. both started wars. that’s a war crime right #fenris isn’t culpable for his crimes but they did happen #morrigan is a war criminal only because she’s constantly telling the warden to do the most evil shit. including war crimes #considering the role that the crows play in the fulcrum of the antivan political machine i am certain zevran has been party to at least one #war crime. i forgive him though #iron bull was a secret police spy guy. he’s totally done war crimes. he probably invented some. #cassandra tortured prisoners during interrogations. war crime. sorry girl #cullen is a war criminal for advocating for the rite of annulment in origins. that’s right buddy you can’t escape your past #hmm i think that’s it! lots of war criminals. #i am so tired #edit: i forgot SEBASTIAN ugh. obviously he's a war criminal for threatening to raze a city full of civilians

[an-excellent-choice]

I was recently gushing at a friend about bg3 but didn't want to spoil her in the romance and the characters backstory.

So, I started comparing everybody with Dragon Age companions to give her an idea on everybody's personality.

Now I need to complete this list just for the sake of it.

Astarion: Zevran, Isabela, Morrigan

I know a lot of people compare Astarion and Fenris but honestly, I personally don't see them being similar enough( yes even with the slavery and white hair) they are just two different flavors especially in personality. They are similar in broad strokes but in the details not really.

Now with Zevran and Isabela, I can see. These two very sexual characters both use their sexualities and their daggers to manipulate those around them.

They both cope with their trauma with putting a mask of light heartedness and sexual freedom. The main difference of between Zevran and Isabela to Astarion is that Astarion is more upfront with his trauma.

The Morrigan aspect is his pragmatism. Astarion's killed or killed is similar to Morrigan. They both hate helping people as they don't see anything beneficial it. They are so used to the absence of kindness that any they see from the protag is seen as naivety or even fakeness because if there truly kindness in the world why did they never experienced themselves.

Gale: Anders, Merril, Solas

So the common trait I established from these characters that I see in Gale is them being blinded by their goals. These 3 all kind and mean well but they think their way is the only way to fix things. All these three are self serving to their selfish desires to the point it overwrites any kindness they have. They want to do something drastic to help others. Solas with elves, Merril her missing friends and Anders with mages but in the price of themselves.

Personality wise,Merril is also similar to Gale with her akwardness and naivety. Gale has a tendency to do akward moments in his enthusiasm and lackk experience in socializing. While the Solas is love information and informing others, he's very welcoming in sharing experiences.

Now, Anders. Specifically Anders dao and da2 Act 1-2 because Gale would never justify the means justifies the end mentality in act3 of da2. The basics commonalities: cat dad, mage, time bomb but the most damning similarity is that both Gale and Anders thought that they know better even though they were already warned. Gale with the piece of weave and Anders with Justice. They both essentially shot themselves in the foot by ignoring the warning signs.

(I'm not including Merril in the shooting of foot because her ritual was tampered she knew her risks and had actually prepared a kill switch just in case)

Wyll: Cassandra, Merril, Varric

The main thing I focused on this trio is responsibility. All these 3 has certain responsibility or expectations set upon them with a main conflict of whether they should just follow expectations or do their own will even at the price of losing support or their people

Wyll has heavy expectations on him and he himself always tries to put the well being of others before him even at the price of his soul.

Now personality-wise, Cassandra is an old romantic. Just like Wyll they both enjoy poetry and wooing. They both live for the romance even though they try hard to focus on only their duty they cant hide their soft squishy hearts.

Merril is kind and is always torn with her abandoning her duty to do what she thinks is needed to be done. She loves her people so much she will bear being seen as a monster to try to help them. *cough* wyll is the same*cough

Varric is charming as fuck but he also is kindaa running away from his responsibility until finally he was forced to take a stand. He accidentally helped start aspects of the mess but he will be damned if he doesnt try to help.

Okay, I'm running out of steam now. I'll do a part 2 for the ladies as this is also too long now.

#bg3 #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #baldur's gate 3 #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 gale #baldur’s gate 3 #discussions #my discussion #discussion #baldurs gate astarion #bg3 astarion #astarion bg3 #astarion ancunin #wyll baldurs gate #wyll bg3 #bg3 wyll #wyll ravengard #wyll #dragon age 2 #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dao #da2 #dai #solas dragon age #anders dragon age #merril dragon age #zevran arainai

[writinginacafe]

Gold and Shadows, part I

Azriel couldn't help but feel that happiness affected everyone but him. And he thought it was highly unfair. During his whole life, there were only two women whom he really wanted to have an intimate relationship with and both of them were happy with other people. And yet both of his brothers have found the loves of their lives. He felt left out, alone and blue.

But then he realised he wasn't the only one feeling this way.

What will happen if two broken souls finally meet? Is there a possibility that a special bond could be created between them?

Word count: 1073

Warnings: None to this chapter

***

Azriel hasn't seen this girl before. He was pretty sure that he would have remembered her. Or maybe not. He hasn’t been paying attention to any female except Mor and then Elain for quite a long time. But both are happy now. Morrigan is living her best life travelling with Cassandra, her girlfriend—and to his surprise, her coming out wasn’t as big of a shock to him as he thought it would have been—and Elain... He sighed at the very thought of this beautiful, delicate woman that he, according to some opinions, wasn’t enough for. Oh, how desperately he desired her love and affection! But she’s with another now. And she’s awfully happy with him. 

His huge, scarred hand tightened on a whisky glass a bit too much. He despised the mental image that the thought of Elain and Lucien brought him every time he dared to let himself come back to the memories of this precious girl. Her smile, her gentle hands, the way her cheeks blushed. She was perfect, so soft and innocent. He wanted to protect her, listen to her, look at her. Kiss her and touch her. But she was out of his reach.

And there he was, trying to listen to his friends babbling about something that seemed only mildly interesting to him, downing yet another glass of whisky, and trying to find comfort in the burning sensation the goldish liquid left on the walls of his throat as he watched an unfamiliar girl setting up a display in the window of a bookshop. He could have sworn it was the first time he saw her in Velaris, and doing what he did, he kept a keen eye when it came to details. These golden shimmers in the brown hair were new to him. He could very clearly see them from a short distance, and he couldn’t help the curiosity growing in his mind. It has been a while since a new face showed up in the city. 

“… then I told her that Azriel would like to take her out and dance with her in the rain with his shirt off, right, Az?”

Not paying any attention to Nesta’s words, hearing only his name, Azriel murmured something that could have sounded close to “Of course.”. 

“I also heard he likes to dress in Amren clothes when no one looks,” Cassian said. “Tell me, Az, which dress is your favourite? Is it the black one? Or the sexy red one?”

Still, not paying any attention, Shadowsinger mumbled something again. He was too busy watching the movement of long, slim fingers putting the books on cartoon shelves, to acknowledge his friends were trying to get his attention. There was something magical and hypnotising about the way the girl’s hands were moving. He couldn’t take his eye off them. 

“We could keep this going, you know,” a sudden elbow nudge brought Azriel back to reality. “But it’s no fun when we have no response”.

Az looked at Cassian with annoyance, not sure what his brother was talking about.  

“What?” he growled, moving a bit further away from Cas and his devilish smirk. 

“You haven’t heard the word we said, right?”

Shadowsinger moved his eyes from Cas to Rhys and then to Feyre. The woman smiled lightly. 

“It’s Iris,” she said, pointing with her chin at the bookshop and suddenly abandoned window. “She moved here from the Dawn Court a month ago.”. 

As much as he wanted to say he didn’t care, he listened carefully. 

“Did she move here alone?” asked Nesta, sipping on her lemon water. 

“She lost her family in the war with Hybern.”

And as the conversation continued, he once again looked in the bookshop’s direction. The lights were off and there was no sight of anyone inside. 

“Azriel, are you even with us tonight?” 

The Illyrian man sighed. 

“Of course, I am,” he said, eyes drifting away from the books on the display. 

“Haven’t gotten any in a while, have you?” Cassian made a move to nudge him again, but Az was faster. He used his own elbow to push away Cas’s arm and shot him not a very friendly glare. 

The truth was, Cassian was right. Azriel hadn’t been with a woman in a very long time, but he didn’t understand why this, not-very-glorious part of his life, was being mentioned. He was quiet and moody this evening but to be honest, he was quiet most of the evenings, especially recently. His family knew that he still hadn’t gotten over Elain moving in with Lucien, even though none of them decided to talk about it openly and loudly. They knew him and they knew there was this special spark between him and the middle Archeron sister. The spark that died along with her moving out of Velaris. 

He wasn’t heartbroken, at least he thought he wasn’t, but it hurt him, still. He needed time to get over this hole that had been created in his chest; to get over himself. And he definitely didn’t need his love life being discussed on the forum. 

“Maybe Iris is not the best choice,” Feyre said, completely unbothered by Azriel’s facial expression. “She’s new, she needs friends, not a one-night stand.”. 

Something inside of him twitched, making his heart itchy. These words weren’t supposed to hurt him, he knew that, because he knew Feyre, but he couldn’t help this sudden sadness strolling through his body. 

A one-night stand? Is that all he could be to a woman? Just a short overnight episode? 

“How do you know her, anyway?” asked Cassian and Azriel felt completely invisible to his own friends. He has learned to keep his feelings to himself way too well and now, when he in fact needed someone to notice his struggle, no one looked hard enough to see it. They were used to him and his stone-cold expression. He did this to himself. 

“Our High Lady is highly involved in the citizens' lives,” that saying, Rhysand kissed his wife’s temple, and she smiled wildly in response. The love was in the air. They were practically glowing with it and as happy as Az was for them, he was also incredibly jealous that happiness touched everyone but him. 

He didn’t even want to focus on their conversation anymore. He drowned in his thoughts and his world. Dark world, in which he was surrounded by his shadows only.

#acotar #a court of thorns and roses #acosf #acomaf #acowar #azriel #azriel shadowsinger #azriel acotar #azriel spymaster #fanfic #fantasy #fanfiction

[rpgchoices]

TOP 20 videogame romances voted in the tournament of fav rpg female romances.

For this I used the maximum votes received by each character in one poll (so I picked the one where they had the most votes, as each vote is a person).

Their maximum votes under cut:

Karlach 631 Lae'zel 415 Yennefer 361 Sebille 339 Isabela 302 Shadowheart 287 Minthara 285 Yrliet 272 Josephine 259 Merrill 257 Leliana 244 Cassandra 242 Tali 238 Judy 228 Sera 227 Morrigan 227 Ashley Williams 209 Lohse 165 Liara 162 Jack 170

hopefully i did not make any mistakes!

#baldur's gate 3 #sebille #divinity original sin 2 #dragon age origins #rogue trader #yennefer #mass effect #tournament of rpg female romances

[shivunin]

To Build an End

(Cullen/Emmaera Lavellan | 1,524 Words | No warnings)

It was finally over. 

When they left behind the ruins of the temple, they were not precisely where they’d been when they’d left the others behind. Varric had climbed from the dust and broken rock with her, both of them leaning unsteadily on each other until they could find Dorian and Cassandra. She ached to her bones, from the tips of her pointed ears to the blistered toes tucked into her boots. Her hair had come loose at a critical moment in that last push toward Corypheus, she’d lost a glove somewhere in the sky, and she had watched her friend vanish into the mountains. 

All was not well—all would not be well for quite some time. Regardless, it was over. 

“Send a raven,” she told Lace when they found her missing scouts at last, limping close enough that the croak of her voice could be heard. There was a half-collapsed wall to her left and she leaned hard enough against it that she worried she would send the second half of it toppling into the abyss. 

“Already sent, Inquisitor,” Lace said. She cleared her throat and saluted, her eyes shining with the last of the Rift’s magic. “He’s really dead, huh?” 

“Dead as I could make him,” Lavellan said. She thought of Hawke, of her assurances that Corypheus had been killed before. 

Would they see their enemy again? Would he find some other doorway, some other crack to slip through into their world? She could not know. She did not know what happened to a body when it was scattered through reality and unreality at once. Perhaps she had merely fragmented him into several wholes and he would return to them as a legion of Coryphei. Perhaps he was simply and entirely dead. 

Lavellan didn’t know that, either. She knew only that she wanted badly to be held, to be clean, and to sleep, not necessarily in that order. 

But first: the mountain.

“Is everyone well enough to ride?” she called, her voice cracking in the middle of “enough.” 

Cassandra, who had carried the unconscious witch from the ruins, made a displeased sound somewhere behind them. 

“Except for Morrigan,” Emmaera amended, and squeezed her eyes shut when another pang gripped her leg. She would drink a potion in the saddle and that would fix it enough, but—they could not wait. Their people needed to see them well, and soon. She did not want another search party scouring the mountains for her body. The memory of the snow, of the cold after Haven’s fall echoed in her thoughts now. 

No. No, they needed to go now. 

“I suppose we’ll make it if we’re in some sort of hurry,” Dorian puffed, pressing both palms to his knees. “I suppose I rather agree that I wouldn’t prefer to hang around here at this particular moment.”

“Good,” Lavellan said, tucking her errant hair back behind her ear. She thought of the path up the mountain, of the ones waiting for her there. 

She thought of Cullen, who would surely be beside himself while they waited. When she came to him, his hair would gleam gold in the torchlight and he would smile at her and—and she needed to see him now. 

“Quickly then,” she went on, whistling for her hart. “Up the mountain to Skyhold—to home.”

|

It was finally over. 

Over a year of pain and devastation, personal losses and private triumphs, and it was over at last. Corypheus was dead. The Breach—Cullen had checked it so many times he’d lost count—was gone, too. The rest would be a logistical nightmare; they might have united disparate groups for the sake of this battle, but the unrest that had been seeded in these past months would not be quelled when the sky was sealed shut again. There were still rifts out there, still people who needed the Inquisition’s help, but—

It was done. 

Even now, as the crowd of the Inquisition’s allies and soldiers waited with eyes on the gate, there was an air of celebration below. Someone had rolled a barrel of mead into the courtyard from the Herald’s Rest and tapped it. Mugs had passed from hand to hand, but the advisors had all abstained out of duty and decorum. Cullen thought Josephine might have benefited from a stiff drink; it was surely not visible from below, but she’d worried her quill to bits with nervous fingers. He could relate. It all felt too easy to be safe. They had thought themselves victorious before, hadn’t they? Haven yet lay half-buried under snow for his follies. 

If he had a choice, he would be pacing the gates below and waiting for her—for their return. Leliana’s messengers had been clear: the ruins had fallen, but the Inquisitor had climbed safely from the wreckage. She lived, she walked under her own power, and now he had only to wait. 

Cullen knew patience very well; he had learned it at the end of a blade and without countless repetitions. If necessary, he could call upon a dozen verses of the Chant to still his itchy fingers, his anxious feet. Maker willing, he would not need them. Maker willing, she would climb the hill and step through the gate any moment now. Any moment—

“Peace, Commander,” Leliana murmured. Cullen, who’d been tapping the hilt of his sword with increasing vigor, stilled his fingers. 

“She is near,” Leliana went on. She looked so impassive, only the faintest hint of a smile tucked into the corner of her mouth. “Only a few moments more.” 

“Truly?”Josephine asked, scribbling furiously. “Maker have mercy; I do not know if the catering will be ready. And the decor—”

“It will be fine, Josie,” Leliana murmured, stepping closer to her friend and resting a hand on the ambassador’s shoulder. “You’ll see.” 

“Are you certain that—” Cullen began in an undertone, but Leliana was already shaking her head. 

“Have you come to doubt me after so long, Commander?” she said, but she was still smiling. That was a good sign. He knew better than to anger their spymaster. 

Cullen gestured sharply, shaking his head. 

“Of course not! I only—”

The sound of horns cut off the end of the sentence, which was fortunate. Leliana knew precisely what he and Lavellan were to each other, but they had not acknowledged it publicly yet. It was a sign, perhaps, of how unsteady he felt that he hadn’t even considered less telling words. I only wish to see her again, to hold her safe—a sentiment that he felt keenly, but need not explain to Leliana. Neither Leliana nor anyone else here needed to hear such things. The only one who really needed to know was—

The Inquisitor strode into the courtyard below and their people erupted into cheers. Her armor was badly singed, but the burns showed worst in her hair. Her neat braids were gone. Instead, her hair fell in thick waves to her waist on the left. On the right, where her armor was most badly singed, it ended abruptly just above her elbow. Soot smudged her face and her gait was uneven. Her friends followed in her wake, each acknowledging the crowd in their way, but he did not look at them. His attention was entirely for her, assessing what little he could see from atop the stairs. 

It was useless. Cullen was too far to discern much more. He had to hold still instead, had to present the correct face for their people, but—was she hurt? Was she hiding some injury beneath the burn marks and the armor? What had killing Corypheus cost her beyond what he could see? Cullen knew all too well the cost of a fight, the toll it took on one’s mind. It was not something he wished her to understand as he did. 

This war had already cost her so much; what more had she lost this evening? 

When she rounded the stairs at last, Emmaera’s eyes found him first. Cullen needed little more assurance than that: she met his eyes, green to gold, and smiled. 

Well. Well, then. 

Cullen held his composure long enough to bow for her as the other advisors did, but then he had little choice but to let go. What did it matter if everyone here knew that he loved her? What did it matter if they saw how she opened her arms to him, how she tucked her face into his neck, how he returned the gesture without question or hesitation? 

“I am well,” she told him, half-laughing. The crowd roared even louder beneath them, but he could hear her clearly nevertheless. “All is well, Cullen. Creators, but I am glad to see you.”

“And I you,” he told her, careful not to hold too tightly even though he was loath to let go. When he’d embraced her, he’d tucked his nose just beneath her ear. Hidden under the smell of metal and blood and char, he caught the faintest hint of the oil she used in her hair. 

Lavender—sweet lavender and his love, safe and returned to him despite all the odds. 

And—it was finally, finally over.

#cullavellan #emmaera lavellan #cullen rutherford #dai #dragon age fic #yes hello i still adore them #shivunin scrivening

[thekingofwinterblog]

What do you think of the people you can romance in DAI? Who is the best in your opinion?

I honestly don't have a good answer. For all my time playing Dragon Age Inquisition, for good or bad, it's romances are something I've mostly left untouched simply because unlike Origins, and even DA2, Inquisition doesn't lend itself all that well to replaying the game with a different origins.

A Kossith Mage Herald is unfortunately not nearly as different compared to playing as anything else as it should be. The only exception is playing as an elf, and unlike Origins, that only opens up all the cracks and flaws to the Inquisitor as a character.

The end result is that i effectively only have two Inquisitors I use, and as a result, i have only two romances i've gone through.

With that in mind, i can only comment on those, and what i've seen in other's playthroughs.

Josephine

Josephine is a good character, and if you go her romance, it does feel like you forge a connection... But the game unfortunately does not let you delve into her deepest secrets on such a route the way it should.

One common thing I've seen is a big problem with all the romances is that because Bioware didn't want to touch any of the inquisitors pasts in any meaningful way, it's impossible to open up to anyone about one's past, and get their take on it all.

Josephine tells you of her past, her family, siblings, etc. But you cannot really do the same.

Do the inquisitor have siblings? How do they feel about their parents? Have you had previous relationships? I have no idea.

If the Inquisitor was written as an actual in game person, defined by their background like hawke and the Warden, then the game's way of handling romance would have hit way harder and better. Because there is good stuff here, as I know just going through two romances.

The best highlight of Josephine's romance of course is her personal romance quest where you decide to engage in a duel for her hand, a very, very antivan thing to do, and a display that goes more to flesh out the actual Antivan culture than almost anything else in the games.

This kind of open, grand, romantic displays is what actual antivan society is all about, far, far more than it ever is about the tiny minority of assassins that are their most famous part to the world ever was...

And subsequently, it's excellent to showcase how Josephine differs greatly from other Antivan noblewomen. Rather than be taken in by it all, or swept of the feet, she is angry, and terrified, a results of her own history as a failed bard in the monstrosity that is the great game.

But if the Inquisitor choses to just anounce their love then and there for all to hear(also a very antivan thing to do), she is ultimately swept off her feet, and the lord you're fighting also choses to back down as he realises it's an actual duel for love, while he merely wanted a challnge and the honor of having dueled the inquisitor.

Again, this is a very great way of showcasing actual Antivan culture.

Overall i would say that though there is nothing wrong with Josephine's romance, and i do like the way it's a departure from previous ones by being all about courtly love, it didn't exactly wow me by being outstanding the way Morrigan's and Alistair's did in Origins.

Cassandra

Cassandra's romance meanwhile is both better, and worse than Josephine's.

Better in that you have a much, much more defined and in many ways more nuanced relationship with her, which can actually have some real weight depending on your choices. Like if you decide to actually make her divine... And she no longer feels she can have a relationship with you, despite how much she wants to, because she feels it would not be proper.

I would also say i greatly do like how the game handles the fact that Cassandra's an older woman, who is also a romantic at heart, but not very experienced in such matters... Which leads to an intentionally corny, but very enjoyable wooing scene after setting up a romantic date.

Subsequently, if you are a woman, i do like how she actually does go through a moment where she intentionally turns you down due to incompatible orientations. It's a small moment that shows her awkwardly fumbling as she usually does, but showcases that she is a good girl at heart, as she tries to let you down gently.

Now to the bad stuff.

Namely if you woo her off her feet as an elf... Like I did.

Now there is the core of something good here... But it's not fleshed out at all.

As i've said before, cassandra's biggest issue as a character is that like most of the companions, there are aspects of her personality you are not even allowed to change, and in this case, it's her less than flattering opinions on Elven religion(which even if completely true in the end, it doesn't exactly paint her in the best light).

There is a moment where she questions a dalish inquistor about possible Synchronization between creator worship and Andrastian, but you are not allowed to go any deeper on the subject, either positively, or negatively.

Which sucks, because if it had been, this could have added some much needed peraonal growth for her on the subject, either if you affirm the idea that there is room for such(as we know from lore, you would not be the first dalish to think so) and through that maybe Cassandra might actually learn that Creator worship isn't quite as scary as she has been led to believe, or reject it, and she eventually grows to love you anyway.

Because that is one of the strengths of this romance playing as a dalish. For all the way she talks shit about the creator religion, she comes to both love the inquisitor, and respect them like absolutely no other, felling that they are force of nature, that can do anything. And she does that regardless of whether you convert, is an atheist, or remain steadfast creators worshipper, all the way to tresspasser.

Now, we could debate whether he actually does, but the important thing here is that she believes it.

There was room here to really make something really special by delving into this, as cassandra has a moment where she notes that in the future, she will either be recognized as the lover of a saint, or an elven madman.

It's a poignant moment, which is echoed by what happened with other historical elven related figures in the game, but unfortunately you aren't allowed to ask her the simple, yet extremely important question "Do you care what they think?", instead the closest being "I don't care what they think, what do you believe?" Which ultimately is there to affirm Cassandra's belief in the maker, and that she does fully believe you were chosen by god, rather than allow her to express that regardless of what other people might think, she does love you, and will stick by you to the very end.

That kind of thinking is obviously still there... But it's subtext, when it should have been the main thesis around which her character arc was built.

All in all, Cassandra's romance arc is good... But if you're playing as Dalish, there is a lot of jank that mirrors the way the game handles so much about a dalish inquisitor.

Sera

From here on I haven't actually played any of these, so this is more observation more than anything else.

Sera seems to be okay enough, if you like her brand of humor, and personality, but i've seen a lot of people who greatly dislike the fact that if youre dalish and you refuse to abandon the elvhen gods, she breaks up with you, and is another reason Sera is a terrible character.

I disagree heavily on that front. The fact that Sera refuses to compromise on her beliefs and accept a "pagan" partner is a character flaw... But it's a very human one, and unlike so much else, I would say it's a character aspect you should not be able to change.

Its something that makes her a fundamentally different person than Cassandra, and that is good... But if you hate her as a character already, this really doesn't help much with that.

Blackwall

From what I can tell, this romance doesn't really add much to his character... Though it does add much to the Inquisitor, by showing how badly she wants it, and is willing to play the part of the sub for some love.

Solas

Ah, the Solavellan Hell.

Cullen

I don't really have any bigger thoughts on this one, other than to note it seems to be a better told version of the blackwall romance. Also it tells us that Cullen is not into women who are either taller than him, or way shorter.

Dorian

The most interesting thing about this romance from a character perspective is how the romance quest brings out Dorian's Tsundere side, something not seen much elsewhere in the game.

You only briefly see it in his personal quest depending on your choice of words, and far more in his banter and relationship with The Iron Bull.

Other than that it seems a perfectly decent romance quest.

The Iron Bull

Now this one is interesting for a number of reasons... But by far the most facinating thing about it, is that while Bull is not being disgenious, tresspasser shows us two things.

1. That regardless of how he feels about you, you ARE second to the Qun in his eyes, and 2. The thing he truly, truly cares about more than both the Qun and You if you romance him, is his mercenary crew.

They are his true family, his home, his soul.

That adds a lot of interesting hidden subtext for his romance as far as I'm concerned.

Bull is facinating, because as Cole reveals if he betrays you, there is no malice, no hatred, nothing. This really was not anything personal. He really did like you... But you were essentially just a bond girl of the week to him, and him the great spy, the glamorous Bond, moving on from yet another conquest.

Of course bond doesn't tend to get brutually murdered by said Bond girl(or guy, Bull ain't picky) after the fling, so there is that.

That is a fascinating dynamic, and great and interesting way to handle a romance with a spy.

#dragon age #dragon age inquisition #josephine #cassandra pentaghast #solas #sera #blackwall #cullen #dorian #the iron bull #romance #meta #shipping #the inquisitor #the herald of andraste

[sinquisition]

I wish they at least gave your companions their own fancy outfits at Halamshiral. Like. They gave Solas his funky hat... I wanna see Josephine in an even fancier dress than her normal one. I wanna see Cullen in the outfit they put Hawke in during MOTA. I wanna hear a banter about how Leliana tried to force Cass to wear a frilly dress and Cassandra just stared at her until she sighed and compromised with some fancier/ceremonial armor. Morrigan got a fancy dress.... why did we all get the ugly ass uniform?

#dragon age inquisiton #dragon age #halamshiral #wicked eyes and wicked hearts

[greypetrel]

Hiiii, this is for the dragon age questions and for your darling Aisling

ESSENTIALS

04. What is their moral alignment?

LIFE

06. Which aspects of the culture they were born into holds the most significance for them?

12. How efficient are they with things like crafting potions or repairing their own armor?

DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION

06. How did they behave at the Winter Palace? Who did they support in the political scheming?

12. Did they respect the rituals in Mythal’s Temple? Who drank from the Well of Sorrows, Morrigan or your Inquisitor?

13. What do they think of Flemeth? If they drank from the Well, how do they feel about being now beholden to her as Mythal?

Hello! Thank you so much for asking Kat! :D

There's a cut because you made me speak about my two favourite missions (with all its flaws, but I write fanfictions to fill gaps in a story, and the Arbor Wilds is the perfect match of a map I love, lore, fun banter -Solas and Morrigan should co-host a talk show where the guest inevitably tries to stop them from turn the other into a toad... and my brain is on fire.)

Tis the Prompt List

ESSENTIALS

04. What is their moral alignment?

Neutral Good.

LIFE

06. Which aspects of the culture they were born into holds the most significance for them?

The sense of community. Acting like you're part of a group, your actions aren't really just yours, but can influence everyone else. The sense that you can survive only together, and everyone has a part to play, no matter how small.

12. How efficient are they with things like crafting potions or repairing their own armor?

Potions: she's pretty good. Her Keeper was a very skilled herbalist and she learnt well from her. She's not exceptional or a talent, and it doesn't come naturally to her, but she studied enough to be highly proficient. Repairing armour: She can keep her armour in good conditions from fighting. As a Storm Witch, she doesn't wear much metal in her gear (too conductive, and she uses armours in enemies enough to know exactly what happens if she makes a mistake). She knows how to to maintenance, but for bigger repairs she definitely needs help.

DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION

06. How did they behave at the Winter Palace? Who did they support in the political scheming?

Contrary to most people's belief, seeing her wearing her heart on her sleeve, she behaved very well. After long, LONG weeks of Josephine training her for the task. With the super-power of the people-pleaser, she won Belle of the Ball. On the support... With the Well of Sorrow, it's the one choice that keeps haunting her in the future. She couldn't bring herself to trust Gaspard to stay put and let Briala tell him what to do without any retortion. In her opinion, if the man launched his country in a civil war out of ambition, he isn't one to be trusted with a throne, and he isn't one to be trusted not to try and gain some more power for himself. She hated it to guts, but she supported Celene, believing that out of love, she'd be a little less prone to assassinate Briala than De Chalons. Kept every single scrap of paper she found in her studio as a safeguard and is ready to take everything out and blackmail the Empress should the need occur. Yes even after she disbanded the Inquisition, Leliana is instructed to call her immediately if Celene looks at another Alienage for more than 10 seconds.

She is still not sure it was the right decision, even if she really despises Gaspard too.

12. Did they respect the rituals in Mythal’s Temple? Who drank from the Well of Sorrows, Morrigan or your Inquisitor?

Respected every single ritual, defined the floor puzzles as "quirky but fun", quarreled with Cassandra and almost broke her friendship with her over it.

Another decision that haunts her even after: she let Morrigan drink, thinking she was readier than her to face the consequences (after being assured thrice that Kieran would have been taken care of by a trusted person should something bad happen). For her, it would have been a jump in the dark with risks she hadn't considered before, and respected Morrigan enough to trust her with it. Add the fact that Solas was a little too much involved in that choice... Which never happened before. She took it as an alarm bell and trusted him thinking that at least Morrigan was prepared to face risks, knew some of them... She didn't. If hurt and it felt bitter that she didn't, but she stepped back. Kept her sister back too. Continues with motivations in the next question.

13. What do they think of Flemeth? If they drank from the Well, how do they feel about being now beholden to her as Mythal?

Terrible mother, struggles to connect Flemeth to the Mythal she's been taught about. It was the first crack in her faith. It kept up for 2 years thinking that she did it for the greater good and was thinking on the long run... And then well, Trespasser happened, and it's part of the reason why she took it so bad. If she had actually drank from the Well, she'd hate being beholden by her. But like, hate to the point of asking Solas to fix that and leave the Anchor, leave her to die instead. She feels horribly guilty about having left the Well to Morrigan. If she could turn back time again, this is the one choice she'd change in a heartbeat. If she knew from the start, she would have pushed Morrigan away from the Well and jumped in herself, Pocahontas-style to spare her being beholden by her.

But I played that mission without knowing so go Aisling you can have one horror more.

#Beloved Quizzy I know you're Dalish and this should be yours but in the case everything goes shit- #- we can't allow to an ill-meaning entity to control the Anchor don't you think? #dragon age character questions #aisling lavellan #I am sorry for the long rambling #except I'm not #I love/hate the Arbor Wilds #that choice is done in the worst possible way they could have done it #they COULD HAVE given better reasons to Morrigan - building her relationship with the Inquisitor more for once #or like... #It would have played on the personality erasure thing too. “You can't be a Dalish first - YOU'RE THE INQUISITOR FIRST”. #I love/hate Inquisition for this #they have GOOD ideas but don't conclude one if not half-way. #good for fan-fiction (at least for me - I write to fill gaps that drive me mad) bad for playing. #look at me keeping rambling in the tags some more :"D SORRY

[feyreswaterybowels]

⭒The Silent One⭒

#2 Azriel x Fem!OC

⭒Part 1⭒Part 2⭒Part 3⭒Part 4⭒

Word Count: 3.8k

Summary: Cassandra decides to join the IC for dinner. Things feel weird and wrong but also…safe and comfortable. She opens up to them about her past traumas and gets to know more about them.

Warnings/Tags: mentions physical and visual sexual abuse in the recent past. describes physical violence. trauma. mute character. slow burn. protective!azriel. protective!IC.

Authors Note: All reblogs, likes and comments are welcome, appreciated and encouraged! Let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list for the next part! Regular italics are inter thoughts while bold italics are her communicating with other people mentally.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

“Relax,” Nuala cooed as she helped Cassandra ease into the large bath, warm and floral scented.

Cassandra had never been in a bath like this. Only one suited for regular fae without wings. They had been cramped and uncomfortable and nearly impossible to bathe everywhere without hurting a wing. But this bath? It was huge and could easily fit multiple people with and without wings. It stretched all the way to one of those glassless windows where the water spilled over in a soothing stream.

She leaned back when Nuala prompted, letting her wings float in the water. It was so nice the way they felt so weightless. Nuala tilted her head back and their eyes met as she cupped her hands with water and poured it over Cassandra’s white hair. She lathered it with a nice smelling soap, massaging at her scalp.

It was difficult to lay there and relax while someone else washed her hair. It reminded her of the mistress, how when she bathed her and washed her hair it was rushed and rough and…and when she washed her hair like this she would sometimes push her head under the water and hold her there—

Cassandra bolted up with a gasp, hands coming up to wipe away the water that fell down from her hair and over her face, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She whirled around, wide eyes catching Nuala’s, trying to desperately apologize for what she had done. The female just shook her head gently.

“It’s okay,” She said, “would you like to be left alone for a moment?”

Cassandra considered this, she both wanted to be alone and have someone else around. But she nods her head. Cerridwen walked in then, a stack of something in her hand.

“Clothes for you,” she said, sitting the stack on a shelf across the room. “We will be back but if you finish with your bath and wish to dress before we return the clothes will be here.”

Cassandra nods. She doesn’t know what else to do, but the females seem to understand, offering her small nods in return before leaving the room—the heavy door closing as they leave the bedroom the bedroom.

She sinks down in the water once she’s sure she’s alone. So much has changed in such a short time and she’s still not sure if this is all real. These people…they could change any moment. Drag her from this huge room and throw her into a prison cell and use her for whatever they pleased.

Turning in the water she pushed herself towards the other end of the tub, the one that waterfalls over the edge. What she sees there takes her breath away, an audible gasp leaving her lips.

The first thing she notices is all the lights, it looked exactly like the painting she saw with Morrigan. There was so much to look at. But what she really wanted to see was the beautiful sight above that. The night sky. The thousands of stars twinkling above, surrounding a bright moon.

She could have cried looking at the sight. But not because she felt sad, she felt safe. Comfortable. Content. Like this was where she was meant to be.

Eventually she did get out of the bath, drying herself off with the fluffy white towel that was unnaturally warm. She stopped in front of the mirror, surprised at her own reflection. She looked so different from the last time she actually saw herself. Her skin that was once a golden caramel color was lighter and ashen, dark circles under her green eyes. Her white hair slicked back with water was thinner than when it used to fall in thick ringlets as a girl. Her rib cage and hip bones protruding in a way they always had but wished they hadn’t. She had wanted a thicker, fuller body like the girls she saw at the pleasure houses. A strong body like her mothers used to be. A body that could hold up her wings and maybe one day…fly.

She had gotten dressed before Nuala and Cerridwen returned. The clothes weren’t like anything she’d ever worn before. Cream colored pants that were lined with a fuzzy material that was softer than anything she’d ever worn before. The top was a matching cream, flowy top with sleeves that stopped at her elbows and buttoned up the back to accommodate her wings. The shoes were white, flat and slipped on her feet easily.

She chose not to attend dinner that night. She wasn’t sure she could stomach any food. The twins looked disappointed. Her decision had been made to gauge how she would be treated if she didn’t have dinner with this high lord male.

She didn’t leave her room the following day either.

Or the day after that.

No one bothered her. No one came to drag her from the room kicking and screaming. No one beat on the door or called her horrible names. No one held her down or forced the food into her mouth. In fact no one except Nuala and Cerridwen came to her room at all.

And when they came they would bring a small tray of food, she only ever drank the tea and ate the biscuit and left everything else. She didn’t want to take too much before knowing if she was expected to do something in return.

When she finally felt safe enough she agreed to dinner on her fourth night. Nuala bathed her again. She couldn’t help the panic that overcame her once again as the female washed her hair but she cooed at her, soothingly before getting up and leaving her to finish alone as she had the first night.

Cerridwen took on fixing her hair, drying and styling it into waves that fell over her shoulders. Once she was done and dressed Nuala put a cream on her face and spritzed her with something that smelled sweet.

When they were done she felt like a different person. She felt clean. Comfortable. Alive.

There wasn’t much time to dwell on her feelings of finally leaving the room before Nuala and Cerridwen pulled her up and escorted her down the maze of hallways.

“Just two doors down, you’ll find the dining room,” Cerridwen pointed down the hall with a small smile. Cassandra wanted to ask why they weren’t also joining but when she turned to face them they were just gone as if they disappeared into thin air.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

Walking into the dining room was a weird feeling. Cassandra didn’t feel like she belonged there. In the fancy room, with a huge table filled with foods…foods she had never seen before. The four people she had met three days ago—and another she hadn’t met, all sat around the table talking in hushed whispers.

Azriel was the first to look over. His eyes met hers and offered her a small smile. “Cassandra,” his deep voice greeted.

“I’m glad you decided to join us this evening, please come sit,” Rhysand said, standing and motioning to the empty seat next to him, where Azriel would be on her other side—Morrigan in front of her and Cassian next to her. The other female at the opposite end of the table from Rhysand.

Cassandra hesitated for only a moment before walking over and realizing that the chair was designed to accommodate wings. She wouldn’t have to sit at some weird angle to be comfortable. Her eyes meet Azriel’s, the gentle look on his face a comfort she needed. He stood from his spot, sliding the chair out and gesturing for her to sit.

She felt eyes on her as she scanned all of the food in front of her. She had never seen so much food.

“I trust everything went okay the last few days?” Rhysand asked as he took his own seat once again.

“I freaked out a little when Nuala was washing my hair…” Cassandra admitted, shoulders hunching in embarrassment.

“That’s okay, no need to be upset. You’ve been through a lot, it’s expected. Nuala and Cerridwen are understanding and won’t hold it against you. You have my word on that.”

She wanted to say thank you again but didn’t feel it was appropriate. She didn’t know what else to say so she nodded her head and looked towards that other female, freezing as she looked into glowing silver eyes. She had never seen anything so…beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

A snort to her side caught her attention and she looked at Rhysand.

“Sorry, I just heard that,” Rhysand said, Cassandra’s eyebrows pulled together before realization dawned on her. The comment about the other female… “Amren.” Rhys supply’s the name.

She looks back to the female, to those eyes that make her not want to look away.

“Hello, girl,” She greets, and it’s not a terrifying rumble, but a genuine greeting.

Cassandra offers a small smile, feeling a draw to the small female. No one else spoke so she reached for a plate but before her fingers could even graze it, it filled with food before her eyes. She blinked at it in shock, looking to Rhysand to see if he had done it.

There was a small smile on his lips as he shook his head.

“The house is enchanted, it does what it pleases. You wanted food so it filled your plate for you,” Azriel spoke, she looked over at him then back at the plate.

Oh, wow. She thought…the food had even been diced into smaller pieces as she had told Rhysand. Her eyes fell on the wine glass in front of her—she wouldn’t drink it, couldn’t, so she looked at Azriel again then around the room. Water. And just like that, a glass of water appeared in front of her.

Cassandra felt the corners of her mouth twitch up, eyes meeting Azriel’s again then Rhysands before she grabbed the glass of water.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

“It’s pretty awesome, right?” Cassian spoke, his long hair that had been pulled back earlier now fell to his shoulders.

Cassandra nodded in answer, sitting her glass back on the table. Rhys took his seat, grabbing his wine glass, silently observing the female as she reached for her fork.

“I’ve never had this much food before…”

Rhys isn’t surprised but he’s not expecting the words and they make his heart hurt.

“Eat as much as you’d like,” Rhys says warmly, watching as she scoops up some warm potatoes and brings them to her lips.

“Mm” she hums, eyes closing. “That’s so good!” Rhys doesn’t answer, he can tell she’s not speaking to him consciously, she’s just thinking, not a single mental shield to protect her fragile mind.

It’s the next bite that wipes the small mine from all the faces. No longer an exploratory bite but a ravenous one. One after another, eating quickly and without restraint. Eating in a way that meant she had been starving, had never had an adequate food supply, had never been allowed to eat more than what was given.

She didn’t speak and neither did they. None of them would tell her to stop or slow down, all having been there at some point in their lives. They had all known that hunger at one point or another. So they let her eat. And drink. And eat some more.

Potatoes. Greens. Fruit. Meat. Bread. A plate appeared next to her holding a slice of cake and she ate that too—she had never had cake before but no one else at the table knew that.

It’s only when her plate is empty that anyone speaks up. It’s Cassian that asks, “How do you feel you’re settling in?” It’s an attempt to bring about a conversation without making her uncomfortable.

Cassandra takes a slow sip of water, breathing deeply as she does before looking at Rhysand who nods in confirmation that he’ll give her answer.

“Honestly…I feel more comfortable here than I have ever felt anywhere else.”

“That’s wonderful! We want you to be as comfortable as possible,” Morrigan chimes in, excited as if she’d been waiting to talk to Cassandra for the past three days. “When we didn’t see you for three days we were worried—well I was. The boys wanted to give you some space.”

“I didn’t know what was expected of me,” she says, Rhysand repeats her and she’s met with confused frowns. “That’s why I stayed away, didn’t eat much. I didn’t know if anything would be…expected of me in return if I did.”

“You have no debt to us, Cassandra. Nothing is expected of you,” Rhysand speaks, his voice firm but gentle. “If you wish to come to dinner you eat your fill until you’re satisfied. If you need clothes you wear what you like and it’s yours to keep. Nothing will ever be taken or held against you as punishment of any kind.”

Cassandra blinks at him, feels the wetness in her eyes as she nods. There’s just one nagging question in her mind, one she needs an answer to before she gets too comfortable.

“Why am I here then?” She asks, setting her fork down on a freshly filled plate, half as full as before.

Rhysand lets out a sigh before telling the others what she’d asked.

“You are here because I received word from one of Azriel’s spies—I’ll give you a more in depth explanation on what that means at another time—that pleasure houses in my court were buying and selling females against their will,” Rhysand begins to explain. “See we have many pleasure houses in Velaris but it has always been law that consent is the main requirement for anyone involved. Those who work or visit have to be there because they want to be there.”

“So, when we got word this law had been broken, Rhys sent us out to patrol the pleasure houses,” Azriel said, drawing her attention to him, “he needed solid proof of the law being broken before he could step in. Cassian and I, we saw you there. Scared. Frightened. Clearly not there of your own free will and didn’t feel it was safe for you to stay there.”

Cassandra looked at him, taking in the shadows swirling around him. His kind hazel eyes, the blue siphons glowing on his scarred hands. Remembered how when her eyes first landed on him on the other side of those bars she had been absolutely terrified of him.

“What about the…Mistress?” She asked turning away from Azriel to look at Rhysand.

“You no longer have to call her mistress, her name is Kamari. She is still here in our cells, she’s not been harmed. We are working to gather some intel from her. Who her bosses are, where they are buying the females and any other information we can get from her. She’s been cooperative in giving us the information we need to stop this from happening to any other females,” Rhysand said, eying the female in front of him before looking to his second in command.

“Do you have any information that may help us, girl? Anything we could use against that female to get more information?” Amren asks, fixing her smoky eyes on the female.

Cassandra was quiet for a moment, thinking. Trying to piece together everything she could remember. She looks up and nods her head. Everyone seemed to sit a little straighter, their full attention on her alone.

“My father is the one who sold me to a male named Vale. Blue skin, a long deep scar across his face, black eyes…mean and very strong—”

Rhysand hold his hand up, relaying the information to Azriel and you watch curiously as one of his shadows darts away and out of a window.

“Cassandra, do you mind if I open up a channel for everyone to hear what you say to me? It will help us find these people,” Rhysand asks, she doesn’t need to think before she nodded. She wanted to help in any way she could. Help any girls going through what she did and stopping more from going through it.

“Please, continue,” Rhysand encouraged.

“The male, Vale, had bought other females. He kept me me in a dark room under his home with three other females. He—he raped one of the girls many time but not me or the other two girls. He said he would get more money for us if we stayed…untouched.” Cassandra’s stomach rolled at the memories. Nauseated, remembering the cries of that poor girl every time that man came down stairs and hurt her. She could see the anger in the eyes that surrounded her, could practically feel it radiating from them. Their fists and jaws clenched tightly, wings rigid and shoulders taunt. But she continued.

“I stayed there for a few months before he took me to that…pleasure house? I’m not sure what happened to the other girls. I think he may have kept the one he raped.”

“Do you know their names?” Cassian asks and she’s nods. How could she ever forget them?

“Seera, Juno and Neema. I believe Seera and Juno were sister but I’m not completely sure. We tried not to talk too much because it made the male very angry,” She took a deep breath, trying not to remember the time he had nearly crushed her throat for merely asking to use the bathroom.

Unbeknownst to her she had sent that mental image to them who were seething with anger at what this poor girl had gone through.

“Once I was at that place I was introduced to Miss—I was introduced to Kamari,” She continued, needing to get away from the memories of that male. “She was in charge of my training. She stripped me naked, told me I would never own a pair of clothes again. That I was to be naked and ready for any male to take me whenever they pleased. I was to learn things that would…please these males. Anytime I refused I was beaten. So, for months I watched other females pleasure males in many ways. But only watched. They said—she said I would be sold for a lot of money for being untouched. That whoever paid the most could do whatever they wanted to me. When I saw the two of you I thought—” She swallowed thickly eyes shooting between Azriel and Cassian. “I though you were going to—”

Her voice cracks and she looks away. Morrigan pushes out of her chair, walking around the table. “Can I hug you?” She asks.

All Cassandra can do is nod letting Morrigan wrap strong arms around her. Hugging her tightly. Holding her in a way that reminded her of her mother before she died. After a moment Morrigan pulls away offering a napkin to wipe her eyes.

“Cassandra, dear, we can be done for today if it’s too much to continue,” Rhysand offers gently.

She nods gently, feeling as if maybe she wasn’t much help at all. The rest of dinner is spent in silence, Cassandra hunched into herself while the other four fae think about killing everyone who hurt this innocent girl and many more.

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It’s later that evening when Cassandra slips from her room. The stone floor is cold under her feet and the satin nightgown doesn’t do much to keep the cold from her skin so she tucks her wings around her body.

She makes her way to the roof of the house, a training area the twins had told her was up here—they had also told her it was the best place to view the stars.

It’s a breathtaking sight. The wind whips her hair around as she walks to the edge. The lively city sparkling below while the endless sky shines above. Beautiful. She sighs gazing at the sight of the silver moon and tapestry of stars.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be up here at this time,” Cassandra spins around, sighing in relief when she spotted Azriel, she hadn’t heard him come out at all.

“Sorry, I couldn’t sleep. I always loved looking at the stars,” She said, grateful Rhys had made it to where she could communicate—at least with the few people here.

Azriel gives her a lopsided smile that makes her heart stutter. “No need to apologize, that's why I’m out here too. The night sky has always been…soothing.”

She turns back to the ledge as he walks closer.

“You know, my father he was ashamed to have children with wings,” Cassandra said, as Azriel watched her from the side, her white hair shining in the moonlight—those green eyes glowing again. “He kept us locked away, and didn't want anyone to see us. My mother had her wings taken when she was a teenager. She said normally they just clipped them but her father was especially cruel and completely took hers away. Well, when my father was drunk enough or didn’t come home some evening my mother would bring us out and let us look at the stars, she taught us the constellations. And I got to see Starfall with her only one time before she died. It was…the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. After she died I never saw the stars again—not until the night you and Cassian took me away from that horrible place.”

Azriel did his best to simmer his anger, to clutch his shadows tightly that so badly wanted to reach out and comfort the female—to wipe away the glistening tears on her cheeks. She looks over at him then and he looks up at the sky so as not to reach out for her.

“Your mother seems like a lovely woman,” He says, hoping the opportunity to talk about her mother may make her feel better.

The smile that came over her face wasn’t what he was expecting. The way it lit up her face had his shadows singing in his ear. Beautiful. She’s beautiful.

She wiped her cheeks with one hand and nodded.

“She was amazing. She tried to protect us from him but she was just as afraid of him as we were. She didn’t know how to get out. But she took care of us. She was still young when she died—he says she died from taking some kind of herbs, that she took her own life. But I—I always believed he did it.” Azriel took in a shuttery breath.

“I’m sorry,” He said, struggling to find the words to comfort her.

“Me, too. I wish I could have protected her the way she protected me. But now she’s up there with the stars looking over us. Watching me, I think she would be happy I got out. I just hope I can help protect someone else the way I should have protected her.” She folded her arms across her chest and turned away from the ledge. “I think I’ll try to get some sleep. Goodnight, Azriel.”

Azriel watched her walk away. Night gown blowing in the wind, the beautiful broken girl disappearing into the shadows.

tag list: @aelinwya @starlightandsouls @fullmoon-94 @aetherl0l @caticorn61 @lilah-asteria @blackgirlmagicforever @div94

#Cassandra my sweet girl #she’s trying her best #slow burn #slow burn but as you can tell Azriel’s catching the feels #I don’t want to rush things though baby Cassandra has a lot to process and heal from #I think it may be a he fell first she fell harder deal #Azriel’s gonna do everything in his power to protect her they’re gonna be best friends too #found family is the best trope btw #acotar #azriel #azriel fanfic #acotar fanfiction

[daitranscripts]

What Pride had Wrought Pt. 14

The Well of Sorrows

What Pride had Wrought Masterpost Previous: Abelas

Morrigan and the PC look over the Well of Sorrows and at the eluvian on the other side.

Morrigan: You’ll note the intact eluvian. I was correct on that count, at least.

PC: Is it still a threat? Can Corypheus use it to travel the Fade?

Morrigan: You recall when I took you through my eluvian, I said each required a key? The Well is the key. Take its power, and Mythal’s last eluvian will be no more use to Corypheus than glass. I did not expect the Well to feel so… hungry.

Dialogue options:

General: Be careful. [1]

General: That’s not good. [2]

General: Back away. Now. [3]

1 - General: Be careful. PC: Let’s not be reckless. I don’t want anyone hurt.

2 - General: That’s not good. PC: Seems like that should be a concern. Morrigan: Knowledge begets a hunger for more.

3 - General: Back away. Now. PC: Don’t go any closer, Morrigan.

Morrigan: I am willing to pay the price the Well demands. I am also the best suited to use its knowledge in your service.

Party Comments:

Solas: Or more likely, to your own ends. Morrigan: What would you know of my “ends,” elf? Solas: You are a glutton drooling at the sight of a feast. You cannot be trusted. ㅤㅤ ㅤ

Vivienne: Do not trust her, Inquisitor. She’s a parasite, only here because she sensed a meal more hearty than you. Morrigan: Hm. Said by one whose only motive for joining the Inquisition was altruism. Vivienne: Is is altruism or sense not to plunge headfirst into a power you don’t remotely understand? Morrigan: Why should I be refused, when the reasons to allow it are sound? ㅤㅤ ㅤ

Cassandra: I do not like this. She is far too eager. Morrigan: I do not hide it. To restore lost knowledge, I would risk much. Cassandra: And what would you do with it? You could be worse than Corypheus. Morrigan: So paralyze yourself for fear of what might be? I can give nothing but my word.

Morrigan: Of those present, I alone have the training to make use of this. Let me drink, Inquisitor.

4 - Dialogue options

Investigate: You alone have the training? [5]

Investigate: What about the price? [6]

General: You really want this? [7]

General: Perhaps nobody should use it. [8] +Sera approves

General: How can I trust you? [9]

5- Investigate: You alone have the training? PC (Dalish): “You alone”? This is my heritage! PC (non-Dalish mage): “You alone”? You’re not the only mage here. PC (non-Dalish, non-mage): What “training” makes you so qualified? Morrigan: I have studied the oldest lore. I have delved into mysteries of which you could only dream! Can you honestly tell me there is anyone better suited?

10 - Dialogue options:

General: Solas? [11]

General: Vivienne? [12]

General: Dorian? [13]

General: Myself./Then it’s me. [14]

General: I don’t know. [15]

General (after suggesting another companion): Maybe Morrigan is right. [16]

11 - General: Solas? PC: What about you, Solas? Solas: No. Do not ask me again. [back to 10] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 12 - General: Vivienne? PC: What about you, Vivienne? Vivienne: If anyone, it should be you. The mark on your hand may protect you. [back to 10] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 13 - General: Dorian? PC: What about you, Dorian? Dorian: A human from Tevinter scoops up the last bits of elven knowledge? I know why you ask. I know it’s important, but… I can’t be that man. [back to 10] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 14 - General: Myself./Then it’s me. PC: I would be. Morrigan: You lead the Inquisition. This is not a risk you can take. I have the best chance of making use of the Well… for everyone. Let me drink. [back to 4] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 15 - General: I don’t know. PC: I don’t know who’s “better suited,” and neither do you. Morrigan: I have the best chance of making use of the Well… for everyone. Let me drink. [back to 4] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 16 - General: Maybe Morrigan is right. PC: Perhaps you’re right. Morrigan: I am. You know I am. [back to 4]

6 - Investigate: What about the price? PC: You’re not concerned about the price? “Bound forever to the will of Mythal”? Morrigan: Bound to the will of a dead god? It seems an empty warning. Perhaps a compulsion yet remains. Who can say otherwise? I do not fear it, even so. [back to 4]

7 - General: You really want this? PC: Are you sure you want this, Morrigan? We don’t know what will happen. Morrigan: We do not, and yet it must be done. I am ready.

8 - General: Perhaps nobody should use it. PC: I hate to say it, but Abelas’s plan to destroy the Well may be the best one. Morrigan: What happens when Corypheus comes for you again? He is immortal. The wisdom of the Well may include a way to destroy him. Give me this, and I fight at your side. I shall be your sword.

9 - General: How can I trust you? PC: What’s to stop you from taking the knowledge and leaving? Morrigan: My word. If that seems insufficient, Corypheus threatens all–even myself. He must be stopped. PC: And who stops you? Morrigan: I, Inquisitor, seek neither immortality nor your life.

17 - Scene continues.

18 - Dialogue options:

What does everyone else think? [19]

Arcane: I know the Well’s danger. [20]

Morrigan, the Well is yours. (Morrigan will gain the power of the Well.) [21] -Vivienne Greatly Disapproves -Cassandra Disapproves -Iron Bull Disapproves +Blackwall Approves (romanced) +Solas Approves +Sera Approves

I’ll use the Well myself. (The Inquisitor will gain the power of the Well.) [22] -Sera Greatly Disapproves -Solas Disapproves -Dorian Disapproves (romanced) -Dorian Slightly Disapproves +Blackwall Approves (not romanced) +Iron Bull Approves +Cassandra Approves +Vivienne Greatly Approves

19 - General: What does everyone else think? PC: Thoughts?

Party Comments:

Solas: She is right about only one thing: we should take the power which lies in that well.

Vivienne: I would not trust the power in that well with anyone but you, my dear.

Dorian: It all seems ghoulish. Let Morrigan use it, if she wants it so much.

Dorian(romanced): I don’t want to risk losing you to a well.

Varric: You’re asking me? This is a lot of… weird. I barely understand how any of this works.

Cole: So many voices. They would be in your head, talking over you. You don’t want them.

Sera: It’s called the Well of Sorrows. Sorrows. No one should go in the Well of Sorrows.

Cassandra: If it is truly between you and her… then let her take the risk. Maker help us all.

Cassandra (romanced): I… do not know. If there is risk to you…

Iron Bull: Any chance this Well could help us against Corypheus, I say you take it.

Blackwall: I’d trust you with this power more than her… but it is not for me to decide.

Blackwall (romanced): I won’t lose you. Let the witch use the Well.

Morrigan: Enough deliberation. Give me your decision. [back to 18]

20 - Arcane: I know the Well’s danger. PC: Looking at it, listening to it… that’s not just knowledge from the ancient elven priests. It’s their will. Morrigan: How would you know such a thing? PC: That’s what Abelas was telling us. The collective will of the priests puts anyone who drinks under a compulsion, a geas. Can’t you feel it? Morrigan: That… would match the legends, but it does not tell us what the geas entails. I would still use the Well, but you are right. We must be cautious. [back to 18]

21 - General: Morrigan, the Well is yours. PC: It’s yours.

Morrigan enters the Well and submerges herself in it. A wave rolls over the area, and the PC runs up to Morrigan laying unconscious in the empty basin.

PC: Morrigan? Are you all right?

Morrigan: Ellasin selah! Vissan… vissanalla…

Morrigan: I… I am intact. There is much to sift through… but now we can–

*Corypheus steps out of the temple and reaches out towards them., then begins to fly after them.

Corypheus: (Scream of rage.)

Morrigan: The eluvian!

PC: Through the mirror!

The eluvian activates, and the party rushes through, and a figure rises from the empty Well, following them. As it enters the eluvian, it deactivates and Corypheus runs into the glass. The party stumbles out of the mirror and into the storeroom back in Skyhold. Morrigan deactivates the eluvian once the PC comes through.

Morrigan: It is done.

Scene ends.

22 - General: I’ll use the Well myself. PC: If anyone is to use the Well, it will be me. Morrigan: So you will take what little knowledge you can understand, and let the rest go to waste?

Dialogue options:

General: We still need you. [23]

General: It won’t go to waste. [24]

General: The Inquisition needs this. [25]

23 - General: We still need you. PC: The Inquisition needs you. Corypheus still endangers us all. [26] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 24 - General: It won’t go to waste. PC: And who’s to say it will go to waste? Morrigan: I do. [26] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 25 - General: The Inquisition needs this. PC: This knowledge stays with the Inquisition. [26]

26 - Scene continues.

Morrigan (the PC did not warn about the Well’s geas): I am forever balked by those who believe they know better than I. Drink if you will, for the sake of us all. But steel your will to do it. Morrigan: (the PC warned about the Well’s geas) Perhaps it is better this way. Do as you will with the Well of Sorrows, Inquisitor. But be careful.

The PC wades into the Well. They lift some of the water to their lips and there is a burst of light.

PC: (Cry of pain.)

The PC looks around, standing in a void of darkness with a circling haze.

Voice: Garas quenathra?

PC: “Why am I here?” Corypheus… a magister wishes to rip the Veil open. I must learn how to stop him.

Voice: (Unintelligible whispers.)

Dialogue options:

General: Your aid is worth any price. PC: If you can help me vanquish Corypheus, take whatever price you wish. ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: Is that a yes or a no? PC: I can’t understand what you’re–look! Will you help me or not? ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: Answer me! PC: You will give me what I demand!

Voice: Vir mythal’enaste.

A sigil appears on the PC face, and everything goes dark.

Party comments:

Cassandra: Is it over? [Are they] coming around? I knew this would happen.

Cassandra (romanced): Maker, please. Don’t let it end this way.

Sera: Wake up from your good decision, stupid!

Sera (romanced): [Honey Tongue/Buckles/’Teetness/Shiny/Tadwinks/Inky]? If you’re dead, I’ll kill you!

Blackwall: I knew no good would come of this!

Blackwall (romanced): My lady? Oh, Maker, let her keep breathing…

Dorian: There! Our intrepid leader’s coming round.

Dorian (romanced): Festis bei umo canavarum. If you don’t come through this, I swear I’ll kill you.

Solas: There. Our Inquisitor’s waking up.

Solas (romanced): Inquisitor? Inquisitor!

Iron Bull (romanced): Hey, how’d that work out for you, kadan? You feeling good?

Varric: Breathing. That’s good! Let’s keep that up.

Vivienne: Inquisitor? Can you hear me?

The party approaches the PC as they they are jolted back into the Well, where they are laying in the empty basin. They stand, unsteady and waving away help.

Party comments:

Solas: How… do you feel?

Blackwall: How do you feel?

Dorian: Not dead! Well, that’s a relief. So… good? Bad? I’m dying to know.

Sera: So, you’ve got a head full of damp whatever. How’s that feel?

Iron Bull: That looked rough. How do you feel?

Cassandra: Inquisitor? How do you feel?

Vivienne: Warn us before you do that again, my dear. How do you feel?

Corypheus steps out of the temple and reaches out towards them., then begins to fly after them.

Corypheus: (Scream of rage.)

Morrigan: The eluvian!

PC: Through the mirror!

The eluvian activates, and the party rushes through, and a figure rises from the empty Well, following them. As it enters the eluvian, it deactivates and Corypheus runs into the glass. The party stumbles out of the mirror and into the storeroom back in Skyhold. Morrigan deactivates the eluvian once the PC comes through.

Morrigan: It is done.

Next: His Next Move - Morrigan Drank Next: His Next Move - Inquisitor Drank

#dragon age inquisition #dai transcripts #dragon age #dragon age transcripts #dragon age dialogue #dai #long post #what pride had wrought #wphw #no like #very long post

[vigilskeep]

a while back there was mention of dragon age daemon au but i don't remember, did you share your daemon headcanons?

for a very simple au i think that everyone has a daemon except dwarves, who don’t because they don’t have a connection to the fade (sorry guys :( it just makes sense in my heart they can have cool other stuff) and mages’ daemons can do stuff thats creepy to everyone else like witches in hdm. i actually think it would be fun if only mages’ daemons could talk or smth like that. obviously “severing” from your daemon is equivalent to being made tranquil

umm for a more layered au that ties it more deeply into da lore it would be fun to tie it more deeply into the da concept of spirits and demons. like everyone has a spirit but it can transform into a demon; chantry lore says that this is when there’s evil in your heart, but really it can also just be when you need a protector. or something like that. templar lyrium probably cuts them off from their spirits in some way which is part of why it does damage. when you templar silence a mage’s powers it deafens their connection to their spirit.

anyway onto the more important things, morrigan has a wolf (looks cool and tough as hell, actually should have a pack). to keep symbolism going with that pair i want to give alistair a sheep which he’s kind of embarrassed abt but it’s like one of the cool ones with sick horns that has soft wool AND could totally gore someone to death if it felt like it. velanna has um a porcupine. fenris has a white tiger and anders has a fox and he’s not saying he’s mad abt the canine feline assignment but yeah he IS mad abt it actually and HE thinks that— anyway anders’ might turn into something else bc of justice? or it’s already justice and “becomes” a different vengeance (affectionate) form during da2? merrill has something she thinks is boring but is actually kind of metal and also still cute like a little bird that traditionally migrates insanely long distances or like uhhh a poisonous newt. dorian has that cool monkey from the concept art or smth. leliana has an owl she wishes was a songbird. solas um has some kind of spirit he’s buddies with that’s pretending to be his spirit so he can cover up for not having one because it was Different somehow in his day, and possibly the spirit is cole idk just throwing that out there. cassandra has a shy little daemon she blushes furiously abt bc she thinks it’s too small and it hides in her armour. sera has a dragonfly. that’s what i have for u

[fangirlforthewin]

Dragon Age Fanfic Recommendation

Not too long ago, I had asked for some fic recommendations from you all (which I am ALWAYS accepting), and I thought I'd put in one place all the fanfics I've been recommended in case anyone else is interested and wanted to see them all in one place.

Cullen x Inquisitor

In Waking Dreams by AParisianShakespearean (AO3) or on Tumblr - Completed 100/100 Chapters. Summary: The love story between Inquisitor Lydia Trevelyan and her Commander. As the Inquisition begins and unravels, so do their own personal struggles, issues, torrid pasts, and feelings for one another. Sprinklings of other characters here and there. Slightly diverges from canon. Rated E for later chapters.

The Lion and the Halla by Samdancer (AO3) / Derpyfangirl (Tumblr) - Ongoing Summary: Cullen Rutherford has never had much luck with mages. Mages tended to view him with distrust or outright hatred for being a former Templar. And then he meets Helia- the Dalish mage who is the Herald of Andraste. As their relationship evolves, Cullen finds that not only does he have to command the Inquisition's army, but has to contend with jealous Elven apostates, lyrium withdrawal, murder games, and so much more! WHy did he let Cassandra talk him into this?

The Silver Lining by Decim (AO3) - Completed 64/64 Chapters Summary: Canon friendly re-imagining of templar-sided DA:I. POV Cullen and Elsa Trevelyan — a noble girl with a secret who is more familiar with the Game than with combat. Gradual build with a lot of character development, fleshing out of game events, and between-the-scenes detail.

Lay it on Me by Reindrops (AO3) / iamanavenger (Tumblr) - Ongoing Summary: Everyone thinks being the Inquisitor is all glory and honor. No one talks about how it's just surviving, trying to save who you can, and not letting yourself get caught up in the grief of those you couldn't. A darker story of all the hardships our Inquisitor deals with as a Circle Mage, who was not conditioned to be fighting for her life and making life and death decisions.

Alistair x Warden

In Good times and in Bad by PookatheCat (AO3) - Completed 101/101 Chapters Summary: Alistair's POV of the events during the Fifth Blight and his love for the Cousland Warden. The story follows the game with lots of extras.

Come Together by Charlatron (AO3) - Completed 1/1 Chapters Summary: So, I always hated that the only way a female Cousland could get her happy ever after with King Alistair was to let him sleep with another woman. This is my smutty way of making said affair just a little easier to swallow.

Shit Flavored Candy by ACatNamedCrowley (AO3) - Completed 1/1 Chapters Summary: Alistair and Morrigan uncomfortable, barely consensual, archdemon old god baby-making catastrophe.

#dragon age origins #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #Dragon Age fanfics #Dragon Age fic recs #AO3 #dragon age fanfiction #dragon age fanfiction recs #fanfiction reccomendations #alistair theirin #alistair x warden #alistair x cousland #alistair x amell #cullen x trevelyan #cullen x inquisitor #cullen rutherford #dragon age fanfic #fanfic recommendation

[v-arbellanaris]

Re the power struggle between the Grey Wardens and the Chantry. You can also snatch Anders right from the templars grasp and it's possible that a big reason why he's left alone in DA2 is because he's a Grey Warden. Anders hardly makes his actions in DA2 a secret. He is loudly rebelling, yet the templars leave him alone.

That's why the whole Warden arc in DAI makes no sense. The Chantry and kingdoms of Thedas have no authority over the Wardens, but an upstart order who is effectively nothing but a branch of the Chantry does?

YES! i started writing the post abt the wardens in the middle of collating more info about it but i was so gobsmacked at how much there was just pre-ostagar that i wrote the post before getting to the rest of the series and then the post blew up LMAO

i think part of anders not getting snatched up by templars when he's in the party with you is just nonsense mechanics stuff (they should've had a quest like they did in dao -- tho i think that quest was deleted lmao -- where if you try hand morrigan over to the templars, she leaves the party permanently, or even like in lothering where they can ask that templar what he'd do with an apostate and he susses out that you and morrigan are mages and goes "ive got bigger problems than apostates atm") BUT there is dialogue & quest stuff confirming that the templars raid darktown fairly often looking for him outside of whenever he comes on quests with you, so i dont think he was untouched because he was a warden.

if anything, i think him being a circle mage seemed to be more important than him being a warden since the chantry explicitly sends templars after him while he's with the wardens. to repeat: the chantry sends templars to hunt down warden mages, which is fucking illegal. wardens exist outside of the jurisdiction of the chantry! they have no right to drag warden mages into the circle, even if the warden mage was originally an apostate OR if they were a circle mage. AND justinia was canonically looking for the warden to become inquisitor before she sent cassandra looking for hawke -- the implications for a surana/amell are pretty horrifying.

i hated HLTA for so many reasons, but mostly, i hated it because it justified the inquisition taking action against the wardens, as if they had a right to it. "we're going to stop the wardens from summoning demons to fight the darkspawn and kill the archdemons" and that's a bad thing because Summoning Demons Is Bad, as if blood magic isn't the most effective thing against darkspawn (which! considering the implications of red lyrium being magic repelling is so fascinating. does being a grey warden mean some of your connection to the fade is messed up???). as if wanting to end the blights is bad -- we have solas calling the wardens ignorant and stupid as if the wardens killing archdemons and fighting darkspawn isn't the only thing that has saved the world every time a blight has erupted. and it pisses me off that no real reason is ever given for WHY it's a bad idea, we're just supposed to take it at face value that because solas, an elven god who definitely knows more than we do just trust bioware ok, says its a bad idea, it's a bad idea. the warden's plan is a bad thing because Someone Else Will Use The Demons To Take Over The World and Only The Wardens Could Ever Summon This Many Demons as if kirkwall doesn't have shades popping up outside of the hanged man every other day. corypheus was literally in kirkwall???

it would've been something if corypheus was using the wardens to get the location of the archdemons. wouldn't it tie into his crisis of faith and the sense of danger so much more? he's gone looking for his gods but raising them is definitely going to cause a double blight. but why bother raising the stakes or creating any level of danger for corypheus, right? that's not the point of the game :)

and yeah, the inquisition 100% has no authority or leg to stand on to engage with the wardens or even to kick them out of orlais. yet the quest -- and most of the game -- is framed in such a way that these actions seem justified. in general, this quest was a clumsy way to end a conflict that's been building over the course of the entire franchise -- which can be said about any of the longstanding conflicts addressed in dai tbh.

#asks #the grey wardens #anti chantry #bioware critical #vee rewrites da #bc that corypheus plotline IS smth i'm including in my fic anyway looool

[notebooks-and-laptops]

The Ultimate Best Dragon Age Non-Romantic relationship Dynamic

What we are looking for: We are looking for the ultimate best non-romantic relationship dynamic. That dynamic may come in many forms. They may be platonic besties, they may be antagonistic, they may have a parental/child relationship. But whatever they have, it’s wonderful to watch unfold and to think about. Ask yourself which relationship dynamic makes you unhinged? Makes you want to lock them in a room together? Makes you want to listen to all their dialogue/interactions on repeat? Which is your favourite duo to pair up, that you can’t stop thinking about how they work together (or don’t work together). Which relationship dynamic is the one that propels each character forward in their own development? Which relationship dynamic brings out an interesting side of each of the characters we don’t get to see as much?

What we are NOT looking for: We are not looking for the ‘best friends’ or the ‘most healthy relationship dynamic’ or ‘the ones who care the most about each other’ or ‘ones I wish had been better friends in canon’. We are also not looking for your favourite characters, we are looking specifically for the relationship dynamic. 

I will be including a dialogue or interaction quote/snippet underneath each poll to give you a refresher on how they interact. We are not voting on which of those dialogues is the best either - it’s just an example. 

A number of contestants get a ‘heads start’ so to say, as they will not be involved in either round one, or round two, but will enter the game straight at round three. These are the Big Bois, the really fleshed out dynamics. The others defo stand a chance, but we need to refine them down a bit before they go up against the dynamics in round three. 

I’m sorry if your fav relationship didn’t make the cut - I ran my list past my dragon age discord and a couple of other friends, but I know I missed a few off. Alas, there had to be a certain number, so I did my best. 

Happy voting! And may the best relationship dynamic win! I’ll be tagging all the stuff for this as ‘#dragon age ultimate non-romantic relationship’ and this masterlist will be pinned

ROUND ONE:

Cole & Sera vs. Fenris & Bethany

Merrill & Fenris vs. Blackwall & Vivienne 

Bethany & Carver vs. Morrigan & Leliana 

Sera & Vivienne vs. Bethany & Anders

Varric & Carver vs. Varric & Isabela 

Varric & Anders vs. Varric & Merrill 

Merrill & Anders vs. Varric & Fenris

ROUND TWO:

Sera & The Iron Bull vs. Isabela & Bethany

Leliana & Sten vs. Merrill & Sebastian 

Loghain & Maric vs. Sebastian & Fenris 

Zevran & Alistair vs. Dorian & Sera

Sebastian & Anders vs. Blackwall & Cassandra

Vivienne & Solas vs. Vivienne & Dorian 

Sten & Shale vs. Carver & Fenris

Cole & Cassandra vs. Morrigan & Kieran

ROUND THREE

Zevran & Wynne vs. Anders & Nathaniel

Varric & Fenris vs. Anders & Fenris

Varric & Isabela vs. The advisors (Leliana & Cullen & Josephine)

Morrigan & Leliana vs. The Iron Bull & Vivienne

Fenris & Bethany vs. Varric & Cassandra

Leliana & Sten vs. Cole & Solas

Loghain & Maric vs. Varric & Cole

Sten & Shale vs. Sera & Blackwall

Vivienne & Dorian vs. Alistair & Duncan

ROUND FOUR

Merrill & Varric vs. Blackwall & Solas

Aveline & Isabela vs. Bethany & Anders

Morrigan & Kieran vs. Isabela & Merrill 

Leliana & Josephine vs. Merrill & Fenris

Anders & Justice vs. Anders & Sebastian

Zevran & Alistair vs. The Iron Bull & Krem

Sera & The Iron Bull vs. Alistair & Morrigan 

Anders & Nathaniel vs. Corian & Cullen

#dragon age ultimate non-romantic relationship #dragon age #dai #dao #da2