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trvelyans-archive · 4 years

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recompense

another commission for the lovely and kingly @dauntless-necromancer !!! thank you so much for commissioning me again, i love writing for this lil’ world with elrich and the Squad !!! i really liked working on this one and i really hope you enjoy !!! <3 <3 <3

9:53 Dragon

There’s a girl at the front gates of Castle Cousland, and she’s demanding to see the Hero of Ferelden.

Kieran pushes through the throng of soldiers that have gathered in front of the main doors to reach her. The girl, when he finally comes face-to-face with her, is a head shorter than him, with thick brown hair tied into an elegant braid hanging over her shoulder and her lips pulled into a frown. There’s something about her that looks familiar, but he’s certain he’s never seen her before – and he would remember her if he did, considering how easily and quickly she has commanded the attention of the crowd. Still, despite his wariness, he approaches her with his hood pulled down around his shoulders.

“Who are you?” Kieran asks. His wife, Satine, trails behind him and clutches the sleeve of his jacket, inspecting their guest carefully.

The girl meets Kieran’s eyes. “My name is Celia Mac Tir-Cousland,” she replies, sheathing her sword without so much as wavering, “and I’m looking for my father.”

9:30 Dragon

“I can’t believe I’m marrying the Queen.”

Morrigan glances up from where she’s been lying on Elrich’s chest to meet his eyes. “Neither can I,” she responds, raising her hands to trace the shape of his face. “And I cannot believe she agreed.”

The announcement was certainly startling for the court, however – Morrigan is willing to bet that there are a fair few nobles who wouldn’t agree with the decision, although there’s little they can do about it in the end, considering they would be challenging some of the most important people in Ferelden. “You know me, my love,” he says, running his fingertips up and down her spine. “I can be very convincing.”

Morrigan laughs. “Hardly,” she replies.

“Hey! You’re talking to a future king, here.”

“Prince-consort,” she reminds him airily. “You are not going to be king, Elrich. A king, and certainly not the king of Ferelden, could never have an apostate mistress. The nobles would sooner hang themselves than allow that to happen.”

He frowns, suddenly growing serious. “You’re not going to be my mistress, Morrigan,” he says softly, an affectionate look in his dark eyes. She never thought that anyone would look at her like that. “You are my partner in life. I hope you know that.”

With a playful roll of her eyes, she smothers a hand into his face and playfully pushes him away. “Don’t look at me like that,” she responds, and he just grins at her. “I do know that already, Elrich. You do not have to continue reminding me whenever it comes up.”

“Besides, Queen Anora and I have agreed that it is more of a… political arrangement.” He clears his throat, tilting his head back to stare up at the ceiling with a frown. “I have no feelings for her, Morrigan, nor does she have any for me.”

“Beside annoyance, perhaps.”

“Hey!” he repeats, chuckling. “You’re talking to a future prince-consort, here.”

“Yes, and he loves it.” She leans down to bite his earlobe, just long enough for him to start writhing with breathless laughter underneath her, and then releases him when she can’t hold back the chuckles tickling the back of her own throat. “You do not have to worry about my feelings, Elrich,” she says once they’ve recovered, shifting so she’s sitting higher in his bed and can see more of him. “I can handle them – as well as many other things, I might remind you – perfectly fine by myself.”

He raises an eyebrow, smiling, and she rolls her eyes before she even hears what he has to say. “And…?”

“Yes, yes, and our child. They’re not even here yet, and you’re already worried about them –“

“I’m not worried!” he protests, and then frowns. “I mean… of course I’m worried about them. I want them to be safe. I want you to be safe.”

He reaches up to cup her cheek, and Morrigan leans into it as he brushes his thumb over her skin. There’s a peace that settles over them, now, in this moment, with the candles throughout the room burning low and the shadows more comforting than menacing, like the only thing hiding inside of them is more warmth. She has not felt this comfortable, nor this happy, in her entire life.

And yet they can’t be together forever. They have a battle to fight. There’s a country in ruins that they’ve risked everything to save.

“You need some sleep,” she tells him, trying not to choke on the words as a sudden wave of emotion washes over her. “You will need it.”

He nods. “You’re right,” he replies. “As always.”

She smiles, and leans over to kiss his forehead before settling against his chest once more, letting the sound of his heartbeat lull her to sleep.

Whatever comes tomorrow, they have right now. And this has been worth waiting for.

9:33 Dragon

“They’re expecting an heir, you know.”

Elrich looks up from where he’s penning a letter to Morrigan to see Anora approaching.

As much as he likes the rest of the Palace, the garden is one of his favourite places to sit and think. The smell of flowers in the air; the sunlight. It reminds him of the garden in Castle Cousland, where he would sit and eat lunch with (and occasionally spar) Ser Gilmore when he was younger. (Even though he knows Fergus is taking good care of things back home, he misses it very much.) The garden is where he comes when he needs some time alone, usually to write a letter to Morrigan like he is now, which means Anora doesn’t often come find him here – she’s too busy attending to her duties – so the fact that she is coming to see him, at the time of day when she usually has the most to do, means that she must have been thinking long and hard about this.

“I know they are,” he says, watching her slow to a stop in front of them. Two years ago – perhaps even one – he would have denied her, knowing that his heart belongs to Morrigan and he did not want to have another child when he already could not see his son, but he did not become prince-consort because it was easy. He did it because he knew what needed to be done to save his home country, whatever the cost, and he was – and still is – going to have to live with that decision, despite his feelings. “We’ve talked about it before.”

“Elrich.” Anora sits down beside him, smoothing her hands over her skirts. His eyes narrow at her tone of voice for a second, and then, when she looks at him with a somewhat understanding expression, he feels anger dissipate and his shoulders relax. “We need to have a child soon. It’s for the good of the country. My country, the one I have sworn to lead – the one you swore to lead alongside me the day of our wedding.”

The day of their wedding was a memorable one, with the coronation and then the celebrations that neither of them really felt like attending, but it seems like it was so long ago, now. Elrich knows that it’s only been three years, but it feels like it’s been an eternity since the Landsmeet, since the Blight. Since his son – since his son with Morrigan – was born. “I know,” he replies, and he can’t help the sigh that escapes his lips as he runs his fingers through his hair. “I know, Anora.”

“It does not have to be now,” she says, and he’s surprised at how gently she says it, even as she reaches up to lay a hand on his shoulder that she seems to consider sliding up to his cheek. “But soon, alright? We cannot put it off much longer, no matter how much you wish to.”

Elrich glances over at her and smiles. Anora is a good leader, and a kind woman. Perhaps she’s kinder than he deserves, when he’s in love with another woman; when he can never be the husband she wants him to be. Morrigan knows very well that Elrich will have to raise another child as an heir, and Anora is the only person he would ever consider doing that for. She’s proven her understanding for him and his situation time and time again, and he wishes he could tell her how much he appreciates it without feeling like a fool. “I know,” he says again because that’s the only thing that feels sufficient enough. “I’m ready, Anora. Whenever you are.”

“I am glad to hear it,” she replies. “You are a good man, Elrich, and any child we have will be raised well. I know that.” Nodding, she adds, “I will leave you be, then, and I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Yes,” he replies, “see you then.”

She gives him one last smile before turning away, and Elrich looks down at the blank parchment in his hands, his own smile twisting into a frown.

Now that he has something important to write about, he should probably get started…

9:35 Dragon

“Morrigan –

My daughter was born last week. It’s a funny thing to write in a letter instead of telling you in person, but we don’t have that option right now, so this is the best I can do. I hope you’ll forgive me, my love. For lots of things, but firstly this.

Her name is Celia Eleanor Mac Tir-Cousland. It had been raining all night and all morning the day she was born, but the sun broke through the clouds when she was safe in her mother’s arms and streamed in through the window. If I were a different man I would think that it was the Maker blessing her – I’m trying to think like that anyway. I think that Anora is upset that the baby looks more like me than it does her, but we will love her anyway no matter what. She’s a beautiful child, and I’m hoping that I’ll be a good father to her. I’m sorry I can’t be a better father to Kieran.

I miss you every day, and dream of you every night. I long to be with you again, and remember our days together fondly with every breath. Stay safe, my love – I will find a way to see you soon, in a place where we can all be safe from the world for a while.

Give Kieran a hug and a kiss from me. Tell him that his father misses him more than anything. I can’t wait to see him again and hear his laughter, see his smile, watch his face light up when I show him something interesting. How he has so much curiosity at such a young age, I’ll never know. It’s my favourite thing.

With all of my love,

Elrich.”

“Elrich –

I am glad to hear the birth went smoothly. You will be a good father, and you and the Queen will prepare her well as heir to the throne. For the little I am sure about right now, I am sure about that much.

I miss you too. My bed feels lonesome without you and the sound of your snoring, which I miss more than I thought I would even though it disrupts my sleep more often than not. Please come visit us when you can. I understand your work is important, and would not ask you to give it up for my sake, but Kieran misses you.

I will be thinking of you all night. Please stay safe, my love.

Yours,

Morrigan.”

9:37 Dragon

It’s hard to finish writing a letter to Elrich when Kieran will simply not stop running around.

And it’s not that Morrigan does not understand his excitement. This is the first time he has really had a place to call home since he was born – it is the first time Morrigan has had a place to call home, too, for a very long time. They have beds to sleep in that aren’t stuffed with straw or grass, they have nice clothes – real clothes – and enough food to eat every night that they can go to bed with full stomachs, even if neither them are quite used to that yet.

But she wants to write this letter – she needs to write this letter. There is a lot of things she has to tell Elrich now that she and Kieran are officially moved into the palace in Orlais, and she hasn’t heard from him for a couple months now. She is trying not to worry because she has an image to maintain, but it’s hard not to worry when it comes to him so she is trying to write and send this later as soon as she can so that worrying can stop.

And she can’t send the letter because Kieran is distracting her.

“Darling,” Morrigan calls, staring out the window in front of her desk with slightly narrowed eyes. Most of the time she would be amused by her son’s antics, but she needs to finish this letter and then she will give him the attention he wants. “Are you being careful?”

“Yes, Mother,” Kieran responds from behind her. She can hear the smile clear in his voice only a few seconds before she hears the smash across the room that follows.

With a sigh, she turns in her seat and stands up, her eyes falling on a table across the room with nothing on it because Kieran accidentally pushed the vase that had been sitting on top of it onto the ground. It is nothing special – it was just a gift from the Empress that she gave Morrigan – so she doesn’t particularly care about it one way or another, but, nevertheless, Kieran’s eyes immediately start to well with tears.

Morrigan crouches down and pulls him into her arms just as he starts crying.

“It’s fine, sweetheart,” she says soothingly, rubbing his back as he buries his face into her shoulder. “It is just a decoration, nothing more.”

“I didn’t –“ He hiccups – “I didn’t mean to, it just h-happened, and I’m sorry, Mother.”

“Kieran, honey.” She pulls away from him and reaches up to wipe the tears from his cheeks, shaking her head with a quiet laugh. She was never this emotional at his age, and she’s glad that he feels like he is allowed to be. “It doesn’t matter, Kieran, I promise.”

“I j-just don’t want to ruin anything here,” he stammers, wrapping his fingers around her wrists while she slides her hands to his shoulders. “I like it here, and I don’t want us to have to l-leave.”

“I know,” she says. “I do not want us to have to leave either, but I promise that, if we do, it won’t be because you broke one vase, or two, or three. Especially not when I can hide all the evidence.” She smiles at him and, between his sniffles, he laughs, which is a near-miraculous sound to hear as a comforting mother. “Alright?”

“Alright,” he says. “But I will try not to break another one. Just in case.”

“That’s my son.” She pulls him against her and kisses his forehead, and when she straightens up, he tugs at the sleeve of her dress.

“Mother?” he asks, eyes wide and still wet as he looks up at her.

Morrigan sighs, smiling. “Yes, love?”

“I miss Papa.”

Despite herself, Morrigan feels her bottom lip start to wobble. He is certainly not the only one who misses Elrich.

“I know,” she replies. “We will see him soon.”

“Do you promise?” Kieran asks.

“I promise,” she says, and she feels like, of the promises she’s made today, it’s the one she believes the least.

9:39 Dragon

Celia sits on Elrich’s lap in the garden. He bounces her on his knee while she twirls a flower between her fingers and smiles down it, and he tries to control the ache in his heart that reminds him he’s leaving her – and Denerim, and perhaps Ferelden entirely – tomorrow. And he doesn’t know when he’ll return. And he doesn’t want to miss another one of his children growing up, but he will.

She already looks more like Elrich than Kieran does, even at four years old – she has warm brown skin dotted with little heart-shaped freckles and thick, dark hair with even darker eyes to match, though she’s much prettier than he is because, thankfully, she has Anora’s features. She has a rumbly giggle and the sweetest smile Elrich has ever seen, and it can often take hours for him to put her to sleep because she is just so curious about everything – there’s a shelf in her room lined with trinkets and toys she’s picked up from whenever they explore the city together, and he often finds her in her room staring at them before he puts her to bed.

He’ll miss that, too, telling her stories of the Blight until she falls asleep. He’ll miss her so much.

But he can return, one day, when he’s free of the taint. He wouldn’t go if he didn’t have to – it makes him feel sick to think about how he’s going to miss watching another of his children grow up – but he’s becoming weaker and weaker already, and he’d rather try and fail to be in his children’s futures than give up without trying and force them to go through losing one of their parents.

He knows exactly what that feels like, and he can’t do it. Not without trying his best, like he always has. Like he has to.

“Mother says you are going away for a while,” Celia says, turning around to look at him. Elrich reaches up to push some hair behind her ear, smiling.

“I am,” he replies. “But it’s very important, my love. I promise.”

“Will you miss me?” she asks, squinting in the sunlight that makes her eyes shine golden.

“Of course I will,” he says, trying to ignore the way his smile begins to fade. “I will miss you every day, Celia.”

She hands the flower to him. “Will you remember me?” she asks.

He plucks the flower from her hands and holds it up to his nose, sniffing deeply, and, to his delight, she starts giggling, leaning her head on his shoulder while he looks down at her. “I will never forget you,” he answers finally, handing the flower back to her to keep. “You’re my favourite girl.”

“Really?” She frowns. “Before Mother?”

“Before Mother,” he says.

“You’re my favourite father.” Celia buries her face against his chest. “I will miss you so much, Papa.”

He presses his cheek against the crown of her head. She smells like flowers and soap, and she hugs him so tightly around his middle that he feels safer than he’s felt in a long time. He’s sure that nothing could make him feel safer. “I will write you whenever I can,” he promises, trying not to choke on his words.

“I love you, Papa.”

“I love you, too.” And he wishes so badly that things were different.

9:41 Dragon

“Elrich –

You would like Skyhold, I think. There are far too many people for my liking, but Kieran is happy. As happy as a boy his age can be, I suppose. He’s gotten in trouble more than once – you know how curious he is – but we are safe, here. For now, anyway.

The Inquisitor and I are leaving soon for the Arbor Wilds. I do not know how long it will be until I can write you again. I hope you are well, my love, and I hope you can join us again soon. We miss you dearly. I miss you dearly.

Love,

Morrigan.”

“Morrigan,

I am in Antiva right now. You would hate it, I imagine. It’s very loud, and the people are very happy – well, they are in the taverns, anyway. It’s nice to take a night off from searching for a cure. It would be nicer if you were here, of course, but I’m trying not to dwell on that, or else I’ll drop everything to come find you.

I’m glad that Kieran is happy. I know things were hard for him in Orlais. I have not heard from Celia and Anora in a few months, but I would like for Kieran and Celia to meet soon – well, as soon as they can, when I return to Ferelden. She’s as curious as he is. At least she was when I last saw her. I think they would be good friends. I hope they are.

I miss you. I never stop thinking about you. And I love you, dearly. Never forget that.

Yours always and forever,

Elrich.”

9:43 Dragon

“Mother,” Celia asks, “when is Father coming home?”

“I don’t know, Celia,” Anora replies, pushing food around her plate with a frown. “He’s on an important mission.”

“For what?”

Anora sighs, giving her daughter an affectionate look. “You’re too young, my love,” she says. “It is not the right time to tell you yet.”

Celia frowns, swinging her legs back and forth underneath the table. “Did he tell you to tell me that?”

“Of course not,” Anora scoffs. “Your father would tell you everything if I let him, but it’s not the right time. He will tell you when he returns.”

“And you don’t know when that will be,” Celia whispers.

“No.” Anora leans over to squeeze her hand, but Celia’s frown does not disappear. “Finish your supper, sweetheart.”

She doesn’t finish her supper. She just wants to go to her room.

9:45 Dragon

Celia passes the small, ornate box between her hands.

Her father is not here for her tenth birthday. She doesn’t blame him – he still has to finish his important mission – but she misses him. She wishes he were here to hold her hand and sit her on his lap; she wishes he were here to put her to sleep every night with his stories.

Instead of returning to Denerim for her birthday, his gift for her is whatever is inside this box.

She opens it, and pulls the silk fabric away to reveal a silver dagger. Resting on top of it is a note.

“Celia,

When I return, I’m going to teach you how to sword fight. For now, however, I give you a dagger in case you need to protect yourself. Don’t play with it – it’s not a toy. This will keep you safe in my stead. You are incredibly precious, not only to the country but to your mother and me.

I love you, Celia. I miss you. And happy birthday. I can’t wait to see the woman you become.

Love,

Father.”

Her face crumples, and she tosses the note aside, curling up in the middle of her bed and clutching the box to her chest.

9:47 Dragon

This is the first time Celia has seen Father in a long time.

“Plant your feet,” he says, tapping the front of her thigh with his hand. She can barely see his smile through the hair of his beard. “It’ll be harder for an enemy to knock you off-balance.”

“And then what?” Celia asks.

“And then,” Father says, “you watch your opponent.”

“Shouldn’t I attack?”

“You’ve seen my scars,” he answers. She has seen them – even the new ones. She could see them at supper last night. He wasn’t even trying to hide them. “That’s what happens when you throw yourself into battle. I don’t want you to do the same thing, my love. You could easily take an opponent down if you outsmart them.”

“So I watch what they’re doing, and then…?”

“Dodge,” he answers. “Try coming at me.”

Celia’s sword falls down by her side. “What?”

“It’s okay.” Her father smiles at her again. Despite his hoarse voice, his shaking hands, and the bags under his eyes, he still looks strong – his smile is even stronger. “They’re blunted swords. Don’t worry.”

She frowns, and yet still, after a long moment of thought, darts out towards him. Before she can even swing the sword, he steps to the side and, as she stumbles forward, touches the back of her armor gently with his own blade.

“That’s good,” he replies. “You’re doing well, Celia.”

“I am?” she asks, turning around and raising a hand to shield her eyes from the sun.

“Yes. I’m very proud of you, my love.”

Celia turns to face him. “I don’t want you to be proud of me,” she says quietly. “I want you to be here.”

Elrich frowns. “I know,” he responds softly, and in that moment he sounds more like a man than the warrior that he is. He doesn’t have to say anything else – she knows what they’re both thinking anyway, what is left unsaid between them.

He wants to stay, but he can’t.

9:49 Dragon

“I heard that you’ve been incredibly successful in training.”

Celia looks up from her plate, smiling. “I hope so,” she replies. “I’m trying my best, using what Father taught me. And you, of course, Mother.”

“You’re so young, Celia,” Anora says. “And yet you have accomplished so much. I know your father thinks you take after him, but I see so much of myself in you.” She tilts her head, raising a hand to touch her daughter’s cheek. “I think your grandfather would be proud of you. Your grandmother would be, too.”

She’s tired of hearing that people who aren’t here would be proud of her. Still, she smiles.

“Thank you, Mother,” Celia says, looking down at her plate once more as her mother’s hand falls away. “I’m pleased to hear it. Do you want to spar together after we finish eating?”

“I can’t,” Anora answers, “but I may come down to the training yard and watch you when I have a moment.”

“Alright.” Celia’s smile turns into a frown. “I hope you can, mother.”

9:51 Dragon

“Mother,

I’m leaving to find Father.

I have not heard from him since his last letter, when he said he was close to finding a cure. I want to help him if I can. When I find him, we will return together.

I am taking three soldiers with me. Please don’t punish them when we return. Punish me, if you have to. I just want our family to be together again.

I love you. I’ll be safe. I promise.

Love,

Celia.”

9:53 Dragon

“Celia,” Father says, “I’m sorry –“

“You’re sorry?” she says. “’Sorry’ can’t take back the years I spent without you! ‘Sorry’ can’t take back the sleepless nights I spent wondering if you loved me at all!”

When he finally came down to the gates after Kieran told him that Celia was here, he led her into a private room in the castle and dismissed the guards standing nearby. Despite his promise that they’d have the conversation alone, she had a feeling that the rest of the family – his family – was on the other side of the door, listening. She would tell them to go away if she could think about anything but him right now – but him and how angry she is.

“Celia.” Father’s face falls. “You know I love you.”

“I was a child!” she says. “I was a child, and you –“ She takes a deep breath and tries to stop the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. “You left me,” she finishes, voice cracking.

“I know,” he responds, moving in front of her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “I know I did. It seemed like the right thing to do. I needed to find a cure for the Calling – I needed to make sure I’d be there to see you get married, have children, grow old and happy and find your place in the world.” A shadow crosses his face. “I needed to give you what I didn’t have as I grew up. What left me so broken.”

“Father –“

“It’s not an excuse,” he continues, and she feels the anger leaving her body, “and it’s a poor explanation. But losing my parents was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through – before leaving you and Kieran, of course. And I thought that I could trade being there for you during your childhood for being there for you when you grew up so you didn’t feel the way I did – so alone and so uncertain – but that was foolish of me. I should’ve tried harder to see you, Celia. And I’m sorry I didn’t. I will never stop being sorry.”

He looks so old and so weak. Even though he’s cured of the taint, he looks weaker than she’s ever seen him. It’s hard to stay angry with him when he’s like this – when she knows very well that he understands and accepts that very same anger. “I just wanted you to be there,” she whispers. “Kieran wanted you to be there for him, too.”

“Kieran and I are patching things up,” Father replies, and he sounds so certain of himself that she can’t help but feel hopeful. “Slowly but surely. We can patch things up, too, Celia. I want that more than anything, but only if you want it as well. I understand if you don’t, and I’ll accept it if you don’t want that.”

She stares into his eyes for a long, long moment – eyes that she recognizes at first as her own – before she sighs. “I do want that,” she says.

“Good,” he says, his mouth curving into a grin. “That’s great, Celia. I’m so happy.”

He wraps his arms around her shoulders and hugs her close, and she allows herself to bury her face into his chest and cry.

“I love you,” he says, reaching up to run his hand over the back of her head and hold her closer. For the first time in a long time, she believes it.

Celia sits in the chair beside her father’s. Everyone else – Morrigan, Kieran and Satine, who Celia likes much more than she thought she would – has left the dining room, leaving the two of them alone. Though dinner was filled with laughter and stories, and she liked getting to know her half-brother after so many years of knowing he was out there but not knowing who or where he was, she’s glad to have a moment alone with her father. It’s been far too long since that happened. He has an affectionate arm slung around her shoulder, and she rests her head against his as she watches the fire.

She searched for him for two years, through Orlais, through Ferelden. She even went to the Free Marches for a time. It turns out that he was here, in Castle Cousland, and he has been here for a while. They only kept it secret to keep him safe from the Wardens and whatever the Order has turned into. She would be more upset than she was this morning if she weren’t so relieved that he was alive – and she would be more upset if she didn’t enjoy travelling so much during her searches for him. She’s 18, now, and she hopes that, when she returns to the city, her mother will let her go out into the world again.

There is a lot of work to be done, and she’s young – she wants to do the kind of work that her father can’t do anymore.

And he deserves to rest. He deserves to live the life he fought for in peace, with Celia when she can be here, and Kieran, and her father’s partner, Morrigan. It’s strange seeing him with a woman that isn’t Mother, but Celia supposes that they were never in love in the first place. He seems to relax most when he’s around Morrigan. He seems happiest at her side.

It makes her long for something like that, too. Another reason she wants to travel again – perhaps her person is out there somewhere, waiting for her to find them and bring them home to meet her family – or her families, perhaps, both old and new.

She smiles. Her father shakes her gently.

“You have a room, here, to stay when you want it,” Elrich says, pulling her from her thoughts.

“What about Denerim?”

“Your mother understands,” he responds with a regretful sigh. “As do the people. I was never a king, not really, nor was I much of a prince-consort, and my duty was always to the Wardens, first and foremost.”

“And now?”

Celia pulls away from her father to look up at him.

“My duty is to you and your brother,” he says. “I promise that I will never disappear again. And I will make up for the time I missed – the time I missed with you. Alright?”

She believes his promise, but she’s not going to miss an opportunity to get something from him when she can. “You know what would help with that?” Celia asks.

He raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“If you spar with me tomorrow.”

Unfortunately, Elrich gives up fairly quickly, to Celia’s disappointment. She was looking forward to besting him – she’s certain she would’ve, had she gotten the chance. Now he sits on a bench in the training yard with his arm wrapped around Morrigan as he watches Kieran and Celia fight with blunted, wooden swords, the kinds of swords that children would use. (She told him this when he first brought them out, and he only said, “Well, you’re always my child, Celia.”) The sun is high in the clear blue sky, and they have hours to spend outside yet – Satine arranged for them to eat dinner in the garden, at Celia’s request, and then, when it gets dark, they’ll retire to the library to watch Kieran and Satine play chess. Morrigan thinks that Satine will win; Elrich thinks that Kieran will.

Celia doesn’t care. Either way, she feels like she’s finally won.

#THIS ONE WAS SO FUN FUCK lksjdflksdjfkljsdklfds i LOVE THEM ALL.........#celia is queen i want to adopt her so bad. i love her so much ANYWAY #thank you for commissioning me i literally love this world we have Created together.... you're da best and i'm ALWAYS happy to write for you #<3 <3 #my commissions #my writing

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silvernugfoot · 7 years

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And I shall return the favor to you: All asks for Thanatos and Felix. :D

Oh dear XD Well, okidoki. Here we go… Long post ahead.

FELIX

1: Where were they born? Do they identify with their homeland?Felix was born in Highever, Ferelden, and considers himself a proud Fereldan.

2: What weapon/type of magic do they prefer to use and is there a story behind it?Longbow and arrows, preferably elf-flight arrows. He simply likes to keep the enemies as far from himself as possible.

3: Does your character have many family members? Who are they?The Cousland family is large. The closest ones are those from canon (Bryce, Eleanor, Fergus, Oren and Oriana). Later the Mac Tirs join with the Couslands and expand a little further.

4: When did they first encounter magic? What happened?Felix has read bout mages and their powers in his general studies, but never encountered it until the night Howe’s men attacked Highever. There was a mage among them in the main hall. Seeing her in action, taking down several of their guards at once, chilled Felix’s blood, but it didn’t last long since she was struck down by Ser Gilmore and was soon forgotten in the bustle.

5: Are they scared of magic?At first, yes. He’s only seen it being used for evil. He’s realised how inferior his arrows are compared to it. But Una eventually showed him that there was a good side to be found in magic as well.

6: Do they follow a religion or school of philosophy?Felix was brought up as an Andrastian and he gives thanks to the Maker whenever he wins a battle, but he doesn’t practice it actively.

7: What about political factions? Do they support a certain sovereign or movement?Felix supports the interests of his family first and foremost. They are royalists, but with the Theirin-line in shambles, to strengthen the Cousland’s position among Ferelden’s nobility he has to support Queen Anora. He might’ve been able to take the throne for himself, without her at his side, to make sure things go the way he envisions them, but he respects her, her abilities and her visions. She had proven herself a more than capable leader.

8: Do they feel better in cities or out in the country?He definitely feels better in a city, behind its stone walls, even though it is more likely to bring him trouble, but it’s the kind of trouble he can handle.

9: Does your character have an ideal?Justice: balance, lawfulness, fair exchange, laws, police, punishment, revenge.

10: Do they have a major goal or an agenda in their life?For now Felix’s top priority is to make an heir to the Fereldan throne.

11: What languages do they speak? How did they learn them?He only speaks the common tongue which most of Thedas speaks. He has set his mind on learning Orlesian too however, since it will come in handy when dealing with the neighbour’s nobilities and royalties.

12: Are they a member of an order or organization (for example Grey Wardens, Chantry, Magisterium etc.)?He wanted to leave the Grey Wardens when he became Anora’s consort, but urgent business in the north required him to stay in the order for a few more years, when he became their Commander in Ferelden.

13: Does your character have an opinion on blood magic?Felix has a very strong opinion on blood magic - nothing good ever comes of it, and like most other Andrastians he sees it as a forbidden art - but his views are muddied when the chance comes to use it as a torture device to bring down Arl Howe for good. He hates himself for allowing it to be used then (just that once though), but his vengeance demands it.

14: Which form would the fear demon take to scare your character?An abomination.

15: Who is your character’s most trusted friend?Lord.

THANATOS

1: Where were they born? Do they identify with their homeland?Thanatos was born and raised in Minrathous, Tevinter where he lived for the first 37 years of his life. He is still a proud Tevinter citizen, even though he has not seen his home town for 19 years.

2: What weapon/type of magic do they prefer to use and is there a story behind it?Thanatos prefers entropic magic, because those are in his eyes the most effective spells. He like to have control and enjoys seeing people suffer under it.

3: Does your character have many family members? Who are they?The Zinovia family is an old and proud one. The most famous member being Archon Hessarian. These days, the head of the family is Thanatos’ younger brother, Valerius and his three heirs. Valerius became the heir when Thanatos decided to leave Tevinter for the foreseeable future. Their mother and father are still alive, though in poor health due to old age. They’re a surprisingly happy and loving couple considering their arranged marriage, as was Thanatos himself with his wife, Adriana, until her and their daughter Eluria’s untimely death.

4: When did they first encounter magic? What happened?Thanatos was brought up surrounded by magic and can’t remember when he first noticed it, but he always marveled at all the things mages could do with their powers and wondered how people without magic survived.

5: Are they scared of magic?Thanatos is not the least bit afraid of magic.

6: Do they follow a religion or school of philosophy?He is a devout Andrastian and follows the path of the Imperial Chantry rather than the southern one.

7: What about political factions? Do they support a certain sovereign or movement?Thanatos supports himself. So long as nothing gets in his way he’ll let things play out on their own.

8: Do they feel better in cities or out in the country?Definitely in the cities, surrounded by people. It’s just what he’s used to.

9: Does your character have an ideal?Maturity: completion, resolution, fulfillment, wholeness.

10: Do they have a major goal or an agenda in their life?Thanatos has already done most things he has dreamt of. The only thing missing in his life is a family of his own. In his younger, married days he believed in happily ever after. Now he’s not sure if it’s possible, but he’d like to think it is, and that would be a goal he’d still like to pursue.

11: What languages do they speak? How did they learn them?The common tongue, Tevene and Orlesian. Tevene was the first words from his mouth as a child and it was used continuously in his home. Common tongue was a requirement to communicate with professors at school, to read more books and thus learn more, to speak with visitors and to survive beyond the Tevinter borders. Orlesian came later, self-taught mostly, when Thanatos travelled south to study even more new varieties of magic to him, and to easily navigate through society and being able to understand every word spoken so he’d never be at a disadvantage. He also knows a few phrases in Qunlat, from what he’s heard repeated on the road, as well as Nevarran and Antivan, but not enough to say he knows the language.

12: Are they a member of an order or organization (for example Grey Wardens, Chantry, Magisterium etc.)?Thanatos had the chance of becoming a Magister before he left Tevinter, but eventually declined the position when he left to study more of magic and its history around Thedas. For some time he considered becoming a professor at the University of Orlais, but instead took an apprenticeship at the Grand Necropolis in Nevarra, which allowed him to learn the art of Necromancy. He was also the leader of the Inquisition until its disbandment after the Exalted Council in 9:43 Dragon.

13: Does your character have an opinion on blood magic?He practices it with great enthusiasm.

14: Which form would the fear demon take to scare your character?Adriana in her last moments.

15: Who is your character’s most trusted friend?Brynhild Hawke.

Dragon Age Character Asks

#asks replied #Felix #Thanatos #OC info #darth-salem-emperor-of-earth

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