The Masked Empire Briala “tarot” card
Stories of Thedas: Kallian
🌹ao3🌹
9:31 Dragon
Grey clouds reflected perfectly off the surface of Lake Calenhad until Kallian couldn't tell where it stopped and the sky began. It was a gloomy, frosty day, but at least it was calm. A soft breeze would ripple across once in a while, making the sky dance in the waters until it blew past, and all was still again.
Growing up in the alienage, she had never seen a lake. Though it wasn't her first time noticing one, it was her first time really looking. Redcliffe was a dim noise behind her; the news of Arl Eamon's sudden good health was rapidly spreading, and with it, hope blossomed.
Kallian let herself sit there for a while. Orzammar was next, a sprawling underground city. There would be no lakes there, no rivers or waterfalls. They wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow, and so, she let herself rest.
"Kall?" A quiet voice called, and she turned to see Alistair stood nearby, uncertainty clear in the set of his brow.
She smiled and gestured for him to sit with her with a nod of her head.
He did so wordlessly, knees drawn up to lay his arms across, and Kallian moved slightly to lean her head on his shoulder.
"You know, I think I might be the first person in my family to ever see a lake," she mused. "Well, apart from my mam."
"Really?" Alistair asked in surprise, before chuckling. "I've always felt like I couldn't escape it."
Kallian laughed in return as he kissed her head, resting his own against hers.
"Just… I know there's a lot of crap," she began quietly. "Death, pain, dirt… but I used to tell stories of places like this. My dad painted them, even though he'd never seen them himself… I wish I could show him, y'know?"
"You will," Alistair whispered, resolute. "One day."
Kallian smiled, warmed by his own determination for her family. She laced her fingers with his, pressing close.
They stayed there, silent, basking in each other's presence as they watched the grey clouds slowly turn orange and pink, the setting sun peeking through until it disappeared beyond the lake.
[ID: Digital drawing of Fenris and Hawke, a woman with white skin and brown hair pulled back into a bun, from the shoulders up. Fenris is resting a hand on the side of Hawke's face while he looks at her lovingly and Hawke smiles up at him. The background is a textured rusty brown fading into a dark blue-grey shadow. End ID.]
For @eleanoriii & @hawkechuckles 🖤
Wake up babe, new Zev art just dropped
headcanoning war vet/night elf adaia with the line "[Adaia] wanted [Tabris] more than anything. It’s sad she never got to see you all grown up." and "Valendrian and [Duncan] have known each other for almost twenty years… since the time I tried to recruit your mother, in fact." [...] "I never made the offer. Valendrian convinced me that it was better for her to remain here with her family. As there was no Blight and thus no immediate need for recruits, I deferred to his wishes." really adds severe psychic damage of adaia simply wanting a peaceful life with her family after the war and im shattering like glass
A fan event to show your love and appreciation for all things City Elf. Beginning the first Monday of August.
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