#Cassandra yarrow | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blackswallowtailbutterfly · 11 months

Text

Plant names that are used as names or might be nice as names

Abelia (Abby, Bibi, Bel, Bee, Lia)

Achillea (feminine of Achilles; Lea)

Aletris (like Alexis or Beatris; Al, Allie, Tris, Trissy)

Alisma (Al, Allie, Lee, Alis, Lissy)

Alliaria (Al, Allie, Lia, Lee, Ria)

Amaranthus (actual name already; Amy, Mara, Anne, Annie)

Ambrosia (actual name already; Amy, Rosie)

Ammophila (Amy, Phil)

Andromeda (actual name already; Anne, Annie, Andy, Mimi)

Angelica (actual name already; Angie)

Anise (Anne, Annie)

Anthea (actual name already; Anne, Annie, Thea)

Apple (actual name already)

Aquilegia (Gigi)

Aralia (Lee, Lia)

Argemone (Gem, Gemmy, Monnie)

Argentina (Gen, Genny, Tina)

Arisaema (Aris)

Aronia (Ro, Nia)

Artemisia (actual name already; Art, Arty, Mimi, Missy)

Ash/Ashley (actual name already)

Aster (like Esther)

Barley (like Bartley)

Betula (Bett, Bettie, Tula)

Bluet (Blue, Bett, Bettie)

Blossom (actual name already)

Calla (Cal, Al, Allie)

Callirhoe (Cal, Al, Allie, Ro)

Caltha (Cal, Al, Allie)

Calystegia (Cal, Al, Aly, Gia)

Carya (actual name already)

Celastrus (like Celeste; Cece, Cela)

Celosia (like Celeste; Cece, Cela)

Celtis

Chelone (Lonnie)

Cherry (actual name already)

Clarkia (Clark, Kia, Kiki)

Claytonia (Clay, Toni)

Clematis (Clem)

Cleome (Cleo, Clem, Mimi)

Clintonia (Clint, Lin, Toni)

Clover (Clo)

Comandra (like Cassandra; Anne, Annie, Andy, Maddie, Mandy)

Commelina (Mel, Lina, Melly, Lin, Lee)

Cotton

Dahlia (like Delia or Thalia)

Daisy (actual name already)

Dale (actual name already)

Dalea (like Delia or Thalia)

Daphne (actual name already)

Datura (Dottie, Tura)

Della (actual name already)

Dianthus (Dia, Dianne, Anne, Annie)

Dicentra

Drosera (Dro, Ro, Sera)

Dryas

Erigenia (Eri, Gigi, Gen, Genny, Genie, Genia, Nia)

Evadne (actual name already; Eve, Evie, Eva)

Fern (actual name already)

Filipendula (Fil, Filly, Flippa, Penn, Penny)

Flower/Fleure/Flora/etc. (actual names already)

Forest (actual name already)

Gale (actual name already)

Ginger (actual name already)

Grindelia (Dede, Delia, Lia)

Halesia (Hal, Hally, Al, Allie)

Hazel (actual name already)

Heather (actual name already)

Holly (actual name already)

Hydrangea (Hydie, Angie, Gigi)

Iris (actual name already)

Isotria (Izzy, Tria)

Juniper (actual name already; June, Junie)

Laurel (actual name already)

Lavender (actual name already; Lav, Vendy)

Leafie (actual name already)

Lemna

Liatris (like Beatris; Li, Lia, Tris, Trissy)

Lilac (like Lilah)

Lily (actual name already)

Linaria (Lin, Linny)

Lindera (Lin, Linny, Lindy)

Linnaea (Lin, Linny)

Lobelia (Lo, Lola, Bel, Lia)

Lonicera (Lon, Lonnie, Cera)

Lotus (actual name already; Lottie)

Lunaria (Lulu, Luna)

Magnolia (Maggie, Nola, Lia)

Malia (actual name already)

Maple (like Maybel; May)

Meadow (actual name already)

Melia (actual name already; Mel, Melly)

Melothria (Mel, Melly)

Mentha (actual name already)

Mertensia (like Mercedes)

Mitchella (feminine of Mitchel; Mimi, Mitch, Chella)

Monarda (Monnie, Mona)

Montia (like Monty; Monnie, Monty, Tia)

Myrtle (actual name already)

Myrica (like Erica)

Nemesia

Nyssa

Oakley (actual name already)

Olive/Olivia/etc. (actual name already)

Pansy (actual name already)

Peach (actual name already)

Peltandra (Pel, Tandy, Andy)

Persicaria (Persi, Kari, Carrie, Caria)

Petunia (actual name already)

Phyllis (actual name already)

Picea

Pilea

Pontederia (Ted, Teddie)

Poppy (actual name already)

Praline (Lina)

Primula (Prima)

Prunella (Nel, Nelly, Nella)

Robinia (Rob, Robby, Bob, Bobby, Robin, Nia)

Rose/Rosa/Rosaria/Rhode/etc. (actual names already)

Rosemary (actual name already)

Salvia (like Silvia; Sally, Vivi)

Sibara

Sida

Silvia/Sylvie/Sylvaine/etc. (actual name already; Vivi)

Tansy (actual name already)

Thuja

Tilia

Valley (Val, Al, Alley)

Vallisneria (Val, Valli, Al, Alli, Allis, Lissy, Neri)

Verbena

Veronica (actual name already)

Violet/Viola/etc. (actual name already; Vi, Vivi)

Willow (actual name already; Will, Willie)

Yarrow

Zea

#long text post #list of names #list

41 notes · View notes

dontrontech9000 · 1 month

Text

TAGGING SYSTEM [linked to pinned post]

Inspired by usayui tagging system

Character Tagging Format

PRESENT CHARACTERS

#🏮 [Cassandra Jones/Casey Sr] #🏒 [Casey Jr] #👾 [Donnie] #🌲 [Erin] #🛹 [Leo] #🎨 [Mikey] #🌹 [Raph] #🪶 [Toby] #⛩️ [Yuichi Usagi] #🎭 [Minor Character]

SLIGHT FUTURE CHARACTERS (connected to my Bad Future AU called Genius Built & takes place beginning years of the apocalypse. We've been referring to these characters as "name" Lite. For example: Donnie Lite)

#🐱 [Kid Acie/Acie Lite] #🥷 [Casey Sr/Cassandra Lite] #☢️ [Donnie Lite] #⚔️ [Leo Lite] #🎋 [Mikey Lite] #🧸 [Raph Lite] #🕹️ [SHELLDON Lite] #🧿 [Toby Lite] #🌟 [Usagi Lite] #👁️ [Zinnia/Erin Lite] #🎭 [Minor Character]

FUTURE CHARACTERS (further into the future during the apocalypse, in a different universe, connected to @ maybe-i-am-boring Bad Future AU)

#✨ [Future April] #🏹 [Acie/Future Acie] #⚙️ [Casey Jr (still in the future)] #🗝️ [Corporal Darner/Future Toby] #🔩 [Future Donnie] #🚀 [Future Leo] #🧙 [Future Mikey] #🥊 [Future Raph] #🎮 [Future SHELLDON] #🍄 [Yarrow/Future Erin] #🎭 [Minor Character]

OTHER FUTURE AU (Genius Built AU but even further into the future)

#⚠️ [GB!Donnie] #🕊️ [GB!Hazel] #🌠 [GB!Darner] #🎭 [Minor Character]

#wow one season later and i still have full battery [ooc posts]#pinned post accompaniment

2 notes · View notes

shinigami-9000 · 1 month

Text

TAGGING SYSTEM [linked to pinned post]

Inspired by usayui tagging system

Character Tagging Format:

PRESENT CHARACTERS

#🏮 [Cassandra Jones/Casey Sr] #🏒 [Casey Jr] #👾 [Donnie] #🌲 [Erin] #🛹 [Leo] #🎨 [Mikey] #🌹 [Raph] #🪶 [Toby] #⛩️ [Yuichi Usagi] #🎭 [Minor Character]

FUTURE CHARACTERS (further into the future during the apocalypse, in a different universe, connected to @ maybe-i-am-boring Bad Future AU)

OTHER FUTURE AU (Genius Built AU but even further into the future)

#⚠️ [GB!Donnie] #🕊️ [GB!Hazel] #🌠 [GB!Darner] #🎭 [Minor Character]

#wow one season later and i still have full battery [ooc posts]#pinned post accompaniment

2 notes · View notes

othellotron9000 · 6 months

Text

TAGGING SYSTEM [linked to pinned post]

Inspired by usayui tagging system

Character Tagging Format:

PRESENT CHARACTERS

#🏮 [Cassandra Jones/Casey Sr] #🏒 [Casey Jr] #👾 [Donnie] #🌲 [Erin] #🛹 [Leo] #🎨 [Mikey] #🌹 [Raph] #🪶 [Toby] #⛩️ [Yuichi Usagi] #🎭 [Minor Character]

SLIGHT FUTURE CHARACTERS (connected to my Bad Future AU, takes place beginning years of the apocalypse. We've been referring to these characters as "name" Lite. For example: Donnie Lite)

FUTURE CHARACTERS (further into the future during the apocalypse, in a different universe, connected to @ maybe-i-am-boring Bad Future AU)

OTHER FUTURE AU (Genius Built AU but even further into the future)

#⚠️ [GB!Donnie] #🕊️ [GB!Hazel] #🌠 [GB!Darner] #🎭 [Minor Character]

#wow one season later and i still have full battery [ooc posts]#pinned post accompaniment #this took me. way too long. ough.

4 notes · View notes

ecoamerica · 1 month

Text

youtube

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

17K notes · View notes

wallacejwriting · 2 years

Text

So far Starmont has 8 named staff members and 5 unnamed staff members (neither including Tobias). I'm only going until I get the staff for first year and anyone else I reasonably need to reference repeatedly. It's a lot of fun to build out the world through characters.

Here's the named ones.

Headmistress Florence Charbonneau, Heartwitch, Crown Witch of House Wisteria -- She.

Professor Gabin Laurent, Head Groundskeeper, Life of Magical Creatures professor, Finding & Feeding Familiar professor -- He, lighthearted, kind, and with a penchant for sneaking into the kitchens

Professor Edith Mandel, Craftwitch, Head of House Zinnia, Fundamentals & Principles of Art professor, Application of Magic in Art professor -- She, broad-shouldered, maternal, a loud woman always covered in paint, clay, and dyes

Professor Casimir Gagnon, Hedgewitch, Head of House Yarrow, Principles of Magic professor, Potions & Pharmaceuticals professor, tea master -- He, calm, gentle, curious, and infinitely patient. The resident sexy man of the professors

Professor Fatiha Karimi, Heartwitch, Head of House Wisteria, Head Doctor -- She, soft-spoken, confident, concerned, rule bender, smells like home

Professor Cassandra Belmont, Heartwitch, Head of House Sprout, Magic & Wellness professor, Introductory Broom Riding professor -- She, Firm, loud, compassionate, quick-footed and quick thinking, always trying to push her kids to be the best

Professor Bhaskara Singh, Tinkerwitch, Astronomy professor -- He, serious, passionate, inventive, precise, and always seeking new information

Professor Yvette Travere, Thornwitch, Hex Defense professor -- She, focused on safety, patient, strict

#writeblr #series: paths made of stardust #wip: paths made of stardust #worldbuilding

4 notes · View notes

vegasvictor · 2 years

Text

anthem characters in thedas

exactly what it says on the tin- i made these hcs like two years ago because i love anthem a LOT, but i don't have much to work with in that universe so i sent them to thedas. i know this will be relevant to exactly 3 people on this webbed site but whatever, let's gooo

owen corley - rogue - surface dwarf in kirkwall

Never leaves varric's side unless it's to cause trouble with rythe

abandonment issues from orzammar exile instead of cypher school

puppy dog eyes his way into free drinks because varric is weak :)

haluk - warrior - human in ferelden

grey warden, mentor to new recruits

hasn’t heard the calling, but is now having the dreams

cannot bring himself to even mention it but faye Knows

faye - mage - human in ferelden

was in consideration to become first enchanter at the white spire

Things Happened and now she’s an apostate blood mage w/ haluk

working with the warden to find a way to prevent the calling

rythe - rogue - human in kirkwall

her reason for being here? sexy danger

where is she from? sexy none of your business

sucks at lockpicking, so she just blows the locked thing in question up (to owen’s continued horror)

Constantly making up hairbrained schemes in an attempt to make varric write about her and owen; he refuses

matthias sumner - mage - dalish elf researching the exalted plains

basically merrill with a very short fuse; he will throw hands- real 'i don't need magic to rearrange your face but if you're gonna be a dick about it then i'll rearrange your organs too' energy

he can't stand the inquisition, but he's polite enough to the inquisitor if they run into him- they didn't ask for this, he knows

you could do the splitting him in 3 thing here too w/ an elven artifact but yeah

tassyn - rogue - human in orlais

was born into The Game, but isn’t very good at it (far too blunt)

way more interested in the spying and the stabbing parts

better at being stereotypically orlesian far away from val royeaux

dax - rogue - human in ferelden

grey warden, somehow managed to get recruited by duncan

distantly related to cassandra, and too close to the nevarran throne

if you know she’s a princess, no you don’t <3

yarrow - warrior - human in orlais

grey warden, recruiter and mentor

from the anderfels, was deeply involved in weisshaupt, but is helping the southern wardens out

number one warden hype man, a few minutes with him and you WILL think the wardens aren’t a lost cause, and he’s trying to bring that energy to as many people as he can before he hears the calling

#.txt #anthem thoughts #da thoughts #anthem #dragon age #(sorry for tagging it's just for my reference haha)

3 notes · View notes

oediex · 3 years

Text

For Theme Week 13 of @dragonageden I present to you, for the creative prompt "Flower/plant symbolism" - a Lavellan in love, a sad Lavellan, and yet again, a Lavellan in love.

It came out in second person; I don’t know why.

For MJ! (I promise, there’s more.)

Elfroot

At five summers old, you like the light blue flowers near the cave up the hill. They look like delicate drinking cups. You think they might break if you touch them and dream of dainty faeries in flowing white dresses dancing across their edges. Until your sister unkindly shatters your childish fantasy with a laugh and a roll of her eyes. A few weeks later, your clan moves on.

Solas brings you elfroot. Most consider the plant unremarkable. Humble and bland on the surface, but you know about the bitter surprise hidden underneath. He rubs its juices on the gash on your arm, courtesy of a Red Templar blade, and seals your cry of pain with a kiss. At night, his passionate hands paint landscapes on your heated skin.

When Corypheus is defeated, you pick up black lotus the next time you’re on the Coast. Its bleakness appeals to you. A perfect companion to the searing pain that burns a blunt path across your heart as you lie in bed at Skyhold, tear-streaked face and cramped fists, alone, until the agonising ache wanes ever so slightly and exhaustion takes you.

After Cullen kisses you for the first time, you find a bouquet of wild flowers on your desk, tied together haphazardly with a ripped piece of cloth, and a book, cracked spine and crumpled pages, on the language of flowers. With warm cheeks, you read a message of loveliness, admiration and devotion. Sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, Cullen admits to enlisting Cassandra’s help, the book a part of her meagre possessions, but now yours.

As the months pass, the unruly butterflies in your stomach grow in number with each delivery. The pressed petals of forget-me-nots between the pages of his letters while you’re on the road. The single red tulip on your pillow after your first night together. And finally, on the eve of the Exalted Council, atop the table at the centre of your shared room in the Winter Palace, a vase, brimming with dusty, pink roses in a bed of yarrow and the tiny, white, powdery flowers of baby’s breath.

#Dragon Age fanfic #inquisitor lavellan #solas #solavellan hell #Cullen rutherford #cullen x lavellan #solas x lavellan #solavellan #my writing #Dragon Age inquistition #dragonageden

15 notes · View notes

unklarity · 5 years

Text

Perseverance: Cullen Magic Box

“Once your sacrifices are made, is there no end? Are you leashed until the day you die, or lyrium takes your mind away?”

Cullen was done last year, but I never dedicated a proper post to him, so I wanted to do that now. Visually, this box was one of my favorites just because it really came together so nicely. I miss him, but he found an awesome home with a great person! Click “keep reading” below to read about what’s inside and see more pictures!

I think Cullen is a really complicated character but he’s…not my favorite. I wanted to give this a try anyway, and I ended up loving the result. Why do I always get so attached? Sighhhhhhh…

My initial intention (that I do feel I carried through) was to show Cullen as someone who was very resolute and unwavering in their beliefs having to realize that many of those beliefs were wrong/outdated/prejudiced and what that means for him/how to unlearn those beliefs while battling addiction. I also wanted to showcase his process of doubting an institution he idolized and later became part of (both self doubt/ doubt in the templars and the chantry) and the theme of corruption and disillusionment re: the mage/templar conflict.

He’s a Ferelden boy, and they love their mabaris and their textiles, so I started with a beautiful silk handkerchief with his iconic colors (red, gold, and a chainmail-like silver pattern for his armor) and a faux fur piece in the lid for his love of dogs, and also that big old furry thing he wears/pretends he can get away with.

As far as obvious symbols go, we have the sword, for both him as a warrior and a templar. On the sachet, a gold lion head for his silly helmet in the Inquisition short that mysteriously never pops up again (lol) and inside the sachet, gold chess pieces for his chess matched with Dorian. That’s my secret little matchy matchy to the Dorian box, haha. Lastly, a replica of the lucky coin given to Cullen by his brother before he left for his Templar training (and that he can later can give to the Inquisitor), created for me by the awesome BonAppetEats on Etsy (link to shop here)!

Here is a close up of the potions!

1. Disillusionment starting in Kirkwall. Salt, rosemary, lavender- Stinging disappointment in an organization he trusted. Black salt, coffee - moving away from long held beliefs, breaking negative cycles. Thorns - rejecting corruption. Lilac - wisdom through experience. Valerian, cacao - dealing with trauma and guilt.

2. Lyrium addiction. Amethyst - fighting addiction. Eggshell and ink- break addiction. Chamomile - calming withdrawals. Cloves - support from the Inquisition, particularly Cassandra/the Inquisitor.

3. Close family ties. Garnet - familial love. Basil - good relationship with siblings. Carnation - brother/sister bond. One of the things I really enjoyed was hearing about Cullen’s upbringing in Honnleath and his stories of his siblings, particularly his sister Mia.

4. Origins Cullen/post Kinloch Hold. Thyme- fear, distrust. Yarrow - overcoming internal and external darkness. Sage, quartz and lemon balm for clarity to combat short-sightedness.

5. Childhood/recruitment to Templars. Moonstone- illusions, not being able to look past a facade. Daisy and skullcap -blind faith. Hibiscus - passion. Acorn - youth. Larkspur - devotion, loyalty.

Here you can see the sachet with the lion a bit better, and some of the stones:

Carnelian-passion, endurance, leadership, physical power to conquer obstacles, help saying what you mean

1.Red tiger eye - motivation, strength of will, help making intention a reality

2. Bloodstone - courage, military power/strategy, aid in decision making

3. Obsidian - protection, self-reflection and reevaluation

4. Faceted Garnet - family, importance of communication/speaking your truth

5. Quartz tower - strength, amplification

I also added a small rose in a glass dome to represent the Cullen romance, because let’s face it, whatever plastic surgery he got before Inquisition started, he definitely got better with age.

Finally, here’s the outside of the box, which was what inspired me in the first place! It reminded me of a shield, and when I found it, I immediately knew I wanted to make it into a Cullen box.

I hope you enjoyed my write up of Cullen! You can see the gallery of him and more of my Dragon Age magic boxes at my website here.

Thanks for reading!

#cullen rutherford #dragon age inquisition #magic boxes #dragon age art #cullen #magic box #dragon age #da:i

6 notes · View notes

fenditch-blog · 7 years

Text

Water

Direction: West

Time: Dusk

Season: Autumn

Colours: Blue, dark inky or grey blue to brilliant Mediterranean turquoise, silver and white

Qualities: Intuition, empathy, sympathy, healing powers, inner harmony, peacemaking, unconscious wisdom, divinatory powers especially connected with water scrying, ability to merge and interconnect with nature, the cycles of the seasons and the life cycle.

Rules over: Love, relationships, friendship, dreams, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, purification rites, alternative healing, using the powers of nature, especially crystals and scared water, all water and sea magick, moon magick, travel by sea.

Animals: Albatross, dolphin, frog, heron, seagull, seal, shark, toad, whale, all fish, especially salmon! I would say any sea related creature and those that live between the worlds of Earth and Water.

Crystals: Aquamarine, blue and pink chalcedony, calcite coral, fluorite, jade, moonstone, ocean orbicular Jasper, opal, pearl, tourmaline.

Elemental creatures: Undines, Merpeople, Fossegrim, Kappa, Kul, Naiads, Selkies, Tylwyth teg, Well spirits.

Goddesses: All moon and water deities

Gods: All water associated Gods.

Herbs and Incenses: Apple blossom, apricot, Balm of Gilead, camellia, catnip(why?) coconut, coltsfoot, cowslip, cyclamen, eucalyptus, feverfew, hyacinth, iris, jasmine, lemon, lemon balm, lilac, lilly, lotus, luckyhand, myrhh, orchid, passionflower, peach, sandalwod, strawberry, sweet pea, tansy, thyme, velerian, vanilla, violet, yarrow.

Places: Flooded land, flood plains, fountains, lakes, marshland, the ocean, ponds, pools, rainy days, rivers, sacred wells and streams, water features.

Sacred Substance: Water

Zodiacal signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

Source: Complete book of Natural magic: Cassandra Eason’s

#water #waterwitch #seawitch #seawitchtradition #seawitchbujo

120 notes · View notes

gaysparkler · 7 years

Note

Yarrow for the flower prompts? :D

Yarrow – Cure for a broken heart

The Emerald Graves were a beautiful place,but it was no secret that Samael was troubled by the region. He was distracted,often tripped when they explored, always looking at the tall trees. They wereall aware of how proud the Inquisitor was of his Dalish and elven heritage,therefore his mental state was understandable. Being in the Dales was hard onhim, witnessing what his people had lost. Sometimes, he stopped walking, took adeep breath, wiped a few tears that escaped his eyes and kept going. When ithappened, Dorian never had enough time to run by his side. The Inquisitor didalways try to fix everything himself. Samael’s voice still rangthrough his ears.

Weare the last elvhen, never again shall we submit.

So far in their relationship, Dorian hadnever heard Samael speak with such emotion. Even if the Exalted March of theDales happened ages ago, it seemed like it was fresh in Samael’s mind, withthe way he said those words. At night, the Inquisitor was not at the campfirewith Dorian, Varric and Cassandra. Worried, Dorian decided he would look forhim. He could not be too far.

Samael was just at the outskirt of thecamp, where the light of the fire could not reach him, but rather basking inthe moonlight. He stood there alone, a few branches of white yarrow in hishands. Slowly, Dorian approached him, making a lot of noise for the Inquisitorto notice his presence, leaving him time to decide if he wanted the Tevinter’s company orwould rather be alone. When Samael did not move, Dorian kept going. Now at arms’ reach, hedelicately put his hand on the elven man’s shoulder. Normallyso frightful and easily started, Samael’s stillnessconcerned him slightly.

“It’s true what Harding said,” the Inquisitor’s voice was quieterthan usual, “not a legend. We plant trees for every elf that dies.”

Dorian wrapped an arm around Samael’s waist.

“When my Keeper was young, she traveled here with her clan. It wasdangerous, but she wanted to see the forest. I knew this place existed, I just…neverthought there would be so many trees.”

“I’m sorry, Amatus,” Dorian whispered, pressing a kiss on the top of Samael’s head.

“It was a long time ago, though I never completely forgave the shems—the humans.”

“You have good reason. What humans did to your people across all agesis outrageous.”

Samael rested his head on Dorian’s shoulder.

“Forgiveness did bring me good things,” he said, voicestill small. “I found you.”

The silence between them was comfortable,familiar. They remained still, illuminated by the pale glow of the moon. Thebreeze was cold, but Dorian was not moving until his Amatus was ready. Theyarrow flowers smelled sweet.

“Walk with me,” Samael declared, pulling Dorian with his free hand.

Together, they walked in the forest,leaving flowers on each tree Samael knew was planted for one of the Knights. Cassandrawas waiting for them at the camp, still awake, a stern look on her face. Aftera quick apology, the Inquisitor and Dorian retired to their tent. The days inthe Graves after that were not as bad, Samael at peace that he honoured thosewho defended the Dales, even if it was only leaving flowers on a resting place.He carried a few of them back to Skyhold.

Thank you for the ask!

#samael lavellan #flower prompts #dragon age inquisition #dorian pavus #pavellan #cassandra pentaghast #varric tethras #answered asks #elvenbeard #thank you for leaving a request! <3 #my writing

32 notes · View notes

shannaraisles · 7 years

Text

Set In Darkness

Chapter: 14 Author name: ShannaraIsles Rating: M (for language) Warnings: Bereavement, canon-typical injury and violence Summary: She’s a Modern Girl in Thedas, but it isn’t what she wanted. There’s a scary dose of reality as soon as she arrives. It isn’t her story. People get hurt here; people die here, and there’s no option to reload if you make a bad decision. So what’s stopping her from plunging head first into the Void at the drop of a hat?

Answers

The knock sounded very small in the bustle of Haven, so small that Rory wasn't entirely sure it could be heard inside the cabin. But evidently it was, because it got an answer.

"Who is it?"

"It's Rory," she called, hugging herself against the chill. "The healer. May I come in?"

"The door's not locked."

Her hand rose automatically to push, but she stilled herself, recalling a few times in her own past when an unlocked door did not mean she wanted company. She'd just scolded a room full of important people for failing to respect Kaaras' needs. Now was not the time to be a hypocrite.

"That's no reason to just barge in and disrupt your privacy," she told the door in front of her, aware that she was garnering more than a few curious glances. "I can just go away, if you'd rather be alone."

"No, it's ... it's fine," he called from inside. "You can come in."

With a clear invitation, she pushed open the door, stepping inside to close it behind her. The cabin was exactly as she remembered it from the game, with the added aroma of the pelts on the walls and the smoky fire in the hearth. Kaaras was sitting on the bed, flexing his bloodied knuckles between his knees. She was struck again by just how big he was, his sheer size making a moderate space feel smaller purely because he was in it. Another thing they're all just going to have to get used to.

"I, um, I wanted to see how you are," she said quietly, moving slowly toward him. "And to apologize for what was and wasn't said in there. Roderick's an arsehole."

"And the others?" the big Qunari asked in a heavy tone, not raising his eyes from his fingers.

"Have no excuse," Rory admitted reluctantly. Although they might have excuses, they just aren't being forthcoming with them. I'm not a mind-reader. She sighed, moving to pour water from the jug into the basin. "They're good people, Kaaras. But even good people make mistakes, out of ignorance or fear. I have faith that they'll correct that mistake." Lifting the basin, she turned to kneel at his feet, gently taking his bloodied hand in hers to carefully clean the split skin over his knuckles.

Kaaras didn't object, watching her as she tended to his self-inflicted hurt with kind hands. "I shouldn't have lost my temper," he said, regret filling his voice.

"I thought you were quite restrained, actually," she answered, drying his hand with a soft cloth. "I wasn't."

A flicker of a smile touched his boyish features as he looked down at her. "I heard some of that," he admitted. "You didn't have to."

"Oh, I think I did," Rory told him airily, though she couldn't deny the anxious pang that gripped her stomach at the thought of the line she had crossed in the Chantry. "It was unforgivable, what he was saying. How he was referring to you. They should have spoken up. Next time, they will."

"You seem very sure of that," Kaaras murmured, unconvinced, curling his large fingers at her direction so she could paint his abused knuckles with a greasy compound of yarrow and elfroot.

"Sometimes people need a push to make the right decision," she shrugged lightly. "Like I said, they're good people."

He seemed to accept that, falling silent as she pulled a roll of linen from her belt pouches, wrapping it securely around his hand. "It wasn't anything I haven't heard before," he offered eventually. "Oxman, savage, beast ... humans and elves and dwarves have called me that all my life."

"That doesn't mean it stops hurting," she pointed out, tying off the bandage carefully. It took me years to get used to being called ginger, and even then, it still hurt when people used it as an insult. But this wasn't about her. "The fact that it hurts doesn't mean you're weak. Anyone who says that words don't hurt is a liar."

"I wasn't expecting it from a Chantry cleric," Kaaras told her, as though he needed to justify his reaction somehow.

"Of course you weren't," she agreed, sitting back on her heels to look up at him. "The Chantry is supposed to be the voice of Andraste and the Maker. Unfortunately, you find small-minded people everywhere."

An almost shy grin lifted his expression. "And you're big-minded?"

Rory laughed quietly. "In some things, maybe," she conceded in amusement. "People are people, no matter what they look like or where they come from. And people come in two flavors - good, and idiot."

It was Kaaras' turn to laugh at her frank assessment of the world at large. "Just two, huh?"

She smiled, shrugging. "In my opinion, most evil acts, most cruelty, can be boiled down to idiocy," she confirmed, glad to see his mood lightening. "And everyone's capable of being an idiot from time to time. It's up to us to educate them."

"And how do we do that, Healer Rory?"

"We teach them," she said simply. "We show them how wrong they are, by not letting them silence us or chase us away. We help people see beyond their prejudices by being good people ourselves."

"Put like that, it sounds easy," he conceded with a rueful quirk to his expression.

"It does, doesn't it?" Rory sighed, aware that it was anything but. "The more you do it, the more people will stand and do it with you." She patted his knee, using it as leverage to push herself up onto her feet. "When the dinner bell rings, come and sit with me. I can chat enough to fill a room."

"You think I'd be welcome?" he asked uncertainly.

"I just invited you, so yes," she countered warmly, tipping the contents of the basin out through the window. The people she sat with - Varric, Rylen, Evy - wouldn't make him feel out of place. "It's better than hiding and letting all the wild stories run rampant. You have to start somewhere, Kaaras."

"You are the strangest human I have ever met," he told her, with the air of someone making a new discovery.

"That's not necessarily a bad thing," she chuckled, pleased that he wasn't holding onto that debacle in the Chantry. What he needed now were friends, and the only way to make that happen was to expose him to people and hope for the best. "I'll see you later. And if I don't, I'll drag you out of here by one ear."

Kaaras laughed easily at her threat. "Don't worry, I believe you!"

"Good. Dinner, don't forget."

With his assurances ringing in her ears, Rory let herself out of his cabin, closing his door in her wake. She turned to leave ... and almost swallowed her tongue in shock. Cassandra was right in front of her, definitely inside her personal space, and looked like a woman on a mission. The Seeker took a step back, apparently surprised to be almost run down directly outside the Herald's door.

"Healer ..."

"I'm sorry," Rory apologized hastily. "I didn't see you there."

"The fault is mine," Cassandra told her, glancing over Rory's shoulder to the closed cabin door. "I was going to ..." She seemed to reconsider her words in mid-sentence. "The Herald, is he ... well?"

"As well as can be expected," Rory answered. It wasn't her habit to shared details after a conversation like that one. "He'll improve, if we make the effort."

"Healer Rory, what you said in the Chantry," the Seeker began, and Rory felt the panic rise, sending her pulse-rate soaring.

Oh gods, this is it, she thought miserably. What happens when you get fired from the Inquisition? I doubt they give you two weeks' notice and a severance package. Where the hell am I going to go?

"... you were right," Cassandra went on, the words not coming easily from such a proud, certain woman. "There is no excuse for my inaction. He is the Maker's chosen, regardless of his race. But I ..." She hesitated, glancing again to the cabin door. "I am uncertain how to make it right. Do you know?"

Rory found herself staring at the Seeker, her thoughts short-circuited by the unexpected admission of responsibility. So ... I'm not fired? I scolded the entire council, and I still have a job? She shook herself, aware that an answer was required.

"He ... he needs a friend, more than anything," she heard herself say. "He's all alone here, Seeker. Everyone he knew died at the Conclave. Seeing him as a person, rather than a religious icon, would be a good place to start."

Cassandra nodded slowly, accepting this advice in the spirit it was given. "That is something I can do," she conceded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Healer."

Relieved she hadn't offended a woman who could probably snap her neck with one punch, Rory let a lopsided smile quirk her lips. "You may as well call me Rory, my lady," she replied quietly. "We're swimming in healers now."

"You may be correct ... Rory." Cassandra inclined her head as she used the proffered name. "And you have more than earned my name in return. Were we to lose you, it would be a sad day, especially for the commander. You have aided him immeasurably since we came to Haven."

And you're the only person he's told about his lyrium withdrawal. To get praise from you, I must be doing something right. "The commander is ... a special man, Lady Cassandra," Rory told her a little warily, feeling her cheeks pink as her thoughts turned to Cullen. "I-I don't want him to suffer if I can help it."

"Then I would like you to take charge of distributing the philters to the templars," Cassandra added firmly. "Such daily proximity is likely making his symptoms worse."

It was a real effort for Rory to make herself show confusion. She wasn't supposed to know Cullen was in withdrawal, and Cassandra really shouldn't be assuming that Rory was in possession of all the facts. It's a good idea, though; why hasn't she taken this job away from him before now? Her acting must have been improving - the Seeker realized she'd said too much.

"He hasn't told you," she said, consternation furrowing her brow. "You are so close together, I thought ... I should not have said anything. The task will be given to someone else."

"We're not that close, Cassandra," Rory blurted out, forgetting the woman's title in her embarrassment at the assumption being made.

The Seeker leaned toward her, a conspiratorial glimmer in her eyes. "I saw you on the lake last night," she intimated softly. "The moonlight, the snow, the way you embraced each other ... it was very romantic." As Rory opened her mouth, Cassandra shushed her with a faintly envious grin. "I will not say a word until you allow me to."

"There's nothing to say," Rory tried to insist, torn between embarrassment and amusement as the Seeker winked inexpertly at her.

"Of course there is not," Cassandra agreed sagely. "Now, if you will excuse me ..."

Left to stand stupidly on the doorstep as the Seeker let herself into Kaaras' cabin, Rory couldn't quite believe what she had just heard. First Rylen, and now Cassandra. Does everyone here think I'm in some kind of secret love affair with the commander? Am I in a love affair with Cullen? We haven't even kissed! Several late nights, one massage, one long hug, and one night in the same tent does not mean we're an item. Or does it? Is that why he was so worried about my reputation - does one chaste night somehow equate to an engagement here?

But if that was true, surely Cullen would have said something to that effect. Her feet scuffed against the snow-swept stone as she mounted the steps to return to the clinic. He'd held onto her so tightly in his sleep, but was that because she was handy, or because she was her? It was so confusing. And how the hell do I find out without getting him drunk?

"Healer Rory!"

Startled from her thoughts, she raised her head, surprised to discover that it was Leliana calling to her from the tent where she coordinated her spy network. The bard met her gaze with those scarily unreadable eyes.

"A word, if I may," Leliana suggested, in a manner that wouldn't take no for an answer. "In the Chantry."

Unable to refuse, Rory nodded mutely, adjusting her direction to return to the Chantry. As she walked, an icy ball of utter dread formed in the pit of her stomach. What did Leliana know? And what was the spymaster going to do about it? In the game, there was an opportunity to prevent Leliana from having someone killed, but would anyone notice in time if Rory ended up on that kill list? She met the redhead by the doors, dimly noting that their hair was almost the same shade as she allowed herself to be lead through the nave and into the now empty map-room. She stared down at the sparsely-placed markers, flinching as the door closed ominously behind her. The silence dragged on, excruciating minutes ticking by as the ice in her stomach tossed and roiled with dreadful anticipation.

"Am I so very frightening that you do not dare to look at me?" Leliana asked finally, coming to stand close beside her.

Too close. "You're the Left Hand of the Divine," Rory answered quietly, forcing herself to meet the bard's gaze. "The dagger in the dark. Anyone who has a past should be afraid of you."

"Afraid that I will use that past against them?" The stern expression softened, and Rory found herself looking at the Leliana of ten years ago, the Leliana of Origins. She's still in there somewhere. "Why would I do such a thing to someone who has already proven themselves loyal? I am simply seeking the answer to a question."

"You can't get answers without asking for them," Rory pointed out, her eyes watchful for any sign of trickery. Is she lulling me into a false sense of security with the loyalty comment?

"Very true," Leliana agreed. "But first, I should like to tell you a story."

"Stories are for telling." Why is she dragging this out? Just drop the bomb, already.

The brief smile that touched Leliana's face was like a flash of sunlight from between the clouds - there and gone in an instant. "Indeed," she acknowledged, twisting to lean back against the table comfortably. "The story concerns two girls, neither one more than sixteen years old, who appeared as if from nowhere in the days after the end of the Fifth Blight. They dedicated themselves to helping the wounded and dying in Denerim, uncaring which race a person belonged to. When asked, they said they were sisters, from Gwaren. Yet no one in that city could place them, when asked."

Rory let her eyes fall back to the map once more, studying the familiar names and landmarks as Leliana spoke. She wondered if the bard had noticed her tension, the way her shoulders had stiffened at the mention of two girls who had appeared from nowhere. But that appearance happened in Denerim, not an avalanche in the Frostbacks. So why does this sound so familiar to me?

"These girls - or women, I should say," Leliana went on, "spent a decade traveling Ferelden, offering their services to whoever needed them. They became known as traveling healers, gaining in skill as the years passed. In the South Reach, the younger was courted by the lord of the land, yet she chose to move on when her sister did, preferring the bond of blood over the temptations of riches. They never asked for payment, yet those they aided cared for them in turn. In Amaranthine, half a year ago, they met the Right Hand of the Divine, and pledged themselves to the then-unformed Inquisition without a second thought."

Oh ... oh my gods, Rory thought, finally catching on to what was being said. I wrote this. A character sketch based on me and Ria, something I never did anything with. That shameless self-insert idea that came so easily but refused to be written. And that's my Thedosian life story? I actually do have a past here? It was such a relief to realize that, it took a moment to notice that she was smiling as the bard continued.

"Regrettably, the younger sister was killed by an avalanche as they made their way to Haven," Leliana said softly. "Yet the elder remained, and has given more than we ever asked. But my question is this ..."

She paused, and Rory tensed, aching with suppressing the urge to turn and run, terrified of what might be coming.

"... who were you, before you were Rory and Ria?"

How the hell am I supposed to answer that? I never wrote a full backstory. An oversight, that, since it's now my backstory. But where was the harm in offering just a little of the truth in answer to Leliana's probing? It wasn't as though the spymaster could check the facts, and it might be a good idea to have a little of the real truth of her background mixed in with the fiction she'd created years ago.

"No one who was missed when they disappeared," Rory offered soberly. "And long forgotten by now, I imagine. I'm glad you can't find them. They were angry, bitter little girls for a very long time."

"No ties?" Leliana asked in a gentle tone. "No family that will mourn your loss with you?"

"None." And it still hurt to say that out loud. Rory turned her head to meet the bard's sympathetic eyes. "Does it matter?" she asked, the words almost a challenge.

Leliana's smile was sad as she shook her head. "No," she answered, sharp eyes witness to the shudder of exoneration that rippled down the healer's spine. "But I appreciate the trust you give me in sharing what I asked for."

"I may fear what you might do, but I trust that you would do it for the right reasons," Rory told her sincerely. And I trust that Kaaras is going to do everything he possibly can to bring you back to yourself. She drew in a shaky breath. "May I return to my duties?"

The spymaster studied her for a moment, then nodded. Released - and relieved that no one was going to know she wasn't Thedosian unless she told them - Rory slipped from the map-room hurriedly, lengthening her stride until she was out in the fresh, brisk air, even welcoming the sickly glow from the Breach on her skin. That could have gone so badly wrong. Instead, she had a backstory she could remember the bare bones of that covered the last ten years, and Leliana's trust.

Perhaps the Maker was real, after all.

#set in darkness #multi-chapter fic #cullen rutherford/original female character #cullen rutherford/rory allen #rory allen #kaaras adaar #cassandra pentaghast #leliana #building friendships #romance chats #establishing backstory #this version of thedas is rory's own

0 notes