The Winter's Queen [Magus AU]

[Tethras Clan]

~Never used a greatsword before. Trained with great axes when I was younger though. The grip is similar but the the balance and swings are all different.~ Varric shrugs mentally. ~Good weight to it though, he's a solid blade.~

"Everything alright?" Zevran asks softly as he returns.

[Carver Amell]

"Yes, we're fine," says Carver, rubbing his head. "Varric can apparently take control of my body, and apparently he uses silver-plated masterwork hand-and-a-half longswords like they're axes, but we took care of the threat and can move on."

[NPCs]

"It's not enchanted?"Zevran asks with a frown. "That could be problematic with some undead."

[Carver Amell]

"Of course it's enchanted," he says with disgust. "That's not the point. Look at it!" He holds his sword out, the flat of the blade resting against one palm. "Perfectly balanced, weighted enough to compensate for my quick motions, and you see that little ridge? That helps it cut the air a bit more, reduces the drag. This sword is a piece of art."

[Tethras Clan]

~Noticed the grip was custom for your hand as well,~ Varric notes. ~And the pommel is both pointed slightly for emergency bashing but also a solid piece to the rest of the hilt, not a decorative addition. Good solid work.~

Zevran shrugs a little. "I've never been one to grow attached to a weapon. Shall we be off?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver lets out a small groan, sheathing the weapon. At least someone appreciates good work. Mages, he adds, disgusted, before recalling that Zevran isn't a mage. Or whatever. 

[Tethras Clan]

Varric chuckles softly. ~Zevran's actually not all that fond of magic, unless it's on his side of the battlefield. He fights with wits and skill.~

[Carver Amell]

Nobody in this town appreciates a good blade. Or the strength of an arm well-trained. Or the amount of work and training that goes into sword work. No, it's all easy answers for Nyra; wave your hands, say a few words, and the world moves for you, jumping to your bidding like a well-trained Mabari. 

[Tethras Clan]

~Do you have any idea how much work I put into learning my 'easy tricks'?~ Varric demands. ~Each formulae takes at least thirty hours to perfect the first time. That's work hours, mind you. The more advanced ones can take upwards of double that. And that's just a formulae, not the study and foundation work you need to even get started. It's the same as learning a maneuver- looks simple, almost effortless when seen done by a master but if you look harder, you can see the blood and sweat that went into it.~

[Carver Amell]

What, really? What's a formulae? I don't actually know how you cast magic. Well of course I don't, I'm not talented or special enough to be taught. In any event, I've seen Marian cast, and Bethany. They didn't do any of that. So maybe you're more like me, having to work for it, but they're different.

[Tethras Clan]

~Formulae are... they're a cross between a potion and spell. A lot of people call them that, spells in a bottle. As for not being taught? You ever ask? Really ask, not just imply or demand or hint and expect someone to jump on it?~

[Carver Amell]

Yes. I went to a man, a mage, looking for students, and I paid him ten goddamn gold to test me, to see if I had the same natural talents my sisters did, in case I needed to be careful of that. And I don't. So I gave up. 

[Tethras Clan]

~Ah. You couldn't have it easy, so you didn't bother to try,~ Varric observes. ~And just having easy power isn't enough. She might have had a leg up on power- just like you with your large build and innately good hand-eye coordination served you well with bladework- but that just meant she had to double down on learning control.~

[Carver Amell]

Carver bristles at that. Nothing, nothing, in my life has ever come easy. My father didn't want me, abandoned my sister who he did want because I was born. My mother didn't want me either. I was the awkward twin, the one who put myself out there and said dumb things over and over. It was sweet little Bethany and idiot Carver, always, until she died and left me all alone and I needed her! And now even you think I should have been a mage, that I'm worthless because I'm not one. 

[Tethras Clan]

~I honestly don't give a shit about whether you're a mage or not. I just call bullshit on you sneering at it because you don't understand it or can't do it. I can't speak on your dad- seems like an ass from all accounts. Your mother, I met the once- we didn't hit it off to say the least. As for nothing coming easy... do you really, honestly think Hawke hasn't worked and bleed for what she has- had?~  A sharp pang of pain rips through Varric. Had.