Under Darkness [AU]

[Isabela]

"I do," she says, with a small, whispered laugh. "I do."

[Tethras Clan]

"She looks good," Varric says from the left of Hawke, voice pitched to be heard above the sound of the reception. "Almost outshines the bride."

Laughing, the magus rests a hand on her Papa's shoulder as she watches her first love begin a dance with Zevran. "Don't say that! After all the work she put into making Seli so radiant, she'll rush off and spill punch on her dress or something." She does look wonderful though. Better than I- no. Not today. I can doubt tomorrow, today is a good day, damnit. I deserve her, I deserve Aveline and Isabela and Zevran and every single member of my Clan.

"She would, wouldn't she?" Varric grins, passing her a flute of wussy elven wine. Wonder if they're going to... maybe. Merrill's the sort that likes words and ceremony, the pageantry of it all. Aveline and Zevran... the words are enough, I think. Hells, I've heard Aveline call them husband and wife respectively already. "Glad she'll finally be able to calm down, now that it's over. Then again, given you get to watch a pair of prepubescent magicals for a month... might look back at frantic wedding planner Merrill with fondness." He pauses. "Maybe I should make a business trip. Tomorrow. Tonight."

"Don't you dare!"

"Just teasing, daughter mine. I've no intention of going anywhere. Promise."


Andy leans contentedly against his new husband, a smile on his lips as he watches Seli fuss over Gilly. The young girl's face is smeared with cake and Seli is alternating between clean-up and scolding. Next to her, Tomas is also multi-tasking, though he's split between taking careful mental notes and attempting to mimic his mother. Lost in thought about that, he doesn't hear Carver's question, but he does hear Anders sputtering, "w-what? We- we've only just- just gotten engaged, we're far from-"

Laughing, Carver waves him off. "Just teasing you, promise. Take your time. Merrill's in no hurry after all," he points out, and if he still feels bitter about that fact, he's at least learned to keep it out of his voice.

"Don't do that," Anders grumbles. "I'm... getting there but we're moving slow. She's worth taking the time." I refuse to miss this up like I did with Hawke. Besides, if I botch this, I won't have to worry about Varric taking it poorly. Hells, I won't even have to deal with Hawke or Zevran. I still remember what that troll looked like after Merrill went after it. What was left of it anyway.

"Slow is good," Andy says with a smile and a fond glance at Carver. It took a while to get him comfortable with this, with me, but that was worth it too. "Especially in be-"

"Yes, well, thank you," Carver says quickly. "About looking after the twins, with everyone else, I mean. Not about- no need to thank you for Merrill. I mean, you didn't have anything to do with... anyway."

"Still such a smooth talker," Anders quipes. "And it's no worry. Not really as much call for a healer at the Oak as I'd like so I have the spare time." Damnit, that wasn't... why did I bring that up? It's not like money's an issue, I just... feel a bit adrift. Maybe... maybe I should see if there's room to come with Isabela and company the next time they all head out. Something to think about. Or maybe...

"Town's getting bigger every time you turn around," Andy comment encouragingly. "Who knows what'll turn up in the next few years?"


Across the room, Aveline and Isabela have a dance of their own. Things are still... in flux with the two of them, the paladin's need for firm, declared lines and labels at odds with Isabela's refusal to be contained by anything, even herself. Even so, they've made a bond of sorts, even if it is still based on their shared lovers.  And of course, they have a great deal of respect and even trust between each other- that's hard to avoid, having spent as long as the pair have as a quartet of roving adventurers. Maybe it's saving each others' lives time and time again, maybe it's facing dragons and slavers together, maybe its just meeting each others eyes across a room or a bed often enough... Regardless, while the nature is still fuzzy, neither can deny the strength of their bond.

"So... I might have a line on an airship," Isabela drops into a lull in the music without even a hint of preamble.

"A what?"

"An airship. As in a ship that goes in the air. Instead of water."

"...and you want one?" A beat. "For us?"

"Beats walking everywhere."

"...fair." Aveline is silent a moment as they continue to dance. "I call dibs on Captain."

"Like hell you do!"

"I have prior experience."

"As a guard captain!"

"So?"

"I was a ship captain! Far more relevant."

"For a few weeks maybe. And it was an water ship."

Their good-natured argument continues through the dance, lasting long enough to carry them into a more private dance upstairs.

Both of them win.


Far away, in a city of magic and adventure, a blue-skinned adult in the body of a child frowns slightly as they puzzle their way through a dream. Strangely, it was not a foretelling exactly, but almost... almost like... "A significant change in fate has occurred," they muse as they rise from bed. Taking a second to gently stroke the head of their six-legged canine companion, they head for their desk to throw out- or rather, archive- a great many now invalid prophecies. So much to cull and update...

"Though... this one wonders what a stone cat will look like and why they seek a flower..."

~FIN~