The Hero Of Ferelden (Dragon Age) (Patreon)

The Hero Of Ferelden (Dragon Age)

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Wordcount 2500

Commissioned by Citino

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The Inquisitor couldn’t help but frown. The Hero of Ferelden would’ve been a wonderful ally to have against the fight against Corypheus.  Though they were establishing themselves well in Skyhold, and making inroads and progress, an individual of such merit and power as the Grey Warden who ended the latest Blight would’ve been—

“Oh, goodness. You absolutely, silly girl. Your esteem for my love is apparent on your sleeve.” Morrigan’s words reached the Inquisitor, and before she knew it she fighting off a blush as the Apostate shot a wry grin her way. Golden eyes like a predator bore into her… and instead of feeling need to reach for her staff, she instead felt it necessary to defend herself another way before a married woman with a son. “Oh. Do not bother. During our travels together, my love has gained many admirers… and he has treated each one of them with courtesy and nothing more.”

A part of the Inquisitor felt relief… and another part felt somewhat shamed.

She knew well enough that such a thing was a common occurrence when speaking to Morrigan.

“Hmph, perhaps if you spoke more with Leliana, you’d know that my Warden is an individual one shouldn’t typically call upon lest one desires to invite chaos. When he and I fought together, we encountered so many strange, exotic, and deathly events that I find it miraculous that we’ve survived.” Morrigan gestured towards the Inquisitor towards the roofed, open gazebo within the center of Skyhold’s garden. They took seats together, and the Inquisitor watched as a grimace formed upon the normally-taciturn woman’s lips. The ebony haired witch sighed. “Between you and him, I fear that that Ferelden wouldn’t survive the contrivances and events which both your existences seem to invite… because even up to now he and his mutt incessantly find travel wherever they go.”

Morrigan hesitated for the first time in the Inquisitor’s memory, before a sigh left her lips. From a pouch on her hip, the apostate produced a series of letters.

“We’ve kept in touch since our parting. His path towards finding a cure for the Calling has taken him and his mutt to faraway lands, away from Corypheus’s influence, but even then trouble finds him its wake… as detailed in each an every single on of his letters to me.” The Inquisitor took not of the pristine condition of each letter. Normally crumpled up from long journeys in a pouch, the ones in Morrigan’s possession were practically pristine… if a little worn. In the corner of her eye, the Elf took note of the special folds and construction of the pouch… and chose wisely not to mention the amount of care the sharp-tongued witch put in keeping the Hero of Ferelden’s letters safe.

Mostly because she would do the same, and feel absurd the moment anyone pointed it out.

“Here are his latest five adventures abroad. He sends them to me very often, since his travels more often than not lends itself towards providing him with plenty of coin.” Morrigan gingerly opened on envelope and handed the first page of its contents to the Inquisitor, while folding and tucking away the second page. “The second page of his letters are… solely for myself and him. I will not have you intrude upon them, Inquisitor.”

The Inquisitor did her utmost to suppress her blush at the insinuation, yet at Morrigan’s sharp “Ha!” she knew her efforts were utterly wasted… so she focused on the letter written by the Hero of Ferelden to his beloved, which she held in her own hands.

She did her best not stay calm, yet couldn’t help but fail.

Until she began to read.

…

“He… he had to help siege a castle the same day he arrived in a country!?”

“Indeed, he did. The whole country which he entered was in open revolt of its rulers. Peasants were rising, nobility were choosing sides, and the ruler was desperately trying to stay in power. They typical failings of humanity… therefore he couldn’t help himself and led his assistance, even when he could’ve gone along and done not a single thing. The bastard.”

“This country used massive creatures they called… rhinos to batter against fortresses clad in armor.”

“Yes. They did. And the idiot rode one straight into a gate, so that he could cast his magics upon the insides of a castle.”

“I… I need a moment to regather my thoughts.”

“Gather away. It’s not as though the letters are leaving the papers anytime soon. My love’s exploits and foolishness will be ready for you to read no matter how long you take… unless, of course, you take so long that I’ve left Skyhold. It’s perfectly fine. The absurdities are quite difficult to swallow, if you haven’t accompanied him in his foolish escapades.”

The Inqusitor took a few moments, but after reading the next sentence in the paragraph had to close her eyes and pinch the bridge of her nose to alleviate the budding stress coalescing in  her mind.

“His Minbari was also riding a rhino. It barreled in after him.”

“He trained that war hound extensively. Far, far too extensively. It’s deeds would shame many a warrior nowadays.”

Part of the Inquisitor didn’t want to continue reading, as her image of the vaunted, powerful figure idolized was being replaced by an absurd individual who never knew a moment of peace.

But not a single part of her wished to cease reading.

…

“Gryphons. He found Gryphons. I thought they were extinct.”

“You and the rest of Ferelden, my dear. Their loss was a grave wound to the Grey Wardens in ages past, yet after what my love calls a ‘quick investigation into the unknown’ he has found roosts of them.” Morrigan poured tea for them both. Kieran was with them now, having finished his studied, and the odd boy was munching on a cookie. The Inquisitor was normally mindful of her status to the point of paying attention to her choice of food, as to not send the message that she had a child’s tongue… but the stress of learning was forcing her to indulge in her favored sweets without a care. “Read on, Inquisitor. My love did not simply find an extinct species and leave it alone.”

A ball of anticipation was welling up within the Inquisitor’s gut as she turned her gaze upon the paper. She had many suspicions about what she would read next… but felt the same anxiety she knew she would’ve felt without them the moment she discovered occurred after the discovery.

“He… he decided to assemble individuals to create a ranch for them… and to study their habits!?” The Inquisitor couldn’t help but shake her head in shock. “The discovery of a mystical, extinct creature wasn’t enough!? He needed to ensure that they would once again be the Grey Warden’s steeds!?”

“He detailed that it would’ve been of great, strategic value if we needn’t have walked or travelled by wagon during the Blight… and I agree completely.”  Morrigan scowled and the Inquisitor herself couldn’t help but recall hours upon hours spent simply marching. The thought of having a powerful, flying mount appealed to her the more she thought about it. “Though it would’ve been quite the terror to have Corypheus controlling Grey Wardens with Gryphons, many would’ve been saved if the Wardens could fly across Ferelden whilst attending to their duties.”

“The Inquisition could use Gryphons itself…” The Inquistor could only trail off at the small, smug smile Morrigan sent her way. A sight left her lips and her shoulders fell. “But there is a catch that means it won’t be happening.”

“I’ll spare you the drivel of the last half of the letter. The beasts are extremely territorial and have a migratory pattern that has them go around the world… over the course of several hundred years. It will take decades to train a generation of the calmest of the beasts to be willing to go beyond what they view as their home… which Ferelden currently isn’t.”

“Of course, it’s not. We don’t get to have giant, winged monsters help us, but we have to kill them… rather regularly.”

“Indeed, such is the way of things… at least for this generation. Should all go well, my love will see Grey Wardens flying upon the backs of Gryphons within his lifetime… while Kieran ensures that we don’t murder each other in our senile, old age.”

The Inquisitor could only sigh at those words and move towards the third letter.

“Ah, that one is quite good.”

The Inquisitor felt troubled before even touching it, because of the Apostate’s words.

…

The Inquisitor wouldn’t have believed the third letter, if not for Morrigan giving her a very, very dry and wry look.

Event then the blonde elf could only run her hands through her hair in confused frustration.

“There has never been a creature such as this ever recorded in any book!” The mage wracked her brain for knowledge gained from endless nights spent trawling through customs, traditions, and ancient history before and during her term as Inquisitor. The words on the letter however, remained unchanged no matter how she looked at it. “A bird whose tears heal any wound, whose feathers can revive the recently diseased… and upon it’s death is reborn!?”

“Which is a revered creature in an empire five times larger than Orlais, which has vast armies, and magics and technology which would bring Ferelden to shame.” Morrigan mused and lightly laughed, while producing a coin from a pocket which had a square at the center, and several strange glyphs upon them. “And, of course, my love became its hero overnight by saving a flaming chicken, befriending its ‘divine’ Emperor, and gained an ally willing to commit much against a threat to the entire world… unlike the kingdoms of Ferelden.”

“I tried to ignore that part.” The Inquisitor admitted wryly.

“I noticed, but I thought it’d be better if you didn’t. One must know their place in the world, after all, Inquistor.”

A sigh left the Inquisitor’s lips… before her shoulders sagged.

“And, why can’t we have access to these tears, feathers, and a wonderful, mighty ally?”

“They’ve erected a massive, magical wall which has barred the way our direction because of the First Blight. It’ll be decades before they can lift a portion of it to act as a gate, and begin to forge roads Ferelden’s way.”

“Of course, that’s the case… wait, how did the Warden pass through that wall!?”

“In his own, stupid words: ‘very, very carefully.’”

“…That makes no sense.”

“Correct.”

…

Kieran was sent off to dinner and an early rest, while the Inquisitor and Morrigan read the last letter together.

Not with tea, but with far stronger beverages.

“Andsh… and now his Mabari is a hero of entire tribe! Venerated for being the most stalwart friend of mankind ever!” The Inquisitor had to squint and focus as she read through the last sentence. She barely took note of the guards around them, Leliana’s bemused presence, and the number of lanterns requisitioned in order for them to finish their reading. “The Warden’s dog… can call on entire country of tribal blood mages to its cause, while I can’t get a few masked pomps to not look at me like trash from the slums, even after killing dozens of demons!”

“I should be there and not here. I loathe everything about Ferelden, and he writes to me simply so that I can enjoy what he knows I enjoy.” Morrigan lamented and laid her head upon the stone table. Red-faced and a little teary, more than a few of the guards looked upon her and did not know whether to feel more afraid or sorry for the sharp-tongued Apostate. “I insisted my son be raised in Orlais, to have friends, connections, and influence that I never had… yet I long for my love still.”

Morrigan sighed.

The Inquisitor sighed.

Leliana palmed her face.

“It is like being back on the road fighting Darkspawn.” The hooded, scarlet haired spymaster looked over the two drunks and snapped her fingers. Four guards immediately came forward to care for the two, while she cast her gaze upon the letters betwixt many bottles. She caught a great many words with her passive gaze, and felt a headache forming in the back of her mind, while the bottles of wine suddenly looked more appealing than they were a moment ago. “Wait a moment… he’s spending his time abroad doing what!?”

“He’s raising up a bunch of tribes in islands. They murder demons really well, so he hopes they can help in the future… but not right now!” The Inquisitor slurred whilst hefted on the back of one of the Inquisition guards. She raised up a finger, stopped, and groaned as she swallowed intake that was set to be outtake. “Brghf. From what I’ve read… the best help we’d get for him is maybe an artifact or two… because he’s apparently saving all of Thedas!”

“My love is a man of will, focus, and determination… and I want to be right beside him! Damn this Corypheus to Hell! I should be warding off all the dirty harpies trying to get in his pants, and watching him teach our boy magic!” Morrigan growled at the guards approaching her, but after her words she slumped and went limp against the gazeobo’s table top. “I was stupid to insist that we couldn’t raise our child on the road. He’d have done better with my love than all the pompous imbeciles that are in Orlais.”

Soon enough both the Inquisitor and Morrigan were being moved to their rooms by the guards… and Leliana was left looking upon letters from an old friend.

Letters that made her get a headache from a single, passive glance, while ruining the evening of both the Inquisitor and Morrigan.

She knew that she shouldn’t look, that she should leave things well enough alone, but her curiosity abounded.

A few of the remaining guards looked at her worriedly as she reached for the papers. The entirety of Skyhold heard of what was happening, and thus feared the letters and stories of the Hero of Ferelden, after seeing two of the strongest in the castle go crazed and drunk over the course of an afternoon.

“Do not worry, I’ll read only one.” Leliana assuaged her subordinates with a smile, while plucking the latest of the letters and beginning to read from the top. Her smile grew a little strained, even as her curiosity bid her forward, at the first line speaking about undersea leviathans guarding ancient ruins thrumming with magic. “I will be perfectly fine reading this. You shall all see.”

A number of doubtful looks were shared that Leliana caught, which instigated her streak of competitiveness against her former rival and now-trusted-friend.

So, she took a seat and resolved to read it all.

Leliana managed halfway through the set before drinking herself silly.