#aesidh

[nobodyexpectsthe]

@aesidh

skyhold is still these days. a rock still and stalwart in the river of time, uncaring as the years pass on by and the people trickle out with them. gone are the days of delighted screams and shouts, of tavern songs drowning out the loneliness of the night.

they are gone now. all of them. but he remains.

the role of inquisitor holds less power these days. in fact, in many ways it serves more as a chain. andraste's chosen works in tandem with the chantry, serving as figure head and political tool. all too often he is struck by how pettily the quick children behave, spitting in the face of what should have been a common goal - to preserve life as they know it - just to amass pointless wealth and power they fail to wield.

( really, it makes him wonder if solas is right. perhaps it would be better to scatter the deck, let the cards fall where they may and hope they build a better tomorrow )

but that is only a thought in his weakest moments. in the weak hours of dawn, when all feels particularly bleak and pointless and the call of dreams and demons is particularly tempting.

then he wakes up and moves on.

he's far from the throne when she comes calling. knelt down next to a garden that has nearly overtaken the courtyard, carefully pruning dead leaves so they do not spoil the stalk. the sound of unfamiliar footsteps does not have him lifting his head, for the guest is expected. and if she, of all people, opts to slay him then he must truly have gone astray.

and though the years have been long, he would trust the judgement of a kinsman over the judgement of man. even if their meeting had only ever been fleeting, moments barely remembered from a gathering long ago when they were both different people, on track to lead very different lives.

"varric told me you would be coming," pirith says, setting the shears aside and rising to his feet. "aneth ara, merrill. skyhold welcomes you."

[dreadwo1f]

“ sometimes , love isn’t enough . “ - merrill to solas !

the word love was like a hammer to a vase , it shattered a heart , and solas couldn't help his violet eyes casting down , like the guilt that grips him before he can speak. his love was never enough . mythal , the elves, the inquisitor, it all seemed to crumble beneath his pride and arrogance , his fear and ambition. a mournful tribute to the ones he hurt and the world he destroyed. no it could never be enough.

his doleful eyes became cold , the vulnerability in his expression disappearing as he hides from what trembles behind the mask. “  i suppose it never is , ma'lethal. ” he said matter of fact as he pridefully raised his chin when eyes met with hers. “  and sometimes it does not need to be . . . love? ” he said with a bite of bitterness before he tilts his head and chuckles in disbelief. “  it was never my motivation to begin with. ”

›  𝐈𝐍𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 .

[th3dasa]

" monster ? who is a monster here ? " from @aesidh, for isabela

"don't you worry about fenris, sweet thing. he's just CRANKY." a comforting, kind smile given to the elf before she glared at their brooding friend from behind his back. she would have to talk to fenris about keeping his thoughts to himself, especially when those thoughts were so rudely pointed at FRIENDS. he had gotten on his high horse again, talks of blood magic and demons and something something all mages are evil (much to hawke's sadness -- isabela could see EVERYTHING). the pirate moved over to the shorter woman, wiping a bit of dirt from her cheek.

"no monsters here, only men who can't keep their mouths shut and stay out of other people's business. i personally am QUITE interested in this eluvian you were talking about. just ignore them."

[heartsdefine]

↪ memes / accepting!

@aesidh said: “what would you do without me, huh?”

        “win at cards more often, obviously.” they're both on their way out of the hanged man. hawke may or may not have been reliably losing to merrill at wicked grace (and yet, somehow, to nobody else) for a few nights running. just because it makes her smile. “are you going to be able to find your way home safely?” hawke eyes the elf doubtfully. “you know what? i'll walk you.” 

[kinlochs]

✿

GOD im so sorry for the slowness this got lost in my notifications?????

FRIENDSHIP.     childhood friends  /  work buddies or coworkers  /  family friends  /  friends with benefits  /  smoking buddies  /  adventure buddies  /  fake friends  /  recently friends  /  party buddies  /  friendship of need  /  dying friendship  /  circumstantial friendship  /  partners in crime  /  old friendship  /  [ your muse ] is the good influence  /  [ your muse ] is the bad influence  /  [ my muse ] is the good influence  /  [ my muse ] is the bad influence  /  opposites attract  /  ride or die  /  frenemies  /  roommates or flatmates  /  penpals  /  exes to friends  /  enemies to friends  /  other

ROMANCE.     childhood sweethearts  /  [ your muse is mines ] childhood crush  /  [ my muse is yours ] childhood crush  /  exes  /  exes to lovers  /  forbidden lovers  /  highschool sweethearts  /  secret relationship  /  opposites attract  /  long distance  /  unrequited [ from your muses side ]  /  unrequited [ from my muses side ]  /  unrequited [ from both sides ]  /  skinny love  /  friends to lovers  /  enemies to lovers  /  spurious relationship  /  power couple  /  newly entered  /  soulmates [ metaphorical ]  /  soulmates  [ literal ]  /  awkward  /  turning toxic  /  toxic love  /  cheating [ on your muse ]  /  cheating [ with your muse ]  /  other 

FAMILIAL.     siblings [ half ]  /  siblings [ step ]  /  [ my muse ] is an older sibling figure to your younger sibling figure  /  [ my muse ] is a younger sibling figure to your older sibling figure muse  /  [ my muse ] is a parental figure to yours  /  [ my muse ] is a child figure to your muse  /  guardian figure  /  legal guardian  /  adoptive child  /  foster child  /  [ your muse ] is taken under mines wing  /  [ my muse ] is taken under yours wing  /  other

ANTAGONISTIC.     dangerous to each other  /  dangerous to others  /  unpredictable  /  rivals  /  petty  /  developing into sexual or romantic tension  /  based off family matters  /  based of off circumstance  /  based of professional matters  /  based off misunderstanding or lies  /  conflict of ideology  /  betrayal  /  hero - villain dynamic  /  enemies  /  fight club  /  friends turned enemies  /  lovers turned enemies  /  exes turned enemies  /  other 

[f4rgd]

@aesidh liked for a starter.

" Are you coming? " The warrior looked back at Merrill only after he'd stopped midway to the gate when he'd not heard footsteps behind him. There was trouble on the road ahead, bandits maybe or something far worse -- whatever and whoever they were they needed to be dealt with if they were going to take vulnerable folk on the road in the next few days. " Why are you hesitating? Is something wrong? "

He was itchy to get back out on the road after sitting and waiting all this time - he'd not hesitated to offer himself as a volunteer when the chance had arose. Aksel had quickly learnt that it did him no good to stay still for long, his thoughts would spiral and he would become difficult to be around. " Are you okay? "

[elliscousland]

15 . ) merrill brushes ellis' hair & fixes it for them . || @aesidh

truthfully, ellis could care for his hair with a bit more grace. it was low on his list of priorities. red curls twist stubbornly with shocks of white hair, now spattered with mud & blood & whatever else he had been rolling in throughout the day.

" you don't have to do this, you know, " within him was a strange dichotomy. to ask for help was against his nature. but he craved it, quite desperately. there was something satisfying about the care she spared to notice, let alone fix, the mess on his head. he fights a knot of emotion that sticks in his throat. it could be shame, or maybe he was just thankful. not that he was keen to admit that out loud.

he had never been good at this sort of thing, even when he'd had the time to care about it. he used to keep his hair short, cut close to the crown of his head. now he resigned to keep it in an unattended wad in the back of his head, it stayed out of his way there. he is thankful for the help, despite the way his spine stiffens & the tension in his shoulders. ( why does he want to swat away her scarred hands when they thread through his hair so gently? so carefully?) " it's not your responsibility. "

[weishaupts]

✿

PRE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS / accepting !

bold for things i could definitely see or want, italics for things i could see or am unsure of and striked out for things i don’t want or cannot see.

FRIENDSHIP.     childhood friends  /  work buddies or coworkers  /  family friends  /  friends with benefits  /  smoking buddies  /  adventure buddies  /  fake friends  /  recently friends  /  party buddies  /  friendship of need  /  dying friendship  /  circumstantial friendship  /  partners in crime  /  old friendship  /  [ your muse ] is the good influence  /  [ your muse ] is the bad influence  /  [ my muse ] is the good influence  /  [ my muse ] is the bad influence  /  opposites attract  /  ride or die  /  frenemies  /  roommates or flatmates  /  penpals  /  exes to friends  /  enemies to friends  /  other

ROMANCE.     childhood sweethearts  /  [ your muse is mines ] childhood crush  /  [ my muse is yours ] childhood crush  /  exes  /  exes to lovers  /  forbidden lovers  /  highschool sweethearts  /  secret relationship  /  opposites attract  /  long distance  /  unrequited [ from your muses side ]  /  unrequited [ from my muses side ]  /  unrequited [ from both sides ]  /  skinny love  /  friends to lovers  /  enemies to lovers  /  spurious relationship  /  power couple  /  newly entered  /  soulmates [ metaphorical ]  /  soulmates  [ literal ]  /  awkward  /  turning toxic  /  toxic love  /  cheating [ on your muse ]  /  cheating [ with your muse ]  /  other 

FAMILIAL.     siblings [ half ]  /  siblings [ step ]  /  [ my muse ] is an older sibling figure to your younger sibling figure  /  [ my muse ] is a younger sibling figure to your older sibling figure muse  /  [ my muse ] is a parental figure to yours  /  [ my muse ] is a child figure to your muse  /  guardian figure  /  legal guardian  /  adoptive child  /  foster child  /  [ your muse ] is taken under mines wing  /  [ my muse ] is taken under yours wing  /  other

ANTAGONISTIC.     dangerous to each other  /  dangerous to others  /  unpredictable  /  rivals  /  petty  /  developing into sexual or romantic tension  /  based off family matters  /  based of off circumstance  /  based of professional matters  /  based off misunderstanding or lies  /  conflict of ideology  /  betrayal  /  hero - villain dynamic  /  enemies  /  fight club  /  friends turned enemies  /  lovers turned enemies  /  exes turned enemies  /  other 

[thanflowers]

↪ memes / accepting!

@aesidh said: “look at me. i’m not a monster.”

        “i never said that you are,” elspeth replies, gently. “and i never would, merrill.” she doesn't know enough about magic to fully understand the risk the elf is taking when she uses blood magic, but she has to trust that merrill knows what she is doing. she certainly knows it better than els does. “i just hope you're being careful. i would hate to see you get hurt by all this.” 

[lyricsssdotin]

Chorni Lyrics

Singer:Sidhu Moose Wala, DIVINELyricist:Sidhu Moose Wala, DIVINE Sidhu moose wala!Chorni aye aye chorni Ho tension’an ch paiyan ne sarkaranKhabran naal bhariyan ne akhbaranHo tempo talleyan di hunn khair nahiBombay diyan sadkan te 5911 Sab talde aa anjaam tonBas asle subahon shaam tonHo tainu jehde laggde aaGhaint baahle mithiyeOh thar kambde aa mere naam ton Chadhayi ae agg layi aeSidhe…

[cyberbabyangel]

take a look at my girlfriend

cuz she's the only one i got

[heartsdefine]

@aesidh replied to your post:

quit ganging up on her , she’s just a little guy

​hawke (a known blood mage) listening to those two gang up on merrill for being a blood mage:

[vanessabettencourtart]

Project: My cover for the Paperback Heir of Scars series. An epic fantasy novel by Jacob Falling (available on amazon). At seventeen years of age, Adria Idonea has already seen both sides of war. Once princess in a citadel tower, she followed the ghosts of her childhood to join the kingdom's enemies, the Aesidhe of the Heiland wild. Now a warrior, a healer, and a leader of the Wilding Ones, Adria has come of age, but a promise she made in haste has bound her to return to her home after long exile. #epicreads #fantasy #landscape #digitalart #nativeamerican #bookcover #illustration #archer #strongfemale #character #warrior #art

[magistheir]

@aesidh liked for a starter

"I must admit, I'm curious." Dorian rested his chin on his hand, giving Merrill an encouraging smile. "How does your knowledge stack up against Solas? Yours a more practical experience versus his fade-walking theoretical?"

[nobodyexpectsthe]

there really is no avoiding the conversation. he is glad for it, in a way. to speak with one who understood.

the aftermath of solas' truth had been a painful one. pirith knew his fair share of scorn. being dalish meant that he was not only shunned for being an elf, but for being one of those elves. though he did his best to quite the parts of his upbringing that bade him see other elves as lesser, the markings on his face othered him far more than the point of his ears could ever hope to.

and so it was that the dalish were but a broken people, clinging to gods who saw them as nothing but tools.

it had plagued him for months. the truth. the waking nightmare that was knowing everything he had ever believed was a lie. clan lavellan had been more open than most clans, dealing with humans and sharing their culture freely with the city elves who stumbled into their forests, but they were still dalish. devout believers, anchored to what little of the past they had managed to unearth.

he takes a moment to dust the dirt from his knees. quiet as he considers the word, in that moment more the awkward first he'd been than the powerful man he'd become. how simple things had been back then, clutching at his keeper's skirts when no one was looking to steady his nerves. fearing the day when all would look to him for answers he surely would never hold.

but he had wanted to. how he had loved the stories, the legends. how he had felt a kinship to the god of death for he too had been separated from his brother's by greater purpose.

one hand absently touches the vallaslin on his cheek, eyes shutting.

"no. i knew our gods could be far from kind, but never did i imagine them to be our slavers... it gave new meaning to the word keeper. one that i did not care for." his hand drops, a pained half-smile that fails to reach his eyes offered in lieu of a handshake or hug. "... i remember my first thought was how glad i was that istimaethoriel was no more, for however could i explain this to her?

he chuckles darkly, flesh and blood hand loosely gripping the elbow of the prosthetic. "... truly a wretched thought from a cowardly heart."

a beat. his lips part, a question on the tip of his tongue before he stops and seems to remember that this is no gathering. they are not children, cautiously wandering from the side of their guardians to exchange tall tales and feats of bravery. there is no room for pirith, the timid, not when he poses a threat to the power crueler men covet.

the change is immediate, the all too familiar stiffness evaporating from his body as he forces it to ease. a trick vivienne had taught him, to appear poised and confident even if he truly wished for nothing more than to tear off this mask and flee from it all.

"perhaps we should take this discussion somewhere more private. we have much to catch up on, and our tawdry affairs need not be overheard." again he smiles, a perfect courtly mask. "the eyes and ears of these statues are known to be sharper than our own. the tales i have to tell you would make even their stone faces flush."

he gestures absently about them, the gesture pointed despite his jovial demeanour. they are not safe, and he is not fool enough to think two dalish elves speaking openly of their feelings on their faith will be taken as anything less than blasphemers plotting treason.

"come. let me show you my favorite place in the hold." his chambers, thoroughly blanketed with every soundproofing spell available to man, qunari, and elf.

“ mar enaste lan em lath'in'iseth ( your grace warms my heart ) ” though , her voice fell in shallow , breathy tones . “ i had not meant to interrupt your time . i do apologize . ” merrill couldn't seem to make eye contact with the inquisitor , hues flickering along the once bustle showmanship of skyhold . surely , from what varric recounted to her , she could imagine the bustling hive this place once was ; but , merrill was never much good at imagining . the corners of her mouth curled downward , eyeing the emptiness . shrubbery growing up the stone walls , a few remnants of personal belongings left behind . the elf found herself gripping hold of her staff , drawing it closer to her body . “ i do promise to make it brief . ”

why the formalities ? even she questioned herself , shaking her head it hopes to ease the tension , heavy on her shoulders . “ i hope you understand why i could not come to see you sooner , pirith , ” now , it seemed as though her gaze ventured up to match him , her expression softening as best as it could , despite the circumstances . why could she possibly say to him , now that corypheus was dead , & the truth had been lain bare ? the years of ridicule only edged her into silence .

varric & hawke seemed to be the only two keen on keeping her away from it ; but now , with hawke gone , varric could only reassure her safety in their absence . would he feel the same if he knew ? would pirith feel the same if he knew how far entangled she had become with this ? understanding seemed more a rarity than a four - winged dragon , but she would take a gander to say the large reptilian was more likely to occur .

merrill continued to give him a soft smile , doe - like & serene . “ do you ever . . . ” merrill broke eye contact , unable to hold for too long before flickering a glance back down to her feet . “ did you ever imagine it would be like this ? the evanuris . . . i mean . even if i had time to process it . ” why would she come out like this , in the open no doubt ? if anyone were to be slain , surely a blade would be brought to her throat ; though , as a fellow dalish , it was the least she could do .

they were both suffering , in some way .