Tumgik
#oc: gaius cousland
stuffeddrawer · 3 months
Text
Love is Stored in the Magic Ring
Rating: Mature TW: Character Death, alcohol Fandom: Dragon Age Word Count: 1844 AN: I swear I was in a daze and a fever at the same time writing this, but it felt so good to get this angst out of my system
MDNI
Tumblr media
⁽ᵖᵒˢᵗ ᵈᶦᵛᶦᵈᵉʳ ⁻ ᵃˢᵐᵒᵈᵉᵘˢ⁻ᵖˢᵈ⁾
Gaius knew when he was only twenty-one years old that he was going to die young.
Gaius knew the first Calling was false, but it didn’t stop his panic any. He was angry that they’d all been fooled, angry that the Wardens were led to believe that their death was just around the corner. He believed himself to be safe when Corypheus died. He grew fat and complacent, aiding new Grey Wardens, training them, teaching them as best as he could.
He didn’t say at Amaranthine. He didn’t go back to Weisshaupt like he was called to do so. Because he’d ended the Blight, with just two Wardens, and no deaths, he requested he remained in Southern Thedas, at Adamant, ensuring history didn’t repeat itself. He was aware of the internal conflict going on with the Wardens in the Anderfels, but he’d already done his service – he’d already saved the world - twice. He didn’t dare get involved in a third war. Gaius felt he was too old for another one.
He still remembered all Morrigan told him, still felt her touch, still felt her gaze on his. Even though she was gone from here, that she’d disappeared again with his son, Gaius knew she was still keeping tabs on him. The magic the ring she’d given him years ago (it feels like a lifetime ago, now) was still potent and active, still told Morrigan where he was, and he didn’t dare take it off.
It was a comfort, something he twisted between his fingers when the Calling started again. He focused on it, on the magic inside, on Morrigan’s magic. He took it off the necklace, wearing it properly like he had so long ago.
Morrigan’s ring was a balm, something he rubbed between his fingers when the Calling was screaming in his mind, when all he could think about was that damn song, when he felt like tearing his ears off just wasn’t enough. He felt ghoulish on a good day, and downright monstrous on a bad one. Every joint ached and hurt, but the Calling – oh, the Calling. It was like a thousand voices whispering in his ears, telling him to go left, right, jump, turn around, swing, dodge, roll, go left, over and over again. He felt like he was going mad – did Duncan feel like this, right before the end?
He took quill to paper, one last time, writing two letters, one to Morrigan, wherever she was, if she found his corpse or if he saw her on his way to the Deep Roads, and the other to Fergus, explaining his demise. He thought of Shale and Wynne, wondering if he’d see them again, wondering if he’d be able to have a final conversation with Wynne or if he’d be able to gift Shale another pet rock. He sighed happily at the thought of Zevran and Leliana and Oghren, the times they shared so long ago, the times he and Zevran had gotten drunk enough after the Blight had ended that they were still drunk the next morning, the times Leliana had him laughing so hard he fell and couldn’t stop snorting, the times Gaius walked away with more bruises than before when he trained against Oghren. Finally, he remembered every single fond time and moment with Alistair and Morrigan, cherishing each and every single word, every single stolen glance and kiss with Morrigan, every single breathless sigh. He cherished every single deep conversation he and Alistair had, remembering how they helped each other heal from the trauma they were forced to endure. He missed them all. He knew Alistair had perished during his time with the Inquisition, knew Wynne had died well before, and likely Shale with her. Leliana was the Divine, and in his opinion, doing a damn good job at doing it, Ohgren was on borrowed time like himself.
Gaius decided to write a letter to Zevran, knowing exactly where the old crow was, and explained that by the time he’d gotten his letter, Gaius had died, but he didn’t go without fond memories. Gaius and Zevran were closer than two peas in a pod during the Blight, the both of them looking at each other after it all and realising that they’d made it, that they actually lived.
The letters to Fergus and Zevran were sent, and the one to Morrigan was on his chest, next to his ring. The letter was still on his chest, even as darkspawn ravaged his corpse, taking the shiny things, even the ring she’d given him years ago, its magic as potent as ever and letting her know that not only had Gaius died, but that someone had stolen the ring from his corpse.
Morrigan was in the Deep Roads not long after, anguish tearing at her heart in a way she didn’t understand. She knew people died, they all died, everyone died, in the end. Even her own mother. Not a single one did she shed a tear, but for Gaius? She would have torn the world asunder for him, if she had the power. Instead, she’d give him the sendoff a hero like him deserved.
Morrigan, Hi, lovie. I’m sorry you had to find me this way. I would have tried to find you earlier, but you’re damn near impossible to find if you want to remain hidden. That or I’m blind in my old age. The Calling – the real Calling – it’s terrifying. I felt like I went mad, hearing voices that were both there and not. Call me a fool like you always did, but that ring you gave me ages ago was the only thing keeping me sane. Or held on to whatever was left – never really was sane after all the shit we’ve been through. I know we fought a lot, over tiny things, over Kieran, over letting you go. But I hope you know that I never once stopped loving you. My heart had always belonged to you. I would have given everything up to see you again, to remind you just how much I love you and Kieran. I wish I made a different choice, to follow you into that eluvian ages ago, rather than follow my stupid sense of duty. I wish I helped you raise Kieran, helped you remain safe and hidden. I wish I did a lot of things differently, but… It's weird to say that I’m… I’m happy with the way things have turned out. In the end, I gave my heart to you and that, my love, my heart, my everything, is the one thing I never once regretted. I love you more than there are stars in the sky. Gaius.
Morrigan raged when she saw that a darkspawn stole the ring from his corpse, that another was using the sword he always used. Its glow was dim and the power faded, but it was still sharp as the day it was forged. The ring was covered in darkspawn spume, guts, and gore, but it was back on Gaius’ finger, his sword back in his hand.
Morrigan hated how her vision was so cloudy and blurry with tears, hated how it felt like such a large piece of her was missing. Seeing his lifeless body, glazed eyes and hollow cheeks was a shock. His hands were stiff and cold, not nimble and warm like they used to be. Oh, she’d give anything to have him back.
She brought his corpse back to the surface, not giving a damn about the old and ruined Grey Warden armour littering the place. She knew this was where most of the Grey Wardens died when they heard the Calling. She knew this was where Gaius was going to go.
Morrigan knew the perfect place to bring him, to let this dog-scented country know that its saviour was dead, and died protecting it. She wouldn’t let his body rot with the others down there, damn tradition. This man was her heart, and she wouldn’t let him rot.
The pyre was grand, bright, brighter than the lighthouses at Castle Cousland. As the fire burned brighter, more and more lights in the castle lit up, curious as to why a lone fire was so big and bright, wondering why tonight, of all nights, there was something so big. No one was attacking, no one was fighting, yet Teyrn Fergus Cousland wept as he clutched the letter Gaius sent him.
His cries were soft, but heart wrenching. He should have died before Gaius – if he’d have just fought harder, in the Korcari Wilds, if he’d have just done something different, listened to Gaius when he said that leaving seemed like a bad idea.
All Fergus could do was cry as he watched the pyre from afar, knowing that his baby brother had died.
Time had passed, and the funeral pyre had long since gone out, the timber ash, but Zevran made his return to Ferelden, his hair white with age, body aching and sore and tired from years and years of running and fighting, but he was far too stubborn to stop.
When he’d received Gaius’ letter back then, he broke into tears. The friends he’d made, the family he found for himself – most of them had died, if not all of them. Zevran felt as though he, Leliana, and Morrigan were the only ones left alive, at least until he saw Morrigan’s telltale jewellery on her body, leaning against the same pyre, letting herself go the moment she’d laid Gaius to rest. The world was cruel, taking bright lights like Alistair and Gaius and Morrigan from him, the Maker was cruel for making them His punching bag.
He stood in front of the old funeral pyre, wondering if this was where Gaius had been given a proper sendoff, when his thoughts were silenced the moment he saw the ring Gaius always wore – the same ring Morrigan gave him forever ago.
Like an actual crow, Zevran was drawn to shiny things, but this shiny thing, this one particular shiny thing, Zevran refused to take. This was Gaius’.
“I’m sorry it’s been such a long time, old friend.” Zevran spoke, his voice raspy and shaky, but still Zevran. He saw the bare edges of Gaius’ sword in the rubble, its glow gone and edges dull, power vacant, but it was still a gorgeous sword. He took it from the rubble, thrusting it into the soft earth at the base of the pyre and next to Morrigan. Fereldans would know that this was where their hero was laid to rest. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to see you off.”
He sighed, leaning against the old, burnt wood, letting his aching limbs rest for a moment or two, sitting on the other side of the sword.
“But I am glad I was part of the journey that brought you this freedom.” Zevran whispered, closing his eyes and relaxing, finally relaxing, letting his worries and stress and anger slip away.
“Rest easy, Gaius Cousland, hero of Ferelden.”
9 notes · View notes
leeebo · 1 year
Text
so i wrote smut for the first time in ages
1 note · View note
exhausted-archivist · 11 days
Text
Archi's Worldstate and OCs Masterlist
These are the personal worldstates I've built (or play with), going to link back to them when I do choice break-downs and such. Mostly wanted to get them in one place as well as my ocs I designed as companions or npcs.
First Playthrough
HoF: Thranduil Mahariel Champion: Marian Hawke Inquisitor: Everlinna Lavellan
Keep World State
HoF: Lyna Mahariel Champion: Garret Hawke Inquisitor: Evalyn Trevelyan
Main Canon
HoF: Brynne Varahel Tabris Champion: Elizabeth Hawke Inquisitor: Isala Revassan Lavellan
Tragic Lovers
HoF: Aenor Mahariel Champion: Verena Hawke Inquisitor: Pemma Lavellan
Salt and Burn
HoF: Katiana Cousland Champion: Garret Hawke Inquisitor: Trevelyan
Ambitchious
HoF: Atisha Surana Champion: Alessandra Hawke Inquisitor: Evelyn Trevelyan
Andrastian
HoF: Lancey Cousland Champion: Garret Hawke Inquisitor: Camillus Trevelyan
Recovery
HoF: Esha Amell Champion: Marian Hawke Inquisitor: Ramisa Trevelyan
Other OCs
Anea (Frostbacks Dalish)
Alsen De Fiedricis (Orlesian)
Anjou Baskar (Surface Dwarf)
Ashara Valmorte (Orlesian Elf)
Atisumis Anastasio (Nevarran)
Beatrice Butters (Nevarran Elf)
Caius Gaius (Anders)
Creme (Orlesian Elf)
Eshtarylin (Tevinter)
Inan Shalelan Lavellan (Fereldan Dalish)
Lichen Baskar (Surface Dwarf)
Marel (Frostback Dalish)
Milena "Greenie" Gundaar (Surface Dwarf)
Mooralya (Anders Elf)
Petunia Sataa (Markham Vashoth)
Rogelan Shalelan (Fereldan Dalish)
Tasi (Fereldan City Elf)
3 notes · View notes
mercyburned · 6 months
Text
⭐ROLEPLAY HISTORY .
the rules are simple: post characters you’d like to roleplay as, have roleplayed as, and might bring back. then tag ten people to do the same ( if you can’t think of ten, just write down however many you can and tag that number of people ). please repost, don’t reblog!
Tumblr media
CURRENT MUSE/S :
finn collins ( the 100 )
judy alvarez ( cyberpunk 2077 )
valerie skinner ( cyberpunk 2077 )
victoria iordanescu ( cyberpunk 2077 )
angus hawke ( dragon age )
clare cousland ( dragon age )
jowan ( dragon age )
margo hawke ( dragon age )
nelaros ( dragon age )
sahar alami ( dragon age )
thea carlisle ( dragon age )
byleth eisner ( fire emblem: three houses )
ferdinand von aegir ( fire emblem: three houses )
hilda valentine goneril ( fire embleem: three houses )
sylvain jose gautier ( fire emblem: three houses )
eula lawrence ( genshin impact ; tester )
kaeya alberich ( genshin impact )
kreta / fakebedo ( genshin impact )
lumine ( genshin impact )
raiden shogun ( genshin impact )
thoma ( genshim impact )
gepard landau ( honkai: star rail ; tester )
seele ( honkai: star rail ; tester )
stelle ( honkai: star rail )
WANT TO WRITE :
idk ! recommend someone to me.
HAVE WRITTEN :
clarke griffin ( the 100 )
maya vie ( the 100 )
christina carver ( divergent series )
10th doctor ( doctor who )
rose tyler ( doctor who )
rory williams ( doctor who )
sarah jane smith ( doctor who )
aerynn ( dragon age )
anders ( dragon age )
aveline ( dragon age )
dagna ( dragon age )
daveth ( dragon age )
faryn durik ( dragon age )
fergus cousland ( dragon age )
glynnie tabris ( dragon age )
leanne trevelyan ( dragon age )
ruvhen aeducan ( dragon age )
ryker foscari ( dragon age )
sigolène ( dragon age )
sigrun ( dragon age )
cherche ( fire emblem awakening )
gaius ( fire emblem awakening )
lucina ( fire emblem awakening )
sumia ( fire emblem awakening )
lapis ( fire emblem: engage )
yunaka ( fire emblem: engage )
corrin ( fire emblem fates )
subaki ( fire emblem fates )
alois ( fire emblem: three houses )
annette fantine dominic ( fire emblem: three houses )
dorothea arnault ( fire emblem: three houses )
linhardt von hevring ( fire emblem: three houses )
ignatz victor ( fire emblem: three houses )
squall leonhart ( final fantasy 8 )
jon snow ( game of thrones )
robb stark ( game of thrones )
theon greyjoy ( game of thrones )
amber ( genshin impact )
hu tao ( genshin impact )
yanfei ( genshin impact )
kaveh ( genshin impact )
march 7th ( honkai star rail )
ichabod crane ( sleepy hollow )
probably a lot more that i don't remember
a lot of fandom OCs or fandomless OCs
...and this list is just from tumblr going back to, like, 2013.
WOULD WRITE AGAIN :
aerynn
anders ( maybe )
dagna
glynnie
robb stark
theon greyjoy
lapis ?
TAGGING :
i stole it from @avaere !
2 notes · View notes
serenebeasts · 2 years
Text
hello and welcome to me bandwagoning a fic ask meme LOL
depending on length some of my fills might wind up on AO3 as well, so there's the link to that just in case.
i don't want to. over-outline? what all i would like to get requests for, because despite appearances i am in fact a multi-fandom writer, but i might need to embarrass myself for one second to give y'all a chance at asking for something i can actually deliver on, so. apologies in advance for the following list:
(Paragade Earthborn sole survivor) Aspen Shepard / Garrus Vakarian
(Purple rogue) Roisin Hawke / Fenris
(Rogue) Catriona Cousland / Zevran Arainai
(fem) Byleth Eisner / Sylvain Gautier
(fem) Robin / Gaius
(Rogue Technical fem) Oribel de Sardet / Vasco
(OC) Casey / Guzma
(fem) Hunter Zeina Tarrow / Alkar Cassian / Omen Morningstar
and to cap it off, i'd like to think i can do justice to just about all the Redacted characters, so of course them too.
this is absurdly involved, my reason is it's 10pm, i'm sorry
3 notes · View notes
stuffeddrawer · 3 months
Text
I Didn't Ask For This
Rating: Mature TW: Character Death, PTSD, Survivor's Guilt, mentions of body horror, hurt no comfort Fandom: Dragon Age Word Count: 1902
MDNI
Tumblr media
⁽ᵖᵒˢᵗ ᵈᶦᵛᶦᵈᵉʳ ⁻ ᵃˢᵐᵒᵈᵉᵘˢ⁻ᵖˢᵈ⁾
This isn’t what I wanted!
Gaius fell to his knees at the sight of his home on fire, knowing everyone inside was dead, his parents included. He could hear his mabari, Ronan, whining and begging for his attention when all Gaius could do was stare hopelessly at his burning home. It was like he could feel the heat of the flames from even here, burning deep down into the depths of his chest, licking at his lungs and curling up and twisting in his veins until all he could see was fire. He didn’t even realise he’d been crying until Ronan licked at his face to grab his attention.
“It’ll take us two weeks… to…” Duncan’s words trailed off when he heard a lack of following footsteps. He turned to see the youngest Cousland on his knees, slack-jawed at the sight of his home on fire. Duncan’s heart ached at the sight – it wasn’t an every day occurrence that one’s home was ripped out from under their feet and their life turned upside down. In a way, Duncan could relate, but he had Genevieve to thank for that. It was just a shame that he couldn’t use her words of wisdom for Gaius now.
Gaius continued to stare blankly at his home, tears still falling down his face like waterfalls and unable to move. Ronan whined next to him, trying to get him to move, to just snap out of it, if only to survive until Ostagar.
“Your parents wouldn’t want their sacrifice to be in vain, Gaius.” Duncan said, his low voice almost snapping Gaius out of the trance he’d found himself in.
I lost everything. My home, my mom, dad. I lost my oldest friend. I should have fought harder, should have stayed behind with Gilmore. I should have-
“Gaius, we need to move. Now.” Duncan ordered, tugging Gaius to his feet and urging the man to move. Gaius was barely lucid, but Duncan was able to hear that some of Howe’s soldiers had begun their march along the roads, ensuring no one survived the fire and no one could spin stories.
Gaius knew he wasn’t an easy kid – he knew raising him was difficult. When he was in his later teen years, closer to eighteen, he’d slip out and head to the brothels, masking himself to be someone else for a few hours before heading back home, drunk and smelling of cheap perfume and instantly getting yelled at by his mother for making her worry.
He might have hated living in the castle, but it certainly didn’t mean he wanted it burnt down.
If I had just stopped being such a damn fool…
The first night was the worst.
Duncan was kind enough to set up a fire for them, kept an eye on him, but it took Gaius longer than he liked to fall asleep.
Even after he’d fallen asleep, Gaius could still feel the lick of the flames on his skin, the intense heat of it all, he could still hear the screams and cries of the fallen. He could still taste the ash on his tongue. The sight of his home burning down before his eyes was so vivid that when he’d jumped up to wake himself out of a nightmare, he couldn’t tell if he was really awake. He’d woken himself up, staring at the fire and felt a fresh wave of hurt and grief wash over him.
The loss he’d gone through was still so new, and it didn’t surprise Duncan in the slightest that this young man was struggling. He just wished he knew what to say.
Gaius forced himself to keep his sobs as quiet as he could, though his shoulders shook with each heavy breath he took.
The remainder of the journey to Ostagar was painfully quiet. Gaius barely spoke beyond simple responses. He found himself flinching whenever Duncan lit a torch and he hated himself for it. He needed to steel himself, he couldn’t fall any deeper into this pit he’d dug himself. Gaius still blamed himself; he knew he should have fought harder, should have taken the fight directly to Howe for his betrayal.
“I should have stayed behind.” Gaius finally spoke, one final sleep away from Ostagar. It had gotten colder, and Gaius clutched his heavy fur cloak to him tightly. He refused to get anywhere near the fire Duncan had built, and he could swear he still felt the heat of it on his skin.
“You would have died alongside your parents.” Duncan calmly explained, tending to the fire. He poked and prodded at a few logs, ensuring he got the most of the heat. “You’re shivering.”
“I could have made a difference. I could have saved them. I could have—”
“Gaius, you would have been stuck in the same room as your father and your mother. No one else would be able to tell Fergus what had happened if you had died.” Duncan continued, his voice a bit sharper. He could see the spiral Gaius landed himself into, and he visibly saw the change he’d gone through. When Duncan first arrived at Castle Cousland, he’d seen Gaius as someone carefree and charismatic and charming. Now, that same man was a recluse, refusing to talk, refusing to join in on conversation. It was concerning, even for Duncan.
“Your parents begged for you to survive, to stake your claim and make something with your life.” He continued, staring right at the rogue over the flames in front of him. “It is your duty to follow through with it, to ensure their stories aren’t forgotten and that you live.”
Gaius was silent, looking away almost in shame before anguish took over his sharp features again. Duncan ignored the gentle quiver to Gaius’ lip, allowing him a moment of silence. He was about to speak up before Gaius spoke before he did.
“I don’t know how.”
“You’ll figure it out. After the stories I heard from the servants at the castle, you were quite the cunning man, sneaking out past the guards late into the night. Someone as subtle as you, as smart and resourceful as you, will find out how to make it past all this.” Duncan said, looking away and poking at the fire again. “If not for yourself, then at least for Fergus.”
Gaius shut his eyes tight, willing the tears away. He had to stop crying, had to stop wallowing in misery. He had to start moving again, before it swallowed him whole.
Ostagar was an odd sight – it looked abandoned from Gaius’ view and Duncan’s information on how there were few Grey Wardens made him understand why it looked so deserted.
He didn’t bother to pay attention to the man in shining gold armour, clocking in long after the meeting that he’d basically ignored the king in favour of becoming more lost within the deep spiraling of his mind, the afternoon sun hitting the breastplate in a way that nearly blinded everyone. Gaius barely held back the flinch as that feeling washed over him again, something he knew he had to work on. He felt disgusted, repulsed even by his own skin, like even if he’d clawed and ripped the flesh from his body, he’d still feel that fire licking in his veins, sobbing for people who were ash.
As time went on, Gaius would grin and bear the cold if it meant he didn’t have to go anywhere near fire. He grew more and more resentful of even living, angry and wondering why he was the Maker’s punching bag.
He remembered what Mallol told him, that everything happened according to the Maker’s will, but Gaius’ resentment only grew. He fought like he didn’t have a care in the world, throwing himself into fights that damn near killed him. Ostagar nearly killed him and he was angry that it didn’t.
For weeks after the battle of Ostagar, Gaius was slowly recovering, though he was still refusing to go near the fire. Even from his spot, he could still smell… whatever it was that Alistair had thrown into the pot.
Must have used lamb – Ronan loves lamb.
He peered over his shoulder, looking at the small group of people he’d met. He couldn’t quite tell what Morrigan was doing, but he could feel her gaze on his back, though it wasn’t hostile. Alistair seemed to be fighting a losing battle with keeping his bowl to himself, Ronan pawing at the man’s arms every other minute and whining as if he was starved. Poor beast. He didn’t quite notice what the others were doing, his gaze slowly moving back towards the fire in the middle of camp.
He could still feel the heat, could still taste the ash on his tongue, the debris coating his throat, could still fell that overwhelming guilt at being the only one who survived. He couldn’t find his brother at Ostagar and was forced to accept that perhaps Fergus had died. He didn’t want to believe he was the only one left, didn’t want to feel so fucking alone.
“Gaius.” He could hear a voice shouting for him – Alistair? “Gaius! Come join us, you look freezing over there.”
Gaius stood, but he slowly and almost haltingly made his way towards the fire, like it would jump out at him and swallow him whole. He ignored the panic as he got closer, hiding how his hands began to fidget, fingers picking at the seams of his gloves and threatening to ruin them.
Unfortunately, Alistair noticed, his brows furrowing in confusion, watching Gaius closely as he sat next to the blond. “What’s wrong? You look tense, and you’re…” His amber gaze darted between Gaius and the fire. “Glaring at the fire as if… it…”
“Fire took my family.” Gaius’ answer was curt and quick, and he missed how Alistair’s face shuttered, brows raising and a sad look plastered on his face. “Well, Arl Howe took my family, but… The fire made it so I can’t even give them a proper burial. I can’t even go back; Howe might actually finish the job and make sure I’m dead.”
“And they couldn’t find your brother.” Alistair sighed, the pieces falling into place for him. “No wonder you seemed distracted when we were in the Korcari Wilds.”
Gaius hummed, answering without really saying anything for a long moment. “I never asked for this… Sure no one here has, but even though I ran off often, whoring myself and drinking until I was blacked out and hauled back to the castle by guards who couldn’t look me in the eye, it didn’t…” Gaius’ voice cracked, more tears threatening to spill the longer he stared into the flames.
He could have sworn it licked at him again, could have sworn they were under his nails, in his veins, poking and prodding its way free until all that remained of Gaius was ash and armour. He felt so hot, yet at the same time, so completely and irrevocably numb. He wanted to scream and shout and cry how it wasn’t fair that he got to live when the others died.
“I should have died with them – if I had just snuck away when Duncan’s back was turned and tried to fight back, tried to make a final stand… I should have fought back against Howe; I never asked for this.”
5 notes · View notes
leeebo · 5 years
Text
God i just
Love my Warden so much
2 notes · View notes
leeebo · 6 years
Link
so here it is again, my fic, and honestly? I like how it ended. 
Gaius deals with Alistair’s loss the same way he dealt with the loss of his family - getting drunk. Or he attempts to. His anger proves to be too much for the alcohol to cut through, and instead, he talks things out with Adralan and despite everything, begins to think of Adralan as a friend. 
Want to read more about what happens, after their discussion and before Halamshiral? Click the link! (Fenris also makes an appearance, just so you know) ((gaius also gets his ass kicked by cullen)) 
2 notes · View notes
leeebo · 6 years
Text
even tho yohei and gaius are like 
10+ years older than me
they’re still my children and i will mom them 
even if they dont have a mom anymore
3 notes · View notes
leeebo · 6 years
Text
Tumblr media
OC INFO MEME  /  Gaius Cousland
So I saw @maelacri​ do this and kinda wanted to do it too owo
I think I’ll tag @shin-so @faith-sama-boi @sunstarmonster and anyone/everyone who want’s to shout about their ocs!
BASICS:
Full name: Gaius William Cousland
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Pansexual
Pronouns: He/Him
OTHER:
Family: Bryce Cousland (dead) - Father, Eleanor Cousland (dead) - Mother, Fergus Cousland - Brother, Oriana Cousland (dead) - Sister-in-law, Oren Cousland (dead) - Nephew, Kieran - Son.
Birthplace: Highever, Ferelden.
Job(s): Warden Recruit (former), Warden Commander, Inquisition Agent.
Phobias: Fire, failure, abandonment. 
Guilty pleasures: Alcohol, meaningless flirtations, hoarding boots (Leliana’s fault)
Hobbies: Swordplay, archery, reading, being a parent, working out.
MORALS:
Morality alignment: Neutral Good.
Sins: Pride
Virtues: Loyalty, Commitment, Assertiveness
THIS-OR-THAT
introvert / extrovert
organized / disorganized
close-minded / open-minded
calm / anxious / restless
disagreeable / agreeable / in between
cautious / reckless / in between
patient / impatient
outspoken / reserved
leader / follower / flexible
empathetic / unempathetic
optimistic / pessimistic / realistic
traditional / modern / in between
hard-working / lazy
RELATIONSHIPS:
OTP: With Morrigan
Acceptable ships: Gaius x Leliana, Gaius x Dorian, or Gaius x Alistair
OT3: nah, i don’t think so
BroTP: Adralan Lavellan, Dorian, Bull, Alistair, Cassandra, Zevran
NOTP: Josephine (there’s too much of a difference between these two), Anora, Vivienne (i would think)
3 notes · View notes
leeebo · 6 years
Note
Wife. I challenge you to describe your top three favorite OCs of your own creation in 5 words or less (each).
Game on.
Yohei Hatake: tired, horny, drunk, emotionally constipated
Harper de Aviles: badass pirate, angry, intimidating, loud
Gaius Cousland: dumbass, egotistical, dad, goof, ohmygodjustfuckingsleepalready
1 note · View note
leeebo · 6 years
Photo
Tumblr media
I was tagged by the super talented @elidoo to say 5 facts about my oc, so I decided to keep it DA related and use Gaius~ (thanks, love!! ❤️)
1- He hates negotiating, and finds it better to finish debates with a duel of some kind. A typical Fereldan, despite being a Teyrn’s son.
2- During the time between Origins and Inquisition, he and Leliana would send letters, and she, without fail, would comment on how long it took her to “decipher his handwriting”.
3- He’s prideful and egotistal, but after the Blight had ended, he mellowed out to the point of complacent and indifferent about almost everything. By the time of Inquisition, he’s angry and stubborn, yet he takes the blame for what the Wardens did.
4- He encourages Ronan, his mabari, to sneak little knickknacks and do-dads into Morrigan’s pack. Things of the arcane she might find interesting, or things that might remind her of him. Or perhaps a gag gift she throws out after a “guffaw”.
5- He’s not a morning person by any means. He hates getting up early and hates being woken up. Even if he’s told “Get up in five”, he takes it to meaning five hours instead of minutes. The man will not get up that fast, and absolutely refuses to do so.
Tagging @sanitys-rebellion, @faith-sama-boi (lemme know all the stuff about takuma I’m love him❤️) @dantecain and literally anyone else who has an oc and wants to say a few things about them!! :D
4 notes · View notes
leeebo · 6 years
Link
It’s up, and it’s 5225 words. It has to be my longest chapter yet for this fic.
i also apologise for mobile users who have to scroll through so fucking much of this, but i’m still really proud!
The word spread like wildfire through the barracks. Gaius felt as if he was facing his worse fears, knowing this was where everything would unfold. The location of where all this was taking place, where they would have to take this Erimond man down.
“How are you holding up? Are you ready to leave?” Leliana’s voice was rushed.
“Fine, and no, if I’m being honest.” Gaius made sure his swords were strapped to his back tight enough, so they wouldn’t fall off, but loose enough, so that he could breathe. “Nothing’s where I put it, and everything’s falling apart, and even though I’ve been wanting to get this settled, I don’t know if I want to continue doing this.”
Leliana was silent.
“What?” Gaius shot her a look, tightening his boot straps.
“You said that exact same phrase during the Blight.”
“Maker’s Breath, you remember what I said ten years ago?” He couldn’t help but laugh. “What an awesome memory you have.”
“I also know that you left for Highever last week. How is it? How’s Fergus?” Leliana halted herself. “I mean, Teyrn Cousland?”
Gaius laughed. “No need to correct yourself, he’s still the same stubborn oaf as he was back then. A few extra grey hairs here and there, a new family, but he’s still stubborn.” Gaius grinned as he straightened out his armour. “I won the sparring match, by the way.” He tried to brush aside the fact that he felt like he was intruding in on someone else’s family when he returned home. No one knew him, no one’s faces looked familiar. He felt like an outlier.
Leliana laughed, her brilliant smile all but illuminating the room. “I figured you would. Between the two, you’ve always been the quicker one.”
“Maker, I know, right?” Gaius walked down the stairs with her, laughing. He couldn’t help but worry about this situation. He’d have to fight his comrades in arms. He’d have to fight with some of the recruits he’s trained before he went “missing”. What if Velanna was there? Nathaniel? Sigrun?
“Relax, Gaius.” Leliana’s voice rang out above the song. “You and Alistair will be fine.”
“Yes,” He tried convincing himself. “We’ll be fine.”
- - -
His eyes couldn’t leave the damage they were inflicting. He couldn’t believe it. All of his comrades have been brainwashed into thinking that blood magic was the correct way to do things.
He watched as a trebuchet threw a boulder at a weak point in Adamant’s walls, the Commander standing just in front of the trebuchet itself. Inquisition soldiers were trying their damnedest to get inside for the Inquisitor. After Adralan, Dorian, Bull, and Varric had gotten in, Hawke, Alistair, and Gaius were to follow, providing back up.
Gaius felt his muscles burn as he ran in with Alistair and Hawke next to him.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Gaius?!” Alistair shouted his name over the fighting.
“Honestly, no, but I need to do it soon!” Gaius kicked up sand with every step, occasionally feeling a few grains of it hit his face.
Once they managed get in, a squad of Warden Mages were waiting with their pet demons. Gaius held no strong love for mages, but he still was opposed to controlling them. Let them have their own lives, don’t control them. It’s simple, but people always want more power.
Gaius’ sword and dagger sang as they attacked the rage demon headed for Hawke, slicing it down as fast as possible, moving swiftly to the mage that summoned said demon.
“Forgive me…” Gaius was certain that no one else could hear him, and he hoped no one did. He thrust his weapons through the defenceless man in front of him, feeling the weight of him pressing down on him, the blood gushing over his gloved hands.
Pushing the now dead Warden off his weapons, he made for another target. His feet were now smacking the fallen sandstone of the fortress. As he was attacking one of the many mages here, a second one sent a ball of strong energy at his back, sending him flying away from the mage he intended to attack.
His ears were ringing as his body crashed against the nearest wall, letting out a sharp yelp as a jolt of pain shot through his whole body. As if for comical relief, he slid down the wall, his body turning slightly so he pressed against his right shoulder. He pushed off the wall to return the favour, feeling a warm liquid trickle down below his nose. A quick swipe under it proved to be blood.
Gaius figured using his smoke bomb would work, yet their demons were still alerted to his position, the sand kicking up with every footstep wasn’t helping either.
His armour felt almost too heavy by the time the fighting was over. Sweat dripped from his chin, blood dripped from his nose, and he was just getting started. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Hawke running off, hopefully towards the battlements to assist with the fighting.
“Pull back, they’re through!!” A Warden shouted from one of the battlements. Looking up, Gaius saw an orange glint from the silver of his armour. Gaius smacked himself for being so slow to recognize that it was fire.
“Alright, Inquisitor,” The Commander walked up to the tiny elf. I swear, he was born with that scowl. “You have your way in. Best make use of it.”
Good. Now where the hell is Clarel?
“We’ll keep the main host of demons occupied for as long as we can!” Cullen shouted above the fighting.
“I’ll be fine, just keep the men safe!” Adralan shouted back. It was hard to hear anything beside the noises.
“We’ll do what we have to, Inquisitor.” Cullen paused for a moment to look between Gaius and Alistair. “The Wardens will guard your back! Hawke is with our soldiers on the battlements; she’s assisting them until you arrive! You, Warden!” Cullen turned his attention to Gaius.
“What?”
“Keep the Inquisitor safe! I know you did so back in Crestwood, so I’m trusting you to keep him safe again!”
“Sure thing, Cullen!” Gaius gave the commander a thumbs-up, and the total informality of it made the man irritated and confused as to who this Warden was.
In front of Gaius, a soldier had been thrown off the battlements. Noticing the silver of their armour, he ran over to them, getting to them just as their body met the ground. Wincing and kneeling, Gaius tore the man’s helmet off, trying to get a look at his face. Not Nathaniel, not anyone else… Good…
“Agh, there’s too much resistance on the walls. Our men on the ladders can’t get a foot hold! If you can clear out the enemies on the battlements, we’ll cover your advance!” His voice carried out louder than the fighting around them. Gaius walked back to Adralan, who was gripping his bow like it was his lifeline.
“By the Maker and the Creators, keep the Inquisition soldiers safe…” Adralan whispered, just so Gaius could barely catch what he said, and walked past, breaking into a run.
Screams and shouts echoed throughout the fortress. At this point, he preferred the false Calling to the screams. As much as he tried to ignore it, one piercing scream here, or one roar from a demon there would always make his mind snap back.
“Rrraah!!” One of the warrior Wardens ran up to attack Adralan as he turned a corner.
“Look out!” Gaius ran in, his swords crossing over another blocking the blow meant for the elf. “Think, Soldier!” Gaius shouted at the Warden, grey eyes staring deep into fresh – yet terrified – emeralds. “Use your brain! You might be scared, but you know this isn’t right!!”
“Warden… Commander?” The boy’s voice lessened some of its previous anger.
“Yes, that’s right.” He’d hoped he was getting through to the boy. “Put down your weapons against us, Warden. We are not here to fight you, only to get to Clarel.”
“Aye, but she did order me to stop the Inquisition.” The boy thought he could outsmart Gaius by having his spare hand reach for his dagger strapped to his back.
His movements were frantic, grabbing for the offending hand before it pierced through the weak spot in his armour. Gaius’ breaths were rapid as he held the boy’s hand, snapping his wrist to force him to drop the dagger. As his sword hand dropped, Gaius’ own raised as he twirled the blade around in his hand, slicing his blade to the right, drawing it over the boy’s throat. He watched as the life left his eyes, the anger, the fear. The boy’s last breath sounded like a Chantry bell, loud and clear, and shaking time itself. Why is this just now affecting me?
The young Warden dropped like a stone in front of Gaius, the area free from any further attacks for the moment.
It felt as if Gaius swallowed a stone as he forced himself to keep up with Adralan and the others.
“Stay back!” He heard another Warden shout. “We want no part in this!” He defended himself against an attack from a Rage demon, quickly turning his attention to one of the Mage Wardens.
“We’re on your side!” Alistair responded, assisting in killing the mage.
Gaius threw another smoke bomb on the ground, using his stealth to sneak around the battlefield to get to one of the mages that had tip-toed away from the fight. He’d hoped, when he drew his blade across the mage’s throat, that the mage would whisper “Thank you”; alas, his hoping went ignored as the mage fell before him, resting in a pool of his own blood.
“Just stay back!” The Warden shouted again.
“The inquisition is here to stop Clarel, not kill Wardens!” Adralan shouted back. His grip on his bow was tight, tight enough that Gaius feared the elf would snap it in half. “Please, fall back and get to safety!”
“Alright.” The Warden was quick to comply with Adralan’s demand. If anything, Gaius was impressed that this warden went along so quickly. “My men and I wanted nothing to do with this. Keep pressing forward. Clarel should be just ahead.”
“Nice work, Inquisitor,” Alistair pulled Adralan aside once they were out of earshot from the other wardens. “I’m glad some of them could be reasoned with.”
As the group pressed forward, it took Gaius a moment to realise that Alistair wasn’t with him, that he’d stayed behind with the other wardens.
“Having to put your fellow Wardens to the sword,” Dorian muttered next to Gaius as they pressed forward towards the battlements. “I can’t imagine that it feels grand.”
“No,” Gaius sighed. “No, it really doesn’t.” He’d be lying if a few faces didn’t look familiar. After the events of Amaranthine, Gaius had met with a few of the Orlesian wardens, updating them on what had happened. He’d trained with them and fought with them. And now he was killing them. “Honestly, I feel like a traitor…”
Dorian was silent, unable to offer support. He had to have known what it felt like.
The roar of a Pride demon, once the group made their way to another part of the battlements, stopped Gaius cold in his tracks. He hadn’t seen one up this close before. Oh, I wonder why I didn’t just stay in Highever…
“Let’s take out those demons, quickly!” Dorian called. His voice was just barely louder than the sounds of the fighting, the screams of the wounded. Thankfully, it was just enough to snap Gaius out of his thoughts.
The pride demon’s laughter made shivers trail down Gaius’ spine. He’d never heard one laugh before.
“I guess no matter how many adventures you’ve had,” Gaius spoke up, slicing a demon down. “You’ve always got room to hear that chilling laugh of a pride demon!” Gaius shouted. He arced his blade up, cutting a shade almost in half. Just when he thought his sword had gotten caught in… the body of it, the shade disappeared.
“You’ve never fought one?” Dorian asked, twirling his staff above his head and slamming the blade down hard on the ground. Ice erupted from around the pride demon’s feet, attempting to slow it down.
“I have, once, but that was ten years ago, and it was an abomination.” Gaius answered, remembering the fight with Uldred. He ran in and sliced low at the demon’s… ankles. He wasn’t even sure if demons had ankles, but he sliced at where they would be if demons had ankles.
The demon stomped in anger, sending Gaius, Iron Bull and Alistair back a few paces. He’d heard Hawke shout, anger seeping through her lips like slobber does from a mabari’s mouth. “Blood mages! It’s always blood mages!”
Gaius dared a quick glance around at the small field, noticing that a Warden was approaching Hawke from behind. “Behind you!” Gaius shouted at her, dashing to intercept the attack that was meant for her. Sparks flew as the Wardens’ blades collided, the faint glow of Starfang illuminating the fear on the Orlesian Warden’s face. “You’re being tricked!” Gaius shouted at him, hoping to shout some sense into the man.
“Lies! We will stop all future Blights!”
“With the help of a darkspawn – the very thing you’re sworn to destroy! Your comrades who are mages?! They aren’t your friends anymore!” Gaius countered.
“I believe in Clarel!” The man’s focus shifted from Gaius’ blades to his waist, attempting to slice him in half.
The force of his attack sent shivers down Gaius’ spine, once their swords collided. He was in a sticky situation, one where if he made one foul move, his arm wouldn’t be there for much longer. His grip was slick on the hilt of his blade, threatening to slip from his grasp. His left hand had been holding onto his opponent’s hand, making sure the dagger in it didn’t come slicing through Gaius’ eye.
C’mon, think, think, think! Use your… Your head! He’d regret it in the morning, but Gaius slammed his head against the Warden’s own, rattling his brain – it felt. Thanking the Maker for this stupid idea, Gaius quickly recovered from his awkward stance and thrust both his swords through the Warden’s chest, quickly kicking him off and turning his attention to the Pride Demon.
It looked as if it was slowing down, thank the Maker, but every attack was just as devastating as the last. Gaius felt as if his swords were ineffective, sticks against a hunk of metal.
In one moment, he blinked, and in the next, the demon fell, defeated.
“Nice one, Warden!” Bull shouted across the field, his grin plastered across his face, thumb up in clear approval.
What did I do? Gaius couldn’t remember what he’d done, or how the demon had fallen.
Adralan dared a glance at the Warden-Commander, noticing how blank his stare was. He’d watched the man climb up the demon, trip, and slice down the demon’s throat. His blank stare turned into that of confusion, of concern. He’d no idea what he’d done, or how much of a life saver it was.
“Inquisitor!” Hawke shouted at the elf. Her mabari looked around, sniffing here and there before glancing up at Adralan. “Always a pleasure!”
“Good work!” Adralan responded. His heart felt like it was in his throat – felt as if far too many lives depended on him. “Stay with my soldiers and see that they survive this!”
“I’ll keep the demons off them as best I can!” Hawke agreed. Her footwork was as fast as ever, running off in the direction closest to the bulk of the Inquisition’s soldiers.
“I suggest we keep moving,” Dorian began. “Soldiers get tired – demons not so much!”
The thought of more soldiers dying because Adralan took too long to move his damn feet was enough prompting to get him to move. His heart was racing and felt worry flow through him like water would flow down a stream.
“Warden!” Adralan shouted at Gaius as the group started to move. They were getting closer to Clarel - they had to have been. He’d been standing there, unmoving and silent. Had he really blacked out completely?
Adralan noticed his nose scrunching, noticed how the Calling was slowly getting to him. Breaking his strides towards Clarel, he ran towards Gaius, placing a hand on his arm.
Gaius all but jumped when he felt that light touch. He… He killed that demon? How? Had he been able to lower its defences that much? His eyes were wide as he glanced down to his left, finding the elf scowling at him.
“I did call for you,” Adralan muttered before running off.
Gaius chose to ignore the look of concern in the Inquisitor’s eyes. Adralan had no time to worry about a warden like him. “Right,” He mumbled, turning in the direction of the group. “Of course, you did. I had to have zoned out… Apologies, Inquisitor.” His voice sounded animated, empty. Like there was such a loss of life it seemed impossible for Dorian to resurrect.
Adralan ran through the keep, finding a window with a… “Maker…” Her heard Gaius mutter behind him.
“That’s one big rift, boss.” Bull continued.
“I noticed,” Adralan tried to finish these painfully obvious mentions. “We need to keep moving – we’re almost there.”
*          *          *
Adralan put all his weight against a nearby door, just knowing Clarel was on that other side. It had taken them a long time to get here, but here they were, with Alistair and Hawke walking closely behind.
As the group walked in, they noticed just how many Wardens were under the influence that they were able to pre-empt the blight by stopping the Archdemons before they wake. It was a foolish plan, and a plan that could only end in more bloodshed than they were willing to spill. Gaius knew this to be true.
Gaius’ blood ran cold as he watched Clarel slice a Warden’s throat, the elf falling at her feet. Who looks at this and says “Good idea!”?! Gaius was fuming by the time the group had been noticed, the heat doing much of the work itself. Despite it being nighttime in the desert, it was still hot, hotter still from the blood boiling in Gaius’ veins. Was Alistair thinking the same thing? Or is he still ready to excuse this kind of behaviour?
“Stop them!” The same magister from the Ritual Tower shouted, pointing at the Inquisitor’s group. “We must complete the ritual!”
Adralan held up a hand to his group to keep them from advancing with him. Either he was stupidly brave, or bravely stupid, and Adralan wasn’t sure which one he felt he was. He’d hoped he could handle this without having to rely on his bow.
Gaius tugged at his cloak, the wind doing much the same. It begged him to take it off, the heat demanded that the cloak be taken off so that he could cool, and to demand that Clarel step down. Eventually, he gave in to the temptation, raising his hand to the clasp at his throat, feeling it loosen under his fingers, and feeling it lift from his shoulders and into the winds above them.
Eventually, but not now.
The Wardens guarding the giant rift behind them advanced just as Adralan did. “Clarel, if you complete this ritual, you’re doing exactly what Erimond wants!” Adralan’s voice carried over the wind and to the Orlesian Warden-Commander.
“What,” Erimond began, already starting to twist what Adralan was trying to say. “Fighting the Blight? Keeping the world safe from darkspawn?! Who doesn’t want that?!” He shouted, flinging his arms about like a child would if they were upset that their mother said no. “And yes, the ritual requires blood sacrifice. Hate me for that if you must, but do not hate the Wardens for doing their duty!”
“We make the sacrifices no one else will. Our warriors die proudly for a world that will never thank them!” Clarel argued.
“And then he binds your mages to Corypheus!” Alistair finally shouted at her.
“Corypheus…? But he’s dead…” Clarel mumbled, already in doubt.
Gaius took a step further, releasing the clasp on his cloak, allowing it to flow free from his throat. “I can assure you, Clarel, that Corypheus is very much alive.”
“It’s the Hero of Ferelden…” A few wardens muttered, taking a few paces back. It was clear they were unwilling to fight the Warden that ended the most recent Blight – albeit a blight that had ended ten years ago.
“These people will say anything to shake your confidence, Clarel.” Even at this distance, Gaius could still hear Erimond trying to convince her that the Inquisitor was wrong, and that they were still in the right.
Clarel rose her left hand to her forehead, rubbing away an invisible pain, trying to make up her mind. “Bring it through,” she had come to a conclusion.
The mages advanced towards the rift, offering themselves almost as sacrifices to open this rift. Gaius felt as if ants were crawling in his boots, unable to stand still and squeamish.
Adralan advanced towards the Wardens, anger evident in his shoulders. Gaius, Alistair and Hawke followed closely behind him. Gaius watched as a few warden warriors shrank back in fear.
“Please!” Hawke started, balling her fists at her sides. “I have seen more than my fair share of blood magic! And it’s never worth the cost!”
“I helped Gaius defeat the Archdemon in Ferelden,” Alistair tried talking some sense into them. “Would you at least consider listening to me?!”
“This isn’t right, and you know it!” Gaius snarled, shaking he was so mad. “You have no idea what it’s like fighting an Archdemon, attacking by surprise or no! Stand down!”
A scream echoed through the rift, sending shivers down Gaius’ spine. Impossible in this sordid place, but it still happened. He hated being anywhere near the Fade and was eternally grateful that he wasn’t born a mage. He had respect for those who didn’t abuse their Maker-given powers and pitied those who did. The fact still stood that he was terrified of the Fade and would rather live without it.
“Be ready with the ritual, Clarel,” Erimond’s voice carried. “This demon is truly worthy of your strength.”
“Listen to me!” Adralan shouted. “I have no quarrel with the wardens! I have spared those I could! I don’t want to kill you, but you’re being used! And some of you know it, don’t you?” Adralan hoped to spare innocent wardens. They knew that the warden mages wouldn’t listen, but perhaps the warriors would stand down.
“The mages who’ve done the ritual?” The same warden Adralan had spared before spoke up. “They’re not right – they were my friends, but now they’re like puppets on a string!” He finally started to see just how dangerous this ritual really was.
“You cannot let fear sway your mind, Warden Chernoff!” Clarel cut in, making sure that her wardens weren’t about to back away from this foolish ritual.
“He’s not afraid!” Hawke shouted. “You are! You’re afraid that you’ve ordered all these brave men and women to die for nothing!”
“If this were a fight against future Blights,” Alistair continued to try reasoning with them. “I would be at your side, but it’s a lie!”
“I’ve fought and killed the Archdemon back in Ferelden, trust me! This is a ruse, and you’re being lied to!” Gaius balled his fists at his side.
Gaius saw Erimond whispering to Clarel, trying to draw her back into his web of lies. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but it was safe to assume that Clarel was backing down from this fight, that what Erimond was proposing was a ruse.
“Or perhaps I should bring in a more reliable ally...!” Erimond snarled, knowing he’d lost the help of the Grey Wardens.
“My master thought you might come here, Inquisitor!” Erimond held onto his staff, red sparks shooting out from the bottom of it. “He sent me this to welcome you!”
He slammed his staff on the stones of the podium four times, screeching in the distance evident of Corypheus’ pet dragon approaching. It flew over head of the Inquisitor’s small group, spewing out red lyrium, splitting the group into two.
Gaius dared a glance up a Clarel, landing on his shoulder. He saw how startled she was that he had all but summoned an Archdemon. His attention was snatched from her to the battlements where the dragon had landed. It snarled, causing both the Inquisiton and the Wardens to back away from it. The mage wardens didn’t seem to notice.
He heard a shout over where Clarel was. Looking in her direction, he saw that Clarel had struck Erimond from behind with a bolt of lightning. Not enough to kill, but enough to stun.
Gaius forced himself to his feet, keeping an eye on both the dragon and Clarel. Was she finally seeing how much of a danger this was?!
He watched as Clarel shot another bolt at the dragon, watched as Erimond held up a hand telling her to stop. The dragon shot a bolt of red lyrium at her, its attention on her the moment she stunned Erimond, jumping off and flying towards her and Erimond both. Once it neared them, it shot another bolt of red lyrium, dividing the two. Erimond ran off as Clarel looked back at the Wardens under her command.
“Help the Inquisitor!” She ordered as she ran off towards Erimond.
The moment between her order and when hell broke loose was the most still moment Gaius had experienced since this all began. It felt as if time stopped around him, allowing him but a moment to catch up to the events taking place this very moment. His breaths were as still as time around him, as still as Adralan’s movements, as still as the rift in front of them. It was still and it was quiet, but most of all, it was peaceful. He heard his blood pulsing through his body, felt his heartbeat, still nice and steady. His eyes were closed in peaceful contemplation, his breaths evening out as he felt time speed up again, drawing his blades and running towards yet another Pride Demon.
He was thankful this demon wasn’t as difficult to defeat as the one on the battlements – difficult nevertheless, but slightly easier.
“Dragons make things interesting!” Bull shouted, slicing down a warden mage.
“I agree – up until they’re made of red lyrium!” Gaius countered, defending himself from an attack from a shade. “Then it’s a fucking mess!”
“What about the dragon in Haven, Gaius?!”
“There was a dragon in Haven?!” Hawke shouted after Alistair.
“Ten years ago!” Gaius answered her, soon answering Alistair. “And if you’ll recall, I actually listened and didn’t touch that bloody gong!”
Bull’s laughter echoed throughout the area, over the shouts of the wardens fighting their kin.
“Which way did Clarel run off to?!” Adralan shouted over the noise.
“This way!” Gaius ran towards the spot where she ran off, hoping that there was only one way to go, and that they didn’t have to investigate as to which way she went.
Adralan and his group made their way around the keep, hiding from the Archdemon at, what felt like, every turn. Demons popped up along with wardens who tried to stop said demons, trying to clear a path for the Inquisitor and his small group of companions.
They pushed their way down the halls, slicing down as many shades as they could, making sure they were sent back to the Fade.
“Up those stairs!” Gaius shouted, using his blades to point the way. “She went that way!”
As the group rounded the corner, they saw Erimond and Clarel in a bit of a showdown before the abyss- on the bridge that held them above it.
Erimond shot off as many bolts of lightning he could at the Orlesian Warden-Commander without draining his powers too quickly.
“You!” Clarel snarled, her voice echoing in the vast area. “You destroyed the Grey Wardens!” She manifested and folded a part of the Fade in front of her, pushing it forward to knock Erimond off balance. She ran behind him after he’d fallen.
You did this yourself, Clarel.
“You did this to yourself, you stupid bitch…” Erimond growled as a rabid dog would, snapping and biting at an assailant’s ankles. He turned himself around, sitting on his hip and holding his side. “All I did was dangle a little power before your eyes, and you couldn’t wait to get your hands bloody!” He made her out to be the villain. Even in Gaius’ own eyes, while he knew he wasn’t right either, he also knew they were as wrong as he was. From his own standpoint, they were the villains in this scenario, seeing “the right side of things” from their own eyes, making themselves as the hero in this situation, arguing about a cabin while it burns down around them.
Clarel barred her teeth as would a mad lion, using as much energy as possible to blow Erimond back. He was quickly made into a groaning, trembling and smoky mess. “You could have served a new god…”
Clarel stood over him, a gleam in her eye Gaius hadn’t seen since Morrigan. “I will never serve the Blight!”
Adralan and his small group entered the vast area once it felt semi-safe to enter. Hawke and Alistair stood on either side of Gaius while Adralan’s group stuck closely behind him.
Without warning, as if the dragon was a lightning bolt, it came down, snatching up Clarel in its maw, jumping away immediately after. They watched as the dragon landed on a side of the keep, balancing itself, dangling Clarel in its mouth before tossing her aside like a child would a broken doll.
Adralan and Gaius’ movements were just as slow as the dragon’s advancement towards them. That edge sure is getting closer and closer…
There were only a certain amount of steps Gaius allowed himself to take before stopping. He didn’t want to fall backwards into the unknown behind him.
“In war, victory,” Clarel began to mutter. To him? Her eyes were plastered on him as she crawled her way towards them. “In peace, vigilance,” She fell onto her back, her eyes whispering an apology, one only Gaius could understand. He knew what she was doing.
In death,
A bolt of lightning left her hand as she disrupted the dragon’s pounce towards the group, causing it to tumble straight into the already loosened bricks of the bridge they were on. Flying away before it had the chance to fall in the…
The bridge had already started to collapse, forcing panic into Gaius’ throat. He glanced back a few times, falling, causing Alistair to turn and run towards his friend, hauling him back up, only for the both of them to drop once more. Adralan turned, immediately running for the pair of wardens who had already begun to fall into the abyss.
It felt as if his fall was never ending, and Gaius closed his eyes, bracing for death.
Sacrifice.
5 notes · View notes
leeebo · 7 years
Text
We Are Here
I wanted to write something where the companions (or as it is, just alistair) support the warden (gaius, in this case) after seeing someone more than just duncan (who alistair should have seen) in the fade.
Universe: Dragon Age, After the Circle Tower Rating: Teen Tags: death mention Words: 1180
“Fergus!” Gaius’ voice echoed.
“Little brother!” Fergus shouted, his voice carrying throughout the halls of Castle Cousland. “Welcome home! I’m assuming your hunting party went well?”
“It has, and there was a rather large bounty this time!” Gaius’ lips turned up into a smile, quick to accept his brother’s welcome.
“Welcome home, dear brother!” Oriana said, her voice as cheerful as ever. “I trust Oren had a nice time?”
“He did,” Gaius hugged his sister-in-law. “Not to worry, Oriana, Oren wasn’t hurt. He was more amazed by my bow than he was with the actual hunting part.” He laughed.
“Mother, mother!” Oren, as if saying his name was a summoning, ran in, holding up a rabbit he had caught and befriended from… Wait… “Look at what Uncle Gaius let me keep!”
There was a certain pride welling up in Gaius’ chest at being called ‘Uncle’.
“Oh, Gaius.” Fergus ushered him to the table. “Lady Delilah asked after you earlier today. I told her you would be around later this evening.”
“Where is she now?” Gaius sat, talking into his mug. His armour felt uneven on him, felt… Off. Like it didn’t belong on him. Removing his lips from the rim of the mug and looking down, he realised he wasn’t wearing the… armour he was… just wearing? He could have sworn… “Wait…” Gaius looked around. The door to the dining hall looked as if there were a thick mist around it, blocking anyone from getting in.
“What is it, little brother?” Fergus asked, taking a bite of the meat set in front of him.
“Something just… Doesn’t feel right.”
“Ah, you’ll feel better after a few drinks.” Fergus was quick to dismiss the bells going off in Gaius’ head.
“Mother! I’m done! I’m going upstairs now!” Oren’s voice cut in, breaking Gaius’ ruminations.
“Dear wife, why don’t you go with him? I have a few things I need to talk about with Gaius.”
“Of course, Fergus.” Her voice quickly became animated, rehearsed. Something certainly was not right.
“Now,” Fergus stood, his dinner practically untouched. He walked around the edge of the table, gesturing to Gaius to follow him. “You look pale, brother, are you alright?”
“Where’s Alistair?” Gaius had just remembered his friend’s name.
“Alistair…” Fergus mumbled, trying to figure out who he was talking about.
“I… Don’t know his last name, but he was with me. We were…” He halted, confronting that fog in his mind once more. It was thick and dense, pushing him back.
“Were what, Gaius?” His brother urged him to finish his sentence. “Mother and Father are waiting for us in their estate, we can’t take too long.”
“There was a tower…” Gaius pushed through the fog, unwilling to give up. The sudden realisation left his spirits crushed. This wasn’t real. It was just a dream. Fergus was missing; Oren, Oriana, Mother and Father were killed. This was all false. Gaius clenched his jaw so tight he feared his teeth would break. His eyes shut tight, remembering the pain of losing his whole family all over again, picturing the flames rising high over the castle. “Oh, I wish you were real, brother…” His voice cracked.
“What are you talking about? This is real.” ‘Fergus’ was understandably confused. He punched Gaius’ shoulder. “Feel that?” No. “You’re real, I’m real, this is all real.”
“You’re trying so desperately hard… I admire you for it… But I know my family is dead… I know my brother is missing…” Gaius muttered, his voice dark and broken. Tears fell freely from his eyes, his hands quick to thrust a blade into his ‘brother’s’ stomach. The gasp falling from this illusion’s mouth dug the metaphorical blade deeper into Gaius’ heart. “I’m sorry.” He looked into the illusion’s eyes.
“But… We’re family…” ‘Fergus’ groaned, gripping tightly onto Gaius’ arm. “You… traitor…”
“No.” Was the single thing that fell from Gaius’ lips as the illusion was shattered. “I’ll find you. The real you, Fergus.”
*           *           *
“How did you know to find us?” Alistair asked a distracted Gaius. The air was surprisingly clear for Ferelden.
“What…? Oh. I, uh… I broke free of my own illusion and talked with another dreamer that was there.” Gaius gave as clear an answer as he possibly could. The clay bowl from dinner made clinking sounds as Gaius placed it next to the fire. “You ever wonder what it would be like if you just… Stayed in the Fade…? Wondering how happy you could be with your loved ones…?”
“Where are you going with this, Gaius?” Alistair leaned back, hands pressed against the wet grass.
“Exactly what I’m proposing. If I were killed in the real world, and my mind was still in the Fade, would I still be able to be with them…?”
Alistair let out a deep sigh. “You saw how content I was, you know who the rest of us were with. We never saw yours.” Alistair waited until Gaius was looking at him to continue. “Who did you see?”
Tears threatened to fall again. Damn it, Gaius, you’ve cried enough! “I saw my family. I saw my brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew… I saw all the guards, I saw Ser Gilmore. Mother and father were still alive, the castle…” His voice cracked. “They were all alive, Alistair.” Gaius let loose a shaky breath. Don’t cry.
Alistair’s breaths were deep, placing a hand on his friend’s back. “You’ll get through this. It might seem difficult right now, maybe even bloody impossible, but you’re strong. You’re going to get through this, and you’re going to find Fergus.”
“I can still hear their screams… I can picture Oren and Oriana’s faces clear as day… Alistair, moving on seems an impossible task.” Gaius confessed. “I don’t think I can.”
“Yes, you can, Gaius. You’ll be able to.” Alistair moved so he was directly facing his friend. “You saved the rest of us, you can save yourself. This brain of yours will find a way so that you can move on.” Alistair said, poking at Gaius’ forehead. His hand moved to Gaius’ chest. “They’re all in here, they’re not gone permanently. You can move on, and it’s entirely possible.”
By now, the tears Gaius had tried so hard to hold back were falling freely, feeling his head pressed against Alistair’s shoulder. He was thankful he didn’t have his armour on, settling instead with a simple silk shirt and slacks. His sobs were muffled into his friend’s shoulder. He felt pathetic, crying like this.
“You haven’t gotten a single word of thanks or congratulations since your Joining.” Alistair’s voice rumbled through his whole body, his arms around Gaius, holding his friend as he cried. “Just fighting, death, and tragedy. If you ever need to talk, if you ever feel yourself starting to fall,” Alistair pushed Gaius off his shoulder as gently as possible, holding him steady by the shoulders. “We’re here to help you get back up. We’re here to support you. Don’t ever forget that, Gaius.”
Gaius couldn’t be more thankful to have Alistair in his life.
6 notes · View notes
leeebo · 6 years
Text
Today in Lys writes I Once Was:
“How much should Gaius drink after the events of adamant??? Should he punch adralan? What to do....... Exactly how angry should I make him??? Should he go up to Fiona at Skyhold and apologise but break down in the process???”
This concludes today’s episode of “Lys writes I Once Was”
0 notes
leeebo · 7 years
Text
haha, time to make Gaius suffer :)
0 notes