𝒂𝒎𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒉

meme / accepting @peacewept said: “ are you alright? “ for elvhenan!Dhavi?? c:

Andruil leads a party made up of Her best hunters, a display of their skills for the gods She has gathered: Falon'din and Dirthamen a matched set as always, Their followers silent as the dead, and Ghilan'nain with Her retinue of attendants. The prey of their hunt is a creature Ghilan'nain crafted specially as a gift to Andruil, specially for this purpose, designed for the Huntress' best to shine in the dappled light of the woods.

Dhavihal tries not to think about what the creature had been before, or what its meat will become after, but there is little to distract her from the thought. There are no secrets for Dhavihal to uncover here as part of her work as Lavellan—or rather, no secrets that Dirthamen's tight-lipped attendants will divulge where she can hear. Eventually, she simply meanders away from the group, unable to bring herself to play along with the game.

The jingling of the bracelets which adorn her wrists and ankles—the way they flash in the sparse sunlight, sending sparkling signals into the woods as she wanders deeper—they draw something's attention. It stalks her from between the trees, waiting for its chance, which it finds as the little halla-keeper stops to breathe in the scent of a bushel of wildflowers. It pounces and catches her in its great paws, sending her to the forest floor, but overhead, an owl shifts form into that of a woman, and Peace moves quickly, loudly, to scare the beast away.

Dhavihal sits up from where the beast attacked her, her dress torn and covered in dirt. Ama, the Huntress' messenger, turns to her and holds a hand out.

“ are you alright? “

She struggles to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her ears, but reaches to accept the help up.

"I—" Her mind is still trying to process the blurred shape of the creature as it attacked—was that Andruil's prey today?—but struggles harder to wrap around the presence of Ama. She looks down and pulls at her dress to examine her leg where the claw had struck at her. No blood dyes the pale cream of the silk, and at worst there are scrapes where she landed among the underbrush. "I'm well, I think, thank you."

A bewildered expression meets Ama's peaceful gaze.

"Were you following me?"

Her reaction is immediate, the need to assist outweighing any caution. She does her best not to scrape the animal with her claws, to not sully the prey, nor take away the thrill of the hunt from her Mistress. Enough of a scare to have the creature move on, hopefully in the Archer's path.

Her concern is then placed upon the halla-keeper; calm and studious. Curious is she to others not of her court despite Andruil's mistrust ( and oft times, aggression ) towards them. Relieved that the other is unharmed, Ama would bestow a tender smile.

❝ Oh, no… ❞   Soft breath of laughter and she gestures to where the beast ran off, no doubt being pursued by her Lady and company.  ❝ Merely watchful eyes for the Huntress. ❞  Only partly true in her tender expression. Faint sigh leaves a hush to fall within the forest save for the sounds of rustling branches in the breeze. She takes to the thicket of flowers and her smile pulls more genuine, serene and reveals the full sincerely regarding her presence away from the party. 

Yet amidst the quiet, there's a whisper. A subtle assurance of a guardian watching over you.

my original batch can be found HERE! i got all kinds of angsty and protective vibes took over, but if u think of any more that you’d like to see on the list, shoot me a DM so i can add it!

“ get behind me… ”

“ stay here. ”

“ don’t worry. everything’s going to be alright… ”

“ you shoot anyone who comes through that door who isn’t me. ”

“ when you love something, you protect it. ”

“ i’ll keep you safe. ”

“ do everything that i say, and we might both live to tell the tale of this night. ”

“ when i say run, i need you to do as i say and don’t even think about me. ”

“ get down! ”

“ close your eyes, you don’t need to see this. ”

“ why wouldn’t i save you? ”

“ it’s alright. they won’t be hurting you again… ”

“ of course i came for you… it would take far much more than that to stop me. ”

“ listen to me… i need to go back out there. but i promise you, i’ll be right back. okay? all i want you to do is stay hidden, and i’ll be back before you know it. ”

“ there’s nothing in this world nor any other, that would stop me from protecting you. ”

“ get out of here! now! ”

“ i knew you’d feel guilty; you do understand that i’d take a thousand wounds if it meant keeping you safe, don’t you? ”

“ i swear to you. as long as i’m by your side, you’ll never be harmed. ”

“ it’s my job to keep you safe, yes, but you could work with me a little to make it easier. ”

“ protecting you isn’t my duty. it’s my privilege. ”

“ who did this to you? where are they? ”

“ listen to me. i don’t think i’ll be able to buy you much time. and once i go out there, the clock starts. so the second you hear us fighting, i want you to run. as fast and as far as you can. ”

“ are you alright? “

“ can you move? “

“ why is it so difficult for you to believe that you deserve to be protected? “

“ you’re a good person. good people deserve to be safe. “

“ i’m going to protect you, now. because that’s what we do for the ones we love. we keep them safe. “

“ stay close. whatever you do, do not leave my side. “

“ i’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. no matter the cost. “

“ i’m on my way. ”

“ it’s alright… it’s okay… i’m here now. i’ve got you. ”

“ it’s all over now. don’t panic. it’s not my blood. ”

this is no chance meeting , is it , [ name ] ?

take back your homeland .

what if i were to help you reclaim it ?

that's not the worst of it .

we have another problem .

what did i tell you ? quiet as a mouse .

will you just listen ? i'm trying to tell you there's something else out there .

the bear is unpredictable , the man can be reasoned with .

come away from there , it's not natural . none of it .

it's obvious , he's under some dark spell .

you'll be safe here tonight ... i hope .

we grow in number , we grow in strength .

death will come to all .

there are others like you ?

you're running out of time .

a darkness lies upon that forest .

i would not venture there except in great need .

go now while you have the light .

this forest feels ... sick . as if a disease lies upon it .

something moves in the shadows unseen , hidden from our sight .

if our enemy has returned , we must know .

i would not do this unless i had to .

you've changed , [ name ] .

you must stay on the path . do not leave it . if you do , you'll never find it again .

is there no end to this accursed forest ?

we're going around in circles , we are lost .

the sun . we have to find the sun .

we're being watched .

they're growing bolder .

not just a thief , but a liar as well .

i myself suspect a more prosaic motive .

i have seen how you treat your friends .

you turned away from the suffering of my people .

a hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf . i'm patient . i can wait .

did he offer you a deal ?

shh ! there are guards nearby .

you were supposed to be leading us out , not further back in !

are you mad ? they'll find us .

please . please , you must trust me .

this is not a nice place to meet .

why now , [ name ] ? i don't understand .

a human sorcerer could not summon such evil .

in our blindness , the enemy has returned .

the enemy is preparing for war .

i started this . i cannot forsake them , they are in grave danger .

you want me to cast my friends aside ?

i think we've outrun the orcs .

we've no weapons to defend ourselves .

do it again , and you're dead .

what makes you think i would help you ?

no doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed .

oh , come on - enough of the niceties .

i would like to know who you are . and what you're doing in these lands .

we need food , supplies ... weapons . can you help us ?

i'd wager there are ways to enter that town unseen .

for that , you'd need a smuggler .

there was more he could have told us .

i don't care what he calls himself , i don't like him .

we don't have to like him , we just have to pay him .

i've been bled dry by this adventure ! and what have i seen for my investment ?

if you value your freedom , you'll do as i say .

folk in this town are suffering .

you'd do well to remember ; we know where you live .

it's a small town , [ name ] , everyone knows where everyone lives .

who would have the nerve to question my authority ?

you promised us weapons .

death ! that is what you'll bring upon us .

have you forgotten what happened to [ name / location ] ?

let us not be so quick to lay blame .

join us when you're healed .

[ name ] , you belong with the company .

i belong with my brother .

we have no time to wait , we're on our own .

the evil that is hidden here ... i command it reveal itself .

you have keen eyes , [ name ] .

let all those who doubted us rue this day !

i know these walls ... these halls , this stone .

i do not know what you'll find down there .

it never ceases to amaze me . the courage of hobbits .

if there is in fact a live dragon down there , don't waken it .

come , now ... don't be shy . step into the light .

there is something about you , something you carry .

there you are , thief in the shadows .

i did not come to steal from you .

do you think flattery will keep you alive ?

what else do you claim to be ?

truly , you are mistaken .

you have nice manners , for a thief and a liar .

i know the smell and taste of dwarf .

they are drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh .

did you think i did not know this day would come ?

you should leave us .

and go where ? there is nowhere to go .

the dragon , it's going to kill us .

i kill where i wish , when i wish .

my armor is iron , no blade can pierce me .

i need you to distract the guards .

time to do what , to get killed ?

yes , i'm afraid . i'm afraid for you .

you're not yourself .

the darkness is coming ... it will spread to every corner of the land .

you were only ever a means to an end .

i will not part with a single coin . not one piece of it .

your reputation precedes you .

you have no equal on this earth .

i think our little game ends here .

so tell me , thief ... how do you choose to die ?

we've given him the slip .

there may be a way out .

it's our only chance , we have to try .

i've heard tales of the wonders of elvish medicine .

that was a privilege to witness .

i will not die like this . cowering . gasping for breath .

if this is to end in fire , then we will all burn together .

perhaps it is time i paid them a visit .

this isn't their fault !

you care about them , do you ? good . then you can watch them die .

i am taking back what you stole .

you will take nothing from me .

i laid low your warriors of old . i instilled terror in the hearts of men .

this is not your kingdom . these are dwarf lands .

revenge ? revenge ?! i will show you revenge !

i am fire . i am death .

Serenity may be Andruil’s messenger, but Solas carried the will of Mythal in the broad line of his shoulders.

For all the careful nonchalance of his greeting, he marked the owl’s circuit around him with a hard, unflinching wariness in his violet eyes. Andruil, and by extension her people, were not to be trusted as a matter of course. In this, at least, he and Mythal still wholly agreed. 

Serenity shed her facade, but Solas maintained his. He set into a familiar mirror of her posture - arms laced behind his back, back straight, and the ever present tilt of his head, as if listening for a sound only he could hear. 

As much as she would like some civility, even in this restrained quality, this ever-present conflict was like a simmering pot near a smoldering hearth. Only time could tell when it all boiled over. Perhaps that's what unnerved her, the thought of these violent beginnings possibly carrying more disastrous ends.

Interesting that she never truly considered the concept of fear, even as they volleyed the question. Now, it lingered along the threads of her mind and weaved into her thoughts. It shifts something within her that she couldn't place just yet. Yet she would not let the unease reach her visage. A pillar of repose, Serenity merely gives a soft smile and the breath of a sigh.