𝔤𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔠𝔥𝔦𝔩𝔡

              (   minors   and   personals :   do   not   interact.   )

independent   and   mutually   exclusive   𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐑   𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍   based   on    headcanons   and   bbc’s   merlin   ⸺   defended   by   VESTIR,   she / her.   please   read   rules   before   interacting  !

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“   ah,   yes.   our   girls.   ”    he   tries   not   to   giggle,   remembering   the   last   time   they   called   the   two   that   ——   they   were   both   so   annoyed.   but   still,   it’s   a   funny   thought.   ed   watches   arthur’s   skillful   hands   set   lizzie   on   his   lap,   watching   the   pure   interaction   between   them.   sometimes,   he   wondered   what   arthur   was   so   worried   about.   despite   what   he   thought,   he   was   a   natural   with   his   daughter.   lizzie   adored   her   daddy.   as   arthur   sets   the   little   girl   down,   ed’s   eyes   follow   her,   watching   her   pick   up   toys   that   had   been   left   behind   in   favor   of   the   ‘ new ’   one   she’d   built   for   her   new   sibling.    “   have   you   two   decided   what   you   want   yet?   a   boy   or   a   girl?   ”    perhaps   the   subject   change   is   an   attempt   to   make   arthur   more   comfortable   ——   he   sees   how   his   body   shifts,   how   he   attempts   to   sit   a   little   taller,   to   feel   braver,   perhaps.    “   you’ve   still   got   a   few   months   to   go   until   you   find   out,   right?   have   you   gone   to   the   first   appointment?   ”

.

he   keeps   his   eyes   trained   of   his   daughter.   despite   all   the   doubts   he   feels,   she   gives   him   strength.   he   shakes   his   head   at   edmund’s   question   ⸺   they   didn’t   speak   about   things   like   that.   the   unspoken   rule   is   that   it   doesn’t   matter.   the   only   thing   they   want   is   for   everything   to   be   ok   and   everyone   to   be   healthy.   ❛  we’re   grateful   for   whichever   it   is   but   yeah,   we’ve   already   had   the   first   check   -   in.   everything’s   good.  ❜   finally,   he   pulls   his   gaze   off   lizzie   and   looks   at   edmund.

he   tries   not   to   laugh   at   lee’s   reaction   to   what   arthur   said   ——   he’s   not   my   boyfriend,   bonehead.   while   she   and   the   other   man   start   to   bicker,   ed   looks   over   at   noora   who,   despite   her   annoyance   at   arthur   and   leehra   bickering   over   something   so   tiny,   still   maintains   a   look   of   softness   while   focusing   on   arthur.   he   hates   it.   why   arthur?    well,   he’s   better   than   anders.   he   supposed.    “   i’m   sure   we   have   bad   ones   somewhere   in   this   house.   can’t   know   until   we   try   them   all,   hm?   ”    ed   asks,   kissing   lee’s   arm.    “   regardless,   sandal   knows   generally   what   kind   we   all   like.   no   bad   ones   will   be   served.   bodahn,   on   the   other   hand   .   .   .   ”    he   teases   .   .   .   catching   the   man’s   eye   as   he   returns   with   a   tray   of   glasses,   sandal   following   behind   him   holding   a   bottle.    “   can   you   do   that   fish   you   do,   bodahn?   with   some   vegetables   .   .   .   any   kind.   thank   you.   ”

.

leehra’s   reaction   earns   her   a   shit - eating   grin.   he’s   well   pleased   with   himself   ⸺   two   can   play   at   this   game,   he   thinks.   ❛  mmh,   could’ve   fooled   me   .   .   .   and   all   of   kirkwall.  ❜   he   sees   leehra’s   fingers   dig   into   edmund’s   shoulder,   eyes   shooting   daggers   at   him   before   they   settle   on   noora.   he   follows   her   gaze   to   find   her   looking   as   gentle   as   ever   and   he   wonders   if   that   softness   is   what   made   leehra   swallow   back   whatever   she   had   on   the   tip   of   her   tongue.   edmund’s   intervention   makes   him   turn   towards   him   again.   an   easy   laugh   as   he   lets   his   arm   rest   over   noora’s   chair.   ❛  is   that   a   challenge,   hawke   ?   i   think   even   isabela   would   end   up   under   the   table   with   that   much   wine.  ❜   he’s   not   worried   over   the   quality   of   the   wine   they’ll   be   given.   he’s   never   had   a   complaint.

she’s   painfully   aware   of   his   touch   on   her   knee,   the   heat   from   his   hand   obvious   against   the   cool   climate   of   the   rink.   they   were   the   last   to   go,   the   way   the   judging   went   is   what   would   determine   the   way   everything   happened   from   here   on   out.   the   direction   of   their   careers,   any   routine   they   did   in   the   future   .   .   .   she   hears   the   judge   adjust   his   microphone   and   it   nearly   causes   her   to   jump.   though   she   tries,   she   can   barely   pay   attention.   she’s   so   nervous.   she’s   never   been   this   nervous.

.   .   .   and,   with   125.9,   pendragon   and   hawke   take   first   place.

first!   her   heart   soars   as   she   hears   it.    “   oh   my   god.   ”   she’s   smiling   so   big   ——   she   turns   to   arthur,   pulling   him   into   a   tight   hug,   not   unlike   any   they’ve   ever   given   each   other   before.   this   time,   however,   she   does   something   different.   as   they   pull   back,   she   catches   herself   looking   at   his   lips.   this   was   not   unlike   anything   she’d   ever   done   ——   but   this   time,   she   leans   in,   catching   his   lips   in   a   kiss.

it   feels   like   forever   ⸺   the   waiting   is   always   an   agony ,   but   never   as   much   as   right   now.   if   they   win   today ,   it’ll   be   the   turning   point   of   their   careers ,   their   first   world   championship   win.   they   got   so   close   last   time   and   came   back   this   year   with   a   vengeance.   he   feels   his   hand   on   noora’s   knee   twitch   as   the   screen   in   front   of   them   shows   numbers   and   the   announcer   comes   on   the   speakers.   𝒉𝒆’𝒔   𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈.   is   this   right  ?   can   it   be   true  ?   he   feels   like   a   statue   until   noora’s   arm   pull   him   into   a   hug.   they   won.   they   did   it ,   all   that   hard   work   .   .   .   his   face   breaks   into   the   widest   smile   he   thinks   he’s   ever   given ,   making   his   cheeks   hurt.   ❛   noora   ⸺   ❜   noora ,   we   did   it ,   he   wants   to   say   but   his   words   are   swallowed   by   her   lips   on   his.

his   eyes   surveys   the   wilderness   in   front   of   them.   kirkwall   is   far   behind   now ,   𝑡ℎ𝑒   𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦   𝑎ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑   𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟-𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔   𝑎𝑛𝑑   𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑠   ⸺   who   knows   if   they’ll   ever   find   their   way   back   to   civilization.   would   the   world   ever   forgive   noora   hawke   for   the   crime   of   trying   to   save   a   city   from   its   centuries - old   scars   ?   he   feels   his   jaw   tighten   as   he   recalls   the   injustice.   turning   back   to   his   companions ,   his   eyes   meet   leehra’s.   he   never   thought   he’d   agree   with   noora’s   sentiment.   he   is   glad   they’re   all   together ,   even   the   wretched   mess   she   calls   her   best   friend.   quickly ,   purple   eyes   return   to   edmund ,   like   they   always   do ,   and   arthur   turns   to   noora.   his   smile   comes   easy   as   he   watches   her   gentle ,   hopeful   face.   nothing   matters   more   than   𝒉𝒆𝒓   ⸺   her   safety ,   her   happiness ,   her   survival.   he   reaches   for   her   hand   before   turning   towards   the   𝑣𝑎𝑠𝑡   𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑒   again.   ❛   we   still   need   a   direction   to   follow .   ❜   he   looks   at   noora ,   smile   set   on   his   face   and   his   hand   squeezing   hers.   ❛   which   way ,   my   lady   ?   ❜

she’s   so   focused   on   him,   the   sudden   tug   causes   noora   to   jump.   he’s   the   one   she   just   dug   an   arrowhead   from,   and   he’s   worried   about   her.   she’s   tired,   yes   ——   healing   in   any   capacity   tired   her,   especially   when   it   was   something   like   this   that   had   been   ignored   for   this   long.   she’d   been   tired   before   ——   she’d   been   strained.   what   better   cause   for   that   than   the   one   you   love?

“   i’ll   be   okay.   ”    noora   looks   up   at   him,   eyes   softening   the   longer   she   looks   at   him.   it   almost   makes   her   forget   the   things   she’d   done,   makes   her   forget   she’s   an   arishok   killer,   an   apostate   mage,   the   cause   of   most   of   the   bad   things   in   her   family.   he   made   her   feel   like   the   sun,   something   so   important   that   he   couldn’t   live   without   her.   the   sun   continued   burning,   giving   its   light   no   matter   how   long   it   worked,   and   so   would   she.    “   trust   me,   okay?   and   even   if   i   do   strain   myself,   it’s   for   you.   it’s   a   worthy   cause   to   me.   ”    her   wrist   breaks   free   from   his   hand   again,   but   this   time   it’s   more   gentle,   and   she   takes   his   hand   and   kisses   his   knuckles   tenderly.    “   if   i   feel   faint,   i’ll   stop.   i   promise.   ”    the   truth   of   it   was   that   she   would   go   into   a   week - long   coma   again   if   it   meant   he   could   be   fully   and   properly   healed.   she   wanted   him   to   be   well   and   happy.    “   are   you   feeling   better?   if   something   still   hurts,   i   can   work   on   it   more.   ”    she   murmurs,   hands   and   wrists   glowing   gold   again   as   she   works   at   the   cut   in   his   thigh.

.

❛   𝒏𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒂   .   .   .   ❜   she   slips   from   his   grasp   but ,   despite   his   injuries ,   his   hands   easily   wrap   around   her   wrists   again.   this   time ,   he   tugs   a   little   harder ,   pulling   her   up   for   their   eyes   to   be   level ,   her   hands   far   away   from   his   wound.   he   feels   a   small   amount   of   blood   pool   around   the   newly   cut   up   skin   on   his   thighs   but   he   doesn’t   care   ⸺   he’s   survived   this   far ,   he   won’t   collapse   now.   ❛   𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑   𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 .   there’s   no   cause   less   worthy   than   me   to   strain   yourself   for .   i’m   not   about   to   die .   if   i   was ,   i   would’ve   done   so   already .   ❜   gently ,   he   lets   his   arm   wrap   around   her   waist   to   keep   her   in   place ,   right   there   between   his   legs   and   against   his   chest.   if   he   were   to   die ,   𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡   𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟   𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒   𝑎𝑛𝑑   𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒   𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛   𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡   𝑛𝑜𝑤   𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ   ℎ𝑒𝑟   𝑠𝑜   𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒   𝑡𝑜   ℎ𝑖𝑚   ?

❛   it’s   good   to   have   you   back.   ❜   he   smiles   his   most   charming   smile   as   he   wanders   into   the   makeup   department.   noora   had   been   hired   to   add   a   little   bit   of   drama   in   his   on - screen   love   life   (   and   off - screen ,   he   suspects.   the   show   gets   more   viewership   when   him   and   sophia   are   on   tabloid   covers   )   but   the   fans   had   loved   her   and   her   character   so   much ,   they   had   to   negotiate   with   her   people   to   get   her   back   on   the   show.   and   he   isn’t   complaining :   she’s   a   lovely   woman.   ❛   did   you   take   a   look   at   today’s   call   sheet  ?   ❜   he   grins   as   he   dangles   his   own   in   front   of   her ,   owning   himself   a   dirty   look   from   veronica   the   makeup   artist.   he   only   gives   her   a   grin   before   turning   back   to   noora   and   handing   her   the   sheet ,   their   intimate   scene   underlined   for   emphasis.   ❛   what   a   way   to   start   the   day ,   isn’t   it  ?   ❜

❛   noora . . .   ❜   he   does’t   contain   his   sigh.   let   her   hear   he   isn’t   pleased.   pushing   aside   the   sheets   and   stepping   out   the   bed ,   he’s   by   her   side   in   only   two   short   strides   and   his   hands   wrap   around   her   shoulders.   ❛   if   you   don’t   sleep ,  you   will   be ,   and   then   what   good   is   that   gonna   do  ?   ❜   gently ,   he   pulls   her   to   his   chest   and   closes   his   arms   around   her.   he   lets   his   hand   rub   soothing   circles   into   her   back   while   his   nose   buries   itself   in   her   golden   hair.

❛  shut   up.   ❜   the   words   make   their   way   past   gritted   teeth   as   he   drags   ed   past   a   makeshift   barrier   the   cityfolk   set   up.   the   boy’s   lightheartedness   tells   him   he’s   hit   his   head   harder   than   it   seems.   worried   eyes   scan   the   war   scene   he   just   dragged   him   from.   merrill   and   fenris   make   short   work   of   the   last   templars ,   allowing   his   eyes   to   focus   on   edmund   again.   they’re   both   battered   and   bloody   but   the   vacant   look   in   his   eyes   makes   his   chest   thump   in   fear.   despite   all   their   annoyance   with   each   other ,   and   the   constant   bickering ,   there   is   a   brother   somewhere   beneath   it   all   ⸺   he   does   not   want   to   lose   him   like   this . . .   not   so   suddenly ,   in   the   midst   of   a   battle   they   didn’t   want ,   without   his   sister   and   the   woman   he   loves   there   to   say   a   final   goodbye   if   his   time   was   to   come.

his   feet   move   expertly   even   as   his   opponent   is   immobile   and   the   strikes   to   the   training   dummy   are   precise.   arthur   may   be   accused   of   being   a   lot   of   things  but   not   a   bad   fighter.   after   another   well - placed   blow ,   he   relaxes   his   stance   and   moves   to   the   side   where   a   jug   of   water   waits   for   him.   a   pour   of   water   and   a   large   gulp   before   the   door   crashes   open   to   reveal   edmund.   ❛  edmund  !  ❜   his   smile   is   wide , with   just   a   hint   of   cockiness   like   it   often   does ,   and   he   opens   his   arms   in   a   display   of   camaraderie.   ❛   want   to   get   your   ass   kicked  ?   ❜   but   the   words   are   barely   out   of   his   mouth   that   edmund   is   all   up   in   his   business ,   making   arthur   frown   and   lean   back   to   try   and   make   some   space.

“ if   you   hurt   her   i’ll   kill   you  ! ”

there’s   a   second   where   he’s   trying   to   piece   together   the   puzzle.   did   he   say   something   to   leehra   that   somehow   hurt   her   enough   to   send   edmund   in   a   frenzy  ?   he   can’t   think   of   anything ,   and   certainly   not   anything   she   wouldn’t   personally   kick   his   ass   for.   so   the   only   other   possibility   ⸺   ah.   right ,   he   did   ask   noora   to   accompany   him   to   a   ball   him   and   his   father   were   to   attend.   he   always   knew   edmund   was   protective.   no   surprise   there ,   her   last   boyfriend   was   a   creeper   at   best   but ,   surely ,   this   was   a   little   excessive   even   for   him.   ❛   it’s   a   ball ,   edmund.   she’s   just   accompanying   me.   i   promise   you   if   i   had   improper   intentions ,   i   would   not   be   taking   her   to   a   public   place.   ❜