#ashurook

This scene represents the difficulties Rook may face when dealing with the surviving Shadows after saving Treviso. She thinks any news may come better from Neve than her, but on the other hand, Rook and Ashur are soulmates and Rook can use the bond to track him down in Minrathous, which may be faster. It's a sense of "which will get the task done the fastest" so while Rook might not want to go to Minrathous right after killing the dragons, she will because it needs to be done.

“You stay up at all hours because you drink too much coffee, and Emmrich could probably make you something to help you sleep,” Rook pointed out. “I can’t sleep because all I see are darkspawn and archdemons when I try.” “Emmrich could help you as well as he could help me,” Neve argued half heartedly. Rook winced, “Not really. His potions haven’t been helping lately. It got worse after Weisshaupt.” “Shit.” Neve stared at her. “Is Davrin having the same issues?” Rook smiled crookedly, “ So eloquent.”  Rook gave a slight shake of her head, “He’s having trouble sleeping, yes, but Emmrich’s potions are still helping him.” She paused then said in a very low tone, “Davrin’s likely years from his Calling still. I am not.” Neve winced this time. “I didn’t know.” 

2. This part goes into the difficulties I think an older Warden Rook or a Rook whose been a Warden for a long time might face. In this case, Rook's been a Warden for well over a decade, and while without a Blight she'd have another decade or to, a Blight involving two Archdemons and the elven gods is a lot worse than an ordinary blight. The sound of the blight song is very loud in Rook's head. Neve and Rook are friends, so Neve is upset at hearing this news.

He opened his red rimmed eyes beneath his hat when he heard the sound of someone landing beside him. He didn't need to look at her to know who it was. "The dragon's dead," she reported in a weary tone. It was something she should be celebrating, something that she knew had brought a renewed hope to the Wardens and some of their allies. Her own thoughts aligned with Neve, though, that the dragons had been pawns, and Minrathous's vengeance wouldn't be had until the gods were dead. She only prayed to the Maker that Ashur would still be alive then. "One less threat to the city then," he murmured. "But not enough," she replied. Selene reached out with one hand to take his own. "You don't have to hide it from me, Ashur, I'd feel it through the bond anyway." He felt her fingers touch his and started to yank his hand away, but she her grip held fast. "You can't Blight me, Ashur. Once you've been Blighted, you can't be Blighted again," she told him.

3. They're in Minrathous and Rook's tracked a Blighted Ashur down. Ashur's using magic to hold off the Blight as much as he can, but there's only so much he can do, and he's in a lot of pain as a result. He's afraid of possibly infecting his friends so he's avoided direct contact with anyone since he was blighted. But Rook can not only feel his pain, but she's one of the few people who can touch him because she's already a Warden. It's a tiny bit of comfort in an otherwise bad situation.

He gave a shaky breath. "If I were a sane man, I'd tell you no, but I missed you too much, love you too much, to push you away, even if I am dying." She shifted so that she was facing him, fingers pushing his chin up so she could see his red rimmed eyes. "I'm sorry, Ashur." "I know, Amata, I know," he replied. She gave a wet laugh as she carefully pulled down one side of his mask. She took in his gaunt appearance and blacked veins for just a moment before she leaned in and kissed him. "Just promise you'll remember me, when I'm gone," he whispered softly against her lips. "Remember me. Not the Viper, not the Divine. Just me." "Oh darling," her smile was bittersweet, "We both know there's no way that I'm going to come out of all of this alive." He sighed and pressed his forehead against her own, resignation heavy in the air around them, and then Ashur kissed his soulmate again.

4. Ashur is dying slowly from the Blight, and while Rook can and will kiss him despite the effects of the Blight, they both know he's on borrowed time. Ashur knows he's going to die, but he wants Rook to survive. But with the song of the Blight ringing so loudly in her head and the danger she faces in the hunt for the gods, Rook honestly doesn't believe she's going to survive. So they comfort each other, but they both know its bittersweet. They don't expect a happy ending.

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