#dabb 2025

THIS FORGOTTEN BINDING The Gods of Elvhenan were once unified under one banner until the Forgotten Ones left to form their own, waging a bloody rebellion. In modern Thedas, Professor Solas Bleddyn, a reincarnation of Fen'harel, meets Isathe, a field arcanist and feels an impossible pull. Drawn together by relics, memories and dreams, Solas finds himself facing an impossible truth: the woman he’s falling for is a reincarnation of the love of his life, but awakening her past could cost them both everything.

(writer: @elfyroot - artist: @mabelaart)

Rating: Explicit

Total Word Count: 58,587

Setting: Dragon Age Modern AU, God Reincarnation AU

Pairing: Solas x Lavellan

Tags: Partner Jealousy & Abuse, Manipulation/Gaslighting, Murder, Depictions of Violence, Character Death, Past Trauma, Reincarnation, Gods Among Mortals, Academic Setting, Museum Setting, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Eventual Happy Ending (please see work for all tags)

The Anchor's Decay

created for @thedragonagebigbang 2025!

I had so much fun working on this piece. I’ve wanted to do something with the body horror of the anchor for such a long time, and Min's amazing fic gave me the opportunity to finally do so! [close-ups under the cut!]

In The End by @persimminwrites | AO3

Rating: Mature | Content Warnings: Major Character Death, See work for more complete warnings | Fandom: Dragon Age Inquisition | Major Pairings: Dorian Pavus & Inquisitor Lavellan, background Lavellan/Solas (pre-slash)

The spell was supposed to return them and save them from this wretched future. So why is Layla standing in the frigid waters of Redcliffe’s dungeons again? - A retelling of In Hushed Whispers where time magic goes awry.

I am planning to give it one more pass before the submission at the end of the month but I am incredibly pleased with the fic and I hope that the people who read it will enjoy what I created.

Clipped Wings, Faded Dreams

Summary: Fighting Venatori.  Freeing slaves.  Sleeping in the arms of the man he loved.  What more could Rook ask for in life?  Until one job brings him face to face with an Antivan Crow, a past he thought long dead, and a decision that will change his life forever. 

Rating: M

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings apply

Categories: M|M, General

Fandoms: Dragon Age: the Veilguard, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, Dragon Age II, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dragon Age - All Media Types, Dragon Age Comics, Dragon Age books, Dragon Age: Absolution

Relationships: male human Mercar/Ashur|the Viper, female Hawke/Nathaniel Howe, male human Mercar & Varric Tethras, male human Mercar & Lace Harding, male human Mercar & Nathaniel Howe, male human Mercar & Female Hawke, male human Mercar & Lucanis Dellamorte, male human Mercar & Dorian Pavus, male human Mercar & Charon Mercar, male human Mercar & Tarquin

Characters: male human Mercar, Ashur|the Viper, Dorian Pavus, Varric Tethras, Lace Harding, Nathaniel Howe, Female Hawke, Lucanis Dellamorte, Tarquin, Charon Mercar, OC Venatori mage, southern Templars, Venatori NPCs

Additional Tags: Pre-game story, Shadow Dragon background story, Mage Rook, Working in all the Dragon Age angles, Established relationships, Relationship break-up, Romance, Friendship, Angst, Hurt, Eventual happy ending but not in this fic, Tevinter mages, southern templars, secondhand templars, Blood magic, Venatori

Excerpt:

Leaning out into the hall, Rook signaled for Varric, Harding, and Howe to join him.  Keeping his voice a soft hiss, he pointed in the direction of the guard station and said, “Varric, keep watch for us.”  To Howe and Harding, he added with a nod to the two doors across the hall, “See what you can do about those two.  I’ve got this one.” Rook returned his attention to the door in front of him.  Inserting the tip of his blade into the locking mechanism, he gently attempted to force the lock open.  As he did so, another memory returned... Matteo and Giacomo laughing – far too amused for such a serious situation.  Nestore crouched in front of the three of them, his lockpicks moving in an intricate dance.  Rook captivated and watching in fascination despite the manacles around his wrists.  Click.  Click.  Click.  Just like that, Nestore had them free to move once again.  As they snuck out of the cell, Rook swore he was going to have the rogue teach him how to do that just in case... “You sure about that?” The hint of sarcasm in the woman’s voice pulled Rook back to the present and with a start, he caught the lingering ring of metal breaking and noticed that the tip of his blade had sheared off in the lock.  Damn.  Well, he’d never quite gotten the hang of Nestore’s method anyway.  Time for plan B...

~~~~

I am so excited to share my DABB for this year! Clipped Wings, Faded Dreams is the Shadow Dragon background Rook story for Nicias Mercar from my Paulo Draco series! While it is from Dragon Age: the Veilguard, there are only very minor spoilers (mostly characters) to the game.

HUGE shout out to dazenguile (aka: himbopunk on tumblr and blue sky) for the fabulous art for the story! It's gorgeous (I can't stop looking at it!) and is such a perfect accompaniment to the scene! Thank you so much!!! I'm so glad we got to work together on this story!

Also HUGE shout outs to @happychica and @shadoedseptmbr for being my betas again! Thank you so much, my friends! I appreciate the second and third sets of eyes on this piece as well as the suggestions along the way! You truly make me a better writer!

If you like this story, you can find others in the Paulo Draco series on AO3 under my name there, ladyamesindy.