#defendes

“  𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐊𝐄   ,  if you do it one more time  ,  i will hire a mercenary band to ransack your house  ,  champion or not. ”

@defendes​​​​​   :    i’m   not   supposed   to   be   here.

it’s   rare   nowadays   that   she   spends   the   weekend   at   her   own   place.   noora’s   flat   has   become   a   second   residence   for   her   and ,   since   she   mostly   can’t   afford   to   go   out ,   they   often   spend   their   free   time   together ,   watching   silly   movies   and   drinking   cheap   wine.   today   though ,   𝑛𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑎   𝑖𝑠   𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑦   ⸺   she   didn’t   say   what   with   so   she   can   only   assume   she   managed   to   get   arthur   away   from   his   witch   of   a   girlfriend.   she’s   about   to   crash   on   her   couch ,   already   pulled   open   to   be   her   bed ,   when   the   doorbell   rings.   she   doesn’t   even   try   to   suppress   the   heavy   groan   that   escapes   her.   for   a   moment ,   she   thinks   about   not   going   to   the   door   but   curiousity   gets   the   better   of   her.   her   small   studio   is   quickly   crossed   and ,   grabbing   her   knife   on   the   way ,   she   swings   her   door   open.

❛  then ,   once   you’ve   got   them   where   you   need   ‘em ,   you   do   as   i   showed.  ❜   she   turns   to   ed ,   a  cheeky   smile  on   her   face.   ❛  ready,   tough   guy  ?  ❜   her   voice   is   quieter ,   she   knows   it   will   be   picked   up   by   the   camera   but   it’s   meant   for   him   only.   gripping   his   arm ,   she   tugs   him   into   motion ,   using   the   momentum   to   get   him   off   his   feet.   his   body   falls   with   a   hard   thud   on   the   training   mats   and   she   looks   at   him   with   a   triumphant   grin   before   turning   back   to   her   phone   and   jogging   back   to   it.   ❛   there   you   go.   now ,   it’s   a   stunt   move   so   it’s   done   with   willing   participants   so   don’t   try   to   use   this   as   a   self - defense   move.   but   if   you’ve   got   a   big   tough   guy   you’d   like   to   get   on   his   back   then . . .   ❜   she   shoots   another   grin ,   pointing   over   her   shoulder   at   ed   before   turning   off   the   recording.

❛  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.   ❜

this   isn’t   the   first   time   they’ve   bought   each   other   drinks.   the   tavern   seemed   a   common   stomping   ground   and   they’d   shared   some   stories.   it   only   just   occurs   to   arthur   that   they   never   formally   introduced   each   other.   teeth   all   on   display   as   he   smiles ,   the   alcohol   starting   to   take   effect ,   he   slaps   a   hand   to   the   other   man’s   shoulder.   ❛   good   to   meet   you ,   edmund.   arthur   pendragon,   ❜   he   responds   mechanically.   the   edmund   boy   didn’t   offer   a   family   name   but   arthur   thinks   his   father   might   genuinely   keel   over   in   shock   if   he   ever   forgot   to   introduce   himself   as   a   pendragon ,   the   proudest   dynasty   in   all   of   thedas.   ❛   you   have   delightful   stories.   ❜