#mana'din

So if Felasel and Darevas get to spend a lot of time with her, I want to say they would both look up to her. But I don’t know if they do? @feynites Mana’din is busy with a lot of shit in this AU. Especially since she’s the only one who knows who killed Andruil not that she would tell or even hint that she knows to anyone. She’s probably still working on getting her own lands solidified, especially with Mythal now looking to essentially rearrange the board. A lot of things she had planned long term are going to have to make some very sudden readjustments.

I imagine Mana’din definitely came to visit when they were first born and very young if only to try to tamper down on Elgar’nans undoubtedly constant presence. 

Selene likes Mana’din best of all of Dirthamens relatives, so if she absolutely had to let the twins out of her and Dirthamens sight, she would leave them with her, if at all possible. Mana’din is considered a good influence on her children as far as Selenes concerned. Mythal disagrees, but Selene gets to pull the mom card when she has to now.

(I also wonder if she ends up clicking with Haninan in this AU over ‘our little babies are growing up and taking over the world gods i hope i did a good job and theyre not terrible people’ feels).

Anyways. Selene pretty much urges her sons to learn how to treat the people from their sister, rather than their grandparents whenever Mythal isn’t around. I imagine this gets her into more than a little trouble, but by this point she’s pretty solidified as a major figure in the eyes of the public, and a sudden disappearance would look extremely poorly on Mythal with two of her children already dead; one knowingly partially by her hand, and another with the murderer unknown. In a universe where children are almost literally gifts, killing two of your children publicly and leaving another two motherless seems like it might turn the public opinion sour pretty quickly, but I could be misinterpreting.

Regardless of whether or not Mana’din gets to spend a lot of time with her little brothers, I imagine at least Felasel would still go to her for advice. His sensitivities to magic still exist in the Arlathan AU, so Dirthamen would consult her a lot for advice about what did and didn’t work for her when she was little and having what were perceived as similar problems. 

Felasel would eventually seek her out on his own, for two reasons. One, he thinks he can connect with her on this, and despite his cold appearance Felasel really does want a positive relationship with his family, especially Mana’din. Two, he knows she’s the immediate competition. She is the bar he and his brother are going to be held up to as leaders no matter whose territory they get, so he’s going to ask her what worked, what she regrets, and make his own observations as well. 

Darevas I think would like sparring with her a lot. He’s very athletic, and he’d like the openness of not having to hold back with her. He’d probably be a bit of a shit and always aim to knock her mask off mid-practice, though. 

Overall I think there’d be a lot of love if circumstances allowed them to spend time with her. If not, they would probably idolize her more than a little and wouldn’t she hate that.

I think their presence overall makes her a little uneasy, too. On one hand, it’s great because they weren’t a part of her pantheon as far as she knows so maybe things have changed afterall.

BUT and here’s where I get a little cruel but I dunno if I’ll get to explore these ideas or not so here im gonna jot down a thing

Darevas and Felasel each, theoretically, will need their own lands. Mana’din took over for Falon’din, so that space has already been filled. Andruils is open, obviously. Darevas is the clear choice for hunter, he enjoys sporting and competition and even though he is much softer than Andruil was and significantly less pleased with bloodshed, he is pretty clearly being primed to take over for her.

Which leaves Felasel without a land. Theoretically.

Mythal, however, is looking to kick out Ghilan’nain, who no longer has a tie to the family with Andruil gone. Ghilan’nain knows this. She’s smart, she’s cunning, she’s going to see that she is most likely to be dethroned for the new pantheon.

So there’s two ways I see this going; 

1) Ghilan’nain amasses her monsters, sequesters and squanders herself into her territory until she can push into Dirthamens and unseat him before his kids can unseat her, leading to a long bloody war and a lot of death that will weaken the empire to the point that the Nameless will likely move in (because either way the war ends, the Evanuris are down three leaders from the first war) leading to yet another war (and maybe Mythal killing a titan to make up for the missing power because she wouldn’t give up everything now, fuck off she killed her children she will kill your people before she gives up another ounce of what is hers) and death and blight and probably the fall of Arlathan and maybe the fade going up and Mana’din going ‘THIS WAS A MISTAKE DAMMIT NOT AGAIN’.

2) Ghilan’nain takes her work, her secrets, and her resources and ultimately dons the title and status of Fen’Harel. She leaves the throne ‘willingly’ and leads the revolution to trapping the Evanuris because the only woman she loved is gone and dead and none of them helped her so fuck them they deserve this (And Pride is still a spirit with Mana’din in this AU iirc so he’s not gonna be Fen’harel just let him be happy bye). Then she either a)raises the veil ala Solas, or b) gets on the ocean with her loyal followers and her favorite pets and moves to a far continent and makes her own empire where everyone gets to be a Dragon (*cough Qunari cough cough*)

...I don’t know if I’ll ever actually write any of this but uh. This is where my minds been, in relation to the twins fitting into Arlathan.

IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO YOUR ACTUAL QUESTION THOUGH (Im so sorry I rambled pretty endlessly my bad)

Each day drags on, as even his mostskilled spies are unable to find so much as a hint of her. Nightafter night, Fear scours the dreaming for her, and each morning theyreturn empty handed.

This is his fault, of course.

If he had been more forceful whenasking her not to go, if he had insisted that she be accompanied bysomeone, if he had given her more incentive to stay, instead. Nodoubt she has been taken because of their closeness. He has nothidden her well enough, he has been too open with his affections, andSelene is paying the cost.

It is unfair.

…It was unfair what they did toGlory, as well. He has learned that, over the years. He has softened,he has learned from his daughter, from Selene, of kindness andempathy and moral boundaries. He has learned that his brother wascruel, and that it was a moral lacking of Falon'dins, and notDirthamen’s, that caused it.

Even if that is not always something hetruly believes.

It does not bode well for Selene, ifshe is with Glory. There have been no ransoms, no lists of demandssent to him, or his people. Nothing he could agree to give up inexchange for her safe return.

Which leads him to infer that they donot intend to offer her safe return.

It is a miserable feeling. He hasbecome unaccustomed to sleeping alone, after so many centuries ofsharing his bed. And so, he has been avoiding sleep until his bodydemands it of him. He is fatiguing himself, trying to find her,trying to keep his territories under control with the rising tide ofrebellion already rocking against his shores. Stretching himselffarther than he should, than he is able to in his current state.

His body has become less solid, he isaware. His mind less focused as his thoughts wander to where shouldcould be, what she could be doing, whether she is all right. Deceithas taken over for much of his duties, although they are not in amuch better state themselves.

He longs for her in a way he has notfelt in memory. It is not in a way he enjoys. The way it sits on hischest and weighs heavy in his mind is far too unpleasant for him tofind any joy. A sensation he once thrived on, become his slowundoing.

On the fifth day, his daughter comes tovisit.

It is good to see her again, her visitsfew and far between these days. He tries to pull himself together, tomake himself presentable and unoffensive for her to speak with. Buthis neck is too long, his wings spread too far behind him, and he cannot seem to force his bones to remain entirely solid when he issitting.

“There has truly been no clue to herwhereabouts?” Mana'din asks. His daughter. One of the few people heknows he can trust, still.

“I have found one lead, but it is notone I have had success in tracking.” he admits.

She gestures silently for him tocontinue, head tilting slightly in concern.

“I believe she was taken by Glory.”he admits. Not information he has shared, of course. After theirdisappearance had lead to his own brothers demise, open knowledge ofthem would likely lead to a hunt that the empire can not afford tospare at this time.

His daughter freezes. “Glory isdead.”

“That is what I thought as well,”he agrees “Or run back to the dreaming, or someplace outside of ourreach. But when I dug through the memories of the last person knownto see her, they revealed that they had been blackmailed andthreatened by an all too familiar face. I would not mistake theirsfor another.”

Mana'din leans back in the chaircontemplatively. Lets out a heavy sigh. “That is…troubling.”

Dirthamen nods. “Any assistance youcould lend to the search would be appreciated. I know your resourcesare still growing, but perhaps your people will have information minedo not.”

“Of course,” She agrees, standingto take her leave. “I…will go and see what I can find.”

Dirthamen thanks her, offering a hugbefore she strides back out towards the paths to her own lands.

It is another two days before one ofhis people finds the location of Glory’s bunker, and Dirthamen leavesto reclaim whatever is left of Selene.

–

Selene listens attentively, curled upwhile Glory tells her of their past. Forced into a body, intoservitude, into Falon'dins hold. It is a tragic tale, and Seleneknows if they had approached her before she had met Dirthamen, shewould have offered her services to their cause entirely.

But she could not betray him now.

“He is a monster.” Gloryinsists. “Like his brother.”

“He is not,” Selene argues,shifting back into her natural form to make a stronger argument.Snorts and whines just aren’t quite cutting it, in her dragon shape.“Dirthamen has his flaws, of course he does. He is not always kind,and his understanding of other people is still growing. But he ismaking an effort to be better, to be better, to understand.Monsters don’t care about the people they hurt. He does.”

“We’re still talking about the sameperson, yeah?” Squish snorts from the same corner. “Because Iworked for him for a long time, and I can tell you firsthand heabsolutely does not care about the people who get hurt, nearly somuch as he is intrigued by their pain.”

“You have also been away for a longtime,” Selene says. “He has changed, is changing. I havenever been held against my will, I have watched him change and learnand become kinder over the years!”

Glory rolls their eyes.

Selene huffs, frustrated that her pleasseem to be falling on ears of those that have already condemned him.“I’m not under any kind of thrall! I just love him, he is a goodman!”

“Love can be its own thrall,”Squish mutters from where she is still propped against the wall.

Selene lets out a loud noise offrustration, angrily pulling on the pile of clothes Squish hadbrought in from earlier. “What would it take to convince you thatI’m telling the truth?”

Before they can answer, the door toGlory’s office slams open and Mana'din strides in.

She pauses as she takes in the scene;Squish, relaxed against a wall, Glory, sitting comfortably back intheir chair, and Selene still pulling the robe around her otherwisestill naked and freshly shifted form.

Mana'din gestures angrily to Selene“THIS was your brilliant plan?”

Selene blinks, having never seen herlose her cool like this, and takes a slow step out of the pathbetween Mana'din and Glory.

“It worked.” They respondflippantly.

“Do you have any idea what sort ofdistress you have caused? How much development you may have undone?”

“She needed help.”

“They were happy! Do you know howlong it has been since my father has been happy?”

“Then I am glad to have taken it fromhim.”

Mana'din seems to sigh then, beforeturning to Selene “What do you want to do?”

Selene blinks, and pulls the tiestogether on the robe “I want to go back, of course.”

She nods, and turns to Glory “Thenyou will send her back.”

“The hell I will!”

“This is not a discussion, it is anorder.”

Glory rises from their chair, fuming asthey step towards Mana'din before the torches flicker and the bunkershakes.

“Oh no.” Whisper Mana'din andSelene as they exchange a knowing look.

The bunker shakes again, and a fewvoices can be heard screaming before being abruptly silenced, as itthe room rattles around them once more.

Like footsteps.

Glory’s hand reaches for the sword ontheir hip, as they and Squish stride into the hall, weapons ready.Selene follows, staring down the hall as a dripping mass of blackenedooze slams guards and soldiers violently into the walls. Great wingswith dark, glistening feathers sprout from several sides of it, toolarge to fit into such a cramped hallway, but moving and flickingangrily all the same.

Glory charges towards the creature, andSelenes legs take off like a shot behind them.

“No!” She screams,loudly enough to startle Glory, allowing Dirthamen’s outstretched,dripping hand to knock them off balance as they let out a cry ofpain. Selene grabs the wrist as it raises for a second blow, holdingon as tight as she can while it tries to shake her off. “It’s me!”She cries, arms tightening their hold as she slips on the substance,legs dangling in the air “Dirthamen! Vhenan, it’s me!”

Cold air continues to spread throughthe narrow passage, enveloping them all as mana pokes and prods ather, and a second hand extends beneath her, gently cupping at herlegs.

“Selene?” Grumbles the mass, liquidsliding like oil off the sleek surface of a familiar mask, emergingfrom the front of the being curiously.

“Yes!” She cries “Yes, it’sme, it’s Selene. I’m here, I’m ok, it’s alright!”

Carefully, she is settled back onto theground. She keeps her eyes focused on him, on trying to help himshift into a more manageable form while the sludge slumps off of hisform and vanishes between the cracks in the floor.

“Selene,” he mumbles wrappinghimself around her entirely. “Selene, Selene. Ithought you were dead.”

“I’malright Vhenan, it’s ok. I’m right here with you,” she soothes,whispering reassuring words to him while he shrinks back to hisaverage elf size in her arms, wings still wrapped around her as hismask clatters to the floor and his face buries itself in the crook ofher neck.

Gloryregains their footing behind her, sword raised and still ready tostrike. Mana'din places her hand on their arm, and shakes her head.They hesitate, staring at the pair for a moment, caught between apiece of the vengeance they’ve been seeking for so long, and theterrifying knowledge that Selene may have been telling the truth.

Dirthamenstop most set of eyes glance up at Glory, and from where they standthey are hit with a thick wave of remorse, and guilt, directed tothem. An apology?

Glory’sfist tightens around the hilt of their sword, but before they cantake another step, Dirthamen and Selene are gone. Vanished, in a rushof magic and feathers, leaving behind only the trail of woundedsoldiers that had been unfortunate enough to get into the Evanuris’spath.

Theywill have to relocate, Glory thinks with a lead feeling in the pit oftheir stomach. And then devise a new plan of attack.

It is an odd line of speculation for the agents, who are usually encouraged towards a certain degree of pragmatism, and not rumour-mongering. She pays further attention to it, of course, because if that could prove to be a liability. And it may be information that some of her contacts on the other side of the fence would be interested in having. Not necessarily because it holds any water, but they like knowing what the military types and related branches are speculating on.

“I heard,” Lasmami says. “That the reason why Mana’Din wears her mask is because she is so beautiful. It is very dangerous to be beautiful outside of the territories, you know. I went to Arlathan. I will not tell you the kinds of things they do to elves they find appealing there.”

“That is ridiculous,” one of the other young ones, whose name eludes Elalas, replies. “The only elves the imperial-types favour are the pretty ones.”

“You do not know. You have not been to Arlathan. I can believe it. If you ever go, Hedasel, you should wear a mask, too,” Lasmami insists.

It is, indeed, another one of those random hearsay types. And Lasmami is one of the younger agents, and their companion seems to be equally inexperienced. Apprentices do have looser lips than most. 

Elalas has seen Mana’Din’s face. Has... interacted with it, to some degree. She shifts a little, thinking about it. It is exceptionally beautiful, although she had not thought it to quite match up with Elvhenan’s standards. Then again, trends tend to shift a good deal in a great hurry as they come out of Arlathan, at times. Perhaps at some point, Mana’Din was considered the height of appeal.

Elalas knows, indeed, what elves often do to those considered pretty.

But surely Mana’Din would be exempt from such treatment...?

It is because of her father. It is a thematic thing. Because people used to fear Falon’Din’s visage, and... Mana’Din did not want them to be afraid. Reminding herself of that is reassuring. But then it also reminds her of Mana’Din’s character, and the warm rush she feels has her shaking her head at herself. It is the middle of the day. There are duties to attend, matters to see to, rumours to listen in on and ramifications to consider, and...

She makes her way over to Mana’Din’s office.

Her lady is, of course, not inside.

Elalas eventually tracks her down to the indoor practice room, where she is going through the motions of a familiar fighting form. Muscles rippling, a light dusting of sweat on her arms and the bared skin of her legs.

Mask still in place.

She makes her way over to where Mana’Din is, and waits until the other woman stops. It does not take long for her to turn curiously towards her.

“Elalas? Has something happened?” she asks.

Elalas lets out a long sigh.

“No,” she says, moving forward. Reaching up, and carefully undoing the ties on Mana’Din’s mask. She pulls it away to reveal her face. Brow furrowed in concern, features as lovely as they ever are. For a moment she simply stands there, trailing her eyes across them. And then she reaches up, and brushes her cheek.

“What is it?” Mana’Din asks. Her own fingers twitching, as she keeps her hands politely at her sides.