#snowflakehealer

“Nightclothes” Radical Face

“See You Again” Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Pluth

“Winter Ghosts” JBM

“Vanilla Twilight” Owl City

“All Is Well (Goodbye, Goodbye)” Radical Face

“N Y L A” Blackbear

“Can’t Go Back” Little Big Town

“Up All Night” Owl City

He holds out his hand to her, palm up and open. She looks up at him with wide, sad eyes, and reaches out, almost smiling; for a moment her fingers brush against his before she pulls her hand away and shakes her head. “I couldn’t ask that of you,” she says, her voice very small.

Garrett sighs. “You’re only ever stubborn when it’s about your own self sacrifice,” he says.

Are you a cat/dog person (or both/neither)?

-yes!

If you were a cartoon character, what would your outfit be (basically the clothes you wear most lmao)?

-probably any variation of sweaters and jeans/leggings/skirts

What creature would be your patronus?

-a birb

How many pillows do you sleep with?

-two!

What’s your favorite hot drink?

-probably coffee, but practically any kind of coffee that has a lot of milk and sugar in it lmao

What’s the first song you remember hearing?

-im not sure, i have awful memory, but it was most likely a song from a musical

What’s your favorite month?

-Probably either December or May/June

Describe your ideal home?

-probably something small, but enough space on the walls to put string lights, art, etc. I’m really into exposed brick so that’ll be there. honestly, I see myself living in an apartment, but i don't rlly care whats in it, i care more about what I make of it, and who I share it with

Do you like having baths?

- I do! but i haven’t had one in like over 5 years i think, maybe 10.

If you were in Starfleet, what division would you be in (command/engineering/science/medical/security/etc.)?

-oh boy i won't shut up about this, i’m p sure I’d be engineering, but I’d also be maybe sciences? I 100% sure tho that I’d be a chief engineer on a starship bc I’m trash and i know everything there is to know about a federation starship. honestly, if u want to know everything about star trek just mention it to me and I’ll go off lmao

Have you ever broken a bone?

-i don't think so but i once got a golf club swung into my face and that was fun i think it messed my nose up a little but other than that I’m fine

“Why did you come to the Alienage?” she asks, as they’re packing up camp from the night before.

He glances over his shoulder at her, brow raised, face as even as ever. “I was looking for someone,” he says.

“For who?” she presses, hefting her bag onto her shoulder. “Who in the Alienage would be interesting to the Grey Wardens?”

He turns away, and for a moment he’s very quiet. She thinks she must have made him angry, or it must have been a stupid question - something she should know already, or else, worse, one with the answer everyone would expect: no one misses an elf from the alienage, her people are bound for early deaths anyways, there’s sure to be some reason for someone to be desperate for an escape, a way out.

“I’m sorry,” she says.

“Do not be,” he replies. “Cerewyn, tell me - what do you know of the Grey Wardens?”

She shrugs. “They fight the darkspawn, don’t they?” she says. “Keep watch, keep people safe. They’re - mostly good warriors. Ready to fight. Willing to die.”

“Those are among the things that make us unique, yes,” he says, and sighs. “We keep our vigil in times of peace and times of war, waiting until a threat arises. But we also must be ever watchful for people who have the skill to join our ranks. As Warden Commander of Ferelden, it is a task that falls to me, to travel Ferelden and seek out those who would join us.”

“So you were there just - hoping to find someone who would pass your recruitment requirements?” She stares at him. “Just wondering about the chance?”

“No,” he says, “Not quite.” He draws a deep breath. “I knew a woman, many years ago, who lived there. She caught my attention. Impressed me. She was a very skilled fighter, quick and clever, deadly with a knife.”

He pauses, and she bites her tongue so as not to demand answers from him despite the eager questions in her throat.

“I asked her to join us,” he continues after a long moment. “She refused, respectfully. She wanted to stay with her family.” He bows his head. “I returned to find her, and ask her again to ask for her help, as the need for it will soon be dire. Instead I received news of her death.”

Her heart trips and stumbles, and she thinks, no, it can’t be.

“You look like her,” he tells her. “And from what I saw of your abilities, it seems she taught you very well.”

“I never knew,” she says.

“It is not an easy life, becoming a Grey Warden,” he tells her. “Your mother’s choice was the natural one. Not many are willing to give up their lives, their homes, their families, for the sake of others. Not even when the world hangs in the balance.”

“Did you know when you met me you wanted to recruit me?” she asks, her mouth dry.

“I saw the fire in your blood,” he says, and looks back to give her a kind smile. “I would have asked you, had it not been the day of your wedding.”

“Welcome home,” Marian says as they enter the living room, and Garrett laughs quietly. The fire is almost dying in the hearth, but the dog still crosses to it immediately to collapse in front of it, panting a little. Carver sits down beside him, his shoulders slumping, and closes his eyes.

“Home,” Bethany sighs, very softly, and settles herself down on the floor as well, drawing her knees up to her chest. Her robes are torn and charred in places, splattered with blood only some of which is hers. 

Garrett joins them, followed by Marian; he winces as he stretches out his injured leg in front of him. “Sorry for the mess,” he says, a tired smile lifting the corner of his mouth. “Not exactly the ideal first impression.”

“After a day like today,” Carver says, “Gamlen’s old hovel would seem like a palace.” He begins to unfasten the straps on his armor to shed the heavy plate weighing down on his shoulders. “I think I could sleep for a week.”

“You’ve hurt your side,” Bethany says, leaning forwards, some life coming back to her features. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing,” he says, waving her off. “You ought to take a look at Marian’s arm, probably.” He thinks he might have a couple of cracked ribs on one side, but he’ll live. He hardly notices the pain at all, anyways.

“Oh, don’t fuss over me,” Marian says half-heartedly as Bethany pulls her glove off to examine her bloodied arm. 

Garrett reaches over to stoke the fire and throw on another log for it to catch. Carver looks between him and the others, absently scratching the dog behind his ears.

“We all ought to get some rest,” Marian continues, gently pushing away Bethany’s attempt to heal her injuries. “There’s two bedrooms upstairs, I can stay in Garrett’s room...”

“I don’t think we should,” Carver says, shaking his head. “We can sleep here, by the fire, all in one place, can’t we?”

Garrett laughs at that, giving him a tired, fond look. “I think that sounds like a great idea,” he says, and sprawls out on his back with a grin on his face.

He opens his eyes and blinks until his vision clears and the room resolves itself into something very real and very solid.