#stumbles rough draft

Ok, I’m trying to do daily 30 minute warm ups, sketches or writing :D This morning was inspired by @frenchy-and-the-sea <3 

Rating: G

Warning: Bel is a brat... (There’s alot of mistakes)

Characters: Callitus, Belvantia

Fandom: Dragon Age

A warm, gentle breeze blew through the lush garden scattering the scent of crude tobacco and flora. Lulled into a drowsiness, a tall imposing figure snapped to immediate awareness shivering as a hot sensation raced up his spine.  His heart rapidly beat under his sternum as he forced himself to curb the primal instinct to strike the disturbance.

Ungraceful rustling shook the Magister’s prized flowers. It’s soft orange petals fell forgotten on the cobble stone at his feet. Shifting, he rolled his smoking herbs between his thick fingers grunting at offending bush. Flicking the ashes , he discarded the rolled paper on the ground  squelching it’s fragile life under his heavy boot.

“ A highway-man...” He stated just loud enough for the vagabond. Turning towards the flower bush with thinly veiled cautiousness, he lowered his voice crouching ever so “Trying rob me of my beautiful flowers, again.”  

The evergreen bush ,in question, shed more bright petals as it gave a mighty shake and giggled. Stopping just short of the bush, he reached out with his laden metallic arm searching for offending highway-man. With a sharp yank, he dislodged a tiny child adorned in her mother’s expensive ill-fitting robes.

He chuckled holding her by the scruff of the robe’s large collar. Her wild raven hair disheveled adorning tiny twigs and deep green leaves. She tied one her mother’s large crimson scarves around her head further drowning her small frame. Her flaxen eyes flashed as she squealed excitedly thrusting out her stubby legs.

He set the child down gently on the cobblestone , crossing his  arms. chuckling, even swallowed by the azure robe she steadied her wooden sword, golden eye glimmered with mischief.

“Bel, you should be in bed.” Raising his dark eyebrow, tapping his foot on the ground. Bel was one of three children and the most ill behaved. She was far too stubborn and clever, just like her mother, and trouble seem to follow her.

Belvantia dropped her arms, eyes widening at the tall qunari. On cue, her eye’s started to glisten with large crocodile tears, cheeks flushed with unhappiness. Callistus chuckled to himself maintaining his neutral expression, she was an excellent actress and a weaker nanny would have fallen for the act.

Bel’s knitted her dark brows together, flustered, frustrated she glanced around the garden. The tear performance failed. Just as quickly, her flustered face transformed into a twisted scheming smirk. Callistus prepared himself, Bel was clever and quick-minded, he had to stay on alert.

“I don’t gots to listen to you Cally.” Bel rolled her shoulders with confidence thrusting her thumb into her chest.

“Oh, really, why’s that? .” He crossed his thick arms, Callitus shifted his weight to one side, locking his remaining eye with her’s. Their wills clashed, the two of them circled one another, sizing each other for weakness.

Luckily, a strong gust of hot wind blew through the air causing the girl to stumble and trip on the over-sized robe. Callistus quickly caught the girl before she made contact with the hard ground. He hoisted her on a hip, turning on the balls of his feet, he made his way to the entrance of the house.

“’Cus Imma a pirate queen” She leaned away from her foreboding nanny, attempting to wriggle from the qunari’s grasp.

“I see.” He softly chuckled traveling down the dimly lit halls. “Did you know pirate queens need sleep too.”  He stopped at the door furthest from the hall. Twisting the gaudy golden knob he push the door open, inelegantly depositing the child on her bed. “Bed, brat.”

For a moment, both glared at each other determined to outlast the other. Bel crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her lips with stubbornness. Callitus sighed, he'd be here forever if he didn’t leave. “Bed.” He huffed turning to make a quick exit.

“I can’t sleep, I had a nightmare” Bel yelped tripping over the large robe, tumbling out the  bed. She landed with a heavy thud,  her bottom lip quivered, eyes dewing with real tears.

Callistus sighed turning back around gathering the child up. “A bedtime story... then bed?” He attempted to negotiate as he set her down on the downy blankets. He tucked the blankets around her frame, before settling in an uncomfortably undersized chair.

“ Promise!” she giggled from a pile of blankets. Belvantia won, she always did.  He smiled patting her on the head, laughing to himself, this became a nightly ritual.

“There’s my brave pirate.” He pondered for a moment before reciting his favorite poem to his loyal audience of one.  

“Think as I think,” said a man

“Or you are abominably wicked;

“You’re a toad.’

And after I had thought of it,

I said, “I will be a toad”

Mae tugged sharply at her worn cap blocking the harsh sun from her eyes. Weaving through the crowded docks, she took careful note of each indigent character passing her. Anyone of these dubious individuals could belong to Magister Faustus. After the untimely death of Warden Aurelius, Mae could feel the Magister’s crones closing in on her. Maevaris was no fool and knew the danger her rival posed. Faustus no longer had to fear the Aurelius’ and quickly took it upon himself to purge Tevinter of his political rivals.

She sighed, such was the way of things in Tevinter politics. Adjusting her unstylish disguise, Mae finally caught up with her cousin. There, Varric stood bargaining with a scrappy ill-tempered woman, Captain something or another. Mae’s narrowed her eyes scanning the battered ship,  never once had Mae doubted Varric’s judgement until today.  Truly, would these rambunctious scallywags able at smuggle her out of Tevinter.