#this forgotten binding

I commissioned the amazing, beautiful and delightful @manuzillust for a scene from my 2025 DABB - This Forgotten Binding. Gah, I love it so much. Look at them! LOOK!

(excerpt from the scene below)

Isathe was never one for prayer. There had never been a reason to believe in anything higher than themselves. They were once pure spirits of emotion. Those who wished to claim godhood rarely were up to the task. But she prayed. Unsure of who she was praying to. Someone, anyone. If this is a mistake… please stop this. Begging the world, the Sky, the Sun, the Sea, to stop the wedding if it was not meant to pass. If she was making a mistake. No one answered. chapter 14 (to stand under the stars) - the theory of being

Did you think I was done with Isathe spam for today? HAH, you'd be wrong. The amazing, beautiful, lovely and sweet @maniplague drew my baby girl Isathe, spoiling me to the point of sappy, happy tears just in time to make a terrible day so much better.

Does she have the most glorious resting bitch face? Absolutely.

Does Solas deserve it? Absolutely.

Is Solas a bit scaroused? Also, yes.

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)

RULES: I am sure I am not the first to think of this/start this, but I was considering lines that I felt were standouts in my own work, and thought it would be fun to share them. 🌿 So, pick 5 lines (doesn't need to necessarily be 1 single sentence, we can be a bit fast and loose with this rule) and share them.

It wasn’t carefully curated to perfection - La Cima was a beautiful melting pot of chaos and change. The art Vero had experienced before was by invitation. This? Was grace by accident.

The Penalty Kill

(Dragon Age, Teen & Up) Written for a private OC swap where I got to have @wishforhome's amazing, deep and beautifully flawed OC Vero go on a playdate with my own OC. I loved writing this (even though I was petrified of fucking up someone's OC).

If he wasn't who he was, if he didn't remember the Gods as they once were, he might've prayed - begged, even - to anyone who would listen that this feeling, what they had, would never end.

Higher Than a Nug in a Twister

(Dragon Age, Explicit) A one-shot, a little smutty about my modern AU Sheriff Geldauran and his Undersheriff Rhela Ghilain.

"I do not want to exist as they made me. I want my sins to be mine alone."

The Theory of Being

(Dragon Age, Explicit) Narrowing down a line from my longfic was a challenge. But I feel like this one is so quintessential Isathe.

Knowing that she 'failed' Vought's imperative, that she loved him so deeply that it fucked up their whole experiment? Fuck, he couldn't be prouder of her.

A Witness To My Crimes

(The Boys, Explicit) I just, I love Ben and Riley's whole dynamic and how it has shifted with the flashbacks and all the new revelations.

"Allowing you to forget would be a tragedy to her memory that I cannot allow. Your love was a truth, and truths cannot be undone. Should not be hidden away because it causes you anguish. You will continue to carry her - until you meet again."

This Forgotten Binding

(Dragon Age, Explicit) A line said by Anaris in my 2025 Dragon Age Big Bang work that just, oof, gives me a lot of feels even now.

BONUS

There was something in the way he spoke, a reverent hushed whisper. No, he was not venerating the space they stood in, he was worshiping her, “Not all those who kneel do so in submission, Lilith.”

Blasphemy

(The Sandman, Explicit) Because I can, and wanted to add something else outside of the Dragon Age fandom. 😏 Still quite proud of this short one-shot. Technically an OC and Morpheus, my version of Lilith doesn't exist in that world.

I love these sorts of tags, thank you so much @virshiral 🌿💚

This is a great activity in procrastination (but I am currently working on chapter 3 of A Witness to My Crimes and chapter 69 of The Theory of Being, I promise.)

I am going to try and choose one chapter of a few different fics, which is a little difficult to narrow down on some more than others (looking at you, The Theory of Being).

From The Theory of Being, Chapter 8 (To Break Chains):

The song continued and began to crest. A buildup of emotion and sound at its peak. Wait, no. This wasn't right. This never happened. The song was new to her, one that never rang through the halls of the Forgotten.

I chose this chapter for my longfic because it was the scene that popped into my mind that sort of inspired the entire story.

I was driving down the road and a song (Theory of Being by Audiomachine) came up on my shuffle, and I had a daydream-y kind of moment with Fen'harel at a masquerade and the thought of 'what if Lavellan was a Forgotten One?'

So reaching that chapter and writing out that vision, it'll probably remain as one of my favorites.

Dragon Age - Explicit - Solas x Lavellan

From A Witness to My Crimes, Chapter 2 (Payback's a Bitch):

More flashes. Like an old film running off its tracks. Screaming. Riley yelling his name as she clawed at the ground. He never felt helpless before and he fucking hated it.

Granted there are only two chapters to choose from in regards to this one but c'est la vie.

I had been mulling around dabbling outside of the Dragon Age fandom for awhile, and had done some one-shots here and there but this one is turning out to be one of my favorites. The tone change in terms of what I am used to writing has been fun, leaning into a toxic dynamic and playing around there has been great.

I am really proud of how I meshed the past and present in this chapter, along with the fine line between intimacy and possession later on in the chapter.

The Boys - Explicit - Soldier Boy x Cataclysm

From One Nug Short of Sensible, Chapter 3 (A Nug Worth Keepin'):

Her palms felt cold against his clammy cheeks. All he could think was how pretty she was. A light, purposeful pat refocused him, bringing his attention back to her while a weak chuckle dropped from her lips, "You can tell me I'm pretty later. Can't check out on me now, cowboy. Gotta let me gloat about this later."

The first of my Rhela / Geldauran stories in a multi-chapter. There is something about these two that has captured my heart so so much. I am decidedly not normal about them in any way (gods, look at how much commissioned art they have now...) and had low key made me the 'cowboy person' in a few writing circles which is... endlessly hilarious to me for a variety of reasons.

I wanted their attraction to be instantaneous but both of them trying to ignore it for as long as they can. This story was meant to be a one-shot, turned into 3 chapters and is just about my god reincarnation modern AU Geldauran (as a Texan-style Sheriff) meeting his eventual Undersheriff and love of his life.

Dragon Age - Teen - Rhela Ghilain x Geldauran

From This Forgotten Binding, Chapter 8 (Banal'rasen or Mien'harel):

Hope that began to crawl underneath his skin. Hope that was broken, and bruised. Like a soldier who could only pull themselves forward with their fingers. Clawing at the dirt beneath them. But that hope was there, alive, and refusing to surrender to the idea that the course of his life was already decided.

I love this entire story for so many reasons and I truly wish I could share it with more people. It's from my first fandom event (summer DABB 2025!) and it was my first dive into a true AU.

Forgotten Gods, god reincarnations, modern Thedas (with magic!), museums, universities, archaeology, the works. It had so many things crammed into it and I am so immensely proud of it.

This chapter (much like my chapter chosen for The Theory of Being) contains the scene that sort of kicked off the entire idea. A walk through a museum of relics owned by the Forgotten Ones.

Dragon Age - Explicit - Solas/Fen'harel x Isathe/Aseradiva

From Mending Strings of Loss, Chapter 2 (Confronting Fears):

About ten minutes after their arrival, as Cullen was passing a message to a scout, his door swung open violently. Ellana standing in the doorway, both the Commander and the scout jumped at the noise. The Inquisitor pointed to the door, "Out, I need to speak with Commander Cullen alone." Maker's breath, she is still mad. She also had him cornered. The scout made a swift exit and every part of Cullen wished he could follow.

I chose this one as it appears to be the first one I finished for the Dragon Age fandom? It was a short, 2 chapter piece. Some of my early early work but I also love it as something to look back on and see how I have changed in terms of my story telling, and own writing ability.

It also isn't Solavellan, which is fun! And I truly enjoy torturing Cullen (affectionately).

Dragon Age - Mature - Cullen Rutherford x Inquisitor Lavellan

Ahh! This is very cute, thank you for this. It's always nice to be prompted to yap about things you're proud of. 🌿💚

The Theory of Being 🌿

Isathe was an ancient elf, a member of the Forgotten Ones and awakened years before the Breach before being pulled into the Inquisition. Hiding herself from the prying eyes of those who would condemn her for her past, the wolf that haunts her dreams and the unsettling gaze of the apostate elf who appeared to know more than he let on.

This was my first real foray into something very close to an AU, and is my most popular one by far. Isathe has grown as a character to a point where I just adore her so much, and really was the beginning of my focus on the Forgotten Ones.

I always joke that my goal is to be one of the people where if someone goes "oh I wish there was more stories about the Forgotten Ones", that someone is like "OH you should check out Elfyroot". And yeah, that's my silly little fandom dream.

A Witness To My Crimes 💥

Vought sold the world a convincing lie: Soldier Boy was the greatest American hero, and his partner, Cataclysm, was the perfect sidekick. In truth, they were a failed experiment in controlled destruction.

I am primarily a Dragon Age writer - I do have a few in some other fandoms like The Sandman, or Baldur's Gate 3 - but I am so so so proud of this one. It gave me a chance to go somewhere gritty and dark and fucked up and dive into a toxic relationship between two people who love each other but truly make each other worse.

They're so awful (I love them) and I have been so pleased with writing them.

This Forgotten Binding 📖

The Gods of Elvhenan were once unified under one banner until the Forgotten Ones left to form their own pantheon, waging a millennia long, bloody rebellion in the process.

This was my first fandom event (that has opened up... so much for me). I met so many writers, learned so much, and have found these pockets of amazing community of creatives who just lift each other up.

It was also my first real, full AU - a modern setting with magic and reincarnated gods and angst (my favorite).

It hasn't done as well as some of my others but it has a special place in my heart.

One Nug Short of Sensible 🤠

Everything was going smoothly - until Sheriff Geldauran barrels in like a druffalo in a glass shop and disrupts an undercover operation in his jurisdiction - blowing Rhela's cover and destroying months of hard work. Now, Geldauran has to help her fix the mess he made and salvage her case.

This is one of those... incredibly indulgent type "rarepairs" because the Forgotten Ones are a bit niche anyway, and now I just made him in a modern AU with a southern Texas Ostagar drawl and a Sheriff's badge.

Part of the same modern god reincarnation AU as This Forgotten Binding, but set in a southern style Ostagar and is a short story about how Geldauran meets his eventual partner - Rhela Ghilain.

I love these two so damn much and I am very much *not normal* about them.

I'll Tell You My Sins 🐦‍⬛

Detective Mara Pereira (Rook) and Viago de Riva (Crime Boss) find themselves stuck in a confessional during a Chantry mass and Viago's kinda an asshole (and good with his tongue).

I struggled with writing smut for a very long time. There's a lot of little things that can make or break it and I have endless awe and appreciation for writers who just write smut like they breathe - I, however, take about 3x as long to write it as I do angst but let's not dive into what that might be why psychologically.

So last year I took it as a challenge to do smutty writing for Kinktober to kind of force myself to get more comfortable with it, and I did!

This isn't from Kinktober but it is from the Viarook Week 2026 prompt where I combined day 2 (Service Kink & Hersey) and it's one of those ones I am actually really proud of in the aftermath.

DAY 02 - DAERN'THAL God of Nightmares & Domination † Lord of Chains † The Shadow Tyrant

Prayer to the Shadow Tyrant

Daern’thal, Lord of Chains - Hear me, not as a supplicant seeking your favor, but as one who knows I must prove myself worthy of your guidance. Know that I do not come to kneel, but to bend the world as you once bent dreams of mortals. Master of Nightmares - You walk in the shadows of the sleeping minds, and bringing the fears of those who cross your path to the surface. Teach me to wield terror as you do: with precision, with purpose, and with triumph. By your will, I claim my rightful place. By your gaze, I rise without challenge. By your chains, my will is done.

Rules: A photo of your OC, 6 or more photos that fit how they are when they are in love, and 3-4 songs.

Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy

Call and I'll rush out, all out of breath now. You've got that power of me, my, my. Everything I hold dear resides in those eyes.

Can't Help Falling in Love - DARK by Tommee Profitt, brooke

Wise men say only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you.

Red Velvet by Jutes, Ari Abdul

Feel you in my lungs, you got me strung out. Running through my veins just like a bloodhound. Where you going? I don't wanna come down. Baby, don't go, baby, don't go. My mind and body at war, but my heart just wanna be yours.