A Life After Epilogue
So this is the full Epilogue to my A Life After series, that is only in the complete edition.
Link on AO3 Here!
WattPad Version Here!
Fanfic.Net Version Here!
Epilogue below the cut but here's Dav'ari all grown up since he's featured and might very well be my next playthrough.
This character has been heavily featured as a child throughout the series and is Davrin's sister's son.
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Enjoy!
Kalen sat back and looked up at Davrin as he finished the last braid and sang the final line of the song he had been singing as he worked on Kalen’s hair. They sat in front of their home, leaned against the big tree as they had done so many times over the last twentyish years. Assan lay in the tree above them curled up near the center of it so he wouldn’t fall; he got around okay but he was certainly starting to slow down as he aged. It was a warm summer day, but it was late and the sun was on its way down. Arlathan forest had gone quiet, over the years the Veil Jumpers had worked tirelessly to finally repair most of the damage caused during the war. A warm breeze blew as they had sat in comfortable silence while Davrin worked away at the braids. Kalen’s hair had gotten so long and at this point he couldn’t remember the last time he cut it. He had noticed that morning in the mirror that he was starting to finally get some white sprouts in and amongst his curls. Davrin on the other hand, sticking with routine had kept his hair much the same. The difference now was the white swath that had come in quite prominently through the last few years.
Davrin smiled down at him before leaning down and kissing his forehead. “Should we get inside then?” he asked.
Kalen returned the smile. “I’m good to just sit for a while if you are?”
“Yeah, I thought so.” Davrin leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Rubbing his hand across Kalen’s chest.
It was quiet for a few minutes when they heard the cabin door open. “Uncle Kalen, Uncle Davrin!”
“There it is,” Davrin chuckled.
“Yup.” Kalen opened his eyes and sat forward.
“I told you I was making supper today, it’s ready!” Dav’ari called from the doorstep.
Davrin pushed himself up from his seat. “I didn’t actually think he’d do it.” He turned and pulled Kalen to his feet.
“We’re coming!” Kalen called as he stood.
Assan let out a happy squawk knowing it was supper time and made his way down the tree, dropping the last few feet and hitting with a thud. “Careful boy,” said Davrin checking on him. Assan didn’t take to the skies nearly as much these days. He let out another happy coo and trotted to the house.
“He’s fine,” Kalen smiled at Davrin as they walked to the house. Dav’ari disappearing back into the house.
Kalen looked up at the house as they approached. What used to be their tiny two-room cabin had now been turned into a single-story bungalow with three bedrooms. Davrin had designed and Kalen helped him put it together over the years making it into a home for their little family. They walked up the steps and into the house, Dav’ari had just taken the pitcher of ice water to the table and poured the glasses. He had even prepared something fresh for Assan and had it ready at his spot for him.
Kalen looked at the table, he had prepared a Dalish Seafood soup, and a dish of Deep Forest Comfort. “I’m impressed baby boy,” said Kalen walking over and resting a hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“Uncle Kalen, I’m twenty-eight,” Dav’ari gave Kalen a side glance. “When are you going to stop calling me baby boy?” Dav’ari had grown into a fine young man, his familiar features that reminded him so much of Davrin when he was younger but keeping some of Junai’s softer features but he certainly didn’t keep his as tidy. He had become a talented mage and decided a few years back to join the Shadow Dragons having grown up with most of them as Neve helped teach him to control his magic over the years.
“You’ll still be baby boy to me, just cus your taller than me now…” Kalen trailed off as he sat at the table.
“Da’len you know how he gets,” laughed Davrin. He pulled Dav’ari toward him and kissed him on the side of the head before taking his seat across from Kalen.
“Little one? Really?”
“You’re not taller than me,” Davrin chuckled.
Dav’ari sat at the table with them and they ate their meal. Dav’ari told them about his day and about a young Qunari named Azreal he had met at one of the Dragon’s latest rally’s. Kalen knew they must have been special, Dav’ari had shown little interest in anyone beyond friendship since he came of age choosing to focus more on his studies.
A few hours had passed, and Kalen lay on their bed with a book in one hand that he had been reading for some time about magical theory and the effects of certain spells on the veil. A research theory developed by Professor Emmrich Volkarin with very few challengers and even less that had any grounds for their challenge. He sat with his other hand behind his head propping him up. He flipped the page using magic when he felt Dav’ari rest his head up under his arm. He looked up at the book Kalen was reading before pulling up his own text. Kalen had taught Dav’ari to read like this and it was something they continued to do even after Dav’ari learned to read on his own and like now; would bring his own book to read instead of listening to Kalen. He looked down at Dav’ari and gave him a small smirk, Dav’ari smiled up at him before getting into his book. “Twenty years later and you’r still up under my arm.”
“I can go to the chair,” Dav’ari suggested, finding his place in his book.
Kalen wrapped his arm around Dav’ari’s neck. “I didn’t say I minded.” The two of them continued to read in quiet as they always did. Kalen glanced over at the book Dav’ari read: a serial he recognized from Neve’s older collection. “Good choice.” Dav’ari grinned up at him in response.
Davrin had been sitting at his desk working away at a carving he’d been putting some time into: a desk top statue of Assan. He’d been working at it in his spare time for months and was just putting in some finishing touches on the smaller details. He leaned in and carved out a few more of the feather details when Assan walked over and rubbed against his side. He let out a soft coo and sat next to him looking at the figure. Davrin looked at him and could see by the look on his face that he wanted attention. His droopy ear still hung down like it always did no matter how old he got. Davrin reached out and ran a hand over his head. Assan let out a dissatisfied squawk and pranced over to the couch. “Oh really?” Davrin chuckled. Assan just sat by the couch looking at him. “Alright, alright, I guess I have been working at this for too long tonight.” Davrin got up off the chair and walked over to the couch and lay back. “Come on ole boy.” Davrin patted his thigh inviting Assan up and the griffon climbed up on the couch resting his head on Davrin’s stomach. Davrin started petting Assan’s head and laid his head back, it wasn’t long before Assan was happily purring. He could feel the griffon relax in his hands and sprawl out on the couch with him. Davrin let out a sigh as he reached up to rub his shield arm, a pain that flared up now and then. The ache went away briefly and the two of them drifted off for a nap.
Davrin didn’t know how much time had passed when he opened his eyes to Kalen kissing his forehead. “Hey,” Kalen whispered.
“Hello,” Davrin spoke quietly matching his tone. “Where’s the kid?”
Kalen sat next to Davrin on the couch. “He was falling asleep reading, so he’s bedded down for the night.”
“That’s good.”
“How’s your arm?” asked Kalen, knowing that it tended to bother Davrin in the evening.
“It’s okay, seems pretty calm tonight.” Davrin sat up in the spot and Assan adjusted along with him clearly not ready to move yet.
“Should probably head to bed,” said Kalen standing. “It’s late.”
“Go ahead I’ll be in soon. Take him with ya,” said Davrin gesturing to the griffon sprawled along his lap.
Kalen pat Assan on the back and stood up. “Come on big fella.” Assan lifted his head and looked at Kalen before hesitantly standing and getting to his feet. “He’ll be in soon he said.” Kalen leaned in and kissed Davrin again before leading Assan out of the room and to their bedroom.
Davrin stood up from the couch and walked over to his desk sweeping up the shavings from the work he had done earlier that evening. He put out the candle on the desk and pushed back the piece he had been working on. Davrin turned and looked around the room. On the far wall Kalen’s Scorch Staff and his Blight Killer blade were hung neatly and lengthwise on the wall, they had stopped monster hunting about ten years ago having made enough money to live comfortably after they had finished the work on what was once just their little cabin. He walked through the room passing where their favourite armours were on display, two from each of theirs, Davrin’s Wildwood Benefactor and Resolve and Kalen’s Garb of Kinship and Warden Archivist Robes.
He walked through the kitchen noting the coffee cup set that Lucanis had given them that Kalen had sat on a wall shelf below the Display of Ancient Griffon’s Kalen had given him during their early days. The small bed that the kids used to sleep in was still set up by the original fireplace but was now only a decoration, at least until Dav’ari or Sylphie had kids of their own. He smiled thinking of when they were little and how Assan would stay with them while they slept, or how Dav’ari used to talk to Hope before it went dormant. A vase with some Brona’s Bloom sat on the table and Kalen’s griffon toy sat on the shelf above the fireplace. He looked at the door to the room that used to be his and Kalen’s that was now the guest room. Dav’ari had hung a Shadow Dragon tapestry on the door he had gotten from Neve some years ago.
The room that was now theirs was at the end of a short hallway that they had added to the house. He walked into the hallway and took note of the masks they had worn on their honeymoon that Kalen had put in a glass display case. They had used them a couple of times since but they had since collected some dust over the years so they cleaned them up and put them in the case until they’d use them again. On top of the same case; the two vials that held the cure they had taken on their wedding day. He walked down the hall past the two Grey Warden tapestries that Antoine and Evka had gifted them. A couple of Dalish Banners that Eldren had given as a housewarming gift after they finished the upgrades draped the top of the wall. Davrin missed the old man as he had passed only a year ago. It had hurt but they were prepared for it as he hadn’t been well for a while. Dav’ari struggled with it the most as he had tried everything magically possible to fix the old man. It got to a point where Eldren had told the boy to stop trying, that he was ready to go.
Davrin shook the memory off as he walked into their bedroom. He had taken longer than expected Kalen and Assan were already sleeping on the very large bed he had designed so Assan didn’t have to sleep on the floor. He smiled to himself as he walked over to the vanity and lifted his shirt over his head. Kalen’s shaving mirror sat on the table next to the carved piece Davrin had given him when he asked him to be his bonded. Davrin chuckled a bit to himself, Kalen still insisted on using the mirror even though they had a full size one right on the table. He picked the small carved piece up and ran a finger over the wording; The Heart of a Halla; it had worn a bit over time but was still in good shape. He sat it back on the table and finished stripping down to his small cloths before crawling into bed.
Kalen took a deep breath as Davrin pulled him into him and nuzzled into his neck. As Davrin closed his eyes he couldn’t help but think of a conversation he had had a long time ago while they were fighting the gods. He couldn’t even remember who he was talking to but it stuck true to what he said he wanted; grow old with a griffon…
