Krem's Transition - Part 1
"Inquisitor, do you have a moment?"
Rosen turned his head to look up from where he was sitting on his favorite bench in the inner courtyard garden of Skyhold, seeing Krem approaching with a slightly wary look on his face. "Of course, Krem. I have been wanting to speak to you, actually. And please, call me Rosen. Now that people know my name, I would prefer them to use it when appropriate."
"Very well, Rosen. I.. The chief told me that you're a- a.."
"A dragon?" Rosen finished his sentence with obvious amusement. His sky-blue-painted lips curved into a slightly teasing smile. "Yes, I am. I will answer any questions you might have if I can. There are some things, however, that I can not share. I am sure you understand that."
"I do, yes. I was wondering, if it's alright to ask, being one yourself, how you felt after killing the dragon that was possessed by Hakkon?"
"Of course you can ask, Krem. I know we do not know each other well, but I do consider us friends. You fascinate me."
"I do?"
"Yes. But to answer your question, it was painful to me to hurt.. to kill him. As it hurts me every time I am forced to take someone's life. I have the heart, and the soul, of a lover, Krem, not a killer. Being capable of fighting, enjoying it even, and enjoying killing are two very different things. But these vicious dragons which are attacking people without cause beyond their hurting and confusion, which they turn into rage instinctively, as I have told my mate, are not like me and my people. They have been corrupted by the fade rifts. The best thing for them is to be.. put down, so they may be reborn as true dragons. Some of them may even be reborn of my union with Dorian when we have our first hatching."
"..Hatching?" Krem inquired with clear confusion.
"Baby dragons," Rosen explained with a grin up at him, clearly pleased by the thought.
"I don't understand. You are beautiful, but aren't you a man?"
"Yes, Krem, I am a man. But there are two kinds of men, and two kinds of women, in true dragon culture. I am a male dragon who needs a male mate, who can lay dragon eggs containing the babies, or dragonlings, of himself and his male mate. Then there are the male dragons who have hatchlings by bonding with a fated male or fated female mate. It is the same with the female dragons. A female dragon who bonds with a fated female mate can get her pregnant, and a female dragon who bonds with a fated male mate will lay the eggs herself. Dorian is my fated mate. We were met to be, and we will be having dragonlings together soon. We have already taken Cole into our Clutch. We will teach him about life, and when we are ready to have dragonlings, he will be their older brother. We are a family."
"I.. I see. Thank you for explaining, Rosen. I guess life at Skyhold is about to get even more interesting."
"Yes, it is. Krem, do you remember when I asked you if you would transition all the way with magic if you could? Fully become who you truly are?"
"Yes, I remember. But the risk is too great. I could die, or become brain-damaged for the rest of my life."
"If you asked a mage to attempt it, yes, those things could happen. In fact, they very likely would. But not a dragon. A mage uses magic. A dragon is magic. I can give you this gift. I would never pressure you into making this decision, Krem. But if you take some time to think about it, and decide this is what you truly wish, then I would be honored to assist you through your transition."
"I.. see. I think," Krem stated, inquiring, needing to be sure of such an important detail, "So there would be no blood magic involved, right?"
"No, there would be no blood magic involved, Krem," Rosen stated firmly, his words a clear promise. Dragons do not use blood magic. We do not use magic the same way mages do, either. I am not disparaging mages, of course. My mate is one, after all. But a dragon's magic is stronger, and safer."
"Alright. I'll take some time to think over your offer. Probably talk to the chief before making any decisions."
"Of course, Krem."
"Thank you, Rosen."