Wow...I feel so happy. All of the reviews, favorites, and follows :) THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Hope ya'll like marshmallows cuz this chapter is sweet and fluffy X3
Bioware owns Dragon Age, but I own Vierna and any other OCs that might pop up! THEY'RE MINE, I TELL YOU!
(Zevran's Dream)
He was walking through familiar halls. How he got here, he didn't know, and he didn't really care. All he cared about was that Vierna wasn't at his side or anywhere in sight, and given the fact he was travelling at a brisk pace through the Crow's headquarters in Antiva, it didn't bode well in his mind. Vaguely, he recalled times in his youth when he would play pranks on trainees and instructors in this same hall, almost swearing that he saw the stain in the velvet rug where he had rigged a bucket of dirty water to fall over the Guildmaster as he made his rounds.
He rounded a corner and saw something that utterly befuddled him.
Just a few doors down the hall, he saw…himself, dressed in the leathers presented to senior members of the Crows upon receiving the position of Guildmaster. The main difference between the two of them was the Zevran down the hall had some slight wrinkles near his eyes and his mouth and his golden hair had a few streaks of silvery gray within it. Guildmaster Zevran was discussing something with a senior instructor whose face he couldn't make out. As he neared the duo, he heard the last bit of their conversation.
"…decrease the time they spend training. My sweet vida is under enough stress as it is and worrying for her children's health isn't helping."
The instructor nodded hastily, adding, "Not to mention little Sers Leo and Dalia are showing exemplary progress for their young age."
Zevran watched his older self incline his head. "Thank you for that compliment on my children, Marcurio. I'll make sure to relay that to them." He couldn't help but chuckle when his eyebrow then quirked and he asked, "Although, I would guess their genetics had something to do with their abilities, no?"
Marcurio chuckled as well. "Of course, Guildmaster Arainai. If you'll excuse me." The instructor turned on his heel and headed down the hall in the opposite direction of where Zevran had come from.
He was suddenly startled when his Guildmaster self looked over his shoulder, seeming as though he had detected his younger self standing a few scant feet away, but Zevran relaxed when his older self said in a calm and loving voice, "You can come out now, pequeñitos."
Zevran turned around and noticed two young children coming out from behind one of the tapestries lining the hall behind him. The girl had Vierna's platinum hair touched with golden accents, chopped off to mirror the style of the boy's short, golden hair. They both had sun-kissed skin and the most curious eyes. Each of them had one emerald and one honey eye, but the girl's left and right eyes were emerald and honey respectively while the boy's were the opposite. They were dressed in satin, the girl's rose red and pearl white dress [with bunched sleeves and that fit snug against her chest but draped loosely down to her knees] and the boy's stark white tunic [with cuffs fit snugly around his wrists and the hem] tucked into dark brown breeches [that hugged his legs until stopping at his knees] testifying their family's wealth and status.
Zevran couldn't help the surprise that crossed his features as the girl opened her mouth, a soft angelic voice spilling forth as she asked, "Papá, is mamá really, really worried about us?"
His older self scooped the girl into his arms and planted a small kiss on her cheek before answering her. "Yes, my angelita. There is never a time when she doesn't worry about you, but because she has your little hermano inside of her, it's important that we make sure she doesn't worry too much." He gazed down at the boy and asked, "How long were the two of you there, Leo?"
Leo's chest puffed proudly as he answered his father, "Since the beginning of yours and Ser Marcurio's conversation, Papá."
He leaned and ruffled the boy's hair, a proud smile plastered on his features. "That's my boy." A wide grin split Leo's face, revealing that the boy was missing two of his teeth, while elder Zevran looked over at Dalia and muttered, "And your mother will also be proud when I tell her."
The blush that crept onto Dalia's cheeks rivaled and nearly paled the red of her dress as she beamed and hugged her father around his neck.
"Now, why don't we go see your mother? I'm sure your older sister Cecelia is here by now and probably helping her."
Leo nodded his head vigorously while Dalia only offered a slight nod of her head, but portrayed no less excitement than her twin. Zevran watched as his older self shifted Dalia to one arm and offered his hand to Leo, who gladly took it and kept up with his father as they set off down the hall. Even as they grew further away, both in his sight and in his hearing, he heard Leo inquire, "What about big brother Ramón? Is he home, too?"
The edges of his dream began to dissipate and all he could make out of what the boy's father's response was, "If he isn't home today, he will be soon. I know that your brother and his wife wouldn't miss another of you wonderful children being born into this world…"
(Vierna's Dream)
Vierna could recall times that she had been panicked. Several of them throughout her childhood and pertaining to whether or not someone she knew would succumb to an illness, and more throughout her adult life, most concerning strategies for fighting darkspawn with minimal casualties and finding the funds to keep her entourage fed and well-equipped. But what was coursing through her now was pure and utter terror as she tore through the halls of what she had recently discovered was the Crow's headquarters, weaponless and armorless. She could only think of finding something to equip herself with until she could escape this place and return to Zevran's side.
She turned a corner at the end of the hall and noticed a door about halfway down the hall that was open. She heard footsteps approaching behind her and dashed to that room ducking inside and pressing herself against the wall, doing her best to control her breathing. She dared to try and catch a glimpse of who had been coming down the hall behind her when a noise from the room further in the room made her flinch and slowly turn her head to see what she had intruded upon and if she had been caught.
What she saw made her breath hitch in her throat.
The woman sitting in the plump armchair near the center of the study that Vierna was hiding in was undoubtedly an older version of herself. Her platinum locks, highlighted here and there with silver, draped loosely about her shoulders and the wrinkles near her eyes and mouth were accented by the content smile she was giving the piece of fabric that she was sewing into a new piece that Vierna couldn't quite make out. Zevran's earring still dangled from the tip of her ear and she noticed with a pang that the wedding ring Nelaros would have given her had their marriage been seen through to the end now dangled from a golden chain around her neck. The sunlight streaming through the curtains glinted off the polished wood of a ring that sat on Nelaros's ring's former position on the third finger of her left hand. It took a minute for Vierna to recognize the ring as being sylvanwood, which spoke volumes about her older self's status and wealth as did the viridian robe that she was wearing.
Her thoughtful stare was interrupted by the sound of the footsteps in the hallway getting closer and her older self looked up abruptly as the sources came to stand in the doorway, a young man [with tawny brown hair that fell in a semi-messy mop from his head but halted before his eyebrows and didn't go any lower than mid-neck, surprising green eyes, and slightly tapered ears that indicated that he was probably half elf, half human] who was leading a young woman by her hand.
Vierna watched as the older woman's eyes lit up at the sight of the young woman, [who had the same golden hair as Zevran, even if it was a little lighter, that fell in cascading rivulets about her face and down all the way to her hips with only a little bit at each temple pulled into braids that looped around her head and joined into a ponytail that melded into the rest of her locks and with hazy amber eyes that stared unmoving at a point directly in front of her]. She set aside her sewing project, revealing a giant baby bump that it had been concealing, and almost standing up when the young woman spoke, her tone hushed and soft.
"You don't have to stand, Mother," she stated, the young man leading her further into the room and guiding her to sit on a cushioned stool situated near the elder woman's legs. "If what your letter said is true, then you need to relax as much as possible."
Older Vierna laughed and massaged her distended stomach tenderly. "Too true. The healer said that it would be best if I didn't move around too much until your little sibling is born. He even muttered something about me being too old for having children." She huffed and settled further into her seat. "Would have thrown something at him, too, if your father hadn't moved the water pitcher from beside the bed."
The man shuffled nervously behind the woman he had just escorted and Vierna noticed his stance. It was that of a vigilant guard, his eyes scanning the room and taking note of what Vierna realized would be the most defensible positions if he had to move the two women further into the room. The younger woman let out a laugh and commented, "I have to admit, Father does have a knack of knowing when your temper will flare."
Vierna watched as her older self gave her daughter a mischievous smirk. "Now, Cecelia, is that any way to talk of your mother?"
Cecelia shrugged, answering plainly, "I am merely stating the truth."
A chuckle and then the woman's mother muttered, "Of course." Her attention focused on the young man, who had finished scanning the room and now gazed curiously at the shelves adorned with trinkets, baubles, and books lining the walls. "You must be…"
His attention snapped abruptly to the elder woman and he gave a courteous bow. "Argus Hawke, Lady Arainai. I have been watching over your daughter during her time in Starkhaven and asked to accompany her home to ensure her safety."
Realization dawned on Vierna and she looked at him with some slight curiosity. "Then you would be one of his Majesty Vael's nephews, correct?"
"Yes, my lady."
"And if I were to guess, you are the son of the Commander of his Guard and his Court Mage?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Please don't call me that. Or ma'am, for that matter."
"Yes, my-I mean, yes, ma'-um, as you say…" The tips of Argus's ears were crimson as were his high cheekbones. Cecelia reached a hand over her shoulder and Argus slid a gloved hand into her grasp.
She gave it an affectionate squeeze and ran her thumb along the back of it, assuring him, "Don't worry, Argus. My mother just doesn't like the pompous titles that her status brings."
Argus smiled at her. "Of course, mea dulcis."
They both missed elder Vierna's eyebrow quirking at the familiarity and love behind that endearment while Cecelia asked, "Do you think you could go down to the kitchens and ask for some refreshments? I'm quite hungry and I'm sure Mother would like a snack as well."
"Oh, how I do appreciate the fact that you inherited your father's uncanny ability to read my mind, Cecelia."
"More like I just heard your stomach grumble."
The only indication that Argus was enjoying the banter between mother and daughter was a slight upturn twitch of his mouth as he offered a slight bow and left the room to travel back the way he and Cecelia had come. His footsteps had faded by the time elder Vierna relaxed in her armchair and grinned impishly at her daughter, an eyebrow quirked as she asked, "Mind to tell your mother dearest what it was that he just called you?"
Cecelia turned crimson from her neck up to the tips of her ears as she bowed her head abashedly and muttered, "H-he called me 'my sweet'. He said it in Tevinter."
Understanding dawned on the older woman's face and she reached over to tuck a bit of hair behind Cecelia's ear. "And has he called you that before?"
"Yes, Mamá." A shaky breath escaped the young woman. "Mamá…I-I think…"
The mother gently caressed her daughter's cheek, finishing the sentence for her. "That you love him?"
No nod or any form of agreement was given as Cecelia started shaking, liquid crystals moistening her unseeing eyes and threatening to fall. "I-I truly want to believe that, Mamá, but the more I think about it, the more I think that what we have is merely that of a young warrior and the woman who needs help. I'm s-so sure that there are other women, more beautiful women, that can…"
Emerald eyes suddenly hardened and elder Vierna snapped, "Now, you listen here, Cecelia Adaia Arainai!" The young woman flinched as her mother effectively silenced her complaints. "Argus came with you for one reason. What would that reason be?"
"T-to make sure…"
"That you were safe," the older woman finished, albeit a bit softer than before, but not much. "Angelita, if only you could see how mesmerizing and stunning and just absolutely beautiful you are, you would understand half of the reason why he hasn't left."
Cecelia tilted her head in her mother's direction, inquiring, "And what would the other half be?"
Before elder Vierna could respond however, a familiar voice to the younger Vierna, a voice that had constantly plagued her since she had first met her lover, commented, "Probably because you're free-spirited enough to keep giving him reasons to lock you away in his chambers and punish you as he sees fit."
Cecelia huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't give him trouble, Ramón."
Vierna's eyes snapped open so wide that she was sure that her eyes would pop out of her head. Standing right beside her in the doorway to the room was Zevran's spitting image. The only difference was their eyes; while her lover's were the color of honey, this man's eyes were her dark emerald. Beside Ramón there stood a slim woman, probably too slim, Vierna thought, to have ever held a weapon in her life. Her ruby red locks and cerulean eyes immediately identified her as being Orlesian, the very slight accent in her voice also confirming Vierna's suspicion.
"Ramón, stop teasing Cecelia. I can think of twenty reasons why you'd try to lock me away in your chambers," she teased, going and sitting on the loveseat that was directly across from elder Vierna and Cecelia.
Ramón gave her the same wolfish grin that Zevran gave her when he was particularly frisky. "Oh, I'm sure you can think of more, sweet Vivianne."
Elder Vierna chose to interrupt them then, stating flatly, "Ramón, if you're going to insist on this course of action, I would recommend journeying to your old chambers first. Cecelia may be blind, but she is not deaf and I will not have the two of you defiling her sense of hearing."
Ramón made a grand gesture of placing his hand over his heart and gasping, "Dear Mother, how could you make such a suggestion? Do you really think so lowly of your firstborn that you think he would scar his younger sister in such a manner?"
"In a manner of speaking."
He again made quite a spectacle as he went over and sat on the loveseat next to his wife, only to turn so that his head was resting on Vivianne's lap and his legs were draping over the opposite arm. "You believe me, don't you, amore?"
Vivianne simply rolled her eyes and, under her breath, muttered, "Sure…"
They were interrupted by Argus returning to the room with a tray of sliced mangoes, apples, and oranges and plump blueberries and grapes. He placed the tray on the table near where older Vierna had placed her sewing project and pulled up another cushioned stool so that he could sit next to Cecelia. He took her hand in his and asked, "What would you like to start with, Cecelia?"
"Grapes, if there are any," she answered politely.
"Of course there are," was the answer he gave as he reached for a cluster of grapes with his free hand and held it there. He then guided Cecelia's hand to the cluster and released it when she plucked the first grape off and gently pushed it into her mouth. After a few grapes, she held a plucked grape up in the air in front of him and he took the invitation, grabbing the fruit between his teeth and pulling it from between her fingers.
As he savored the fruit, Ramón gave a soft cat call from his reclined position. Argus merely gave him a cursory and slightly annoyed glance before returning his attention to Cecelia but elder Vierna, who had been indulging on the mango slices, shot him a full glare, to which he had the sense to look somewhat ashamed and avoid eye contact with his mother. Only a few seconds of this comfortable silence passed before more footsteps could be heard from down the hall, Ramón standing up and sticking his head out of the door. Upon seeing whoever it was, he stepped out into the hall completely and held his arms out. "It's good to see you again, Father! And are those children really Leo and Dalia? I can't believe how big they've become!"
Two excited, young voices chorused in the hall. "Ramón!"
The edges of her dream were beginning to fade away as Vivianne commented, "I hope you realize that comment you just made sounded something like an old man would say."
Vierna could barely make out the image of Ramón picking up two children as they ran to him and heard his response as though from a distance, "Can't a man express his surprise at how big his little siblings have grown?"
The rest was lost to her in a jumble of noise and a nauseating myriad of colors as she awakened from her sleep.
Translations:
vida - life/love (in this case)
pequeñitos - little ones
Papá/Mamá - Dad/Mom. In Dalia and Leo's case, it means Papa/Mama.
angelita - little angel
hermano - sibling
mea dulcis - my sweet
amore - love
I warned you about the marshmallowy-ness of this chapter. Now go to the dentist if you think you have a cavity XDDD
Chapter 3 is in the works, and please leave a review if you had to go to the dentist :)