I'm not a damsel in distress

I'm a dragon in a dress. indie Cassandra Pentaghast

[ofshieldbash-blog]

@tarasylnin

Cassandra took a pause from beating the wooden statue and rolled her shoulders a little as she looked over at the Inquisitor. “Madame.” she greeted with a slighted smile. She was, admittedly, nervous about what sort of fight they would get from Ferelden and Orlais now that the Inquisition was here to stay.

But Cassandra also knew it was the correct choice given their new task.

Cassandra set the broadsword down and sighed, wiping the sweat from her neck with a towel. “May I help you with anything?”

[ofshieldbash-blog]

Happy Birthday @fulluponcrazy!

They learn, sooner rather than later, and perhaps the easiest way (if there is an easy way) that Cassandra cannot have her own children. The terms of their marriage was that Cassandra was to provide an heir for Ferelden and its people. It was unwritten and unspoken, but her job other than to act as Queen, was to help keep the Theirin bloodline going.

It was not meant to be. She did not weep, as it was because there had been perhaps one or two too many sword wounds littering her abdomen. Something made her uninhabitable by another life, and she did not weep, and it did not surprise her that was the case due to the life of battle she lead.

“It is not unheard of to find a surrogate, courtesan, or a consort in our circumstances.” she offered one night (and it was a suggestion out of love even if he couldn’t see that), and Alistair vehemently refused. It was touching, but unneeded. She would not wilt, but as it were, their attention was needed on other things.

Instead, they focused on the growing unrest in Ferelden. The Inquisition is uprooted and gone, it leaves people homeless and scared. Cassandra had been there at the end with the Inquisitor (she took their arm), and she knew the truth. She did not lie to Alistair for long before she admitted what had transpired. She recounted Solas’s apparent betrayal with much too much hurt.

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her temple and it was something so small that reminded her how much he loved her. It settled into her bones and spread through her like a warm drink would.

They travel to the largest cities (which she learns there aren’t many, it isn’t like Nevarra) in Ferelden. They are Amaranthine and have managed to find a moment of solace where they can shuffle themselves into their armor and their nondescript cloaks. They shake their guard and Alistair seems intent on getting to Vigil’s Keep, to introduce her to “the family” as he lovingly refers to them.

They do get there, and perhaps it is not the smartest thing they do while in Amaranthine, but it is the best thing they do. She has seen Alistair smile briefly like he does with the mass of Grey Wardens around him. She watches greetings and loving insults be thrown around before she is finally introduced. It’s Oghren who suggests they celebrate a wedding the Grey Warden Way. The festivities last far into the early morning, and Cassandra dances for hours with Alistair and other Wardens a like (while she tries not to think about how he might eventually rot away and lose himself to the Taint).

They walk back in the early morning light, taking their time seeing as they know they’re going to get a talking to from Teagan. It’s Cassandra who hears the wails from the river, and she tears off down the steep incline from the water with little regard to Alistair’s yelling.

On the current she can see a basket, and she has to fight the current to even get there in time to barely catch the woven reeds. She grips it tight to her chest, trudging back to the edge of the current to pass up the basket to Alistair before she climbs the slope with his help.

She can now make out, two different wails coming from the basket, and she removes her gauntlets before gingerly lifting one of the two children out of the basket. “Hello--” she greets, talking to the baby as if it could understand her. She looks over at Alistair as he follows in suit, picking up the other. Despite being on the river, both children smell, and must have been riding the current for a day or two. They, of course, take the children with them and sneak back into their quarters without being noticed for now.

They wash both children and Cassandra swaddles them in extra woolen shirts she has after their cloth diapers have dried by the fire with Alistair’s help. The children fall asleep side by side on the large bed before Teagan finds them. Cassandra herself is drying beside the fire when he comes in and before he yells, Alistairs puts a finger up to his lips and gestures at the children.

“And whose babies are those?” Teagan asks, as if he already knows the answer. “Ours” Cassandra and Alistair say, nearly simultaneously. Teagan throws his hands up in a brief “Thank the maker” motion before he quietly makes an exit. letting them know that they’re not done talking about this.

Cassandra lets Alistair undo her braid before she slowly settles her head in his lap so she can fend off the chill of the river while watching the small bundles up on the bed. “I know you do not have... nearly as much faith in the Maker as I do Alistair, but... I do believe this is a gift from him.” she admits carefully before she looks up at him, receiving a light kiss as a silent reply.

“They’ll need names” is what he says next, and Cassandra does have to laugh ever so slightly at that, and she nods in agreement. “I hadn’t thought of that” she mumbles, half asleep as Alistair’s fingers gently card through her hair.

[ofshieldbash-blog]

fulluponcrazy:

His fingers squeeze her’s, and he offers a crooked smile. “You like when I’m a nuisance,” he replies, his tone almost wheedling, and his smile grows to a grin. 

“You wouldn’t know what to do with me if I behaved myself; you would think I was sick. Even worse, you would get bored.” There’s a melodramatic shudder, then, though he can’t quite manage a straight face. “So it’s for both of our benefits that I keep you on your toes.”

She nods in agreement, “As long as we sparred still I don’t think I would” she muses a moment before she slowly stands to kiss her husband.

(she only ever likes doing so in the comfort of them alone together, she doesn’t have prying eyes to worry about)

“How was your meeting?” she finally asks, giving his hand a gentle tug so they could go sit on the bed instead. “Nothing bad I hope” she adds with a little huff, settling down on the edge of the bed. Cassandra patiently waits for him to sit too before she will go on with her questions.

[lesbiautumnal]

I don’t see enough positivity for girls who BRAWL

in parking lots

in the middle of a corn field

at funerals

in the soup aisle of walmart at 3 am

during thanksgiving dinner when their uncle is watching football instead of setting the goddamn table like he was asked to

[ofshieldbash-blog]

Starter Call!

[greelin]

how i deal with my feelings

never talk about them

barely acknowledge them

hope they go away

i don’t, basically

that’s what i’m saying

i do not deal with my feelings

[nevarranprince-blog]

he can only STARE – watch as the woman bashes the straw filled dummy with her sword over and over again – splitting cloth, watching strings of straw fall to the ground. he listens to her grunt – watches the way the sun shines off her raven hair. familiar. that hair. much like his own. well, perhaps that was just a PENTAGHAST trait…

finally, he steps forward, a smile upon his lips, hands resting upon the hilt of the sword upon his hip. he may not be as SKILLED in battle as she was – but he known back in the castle for his excellence in swordsmanship. perhapss, that is just another PENTAGHAST charm. 

❝ cassandra. ❞ her name rolls of his tongue, as if he had said it many times before. in fact, he hasn’t. it was their first meeting. but he has heard so many tales – ferdinand was very descriptive. ❝ it seems we meet at last. ❞

@ofshieldbash  ♥’d for a starter

[ofshieldbash-blog]

She does not recognize the voice. The accent, heavily Nevarran, but it is still foreign. “I do not recall Josephine telling me I would have visitors” with a hefty swing, and a soft frustrated grunt, she is happy as her sword wedges itself into the wood.

(she takes a moment to steel herself in case this is another intrepid courier with a letter from her uncle with instance she comes home)

Lifting her shirt edge, she wipes away the sweat gather on her face. When she does turn around her chest twists in an odd way. The man in front of her carries her mother’s features, features of a Pentaghast, and not of her father’s Anders’ origin.

There’s no mistake that the man in front of her is of blood to her. Granted the Pentaghast family is large and wide, this seems different. She, like so often before, takes a moment to find her words, “I... had heard rumors.” she begins with all the caution she would when she charges at an enemy, “That there was a bastard son among the Pentaghasts”  she removes her sword from the dummy now, holding it tight in her hand.

“The current king is apparently childish, but I think I can see that is a venomous lie--” she hisses. “It will not be mentioned in the books, but my mother was Markus’ sister, did you know this?” she asks, glancing to her sword now with her nose pulled back in disgust.

“He executed her becase she wanted what was best for our home” she growls. “You dare come here?” she inquires then, standing a little taller and taking two steps towards the man.

[asking-fucking-alexandriaaa-dea]

S\O to girls that scratch & claw your back during sex

[avidskiier-blog]

asking-fucking-alexandriaaa-dea:

[ofshieldbash-blog]

(to die alone? what a horrible thing.)

Before the events of Trespasser, but between the break of the main plot and it, The Inquisition cleans up the Temple of Sacred Ashes. With Varric’s resources and the Inquisition’s man power, they safely mine away the red lyrium and stick it somewhere it will never see day light again.

Of course there is the issue of dead bodies littering, and those that can be identified, are. Their remains are sent to what families want them, and for those who are unwanted, or unable to be identified, they are remembered by a monument erected in place of the temple.

“THOSE WHO WERE SACRIFICED”

Names are carved of everyone who went into the temple and did not leave, Divine Justina’s leading at the top, followed by the lost Grand Enchanters and the Knight Commanders side by side. Noble family members when went despite not needing to.

No one is forgotten.

Cassandra did not personally help with clean up, but instead returned to Nevarra to attempt to clear her Mother and Father’s name, but she received word that Regalyan’s body was discovered, and somehow a letter to her partially survived the blast.

Her uncle finds her, weeks later, crying over a letter that seems ready to turn to dust and the slightest gust of wind, and Cassandra clutches it to her chest.

[fulluponcrazy]

Damn

“And here I thought all the hair pulling was because you didn’t like me.”

[ofshieldbash-blog]

fulluponcrazy:

ofshieldbash:

“If you are not careful, it may turn into that” Cassandra chides, trying to hide her smile from him.

He grins, undaunted. “But you like me. You probably like me even when I’m being a pain.”

“It is true I do–” she concedes with a little huffed laugh, nose scrunching up slightly as she shakes her head at Alistair.

(love is woven into the noise, but you must have a trained ear to hear it instead of annoyance)

“Though it remains to be see if I like you when you’re bothering me” she’s teasing of course, and she makes sure he knows by taking his hands in her own.

[ofshieldbash-blog]

tumblr what is ur damage just let me reblog sh it/????

[ofshieldbash-blog]

gonna go play on my adarr bby

[zarkovagis9]

Visit Original Link

“Of all the money that e’er I had, I spent it in good company, And all the harm that e’er I’ve done, Alas! It was to none but me,

And all I’ve done for want of wit, To mem’ry now, I can’t recall, So fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all,

Oh, all the comrades that e’er I had, They’re sorry for my going away, And all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve loved, They’d wish me one more day to stay,

But since it falls unto my lot, That I should rise and you should not, I’ll gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be with you all

Good night and joy be with you all.”

[fulluponcrazy]

Damn

“And here I thought all the hair pulling was because you didn’t like me.”

[ofshieldbash-blog]

“If you are not careful, it may turn into that” Cassandra chides, trying to hide her smile from him.

[paddingtontwo]

Visit Original Link

eat you alive//the oh hellos

he said to me, child, i’m afraid for your soul these things that you’re after, they can’t be controlled this beast that you’re after will eat you alive and spit out your bones

[dvoyd]

death is that familiar taste that fills your mouth, coats your teeth, and chokes your lungs when you try to breathe.

perhaps you shouldn’t have kissed it | m.a.w (via dvoyd)

[veilpierced]

The Oh Hellos Sentence Starters

❝ Oh, don’t leave me here alone.  ❞ 

❝ I want to find a home, and I want to share it with you.  ❞

❝ Nothing lasts forever.  ❞

❝ Some things aren’t meant to be. ❞

❝ You’ll never find the answers until you set your old heart free.  ❞

❝ See, I was born a restless, wayward child. ❞

❝ Cold is the night without you here.  ❞ 

❝ Hard is the heart that feels no fear. ❞

❝ Take this burden away from me, and bury it before it buries me. ❞

❝ Many are the days I’ve wanted to cease. ❞

❝ We carry our lives around in our memories.❞

❝ I’ve seen the things that I must do. ❞

❝ Take my hand and set me free. ❞

❝ Take my burdens and bury them deep. ❞

❝ Heartache pales in comparison to love. ❞

❝ Blood was our inheritance. ❞

❝ No, we did not ask for this. ❞

❝ And like the dawn you woke the world inside of me. ❞ 

❝ And you will surely be the death of me. ❞

❝ But how could I have known? ❞

❝ Child, I’m afraid for your soul. ❞

❝ This beast that you’re after will eat you alive, and spit out your bones. ❞

❝ She’ll string you along and she’ll sell you a lie. ❞

❝ There’s nothing but pain on the edge of a knife. ❞

❝ There is no courage in flirting with fear to prove you’re alive. ❞

❝ They saw trouble in my eyes. ❞

❝ They were quick to recognize the devil in me. ❞

❝ See, I was born a restless child. ❞

❝ And heaven knows how hard I tried. ❞

❝ You’ve got to go on, further than you’ve ever gone. ❞

❝ You’ve got to run far from all you’ve ever known. ❞

❝ Only had myself to blame for the company I was keeping. ❞

❝ Curse my restless, wandering feet. ❞

❝ All the love you gave to me, and it wasn’t enough to keep me. ❞

❝ But you are far too beautiful to love me. ❞

❝ I’ve got holes in my pockets burned by liars’ gold. ❞

❝ And if you leave before the start, then there was never love at all. ❞

❝ And yet you’re far too beautiful to leave me.  ❞

❝ Brother, forgive me. ❞

❝ We both know I’m the one to blame. ❞

❝ I’ll come around someday. ❞

❝ I was young, and stubborn to the bone. ❞

❝ I knew you’d never forgive me. ❞

❝ I have made mistakes, I continue to make them. ❞

❝ The promises I’ve made, I continue to break them. ❞

❝ And all the doubts I’ve faced, I continue to face them. ❞

❝ Nothing is a waste if you learn from it. ❞

❝ We have lived in fear, and our fear has betrayed us. ❞

❝ We are not alone in the dark with our demons.❞

❝ We have made mistakes, but we’ve learned from them.. ❞

❝ Oh my heart, how can I face you now? ❞

❝ We both know how badly I have let you down.   ❞

❝ I got tired of giving more than you gave to me. ❞

❝ Could you love me more if by the sun and moon I swore that I would never flee? ❞

❝ I still taste you on my lips, lovely, bitter water. ❞

❝ The terrible fire of old regret is honey on my tongue. ❞

❝ I know I shouldn’t love you, but I do. ❞

❝ All the days of our delights are poison in my veins. ❞

❝ I am not a fool entire! No, I know what is coming.   ❞

❝ I know this: there is beauty in the way of things. ❞

❝ So, my little dove, I’m afraid I am leaving. ❞

❝ Now, I am not the fool I was when I was younger. ❞

❝ Crocodile eyes, I have seen how you hunger. ❞

❝ You are the brighest fire devouring timbers. ❞

❝ No, I cannot trust what you say when you’re grieving. ❞

❝ I will not abide all your raging and reaving! ❞

❝ I have set my mind and my will: I am leaving. ❞

❝ No, I am not afraid to die; it’s every breath that comes before. ❞

❝ Heartache, I’ve heard, is part of life. ❞

❝ I can see how this will end, in all its bitter tragedy. ❞

❝ Was it you ‘mid the fire and the ember? ❞

❝ Were you there to bedevil and beguile? ❞

❝ See, your face wasn’t quite as I remember. ❞

❝ I know that wicked shape to your smile. ❞

❝ Bury me as it pleases you, lover. ❞

❝ The things that I believed in, you’ve taught me to call them all escapes. ❞

❝ I know who you are now, and I name you my enemy. ❞

❝ I know who I am now, and I know who I want to be. ❞

❝ I want to be more than this devil inside of me. ❞

❝ Where I go, will you still follow? ❞

❝ Will you greet the daylight looming? Learn to love without consuming? ❞