Codex Drabble: The Twins Meet Solas for the first time -
The snowflakes stung Mathras’s face as he grabbed Tamaris’s hand. She was out of breath from fighting back the demons that had fallen from the breach. He knew she was trying her best, his sister was never one for fighting. “You are doing very well.” He encouraged softly as he followed the Seeker who had taken them captive.
The sounds of the distant fighting grew louder with each step. Mathras let go of his sister’s hands as he drew his daggers. “Stay here…” He cautioned. Tamaris nodded as Mathras and the Seeker joined the attack.
The cold air stung against Tamaris’s exposed hands as they clutched the staff she had picked up only a short time before. Her eyes focused on the battle playing out before her. It was over quickly. An elven man, who appeared to also be mage came striding over to Tamaris. “Now is not the time to sit by ideally like a child when you are the only one who can do anything.” He chided as he snatched her left hand that bore the mark and raised it towards the small breach in the Veil. “Now close it!”
“How?” Tamaris asked unsure of what to do. “I am a healer, not some battlemage.” She cried.
The elf glared at her. “The same as healing a wound…” He pointed out his tone softened when he saw how nervous the woman was.
Tamaris closed her eyes and focused on healing the rift. Her hand began to tingle, then it was like it was aflame. Her hand was pulled back by the stranger and when her eyes opened. The rift had been sealed. “How? How did I do that?”
The man let out an amused chuckle. “You are a healer, are you not?”
Tamaris smiled, her cheeks flushing pink as she gave a short nod. The moment was spoiled when Mathras came running up behind her. “Mythal’s Mercy, Tamaris… you… you….” He stammered still in shock over seeing the feat that his sister had just committed. He cupped her face with both hands looking her over. “I can’t believe you did that! Oh maybe Mamae was right and you are really Falon’din reborn!” He laughed and Tamaris looked horrified at her brother’s joke.
“That is not a jest to make, Mathras.” Tamaris scowled as she pushed her brother’s hands off her face. “Please just stop, there is some logical…”
“Magical..” Mathras quickly corrected cutting his sister off.
“In fact there it is likely a little of both…” The elf who had helped Tamaris seal the rift noted. “I am Solas.”
“Like your sister, he is an apostate. He helped stabilize the mark and save her life.” The Seeker noted to Mathras who looked rather confused.
Tamaris beat her brother to the question they both had. “But you are not Dalish, you do not have the Vallalsin, so are you one of the Elves that live among the shelmen?” Tamaris asked curiously as she had never seen another elf that was not Dalish. “Did you escape from… Mathras what are the mage prisons Babae always told me about called?”
A dwarf off to the side laughed. “Mage Prisons, Anders would have liked you..” He muttered to himself. “They are called The Circle, sweetheart..”
Tamaris glanced over at the dwarf and smiled brightly. She had never seen another of his kind before. “Oh, thank you! You are a dwarf? My Babae told me that you all live in the earth and you don’t dream… that must be so horrible…”
“Focus, Tamaris..” Mathras said putting his hands on her shoulders. “Forgive my sister, she is what we call i've'an'virelan, so she has spent most of her life just with our clan, so this has been a journey of many firsts… she gets a little excited..” The Dwarf smiled at the smaller of the two siblings recalling his own experience dealing with a somewhat sheltered Dalish woman.
Solas’s interest was instantly piqued. “You are a Dreamer?” He asked Tamaris who nodded unsure of how she should have answered. For most of her life, she had been told to keep that fact to herself. Her fears diminished when Solas spoke. “I am as well..” He added with a soft smile. “It has been many years since I have met another outside the fade.”
Tamaris’s eyes grew wide, she had never met another elf with the same gifts she possessed. “I have so many questions!” Tamaris exclaimed excitedly.
Mathras let out a low sigh, “Two fade-walkers… this bodes so well because what we need are more powerful Mages..” knowing no matter how it played out, two dreamers was bound to invite trouble.
So I wanted to do some family backstory HC for the twins. I thought it would be fun to kind understand a bit of where they come from.
The Three Mages of Clan Lavellan were at one time related - This is one of my favorite HCs for Tamaris and Mathras’s family. They come from long lines of Keepers, back to the time of the dales. All Keepers are Mages. The last Dreamer of Clan Lavellan to live to adulthood before Tamaris was an ancestor of the twins. Her mother is from a clan in Ferelden, and like Merrill had been the third Mage born within the Clan. Their father, was the son to the Keeper of Clan Lavellan before the current one. His family had in fact been Keepers of Clan Lavellan since the fall of the Dales. Many in the clan were upset that Tamaris not sent away for being the third mage on various occasions, other members of the clan sighting nepotism as the reason for bending the rule, when the truth was they couldn’t send a Dreamer away.
The Twins Birth was viewed as in ill omen - There was a clan legend that told that the clan would end with the birth of twins. Twins were very uncommon in Clan Lavellan, and the rare occasion it did happen the family was usually sent away or shunned. Till Tamaris and Mathras were born. They were the Keeper’s grandchildren. As much as she was a woman of superstition she could not turn away her own child and his family. So the twins being raised with in the clan caused tension for years, though eventually as some of the elders died off most people didn’t speak of it. However, the legend turned out to be quite true.
The Dark Family Secret - There is a lot of secrets that are kept within the Twins’ family. They are a very old family who hold a lot of power within in the clan and on a slightly larger scale, their family was once highly respected. There were even stories told to connections going all the way back to the days of Arlathan. There is some piece of knowledge that is passed down. When their mother becomes and abomination and attacks her family, killing their father and the Keeper (their grandmother in the process) the last to die was their Grandmother. She whispers the secret to Mathras, who was closest to her. From that moment on something in Mathras was rattled by the statement. Tamaris asks him what it was about and all he says “Nothing, just the ramblings of dying woman.” Though that is not the case at all, Mathras doesn’t want to tell his sister because he is fairly certain it’s about her... He becomes increasingly protective over Tamaris from this point on.
Elfroot :: What is a small, mundane thing that brings your character great comfort?
Tamaris is not exceptionally religious, despite being very proud of where she comes from... but she was always fond of the stories of Falon’din and Dirthamen because they were twins and Falon’din in particular because she took a lot of the stories of him being able to walk in the Fade as Falon’din was a dreamer like her. Any ways, her father carved two little wooden figures for the twins. Tamaris has an Owl, an animal that is commonly associated with Falon’Din and Mathras has a Raven...
That silly little Owl goes with her pretty much everywhere. It reminds her of her father, who she was close with and died pretty tragically. So yeah... the silly little Owl carving.
Rashvine :: Who/what is the one thing or person your character simply cannot stand?
Thanks for the ask!!!
Um... Tranquils... or rather them being made. Then kinda by extent the whole idea of the Circle....
Being a dreamer I picture Tamaris, treasuring her connection to the Fade even if it scares her at times. In her mind, she thinks it makes her closer to the first of The People being connected to the Fade like she is. So the idea, the threat of taking all that away disgusts her.
The only thing she hates more is the fact the Circle fails mages so badly at times, they beg to be made Tranquil... that rather than give mages the full education they need, because I feel very strongly no matter how gifted and mage can and should be able to control their gifts...with proper education... Viv is the best example of what getting a good education as a mage in Thedas can do...
I also HC that her and Cullen fight a lot about this during their brief relationship
Blood Lotus :: Is your character a lightweight when it comes to intoxicating substances? How did they come across this fact?
oh you mean this... ROFL...
Yes.... Tamaris is a massive lightweight when it comes to alcohol in particular. i don’t think she really drank, at all, till she joined the Inquisition. I think one, Dalish probably don’t drink alcohol much (i see them more the elfroot type tbh). Two, she was always afraid of letting her guard down and risking being possessed. So I really picture the first time her really drinking is after she they kill the first dragon and Bull pretty much gets her shitfaced.
After this I think she maybe has a glass of wine occasionally with Dorian but she knows she can’t handle alcohol at all..
Elfroot is whole different story HAHA.... She definitely has a bit of a thing about elfroot...
Deathroot :: What is the most horrifying thing the Nightmare can cause your character to see?
Tamaris being possessed and killing everyone she loves...
Her mother was a mage and ended up being possessed by a rage demon when the twins were teens... it was a horrific event in her life that left both her parents and her grandmother who was keeper dead...
Since that moment, Tamaris lives with the fear the same will happen to her.
The Nightmare likely showed her becoming an abomination and killing Mathras, Solas, Dorian and Cassandra... really all the companions but those four would rattle her the most...
I have this whole idea actually for a oneshot about this, lol, Tamaris like losing her shit in the middle of this massive fight... Cassandra has to actually slap her to get her to stop freaking out... Solas having to try to convince her it’s not real... The Nightmare really messes with her head and it has some lasting effects...
Deep Mushroom :: What act does your character consider morally foul but practically necessary? Does your character condone morally foul actions for practicality’s or necessity’s sake at all?
Tamaris has a pretty rigid set of morals at the start of the events... This really comes her parents as well. While they were more lax with Mathras, Tamaris had to hold much higher standard because of both her gifts as a mage and a dreamer... The biggest one being “Do no harm”... which obviously Tamaris can’t avoid.
She was not a fighter, though her father taught her to hunt as a child but she disliked killing even animals because feared causing them pain. So getting thrown into the middle of the Inquisition was rough... even when it was to defend herself. Fighting beasts and Demons she was able to come to terms with, but killing living people... she struggled with.
Much of the first 1/4 of the game I think Tamaris does everything possible to avoid killing people. She is not very charismatic, like her brother is, but I think she tries to reason with people to avoid bloodshed. She is very smart and quite well spoken, so she has some success with this. Even trying to prove a point to Mathras that it would be better to talk to people rather than stab them first and ask questions while they are dying. It’s not until she see the Venatori and the events of Redcliffe does she really have a shift in perspective on killing some people is necessary... that it can even save more people...
Eventually this even goes further, the more and more she sees... the more she learns of all the injustices that have fallen upon her people. By the end, she has little issue killing people, even though she still believes murder for murders sake is wrong.
Prompt take from THIS list ... full prompt fill below the cut.
Codex Prompt #4 - a letter from your OC to their love interest
A Letter written, yet never sent. Written one year after the defeat of Corypheus. Found tucked between the pages of The Tome of the Rifts, found in the quarters of Tamaris Lavellan.
Solas,
I know this letter will probably never find you, more than likely I will never even have a place to send it. Yet, I had to write it. If I do not say these things, at least on paper… like I would be able to get this to you. I fear it will drive me mad.
You have been gone for over year. It does not seem like so long till, I look around me and see how much things have changed. There is so much I wish to tell you about but I should likely start with the most important news.
We have a daughter, she is only a few months old, but she is sweet, smart and I know you would be proud of her. She looks like you when she smiles. Her name is Shivana. She was born on a warm spring day. She has my eyes but dark hair. Your hair I suspect. Her laugh is the sweetest music I have ever heard. For all the hurt that your leaving put me through, I am glad you left me with her.
You asked me once if the Anchor changed me. I said, I did not think so. If you were to asked me the same of our daughter. I would say she has changed me more than I ever thought I could change. Being her mother has given purpose in a time where I thought I had lost mine. Corypheus was gone, you were gone, my clan gone. Mathras has Dorian and the Inquisition. I had taken up a place as Arcane advisor to the Inquisition but it was not the same. Then I found out I was pregnant, I was scared but it gave me hope. This new little life, likely a mage for me teach. Maybe even a dreamer, which scares me if I can be honest. I wish you could just see her, once. I know in my heart if you laid eyes on her you could never leave us again. That she would have the same effect on you as she had with me. I know you did not know I was pregnant, I did not know, but did you not hear something of it? Anything? Whispers or rumors? The news spread to every corner of Thedas, you had to have heard. You had to. Was there not a moment where you wanted to return to us? To me?
I guess in truth I will never have those answers.
There is more…
I started something, I am not sure what it is, with Cullen. I care for him and he loves me. It’s unfair in so many ways to him, that I can not return the love he has to give. As much as I still love you, he was here when I was scared and alone, because you left me. You broke me and helped put me back together as much as Shivana has.I do not know what our future will hold. So much depends on if you come back.
It has been a year, I am a fool to think that you will come back now. I wish you would though. So much.
If you do not, I can see myself settling down with him. He is so good to me, to us. He adores Shivana. Dotes on her. It’s actually quite sweet to see them together. Cullen is a good man and he could be a good father to Shivana. In so many ways he already is.
I have tried so hard not to fall in love with him, but I do not think I can keep myself from this for much longer.
I love you still and that is a problem. I feel like I am being ripped in two. One part of me knows that my life, the life of our child, would be so much better with him. Yet, here I sit. Feet away from him as he sleeps. Our daughter in her cradle at the foot of the bed I once shared with you but now share with him. Unable to sleep for fear of waking in the Fade and spending another night longing to find you, for you hear my cries and get nothing but silence in return. I can not let myself love the good and honest man who loves me and child that is not his as his own, because I know if I do. Then that means I have given up hope of you ever returning.
I feel like a horrible person doing this to Cullen. He does not deserve this. He deserves someone to love him unhindered by their past. That is something that I can not do. Not yet.
I can only take this for so long. I have endured so much and I can not endure more pain.
Come home to your family Solas. While you still may have us, because if this goes on much longer you will return to find a daughter who will never know you as her father and me being someone else’s wife.
