For Day 1 of @scharoux‘s 14 Days of DA Lovers’ Prompts!
Day 1: Rose
Pairing: Alistair Theirin x Aster Amell
“Stay.” Alistair whined, watching Aster slip out of his bed and begin to dress. “I hate waking up without you.”
Aster chuckled. “You already did wake up with me. Remember? You kissed me and complained about my beard being scratchy?”
Alistair huffed. “I recall no such thing. I must have been sleeptalking. Now get over here with your scratchy beard and kiss me again.”
“Would that I could, milord.” Aster said softly. “But it’s morning, and I need to get back to my chambers.”
“They’re just down the hall... you could say you woke up to have breakfast with me and discuss ...chancellorly things with the King.”
“I’m in my smallclothes. You think anyone would buy that?”
Alistair was sitting up now, and frowning. “I hate having to sneak around... but it must be torture for you. You... why do you stay with me, Aster?”
“Because I love you.”
Alistair sighed. “You deserve more. You deserve being me kissing you whenever we want. You deserve having your hand held in public. You deserve the court asking you for your opinion instead of having to wait for me to figure out what you want me to say. You deserve everything I can give you, but you have to sneak in and out of my room every night and put up with all of this. I... how do you do it?”
“You need to see something.” Aster smiled softly at him, reached over to gently grab his hand. Despite being in nothing but a simple tunic and his smalls, he pulled Alistair along into his chambers, not glancing back until he had dragged the King over to the balcony. On it stood a table with a magnificent glass bell jar on top of it. Suspended within the jar was a single rose, glowing with a pale pink light, perfect and beautiful, beads of moisture caught on its petals.
“Do you remember this, Alistair?” Aster tilted his head, his long hair slipping sideways.
Alistair frowned for a moment. “Wait a minute... is it that rose? The one I gave you during the Blight?”
Aster nodded. “Mmm-hmm. I was able to coax it back to health and then suspend it.
“I can’t believe you kept it...” he trailed off, touched.
Aster turned to him. “I look at it often. And I remember all the time we’ve spent together. Alistair... the rose you gave me... no one had given me something like that before, just because you thought I’d like it. It’s beautiful. And you are beautiful.”
“Beautiful? Aren’t I dashingly handsome?” Alistair loved seeing Aster smile, and he was not left wanting, the grin at his teasing accompanied by a small snort.
“Fine, then, damn you. Dashingly handsome. And whenever I see this, I am reminded of how much I love you. So no, I don’t need anything more than to be beside you for the rest of my days. You gave me a part of yourself when you gave me that rose; I understand that now. But you are King, and you belong to the people.”
“I-” Alistair began, only to be shushed.
“But I belong to you, and only you, and if I must share you with the people, than so be it.”
“But... you shouldn’t have to.” Alistair said, softly at first. Then firmer. “You shouldn’t have to.”
Alistair wasn’t conscious of his feet having moved, but he was practically running down the hallway, swiping the coat left on one of Aster’s chairs, Aster calling after him.
He was stopped in the hall by Innes and Delphi, who noticed the grin on his face, despite the fact that he was wearing nothing but Aster’s coat and his smallclothes.
“Uh oh.” Delphi chuckled. “I haven’t seen that look since you tried to prank Oghren.”
Innes yawned. “Where are you running of to, Al? It’s way too early for pranking.”
“To do something I should have done years ago. Right after the Blight, actually.”
“And does it involve a certain Chancellor?” Innes said, his voice rising to a teasing lilt.
Delphi scanned Alistair’s face and gave a squeal of delight, moving forward to hug Alistair. “Finally! Creators, I thought you’d never come to your senses.”
Innes nodded. “Well, don’t let us keep you. Go! Er, actually, better have us go with you. Looks more official that way.”
Alistair grinned as Delphi and Innes flanked him while he moved down the halls of the castle.
“Eamon! Eamon!” he shouted, not stopping until the other man was grumbling and annoyed and puffing from having run to answer the King’s summons.
“Yes, my lord? What is it?”
“I’m going to marry someone that you’re not going to be happy about, but I don’t care. He’s the man I love, and he’s already done a damn good job at taking care of Ferelden, more than I have. So you’re just going to draw up the paperwork or whatever needs to happen, got it?”
Eamon glanced to Innes, then reluctantly to Delphi, his face falling as he saw their wide grins and knew he’d find no allies in the king’s retainers. “...very well, sire.”
Alistair maintained his “king” mannerisms until Eamon had turned the corner, and then he burst into a cheer.
“Oh, how did Aster react when you proposed? Did he cry?” Innes gushed, before he blushed at Delphi’s surprised expression. “Oh, shut up.”
Alistair paled. “I may have... forgotten to do that part.”
Innes smirked. “Well, you have to get back in there, then! We’ll have breakfast sent up to you.”
Delphi hummed. “Something... celebratory.”
Alistair nodded. “Thank you. I... I’d better go.”
As he left, Innes and Delphi glanced at each other.
“About time, right?” Delphi chuckled.
“Yep. I can’t wait to see the look on Eamon’s face when they marry.”
Bann Delphi Tabris of Denerim Alienage, the Wildcat of Ferelden, Retainer to His Majesty King Alistair, and Personal Envoy of Their Majesties [face claim Vanessa Hudgens]
“I left here with the Warden never thinking that I would come home again. Thinking that the Wardens and the darkspawn would claim me. I was taken to their stronghold, and when it came time to Join, I ran. I escaped, planning to run until I couldn’t move anymore. But then I saw it. I stumbled onto the Battle of Ostagar. And I knew that I had to stay. My fiance may have been killed, but I would not let the Blight claim my people, my alienage. So I stayed, and I fought with the Hero and the King, and I now stand before you a different person than the girl you once knew. I am a warrior. I am free. And I make a promise to each and every one of you. You shall be free as well!“
- Delphi, making her first speech as Bann of Denerim Alienage.
She swayed as she walked, nearly dancing in a way the Orlesians were sure to find scandalous, clad in Inquisition red from head to toe. The wide-brimmed scarlet fedora with the burgundy eye mask over her golden-brown skin, the crimson gown, tastefully cut and gathered to show off her form without revealing too much, her hair plaited and cascading over her shoulder, the gown barely allowing the points of her red slippers to show. It was jarring for Cullen, seeing her without her swords and armor, although she looked every bit a warrior as she approached.
“Madames et messieurs, I’m afraid I must steal my Commander from you for a time.” Delphi said graciously, her teeth bared in a grin that did not brook any disagreement. She stood her ground through the murmurs and watched them all walk away before turning her gaze to Cullen. “Not having a good time, are we?”
Cullen huffed. “These Orlesians hang about like... flies on a spoiled piece of meat.”
Delphi laughed. “Ah, where do you come up with such romantic imagery?”
“I... apologize, my lady. I owe you my thanks for rescuing me.”
“Not for long. They’ll be back. I saw one of them grab you. Only I’m allowed to do that.” She winked discreetly, and he blushed. “He’s lucky I was so far away; I might have clawed his arm off.”
Cullen chuckled. “Surely not!”
Delphi smiled. “Have you not wondered why they call me the Wildcat of Ferelden?”
Cullen’s face fell. “Delphi... I appreciate the thought... but do not tarnish your reputation for me. Our... relationship... I do not want to let it interfere.”
Delphi laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t you worry about my reputation, Cullen. I have none in Orlais. Even in Ferelden, there are those who see me as nothing more than a mouthy knife-ear risen too far above her proper station. I care for you... and I am selfish. If anything, being with me would tarnish your reputation.”
“You are not selfish, Delphi.” Cullen protested. “To know how you feel about me... it is one of the few things in these dark times that bring me joy.”
Delphi grinned. “I would kiss you now if it weren’t so inappropriate. As it is, maybe we can dance?” She held up a hand. “Not here. After we stop the assassins. Somewhere private where we can forget everything else for a moment.”
“You know me well, my lady.” Cullen breathed. He laid his gloved hand over hers, squeezing softly. “Nothing would please me more.”
Delphi smirked, and the blush Cullen had returned in full force, as well as certain... other feelings. “Oh, I’m sure I can think of a few things, ser.”
She walked away from him then, glancing over her shoulder. Cullen sighed, trying to master himself. “Maker’s breath...”
Delphi collects small trinkets that remind her of her travels. They remind her of how she and her people can grow beyond the alienage and gives her hope.
"Well, as Bann of Denerim Alienage, my days are filled with more paperwork than you might think. It's up to me and my staff to make sure everything is running correctly and that my people aren't being threatened, abused, or taken advantage of.
"In all honesty, though, my brother Phoebus takes care of that more often than not. I prefer to defend my people with my blades. And, of course, I am often sent away on missions for the Kings. I don't really know if any day I've had can be described as average, quite honestly."
