Hey! Got another drabble for you about Dorian and Ruaidhri Lavellan. Bringing back the elves doing yoga deal that was going on for awhile.
Note: Ruaidhri is pronounced Roh-ree
Ruaidhri patiently, slowly, placed the last screws of his most recent trap. His windows and doors were closed, his workstation covered in candles. It was so many that he was sweating, just a little on his forehead, behind his pointed ears. He rolled his shoulders, squinting and leaning a little closer to the device.
Something was wrong with it but today he couldn’t pick out what the exact problem was. His lips twitched as if to snarl at the offending machine but his eyes wouldn’t focus. Something in his chest coiled tightly, like a spring waiting to snap. Ruaidhri took a long, deep breath through his nose and exhaled slowly.
No, just a breathing exercise wouldn’t let him relax and until he relaxed he wouldn’t be able to tinker properly. Reluctantly he stood up and gathered one of the many rugs that covered the icy stone floor of his quarters. He tucked it under his arm, opening the main doors leading to the balcony. The mountain wind rushed through his door, cooling the sweat on his brow and bringing him the scent of snow and pine trees.
He rolled the rug out on the stone, kneeling, then sitting back on his heels. He took another deep breath, in through his nose and out his mouth. Slow, measured, peace. Ruaidhri leaned forward, resting his chest on his thighs, forehead against the rug as he exhaled. He rolled his shoulder forward, laying his hands back to rest by his feet, palms up. He stayed that way for awhile, eyes closed, just breathing. Dimly, he heard the sounds of the wind tousling the tree branches. The air smelled like ice and snow, perhaps a touch of lavender?
No matter.
He sat up, then unfolded his legs and laid back; setting his feet flat on the rug about a hip’s width apart. He slid his arms forward until his fingertips brushed the back of his heels. With a slow inhale he pressed his feet into the rug, lifting his hips and spine from the floor. He exhaled and on the next breath he pressed back onto his shoulders, lifting his chest and using his legs to lift himself just a little higher. He felt a delicious little stretch in his legs and his back while he breathed in the mountain air, a touch of lavender on the breeze.
“Amatus, as much as I’d love to watch you do this all day, I have to ask, what exactly are you doing?”
Ruaidhri’s eyes snapped open and he twisted his head to look at the doorway, “Dorian! Oh, Creators.”
He gently rolled his back onto the rug, sitting up with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees. Ruaidhri rolled his head a little like he was working a kink out of his neck, though really he was just hoping the chill from the air might hide the blush he was sure was heating his cheeks. Dorian looked as amused as he ever had, a smirk tugged at the corners of his full lips, arms folded as he leaned on the doorframe. There was a spark in his eyes, Ruaidhri couldn’t decide if that was amusement or something else.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that,” He huffed, managing to glower a little at him.
“I haven’t managed to successfully ‘sneak up on you’ until today, Ruaidhri,” Dorian’s smile widened a little more, “and you haven’t answered my question.”
“They’re exercises my clan’s Keeper taught me, for relieving stress, improving focus and flexibility,” Ruaidhri suddenly grinned, as though some wicked idea had struck him, “Would you like to try? You might enjoy yourself.”
“As much as I love the idea of rolling around on a rug with you, I don’t think so,” Dorian rubbed his arms a little, scowling at the mountains, “especially not out here in this blasted cold.”
Ruaidhri laughed as he stood, gathering the rug under one of his arms, “Don’t worry I’m coming inside.”
“Yes, you are,” Dorian caught his free hand, tugging him back into the room.
Ruaidhri chuckled, tossing the rug while Dorian locked the door behind him. He caught Dorian’s face in both of his hands, kissing his lips. He felt a strong arm wind around his waist and pull him close.
“Vhenan,” He sighed against full lips as he wound an arm around to hold the back of Dorian’s neck, the other sliding to his hip.
When they broke apart they were both a little out of breath. Dorian lightly traced the sharp lines of the vallaslin on his face, Ruaidhri smoothed a few stray hairs back into his mustache. Dorian wiggled his nose a little like he always did when Ruaidhri tickled him just a little bit. He felt an easy warmth bloom in his chest when he looked to Dorian’s eyes. Warm gray, like silver and summer storm clouds.
“What was bothering you?” Dorian asked, his eyebrows knitting together just a little.
“Hm?”
“Don’t be coy, Ruaidhri, we both know your focus and flexibility don’t need the extra work,” He smirked when he said that, “So you were stressed. Why?”
“Why shouldn’t I be stressed?” He quipped, giving Dorian a little sideways smile, “Come, sit with me and we’ll talk, alright?”
Seeming satisfied, Dorian gave him a little kiss on the forehead before he pulled him down to the couch with him, wrapping his arms securely around Ruaidhri’s stomach, jaw resting up against his ear, “Talk.”
“Ahem,” Ruaidhri cleared his throat a little, feeling the tips of his ears heat a little, “I don’t know if I can give you an exact reason. I’m the Inquisitor and some days I shoulder that responsibility better than others. Some days I feel fine, some days it’s like there’s a spring in my chest that’s coiled too tight, or like hundreds of tiny beetle legs are scrabbling at the other side of my skin.”
“Eugh. Some days I could do with less colorful descriptions, Amatus,”
“You asked,” Ruaidhri leaned his head back on Dorian’s shoulder, eyes half-closed, “I couldn’t tinker while I was that tense, so I tried the exercises to see if it’d help.”
“Did it?”
“I don’t know, I only got to the second one when I was interrupted,” He playfully nudged Dorian with an elbow, “If anything I’d say your interruption helped more than they did anyways.”
“Happy to help our esteemed Inquisitor,” Dorian put a soft, gentle kiss on his shoulder, making him hum just a little.
“Mm. That reminds me,” He turned a little, looking at Dorian from the corners of his eyes, “you rarely come all the way up here before dark, unless I invite you. Did you need something?”
“Only to provide you with a suitably stunning profile to fawn over,” Dorian hugged him just a little tighter.
Ruaidhri smiled, turning to lay on his side, one of his arms winding behind Dorian’s back. He rested his head on Dorian’s chest, wrapping another arm around him to hug him close and tight. He knew the secrets, spoken through bluster, teasing, and humor.
So he hugged his lover close, burying his head in his chest. The salty smell of his skin and soft lavender. These moments were few and far between, cherished close to his heart. He held Dorian tightly as he felt lips press gently on the top of his head.
For now, it was the best way for him to tell him that he loved him, exactly as he was.
Comm for the wonderful Romi (feyrion.bsky.social) of his Inky Feyrion and Dorian dressed to impress❤️ This is based off a fic he did, which you can read here ❤️
I just love the Pavellan. In fact I have like… 3 games with a Pavellan romance. #biowarefanart #lavellan #dragonageinquisition #dalish #dorianpavus #pavellan #dorianxlavellan #inquisitorlavellan #amatus #vhenan
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