#knutty writes

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A Few Words on Herbalism

Rating: Teen and up

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 2,121

Summary: Whilst the field unit of the Inquisition is stationed at the gates of the Forbidden Oasis, Farie decides to seize the moment to attend to an urgent personal matter. However, she forgets that she no longer has to face everything on her own.

Preview:

“Oh dear.” Inquisitor Kiara Trevelyan mindlessly stroked the neck of her horse, furrowing her brow. Though their previous encounters had been brief, Farie had always admired the Lady Inquisitor’s poise in the face of the most ridiculous challenges.

Trevelyan’s eyes examined the vast expanse of the rocky canyon, rightly known as the Forbidden Oasis, spreading out below the campsite. Standing discreetly by her side, Scout Harding cleared her throat to draw the Inquisitor’s attention.

“Our scouts have reported that there is also a giant roaming around the waterfall in the middle,” she recounted kindly.

Kiara gave her a despairing look. “And the Venatori…”

“Already here, as far as we know,” Farie confirmed politely.

“Any good news?”

“The giant spiders seem to like them as much as they like us,” Rylen interjected, shifting from foot to foot.

“Splendid,” Kiara sighed, wiping the sweat from her neck with her handkerchief.

“Don’t worry, Inquisitor,” said Rylen, putting his hand on his chest in a well-rehearsed gesture of respect. “We will clear your path as much as we can.”

Farie nodded, even though nobody was looking at her at the moment. She had already dared to climb down to map the nearest parts of the canyon in her head. The first ideas for wreaking havoc among the Venatori camps were already taking shape. This newfound enthusiasm might have had something to do with the mysterious elven ruins located somewhere at the far end of the Forbidden Oasis. Farie had to admit that few things had piqued her interest as much since she came to the Western Approach.

“First things first,” the Inquisitor decided. “We have to close the rifts up here, so at least we don’t have hordes of demons behind our back. Then we will plan the next steps.”

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Weightless

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 6,577

Summary: On a quiet evening at Griffon Wing Keep, everything seems to be leading to Farie and Rylen finally finding the long-awaited fulfilment in each other's arms. However, it turns out that Farie must first sort out certain matters in her mind.

Preview:

“...poor bastard rushed back to the square, scared shitless, looking for his shield. Ye can imagine the look on his face, when he realised that the journeymen painters had already taken care of it".

“Oh. Taken care like…?” Farie asked, reaching for a piece of fruit from the small bowl. She shifted slightly to sit more comfortably on the solid tabletop as Rylen busied himself around the room.

"Aye, they painted all over it. Starkhaven is a city of artists, after all," Rylen snickered, his eyes glowing as he recounted the story. "There was some real artistry to it, I have tae admit. Although it was also quite obscene," he winked at her.

“How can one lose their shield of all things?”

“Don’t ask me, lass, but considering he spent the next two days scrubbing the paint off it… I think that was the last time he did," Rylen shook his head as he tossed the last of the collected papers into the chest and closed the lid.

Farie watched as he tidied up after a full day's work. The evenings – for the most part – provided some of the few quiet moments in Griffon Wing Keep. Most recently, Farie and Rylen were in the habit of spending them together. They recalled stories of their youth, and discussed the latest news – though life in the desert was rather monotonous and echoes of events from the rest of the continent tended to arrive late, or not at all. Very quickly, these moments of respite in each other's company had become one of the more anticipated parts of Farie’s routine.

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Within Arm's Reach

Rating: Teen and Up

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 1,324

Summary: The Battle of Arbor Wilds is fast approaching, but it's all bearable when you can find comfort in the arms of someone close… At least for a moment.

Preview:

Dusk had long since fallen over the city of tents, yet most of it was still buzzing with life. Couriers ran from one fire to another, officers barked their orders; the air vibrated with the sound of whetstones clattering against swords. 

But it was not a happy bustle. The Arbor Wilds loomed on the horizon, a silent threat and an unreadable prophecy of what was to come. Everyone seemed to feel it in their bones.

A similar atmosphere surrounded the largest tent, which housed the sacred war table. Rylen could not help but feel that a sense of solemnity was spreading around it, making it almost resemble a temple in the centre of the camp.

He spent too much time inside, and knew the Inquisition's leaders too well to buy into this imagery, but he had to admit that it worked quite well in keeping morale high, especially among the most devoted soldiers. Fighting for a cause that had this sacred element to it - not necessarily in a strictly religious sense - seemed like an idea that could fuel their march and maintain relative peace when they stopped for the night.

Cullen, of course, continued to work tirelessly, even long after the Lady Inquisitor had retired to her tent. And as much as Rylen liked to be useful himself, he could also see when diligence became obsession. Feeling that fatigue was slowly stiffening his limbs and taking away his clarity of thought, he had asked to be excused. Cullen had merely nodded absentmindedly - as if it were the most normal thing in the world to work himself to death when every sensible person had already retired to their rest. Rylen could only shrug and leave him alone.

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A Gentle Approach

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 1,349

Summary: A stolen moment with Rylen makes Farie reflect on her past and how much she cherishes the present.

Preview:

Sunsets in the desert were unlike any Farie had ever seen in her life. They were beautiful, naturally. Nowhere in the world could one witness so many different shades of orange, red, and even violet all at once. Jagged hilltops doused in a carmine glow cast vibrant shadows across the wide dunes, making for quite a spectacle. And yet, there was also something cruel about these sunsets, as they inexorably carried the threat of another frigid and windy night.

For now, the rays of the setting sun pleasantly caressed Farie's face, almost matching the lazy tenderness of Rylen's hand as it drew slow circles down her back. His head rested in her lap, giving her the opportunity to gently comb her fingers through his soft waves. Rylen's eyes were closed, wrinkled with deep bliss, his face resembling a cat that had enjoyed the richest mouthful of cream.

They were sitting on an overhanging piece of stone wall, well protected from prying eyes. Scepticism had creased Rylen's brow more than once as she had led him through forgotten bits of scaffolding and narrow passages between the old battlements of Griffon Wing Keep, to finally show him this little nook. 

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Sneakily dropping my newest Rylavellan fic, in which (spoiler alert) they do be kissing for the first time! 👀

Sea of Blood, Sea of Stars

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 6,222

Summary: Farie Lavellan and Knight Captain Rylen barely escape the siege of Adamant Fortress with their lives. This harrowing moment may prove to be the turning point in their relationship.

Preview:

A powerful jolt seemed to shake the very foundations of Adamant Fortress, followed by an intense flash of green light.

With a loud thud, her body thrown like a rag doll, Farie's back slammed into a solid stone wall. She groaned in pain, fighting to catch her breath. A mess of blood and dust covered her eyes. Wiping her face with her sleeve, she blinked several times, trying to regain her focus.

Something had gone very wrong.

She struggled to put it all together. Funny how, in the most stressful situations, the mind tries to grasp something logical and find meaning. Had she missed something? Had her senses finally failed her and allowed the whole operation to go down the drain? Her mind raced through every scrap of information she had managed to gather before the siege.

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I may have forgotten to share this one 🤫

In Sickness

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 1,060

Summary: With some mornings harder than others, Rylen has to accept that he may need someone to take care of him - even when it comes to the most personal and mundane tasks. Luckily, that someone happens to be Farie Lavellan.

Preview:

Even before his eyes opened, he already knew this was going to be one of those days. He could feel an unpleasant dryness in his throat, his muscles ached as if he had spent the entire previous day in gruelling training, and a heavy rim of pain tightened around his skull.

It was going to pass, it always did. It would take a few hours, far less than when he had first ceased taking lyrium, when each attack had lasted days.

The only problem was that today, of all days, he could not afford to lie in bed, trying to sweat out the illness. The Inquisitor was expected to arrive before noon - which was the only sensible option if she did not want to fry herself to a crisp. Cullen would be accompanying her, ostensibly to inspect the Inquisition's westernmost military outpost. Yet everyone knew that in truth, the man was tragically infatuated.

Rylen groaned and rolled onto his side, reaching out to snuggle into the familiar warmth of Farie's body. 

Only she was not there. Just one more thing to make his morning even worse.

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I WROTE A FIC!

And its a shameless smut, because of course. Ok, a little bit of a relationship dive disguised as smut? Maybe...

Big thanks to @kittynomsdeplume​ and @inquisitoracorn​ for beta reading and holding my hand 😄

Please remember that Farie Lavellan is not an Inquisitor.

A Hidden Oasis

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 3,028

Summary: Can a commander take a break from commanding, and can a spy take a break from spying? Oh, they can, but as the old saying goes - there is no rest for the wicked. Especially not in a charming little oasis.

Preview:

The small bundle of food he spread out on the old worn out blanket seemed like too much of a luxury. In fact, it was nothing she would not take with her when heading out for a longer reconnaissance trip - except perhaps a small wineskin, which he presented to her with a suggestively raised eyebrow. Apart from that one fancy treat, the meagre meal consisted of only the simplest ingredients - dried fruit and a few pieces of bread and cheese. Still she felt uneasy, knowing how short on food supplies Griffon Wing Keep was, despite the Inquisition’s best efforts.

Rylen had already settled back on the blanket and was now making an inviting gesture. "C'mere, lass. I know it's not the fanciest meal you've ever had, but I think we both know that fresh air makes for a great seasoning,” he flashed her an easy grin.

She knelt carefully beside him, her face pensive. “I feel a bit guilty. Not only did you leave your post, but you’ve planned all of this, and I still can't help but feel that we should be in the Keep, working our asses off,” she furrowed her brow.

“Everyone has their right to rest. If my soldiers can have their days off and laze around, then so can we,” he shrugged and stretched lazily on his back, closing his eyes and tucking his arms under his head.

Farie reached for a piece of bread and looked around, mindlessly taking a bite. She had seen this place before, of course. At this point the Western Approach could no longer keep many secrets from her. Still, she had never made it down the steep cliff that guarded the charming little oasis. It was only recently that the Inquisition soldiers had cleared it of varghests, making it easily accessible rather than a deadly trap it had been before. It was quite beautiful, with azure waters washing over reddish desert rocks, and an abundance of greenery rarely seen in this part of the world. One of the dwarf trees provided shade for their little picnic, a welcome relief from the roasting sun. She couldn't help but admire how nature had found its way to create such a lovely sanctuary in the middle of a sun-scorched wasteland.

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Silence

Rating: Teen and up audiences

Pairing: Rylen/Farie Lavellan

Word Count: 528

Summary: The nights are never easy for Knight Captain Rylen, but it seems that there is someone who can make them a little bit better.

Preview:

It was not uncommon for Rylen to lie awake in his bed late into the night, thoughts racing through his mind. This feeling of restlessness had become somewhat natural of late, and he wore it like a second skin. He would never let it show, of course. The days were for hard work and unwavering focus on his tasks and his people. The nights, however, seemed to be ruled by some mysterious forces that made his anxieties creep out and plague his thoughts.

That had not changed. What had changed lately, however, was the company in his bed.

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