#taremis lavellan

[cilant-lis]

"That word you call me sometimes, amatus, what does it mean?" Taremis asked.

Dorian rolled over to face him. Light from the magefire globes, floating lazily around the room, reflected in his eyes. Dark hair spread on the pillow, face softened by the dim light. He looks like a dream, Dorian thought. But he wrapped his arms around him, and his touch was real and warm. The room was drowned in darkness around them, and it seemed as if only they existed at that moment.

“Will you tell me? Or just stare at me?”

"Let me stare at you for a few more minutes," Dorian murmured into his ear.

"If you tell me, I will stop pestering you." Taremis pouted.

Dorian shuffled closer and kissed his puckered lips. "Keep learning Tevene. You will stumble upon the meaning eventually."

But the meaning of a word was more than a simple translation into another language. And he let Taremis know the meaning everyday, through actions, through sweet nothings whispered into his ear, through every second they spent together. His lover, his sun, his moon and stars. His beloved.

-

"Finally alone, an'lath vhenan ma." Taremis's voice was barely a whisper. The camp, the warm firelight and the raised voices of their companions faded into the night. He held Dorian's hand, leading him up the path to the lake. The juvenile thrill of sneaking out with his lover, made him grin. The moon was obscured by trees, but darkness was not an obstacle to Taremis. Dorian suggested using magical lights. But Taremis said they'd scare the fireflies.

"I heard you call me vhenan before. But what are the other words?"

Taremis quickened his steps, and they were on top of the hill. The moonlight was almost blinding after the tar-darkness below. He turned and grabbed both of Dorian's hands, admiring the angles of his face before speaking.

"Think of it as an upgraded version of ma vhenan."

"But what does it mean?"

Taremis smiled. "It means I love you more than the world itself."

Dorian looked at him, expecting further explanation.

"It loses its weight in Common. Keep studying Elven. But I know you know the meaning,” Taremis said.

And if Dorian did not know the meaning, Taremis would make sure he felt he was his heart’s most beloved.

[cilant-lis]

Books

Taremis often found books in his quarters at Skyhold. Each time he returned from a mission there was a surprise waiting for him.

The elegant tomes of poetry and plays, fresh from the printing press were from Josephine. Most were in Antivan, a language he ached to learn. Equally elegant note was inside of each, recommending good poems or acts of the play.

The steamy romances, printed on cheap paper, with men and women in various stages of undress and entirely too much hair on their heads, were left hastily on his desk. Cassandra might have denied her reading preferences, but Taremis knew. He shared them. They often traded back and forth, wordlessly, save for a few underlined quotes in the books themselves.

The ever-growing collection of Hard in Hightown was, of course, from Varric. Taremis did not enjoy the serial as much as the dwarf would have liked. But having the Inquisitor show himself with the books bolstered the sales. And Taremis was nothing if not a good friend.

The seemingly random books, often without a title, were the most dangerous. They were from Sera. Taremis learned to open them from a distance, outside, using his magic. He did not want another swarm of angry bees in his chambers. When the books were not filled with insects, they proved to be interesting, yet confusing, reading. Just as much as the little notes and doodles scribbled in the margins.

The stacks of ancient tomes and scrolls, thick with dust and age, were from Solas. They touched upon rift magic, the fade and spirits. They were to be the fuel in the intellectual debates both of them enjoyed so much.

But the biggest number of books was from Dorian. Each one carefully picked, a note penned on the inside cover in his messy, cursive hand. The tradition began shortly after moving into Skyhold. Taremis arrived at his quarters from Crestwood, soaked to the bone and exhausted. He found a small red book on his nightstand. As per our last conversation, here is something to sweeten your night, Dorian had written inside. It was an atlas of medicinal herbs of the North. Beautifully illustrated, the plants that came up in their conversations marked.

After a year, Taremis filled an entire shelf with these books, each picked by Dorian, each about a topic they discussed. History of the Nevarran Mortalitasi. The culture of pre-Andastrian Orlesians. A catalogue of early Tevinter art. A study on the nature of the schools of Entropy and Creation. And so on. Each book had a humorous note inside and marked pages. They were a diary of their conversations. The last book was about astronomy. Dorian pressed it into Taremis’s hands as he boarded a ship to Tevinter, hiding the tears glistening in his eyes. It was a beautiful book. Black cover, embossed with constellations, silver leaf in the title. He scarcely touched it, afraid the smell of his lover would fade if he did. But on lonely nights the book was a comfort. Taremis wept as he read the note inside. For my brightest star in the sky, a little something to ensure you keep studying Tevene even when I’m not there. Remember we look upon the same stars, Amatus. Yours forever and ever, Dorian.

[cilant-lis]

taremis lavellan, celebrating the defeat of corypheus, a few days before his hand tries to kill him for the first time

[cilant-lis]

Arbor Blessing for Taremis pls!

Arbor Blessing :: What is the happiest ending you can think of for your character?

After the wild emotional ride that is trespasser, I think the best ending for Taremis would be retirement. He just disbands the Inquisition, rejoins his clan and reunites with his platonic soulmate Haleira, never having to worry about saving the world again. The boy got anxiety, let him rest. Taremis would also visit Tevinter frequently, to spend time with Dorian, but I think they have a pretty fulfilling long distance relationship. Unfortunately, this ending is not possible, thanks Solas.

However! I personally prefer bittersweet ending, which is coincidentally the fanfic I’m writing at the moment. (it’s still a long way away from being published, but hey!)