From left to right: Rhachalle, Mir'lin and Xen'eth Lavellan
From 9:41 Dragon on Inquisitor Lavellan may play a major roll in the political and religious life of all Thedas.
But she had another life before the Divine Conclave, among her Clan, among her sisters.
It was a more innocent time, probably.
Usually Xen’eth looked forward when her older sister managed to take some time and accompany her on her hunting trips. Not that Mir’lin was an especially skilled hunter, or even a decent, reliable partner when it came to quietly follow prey. But Xen’eth did enjoy her company, and the herbs and mushrooms Mir’lin would bring along only added on her looking forward to their shared hunting trips.
Deeply obtained in these kind of thoughts, she sat on the floor at their tonight’s camp’s exit and counted the arrows in her quiver for yet another time, more out of boredom than of the will to prepare for her trip. Her heart bounced in anticipation as she heard the silent footsteps heading towards her.
Xen’eth lifted her glance from her fingers slowly caressing the dark feathers on the end of her arrows and grinned towards her older sister, who was approaching her in a quick pace. The slender bow on her back and the leathern quiver on her side were still an unexpected sight, but Xen’eth couldn’t restrain herself from a happy grin.
“Finally. Already thought you wouldn’t show.” She lowered her voice on purpose, because despite her own habits, most people of their clan denied to rise in the early morning lights if they didn’t go on a hunting trip. Xen’eth had no certain understanding of these kind of habits. She loved the dusky morning hours, while the peace of the night still lingered quietly above the glowing grey of the rising morning. But Mir’lin’s face clearly told another story.
“Tell me again, why we have to start that early?” Mir’lin asked slowly while faking an extended yarn.
“Maybe you should have woken that lover of yours. Guess she could have… get you started pretty easily.” Xen’eth teased, devilishly enjoying the sight of Mir’lin’s right cheek coloring in a deeper shade of pink.
“Rana was up already as I left. Can we go now? If you didn’t intended to leave early in the morning, I could as well have slept in longer!” Mir’lin obviously tried to change the subject. Xen’eth only shrugged and led the way out of the camp and into the dense green woods. She briefly considered asking Mir’lin if something between her and Rana was ad odds, but then decided not to interfere with her sister’s love life. At least not until they were out of earshot from the camp side.
As soon as they left the encampment behind them, Xen’eth turned around to her sister walking a few feet behind her. She was quite sure no one was around them to eavesdrop, but she still kept her voice lower again.
“You are aware, I don’t intent to hunt… ordinary prey today, right?” She shot Mir’lin a wicked grin as she noticed the smug, asymmetric smile on her sister’s face. One should think she’d gotten used to the fact that her sister could only move the unharmed side of her face, but Xen’eth still felt a small pang of compassion every time it came to her mind, even though the accident laid years behind by now.
“I assumed so. Which city are we heading for today?” Mir’lin did seem to wake up in the meantime, her looks cleared up and her smile became intense again. Xen’eth felt a slight rush of relief by her sister’s words. She certainly made no secret about sneaking into cities and well, let’s call it trading, for the Creators’ sake, her goods there. But she also knew that some of the clan’s member weren’t exactly fond of her doing. And as secretive as Mir’lin could behave sometimes, Xen’eth could never be sure, if her sister disapproved of her actions or if she simply didn’t cared enough about them.
“Kirkwall, I guess. We should be there shortly after noon.” She answered briefly, because her mind was already searching for ideas of why her sister had insisted to accompany her. Mir’lin usually never went along her trips to the shem’len cities, only along her regular hunting trips, and even those only sometimes.
“So… What exactly are you searching for in the big city?” Xen’eth continued, even though she was not precisely content with her blunt way of asking. She certainly could do better. But surprisingly Mir’lin seemed eager to answer her anyway.
“Well, to be honest: I was hoping we could find some small pieces of gold. For… ornaments.” Xen’eth rose her eyebrows in astonishment. She couldn’t remember anyone from their clan had ever worn anything with golden ornaments on it. Unnecessary trinkets, as their mother would call them. She shot her sister a questioning glance. She could see how Mir’lin considered brushing her off like this, but then she gave in.
“Rana told me, her clan handled things differently. They were allowed to wear jewelry that isn’t plainly useful.” Xen’eth laughed under her breath, one finger brushing over her wooden earrings, which still drew agitated glances from her mother. Oh, Deshanna Lavellan obviously disliked anything that was only meant for pleasure and lacked a practical value. No one could sing this song better than herself!
“Rana told you that, hm? What did you do to her that you have to organize something glittering as a redemption? Fucked her sister?” Xen’eth smirked at the simple thought of it. Her sister and her beloved were way too boring to even look at other women. Both of them, even though Rana at least was some fun. Unlike Mir’lin who usually buried herself in her alchemistic stuff. Except for the times her experiments blew up half of the camp again. Which was fun at least, Xen’eth added silently.
“I did no such thing!” Mir’lin outraged, the cheek which wasn’t covered in burned scars, reddening once again. Xen’eth actually found it thrilling how easily it was to startle her sister up. Almost too easy.
“Actually… I need it for something… special.” Mir’lin added, her shoulders slouching forward now, chewing nervously on her lower lip. There definitely was something different her sister held back. Mir’lin brushed her palm over forehead and cheek nervously, before she found the courage to speak up again. She reached out for one of her pockets and drew something out of it, hidden by her closed hand.
“What’s that?” Xen’eth pointed her chin towards Mir’lin’s still closed fist, now seriously curios.
“As I said. Rana’s clan uses to keep much closer contact to human settlements, so they trade on a regularly basis. Like that, they have easier access to gold and… well ornament special gifts with it.” Mir’lin opened her tightened fist as she spoke, and Xen’eth caught herself gasping as she recognized the small gift Mir’lin had obviously crafted for Rana.
The slender ring in the color of the redwood trees laid exposed on Mir’lin’s slightly shaking palm. Xen’eth shot her a quick look to ensure she was allowed to take a closer look before she reached out for it. She noticed the delicate carvings on it, even though she couldn’t make out the meaning behind them.
“I asked Rhachalle to help me with the elven runes. It says Ma Bellanaris. My eternity.” Xen’eth frowned by her sister’s words. So she truly meant it.
“You’re going to ask her to bond with you!” She exclaimed, louder than she had intended to. Not that she would care. They were midst in the woods, not a soul around them to hear them. Her thoughts started racing at the newly realized information. But she surely couldn’t wrap her mind around one thing.
“Mother is going to kill you.” She objected briefly. Which was the truth, probably. Their mother would definitely not going to feel delighted for her second-born to choose a way that may never actually lead to her desired grandchildren with magical abilities. But Mir’lin only shot her a small, sad smile.
“Let’s hope not. She will object, for sure. But I hope she’ll understand. Not today, nor tomorrow. But one day. Maybe.” Xen’eth knew she should feel happy for her sister now. Her sister, who was about to bond with the love of her life. It must be selfish of her, but all she could think about was the pressure that their mother would now lay on Rhachalle’s and her shoulders.
“You know all she ever wanted was to craft the perfect mage. Her glorified dream of a perfect Keeper. How do you think she’ll react if you tell her, you won’t give her those children either?” Xen’eth tried to hold her anger back, but she could tell it wouldn’t work. Mir’lin’s face gloomed with displeasure. It was obvious she had thought their dialogue to take a different turn.
“I know I was her greatest hope for that, yes. With you obviously not interested in any kind of commitment, and Rhach not interested in any kind of social interaction at all… But I can’t change it.” Mir’lin took a deep breath before she locked her greenbrown eyes on her own.
“Neither of us can change who we are. Us not being the kind of daughters she expected us to be, can’t be our problems. At all.”
Xen’eth sighed. Of course she was right. Unlike Rhachalle she had never actually tried to live up to their mother’s impossible standards. Yet she was well aware of how uncomfortable their live would become if they’d really piss their mother of.
“Come on. Let’s get you some gold for Rana’s bonding ring. Congrats, sister. The two of you definitely deserve some luck!”
If someone is interested in how the story continues, you can read the rest on my AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/5639446/chapters/12987439
Thank you for sharing! I always enjoy learning about these three! <3
