Hawke is about to depart from Ferelden when she meets someone who seems familiar.
1.2k words
Hawke should have felt relieved as she trudged towards the nearing dock, where her family would hopefully find passage to Kirkwall. Instead, she only felt numb. Although she was still fairly young, this was an old story - one that she knew all too well. Her family was driven from their home, able to grab only the most important and and quickly-packed items, and then fled, never to return again. The fact that it was a blight instead of someone discovering the magic that runs in her family's blood changed the outcome very little.
Hawke, Carver, Leandra, and Aveline traveled in silence, each person mourning their own losses. The steel-grey sky seemed to reflect the mood.
Before long, they were able to hear the cry of the circling gulls and the splash of waves against the rocks. The harbor was nearly empty. On the dock directly in front of them, two passenger ships bobbed on the water. The only other ship present was a small fishing vessel several docks down. The ship on the right of the dock in front of them was a bustle of activity. Hawke hadn't traveled by ship before, but in contrast to the lazier ship on the left, it was obvious that it would be leaving imminently.
There were a handful of people around the docks, some sitting on crates, others standing listlessly. It was easy to see which were the refugees. They all shared the same emptiness in their eyes.
"You got money for fare?" someone shouted over the side of the busy ship at approaching group.
"Yes," Hawke replied confidently. "Are you heading to Kirkwall?"
"That's the plan," he responded.
"When are you leaving?" she questioned. She noticed a child approach and tug at Leandra's sleeve as she was speaking with the sailor. Leandra brushed the child off.
"Within the hour. We're pretty full, but we've got room for a few more paying passengers," he said, putting an emphasis on the word 'paying'. "You interested?"
"We really were planning on sitting on one of those crates and watching the blight spread across Ferelden like a sunset, but since we're here, we might as well," Hawke replied. and pulled out a money pouch to negotiate as fair a rate as they would find during these desperate times.
Out of the corner of her eye, she again saw the child make a bid for Leandra's attention, but Leandra appeared to tell him off. He returned to a woman with two younger children.
Hawke dropped the settled-upon coins into the man's hand, and he grinned at the exorbitant amount he had dragged out of her.
"Yer free to come aboard," he said.
Her companions had held back while Hawke negotiated with the seafaring crook. As she walked back towards them, she kept the pouch out in her hand.
"Are we set?" Leandra asked.
"Yes," Hawke replied absentmindedly, eyeing the small family a short distance away. The mother was hunched over hopelessly, and the two younger children looked oblivious to what was happening. The clear and determined expression in the eyes of the oldest showed that he understood the gravity of their situation. Hawke's heart clenched. Something about the child... the situation... seemed familiar.
She turned from her friends and started to walk towards them.
"Sister, you can't help everyone we come across," Carver said. "We don't owe them anything."
Hawke ignored him and approached the family. The mother glanced up. Her face was blotchy and eyes bloodshot. She quickly looked back down, allowing her hair to cover her face. The two young children looked at her with wide eyes.
She turned her attention to the oldest.
"I see you were trying to talk to my mother," Hawke stated.
"I was. She didn't want me bothering her," the boy answered.
"She's... like that sometimes. And my sister just died recently. She's not been in much of a talking mood since then," Hawke explained apologetically. "How can I help?"
"My dad died recently, too," the boy said. "He told me to take care of my family..." Her heart went out to him. "but I'm doing a bad job already."
"What do you mean?" Hawke asked.
"They won't let us go on the ship," he explained. "We don't have enough money," he said, looking hopefully at her pouch.
Hawke's hands clenched. Were they really going to leave these people here to die?
"That ship is leaving today, and they won't take us," he said, pointing to the ship Hawke had just arranged passage for. "That one isn't leaving until tomorrow," he said, pointing to the other ship, "but they won't take us either."
Hawke's eyes narrowed in the direction of the ship.
"Let me go talk to them," she said almost too cheerfully. The boy's face lit up.
Hawke strode back to the ship and pushed past her group of companions. "You won't take that family?" Hawke asked loudly as she neared the man she had negotiated with.
"They can't pay their way. We don't run a charity here," he said, straightening up from the knot he was tying and turning back to Hawke.
"There are children," Hawke fumed. "You can't just leave them behind to face the darkspawn!"
"No one's stopping me," he said, crossing his arms.
Hawke peeked into her pouch and hoped that she had enough for four more fares. "I'll pay for them."
"Sorry. Ship's all full," he replied.
Hawke took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Give them our spots," she said.
The sailor's eyes widened, and he didn't speak.
"Well, then. I will just go tell them they can take their spots belowdecks," Hawke said, turning on her heel.
"You aren't really going to give your spot up and just hope that the darkspawn don't arrive before tomorrow," he said.
"No one's stopping me," Hawke replied.
As Hawke neared, Aveline and Carver watched her expectantly. "We're leaving tomorrow," she told them as she passed.
Hawke returned to the boy who reminded her so much of herself. "You guys better get on your ship. I hear it's leaving soon," she told him.
"You made them take us?!" he asked. The mother looked up and wiped her nose on her hand.
"I did," she replied.
"Thank you so much!" the mother gasped. "There is no way we can ever repay you. What is your name?"
"Marian Hawke," she replied.
"We will never forget you," the mother said. "Thank you!"
As the mother and two younger children shuffled towards the ship, Hawke took the oldest child's hand in both of hers and knelt so that she was on his level.
"You are doing an excellent job taking care of your family," she said, then released his hand. He scurried after his family, but paused at the bottom of the plank that led up to the ship.
"Come along, Garrett," his mother called from the ship.
"Just a minute! I have something I need to do." He ran back and gave Hawke a hug, then ran back to the ship and joined his family onboard. Tears pricked at Hawke's eyes as she saw that other oldest child make it out with both of his siblings.
For Anders Week 2026, Moody Monday. One time when Anders surrenders his recklessness at Hawke's request. One time when Hawke surrenders her recklessness at Anders's request.
Just before we do the Warden Commander Weekend, let me also announce the prompts and dates for the Hawke Appreciation Week, which is going to be happening in the middle of April.
This is going to be a week for all sorts of Fanwork dedicated to your Champions of Kirkwall. Like always: you can put on any sort of fanwork for this. Fanart, fanfiction, aethetics, stimboards, gifs... Whatever you want!
We have Rules of course, but I feel most of you already know the rules for this: no stealing, no AI, works posted will have to be new. And so on.
Speculative Sunday
AUs • Divergence • Second Chances • Post-Canon
Bonus Prompts
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Share your favorite Anders headcanons.
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Tag us in unfinished projects — sketches, snippets, outlines, even unhinged idea dumps.
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Make anything you like — art, fic, memes, playlists, edits, rambly love letters — as long as it celebrates Anders.
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The game gives seriously so many whumpable ideas for Halsin.
He has been kidnapped two, possibly three times by the end of the game. One of which involved him becoming a sex slave and one of which involved him being tortured by goblins.
He can't always control his bear form. Has transforming at the wrong time ever hurt him?
He doesn't fit in at his Grove, and especially he hates being leader of his Grove. He must be awful lonely.
He saw almost all his friends and his mentor die in battle. Imagine him wearily leading the survivors to safety.
He has abandonment issues! Literally any time you break up with him, split the group up in the end, etc he says he knows nothing lasts forever. He is SHOCKED you want to go with him to his commune, and if solomanced he is fully convinced the party will remind you how much you loved adventuring, causing you to leave him.
He used to have a drinking problem! Imagine all the angst there!
That scar on his face. He must have gotten FUUUUCKED UPPPP to be so badly scarred that magic couldn't fix it.
His entire family is dead, and died when he was young at that!
His reputation from when he was a sex slave is such that the Drow twins had already heard of him.
The player has the ability to threaten to sell him back to his captors- imagine a whumper doing that to him.
The Grove raid! Imagine his agony at realizing all the Druids he cared for are dead.
Similarly, the Rite of Thorns- his knowledge that his Druids wanted him gone.
If he's kidnapped by Orin, his reaction to being rescued- or to Speak With Dead being used on his corpse- makes it clear he never expected to be saved. How does he get to THAT point?
He mentions people have tried to start fights with him before because he's big and they want to prove their strength like how sad must that have been for him????
The Orin abduction scenes hint that he is actually terrified of losing control of himself and harming innocents. Imagine what must have happened to make him afraid of that- either having done it before, OR thinking so lowly of himself that he thinks it actually could happen despite the lack of evidence.
And that's not even getting into all the cut early game build whump...
It has been a fulfilling Midwinter, but Halsin has one more gift for Tav.
“He came around side of the mountain, breath clouding his vision, snow encrusting his hair, feet so cold he wasn’t sure if they could go another step….” Halsin explained, pausing for dramatic effect. The audience of dozen of children leaned forward, not one of them making a sound, eagerly listening to learn what would happen to the hero, who got lost in a blizzard after defeating the villain. “…and before him, down in a valley, gleamed the lights of a village. He made his way carefully down the mountain. He found a nice, warm, cozy inn. In the inn, he learned that the villagers knew of his heroic deed and thought he had met his end in the storm. His appearance was celebrated with feasting for a week! For ever after that, that village held a holiday in honor of the hero who had brought peace and safety back to their home.”
The children let out a cheer. After being told that it was time for them to go to bed, “Another!”, “We want more, Daddy Halsin!”, “I’m not tired yet!”, and “But it’s Midwinter!” rang from voices around the room.
“No more!” Halsin laughed. “You have already had an extra story in honor of Midwinter. It is well past bedtime.”
Several children made sounds of disappointment, but they lined up to hug and kiss the adults - Halsin, Tav, and the other three who were helping them to raise the orphans - goodnight, and filed off to bed clutching their new Midwinter gifts.
Once the children were gone, Seggy rose and said, “Would anybody like a holiday drink?”
Cade and Asha both nodded.
“I can’t,” Halsin said, looking at Tav with an intense affection. “I have something left to do still.”
“Hmm, I’m sure none of us have any idea what that might be,” Seggy said as she went to the kitchen to prepare the delightful beverages.
“Go get bundled up,” Halsin whispered into Tav’s ear, causing a shiver of anticipation to go down her spine. Usually, it was the opposite request that made her feel that way, but something about how he said it held a promise that the addion of layers might be reversed in the near future.
Tav grinned at the mystery the command held and hurried to put on her warm clothes. When she was ready, she found Halsin waiting by the door. He opened the door for her, and after she passed through, he offered her an arm. Together, they walked out into the cold night.
The snow around the house was marred from much play, but it still shimmered under the moonlight. Shadows cast in the dips where someone had stepped or scooped up snow for a snowball added an air of mystery to the night.
“Where are we going?” Tav asked.
“You’ll see,” Halsin assured her.
She squeezed his arm lovingly and admired the view around her - snow clinging to tree branches, the stars shining brilliantly in the sky, and Halsin’s face illuminated by the moon. She wasn’t sure what Halsin had in store, but even if it was simply a walk through the woods under the night sky, this was a perfect end to a full Midwinter.
Soon, the path they were following contained only Halsin’s bootprints and occasional set of tracks from one wild animal or another. Tav looked around and realized that they were headed to the part of the woods that he had told her a few months ago to stay out of for a while. As strongly as the curiosity burned initially, she had done what he said and avoided this part of the forest. Soon, she had rearranged her routine to go everywhere but here, and rarely spent any more time speculating as to why Halsin didn’t want her here.
Tav gasped as she saw the answer to her questions up ahead. A building loomed where before there had only been vegetation. It was a dark shape against the illuminated trees, its neat lines a sharp contrast to the whimsical bends and curves of the nature around it. As they grew closer, Tav could perceive a glow coming from within. There were candles in the windows and more inside, from the looks of it.
She tried to make out what she could through the windows as they approached, but before she could determine clearly what lay within, Halsin caught her. “No peeking!” he chastised playfully.
The building was a small log cabin with large windows. Without spoiling too much of what was inside, Tav could see that there were windows looking out over the other side of the forest as well. Halsin stopped at the door and took in Tav’s face. She looked up eagerly into his eyes.
“I’m going to lay down the rules right now,” Halsin said, using the voice he used when he wanted the children to take him seriously. “There is an admission fee to enter.” Tav smirked at that, fairly certain he was joking. He lowered his voice. “It’s going to cost you a kiss.”
Without hesitation, Tav reached her lips up towards his and gave him a passionate but excited kiss. Halsin grinned with satisfaction, then opened the door.
“Welcome to our hideaway,” he said as he took Tav’s hand and led her into the small, warm, inviting space.
She stepped in far enough that Halsin could close the door behind her and gazed upon the room. The wall to her left contained a large fireplace, which was already crackling gently. (This must have been where Halsin had slipped away to after dinner and before stories.) The wall with the door and the one opposite that had large windows that allowed a nearly-unbroken view of nature. There was a ladder leading to a loft and more windows below the loft. On the floor in front of the fireplace was a stuffed mat large enough for sleeping or… other activities. Tav couldn’t help grinning at the promise the sight held, even as other parts responded as well.
Halsin wrapped a strong arm around Tav and buried his nose in the spot where her neck met her shoulder and inhaled. Tav wondered if he could smell her arousal. She was certain that he could. He seemed so quick to pick up on any smells around him.
“What do you think, my heart?” he asked, lips now brushing her hairline.
“Halsin, it is stunning!” And truly it was. Candles were in every window and placed at intervals throughout the space. Between them and the fireplace, the entire room glowed with warm light. “I love it. You made this just for us?” she asked, twisting in his grasp to look at him.
“Just for you,” he said, eyes filled with desire. “Every rock in the fireplace, every log that makes up the walls - I did it all out of love for you.” One of his arms was still tight around her waist. The other had slid up into the back of her hair as he was speaking. He gazed at her, waiting. She wrapped one arm around him, resting it on his broad back, and placed the other on one of the strong arms that had raised this monument of his love for her. “Thank you,” she whispered, then closed the distance between them.
When Tav returns home to Baldur’s Gate for Midwinter, she is met with a series of surprises, not the least of which is reconnecting with someone she thought she never wanted to see again.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Excerpts below the cut
Excerpt 1:
“So, how have your first few days back home been?” Shadowheart asked.
“They’ve been good, but I am really worried about my parents and the restaurant. They assure me that everything’s fine, but they have definitely lost a lot of business,” Tav said, staring down into her tea with brows furrowed.
“Have you asked them about it?” Shadowheart returned.
“Every time I try, I’m told not to worry about it. But of course I am going to worry about it! The restaurant is my parents’ livelihood! And it’s such an important part of my life,” she added softly. “I was always there growing up. I can’t imagine a world where it doesn’t exist.”
“Have you considered staying past Midwinter to help them out?” Shadowheart asked.
“I told Gale that I would return as soon as I could slip away. I have my own business to run,” Tav explained.
“What would you do if it came down to choosing between your own business or saving your parents’ business?” Shadowheart asked.
“I honestly don’t know,” Tav replied.
Excerpt 2:
Tav peeked through the crack of the door. The room was illumined by candles in a way that pulled at Tav’s heart. It seemed timeless. Then her eyes landed on the figure at the other end of the room gazing out upon the winter snow. She gasped and turned to make her way back to the kitchen as swiftly as she could.
Her gasp gave her away. Astarion turned and locked eyes with her. As Tav broke eye contact and scrambled back towards the safety of the hallway, he said, “Tav, come back, please.” His voice held none of its usual confidence. Tav stood frozen, undecided whether she should return to the beautiful room and beautiful elf within or continue her flight to the kitchen, grab her stuff, and run out, pretending that this never happened.
Excerpt 3:
Upon returning home, she slid another couple of trays of cookies into the oven and began packing up the first batch, which was now cool enough to transport, into a special box to deliver to Shadowheart.
While she waited for the next batch of cookies to finish baking before she left to make her delivery, she heard someone stomping snow off of their shoes on the porch. While she thought the motions a bit heavy for Astarion, she wasn’t expecting anyone else. She began to hurry towards the door when a heavy knock resounded through the house. Astarion’s knock wouldn’t be so heavy. She slowed, unsure who could be outside. She turned the knob and opened the door….
Tav and Halsin participate in one of the druids’ most sacred annual traditions.
Tav’s robe blew noiselessly in the warm spring breeze as she stood in the darkness outside of the circle of chanting druids. Above, the dark sky was dotted with countless points of shining light. She was being uncharacteristically fidgety, and Halsin took notice. He placed a large, warm hand on her upper back.
“I don’t know,” Tav replied nervously. “I’m just sure I’m going to do something wrong.”
“That is not the case. This is not a performance - it’s a privilege. It’s a service, to this circle and all of the surrounding lands,” he reassured her. “You are doing your part, just as those who will be around us are doing their parts. Don’t worry about what they see or think or do. Just focus on me, and on your connection to nature. Can you do that?”
Tav nodded quickly. “Yes. I think I can.” Feeling the weight of his eyes upon her, she turned and looked at him. He exhuded compassion and understanding and a deep love and respect for Tav. She could do this. “I will try,” she grinned, still feeling slightly jittery, but much more grounded than she had a moment before.
“Good. Because I think they are ready for us,” Halsin said. He took her hand gently and led her through the opening that the group had made for them. They approached the stone where the act was to take place. Halsin stopped her before the stone and looked into her eyes to make sure she was truly okay, then kissed her gently upon the lips and dropped his robe. He then reached for the tie on Tav’s robe.
After both of their robes had slipped to the ground, Halsin took Tav’s hand and led her up onto the stone. The night breeze almost felt like a tickle as Tav stepped onto the cool, firm surface. It was partially grey, partially covered in soft, velvety moss, and the entire area was strewn with flowers that had been picked that afternoon.
Tav had been a Druid for a long time, and this was not her first time participating in this ritual. However, it was her first time filling THIS role in the ritual. The ritual had varying degrees of effectiveness. Sometimes, the entire grove seemed greener - more alive - the next day. Other times, flowers sprung up in new places in the days and weeks after it took place. Some years, there was no evidence that the ritual had even taken place. Tav took a deep breath and tried to do what Halsin had instructed - to focus on him and on her connection to nature.
Halsin held Tav’s hand supportively as she gently lowered herself to the stone. He quickly climbed above her and held himself slightly over her as he began kissing her - starting at her mouth and moving downward. She twined a hand in his hair and ran the other one down his side. ‘Focus on Halsin and my connection to nature,’ she reminded herself.
The air was crisp, but exceedingly fresh. Tav breathed in a deep lungful of it as her lover gently caressed her body. It smelled of spring flowers, damp earth, and the smoke from the various fires illuminating them as they engaged in this ancient tradition. As Halsin had moved nearly out of her reach, she placed her hand beside her on the stone, and felt the contrast between the cold, firm rock and the soft moss, and she reveled in it. Halsin moved further down to…
‘Oh! Am I supposed to receive pleasure, too?’ she wondered. She didn’t remember that ever happening on the yeras when she had attended the ritual as one of the encircling onlookers. She itched to return the favor - to do something for him - but he was out of her reach. Soon, she found it hard to focus on anything but Halsin and his skillful tongue. ‘Focus on nature… focus on nature… focus on nature…’ she reminded herself, as she looked up at the sparkling stars dotting the black canvas of the sky. Soon, all thought left her mind as orgasm crashed over her.
Halsin moved back up, where Tav was able to touch him. And touch him she did, as soon as she could. He continued his ministrations with his hand, while Tav stroked his chest and his eager penis. Soon, she found herself dropping over the edge again - both literally and figuratively. When she opened her eyes, her head was draped over the edge of the stone, and she thought she imagined some of the flowers that had been tossed on the ground to decorate the area standing upright, as if they were growing out of the ground rather than picked and laid on their sides. She imagined beautiful flowers and a lush, flourishing land as she returned her attentions to Halsin.
As she came down from a third orgasm, she thought she saw fireflies hovering above them and smiled. ‘That was so good I am seeing things,’ she thought dreamily. As Halsin entered her, though, she looked away from him momentarily and did see fireflies above. She turned her head, hoping to get a look behind her at the spot where she thought she saw flowers, but before she could turn all the way around, something closer caught her attention. There was a flower right there - beside her head - growing from a vine that decidedly wasn’t there before. She was distracted, and she reined herself back in. ‘Focus on Halsin. Focus on nature.’ So she did.
Tav wrapped one arm around Halsin as he thrust into her, feeling the warmth of his body and the effortless shifting of his muscles. She took a deep breath and smelled both fresh night air, flowers, and the scent of her lover. She stuck out a hand and touched the flowering vines growing across the rock, relished the feeling of the cool stone against her over-warm back, and reveled in Halsin’s thickness inside of her. She smiled as a playful vine wound it way across her. She admired how the vines sprouted from beneath where Halsin’s hands were in contact with the stone and flowed gently up his arms, breaking out into the most beautiful and fragrant flowers. Halsin even paused to smile at the vines’ personality before resuming his ever-increasing speed and urgency.
What the two of them didn’t notice, however, was how the chanting dropped off as the watching druids begin to murmur among themselves in awe, before someone encouraged them to continue with their part of the ritual.
As Halsin finished, Tav heard gasps from those circled around them. She and Halsin stared tenderly into each other’s eyes for another moment, then he carefully pulled his arms free from the vines and smiled bashfully at Tav. Kneeling above her, he pulled her up to sitting and gave her a tender yet fadingly passionate kiss. Afterwards, he looked around at what they had done.
The stone they were on was near-illumined with fireflies. All of the areas around the stone were bursting with some of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers known to the area. Blossoming vines spread from the spot where their love was made, and out across the ground and rocks in every direction. Halsin pulled Tav close so that she was not exposed to the gazes of the other druids as they admired nature’s sign that it was very pleased with their offering.
Tav had never seen such an immediate and generous sign of success. Neither had the other druids, it turned out. The flowers and vines still embracing the area around the stone the next day were the talk of the entire gathering. The surrounding lands turned out to be the most fruitful they had been in decades. Wildlife produced abundant offspring. Wild food, such as berries, was bountiful. Each night brought a melody of bugs, frogs, and other evening singers. Local farmers were amazed and delighted at how much they harvested that fall. All of nature was green and flourishing and gave to the fullest extent of its abilities, pleased with what Halsin and Tav had offered it on that early spring night. Tav’s robe blew noiselessly in the warm spring breeze as she stood in the darkness outside of the circle of chanting druids. Above, the dark sky was dotted with countless points of shining light. She was being uncharacteristically fidgety, and Halsin took notice. He placed a large, warm hand on her upper back.
“We don’t have to do this if you have changed your mind,” he said calmly.
“I don’t know,” Tav replied nervously. “I’m just sure I’m going to do something wrong.”
“That is not the case. This is not a performance - it’s a privilege. It’s a service, to this circle and all of the surrounding lands,” he reassured her. “You are doing your part, just as those who will be around us are doing their parts. Don’t worry about what they see or think or do. Just focus on me, and on your connection to nature. Can you do that?”
Tav nodded quickly. “Yes. I think I can.” Feeling the weight of his eyes upon her, she turned and looked at him. He exhuded compassion and understanding and a deep love and respect for Tav. She could do this. “I will try,” she grinned, still feeling slightly jittery, but much more grounded than she had a moment before.
“Good. Because I think they are ready for us,” Halsin said. He took her hand gently and led her through the opening that the group had made for them. They approached the stone where the act was to take place. Halsin stopped her before the stone and looked into her eyes to make sure she was truly okay, then kissed her gently upon the lips and dropped his robe. He then reached for the tie on Tav’s robe.
After both of their robes had slipped to the ground, Halsin took Tav’s hand and led her up onto the stone. The night breeze almost felt like a tickle as Tav stepped onto the cool, firm surface. It was partially grey, partially covered in soft, velvety moss, and the entire area was strewn with flowers that had been picked that afternoon.
Tav had been a Druid for a long time, and this was not her first time participating in this ritual. However, it was her first time filling THIS role in the ritual. The ritual had varying degrees of effectiveness. Sometimes, the entire grove seemed greener - more alive - the next day. Other times, flowers sprung up in new places in the days and weeks after it took place. Some years, there was no evidence that the ritual had even taken place. Tav took a deep breath and tried to do what Halsin had instructed - to focus on him and on her connection to nature.
Halsin held Tav’s hand supportively as she gently lowered herself to the stone. He quickly climbed above her and held himself slightly over her as he began kissing her - starting at her mouth and moving downward. She twined a hand in his hair and ran the other one down his side. ‘Focus on Halsin and my connection to nature,’ she reminded herself.
The air was crisp, but exceedingly fresh. Tav breathed in a deep lungful of it as her lover gently caressed her body. It smelled of spring flowers, damp earth, and the smoke from the various fires illuminating them as they engaged in this ancient tradition. As Halsin had moved nearly out of her reach, she placed her hand beside her on the stone, and felt the contrast between the cold, firm rock and the soft moss, and she reveled in it. Halsin moved further down to…
‘Oh! Am I supposed to receive pleasure, too?’ she wondered. She didn’t remember that ever happening on the yeras when she had attended the ritual as one of the encircling onlookers. She itched to return the favor - to do something for him - but he was out of her reach. Soon, she found it hard to focus on anything but Halsin and his skillful tongue. ‘Focus on nature… focus on nature… focus on nature…’ she reminded herself, as she looked up at the sparkling stars dotting the black canvas of the sky. Soon, all thought left her mind as orgasm crashed over her.
Halsin moved back up, where Tav was able to touch him. And touch him she did, as soon as she could. He continued his ministrations with his hand, while Tav stroked his chest and his eager penis. Soon, she found herself dropping over the edge again - both literally and figuratively. When she opened her eyes, her head was draped over the edge of the stone, and she thought she imagined some of the flowers that had been tossed on the ground to decorate the area standing upright, as if they were growing out of the ground rather than picked and laid on their sides. She imagined beautiful flowers and a lush, flourishing land as she returned her attentions to Halsin.
As she came down from a third orgasm, she thought she saw fireflies hovering above them and smiled. ‘That was so good I am seeing things,’ she thought dreamily. As Halsin entered her, though, she looked away from him momentarily and did see fireflies above. She turned her head, hoping to get a look behind her at the spot where she thought she saw flowers, but before she could turn all the way around, something closer caught her attention. There was a flower right there - beside her head - growing from a vine that decidedly wasn’t there before. She was distracted, and she reined herself back in. ‘Focus on Halsin. Focus on nature.’ So she did.
Tav wrapped one arm around Halsin as he thrust into her, feeling the warmth of his body and the effortless shifting of his muscles. She took a deep breath and smelled both fresh night air, flowers, and the scent of her lover. She stuck out a hand and touched the flowering vines growing across the rock, relished the feeling of the cool stone against her over-warm back, and reveled in Halsin’s thickness inside of her. She smiled as a playful vine wound it way across her. She admired how the vines sprouted from beneath where Halsin’s hands were in contact with the stone and flowed gently up his arms, breaking out into the most beautiful and fragrant flowers. Halsin even paused to smile at the vines’ personality before resuming his ever-increasing speed and urgency.
What the two of them didn’t notice, however, was how the chanting dropped off as the watching druids begin to murmur among themselves in awe, before someone encouraged them to continue with their part of the ritual.
As Halsin finished, Tav heard gasps from those circled around them. She and Halsin stared tenderly into each other’s eyes for another moment, then he carefully pulled his arms free from the vines and smiled bashfully at Tav. Kneeling above her, he pulled her up to sitting and gave her a tender yet fadingly passionate kiss. Afterwards, he looked around at what they had done.
The stone they were on was near-illumined with fireflies. All of the areas around the stone were bursting with some of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers known to the area. Blossoming vines spread from the spot where their love was made, and out across the ground and rocks in every direction. Halsin pulled Tav close so that she was not exposed to the gazes of the other druids as they admired nature’s sign that it was very pleased with their offering.
Tav had never seen such an immediate and generous sign of success. Neither had the other druids, it turned out. The flowers and vines still embracing the area around the stone the next day were the talk of the entire gathering. The surrounding lands turned out to be the most fruitful they had been in decades. Wildlife produced abundant offspring. Wild food, such as berries, was bountiful. Each night brought a melody of bugs, frogs, and other evening singers. Local farmers were amazed and delighted at how much they harvested that fall. All of nature was green and flourishing and gave to the fullest extent of its abilities, pleased with what Halsin and Tav had offered it on that early spring night.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/69500666
Inspired by this phenomenal NSFW art: https://bsky.app/profile/insideushere.bsky.social/post/3lax3id3wgs2q
this was originally sketched for the "public" and "size difference" kinktober prompts and quickly got out of hand 😂 guest Tav enjoying some
