Their Truths
He woke up with her still in his arms. The quiet dawn filtering through the cavern entrance was the only light, casting soft silver shadows over the blue-green moss where they lay. He smiled as he breathed in her scent—a comforting, complex mixture of sweet lilac from the valley and the sharp, mineral tang of her nascent magic.
It had been centuries since he slept outside his den, since he allowed himself the vulnerability of true rest. It felt odd, yet so right at the same time. The solitude he had maintained for so long now felt like a cold, unnecessary prison. He pulled her into him even more, wanting to never let go, wanting to never leave her. She stirred, a small, sleepy moan leaving her lips, the sound vibrating pleasantly against his collarbone.
He nibbled her ear as he whispered into it. "Don't wake up yet, my love. Let's stay like this for just a little while longer."
He heard the smile on her lips as she spoke to him, her voice muffled against his chest. "You are a lord of a vast kingdom, my love. You have duties." She sat up, the change in posture instantly making her very serious. Her eyes, now fully awake, sought his. "I do not want to be the cause of you losing anything that belongs to you."
She paused, her eyes sparkling with a dangerous, newly awakened determination. "Allow me to fight by your side. Allow me to prove that I am worthy of your claim."
He stared into those eyes, the smile on his face drifting between tender amusement and fierce, absolute love. The request was typical Ardyn—proud, selfless, and foolishly brave. He exhaled and shook his head, running a comforting hand along the pale, straight length of her hair. "You are too precious to me. You are the source of my strength, not a weapon to be risked." He raised her chin as she began to drop it in disappointment and gently kissed her nose. "Get strong enough, and we will always go out to battle together, but as you are, I remain your protector. I will not allow anything to ever hurt you."
She smiled, her eyes softly smiling as well, even as her mind warred. She was raised a servant, taught that sacrifice was her highest duty, and she was taught to hate magic, magic users, and beast-kin. So much of her ingrained morality warred against what her heart screamed was right: to simply accept his protection and his love. The shame of being protected—of being precious instead of useful—was a heavy weight.
She forced the negativity away, pressing herself back into him. She just wanted to be happy for a few minutes more. She just wanted to love and be loved without any regret or doubt. She buried her face into his neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent of ancient earth, cinnamon, and primal power. This feeling, this peace, was worth the shame.
They stayed like that until a messenger came for him, his thought-call slicing through the quiet air between them. The Cobra Clan was pushing their line back, the intensity of the assault worrying the frontline advisors.
He rose instantly, his expression severe, the loving man replaced by the war-leader. When he looked down to her, seeing the worry in her amethyst eyes, his face softened, the transformation swift and breathtaking. He bent and kissed her softly on the lips, a long, deep kiss that was more a promise than a goodbye. She drank it in, wanting to always remember his touch, storing the feel of his mineral-slick lips and warm breath. He rose, and she was breathless, her face the rosiness of raw passion.
"I leave now, but I will be back. Stay here and be safe. Do not venture past the walls of the Great Hall."
Before she could answer, he was gone, her newly awoken eyes seeing the remnants of his [Cave Shadow Step] shimmering quietly before her, a fleeting outline of silver-black.
She stepped from the moss and prepared for a bath. Determination hardened her face. "I can not fight now, but I will help." She prepared herself for her prescribed practice and decided to add a new element: learning how to heal the wounded tortoise beast-kin and serpent beast-kin she knew would soon be returning from the front lines. If she could not fight the war, she would mend the warriors who did.
Varric arrived in his war room, the atmosphere instantly snapping with tension. His eyes swept over his men. He looked to Marcus, his chief commander.
"Where is Lady Elsa?"
"She went to the front, My Lord, after she sent word to you. She is protecting the line."
He nodded, his jaw tight. "Well, let's go. We are not going to allow her to fight our battles for us."
There was a resounding "Yes, My Lord!" and black smoke rose around the entire room. When it dissipated, the entire room was empty. [Black Serpent Shift]
As soon as the smoke dissipated, they saw the battlefield. Their fertile plain was drenched in Viper and Cobra blood; Cobra warriors were deep inside the neutral plain and pushing toward Serpent Clan territory. Marcus and other commanders immediately took command and reinforced their people.
Varric searched for his teacher. He did not need to look for long. She walked through the carnage, a swirl of potent green magic moving around her and stripping the flesh from the enemy. Her tortoise shell patches of skin were slick with blood, yet her smooth green skin remained devoid and pristine, as if it naturally repelled blood and gore.
She spun up into the air and landed, solidly, in the midst of a large group of Cobra beast-kin warriors. A strong surge of magic moved out in a circle around her, a shockwave of crushing force.
She smiled viciously as the Cobra beast-kin around her fell, shredded or severely injured.
Varric shook his head, a sly smile spreading across his lips. He thought of his Ardyn for a split second, the image of her determined face a fiery focus in his mind, and then he moved out into the fray. He would keep his word. He would protect her, and she would always know nothing but happiness.