Arguments Between Soulmates
Ardyn began practicing by meditating. She sat in a special area of the Tranquility Cave. Magic flowed into this area—in dense swirling streams—and then flowed out into the rest of the cave. She sat here in deep meditation seeking her magic, the flow within her that her teacher called her song.
She sat in this way for hours – Elsa sneaking in to check on her several times. Elsa was rather worried – yet quite proud of her student. She watched her with a slight smile on her face – seeing the flow of magic around Ardyn and how the young mage could control it so well already.
Not only was Ardyn controlling that odd, calming, purple magic of hers, she also controlled Elsa's deep green natural magic and Varric's silvery gravity magic. It was as if her purple magic calmed and tamed all others.
When she finally found her song and could actually hear its deep melody, Ardyn was drenched in sweat and completely exhausted. The cave sensed her state and immediately began to alter itself and adjust the flow of magic to make her comfortable and rejuvenate her.
The moss beneath her grew and became more dense. She seemed to sink within it and as her own calming magic flowed, her eyes fluttered and she drifted off to sleep.
When she awoke she went right to work. She frowned as the cave seemed to want her to leave, as if she was now in the wrong place to complete her training.
She left the Tranquility Cave – seeking something she had no knowledge or understanding of – and as she walked her inner song filled her being. This melody was a pure form of magic that seemed to want to consume her and create her entirely new. Her Cave system, Serpentia, seemed to breathe around her as it reacted to this magic of harmony and dense rhythm.
She reached a dead-end and frowned – her song swirling and flowing through her with an intensity that was warming and fulfilling. Even though she was unsure, she trusted – both herself and her cave system, that had become an integral part of her – and she closed her eyes and allowed her song to grow.
She felt the moments when her song evolved. It was still fast enough for her to be startled – as she felt her body adjust to the new power and distinct abilities. That small melody changed to a [Soul Song] and then to a [Song of Breath] – with each changed, Varric felt his soul stir, and each time his smile grew as his body filled with pride. He was proud of the woman he loved, and of the person she was becoming.
When the [Song of Breath] bloomed within Ardyn, the cave around her began to sing with her, and a section of cave wall before her rippled like water and then – shattered like fine glass, fine shards tinkling to the cave floor around her.
Without hesitation she walked through the new opening. The burst of power that flowed over her was staggering. This new cavern, the Cave of Harmonies, seemed to both want her and test her at the same time.
The magic buffeted her like a strong current in a deep river, and she stood and weathered it all. She felt her song slowly shifting again as she continued to walk to a central, distant spot within the cave. Before she reached her destination, her song shifted and clicked into a slot within her soul – everything around her calmed and she stepped into position – the [Song of Calm] had formed.
The cave around her illuminated and for the first time she saw all of the purple, glittering ore around her. They were all in varying hues of purple and seemed to twinkle at her at different frequencies and tones. The spot she stood on rose, and she embraced all that the purple ores had to give her. She began to move as her teacher had taught her. She focused and shifted her magic as she had practiced over and over again – Elsa's words flowing through her mind, reminding her of her form, to feel the flow of magic within, and to embrace what she was becoming.
Her song changed once more and she felt a safety similar to what Varric instilled flow through her like cold brisk water. The [Song of Protection] was birthed.
She continued on – knowing there was more, understanding she could truly become different – and each of her new songs began to rise and flow through her. The cave began to resonate with her and she understood that this cave – The Cave of Harmonies – was a cave filled with many distinct magics that all vied for supremacy.
Through her magics of calm and harmony, she synchronized it all and melded it together. As soon as she realized this, all four harmonies flowed about each other with a distinct and unique melody becoming her truth – her new inner song, evolved and strengthened.
She trained her new inner song for days, separating the four distinct harmonies, separating and coming together over and over again. She learned how to use each, and one day the Cave of Harmonies changed, ever so slightly, and targets rose before her. She smiled as she understood.
Her inner song moved through her in dense threads of magic. She focused it, channeled it, and—opening her mouth, her vocal cords vibrating with disciplined power—a beautiful and mesmerizing sound came forth. Four of the targets before her shattered into the smallest of splinters.
She froze in place – shocked by her own power – and looked at the remains in wonder.
She turned with a smile as she heard her Master clapping; she had sensed Elsa's presence long ago – her [Song of Protection] illuminating her form. Elsa cocked her head in surprise, then she nodded in approval.
"You have grown much. You can even see me when I am truly hidden." She stepped forward, truly pleased. "Come. Show me what you can now do."
Ardyn truly sparred with Elsa for the first time. They sparred together within the Cave of Harmonies, and the cave actually assisted Ardyn against her Master. This made Elsa smile.
"Serpentia truly loves you, little one. It is a testament of how Sidus Serpens loves you as well. You have trained well. What will you do now?"
Ardyn remained focused – understanding that her teacher was both genuinely asking a question and trying to distract her – but she frowned due to a lack of an immediate answer.
She spun to the left and a dense barrier of sound vibrated before Ardyn to deflect Elsa's strike. She smiled as her strike grazed her Master – her surprised look the greatest reward Ardyn could ever receive.
Elsa pursed her lips. "Don't look so smug, I admit I underestimated you. So, have you not thought about what happens next? You have said you want to be an equal, is that truly possible if you stay here in Serpentia?"
Ardyn frowned again – as she countered another strike – she had not thought about it, but, once again, her Master was right. She needed to travel – understand the world – to truly be his equal.
Elsa nodded, her hand moving forward and hitting Ardyn in the chest – capitalizing on the moment of distraction. "I will go with you."
"I think I should do this on my own, Master."
"You are doing it on your own, but I am not going to let you go out – by yourself – in a world you clearly do not understand. You are still my student and my responsibility."
Ardyn did not respond – still thinking she needed to do everything on her own.
That night Varric came to her – Ardyn smiled broadly when she sensed him. She turned and almost sprinted into his arms.
"I didn't realize I had missed you so much." She spoke into his chest as she nuzzled her face into his soft scales and took in his scent.
"I have missed you so much – my beautiful purple blossom." Varric closed his eyes, his body trembling due to her proximity.
She felt the tremors, and she closed her eyes, sorrow suddenly rising within her, as she thought of leaving him. Because of their connection he felt her sorrow.
"What is it my love, why are you so sad?"
"I am going to leave you for a while, and I am already missing you."
Varric's body tensed. "Leave? Why?"
"How else will I ever be your equal?"
He abruptly pushed away from her. "Not this again. I want you, you as you are. We are not the same; how will we ever be equals?"
"Not exact equals, just worthy."
He took her into his arms. "You are worthy of me."
This time she pulled away from him. "But I need to know this. Just because you say it does not make it so."
He narrowed his eyes at her, anger at her stubbornness welling within him.
"Show me that you can survive outside Serpentia, and I will consider it."
Anger rose in Ardyn as well. She spun toward him and cocked her head. "You will CONSIDER it?"
The sheer force of her question was backed by her nascent magic. Her voice resonating like a gong backed by the vibrating, protective sound of her newly mastered magic. Varric was physically forced back a step, his eyebrows rising in surprise, even as he smiled—all annoyance forgotten, quickly replaced with pride.
They sparred for hours, and he became more and more impressed and proud. His heart sank as he realized he would have to let her go.
When they finished, they sat together, embracing – their spar more arousing than either of them could have ever guessed. He rose, wanting to leave before he acted on instinctual impulses.
She frowned, sadness filling her almost instantly. She rose and grabbed his arm and pressed herself against him.
"I will be back, Varric. Please wait for me."
He sighed, his arms sliding around her. "I know, and I will. If you take too long, I will come and find you." He kissed the top of her head and disappeared from before her. Ardyn closed her eyes. She could sense his longing, annoyance, and love. All of it mingling within him.
Varric appeared in the center of Silver Vale. The Stronghoods would pay for every moment that Ardyn was away from him.