The Serpent Lord's Fury
Varric was now in the abandoned field surrounding Silver Vale, his landing shaking the frozen earth. He glided toward the Stronghood manor without a word – silent fury rippling over his black scales - the rising sun still unable to peer over the village walls. He chose this time because he needed a release for his primal, terrifying grief before he completely lost control.
He closed his eyes, his hands slowly clenching into tight, rigid fists at his sides. The air around the Stronghood home was thick and stale, reeking of old human fear, stale greed, and the crushing absence of Ardyn's lilac scent. He sneered, the ancient urge to burn and cleanse overcoming his modern restraint.
With a thought that felt less like magic and more like raw, channeled agony, he activated [Reptilian Mark]. All five Stronghoods wailed simultaneously inside the house, a sound so loud it should have shattered glass.
"No. You cannot express pain today. Silence."
The wailing instantly stopped, replaced by five distinct choking sounds. The spell sealed all sound within them, creating an odd, pressurized vacuum inside their bodies.
He entered, a smile playing on his lips.
Varric raised his hand and closed it into a fist—all five family members were violently pulled through walls and air, snapping into prostration on the front room floor. They writhed in silent agony, bound by his immense, gravity-based magic.
Varric sat heavily in an armchair, scales scraping against the cheap fabric. He forced himself to look at them for a long moment, reminding himself of his promise to save them for Ardyn.
He calmed slightly, drawing the deep, metallic scent of his own rage into his lungs. When he opened his eyes again, he smiled—a chilling, predatory display of silver teeth.
"Hello. My name is Varric, and I am in love with Ardyn Stronghood."
Silent tears began streaming down faces contorted in voiceless terror, and Varric's smile broadened.
"Don't worry. You will not die today—your fates remain in Ardyn's hands." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Today you will suffer—because the one I love suffers. And you are the source of her pain."
The Serpent's Gift
Varric calmly walked into Ardyn's main cave. Elsa looked up from fussing over her travel robes and smiled at him knowingly. Varric nodded respectfully to her and walked straight to Ardyn. He took her into a tight embrace without preamble. And she willingly succumbed – breathing him in as she did.
She immediately calmed, and her soul settled within her as she allowed all else to fade away and only thought of him.
"I am going to miss you."
"And I you. I accept your need for this. I will never fully understand it, but I do accept it."
He gently pulled from her and brought forth a talisman crafted from a soft purple metal that mirrored her magic and had six Moonpetal Gems embedded in it. When it came close to her, it glowed an ethereal purple color. Ardyn looked at it with awe.
Varric moved her robe and exposed the center of her chest, his sharp claws gently gliding across her skin.
"This is a Salvatio Talisman. It will save you twelve times—each Moonpetal Gem will save you twice then crack and become part of your magical defenses." He placed the talisman on her pale skin, and it sank instantly into the center of her chest.
Ardyn felt a new – protective – power fill her being and her soul absorb much of it as if she were embracing her gift.
"Always keep it here. If you need extra power, or if your innate defenses are low, call it forth and it will protect and fight for you – but this action will cost you two Moonpetal Gems."
He looked to her – love, pain, and hope mingling in his eyes.
"Come back to me, Ardyn. Come back safe – and always remember that I am here waiting for you because you will always be mine and I will always be yours."
Tears welled up in her eyes, even as a soft smile played across her lips. When she spoke, her voice was like a tranquil song, and both Elsa and Varric were surprised at how powerful she had become.
"I will remember, my love." She ran a hand down his soft-black-scaled jaw, and her amethyst eyes twinkled with power. "And I will return to you – stronger and no longer bound."
Varric pressed his face into her touch – relishing it, wishing it would never end – and he felt her power stream over and through him. [Song of Protection]
They kissed – a soft, passionate kiss. It was filled with love and longing, and when they separated there was nothing but peace between them.
Ardyn looked about her cave, and the entire system responded to her. Both Elsa and Varric felt the system shutting itself down - as if it were only for Ardyn, and now it was going to sleep until she returned.
The three of them stepped as one to the mountain chain above the Sunken Plateau to the west, and Ardyn and Elsa set off without another word.
Varric watched, his soul bond with Ardyn giving him peace and comfort – even as his heart twisted in his chest. One of her songs flowed through his soul just as he lost sight of her.
"We will be together again soon, my love."
Varric nodded in agreement. In order to have her completely, he now understood he had to allow her to find her own sense of completeness.
He smiled, a single tear running down his cheek, and turned for home – Ardyn in his heart, and her song in his soul.