Old Roads: Pitiless Games updated!
Chapter Eight has had quite enough, thank you very much, and is known as The Rag-and-Bone Shop of the Heart. (And also on AO3.) Chapter is SFW; story overall is rated M.
Title: Old Roads: Pitiless Games
Rating: M (for the sexytimez, and for occasional graphic violence)
PC: Amell
Word Count: ~71k, ~10.5k this chapter
Spoilers: At this point, it's not so much spoilers as it might not make any sense if you haven't played through Origins/Awakening...
Summary: Amaranthine is destroyed, and Warden Amell travels to Vigil’s Keep to take command. But one either must play the game of politics or be used as a pawn, and like it or not, every last one of Kathil’s demons are about to come home to roost... Amell/Zevran/Cullen, post-Awakening, multiple viewpoints, Part 5 of Old Roads.
They walked into the chantry as if to face down an enemy, flanked by all of the warriors they could bring without making it completely obvious that they expected trouble.
He, Kathil, and Alistair were in the center, Kathil carrying Cerys. ("I won't leave her behind," she'd said. "Maker only knows who would try something.") On her left was Cullen; on Jowan's right was Justice. The Mabari flanked them, walking a bit ahead. Behind them came four of Alistair's guards, three men and a woman.
("I'm a Grey Warden," Alistair had pointed out when Kathil had tried to dissuade him from coming along. "Drank the darkspawn blood and everything. Besides, I'd like to make it very clear that you have the support of the crown." Kathil had just shrugged and told him that he'd better change, then. Alistair had just been hugged by a very enthusiastic and extremely muddy Duncan.)
Revered Mother Leanna was waiting for them by the altar. She looks like she's spent years sucking on alum. She leaned heavily on a cane made of polished wood.
As they approached, the priest eyed them all and then inclined her head towards Alistair. "Your Majesty," she said. Then to the rest of them, "Wardens."
She managed to put an entire winter's worth of ice into that one word.
"But I am setting an example. Just not the one that you'd like me to set."
Title: Old Roads: Pitiless Games
Rating: M (for the sexytimez, and for occasional graphic violence)
PC: Amell
Word Count: ~71k, ~10.5k this chapter
Spoilers: At this point, it's not so much spoilers as it might not make any sense if you haven't played through Origins/Awakening...
Summary: Amaranthine is destroyed, and Warden Amell travels to Vigil’s Keep to take command. But one either must play the game of politics or be used as a pawn, and like it or not, every last one of Kathil’s demons are about to come home to roost... Amell/Zevran/Cullen, post-Awakening, multiple viewpoints, Part 5 of Old Roads.
They walked into the chantry as if to face down an enemy, flanked by all of the warriors they could bring without making it completely obvious that they expected trouble.
He, Kathil, and Alistair were in the center, Kathil carrying Cerys. ("I won't leave her behind," she'd said. "Maker only knows who would try something.") On her left was Cullen; on Jowan's right was Justice. The Mabari flanked them, walking a bit ahead. Behind them came four of Alistair's guards, three men and a woman.
("I'm a Grey Warden," Alistair had pointed out when Kathil had tried to dissuade him from coming along. "Drank the darkspawn blood and everything. Besides, I'd like to make it very clear that you have the support of the crown." Kathil had just shrugged and told him that he'd better change, then. Alistair had just been hugged by a very enthusiastic and extremely muddy Duncan.)
Revered Mother Leanna was waiting for them by the altar. She looks like she's spent years sucking on alum. She leaned heavily on a cane made of polished wood.
As they approached, the priest eyed them all and then inclined her head towards Alistair. "Your Majesty," she said. Then to the rest of them, "Wardens."
She managed to put an entire winter's worth of ice into that one word.
"But I am setting an example. Just not the one that you'd like me to set."