(Untitled)

[igetthatalot]

Dwarves, according to most depictions thereof, are short, stocky, bearded folk with a fondness for tunnels and mining and dwarven beer. Varric, by these standards, is a very bad dwarf. He has the short and stocky part down, yes, but he does not so much have a beard as he has manly stubble and epic chest hair, and he'll be the first to tell you that

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[calledgreenleaf]

Legolas is not as suspicious as some of his kin about the dwarven race (he finds some of their creations intriguing, and is young enough to feel the distance of myth from the worst of the dwarven betrayal), but that does not make him unsuspicious.

He's at the Bar when Varric orders, curiousity piqued, though he does not yet interrupt him. It's not until later, when Varric is arranging his papers, that stops behind the chair opposite Varric to catch his attention. He's carrying a small wineskin and two glasses, just in case.

"Legolas, of the Great Forest,” he says, tilting in a slight bow - though not quite as casual as those he tends to use with the patrons of Milliways. “May I join you?”

[igetthatalot]

"Can't say I've heard of the place," says Varric as he looks up. He does return the bow, though, before gesturing to the opposite seat at his table. "Make yourself at home. Varric Tethras, of the city of Kirkwall. Pleasure to meet you, messere."

[calledgreenleaf]

"Neither have I heard of Kirkwall," he admits, tilting his head in thanks as he sits. He sets the cups and wineskin on the table. "And the pleasure is mine in return. You will forgive, I hope," he says, glancing up, "my overhearing. But your companion has a dragon slain?

[igetthatalot]

"So far, I haven't met anybody here I didn't know already who has heard of the place," says Varric, "so you're not alone. And, yes, Hawke took out a dragon. The blasted thing had taken up residence in a mine up the Wounded Coast from Kirkwall. It wasn't the only one, either- just the oldest one we found. Which... probably means there's a high dragon out there, with our luck."

[calledgreenleaf]

...that's not what he was expecting, though he has no idea what he was.

"High dragon?" he asks, sounding a bit lost. "Ours are solitary."

[igetthatalot]

Varric nods. "A high dragon's as old and as dangerous as dragons get, unless you want to count the Old Gods and Archdemons," he says. "They used to be common enough in Nevarra that the whole Pentaghast clan made their reputation on hunting the things. Almost drove them to extinction, too. I read one of their books once. A high dragon's a dragon that's lived long enough to gather a harem of drakes and start laying eggs in earnest. We ran into enough hatchlings in the Bone Pit that I don't like our chances of not meeting the mother sooner or later."

[calledgreenleaf]

They sound more akin, though individually more dangerous, to the spiders. Legolas makes an agreeing noise.

"I wish you good hunting, then, if that is your journey. And good speed and shade, if it is not."

He pauses. "The dragons of my world are such that one large winged worm may lay waste to a whole countryside, and the threat of it is such to keep those who control neighboring lands quiet for fear of stirring its interest."

[igetthatalot]

"That," says Varric, "sounds more like the dragons the ancient Tevinters called the Old Gods. Although with those, it wasn't so much keeping quiet as the Tevinters worshipping the things, I suppose to learn their secrets of power and strength."

[calledgreenleaf]

"Our dragons are not gods," Legolas says, with something between seriousness and quiet horror at the idea of treating them as such. "Though I've known only one, in my many years; the last, according to some. What sort of people are these Tevinters?"

[igetthatalot]

"Humans, mostly," says Varric. "Some elves. They're ruled by mages, and slavery's legal there. They don't worship the Old Gods any more. Not since Andraste, anyway. Unpleasant bunch. They've been at war with Orlais for... oh, I don't know, a couple of centuries now. I don't think they ever really got over losing their empire."

[calledgreenleaf]

Logically, Varric is not a typical dwarf and not of his world. Logically, elves of his world could be anything. Still.

A look of bone-deep disbelief, question strong in his voice: "Elves?"

[igetthatalot]

"Sure," says Varric, misinterpreting the incredulity. "There's elves in all the countries of Thedas. Don't think there are any in Par Vollen, though- that's the Qunari homeland."

[calledgreenleaf]

"No." Legolas laughs sudden and bright, tilting his head up and rubbing a hand across his eyes. He looks back to Varric, spreading a hand in explanation. "I know very well that Elves are a living people. It is just that I am one of that kindred, and yours sound like none I know."

[igetthatalot]

"Well, to be honest, you don't look much like the elves back home either," says Varric. "Your face is wrong, for one thing- their nose and brow come forward a little, here. And your ears are about the right shape, but they're a good deal smaller. The humans call 'em 'knife-ears' when they're in that kind of mood. I'm guessing your folk don't live in cities with the humans wherever it is you come from, either. You haven't got that air about you."

[calledgreenleaf]

"You are very observant," Legolas allows, cheerfully, "for while a city is interesting for a day or a fortnight, I would soon quickly tire of its charms."

(Probably before the fortnight was through.)

"I admit, you remind me little of our Dwarves, but my interaction with that kin has been limited. Our kingdoms were long ago enemies, and many in our midsts have even longer memories."

[igetthatalot]

"You might get that attitude from one of the Dalish elves," says Varric. "About cities, I mean. They live in caravans and keep to the forests and mountains. They're not fond of humans at all, and they don't really bother interacting with my people enough to care. They're big on old elven lore and reviving the original elven language. Frankly, I'm a little surprised your people and your world's dwarves ever interacted long enough for there to be a problem."