When Nouns Verb--Fanfic
Title Some Enchanted Evening
Characters DA:A Anders, my Aeducan warden
Rating G+ ish
Summary Anders comes across something odd in Vigil's Keep. Short one-shot.
My prompt for this challenge was, "When an Aeducan learns to be awesome like Sandal". I love being able to use my favorite warden. :) This is set during Awakening.
Anders whistled as he strolled through the empty hallways of the Keep. It had been a quiet and mostly uneventful day and he had been able to sneak off and spend some time in Amaranthine. A little shopping and drinking never hurt anyone; and besides, he found the cutest little sweater for Ser Pounce-A-Lot. Whether the cat would consent to wearing it was another thing altogether, but Anders figured it was worth a try. He was nothing if not optimistic.
Now it was evening, and he was headed back to his rooms to drop off his packages and clean up a bit. As he was pondering going to the kitchens afterwards and getting himself some food and maybe a serving girl or two, Anders heard an explosion. He stopped and listened.
Another, smaller explosion followed the first, joined by the smell of sulphur and burning. It sounded to Anders like it was coming from the commander's quarters. He ran over and pressed his ear against the door and was greeted by the sound of another explosion, followed by a long and impressive string of Dwarven curses. He set his packages down, pushed the door open a crack and peeked into the room.
Helen Aeducan, Hero of Fereldan, Commander of the Grey and former Princess of Orzammar stood at a long table. On one side was a plain dagger, and on the other side was a collection of various crafting items and some kind of gloppy material that was dripping onto the floor. Against his better judgement, Anders entered the room.
"Hello fearless commander! I can't help but notice that you're making quite a bad smell in here. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Helen looked up from what she was doing, and Anders jumped back in surprise. She was a mess. Her normally tidy braids were askew, her face was covered in soot, and it looked like she had somehow burned off her own eyebrows. Instead of her normally cool demeanor, she looked like some kind of mad alchemist.
"How in the name of the blighted Ancestors does he do it?!" she muttered.
"Uh, who does what now?"
"That sodding dwarf! I've watched him do it HUNDREDS of times. I mean, how hard could it be? He claps his hands and says, 'Enchantment!' and ta da! Your sodding dagger is on fire. I just don't GET it."
Thinking the Commander was exceptionally beautiful (though a little scary) while angry, Anders moved closer to the table. "You're, er, trying to enchant your weapon?" he asked.
"Is your ponytail on too tight? Of course that's what I'm trying to do."
Feeling slightly wounded, Anders reached back and touched his hair. "My ponytail is on just fine, thank you very much. What I want to know is what made you think you could enchant your own weapons? The last time I checked, dwarves couldn't do magic."
Helen picked up a piece of elfroot and looked sad. "Sandal could do it. He did all the time for us during...before. He and Bodahn were with us almost the entire time. It was nice to have other dwarva to talk to. Sometimes I miss them." She threw the plant down and scrubbed her eyes with filthy hands. "Oh ancestors, I must look awful."
Anders came around the table and put his arm around Helen's shoulders. "Nonsense! We'll just tell people this is the newest look from Orlais and noblewomen all over Ferelden will be fighting to be first to shave their eyebrows off."
Helen looked up at the mage and smiled. "Anders, how is it that you can always make me feel better?"
Anders grinned and gave her a squeeze. "Just a gift, pretty lady. Just a gift. Now, how about we get you cleaned up?" He looked concerned, "Have you remembered to eat at all today?"
Helen's stomach growled audibly. "No, I guess not. I got a little carried away today, I think."
"Come to my room after you have powdered your nose and we'll go see what's left in the kitchens for supper. I bought Ser Pounce-A-Lot the cutest gift today, and I'd love for you to see it." He headed back towards the door.
Helen grinned, "Anders, are you propositioning me?"
The blond mage looked over his shoulder and winked. "That's entirely up to you, dear lady. Now hurry up. I'm hungry!"
Characters DA:A Anders, my Aeducan warden
Rating G+ ish
Summary Anders comes across something odd in Vigil's Keep. Short one-shot.
My prompt for this challenge was, "When an Aeducan learns to be awesome like Sandal". I love being able to use my favorite warden. :) This is set during Awakening.
Anders whistled as he strolled through the empty hallways of the Keep. It had been a quiet and mostly uneventful day and he had been able to sneak off and spend some time in Amaranthine. A little shopping and drinking never hurt anyone; and besides, he found the cutest little sweater for Ser Pounce-A-Lot. Whether the cat would consent to wearing it was another thing altogether, but Anders figured it was worth a try. He was nothing if not optimistic.
Now it was evening, and he was headed back to his rooms to drop off his packages and clean up a bit. As he was pondering going to the kitchens afterwards and getting himself some food and maybe a serving girl or two, Anders heard an explosion. He stopped and listened.
Another, smaller explosion followed the first, joined by the smell of sulphur and burning. It sounded to Anders like it was coming from the commander's quarters. He ran over and pressed his ear against the door and was greeted by the sound of another explosion, followed by a long and impressive string of Dwarven curses. He set his packages down, pushed the door open a crack and peeked into the room.
Helen Aeducan, Hero of Fereldan, Commander of the Grey and former Princess of Orzammar stood at a long table. On one side was a plain dagger, and on the other side was a collection of various crafting items and some kind of gloppy material that was dripping onto the floor. Against his better judgement, Anders entered the room.
"Hello fearless commander! I can't help but notice that you're making quite a bad smell in here. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Helen looked up from what she was doing, and Anders jumped back in surprise. She was a mess. Her normally tidy braids were askew, her face was covered in soot, and it looked like she had somehow burned off her own eyebrows. Instead of her normally cool demeanor, she looked like some kind of mad alchemist.
"How in the name of the blighted Ancestors does he do it?!" she muttered.
"Uh, who does what now?"
"That sodding dwarf! I've watched him do it HUNDREDS of times. I mean, how hard could it be? He claps his hands and says, 'Enchantment!' and ta da! Your sodding dagger is on fire. I just don't GET it."
Thinking the Commander was exceptionally beautiful (though a little scary) while angry, Anders moved closer to the table. "You're, er, trying to enchant your weapon?" he asked.
"Is your ponytail on too tight? Of course that's what I'm trying to do."
Feeling slightly wounded, Anders reached back and touched his hair. "My ponytail is on just fine, thank you very much. What I want to know is what made you think you could enchant your own weapons? The last time I checked, dwarves couldn't do magic."
Helen picked up a piece of elfroot and looked sad. "Sandal could do it. He did all the time for us during...before. He and Bodahn were with us almost the entire time. It was nice to have other dwarva to talk to. Sometimes I miss them." She threw the plant down and scrubbed her eyes with filthy hands. "Oh ancestors, I must look awful."
Anders came around the table and put his arm around Helen's shoulders. "Nonsense! We'll just tell people this is the newest look from Orlais and noblewomen all over Ferelden will be fighting to be first to shave their eyebrows off."
Helen looked up at the mage and smiled. "Anders, how is it that you can always make me feel better?"
Anders grinned and gave her a squeeze. "Just a gift, pretty lady. Just a gift. Now, how about we get you cleaned up?" He looked concerned, "Have you remembered to eat at all today?"
Helen's stomach growled audibly. "No, I guess not. I got a little carried away today, I think."
"Come to my room after you have powdered your nose and we'll go see what's left in the kitchens for supper. I bought Ser Pounce-A-Lot the cutest gift today, and I'd love for you to see it." He headed back towards the door.
Helen grinned, "Anders, are you propositioning me?"
The blond mage looked over his shoulder and winked. "That's entirely up to you, dear lady. Now hurry up. I'm hungry!"