So here is my Prompt:
Five years after the Blight.
By: Giggles_Manically.
Looking down at the two loaves of bread before him, Dain came to the sad revelation that he should never be the one to do the shopping. Honestly he thought, how come its so hard to find the items on a list that Leliana gave him, after six months of it he should been an expert at it. For someone who once held the titles of Paragon amongst the Dwarves, Arl of Amaranthine, and Hero of Ferelden this should be a easy. Except that, Dain reminded himself he still did hold all those titles, with a shake of his head. Honestly that was just too many hats for one dwarf to wear, at a once he thought.
“I’ll just buy both of them” Dain told the merchant, they didn’t look at all different from the other, and it wont hurt to have two loaves of bread really.
Handing over some copper pieces he placed them in the pack that was on his back and headed home from the small market that covered the town square, Dain started to notice all the decorations going up. The small town he was in, was called Gull’s Cove and was about a day and half east of Highever.
The decorations were for the celebration of the Battle of Denerim which was five years ago tomorrow, Dain thought. A slight shudder went through him as he remembered fighting through the streets up to Fort Drakon, side by side with Shale, Loghain, and Wynne. Rubbing his shoulder his mind went back to when a Genlock had stabbed him from behind, only to get squashed by Shale. Wynne had healed it but it was still an unpleasant memory that popped up time and again.
Nodding at some of the people setting up a row of lights across the front of the local tavern, Dain’s mind ran over what exact events led him to be living in Gull’s Cove, with Leliana and Trian his Mabari. Turning left down the main street he headed for his house, and went down the path of his memories at the same time.
Six years ago, he stood proud and defiant in the Provings having bested all the warriors that day, hearing the great crowd cheer his name.
Six years ago, he fought Trian in the Deep Roads and killed him with a hammer blow that annihilated his brother’s arrogant face; he was going to kill him after all. Turning around he saw his father, Bhelen, and Harrowmont all come up to see him standing over Trian. Looking into his other brother’s face he realized he had been tricked, and was all too soon ejected into the Deep Roads as a kin slayer.
Six years ago he had entered into a small village called Lothering as a Grey Warden, with an apostate and former templar who was also a Grey Warden bickering behind him, with a giant Mabari following him around as happy as could be. That was right after he was nearly killed at Ostagar he recalled. With a smile he recalled walking into Dane’s Refuge just for a drink, but instead he got a fight and found a human woman who he came to love more deeply then he thought was possible.
Five and a half years ago he had sat on a log in a camp with a bunch of misfits, a person who had tried to kill him, mages, and a Golem of all things. Across that log sat Leliana, and even to this day that memory of the first time they had kissed was still one he held very highly. Until he fell of the log he remembered with a pained expression. Looking up at the sky he judged it be nearing supper time and picked up his pace to get home in time.
Five years ago, he had stood in the Landsmeet Chamber, with Starfang at the throat of Loghain, Anora and Riordian at one side, and Alistair on the other. One side wanted Loghain dead, the other as a warden. Seemingly holding the fate of all Ferelden in his hands Dain made his choice, but to this day regretted that it had made his friend renounce everything he cared for and leave.
Five years ago he had stood wounded and weary on the top of Fort Drakon, staring down the Archdemon, the very creature that he had been after. Knowing the cost of charging it and killing it would be, he set himself to charge the monster.... wishing that he had listened to Morrigan, and wishing that he didn’t have to lose Leliana and the friends he had made.
Please, I have done so much wrong allow me to do one last thing right....
Loghain’s last words echoed in his head, and he saw the look on the man’s face before it had ended. Where there once had stood an wounded, and guilty man who looked haunted, there now stood the face of a hero, defiant and penitent who was pleading to be the one to end it.
Recalling the deafening blast and the flash that followed Loghain’s heroic attack on the Archdemon still made his ears ring, and cause him to wonder if he had been a coward to let Loghain die. That question still troubled him to today, to a great deal.
Seeing his house down the way Dain, felt a little better.
Four years ago he had stood in the Lair of the Mother with Justice, Anders, and Sigrun beside him ,with the Mother still twitching her last, and the Architects obliterated body behind him. That nightmarish push through the region was brutal, but in the end saw the end to all the darkspawn raids in the area.
Four years ago he stood in the Landsmeet Chamber with Queen Anora heaping rewards on him, and various people from all the places he had helped looking at him. Feeling a little shaky at the memory Dain recalled that he had made Nathaniel Howe his heir, and his family as well much to the ire of some of the nobles. Anora continued to make more speeches, while he continued to try not to faint with hundreds of people looking at him. His last clear memory of being on the dais was making eye contact with Leliana across the Chamber, seeing her smile at him, and mouthing the word softie at him. For someone with short legs Dain made very good time getting of the dais.
Three years ago he had left Denerim, and his position in the court very quietly while in the caravan being lead by Bodahn and Gorim who had started doing business when Dain introduced them, they were heading to Highever but Dain and Leliana would be leaving before that to get to Gull’s Cove. He left the capital with Leliana, Zevran, and Trian not as Dain Aeducan of House Aeducan, Paragon, Arl of Amaranthine, Hero of Ferelden, and all around good guy, but simply as Dain. His armour and his sword Starfang were tucked away in the wagon, while Leliana was leaning against his shoulder, humming a soft song. Zevran was at the front of the wagon teaching Sandal a magic trick he recalled, although the boy could only say wow!, and enchantment! to most things still, Dain wondered what exactly happened when he found him in Fort Drakon with all those Darkspawn dead around him, but he realized most likely would never know.
Two years ago he had married Leliana in a small chapel with Zevran and Trian serving as witnesses. Although the word of a Mabari and an former Antivan Crow might not stand up that well in a court of law. After Leliana got back up of her knees from kissing him (he was a good bit shorter than her after all), he remembered her smile and the small squeeze she gave his hand fondly. While Zevran might joke that his days of wild bachelorhood were behind him, Dain was more than happy to pay that price.
Heading across the small lawn that led to his front door Dain smiled at the thought that most people thought of him as a merchant contact for Bodahn, and all around a good person. Even though there was some talk of him marrying a human, Dain was respected for role in the community and for his generosity when it came to local matters. Instead of war meetings, councils that named kings, and seeking to fulfill ancient treaties, Dain spent time settling disputes between local farmers and helping to decide on very small matters. Overall the change was a very nice one to Dain, let Anora and Bhelen do that if they like it so much. Fumbling for his key, Dain recalled the very first argument he had with Leliana while they were married. She wanted a lock on the door, while Dain didn’t believe they needed one, it was a small town, and the biggest crime in the last month was someone running over a pig while on a horse. In the end he put it in himself; a man can only take so many cold shoulders, looks, and meals before giving in after all.
Opening and closing the door quietly he placed the pack in the kitchen and headed for the bedroom to change. Opening the door he saw his wife asleep on the bed, and with the light streaming in from the window across Leliana’s face. With a smile Dain came to the conclusion that off all the places he could be, right here was the one he wanted most.
“Bah” a little grunt of disgust escaped him, I am a softie.
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