Tales From Thedas: Dragon Age One Shots

Sparkler and the Storyteller

"I don't care what they think about me, I care what they think about us."

Dorian's words still rang in my head like the notes of a bad song. It had been three weeks since I'd given him his amulet and nothing much had changed. He'd said he'd find a way to pay me back despite how often I'd told him it wasn't necessary.

To be honest though, I was getting tired of his reluctance. I didn't care what the nobility said or thought about me. Dorian believed I was being naive, but I wasn't. I understood how the upper class worked but what Dorian and others like him didn't get was that the power they wielded only worked if you let it.

I didn't know what else I could say or do to convince him and quite frankly I was beginning to think it wasn't worth it. I didn't want to give up on him, but I was lonely. I needed someone in my life to be there for me, but if that meant I'd be constantly reassuring him of my sincerity, I didn't need the burden. Or the strain on my heart. 

I already knew I was falling for him and already would have if not for what had happened in another man's arms. I wanted to love Dorian with reckless abandon, to call his name in love and ecstasy, but always since him, I'd learned to always keep hidden that one piece of myself that would never again be hurt by someone I bared my soul to. To my dismay the way things were going and despite the pain that squeezed my heart at the thought, it didn't seem likely I would get my wish.

Over the past week we'd done nothing together. He'd become obsessed with tracking down Corypheus' name. Though we'd spent time walking the battlements, watching my soldiers on the practice field, sharing a brandy or playing Wicked Grace, we'd done nothing more intimate since he'd kissed me in the library.

"Inquisitor?"

I turned to see Varric watching me, his brow creased in a frown.

"Yes Varric?"

"Something bothering you? You seem distracted."

"No I'm fine."

"You know you're a terrible liar right? How about I take a guess? Sparkler's being stubborn again."

I frowned. "Something like that."

"So what's the trouble? Maybe I can help."

"Unless you can undo ages of training in the art of the Game and the ingrained brainwashing of what's expected of a noble, I  highly doubt that Varric." I retorted.

Varric snorted and shook his head. "That bad huh?"

"Worse I suspect."

"Well I have a few ideas regardless. Why don't you leave it with me and I'll see what I can do."

"You're not going to challenge him to a game of Wicked Grace are you?  Because I'm fairly certain that won't work."

Varric chuckled. "Inquisitor, don't you trust me? Never mind, don't answer that. But no, I wasn't planning on making a bet with him, though I might be able to work it into what I already had in mind."

I shook my head, letting out the breath I'd been holding. "Thanks anyway Varric, but I don't think so. It's not possible to change someone's mind about this sort of thing. Just leave it. If you'll excuse me, I have a date with a tankard of ale in the Hero's Rest. I'll talk to you later."

"Alright. But don't say I didn't offer. Save me a seat while you're there though. I'll join you after I finish up with some of the paperwork I've let pile up."

"I'll try, but you know how busy it can get. Just try to finish up sooner rather than later, I'm not sure how long I'll be staying. I've had a rather trying day and might turn in early."