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What Comes After. (Spoilers?)
🕑 Added 2019-09-02 21:44:41 +0000 UTCLook it's been five years ok? If you were gonna play Dragon Age Inquisition by now you would've.
After Solas' betrayal, the Inquisition's remaining members make their way to Tevinter. Cassandra visits her lover, the inquisitor, and spends the night with him.
-o-o-o-
“Cassandra!”
Marrin’s voice was sharp and pained, his face pulled into an agonised expression as he fell to the ground, one arm consumed by green fire. Cassandra was at his side in an instant, armoured knees crashing to the ground as she knelt beside him.
“My love!?” she managed to say before the fire exploded outwards, arcs of emerald lightning licking over Marrin’s body. He let out a shriek of pain and fell, desperately fighting to stay upright with his one good arm. “The mark… the anchor… it’s killing him!”
“What do we do?” Josephine asked, covering her mouth and staring in horror at the trembling Inquisitor.
“Josie, fetch Dorian, Vivienne, any mage you can find!” Leliana barked, taking command immediately. “Now!”
“N… no.” Marrin croaked, shaking his head. “N… no time… can’t stop it anymore…” he looked up at Cassandra, tears sparkling in those kind, sad eyes. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“You won’t… I… I promise.” Cassandra choked, cradling him as the mark flared again, drawing another pained howl from her lover’s lips. “Marrin! Stay with me! Don’t give in!”
“There’s no time for mages to get here.” Cullen breathed, standing helplessly by their side.
“Cullen… Take my… hand.” Marrin managed to spit out, the very act of speaking causing him yet more agony. “Armour… protect you for a moment.”
“I don’t understand.” Cullen frowned, “I can only hold it for seconds at the most. There’s no time to…”
“Take… my hand… pull it away from my body.” Marrin croaked, “Arm… straight.”
“Inquisitor. Marrin, are you… we don’t know if it would work.” Leliana winced, swiping her headdress aside and kneeling beside Cassandra.
“Cass… your sword.” Marrin groaned, ignoring her and forcing his head up to look into Cassandra’s eyes. “Make it clean…”
“I… I can’t.” Cassandra whispered, voice hoarse.
“I trust… you.” Marrin smiled before the mark exploded. He shrieked, falling to the floor and convulsing as green light poured from his hand, the scent of seared skin and ozone filling the room. Cassandra swallowed and stood, drawing her sword and raising it, face set with determination. Cullen snatched Marin’s hand and pulled his arm straight, wincing as the green glow began to eat away at his gauntlets.
There was a flash as the light of the anchor reflected on the descending steel blade, and then the light went out.
-o-o-o-
“Seeker.”
Cassandra glanced up and scowled at Varric as he seated himself across the fire from her. He ignored the scowl, more than used to it by now, and dipped his spoon into the bowl in his hand. “Sparkler says you’ve been here all day.”
“Dorian should be focused on getting us to Tevinter.” Cassandra replied dully.
“He hasn’t had to worry about it. I’m the one who called in all my favours with Isabela to get us ships.” Varric laughed half-heartedly. He sighed after a few silent moments and set down the spoon. “You haven’t seen him?”
“He needs to rest.”
“Seems like he could use you too.”
“You know nothing, dwarf.” Cassandra hissed, “I don’t want or need your opinion on the matter!”
“Seeker…” Varric sighed, “Cassandra. You did good. He’s alive because of you.”
“I brought Solas into this. I trusted him.”
“So you should have seen who he was? What he planned?” Varric sighed, “So should every damn one of us. We didn’t. This isn’t on you.”
“Varric… don’t.” Cassandra sighed, rubbing her face. She was exhausted. From the way Varric looked at her she probably looked it too. “I won’t see him. I can’t… not after what I did to him.”
“I can’t make you, Seeker.” Varric sighed, “But if it were the other way round, I’d be telling him to leave you be and rest himself.”
Cassandra glowered down at her feet as Varric took his stew elsewhere, every time she closed her eyes, every time she blinked, her sword cut through him again. His shrieks echoed through her head. His soft grey eyes burning green from the inside out. That voice, quiet and gentle and shy, letting out such pained cries.
She should go. She should at least say… something. They’d talked for a fleeting moment in Orlais, as Marrin had declared the inquisition as a peacekeeping force under Leliana’s command. But since then he had been hidden away, staggering out of his carriage to desperately try and stay in the loop, each time growing greyer and weaker more quickly and having to retreat back to his bed, seething with frustration and resentment. Cassandra would watch him from a distance, so scared that all that frustration would find it’s mark on her chest, and Marrin would leave her for good.
What if he really did blame her? What if she said something wrong and made things worse?
She hissed through her teeth and kicked the fire, sending coals spinning out over the damp grass glade they had made camp in.
After stamping out the scattered embers she found herself standing at his carriage, hand resting against the polished Orlesian wood. Leliana had demanded he be given the finest carriage whilst he was recovering, it seemed the least the divine could offer beside her spy-mastering and skilful negotiations to keep both Orlais and Fereldan off the scent of what the Inquisitor’s new purpose was.
She breathed in quietly before pushing. The door slid open without a sound and she stepped into the dark.
“Inquisitor?” she called hoarsely, “Marrin?”
“Cass.” Marrin’s voice replied softly. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“I… I am sorry.” Cassandra said, stepping closer to the bed as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. He was lying on his back, bare from the waist up. The bandaged stump of his arm drew her gaze no matter where else she tried to look. “I would have come sooner… I thought… I didn’t.”
“It’s alright.” He smiled tiredly, eyes shut. “I’ve only been awake a few minutes. Wouldn’t have been very interesting for you.” Cassandra smiled weakly and knelt at his bedside, gratefully accepting his hand. He squeezed her gently and sighed, sinking down into the pillows.
“Are you alright, does… it hurt?” Cassandra asked, voice low.
“Yes.”
“I… I am so sorry, if I had been more careful, if I had not trusted Solas so blindly. This would never have happened.”
“Cassandra.” Marrin breathed, “Please don’t.”
“But I…”
“Cass.”
She stopped and hung her head, swiping unwanted tears out of her eyes. What was it about this thin little man that made her so vulnerable? He smiled weakly and squeezed her hand again. “I love you. An arm is tiny price to pay to stay by your side.” He said, voice regaining a little authority as he sat up. “You saved my life, you may have saved all our lives… but we need to go… after him.” He coughed weakly and sank back onto his back. “Damn it.”
“I… I can fetch you something for the pain.” Cassandra said, standing and turning for the door, only for his hand to find hers.
“No, I don’t want…!” he growled before swearing under his breath. “I hate this.”
“You’ll be back on your feet in a matter of days.”
“I know.” Marrin growled. “I’m just so… useless here.”
Cassandra nodded and gently stroked his cheek. “If this was one of Varric’s stories… I could tell you how much you mean to everyone, how important and special you are… especially to me.” she said, voice low and gentle. “But this isn’t a story… and I’m afraid if I open my mouth all my words will do is make matters worse. So no more talking in circles. Tell me what you need. And I shall give it freely.”
“Peace in Thedas?” Marrin laughed weakly. “No templars hunting me? A nice, big house by the coast? A warm bed and a roaring fire and a fat ginger cat to curl up in front of it?”
“My love.” Cassandra said sternly. He winced and shifted uncomfortably on his back.
“I… I need you to stay with me… just for tonight.” He breathed reluctantly. “I need to be close to you.”
She smiled slightly and nodded, leaning down and kissing his hand. “Of course.” She shed her casual armour with her usual care, setting down the boiled leather and chain mail neatly by a chest, standing in her underthings by Marrin’s bedside. “You may have to shift over, love.” She said with a small smile, helping him move himself against the wall. She noted his eyes lingering on the opening of her undershirt, where the loose white fabric was unlaced, showing the valley of her cleavage. Apparently he was not so drained as to fail to appreciate her.
He smiled weakly as she slipped closer, her chin resting against his mop of black curls, her arms winding about his waist. If Sera had seen them, she might have made a joke about her masculinity and the inquisitor’s slightness. But she had parted with them at Halamshiral, and Cassandra was content in cuddling her lover close to her in the intimate dark, safe in the knowledge there would be no ridicule to meet her when she left her lover’s side.
His sad grey eyes closed peacefully as they lay there, she smiled and moved close, pressing her lips to his. He stirred back from the edge of sleep and flashed the crooked grin she had so missed. “Don’t go taking advantage, seeker Pentaghast.” He said quietly. “I’m not so helpless I can’t push you out onto the floor.”
“I am not taking advantage.” Cassandra sniffed. “and if It offends you, I shall stop.”
“I didn’t say that.” he mumbled, drawing a soft laugh from Cassandra and earning another tender kiss. “This… is not what imagined would happen when I woke up in that cell.”
“Nor what I expected.” Cassandra agreed, fingers playing gently over his hairless chest before dipping lower and stroking over his lean, muscular belly. “But I have no complaints. The maker works in strange ways sometimes… I am glad he gave me you.”
“Awfully decent of him.” Marrin agreed, breath hitching as Cassandra’s lips touched against his neck.
“What did you think when you woke?”
“Who is this dark-haired warrior-goddess yelling at me?”
Cassandra laughed and pushed her head against his. “I thought, who is this little man with such lovely eyes? Surely he cannot be responsible for all this.”
“You seemed pretty certain, as I recall.”
“You were my only suspect. However captivating you may have been.”
“Hmmmm, ‘Captivating’ am I?”
“On your good days.”
“infuriating on my worst?” he chuckled softly, hand resting over hers as she stroked his stomach. He let out a low sigh and sank against her, nestling himself against her chest. She smiled down at him, feeling his breath flow over her skin, raising her to goose bumps.
“perhaps… but I adore you nonetheless.”
“You ‘adore’ me now?” Marrin grinned, eyes still shut contentedly. “I should have lost an arm years ago.”
“Th… that’s not funny.” Cassandra frowned, recoiling for a moment. He sighed and nodded.
“You’re right… I’m sorry.”
“I know why it had to be me… Cullen was closer to your mark. He was wearing his gauntlets.” Cassandra breathed, “But I wish it hadn’t. I wish I could look at you without knowing that I am the one who wounded you, that my sword cut a part of you from your body.”
“Cassandra, look at me.”
She reluctantly obeyed, finding herself staring deep into the dark grey pools of his eyes. They were gorgeous eyes, soft and shy and sad. Like the sky at the storm coast tempered and calmed. He squeezed her hand, smiling. “I am alive and I am with you. Nothing else matters to me.” He paused, eyes darting away from her face. “Do you remember when we met at the exalted council?”
“And Varric had me believe you were going to propose?” Cassandra scowled. “I have not forgotten, nor forgiven him.”
“If I had… what would you have said?”
Cassandra blinked, surprised. “I… do not know.” She admitted. “It’s such a large step. At the time I was worried that you would, and that I would hurt you by saying no. But when Varric first put the notion into my mind… I cannot remember feeling such delight before. I want to be at your side, and… I think I would like to marry you, one day.”
“This wasn’t the proposal, just so you know.” Marrin smiled gently, pressing back against her. “I just wanted to know before I did anything. The real proposal is going to make our first night at Skyhold look like nothing.”
“I will be sure to act very surprised when the time comes.” Cassandra replied, humming as his hand slid over her own.
She wanted him inside her then and there, but restrained herself, instead sliding both hands over the cool soft skin of his chest and down to his belly. His breath hitched as her lips began to toy with his earlobe. “Cass…” he breathed.
“Should I stop?”
“Just be gentle.” He groaned as her hand slipped under the covers and through the short coarse hairs crowning his manhood. She smiled and nodded, kissing his cheek as her hand curled around him and began to stroke. His soft groans melted as her lips found his again, sealing him in a deep kiss, her free hand slipping beneath his back to hold him as he trembled.
He was warm beneath her fingers, pulsing against her palm as she teased him. Breaths growing lower and huskier as she began to toy with his nipple as well. “Cassandraaa…”
“My love?”
“You’re cruel.”
“Am I?” She asked innocently.
“Torturing a poor one-armed man. Shame on you.”
“I would never torture you.” She replied softly, tugging at his lip with her teeth. “I am simply savouring the moment, my love. You wouldn’t want the evening over so soon, would you?”
Marrin hissed as Cassandra squeezed him, before nodding.
“I saw you admiring me.” She breathed, “Subtlety is not one of your gifts.”
“Why be subtle? You’re a beautiful woman.” Marrin replied softly, biting his lip.
“So you’ve said.”
“You are… you’re magnificent.” He cooed, “I see it every time you smile, every time you laugh… every time you smack a venatori with your shield and send them flying.”
Cassandra laughed softly and kissed his cheek. He sighed. “That’s the smile, exactly.”
Marrin groaned and pushed Cassandra’s hand away from himself. He rolled onto his side, facing her and kissing her gently. “May I undress you?”
“Certainly.” Cassandra purred, lying on her back and smiling as Marrin awkwardly rose and pushed himself between her thighs, Cassandra’s hands supporting him as he winced, stump-arm knocking against her carelessly. His manhood rested over her as he knelt, hot and hard and aching to be inside her. She cooed with anticipation and brought her hands up to her head, so that Marrin could pull her undershirt off with ease, freeing the heavy globes of her tits.
His hand didn’t reach for them immediately, instead tracing the curve of her body from her arm down her ribs to her hip, and then caressing the muscular valleys of her abdomen. When at last his fingers found her breast, she let out a delighted groan, and rolled herself back against him. Her nethers pulsing with excitement as they felt his rod slide against them through the thin fabric of her underwear.
“Marrin my love… don’t make me wait.” She mewed. Feeling his lips and tongue begin to play over her collarbone, inching downwards at a snail’s pace as his hand clung to the side of her head, playing with her hair.
“I’m… simply savouring the moment.” He teased, voice low and possessive. She scowled, unimpressed, before letting out a sharp yip of surprise as his teeth tugged on a nipple. She didn’t complain further, partly because of Marrin’s excellent tongue work and partly because she knew her dear Inquisitor was not nearly patient enough to outlast her.
Sure enough after just minutes of playing with her bust he turned his attention to the puddle between her legs. After fumbling with her waistband for a frustrated moment he tossed the panties across the carriage and brought his thumb to her opening, pushing against her to a low groan of lust from the seeker.
“Take me, love.” She rasped, caressing his cheek as he petted her opening.
“S… so impatient.” He breathed, resting himself over her sopping sex and groaning as she rubbed her hips against him.
“Marrrrrin.” She growled, fist tightening around his hair and pulling him towards her. “I want you now.”
He smiled weakly and moaned, slipping his head between her petals to a delighted croon from Cassandra. His thrusts were gentle as always, measured and thorough, scratching the itch throbbing deep inside her. Her fingers raked down his back as he moved against her, clawing at his ribs for support as he ducked low and stole a kiss. Her thighs split wide, desperate for more of his length speared between them, and locked behind his waist.
She howled with arousal as he fell against her, hand pawing at her breast as he thrust deep, his bristles rubbing against the full, thick crown of hair that rested above Cassandra’s sex. “More my love!” She cried, mouth mashing against Marrin’s as they rutted. “Don’t stop!”
“N…not going to.” He replied breathlessly.
“I’m close!”
“I know!”
“Fill me!”
“Cassandra!”
His seed splashed against her belly, almost steaming with heat. Cassandra fell back, face awash with bliss, her hands holding Marrin’s rear as he pushed against her, panting for breath. She cooed and scooped his load from her skin, sucking it from her fingers with a seductive look in her eye. Marrin’s cheeks darkened further and he sat back, hand finding Cassandra’s ankle as she stretched out on the bed. “Please tell me that was enough.” He smiled weakly.
“You don’t want more?” Cassandra teased, sitting up herself and caressing his chest, pulling herself tight against him.
“I think it might kill me.” He laughed, resting his head on her shoulder and kissing the soft skin adoringly. “Give me a moment.”
“As many as you need, my love.” She promised.
“I needed this.” He murmured. “Thank you for coming.”
“I’m sorry it took so long, love.” She breathed before pulling back and kissing his forehead. He smiled and returned the kiss, gathering himself before pushing her back and sliding his hand down to her opening again.
-o-o-o-
“So, seeker. You went to see him?” Varric asked innocently, fiddling with Bianca’s trigger as Cassandra smiled down at her breakfast. She looked up and squinted suspiciously.
“I did.” She admitted slowly. “How did you know?”
“You’re smiling.” Varric grinned. There was a pause, Cassandra frowned as his hand tightened on Bianca’s handle. “And there was the noise last night.”
Cassandra’s face burned red; she was on her feet in an instant. “Noise!?”
Varric was standing as well, edging away from the campfire. “You’ve got a hell of a pair of lungs.”
“VARRIC!”
“Heyyy Cassandra.” The Iron Bull called, appearing around the edge of a carriage and waving cheerfully. “Nice work last night! Boss is in better spirits than ever!”
“BULL!”
“What are you all shouting about?” Dorian snapped, appearing from inside the carriages by Iron Bull.
“Cassandra got lucky last night.” Iron Bull explained casually.
“Yes, I heard.” Dorian smiled, flashing his teeth towards the flushing seeker. “Nice work. I only hope our poor Inquisitor can walk after all the excitement. You were going for quite a while.”
Cassandra’s jaw clicked, her fists shaking, face burning. Varric had already made his escape whilst she was distracted. Iron bull and Dorian both hastily went elsewhere as well, leaving Cassandra to seethe by herself.
