Varric Tethras 🏹 🪶

“Had I known you were looking for him to lead the Inquisition, I probably would have given a lead as to where he was, or at least had him reach out to you. I suppose it’s water under the bridge now.”

“You assumed he was dead just because you couldn’t find him? So when you read his tale you knew he was at least alive there within its pages…”

Varric was silent for a moment.

“That’s…quite sad. That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to keep him safe, I thought you were planning to arrest him.”

“Heh. I can’t argue with that, Seeker.”

“And what have you concluded from reading my book numerous times? Did you find the truth you’ve sought?”

“I think everyone knows why. She wasn’t too happy with me when I kept her away from Hawke.”

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

“Uh huh.” 🤔 😏

“Uh huh.” 😏

“Love ❤️ is in the air at Skyhold. Seems I was right all along about you having a crush on the Champion. As I recall, your response back then was, and I quote:
“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Sounds like someone was in denial — isn’t that right, Seeker?”

@allegrafilomena.bsky.social

To his surprise, he watched Cassandra speak about Hawke and could have sworn it looked like she was swooning. He blinked again thinking he was imagining things.

“Hmmm. If only there were a way to record a book on some sort of audio device that’s yet to be invented. Could you even imagine?”

“Oh, I do like those as well, Your Inquisitiveness. I shall add those to my working title list.”

“Oh, why thank you, Chuckles. It keeps me busy, my mind active and my purse full.”

Varric furrowed his brow. "He did? I actually didn't know it was that bad. He didn't tell me all the details."

"Of course, his legacy deserves better than that. I suppose the release of my book did him no favors trying to stay out of the public eye. He became more famous after that, as you know."

"I'd like to think so. I put all the pieces in place and all. Had I not invited Hawke to Skyhold, you probably would have never found him on your own. You stopped looking when I wouldn't give any leads."

“It does, doesn’t it? Funny how some things end up working themselves out on their own…or getting just a little push by yours truly.”

“Even in hindsight, I couldn’t have predicted this and wouldn’t have believed it myself. I guess it was meant to be, just at a different time and place.”

“There's power in stories, though. That's all history is: The best tales. The ones that last. Might as well be mine.”

~ Varric Tethras

Varric chuckled.

“Are you kidding? Fans would go nuts to read a sequel like this come out. A direct follow-up to the Champion finding love with The Seeker that sought him out? I mean, I couldn’t write better shit than this — pun intended.”

“I do, I was kicking around a few:”

- All This Shit is Weird
- Closing the Breach, Opening the Bar
- Shadows Over Skyhold
- The Red Lyrium Plot
- Tales from the Hanged Man (Inquisition Edition)

“Not moving any of them so far but hey, it’s a work in progress.”

“After the disaster with the mage rebellion and the defeat of the Knight-Commander, things were too hot to stick around in the city. We all had to get out of there for our own safety — and sanity.”

“Since then, I hadn’t found anything of interest that inspired me enough to write again. Until now.”

"You both talk about me quite a lot. I suppose it's expected, seeing as how I'm the one that essentially brought you two together. Sprinkle a few breadcrumbs, The Seeker follows them and comes to a dead end -- until I bring the elusive Champion of Kirkwall right to her doorstep. It's beautiful."

"Well said, Seeker. Well said. I like that - couldn't have said it better myself."

Varric was actually silent for a moment. He would never admit it out loud, but he thought it was sweet she had come to care for his good friend, Hawke. It began as an obsession to find him, which turned to admiration, now affection.

"Hawke is a great guy," he finally said. "The best I've known."

"Who said I didn't? Maybe this 'wise, all-seeing rogue of renown' just wants you to admit it to yourself. You at least deserve that - some self-reaffirmation."

"By the beards of the Ancestors...I never thought I would hear you mention yourself and 'whimsy' in the same sentence. I suppose there's a first time for everything," he teased.

"So, what is this aforementioned 'recent call' that would provoke you to be whimsical?" He tried to get her to admit it.

"That's our Champion. Were you expecting anything less? If nothing else, I was sure to capture his charismatic personality, good looks & casual sense of humor accurately in my book. I may have embellished many other things in the tale, however, but at least I tried to retain his sunny disposition."

Chuckled.

"Have a thing for wardens, do you? Have you ever met the Hero of Ferelden? I'm sure you at least had a hand in some transactions one way or another to at least have some indirect influences."

"Maybe that 'one day' will be sooner than you think. And who knows? That tale may just be writing itself as we speak. Will just need to do a little more observations for inspiration and see where it goes..."

Varric raised an eyebrow.

"Really? You've no idea what it might be about?"

Both knew what each other was referencing, but danced around it. He playfully gasped.

"Could it be that The Seeker is playing coy about something? Well shit -- I never thought I'd see the day."

"That is...good to know, and quite unexpected of you to say. You seem a bit more...amiable these days, Seeker. And the rumors in question might pertain to a different matter."

"Then it appears to be working. It's so fascinating to me -- sometimes all someone needs is a little push, then they do the rest on their own."

“Fair enough. And yes — I would say that’s a fair assessment. Sometimes I just can’t help myself. Old habits die hard, I suppose.”