A New Home in the Deep
They walked along that magical ash. Ardyn could only see it as magical, holding the Moonpetal Gems in her hands; the weight of them felt surreal, almost non-existent, like something only dreamed.
She looked down at the soft ash, her mind buzzing. Everything she had seen today felt overwhelming and beyond normal imagination. She had offered herself as a sacrifice, but what had she actually become?
Just as she thought this, one of the beautiful lilac flowers from the lake brushed her skin, making her think of the lake and the broad pool of green grass surrounded by hills of snow.
Her eyes flitted toward him, her heart racing. What was she doing? What was she thinking? She was just Mikael and Anabel Stronghood's niece, a cousin to Tomas, Angelica, and Sonia, and even to all of them she was less than nothing.
How could she ever think, or even dream, that she could mean anything to a being like Varric, a Serpent Lord?
Something in her instantly deflated, and an odd resolve grew. Whatever Lord Varric wanted of her, she would give over one hundred percent of herself to it. She would ensure that he understood he was the best master she had ever had.
He would never regret sparing her life...
…If he still wanted to spare it.
She walked straighter, with a determination bordering on fanaticism, gripping the gifts from him a bit tighter. They suddenly became pillars of strength in a vast storm.
The entire time Ardyn dealt with this inner turmoil, Varric felt triumphant. He felt he had accomplished what he set out to do. He saw how she gripped the Moonpetal Gems and the flowers. To him, she was basking in the same joy that now warmed his once cold heart.
She no longer dwelled on past hurts and unmentionable things. She only thought of him, and of what he could bring, and what he could do.
He paused internally, his heavy steps pressing deep grooves into the thick layer of ash, and wondered at his own arrogance.
He would need to do better for her. He would change and become the perfect partner. Not directly for her, but because he wanted to. He wanted to be the spark of her happiness, the reason she smiled.
For that, he needed to be different.
They reached the exit of the Plateau at the exact same moment, lost in vastly different contemplations.
He looked at the black ridge before them, his black scales glistening in the subdued light. His eyes drifted down to her small form, and he smiled at the determination set in her shoulders.
Without a word, black, gray, and silver smoke formed around him. Ardyn, now used to his transformations, did not stir; she simply waited as if it were a mundane thing. When the smoke cleared, his great serpent form was coiled about her, as if it had always been this way.
She waited for the sensation of being lifted and took her position on his broad, long back as if it had always been her place in this new world.
His long body moved up the steep ridge with ease, and as they crested it, the beautiful endless valley greeted them once more. Ardyn breathed in deep. It was such a magical place. She knew she was underground, but no wall or ceiling could be seen.
The bright blue sky itself was unfathomable, and yet there it was. She could not help but smile as Varric slid effortlessly forward, as if on a slick surface made just for him.
His scales felt oddly comforting beneath her as she took in the sights, her grip tightening around her treasures—gifts from him she knew she would always cherish.
"We are going home now." His voice slid like warmed honey into her mind, coating every surface, feeling warm and nourishing. Yet she spoke aloud, still unaware that he could hear her thoughts if she wished it.
"Home, My Lord? I will go wherever you lead. I am yours now, and for however long you will have me."
"Don't say it like that, Ardyn. You are not my servant. I want you to be my partner; I want you to want to be with me."
Silence. She did not know what to say to such words. No one ever wanted her; they just demanded of her, used her. Want seemed such a foreign concept when tied to her.
Varric's serpentine face frowned. Had he gotten things wrong? Heat welled up in the pit of his being. He would change her mind. He would prove himself to her.
Then she spoke, and he almost stopped to admonish her.
"Lord Varric. You have been utterly kind to me, and I greatly appreciate it. I know that I said I would dwell here with you, but I am not worth much. You are a lord, and I am just a village servant.
"There is no value in me, but I am strong, and I am determined, and I will not fail you. Whatever you need of me, I will give one hundred percent and more."
It was odd. He had never cried in his long life, but he felt the tears threatening. What had happened to this beautiful creature for her to believe such rubbish about herself? When he spoke, he spoke aloud, his voice gentle but felt for kilometers around them, the ground trembling at its force and power.
"And if I need your heart? Would you also give that to me by more than one hundred percent?"
Ardyn frowned as she looked out into the vast valley. She saw that they were nearing a vast, dark mark within the sea of color and wonder.
"We are here." He had spoken into her mind again, and again it was a soothing balm.
She nodded in response and somehow knew that he had sensed it.
The mark was a great hole in the earth, and when they passed through it, her breath caught. The wonder of the vast valley above suddenly paled in her perception of things. It was no longer the greatest wonder.
Here, her new home, was a wonder among wonders. The smooth dark walls were covered in shining, perfectly round ore along the ceiling and floor. It was brightly lit and overly wide.
Varric moved down the corridor unhindered as he thought about his new dilemma. He resolved to seek council.
They came to an entrance that was brighter than any other they had previously passed. Ardyn frowned as she felt herself being lifted from his back. He placed her gently on the ground, and the usual smoke rose about his being, and once again her serpent lord stood beside her.
His great, hulking form of black scales, with silver accents running along his form, had become oddly comforting and soul-satisfying. It made her feel safe and...
She frowned, unsure of things anymore.
"Come. This will be your space. It is just a system of caves, closed off from the rest. You will need things of human comfort. Just ask, and I will make sure you will have whatever you need."
As he babbled, he and Ardyn stepped forward into the cave, and he smiled when he heard her gasp. The cave was unused by his clan—they preferred the dark—and there was not enough water here for his teacher, so the great witch visited but would not live here.
It was perfect for his Ardyn.
She looked out in wonder, and couldn't help but look back out into the corridor. 'Is this the same place?! How much wonder does he have in his domain?'
The thought was fueled by the awe she felt.
The cave before her was cavernous and, somehow, brilliantly lit, though she could tell there seemed to be a dusk approaching. There were several pools of water, beds of thick moss, and flower patches throughout. The walls seemed to be covered in sparkling gems, and odd plants, some with fruits or bulbous roots, were growing on the surface of the smooth slate walls and floor.
It was almost too much to take in, especially when she saw several cave entrances scattered about the cavern.
She looked to him, her mouth agape, "I am to live here, My Lord? In this cave?"
His smile broadened. "It is my wish, my love, and you have already promised to give me all that my heart desires." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his eyes going wide at the impulsive gesture, her body going hot as his lips touched her skin.
He stood, and they were frozen for a long moment, lost in each other's gaze.
Finally, she shook her head as she spoke.
"My Lord…" He raised a finger, stopping her mid-sentence, and turned to leave.
"You promised." He stopped at the door and turned with a frown, his gaze sweeping over the vast cavern. "What do you need? I will make it for you before I go."
She briskly shook her head in denial. "I do not need anything. This is more than… more than enough."
He cocked his head, his eyes narrowing to regard her. He knew humans needed more. Suddenly, he wanted to admonish himself for not knowing more about them. He nodded, another question for his teacher.
"Rest, my love. I will come back for you and give you a proper tour of the den."
And he was gone.
Ardyn turned to look at her new home, thoughts flooding her mind.
'How will I ever prove worthy of all this?'
She sat on a rock covered in a soft, dry turquoise moss, her now bare feet in the quiet pond just below. She watched as a thin stream flowed into the pond. She felt the quiet around her, and she felt something small begin to crack within her.
'Is this what it feels like to be loved?' She frowned at her inner thoughts. 'Do I deserve such love? What will he do when he finds out how damaged I actually am?'
Her eyes scanned over her new home, and as peace began to grow in her heart, her mind trembled with old, ingrained woes.