Veilguarding - an open post for DAV AU shenanigans

[smartass_captain]

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Masterpost for Dragon Age Veilguard AU overflow + psls

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[smartass_captain]

"Sure. If you like." James nods back toward Lucanis. The young lordling is polite enough where he falls into step with the boys after casting one look up to Lady Caterina for permission before he moved from his spot next to her. With it granted he joins them in their walk toward the sprawling Dellamorte estate that makes his own family manor back in Ostwick feel rather small in comparison.

So strange. Before this, he would have said his family's manor was huge. But now...well. He has a new sprawling estate to learn every inch of. He wants to go home but knows he can't. A part of him wants to stamp his feet and throw a tantrum. Sob that he MUST go home. But who would be there for him if he did?

He looks up at Illario when he finds his arm joined with the older boy's.

"M...my Father's fighting the darkspawn with King Cailan." James says with some small bit of pride. "He'll come get me when he wins." He sucks in a sharp breath and nods. Holding himself straighter. He can be strong for his father until he comes to get James. He's all that's left representing George's house. He has to make sure he reflects well on their name.

[the_other_dellamorte]

"In Fereldan?" Illario asks, eyes going wide with awe. He and Lucanis had listened in to Caterina's updates on the south, or rather, Illario had listened at the door and Lucanis had kept watch at the end of the hallway. But from what little they heard, the darkspawn have overrun most of the south, and there aren't enough Wardens to go around.

Still, having a father fighting alongside King Cailan is serious bragging rights.

"We will show you your room. You are next to us, not in the guest house." Lucanis says, opening the door for them into the wide hall, a door stood open on one side leading to the library.

"Do you like reading, Ser James?" Illario asks, curious. "Lucanis has a little library in his room, but there are lots of books here, if you want them. And chess. Lucanis is very good at that too."

[smartass_captain]

Little James nods because while his Mama and big brother are gone his father is still out there somewhere doing heroic work to protect everyone from the monsters that overran Ferelden. He doesn't know that his father will never come, yet. Even once he's told it will take time until he's strong enough to believe it. Right now he clings to the thought because it's the only thing keeping him from devolving into sobs about losing the rest of his family.

"Alright..." James swallows a little to see how grand the hall is. And then with more open interest as they pass by the library. His big blue eyes have gone even wider. When Illario asks he nods quickly.

"Uh huh. I've read all th'books in my family's house already. Father said we were going to get more while in Ferelden but we never got a chance to visit the market in Denerim." And chess??? He gives a shaky little smile. "I like chess too..."

[the_other_dellamorte]

"Well, while you wait for him, you are at liberty to read our library," Illario says generously, although Lucanis knows full well that there is a lot of the library still off limits to them. Some things are apparently, still too old for them.

"The kitchens are that way. You an go down and ask for snacks whenever you like, because you are our guest." Illario continues, gesturing through to one wing of the house, too big to just be kitchens, but the two boys lead Jim up stairs instead.

"That way are the dining rooms and the parlour and to the right is the courtyard and the archery range where we train. I don't think Caterina is going to make you teain with us. But you can if you like!"

"Caterina will not make you do Crow training." Lucanis interjects. "But if you were doing training with swords, I am sure Caterina will arrange a specialist in Marcher sword drill for you."

After all, a lord's son would have some martial training. And all the lessons in politics and history and languages that Illario and Lucanis attend. For the short term before George Kirk collects his boy, he can hoin in with their studies.

Just like he can move into one of the empty rooms in the family apartments. Many doors are locked, Illario explains. Caterina doesn't let them in. There's paintings on the walls of family members neither Illario nor Lucanis fully remember, although both can repeat their lineage from memory.

But beyond the locked doors there are a clutter of used rooms- Lucanis' room opposite Caterina's, because he is next oldest. Then Illario's room and next to that, one for Jim. Here is the view from the window, here is the bed. A chest for books and clothes. A desk and chair. Here, ppoints out Illario, is a little piece of stone to press in the wall that opens up the small, hidden door that leads into Illario’s room. In Illario's own room, touching the carving into the mantle opens up a little passage that leads to Lucanis' room.

They are always connected, Illario says, squeezing Jim's hand. They will look after him.

[smartass_captain]

They're always connected and here Jim is Safe. Antiva doesn't smell of rot and filth of the Blight like Ferelden had. Little James only hides in his wardrobe to sleep the first night. After that he settles into a gentle sort of routine. He wakes early enough to take breakfast with illario and Lucanis and joins them for whatever tutoring they get. Whether it's at the boys' instruction or Caterina brings in a proper instructor, James takes an hour of Antivan language and grammar lessons after.

Then he's free to spend time in the library or walking the gardens. The little Marcher soon learns every inch of the manor, including a few secret passages he likes to think the boys haven't even discovered. Once he'd seen there were some he was very eager to find more. Felt like a proper adventurer wandering in the tight little passages beneath the floors and between walls. If the darkspawn ever came here he could hide away and never be caught~

It doesn't take long for Illario and Lucanis to find out the news James is in denial about though, where they listen at the door at Caterina's missives. Lord Kirk has fallen alongside the King and all the Wardens at Ostagar. James Kirk is truly an orphan. Just like the boys are. Which leaves Caterina at a bit of an impasse. James is too old and not suited for Crow training. Nor would such a career guarantee his safety as she has sworn to his father she would give the young man.

But Antiva does have plenty of fine schools that raise the best and brightest diplomats, scholars, and merchants in all of Thedas. He could study law and become a magistrate before he ever stepped foot back in Ostwick to claim his proper title. He could learn trade and vie with the merchant princes with all the scary dog privilege of having a personal guard of Crows would guarantee him. He could travel to any university in Thedas as a scholar and chase what knowledge he'd like. Safe prospects.

And, crucially, not in the way here in the Dellamorte estate. The little lordling is polite enough but devilishly curious. He's gotten himself into some places he ought not have found already. Likely because he's only survived as long as he has by seeking such places out to hide. But if left here he'd likely stumble upon things he ought not to see and wouldn't that really be a predicament? Then keeping him Safe would entail house arrest so as not to break her word to George Kirk or her duties as First Talon.

Imprisonment is. Less than ideal.

But certainly not out of the question.

[the_other_dellamorte]

Curiosity can be such a dangerous thing. Illario has his own, fuelled by something wicked in him that blossoms as the days become weeks. He and Lucanis have often shared their bed, protected from the nightmare by the presence of trusted kin. With the secret doors between their chambers, it's easy enough to move between their rooms unseen, and Illario is quick to visit Jim, to bring him books, to tell him stories, and offer the safety of his arms when Jim is also visited by terrors in his dreams. Illario and Lucanis will keep him safe, he swears, with a kiss to Jim's golden hair.

The thrill he gets from petting the younger boy is strange. Wicked, he is sure, because it feels like something embarrassing he wants no one else to discover, like how he enjoys getting to bathe with Lucanis, watching the water run over his skin. He wants to lick the droplets off him. Not something he feels like he can share, especially when it makes warmth gather low inside his stomach. But that doesn't stop him.

He pushes more than he should with Lucanis, already curled around his little finger. Kisses in the darkness of the night, when Jim is sleeping tucked between them. Just to practise. Just to learn what it's like. When Jim is a little older, they can teach him too. They'll all have to get married at some point, right? All of them are the last of their houses.

But Jim gets sent away before Illario's corruption can spread. Caterina must have known someone, Illario thinks, worked out that Illario's sickness had already presented itself, and to save the little Marcher lord, he should be sent away. To a school for boys who will not become Crows, far from where Illario can touch him, kiss him, want him. Or so she must think. Because Jim is theirs already, his and Lucanis'. Bonded through pain and tragedy, so they write. Lucanis gets sent on contracts to build his skills against mages, Illario get his own sort of specialisation, and several summers later, they reunite.