His Father's Son 39
First Chapter:His Father's Son
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Phoenix Rising
Thrumming, the blade buries into the bull's eye.
Eight.
Balancing on the balls of his feet, Ned is standing relaxed but focused, his arm performing a smooth movement crowned with a flick of his wrist, sending another dagger right into the centre of a much-abused target.
Nine.
Nathaniel might toss in a remark to break his concentration but he doesn't; he can almost feel the weight of the tenth dagger in his own hand that instant before it is thrown in a low arc, driven home.
"Ten." Ned smiles, briefly, and stretches; the sleeveless tunic, sweated in the previous sparring, clings to his back. Nathaniel has long removed his shirt but Ned hates to expose his scars as lo…
His Father's Son 38
First Chapter:His Father's Son
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Atonement
The inner courtyard resonates with Oghren's booming laughter; the child's voice, shrill with excitement, provides a high-pitched counterpoint. Oghren's wife, watching them with her hands planted in her sides, further contributes to the cacophony with her own prominent voice .
Nathaniel smirks for himself. Felsi's first arrival with a baby on her hip "to beat some sense into that nughumper of a husband" was a source of profound entertainment for the whole Keep, and even though Oghren eventually did find some common sense in his cups to take up his fatherly role, the following visits have been no less amusing. The majority of the Keep's …
His Father's Son 37
First Chapter:His Father's Son
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Deconstruction of a Falling Star
"So you would be Nathaniel Howe."
The tone, slightly ironic, doesn't sit well with him but Nathaniel puts his hand over his heart and bows low: such is the way with the monarchs of the world.
His Majesty Alistair Theirin has a royal profile and grins too much for Nathaniel's liking, but if this is the face of the one true friend, then so be it. Judging by the haste with which he responded to the message by turning up in his own royal person, there might perhaps be more to him than meets the eye, or at least Nathaniel hopes so.
Or, at least, he hopes that he won't make the situation any worse than it already is.
The …
His Father's Son 36
First Chapter:His Father's Son
Previous chapter:His Father's Son 35
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Now that the fight is over, there is still a lot to be dealt with.
All Alone in the Night
The setting sun slowly gains the colour of blood: a dramatic end of a beautiful day. The smell of burnt still pertains even despite the rain, yet spring freshness can already be felt in the air, as well.
A fresh start, perhaps. A new hope.
Nathaniel has to rub his welling eyes with his knuckles. 'Dearest Nathaniel…'
His lips crinkle up, of their own volition. There has been enough doom and gloom recently, it is high time that the tide turned.
It gives him hope for the other thing, as well.
He hasn't seen or spoken to Ned ever since they parted on the Feravel pla…
His Father's Son 35
First Chapter:His Father's Son
Previous chapter:His Father's Son 34
Next chapter:His Father's Son 36
The final reckoning, and its price.
Face of the Enemy
The voice is dry like old leaves, yet running smoothly, despite its unnatural intonation, its tone gentle, evoking sadness behind its logical reasoning… and concealing deep currents of a fervent urge underneath: "For this, I need the Grey Warden blood."
The voice sends chills down Nathaniel's spine while appealing to something deep within.
Deep within, Nathaniel also feels a tinge of horror stirring while he finds himself nodding to the Architect's words.
The world without Blights. The darkspawn safe from the lure of the Old Gods, living as free sentient beings, pursuing their own goals within the v…