The Hibiscus of the Heart
Elsa rose from her prone position like a corpse rising from the dead. She levitated to a standing position and held her head as if it were hurting her very badly. She looked to Ardyn and smiled broadly.
"Knew you were a High Empress, Little One!" Varric's eyebrows rose, but a small, proud smile spread across his lips. "Now we need to get your big sister up to speed." She looked to Ardyn in seriousness. "And your servant? Could he be one of the Lower Emperors?"
Ardyn frowned. "I am not fully confident in the hierarchy yet. I was thinking he was a full Emperor."
Elsa thought for a moment, then shrugged. "You may be right. You definitely have a stronger connection to Sidus Serpens than I do."
Varric broke in at this point. "Is it finally time to go back to Sidus Serpens?"
"It is. Ardyn has already started clearing the connection." Elsa looked to Varric. "Serpentia is not a cornerstone, but it is of you—and now of Ardyn—it has to be stable and whole before you return to Sidus Serpens. I will work with Atina a bit more here in Bratinus, and then I am going back to Sidus Serpens to try and free the High Emperors and Empresses." She smiled at Ardyn. "After I go, it will be up to you to get your big sister and servant ready."
Ardyn nodded and looked to Varric. "How do we prepare Serpentia?"
Varric held her gently—his massive hands cupping her upper arms with the greatest of care. He smiled at her as if he were trying to calm her. Her heart calmed, and only then did she realize that she was actually very anxious, even scared.
"Marcus is capable. He and I can train our people. You can shape the cave network with your magic, and the villages we protect will be safe, as well as our lands and those of our allies."
She nodded. "We can also have the cornerstones help fuel and maintain our wards." She paused. "First, I will go to Silver Vale and deal with the Stronghoods." She smiled slyly. "I will use them to ensure that both Silver Vale and Harvest Glen remain protected."
Varric nodded. "We can leave for Silver Vale now."
Ardyn frowned. "I will leave tomorrow. I want to spend the night by your side."
He smiled and drew her into him. Elsa left the triage tent to find Atina, a knowing smile on her face.
"We will spend an eternity together. And I want to go with you to Silver Vale."
She pulled away from him. "Varric, this is something that I need to handle alone. You cannot fight my battles for me."
He looked at her, his heart stunned. How much did he have to compromise? How much did he have to miss? He felt selfish but he didn't care; he always wanted her near. "Why can't we do this together?" His eyes flashed silver; power rolled from him uncontrollably in his anger. "I do not want us to ever be apart again, Ardyn."
He couldn't help himself. He couldn't stop himself. He no longer wanted her to be away from him—ever again. It was not anger that rose in Ardyn—it was shock and outrage—suddenly she felt like he was trying to control her, use her. She would never be someone else's servant again.
"Do you truly feel you can intimidate me?!"
Her visage became overwhelming. Magic rolled off of her and thundered as it clashed against Varric's. Her eyes went black and her skin turned a deep purple. Her hair rose and positioned itself around her, ready to strike in all directions.
They stood looking at each other, their hearts racing in unison. Neither was mad, but both were hurt. They looked into each other's eyes and something within each sparked. Then they both calmed as one, their soul tie pulsing and cooling the fire storming through their veins.
Ardyn took a deep breath and her hair calmed and slowly hung limply down her back, only to spring into a nice healthy wave. Varric's eyes tracked it all, his heart tightening in his chest. He truly loved this miraculous being.
Ardyn's second hibiscus bloomed and magic flowed through her, into Varric and back. Varric's black scales had a violet sheen for a split second, and for a moment Ardyn's amethyst eyes flickered with deep black light.
Varric looked to her, drew her into him, and they left the triage tent.
[Shadow Step]
They appeared in Ardyn's caves and they were welcomed. The caves seemed to breathe around them; the life in the cave became vibrant. Ardyn and Varric were one, and Serpentia was their conjoined heart. Magic rose around them and wrapped them like a cocoon.
For that night they understood, they learned, and they grew.