His Declaration
Varric watched her for a long moment. Suddenly yearning and need welled up within him
He did not care if it was too fast, it was unimportant if she was only human, only one thing mattered.
"I want you." He said the thought before the words were clear in his mind.
Ardyn cocked her head, frowned, and nodded. "Yes – Varric – I understand."
He shook his head. "No. You don't. I barely understand so how could you understand.
"My want is a need. You are part of me now. We are tied together." He put his hand to his right chest. "I feel it here. You reside here, and through this we are inexplicably tied together.
"I will always protect you.
"I will provide you every need.
"And I will make sure that you are always happy."
He took both her hands into his and brought then to his lips. He kissed them and looked to her. "Trust me. I will not break my promise to you, you will forever be my most precious jewel."
He brought her hands to his lips again, both their eyes searching the other, wanting to know what was real and what was lie.
Both hoping to understand the torrent of emotion moving through them like raging rivers.
Ardyn broke first. Her eyes droping to the ground beside them, his followed her line of sight but he said nothing, again giving her the time she needed.
She didn't really understand why she resisted. She rolled her eyes, she knew why. She gave him a quick side eyed glance. He was a wondrous being, but...
She slowly exhaled. Everything came crashing into her all at once.
Was this all even real? She had volunteered to be her villiage's sacrifice, where had it all gone so oddly wrong.
She sat in the field of flowers and he followed suit, they sat quietly for a long moment, Ardyn collecting her thoughts and Varric being patient.
Watching her, enjoying the sight. Looking at her made him happy. Sitting with her also brought him joy. He would wait and no matter what, he would show her that he truly and madly loved her.
She finally spoke.
"I am human Varric and we are so vastly different from Beast-kin. Most of us don't have magic, we live much shorter lives than you, I personally have no money." She looked up at him, her eyes defiant.
"Tell me. What can I offer you, a Lord of this and more." Her hands swept out around them as her eyes remained trapped in those silver pools.
Heat rose up her back as he slowly smiled at her.
"This is your concern my most precious one?' He shook his head. "You forgot to mention that humans also detest us." Her eyes went wide as her face flushed red and her gaze fell to the ground in shame. He cupped her chin and shook his head.
She opened her mouth, ready to explain.
He kissed her lightly on the forehead a beat her to the punch.
"All of it is true and none of it matters because as this spark has ignited in me so too has it ignited in you.
"What else matters."
She was speechless as his words sunk in and she couls honestly say that they were true. A spark had ignited within her and it had changed her fundamentally, and for the better.
He stood, pulled her up beside him, and raised his head to the sky, his voice thundered into the space above them and she felt and heard the world tremble around them as he spoke.
"No one can take Ardyn Stronghood from me! I will protect her! I will provide for her! She will forever be happy! And anyone who dares come between what we create and what we grow together I will destroy without prejudice or hesitation!"
I light rose from him as he finished and it surrounded them both, an intricate web of light surrounded and binding them.
Ardyn's body warmed and that original light and song grew and centered within her.
Her eyes went wide. Accusation and fear welled within her.
Varric smiled gently and she calmed, he pressed her hand to his lips.
"Don't worry. I will even conquer that fear that dwells within you and you will understand the plain truth that is my love."
He lookes at her for a moment.
"And maybe you will allow that spark within you to grow and you will understand your love for me as well."
He sat down, pulling her back down with him. He drew her close. Her spirit instantly calmed and she just stayed there with him.
"I will wait for you, as long as it takes."
He kissed the top of her head and she settled into him and just allowed herself to be.
Without fear and without doubt. Just quiet, safe, a primal truth she could not explain.