literature

Saffron Lavellan: Dorian's Best and Only Friend

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“Heaven knows what you must think of me after that hideous display,” Dorian said with a miserable wave of his hand.

It was evening, and the purple and golden light of dusk stretched its fingers through the window, across the bookshelves, and over the red cushions of Dorian’s favorite chair in the library. The chair actually represented what Saffron liked to think of as his “nook” in Skyhold. Near the chair was his bottle of wine and a stack of books. His staff leaned against the wall, its glowing orb pulsing softly in the candlelit gloom.

Saffron and Dorian had just returned from Redcliffe, where Dorian met with and spoke to his father. Watching the two of them so torn and hurting, it reminded Saffron of the way she often argued with her Keeper. She gently nudged Dorian into listening to what his father had to say, and when it looked like father and son were making progress, she slipped outside to the square, where she waited with Solas and Varric in the shadow of the statue there.

“Lots of shouting was happening in there,” Varric had said, examining one of his gloves. “But you’re not covered in blood, so I take it . . .  Dorian’s alive?”

“Or perhaps she sold him alive,” Solas added by way of a joke.

Present-day Saffron looked at Dorian’s worried expression, and her lips curled in a slow half-smile. “I think you’re very brave.”

Dorian’s brows shot up, but his surprise quickly faded to a warm smile. “You think I’m . . . brave?”

Saffron nodded. “It’s not easy,” she said with a slight frown, “leaving behind tradition for the unknown.”

Dorian’s eyes searched her a moment. “I sense you’re speaking from experience here.”

Saffron’s smile became a little sad. “I am.”

Dorian cleared his throat and turned away. “Well, I’m off to the bar. I’ll need to get stupidly drunk. It’s been one of those days. . . .” He turned to her again and smiled. “You’re welcome to join me.”

“Perhaps . . . another time.”

Dorian’s eyes searched her again. “Uh oh. I’m sensing a foot-in-mouth moment. Did I say something to stir up unwanted feelings? Memories of a dark past?”

Saffron smiled. “Why a dark past? Maybe my life was all rainbows and light before this.”

Dorian suddenly grinned. “All heroes have a dark past. Don’t you know anything about stories? The hero usually dies too. That’s why I’m sticking around – to make you the exception.”

“Then I guess thanks are in order.” Saffron stepped close, and after bouncing up on tiptoe, pecked Dorian on the cheek.

“Now, now,” Dorian said, waving her off as he picked up his staff. “People are staring. Think of the rumors,” he scolded as they started down the stairs together. “The pure and holy Herald of Andraste with an evil, evil Tevinter mage?”

“They don’t think you’re evil because you’re Tevinter.”

“Oh?”

“Not at all. It’s that dastardly mustache.”

Dorian laughed. “But you’re genuinely purity and light, aren’t you, unicorn?”

Saffron bit her lip. She was indeed a virgin, and the fact that Dorian had guessed was more than humiliating. What was she doing to give it away? She avoided his eye as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Through the open doorway, they could see Solas at his desk, frowning over a crystal shard. Around him, a bright and colorful mural adorned the round walls. Saffron was delighted the first time she saw it: a continuous painting of all her deeds. That he had given her Skyhold . . . it was the greatest gift he had ever given.

Solas glanced up and smiled as they passed through the room. Saffron’s heart fluttered and she smiled back, thinking of that stolen kiss on her balcony. They hadn’t really spoken much since. She was afraid to. He seemed hesitant about it all, and she didn’t want to push him.

Outside in the cold dusk, Dorian smirked. “He’s kissed you, hasn’t he?”

“Wha . . .?” Saffron blinked off her reverie and looked away. “No! I mean . . .” She sighed. “How do you know?”

“He’s got that look,” Dorian said with a laugh. “That hooked-fish look. You’ve really reeled the poor man in. The other day I just mentioned your name and he stammered himself silent. No sarcasm. No wit. Just ‘I well . . .’ and silence.” He laughed again.

Saffron scowled. “You were talking about me?”

“Not really. I mentioned something about your upcoming journey to the Winter Palace . . . but just mentioning you drives the man to distraction.” Dorian clicked his tongue. “And to think, these fools around here think the two of us are in love? Ha!”

Saffron smiled. It was true. The more time Saffron spent laughing with Dorian and kissing him on the cheek, the more people whispered that the two of them were sleeping together. She wouldn’t be surprised if rumors of her sudden pregnancy abounded in the next week.

“I do believe he loves you. It’s starting to look serious,” Dorian went on as they entered the tavern. They sat together at bar, and the dwarf there served them up at once. Dorian lifted his mug for a sip. “My advice? Proceed. But proceed with caution.”

Saffron frowned at her mug and a lick of black hair fell across the green vallaslin on her forehead. “Why? Solas wouldn’t hurt me.”

Dorian laughed sadly, his eyes sympathetic as they traced over her. “My naïve little unicorn. What do you think love is? Of course he’s going to hurt you. And hurt you badly. The hero never gets the girl – or in this case, the handsome older gentleman – and they never live happily ever after.”

Saffron stared at her ale unhappily. She lifted her eyes when Dorian placed a soothing hand over hers.

“I’m not saying he doesn’t love you,” said the mage gently. “In fact, it’s because he loves you that it’s going to hurt so tremendously. When the time comes . . . I’ll be here.” He smiled. “That’s what friends are for.”
My Lavellan is best friends with Dorian (as I predicted). 

"Tevinter lacks my best and only friend" -- Dorian/ end of game convo

I love that he called her a unicorn in one of the conversations you can have with him. "And you're an optimist! I do believe I've found a unicorn!" Lol. So when I'm playing the game, I often imagine him calling her that. 

Anwen Mahariel (my warden) was not a virgin because I imagined she was sleeping with Tamlen. Saffron Lavellan, however, is a different matter. This is just the way I view her. My other Lavellans were married for years (they each have a different background because I'm into roleplay like that). 
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