time stops for no one

Loghain listened as Rosalie settled beside him, weighing the right approach for delivering the news. He took a moment to unwrap a sweet, as though the act would somehow make the gravity of his words easier to bear. He knew it wouldn’t, but it gave him a moment to organize his thoughts.

After a brief pause, he began, his voice steady but laced with the seriousness of the situation. Rumors have been swirling out of Orlais, and they’re not just idle gossip. There are two main concerns, both of which could spell disaster if left unchecked.

He leaned forward slightly, his steel-gray eyes meeting hers. First, the wards around Val Royeaux—the very ones that keep the darkspawn at bay—are failing. If those wards break entirely, it’s not just Orlais that’ll suffer. Darkspawn pouring into Val Royeaux could spread across the region, and Ferelden would be next in line. We’ve already endured one Blight; we can’t afford another, especially not with the state Ferelden’s in.

He let that sink in for a moment before continuing, his tone growing even more grave. The second concern is the royal household. There’s trouble brewing within, and from what I’ve gathered, it’s bad enough that some are whispering there’s no one truly leading Orlais anymore. If the rumors are true, the country’s teetering on the edge of chaos, and that kind of instability could make the situation with the wards even worse.

Loghain’s expression darkened as he considered the implications. Without strong leadership, Orlais could collapse under the weight of these two crises. If that happens, it won’t just be Orlais that suffers. The fallout could destabilize the entire region, and Ferelden can’t afford to get dragged into another conflict—not when we’re still recovering from the last one.

He leaned back slightly, his gaze never wavering from Rosalie’s. Your work here is important, Rosalie, but I need you to be vigilant. It may come time that you have to flee Val Royeaux, flee Orlais even, and we don’t want you to be ill-prepared. Of course your siblings would wish you just return home now, but I also understand the work you’re doing here is important, just remember, it’s not more important than your life.

He took another bite of the sweet, letting the taste linger on his tongue for a moment before speaking again. And in the meantime, I’ll try to heed your advice about smiling. If it truly does extend one’s lifespan, perhaps I should practice more often—though I make no promises.

His attempt at lightening the mood was subtle, but the weight of the situation lingered in the air between them. Loghain had seen enough of the world to know that even small cracks could lead to disaster if not addressed swiftly. He wasn’t about to let that happen—not while he still had breath in his body.

@Rosalie Rutherford