Northstar Vale in silence i watch on from the bastion

cameo for now

Pride;
it roosts as a glimmer in halfsight and alights by way of a faint upflick upon the corners of a ruined mouth. To hear her valerian birthstongue curled in the frostbound consonants of his own does little to temper an early, answering flush; and neither does the traitorous, tempted roaming of argent eyes that sketch themselves over the forged, fine figure of mate and male and  –  mine;
the warmth of it all flourishes into desecrated cheeks with a haste that is nigh embarrassing, now, and though Andraste lingers within shadow, a moment's distraction from the sight before her is found in another; a cardinal, pealing within wreath-boughs;
but the quivering ache remains ever loyal within loins.

Infuriating.

Of course, this drapery of demurity would be dismantled from pale shoulders, then, if she were beckoned forth  —  and blanches at the perhaps of it.

For now, Undómiel bites her marred lips beneath shadowpine; mindful, mute.