Archive of Our Own

Nydelia came to the Conclave searching for her brother.
She became the Herald of Andraste instead.
An elven mage raised outside the Circle, trained by loss, sharpened by survival, and marked by the Fade, Nydelia has no interest in being anyone’s holy symbol. But with the sky torn open and Thedas falling into war, she is forced into a role that asks for faith, power, and obedience she has never been willing to give easily.
At her side stands Cullen Rutherford, a commander haunted by old choices and held together by duty, restraint, and the fragile hope of becoming better than the man he once was. Their love is slow, careful, and hard-won. Built in glances, almosts, borrowed cloaks, battlefield fear, and the quiet courage of choosing each other again and again.
But Nydelia’s mark is only the beginning.
Her missing brother’s trail leads into old grief, hidden magic, and a history of care twisted into control. As the Inquisition rises, breaks, and rebuilds, Nydelia must learn what it means to lead without being owned by the title, to love without losing herself, and to face the truth that some wounds do not need a savior.

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Thank you for reading my fanfic. There are quite a few creative liberties taken here. I began writing this in roughly 2020 and have never given it a full, true edit. I have only ever truly added to this story over the past 6 years, adding more and more to chapters as I thought of ideas. There are probably quite a few inconsistencies that I will miss as I edit and post now. I apologize in advance.

Please be warned: this is also an extremely slow, slow-burn romance. I promise, book 2 has far more Cullen x Nydelia, buuuuut it'll be a while before then. Sorry again!

Welcome to my dream Dragon Age lol Buckle up, have tissues handy, be ready to laugh and rage. I know I practically hated myself at times as I wrote this lol (Especially in book 3... Oof, so so sorry in advance!)
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There are 4 books within this series:
1) The Shadow of Flames--Ending roughly at the end of the Winter Palace arc
2) The Ashes of Oaths--Ending after the Crossroads in Tresspasser
3) The Hand that Holds the Flames--This book is where everything diverts into my own ending because I wrote it faaaar before Veilguard was released.
4) What the Ash Remembers

For the hearts that burn… even in the dark.