Saira Aeducan

Saira Aeducan, born in 9:05 Dragon, was a former dwarven Princess who fought alongside the Hero of Ferelden, Solona Amell.

## Overview

### **Physical Appearance**

Saira is 4'9'', with a muscular build, blue eyes and long dark blonde hair which she likes to wear in various braided styles.

### **Personality**

Saira is very much a product of her upbringing in Orzammar, being hardened, pragmatic and well versed in the political games played by dwarven nobles. She has no compunction about bribery, back stabbing and even the occasional murder, and she is an expert at hiding her true emotions. She only feels comfortable letting her guard down around a select few people.

### **Talents and Skills**

Saira is a very accomplished warrior, having been trained in sword and shield techniques by the best trainers in Orzammar. She has won or placed highly in all but her first two provings. She is a natural leader, which her father recognised when he asked her to command an expedition into the Deep Roads.

Saira is very proud of her political acumen and her skills in persuasion, and she is an excellent backgammon player.

## **Biography**

### **Early Life**

Saira Aeducan was born in 9:05 Dragon, the second child of King Endrin Aeducan and Queen Hela Aeducan. Her siblings were Trian (born in 9:01 Dragon) and Bhelen (born in 9:07 Dragon). Saira was trained in both fighting and politicking from a young age and excelled at both, much to her parents' delight. She was close to both parents as a child, especially her mother Hela, who taught her everything she knew about dwarven politics and how to play the game.

Hela Aeducan died in 9:19 Dragon, and Endrin began to openly favour Saira shortly afterwards, partly because of her many accomplishments, but also because of her strong resemblance to Hela. This caused tension between Saira and her older brother Trian, and their relationship began to deteriorate. Things only got worse when Saira reached adulthood and began to build up support in the Assembly. A number of powerful houses switched allegiances from Trian to Saira, which enraged Trian. He never missed an opportunity to insult or undermine Saira, both in private and in public, and started secretly plotting her downfall. For her part, Saira came to loathe Trian for his treatment of her and believed that his conservative views would set Orzammar back decades. She therefore put into motion some political machinations of her own to ensure that the Assembly would choose her over her brother when the time came to elect a new ruler.

Everything came to a head in 9:30 Dragon when Saira was announced as Orzammar's newest commander. During the feast to mark the occasion, Bhelen revealed that Trian was plotting to kill her. Saira was easily persuaded because of her hatred for Trian and vowed that she would kill him first. The next morning, she set off for the Deep Roads alongside her father and brothers. Endrin tasked her with retrieving the Shield of House Aeducan. Saira's party found the chamber containing the shield, but were immediately attacked by mercenaries. After defeating the mercenaries, Saira realised that their leader had Trian's signet ring, which further convinced her that her brother was trying to kill her and that she needed to deal with him as soon as possible. She returned to the meeting point to find Trian waiting for her. He accused her of plotting against him and then attacked her when she refused to surrender. Saira was forced to kill her own brother in self-defence. Shortly afterwards, Bhelen arrived with Endrin and the rest of the expedition. Bhelen claimed that Saira had killed Trian in order to become Queen, and two of the men under her command claimed that she had ordered them to attack Trian. Saira was escorted to the dungeons to await the Assembly's decision on her fate.

After a few weeks, Saira was visited in the dungeons by her Second (and secret lover) Gorim, who informed her that she was to be banished to the Deep Roads to fight darkspawn until she was overwhelmed and killed. Bhelen had introduced a motion to condemn her without trial, and it easily passed. Saira accepted her fate gracefully. She had allowed Bhelen to outmanoeuvre her, and this was the price she had to pay. As for Gorim, he was to be exiled to the surface. Before he left, Gorim gave her a map of the Deep Roads with a Legion of the Dead outpost marked on it. They would take her in, and then perhaps the Grey Wardens would allow her to join and take her to the surface.

### **The Fifth Blight**

Saira fought her way through the Deep Roads for several days until eventually, wounded and exhausted, she stumbled upon the Legion of the Dead outpost marked on her map. They took her in, treated her wounds and allowed her to join their ranks.

Saira spent almost a year battling darkspawn alongside the Legion of the Dead. One day, they were aided in battle by a young Grey Warden named Solona Amell, who had entered the Deep Roads in search of the missing Paragon, Branka. Saira offered to accompany Solona and her companions through the Deep Roads. She had always longed to meet a Paragon, and she also hoped that she might be able to persuade Solona to crown her brother Bhelen as King of Orzammar. When the party finally met Branka, Saira was horrified by what she had become and spoke in favour of killing her for what she had done to her house.

Solona returned to Orzammar with a crown for the new King, and Saira (in disguise) came with her. Bhelen saw through her disguise, however, and privately thanked her for the role she had played in crowning him. Saira also congratulated Bhelen for outmanoeuvring her and admitted that she would have done the same to him if she had realised the threat he posed. Following the reconciliation, she travelled to the surface with Solona and fought alongside her during the Battle of Denerim.

### **The Grey Wardens**

Once the Archdemon was killed, Saira travelled to Orlais with Leliana to help her deal with Marjolaine once and for all. It was during this time that she and Leliana admitted their growing feelings for each other and started a relationship. Upon returning to Ferelden, Saira asked Solona if she could join the Grey Wardens, as fighting darkspawn alongside her and Alistair had helped her regain a sense of purpose. She survived the Joining and settled into life as a Grey Warden under Solona's command. In 9:40 Dragon, Solona asked her to accompany her on her quest to find a cure for the Calling, and she agreed. They set off a few days later, along with Zevran, Rhodri Mahariel and a few other Wardens.

## **Relationships**

Saira wasn't particularly impressed with Solona Amell at first. Although she admired her courage and her determination to do the right thing, she also thought she was very naive and that she lacked the pragmatism and political skills that she thought were necessary for a leader. However, she gained much more respect for Solona after the defeat of the Archdemon, and especially after her return to Ferelden following her trip to Orlais. Solona had clearly learnt a lot during the months Saira had been away, and her actions as both Warden-Commander and Arlessa of Amaranthine proved that she had it in her to make difficult decisions. Among Solona's companions, Saira formed her closest friendships with Sten and Shale. She greatly respected both of them as fighters, and they in turn admired her strength and endurance in battle. She didn't get along well with Alistair, as his jokes annoyed her, and she despised Oghren, seeing him as a disgrace to both his house and the Warrior caste.

## **Links**

### **Reddit Headcanon or Writing Prompt Threads:**

The Disgraced Princess - Gorim says a difficult goodbye to Saira (Prompt: A case of nerves, a harsh glare, pale blue, a glint of steel)

She Starts to Sing - Saira hears Leliana sing for the first time (Prompt: 100 Word Drabble: She starts to sing)

## **Gallery**

Drawing by shitty\_dragonage\_artSaira Aeducan by Ayume (https://twitter.com/ayumeart)