Wilder Wardens
Author: USA Tiger
Disclaimer: The Dragon Age series is the property of BioWare.
Author Note: Yep, new story. I just recently got into the Dragon Age series, yes I know I'm late to the party, and I've really enjoyed it. This story has started brewing in my head and I'm mostly following the adventures based off my play for the Elf Mage and Dalish story lines plus some original ideas me and my beta came up with.
Speaking of, many thanks goes out to my beta and head minion Asilyessam who not only checked behind me for spelling and grammar but also helped me with the DA lore since she's been playing the games for much, much longer than I have and has also came up with her share of the ideas. So this is sorta her baby too.
I hope everyone will enjoy this ficcy.
Warnings: First and foremost, this story will contain Slash/Yaoi. Not your cup of tea, hit the back button please. Also there will be some very adult chapters here and there but depending on where the chapter is posted, some places will get the 'R' rated version and some the 'NC17' version. Meaning if reading on FF . Net or DeviantART you will not get the whole chapter so you'll have to look for a link on my profile or ask for one depending on where it is. Everywhere else I post will take smut so those sites will get the full chapters. Also, violence cause DA is a bit of a violent game.
Chapter 1
Deep in one of the forest in the Northern most part of Ferelden, a Dalish youth quietly crept amongst the trees. Raziel Mahariel could hear his best friend Tamlen no less than 10 feet away as they hunted for their clan. Raziel loved this part of Ferelden, he loved the quiet woods and to watch the animals that lived within. Tamlen loved to tease the younger Elf saying that if he could Raziel would take shape of one of the creatures, much like their clan's Keeper Marethari was rumored to be able to, and live among the animals he loved so much. Raziel would only laugh and wave his friend off, he would never leave his clan, they were his family for he had been a child of the clan since his mother and father were taken to the Creators in the beyond by Falon'Din around the time of his birth.
Up ahead Raziel could see a young buck grazing the sweet grass that lay between the trees. He sent a silent prayer to Ghilan'nain, thanking her for allowing him to kill one of her beloved animals so he could feed his clan and to Andruil to allow his arrow to make a clean swift kill as he notched his arrow along the string of his bow and aimed at the deer's heart. A sound caught Raziel's attention, the sound of panicked running footsteps along the path in the woods. The deer heard the sound at well, his head snapping up in fright then turning to bound back into the forest. Raziel cursed softly under his breath and wondered who or what had scared the deer.
Quietly running toward the sound, he could hear Tamlen ahead speaking to whoever had been running. Peering around the trees his honey color eyes widened as he saw three humans. What were humans doing in the forest so close to their camp? He quickly notched his arrow again, pointing it at the humans as one said to Tamlen, "Let us by Elf, you have no right to stop us."
"No? We will see about that, won't we?" Tamlen asked as he saw Raziel joining him, both young hunters pointing their bows at the humans, arrows ready to fly. "You're just in time, I found these humans lurking in the bushes. Bandits no doubt."
"We're not bandits I swear! Please don't hurt us," The human male that had told Tamlen and Raziel to let them by told them.
"You Shemlen are pathetic," Tamlen said as he and Raziel stepped closer to the humans, their arrows never wavering. "It's hard to believe you ever drove us from our homeland."
"We've never done anything to you Dalish," another one of the humans said, pushing to the front of the group. "We didn't even know this forest was yours."
"This forest isn't ours fool," Tamlen said. "You've stumbled to close to our camp. You shems are like vermin, we can't trust you not to make mischief. What do you say lethalian? What should we do with them?"
Raziel carefully watched the trio of humans for a moment. They were scared, terrified even and he had a feeling it wasn't them that scared them.
"Let's find out what they're doing here," Raziel said his voice soft.
"Does it matter?" Tamlen asked in disbelief, casting a glance at his friend beside him. Sometimes Raziel was just too nice and soft hearted when it came to dealing with Shemlens. "Hunting or banditry, we'll have to move camp if we let them live."
"L-look, we didn't come here to cause trouble, we just found a cave," the third human in the group said.
"Yes a cave!" The first human quickly agreed. "With ruins like I've never seen! We thought there might be… uh…"
"Treasure?" Tamlen asked with a snort. "So you're more akin to thieves that actual bandits."
"Hmm, I'd like to see these ruins," Raziel said with a slight smile. He didn't quite believe the humans but the idea was a bit exciting. He loved history, it could easily rival his love for animals on any given day.
"So would I," Tamlen agreed. "I never heard of ruins in these parts."
"I-I have proof!" The first human said as he stepped forward and took something out of a pouch on his hip. "Here… we found this just inside the entrance." He handed over what looked like a piece of stone with strange markings on it that look very much like Elven writing. Tamlen lowered his bow to take the stone while Raziel kept his trained on the humans.
"This stone has cravings… is this Elvish?" Tamlen asked quickly noticing what Raziel had seen himself. "Written Elvish?"
"There's more in the ruins!" The human said as he pointed back down the path. "We didn't get very far in though…"
"Why not?" Raziel asked, watching out the corner of his eye as Tamlen pocketed the stone and trained his bow on the group again.
"There was a demon!" The human exclaimed. "It was huge, with black eyes! Thank the Maker we were able to out run it!"
Raziel sneered lightly at the mention of the so-called 'Maker' that the humans and the Elves in the human cities put so much faith in.
"A demon," Tamlen scoffed in disbelief. Raziel didn't blame him. A demon? Here in the forest? It had likely been a bear whose home had been in the cave the humans had disturbed. Shemlens were so easily frightened... and stupid.
"Just off to the west, I think," The human said pointing toward the west. "There's a cave in the rock face and a huge hole just inside."
"Well? Do you trust them?" Tamlen asked Raziel softly. "Shall we let them go?"
"Yes, the Shemlens are too frightened to do anything," Raziel said. "There's no reason to kill them, I doubt they would even want to return to this forest if they believe a 'demon' is here."
"Run along then Shems," Tamlen said with a sigh as both Elves lowered their weapons. "Don't come back until we Dalish have moved on."
"Of course!" The humans quickly agreed already turning tail to run out of the forest as fast as they could. "Thank you! Thank you!" It didn't take long for the three humans to leave their sight, heading eastward likely toward whatever human settlement was nearby.
"Well… shall we see if there is any truth to their story?" Tamlen asked once they were alone once again. "These carvings make me curious." He took out the stone again, running his fingers over the carved words.
"Shouldn't we inform the Keeper?" Raziel asked as he held out his hand for the stone. Tamlen gave him a fond amused smile as he handed the stone over to his eager friend. "This is something she would like to know about if it's true."
"She might be interested in these carvings," Tamlen agreed. "But let's see if there is anything more to it before we get excited. Besides, we're already here."
"I guess you're right, it couldn't hurt to look and see if there really is something there," Raziel agreed after a moment. The idea excited him really, if it was true then they would find a real part of their race's history. More about their past! Tamlen grinned at his clan mate, he knew Raziel couldn't resist the idea.
"Now… they said it was to the west…" The sandy hair elf said as he headed in the westward direction. Raziel sighed softly, running a hand through his black should length locks then looking down at the stone again. Part of him really hoped the humans were telling the truth. "Come on lethalian!" Tamlen called to his friend. Raziel quickly pocketed the stone and raced after the other boy.
It didn't take long for Raziel and Tamlen to find the cave. It was ridiculously easy task to track the human's foot prints for the two teenage Elves through the forest, only having to stop once or twice to fight off wolves that had attacked them. Raziel didn't like it, wolves didn't usually attack for no reason unless you threatened their territory and usually let the Dalish pass through without any problems. It saddened the youth to have to kill the beautiful creatures.
As they approached the cave Raziel saw that is just as the humans had described it, a cave within the face of the rock with a hole in the back, big enough to walk through. He shivered at he stared at the cave, something about this place made his skin crawl.
"This must be the cave," Tamlen said as they stopped just outside of it. "I don't recall seeing this before, do you?"
"No and that worries me Tamlen," Raziel said. Their clan camped in this forest every year around this time. As children he, Tamlen and their other friend Fenarel had explored and played all over the woods and as adults had hunted. Never once had Raziel remembered seeing this cave, he was sure he would remember. "We should be wary."
"Always the careful one," Tamlen said with a sigh.
"One of us has to be," Raziel said. Tamlen had always been the more impulsive one out of the two of them and Raziel's careful nature often balanced his friend out.
"Fine, but I'm not running back until I know there's something worth making a fuss over," Tamlen said. "Come on, let's at least see what's here. How dangerous could it be?"
"You said the same thing about the nest of stingers when we were children," Raziel pointed out. "Just be careful lethalian," he added, shivering again slightly as he looked at the cave again. "Something about this place makes my skin crawl. Something here scared those Shemlens and I'm starting to think it was no bear or wolf."
"You don't really believe there are demons in this cave do you?" Tamlen asked.
"I don't know," Raziel said with a shake of his head. "But Creators I hope not."
"We'll be fine," Tamlen said as he headed inside. "You're just letting the Shemlens' words get to you." Raziel sighed softly and followed Tamlen inside, keeping a tight hold on his bow.
Once inside Raziel looked around in amazement, the sheer wonder of the place was enough to make him forget for a moment that something about the ruins made him uneasy. A giddy grin crossed his lips as he eagerly looked around; here he was in a place the Elves of old had been in once. He thought of all the history that maybe they could find in this place. Tamlen watched Raziel in fond amusement, feeling the same excitement as his clan mate. Still… he was also starting to feel a bit of the uneasiness that Raziel had felt, like there was something there just on the edge of his senses.
Further in the ruins the pair of Elves was attacked by a horde of giant spiders, quickly cutting off any excitement that Raziel had about the place as he quickly planted as many arrows in the spiders, taking them down one by one. But as soon as he saw one sneaking up on Tamlen he abandoned his bow and quickly drew the twin daggers off his back.
"Tamlen!" He cried in warning, whirling into an attack that almost appeared to be a deadly dance as he twisted and twirled, his blades flying in a deadly flashes, flourishes, and whirls. Tamlen quickly moved out of the way, drawing a sword of his own to fend off the spiders at Raziel's back. Soon the eight-legged menaces were dead all around them, the two Dalish breathing heavily.
"I've never seen spiders so large before," Tamlen said as he nudged one of the spiders with his foot.
"Tamlen maybe we should leave and come back with other hunters," Raziel said.
"We're fine lethalian," Tamlen said soothingly. "These weren't too hard to defeat on our own. These must be what scared the Shemlens. Come on, let's keep exploring." Raziel sighed softly, nothing he said seem to convince Tamlen to return to the camp. All he could do was follow and hope to keep his best friend safe.
Further in the ruins the two hunters killed out many of the giant spiders while exploring the rooms. In one corridor they came across a statue that Raziel remembered seeing in the books their clan's Keeper had.
"I can't believe this. You recognize this statue, don't you?" Tamlen asked with soft awe in his voice. Raziel couldn't blame him; he was in awe as well. This was more than Elven writing on a piece of stone, this was a real part of history right in front of them.
"Yes, it's worn but it's vaguely familiar," Raziel said as he reached up to touch the statue.
"Back when our people lived in Arlathan, statues like these honored the Creators," Tamlen said. "When the Shems enslaved us, much of that lore was lost."
"I know, I can't believe we're seeing this with our own eyes," Raziel breathed. He couldn't tell which of the Creators the statue was to represent, all markings that would identify it had worn off a long time ago.
"This place looks like human architecture," Tamlen said with a frown as he looked around the room they were in. "With a statue of our people. Can these ruins date back to the time of Arlathan?"
"But we are nowhere near Arlathan," Raziel said with a frown of his own.
"We must of lived in other places, too," Tamlen said glancing back at the statue again. "Even if the elves didn't live here, its architect knew of our gods."
"But why would humans build a place like this and why would they put place anything of our gods here?" Raziel asked.
"I don't know lethalian," Tamlen said with a shake of his head. "Come on, let's go further in. Maybe we'll find more clues to this mystery."
The further Raziel traveled into the ruins, the more the uneasy feeling washed over him. By this time Tamlen started to feel it as well, much greater than he had near the start of the ruins.
"This place makes me nervous," Tamlen said softly, his eyes shifting around at the shadows.
"It makes me nervous as well," Raziel agreed. "Talk, maybe it will calm us down."
"I suppose so…" Tamlen agreed as he stopped and turned to his friend. "Hey, weren't you supposed to be assisting Master Varathorn today? How did you end up coming with me?"
"You know me," Raziel said as he gave his friend a grin. "I get away from the camp whenever I can."
"I've never known anyone so eager to wander," Tamlen said with a shake of his head. "I bet you'll end up a flat ear someday, living in the cities like a shem."
"Hold your tongue," Raziel said with a laugh. "You know I would never do that, I simply… like to wander the forests. Tamlen… why did you want to come down here so badly?"
"Aren't you curious?" Tamlen asked. "We could be discovering our history, Minstrels will write songs about us! Of course knowing you, just finding our history is enough for you lethalian." Raziel blushed softly, he couldn't help it. He had always had a passion for history. As a child and even now he constantly begged the clan's story teller Paivel for any story about their peoples' past. Still…
"You aren't fooling me, Tamlen," Raziel scolded softly. "You've never had a head for this sort of thing."
"Alright, if I were to bring some valuable ancestral artifact back to the Keeper, she might forgive me for… well you know," the other Elven youth confessed.
"You get into far too much trouble, Tamlen," Raziel said with a sigh.
"And you get into far too little," Tamlen said. "Which is probably why the keeper sent you with me. At any rate, I wasn't expecting this place to… feel quite like this. Maybe this wasn't the best idea."
"I tried to get you to turn back and return to camp," Raziel said. "What do you think all this is?"
"I'm not sure. This place looks like a very old human place. Why did they build this? And why would Elven artifacts be here?" Tamlen asked. Raziel wondered that himself, he had been excited at first but as Tamlen said, it was clear that humans had built this place not Elves. So why all the artifacts that belonged to their people and not humans. "Maybe some of our ancestors lived here, in caves like dwarves."
"That is a horrible thing to think of," Raziel said. He couldn't live underground. He needed the sky above him and the green grass under his feet. He needed to feel the wind on his face, the sun warming his skin on a warm spring day. Living in a cave… just didn't sit right with him.
"I stick to roaming the land myself," Tamlen agreed.
"This place… it doesn't feel like anyone's home," Raziel said. There had been nothing here that suggested anyone lived here at all.
"I don't know… I have this cold sensation that we've… disturbed something," Tamlen said. "Like we just walked into a dragon's lair."
"We better not run into any dragons here Tamlen," Raziel muttered, wondering if somehow his friend had jinxed them. It would just be their luck that this place ended up housing a dragon. "Maybe… the elves here were slaves."
"The Keeper said it took a long time for slavery to erase our ancestors history," Tamlen slowly agreed, the idea was possible. "Maybe whoever lived here still wrote and spoke Elven."
"Do you think the Keeper will want to come here?" Raziel asked.
"She takes any opportunity to gather Elven lore," Tamlen pointed out. "When the clans come together, they exchange whatever they found. She shouldn't come without hunters to guard her though. The air here feels so… sinister."
Raziel shivered slightly, yes he could feel it too. He really wished he had talked Tamlen into going back to their camp instead of following the other here.
"Well, whatever it is, it… it won't stop me," Tamlen said trying to force bravery into his voice. "A Dalish hunter fears nothing!" Raziel sighed and shook his head, his friend was so hard headed sometimes.
"Tamlen, how did you know all about the statue?" Raziel asked.
"I saw a picture of it in one of those old books the Keeper never lets anyone touch," Tamlen said. Raziel nodded slowly, it had been the same place where he had seen the statues. "It was one of the old gods. The Keeper called him a 'Friend of the Dead'."
"Maybe this isn't a place where Elves lived then," Raziel suggested. "Perhaps this place is instead a tomb."
"An Elven tomb built by shems? I doubt it," Tamlen said discarding the idea. "It's said that the old ones never truly died, they just when somewhere else and… slept forever. And this god would come to guide their spirits away. But he wasn't an evil god, not like Fen'Harel – the Great Wolf. It doesn't seem right that a place so… wrong… would be his."
"You mean Falon'Din?" Raziel said as he tilted his head to the side. Death was a common thing to their people now; long ago they had been immortal seeing the world pass by in but a second, at least that is what Raziel had always heard. Then the Shemlens, the Quick-blood, the humans came and enslaved their ancestors, the long life that the Elves had came to an end. It was common knowledge at life was short and could be cruel at times. Raziel had lost both his parents, his father to bandits before he was born and his mother to a broken heart having left to die after his birth. As such, he had grown up as a child of the clan watched over by everyone as children were considered the Dalish's greatest treasure, even more so than collecting the knowledge of their past. He knew of course the adults of their clan had strived to keep what happen to his Mother and Father away from him but late one night when he couldn't fall asleep he had heard them speaking of it, they did not wish for his heart to be filled with sorrow and hate for those who killed his Father. Falon'Din was the Creation God of Death, twin brother to Dirthamen the keeper of secrets.
"I'm not surprise you remember the name," Tamlen said in a fond tone. "Come on, let's keep going. I will feel better if we kept moving." Raziel quickly agreed and fell into step next to his best friend as they walked away.
Raziel found a surprising number of traps the further in to the ruins that they went. He had training to detect and even disarm the traps, often nearby humans would leave traps in the wood to either capture animals or even at times a Dalish who was not careful. He remembered nearly being caught by one as a child, a leg trap that had nearly taken off his leg. If Tamlen, who had been with him at the time, hadn't pulled him away from the trap in time… As such Raziel trained as a rouge, it also gave him some skill at picking locks.
The most surprising and terrifying thing happen when he and Tamlen were deep in the ruins, they found a pair of skeletons littering the floor of a corridor near a metal door. It was impossible to tell if the bones belong to a Human or an Elf and Raziel had wondered why they were there. While disarming a gas trap in front of the door the skeletons came to life, attack the two Elven youths. Raziel had shouted in surprise as he quickly drew his daggers and defended himself against the undead creature, panting heavily when the possessed bones fell to the ground.
"Creators!" Raziel exclaimed as he started at the skeleton he had been fighting.
"Were those walking corpses!?" Tamlen asked just as frightened as his friend. "This place is haunted!"
"Tamlen can we please leave?" Raziel begged. "I don't want to stay here anymore, I want to leave, and return to the camp. We should tell the Keeper about this place, let them send the more experienced hunters."
"It's alright lethalian," Tamlen said as he grasped the other's shoulder. He was still shaken up a bit by the experience himself but now that the adrenaline was dying down he realized the skeletons hadn't been all that much harder than the spiders from before. "Look, let's just see what's behind the door. We'll take a look and then leave the ruins alright."
Raziel really didn't want to stay, he wanted to leave this horrible place and go back to the safety and love of his clan. But in the end he bit his lip and nodded his head, following Tamlen to the door keeping a death grip on his daggers.
The chamber beyond the door Raziel barely had time to look at before something roared and came charging at them from the corner of the room. Raziel gave a frightened yelp and quickly slashed the creature across the face with his dagger. Tamlen quickly jumped to the defense of his friend, driving it back enough to give Raziel room to work. The Dalish Elves quickly attacked in concert, sword and daggers flying as it cut into the creature. It roared in pain and anger, swiping a great paw at Tamlen and catching him in the chest. Luckily Tamlen's Dalish armor was able to take the blow leaving him mostly unhurt as he was knocked onto his back. The breath was knocked out of him, leaving Tamlen stunned and open to attack.
"NO!" Raziel yelled as he quickly moved in front of the creature, driving his daggers into either side of its neck. It gave one last pained roar then collapsed on the ground in a heap. Raziel shook as he withdrew his daggers, stumbling backward from the creature that attacked them.
"Raziel," Tamlen said as he quickly caught his friend as Raziel's legs gave out from under him. "Raziel, you save my life."
"I-I couldn't," Raziel was shaking as he stared at the creature. It was a bear but unlike any bear Raziel had seen before. It was covered in bone like spikes all over its body. It was unreal and he wondered where in the name of the Creators the thing had come from. "W-what was that thing?"
"I don't know," Tamlen said as he helped the other to stand, wiping the blood off of Raziel's daggers against the course fur of the strange bear then placing them both in the scabbards on his friend's back. "But it's dead now thanks to you, it won't be able to hurt anyone else."
"Tamlen can we please leave?" Raziel whispered. Tamlen sighed and rubbed the other's arms. He was shaken up by what happen as well, he had nearly died. If it hadn't been from Raziel's quick actions… He sighed again and looked around the chamber. There was a large tree root growing down from the trees on top of the ruins and dais in the middle of the room, before he could tell Raziel that yes they could finally leave something caught his attention.
"What is that?" Tamlen said catching Raziel's attention. He turned his head to look in the same direction, seeing a mirror in the middle of the dais. It was taller than either of them, the glass a silvery blue color and on either side stood a statue, a small set of stairs at the base leading up to the mirror. Tamlen left Raziel's side, walking toward the mirror. Raziel shivered as he looked at it, it made his skin crawl. "It's beautiful, it's it? I wonder what the writing says."
"I don't care what it says," Raziel said as he followed Tamlen. "We should leave, we can tell the Keeper about it if we have to but let's just go."
"It's just a mirror lethalian," Tamlen said. "I wonder what this writing is for? Maybe this isn't – hey, did you see that?"
"See what?" Raziel asked he hadn't been paying attention to the mirror. He didn't even want to really look at it but glanced over anyway.
"I think something moved inside the mirror," Tamlen said as he stepped closer.
"Get away from it, Tamlen," Raziel said in a panicked voice seeing his friend go near that thing.
"Hold on, I just want to know what it is," Tamlen said as he peered at the glass. Raziel cast a quick look at the glass, grabbing at Tamlen's arm as something rippled on the glass. "Don't you see it? There it is again! Can't you feel that? I think it knows we're here. I just need to take a closer look…"
"Wait, don't Tamlen!" Raziel said as he tightened his grip on his friend's arm. Tamlen gently shook the other teen off and stepped up to the mirror, looking into the glass. Raziel glanced at it again, he couldn't even see either his or Tamlen's reflection in the thing.
"It's… showing me places. I can see… some kind of city… underground?" Tamlen said softly as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing, reaching up to touch the mirror, the surface making a ripple under his hand. "And… there's a great blackness…"
"Tamlen stop touching it and get away!" Raziel pleaded. More and more ripples were appearing on the mirror now.
"It… it saw me!" Tamlen yelled panicked. "Help! I can't look away!" Raziel rushed forward, grabbing Tamlen's arm again to pull his friend away from the mirror. But a bright flash of light exploded from the mirror, slamming into Raziel and throwing him off the stairs. His whole body felt like it was on fire and he screamed loudly in pain. Then everything went black and Raziel knew no more.
Hours later outside of the ruins, a body collapsed outside on the ground in a painful heap. It laid there, gasping for air with each pain filled gasp, honey toned eyes unseeing as it stared in the night sky. This was how Duncan found young Raziel a few minutes later, kneeling down next to the youth to check on him.
Duncan was an older man, one whom you could tell had a hard life by looking at him. A strong man, Duncan's skin was dark from days spent out in the sun. His face was covered by a neatly trimmed beard and his shoulder length hair was pulled back into a tail. He wore a silver suit of armor and had many weapons on his person.
Duncan was a Gray Warden, a select group of people from all races and walks of life such as Human, Elf and Dwarf that fought against a monstrous race known as the Darkspawn. Like all Gray Wardens, Duncan was able to sense when the creatures were nearby and had detected a large gathering of them recently. It lead him here to this cave where he had found Raziel. He quickly checked the boy over, noticing right away the boy had been tainted by Darkspawn blood, and if something wasn't done for him soon Raziel would surely died.
"Can you hear me?" Duncan asked. The Dalish youth only moaned softly in pain, his vision already going black again. As he did, he heard the man say, "I am… very sorry."
Acting quickly, Duncan picked up Raziel, slinging him across his shoulder and walking quickly in the direction of where he knew the Dalish camp to be. If he acted quickly then the taint could be slowed down enough for the boy to survive for several more days. Hopefully he would be able to help the boy overcome the poisonous taint in his blood… though it would mean a much harder life for him in the end.
Raziel groaned as he came too, slowly sitting up with a hand pressed to his forehead. He looked around confused for a moment, he was no longer within the ruins. In fact he was within the aravel he had called home for all his life.
'How… how did I get here?' He wondered. He slowly climbed off of his bed, locating his armor against the wall and dressing. Grabbing his daggers and his bow and arrows, Raziel stepped out into the morning light, looking around the camp. He rubbed his forehead in confusion and a little bit of pain. What had happen?
Look around again Raziel spotted his friend Fenarel several feet away, calling the other Elf's name as he walked toward him.
"You're awake!" Fenarel said as he quickly turned to face Raziel, relieved to see his young friend up and about again. "You've the gods' own luck, lethalian. You're back at camp. Everyone is worried sick about you. How do you feel?"
"Groggy," Raziel said. "And worried. Where is Tamlen? How did I get here Fenarel?"
"We don't know," Fenarel said with a small shake of his head. "The shem who brought you here saw no sign of him."
"A human brought me back?" Raziel asked with a small frown. He very vaguely remembered something about a man standing over him but he wasn't sure if that was a dream or not.
"A shem brought you back two days ago. You don't remember him?" Fenarel asked.
"I… remember being in a cave with Tamlen," Raziel said as he reached up to rub his forehead again. "Beyond that I really don't remember anything. Tamlen and I encountered a group of humans beforehand but we let them go."
"I doubt these humans had anything to do with this one," Fenarel said. "He was a Gray Warden and appeared out of nowhere with you slung over his shoulder. You were delirious with fever. He said that he found you outside a cave in the forest, unconscious and alone."
"A Gray Warden?" Raziel asked softly with a frown. "Where is he now?"
"He left you here and ran off again," his friend told him. "The Keeper's been using the old magic to heal you."
"Has anyone looked for Tamlen?" Raziel asked, remembering what happen back in the cave. About the mirror and how it seem to draw his best friend in.
"The hunters are out looking for him. I just wish the shem told us where that cave was, the hunters are looking for it now," Fenarel said. "But the Keeper wanted to talk to you as soon as you awake. Stay here, I'll get her." The blond Elf turned and quickly walked away leaving Raziel alone.
Raziel bit his lip, he was worried about Tamlen. He couldn't remember much of anything after they found the mirror and now no one knew where his friend was. Oh why in the name of the Creators hadn't he forced Tamlen to leave those ruins as soon as he started to feel uneasy? Raziel started to pace his mind filled with worry for his dear friend.
This was how the Keeper of his clan Marethari found him a few minutes later.
"I see you are awake, da'len," Marethari said as she walked up. Raziel stopped his pacing to face the clan's Keeper. "It is fortunate Duncan found you when he did…"
"Keeper, do you know what was wrong with me? Fenarel said I was sick when I was brought back," Raziel asked.
"I know not what dark power held you, but it nearly bled the life from you," Marethari informed him. Raziel sucked in a breath, just how sick had he been? "It was difficult even for my magic to keep you alive."
"Could… could Tamlen be sick as well?" Raziel asked worried, they had both been in that ruins. Whatever that mirror was it had to be the cause of his sickness.
"If he encountered the same thing you did, yes," Marethari told him. Raziel closed his eyes, oh Creators please let Tamlen be alright… "The Gray Warden said he found you alone outside a cave, already stricken. Duncan thought there may have been Darkspawn creatures inside the caves is that true?"
"No, not that I remember," Raziel said with a small shake of his head. "Tamlen and I encountered a colony of giant spiders and a strange bear but I do not remember any Darkspawn. Keeper… we encounter a strange mirror within the cave."
"A mirror? And it caused all this?" Marethari asked. "I have never heard of such a thing in all the lore we have collected."
"Tamlen touched the mirror and he claims he saw something on the other side," Raziel said. "I don't remember much after that, only a bright flash of light then… nothing." Marethari sighed and turned to look out over the camp, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I was hoping for answers when you woke, but there are only more questions," she said in disappointment and worry. "And Tamlen remains missing. He is more important that any lore in the ruins. If he is as sick as you were, he condition is grave."
Raziel sucked in a soft breath at the words. He felt like he failed his dear friend, following Tamlen around in the ruins instead of getting him to leave then leaving him there in the ruins.
"Duncan returned to the cave to search for Darkspawn, but we cannot rely on him to look for Tamlen as well!" The Keeper said, just as sick with worry as Raziel. "We must go ourselves, and quickly."
"I believe I can find the cave again Keeper," Raziel said. "I can lead the way."
"Do you feel well enough to do this, da'len?" Marethari asked as she faced Raziel again.
"Yes, I feel fine now," Raziel assured her and he did. The small headache he had when he first woke up was gone now and he felt nothing of the pain from before.
"I am relieved to hear it," Marethari said with a small smile. "I am ordering the clan to pack the camp so we can go north. Take Merrill with you to the cave. Find Tamlen if you can, but do it swiftly."
"Of course Keeper," Raziel said. "We shall search for Tamlen quickly. I just hope he is alright."
"I wish for Merrill to see this cave and mirror," Marethari said. "She has a sense for these things, and could shed light on the nature of this illness."
"I will not let you down Keeper," Raziel promised. "But are you not worried Merrill will become ill as well?"
"You recovered," Marethari said," and Merrill will too. Still, be careful… should you come upon this strange mirror again, do not touch it." Raziel shuddered as he remembered the mirror.
"You do not have to worry about that, I would never touch that thing," Raziel said softly.
"Go swiftly da'len and be careful," Marethari said.
"Pray for us Keeper," Raziel said softly as he turned and quickly walked off to find Merrill. The sooner they found the cave the sooner they could look for Tamlen. He remembered tales of the Darkspawn and of the Blights. He knew why the camp was leaving, they had to get away if another blight was coming. He did not wish to leave Tamlen behind and could only pray that his friend was still alive and hadn't been taken by Falon'Din.
Raziel set out at once to find Merrill, the sooner they left to find the cave the sooner they could look for Tamlen.
"Raziel!" Fenarel called when he saw the dark Elf walking past his aravel. "Is the Keeper sending you back to the cave to look for Tamlen?"
"Yes, I am to go with Merrill to look," Raziel said with a nod.
"I want to go with you," Fenarel said. "Keeper Marethari probably won't approve, but I can help find Tamlen." Raziel bit his lip briefly, his first thought was to tell Fenarel that he shouldn't come. The blond Elf was his friend as well, as much has Tamlen was, and he would break his heart of Fenarel was to get sick as well or Creator's forbid, drawn in by the mirror as Tamlen had. But Tamlen had been Fenarel's friend as well, the other Elf had to be just as worried for their missing clan mate. And an extra pair of eyes could be a good thing.
"We can ask her," Raziel said at last. "If we plead our case I'm sure she would be grateful for you to come along with us." Fenarel gave him a grateful smile, he did not want to be left behind worrying about his two young friends. Raziel returned the smile with a soft one of his own and motioned for his friend to follow him back to where their Keeper was waiting.
"I see you have not left with Merrill yet," Marethari said as they approached.
"Keeper, Fenarel wishes to go us," Raziel said. Marethari frowned slightly, she did not wish to put more of her de'lans into danger but if Fenarel wished it…
"Fenarel, are you certain? I am already putting Merrill at risk; I don't want to lose you as too," the elderly Elf said, worry and concern in her voice.
"I want to help Keeper," Fenarel pleaded. "If we can find Tamlen, it's worth the risk."
"Very well then," Marethari said with a soft sigh giving in. "You have my permission. And thank you for asking for it." The two Elven teens bowed, grateful that she was allowing Fenarel to help then quickly left to find Merrill.
Merrill waited at the edge of camp for them, turning as soon as she heard their footsteps.
"The Keeper told me I'm to accompany you back to those caves," Merrill said. "As her apprentice, I may see something you missed. But our main objective is to find Tamlen, of course. We should make haste, we may not have much time."
"Fenarel is coming with us," Raziel said as he adjusted his bow. "You have no objections to this do you?"
"That depends on the Keeper," Merrill said in a confused tone. "I thought we're supposed to go alone."
"Keeper Marethari gave me permission to come," Fenarel said. "I want to help find Tamlen." Raziel nodded his head in agreement.
"That's good enough for me," Merrill said. "Shall we go then?"
"How much did the Keeper tell you?" Raziel asked as they walked along the path toward the cave.
"Enough to pique my interest… and my concern," Merrill said. "What happen in the cave?"
"Nothing at first, there is a colony of giant spiders so we should keep on our toes," Raziel warned his two friends. "We found a statue of Falon'Din and a few other artifacts much not much else. But when we reached in innermost part of the ruins we were attacked by the walking death."
"The walking dead?" Fenarel asked worried.
"Yes, I pleaded with Tamlen to return to the camp but he convinced me to see what was behind the door… I shouldn't have allowed him to sway me, I should have convinced him to return to camp with me," Raziel said his head bowed in sorrow.
"It is alright lethalian, you didn't know this would happen," Fenarel said in comfort. Raziel gave him a small smile, but he still felt like this was his fault.
"What happened then?" Merrill asked once Raziel pulled himself back together.
"We were attacked by a strange bear," Raziel said with a frown.
"How strange?" Merrill asked.
"It was covered with bone-like spikes," he explained. "I had never seen anything like it. Tamlen then noticed the mirror and had been drawn to it. I attempted to get him to leave but he wouldn't listen and had touched it. He said he saw an underground city on the other side and some sort of blackness. Then there was a bright flash of light and the next thing I really remember is waking up back at the camp." Merrill frowned as she turned Raziel's tale over in her mind, wondering what it all meant.
The three young Dalish were startled out of their thoughts as an arrow suddenly embedded itself in the ground in front of Raziel's feet.
"We're being attacked!" He said as he quickly spotted their foes. It was unlike anything he had seen before, the creature attacking them were vile looking and had waves of pure evilness and darkness pouring off them. He and Fenarel quickly notched their arrows and let them fly, hitting their target quickly while Merrill quickly cast a small back of magic at another one.
Both creatures went down quickly and the trio of Elves carefully approached the bodies.
"What were those things?" Merrill asked as she stared at the body at her feet. "Were those Darkspawn?"
"I-I don't know," Raziel said with a shake of his head. "But it must be, the Keeper said the hoards were starting to attack."
"We must keep on our toes," Fenarel said. "There may be more out here."
"I've never seen anything like them!" Merrill said. "You can smell the evil on them. Where did they come from? Where they here before?"
"No, we saw nothing like these creatures on the path or the cave," Raziel said. "Maybe… maybe the mirror had something to do with it."
"What would Darkspawn have to do with our people?" Merrill asked confused by the whole thing. "The stories say Arlathan fell long before the Darkspawn appeared." She sighed and looked down at the Darkspawn at their feet. "Well, we'll find out soon enough. Let's hope we don't find any more of these monsters."
"We can hope but I have a feel this isn't the last of them," Raziel said. Fenarel echoed the feeling, he swore he could feel the eyes of something dark and evil watching them.
"Before we go, are you alright?" Merrill asked as she looked closely at Raziel. "Were you hurt during the fight?"
"I feel fine," Raziel asked confused. "Why do you ask?"
"You… do look quite pale, now that Merrill's mentioned it," Fenarel said as he took the time to look his younger friend over. Raziel's never had dark skin but his normally sun-kissed tone was now much lighter that it usually was. He was worried that Raziel may still be sick from whatever had affected him before.
"I… feel fine," Raziel said softly as he looked from Fenarel to Merrill, he really did. He ached a tiny by but he had been thrown around by whatever had happen to the mirror and really sick for two days, it was nothing he couldn't recover from.
"Well, I'll keep an eye on you," Merrill decided. "You've only just recovered from your illness. But let's not think of that now. We should move on." The two male Elves quickly agreed, they both wanted out of this forest as it was no longer safe.
Down the path Raziel let out a little distressed noise as they came across the body of a Halla, kneeling down next to it.
"It's dead," He said softly, gently running his hand over the graceful neck.
"The Darkspawn must of killed it," Fenarel said as he watched Raziel mourn over the deer-like creature. The Halla were friends of the Dalish, they often pulled their Landships across the land when they moved camp and sometimes they even rode the creatures, if the Halla let them that is. The Halla was also the creation of the Creator Ghilan'nain, of whom Raziel had her mark upon his face.
"Come lethalian, there is nothing else we can do for the Halla," Merrill said as she pulled Raziel to his feet. Raziel gave the poor Halla one last look then started down the path again, the other two following. Further down, close to the cave, they came across a fire pit, the coals long since cold.
"I wonder who's camp this is," Merrill asked as they surrounded the fire pit. "Do you remember it being here?"
"No, this wasn't here the first time we came through," Raziel said with a shake of his head. "Maybe it belongs to the Shemlen who found me."
"You're probably right, did he say he was headed back to the cave?" Merrill asked.
"That is what Keeper Marethari said," Fenarel said.
"If this is his camp, he's not here now," Merrill said. "And we've seen no sign of Tamlen. Maybe we should…" she stopped suddenly and held up her hand. "Wait… do you hear that?"
Raziel blinked and tilted his head to the side to try and hear what Merrill heard. But he quickly realized he heard nothing. Not the birds in the trees, not the deer or Halla within the woods, not the sound of paws hitting the ground from a wolf or a fox.
"It's too quiet," He said softly. "It's as if the creatures of the forest have disappeared."
"Exactly, the forest is too… still. Something's in the air… something unnatural," Merrill said with a frown. Raziel sucked in a breath at the words.
"Tamlen said the same thing when we were inside the ruins," He said. And she was right, he got the same feeling here that he did when he and his friend were exploring the cave.
"And now it's affecting the forest?" Merrill said, she didn't like this at all. "Maybe that mirror unleashed some kind of sickness. That would not be good."
"That's an understatement," Fenarel said with a nervous laugh. He was feeling the same thing the other two were, it sent chills down his back. Merrill nodded in agreement and turned to Raziel.
"The sooner we find this cave, and Tamlen, the sooner we can leave. Take us there quickly," She said.
"It's not much further, just around the bend," Raziel assured them. The three Dalish youths took off at a run, wanting to get this over with. They did find another small group of Darkspawn along the path, quickly cutting them down and Merrill gently healing any wounds they acquired from the fight. She was very worried about Raziel, he still looked very pale and she was sure she saw his hands shake a little bit as she healed him. But the younger Elf said nothing and she didn't press the issue.
As they came upon the ruins Raziel shuddered slightly. That feeling of wrongness was even stronger than before, he did not wish to return to this place but they needed to find Tamlen. Inside they found many dead giant spiders and even already slain Darkspawn.
"So these are the ruins? Interesting," Merrill said as she peered around. "There are definitely of human origin. Yet Elven artifacts are scattered amongst them. Nothing explains the monsters, though."
"Only the spiders were here before, Tamlen and I didn't see these Darkspawn," Raziel said as he nudged one with his foot.
"We must find Tamlen – or what's left of him," Merrill said. Raziel closed his eyes briefly in pain at the very thought and prayed that Tamlen was still alive. He couldn't bare the thought that his friend was…
"Don't talk like that," Raziel said in a whisper, he had to have hope Tamlen was still alive.
"You're right," Merrill quickly agreed, she couldn't bare the idea that Tamlen was dead either. "We should explore farther before I go on about my fears. I'm sorry." Raziel nodded, he understood why she would have said this, Tamlen would have had the same sickness as him but untreated. With these Darkspawn around… it was starting to paint a very grim picture indeed.
Raziel lead the way through the ruins, finding more and more bodies of dead Darkspawn and a few alive ones as well. He abandoned his bow and arrows in favor of his daggers as he attacked on Darkspawn while Fenarel attacked another, leaving Merrill to cover them both with her spells. He also found several traps, laid out by the Darkspawn no doubt as they hadn't been there the first time, that he quickly disarmed before anyone got hurt.
It seem to take no time at all to reach the chamber with the mirror. As Raziel stood in front of the door he shook slightly, what would they find behind it? Tamlen's dead body? Creators he hoped not. Finally gathering up his courage he opened the door, his breath catching in his throat as he saw that blasted mirror.
In front of the mirror stood a man and as they approached he turned to face them. Raziel found himself have a vague memory of seeing his face before and realized this must be the human who found him in the forest.
"So you were the one fighting Darkspawn," Duncan said as he looked the trio of Elves over. "I thought I heard combat." He came closer to the group, stopping in front of Raziel. "You're the Elf I found wondering the forest, aren't you? I'm surprised you have recovered."
"If you heard the fighting, why didn't you help?" Raziel asked.
"I had a feeling you and your friends could handle it," Duncan said. "My name is Duncan, and it's a pleasure to finally meet you. The last time we spoke, you were barely conscious."
"I… thank you for taking me back to my camp," Raziel said.
"It was my duty to return you to your clan, your people have always been allies with the Gray Wardens," Duncan said. Raziel nodded, still grateful to the man for his help.
"Andaran atish'an, Duncan of the Gray Wardens," Merrill said with a small bow. "I am Merrill, the Keeper's apprentice."
"My name is Raziel," Raziel said softly.
"And I am Fenarel," Fenarel introduced himself. "Did you… come here alone, human? Battling all those creatures?"
"Yes. Though I must admit, you took a great deal of pressure off me," Duncan said then turned to look at Raziel. "Your Keeper did not send you after me, did she? I told her I would be in no danger."
"No, w-we came here to find our clan brother Tamlen," Raziel said with a shake of his head. "This is where he and I were separated."
"So you and your friend Tamlen both entered this cave?" Duncan asked for clarification. "And you saw this mirror?"
"Yes," Raziel said with a short nod. "Tamlen touched the mirror, he said he saw something on the other side. Then a light seem to explode from the surface and I blacked out."
"The Gray Wardens have seen artifacts like this mirror before: it is Tevinter in origin, used for communication. Over time some of them simply… break," Duncan explained. "They become filled with the same taint as the Darkspawn. Tamlen's touch must of released it…" Raziel closed his honey color eyes, his heart searing in pain. He should have stopped Tamlen from touching the mirror, he knew there was something wrong with it when he saw it. "It's what made you sick – and Tamlen, too, I presume."
"S-so the Darkspawn was what was making me sick?" Raziel asked. "I had some sort of Darkspawn plague?"
"You have it still," Duncan informed him, Raziel's breath catching in his throat at the words. "And it will infect others so long as this mirror exists. Your recovery is only temporary. I can sense the sickness in you, and it is spreading. Look inside yourself and you will see."
Raziel opened his mouth, he wanted to deny Duncan's words, insist that he was fine but he quickly snapped his mouth shut. The human was right, he knew deep down he was still sick. He had a faint ache inside him that didn't want to go away. He knew his hands shook at times and he couldn't deny what Duncan said was true. He hung his head, if he was still sick even after the Keeper healing him, then Tamlen who had been left untreated all this time….
"Tamlen is dead isn't he?" He asked softly. Fenarel sucked in a breath beside him at the words and Merrill laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I am sorry," Duncan said, truly meaning it.
"Wait, shouldn't there be a body then?" Fenarel asked.
"The Darkspawn would have taken it," Duncan told the Elf. Raziel gave a little sob, they didn't even have a body to bury. He felt this was all his fault, he should have demanded he and Tamlen return to the camp as soon as he sensed something was wrong instead of going along with his friend. "For now, we must deal with the mirror… it is a danger."
"Destroy it," Raziel said in a broken whisper. "Before it makes anyone else sick." Duncan nodded and turned, drawing one of his blades as he walked up to the mirror. Raziel watched numbly as Duncan struck the mirror with the blade of his sword, the mirror flashing brightly as it shattered and fell to the ground in many pieces. Duncan stood there for a moment, having heard the sound of Darkspawn speaking for a brief second, then turned away.
"It is done," Duncan said as he walked back to the others. "Now, let's leave this cursed place. I must speak with the Keeper immediately regarding your cure." Raziel could only nod his head in a numb fashion, he was still reeling from the knowledge of Tamlen's death and still felt as if it was his fault his dear friend was dead.
"Can we return later and search through the ruins? We could learn many things here besides the mirror," Merrill asked. Raziel wanted to curse, he wanted nothing to do with anything in this place. It could burn to the ground for all he cared. No amount of history or knowledge of their race could make up for losing his friend.
"The cave is not safe – everything here was exposed to the mirror's taint. If your people must come here, they should cleanse it with fire," Duncan advised.
"Can we just go?" Raziel asked softly. Duncan nodded and left the young Dalish walk out in front of him. Fenarel wrapped his arm around Raziel's shoulders, trying to offer comfort to his young friend as they left.
"I'm relieved you have returned!" Marethari said as she saw the group enter the camp. She noticed right away that Tamlen was not with them and that Raziel was deeply saddened, his honey colored eyes red with tears. She also noticed that the three youths did not come back alone. "And I did not expect to see you again so soon, Duncan."
"I was not expecting to return so soon either, Keeper," Duncan said.
"Dare I ask of Tamlen?" Marethari asked as she turned to face Raziel. "What did you find of him?"
"Tamlen is dead," Raziel whispered. "There wasn't even a body to bring back, the Darkspawn took him."
"There… there were Darkspawn in the cave?" Marethari asked taken aback, worry in her voice.
"There is much to discuss, Keeper," Duncan said drawing attention back to himself. "I have learned a great deal since I was last here."
"Let us speak privately within my aravel then, Duncan," Marethari said, knowing she wasn't going to like what Duncan had to say. "Merrill, warn the hunters. If Darkspawn are about, I want the clan prepared."
"Ma nuvenin, Keeper. Right away," Merrill said with a nod as she left to do so.
"Da'len, allow me some time to speak with Duncan," Marethari said to Raziel next. "Seek us out at my aravel later, and we can discuss your cure."
"Ma nuvenin, Keeper," Raziel agreed.
"Tell Hahren Paivel what has occurred," Marethari said, her da'len needed closure with Tamlen's death. "He now has the sad task of preparing a service for the dead. Follow me, Duncan. I am eager to hear what you have to say." She motioned for the human to follow her, taking him back to her wagon. Raziel watched them go then took a shuddering breath, he couldn't believe Tamlen was dead. There would be no more days of banter between them, no more hunting for the clan, trying to keep him out of trouble… Raziel bit his lip, willing himself not to start crying again and turned to seek out the clan's story teller.
Paivel was found by one of the many pyres within the camp near his wagon.
"So you return with the Gray Warden, but without Tamlen," Paivel said as Raziel walked up. "What happened, da'len? Is he truly lost to us?"
"Yes, Tamlen's spirit is in the hands of Falon'Din now," Raziel said.
"So… another of our children has perished. To think I'd live to see this…" Paivel said sadly. "It seems the will of the Creators that I sing the dirge for those I held in my arms as babes. I think I know why our immortal ancestors would sleep."
Raziel watched a Paivel moved to stand in front of the pyre, staring at the flames.
"Swiftly do stars burn a path across the sky, hast'ning to place one last kiss upon your eye. Tenderly land enfolds you in slumber, softening the rolling thunder. Dagger now sheathed, bow no longer tense. During this your last hour, only silence," Paivel recited softly and sadly before turning back to Raziel.
"Would you prepare a service for Tamlen, please?" Raziel asked.
"Of course," Paivel assured the youth gently. "We've no body to return to the soil, but we shall still sing for Tamlen. The Creators must come to guide him to the Beyond. Tell the Keeper it shall be done before the clan is ready to move on."
"Thank you Hahren, I will," Raziel promised and started to turn to leave.
"I ask only one thing, if I may," Paivel's voice stopped the teen. Raziel looked over his shoulder giving him a questioning look. "This… Gray Warden. You have met him now, yes? Is he a good man?"
"I…" Raziel opened his mouth to answer then fell quiet thinking it over. "He saved my life, and is a friend to the clan." He said after a few seconds.
"Interesting. What is it he talks to the Keeper about, I wonder?" Paivel said as he mused over Raziel's answer. "Perhaps you should go and ask."
"I will, the Keeper asked me to join them after I spoke to you," Raziel said.
"Of course. May the gods guide your path, da'len," Paivel said. Raziel gave him a small smile and a nod then headed toward Marethari's wagon.
Meanwhile….
"What is it you wished to discuss with me Duncan?" Marethari asked once they were outside her wagon.
"The mirror young Tamlen and Raziel found was filled with Darkspawn taint," Duncan said. "That is what Raziel is sick with and what killed his young friend."
"I see…" Marethari said in sorrow. "And the Darkspawn themselves?"
"They are starting to amass in the south," Duncan confirmed. "I believe this is a true blight though we have yet to see the Archdemon."
"What can be done for Raziel?" Marethari said after a few moments of silence.
"There is… not real cure for Darkspawn taint," Duncan said. "The only way to save his life… is if he joins the Gray Wardens."
"The Gray Wardens?" Marethari repeated. "Are you sure? Raziel is a kind soul, I do not know if he has it in him to truly fight."
"War changes us all Keeper," Duncan said. "I am recruiting for the Gray Wardens, we need them if this is a true blight as I fear. This is the only way to save the boy's life, otherwise the taint will kill him soon."
Marethari sighed and closed her eyes, this was almost too much. First they lost Tamlen and now Raziel would have to leave the clan. And once he left, it was doubtful Raziel would ever return. But he would live at least.
"I also believe the boy is very capable of fighting off the Darkspawn, he and his friends killed many while in the ruins," Duncan added. Marethari sighed again, yes Raziel was quiet good with his blades and with his arrows, he was one of the best young hunters within the clan.
"Then I give permission for Raziel to leave with you and join the Gray Wardens," She said at last.
A few minutes later they saw Raziel walking toward them, his head bowed and arms wrapped around himself. Duncan could see what Marethari meant, the young Dalish had a certain amount of innocents about him and he hated he would have to bring that innocents to an end.
"Your Keeper and I have spoken," Duncan said as Raziel stopped in front of them," and we've come to an arrangement that concerns you."
"What do you mean?" Raziel asked.
"My order is in need of help. You are in need of a cure. When I leave, I hope you will join me," Duncan explained. "You would make an excellent Gray Warden."
"A Gray Warden? Me?" Raziel asked confused. "Why? How will that cure me?"
"The Darkspawn taint courses through your veins," Duncan said. "That you recovered at all is remarkable. But eventually, the taint will sicken and kill you, or worse. The Gray Wardens can prevent that, but it means joining us." Raziel's mouth open and closed for a few seconds before he found his voice.
"W-will I be able to return to my clan?" He asked.
"We do not know," Marethari said softly. "But we could not watch you suffer. The Gray Warden offers you a way to survive."
"This isn't simply charity on my part," Duncan assured Raziel. "I would not offer this if I did not think you had the markings of a Gray Warden. Let me be clear; you will likely never return here. We go to fight the Darkspawn, a battle that will take us far from your clan. But we need you and others like you.
Raziel licked his lips nervously and swallowed, his mouth suddenly feeling very dry. He would admit, he did not wish to leave his clan. They were his only family and he had never been without them. But… if he did not go he would died a painful death and perhaps if he went… he could prevent another tragedy like Tamlen's death.
"A great army of Darkspawn gathers in the south. A new blight threatens the land. We cannot outrun this storm. Long ago, the Dalish agreed to aid the Gray Wardens against a blight should that day arrive. We must honor that agreement. It breaks my heart to send you away," Marethari said. "As it would to watch you die slowly from this sickness. This is your duty, and your salvation."
"I will do you proud Keeper," Raziel promised then turned to Duncan. "I am honored by your offer Duncan, I will go with you if you will have me."
"I welcome you to the order," Duncan said as he crossed his arms over his chest and bowed slightly in respect. "It is rare to have a Dalish amongst us, but they have always served with distinction."
"I know you'll do your clan proud, da'len," Marethari said as she removed a ring from her finger that bore Elvish writing along the band. "Take this ring. It is your heritage and will protect you against the darkness to come." She took Raziel's hand within her own and gently pressed the ring into his palm.
"Thank you Keeper," Raziel said his voice thick with emotions.
"A valuable gift," Duncan agreed. "So… are you ready to go?"
"I… can I stay for Tamlen's funeral at least?" Raziel asked as he slid the ring onto his finger.
"We have much ground to cover, but I cannot deny you that," Duncan said. From what he could see, Raziel and this Tamlen had been close, and Raziel may never return to his clan and family. He could not deny the youth his closure for his friend's death. "Say your farewells… then we must be off."
"Thank you Duncan," Raziel said softly.
"Come then, da'len," Marethari said as she placed her hand on Raziel's back to guide him. "Before the Creators guide you from us, let your clan embrace you one last time."
Tamlen's funeral lasted only a short time, with no body to return to the soil the clan's voices joined as one as they sang the Elvish Eulogy for their fallen clan mate, for Falon'Din to guide him to the Beyond. Raziel hoped Tamlen's spirit did not blame him for his death and was at peace.
Afterward all of the members of the small Dalish clan gathered around the entrance of the camp to see off Raziel, many of them gently touching him on the arm as he passed. Fenarel pulled his young friend into a hug and reminded him to stay strong. All of them were sad to see the young sweet Dalish leave but knew this was his only chance of avoiding a painful death. At the entrance of the camp, Raziel stopped one last time, looking back at his clan, his family then turned and left with Duncan for the final time.
Both were quite as they traveled through the forest, Raziel's head bow.
"Where are we going?" He asked at last.
"We shall meet up with the rest of the army in the ruins of Ostagar, on the edges of the Korcari Wilds," Duncan explained. "But first I would like to stop at the Tower of Magi located on Lake Calenhan."
"Why?" Raziel asked.
"I am hoping to convince the Circle of Magi to lend us more mages for the battle," Duncan explained. "That is if that stubborn fool Greagoir will see reason." He added under his breath. Raziel gave him a curious look but said nothing else. He wondered what sort of things he would see now, out there in the wide world.