The world was dark and strange. Sickly green light glowed between the twisted trunks that were closing in on either side of her. She was running but could not remember why. There was no path before her feet, only an infinite void. Thus, the endless rows of skeleton trees directed her frantic and stumbling steps. She tried to catch her breath, but an immovable weight sat upon her chest, crushing the air from her lungs.
Eerie whispers emerged from the shadows, hissing and spitting and gnashing their teeth as their voices grew louder. She covered her ears when they began to shriek, resisting the temptation to shut her eyes. If she could just get to that hill…
Wait—there was no hill a moment ago.
Skidding to a halt, she shielded her face with her hand as the earth started to groan. The hill was right in front of her! Jutting into the thundering sky, stones cascaded down its sides. She was falling—no—rising. Everything was upside down.
Someone was there, just out of reach. His head was bowed, his back stooped by burden. She wanted to help him. She knew she could! If only…
There was a blinding flash as her straining fingers reached out to touch him, a deafening crash ringing in her ears as she was flung backwards.
LLLLLLLLLL
"Guin!"
Eyes flying open, she bolted upright. The frightened features of a young elvhen boy gazed back at her. Grimacing, Guindaryn rubbed the back of her head, a quick glance around informing her that she had rolled out of her bunk and onto the floor of the lower deck, which was rocking violently. The walls shuddered, lanterns creaking and swinging dangerously on their hinges.
"What's going on?" she inquired as she attempted to reorient herself.
"A storm," the boy replied. "A really bad one. It came out of nowhere! Keeper Deshanna said to wake you at once!"
Only then did she realize that every other bunk was empty. Instinctively, Guindaryn reached for her staff and snatched it from where it had fallen. By the time she scrambled to her feet, the boy was already turning and heading for the stairs.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, catching him by the shoulder. "Stay here, Nehn, where it's safe. Let us handle this. I'll come and find you as soon as it's over."
Moving past him, Guindaryn took the steps two at a time and soon emerged onto the upper deck. A blast of torrential rain and howling wind hit her like a slap across the face, thunder rolling over the sea and reverberating inside her bones. The crew were racing to and fro, desperately trying to keep the ship afloat while their captain manned the helm.
"Guin!"
She turned, blinking and swiping at her eyes as she struggled to see through the deluge. "Keeper!"
"Guin, you must get everyone into the boats! We do not have much time." Keeper Deshanna's hands were gripping her shoulders so tightly that it hurt.
"What are you talking about? Why can't we—?"
"Gerard has told me," the Keeper interrupted firmly. "There is nothing we can do. It is only a matter of time before we sink. Find the others. Get them to the boats."
"What about you?" Guindaryn questioned with wide eyes.
"I will protect the crew and their captain as long as I can. Then I will join you when time has run out." Her First appeared to be unconvinced, and Deshanna grasped her arm in a gesture of reassurance. "I swear it. Now go!"
There was a dazzling burst of light as the Keeper released her, followed by an ear-splitting crack. The ship groaned as one whose limb has been suddenly severed, its main-mast collapsing as the lightning struck. Like an uprooted tree, the towering pillar of wood broke across the bow, flames springing up from its scorched base. Its sails snagged upon those of the fore-mast and tore them down. Cries of anguish rang out, and Guin immediately raced toward them.
Many of the crew had been crushed and crippled. Some were dead. But others reached for her as she came to them. Two human men were pinned beneath a massive slab of wood that had splintered off from the main-mast, and she swiftly surveyed the situation.
"Lie still," she commanded in a voice that was gentle but firm, and loud enough to be heard above the storm.
Standing back, Guindaryn closed her eyes and drew upon the endless wellspring of the Fade. Turquoise and viridian sparks flickered around her fingers before suddenly flaring into flames that hummed and danced as she raised her arms to the heavens. In accordance with her movements, the debris was lifted from their bodies, and the men crawled to safety.
Releasing her hold, Guin watched as the wood fell and hit the deck with a resounding crash. The smaller man clambered to his feet, sweeping several locks of straw-like hair back from his wet forehead.
"T-thank you," he stammered. "Nearly claimed us, that one did…"
A fleeting smile crossed her features, but a sudden commotion to her left caused her to frown and turn. Two elves were making their way to the boats, one much taller than the other. His long golden hair billowed behind him in the harsh wind, the arm of his female companion thrown over his broad shoulders as she limped along beside him.
"Haleira!" Guindaryn cried, racing toward them. "What happened?"
"Don't look so worried, Guin," the woman quipped, forcing a smile. "At least the leg's still in one piece."
It was, Guindaryn noted, and torn fabric had been fastened securely around the nasty wound that was carved into her left thigh, but dark crimson stains continued to seep through. "Where is Dhaveir?"
"He went back for Elgadir," said Haleira, casting a concerned glance over her shoulder.
"I'll find him," Guin assured her.
"No."
Glancing up into the steely eyes of the man who was keeping Haleira on her feet, Guindaryn's gaze narrowed. "What?"
"I will go," he answered in a matter-of-fact tone that left no room for debate.
"Aenorean, I can—"
The objection died on her lips, for he had already released Haleira and disappeared into the rain and smoke. With a frustrated sigh, Guin lifted her friend's arm around her shoulders and helped her to the boats, which were fastened to the starboard side of the ship. At least, there should have been boats. To her dismay, she realized that instead of three, only one boat remained. The other two had apparently been wrenched free by the wild tossing of the sea and had vanished into the black unfathomable depths below.
"Well, that's not good," Haleira remarked flatly.
Seeing the severed ropes snapping uselessly in the wind, Guindaryn gritted her teeth and moved to the one boat that was left. As she did, Haleira let go of her and shifted her grip to the railing.
"I can untie it, but we must wait for the others," said Guin, observing the intricate knots that held the boat in place. Still, it swung to and fro, beating against the hull.
"Look!" Haleira cried. "Here they come!"
She pointed, and Guindaryn followed her gaze. Three figures were emerging from thick gray haze, all of whom appeared to be remarkably uninjured. Aenorean came first, followed by Dhaveir and Elgadir, the clan's elder. He clutched to his chest as many scrolls as he could carry, while Dhaveir and Aenorean carried their weapons and several packs of supplies on their backs.
"Keeper Deshanna—" Guin inquired anxiously as they reached her, "did you see her?"
Breathless, Dhaveir shook his head, and Elgadir turned back, his wrinkled brow furrowing. Just then, a fourth silhouette walked out of the smoke. Utterly drenched from head to toe, the Keeper's features were grim and taut, her staff still grasped securely in her right hand.
"We must go now," she said, "or it will be too late."
Guin frowned. "What about Gerard? And the crew?"
"A single boat remains, with just enough room to bear our clan safely to shore. Gerard knows this. Do not let his sacrifice, and the sacrifices of his men, be in vain."
Guindaryn bowed her head, her chest constricting painfully as Aenorean moved to the boat and began lowering it into the water. These merchants had risked everything to bear Clan Lavellan safely away from the Free Marches, and now, their feet would never reach the shore.
Dhaveir was the first to slide down the rope and into the precariously rocking boat. Haleira followed closely behind him, biting her tongue to prevent an anguished cry from escaping her throat. Elgadir came next, then the Keeper.
When all of them had gone, Aenorean turned to her expectantly. "Come, Guin."
With great reluctance, she started to move toward the rope, but a sudden and unexpected thought stopped her in her tracks. "Nehn," she murmured. Fear gripped her heart, launching her into frantic flight as she sprinted back toward the stairs.
"Guin!" Aenorean called, but she did not heed him.
Water poured into her eyes, her tunic clinging to her saturated skin as she attempted to wave away the billowing smoke. But it was no use. Lungs burning and coughs wracking her body, she struggled to concentrate. Reaching out a hand, Guindaryn held her breath and closed her eyes. Beyond the chaos, there was peace. Beyond her weakness, there was power. Beyond the Veil, there was the Fade.
As if removing an irksome obstacle from her path, she made a sweeping motion with her arm, a large, circular rune stamped upon the ground beneath her feet. A strange, ethereal echo rang in her ears, and when it died away, the rune, too, evanesced. Left in its wake were shimmering streams of light that continuously orbited around her, their blue-tinged glow flickering across her determined features as she advanced toward the closed door that led to the lower deck.
The barrier she had conjured shielded her from both fire and water, and Guindaryn's fingers soon gripped the slippery handle. She pulled hard, but the door did not budge. It was jammed. She pounded her fists against it, thrust her shoulder into it, to no avail. Finally, she brought her left hand up in front of her face and clenched it into a fist, hardening her will until it was like iron. Then, she expelled it in a powerful blast of green energy that radiated outward.
The door flew off its hinges and crashed inward, and Guin stepped over its splintered remains as she descended the stairs. Below, the air was dank and the light dim. Most of the lanterns had gone dark, causing her to squint and run her fingers along the walls as she advanced.
"Nehn? Nehn, can you hear me? We have to go now! The ship is sinking! We can't stay here!"
No answer came, but as she rounded the corner, Guindaryn saw the boy huddled on the floor in front of the farthest bunk, a single lantern still burning. His knees were hugged to his chest, his face buried in them. All she could see was his head full of fiery red hair gleaming like copper in the warm light.
"Nehn, come with me," she implored, advancing with her hand outstretched. "We haven't got much time now."
Slowly, he looked up, his freckled cheeks streaked with tears. His frightened gaze shifted to her hand, then back to her face. "All right," he murmured.
His smaller fingers slipped into hers, and Guin pulled him to his feet. The spirits that guarded her now protected him as well, and they passed through the smoldering wreckage unharmed.
Aenorean's features were twisted with frustration and anger, but when he saw the child returning with her, they softened, and he motioned with his hand. "Come! Quickly!"
Guindaryn ushered the boy ahead of her, allowing him to climb down the rope first. Then, she followed him, fingers burning as she clutched it tight. When her feet struck the rocking floor of the boat, she swayed unsteadily, but Keeper Deshanna gripped her arm until she regained her balance.
Aenorean was the last to abandon the sinking ship, and when he did, he severed the cord that bound them to it. As they rowed away under a black sky, Guin could not tear her eyes from the looming silhouette of the vessel as the sea threatened to swallow it whole. It was drowning slowly, silently, the screams of its passengers having gone still long ago. They had accepted their fate.
"Falon'Din enasal enaste," murmured the Keeper, solemnly bowing her head.
More death. More loss. Guindaryn had seen enough of it already, for members of her own clan had been slain by human hands. She had hated them for what they did, despised them for their betrayal, but now, human men and women had given their lives to save them. Neither she nor her clan would have survived long if not for their noble sacrifice.
Feeling something shift against her right shoulder, Guin glanced down and saw that Nehn had rested his head there. His eyes were still open, staring blankly into the darkness, remembering just as she was. Her magic had vanished, leaving them cold and shivering. But they were not alone. Together, Clan Lavellan had made it this far, and they would go farther still.
Somewhere, Guindaryn knew, just out of sight, was the shore. Somewhere deep within the borders of Orlais, were the Dales. If only they could reach the lands where their people once walked, the lands the Dalish once called home. Perhaps there, they could at last find peace.
