A/N: I do not own dragon age it's the product of bioware. Also, the poem below and any others (unless stated) were written years before I even heard of dragon age and are not fan fiction. Please do not copy/use any portions of this original text without my permission. The artwork is NOT mine. The beautiful digital painting is by Sandara on deviant art: sandara . deviantart / art / Aftermath-413311686 erase the spaces to view the original.

I feel the moments pass through skin and bone and lungs alas
Yet each and every one is lost among the billows of phantoms old and young
Too parched a traveler falters in the sand, beckoned by the singing sea and inept to swallow land
Oh can't I save but one from the unforgiving sun?

She followed spirits foolishly and kissed their sleight of hand
A mere apparition to the eyes and ears and gods of man
Along the shoreline's wasteland cold broken alone
Led to beaches of unfound mystery littered with dusty bone.
Whispers beneath the current's wrath

Home.

- Elves of Lore, Author myself many years ago when I was a different person

Pride's End

Marahii scowled, glaring down at the belligerent "Mouse" that had taken to following her along the twisted paths of the fade like a mewling kitten. She had imagined this so-called "Harrowing" to be terrifying, cruel, and lacking vision given her past experiences with the shemlen chantry – yet annoying was definitely not a characteristic she would have attributed to this short-sighted ritual. For a moment she actually considered the possibility that Irving had summoned this squeaky rat-spirit as a practical joke aimed at terrified or overconfident apprentices with the tendency to emit fireballs when strained, shocked, or aggravated by creators-be-damned blabbering rats, yet given the grave consequences for a botched Harrowing and the fact that The First Enchanter bore the responsibility for every apprentices' well-being and success, she concluded this was a remote potentiality. Still...refraining from torching the incessantly squeaking vermin was gnawing on her nerves.

"Ah! A Spirit of Valor!" Mouse piped out in a grating high-pitched tone. "What a smug spirit. Always thinks he's better than all who pass. I'm sure it must be grand standing out there in the open while I have to cower in the shadows."

"Must you whine about everything?" The slender elven mage grit out, never missing a beat as she stalked forward.

"He won't help. There is no point in..."

Not bothering to respond to the spirit's greeting, a brilliant white light sprouted from Marahii's fingers causing Valor to screech in agony before collapsing in a gelatinous puddle-of-spirit at the elf's feet; feet that had barely paused while the spell was cast and merely continued their march forward to collect one of the being's staves.

Dubbing the sloth demon's attempt at conversation "pointless" considering the fact that the creature wheezed out a sentence so slowly winter would be upon them by the time it finished a single sentence, Marahii brushed aside its offer to teach the vermin a new form and stalked towards the fire-rimmed arena Mouse indicated as the stage for the final battle.

"But... but... If I learned how to be a bear, I won't be forced to run and hide." The rat complained in a tone that caused her fingers to prickle as the will to summon primal destruction danced through her veins. "I WOULD HELP YOU! I COULD... WE could defeat the demon together! You wouldn't fail!"

The woman, having reached her last nerve, abruptly ceased her otherwise unforgiving march and glared down at the rodent. "Will you shut up if I turn you into a bear?!"

"Um...What?"

"Ugh. It's a wonder, you know, how you aren't tiny little rat bits in the sloth-demon's belly by now. Hell, I'd shed my very nature just to silence you. It seems worth it anyhow." Whatever image danced across her vision caused a far-away gleeful look to soften her delicate elven features before she returned her attention to the apprentice-shaped mouse. Apparently, not all mortals care for the form of rodents, so he decided it best to return to a human form - hopefully this transformation will invoke a sense of familiarity. He found her aversion to his small, fur-covered self odd given the fact their King had numerous visions of cheese barrels and Logain rats playing across a dozen fade islands during his unconscious hours. The sight of desire demons morphing into cheese and mice then dancing about for the mortal king's amusement was equally demeaning and … amusing.

"I … um... Well, if I am a bear, why would I ask to become one?"

Marahii rolled her eyes in response. "F.I.N.E."

Mouse, expecting their course to turn in the direction of the slumbering being of sloth, began backtracking – only to stop short as the unmistakable feeling of magic enhanced within the fade jolted through his entire being. Turning, he began to voice a question only to realize his intended words spilled out in a low growl. "I'm... a BEAR!" He joyfully exclaimed once he acclimated to this new form and re-discovered the ability to speak.

"Of course you somehow manage to adopt the most high-pitched, grating roar imaginable." The mage muttered bitterly, while striding towards the battleground once more.

Attitude aside, this young woman would be a delicious meal – one whose powers were worthy of him. Fantasizing about the sensation of casting spells outside the fade, bringing death and destruction to all mortals who failed to bend knee, he barely noticed the sparking conversation between the glorious mage who practically oozed power and the rage demon Mouse had lured to the battleground in his place. Her hair shone like a beacon, stark white with brilliant blue eyes and flaring tattoos to match her snow-capped head. . . How glorious a queen she would make. His queen and slave both as they ruled from atop the Frostbacks striking fear in the hearts of the mortals now cowering in his place .. luscious... beautiful...

"Yeah... so very helpful. You overgrown rat."

With a jolt, Mouse was ripped from his reverie to find the rage demon's essence, now silenced, beginning to drift beyond the fade into obscurity. . . Oh.. Oh .. Oops. Alright, I can salvage this. Appeal to her pitiful mortality – let kindness begin her demise. Abandoning his bear features, the wicked thought brought a grin to his human face. "You are far more powerful than I imagined!" That's right lay on the praise. Laden her with the acceptance and respect those young, naive apprentices crave yet are repeatedly denied in their templar-filled world. "You cast down the demon so quickly, I barely had time to respond! So many trainees fell before I even managed to reach them. And look what you have done for me. I am eternally grateful to you, friend. Even if I cannot escape this wretched place, at least I can step out of the shadows."

At this point, the mage had adopted a bored look as he proceeded to his carefully worded proposal. Oh how I have dreamed of this moment... "But if you find it in your heart, you and only you are capable of freeing me, letting me return to your world where once I came..."

Wait...

What is that...sensation?

No! It must be the remnants of the rage demon. There's no way a green trainee could possibly...

Glancing over to the smug-looking woman he realized his grave misjudgment.

His fatal error.….

This was no mere apprentice, doe-eyed and innocent that stood before him.

And throughout their entire journey through the fade, he had been the prey.

She had played him, a pride demon that had ruled this portion of the fade since before time itself.

A cold, empty feeling descended upon him – unfamiliar … far beyond his scope of understanding. Is this... emotion? She's... she's feeding me …...dread? In a flash, he felt her mental barriers drop, permitting him to view the depths of his folly. By allowing her annoyance – her chosen emotion – to course through her veins, her true thoughts and intent were disguised, hidden from demonic magic. Every word. Every sentence. Every thought … was deliberate. His mind swiveled back to the beautiful and terrible moment he realized this one had bested him: This tiny being who stands before me … is no mere apprentice. He gulped as emotion encased him – glorious and horrific – overwhelming every sense.

His predator inched closer, a playful smile dancing upon her lips, closing her fist abruptly, her spell complete, she let the very thing he craved consume him.

My greatest enemy.

My pride.

My demise.

Howling in agony, the fade – his world – was swept from view, as brilliant white light burst through his vision, his being, until he was no more.