Red Roses Don't Last Forever
A Dragon Age Origin Fan Fiction
Disclaimer!: I do not own any of the characters except for my own (Legadrina). Everything belongs to Bioware and I do not claim any of it.
Author's Note: I've been playing the game and at the Arch Demon right now. I know a couple of the endings so I decided to try to write a story and see how it goes. Reviews would be awesome. So please do so if possible. Thanks and enjoy.
Introduction:
The Blight has ended. All the fighting has stopped.
Peace finally resides over Ferelden. Yet why can I not find peace in my heart?
My time is limited. I will find my people. I will go back to where it began and where my life will end. But how do you continue in peace... when you've witnessed so much.
I am Legadrina, Grey Warden Dalish Elf. I'm to go where my destiny leads me...
May the gods help me...
x
I followed the path through the forests. Fang, my Mabari Wardog, followed at my side. I found small traces of my people. Those small traces gave me hope. For so long I've been without my clan, my family. With the Arch Demon dead and the Blight over, I'd like to die in peace. The only comfort I feel I can find now is with my people. I held the small torn fabric in my hand.
"Here Fang sniff." I held the fabric out to him.
He sniffed and barked as he wagged his tail. He barked again as he jumped happily.
"Well go on." I smiled and laughed. He ran off and I followed on his heels.
We were heading north. Where my people said they would go. I prayed the blight hadn't destroyed them. For weeks I have followed on weak trails.I suddenly began to miss my companions. I missed the travels and the adventure. I, as crazy as it sounds, missed the danger. I missed everything that came with it. I tightened my pack to keep it from spilling its contents. I began to remember when I was first in the forest
Tamlen... Poor sweet Tamlen.
I looked up when Fang barked. I didn't realize I stopped. I walked over to Fang and looked ahead. A camp was together. My eyes widened. Had we found them?
"Come on" I spoke to Fang and patted his head. He barked happily and followed by my side.
My heart raced as I stepped closer to the camp.
"Who are you? State your- oh. Fellow elf..." She caught short as she realized I was Dalish. I didn't recognize her. Maybe I didn't find them after all.
"I am Andrietha."
"Legadrina, Pleasure to meet you."
"Where have you traveled from?" She asked.
"The battlefield..."
"A Warden." She gasped. "You survived."
"You sound shocked." I replied.
She shook herself out of her shock.
"Sorry didn't mean to be rude." She spoke apologetically.
"No harm done." I responded.
"I must speak w-"
"Legadrina? Is that You?" A Voice filled with Surprise spoke from behind Andrietha. She moved out of the way and I smiled.
"Keeper."
"I can't believe it..." She spoke and smiled.
"I've come to die in peace."
"Hopefully to live in peace as well." She smiled. "Come, We shall talk."
W went to her quarters and I told her of my travels, of Alistair and my tough choices.
"You've gone through some troubling times..."" She spoke softly.
"I saw Tamlen..." I spoke. Tears brimmed my eyes,
"Tamlen?" She spoke quiet; confused.
"He didn't die... I knew I shouldn't have stopped the search. He was alive!" I exclaimed as I stood and paced. Tears were flowing freely at this point.
"He came to our camp one night. I don't know how he found s. He was so tainted. I tried to help him, but he said I couldn't... He wanted me to kill him... I couldn't. He told me he always loved me and didn't want to hurt me. The others had to kill him..."
The keeper put a hand on my shoulder to stop me from pacing.
"You did what you could..." She said.
All I could do is look at the ground.
"Why don't we get you settled?"
The keep spoke and I nodded.
I headed out towards the campsites.
"Legadrina..." I turned to face her.
"Welcome home." I smiled and nodded before heading out.
I settled into my new tent. I had gotten use to traveling and being in a tent, that I felt no difference here. I did feel a loneliness many of my kin were gone. new people have come. I felt a blank spot in my heart. I hoped to fill that void...
x
"I have certain... duties that I have to fulfill as King..."
I looked around frantically. I looked around the woods for him.
"They expect me to have a child... I need to have a wife who will be able to raise the child when I am gone..."
"Stop!" I begged as I clasped my hands over my ears. "Please..."
"I love you... more than I ever imagined possible..." He paused. "...but this has to end..."
"Don't do this!" I screamed.
My eyes opened to the darkness of my tent. As if dreams of the Arch Demon wasn't bad then, Now I had to relive the past. I wiped the sweat off my brow and dat up. I walked out of my tent and saw the sun slowly starting to rise. I looked at my bag and unpacked it. I placed each item in a proper place. A rose fell from my bag onto the floor.
"Here, do you now what this is?"
I picked up the rose and stared at it. Memories filling my mind from the camp...
"I picked it in Lothering... I remember thinking, 'How can something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness?'
"In a lot of ways, I think the same thing... when I look at you."
I tossed the rose on the mini table and sighed.
Though the pain lingered... At least it would be easier to get over him without him around.
x
The emptiness seemed to linger over the next three weeks. Why did I come back? Maybe it was a mistake?I packed my things and sighed. I looked down at the rose and bit my lip. I stopped at the tent flaps and walked back. I sighed and shook my head as I stood in front of the rose.
"I'm going to regret this..." I said and placed the rose in my bag.
I headed to the Keeper's quarters. She stood outside talking to someone.
"Excuse me." She said and came to me.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I feel as if I can not go back to how I use to live. This will always be my home, but I feel I need to move on." I explained.
"I understand." She replied.
"I will find you again. Thank you for everything."
"Good bye Legadrina. Safe travels..." She spoke.
"Thank you and farewell." I said. "Come Fang." I said and he hurried to catch up with me.
Where would this road lead me next?
x
Fang walked by my side. He looked around on high alert as he continued. I watched as he looked around anxiously.
"There is no need to be so anxious boy. All the danger is gone." I spoke. He looked at me with big eyes of confusion. I knelt in front of him and pet him.
"Poor thing. Only know death ad war. I think you'll like peace." I spoke. "Now I don't know about you, but I'm hungry.. Fang barked happily in reply.
"Lets make camp. I said as I laughed.
Once camp was set up, I grabbed my bow and set into the forest deeper with Fang. I crept slowly toward a deer feasting on the grass.
"Sit, stay." I whispered to Fang. He whined impatiently.
I aim carefully at the deer, held my breath, and released the arrow. It connected and I grinned approvingly.
"Go get it boy!" I said. He barked excitedly and I ran after him towards the deer. He continued to bark like an excited little pup.
his eyes perked up as he heard something. He growled in a low tone.
"What is it boy?" I whispered.
He bowed his head low and bolted off in a direction.
"Fang?!" I called. There was a silence. I lifted my bow just in case.
"Fang!" I called.
I waited anxiously. Nothing but silence filled the woods.
"Fang?" I spoke softly.
I slowly started to lower my bow until I heard branches and leaves crackling. I lifted it quickly.
Fang ran through the bushes barking and jumped around excitedly. I knelt in front of him.
"Don't do that again! You'll give me a heart attack." I said as I patted his head.
I looked up as someone cleared their throat i an uneasy way to get my attention. My heart sank and I stared in utter disbelief...
"Alistair..."
