Author's Note: Hi guys! It's me, Sydney, well obviously. My other story that I started quite a few months ago has done nothing but draw up blanks for me right now, so I'm going to discontinue it just for now. I had a sleepover with a friend awhile ago and I thought up this idea and to me it's absolutely fabulous and I love it because yeah! It's late and I stayed up just to post the first chapter tonight because I have ideas for the second and all the way to the end but I need other Dragon Age fans advice. A good writer always takes other's advice. I'm absolutely positive there are probably a few typos and mistakes with tenses but I'm in the midst of looking for a beta, (if you know any good betas please PM me) and I really just wanted to get this chapter up and see how you guys like it. I'd really appreciate a rate and review just to see what you think so far! I will edit chapters if you guys want me to add something or take something out. I really appreciate it! I love you guys. Feel free to PM or review if you have questions or request.
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all characters and storylines from Origins and Awakening. I have added my own touches and my own OC Warden because she fits with the story a little bit better.
Chapter One: Weight Off of My Weary ShouldersI sat there; pacing back and forth, my heart distraught with anger and worry. The statue of Alistair to be placed at the entrance of Vigils Keep was all wrong. It was terrible and tore my heart into a million pieces. The hair was wrong, the laugh lines were misplaced and worst of all his face was depicted seriously. Alistair Theirin was never serious, even when he had to be. He hated feeling weak; he felt the need to protect everyone; me on the top of his list.
I heard the knock at the door and the sculptor opened my door and came in with a smile on his face. He thought it was right. He bowed at the waist to me, his hand crossed across his chest and I stood, my hands gripping the table. The anger boiled through my veins. Well maybe it was anger, I can't be sure.
"Commander of the Grey, the statue is nearly complete. Do you fair well with how it's been coming along?" He sat down in the chair across from my desk, his smile making my body cringe.
"Well, I wouldn't say fair well, sir," My smirk causing his body to press into the back of the chair.
"I'm so sorry, ser! May I ask what is wrong with it?"
"Have you ever met Alistair? Had a conversation with him?" The sculptor shook his head and I snapped, knocking my desk on the floor, papers and drawings going everywhere. "That's why it's all wrong! You don't know Alistair...didn't know him..." My voice cracked and I continue. "Alistair was the greatest most selfless and quirky man you could ever know. He had an obsession with his hair and always talked about cheese. When he kissed me..." I blushed and touched my fingers to my lips; my heart aching to hold him and kiss my love again.
"Commander I'm sorry I didn't," I cut him off with a swish of my hand.
"Alistair was a happy man. Through everything he's gone through he was my…our rock. We all protected everyone like one big family. Your statue is wrong. Alistair was never straight faced. He was either laughing or frowning or smiling for no apparent reason. How dare you shame his memory that way! Get out and fix it! Want a hundred sovereigns?! Take it! Just get the hell out of my office and FIX it!" I lifted him from his chair by his collar and through him on the ground. He scuttled out, tripping over his feet and I slammed the door behind him. I fell to the floor in a heap, sobs ripping from my chest.
"Commander?" Nathaniel Howe knocked on my door. I stood, wiped my eyes and sniffled before opening it. "Are you alright, Delenie?"
I laughed a little bit before breaking down into a fit full of gut wrenching sobs again. "Do I look okay?"
Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak but realized that no words he said would replace the pain I was feeling. In helpless retreat his arms encircled me and pulled me to his chest. His dark hair tickled the back of my neck that was exposed by my hair parting as it cascaded into curtains around my face. His large, calloused hands rubbed my back in a soothing circular motion.
During the past six months I've become rather close to all the Wardens under my command at Vigils Keep. Velanna, Anders, Oghren and even Sigrun; sometimes even Justice, but only when Anders strength is low and Justice can pass through the veil. But out of all of the Wardens, Nathaniel is my dearest friend. From the beginning we hit it off. Well not the first time we met seeing that he was locked in the dungeons and I had killed his father three months prior; about a week before the fall of the Archdemon...and the death of my beloved.
Nathaniel had been drunk and wandered into the larder by accident and seen me balling over a wheel of aged cheese. It was actually quite a pitiful sight, but Nathaniel did nothing but sat next to me and cried over the wheel of cheese as well. We've been open and close with each other ever since. He was like the brother I never had.
After the tears stopped, Nathaniel lifted me and entered my bedroom from the door in my office. He placed me on my unmade bed and pulled the covers over me, tucking me snuggly into bed. The warmth I felt from the fire lulled me to sleep and soon I rested my sore eyes.
I woke to the sun shining in through my thin red silk curtains. It was later in the morning than when I usually get up but I'm sure Nathaniel has given the guards strict rules to let me sleep. I climbed out of my bed and wrapped the velvet robe around myself. I stepped into my office to see Nathaniel hunched over my desk; drooling on the maps and snoring. I pulled on the gear to lean back the chair. I then gently leaned him back and tossed a quilt over him.
I made my way quietly out of the room, and warned the guards posted at the doors to allow Nathaniel to sleep. I hugged my robe tighter around me as I made my way to the dining room. I was met with sympathetic stares from my Wardens and Varel. The elven servant made her way into the larder to fetch me a plate. I sat in the large cushioned chair at the edge of the long table. Nevara placed my plate in front of me then curtsied and left. Oghren was the first to look away, and it was only because he fell backwards in his chair from laughter. I looked up from my plate with my mouth full and everyone laughed.
"Andraste's tits, Commander! You eat like a pregnant nug!" Oghren's beard quivered as he spoke in between fits of laughing and I swallowed and started laughing too.
"At least I don't smell like a pregnant nug...Oghren!" I winked at him and everyone stopped laughing as Oghren got up on the table, ran towards me and tackled me out if my chair. Food went everywhere, landing in Velanna's long, curly blonde hair. She screamed, laughed, screamed then cussed at Oghren. Anders stood picking eggs out of her hair.
Oghren and I were rolling around on the floor, laughing hysterically. I yanked his beard and he pulled my hair. I punched him in the jaw and he punched me in my breast. I turned over so I was on top, my knee hovering right above his groin. "Oops!" I slammed my knee down and his breath whistled out of his lungs. I laughed and stood up as he rolled around in agony. I stood over him shaking my hands above my head in supposed victory as Oghren lifted his leg and kicked me right in my groin. I fell over, my hands between my legs.
"Well, I'd call this a tie. I mean both parties are both incapacitated at the moment," Sigrun laughed and clasped her hand around mine, pulling me to my feet. I reached for Oghren and helped him up.
"Until next time, you filthy nug!" I laughed and ran back towards my office, laughing at the obscene things Oghren shouted after me. When I opened the door, Nathaniel was just waking up and rubbing his eyes. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
"Hey. Is there food downstairs?" He stood up and stretched, heading for the door. I nodded and sat down in my desk. Nathaniel had done most of my work for me last night. He went over the roster for the new recruits. He sent Sigrun with the new recruits to go gather the vials of darkspawn blood. The ritual was going to take place later this evening so the recruits must be resting for the agony they will face. He's paid the dwarven contractors to start rebuilding Vigils Keep, led by Voldrik Glavonak. There was one thing that caught my eye though.
Sitting under the stack of papers was Flemeth's real grimoire. I had meant to give it to Morrigan after the demise of her mother, but she had hurried off after my decision to not partake in her ritual. Nathaniel had bookmarked a certain page and I opened to it. It was written in Dalish, my native tongue. Not only was this ancient blood magic, it was barbaric. You had to summon a demon, obtain a vial of royal blood...and for what? I continued reading. "To bring back a loved one who was torn from the caster in demise."
My heart stopped. Nathaniel wants to bring Alistair back...or maybe his dad—though Alistair is a lot more likely. I couldn't believe my eyes. This is magic from back during the Tevinter Imperium. Nathaniel entered the room and cussed at my discovery. I looked up at him, my eyes filled with tears.
"Delenie, listen...I just hate..." Nathaniel placed his hand on my bare shoulder and I shushed him.
"My problem is that I'm so tempted. I'm keeper...or I was of my clan. I am Delenithra Nuvenhairel and I am skilled in these ancient magics. I'm the damned Hero of Ferelden. How can I let my people down?" I buried my face in my hands and cried.
"Delenie, you lost the one thing besides your clan you've ever cared about. You deserve, after everything you've done for Ferelden-hell, even Thedas, you deserve to have him back." He squeezed my shoulder as Velanna entered the room, shutting the door.
"Commander, I will help you with this. We can combine our powers so we don't have to kill an innocent person to send you into the Fade. You've lost our clan and your family for what—a title? I can relate. You deserve this." Velanna placed her hand on Nathaniel's back. "Nathaniel and I agreed that we will use half of his life source for this. Anders will be present to heal him. Delenie, we need our commander. You're the alpha to our pack; mother to our family."
I looked down at my hands. Could I do it? Risk Nathaniel's life and everything I worked for—
Alistair and I worked for—to bring him back? I'd be a maleficarum. An apostate who would soon be an abomination. Or so the Chantry thought I would. Keepers are immune to the draw from demons reaching for a bridge into the real world. We can allow them in, but we are immune to the demonic song. "I need to think about this. There's a lot sitting on my shoulders that I need to consider." I ushered them out of the room and slammed the door, my breathing hitching sharply. I opened up the drawer to my desk and pulled out Alistair's locket and the dead rose he had picked from Lothering.
I looked over to Alistair who was bent over, his hands on his knees, splitting up blood. I took this chance to pull out my staff. I ran towards the Archdemon, fully prepared to make the final blow; the ultimate sacrifice. My heart ached as Alistair looked at me in horror. His large hands wrapped around my wrist and pulled me back.
"Delenie, please don't. I am the senior Grey Warden here. This is my job." Alistair's blood drenched hands rested on my cheeks and tears fell from both our eyes.
"You are Ferelden's king. You cannot leave your people behind. This is my job. I have nothing left for me after this. Alistair, I love you. You will be a great king." My voice cracked and my lips quivered. I leaned up onto my toes and placed a tear soaked kiss on his lips, then turned to make the final blow.
"Rebuild the Wardens. Do what you do best and lead Ferelden and Thedas to greatness, Delenithra," Alistair placed his mother's locket in my palm and ran off before I could stop him.
"Alistair!" I fell to my knees in defeat as I watched Alistair force his blade through the skull of the Archdemon. A year of fighting this and it was all over. Exhaustion and despair took over and everything went dark.
I should've been the one to die, not Alistair. He never would have had to make this decision. He'd never even have the choice and now it's left on my shoulders. There's only yes and no. I can't take it back—whatever the choice is. My fingers clutched the locket as my eyes skimmed over the ritual.
"I found this ritual in the journal of an old Dalish keeper, before the Tevinter's killed Andraste.
For this ritual I will need a pass into the fade, blood magic or large amounts of lyrium.
I will need to summon a desire demon; it must be a desire demon for they look into the deepest wants and desires.
I needed the blood of a royal, for that is what the demon asked for. I feel that it may change depending on the demon.
The demon will need to be allowed into the world through the fade.
Next I had to place an item of the deceased into the palm of the demon's hand as they stood over the deceased grave.
The demon said some nonsense I paid absolutely no attention to.
I had to dig up the body and clean and clothe it, but within a few hours there was a pulse and slight breathing.
It took three whole days for the body to come back to complete consciousness.
This ritual is…slightly disturbing in the fact that"
The page was ripped after that. My heart ached in knowing that in three whole days I could see Alistair again. I could hold his calloused hands that were much larger than mine. I could kiss his full lips and look into his deep hazel eyes. I could feel his lips and his tongue all over my body, his body reconnecting with mine in the most intimate ways. Most of all I missed sleeping next to him, curling up close to his body, my head in the crook of his shoulder. His light snoring always was like a lullaby to me. This time there would be no urgent impending doom looming over our heads, keeping us from enjoying our love. We could finally be together.
There was also the fact that Alistair would be extremely angry with me when he figured out what happened. Alistair was a Templar, even if he hadn't taken his vows, he still believed in the Templar ways. Knowing that I made a deal with a demon, the very thing he wanted to protect the world from, he would be hurt and feel he was responsible. I would of course tell him because I love him, but how would he react?
Could we work this entire thing out? Would Alistair and I go back to the way we were; or better? I couldn't be sure if I didn't try. I stood from the desk and blew out the candle before walking into the next room and climbing into bed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, and I had to be completely and utterly focused.
The sunlight shone brightly through the crimson curtains, a ray coming in through a small crack, shining directly on my eyes. I turned over and sat over, taking a deep breath. I climbed out of bed and opened my door, sending the guards to fetch me Nevara with some water for a bath. After they both left, running quickly of course, I picked out what I would wear today. I chose a deep burgundy floor length gown. It cut low in the front with a deep but squared off neckline. It tied in the front with black laces, delicately draped over white lace. The sleeves were similar and long.
I took my hair out of my braid just as Nevara came in with other maids, all carrying large pails of water to fill up my bathtub. I used a spell to light a fire underneath it and heat the water, then started to mix in lavender and vanilla bath salts and Rose petals. The maids left with a curtsy and I smiled at them before undressing from my night clothes. I crawled into the wonderfully hot water and sank in up to my chin. The bath salts tingled on my cracked skin and smoothed it with ease. The heat relaxed my tight muscles and I leaned my head back on the edge of the tub.
After the fire had gone out, the water was starting to cool and that was my cue to start finishing up. I took the halla milk soap off of the ledge and started to soap up my various appendages. My legs, my feet, my hair, my breasts, underarms, and last but not least the apex of my thighs. I scrubbed it lightly, feeling the heat raise in my lower belly. I closed my eyes and pictured Alistair lying here in the tub with me, doing this for me instead. I heard a knock at the door and I stopped, leaning my head back into the water to rinse out the soap.
"Come in!" I stood and clambered out of the bath, wrapping myself in my thick velvet robe. Velanna opened the door with a smile on her face, her hair down, wrapped in her robe and came in carrying some breakfast. There was sausage, eggs, bread, and of course cheese; Alistair's favourite. Behind her Nevara entered carrying another tray with assortments of fruit and drinks. She bowed, placed it on my bedside table and left, closing the door. "Good morning, Vel."
"I thought you would be hungry, you'll need your strength for today," She winked at me. Her blonde waves fell around her shoulder as she placed the tray in my hands and obnoxiously lay down on my large bed.
"How did you know I was going to agree?" I sat next to her and started to scoop sausage and eggs onto my bread, then a few slices of cheese. I took a bite and groaned in satisfaction, continuing to eat, but faster and less mannerly.
"It was obvious. Nathaniel doubted it greatly when he came to…When we left last night. When you're in love with someone, you can pretend to be strong and let them go, but you know in your heart you'd jump at any possible chance to make them yours again, no matter what the sacrifices are," Velanna smiled up at me, her dimples in her cheeks indenting deeply, showing that her smile was real and it met her eyes. She looked over at the dress hanging from my wardrobe and laughed a hearty giggle. "Dressing up I see? I leave you too it, and eat all of that." Velanna crawled off the bed and left the room.
I finished eating the food that would be an insane amount to anyone else, but it was just enough. The Taint flowing in my veins increased my appetite because it used large amounts of stamina to sustain your life force. I drank down the water and milk; then the tea and even the orange juice. I led myself into the powder room and used the bathroom before beginning to brush out my unruly hair. As I was leaving I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My dark green eyes had a flint of amber to them and they were warmer than they have been for the last two months. There was hope flowing through them and they were as inviting as they used to be.
The boring colour tint of grey that had hit my vibrant mahogany hair has faded and I was left with the long mahogany curls once again. They hung down past my breasts to about the midway of my back and were loose flowing ringlets. My tanned skin showed a hint of colour, no longer haunted by the sickly shade of despair that hid behind the tanned caramel colour of my face. There was pink in my cheeks, under the tattoo on the side of my face. The tattoo was dark brown; vines and leaves wrapping around the left side of my face, circling my eye. My lips were fuller and pinker than I've seen them in a while. Their plump shape was tugged up by a smile and my white teeth peeked behind my thick upper lip. I was finally me again, not the sickly young Dalish elf that had lost the last thing she cared about. I was the vibrant and beautiful Hero of Ferelden, getting back the last thing she had left in the world.
I danced out of the bathroom, humming to a tune I remembered as a kid about love, loss and love rebirthed. I dropped my robe on the floor and dance around in absolutely nothing. I opened the curtains and let the sun in, listening to the birds chirping and the Silver Order training in the courtyard. Nathaniel was down there with them, sparring with a very hung-over Oghren. I opened the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of my small clothes, pulling on the strapless slip. Grabbing the burgundy gown, I pulled it over my head and tied it up tight in the front, my breasts peeking out the top of it. I stepped into a pair of golden coloured flats and danced my way out of my room. I passed the guards on the way down and pulled one of them into a dance. He laughed, his blue eyes crinkling at the corner as he spun me around and led me out the door into the courtyard.
"Good morning, Vigils Keep!" I threw my arms up above my head and laughed. The knights and guards looked at me, as did the Warden recruits and my fellow Wardens.
"Not very commander-like, miss," The guard I had been dancing with whispered into my ear before turning and re-entering the house to again man his post.
"Has she gone crazy? I heard the Warden Commander was some crazy bitch…" There was a deep voice whispering a little too loudly to be inconspicuous. I looked to where the voice came from and saw a tall pale human man, skinny, with dark hair and light eyes. He had a bow and quiver strung over his back and was wearing thief's armour. "Oh shit, she's looking right at me."
"You, right there. The scrawny one; yes you! What's your name?" I hitched up my skirts and walked towards him.
"Tis Crischan, Miss. I mean Commander. I mean Miss Commander!" His voice was shaky and nervous. He bowed with his arm crossed over his stomach. Nathaniel broke out laughing and Oghren was already a step ahead of him, rolling on the ground.
"The bloody kid is going to piss himself! Andraste's knickers! I can't believe that filthy pile of nug shit just insulted the commander!" Oghren was clutching at his chest, tears rolling down his cheeks. He was kicking his legs frantically, kicking up dirt off the ground of the courtyard. Abruptly his stopped and grabbed his stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick." He lay there completely still then let out the most disgusting burp I've ever heard. "Nope, just gas."
Nathaniel started to laugh again and boy was his laugh contagious. Soon the whole Silver Order was laughing. The dwarven masons were laughing, dropping their hammers and the stones they were caring. Velanna was laughing so hard she was crying; her face buried in Anders' knee who was also laughing hysterically. Sigrun sat there confused, then started laughing to. The other Warden recruits started laughing and soon, I was laughing too. I patted the sassy Warden, Crischan on the back and walked over to Nathaniel, throwing my arms around his neck. He hugged me and his hearty chortles warmed my heart. It's been a long while since anyone has felt safe enough to laugh around me. I opened my mouth to thank Nathaniel.
"You're welcome," He whispered before letting me go and taking a good look at me. I was walking around without my staff and I was wearing a dress. "This is a good sign, Del. You're really starting to open up."
"Hey Nathaniel, I've always wondered; How did you know I was ever different. I could've always just been a heartless bitch," I looked up at him and saw a smile tug at his mouth.
"Oghren told us a lot of stories about who you were when you were fighting the Blight. Also, you had to have heard the songs by the bard. Ah, what's her name, ah yes; Leliana. Sings beautifully, I'd like to meet her. Oghren told us about the fun times you and him had, going to taverns, getting drunk then playing pranks on the nobles," Nathaniel continued talking. "He told us that you guys really bonded because you were both kind of the outcasts in the group. He was a dwarven warrior who never left Orzammar and you were a Dalish keeper who knew nothing of the human world. He said he was the only person besides Alistair that you opened up too. Then I remember he downed a glass of ale and started crying and said, 'She's my only real friend! We've got to do something to make her feel better!'"
"So that's why you did this?" I looked over at Oghren who was waving at me like an idiot and pointing to Sigrun and making hip thrusts at her. I chuckled.
"That and I remember how mad I was when I heard you killed my father and were taking our estate. I was mad because you killed him. You, not anyone else, you; I could handle that, knowing who to blame for it but you, you had no one to blame. Ferelden killed Alistair. It was his duty to slay the Archdemon because he had to save his country of Ferelden. You couldn't hold a grudge against all of Ferelden so you held it against yourself which wasn't right either," Nathaniel placed his hand on the back of my neck, under my hair. "For all you've done for Thedas, you deserve to be happy."
"Thank you, Nathaniel. I never quite understood why I blamed myself so, but you cleared it up for me." I smiled at him and for once the smile met my eyes. He leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Thank you for all of this."
"I'll see you tonight in the crypt. I need to eat and rest. We will have everything ready for you, I promise," Nathaniel released me and left.
"Commander, can you tell us about what defeating the Blight was like?" A young elven woman looked over at me and you could see that she was obviously an elf of the city. Her clothes were ragged and dirty; she had yet to change I see. The Dales wore exquisite armour and clothing, patterned and embroidered with jewels and drawings of the Gods and Goddesses or like the Sylvans. Her ears were rounded, probably by force. My ears pointed sharply out of my mass of curls. I had many earrings trailing down them; my favourite one was the golden earring Zevran had given to me.
"Of course, lethallan. Sit, sit and I'll start from the beginning." I sat on a rock and they all looked up at me with interest. I felt like the Harel of a clan, the storyteller. I had innocent eyes looking up at me; well innocent to war. "I was the keeper of a clan way up in the Frostback Mountains. There I was Delenithra Nuvenhairel. Here I'm just Delenie or Del to my friends." I chuckled at the memories of Zevran that brought back. "My clan was beautiful, absolutely wonderful. It was large and we had very little conflict."
I sat on the large trunk of a fallen Sylvan and held my staff tightly in my hand, looking down at its exquisite patterns. The essence of natural power ran through it and I could feel it deep down in my veins. A carving of an owl with its outstretched wings sat on the top of it, with expertly carved veins decorating the dark wood. I looked down at my clothing, tugging on a string that was loose. I wore a long fitting slender gown of the deepest colour of emerald. It was silky and had loose fitting sleeves that reached my wrists. It covered most of my tattoos, except for the vines on my face and the detailed pattern that covered my whole left arm and hand. Over the gown I had a black Great Bear skin draped over my shoulders to keep me warm from the colder night air.
My clan gathered around the fire as Harel Cevenal got ready to tell a story. They had food in their laps; roasted Great Bear, bark of a Sylvan, and assortments of fruits native to the cold climate of the Frostback Mountains. The children all wore long pants or skirts made out of animal skins with shirts of the same or silk. The women wore long dresses made out of furs and the men wore pants and shirts made out of the same. We used the hides for our boots and insulated them with the cotton-like material you find on dying flowers. The weapons were all put away at this point and this was a safe place at night. Stories and food, then rest and play; this was how simple our life was.
I protected my clan with my life and gave them all that I had, but there had been something drawing near and I just couldn't figure out what it was. All I knew was that it was dangerous. I didn't want to cause a mass panic, but I couldn't put my clan in danger. So I had set out on my own to find out what it was. My First, keeper recruit, Tailana had tried to follow me but I sent her back to the camp with strict orders to protect the clan and if I were to not come back, do not come looking for me. She asked why repeatedly but I just held my hand out and shushed her, before grabbing a pack of dried fruits and meats, along with poultices and creams, then leaving. I headed out to Orzammar to speak to King Aeducan about the threats from the Deep Roads.
About halfway to Orzammar's gates I was attacked by a band of darkspawn and my magic itself wasn't enough to hold them off. I couldn't kill them by myself, even with the amount of willpower and magic I held. I was close to dead as they closed in on me but I was lucky enough to be rescued by a passing shemlen man. He easily dispatched the group of darkspawn and picked up my weak body, carrying me off to his camp. I must have been unconscious by then because I remember nothing of the walk back.
When I awoke the next morning I was wrapped in a blanket and inside a tent, the sun shining through the thin canvas roof. I was still dressed in my attire, clothes a bit caked with mud and blood, but other than that in good condition. I left the tent and saw the man from the night before sitting around a fire, roasting a medium sized rat over the small fire. It was an unusually warm morning but the moment sent shivers down my spine. He looked up at me and smiled, his dark eyes peering into mine and I got a good look at my rescuer.
The man had dark hair that was pulled back at the nape of his neck with a length of rope. He had two daggers sheathed at his back, dressed in a simple silver breastplate and a pair of long pants with a skirt like garment over them, something I couldn't quite remember the name of. His silver gauntlets at his side on the log, he gestured to another log next to him and I noticed the cracked skin of his hands.
"Good morning, Miss." He took the rat off of the fire and held it out to me. I reached for the hairless animal, tugging a back leg off, ripping it perfectly at the spot where tenderloin met the spine. I smiled and did the same with the opposite leg and we sat there in silence eating for a few minutes. I glanced over at him looking at his hands where a crack had ripped open and was bleeding profusely. "Your pack is other there along with your bear hide." He gestured over to the side of the tent. I stood and went over there, pulling out a glass bottle of a homemade cream remedy the healers in my clan made for me. He glanced at me with confusion as I reached for his hands. I poured the sweet smelling cream on his hands and started to rub it in. The bleeding crack clotted and his hands glistened with smoothness. I handed him the bottle and he shook his head, but I insisted.
"For saving me I say ma serannas." I smiled at him and he blushed and nodded. "If you put that on your hands until the bottle is empty, your hands will heal in no time."
"Well thank you. My name is Duncan," Duncan bowed at me and I shook my head and he looked confused.
"Please do not do that, Duncan. I may be keeper, but we do not keep ranks. Everyone is equal. I am Delenithra Nuvenhairel. I'm keeper of my clan." I smiled warmly at him. "How far are we from Orzammar?"
"Orzammar? Oh no, we're near Redcliffe. You weren't heading towards Orzammar. You were about four miles out of Redcliffe when they attacked you. They must have had an emissary and a scout following you and cast confusion hexes on you." Duncan looked upset and sympathetic.
"No! That can't be it! I have to get back to my clan! They need me. Especially now with the threat of darkspawn," I stood up and started pacing around muttering in Dalish to myself.
"Delenithra, I don't wish to upset you, but last night there was a raid on Orzammar. Darkspawn were coming out of every chasm that led to the Deep Roads. I wouldn't be surprised if your clan didn't survive. This isn't just a fluke accident. This is a true blight. I was on my way to Redcliffe from the Hinterlands and Ostagar when I sensed them." He placed his large hand on my shoulder.
"You're wrong! They're okay. They have to be okay. You're just a shemlen! You don't understand the might of the Dalish." I grabbed my pack and started to leave.
"Listen, we can send a search party to find them when we return to Ostagar. I want you to become a Grey Warden. You can get revenge on the darkspawn who killed your clan." He just came right out and said it and I turned to him.
"A Grey Warden? I've heard of their great vigilance and strength." I looked down at my boot clad feet.
"Yes. If you survive the joining you will be a Warden. We need as many as we can get to defeat the blight." Duncan's eyes were pleading with me desperately.
"I agree. But after the blight is defeated, we will find my clan. Promise me that." I looked at Duncan and he nodded.
It took a week's trip to get back to Ostagar after stopping in Redcliffe and finding no worthy recruits. Ostagar was a beautiful and ancient ruin that was once a great fortress…or so I was told. It was bustling with activity; mages and knights, preachers and healers. This was more activity than I'd ever been used too and it made me anxious. We had entered the fortress and Duncan led me to a tent that would be mine. He told me where I could clean up and wash my clothes. So I did just that. I wandered to a river, far down stream where I wouldn't be spotted and undressed out of my gown. I washed my boots and my gown, even my bear hide. Then hung it on a tree over a fire I started with a simple spell. The sun was going down and it was chilly, but the water was still warm from the hot afternoon sun. I waded into the water shoulder deep and felt the current massage my tense and sore muscles. I used my hands to scrub away the blood that was coating my skin from my battle with the darkspawn and washed my hair free of any debris that got caught in my mass of curls. After getting out and drying off, I dressed, my clothes dry and clean, put out the fire and wandered back to the camp where the smell of meats and roasted vegetables filled the air. I was starving. I met Daveth and Sir Jory, the two other recruits. Daveth was a cut purse from Denerim and Sir Jory was knight from the arling of Highever.
We ate and everyone wandered off back to their tents to sleep. I had a long day and was ready for a good night's sleep.
I awoke to the arguing between Daveth and Jory standing in front of my tent. Daveth was being scolded by Jory for trying to bed a female King's knight and was now being reprimanded by Loghain. I exited the tent and the two stopped arguing and looked at me. They hadn't seen me in the light and had no idea I was a Dalish elf. I scowled at them in utter annoyance and went on my way to find Duncan. As I left I heard Daveth whisper, "Who stuck a stick up her ass?"
"Good morning, Delenithra, how did you sleep?" Duncan held out his hand and I grabbed it in a confused manner and then he started to shake it. I pulled back quickly and shot him a look. "I forgot. That's called a handshake. It's a standard human greeting."
"I see. My apologies then, Duncan, I thought you were trying to rip my arm off for a second. You have such weird cultures; especially the touching." I looked down at my feet as a blush rose in my cheeks. He chortled halfheartedly.
"We have to start the Joining tonight, so if you could go and meet our other warden, Alistair, we could get everything started. You'll probably find him fooling around over by the old sanctuary." Duncan smiled his halfhearted and sad smile at me before turning on his heel and leaving. My insight tells me that there is something he's not telling us but I just don't what it could be.
I made my way towards the old sanctuary after having a very pleasant conversation with an elderly mage from the Ferelden tower named Wynne. She was a quiet and pleasant old woman and for a shemlen, I respected her wisdom of the arts of magic. She was a healer and a very powerful one at that. It was positively enchanting, the conversation I had with her. Finally I made my way into the old sanctuary and was looking for this Alistair. All I could hear was arguing. Intrigued, I made my way up there to see what was going on.
"We will not take any more insults from the Chantry's dogs!" There was a shemlen mage standing there yelling at a young man, probably in his early twenties.
"Oh, so now I'm a chantry dog? Wow. I was sent by the Revered Mother to deliver a message!" The young man stomped his foot like a child.
"Well you've insulted me and trust me, I'll be sure to bring this up to Duncan!" The man walked passed me and pushed me out of the way. "Get out of my way, wench."
"Wench? Excuse me, you do not know me." I grabbed the man by his arm and twisted it behind his head. "You will learn your place. You are no better than anyone else here and you're a disgrace to the Circle of Magi if you act that way. I have half a mind to rip your arm off, but I won't because then you'd be no use against the darkspawn. Apologize to this young man and to me and be on your way, sir." He was shaking and looked at me.
"Yes of course, miss. I'm sorry and I'm sorry to him too. Please let me go." He looked up at me and I released his arm, causing him to sprint away full speed.
"My my, a girl that can handle herself and is quite beautiful, please tell me I'm not dreaming." The man fanned his hand in front of his face and then sighed and went serious again. "Please tell me you're not a mage."
"I am, just not in the sense that you're thinking of. Don't worry; I'm not here to antagonize you." I smiled at him and he blushed.
"I'm Alistair, a pleasure to meet you, Miss…" He paused and waited for me to speak my name.
"Delenithra Nuvenhairel." I spoke and then spoke again, "But you can call me Delenie." Alistair held out his hand and I look it and then there began the shaking of the hands. His hands were rough and calloused and gripped mine tightly, but it was comforting. It was much friendlier than Duncan's handshakes, whose hands were shaky with nervousness. I looked up at him and he smiled down at me.
"Ah, that's right. You must be the recruit with great potential he told me about last night. Well, welcome aboard!" Alistair smiled at me and his lips pulled back to show bright white teeth. His eyes, which were hazel and gold crinkled at the corners. His light brown/blonde hair was up in a peculiar hair style I didn't quite understand nor could explain. It was held up with something. He was taller than I was and broader. He wasn't overweight but he had a broad chest and thick arms. He was handsome; I can say that for sure. The most handsome man I have ever seen in my life. His smile just kind of made you heart melt. "Well, we should probably go meet up with Duncan and prepare for the joining."
"We probably should do that. I'm eager to get all of these secrets out of the way." I walked next to him, looking down at my feet. My hair hung over my right shoulder and I occasionally looked over to him and smiled. I usually smiled because of the ridiculous facial expressions he would make at me when I caught him looking at me.
"If you wouldn't mind me asking, how did Duncan find you? He told me you were a Dalish keeper from the Frostback Mountains and he found you at Redcliffe. What would you be doing that far away from home?" "Alistair slowed his pace to a slow walk and looked at me, truly excited to hear the tale.
"I had a bad feeling that there was danger and I left my First in charge while I went on my way to talk to King Aeducan about and possible dangers he knew about. Duncan told me I had probably been followed by a scout and emissary who probably casted a hex of confusion on me which led me the complete wrong way and to Redcliffe. That's where I was overwhelmed by darkspawn and Duncan rescued me. I agreed to become a Grey Warden if he sent out a search party to find my clan." I looked down at my hands, my long fingers wiggling.
"I'm so sorry, Delenie. I'm sure they're okay. I've heard and read many things about the strength of the Dalish." Alistair patted my shoulder as we neared the Grey Warden camp in the middle of Ostagar. There waited Duncan, Daveth, and Jory. "Duncan."
"Ah, I see that she finally found you. If you're done antagonizing the Circle, Alistair, I'd like to get the joining under way." Duncan shot an annoyed but loving glance Alistair's way. "I will be sending you four into the Korcari Wilds to obtain three vials of darkspawn blood and to find three ancient treaties."
"The Wilds; you want to send us into the Korcari Wilds?! There are Chasind folk in there!" Daveth's voice shot to a higher pitched in fear and anguish.
"I will be sending Alistair with you for the simple reason that he can sense the darkspawn. You will be safe, I swear it." Duncan pointed over towards a gate. "That is the way you will leave, see you all soon."
We left and wandered our way into the Korcari Wilds. According to Alistair it was infested with darkspawn and he explained to us that that was because they were making a stand against the darkspawn tomorrow. It was supposed to be the final battle that will end the blight where the Archdemon should show itself. That was why Duncan needed us, so that we'd know when they started coming. There was small chit chat here and there, and Daveth's many comments about how a girl with such a nice ass as mine could be so mean and scary because of my magic wielding. Alistair and Jory laughed. We had two vials of darkspawn blood by then and we were getting close to the spot on the map where Duncan had marked where the Grey Warden cache would be. A few darkspawn attacked us there and we received the last vial of blood before entering the ruined tower. There sat the cache, crushed and broken open.
"Well that's just great! They aren't even here!" Alistair kicked a rock and pouted about the lack of the treaties.
"Stop, who are you and why are you trespassing in my wilds?" Before the broken cache stood a shemlen mage, her raven black hair pulled back. She was dressed in assortments of fur patches and feathers, her white milky skin greatly exposed. Daveth and Jory stared.
"Your wilds? These are the Korcari Wilds. We came to this tower to find these treaties, but they are no longer here." I gestured to the broken chest.
"Tis a tower no longer, now is it? Why have you come to disturb something that has not been for so long?" The mage stepped down from the rocks where she stood and stepped towards me.
"She's the Witch of the Wilds! That's who she is, I tell you! She's going to turn us all into toads!" Daveth screamed.
"Stay away from us, witch!" Alistair unsheathed his blade.
"What, are you afraid bandits are going to come swooping out of the trees?" The lady laughed at Alistair, Jory, and Daveth's fearful expressions.
"Yes, swooping is bad." Alistair's eyes narrowed.
"You do not frighten like little boys. Tell me your name and why you're here and I'll tell you mine." She took another step towards me.
"My name is Delenithra, nice to meet you. I'm here because the Grey Warden treaties were here and we were sent to find them." I kept my green eyes locked on her charcoal ones.
"Ah, a polite introduction even in such a ghastly place. I am Morrigan, and as you see these treaties are here no longer." Morrigan walked around us, inspecting us.
"She's toying with us, let's just go." Alistair tugged my arm and I shrugged him off.
"Morrigan, do you know where they are?" I turned to question her.
"My mother has them, I can take you to her." Morrigan smiled a creepy smile.
"Then take us please, we'd appreciate it." I smiled back at her wearily and gestured for the three men to follow.
To be continued….soon!
A/N: Rate and Review and tell me what you thought! Thank you.
PS: Anyone else hear about possible Cullen romancing in DA3? Yummy! ;)