Standard Disclaimer: Bioware owns all Dragon Age characters and in game content. I own the bits that are left.
Author's Note: This is my first fan fiction ever in my history of playing RPGs. Please review and let me know how I can do better. Thanks in advance.
Chapter 1 – The Beginning of The End
A noise woke the Keeper from her tired stupor. She gazed lovingly down at her three week old daughter cradled in her arms. She was still suckling at her breast and playfully tugging at her finger that had lain to rest on her cheeks. "You still not done yet, da'vhenan? Are you drinking or just soothing yourself now? Mamae is tired and wants to rest if you are done drinking."
Solemn brown eyes gazed up at her and slowly released her nipple. However, the hold on her finger just got tighter. "You want me to cuddle you to sleep again da'vhenan?" Her daughter gurgled happily as if in confirmation. "Come, let go of my finger for a moment while I lay you down beside me. You can have it back later."
Booted feet on dirt alerted her that whatever noise had awakened her was not natural. Suddenly wide awake, she scooped up her daughter, picked up the sling beside her bed, deposited her child into it and shook her Bonded. "Emma lath, something is not right. I am hearing booted feet in camp." Her Bonded roused immediately and started dressing. She helped with all the buckles that she had only recently helped to unclasp. "You stay in the avaravel." He whispered and kissed her before disappearing into the night.
She listened carefully in high alert, throwing out her senses for even the most miniscule of sounds. A little fist came out of the sling seeking her hand. "You must remain quiet, da'vhenan." Absently, she offered her index finger and the little fist closed around it.
Clashing of metal on metal startled her even though she should have expected it. Debating silently with herself, she started to put her daughter down to dress but the child would not let go of her finger. Swearing softly, she pulled her robes and buttoned it up one handed. Clutching her staff, she headed out towards the sounds of battle.
Shems!
She stomped forward fearlessly taking in the carnage in front of her. Blood stained the emerald green grass that in the moonlight had just been a dull mossy colour. Fear gripped her heart as she noticed that the bodies on the ground were not all shem. Eyes blazing, she took in the horrific battle scene where her hunters were fighting for their lives with the intruding shemlen. They were not particularly well armoured, equipped or trained. They also looked and smelled distinctly unwashed. Bile rose unbidden. Shemlen slavers!
So many of them! It looked to be around two dozen shemlens still in the fight, about a dozen more lay surrounding the fearsome hunters of the Antivan Dalish clan. Not for long! She forcefully removed her finger from her daughter, who surprising did not protest this time, gazing slightly down, she noticed that she was sleeping peacefully despite the noise and sharp smell of blood. Carefully, she slung her daughter behind her and faced the invaders.
Calling forth the forces of nature, tree roots erupted from the ground and snared the unsuspecting shemlens. Her hunters cheered, rallied and started fighting more savagely for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Her Bonded threw her an exasperated look before stabbing a large shemlen through the ribs.
They were about to win when she first felt it. Whispers in her blood, urging her to focus her magic on her hunters instead of the shems. Fighting futilely against the invisible bonds, she watched in horror as she released the fire ball she had been preparing onto her unsuspecting hunters. Screams filled the air even as lightning sped against the camp, greedily seeking out any brave warriors that have not succumbed to the fire.
Her Bonded gazed at her with confused but loving eyes even as he took his last breath, charred by both the fireball and lightening.
NO!
Her mind roared and she broke free of the bonds even as her hands started another intricate weaving of the Fade. The temperature surrounding her fell drastically in seconds, she sought and found the blood mage who had so cruelly forced her to slaughter her kin. With a slight twist of her wrist, she sent a fireball his way and moved to face the numerous frozen foes in front of her.
She did not see as much as heard the rogue behind her. However, she was too late to stop the dagger he had attempted to slide through her ribs, aiming for her heart. Twisting to at least avoid a fatal wound, she hissed as the tip sliced through her robes and slashed her stomach.
She pulled at the Fade to cast a healing spell on herself but found that her magic was not coming forth. What is this? Why can't I draw from the Fade?
A wicked chuckle penetrated her dazed senses. "You won't be too much of a problem now would you?" The shemlen smashed the pommel of his dagger into her face. Darkness enveloped her as she crumpled to the ground.
"Woman and children should be rounded up. The pretty and young ones to one side." A deep, resonant voice heavily accented crept through her fogged senses. She struggled to regain consciousness and groped for her connection to the Fade. Nothing? Why? No! I have to protect them!
"What do you want to do about the twinkle fingers?" A nasal rasp questioned.
"She's pretty enough. Feed her more magebane, bind her up and we'll see if she might fetch a special price."
Hard, calloused hands pried open her mouth and some foul liquid was poured down her throat. Sputtering, she glared out of her ice blue eyes and made to spit in the face of the rank, foul breathed shem.
Seeing her intention, the shem snapped her mouth closed with a sickening crunch, causing her to inadvertently bite down on her tongue. She groaned, swallowing the poison that severed her connection to the Fade once again.
"Well now what do we have here?" She felt her sling torn from her and struggled to grasp her daughter out of the shemlen's hands. A kick to her stomach brought a gasp of pain out of her and blood started to gush out from the wound in her stomach again.
"Give her back!" Desperate, she cried out to the Creators for assistance in her time of need! Mythal! Grant me strength keep my child safe!
I can help you… You just have to let me in. A melodious voice caressed her mind even as she watched the shem part the folds of the sling, uncovering her daughter to the light.
Something disturbed the child and she blinked her brown eyes, coloured like Orlesian chocolates, up at the strange face looking down at her. Noticing that she did not have her Mamae's finger, she started protesting and cried out in earnest when the shem tightened his hold on her in distress.
"A babe? What a find! They fetch the best prices!" Despair filled the Keeper as she forced out the question. What would it cost me?
Your life! A triumphant cry rose out of her throat as the wound in her stomach knitted close and she felt her magic spring to life once again. Without so much as a twitch, the man holding her daughter froze in place as ice splinters crept up his body.
"How…" was the only word he managed to eke out before he was encased entirely in the solid block. "Halam sahlin!" She screamed as she swung her staff at him with all the extra strength in her limbs given by the demon. He shattered into icy, bloody pieces across the field as she caught her daughter, released from his lifeless fingers.
The crying stopped almost immediately. Cradling her protectively as she observed her surroundings, she saw her daughter sniffing as if she smelled something bad before pausing to smile up at her through the corner of her eyes. A little fist insistently stretched out for her finger. "A moment da'vhenan, Mamae needs to take care of those shemlens."
She was alone with her daughter in the blood red field. Bodies littered the once emerald green meadow, transforming into a garnish garnet. She wandered frantically through all the surrounding aravels and found them empty. Where are they? Where are my people?
They headed west. Just a nick of sun dial away, the fool was unsure of how much magebane to give you and waited for you to start fully regaining consciousness before he made his move.
I need to rescue my people.
That was not part of the bargain. I helped you save your daughter and now your life is mine.
You can have my life but my daughter isn't safe yet and that was what I had asked for. My people will be able to take care of her after you take over me.
Snarling, the demon paused and considered this. Very well, I will give you that. Come, let us make haste.
Holding out her finger to her daughter, she waited for her to grab hold of her finger. The moment she did, a crack appeared on her finger just above where the little one held on. A bright blue light started shining through.
What did you do?
Nothing! I did nothing!
The crack snaked up her hand and other cracks started to form on her skin.
If you do not honour your promise, I will take your child!
No, I will let you have me. I did not do this!
Her skin burnt by the bright blue flames, fell off in strips until she was consumed and no more.
The little bundle fell on top of the ashes and started crying piteously then more shrilly as no one picked her up.
Translations
da'vhenan – little heart
Emma lath – My love
Halam sahlin – This ends now