Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize from the game.
Author's Note: This is my first work of fanfiction for Dragon Age. I loved the game, and I was inspired to tell my own story. It is set after origins and disregards awakening. The Grey Warden is Eternia, who is a mage and in a relationship with Leliana. Alistair is married to Anora and is the king. I would love to get feedback to improve my story and my writing in general. So please leave a review if you feel like it. On with the story.
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Chapter 1 – Where the Road Leads Us
Peace is a goal that some of us would go to any ends to achieve. The world's biggest lies are worth it for the peace they beget, are they not? It should be no surprise that the doctrine of peace is oft written in blood.
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Eternia's eyes opened slowly. The warden-commander got up and stretched slowly. She smiled as she saw Leliana watching her from the other side of the tent, a smile lighting her beautiful face.
"You're up early, aren't you?" Eternia asked sleepily.
"I enjoy watching you sleep."
"Haven't we had this conversation before?" The warden said as she leaned in and gave Leliana a small kiss.
Leliana giggled and withdrew before Eternia could deepen the kiss causing her to pout.
"Not now darling, we should get moving."
Leliana was right, of course. The two of them had been wandering Ferelden for several months now. The blight was over and this was like a vacation for them. Eternia was of course technically the advisor to the throne but Alistair and Anora had given her the year's leave she wanted. Of course, she would never travel without her beloved bard and Leliana felt much the same way.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, the warden finally decided she would like to meet those who had given them aid during the blight. They had visited the mages and Arl Eamon at Redcliffe. Their stay at the circle tower was a long one, since Eternia always felt it to be her home. Now they were scrounging the Brecillian forests for Lanaya and her Dalish Elf clan. The visit to the dwarves at Orzammar was being deliberately delayed, for reasons unrelated to the dwarves.
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Alistair sighed. He never thought that he was cut out for being a king. Take now, for example. He knew what the right decision was, but couldn't find the courage to take it. It was times like this when Anora grew slightly upset with him.
"Alsitair, you know that we have to raise taxes. The people will understand, Denerim must be rebuilt, the darkspawn tore it apart." Anora said, exasperated.
"I… yes, you're right. Do it." He finally managed.
Anora smiled and left the room to spread the news.
He was used to battle, not politics and administration. He would have to learn to adapt. His friends had all had faith in him and they were around to advise him. Still, he would be a lot happier once Eternia and Leliana returned. He would never say it aloud, but he trusted their advice above all. Only a few months left.
At least he was ruling in a time of relative peace. He didn't think anything could go wrong. Not now.
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The warden was troubled. She and Leliana sat with Keeper Lanaya in her tent. She told them how they had been happy and at peace for a long time, till her scouts recently discovered an ancient Tevinter ruin. Such ruins were quite common in the Brecillian forests, but the group that had gone to investigate the ruin after its discovery never returned.
"It seems you always come when you are needed, warden. Is this another of your powers?" Lanaya said, smiling a little in an attempt to alleviate the atmosphere.
The warden laughed and shook her head. "Shall we go have a look for you?" She offered.
"Ah, it pains me to ask more of you warden but if you would be so kind. After this I shall probably have to declare myself your slave, so much do me and my people owe you now. A few of my hunters will accompany you, and please do not put yourself in unnecessary danger. There is not telling what was awoken in that ruin."
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Eternia descended the cracked and broken steps cautiously, her Wintersbreath staff held firmly in her hands. Leliana walked close, the string on Marjolaine's Recurve was taut, an arrow at the ready. Four Dalish hunters followed, bows at the ready.
They descended into what must have once been a grand hall. It stretched far ahead with thick stone pillars lining it. The pillars were once ornately carved but now it was difficult to make out what they must once have said. At the very centre of the hall was a vast golden statue of Archon Hessarian, almost completely intact. The group stared in awe at the hall.
"This must date back to the times of Andraste." Leliana whispered, as they advanced slowly glancing at the passages that led off from the hall. Most of them had collapsed; others were barred by locked doors. The door at the far end of the hallway however had been blown off its hinges, it was ajar.
Eternia gestured towards the door and the party gradually moved through, bows still taut, staff at the ready. They found themselves in some sort of altar. At the top of the altar was the statue of an enormous dragon, ancient vials of blood were stacked in front of it. Eternia and Leliana understood that they had found themselves in a tevinter temple, and this altar was not simply for worship but for rituals of blood magic as well.
On the other side of the chamber lay the bodies of several Dalish hunters and around them stood three figures that had been searching the chamber. They now turned to Eternia. They shimmered like ghosts. They wore heavy plate armor and wielded wickedly curved swords and shields adorned with a single green circle. They did not seem entirely corporeal.
"Arcane warriors!" Eternia hissed, as she felt Leliana tense up beside her.
The figure in the centre laughed quietly. "We are what we are, regardless of what you may believe us to be, Hero of Ferelden."
His voice echoed around the chamber, but did not bear any obvious hint of hostility.
"I suggest you leave now. If you interrupt our search you will end up like these elves here."
Eternia refused to back down. "What are you doing here and what do you want?"
"Our business is our own and does you no harm. I will deliver to you a warning, the last one."
The figure vanished and Eternia felt a blade against her neck. The warrior was behind her. The feeling of the blade vanished and the warrior appeared in front of her, where he had been standing, earlier.
"We are beyond you warden, this is your last chance, leave."
Eternia was getting ready to attack when she felt Leliana's gentle hand on her shoulder.
"We don't even know what they are. Please Eternia, it would do us no good to die here."
Eternia grudgingly withdrew her staff and turned to leave.
"A wise decision. I sincerely hope we do not meet again." A voice echoed behind them.
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Eternia and Leliana wandered away from the Dalish camp. They were preparing to leave. They felt no desire to face whatever was at work in the ruins.
"Do you want to continue with the plan and meet the dwarves or would you rather return to Denerim and tell Alistair what transpired?" Leliana inquired.
"we don't have time to meet the dwarves but I want to go to the Frostback back mountains regardless."
"Morrigan." Leliana said simply.
'Yes, it's time to find out why she acted that way and what she really wants."
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Author's note: I'll update this story as soon as possible. In the meantime I welcome reviews and criticism. Thanks for reading!