"Children, hush now, lest the others think poorly of you."
"Yes, ma'am."
Kanna Ghilain stood proudly with the elven children as they walked through the Temple of Sacred Ashes. She had been chosen to participate in the Conclave, but only for the sake of her clan. She was chosen as a representative for her clan in order to show their support for the peace treaties, hoping to explain that this senseless war between mages and templars was doing more harm than they realized. The three children that traveled with her were her own, but their father died in one of the first battles of the Mage Templar War. She had raised them from infants with the help of her clan and it was the clan's hope that the children could help bring some light onto the effects of the war that senselessly raged.
"Mamae, can we go see the village?" one of the children asked.
"Yes, please, mamae!" the other two voiced.
Kanna smiled at her children. Shiri was the youngest, with her two older brothers Aldaron and Adren. "Of course and if you behave, then perhaps we can get some sweets."
The children cheered and smiled, beaming up at their mother. They grabbed her hands and pulled her along towards the village. Kanna couldn't help but laugh and followed them down to the village of Haven.
-O-
"Wow, look at all the swords mamae!" Adren said, running ahead of his family to the nearest sword stall.
"Adren, you mustn't run off like that!" Kanna called. "Stay close by, understood?"
"Yes, mamae, but look at the swords! They are so shiny!"
Kana smiled and patted her son's shoulder. "Yes, da'assan, they are indeed."
"Mamae?" Aldaron asked, pulling on her sleeve.
"What is it, da'mi?"
"Where is Shiri? I don't see her."
Kanna felt her heart begin race and she grabbed her sons' hands, beginning her search for her daughter. "Shiri! Shiri where are you, emm'asha?" She looked everywhere she could then started to head back towards the main gate, worried she ran outside of the village alone.
"Mamae, look!" Adren said, pointing.
Kanna looked towards the direction her son pointed and smiled in relief. "Shiri!"
"Mamae! Look, I found a lion!" Shiri said from atop the shoulders of a young human man.
"Shiri, where'd you go? I was so worried!" Kanna said, taking her from the man as he lifted the girl from his shoulders. "Emm'asha, I thought I lost you..."
"Sorry, mamae..."
"I am sorry, ser. Thank you for keeping her safe." Kanna said, turning to the man.
He chuckled. "It was no trouble at all."
"Mamae, the lion let me play with him!"
"Well, did you thank the nice lion?"
"Thank you, Mister Lion!" Shiri said, smiling.
The man smiled and rubbed the girl's head. "You're welcome, little one."
Shiri giggled. "Mister Lion, are you part of the Conclave too?"
The man looked at her. "I am offering my assistance, little one. Are you a part of the Conclave?"
"No, silly lion. Mamae is though. She's helping Keeper Tador!"
"Hush, emm'asha. Let the nice lion be."
"It's alright, I don't mind." he said. "My name is Cullen, I am the Commander of the Inquisition's forces."
"A pleasure, ser. I am Kanna and these are my children. Shiri you have met already, but my boys here are Aldaron and Adren."
Cullen knelt down and looked at the boys. "Hello."
"Wow, you're so big and strong!" Aldaron said, his eyes wide. "Could you teach me to use a sword?"
"Da'mi, hush. Leave the nice man alone." Kanna said, sighing. "I'm sorry, Cullen. They're very... adventurous, I suppose. They wish to try anything and everything they see. Much like their father."
"It's quite alright." Cullen said, smiling and looking up at her. He looked back to the boys. "If you stick around long enough and get stronger, I promise I will begin your training." He glanced up at Kanna. "With your mother's permission, of course."
The boys cheered.
Standing, Cullen looked at the strange woman. She was Dalish, from a clan he did not know, with snow white hair and turqouise eyes. She had a scar running across the bridge of her nose. She had a slender figure, an ample bossom- as accentuated by her deep forest green blouse- and tanned yet fair skin. In all sense of words, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Clearing his throat, he straightened his shoulders. "Your daughter said you were part of the Conclave?"
"Oh, yes. Our Keeper, Tador, asked me to represent our clan at the Conclave when we were invited to oversee everything. It was Keeper Tador's hope- as well as the rest of our kin- that my children and I could offer some insight into the effects of the Mage Templar War have on the rest of the world."
"Is your scar a result of the war?" Cullen asked, then realized he may be prying. "Forgive me, Serah Kanna. I do not mean to pry."
Kanna giggled. "No, it's alright. Yes, this scar I have is from the war. Our clan was attacked while we were traveling to our next camp site. My late husband was amongst those who died protecting the clan."
"My condolences."
"Thank you. At the very least, my husband is at the Maker's side and I know he's protecting our children." Kanna said with a sad smile.
"You are Andrastian?" Cullen asked, surprised.
"Yes, why? Is that so strange?" Kanna asked.
"A little. Please forgive me, I do not meet many elves that worship the Maker, least of all one of the Dalish."
Kanna smiled. "Well, my clan is descended from Ameridan, the first Inquisitor. He disappeared some time after the Inquisition split into the Seekers of Truth and the Templar Order. Since his disappearance, my clan has devoted their beliefs and faith to the Maker and we try to follow in his footsteps and try to honor him."
"That is surprising while commendable." Cullen said.
"Well, we do our best." Kanna replied, but then a loud explosion sounded. Everyone turned and stared towards the Temple of Sacred Ashes as a green flash sped across the sky and a hole appeared in the sky.
"No, the Conclave!" Kanna said, her hand to her mouth.
"Kanna, take the children and get to the Chantry where it's safe!" Cullen ordered, then started to issue orders to his men.
"Come, children!" Kanna said. "Stay close to me, understood? Adren give me your hand, then grab Aldaron's. Don't let go no matter what!"
Adren did as he was told and let his mother lead them to the Chantry. "Mamae, what happened to all the people?"
Kanna found a safe spot for her children. "I need you three to stay here, understood? Don't move from this spot until I come back, OK?" Looki9ng at Aldaron.
"OK, mamae, I'll protect Shiri and Adren."
"That's my da'mi." Kanna said, smiling. "Be good now and look after your brother and sister." She kissed her children's heads and hugged them. "I promise I'll be back soon."
-O-
Kanna ran towards the Temple, but she could feel something terribly wrong. She looked around as she climbed the mountain and saw what looked like rifts glowing with the green of the Fade. They pulsated and demons began to step through. Kanna reached beneath her cloak and drew her sword, ready to fight her way through the demons.
"Kanna, what in the Maker's name are you doing here?"
Kanna looked to her left and saw Cullen and a few of his men joining her, their weapons drawn and already covered in demon blood. "I came to help, Cullen."
"What about your children?"
"They're safe." Kanna said, then turned to look as the hole in the sky pulsated and produced another Fade rift. "But we need to find any survivors and get them off this mountain and we need to hurry!"
Cullen nodded, sensing he couldn't argue with the elf. "Let's move then. Kanna, stay by my side."
Kanna nodded and followed the Inquisition's Commander up the mountain.
Encountering dozens, even hundreds of demons along the way, Kanna, Cullen, and the soldiers made easy work of them and continued up the mountain. They reached one of the gates to the Temple path and found another rift, but this one was bigger than the others.
"We must be careful!" Kanna called over the hum of the rift. "This is larger than the others we've encountered, which may mean bigger and stronger demons."
The rift pulsated and a group of greater shades and wraiths poured through. "Get ready!" Cullen ordered.
The demons attacked and the men defended. Kanna and Cullen pretty much stood at each others backs, protecting each other and his men. The demons came at them, coming more and more the longer the rift was open.
"We can't keep this up forever, Cullen!" Kanna said, panting.
"We have to keep the demons back!" Cullen replied.
Kanna looked up as a group of people came down the stairs that led to their little courtyard. "Cullen, reinforcements!"
Cullen was grateful for the reinforcements and saw that it was Cassandra Pentaghast, Varric Tethras, Solas the apostate elf, and a stranger with a glowing hand- the prisoner they had captured when the Conclave exploded as as suspect.
They fought of the next wave of demons and when they were able to defeat them, the stranger thrust her hand forward and a weird light eminated from her hand. Cullen and his men stood there watching with Kanna as the rift closed.
"Lady Cassandra. You managed to close the rift? Well done." Cullen said, hurrying over to them.
Kanna sheathed her sword and joined Cullen. "That was incredible. You couldn't have got here at a better time." she said, greeting their reinforcements.
"Kanna?"
Kanna turned to look at the one with the mark and her eyes widened. "Valynna?"
The two embraced, smiling.
"Maker, how long has it been?" Kanna asked, stepping back and looking at the girl.
"Must be eight years now. I haven't seen you since Adren was born." Valynna said.
"You two know each other?" Cullen asked.
Kanna nodded. "Yes, this is my sister, Valynna Ghilain. Though, she married into the Lavellan clan, so it's Valynna Lavellan now."
"Ghilain? That was the name of the first Inquisitor." the woman with them said.
"Ameridan Ghilain is our ancestor." Valynna said. "When he disappeared, our clan devoted themselves to honoring him and the good he did for the world. He's the biggest reason why our clan is Andrastian, Cassandra."
"What of your Creators?" the elf with them asked.
"Not all elves believe in the Creators, Solas." Valynna replied, looking at him. "We were raised like other Dalish elves, knowing the history of our people and the beliefs of the Dalish people as a whole, but our clan has chosen to follow the Maker in honor of Ameridan."
Kanna looked at the elf Valynna called "Solas". When his eyes met hers, her skin crawled. 'Fen'Harel!'
Solas' eyes widened. 'How do you know who I am, da'len? What power do you have that allows you into my mind?'
'I can use telepathy to read another's mind, for one thing. I thought the Creators were just a story passed on through the ages by our peoples. I see that I am wrong.' Kana replied.
'You have my interest, da'len. Do you know where your powers come from?'
'No, I do not. My clan believes I am blessed by the Maker, though now that I see one of the Dalish gods before me, it may be their doing. This power has been with me for as long as I can remember.'
"Kanna? Solas?" Valynna asked, seeing them staring at each other. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, my apologies." Solas said. "Your sister is quite remarkably beautiful. Please forgive my rudeness, Lady Kanna. I did not mean to stare." Looking at Valynna, he added, "We should move on. We still have matters to attend to."
"The path up the mountain should be cleared." Cullen said.
Kanna looked at Solas again and found it hard to believe that one of the elven gods was right in front of her. 'If you are indeed Fen'Harel, then please protect my sister, Dread Wolf.' she thought to the elf.
'I will do my best, da'len.'
'Ar tu na'lin emma mi, Fen'Harel, if you fail to protect Valynna.' Kanna thought and turned to her sister. "Be careful, Valynna. The children would love to see their aunt and you haven't met the youngest yet."
"You had another?"
Kanna nodded. "Her name is Shiri and she'd love to meet you. So come back safe?"
Valynna hugged her older sister and nodded. "I promise."
"Then go and stop this from getting worse. Do your best and may Andraste guide your hands and the Maker protect you."
Valynna left with her companions and headed further up the mountain. Kanna turned to help some of the wounded as she and Cullen headed back down to Haven.