My little one-shots are becoming a way to work out what's going through my PC's mind as she makes a difficult decision. This piece was prompted by 1smut_princess's insistence that I write more fic. You may find her work over on Dreamwidth in the People of Thedas community. I thank her for her encouragement. I'd also like to thank Erynnar and LadyAmesindy, who've encouraged my efforts.
Avelea's gut twisted, and every instinct she possessed seemed to be at war with itself. The tiny Dalish lady looked up at the human warriors surrounding her. Nathaniel, Constable Aidan and Captain Garavel were all advising the same thing - burn Amaranthine. According to Constable Aidan, one-fourth of Amaranthine's population had died of the Darkspawn sickness during the first day of the invasion, mostly the old, the young and those already sick. All three men said the city was lost and the only way to keep from being trapped between the two Darkspawn armies was to burn the city and the Darkspawn in it.
"If there is even one person left alive, we've got to try. We can't leave survivors to fire and Darkspawn," Anders insisted.
Children, there had been so many children in Amaranthine. Avelea had delighted in watching them play in the streets whenever she had business in the city. In turn, the children were fascinated by her. She was an exotic creature, this Dalish lady, with pale blonde hair, vivid green eyes and honey skin. They were entranced by the delicate tattoos that curled over her face and throat. The smallest ones would reach up and trace the lines as if they wondered why the markings wouldn't come off. Avelea had taken to carrying treats in her belt pouch – pieces of dried fruit, simple cookies rich with vanilla, and a chewy candy made from honey and spiced with cinnamon.
"The children, what of Amaranthine's children? Are there no survivors among the young, Constable?" Avelea demanded. Her heart broke and her stomach roiled when Aiden shook his head.
"There are no children left, Commander," he said. "I have not seen a child since the morning of the second day."
She turned to the mage behind her with tears in her eyes. "Anders?"
"What the Constable says is probably true. Disease takes the old, the very young and those already sick first. I don't believe that the Darkspawn sickness would behave any differently, it would only act more quickly." His own eyes shone with unshed tears. "It is probably best to burn the city and cleanse it of its contagion."
She turned back to Nathaniel and the other two men. Agonized green eyes searched Nathaniel's face. "What of your sister? Is she safe? We had to leave the Keep so quickly..."
"Delilah is well. I had word from one of their neighbors on the way here. She and her husband made it out of the city and were heading toward Highever, away from the fighting." He reached up and cupped Avelea's cheek for a moment. "Thank you for asking."
She felt Anders take her hand. These two men - part of her Grey Warden clan, her kith, her brothers - knew how she was grieving and understood the magnitude of the decision she was being asked to make. She briefly rubbed her cheek against Nathaniel's palm and gave Anders' hand a squeeze. She turned to Aiden and Garavel, and in a choked voice gave the order. "Burn it."
Later, Anders and Nathaniel would stand on either side of her as she calmly defended her decision to Teyrn Cousland and King Alistair. Only her brothers knew what the decision had truly cost her. One of them had been with her almost constantly since the day she'd ordered the city burned. They held her when she cried, poured wine when her cup was empty, made sure she ate and bathed, helped her as she set about restoring the Keep and rebuilding the city, and defended her decision to all comers. It was almost enough to ease her heart.