AN: Hello everyone! New, and old! I know I haven't put anything up in awhile and want to make up for that. I started re-reading this story and have made a few changes. Most are not noticeable. Just some grammar things mostly, but there are story changes as well. I want to get back into writing again, but don't want to remove this story and re upload it, so I'll just update each chapter!

Chapter Updated: 11/23/2015


"Stop your lollygagging!" He hears one of the Masters' guard say to him. The guard pushes his back, nearly making him trip on his ankle chains. He could see nothing. He could only feel the cold dry earth on his bare feet, the deathly cold wind blowing through his thin clothes, and the scuffling of his chains against the dirt and his skin. He could feel the muscles in his ankles and wrist begin to hurt. He didn't understand why he was being treated like this. He didn't ask for this; for any of this.

Yes you did, he hears his mind say.

Suddenly fast moving images speed across his closed eyelids. He sees parts of the day the Master found him. He could only recall the Masters' face lite by the fire in his hand. He remembers nothing of what lied around him. He could only remember the smell of blood, a lot of blood. If he strains, he can remember feeling a wetness surround his bare feet. He remembers the stick of it as he tried to lift his foot. He remembers a dark mist start to take over him, and the Masters' orange glow face smiled at that. The Masters' guards start to surround him and shove him to the blood stained ground. He remembers the feeling of the iron bracings being locked and tightened on his wrists and ankles. One guard lifts him by the collar of his shirt as another behind him ties a blindfold on his face. He has been like that since.

"Keep moving my pet," he hears the Master call returning his mind back to reality.

"As he says," he hears the guard say behind him, "Unless you want to be whip-", he hears the guard stop and gurgle as he falls to the ground.

An attack?

"Shit! I told you twits to watch the trees!" He hears the Master yell as an aura of magic started to surround where he assumed the Master was. He drops down to his knees and covers his head the best he can. He hears something to his left fall with a light thud, then hears that same sound start to run towards the other guards surrounding him.

"Shit! Who the fu-"a guard started to say, but ended up with the same fate as the guard that was behind him. He hears swords being unsheathed and hears the guards scream as they try to attack the invader. He hears sword against sword and with each contact a guard fell. The smell of blood started to grow strong around him.

"Retreat!" he hears the Master yell, "This isn't over, bitch!" He hears the Master and his remaining guards run -

And a small, light voice laugh, "Damned slavers. They just never learn," he hears feet turn and start to make their way towards him, "Sooner or late they'll know not to walk in my Wilds with stolen people." The voice kneels in front of him, "Now then," the voice says gently, "let's get these things off of you." He feels the voice unshackle his ankles and wrists. He then feels warm, feather like, fingers on his face, "This too."

Then he could see. See. He blinks up at the night sky watching the twinkling of stars above. He looks at the tall looming naked trees; a sign of the upcoming winter. He then looks towards the bright moon. Full. He slowly brings his eyes down to the body of the voice kneeling in front of him.

It is a girl. A human. A young looking human girl. Maybe around his age. She has long black hair that shined, beautifully he thought, under the bright full moon that was directly over her. Her long hair was tied into a think looking braid, with all of it laying down over her left shoulder. There was also a smaller bit of her hair swayed sideways against her forehead. The bang came down almost covering her left eye. He moves his eyes to her face and saw shining dark blue eyes staring back at him. Like her hair, her eyes seemed to glow under the moonlight. Her glowing eyes were surrounded by black ink. The ink covered the entirety of her eyes and from it black lines swirled on her forehead. It looked like a mask.

She smiles at him, "Hello there. Are you hurt? Can you stand?" He looks down at the ground and at the dirt between his toes. He looks to his bent knee caps and saw bright red lines where he has fallen on multiple occasions. Slowly he stood, watching his knees work. Once he stood fully straight he looks around at the battle that surrounded them.

"Walk?" she asked as she stood as well. She herself walks over to a tree to his left and stands, waiting. He paused, watching her and looking behind her at the dark forest. Slowly he walks watching her watching him with each step. He stops right in front of her with his bare toes almost meeting her covered feet. She smiles again, "Good. I'm glad. Do you have a name?"

He stood confused, A name…. He looks to her. Her head is tilted slightly to the left, making her bang fall to show her face completely. He opens and close his mouth. Trying to make it work. Then, "I…remember being called Era'harel before…," he says quietly, surprised by his own voice.

She smiles softly, "That's not really a name. Era'harelis," she stops her words and looks down, as if contemplating what she should say or maybe reveal, "Well," she starts looking back up at him, "It's just not really a name. I mean it is, but isn't." He nods his understanding to her. Did he understand her? Truly? He looked up to the moon, thinking.

"Lin," he said up at the moon, then paused to look back at her, "That's what the Master called me when he found me."

"That'll have to do," she said and smiled brightly at him, baring her bright white teeth like the moon, "Let's go then, Lin," she said turning around to face the darkness of the forest. As she walked she said, "Let's bring you home." He looks back at the bodies behind him one finally time, then turns and hurries after her.

~.~

They walk for what felt like hours through the dark cold forest. Their feet crushing the dried brown leaves under them. He was shivering, but he knew he shouldn't complain. Besides, the reason why their walk seemed to take forever was because he was the one walking slow. He wanted to observe every little detail of the dark forest. It felt like it has been so long since he's actually seen anything. His savior didn't complain about his walking speed. It seemed like she almost understood his feelings.

"Where are we?" Lin asks.

"In the Korcari Wilds, the southern part of Ferelden," she answers. He nods and they continue to walk in silence for a few more paces.

"Do you remember anything?" she asks.

"About being taken?" he asks. She nodded, "Not much," he said, "I only remember the Master's face, and the smell of blood."

"I see," she said then sighed, "Well if you smelled blood maybe it's a good thing you don't remember. Blood and mages don't mix well."

"They do. Just not for the good," he said. She looks sideways at him and smiles.

"You're right," she looks back in front of her, "You must not have been taken too long for you to so openly talk and joke about this. Most slaves would actually defend their Masters."

"So you've done this before?"

"What? Save slaves? Oh yes, it's a favorite pass time of mine."

"From what the Master said it seemed like he was expecting you," Lin said looking towards her.

"Not surprising," she said still looking straight, "Yes you're not the first and you won't be the last. It seems I have made quite the reputation with the slavers around these parts," she laughs then looks at him, "I'm quite proud of it."

They walked in silence after that. The crunch of the leaves continued, but grew more frequent as they delve further into the Wilds. Lin watches as the tall trees above them began to get closer and closer, almost blocking out the night sky completely. In the distance he could hear the trickle of water, perhaps a lake nearby.

"We're almost there," she says and he nods. He shivers again as another breeze blows through him. This time she saw it. She removes her black cloak and puts it around him. She also pulls the hood over his head.

"Thank you," Lin said quietly, grasping the cloak surrounding his frame in his hands and pushing some of his black hair away from his face, "Will you-"

"You're welcome, and don't worry about me. I'll be fine," she said smiling at him, "My own home is not too far from here. Thank you for your concern though."

"Another trait you're not used to from slaves?" She laughs loudly making his heart thump hard against his chest.

Why did it do that?

"Those who were extremely loyal to their master hated me for a while. Didn't give two-shits about me. Honestly though, I don't think I can count you as a slave."

"No?"

"Nope!" she said happily, "I think I got to you just in time."

"Another first?"

"Another first," she sighs. She stops and points in front of them, "There! See that?" Lin follows the direction of her outstretched hand and saw a very distant orange glow. There were multiples of them seeming to form a circle. Around the outline of the orange glow he could see the tall trees separate leaving a wide opening.

He starts walking towards it without a second thought and hears his savior laugh behind him, "Wow, you must really be cold!" she laughs again and runs up behind him as he came to the clearing. He stops and looks around with wide eyes. He saw those distant orange glows closer now. Each was a fire that were, indeed, outlining the circle of the clearing with the addition of another fire in the center. He saw a few make-shift tents scattered within and what looked to be miniature boats with red sails.

You remember what they're called, a voice said to him.

I do?

You do. Lin stood there squinting at the boat trying to focus on the memory that was surfacing.

They're aravels. When he returned from his thoughts he saw pairs upon pairs of eyes watching him. Old eyes filled sorrow, adult eyes filled with concern, child eyes filled with curiosity, even some blank baby stares. He then turns his eyes to ones with arrows trained on him. Their eyes were filled with distrust.

"It's alright! It's me!" Lin hears his savior run up behind him panting. She places a hand on his shoulder, "He's with me!" Instantly the arrows were gone and the eyes were filled with relief. The other eyes stopped looking as well.

This human girl must be well known for these Dalish to trust her, the voice said.

One of the bow carriers, an elf woman, walks up to them and motions for them to follow her. Lin looks to his savior who still holds his shoulder. She nods at the bow woman then looks at him, smiling. She squeezes his shoulder then follows the women with him close behind.

They stop at the fire that was in the middle of the circle. Behind the fire was a much larger tent and aravel from the rest. The tent and aravel were decorated with golden swirls against dark red fabric. They wait in front of the fire as the bow woman climbs the few steps up the aravel. She ducks her head into it and starts speaking very quietly to the person inside. Soon after an elderly elf emerged from the aravel. The elder walks down to stand behind the fire. She had grey shoulder length hair with two braids coming down the front of her face. The thin braid continued around her head and to her back. Her face was covered in golden swirls that surround her forehead, with two other lines of swirls coming from the ends of her lips. His savior bows her head to the elder.

"Aneth ara da'len," the elder women said to his savior.

"Aneth ara Keeper," she said with her head bowed then stood straight, "I bring another."

"I see," the elder turns her eyes to his and smiles kindly. He feels safe within those eyes, "Ma serannas," the elder said turning her attention back to the human girl, "It is very late da'len. Please return home quickly. I know your parents worry a great deal."

"I know Keeper. I would've been home already had I not been luckily stopped," she winks at him. His heart beats again.

The elder laughs, "I see. Do you need help getting back? I can send a hunter-"

"No need Keeper, please. I'll be fine." She turns to Lin and pulls him into a hug. His heart was beating so fast it hurt, "I'll be back tomorrow, Lin," she whispers into his pointed ears. His heart pounded even more, so much that he swears she can feel it. She pulls away and smiles at him with her eyes shining brightly once more. She turns to the elder, nods, says her goodbyes, and then retreats into the woods. He watches her until she disappears from his sight.

"Lin," the elder called. Lin turns to the elder. His body warm from the fire, the elder's eyes, and that girls embrace, "That is what she called you. You know what that means in Dalish da'len?"

"Blood," Lin said instantly surprising himself, "It means blood."

"Indeed," she says, "You are fine being called that?"

"I am."

The elder nods sympathetically, "I am Keeper Marethari." This time Lin nods his head. She smiles and turns behind her to place a hand between the slit of the tent opening it to him, "Come da'len," she said, "You deserve a rest." He nods to the elder and enters the tent with her. She gestures to the bedrolls inside and he goes to one. He gives her his thanks then lays gratefully in between the warm wool. The Keeper says her goodnights then leaves and he hears her climbing into her aravel. After, again, what felt like hours he starts to drowse. He was so close to sleep-

Then woke with a start of realization.

He didn't ask her name.

~.~

He must have fell asleep again for he felt those annoying crumbs in the corners of his eyes. He removes his hand from the warmth of the bedroll and rubs the crumbs away. He looks up and sees the top of the Keeper's tent.

So it wasn't a dream.

He hears the birds sing their song and idle chatter coming from outside, "Guess there's no point in waiting anymore", Lin says to himself. He grunts as he leaves the warmth and comfort of the bedroll and silently hopes he'll have many more nights in it.

With her, the voice returned.

Shut it, Lin replies and leaves the tent. He blinks multiple times before his eyes finally adjust to the brightness. The fires were diminished during the day. Surrounding the fire pits were various groups of elves. All of them were laughing and talking to each other. He was surprised that none of them were paying him any mind.

"Good morning, da'len," Lin turns to his left and sees Keeper Marethari approach him.

"Good morning Keeper," he bowed his head to her and when he looked up he saw a child behind her. The child had short black hair and big green eyes that shined.

"Today da'len I want you to get to know your new clan. I want you to feel comfortable here."

"I don't think that will be a problem Keeper."

The Keeper and child smiled at him, "Serannas. I'm happy to hear it. Before I let you go I have some questions to ask you."

"Of course, Keeper."

"You have Vallaslin on you da'len. Were you part of a clan?"

"I…" he had markings on his face? He wonders what they look like, "I'm assuming so Keeper. I do not remember much."

"I understand da'len", the Keeper looks at him with forgiving eyes, "Anything you can remember would help." Lin looks down and squints at the dirt trying to remember for the Keeper. Still, nothing comes to his mind besides one word.

"Era'harel," he said quietly to the dirt. He looks up and sees the Keeper's face grow serious, and the child's become forgiving, "Era'harel," he repeats, "That's all I remember Keeper." He watched as the Keeper turned her gaze to the dirt. After a beat, she looks back at him with a smile.

"Are you alright with your name, Lin?"

"Yes."

"Final question, do you know how old you are?"

He squints again, "…sixteen," then more confidently, "I am sixteen years old."

The Keeper's smile seemed to shine at him, "Ma serannas, Lin. Please, enjoy the rest of your day. Da'len?" She looks down at the child next to her.

"Yes Keeper?" the little girl says.

"Please show Lin around camp."

"Of course, Keeper." Keeper Marethari smiles at her, nods at him, then retreats into her aravel. The child walks to him and smiles brightly, "Andaran atish'an Lin," the child said nodding then looking back up at him, "Emma Merrill." He nods to her and her face grows with alarm, "Oh! I'm sorry!" Merrill said her eyes turning to concern, "The Keeper said you were Dalish, so I thought you knew the language. I forgot you don't remember much. Sorry!" He blinks down at her surprised and confused, then laughs quietly.

"No it's alright, Merrill. It's true I don't remember my past, but I do remember some of our language," he smiles down at her and gently places his hand on top of her small head, "Though, I'm sure you'll help me learn more correct?" She gave a big smile that opened her small mouth and looked up to him with shinning green eyes.

"Yes! Or uh I hope so!"

"Me too. Now then, care to show me around?"

"Oh yes! Please follow me!" And so their trip around the circle started. Merrill introduced him to various elves. He met Ilen the clan's craftsman, Maren the clan's halla keeper, and Hahren Paivel who was the clan's story teller. They stopped for a while with the story teller. Paivel asked some of the same questions as the Keeper, and Lin in return asked about some of their history. Paivel dismissed them soon however, smiling while he told Lin that there will be time another day for him to explain their history. Lin and Merrill continued their walk with her naming a few more elves.

"Not to be rude Merrill, I am enjoying my time, but why did the Keeper ask you to guide me? You are a child still yes? I see no Vallaslin on you," Lin asks her as they walk to the back of the circle. Merrill said that's where the hunters were.

"I am to be the Keeper's First," she said.

"Really? A child?"

"Oh no, no! I mean, yes, but not right away, obviously," she said trying to explain, "It has not been fully announced yet since I am still a child, but it is no secret that I shall take the role. I am the only other one in the clan to possess magic abilities."

"Only mages can be Keepers?"

"Yes, it's apparent that all Keepers know a bit of old magic. I was not born into this clan. My birth clan gave me to this one for they already had enough of mages. I was not needed."

"It sounds like they just threw you away."

"No! Nothing like that!" she said alarmed, "Every ten years the Dalish clans commence Arlathvhen. It is an event where all the clans come together and trade information they have learned. They also evaluate the groups to see if we're well spread out." Lin nods his understanding to her. She looks in front of her, "We're almost at the group." He doesn't hear the young elf, though. For his mind was filled with what, who, he saw. He starts walking hurriedly towards the group before Merrill even finished calling his name.

"Lin!" His savior yells waving her arm at him. Once he was at her side she gave him a quick side hug. He looks around at the group she was with and saw three elves equipped like her. There were two males and one female. As he looked at the group he heard young Merrill run up beside him.

"You're fast!" she huffs hands on her knee caps. She catches her breath then straightens and introduces each in the group with her hand.

"This is Fenarel," Merrill's hand pointed to the male elf with shoulder length blond hair. He had the same green eyes as Merrill, but they were darker. He had many Vallaslin lines surrounding his face, and he was equipped with a shield and sword.

"This is Tamlen," Merrill's hand moved towards the other male elf who has short dirty blond hair. He had bright blue eyes and was also equipped with a sword and shield. His Vallaslin markings swirled on his forehead as well as two lines coming from the corners of his mouth across his cheek, like the Keeper's. He sat closely with the elf girl.

"And this is Mahariel—"

"Lyna, if you please," the elf girl said with a smile. Unlike the other two she was equipped with a bow. She had dark chocolate brown hair in the same style as the Keeper. Her skin is as pale as his saviors. She had narrow green eyes and she had dark green eye shadow surrounding them. Her Vallaslin lines were much thicker than the others. They swirled on her forehead making them look like a crown of sorts. She had one line down the length of her small nose, and two other swirls just below her eyes. She also has two thick lines on her chin. Those lines made him want to grab her chin and examine her closely. She was beautiful.

"This is Lin," Merrill said finally pointing to him.

"Andaran atish'an Lin," the three elves said together. All of them smiling and nodding to him.

"Andaran atish'an Fenarel, Tamlen, and Lyna," he said nodding and smiling to each, "Ma serannas."

"So it's true," Fenarel said with eyebrows up in shock, "You are a Dalish."

"Apparently so since there is evidence on my face," Lin replied.

"Ha! Looks like you lucked out on this one," Tamlen said to his savior.

"Seems I did," she said smiling at him.

"It's always so awful when an elven comes to us not remembering anything but the duties of a slave," Lyna said with a small sigh, "I'm glad there's still some hope in this world."

Lin takes a seat next to his savior and Merrill takes the spot on the other side of her. There the group talked about various things. They asked some questions, he asked some questions, and his savior cracked a couple of jokes making them all laugh. They all sat there talking till the morning sun went up to its afternoon spot in the sky.

"I have to go," his savior said holding a hand up to cover her eyes as she looks at the sun, "Since I was out so late yesterday I promised my parents I'd be home midday."

"Alright," Lyna said, "See you tomorrow?"

"You bet," she said winking at Lyna, "Come on Lin," she stands up and grabs his arm forcing him to stand with her, "Walk me to the entrance. You know the way now right?"

"I do thanks to my little guide," Lin said smiling at Merrill.

"Oh you would have been fine. The camp's not that big," Merrill said blushing. Everyone laughs at the young elf. They said their goodbyes and he lead his savior to the entrance.

"So you like it here? Everything is fine?" she asked as they walked.

"Yes it seems very nice here. I was surprised that no one looked at me with suspicion."

"It's because they're used to my shenanigans."

"Speaking of which," Lin turns his head to look at her, "Why does this clan place so much trust in you? From what I heard Dalish and humans do not mix."

She laughs, "That's true. Here's the story: A couple years ago my father and I were hunting here, caught some good meat for the family. As we delved further into the heart of the Wilds I got caught in one of the Dalish traps. Instantly my father and I, hanging from a tree by the leg, were surrounded by their hunters. I remember one of them making a joke about shemlen meat, I think it was Tamlen in fact. They cut me down and brought us to Keeper Marethari. Her and my father talked for quite some time in her aravel and they came to a deal."

"You see my father is a mage, an apostate, and he's very powerful. He knew some tricks to help her and her people stay away from humans, and was willing to train her and other mages in the secrets hes learned. While they talked I became fascinated with the clan as I watched them move around camp. Before we left I asked the Keeper if I could come by regularly to learn about them. She must have seen the honesty in me wanting to learn about her people and allowed it."

"That's when I started noticing slavers traveling the forest regularly with their precious 'cargo'. It sickened me so I decided to intervene. When I brought the first one to the clan they were suspicious, some angry, but the Keeper was proud of me and asked me to continue saving her people. Over time the clans' suspicion dwindled and their trust grew. I told my parents what I was doing and they were proud, but even so my mom was concerned. She didn't want her first born baby getting hurt, or worse, captured. My dad promised her he'd train me more in stealth and quickness. I promised her I would never get caught and will always be home before midnight."

"Your father teaches you to fight? You said he is a mage," Lin asks.

"He is, and a very powerful one," she smiles at him, "So he knows that you need to know more than just magic in order to protect yourself. There are spells and toxics out there that can stop a mages magic flow. He says mages should be prepared for everything and anything. He's rather quite skilled at dual wielding."

"I see, and the reason why you have to leave now is because you were out past your promise."

"That's right," she sighs, "when I finally came home my mother was waiting on our porch sick with worry. I apologized to her and said I'd take a break for a week."

"She didn't try to stop you, at all?"

"She never would. She knows what I do is good even if it quickens the growing grey in her hair." They made it to the entrance and she went to stand in front of him, "Thank you for walking me and hearing me jabber about my wonderful tale."

He laughed, "You're quite welcome, and it was I who asked about your 'wonderful' tale."

She smiles warmly at him, "I'll try to be back tomorrow, though I imagine you won't have a lot of time to chat. I'm sure Keeper Marethari plans on having Paivel educate you in some long ass history, and have Ilen test your hand at a sword and bow."

"Yes, tomorrow should be interesting," he said with a sigh. He was enjoying this time of just wandering and examining his surroundings.

"It'll be over before you know it!" she said in reassurance, "Dareth shiral, Lin." She turns her back to him and starts to walk away.

"Wait!" he yells and she looks back, "I..uh..you never told me your name." She stares at him at first then gives him her beautiful laugh.

"You never asked?" she said still laughing as she walked back to him. She held out her hand and said,

"The name's Riley Hawke. Hawke with the mask, Riley without," Riley says winking at him.

"I see," Lin said with a smile then grasped her hand and shook it, "Ma serannas Hawke, for rescuing me." She gives him her smile that made his chest hurt.

"Anytime Lin. Dareth shiral."

"Dareth shiral."

~.~

That night she dreamt of him. She dreamt of their meeting in the woods. She sees his long black hair against his fair skinned face, covered with dirt and dry blood, shine in the moonlight. She watches him as he looks at his surroundings. His long hair moving over his shoulders and lengthen to the middle of his chest. She watches as his eyes finally fall to hers. She studies his large eyes. They were a beautiful blue purple color, indigo, that shinned in the moonlight. She noticed that he had the Vallaslin markings of Dirthamen.

A Dalish? She thinks.

She sees the way he looks at her, like she was some sort of goddess. She watches his lips curl into a half smile as they talk. She listens to the way he laughs when she tells a bad joke. She feels his heart beat against her chest as she hugs him, and she hears the way her name sounds on his lips.

She likes it. Really likes it.

Riley smiles in her sleep.