Dissonance: Arc One

Prelude

A/N: Greetings fellow Dragon Age readers! I've been on a hiatus since February from writing more Dragon Age stories, but I'm back and ready to introduce to you a new story I have been working on. If I get good reception from this story, then I will continue from here and if I want to put everything I plan out there, then this should be a long story. So I hope you enjoy what I have for you at the moment, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Dragon Age or their characters or their stories. Bioware is to thank for bestowing us such amazing work. I only claim my own original character and any other made up character that I have created.

There used to be an old tale—spun numerous of times around in the Bannorn, Fereldan. The tale stirred confusion about a tale of two star crossed lovers and their child. The tale originated in Lautlos Hallow, but that is not where the story began.

It all began with a young apostate who was on the run from the Circle Tower in Cumberland. She had spent ninety four days, and counting, away from the Circle. A group of Templars known as The Sylph are recruited by the Grand Enchanter to search for the young apostate. The Sylph had no leads as to where the apostate was, but they know she must have already left Nevarra. After months, they had placed signs everywhere in Nevarra that the apostate was on the run, and she was dangerous. On sight, she would use blood magic to possess you and turn you against your loved ones.

But in reality the apostate, Dahlia was actually far from dangerous. She was as harmless as the antelope that prances in the forest. Even when she was in the Tower, she was the most awkward, quiet girl in the entire Circle. She kept to herself and hardly socialized with anyone. She was invisible. That was why it took the Templars a while to notice she was gone.

Dahlia was actually hiding in the Nahashin Marshes in Orlais. She didn't exactly know where she was since the only world she had ever been in was the Circle, but she was able to survive with quick adaption in the marshes. One day, she was getting closer to the Highway, without knowing. She began to clean up the camp, making sure she showed no trace of life. Dahlia was on the move again, but she began to feel like she was being followed. She turned to see a black bear, ten times her size behind her. Instinct and fear caused her to run, while the bear chased after her. Dahlia kept running and running, until she reached the highway. Once she reached the highway, it was right at her tail.

The bear stood on its hind legs and was about to swipe at her, taking her head as the bounty. A sword was thrusted right into the bear's gullet, then in its skull, and the bear had fallen. Once the bear had fallen into its own pool of blood, there stood a tall man with stunning silver armor, black hair as the night that was taken by day that reached to his neckline, and gray eyes as the gray before a storm. The moment Dahlia had laid her pale brown eyes on him; she was instantly in love with him. He was her stunning silver knight. But her eyes had taken a closer look at his armor and noticed the sword on fire on his torso.

He was a Templar.

"I warn you, stay back! I'm...a witch!" she stated uneasily, "I can turn you into a toad or boil you in a cauldron! So stay back!"

The Templar just chuckled as he sheathed his sword. Even his laugh was beautiful. Dahlia's cheeks were already beginning to heat up.

"Calm down. I'm not here to hurt you." He responded coolly.

"That's what all the Templars say and then they have you pinned down with a dagger in your back." Dahlia said defensively.

"Don't you trust me?"

The Templar began to walk closer to her with a calm look. Dahlia remained in her spot with her face becoming red.

"Say that I didn't see you, that you weren't here." The Templar said while looking down at her.

Dahlia's face and eyes immediately lit up with happiness.

"I would love not to be here!"

The Templar's mouth curved into a half smile and continued.

"I return to my Commander and say that I didn't see you, but I heard a tip you escaped off to Tevinter."

"Really? Wait, you realize that what you're doing is illegal, right?" Dahlia said with bright eyes until they faded into question.

The Templar rubbed the back of his neck and let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, I don't really agree with the Order's rules anyway. If I get kicked out, then that's fine with me."

Dahlia never imagined she would meet such a kind person and a Templar no less. He would give up his spot in the order for a poor apostate's freedom. But there had to be a catch, otherwise he wouldn't really bring it up.

"Why would you go out of your way to do this for me?" She questioned while looking into his eyes.

He looked into Dahlia's eyes for a moment, and then he smiled.

"I only ask to join you when you leave."

Dahlia was now confused. What would a Templar like him follow an apostate like her? She knew that some mages had their own Templars who were like watchdogs, but they were only for the dangerous mages.

"You mean like eloping?" Dahlia questioned.

The Templar's cheeks turned pink. Dahlia realized what she had said, her eyes had widened and her face turned red. She wanted to smoothly recover what she had just said, to take it back but her mouth remained shut. Dahlia thought she had just blown the deal.

The corner of the Templar's mouth curved up ward into a half smile. He then gently patted the top of Dahlia's head.

"Like eloping."

Dahlia's face turned redder when the Templar had touched her bronze colored hair. Now she knew she had to say something, anything now.

"Um…you know my name is-"

"Dahlia?" The Templar interrupted once he had stopped patting her head.

Dahlia was shocked he knew her full name. But she was too smitten to realize that this man was probably told who he was searching for, and not just for an apostate.

"There are wanted posters in Nevarra with your face on it." The Templar added, "I'm Ciel."

After that Ciel had returned to his Commander and had fallen off the map after that. No one knew he would be running away with an awkward apostate. The two had ran from Orlais and to Fereldan. There, Dahlia became Dahlia Rosincreutz. The two had settled in the small town in the Bannorn called Lautlos Hallow. A town where the sun never touched the land or any of the villagers' skin, a town where it was surrounded by trees and an empty plain of dead grass. To the fellow villagers, the new couple was just ordinary to them. They didn't know how they got there. They didn't know Dahlia was an apostate. But they knew that Ciel was a Templar, because of his armor. He had become apart of the guard while Dahlia was an herbalist. She was the one the villagers came to when they needed medicine, potions or salves while Ciel was the one to go to when something strange was going on in town. About two years in the village, Dahlia became pregnant. Once Dahlia began to grow, Ciel ordered her to be confined to the house and avoid any strenuous activity. Now that Ciel and Dahlia were expecting a new member in their family, they were now a part of the norm in town.

That is until Ciel heard about the town's problem.

Ciel heard from the butcher that the Witch of the Wilds was seen wondering around their village. At times, she would enter their town and do unspeakable things. She would sabotage their food supply, kill innocent men and women, she even stole their children. Ciel's duty was to protect the town, but he didn't want his wife and child to be unsafe here. So he decided to investigate around.

After countless days and nights, he finally catches the Witch the Wilds in the forest by herself. Although he heard legend that she was old, she looked young and quite innocent. Much like Dahlia. Ciel spoke to the woman to learn her name was Eveery, and that she didn't mean any harm. She said all the stories they told him were false and that she wanted a fresh start. Ciel had decided to let her go and returned to the village. Little did he know Ciel was being watched by a hunter.

The hunter returned to the town and told that Ciel was collaborating with the Witch and had released her. The town then formed a mob and invaded Ciel's home. They told Dahlia what Ciel had done and they demanded for a punishment for Ciel. Ciel didn't want Dahlia hurt, so he willingly left with the mob for his punishment. Dahlia was taken with the mob to a large black bald tree with a noose on a branch. Dahlia was forced to watch as her husband was hanged for a punishment she knew wasn't just.

That night, Dahlia returned home and locked herself inside. She didn't leave that house for three days. It was three days of bitter agony and tears. It was three days to herself and her thoughts. She wished desperately for Ciel to return. Then Dahlia knew what must be done.

Dahlia had returned to the spot where her husband was hanged to see his body still there. She managed to take his body back to their house. Dahlia gathered all the materials she would be needing, Deathroots, Spirit Shards, a dagger, chalk, and demonic ichord. She laid her husband on the ground and concocted an incense to make the Veil thin. Dahlia then took a dagger and sliced the palm of her hand. Blood and tears dropped onto the body. What she was doing, was forbidden. What she was doing, was necromancy.

Black smoke had slithered from the corner of the room and into the air. The smoke began to form a man with pale dead skin, black dragon armor, and black ebony hair. On top of its head were animal like ears that matched the color of his hair. The ends of its hair were smoke that faded into the air. Its lower body resembled much like an animal's hind legs. Then its eyes were the most frightening, they were the color of amber.

The demon looked around in disgust.

"Ugh, this room is so horrible. My taste." He said as he scanned the room.

His amber eyes then stopped at Dahlia.

"You must be what I summoned from the Fade. But you don't feel like a spirit." Dahlia sobbed as she repeated every other word.

Its eyes were emotionless, as was his expression.

"Far from a spirit my dear." He said charmingly, "Umbrae Metus, or-"

"Shadow of Fear…" Dahlia said with one breath.

Metus grinned a very wolfish grin, showing off all his razor sharp teeth.

"Impressive."

Dahlia didn't expect to summon a demon, or a demon of fear. But if it was from the Fade, it would make a deal with her, right?

"I want to resurrect my husband. Can you do that?" Dahlia said as she straightened her posture and rubbed the tears from her eyes.

Metus's grin faded and he was silent for a moment then looked down at the body before him. He then looked back to Dahlia.

"Of course, I want something in return." He added with promising eyes.

Dahlia glared at the demon. Of course he wanted something, there was always a catch.

"What is it?"

"An eye for an eye, blood for blood. I require something of equal value for what you ask." Metus insinuated with emotionless eyes.

Dahlia placed her uncut hand over her large belly. She knew immediately what he wanted.

"You want to use my child's life for my husband's?" Dahlia questioned while her hand was still on her belly.

The demon rolled his eyes then looked back at her.

"It's not a trade. You will end up with both a husband and a healthy child."

Dahlia looked down at her stomach then to the demon.

"I can resurrect your husband with the snap of my fingers. But in order for him to be alive, I must be alive. If I harness a living being and use it as a beacon, I can keep your husband alive. What I'm asking, is to join with your child. Do you agree?"

Dahlia was taught when she was in the Circle to never trust demons. But she was faced with a decision that she wasn't prepared for. If she agreed to the demon's proposition, then she would have her husband alive as well as her newborn baby. But her baby will be possessed by the Demon of Fear all its life, and who knows what he could do. If she doesn't, then she won't have Ciel.

"Agreed."

Dahlia placed her hands over her husband. A gray light emitted from her hands and Metus began to get sucked into the light. It was just a few seconds later when Dahlia abruptly stopped the light and began to sob into her bloody hands.

She couldn't do it. She was becoming the very thing that was dangerous of her. Her connection to the Fade attracted very powerful demons, and she knew better.

Her ears picked up a disturbing growl in front of her.

"Fool! Now I'm stuck in this mortal plain! Do you realize what you have done!?" Growled the Demon with anger.

Dahlia didn't care anymore. She didn't care about what she had done, or what she was going to do. Dahlia buried her husband in the forest, by a small tree. She was stuck with the demon following her around like a child clinging to his mother. Everyone began to notice Dahlia back around town again. There was a rumor going on that she was dabbling in the forbidden magic, but it was only a rumor that floated in the empty air. Some sympathized for her and comforted her when they saw her around. She was hesitant to accept their comfort and lies, but she knew they meant well.

Soon the time had come, and the baby was born. It was a healthy baby boy. But right when the baby had opened its beautiful eyes, her eyes had widened to see those eyes. Those amber eyes.

The next day Dahlia confronted the demon about what she had seen.

"What have you done to my son!?" She shouted.

The demon let out an irritated sigh, "When you were trying to resurrect your husband and made the stupid decision to stop midway, I wasn't just stuck inside of you. My other half possessed your child, that's why."

Dahlia felt enraged, that her child was being possessed by this disturbing demon, "If you hate my company, then all you have to do is transfer this half to your son and he will become whole." The demon noted with a grin.

Dahlia shook her head violently, "No!"

The Demon rolled his eyes, "Well, be prepared for what is to come. His eyes aren't what you will notice as he grows." The Demon warned as he laid lazily in the air.

The Demon was right. In about a year, Dahlia noticed that when his teeth began to come in, his canines were quite noticeable. As he grew older, Dahlia noticed that he looked exactly like Ciel. They had the same black hair and the same smile that made her happy. But unlike Ciel, he was quiet and shy. He didn't like going into town since the children always bullied him. So Dahlia had him go into the forest to retrieve the herbs she needed. In time, she began to notice that he preferred being in the forest, he even sometimes brought home little injured forests animals for Dahlia to heal.

Even though she couldn't get back Ciel, she loved their son all the more.

But fate had taken the turn for the worse when one of the villagers returned from trading fish in Cumberland with a wanted poster with Dahlia's face on it. He showed it around town with no means to an end. The rumor that had floated in the empty air had dissolved into the citizens' minds. Soon they had stormed into her home and demanded for her punishment. When she refused, they threatened for her son to take her place if she wasn't going to take responsibility.

Dahlia then decided to be responsible, and take her toll.

The mob bound her hands and pulled her from her house to the black bald tree where she witness Ciel's death only seven years ago. She requested to speak to her son one last time. Out of kindness, they let her. She kneeled down before her son, looking into his sad amber eyes.

"There's so much more outside of this world, you need to experience it." She began soothingly, "So run. Run out of this cursed town and never come back. Make a new life away from here and never turn to look back. Please forgive me."

Dahlia's goodbye was followed by a warm kiss on his forehead before she was yanked away from him by the mob.

She was hanged that day.

After that, no one knew what had happened to the child. Some say he ran off into the forest out of fear of the town. Some say he followed his mother's exact words and ran away from his home and lived a new life. But after his mother was hanged, he wasn't seen or heard from again.

As travelers stumbled across the silent town of Lautlos Hollow, the biggest attraction was the large black bald tree near the outskirts of the town with two nooses on each side of the tree.

A tale begins only with one breath. That is until Death steals it from your cold body.