May the Rain come.
A/N: Valania Mahariel woke up one morning and knew today was going to change the rest of her life. She just didn't know how. This is her journey from my point of view. This story will start all the way at the beginning. The dialogue might be a little different at some points so please don't get pissed at me ill try to keep it as close to the game dialogue as possible. Rated M for language and sex. Mahariel/Alistair, slight Mahariel/Tamlen and Mahariel/Zevran
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age or any of the characters.
Chapter 1:The journey starts today
Valania jolted awake as the remnants of her dream faded and she noticed that she was still back in camp sleeping next to Ashalle. The sun had started to come up and she noticed some hunters getting ready to start the first patrol of the morning. She noticed Tamlen getting up from his place next to Paivel and she smiled. She had a feeling that today was going to be a very different day than most. She didn't know why but she knew it had something to do with Tamlen.
Maybe he's finally going to ask you to marry him. She thought to herself and had to suppress the girly giggle that threatened to over take her. She had been best friends with Tamlen since they were children and their feelings had began to grow deeper as they grew older. She saw him walking over to her and quickly closed her eyes. Valania felt him kneel down close to her and his large warm hand on her arm.
"Lethallan, wake up." He said softly.
She slowly opened her eyes and had to stop her heart from jumping into her throat at his beautiful blue eyes. "Tamlen, is everything alright?"
He nodded. "I'm getting ready to head out with the hunters, they want us to team up and I don't have a partner. Would you like to join me?" He asked his eyes hopeful.
She smiled. "Of course Tam, You know I would never miss a chance to spend time with you. Let me go change into my armor and I'll meet you at the entrance to camp." She watched him go and jumped up to go change into her armor. She pulled her long black hair back into its high ponytail. She buckled the last of her armor on and grabbed her dagger and sword. She ran to the edge of camp and grinned at Tamlen who gave her a beaming smile in return.
"C'mon Lethallan." He said as she got to him and they began their scouting.
After a few hours they stopped in a small secluded clearing for lunch. Valania dropped her weapons on the ground and stretched out. "Now this is how we should spend our days. Free with the sun on our faces and the earth around us." She sighed blissfully and closed her eyes.
Tamlen felt a jerk in his loins as he watched the sun glint off her beautifully pale skin and his mouth go dry. His eyes examined her. Her skin was pale as fresh snow and he knew it was soft and smooth as the petals of the Andraste's Grace flower. She had a tattoo identical to the Keeper's only hers was a deep red. Her hair was the color of the darkest onyx and her eyes the color of the purest silver. He was always struck by her beauty and felt himself go weak when she walked over to him with the grace and majesty of a Halla. He looked at her lips that were painted dark red color and begged him to bend down and claim them for his own. And on top of her beauty was the fact that she was the most talented warrior in the clan, her technique with two blades and her deadly grace made her one, if not the, most desirable women in the clan.
"Tamlen?" She asked, her voice causing him to almost moan because it was dark and smokey with promises of midnight pleasure.
"Yes Valania?" He asked after clearing his throat.
She smiled as she sat up slightly and patted the spot next to her. "Come, lay with me for a while." She said.
He nodded as he sat down his hip brushing against hers. She smiled and leaned her head on his bicep. "This is nice huh?"
He nodded. "But weren't you supposed to be helping Master Varathorn?"
"And skip out on a chance to have you alone? Not likely Tam."
His heart skipped a beat. "That's nice to hear you say Valania, I love spending time with you too."
She smiled up at him. "Tam, can I ask you something?"
"Of course Lethallan."
"Do you want to kiss me?" she asked softly her sliver eyes searching his for an answer that he knew she wanted and he wanted to give.
"Yes." He whispered. "I've wanted to kiss you for years." He cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to brush his lips over her.
Valania's eyes slipped closed as she wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him back. She whimpered deep in her throat at the taste of Tamlen and her body throbbed for more. "Tamlen…. I-what was that?" she asked when she heard the sounds of snapping branches. She grabbed her swords and Tamlen grabbed his bow aiming it as three humans came bumbling out of the brush and one fell over letting out a screech as he looked at the two Dalish elves.
"It's the Dalish!" one man yelled. "Please…please don't harm us."
"Look here Lethallan, we have shem, what should we do with them?"
Valania arched an eyebrow. "I say we will them, that way they can't bring more shemlen and drive us out or worse."
"I like the way you think." Tamlen laughed.
"We ain't done nothing to you Dalish! We didn't even know this was your forest."
Tamlen scoffed. "This forest isn't ours, fool, you have simply wondered to close to our camp. For all we know you could be bandits."
"We aren't! We were exploring some ruins we found."
Valania rolled her eyes. "There are no ruins here stupid shemlen. We know this forest well and there are only caves."
"So you're more akin to thieves than bandits."
"We found this in the ruins. Here look!"
"Is this…elvish? Written elvish?" Tamlen asked in surprise. "Where were these ruins?"
"Back that way, in a cave through a hole in the back of the cave. We didn't get to far because there was a demon with black eyes in there."
"Well Lethallan? What should we do with them?"
"Lets let them go, we've scared them enough." She said.
"You are lucky my friend is so compassionate, now run and never return." He snapped.
The three men jumped up and ran away. Tamlen put his bow away and looked over at her. "So should we go and check out these ruins?"
She nodded. "Of course, one can never have to many adventures."
"And if we find something the Keeper will want to know." He grinned and took her hand. "And when we are finished we can go back to what we were doing." He winked at her.
She felt her heart skip a beat. "Good, I would love to continue what we were doing." She smiled as they ran through the forest to the ruins.
After defeating the demon Valania looked around. "What was that thing?" she asked as she kicked the demon corpse. "Tam?" she turned to see him examining the mirror. "Tamlen what are you doing?"
"There's something in the mirror. Can't you see it? It's moving."
"Tamlen that's crazy. C'mon we've found enough to peek the Keepers interest. We can come back when—Tamlen stop!" she yelled as she saw him touch the mirror.
"Can't you see it? It's showing me something; I think it's a city of some kind? And…. a blackness…oh no! It saw me! Help I can't look away!"
Before Valania could reach him the mirror gave off a burst of energy and she was knocked back into a wall and the blackness consumed her.
When she finally woke, Valania found herself in the Keepers Aravel and she slowly got up mindful of the throbbing in her head. She stumbled out of the Aravel and ran into Fenarel. "By the gods! You're awake!" He exclaimed as he hugged her.
"Fenarel? What happened? Where's Tamlen?" She asked frantically.
"We don't know. A shem showed up with you slung over his shoulder saying he found you alone outside of a cave. We were hoping you could give us some insight as to what happened?"
"We…we were out hunting when we ran into some shems, they told us about a cave they found with ruins. They showed us a tablet that had Elven writing on it and…and we went exploring thinking we could find something for the clan that would give us our history back…. then…then there was a mirror and Tamlen…he touched it…. then I blacked out and found myself here. Is anyone looking for him?"
"Of course. Most of our hunters have left to go find him. The Keeper will want to know you're awake. Ill go get her." He left and the Keeper walked up.
"Ah, its good to see you up Da'len. You had us all worried very much when Duncan brought you here in your state. Tell me, what do you remember?"
Valania quickly related her story to the Keeper. "A mirror you say? Alright, Duncan is back at the ruins but we can not expect him to look for Tamlen as well, take Merrill with you to the ruins and look for Tamlen and bring him back if he is safe."
"Yes Keeper." She said as she ran off to get Merrill and guided her back to the ruins. After encountering some darkspawn she got them to the back room where they found Duncan looking at the mirror.
"Ah, so there was fighting outside. I am Duncan of the Grey Wardens."
"Andaran atish'an Duncan of the Grey Wardens. I am Merrill the Keeper's Apprentice."
"And I am Valania."
"You are the young elf I found three days ago? You were here with your friend?"
"Yes have you seen any sign of him?"
Duncan shook his head. "No, and I doubt you will either. This mirror is of Tivinter origins; we have seen many of them before they were used primarily for communication. Some simply break over time…others become filled with the same taint as the darkspawn. I believe your friend released the taint, the only way to keep everyone safe is to destroy it." He turned around and took his long sword and smashed the mirror in a brilliant flash of light causing the two elves to flinch.
"Why would you do that? We could have used that to find a cure." Merrill cried.
"It would have only drawn more darkspawn."
"What about Tamlen? We could have used that mirror to find some kind of clue about him."
"You are very unlikely to find him. If he is as sick as you were he's been without aide for three days. You were lucky I found you and that your Keeper knew so much to keep you alive. But even now I can feel the taint within you. Come we can speak more back at your camp."
Valania looked mournfully at the broken mirror and sighed nodding. "Let's go." She whispered as she turned and walked with the Warden and Merrill behind her.
After leaving the Warden with the Keeper she walked to Paivel and asked him to perform a service for Tamlen. She had to choke back her tears as she spoke to him, her voice wavering and her lips trembling. She walked back to where the Keeper and Duncan were waiting.
"Ah, its good that you are here. You're Keeper and I have been discussing your cure. And the only solution is that you come with me and go through the Joining."
"I am being sent away from the clan? Is this my punishment for not bringing Tamlen back?" She asked fearfully looking at the Keeper.
"No Da'len. We would not let you go had we a choice. This man is an honorable one. He gives his word that you will be well cared for. The Wardens will become your family, and we will always be open to you should you visit us."
"I understand Keeper. I will take this honor and I will not shame the clan."
"That is all we ask Da'len, you were never meant for this life, you were meant for great things and through your actions the world will change. Take this ring, as a symbol of your people and know that we are behind you in spirit and the gods watch over you."
"A valuable gift. Now if you are ready to go?"
"Now? Can I not stay for Tamlen's funeral?" She asked her silver eyes wide.
"Even though we are needed in Ostagar, I can not and will not deny you of that."
"Then come Da'len, let your clan embrace you one last time." The keeper said walking to her and taking her down to the small campfire where she sang and said goodbye to her clan.
After the funeral she looked down the two paths of the clan her arms and hands being touched by many of the others. She got to Merrill who looked at her with tears in her eyes. She hugged her close. "Good bye Merrill. You are a wonderful friend. You will make a great Keeper." She said as she moved off she walked past the keeper hugging her softly before she ascended the stairs to where Duncan was waiting for her. She turned one last time to gaze at the sad faces of her clan. She forced a smile and raised her arm in a final farewell.
Duncan tugged her arm and she sighed. "I knew today was going to change my life." She said wistfully as she got up on the horse behind Duncan.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing." She said as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her head on his back as she silently wept.
Duncan felt her tears and stayed silent knowing that the warrior needed to let her tears go. He looked forward giving her some sort of privacy; the only she was ever going to get from now on.
A/N: All right ends to chapter one. I know I probably messed up the dialogue but it's going to be better next chapter. Next chapter, Ostagar. R&R!