First, my name is Bellanaris Lavellan. You can call me Bell for short. I am an Elvhen mage from the Dalish clan Lavellan. This is to be a notation of me and my adventures in case something were to happen and given that I can't, granted, won't trust Varric to put nothing but the truth, I have decided to do this myself. *Sigh this should be fun…..*
I awoke to darkness, the ground underneath cold and hard.. Stone, perhaps? Was I in a cell? By Fen'Herel where could I be? My mind draws a blank on what happened, but there in the palm of my hand a dull ache, a reminder of what happened. The sound of a large door opening is followed by the dim light of a candelabra. Two women walk in. Both shems… Rolling my eyes I think, *Great just what I need.* The first, clad in armor, a braid dawns the crown of her head. She walks behind me
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now" She says and begins her rant.
Why am I the only one alive? I remember…A…..a light a bright green light and at the opening a faceless woman, the words GO scream inside my head.
" I…I don't know what you are talking about" I exclaim as she grabs my hand causing the mark to flare up in a burst of pain and light
"Then explain this" she says through gritted teeth. The pain from the flare up draws tears from my eyes.
"I can't, I don't know what it is and I don't know what you are going on about…. Is is everyone…are you sure?" I ask looking up at her.
"Yes everyone at the conclave is dead, yet you live".
A name flickers in my thoughts like a light going out…Everyone? I think to myself then that means…My thoughts are cut off as the second woman, in a head to toe gown, speaks up.
"We need her" That's all she says those three simple words are enough for the first woman, whose name I've gathered is Cassandra, to pull me on to my feet then drags me towards the door.
It's bright outside, the sky is for lack of a better word broken. There is a big green hole, its nasty and angry looking. Cassandra looks at me
"It started with the destruction of the conclave and has grown bigger by the hour. We must act, try to close it as it grows more rifts appear, maybe that mark can…"
"A minuet ago you threatened to kill me. NOW, you want my help?" I say looking down "do I have…."my words cut off by a loud crack as the hole in the sky glows, my mark flaring up in response. Dropping to my knees I cradle my hand against my body and look up when the pain subsides.
"The mark is killing you, we need to test it on a smaller rift if it can close one, perhaps we can close the first and save you" Cassandra says kneeling next to me, I only nod in response.
When we stand she unbinds my hands and we head for the gate. She speaks, but I tune her out while we walk for I am lost in my own thoughts. Ma da'assan, Ir abelas Mythal ghilani ma elgar. I am drawn from my thoughts as I hear my captor yell run, another burst from the breach sends lighting down hitting the bridge we walk causing it to crumble. Running fast as I can, we're not going to make it a loud rumble and it gives way…We grunt as we land below,
"STAY BEHIND ME!"
I look up and there, clawing its way out of the very ground is a demon. Cassandra runs to attack it as a second begins to appear in front of me, I look around for something... ANYTHING... Ah, there, amidst the rubble- a staff. Crude but, it will get the job done. Between the two of us, the demon pair is easily dispatched I even killed my foe quick enough to lend the woman a hand, yet Cassandra has the nerve to ask me to disarm. I considered telling her I don't need a staff to be dangerous it merely helps but seeing as I am not in the best position to joke, I agree and begin to put it down. When, lo and behold she decides, to let me keep it. *Fenedhis! humans can never make up their minds.*
We pushed on, taking out whatever came our way untill we reached a destroyed house where, inside, people where fighting. I take a few moments to see everyone fighting the demons, there is an elf mage like me, a dwarf and a few other humans. *Thank Mythal someone I can relate to!* I take up a position next to the elf mage and help them finish off the beasts. As soon as the last falls the elf, (who, mind you, isn't too bad looking despite, being bald and possibly a city elf for, lack of a vallaslin) grabs my marked hand and points it towards the rift. In an instant it is closed
"Seems you hold the key to our salvation" he smiles as he talks.
"So I can help?" I ask, and he nods. Then greetings ensue. The dwarf is named Varric and he wields a cross bow that is almost as big as he is tall….. *Oh, what did he call it? Started with a B… B… OH! Bianca, that was its name.* And the elf? His staff is not much better than mine and Solas he said his name was. Pride thats what is name means. Fitting so far, given the way he carries himself.
We make our way to the forward camp, fighting more demons and closing another rift on the way. At the came we meet up with Cassandras people, a few churchy people and the woman from before, I finally caught her name this time. "Leliana." Rolls off the tongue nicely. There, we gather more potion and decide what to do next. And wouldn't you believe it, they asked for my opinion...ME of all people! Not moments ago, the two women threatened to kill me on suspicion of being involved in the explosion. I repeat, humans are confusing. Given my choices, the mountain pass was a good idea. Yes we had more fighting to do but, we did find Cassandra's lost men and made it to the remains of the conclave in record time. I look up at the breach... *Fenedhis lasa!* It's even bigger than I thought. What could have caused this…. this thing? I thought, after my attempt to close the original rift, I would run back to my clan but even *I* can't ignore the problem of this thing. Looks like I'm stuck… yay for me. And Fen'harel protect me! The demon that came out of it? Truly a thing of nightmares it was.
Voices, words with no meaning. A face here and there. What happened? Quickly sitting up I look around, AH! An elf servant yelps when I awake-talking to fast and scared of me. But why? All I could make out over her mumbling was "chantry" and "at once". Guess I'm going to the chantry. I lay my head in my hands for a moment before standing and moving to the wash bin. What in the world am I wearing? It's light and tight like a second skin. Jewels are darted here and there and its made of a light brown leather... nug skin perhaps? With a shake of my head I wash my face and try to do something with my thick ass long hair,. Eventually giving up, I leave the room - the temporary staff alone on the bed. No use walking around with it might give the wrong impression.
When I step out all heads turn, few drop what they are holding "That's her" "She did it". "That's the herald". "It's a mage? A knife eared mage?" Good thing I didn't say "could it get worse?". Its like that all the way to the chantry. Human, dwarf and elf alike stare and whisper as I pass. Yep, this has definitely gone from bad to worse, an elf as the center of attention? This can't...sorry, WON'T end well.
The next day, I head back to the chantry. I guess Cassandra has people she wants me to meet - people who can help with this inquisition thing we are going to be doing.
"Does it bother you?" she asks as we make our way to what has been turned into a 'war room'.
"It's like a dull tooth ache, but in my arm. I want it gone." I say as I pause mid-step to look at it. The mark runs from the inside knuckle of my pinky to the bottom of my palm then back up between my thumb and pointer. "I know but you were able to close the first rift if we put more power into maby... JUST... maby…"
I cut her off putting a hand up " You want to put power into something we don't understand? Something, may I remind you, is on the hand of an elf…and elf mage at that is, by your standards an apostate?" *snorts* "Sure! Why not! What harm could it cause?" I ask as I tilt my head to the side a blank expression on my face.
Cassandra laughs as if I was joking, "hold on to your jokes….beth…belad…be"
"Bellanaris" I pipe in.
"Right, right. Sorry, Bellanais. Your name is just so hard to remember"
A shrug of my shoulders is my only response as we enter the war room. The first of the group, a male human, who to my surprise is not bad looking, normally most shem look alike especially the men. But him? Maybe it is the scar drawing attention to his full lips or his blue eyes that shine out over his stern expression… Or the hair…I... oh my... I'm sorry um... The other shem a female named Josephine and the Leliana from the forward camp.
"This is the herald?" Cullen (that's the human by the way) asks. "Herald"... that word again. Oh, how my Hahren would laugh if he heard that. An ELF the herald of andraste? *Ha! HA!* I say. I keep hoping this is all a joke and there is a good punch line at the end because in the span of a few days I went from the most wanted person in all Thades to the "Herald of Andraste", ruled a "heretic" by the chantry. Yah better be a DAMN good punch line.
After the talks, which I more sat and listened to then anything, they desided I should go to the Hinterlands and talk to a Revered Mother... *Yay! more church stuff*. But till then, I was free to wonder the camp and relax. Not a bad idea but before I do, me thinks it would be good to talk to the people I'm going to be stuck with, you know. Get to know them and make sure they're not to sucky. Who should I stalk first? *Choices... choices so many choices*. Cassandra? Didn't start well with her so might be best to avoid. Varric I could visit despite, the situation we met in. He made the air light with his jokes. Then, Solas. He is so quite, but I have a way of getting people to open up so it doesn't hurt to try. I could talk to…What was her name?…. Oh lets just call her "Josie" But she seams as shem as shem can get. I understand she deals with nobles and actually enjoys it *Ugh*. There is Cullen but, from the sounds outside the gate, he's probably busy. I know! elf first, human second.
As I walk my hands are clasped behind my back shoulders hunched and head down - a futile attempt to make myself hide in plain sight. Yet when so many people watch your every move hiding is a losing battle.
I make my way to an area on the side of the chantry where I found Solas speaking with the alchemist on how to make more from less with elf roots. When he sees me, he nods and parts with Adan.
"Inquisitor, I am glad to see you up and around, again" he says as he walks over to me.
" Thank you again"
"'It is no problem I was merely doing what I could to help, if you do not mind me asking how are you faring?"
I shake my head and sigh loudly " To be honest I'm hoping this is just a trick of the fade and I'll wake up soon. Between everyone staring at me and the constant "Herald this" "Herald that"... I don't even believe in the Shems maker yet the "Herald" sticks it is maddening"
Solas nods and motions to a bench for us to sit. To my surprise, he actually has a lot to say and, I'm probably imagining this, I could have sworn I caught him staring at me once or twice. And with this chance to really see him, he is not a city elf like I thought Solas is an "apostate" like myself. He has high set cheek bones, he's lean and fit, with eyes that appear to look through you. I talk to him as much as I can between the elvish and the talk about magic it was…..nice, for everything that has happened thus far having something I can relate to really helped me relax. Eventually, though, we end the conversation and I remembered I wanted to speak to the commander as well, so I take my leave and head towards the front gate.
Outside the main town, there stands Cullen overseeing the recruits training. Watching him move about and bark orders, I couldn't help but be entranced. I've no clue how long I watched but something happened, I mean of course it did! You give untrained shems a sharp sword and sooner or later someone is bound to get hurt. Cullens back was turned but he heard the yelp "Motherbucker that hurt!" Right across the ribs...and deep to. Poor guy he goes down. Shaking my head, I step away from the wall and move next to the guy, gave poor Cullen a fright as he didn't hear or see me till he went to the guys side. I point to the recruit with blood on his sword.
"He got carried away and he", points to the one on the ground, "seamed to forget he had a shield in his hand."
" Sweet maker man your lucky that didn't kill you" Cullen says his arms crossing over his chest."
I just nod as my hand begins to glow green with healing magic. The other pointing to the potion hanging out of cullens sachel... a wordless motion asking for the potion.
"Ma serannas" I say when he hands it to me and I give the man it help to help with the pain while my magic heals the wound. "It will be sore a while yet but you'll live." I say as I stand up wiping my now bloody hand on the grass
"Thank you Herald," the man says and slowly gets to his feet. Cullen shakes his head and has the man sit out. By now I am back by my wall. *Is he? Yep.* Once the man was scolded, Cullen makes his way over to thank me, yet, for no apparent reason, I feel the tips of my ears turn red.
"Thank you for that, saved me the trouble of bothering Solas, that is a man I want to avoid." He says as he stands in front of me, a hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
With a tilt of my head I ask "why?"
" It's the way he stares at me... almost like he's looking into my soul" he shudders. That wins him a small laugh and smile. We chat a bit until someone comes over with a clipboard and shoves it in Cullen's face
"As I was saying" he says with a smile then takes his leave.
{Elvish translation: Fen'Harel= dread wolf, shem=quickling(human),hahren=elder/clan leader, ma=my/you, da'assan=little arrow, ir=I, abelas= sorry,mythal= elf goddess, ghilani= guide elgar=home, fenedhis=curse word,fenedhis lasa=extension of fenedhis