Backgrounds and Beginnings
In my old world, people used to say that getting a tattoo on your foot was one of the most painful experiences a person could go through. In my new world and life, I call bullshit, because I'm lying on my back with two men pressing my shoulder blades into the bed roll, while Keeper Deshanna applies the Vallaslin of Mythal onto my face. There are tears running freely down the sides of my temples, my jaw aches from biting down on the leather strip that was proffered to me before the ritual and my shoulders are screaming where they're digging into the solid ground beneath me. I'm not ashamed to admit that the noises I made were the furthest thing from manly and stoic as could be possible. But in truth, I'm hardly your typical Dalish Elf.
This life isn't the first that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. No, not at all. Call it reincarnation, providence or simply a cosmological mix up but I found myself acknowledging my secondary existence around my tenth birthday. Not a clue why I suddenly started to remember my rather humdrum life on Earth, but imagine my surprise when all the memories and surroundings of my second life resonated with the memories of my first. I almost had a complete nervous breakdown when I recognised the Aravels and other smaller things, like the simple greetings and place names that had become part of my suddenly Elven life. Needless to say the others in my clan thought it best to steer clear of me until I snapped out of whatever trauma they thought I'd inflicted upon myself, as they had no reasons to explain my hysteria.
Now luckily for me I had ten years of living in the wilds of Thedas to help me through the transition from modern English human, to Dalish Elf of Clan Lavellan. The one thing they don't tell you back on Earth is how embarrassing living in nature can be, having to take a shit and wipe your arse with a particularly hairy leaf sure inspires confidence in a young – old – mind.
So now that I'm sixteen, I begged the Keeper to let me receive my Vallaslin early and become an adult in the eyes of the clan. I had plans to enact and by Mythal I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing, not while I had knowledge that could prevent so much disaster and death. I could have just carried on as if nothing had changed and let the world fall apart, but obviously I'm here for a reason, or I wouldn't be here at all! A twenty five year old stuck in the body of a sixteen year old child, what other reason would I be here for? To narrate the bloody life and times of Inquisitor Lavellan? I don't bloody well think so.
Keeper Deshanna knows why I'm taking my Vallaslin so young, and to be honest I think she's happy – for me and the clan both. As soon as my skin has healed I'm packing up and putting my well thought out plans into motion, the first of which is to get the hell out of dodge and start making some foundations for the future. It's currently 9:34 Dragon and I've got seven years before the entire continent goes to shit.
No pressure then, I suppose.
After a solid three hours of agony and tension, Keeper Deshanna lifts the needle away from my face for the final time, quickly followed by the two hunters pulling me into a seated position and handing my some water mixed with Elfroot to help dull the pain and start the healing process. I let out a groan as the tingling in my face starts to itch, offering no relief whatsoever from my torture.
Hearing a soft chuckle I looked up to see Keeper Deshanna giving me a sly smile. "Looks like someone is feeling the after effects, hmm?", she says, rubbing her own stiff fingers. I shoot a riposte back instantly. "Sadist. Thats all you are you senile crazy woman! Just because you're joints and bones are turning to dust, that doesn't mean you can take any pleasure in my pain!" So what if I sounded petulant? She was practically vibrating with glee at my swollen face. She-devil.
The Keeper looks stunned for a second before bursting into shocked, delighted laughter, "Now where has this Anatariel been hiding all these years? I never knew you had the capability for such venom, frankly I'm impressed. I don't feel as much worry about you leaving us as I did not three hours ago" and here she looks at me with more softness than she ever has, "your parents would have loved to see you coming out of your shell little one."
On instinct I lowered my head to hide the sadness that no doubt marred my already bruised face, there was no need for anyone to see it. Though they easily would have guessed as to why.
Growing up without parents should have been a harsh life, especially out in the wilderness of Northern Thedas. And for the first ten years of my life it was, that is until I started to remember my past life, including my parents and family from Earth. It helped to temper the sadness and resentment that my mixed up mind was forming, adding an adults perspective that halted those feelings from festering into something more dangerous. Now I'm just a sarcastic twit with magic as my escape from the troubles of nomadic life, there's nothing like throwing some lightning around a camp of bandits who were targeting the Aravels. Good times.
Shaking those thoughts of melancholy from my mind, I stood with determination and thanked the Keeper for her efforts, bidding her goodbye while I went to pack what essentials I needed to begin my 'Quest To Stop The World From Ending'.
I strode through the camp at a brisk pace, making my way back to my tent. I wanted to get everything packed and be beyond the camp boundary by midday, luckily the Keeper elected to apply my Vallaslin just after sunrise or I'd have to wait until the next morning.
It was the work of just a few precious minutes to get all my supplies and tent packed away into my leather bag, which I slung over my shoulders with practised ease. I mean that literally too, I've gone through this routine so many times over the years that I could do it blindfolded. Taking a breath I gave one last look around the camp before I sought out Keeper Deshanna for the last time.
I soon spotted the old crone standing before the entrance and exit of the little valley we'd made camp in, along with her First, Moriel. A mage of notable skill and ego amongst the clan, though the ego seemed to have been deflated by Deshanna's sadistic ways over the last two years since he'd been chosen. Thank Mythal for small mercies, the prick deserved a good humbling.
"Well Keeper, this is it", I sing cheerily. "I'm all packed away and I'll be out of your white and wiry hair in no time at all. Off to explore the world and find my place in it blah, blah blah.." My flippant attitude was having the desired effect, Deshanna was smiling wickedly while Moriel was turning a lovely shade of puce. All in a days work.
"Safe travels Anatariel Lavellan", was the Keepers response, "you'll forgive me if I don't weep for your departure, not after that comment you little swine". She's shaking her fists in my direction with a look of mock indignation upon her face. Its kind of adorable really, its her way of showing she cares, usually followed by a blast of frozen air at point blank range. Crazy she-elf.
Moriel is turning into a rather unattractive aubergine-purple and I know when to cut my losses and run. So I give a quick salute and set off out of the valley at a gentle jog, and I as put distance between myself and my only home in this world I hear an explosive breath, and a sigh of "Good riddance to bad rubbish", followed by the crack of static and a yelp.
Good old Deshanna, always willing to show an idiot their place in the pecking order. I'm going to miss that batshit crazy witch.
AN: Hello again, precious readers! Here I am with the opening chapter to a new story. For those who are wondering about my other two stories and my complete silence for almost 4 years, I humbly beg for forgiveness. All I can really say is that life got pretty shitty with debt piling up everywhere i looked so i really need to get my life in order and posting new chapters wasn't even on the list of priorities. You understand I hope, but yes I'm back! And yes I'll be working on this story the most as its fresh in my mind and I actually have some form of story plan laid out for this. As you can tell, Its Dragon Age. My other two stories may never get touched again, but that could change depending on my muse and all that rot.
Hope you enjoy the chapter! Please review as well, I need to motivation to continue.
Many Love, Nichiwwa