Theron stood bored stiff, in a tree, high above the ground keeping watch. He and Tamlen had been brawling again and Marethari wasn't happy. Though Tamlen had gotten caught and refused to give up names, Marethari knew. Theron and Tamlen were always together on everything. Thus, they were both punished to keep watch until Marethari deemed otherwise. He was about to get down and find his other banished partner, when he heard the snapping of twigs and crunching of leaves, making their way towards him.
"Long way to go for one recruit, Duncan." A dirty blonde man said. Theron looked down from his hiding spot and at the humans that were slowly making their way through the thick underbrush.
"The Dalish are talented warriors and excellent rouges. Having one of them among us would be a great help." Duncan replied. The elf crept along the branches, following them. These two men were looking for them? And they were closer to camp than he was comfortable with.
He quickly jumped to the next tree, quiet as a mouse and drew his bow. "No, I understand." The first man said "It's just that-"
Theron jumped down from the canopies and aimed his arrows at the two humans.
"-I don't think they'll be too friendly towards us…" the man finished as he raised his hands in a white flag gesture.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded
Duncan took a step forward. "We're here to speak with your Keeper."
Theron raised an eyebrow. Most humans didn't know the Dalish truly existed, but these two were asking for Marethari? "You'll forgive me if I'm rude, but I can't let that happen." he replied
"We won't cause any trouble, we're just here to talk." The blonde one said
"I'm suppose to take your word on this?" Theron snipped
The blonde one chuckled, "You want a guarantee? I don't think-"
"Roland," Duncan interrupted "now is not the time. We're Grey Wardens, the Dalish have an obligation to help us, during a Blight."
"You've proof of this, I hope?" Theron asked
Both men looked at each other and shifted uneasily.
"Lethallin!" Tamlen swiftly glided up next to him, with his bow drawn. "What's going on?" he asked in elvish.
"These two claim to be Grey Wardens, though they have no proof, they want to meet with Marethari." He replied
"Marethari? Why?" He asked
"They say there's a Blight coming, and we're bound to help them…"
"That makes sense, the humans can't handle their own problems, so they come running to us."
He chuckled then turned back towards the humans. "Well?" he said, switching back to English "What should we do with them?"
"I guess lying that they were Grey Wardens wouldn't get them too far… If they have legitimate business, Marethari would want to meet with them." Tamlen replied "Besides, we're more than capable of handling two armed guests."
"I suppose you're right," Theron said as they put their bows away. "besides, we're in enough trouble as it is." He smiled at then looked back at the humans "Come on, camp is this way."
Tamlen and Theron led the two humans to camp and introduced them to Marethari. The moment The Keeper learned who they were she commanded the two elves away. "Hmph, I guess they really were Wardens then." Tamlen commented
"Or just really good liars?" Theron jested
Tamlen laughed "If they're good enough to trick Marethari, then we need to take lessons!"
Theron and Tamlen made their way over to the campfire. It was after dusk and Paivel was about to begin a story before they retired to bed. The two boys plopped down next to Merrill. She lit up at the sight of her two friends. "Where have you two been! I haven't seen you all day!" She exclaimed and hugged them both.
Theron laughed and leaned back against a tree. "Guard duty, we were brawling again. We're assigned to it for the next week, actually."
Merrill rolled her eyes "When will you two learn to stop fighting?" She sighed
"When we're dead!" They both said in unison
Paivel gathered everyone's attention and began the tale of The Dread Wolf. Merrill cuddled into Tamlen's side, and the elf went red. Theron smile mischievously and made suggestive gesture at his friend while Merrill wasn't looking. Tamlen rolled his eyes and punched Theron's arm and they shared a laugh.
Theron and his friends sat quietly listening to the story. It had been one they heard many times, but it was still as amazing as the day they first heard it. There was some way about how Paivel told it that always brought the story to life. Merrill tapped Theron's shoulder, granting her his attention.
"Why does that man have a squirrel on his chin?" She asked
Theron and Tamlen looked at each other completely baffled. The rouge looked back at Merrill, "What?" He asked, barely containing his laugh. Merrill pointed and his eyes followed her finger. He found himself looking at Duncan, he and Roland had joined the campfire. Theron smirk, "It's not a squirrel, it's… some human thing, they call it a…" Theron couldn't think of the word
"A bee? Beer? Beard?" Tamlen guessed "Beard! That's what it was!"
"There you go! It's like hair that grows on your face."
Merrill looked taken aback "On your face? How strange…"
"Well, you have to remember the human get cold easily in winter, the beard helps warm their head!" Tamlen teased
They laughed together and Paivel finished his story. Before everyone was dismissed however, Marethari stood up and addressed everybody. "My children," she began "we have been blessed to meet the two Grey Wardens, Duncan and Roland. Know that they will be staying here for a few days, and that you are to treat them no differently then you treat each other. Duncan, do you have anything to say?"
Duncan stood up, "There's a Blight coming and we need all the help we can get. We'll only be here a few days before we must return south."
A few of the younger kids began to bombard the Wardens in questions. Tamlen touched Theron's arm. "Come on, we have watch in the morning." He said and the three of them got up and went to bed.
Theron had no idea why the ancient elves had named the humans "Quick Children" in elvish. Tamlen and Theron had caught up to three shems in a matter of seconds when they ran passed them. The idiots had heard rumors of a cave filled with treasures and decided to come check it out. Alone and unarmed. Theron had no idea shems could be that dumb.
"Where is this cave?" Tamlen demanded
"Just off to the west!" One of the humans said quickly "You can't miss it!"
"Well, what do you want to do with them?" Tamlen asked, switching to elvish
"Just let them go, we're in enough trouble and if Marethari finds out we killed some idiot shems, she'll be pissed." Theron replied
"I suppose you're right. Oh, who am I kidding? When are you ever wrong?" Tamlen teased "Get out of here shems, don't let us catch you around here again, or you might not leave with your lives. Understand?"
All three of the humans nodded then turned to run. "Thank you! Thank you!" one of them called back.
Theron shook his head "As long as I live, I will never understand humans."
"You and me both. Should we go find this cave? These carving make me curious." Tamlen admitted
Theron smiled "Of course! And if we find anything interesting, the Keeper will want to know!"
"My thoughts exactly! C'mon, they said just off to the west."
Finding the ruins was easier than either of them expected, despite both of them basically growing up in the forest and having explored it many times over, they had never found this particular cave. But they wasted no time heading in, and mapping it out. There were a few giant spiders hanging around, but they were easily killed.
The truly interesting thing that they found was a mirror. It was taller than both of them put together, and extremely clean.
"Damn, would you look at that!" Tamlen exclaimed "What do you think the writing says?"
"'Do not touch the glass?'" Theron guessed
"Hah, not that'd we'd leave a finger print on it. See how clean it is- Whoa, did you see that!"
Theron looked back at the mirror, "See what?" he asked
"Look! There it was again!" This time Theron saw it, it was no more than a purple circle that slowly danced away into non-existence. "Here, I just need to take a closer look…"
Theron grabbed Tamlen's arm "Wait, we don't know what it is. We should get the Keeper before we do anything with it."
"But we need to make sure it's something the Keeper can waste her time with! Or else we'll get in trouble again."
As much as Theron hated it, he was right. They couldn't just waste her time.
They both stepped up to the mirror and watched it. More purple circles skirted around inside. "It's a city!"
Theron looked at his best friend "Since when is a purple circle a city, Tamlen?"
Tamlen looked at him confused. "You don't see it?" Theron shook his head, Tamlen reached out and touch the mirror, and Theron followed with his eyes. "It's showing me a city… Underground? But there's a darkness consuming it… Creators! It saw me!"
"What saw you-" Theron looked back at his friend, "Tamlen! You're bleeding!" That was putting it lightly, blood was pouring out of his eyes like bloody tears.
"Help! I can't look away!" Tamlen pleaded
Theron reached out, ripped Tamlen's hand away from the mirror, and forced Tamlen to look at him. Tamlen's eyes were black and still spilling with blood. Theron's fingers were burning at the touch, suddenly Theron was thrown backwards and was flipped onto the floor. He staggered back to his feet and looked back to the mirror. "Tamlen!" he screamed "Get away from it!" He started back towards his friend, before he was thrust back to wall. He looked back up one more time, and watched what looked like black blood swirl around his friend, then his vision blurred, and he passed out.
"…Hello…?" Theron heard in the darkness. "Can you hear me?"Theron opened his eyes, and looked at the two Warden's who were crouching over him in a blur.
"Duncan, it's the Blight." Roland said
"I know." Duncan replied "Theron, can you hear me? I-I'm so sorry…"
Theron's mind began to slip back into unconsciousness, but he stopped it. No, he thought don't you dare pass out again, Tamlen needs help! He groaned, and tried to roll over onto his stomach so he could use his arms to stand.
Duncan stopped him, "You're sick, we need to get you back to your clan, you shouldn't move just yet-"
As if on a cue, Theron vomited up blood. He forced himself to roll over, with no objections from the Wardens, then push himself onto his hands and knees. He vomited again, and the ground became colored with blood. Theron stared at it. Blood isn't that dark…is it? he thought, and ran the tips of his fingers through it, and examined them. No… he thought Blood definitely isn't that dark.
Suddenly Theron realized he wasn't in the cave anymore, and that Tamlen wasn't by his side. He shot to his feet, and his head throbbed in disagreement.
"Whoa, slow down there!" Roland said, and caught him before he smacked back to the ground, "Just calm down, we'll get you back to your clan!"
Theron jerked his head no, "Where's Tamlen!" he demanded
The Warden's looked at each other with quizzical expressions. Theron shook Roland off and stumbled back towards the cave. Duncan grabbed his arm and stopped him, "You're too sick, we have to get you treatment, or you'll die."
"Doesn't-" He burped up more blood "Doesn't matter," he said, wiping his mouth "Tamlen's still in there, and he touched it!"
"Touched what?" Roland questioned
"The mirror!" Theron stated, frustrated "I didn't touch it! He did! He's in a worse condition than I am! And I'll be damned if I let him die!" Theron pried his arm free and started for the cave once again.
This time, Roland reached out and stopped him "Let go of me!" Theron yelled "I don't have time for this! He's in trouble!"
"You are no help to anyone in your condition! You need to. Get. Help." Roland argued
"SOME HELP - EVEN IN THIS 'CONDITION'- IS BETTER THAN NONE, SHEM!" Theron screeched "HE'S MY BEST FRIEND AND I'LL GLADLY GIVE MY LIFE TO SAVE HIS!" Theron pulled his arm free again and darted back into the cave, where he got seven steps in before collapsing to his knees. His head was throbbing and his stomach felt like it had a tornado made of blades swirling around in it. He doubled over and threw up more blood. He involuntary began to cry, "What the hell is going on…?" he mumbled
Duncan put a hand on his shoulder, "It's the Taint." Duncan said softly "You have darkspawn blood coursing through you're veins, it'll-"
Theron didn't hear the last of Duncan's words, he collapsed into his own bloody vomit before passing out again. Tamlen, please be alright… He thought before darkness consumed him.
Theron awoke in a cold sweat, he stared up at the canvas of his tent for only a moment before he threw his covers off and headed outside. Luckily, he was dressed in a tunic and pants because he had forgotten to check before heading out.
"Theron! You're awake!" Fenerall ran up to him "How do you feel?"
"Worried." Theron said "Where's Tamlen?" He demanded
Fenerall gave him a pained look, "He's gone… The Warden's said they looked all over the cave for him, and we've been looking for him for two days, ever since those Warden's came back with you, passed out and sick."
"Two days!" Theron almost shouted "I've been here for two days!"
Fenerall nodded "The Warden's are talking to the Keeper right now, she said to send you over if you awoke-"
Theron sped off to the Keeper, his hair messy and uncombed, there was no way he was suppose to ever approach the Keeper dressed as he was. She was the leader of the clan, and repect was implied. But Theron didn't give a damn much about anything right now. When he reached them, he forgot all manners and interrupted whatever they were talking about. "Where's Tamlen!"
Marathari looked at him with pity, "Theron, now is not the time to discuss that-"
"'Not the time' my ass." Theron interrupted in elvish, "Where. Is. Tamlen." He demanded again
"He is gone, the mirror you two touched poisoned him- and you. There's no way-" Roland began to explain
"I'm alive! He might be too! We can find him!"
"Because of medical treatment and your own willpower you were able to survive. Tamlen has been alone and unaided for three days now. Trust me when I say: there is nothing left to find." Duncan said
Theron stared at Duncan, wide eyed and mouth open. He snapped his jaw shut, "Wouldn't there at least be a body?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"The darkspawn would have taken it. They are vile creators, and it is best to leave it at that…" Duncan replied.
Theron looked at his boots. He'd dead…? Creators, I let him die? He and Tamlen had been best friends since they were little kids. There wasn't a day that went by that they weren't together, getting in trouble. And now they were saying that he was dead? Not only dead, but gone too? There wasn't even a body to return to the soil?
"Theron." Marathari's sweet voice gained his attention, he looked back up at her. "We have also come to a decision that concerns you…"
"We want you to be a Warden." Duncan said bluntly
Theron just stared at Duncan, his body was completely numb. But suddenly his senses snapped back into use. "What?" he demanded
"Theron, this is a great honor." Marathari explained "There is a Blight approaching, the darkspawn are coming faster than we can run. They will overthrow Ferelden if we don't stop them soon. Long ago, the Dalish agreed to aid the Grey Wardens in the case of a Blight-"
Theron shook his head, if these humans thought they were taking him to some far off land to fight a war he wanted nothing to do with, they had another thing coming. "No, I'm not going."
"You're in need of a cure, I'm in need of a recruit. We can help each other-"
"No." Theron interrupted "I am not leaving."
"Theron, please. It is the only way to save you…" Marathari pleaded
Theron looked at her, she was with them? He felt betrayed, abandoned. His own Keeper was agreeing with these 'Grey Wardens'! "The clan is sending me away." Theron stated, with anger edging his voice, as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall together.
"It breaks my heart to send you away, Theron… But no more than it would to watch you die slowly-" Marathari began
"Everyone dies eventually." Theron interrupted "And right now, I'd prefer sooner than later."
Marathari looked at him with dismay and pity, but it was Duncan who spoke. "Is that your final decision?"
"Yeah," Theron sneered "looks like you'll have to go elsewhere for your recruit."
"Ah, then I am sorry I must do this." Duncan said, Theron knit his eyebrows together. "I hereby Conscript you into the Grey Wardens."
"And I witness your conscription Duncan, of the Grey Wardens…"
Theron's jaw landed somewhere on the other side of Thedas. "You can't make me serve against my will!"
Duncan looked him dead in the eye "I will drag you kicking and screaming to Ostagar if I must." He promised
Theron stood his ground, "Bullshit." he replied. But Theron knew that look, pure determination. Getting away from Duncan now was going to be quiet the feat.
