Authors Note: This story was influenced by gamerchic and her fantastic story You Don't Have To Stand Alone.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age but I do enjoy fantasising about many of it's male characters!
River cupped a handful of water and brought it to her lips. Three days she'd been on the run. Three days of no sleep and little food or water. She restrained a moan of delight as the refreshing liquid quenched the fire in her throat. Her companions didn't have the restraint she did and she looked over to them. Thad, a fifteen year old boy just coming into his powers had water dripping down his chin and dampening his dirty gray shirt. He gave River a cocky grin before bringing the hem of his shirt to wipe the water from his face. She shook her head and looked over at her other companion. Dustin. He was leaning against a large oak tree trying to pretend he wasn't desperate for water. He was just over eighteen and trying to be the man he wasn't yet. River offered him a soft smile before stepping away from the creek.
"It's all yours." She motioned to the water. "It's not the cleanest water around, but its cold."
He gave her a curt nod and approached the water. "We should be safe here for the time being. We are the only humans in at least a mile radius."
Thad smoothed out his shirt. "Did the birds and the bees tell you that?"
"Actually it was the squirrel in that tree over there. He thinks you smell like a sewage drain by the way." Dustin rolled his eyes and took in a mouthful of water.
"We all smell like sewage. We haven't been able to bathe properly in three days or more. As soon as we lose the Templars, we will be able to sneak into the truck stop and use their showers." River commented, trying her best to defuse a fight before it started. Dustin and Thad were always fighting and it drove River nuts.
"Do you still have that soap you stole from Wal-Mart?" Thad asked.
"Yeah, it's in my pack. We rest here for an hour then we have to move." River patted her trusty leather drawstring bag. It was the only thing she had of her life before magic. Before her life turned upside down and she was forced to run and hide. Templars had dogged her steps since she was twelve. At twenty-six, she was so very tired of running. If the Templars only wanted to talk or take her to a place where she could use her magic in open or something like that, she wouldn't mind the Templars, but that's not what they had in mind. They killed everybody who showed even the barest traces of magical talent. Take Dustin for instance. He was Dr. Doolittle in the flesh. He could speak to and understand animals. That was it, nothing dangerous or flashy. Thad, however was a slightly different case. He was telekinetic. He could move things with his mind.
River, was a whole different kettle of fish. She wasn't limited to one power. She had the ability to shape the raw elements as she saw fit. She could even heal, though she wasn't very good at it. She was a force to be reckoned with and that made her an even larger threat to the Templars. Her power didn't come without a cost. Every night she was haunted by creatures of nightmares that tried to coerce her into giving into her greatest desires. All she had to do was agree to let the creature enter her being and everything would be right in the world. She was never sure if they were nightmares, or if they were truly demons. Neither Thad or Dustin had problems with dreams like that so she always assumed the worst. The days were growing longer and harder and soon, River thought, she just might give into temptation just to see if their offer was genuine.
The three of them, their thirst finally quenched, sat under the oak tree and closed their eyes for a brief respite. They would have to be on the move soon, but until then, they would rest their weary bodies and minds. River opened her senses to the world around her, probing everything that moved with her mind to see if anything had a hint of magic. That was another thing she could do that neither Thad or Dustin couldn't. She could tell if somebody held magical talents. It was in the air around them like an invisible glove. It was how she found Thad. She had been walking down the street a block from the local middle school when she spotted a large gathering of people. She scanned them with her mind to learn two things. Thad had magic and the five grown men around him were Templars. The memory of the event hit washed over her mind, taking her back to that moment.
The sun was shining brightly and the wind coming from the south was warm and gentle, blowing her hair around her face. She tucked a strand behind her ear and smiled as she took in the scent of the nearby blossoming lilac bush. It wasn't often she could take in the simple joys of life. Dustin was back at their recently acquired hideout grilling steak over the charcoal grill that was conveniently left behind by the previous owners of the run down house.
She rounded the corner and came to an abrupt stop. She was twitchy by nature and hated large gatherings of people and before her was a group of six people. One kid and five adults. The scenario was so familiar she felt her chest tightening and her stomach rolling around with nerves. Immediately, her senses reached out and brushed the minds of the group of people. Her hands reached down into her boots and pulled out two daggers and held them in a familiar, defensive stance. The men before her were Templars and the poor boy a magic user. From her brief scan of his energies she knew he was strong. Stronger than any other magic user she'd come across in years.
She approached the group as silently as she could, hoping the sounds of traffic would muffle the sound of her boots clicking on the pavement. She cursed the existence of the stuff, wishing for soft green grass and dirt. It was much easier to sneak in grass.
"Come with us, Boy and nobody will get hurt." One of the Templars said in a deep, resonating voice that warranted fear, not safety.
"I don't know you, and I'm not going to get in your van. Do you think I'm stupid? Get in the van little boy. Here's some candy little boy. I'm not that gullible." The boy snapped with a quick wit that made River proud.
Another one stepped a hair closer, reached out and dropped his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You don't have a choice in the matter."
River felt the subtle gathering of magical energy and knew the boy was getting ready to defend himself. She wasn't sure what kind of ability he had, but if he didn't do it soon, the Templars were going to strip him off his energy and leave him defenseless.
"I said. I'm. Not. Going. With. You." He enunciated each word slowly. His eyes glowed with power a second before the Templar touching him was sent flying into the street. River winced as a semi barreled into the man going at least forty-five. The sound of squealing tired and crushing of bones made River's stomach churn.
The Templars reacted violently, each of them using their own unique ability to smite magical beings. The boy's body jerked four times before slumping to the ground unconscious. River's eyes widened. She'd never seen anybody hit in rapid succession by that many smites. She decided it was now or never. She jumped between the Templars and the kid, holding her daggers at chest level.
"Step back and none of you get hurt." River snapped, eyeballing the red cross dangling around each of their necks. She could tell by the bulge of their clothes they were wearing bullet proof vests and judging by the bulge in their jackets near the waistband, they were also packing guns.
"Another toy to play with. This one looks feisty."
"Toy? You think I'm a toy?" River asked. "Let me show you how this toy likes to play." With that, she launched herself at the nearest Templar, slicing his throat with one of her blades before rolling to the left and bringing her other blade up the inside of another Templar's leg. She came to her feet as the two Templars fell to the ground. She pulled power deep from within her body and launched lightning bolts from her hands, frying the other two. They twitched and fell to the ground, shrieking in pain. She kicked one of them so they were laying on their back. "How do you like that? Now you know how it feels when you pick on a helpless little boy." She brought her blade across his throat and ended the last remaining Templar in a similar fashion.
She wiped the blood off her daggers, using the black jacket of a Templar before sheathing them in her boots. River walked to the boy and rolled him on his back. She held her hands over his chest and focused on her magic. Her hands emitted a blue aura as she checked the boys vitals, listening to everything her magic was telling her. He was breathing and his heart was still beating. He would live. She let out a sigh of relief and withdrew her magic. The boys blue eyes opened, meeting River's steal gray ones.
"Hey there." River grinned.
The boy reacted much as she expected. He sat up and scooted away from her, fear in his eyes. "Who are you and what do you want?"
She brought her hands up to show she was currently unarmed. "My name is River Thompson and I just saved your ass."
His eyes widened considerably as he looked behind River at the four -make that five- bloody bodies. The semi driver was climbing out of his truck and was nearing hysterics as he looked upon the bodies. He looked at River. River sighed as she reached into her magic and willed the man to sleep. He crumpled to the ground.
"You...you killed them all?" The boy stuttered.
"Yes. Don't look at me like that. If I didn't kill them they would have killed you."
"What did you do to that man?" He pointed to the truck driver. "Is he dead?"
"No, just sleeping."
"What is going on?"
River opened her eyes with a grimace on her face. It wasn't right for a boy his age to see so many dead bodies. She glanced over at him and sighed. He has come a long way since that day even though it's only been a couple of months. This life has been hard on him, but it was either this or death. She scanned the area once more and much to her surprise, something hit her radar. She jumped to her feet and pulled her daggers out of her boots.
"Guys. We have company." River warned her companions.
Dustin opened his eyes and scanned the area, no doubt asking the animals who was approaching. "I think you're mistaken. There's nobody but animals."
"I know what I felt, Dustin. This person is magical and stronger than anything I've ever encountered. Stronger than me."
His eyes widened. "You're shitting me."
"No..."
A large brown bear stepped between the bushes and approached the three of them without the caution of a normal bear. Dustin reached out with his mind and was trying to converse with the bear, but judging by the look of frustration on his face, he wasn't having any luck.
"Reveal yourself." River demanded, stepping closer, putting herself between the bear and the boys.
The bears rolled its eyes and its body flashed a florescent blue. When the light diminished, instead of a large bear standing before them, it was an old woman with silver hair and the eyes the color of liquid gold. She was dressed in biker leathers that looked majestic on her slim figure instead of trashy or intimidating like most. She ran her fingers through her silver treads and offered them a mischievous smile.
"My. My. You are something aren't you?" The woman looked over the group with curious eyes. "But you, my dear girl, are the icing on the cake. The one who can change the world for better or for ill."
"Who are you?" River asked.
"Oh my, where are my manners. You may call me Flemeth."
"Well, Flemeth, my name is River. This is Thad and Dustin. Why are you here and what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Nonsense? No, Girl, I speak the truth, well, I try to anyway." She waved her hand in dismissal. "Never mind that. I am here to try to change the world. You are the key to making that happen."
River raised her brow in question. "And how am I supposed to change the world? I can barely survive."
"You are the most powerful mage to be born in hundreds of years. Magic had waxed and waned since that tragic day. Our magic dwindling to nothing more than that." She pointed to Dustin.
Dustin took offense to that and puffed out his chest. "What the hell are you talking about woman?"
She snorted. "You are a pathetic excuse of a mage. You speak to animals, but that is all you can do. You have lost your connection to the Fade." She looked at Thad. "You too are not much better, but your gifts are more useful. But you dear girl." She brought her attention back to River. "You are connected to the Fade. You visit each night as you sleep. You converse with the spirits and demons of that realm and are strong enough to resist the temptations offered you on a nightly basis. Without any training what so ever, you are a miracle, Child."
"The Fade? Demons?' River questioned, feeling her stomach twist into a nervous knot.
"You know of what I speak."
River swallowed and nodded her head.
"Good."
"The Fade? What is she talking about River?" Thad asked.
"Those nightmares you were talking about?" Dustin inquired.
"Yeah."
"Enough of this useless prattle. It is time to set in motion a serious of events that could change everything. You, River Thompson have a job. Stop the catastrophic event that rocked the magical world off it's foundation." Flemeth expelled an extreme amount of magical energy and River felt her balance start to waver. Everything started to spin and her vision went blurry. She had the sensation of falling without ever connecting to the ground. She heard Dustin shouting at her, but his voice was garbled and sounded far away. She tried to move her head so she could see the boys, but her body as unresponsive. The world began to spin faster and faster until everything blurred together and she was in danger of loosing the minimal contents of her stomach.
The world came to a sudden stop and River didn't even have the chance to gather her bearing before her stomach revolted. She dropped to her kneels and heaved until there was nothing left to expel. Even then, she dry heaved long enough she was gasping for breath and her chest roared in pain. Finally in control of her stomach, she looked around. Her jaw dropped open and her eyes widened. She was no longer next to the creek with the large oak tree and bushes. She was in a dark alleyway surrounded by strange, beige brick walls. There was a lit torch at the end of the alley and River's mouth went dry.
"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
"No...no we're not."
River turned her head to see Thad kneeling behind her in front of his own pile of bile. He too had been affected by the strange malicious magic.
River's attention was drawn back to the entrance of the alley. Standing there was a woman dressed in a filthy dress with her hair pulled back. Shew as pointing to Thad and herself. "There! Those to appeared out of thin air. They are mages they are!"
A man stepped forward wearing bulky silver armor with a long red skirt. He had a sword sheathed at his hip and a shield on his back. Though it wasn't the large red cross painted on the front of the armor, River knew a Templar when she saw one. Even one that was out of the current fashion loop. He drew his sword and stepped forward. River felt the beginnings of a smite in progress and stepped in front of Thad to protect him from the brunt of the attack. Unlike her, he couldn't fight without his energy.
"Apostate!" The Templar stated.