Disclaimer: I do NOT own Dragon Age or anything related to it.
"I've been fighting to be who I am all my life. What's the point of being who I am, if I can't have the person who was worth all the fighting for?"
— Stephanie Lennox (I Don't Remember You)
Prologue 1:Lara Tarsis
The sun, having spent the entire day shining brightly in the sky, was now finally setting while the moon prepared to take it's place, signaling the end of day and the beginning of night. Clouds of all shapes and sizes were admired by those watching from below during daytime and now the bright stars that replaced them during nighttime would be admired until sunrise the next morning.
All the beauty of the sky went unnoticed, however, by one person in particular. Short, titian-colored, curly hair was pulled up into a tight chignon rather than undone and stopping at it's owner's shoulders as it usually was. Light blue eyes were narrowed as they never once left the target just a few feet in front of them, and slowly, with a carefulness that only years of experience and training could have given them, the archer nocked their final arrow and shut their eyes for one, brief moment to send a silent prayer to both the goddess of hunt and the mother of the halla, the latter of which's design graced the archer's brow as their chosen vallaslin.
'Help me, oh faithful Andruil, and wonderful Ghilan'nain, to never forget Vir Tanadahl, Vir Assan, Vir Bor'assan, and most importantly Vir Adahlen. Help me make my clan proud mahvir night and do not let me fail them.'
Light blue eyes snapped open as the arrow was released. It flew straight, and it did not waver. A triumphant smirk spread across the archer's face as they stepped into the fading sunlight's view, fully revealing a young elven woman who had spent the entire day since sunrise, after quickly completing her chores, practicing her aim for the Arlathvhen mahvir night where she would be representing her clan, the Levine Clan, in the traditional archery competition.
The fact that Keeper Zathrian had chosen her was a great honor to the elven huntress known as Lara Tarsis, for it was normally a Dalish clan's Chief Hunter or the former's future successor who was chosen to represent their clan in archery, but rather than choose Athras, who was still young and thus had yet to choose a future successor, the keeper chose Lara. As one of the clan's finest hunters, she was expected to win without a doubt, that was what Keeper Zathrian had made sure to remind her of for the past few weeks, at least, though both Athras and his wife, Danyla, had assured Lara that so long as she did her best, that would be enough in the eyes of the rest of the clan even if she did not win.
"Excellent shot, da'assan. I've no doubt you will do us all proud in the archery competition mahvir night."
Lara twisted around to see Master Varathorn, the clan's craftsman, as well someone who had been like a big brother to her for years, standing behind her with a wide smile on his face. It was from him that Lara had learned how to carve her own bow, and it was he who had given her one of her most cherished possessions, a combat dagger, just a few days after she recieved her vallaslin of Ghilan'nain so many years ago.
"Ma serannas, Master Varathorn." The huntress said, bowing in appreciation to him for his small praise.
The craftsman chuckled at her, nodding back."Madar'ir'creoso, da'assan." He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow."And what have I told you about formalities?"
Lara blushed, bowing her apologetically."Abelas, lethallin. It is a habbit I have yet to break, I fear."
"So long as you don't break your bow in the gathering mahvir night, I don't think anyone really cares." Athras jested with a grin as he, Danyla, Elora, the clan's halla-keeper who wore the same design as and shared an aravel witn Lara, and Hahren Sarel, the clan's storyteller, all came to stand beside Varathorn. Danyla gave Athras a light smack on the arm to shut him up.
"Oh, hollen na anto, Athras." Lara said, rolling her eyes at him before smirking wryly and placing her hands on her hips in a very triumphant manner."You're just jealous that Keeper Zathrian chose me instead of you to represent us in the archery competition."
"And you're just jealous that you're still single and I'm not." He teased.
Snorting, Lara raised an eyebrow at Danyla."Seriously, lethallan, what do you see in him?" She asked wryly.
"I'm inclined to ask the same." Elora muttered under her breath while Sarel chortled to himself in amusement and Varathorn rolled his eyes with a sigh at their usual antics.
Danyla shrugged."I felt sorry for him." She replied nonchalantly.
"Hey!" Everyone laughed at Athras's indignant yell, causing him to grumble to himself and look away from them. Smiling, Danyla placed a kiss on his cheek.
"I'm just kidding, ma vhenan." She assured him."I chose you because ar lath ma."
Lara put on a disgusted face as they kissed."Oh, get an aravel, would you?"
"I agree." Sarel said with a nod."Or at least wait until you two are u. I find public displays of affection to be-"
"Inappropriate?" Lara interrupted with a smirk that made him roll his eyes at her in exasperation, but she paid no attention to it."Is there honestly anything that you don't find inappropriate, lethallin?"
"Himself, maybe?" Athras said with a shrug.
Sarel rolled his eyes again when they laughed loudly at him."Ir'samahl." He let out a sigh."Just be glad none of you have to look after the len. As much as I enjoy telling era'en to our len, I find the other clans' len to be very-"
"Inappropriate?" Danyla asked teasingly.
"Loud?" Varathorn offered.
"Annoying?" Elora suggested.
"Extremely unpleasant and disobedient, actually." He said dryly then sighed. Everyone else snickered in response before silence soon fell upon them.
"Who knows, lethallan? Elora broke the silence, smiling softy at Lara."Maybe you'll find a very nice certain someone at the gathering mahvir night and make him na vhenan'ara."
Lara scoffed, rolling her eyes."Emma'din isala'lath'sahlin, ma serannas ir'limb, ma falon."
"Someone's going to die u." Athras muttered, grinning. Danyla quickly brought up a hand to unsuccessfully muffle the way she tittered to herself at her husband and her friend's antics.
Lara glared at him."Hollen na anto, Athras." She snapped icily.
"And if I don't?" He retorted, arms crossed and eyebrow raised. He then let out a yelp as he barely ducked down in time to avoid the rock Lara suddenly threw at him in response while everyone else laughed loudly at him in amusement and Lara just smirked and folded her arms over her chest with an air of superiority and the slightest hint of arrogance crossing her face for just a moment.
'Andruil be my witness, I will win the archery competition and make my entire clan proud of me at the gathering mahvir night."
Okay, so, as you all can see this chapter has been rewritten and so has the entire story itself in general. I have decided to redo this from the very beginning for personal reasons and I am sorry to those who enjoyed reading first version of this story, but I promise you that you will enjoy this version even more and I encourage new readers to come read this as well. I also request that you read my other Dragon Age story The Heroines of Ferelden which is currently on hiatus becuase some events and characters from this story will appear and be mentioned as well in that story too. Oh, and the Levine Clan is just a pretty, little made-up name for Zathrian's clan since Bioware never felt the need to give us one.
Elven Translations:
Vallaslin - (Literally: Blood writing) The art of tattooing adopted by the Dalish to display their worship of the traditional elven pantheon. It also signifies each elf's coming into the status of adulthood among their clan.
Andruil - Goddess of hunt
Ghilan'nain - Mother of the halla
Vir Tanadahl - Way of three trees
Vir Assan - Way of the arrow
Vir Bor'assan - Way of the bow
Vir Adahlen - Way of the forest
Mahvir - Tomorrow
Arlathvhen (Literally: For love of the people) Meeting of the Dalish clans that occurs every ten years.
Da'assan - Little arrow; Master Varathorn's nickname for Lara.
Ma serannas - My thanks/Thank you
Madar'ir'creoso - You are very welcome
Abelas - (Literally: Sorrow) Sorry
Hollen na anto - Shut your mouth
Hahren - Elder; term of respect.
Lethallan - Friend/Kinswoman (Female)
Lethallin - Friend/Kinsman (Male)
Len - Child/Children
Aravel - A wagon or tent used by the Dalish; humans call them "landships"
Era'en - Stories/Tales/Dreams
Ma vhenan - My heart
Ar lath ma - I love you
U - Alone
Ir'samahl (Literally: Very laugh/laughter) Very funny
Na vhenan'ara - Your heart's desire
Emma'din isala'lath'sahlin, ma serannas ir'limb, ma falon. - I am not in need of love in this moment, thank you very much, my friend.
Name Meaning:
Lara - Shining/Cheerful/Protection/Famous
Next up: Prologue 2:Magnus Mahariel
