Chapter 1
Siri had just gotten back from her first year of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. She had been having the time of her life until she got back to her aunt and uncles house. The first thing that had happened was her uncle backhanding her into a wall. The second thing had been her uncle locking her trunk and most of her magical stuff into the cupboard under the stairs. Then he bellowed that Siri should go to her room and not stick her head out for the rest of the night.
Needless to say Siri bolted away from her abusive family member. She did as she was told and hid in her room for the rest of the night. She lay down on her bed in her too large clothes and clutched her pillow to her chest. She truly didn't know why she had expected them to change but she had hoped beyond all hope that they would be just a little nicer to her. Fat chance it seemed. Oh well at least she had had the sense to stuff her wand into her shoe before stepping off the train. She cried herself to sleep that night wondering why her life had to be this way.
Siri woke to the sound of Hedwig rapping on her window. She climbed slowly out of bed and let her in. Her face hurt, and she could see she was concerned by the large bruise on her face.
"It's ok, girl I'm used to it." She said with a downcast expression. Hedwig hooted from her perch on Dudley's old computer. Saoirse looked it for what seemed an age before actually seeing it. It had been left in here when she moved in last year due to lack of space in the cupboard. There was a small stack of games beside the monitor on the desk. Saoirse quickly sat down at the desk and looked through the stack of games. She decided on a game called Dragon Age: Origins. She popped the disk into the tray and started it up.
She watched longingly as the screen booted up. When the game started up and character selections came up, Siri began to wish more than anything to be in this world. All the intense emotion fueled a spell like no other as this was in fact a girl like no other. The spell manifested a portal that quickly transported Saoirse and Hedwig out of the room in a maelstrom of color.
Vernon Dursley woke up to hear what sounded like a tornado swirling through his niece's room. He bolted out of bed screaming obscenities at said niece and ran to the room. However whatever it was he expected to find, it most certainly wasn't the room completely destroyed and Saoirse missing. He stood staring dumbly before roaring in bestial rage. But it was too late the girl was well beyond his grasp. At least for the moment and when she returned she would be completely out of her uncle's league.
Siri woke up beside a large forest. Hedwig was perched on a fallen tree beside her taking in the surrounding area. They were between the woods and a small lake. There were ruins scattered about partially in partially out of the lake and there were sounds of fighting all around the area. She was so fixated on the surrounding area that she never noticed the shadow creeping up on her.
"What have we here?" a soft welsh accented voice spoke. Siri spun around and saw a woman with greying hair and elvhen ear just like her's. She wore a set of strange tribal robes and had tribal markings all over her face and body. Standing next to the woman was young girl not much older than Siri. The girl was dressed similar to her elder and had dark hair with blue-green eyes.
However, before she could answer Siri succumbed to magical exhaustion from her journey. Just before she passed out she heard woman say. "Quickly, Merrill. We must get her back to camp."
Siri woke up in an unfamiliar room. It was quite plain but it was also very homely. She gazed blurrily around the room before her vision cleared. It was mostly bare and the only decorations were furs, feathers, relics, scrolls, and sparkling crystals. She stared at her surroundings so intently that she never noticed the woman from earlier enter the room. She gazed at the child before her before clearing her throat to get her attention. Saoirse spun around and saw the elvhen woman looking at her inquisitively.
"It's good that you've woken up. I would like to speak with you." She said pursing her lips.
"Where am I?" She asked her suspiciously.
Marethari looked at the young girl and decided to offer her a place in the camp as her Second not only because of how strong her magical aura was but the child was clearly alone. Just then a snowy white owl flew in and perched beside Saoirse.
"Hey girl, are you ok?" Siri asked holding out her arm for her to perch on. She quickly complied and received a loving stroke of her feathers, to which she cooed contentedly. Marethari smiled softly and thought. Yes, this child will truly be a blessing on the clan.
"That's an amazingly smart familiar you have there, Dalen. Keep her close always." Marethari said stretching her hand out and offering Siri….her wand! Siri took it looking at her skeptically.
"Where am I? And who are you" She asked suspiciously.
"You are in my clan's camp and I am Marethari, Keeper of the clan." Marethari replied. "Who are you and how is it you came to be here?"
Siri thought for a moment before speaking. Finally she opened her mouth and began. "My name is Siri Black…"
Their conversation lasted for a grand total of three hours, in which Siri explained everything she knew about her own magic and learned about their own. They had covered most subjects of Siri's first year at Hogwarts, and all of Marethari's.
"If it doesn't hurt you to badly there are two things I would suggest." Marethari spoke.
"And those would be?" Siri asked skeptically.
"The first is that your name may be common where you are from, but here it will cause you a lot of attention. I would suggest going by Saoirse." She said logically and calmly which belayed any argument.
"And the second?" She asked cautiously.
"I teach you about the Dalish and magic alongside my First, Merrill. I would also like for you to join the clan. Do you accept?"
Saoirse thought for moment and nodded her agreement. She was then introduced first to Merrill, who she took a liking to almost instantly, and the clan.
-Six Months later-
It had been six months since she came to Thedas and the Sabrae clan and in that time she had learned a great deal about Dalish history and culture. She had learned all of the magic that only elvhen magi could use and even earned her own vallaslin, tribal markings in tribute to the elvhen pantheon. She had chosen Mythal as her patron goddess and Keeper Marethari had even allowed Merrill to sit with her.
Saoirse was, currently, out hunting with Tamlen, a hunter who had all but adopted her as his little sister. They had just had a run-in with two humans or Shemlens as they were called by the Dalish, and were now on their way to check out the cave the two told them about.
"I still think we should go tell Keeper Marethari, Tamlen." Saoirse said as they stood outside the cave. "I can sense some very strong magic from inside."
"You worry too much, Saoirse. Beside, don't you want to find a few Dalish relics to take back to Merrill?" Tamlen said with a grin. Saoirse flushed at the mention of her fellow apprentice. She had gained quite a crush on her after spending so much time with her.
"Shut up, Tamlen. I'm serious." She told him. He rolled his eyes and went into the cave. Saoirse sighed and sent a silent prayer to Mythal to keep them safe before heading in after him.
As the processed through the tunnels of the cave, they encounter several giant spiders, whose webs covered the walls, and found more Dalish relics.
"This doesn't make sense. Why are there Dalish relics in a Shemlen made cave? Are they from the time of Arlathan?" Tamlen said confused.
"I don't know." Saoirse replied. Just as she was about to examine a Dalish statue, a glyph lit up the floor and skeletons attacked out of nowhere. They fought off the skeletons and started to approach the door it seemed to guard. Just before they opened it though, it burst open and a mutated bear came rushing out at them. They both jumped out of the way. Saoirse quickly started throwing spells at it while Tamlen fought it head on with his sword and dagger. It didn't take them long to kill.
"W-what was that?" Tamlen exclaimed.
"I don't know but it is not a good sign. We need to leave now." Saoirse said.
"Wait, there's something in the room it came from." Tamlen told her, walking cautiously into the next room.
"Tamlen! No, don't go in there. The magic is coming from there." Saoirse shouted as she chased after him.
In the middle of the circular room was a mirror. The mirror was large and gave off an evil aura that made Saoirse flinch. She watch in horror as Tamlen approached it and then ran towards him to pull him way from the tainted mirror.
"Tamlen! Get away from the mirror!" She yelled franticly.
"I just want to look. It'll be fine." He said. "I think I see something in it. It's looking right at me! Saoirse! Help! I can't look away!"
Suddenly, there was a wave of tainted magic and Saoirse her a dark voice in her head say. "Come to me, little mage! Free me from my prison!" She rushed up the steps to the mirror, pooling as much of her magic as she could into her hands and sent it at the mirror in full force. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was the mirror turning to pure ash.
Saoirse shot up in her bedroll only to cringe in pain as she felt the evil taint that was trying to poison her blood. She, also, felt her magic working hard to try and purge it. She, then, felt a gentle hand lightly push her back down.
"Rest, Saoirse. Keeper Marethari says you are still sick." Merrill spoke beside her.
Keeper Marethari then enter the aravel and asked Saoirse to tell her what happened. Saoirse told the Keeper everything she could remember, which wasn't much, and the Keeper told her of the Grey Warden, Duncan, who saved her. The whole time as she told the story, Merrill held her hand and never once let go. Marethari then said, "Once you have gathered your strength, you and Merrill will go to the cave and find out what became of Tamlen."
Saoirse nodded and began to get up. "We should gather supplies before we go," She spoke to Merrill. Merrill nodded and reluctantly let go of her hand then left to gather her supplies. Saoirse stood and gathered her own supplies before leaving her aravel. As she stepped outside, Fenarel ran up to her and said. "Is it true? Are you and Merrill going to look for Tamlen?"
"Yes, we are or at the very least find out what happened to him." Saoirse replied.
"Let me go with you. You're still recovering and Merrill can only do so much with her magic." Fenarel pleaded. She thought about it and agreed on the condition the ask Keeper Marethari first. Fenarel readily agreed and once Marethari gave permission, they headed to Merrill's aravel.
"Fenarel? What are you doing here?" Merrill asked when she saw them.
"He is coming with us to the cave since I'm still recovering. The Keeper gave him permission," She told her. Merrill nodded gravely at her. They, then, set out to the cave. As they traveled down the path to the cave, they encounter strange tainted creatures not taller than a dwarf. They fought them all the way to the entrance of the cave before finally beginning to make their way through the cave to the mirror room. They faced not more creatures or other beasts as they reached the room. Inside the room, a human male knelt beside a pile of ash. He stood and turned around when he heard them enter.
"You should not have come back here," He said to them.
"You're Duncan. The Grey Warden who saved Saoirse," Merrill said.
"Yes but now we must leave this place," He replied.
"What about Tamlen?" Saoirse asked though she already knew the answer.
"He is gone. Tainted by the power of the mirror. He is no longer Tamlen," Duncan told her confirming her fears.
Knowing there was nothing else they could do, they returned to camp with Duncan accompanying them.
Upon returning to camp, Duncan left with the Keeper to talk while Fenarel left to inform Haren Pavail about Tamlen. Merrill and Saoirse went back to her aravel where Saoirse lay on her bedroll and Merrill sat beside her and held her hand. Moments later, Keeper Marethari entered and sat beside them. After a few minutes, she explained to them about the cure Duncan had and what it would mean for Saoirse. Becoming a Grey Warden at nearly 12 years old.
Accepting the offer, knowing it was her only way to possibly survive, Saoirse gathered her things with Merrill's reluctant help. She was allowed to stay long enough for Tamlen's funeral and to say goodbye. As she left with Duncan, she looked back at her clan and especially Merrill, gave her a pendent with the mark of Mythal, one last time.
As they made their way to the Circle of Magi on their way to Ostagar, They were attack near a cliffs edge by Darkspawn. During the attack, a Hurlock Emissary threw a spell at Saoirse knocking her off the cliff into the rushing river below. Before she fell unconscious from the blast she saw a large dragon swoop down and scoop her up.
Saoirse woke up in an unfamiliar room. It was quite plain but it was also very homely. She gazed blurrily around the room. It was mostly bare and the only decorations were furs, feathers, herbs, and sparkling crystals. She stared at her surroundings so intently that she never noticed Morrigan enter the room. She gazed at the child before her before clearing her throat to get her attention. Saoirse spun around and saw Morrigan looking at her inquisitively.
"It's good that you've woken up. Mother would like to speak with you." She said pursing her lips.
"Where am I?" She asked her suspiciously.
"All questions shall be answered when you speak with mother." Morrigan said before turning to leave the room. Then as an afterthought she added. "Yours and ours."
Saoirse stood up and followed Morrigan out of the room, albeit a bit reluctantly. She led her to a small kitchen dining area where a wizened old woman sat stroking Hedwig. Saoirse's gaze softened at the sight of the owl.
"Hey girl, are you ok?" Saoirse asked holding out her arm for her to perch on. She quickly complied and received a loving stroke of her feathers, to which she cooed contentedly.
"That's an amazingly smart familiar you have there, girl. Keep her close always." The elder woman said stretching her hand out and offering Saoirse….her wand and Mythal pendent! Saoirse took it looking at the two women skeptically.
"Where am I? And who are you?" She asked suspiciously.
"You are in the outskirts of the Korcari Wilds." The elder said patiently. "And I am Flemeth. This is my daughter Morrigan. Who are you and how is it you came to be here?"
Saoirse thought for a moment before speaking. Finally she opened her mouth and began. "My name is Saoirse of the Sabrae Clan of the Dalish…"
Their conversation lasted for a grand total of three hours, in which Saoirse explained everything she knew about her own magic and learned about their own which was slightly different from the elvhen and wand magics she knew. They had covered most subjects of Saoirse's first year at Hogwarts and time with her clan, and all of Morrigan's, as well as how her magic had purge the darkspawn taint from her body but left the benefits and that she was by definition a Grey Warden. After a long discussion there came a loud racket from the distance.
"So it has begun." Flemeth said cryptically.
"Sorry but what has begun?" Saoirse asked sheepishly.
"The boy, Cailan, marched his armies down here from the capitol." Flemeth said while her gaze seemed to rest miles away. "They are now engaging the darkspawn horde."
"So there's a battle taking place?" Saoirse asked in concern.
"Yes but you need not worry child, while I may be old I command a mastery over magic seldom seen in the world, and Morrigan is no slouch either." Flemeth said turning her gaze from the horizon back to Saoirse's face. "But be aware that there will be a time coming soon that you will have to go with Morrigan away from here. If it doesn't hurt you to badly there is thing I would suggest."
"And that would be?" Saoirse asked skeptically.
"Given the nature of where you will be going and your future companions, I believe you should present the front that Morrigan is your mother as a way to further your safety." Flemeth said this rather blunt and emotionlessly.
Saoirse was gob smacked. This woman wanted her to pretend her daughter was her mother. Not that it would be a hard sell given their similar appearances. In fact, aside from her eyes and elvhen features, she would say that yes it was very possible for her to be her mother. Saoirse turned to look at her for a moment before asking. "What do you think? Would you like to have to pretend that I'm your daughter for the next ever how long?"
"I can see a resemblance between the two of us." She said thoughtfully. "And if mother suggested it, it would have to be important. So to answer your question I have no problem acting as your mother."
"Very well." Saoirse said exasperatedly.
"That's a good lass. Now I believe I should attend this battle, there are a few key piece of this game that must be saved from the slaughter that is to come." Flemeth exited the house leaving Morrigan and Saoirse to stare awkwardly at one another.
"What am I supposed to call you?" Saoirse finally asked.
"Mother would be fine, but perhaps something more familiar would be prudent." Morrigan said with slightly thoughtful look on her face.
"I never knew my adopted mums." Saoirse said quietly.
Morrigan looked slightly uncomfortable before saying. "Mine has been more of a teacher and mistress than an actual mother, so I don't know how I'm supposed to act around you."
"Can you teach me your kind of magic?" Saoirse asked randomly.
"Oh, what about my magic would you like to learn?" Morrigan asked with interest.
"Well I'd like to learn to turn into animals." Saoirse said sheepishly looking away from her.
"And why is that?" Morrigan asked skeptically. "What animal would you like to become?"
Saoirse mumbled something, which caused Morrigan to frown.
"If you're going to speak to me you'll have to speak up." Morrigan said somewhat forcefully. Saoirse glared back at her before saying:
"I want to turn into an owl so I can fly with Hedwig."
"Yes that would be an interesting experience." Morrigan agreed. "Sit down and focus on your body. Picture it changing. While doing this focus on everything you know about your familiar." They would spend the rest of the day training like this.
Saoirse had just managed to begin the transformation when she heard a huge racket coming from the front of the house. When the sound grew in volume she lost all concentration and failed to complete the change which stopped it altogether. She got up in a huff and walked out of the house much to Morrigan's silent amusement. She followed her out the front door in case there was any danger, only to see her confront Flemeth who was changing into her human form from her dragon one.
Saoirse was initially shocked to see the dragon landing on the front yard, but quickly overcame it when she saw it begin to shrink. She got a mischievous gleam in her eye when she noticed a young blonde man gazing at Flemeth fearfully. She stepped forward when she was fully human and said.
"Grandmother, must you make all that racket when you return I finally got mother to teach me to transform." Morrigan was smiling from her station looking every bit the proud mother and Flemeth was smirking with amusement.
"Saoirse, child, we have guest go turn the bed down this girl is wounded." She said with a wider smirk, knowing she would have to play along.
Saoirse frowned at having her joke turned around on her but nodded and said. "Yes grandmother." She turned and went into the house followed shortly by Morrigan and Flemeth carrying a young petite woman. She was wearing a colorful set of robes, and a gold ring with a single blood red ruby encrusted in the center. After they came in the young blonde walked in carrying a knarled staff. Saoirse gazed at the gore covered warrior. He wore a suit of chainmail crusted over with blood and grim from, what Saoirse guessed was the battle that had been raging on.
Saoirse pulled out her wand and pointed it at the blonde, before saying. "Scourgify." The blonde's armor went from filthy and stinking to newly cleaned and polished. The blonde gave a start before gazing uncertainly at her.
Saoirse shrugged. "You couldn't have been comfortable wearing a filth encased suit of armor." She said in the way of an explanation, before returning her attention to her pseudo family. Flemeth was leaning over the girl running her hands over her body and chanting nonstop. She looked to Morrigan only for her to say.
"Come this could take a while." To both, Saoirse and the grief stricken blonde. Both followed her from the room.
"What's your name?" Saoirse asked the blonde who walked silently beside her.
"I'm Alistair." He was told but that was all.
"Are you a knight of some sort?" Saoirse asked inquisitively.
"Not really I'm an ex-Templar and a Grey Warden." He said looking at this child who seemed so at ease with his presence.
"You mean you used to hunt mages?" Saoirse asked with a bit of heat in her voice.
"No, I was recruited by the Wardens before I took my vows to the chantry." Alistair said quickly realizing that that line of thought could be bad for him.
"Oh." Saoirse said repentantly. "Sorry."
"Don't be. I'm not." Alistair said sincerely. Morrigan, who had been watching the whole conversation, spoke up. "Saoirse dear go wash up supper is ready to eat."
Saoirse nodded before leaving the hut. As soon as she left the door Morrigan turned to Alistair with a look that would have a high dragon running for cover.
"Let me make something very clear in terms of my daughter. She is the only reason I will be civil to you, because I don't want her to see a side of me that isn't a nice kind mother that loves her. However, if for any reason I feel my daughter is in danger that will go out the window really quick, do you understand?"
Alistair nodded hastily while backing away from the scary woman.
"Good then we shall have no problems." She said happily. However on the inside she was wondering just where it was this protective streak had come from. Alistair meanwhile was wondering just house awkward this was going to get.
Saoirse stepped out of the house and walked over to the edge of the pond. She thought about all that was happening in such a short time. She had gone from being treated like trash all her life to being hailed as a hero, in one day. The opposite was also true. While she had been at Hogwarts there had always been someone to talk to and hang out with. And as soon as she had walked through the front door of number 4 Privet Drive, it had all changed back. Now she was in a new world and part of an old society.
She sighed to herself. Hedwig, who had been circling overhead, landed on her shoulder cooing softly to her. She smiled and stroked her feathers lovingly.
"At least I have you, girl." She said with a sad smile. Hedwig nipped her ear affectionately.
"And I have a mum here." She said with a little uncertainty in her voice. "I've never had one before." Hedwig cooed softly to her.
"Hey girl, watch this." Saoirse said excitedly as she placed her on a tree stump. She sat down in the lotus position and began to meditate on Hedwig's form. She focused like Morrigan had taught her and begun to feel the changes taking place. She begun to shrink and lighten, before growing feathers, her arms flattened out to become wings. And her feet become talons. If she had of been paying more careful attention she would have noticed her already to large clothes falling off of her. As it was however, she noticed when she found herself surrounded in a bundle of clothes.
After she fought her way out of the clothe she stood before Hedwig, in all of her owl like glory and said. "What do you think?"
Hedwig looked at her intently before saying "Friend Saoirse? How do you speak the language of avians?"
Saoirse's eyes widened which as an owl was highly comical, before replying. "You can talk?!"
"Yes." She said with a huff. Saoirse quickly realized her mistake and apologized stating the while she had spoken to her, she had never spoken back.
"You are speaking my language." She stated simply. "Haven't you ever done that before?"
Saoirse thought for a moment, before nodding. "Yes, I have. I talked to a snake once."
"It's like that. Before you were speaking human, and while I could figure out what you meant you couldn't understand me." Hedwig explained.
"Oh, ok. Want to go fly with me?" She asked cocking her head to the side.
"Do you know how?" Hedwig asked in confusion.
"Saoirse chuckled sheepishly. "Now that you mention it, no I don't. Can you teach me?"
Hedwig bobbed her head. "Of course I can, friend Saoirse."
They spent fifteen minutes where Hedwig explained how owls fly, before they took to the skies. Saoirse found, much to her delight, that she was just as much of a natural at flying as an owl as she was on a broomstick. They chased each other around the sky happy to forget the world and just be together. Until a very irate Morrigan walked from the hut, and reminded Saoirse, that she was holding up supper. Saoirse landed and changed back into a human. She blushed as she arched an eyebrow at her nudity. With a quick Scourgify, and a hasty redressing, she walked into the hut and sat at the table. Alistair seemed to be giving her a wide berth, but he was doing that to everyone, so Saoirse paid it no mind. She listened to her mother speak to Alistair of what had happened.
Apparently the regent had left the king and half the army to die at the hands of the darkspawn. What Saoirse wondered though was how was it beneficial for the regent to kill off his daughters husband. Who had been the son of the regent's best friend no less? Saoirse quietly contemplated this before she had to fight a yawn.
"Bedtime." Morrigan said from her chair. Saoirse looked at her like she was crazy.
"Don't give me that look you need your rest. You were able to do a spell that took me months to learn in a matter of hours. You will be going to bed." She said forcefully. Saoirse reluctantly nodded, and went to the room she had woken up in. She had just opened the window to let in Hedwig, when Morrigan followed her in.
She looked at her curiously before asking. "Where are you going to sleep?"
"On the bed of course." She replied indifferently. Saoirse sputtered. "What? With me?"
She looked at her amused for a moment. "Is it uncommon for mothers to sleep beside their children where you are from?"
"No, I don't suppose it is but you're not really my mother are you?" She said uncomfortably.
"Perhaps not but you'd best get used to it, because if what mother said was true and we end up going with them, we'll have to share sleeping space then to." Morrigan said rather thoughtfully. Saoirse paled. She was right after all.
"You need not fear me child as I have no wish to harm you." Morrigan said sitting upon the bed gazing into her large green eyes. She sighed. "I know. It's just weird I've never shared a bed with anybody at all."
Morrigan smiled darkly before putting on a fake pout. "Does that mean you don't want to cuddle up next to your mother? I'm hurt my sweet Saoirse doesn't feel comfortable around me."
Saoirse blushed a bright red before hanging her head and crawling into bed. Her last thought before she focused on going to sleep was. Damn. This is going to be harder than I thought.