The smell of the ground after a rain overwhelmed her senses. A cool breeze pulled at her hair that was gathered in a tail at the base of her neck. The ground beneath her was soft and warm, so much more comfortable then she remembered any ground ever being. Green eyes opened slowly to a hazy sky and leaves falling from the tall trees as the breeze shook them loose. It was beautiful and felt so free. Somehow, that felt wrong. There hadn't been trees when she was… where had she been?
"You're awake." A familiar voice echoed around her. "I hadn't expected to see you so soon, Da'len."
"Mamae?" That couldn't be right. She looked around for someone who couldn't really be there. Unless… "Am I in the fade?" Please say no, please say no, please say no.
"You are." A woman stepped out of shadow of a tree. She was the same as she had been the day she died. Her blonde hair held those braids she always wore, her dark eyes seeing everything, the vallaslin on her face faded from the years. "I wish It were not so. I had hoped to see your father here long before you."
"I will make you regret taking my mother's face, demon." Kali stood quickly, reaching for her blades only to grasp at the air. This is hardly fair, last time I was pulled into the fade I got to keep my weapons. What was she doing in the fade any way? She wasn't a mage, she shouldn't be here. The demon held a hand up just like her mother would to stop her tantrum when she was a child.
"Please, da'len. I am no demon. Though I know you will not take my word for it. You are my child after all."
"Well if you're not a demon then what are you?"
"I am your mother and a spirit. I'm here to help you find you way."
"Find my way? My way to what?" It didn't make any sense. She wasn't lost so how could she need to find her way. It was the fade. All she had to do was wait until her physical body woke up and she wouldn't remember any of this.
"To whatever comes next, be it the Maker or the Creators." Kali felt an unnatural chill slide down her spine. She'd heard that people who die pass through the fade on the way to the Maker, if they believed in him. She had bothered with the religion of the Shems. It was just another way for them to control the elves of the alienage, or, so she thought. But why would that be important now?
"If that's so, that would mean I'm…." She couldn't finish the sentence. Her mind moving fast as the memories came back. The party and the assassin, she'd run as fast as she could. Did this mean she had saved him? Was Alistair here somewhere too?
"Dying? Yes, it does I'm afraid." Dying. Her stomach dropped to her feet as the word echoed over in her head. She should have died so many times. The thought of dying never seemed to terrifying then. Now, now that it was happening… there just weren't words to describe.
"I'm dying…." She whispered. The words tasted bitter on her tongue. Her mother's hand slid into hers and gently pulled her into the trees.
Eamon stood in the now empty hall, staring at the blood cooling on the stones. They were lucky the king was unharmed, very lucky. The Maker certainly smiled on them when the assassin's blade sank into the wrong person. As much as he liked the little elf woman he had worked too hard to ensure Alistair would be king to lose it all now. He knew Alistair would not see it that way. Poor boy, he's suffered enough.
The soft click of heels on stone drew him out of his thoughts. Softer footsteps followed the clicking into the hall. He felt his wife's strong presence before he saw her. The servants quietly got to work cleaning the stone floor. No one said anything as they worked; there was nothing to be said. Their hero may be gone. He could see it in their faces, especially on the faces of the elves.
As quietly as they came, the servants left. Their work finished. The stone showed no trace of the chaos that had taken place hours before. Only the silence that spread throughout the normally bustling castle remained to remind them. He had not seen Alistair since he took the hero back somewhere into the castle. Last he heard they were still waiting for someone to find the elderly mage woman. More guards had been sent to try and find her not that long ago but time was running out. At least the assassin was caught.
"Have you seen Alistair?" Isolde asked as she slipped her hand into his. He gripped it tight as he shook his head. "I'll make sure some food is sent up to him."
"Thank you, my love. I know you you've never been fond of him but…"
"But he helped save our Connor. Without either of them I would not have him or you. I will never be able to repay them for that. You know, they are not so different from us." Eamon looked over at his wife. He said nothing, waiting for her to continue. "No one wanted you to marry me simply because I am from Orlais, but we did anyways. Now, no one cares where I am from. Someday, they will not care that she is an elf. I just wish it had been sooner." Eamon said nothing. He simply nodded in agreement.
Behind them the doors of the hall flew open causing both of them to turn and see what was happening. Several guard rushed in behind an old woman in mage robes, running as fast as her frame could carry her.
"Thank the Maker!" Isolde whispered as the mage disappeared down a hall.
AN: Thank you so much for the reviews and the follows. It makes me happy to see those e-mails come in. It looks like this is going to be a little longer that I had expected. I hope you like this chapter. I'd love to get your take on it and what is happening.
I don't really like Isolde but I think that she would at least be a little grateful after you go out of your way to safe her son (If you did) and husband (granted you have to save him). I thought I would play on that just a little bit. I used the Dragon Age Wiki while writing the part in the fade. I seem to recall someone saying that when you pass through the fade the people that went before are waiting to guide you. I may have imagined that but either way I like that Idea.
We recently had a death in our family so it may get crazy over here, plus finals week is coming and I start my second job in two weeks. So I apologize for any delays that happen. I really hope you are enjoying this story. It's helping me keep my sanity right now.
Much love,
Ashes
