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"A leader of men must make decisions quickly, be independent; act and stand firm; be a fighter; speak openly, plainly, frankly; make defeats his lessons; cooperate; coordinate; use the best of any alliances or allies; walk with active faith courageously toward danger or the unknown; create a staff; know, love and represent the best interests of his followers; be loyal, true, frank and faithful; reward loyalty; have a high, intelligent, and worthy purpose and ideal. Do justice; love mercy; fear no man but fear only God."
— John W Dodge

Prologue 2:Magnus Mahariel


Earlier that same day, the Sabrae Clan's camp, located only a few miles away from the Levine Clan's camp, was booming with activity. Hunters were out in the forest to check their traps and kill as many animals as they could until sunset so there would be enough food for the Arlathvhen mahvir night while all of the hahren'en and asha'en who did not serve as hunters were preparing what food they already had and a few of the older len either assisted their parents with decorations or looked after the much younger len who were running around like wilds animals as they laughed among themselves and brazenly ignored anyone who told them to quiet down. It wasn't until one len made the mistake of accidentally bumping into Hahren Paivel that they finally calmed down a little bit after receiving an annoyed glare and long lecture from the clan's elderly storyteller.

A young elven girl with long blonde hair and bright green eyes glinting with a certain kind of wisdom that was otherwise beyond someone her age made her way through the camp, careful not to bump into anyone as everyone hurried to make sure everything was ready for the upcoming gathering. Placing her staff behind her, the elven girl sighed in relief as she looked down to see that the basket of freshly-gathered herbs under her arm was still there and she had not dropped it. She had spent all morning out in the forest finding all of these special herbs for the keeper, one of which she did not even know existed until she saw it on the list the keeper had given her this morning.

The elven girl quickened her pace to get through the crowd more easily, eventually coming to a stop in front of one aravel that stood out amongst the others. She hesitated for a moment to enter, peeking inside the unclosed flaps of the aravel to see the keeper, a handsome young elven man clad in Dalish robes while his staff had been put to the side next to his bedroll. He was looking down at an ancient elven tome in his hands.

The keeper's dark blue eyes glinted with something resembling patience, kindness, cheerfulness, and great wisdom all rolled into one. His dark black hair was cut short, and the keeper himself was very tall and muscular beneath the robes he wore, but most of all, peace seemed to simply reflect off of him just like the powerful magic cursing through him that made him who he was as a keeper. Another thing that made him stand out from most keepers other than his merciful nature was the unique vallaslin of June on his face rather than the designs of either Mythal or Elgar'nan that all of the other keepers typically wore.

"Aneth ara, keeper." The elven girl cleared her throat loudly, nodding respectfully to him as she entered.

Blinking, Magnus Mahariel closed the tome in his hands and turned to face his first with a smile."Aneth ara, da'len." He nodded back at her, putting away the tome and accepting the basket of herbs she handed him with another bright smile."I see you have brought me the herbs I asked for you to find this morning." He nodded again."Ma serannas, Marethari."

Marethari looked away to hide her blush, bowing to the male elf."Madar'creoso, gisir." She said quietly before straightening up a bit and adopting a more calmer visage."Is there anything else you require of me today?"

Smiling, he shook his head."Nae, da'len. You may go now. I have some things I must attend to now that you have brought me the necessary herbs for my own preparations. The rest of the day is yours. Ma serannas again for doing as I asked you to, da'len."

"Ma nuvenin, keeper." Marethari bowed deeply before turning to exit the aravel. Just as she was leaving, another elven woman, Ashalle, stopped at the entrance upon seeing Marethari. The two women exchanged small nods of acknowledgment then walked past each other in opposite directions.

"Already finished helping Ewan and Maren with the halla like I ordered you to, Ashalle?" Magnus asked over his shoulder with the slightest hint of mirth in his tone as he gave a very small smirk at the elven woman. Ashalle, being the immature and impatient asha she was, rolled her eyes with a scoff then frowned grumpily and crossed her arms.

"You mean cleaning up after the pooping halla while they watched and laughed at me in front of Zephyr?" She spat with both venom and sarcasm practically spilling from her tone."Yes, I am finally finished going through that humiliating ordeal, thank you very much, lethallin."

Magnus chortled."Yes well, you may consider that nan for sticking your nose into my personal life again." He said through his laughter, knowing full well how his childhood falon felt about Zehpyr, the clan's Chief Hunter. Ashalle had been smitten with him for years and whether or not either of them cared to admit it, Magnus could tell that Zehpyr felt the same way about Ashalle.

Ashalle snorted."You don't have a personal life, gisir."

Sighing, Magnus turned to face her."I am a keeper, lethallan. My duty is to my clan and to my people. The life of a keeper is normally a very lonely one and-"

"And because of this, very few keepers ever bond with other elves or have len." She finished for him with a roll of her eyes. Ashalle always had a bad habit of butting into Magnus's business and more than anyone else in the clan, played matchmaker whenever she got the chance to do so. He knew she only meant well, but there were many times when this asha just downright scared him or drove him insane with vexation because of how much she cared. Magnus sometimes found himself being torn between feeling touched by her desire for him to be happy or pulling all of his hair out while shouting and banging his head against a tree if it would just make her leave him alone already.

Besides, he'd already been intimate with other women in his slightly younger days before and after becoming keeper and learned that it was all nothing more than a physical attraction once the moment of passion itself had ended. Love just wasn't something he needed nor wanted in his life right now, or at all really. That was what he told himself all the time so he could sleep peacefully at night, at least.

"I do not sound anything like that, lethallan." He huffed indignantly with a slight frown on his face.

"Why, of course you don't." She cooed playfully, smirking at his very miffed glower.

Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his for a moment then looked up to scowl at her irritating smirk before pointing toward the exit of his aravel."Unless you want to be put on halla duty in front of Zephyr again, Ashalle, I suggest you leave now while you still have the chance." He narrowed his eyes as he spoke in a slightly dark tone of voice.

She rolled her eyes at him with a wry grin. It was true that she harbored a deep respect for him because of his status as keeper and the fact that he was a very good falon hers since childhood, but she still found it highly amusing whenever he made the extremely rare occasion of trying to put on a tough act. Magnus rarely ever got angry and when he did, everyone knew it was best not to aggravate him further in any way, but such a thing ever occurring was just as common as flowers in the snowy winter. In other words, this was nothing more than simply him getting annoyed with and attempting to intimidate her into leaving by weakly affecting a false, ominous air of stern authority.

"Daratisha, gisir." She said calmly, rolling her eyes again."Ar'tu ven'sahlin ma nuvenin ar'ven. Dareth shiral." That being said, she gave him a curt bow then turned and left the aravel without another word or teasing remark directed toward him.

Once he was absolutely sure he was u, Magnus let out a long sigh."Oh, how I despise it when that asha is right." He muttered under his breath.


Elven Translations:

Arlathvhen (Literally: For the love of the people) Meeting of the Dalish clans that occurs every ten years.

Mahvir - Tomorrow

Hahren/Hahren'en - Elder/Elders

Asha/Asha'en - Woman/Women

Len - Child/Children

Aravel - A wagon or tent used by the Dalish; humans call them "landships"

Lethallan - Friend/Kinswoman (Female)

Lethallin - Friend/Kinsman (Male)

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.

June - God of crafts

Mythal - (Literally: The great protector) Chief elven goddess; Wife of Elgar'nan; Goddess of love, protection, and motherhood.

Elgar'nan - (Literally: Spirit of vengeance) Chief elven god; Husband of Mythal; God of vengeance and fatherhood.

Aneth ara (Literally: My safe place) A sociable or friendly greeting, more commonly used among the Dalish themselves rather than with outsiders.

Da'len - Little child; to describe someone young, innocent, or dear.

Ma serannas - My thanks/Thank you

Madar'creoso - You are welcome

Daratisha - Be at peace

Ar'tu ven'sahlin ma nuvenin ar'ven - I will go now as you wish me to go

Dareth shiral - (Literally: Safe journey) Farewell

Nae - No

U - Alone

Ma nuvenin - As you wish

Nan - Revenge/Vengeance

Falon - Friend

Gisir - Keeper

Name Meaning:

Magnus - Great

Next up: Chapter 1:Oaths