May the Rain come.
A/N: Valania Mahariel woke up one morning and knew today was going to change the rest of her life. She just didn't know how. This is her journey from my point of view. In this chapter Valania has made it to Ostagar. She meets the King and soon finds his bastard brother Alistair, and here is where the fun begins. Rated M for language and sex. Mahariel/Alistair, slight Mahariel/Tamlen and Mahariel/Zevran
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age or any of the characters.
Chapter 2: Unexpected Things to be found in Ostagar
Valania yelped as Duncan pulled the horse to a sudden stop and she quickly scrambled off of it. "How can you Shemlen do that for days on end? Our Halla would more than likely stomp on us than do this."
Duncan chuckled softly. "Horses have been bread for this sort of thing. Now then, shall we? We have a lot to accomplish and not a lot of time to do it in."
She nodded as she grabbed her pack and placed her swords in their sheaths on her back. She brushed the strands of black hair that fell into her face back and watched as he got off the horse. "So where are we?"
"We are in Ostagar, this was once a fortress but now stands long abandoned. There have been many darkspawn sightings in the Wilds. And—King Calian?" Duncan said, his voice laced with surprise. "I wasn't expecting—"
"A royal welcome? I was afraid that you weren't going to make it. I wasn't about to let you have all the fun." He looked past Duncan to see Valania. "And this must be the new recruit you sent word about?"
"Yes, let me introduce you your majesty—"
"There's no need to be so formal Duncan, after all we shall be shedding blood together. Ho there friend, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He said with a smile.
Valania stepped back. "I am no friend of your human lord." She said.
Duncan gaped, as did the King's guards. "You're majesty…I"
"No it's quite alright. You're Dalish are you not? I do not fault you for the hostility you show towards humans. It will be an honor to fight with you."
Valania ignored the rest of what he was saying. She gazed around at the buildings and felt a sudden longing to be away from the crumbling structure and running through the forest. She felt a tug on her arm and noticed that Duncan was trying to gain her attention. The king had already left. "Shall we go?" he asked.
She nodded and fallowed him to the bridge. "So what do you need me to do?" she asked.
"We need to begin the Joining. I need you to find Alistair and then meet me by the Grey Warden tent. I will inform you on what you need to do."
"Is there a rush on this? I just lost my best friend and clan all in one day and had to ride that monstrous beast here, a hot meal and a rest would be wonderful."
Duncan chuckled. "Of course, take your time but please come find me with Alistair before night fall. There is trouble brewing and we need to begin the Joining ceremony soon."
She nodded as she walked off. As she walked through the camp eyes were drawn to her and she knew why. Elves were rarely greeted warmly, and Dalish even more so. She sighed as she stopped at an old woman who just smiled at her.
"Greetings child. Can I help you?"
"I-I'm looking for Ali-Alistair? Yes that's the one. Do you know where I can find him?"
"He's over in the old Temple. I assume that if you are looking for him you must be the new Grey Warden."
"So you've heard?"
"News travels fast within this camp. I am Wynne."
"My name is Valania."
"It is a pleasure. Tell me have you in countered Darkspawn before?"
"Not until just recently when…. my clansmate and I…we…" Her voice trailed off as tears sprang up in her eyes.
Wynne gave her a sad smile as she put a hand on her shoulder. "No need to speak about it my dear, we have all lost something precious because of these monsters." The old sage said softly. "But I would like to hear your thoughts on them."
"They're ugly and tough but killable."
"And that is the thought that will get you through this fight. Now if you will excuse me, I have some more preparations to make and I assume that Duncan has sent you about to gather some people correct? We can talk more after the battle."
Valania walked away, stopping by the merchant and she finally got to the ruined chapel. She stopped when she saw two men arguing. "Enough! I will not be harassed in this manner." One, a mage, bellowed.
"I'm harassing you? And here I thought we were getting along so well I was even going to name one of my children after you. The grumpy one."
The mage snarled storming off in a huff and the other man chuckled. "You know, one good thing about the blight is how it brings people together."
Valania arched an eyebrow at him. "I know what you mean." She said with a slight smile.
"It's like a party!" The man laughed smiling widely. "We should all hold hands and sing a song, that would give the Darkspawn something to think about." He laughed.
Valania smiled again as she watched this Shemlen. He was quite beautiful. His hair was short but a dusty golden color, like the color of wheat. His eyes were a beautiful shade of golden brown. She watched him move and saw strength, if he were an elf he would be highly sought after in my clan.
"Really now? Well that is to bad that I wasn't born an elf." He chuckled.
She gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't know I was speaking aloud." She said blushing furiously.
He chuckled. "It's not a problem. You're new here aren't you? I'm surprised to see a Dalish here."
"I am Valania, although my formal title is Ranger Valania." She said with a formal bow. "You must be Alistair."
"Valania…what a beautiful name. What does it mean?" He asked.
Her blush grew darker. "It…it means Divine." She said softly.
"Hm." He chuckled again. "Anyway, if you know who I am then you must be the new recruit. As junior member of the order, allow me to welcome you into the Grey Wardens. You know we haven't had many women in the Grey Wardens."
"Maybe because we're to smart for you?"
"If that's true then what does that make you?"
"Just one of the guys?" She said with a small smile and a shrug. "Shall we get going?"
Alistair nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. We can explore the camp a little bit, we have time before Duncan really needs us."
She nodded. "Then lets go."
She led them up to where a priestess was giving blessings. Knowing better she veered a sharp right and ran into a man in a cage. The man stood up. "Finally come to sentence the prisoner eh?"
"No."
"Then I don't suppose you have a bit of kindness in you, I haven't been fed and I am to hang soon."
Valania's heart ached because she knew what it was like to be prisoner and not fed. She reached into her bag and pulled out some food wrapped in a cloth. "Here take this, everyone should be shown some kindness." She said softly.
"Thank you kind lady. Maker smile upon you." The man said gratefully as he began to eat.
She turned around to see Alistair looking at her with a surprised look. "What?"
"That was very kind of you, I had heard stories that the Dalish hate humans."
"Most do, but those of us who do not learn from our mistakes are doomed to repeat them." She said with a shrug. "And I feel for anyone who is locked in a cage." She said as she turned from him and walked back down the stairs. She stared to walk past the kennels when the kennel master pulled her to the side.
"Oi, are you going into the Wilds?"
"I may be. Why?"
"I have this Mabari here, see. Poor bugger swallowed some Darkspawn blood, there's a flower in the Wilds that might be able to help. It's white with a red center."
"I can keep an eye out for it."
"Good, but for right now I have some medicine that will help him a little, he wont let me get in close enough to muzzle him. Maybe you can try?"
She opened the gate to the pen and closed it again. She faced the dog and heard him growl at her. She knelt down and looked at him. "Hamin" She said soothingly, the dogs growls lessened and she smiled. She held out a hand to him and the dog gave a submissive wine as he walked over and touched her hand with his nose. She stroked his head as she continued to murmur to him in Elvin. She placed the muzzle on him and kissed his head. "You are a good strong animal, you can make it through this." She said softly. She stepped back as the kennel master walked in and administered the medicine.
Alistair smiled at her softly. "That was very kind of you."
"I am a Ranger Alistair, animals are my life. I know how to talk to them, and they to me." She said softly. "Silly I know, but—"
"Its not silly." He said softly. "C'mon Duncan is right over there."
She nodded as she led him to where Duncan was. After meeting the other recruits and getting their assignment the men looked at her. "Well, you are Dalish so lead on." The rouge said with what he thought was a dashing smile.
Valania rolled her eyes. "Fine, if I must lead a bunch of Shemlen through a forest then you had better keep up." She said as she walked to the gate with her hips swaying.
Davith gave a low whistle. "Whoo-wee look at her lips swing. Bet she's a wicked lover in bed." He said jabbing Alistair in the ribs.
Alistair flushed and cleared his throat as he rushed after her.
TBC
A/N: Whoot, all right finally chapter two is up and ready. Oh this is exiting. Now then I hope that this chapter was satisfying. Next one is going to really start heating up the water between Alistair and Valania.
