And true to Tamale's word, something bad did happen.
Ellana Lavellan had returned with the Redcliffe Mages a week later, claiming to the rest of her Council that she had offered them sanctuary within Haven. Or as much as she could give, anyhow. Cullen had gone against the idea, naturally, but Leliana on the other hand had appreciated what the Elf did greatly.
This was, however, when Tamale began claiming to his mother that they needed to leave the small, little village of Haven. He had pleaded, begged her to believe him, had told her that if they didn't leave now, many people would die that night. Nevertheless, Leliana had calmly told the boy that these visions were just his imagination, with its ghouls and phantoms just trying to frighten him. She squeezed his shoulder comfortingly, and told him to go and play with the other children whilst others in the village began to plan for a party of victory. Tamale gave her a look of betrayal, and muttered, "The sky is going to open again, Mamae, because of him."
Leliana sighed, and scolded. "That's enough, Tamale," she said firmly. "Go on now, run along."
With slunk shoulders, he moved from her side, and walked down the Chantry's stone steps. In a sad way, it reminded Leliana very much of how she was, when her Brothers and Sisters of the Lothering Chantry had rejected her because of her 'vision' from the Maker. Shaking her head, she returned to Josephine's Office, the Antivan woman ecstatic and hurriedly planning a small party for the villages inhabitants.
Dancing.
All Leliana could see from where she was sat were people up on their feet and finding a dancing partner, mugs of ale in their hands as they twisted and twirled around each other. Even though she were not part of this happy activity, she took great pleasure in watching the people skip around her in glee. Many children were playing a part in celebrating, making small daisy chains for the villagers to wear. One who was not part of this head-wear crafting, however, was Tamale.
Leliana noticed her son not too long after the party started, as he made no secret in clambering up the Tavern roof. He was perched upon the wooden structure, his back to her and his eyes scanning the mountains that protected the village. He was sat there for an entire hour, listening to people singing and dancing while he kept watch over the village.
Even through his recently strange and slightly disturbing behaviour, she couldn't help but notice how much he'd grown in the past year. How quickly he'd actually grown, in fact. Many people had told the former Bard during her pregnancy to never let her eyes stray from her and Theron's little creation, one woman claiming that babies only stay that was for five seconds before they're up and toddling around on their own two feet. Leliana... suspected that the woman was exaggerating a little bit, but smiled nonetheless, as she couldn't help but see the truth in her words.
At first, Leliana was coping quite well with the thought that she was with child. She began calming down and staying inside a lot more, sad that she and Theron couldn't continue their travels, but happy none the less to be given a break. She had written to Dorethea of her pregnancy, and received one back of congratulations. The people of Fereldan were gleeful at the news that their Hero was expecting a baby, and Denerim had thrown yet another party of celebration, as if the say the victory party for ending the Blight wasn't good enough.
Theron himself was happy when Leliana had given him the news, nervous albeit, but happy none the less. He wanted to be there, to do a better job than his own parents did with him. He offered himself to Leliana as her own person attendant, claiming he would do whatever she needed him to do.
Though she was quite content with having everything done for her during her nine months of baby carrying at first, after a few months she began to tire of it- greatly.
After three months, Leliana was getting restless. She began to hate not being able to leave the Castle walls which surrounded her, not being able to travel around the country, or even perform in the blasted local Tavern, for Maker's sake! And quickly, the words 'Do you need anything, ma vhenan?' made her grit her teeth in frustration and glare at her lover in annoyance, hoping that it was enough to make him understand that no, she did not need anything else. She did not need anything to eat, to take a rest, to have a bath- nothing. She felt uncomfortable about not being able to do anything for herself. This... dependency was foreign to her, and she hated every second of it. Why was she not allowed to do anything for herself? Just because she was pregnant didn't mean she was helpless.
Much of the frustration went away however, when one night after slipping into bed, she placed a hand on her rounded belly, and felt a sharp nudge under her palm. She woke Theron up hastily then, calling out that their child was kicking against her stomach.Wherever they touched on the outside, their baby was kicking from the inside.
This, again, eventually caused Leliana frustration, as once their little unborn child starting kicking, it wouldn't stop. And, to further annoy her, the baby usually awoke at night, when she lay in bed, desperate for sleep.
In the end, however, she knew that even though she disliked, hated the experience of pregnancy, and all the sleepless nights, aches and pains it had given her, it was all completely worth it in the end.
She had awoken suddenly during the night, clutching her swollen stomach as she grunted in discomfort. She gasped quickly under her breath as another wave of pain enveloped her. She threw her arm to her left and landed it heavily where Theron was sleeping soundly, waking him immediately. "Theron, the baby's coming!"
The rest of the birthing process passed in a hazy blur. All that Leliana could truly remember was the pain, pushing, and the noise as people attempted to tell Theron that the midwife had gone home for the night. After rushing out quickly that he had lived in a Dalish Clan for all of his life, Theron claimed that he knew how to deliver a child, after doing to for many of the women of his Clan.
A few hours later, the pushing had started, and oh Maker, was that a painful experience for the Bard. Every thirty seconds or so, Theron would give the woman heavy instruction to push outward, and continued to do so until there was a tiny cry that ran throughout the castle halls.
It was strange for Leliana, to say the least. One moment, the pain was there, and it hurt immensely, and the next it was just gone, leaving her exhausted and collapsed in the bed. She vaguely heard the cries of her new born, as well as Theron telling her that she had birthed a baby boy.
She felt a hand on her cheek a little while later, and opened her eyes to see Theron looking down to her, a bundle of towels lodged securely in his arms. He sat down on the bed next to her legs and urged her to sit up. She smiled despite herself when their child had been transferred into her arms and Theron had taken his place beside her, the both of them looking down to what they had made. Together, they noted little things about the baby, how his ears were rounded like his mother's, his eyes green and piercing like his father's, and how all the tiny characteristics of the babe in her arms reflected them as he fed from her.
Leliana was pulled from her thoughts as she watched her boy upon the rooftop. She heard someone clear their throat behind her, and she turned to see the Grand Enchanter Fiona looked over at her. She smiled and took her place beside the red-head. "Today was a marvellous victory," the Mage commented.
Leliana nodded her head in agreement and returned the woman's smile, looking back over the people. "I would have thought you'd be celebrating with everyone else," she said, rubbing her hands together and moving toward the lit fire in front of them.
"No," the Enchanter chuckled. "I'm too old for that now, my dear. Anyhow, I've been too busy watching your son," she admitted.
Leliana turned to her again, watching her closely as the woman turned her gaze to Tamale. "In all my years serving as a Circle Mage, I have met many children who harbour the gift of magic," Fiona started. "They have a certain... auraabout them, a particular feel that tells trained Enchanters, such as myself, that the ability of magic sleeps within them, untouched and sleeping." Fiona gestured toward Tamale and looked back to Leliana. "That aura, Lady Leliana, is one that surrounds your-"
Before the Grand Enchanter could finish, there was an unsettling scream that ran throughout the village. "Mamae!" Tamale shouted, now standing upon the wooden structure. When he caught her eye, he turned and pointed toward the snowy mountain, revealing dozens of red and orange flames that were quickly marching their way toward Haven.
If there were any word that could describe Leliana, it would be tired.
As she and the remaining members of the Inquisition crawled up the white, cold mountain, all sombre and exhausted from their days of travelling, she noted the aching dullness in here legs, something she was quite unfamiliar with now, being as she spent most of her time in her work tent, looking over papers and speaking with her agents.
Most of the Inquisition was behind her, members such as Josephine and Dorian helping those unable stagger up the hill. Turning so she was walking backwards, she cast her eyes over their numbers, realising in disdain how few people had survived the attack on Haven. If only I had listened...
Her gaze moved to the food carts, where her son was helping an elderly man pull a cart of vegetables up the mountain. Although she noticed him struggling, she smiled as Tamale pushed on, determined to make it up the last stretch of hill. Behind him were the groups of Mages, many carrying cups of warm soup as they travelled. Enchanter Fiona was amongst the group, watching Leliana closely before averting her gaze.
Leliana glared at the Grand Enchanter, their 'discussion' coming to mind as she continued her trek up the mountain once again.
Cassandra and Cullen had just come back from searching for the Inquisitor, the woman in question hanging loosely as the warrior and commander carried her. There were many gasps and murmurs throughout the little settlement, some people claiming that the Elven woman had been saved again by Andraste. The return of the Herald had fallen on Leliana's deaf ears as she sat huddled with Josephine and Tamale, the red-head consentrating far too much on her son's words to hear anything else.
Unknown to them, when everything had settled, another set of ears began to listen to Tamale's claims. He had told his mother and 'Auntie Josie' that he has seen Corypheus in his dreams, giving the Tevinter Magister the nickname 'Cory' as he couldn't pronounce his full name. Tamale had seen and felt his anger when Inquisitior Lavellan had taken the Mages away from him, watched as past events unfolded in front of his eyes, as Corypheus had attempted to enter the Maker's Kingdom. He also claimed hushly that 'the Dreaded Wolf walks again', and that he's 'closer than you think'.
Solas had been the first Leliana had called for, asking if he could give any light to what Tamale had seen. Solas and Tamale had held each other's gaze for a long few moments, as if having a mute conversation through their eyes.
Thatwas when the Grand Enchater had gratiously offered her view point. "It is obvious, is it not?" she said, walking into their conversation. "The boy is a Mage, a Dreamer." She turned to Tamale then, looking down on him, a smile gracing her lips as Leliana registered what Fiona had told her.
"I had my suspisions," Solas piped, looking to Leliana as she peered up at him questioningly. "Dreamers are Mages who are capable of entering the Fade without the need of Lyrium," he explained. "Talented Dreamers can shape the Fade to their will and let it display past events, as Tamale explained to you."
"Dreamers are also very vulnerable to demonic possession whilst in the Fade," Fiona put in, switching her gaze to Leliana. "I tried to explain this to your before everything happened at Haven, but we were interrupted. Dreamers are...extremelyrare, due to how often they are possessed. I would like you to put the boy in my care, in case anything were to go amiss."
Leliana had reacted badly to the Enchanter's request. What right did she have to ask to take her son out of her care? The Spymaster knew what Fiona was asking, and it was just as bad as sending him off to the Circle Tower. They had continued in private then, Leliana hastily and harshly telling the Mage that she would notallow her son to be taken under the wing of the leader of the Mage Rebellion. Although, later, Leliana realised she might have gone about speaking with the Grand Enchanter in a different way, her point still stood.
As Leliana continued to walk up the mountain, she shook her head and smiled, reminding herself that Tamale was actually a Mage. Never in her life would she have thought him such a thing. Her smile slowly turned into a frown in deep thought as she considered the dreams Tamale had described to her. Surely if his dreams of foresight were real... then what of those of Theron? Were her son's dreams of his father true as well?
Leliana was brought from her thoughts as she felt a tug on her right hand. She looked down to see Tamale grasping her gloved hand, extending to her his fist with the others. Clamped in the fist, however, is what made her smile greatly.
In his right hand, he held a single flower, the stem of which he was grasping, the white petals, the edges slightly brown, sprouting over his fist. He smiled up at her, gesturing her to take the flower. "I found it behind the Chantry," he told her, his green eyes watching intently. "Papa gave you some, remember?"
She took the flower in between her fingertips, twirling it as she recalled Theron approaching her, the very same flower being carried delicately in his hand, presenting it to her as if presenting a gift to a Queen. Of course, he had asked for a kiss afterwards, which made her blush at the memory.
She looked down at her son and gave him a wide smile, snacking her arm around his shoulder as they walked on together.
'Yes,'she thought. 'His dreams are defiantly real.'
