Legends Come From Somewhere…
Ch 6: Moving Beyond Comfort
-Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age: Origins or the characters. I don't claim the Mithra race either, or Tolkien's elven language. Just Akaia, her personality, and some of the Mithra legends.
-This is an OC/Alistair/OC story (the 2nd OC doesn't come in for a long while.)
Alistair was rather silent the rest of the trip to Orzammar. His walking pace was slower than usual and he offered to take the back of the group. Ever since Akaia had shown favor to Ryker and jumped at the news her friend was going into labor, Alistair hadn't been as charismatic as usual.
"He seems mad," Remia said casually from her spot in front of Akaia. Ever since Akaia told Remia to take more charge, the elf woman had been taking a single leading spot and her command was better than when she took everyone's advice.
"You seem to think I know why," Akaia smirked knowingly. Everyone else in their group had figured the mithra woman had something to do with Alistair's rather low mood.
"Akaia, usually I wouldn't agree to the idea that two of my teammates being attracted to each other, for this reason actually, but if there is something going on, just tell me."
"Remia I assure you, nothing is going on between Alistair and me. I have no idea why his mood is so negative lately. Though, if you want, I could try and figure out what it is before we reach Orzammar. That way, he'll be at his top condition by then."
Remia glanced back and nodded; not even a smile graced her lips. Akaia took that as a sign that this was a serious situation and Remia needed it solved.
Akaia stopped walking and waited until she was behind the group with Alistair.
"Something wrong?" Alistair asked, his eyes not meeting Akaia's.
"No, I just thought I'd fall back and give you some company. Is everything okay, Alistair?"
Alistair glanced at her, "Yeah, everything is just fine."
"I may not be a native of Ferelden, but I know that that was sarcastic. Alistair, please tell me. Everyone believes I'm the cause and if I am then you should tell me so I can fix it."
"'Fix it?' You think you can simply 'fix' my problem!?" Alistair was not offended by the fact that Akaia thought he had a problem, but by the fact that she thought it would be an easy matter. "Then again, you're a mithra…Everything about you is perfect and comes easy."
Akaia's eyes widened before they narrowed dangerously, "Excuse me? Is that truly what you believe? Mithra are just perfect beings that cannot make mistakes and are unopposed by anything?"
Alistair turned to her and saw the fury of the judgment in her eyes, "Are you saying you're not? Even our leader followed your opinions more than anyone else's! The only time you should true weakness was when Zevran's assassins almost killed you because you weren't in the right armor!"
The group had stopped shortly after the other two and they now watched Alistair and Akaia argue. Remia winced at Alistair's words, knowing they'd hit home.
"Living eternally is not as blissful as it seems, Alistair. I don't die naturally nor do I age physically. I cannot scar unless cut by a weapon of Mithra make and I can smell, see and move better than humans or elves or dwarves, but I am hardly perfect. My kind wasn't even supposed to exist, Alistair!"
Akaia's silver eyes looked more like a cloudy grey to Alistair. He could see the pure fury behind her eyes as well as the pain.
"Akaia, stay calm," Sten walked up to the Mithra woman who was slowly succumbing to her rage.
The storm color in her eyes darted to Sten as he stepped near her; a warning to stop. Akaia's eyes widened and she slowly returned to her senses when Sten's hand gripped her shoulder firmly.
"Thank you…Sten," Akaia whispered loud enough for the qunari to hear.
"Kadan, you should rest. Your body is tense and your mind isn't normal. Is it really so soon?"
"No…I'm just one of the few that gets hit hard by heat," Akaia explained to Sten who knew very well that the Mithra mating days were coming soon.
Sten had actually been around Akaia during one mating ritual and he'd seen how drastically her personality changed. She was less merciful and opted for more animalistic ways of doing things. Though, of course, he was always supposed to be near her on such days to ensure she didn't do something truly foolish.
Sten watched Akaia closely as they made their way to Remia. Akaia's eyes were tired and her cat-like ears didn't stand upright as usual. Instead, they opted to flex back on her head as if in defeat.
Alistair sighed and hung his head. Once again, his feelings had gotten in the way of his friendship with Akaia. He didn't mean to offend her, but after seeing how… incomparable Ryker was, well, Alistair was a little frustrated. His anger was misplaced and he knew that.
"You shouldn't have yelled at her, you know," Leliana said casually.
Alistair sighed again and nodded, "I know, I really do, it's just…"
"You think it's unfair that your competition is a man like Ryker?"
"Exactly…"
"Alistair, all of us know you feel for Akaia, and she has to have some sort of feelings for you to resist the urge to kill you when you invoke her fury. It is unfortunate that she isn't permitted to be with a human," Leliana reminded him gently. She'd paid attention to Akaia when she said 'mating' with humans and elves was forbidden and strongly looked against.
"I know! I just wish things could be different! I mean…If I wasn't even here then she'd have a chance with Duncan. I'm not just frustrated that I have to compete with Ryker," Alistair said the male mithra's name disdainfully, "but also that I feel for the woman Duncan loved."
"I wondered if that was part of it. Alistair, let her be for a little while. You may talk to her, don't get me wrong, but don't push anything as far as her people or love goes. She is very confused right now and we're about to reach the one place in all of Ferelden that she cannot go."
Alistair nodded and mustered the strength to push his emotions out of the way for a while. He cared for Akaia, more than he'd admit to, but until they talked it out he couldn't get jealous and try to demand her attention.
By the time the group reached Orzammar and defeated the bounty hunters just outside the city doors, Akaia was feeling less than comfortable with the plan to enter the city and ask for help.
"P-perhaps I should stay out here? I could look around the shops and just wait here for you all," Akaia suggested weakly. Even her tail hung limp in fear.
Sten didn't like that Akaia was showing how fearful of being underground she was, but he understood her fear. For a mithra, being underground was like being buried alive.
Remia paused to look at the terrified woman, "Are you really that scared?"
"It is not mithra territory. I'd rather try to fly than travel in the dwarven city."
Remia's eyes brows lifted in surprise at Akaia's preference, but she sighed and looked at everyone else.
Wynne glanced at Akaia before looking back at Remia with a simple shake of her head.
Morrigan just gave Remia the look 'You know what you must do.'
Alistair gave Akaia a sympathetic look, pleading her not to force the mithra underground.
Sten just stared at Remia, but his response was clear and it was a response that surprised the elf girl since Sten was so close to the mithra.
Zevran sighed and shook his head.
Leliana's response was similar to Alistair's, showing that the bard was okay if the mithra stayed on the surface. Though they needed her skills, they could survive without them.
Remia sighed and looked at Akaia, an apologetic look in her eyes, "We can't afford to go on without your skills in battle, Akaia. I would love to allow you to stay on the surface, but…"
"I understand," Akaia smiled weakly. If things got really bad, she'd just tell Remia she absolutely had to get out of the city and then run faster than her legs could carry her.
After Remia expertly convinced Loghain's men to back off and was given entrance to the city, Akaia was halted at the gates.
"Wait a minute. You're a mithra and we don't appreciate what the mithra have done for us in the past," the guard said coldly.
"Chances are, I was there and what happened wasn't even close to what you have heard. I am with the Wardens and as much as I'd prefer to avoid going underground at all, I must. So, if you would, allow me to pass?"
The guard nodded and let Akaia pass. Akaia remembered her first walk in Orzammar…
"Lady Kaia, please be careful. We can't afford to have you venture too deep into the city or else the magic used to protect us will wear off. Your sister would prefer it if you came home without a story about another 'near-death' experience," Ryker's teasing voice reached the young girl's ears.
"I understand…Geez Ryker, what does my sister expect me to get away with with you watching me so often!"
Ryker smiled at her and escorted her through the city…
"Akaia are you okay?" Remia pulled the mithra from her memories. Akaia smiled gently and took long fluid steps to keep up with the group. She could feel her head getting cloudy and her ears rung with the sounds echoing in the large chamber. Her nose burned from the lack of fresh air and her skin seared in the heat.
"Kadan," Sten gave her a knowing look to which she just shook her head. She fought to keep her breath even as the senses got worse. Luckily, only Sten seemed to notice.
Akaia's vision was blurry and she leaned against Sten as her mind flashed back to her memories.
"Lady Kaia?! Lady Kaia?! Kaia! Come on, Kaia, where are you?!" Ryker called out desperately in the deep roads.
Kaia's breaths were staggered and uneven and she was bleeding from her side badly. She'd left the protection of the magic and her body was instantly hit by effects of being underground. The cut was from a Hurlock that managed to catch her off-guard when she stumbled into the crossroads.
"R-Ryker…" Kaia weakly called out. "Ryker…"
"KAIA?!" Ryker called out desperately, his golden eyes searching the darkness of the deep roads.
Kaia stumbled out to him and he caught her in his arms.
"Kaia! Oh, spirits of the sky...Don't let her life fade from her, not even one of her lives can be spared," Ryker lifted her with ease before he ran to entrance to the roads.
"Kadan," Sten pulled her out of her own mind. He could tell she was recalling her previous adventures in the city because she paled whenever she seemed to zone out.
"I am fine, Sten…Thank you," Akaia's brows furrowed as she pushed forward.
"I hate to suggest it, but isn't there magic for you to use down here?" Sten's suggestion surprised Akaia since qunari loathed all magic.
Akaia smiled weakly, "I do not know it…"
Sten caught Akaia as she stumbled on a step in the city. Akaia's thoughts couldn't be pulled together and she once again was lost to her memories.
"Lady Kaia," Ryker was surprised as she slowly sat up in bed, "don't get up!"
"Ryker…I am fine. I just…want air…"
"It makes sense that you'd be more affected by being underground. You are a rare spirit, after all," Ryker smiled at her, though his smiled was forced.
Akaia gently touched Ryker's shoulder in comfort, "It was not your fault, Ryker. I went out of the protection of the spell and I got caught off guard in the deep roads. All were my decisions."
"That's not it, Lady Kaia…" Ryker turned a worried gaze to his friend…
"Kadan," Sten's voice brought her back once more, "you should rest at the inn here. You cannot help us like this and it was foolish to come down here."
"No, Sten, I must fight this. I will not succumb to this weakness," Akaia growled out as she moved forward with the group.
After learning that Orzammar was fighting to place a new king on the throne, Remia was pressed with the choice of who to support.
"Harrowmont would be the more peaceful option," Alistair voiced his opinion which coincided with Leliana's and Wynne's.
Akaia didn't voice her protest to the idea of supporting Harrowmont, but Sten settled her nerves by uncharacteristically voicing his opinion. He then supported the prince for Akaia, knowing she couldn't handle any more actions than standing.
"Akaia you look really pale," Alistair pointed out, his voice laced with concern.
Remia stopped walking and turned around, "Akaia? Are you feeling okay?"
Akaia sighed and smiled, "Yeah, I'll be fine…"
Remia nodded hesitantly, knowing Akaia was lying to her, but she knew Akaia wouldn't sacrifice her health for nothing. They met with the prince's attendant before being told they had to earn the votes of two nobles. Though, knowing how the world often worked there would be things to do to get the votes.
When Akaia tuned in to the conversation between Remia and the daughter of one of the lords, she was horrified to learn they'd have to enter the deep roads. Akaia was about to pass out in the city, much less the deep roads that slowly traveled deeper into the earth.
Mithra could shield themselves from the taint and were immune it, but their purity wasn't permitted in the darkest roads where the source of Darkspawn were. Akaia's breathing started to speed up and her eyes closed in an attempt to calm herself. She couldn't enter the deep roads, but she had to help the others.
"Kadan, don't be foolish," Sten could tell Akaia wasn't going to back down from the task.
"I have to, Sten. I will…be okay. My armor is stronger than my first time here and I will not get lost," Akaia's silver eyes were becoming dull and grey the closer she got to the deep roads.
Alistair walked next to Akaia on the way to the entrance to the deep roads, "Are you sure you're okay? You look like you're about to pass out."
"I will be fine, Alistair."
Alistair didn't want to argue with her because he felt that deep down the stress could push her over the edge.
The dwarves that stopped Remia from entering the deep roads looked at each other when Akaia slowly stepped their way. The leader called for Remia who paused and turned to him again.
"Is something wrong?" Remia asked, completely confused by his sudden desire to stop them.
"I know you're a topsider and Mithra aren't exactly the most welcoming bunch, but you have to know what will happen if she goes in the Deep Roads," the dwarf caught the glare from Akaia a moment too late.
Remia looked at her mithra friend with curiosity before asking the dwarf to continue.
"The tunnels are too deep for her kind…If I remember right, a mithra woman entered the tunnels a long time ago, outside the protection of a special magic and that woman nearly died. A male mithra chased after her and he later came out with her, but she'd almost been killed by darkspawn. The girl was apparently chasing some instinct in her…I think the ancestors said she was following 'the whisper of the wind' or something like that? Anyways, the main point is that if she goes down there, she's as good as dead."
Remia turned to Akaia and decided to pursue the history of mithra in the roads, "Do you know of this legend here, Akaia?"
"Of course I do…I was the mithra who left the protection of our magic to enter the tunnels on my own," Akaia got out slowly.
"Then you know how badly these tunnels affect you and you'd still go?!" Remia's voice rose lightly.
"Akaia, that's incredibly foolish!" Alistair's eyes showed clear disapproval.
"I cannot sit back at let you all do the work again! If I knew the spell to protect myself in the tunnels, I would use it in a heartbeat, but…"
Remia shook her head, "No; you're staying in the city. If anything, go talk to Shaper of Memories and see if he has anything on the spell mithra use to be safe underground. If you find it before we get back, great, if not…Well we'll have to go on without your skills in battle."
Akaia nodded and backed away from the doors. The dwarf that had stopped Remia from taking her into the roads stood beside her, "So the legend about mithra never aging is true. That legend is over 100 years old."
Akaia had to smile lightly at that, "Yes…we don't age after a certain point. By the way, thank you. I was so set on helping my friends that I didn't even think about my own health. I probably would've been dead weight in the deep roads, and that could've killed them."
The dwarf nodded before offering to send one of his men with her to reach the Shaper of Memories safely. Akaia politely refused and managed to get there without tripping or passing out.
"Ah…A mithra," one of the Shapers walked up to her. "You aren't surrounded by the protection magic are you?"
Akaia shook her head, "That is why I am here. Ever since Mithra and Dwarves made a pact to keep limited interaction with each other, the spell to protect ourselves has been withdrawn from the learning scriptures. I never learned the spell, even when it was available. Do you have any records on it here?"
The Shaper hummed as he thought before directing Akaia to the very back where he said she might find something on it. Akaia searched the stacks of ancient texts for a long time before Leliana tapped her shoulder.
"Any luck?"
Akaia sighed, "No… There are plenty of records from when mithra visited because that was such a rare occurrence and we often come straight to this Shaperate. However, my people didn't leave the incantation here. I would assume it is out of fear that a darkspawn emissary could've learned the incantation and used it against us."
Leliana could see the sweat on the mithra woman's brow which worried her. Even being in the city was a huge threat to Akaia's health.
"Perhaps you should head to your village? You could still meet up with us at Redcliffe later."
"No…I need all of you to come with me. Leliana I want you to look at this book here. It is a rare find; the history of my people outside of a clan village. You cannot understand all of it, but you may recognize some of the words because of their similarity to the elves' language. I will translate this for you, but I want you to focus on the pictures more."
Leliana nodded and looked over the mithra's shoulder, her eyes scanning the pages. She could pick out a few words like war, peace, hate, love, life and death. When Leliana looked to the pictures that were drawn she saw the bodies of many mithra and the light surrounding the ones still standing. Her eyes didn't neglect a single detail on the page and she almost thought she could see the memories if she looked hard enough.
"I could show you," Akaia finally whispered, "the memories of my people can be stored in special stones. This was why we remained connected with the dwarves for so long before we cut our ties. Only the dwarves' deep tunnels had access to the stones we needed and since we couldn't go underground, we paid them with what we could. However, when they found the true worth of the stones the dwarves betrayed my kind and at the next pay off, they slaughtered our kind. We were outnumbered and caught unaware. When a few mithra survived, they returned to their clan and told of the betrayal which led to our kind abandoning the mines. We had enough stones to last us a while."
Leliana stared at Akaia with wide eyes as the mithra's silver eyes watered.
"My parents were some of the mithra that were slaughtered," Akaia said lightly as if she were treading on glass. "My older sister then had to take my father's place as clan leader. We were both young for our kind at the time, but Aranel took to leading the village well and she became as popular with our people as my father and mother were. She had to lead a village so I chose to follow a warrior's path and take care of myself. Only three years ago…I made a choice that ended up taking my sister's life."
Leliana placed a hand on Akaia's shoulder and she gently squeezed to show she was there for her friend.
"I was supposed to lead the village, but I couldn't even make a good decision without costing the life of my most precious person! My sister's daughter didn't have the heart to hate me for it and the villagers didn't think it was my fault, per se. However, my best friend was so hurt by my actions that she yelled at me for hours. Ryker helped me escape the village and then his group of soldiers that were, well are, loyal to me were exiled. I haven't gone back once since I left. That's why I've had messengers bring me messages at night."
Leliana smiled lightly knowing she'd been caught while spying on Akaia's various meetings with her people. The bard sighed before turned Akaia to look at her, "You've done nothing wrong. You were scared and felt unprepared and you also blamed yourself for your sister's death, but would she want you to sit here in Orzammar, suffering from your weakness to being underground remembering all the sad times?"
Akaia's silver eyes widened and she smiled lightly, "No…That's why I have to go back to my village soon. My sister's daughter will be going through the Coming of Age Ceremony around the time we get there if we go to Redcliffe first."
Leliana smiled, "You see? You should be there for that as the girl's aunt, not just the clan leader."
"Thank you, Leliana. I came to the human world to see if I could prove that humans, elves and dwarves aren't as bad as they were a long time ago and you, Remia, Alistair, Wynne, Zevran, and even Morrigan have proved that!"
"By the way, I've noticed you and Sten are quite close, are you not?"
"You want to know how we know each other since he's only recently come to Ferelden?"
"It is simply my curiosity."
Akaia laughed lightly to herself, "My village only moved to Ferelden 5 years ago to establish better trade with a Dalish clan that had to move because of humans invading their land. Before that, my clan lived very close to Sten's village. When Sten was a bit younger, I had just passed my initiation test into the warrior group of our tribe. So, naturally, I felt like exploring the lands alone."
Leliana laughed, "That does sound like you!"
"I encountered him while tracking a wolf in the woods and I accidentally shot him with an arrow. I was so worried that I ran up to him and made sure he got back to his village. When we got there, however, the other qunari weren't exactly glad I had come so close to the village of my accord and shot one of their promising warriors with an arrow while caught off guard. They almost killed me in an act of war, but Sten stepped in and said that although it was foolish of me to help him home, I had shown mercy and kindness. To qunari, mercy isn't exactly a common act that is witnessed everyday and my form of kindness was something that perked his interest. I didn't expect anything from him and I apologized for shooting him, to which he claimed it was his fault for getting caught off guard. That act of mercy turned into a peace treaty between my people and his people and he swore to protect me since I had managed to catch him off guard."
"My! That is quite an honorable task! Did he hold up to it?"
"Oh, my sister loved it. He made sure I never ventured outside the village alone again."
"Wait; I thought your people weren't allowed outside the village."
"We're not, but I was the village leader's sister and I explored to make sure darkspawn didn't get close to our village."
Leliana took a deep breath before asking a question Akaia could tell she was hesitant to ask, "Why do Blights not affect your people?"
Akaia sighed, "You will see when we visit the village."
Leliana accepted her answer before smiling, "So you can't mate with Ryker or, what was his name? Reiner? Because you're the leader now?"
"There's that, and I'm a pureblood. Ryker and Reiner's father was human, but a male child born to a female mithra will always be another mithra."
"Who would you choose? I know this isn't exactly my business, but you seemed quite fond of Ryker and that is why Alistair is so frustrated nowadays, you know?"
"Ryker is why he's mad?" Akaia gasped out, "That does make sense. If I could return his feelings for me without truly betraying my people, I probably would. I would cast aside my title and clan if I could, but I will never be able to. I owe my people more than I can give and if that costs the chance to be with Alistair then I will give it up."
Leliana understood Akaia's decision to remain with her clan which also meant that after they dealt with the Blight, Akaia would go home. Forever.
"Leliana don't give me such a sad look," Akaia smiled, "If things go well when we visit my village, then I will not disappear forever as you think. By the way, why aren't you with the others?"
"They went to stop the carta, but Remia wanted someone to check on you. Alistair and Sten offered at first, then Zevran, but I told Remia to let me visit you since you and I are friends."
"Thank you for sparring me a visit from Zevran."
Leliana and Akaia laughed, enjoying the fact that Akaia's illness seemed to disappear for a brief moment of happiness.
Mithra never forget their past, but they are willing to forgive their mistakes and the mistakes of those who wronged them.