Chapter 6 – Aerial's Past - Last Goodbyes
As we walked into camp we were met by Keeper Marethari and she said I am relieved you have returned, and I did not expect to see you so soon Duncan. Duncan replied I was not expecting to return so soon keeper. She looked at Merrill and me and said do I dare ask of Tamlen? What did you find of him? I spoke softly the Grey Warden says we will find nothing. Keeper Marethari said I see. Merrill, what about the mirror? Did you bring anything back? Duncan said I destroyed the mirror keeper. Keeper Marethari said I trust you had good reason Duncan but I intended to use the mirror to find a cure for this strange illness. Duncan said there is much to discuss keeper. Come Duncan let us speak privately within my aravel, Merrill warn the hunters if there are darkspawn about I want them prepared. Merrill nodded and left. She looked at me and said da'len; allow me some time to speak with Duncan. Seek us out at my aravel later and we can discuss your cure. Inform Hahren Paivel what has occurred he now has the sad task of preparing a service for the dead. I nodded and said very well keeper.
When I approached Hahren Paivel the look he gave me was one I would never forget I could see in his face that he blamed me for all that had happened. And he said so you return with the Grey Warden but without Tamlen, what happened da'len? Is he truly lost to us? I told him please don't look at me like that, this isn't my fault. His face softened and said I know it's not your fault da'len. My eyes filled with unshed tears as I spoke, the keeper wants me to tell you to prepare a service for Tamlen. He said of course, we've no body to return to the soil but we shall sing for Tamlen. The Creators must come and guide him to the beyond. Tell the keeper it shall be done before the clan is ready to move on. I thanked him and went to my aravel and I cried for Tamlen and our child that would never be born.
After I had no more tears to cry I went and made my way to keeper Marethari's aravel on my way I noticed Maren attending the halla, Junar was teaching a flat-ear how to use a bow. Master Ilen was crafting a bow for one of the hunters; both Merrill and Fenarel were with Hahren Paivel most likely telling tales of the cave. And as I had gotten close to Keeper Marethari's aravel a feeling of dread crept in my heart I was thinking that there was no cure and I would die, because both of their expressions were grim.
When I approached her aravel Duncan said they had a spoken and they had an arrangement concerning me. He said, my order is in need of help, you are in need of a cure. When I leave I hope you will come with me. And that I would make an excellent Grey Warden. I shook my head and said no this is my home. I looked at Marethari and said please don't cast me away Keeper, she said I am sorry da'len it is the only way. I begged him; please can't you just give me the cure? Duncan said the cure is only found in the joining. As sole protectors against the darkspawn we are granted some immunity from the darkspawn taint. I cried and begged for her not to send me away and Duncan said that I left him no choice and he invoked the right of conscription keeper Marethari acknowledged the invocation. He then told me that he would drag me kicking and screaming to Ostagar if need be or would you rather die here and stricken your own people? I settled down and said no, he told me to say my farewells because we had a lot of ground to cover, and the keeper told me to come and let the clan embrace me one last time before the Creators guide me away from them. And as I left with Duncan I looked back at my clan once more and they all had the look of sorrow on their faces. And it broke my heart to leave them.
