Chapter 7. Eluvians
AN: Thank you to all who took the time from Mass Effect 3 to read and review and for all who have read, alerted and faved. A special thank you to my beta, Shakespira who patiently puts up with my inability to capitalize proper nouns!
During the time of Arlathen, when the Elvhen were immortal, the elders would enter Uthenera, the Endless Dream. A few went beyond the Veil where they would learn the secrets of dreams, return to the mortal realm and share their knowledge. Most entered Uthenera and never returned to their mortal vessels. If a Dreamer came to the Beyond, the Friend of the Dead, Falon'Din, would be their guide.
Now, inexplicably, more Dreamers were waking up, reunited with their bodies. A few had gone back to the mortal realm by going through the Veil. Many others entered the Beyond and wandered. Falon'Din knew that he must seek them out. Perhaps whatever was responsible for waking Dreamers could show a way to end the Creators' imprisonment.
Elgar'nan and Mythal worried that this was yet another trick by Fen'Harel, but Falon'Din was sure that the Dreamer who visited him was real. He was sure that whatever was causing them to awaken, could represent a way for the Creators to escape and might be their last hope.
It was with a sense of great hope and great sorrow that the Creators said farewell to their son, as Falon'Din began his journey to the far reaches of the Beyond to seek out the mysteriously awakening Dreamers.
~oOOo~
Alistair and Kali went into Adaia's room to tell her the news. Sari looked at them, nodded and left to give them privacy. Adaia was sitting on the floor with several small statuettes, which included the large stone golem that was her father's. She was organizing her 'troops' to defeat the golem.
Alistair sat on the floor next to her. "So, what's your battle plan?"
Adaia frowned. "I wish I had bows and arrows. I have three mages; one can fight like Warden Bethany so she can be closer to the golem. I have two mages who can heal, but Siri is better at it than Moira. They are going to stand far away. Cailan is the one with the big sword, like Oghren's, and I have my daggers. Calian can just run up and hit it. But I don't know where I should put Warden Bethany and me. Daddy, what would you do?"
''I'd run screaming."
"No you wouldn't."
"Then I would just scream."
Adaia crossed her arms and frowned.
"Okay, okay." Alistair looked at the set-up. "You already have a good sense of what your people can do. Having Cailan charge forward makes sense. Perhaps you should spread out your healers a bit. Warden Bethany, can flank the Golem while you try stabbing it in the back."
"What does flank mean?"
"It means coming in from the side."
Adaia looked at her father. "You and I are a great team, Daddy."
He ruffled her hair. "Indeed we are."
Kali, who was also sitting on the floor, took her daughter's hand and pulled her onto her lap. "Sweetling, your father and I have something very important to tell you."
The last time she had seen her parents look like this was when Grandpa Cyrion died. Adaia whispered in a small worried voice, "Mommy, is someone dead?"
Kali hugged Adaia. "No da'len, no one is dead."
"Then why do you and Daddy look so sad?"
"Because we have to leave Vigil's Keep and go somewhere new."
Tears ran down Adaia's face. "You're leaving me!"
Alistair moved over to Kali and trapped them both in a bear hug. "No, silly; we're a family and if we go anywhere, we go together."
Adaia's small hand wiped at her tears. "Wh…where are we go…going?"
Alistair stroked his daughter's hair. "I don't know. I'm told it's somewhere beautiful, but the rest is a surprise."
Adaia's face lit up "A surprise! We're gonna have a surprise adventure!"
"Going to," Alistair corrected. "And yes it's a surprise, not even Mommy and I know"
"Will the Wardens be coming with us?"
Alistair hugged her close. "No sweetling, it will just be the three of us."
"Will we ever see them again?"
Kali looked in her daughter's eyes. "I don't know, perhaps."
Adaia was quiet for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "So we're gonna have a real life adventure, just the three of us?"
Kali laughed. " 'Going to.' Yes, just the three of us."
Adaia stood up. "Do I need to pack now? When are we leaving? Can I take my warden figures?"
Alistair grinned. "Not yet. In a day or two. Yes, you can take your figures." Does that cover your questions?"
Adaia nodded. "I'm sure I'll have alotta questions later." Then she skipped over to Sari's room.
Both parents were so relieved at Adaia's reaction; they forgot to correct her grammar.
~oOOo~
After breakfast, Val went into the village to visit with Hahren Elrohir and Keeper Merenwen. They had generously offered their time to answer Val's many questions.
The three of them sat on the grass under the shade of the Vhenadahl. The sounds of the village surrounded them.
"Thank you again for taking the time to do this."
Merenwen laughed. "Da'len, I am a Keeper, Elrohir is our Hahren. It is our jobs to listen and answer questions."
Val nodded again in respect. "How did you find Revas?"
Merenwen smiled. "Revas found us."
"How so?"
The Keeper laughed. "My dear husband, I should leave the story telling to you."
Elrohir began. "During the hostilities between Arlathen and Tevinter, several groups of elders were charged with making sure the Eluvians were hidden. Two groups went east towards Rivain. Several more went west toward Nevarra. Merenwen and I went south to the Vimmark Mountains, and Tamuríl and Daeron went farther south into what is now Ferelden, to an ancient temple in the Brecilian Forest. That is the Eluvian that became corrupted and tragically took the lives of two of the Sabre clan. All of the groups going west were captured by the Tevinters.
"We had heard that a portion of the Tevinter army was trying to flank us by coming up from the Free Marches, and part of our army had been dispatched to meet them on Sundermount. The four of us decided that once our Eluvians were safely hidden we would go there and try to help our warriors. When we got there both sides were engaged in battle..." The Hahren hung his head.
Merenwen stroked his cheek. "If you like, I will continue the tale, Lethallin."
Val held up her hands. "Please, I don't want you to dredge up memories that are clearly still painful."
Elrohir raised his head, his voice gruff. "No. This is a tale that must be told. Few witnessed it, and of them, only four of us are left. "As I said, both armies were engaged in battle; each rending the very fabric of the Veil to bring forth foul creatures. It was like watching something in a nightmare. Both sides attacked each other with wave after wave of unspeakable horrors. Each side set on the annihilation of the other. We tried to help our people, but they were blind to all but the enemy, ignoring the dangers of piercing the Veil. We took refuge in one of the caves and for a week we watched as our people gave up their very souls for the power to defeat the Tevinters, and then we watched as they gave up their lives.
"The Tevinter army departed, leaving devastation in its wake. The four of us could no longer bear the memory of seeing Elvhen performing such desperate acts of depravity. The Veil was nearly in tatters. We did as much as they could to heal the wounds of the Mountain, but we could only do so much. Reaching the top of Sundermount, we created our tombs and entered Uthenera. We were the first to create that Graveyard, although our tombs were not buried. Some Elvhen, who had scattered after the fall of Arlathan, came to Sundermount and, upon seeing our tombs, dug graves and buried them properly."
Tears filled Val's eyes. "While I was in Kirkwall, the Sabre clan lived at the base of Sundermount. Merrill said that the Dreamers in the graveyard no longer slept peacefully."
Elrohir shook his head. "The Dreamers in that graveyard never slept peacefully. Many clans have since stayed in the shadow of Sundermount, but it was always with a sense of disquiet. While time had healed some of the wounds, Sundermount is forever scarred. The Veil is merely patched. When we entered Uthenera, we never thought we would see that mountain again."
"But that wasn't to be. Imagine our surprise to wake up in our own bodies. By all reason we should have been desiccated corpses, but we were not. We were even more surprised to actually be in the Fade."
"You and your bodies came together in the Fade?"
"Yes. For reasons that we still do not understand, the four of us were alive, but in the Fade, and not the Beyond. We wandered about, and without Falon'Din to guide us it was…disorienting, and fraught with evil. We had a nasty encounter with a demon of pride and only survived because of our magic. Once we recovered from the battle, we continued to wander and suddenly found ourselves standing on a coastal path leading to the Vimmark Mountains. We realized that we had crossed the Veil and were back into the mortal realm."
"You walked through the Veil? You mean as a person walks through a doorway?"
Elrohir and Merenwen both nodded.
"When was this?"
Elrohir looked thoughtful. "Almost four decades ago. I believe it was just after Ferelden won its independence from Orlais."
Stunned, Val gently shook her head. "Sorry for the interruption. You were saying?"
Elrohir continued, "We think it is because of the damage to the Veil that more of the Dreamers are beginning to wake up. While we were in the Fade, Merenwen tried to reach Falon'Din, the God of the Dead, to let him know there were others like us, but instead of being in the Fade, they were in the Beyond, and needed his help. Merenwen was unable to speak, but believes she got her message across.
"We left Sundermount to find the Eluvian Merenwen and I hid. Its pull guided us to it. We used it to locate the other Eluvians; the ones in the Imperium we silenced. There are still be several hidden in Rivain. You already know what happened to the one in Ferelden. Although a curious thing happened months after the fifth Blight, we felt another Eluvian alive in Ferelden; in a place called the Dragon Bone Wastes. Someone had managed to bring it there, activate it and pass through to another realm."
Merenwen nodded.
"At the Vimmark Eluvian, we held a small ritual to ask the Eluvian to take us out of Thedas. I will recite the translation."
"Spring gave birth to us.
Arlathen was the summer of our lives.
The winter of Thedas froze our souls.
Bring us to a place where it is spring once again.
Where summer forever shines its light.
Where winter will never claim another soul."
"Trusting it as a child trusts its mother, we walked through the Eluvian and were brought here, to freedom, to Revas."
Just then, Val saw Maric. He was standing nearby watching them. Suddenly, she realized how long she'd been there. "I am so sorry for taking up so much of your time!"
Elrohir smiled. "Do not apologize, it is a rare thing to have one of the quick children take such a deep interest in our history and culture. Maric is the same way."
"Quick children?"
Merenwen looked sad. "It is how the immortals referred to humans. Unfortunately, it has taken on derogatory meaning for which it was never intended. You would know it as Shemlen or Shem."
The three of them stood. "Thank you both for your generosity with your time and your knowledge."
Elrohir kissed her hand; Merenwen gave her a hug.
Maric smiled as Val walked towards him. Her midnight-black hair, loose and flowing in the breeze, emphasized her captivating blue eyes. I'm such a daft old ass; she's young enough to be my daughter. Although Maric hated to admit it, his feelings for her were certainly not paternal.
He asked, "Would you like to have our midday meal at the estate or at the inn?"
Val looked up at him. "Would you be terribly disappointed if I chose the estate?"
Maric's blue eyes twinkled. "Hmmm. Disappointed by having a beautiful woman choosing to share her midday meal with me in my home? Yes, I'm simply heartbroken."
Val blushed and laughed. "Who said I was going to eat it with you?"
"You have to eat with me, it's my food."
Val put her hand to her forehead pretending to swoon. "Oh, you beast!"
As they laughed and walked back to the house, Maric took Val's hand in his.
Although a bit surprised, Val found that she didn't mind. She took comfort in the warmth of his grip.
~oOOo~
Zevran and Fenarel arrived the next morning. Alistair asked for them to come to the master bedroom.
"Ah, my handsome Warden, you've finally invited me into your bedroom."
"It's my bedroom too, Zevran." Kali chuckled.
"Querida, there is plenty of me to share."
Alistair laughed. "Zev, I am going to miss you."
"Please my Warden, we will not be parted forever. You know I cannot stay away from you or your exquisite wife. Now on to the formalities, please meet my associate, Fenarel."
Kali bowed her head. "Andaran atish'an."
"Please, no need to bow, we're cousins."
"But you are Dalish."
"Yes, but we are both Elvhen."
Kali was a bit at a loss. "Forgive me, that's not an opinion shared by the Dalish I've met."
"It is a conceit of the Dalish, and it will change, that I promise you."
Kali sighed. "I take it that we are leaving soon?".
"Yes, cara, today at dusk."
Tears filled Kali's eyes. "What should we pack?
"Pack as if you were going to Amaranthine for a week."
Alistair laughed. "Last time Kali and I spent a week in Amaranthine, we didn't need to pack much at all."
Kali blushed. "Alistair!"
Zevran laughed. "It is nice to know that you still possess your famous stamina, my Warden. Let me amend my answer; pack as if you were going to actually visit the city for a week. Not just the inn."
Kali was still blushing and gently hit Alistair with a pillow.
"Heeeey. You'll mess up my hair."
Kali shook her head. "What shall we bring for Adaia?"
"Her favorite toys, her practice daggers, and clothing. Where you are going the weather is warm, not hot, and has a cool breeze."
"Thanks, Zev, I'll check on Adaia's packing."
After Kali left the room. Zevran looked serious. "Do you have the letter for the Crown?"
"Yes, Nathaniel will see that it is delivered to the Palace the morning after we leave. How will this work tonight?"
Zev looked to Fenarel. "Would you like to take it from here, Caro mio?"
Fenarel nodded. "At dusk you will leave in an unmarked coach, it looks like the others around Denerim. The coach will take you to the harbor, were you'll board a ship to Kirkwall. If all goes well, you will arrive in Kirkwall two days later, at or just before dawn. You will rest there before you leave for the last leg of the journey."
Alistair stroked his chin, as he thought about the plan. What about the coachman and the crew of the ship? They will recognize us."
Zevran answered, "This particular ship's crew is part of our…organization, as is the coachman, who will board the ship with us."
"Where will we be in Kirkwall?"
"It is better you do not know until you get there, my Warden."
Alistair shook his head then looked at the two men. "Remember, I am placing the lives of my wife and daughter in your hands."
Zevran smiled. "Do not worry, amigo"
~oOOo~
During the mid-day meal, Val and Maric talked at length about what she had learned from Merenwen and Elrohir. Maric was also able to coax Val into talking about life before Kirkwall.
Maric knew Val to be smart, witty, and sensitive, but he also found a vast amount of wisdom in that beautiful mind, wisdom born from great responsibility being placed on young shoulders, a situation with which he was very familiar. She'd been protecting her family ever since she'd learned how to use a blade. She became the head of the family after the death of her father, and fought to keep them together and safe.
Val found Maric, the man, to be different from Maric the Savior. This man was more grounded, thoughtful, and wise. Yes, he had the famous Theirin charm, the kind of charm that could easily separate a woman from her smalls. But that's not what he did. Deep down Maric was a family man. She could see him with children and chasing after his grandchildren.
After they finished a late lunch, Maric excused himself to go upstairs to rest. He had done that each day Val had been there. Early to mid-afternoon he went up to his room and did not come down until just before dinner. Val couldn't figure out why he would need so much rest. She went to ask Lyna about it.
"Lyna?"
"Yes, mes…Val. What can I do for you?"
"Lyna, why does Lord Maric always go upstairs mid-afternoon and rest until dinner?"
Lyna looked down then back at Val. "Please, don't tell him I told you, but I worry about him so."
"What do you think is happening?"
"When he first heard that Loghain Mac Tir was responsible for his son's death, he became a recluse. For almost a year he rarely stepped foot outside of this house. For a year after that he would only go to the village a couple of times per week. After that he seemed fine but still insisted on being alone in his room each and every afternoon."
"Why does that concern you? It sounds like he's improved."
Lyna looked around then whispered, "When he goes to his room to 'rest', sometimes he drinks, sometimes he drinks and gets violent; breaking something in his room, other times he just broods. It's not healthy, Val. Just before you arrived, I had to summon the healer from the village because he had broken his hand punching the stone wall. The episodes of violence are getting worse not better. None of us dare go near him in the afternoon. My Lady, could you try to help him?"
Val sighed to herself. Is there no one in this world I don't have to somehow save?
She mentally admonished herself for such selfish thoughts, then looked at Lyna. "I'll try, but it's going to take a while; things will be busy here for the next several days."
Lyna smiled. "Thanks to the Creators for your willingness to help."
"Thank you for telling me about this."
That evening, as usual, Maric came downstairs about a half-hour before dinner. She looked more closely at him and noticed the slight flush in his cheeks, when he pulled out the chair for her; she detected a very faint smell of brandy. A drinking afternoon, it seems.
Dinner was early that night. Maric seemed in good cheer and regaled her with funny stories from his first couple of years as the King of Ferelden.
Changing the subject, she asked, "How will we know when Alistair and his family are about to arrive?"
Maric suddenly went rigid, the charm and warmth in his voice vanished. "An elven guard will come through and let me…us know."
Val bit the corner of her bottom lip. Okay, let's try a lighter topic. "Speaking of coming through the Eluvian. How come you don't look a day older than when I first met you, and why do I look ten years younger?"
Maric was sipping his tea and Val could see mischief come back into his eyes as he looked at her over the rim of his cup.
"So, you think I look young, do you?" He arched an eyebrow.
Val blushed scarlet. "Stop that!"
"Stop what?" he said innocently.
Val continued to blush. "Coming back to my original question, how is it possible?"
Maric put down his cup. "It's the Eluvian. It cannot grant us immortality but is does bring the body back a point when it was hale and hardy. For me that was about the time we met at the Market Place. For you, it seems to have erased ten years of stress and worry."
"That's amazing! Wait, what will it do with the Grey Warden taint?"
Maric looked genuinely surprised. "I don't know. I guess that it would bring Alistair's health back to the way it was before he was tainted, but there's no way of knowing in advance of the event."
"That would be wonderful! The thought of Alistair dying and leaving Kali and Adaia behind is…it's just…wrong."
Maric put his hand on Val's. "I know you also worry about Bethany." He squeezed her hand in sympathy.
I'm so glad he isn't given to spouting platitudes, like Sebastian. She found the warmth of his hand more comforting than any words.
Val collected herself. "Will we put them in the suite at the end of the east hallway?" The suite had a large bedroom. There was a slightly smaller adjoining room for Adaia. There was a sitting room and an additional room, which they could use as a family room or play room for Adaia. Val thought it was perfect.
Again, she sensed the rigidity in Maric. "That's what I was thinking. I believe they were built for the 'Lord of the Manor' but I would just rattle around in all that space." Maric looked uncertain. "Do you think that will be enough?"
"Maric, I know it's impossible not to worry; it may be rocky at first, but things should eventually smooth out. I will do everything in my power to help that along."
"Are you always so helpful?"
"Well, not when I'm decapitating a raider, or slaying an Ogre, but usually I am."
Maric's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You know, we should spar."
Val sat back in her seat. "You think you can take me?"
"Take you? I don't know; we'll just have to find out."
~oOOo~
Nathaniel was the only one who knew when they were leaving. He met them at the coach. Adaia looked up at the tall Warden. "I'm going to miss you, Nathaniel."
Nathaniel knelt down. "As I will you, Lass. Now, I am going to give you something your father gave me." From behind his back he handed her a bronze sextant.
Alistair recognized it, and was touched that he was giving it to Adaia.
Adaia's eyes were practically round. "That is soooo pretty, what is it?"
"It's called a sextant. It helps you find out where you are."
"Wow! Daddy can we use it on our adventure?"
Alistair smiled. "I'm sure of it."
"Ma serannas, Nathaniel! Now I have something to remember you by." She put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
The normally stern and stoic man actually cracked a smile and kissed her cheek. "You're very welcome." Adaia was still looking at the sextant as she went into the black-curtained coach.
Kali gave Nathaniel a hug. "I wish nothing but happiness for you and Bethany. Dareth' shiral, Nate."
Nathaniel smiled at Kali. "Dareth shiral, Kali."
Alistair looked at his former Second. "You will be a great Commander, Nate. The Ferelden Wardens will be safe in your hands."
"Alistair, I want you to know that while I'll be Warden Commander, I am not replacing you. No one can. While you and your family will be sorely missed, if it means that you all are safe, then it's worth it."
"Thank you, Nate. I'll miss you."
The men embraced and thumped each others backs. Alistair turned and helped Kali into the coach; he followed. The door closed and the curtains were drawn as the coach began to move away.
Fenarel was in the coach with the family and Zevran rode with the coachman.
It was a short trip to the harbor, which was quiet, as expected. They all boarded the ship and Fenarel escorted them to their rooms. There was one cabin for sleeping and another for sitting and eating. "It would be a good idea to stay in the cabins until we reach Kirkwall. Get some sleep. Is anyone hungry… aside from Warden Alistair?" Fenarel grinned.
Adaia wanted to ask for a cookie, but just as she was about to ask, her face broke into a big yawn. Kali turned to the men. "Adaia and I will turn in for the evening." She gently held Alistair's chin and turned his head to her. "Don't gorge yourself, my love. Tell your stomach that this is not your last meal." Alistair chuckled and kissed Kali. "Goodnight, my goddess."
Kali waved good-night to Fenarel as she took Adaia and herself into the sleeping room.
Just before dawn, two days later, they arrived at the Gallows and were surprised to be ushered into the templar quarters.
Alistair, Kali and Adaia were in a very large, well-appointed room; Alistair laid Adaia on the bed as she was still sleeping. Alistair was worried about Templar involvement and was relieved when Zevran appeared.
Leaning against the closed door, Zevran looked briefly at his nails before addressing Alistair and Kali. "Currently the Gallows is abuzz about the disappearance of the Viscountess."
Kali and Alistair were stunned. Kali spoke first, "Hawke's gone?"
Zevran smiled. "From Kirkwall, yes." Seeing Kali's face Zevran continued. "Cara, please do not furrow your lovely brow. I can assure you that Valentina is safe and well. More than that, I will not say."
Alistair let out a sigh, "So what do we do now?"
Zevran smiled. "Now we wait until dusk and take another carriage for the last leg of our journey." When they'd arrived at the Gallows, Zevran had not figured out how to deliver the potion to his charges. Giving the potion to Hawke was less tricky. He had arraigned for a Rivani mage to pose as an old woman and entice Hawke into buying the pink-colored potion.
Then he met Solivitus, potion maker extraordinaire. At this very moment, Sol was working on a version that could be placed in food or drink. Hawke had to take the potion herself, because there wasn't enough time to talk to her before they needed her to leave Kirkwall. Alistair and his family were already willing to leave, but Zevran still needed to administer the potion to forget this period of their journey, forgetting how to find the Eluvian.
They had a late lunch, Sol's version of the potion worked like a charm. Zevran could see the telltale signs of its effect. Their pupils were slightly dilated and they wanted heavier cloaks because they were chilled.
Fenarel was about the leave with the advance team of guards to let Lord Theirin know of their imminent arrival, when a note was slipped under the door. Zevran carefully picked it up and read the contents. Looking at Fenarel, he said, "Tell our host to expect two additional guests."
