Thank you to MirandaBasilisk and Emma Carsen for following!
They rested in the cavern for a while, and Ildri asked Morrigan to see if she could do anything to help them clean up.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to risk walking through a dragon's territory covered in blood." Morrigan had promptly left the cavern in the direction they'd come in through to summon a small blizzard. There was enough resulting snow to allow the entire party to clean up – even the pair of mabari, to their great distress. After they had all cleaned up some and got some food into their systems, they left the cavern. They were out on a large plateau, and Ildri was sure she could see another building on the other side of it. They stood on the remains of an ancient platform that angled sharply towards the ground.
"I don't see any dragons, or cultists, or anything." Nadia spoke up. "This place looks… abandoned."
"Female dragons have wings." Morrigan pointed out. "High dragons of legend. 'Tis unlikely we would notice her presence if we did not know where to look for her."
"Son of a bitch." Ildri groaned. Amber growled up at her, and she leaned over to scratch behind the mabari's ears. "Wasn't talking about you, girl." The dog sniffed at her – I think she's not too pleased with me – before walking away. "Morrigan, how big are high dragons?" Before the woman could answer, a deafening roar sounded overhead.
"We are about to see for ourselves." The witch replied. "I recommend taking what cover we can." She quickly followed her own advice, ducking down beside what once might have been a pillar, Ildri and the others quickly following suit. She peeked over the rubble she'd hidden herself behind as the dragon flew overhead.
"Maker's blood, that thing is huge!" Ildri breathed. The dragon either didn't see them or didn't care, for she passed over them to land on a cliff.
"Yet oddly beautiful, no?" Zevran chimed in.
"Of course she is." Morrigan huffed. "Any apex predator is glorious in its own right." Ildri ignored the byplay, not taking her eyes from the maroon behemoth.
"What do we do if this thing attacks, hmm?" Riordan murmured behind her. He sounded almost smug.
"Then we kill her. But if she's willing to leave us alone, then I'm willing to leave her alone." Ildri replied with a shrug. "There's ten of us. I'm pretty sure that we could take her if we needed to."
"We should spread ourselves out when we proceed." Morrigan suggested. "If we are too close to one another, 'twould enable her to make short work of us."
"I agree. Also, no fast movements." Ildri looked at her companions. "Last thing we want to do is startle her."
"No, I think not." Alistair chuckled nervously.
"Morrigan, stick close to me, just in case she does attack. Sten, you're on point, and Morrigan and I'll be in the back." She looked over at the Qunari, who nodded his assent. "Don't line up, one after the other. Spread out. We've got lots of room to work with, after all. Whenever you're ready, Sten." He nodded once more before rising and drawing his sword. He walked down the slope at a steady pace, and Alistair followed after he'd taken a few steps, but not directly behind him, as Ildri had asked. He was followed shortly by Andreina and Amber, then Riordan, and Nadia and Zevran followed soon after. Ildri, Morrigan and Barkspawn went last. Ildri kept her eyes on the dragon, trusting in Morrigan and Barkspawn to keep her from stumbling. She glanced at the others of the party from time to time, and was glad to see that they were following her direction. Even Riordan. Asshole.
"So you had words with the estimable senior Warden?" Morrigan drawled.
"What a fucking dick." Ildri growled.
"I gather you did not appreciate his chosen topic for discussion?" The witch chuckled.
"He threatened to 'relieve' me of command!" Ildri informed her, and she scoffed.
"'Twould be an inadvisable course of action. Foolish, really." Morrigan commented.
"No one ever accused most men of being smart." Ildri grumbled, and the witch laughed.
"Very true." They continued in silence, Ildri's green gaze fixed on the dragon. So far, she seemed content to let them pass. She looked ahead at Sten, and saw that he was already past the cliff the dragon was resting atop. He had stopped and turned around to watch the rest of the group. If there's something that needs my attention, either him or Morrigan can tell me. She nodded to herself and looked back up at the dragon. She'd rolled over, and was studying their party.
"I'm going to assume that dragons don't like ice spells." Ildri directed at Morrigan.
"'Tis a safe assumption." She agreed.
"Yeah, well you might want to ready that frost weapon spell. And see if you can't quietly do something to warn the others." Ildri caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye then glanced down at her blades to see that Morrigan had cast the spell. "Thanks."
"You need not thank me for applying common sense." Morrigan replied airily. Ildri shrugged, returning her attention to the dragon. She was standing up on all fours, twitching her wings.
"Morrigan…." Ildri began, lifting her blades into a ready position.
"Yes, Warden!" The witch hissed. "If they are not already aware of the dragon's interest in us, they soon will be." Ildri looked over at Sten, who was in the process of herding the others back out onto the plateau, and making sure that they weren't bunched together. There was the quick snap of broad, leathery wings, then the high dragon was in the air.
"If that son of a bitch so much as even thinks about giving me a smug look later, I just might kill him." Ildri grumbled to herself. "Barkspawn, stay close to Morrigan." She ordered, not taking her eyes from the dragon. After circling above them a couple times, she angled her wings for a dive. Ildri spared a glance for the rest of her companions – they all had their weapons drawn, and were spread about ten or so paces from each other.
"Disable her wings first!" Morrigan shouted, then the dragon was on the ground. Andreina, Alistair, and Sten rushed in first, to try and keep the dragon's attention on them. Ildri swept past them, heading for the wing closest to her. Nadia, Zevran, and Riordan were on the other side, and she trusted them to take care of the other wing. She raised her sword to try and stab through the wing, but she didn't have the leverage to pierce it.
"Damn it!" She cursed. She hefted her sword and ran to the dragon's side, gripping it with both hands and swinging as hard as she could at one of the tree-trunk-like legs. The edge bit into the scales, but not much further. The dragon roared in apparent pain, but Ildri couldn't tell if it was at her own efforts, or because of one of the others. She pulled her sword back and swung again, and the blade slid into the previous cut and into flesh. She pulled the blade back to swing again, but the dragon flapped her wings and the resulting shift of air threw Ildri off her feet. The dragon lifted off, and Ildri looked over at her companions to see that she'd not been the only one flung to the ground. The other three duel-wielders were just getting to their feet, but Alistair, Andreina and Sten had been staggered, but remained standing. Morrigan had been far enough away as to be unaffected. Ildri climbed to her feet, picking up her sword from the ground where it had fallen. Ten pairs of eyes followed the dragon as she soared above them. She angled her wings once more for a dive, but this time instead of landing she started breathing fire at them. Ildri scrambled to get behind a pillar, and once she was safe enough, she peeked around the edge to see if the others had been as lucky. Nadia had been a tad slow, but Zevran had picked her up and dove for cover. The others all appeared to be safe behind cover, so Ildri looked back up at the sky. The dragon was circling once more, but with the cliff at their backs, the dragon couldn't get at them without diving parallel to the cliff. So she took to the ground once more, where she would be able to simply reach over and pluck them from cover. As Ildri watched the dragon lash her tail, she was struck by an idea. "Everyone out! Keep her distracted!" She shouted, breaking into a sprint. She heard someone shout after her, but the message was lost as the dragon cried out, and as Ildri put distance between herself and the others. She reached the dragon's tail and began to run up her back. It wasn't exactly firm footing; the dragon was constantly in motion, and her scales were slick. Like trying to run on ice. While there were a few small spikes at the tip of the dragon's tail, the distance between there and the base of her neck was bare, which was a bit of a mixed blessing. If she slipped, she'd have nothing to grab onto to hold herself up. But on the other hand, she also didn't have to worry about impaling herself on one of them if she did happen to slip. Ildri shook her head to clear it, then half-ran, half-slid across the beast's back to her left wing. Once there, she raised her sword above her head and thrust her arms down. Sitting above the wing, she had far more weight and leverage behind the blow, and her blade punched through. Until now, Ildri had been no more than a mild annoyance to the dragon, but with this, she was now the creature that had caused her a great deal of pain. The dragon turned her head to look at Ildri and snarled at her. Oh shit was all she had time for before the dragon lunged. She let go of her sword and slid to the ground mere seconds before the dragon's jaws closed around where she'd been. Literally; her jaws snapped shut about her own wing. The dragon was apparently confused – Ildri's disappearance mixed with blood loss, perhaps – and definitely angry. She let go of her wing and lashed out. She was grounded: while Ildri had been climbing across the dragon, Sten had helped Riordan, Nadia, and Zevran disable the other wing. Armed now with only her dagger, and with no way to immediately recover or replace her sword, Ildri backed away from the fight. She watched as most of her companions danced around the dragon, inflicting small wounds here and there for the dual-wielders; serving as distractions for Alistair and Andreina… and apparently having a small bout of blood rage, with Sten. Morrigan was tossing spells into the mix, but her most powerful spells could and would inflict friendly fire. Sten stood before the dragon, shouting a challenge into her snout. She paused a moment, tilting her head down at him, before lunging forward and plucking him from the ground. She felt a lump in her throat as she watched the dragon worry Sten, almost like Barkspawn when he caught a rabbit. "Get him out of there!" She yelled, leaping into motion. There wasn't much she was going to be able to do with just her dagger, but she couldn't just stand by and watch. She rushed over to the leg she'd hacked at previously, and stabbed her dagger into it repeatedly. Must have hit an artery, she thought as hot blood spurted out of the wound in time with the beating of the dragon's heart. The dragon roared and threw Sten from her maw, flinging him into the cliff where he slid the few feet to the ground and remained still. Remembering at the last moment to retrieve her dagger, she ran over to the giant's side. He was still breathing, but it was slow and ragged. His heavy armor was covered in dents and scratches, and there were holes clean through in places. Grateful that she still had her dagger, she sliced through the leather straps that held his breastplate together and the armor slid off easily.
"Warden." Sten spoke, startling her. "The dragon is still alive."
"And armed with only a dagger, there's not much that I can do to help with that, now can I?" She retorted.
"Fair enough." He replied, coughing. Ildri's eyes widened, and she looked up at his face. There was no blood dribbling down his chin, for which she was thankful. Brandishing her dagger once more, she sliced his shirt open to inspect the damage. His armor had protected his abdomen and most of his chest, but one of the dragon's smaller teeth had punched through the weaker area near his right shoulder, and she had no idea if he'd broken any bones when the dragon had thrown him.
"Other than this, what hurts?" She gestured to the bite wound with one hand then fished through her pouch for a healing potion. They didn't have many of them; they tended to be expensive, but with Morrigan busy Ildri felt it was well worth the cost.
"I will be well enough." He grumbled.
"Now is not the time for foolish, stubborn pride, Sten." Ildri growled. She'd located the potion, and began to pour it into the wound. Another roar from the dragon behind her threatened to distract her, but she focused on her task. Right now, Sten is the most injured. Keep your head in the game, girl. As she poured, the potion cleaned out the wound, fizzing and creating a white foam. She'd never actually seen one of these potions being used before – just one of them was worth more than an elven family earned in a month. Sten hissed in pain as the potion cleaned the wound from the inside out then began to tug and knit some of the worst damage back together. Ildri couldn't see most of it, of course, the potions were supposed to work on the most aggrieved areas to the least, until the potion was fully absorbed. She finally looked over her shoulder to see how the others were faring. Zevran had followed Ildri's lead and climbed the dragon's tail onto her back, but he had climbed further than she had and drove his sword into the dragon's skull. With a final roar, the dragon slumped to the ground. Nearly everyone was spotted with blood – it was difficult to discern which was theirs and which was the dragon's. "Is anyone else injured?"
"I think not." Morrigan spoke up. "At least, not to his extent."
"Can you come and look at him?" Ildri asked. "I don't know how bad he might be hurt." The witch nodded and came over to kneel beside Ildri, her hands glowing green.
"Cracked rib, and a slight concussion." Morrigan announced. "Other than the obvious. All in all, he is rather fortunate."
"I am right here." Sten informed her.
"Then you know that what I say is true." She replied, unfazed. Morrigan stood and left, presumably to check on the others. Ildri and Sten sat in silence for a few moments.
"So… I guess you're going to need new armor." Ildri broke the silence.
"Your grasp of the obvious is remarkable." He growled. Ildri decided to shrug off his irritation. He just finished getting chewed on by a fucking dragon. He's more than earned the right to be a little irritable.
"If we can get something made from her remains, it's yours. You've earned it." She promised him.
"I had thought you might take it for yourself." He admitted, raising a brow.
"We killed half a dozen or so drakes to get here. If we can find someone to make dragon bone armor, I'm pretty sure the same guy would be more than willing to make drake scale armor. Besides, you're the one who's getting upfront and personal with the bad guys."
"Very true." He replied dryly. He looked at something over Ildri's shoulder, and she followed his gaze to see Morrigan returning.
"The others will be well enough." The witch informed her.
"Good." Ildri nodded. She looked up at the sky and was a bit surprised at how low the sun was. "I'm thinking that we should set up camp. Maybe not out here, we could go back into the caverns, or we could head in there." She nodded her head towards the building behind Sten.
"I would recommend a return to the caverns." Morrigan offered. "We know not what lies ahead of us, after all."
"Good point." Ildri acceded. She stood and rose her voice so the others could hear. "It's getting to be pretty late in the day. We're going to head back into the caverns to set up camp."
"Couldn't we set up out here?" Alistair asked.
"We have no idea what this place is going to be like after nightfall." Ildri pointed out. "Returning to the caverns will protect us from any odd weather, and will probably be a little bit warmer." Andreina, Zevran, and Nadia all seemed to agree with this line of thinking, but Riordan remained silent.
Ildri had mid-watch that night. She'd volunteered to take it, even though it was the worst shift. She took it often, allowing the others to get better rest. Ildri sat with her back to the fire, scrawling in her journal. It was cold in the caverns, causing the ink in her pen to solidify and making her writing appear even more sloppy than normal. With a frown she regarded her handiwork.
Today we fot had a fight with a high dragon. She was really big! Sten got hurt, but he looks like hell be fine. I promised him a set of armor from her if we can find someone to make it. Im a little suprized that Riordan hasnt come to give me shit yet. I did the best I could to not get attacked by that bloody thing. Hes probly gonna use it agenst me at some other time. When we get to Denerim for the Landsmeet, Im gonna see if I cant get him to stay behind. We siri seriusly really need better ways to fight dragons. Im guessing that Archies gonna be a lot bigger than the one we fo killed today. Theres gotta be a better way to get the wings. Maybe a balis ballistay whatever the fuck those things that shoot big damn arrows are called. I dont know how to spell it. Ive never seen one up close, but I'll bet it could punch a hole the size of my head through a wing.
She set the journal down and waited for the ink to dry before closing it and putting it away. Her own writing was nowhere near as good as Morrigan's, and Ildri suspected it might always be sloppy. She cast a glance over at Sten's bedroll. He'd not shown any signs of the concussion, insisting on staying awake and taking a shift on watch. Ildri had given him the first watch, and had quietly asked Morrigan to stay awake with him. Not where he could see her, the last thing Ildri wanted to do was insult him. So Morrigan had shifted into a fox and stayed out of sight until his shift was complete. Ildri sighed and stood, brushing some dirt from her breeches. Save for the crackling of the fire and the odd snore, it was quiet. While quiet was good for a shift on watch, it didn't make the time pass. She walked around the camp to stretch her legs and to help stay awake. She walked past Riordan's bedroll, and he appeared to be having a bad dream. I wonder if it's an Archdemon nightmare, or just a normal one. She watched him for a while. He looked like he was in actual, physical pain, so she squatted down next to him and shook his shoulder. When he didn't wake, she shook him harder.
"Riordan, wake up." She shook him violently, and he listed from side to side. She reached for her water skin and dribbled some on his face, but it also failed to wake him. Ildri sighed and grabbed his shoulders to pull him upright, but as soon as she grabbed his shoulders he placed on hand on either wrist and threw her off of him. She hit the ground a short distance away and quickly got to her feet. She looked over at Riordan, who was sitting up with wild eyes and breathing heavily.
"I… I apologize." He breathed.
"It's fine." Ildri waved a hand in dismissal. "It's, you know, instinct. Muscle memory, or whatever. I'm just glad you threw me instead of stabbing me."
"There is that." He chuckled.
"What was it about?" Ildri asked after a moment.
"I think that the horde is still in the Deep Roads." Riordan crossed his legs and rested his elbows on his knees.
"You mentioned them before, but I don't know what that is." Ildri confessed.
"They are underground. They once connected the dwarven kingdoms, but the 'spawn took them from the dwarves. They were grand underground highways, and now they are nothing more than a dark, stinking pit filled with tainted creatures."
"That sounds distinctly unpleasant." Ildri murmured. "But if that's where they all live, I can see why Wardens tend to go down there."
"And now I have a question for you." She looked over at the senior Warden, waiting for him to continue speaking. "You did not need to wake me. In fact, I am rather surprised that you did."
"We don't get along that well, I know. But those dreams are awful. And I kind of have a favor to ask of you."
"And what might that be?" He asked.
"First, a little discussion." Ildri sat down across from him. "When we get back to Redcliffe after we get these Ashes and Guerrin is better, I want to go to Denerim."
"We only just left Denerim a short while ago." Riordan pointed out, and she nodded.
"Yes, but we'll have Guerrin with us this time." She replied. "I want to hold the Landsmeet as soon as possible. We need men, and that means that we have to get this civil war bullshit out of the way. The only way to do that is to crown a king."
"You mean Alistair."
"Yes. Him and Andreina. Even if we can't get her name cleared ourselves, once Alistair is on the throne, he'll take care of that for us. Get her a trial or whatever. The two of them – and Amber, obviously – will remain in Denerim. I also want you to stay with them."
"You need as many people with you as you can." Riordan argued.
"Not nearly as much as I need people in the capital. People who are motivated to get the things we need done, done."
"Such as?"
"We were incredibly lucky against that high dragon today." Ildri pointed out. "I'm very surprised that only one of us was badly injured. I'm going to assume that Archie is going to be much bigger than she was. I need someone in Denerim to do any and all research on dragons that they can, and upgrade or commission the weaponry we need to take him out."
"I see." Riordan rested his chin on his hands. "This is not simply to get me out from under your command. You are actually showing some initiative."
"Really? That's all you thought it was?" She asked.
"After our discussion the other night? Yes, I did think that. I am glad to hear that I was wrong, however."
"Yes, I know we don't get along well. I don't know if I'll ever trust you beyond the whole Grey Warden thing, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to put the resources I have available to use." Ildri shot back.
"Is that how you think of us all? Mere resources?" He queried.
"Don't twist my words, it's a figure of speech." She replied scathingly. "Besides, isn't that how Wardens view the general populace? Judging who might and who mightn't be fit to become a Warden?"
"That is rather unfair. You never did meet many of the other Wardens, did you? If you had, you might think differently."
"Maybe, maybe not." She shrugged. "Will you stay in Denerim?"
"Yes. While I am there, I will see if I can locate that ingredient for the Joining."
"If nothing else, you can make a sweep of the dungeons and look for likely recruits." Ildri nodded. "Just one thing: I will have no rapists in my Wardens." Riordan looked as though he was going to argue, but she raised her hand to stop him. "If you bring me a rapist, brother or no, I will strike him down. A murderer or a thief I have no problems with. But I will not abide a rapist."
"If you do not mind, might I ask why not?" Riordan asked gently.
"It's because of a rapist that I'm here." She informed him. "And I'll tell you no more about it."
"Did you not want to be a Warden?"
"I wouldn't say that, no." Ildri replied. "I only regret that my actions harmed my family." Riordan asked no more questions about that, for which she was grateful.
"Why don't you get to bed?" Riordan spoke, breaking the silence. "I will start my shift early."
"All right, then." Ildri rose and walked over to her bedroll. She took off her armor until she was clad only in the linens she wore beneath it, then crawled into her bedroll.
In the morning after everyone ate, they exited the caverns once more and proceeded towards the building on the far side. The door opened into a hallway, which led into a foyer-like room. There was a man wearing silverite plate armor and a winged helm standing next to the only door in the room. Ildri approached him, and in the dim light it appeared as though his pale eyes were almost glowing.
"I bid you welcome, pilgrim." He greeted them. His voice seemed to echo around them, giving it an odd quality.
"Who are you? Are you one of the cultists?" Ildri demanded.
"I am the Guardian, the protector of the Urn of Sacred Ashes." He explained. "I have waited years for this."
"You waited for years… to see us?" She asked, bewildered.
"Not just you." the Guardian shook his head. "It has been my duty, my life, to protect the Urn and prepare the way for the faithful who come to revere Andraste."
"Not all of my followers revere Andraste. Will you still allow them to pass?" Ildri waited as the Guardian looked over her companions, his gaze resting upon each of them for only a moment.
"It is not my place to decide your worthiness." He demurred. "The Gauntlet does that."
"What is the Gauntlet? What does it require of us?"
"The Gauntlet tells the true pilgrims from the false. You will undergo tests of faith, and of yourself, and we shall see how your soul fares. If your heart is true, there is nothing to fear."
"Give me a moment." Ildri requested, then turned to face her companions. "I will not ask anyone to come with me. You can come if you wish, but I won't force you."
"Then I, for one, will remain here." Morrigan stated. "I have no desire to see your dead prophet."
"I would like to come with you." Andreina stepped forward, her eyes bright. Ildri nodded at her, then looked at her other companions.
"I don't know or understand why this woman is so important to you all," Nadia said, "and I don't want you to fail because I don't understand. I will stay here."
"I'll come with you." Alistair volunteered.
"All right." Ildri glanced over to Zevran, who merely shook his head at her.
"I would be honored to look upon Andraste's earthly remains." Riordan spoke up.
"Very well. Sten?" She looked up at the man in question. "You coming or staying?" He stared down at her for a moment, thinking.
"I… I will come." He replied, nodding.
"Before you go," the Guardian spoke, "there is something I must ask. The path that led you here was not easy."
"Ask your question, then." Ildri replied, turning back to face the Guardian.
"There is suffering in your past – your suffering, and the suffering of others." Ildri folded her arms across her chest, waiting for the Guardian to continue. "By the time you reached Shianni, she was broken, brutalized. You were too late. Tell me, pilgrim, did you fail Shianni?" Ildri felt as though she'd been dealt a blow to the stomach, and nearly staggered.
"What… how could you possibly know about that?" She asked, her voice wavering.
"Your path is laid out before me and plain to see – in the lines of your face, and the scars on your heart." The Guardian replied. Ildri's tongue darted out to wet her lips, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "Do you believe you failed Shianni?"
"I…" She tried to maintain eye contact with the Guardian, but had to look away. "Yes, I failed Shianni. I should have made sure she didn't get taken, I could have not spent so long watching Nelaros die in my arms, I could have run faster, I could have not stopped to kill every guard in the estate." There were tears slipping down her cheeks, and she couldn't be bothered to wipe them away. Looking back up at the Guardian, she demanded, "What is the purpose to this? Why should it matter if I have regrets, or if I have doubts, or if I've failed at something?"
"Thank you. That is all I wished to know." He nodded at her and turned to Andreina. "Andreina Cousland. Last child of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, and, at this time, heir to Highever." As the Guardian spoke to Andreina, Ildri felt a large, warm hand come down on her shoulder. She glanced over at Sten.
"Leave the past where it falls." He murmured, for her ears only.
"Thank you." Ildri whispered in response. He bowed his head and removed his hand, and Ildri looked back at Andreina.
"What is it you wish to know?" She asked, ever polite.
"You abandoned your mother and father, leaving them in the hands of Rendon Howe, knowing he would show no mercy. Do you believe you failed your parents?" Andreina's eyes shone with tears as she answered.
"No… no, I didn't. I had – I have a duty to my family's name and honor. If I had remained, Howe's goals would have been successful."
"Then you do not dwell on past mistakes – neither yours, nor someone else's." The Guardian nodded to her, then looked up at Sten.
"Demand whatever answers you want, spirit." He spat.
"You came to this land as an observer, but you killed a family in blind rage. Have you failed your people, by allowing a Qunari to be seen in that light?"
"I have never denied that I failed." The giant ground out. Ildri reached out and put a hand on his forearm as the Guardian looked away.
"What I must do, so should you." Ildri whispered up at him.
"Sometimes it is difficult to do." He admitted.
"I know." She replied, patting his arm.
"Alistair, knight and Warden… you wonder if things would have been different, if you were with Duncan on the battlefield. You could have shielded him from the killing blow. You wonder, don't you? If you should have died, and not him?"
"I… yes. If Duncan had been saved, and not me, everything would be better. If I'd just had the chance, maybe… maybe things wouldn't be in such dire straits right now." Alistair replied, his shoulders sagging.
"Riordan… you claim that Fereldan is your home, yet you took to the Game like one born to it. Do you ever doubt that conniving with the Empr –"
"Of course I doubt." Riordan interrupted. "You cannot so much as be in the same room as La Lionne without being plagued by doubts."
"The way is open. Good luck, and may you find what you seek." As the Guardian spoke, he began to grow brighter, until there was a quick flash of light and he was gone. Ildri looked to the four of her companions who'd chosen to come into the temple. Andreina was giving Riordan pointed glances, which he was steadfastly ignoring, but Alistair and Sten just looked back at her.
"Let's go, then." Ildri gestured towards the now-open door that the Guardian had been… well, guarding. She stepped up to and through it, looking around the chamber that she was now in. It was a large room with four small alcoves along each wall. Three ghostly figures stood in the middle of the room – a bald elven man, a haughty-looking human woman with fiery red hair, and a human man in furred mage robes but wielding a greatsword. "What do you guys make of this?" Ildri asked. Silence. She glanced over her shoulder, looking for Sten, and saw… no one. "Shit…" The door had closed behind her and she was unable to open it. When she pressed her ear to the door, she couldn't hear a thing. "No way out but forward, then." She murmured, stepping towards the ghostly figures, approaching the elf man first.
"I'd neither a guest nor a trespasser be; in this place I belong, that belongs also to me. Of what do I speak?"
"Home." Ildri breathed. "You're talking about a home." Snippets of memories from the Denerim Alienage played in her mind as the figure nodded.
"It was my dream for the people to have a home of their own, where we would have no masters but ourselves. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and thus we followed Andraste, against the Imperium. But She was betrayed… and so were we."
"Oh, Maker." Ildri choked. "You… you're Shartan. You led the elves, fighting at Andraste's side." The figure – no, Shartan – nodded with a smirk on his ethereal lips before fading from sight. Ildri took a few deep breaths before sidestepping in front of the human woman.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." She intoned. "The debt of blood must be paid in full."
"Vengeance." This time, it was memories of the fight with Vaughan Kendells that played through her mind.
"Yes." The woman smiled broadly, her chin raising a few increments. "My husband, Hessarian, would have chosen a quick death for Andraste. I made him swear that She would die publicly, with Her war leaders, so that all would know the Imperium's strength. I am justice. I am vengeance. Blood can only be repaid in blood." The woman faded, just as Shartan had, so Ildri stepped towards the human man.
"She wields the broken sword, and separates true kings from tyrants. Of what do I speak?"
"Wait, what?" Ildri asked, frowning. He repeated the riddle, and Ildri tapped her lip with her forefinger as she thought. The first part of the riddle gave her no hints, but the second part did. True kings from tyrants. "Mercy?" She guessed, and was relieved when the figure nodded.
"Yes. I could not bear the sight of Andraste's suffering, and mercy bade me end Her life. I am the penitent sinner, who shows compassion as he hopes it will be shown to him."
"Archon Hessarian." Ildri concluded, nodding to herself. He returned the gesture as he, too, faded. There was a loud clanking sound, and a large pair of doors on the far side of the room opened before her. She approached the door, keeping an eye out for her companions. There was a figure standing just past the door, but they were too short to be anyone she was looking for. Even though they did look oddly familiar….
"Hey." I'd know that voice anywhere.
"Shianni!" Ildri smiled at her cousin for a moment before remembering where she was. "You're not real, are you?" It was more a statement than a question.
"Who else?" Shianni shrugged. "It's good to see you, I guess. Life's been good to you out there, hasn't it? You're respected, even among humans. Do you remember us? Where you came from, and what some of us still face every day?"
"How could I forget? That was my life. I can't just roll over and decide to forget everything that ever happened to me." She reached out to put her hand on Shianni's shoulder, but she took a step back. "I wish I could do more for you. I tried to come and see you, but the Alienage was locked down."
"It's good to know you're still thinking about us." Shianni gave her a small smile before turning serious again. "What happened… it wasn't really your fault. You were caught in the situation, just like the rest of us."
"I've never blamed myself for the incident in general, I just know that there's more that I could have done for you."
"But you don't need to blame yourself anymore. Come visit me, you'll see." Shianni gave her a warm smile. "You have a great task to complete. I want you to take this. I think you should have it." Shianni took one of Ildri's hands and placed something in it.
"I'll see you… the real you, anyway, as soon as I can. I miss you all." Her eyes began to water, and she wiped the tears away before they could fall. There was no answer, and when she raised her head, she was alone in the hall. She looked down at her hand, and saw a necklace – a plain, beaded necklace, not dissimilar to one you would find in an Alienage home. This actually reminds me of the one Mama used to wear. She slipped the necklace over her head and continued down the hall. There was another figure, and she walked up behind them.
"Ildri, my girl. Is it really you?" Ildri was stunned when the figure turned around to face her, and she recognized her mother.
"Mama?" She spoke softly, almost scared that a loud noise would turn Adaia to dust.
"Yes, it's me. And we have quite a few things to discuss, young lady." Adaia shook a finger at her, and Ildri couldn't help but grin.
"Mama, I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too, darling girl, but we don't exactly have a lot of time to talk." Adaia pointed out.
"I know. What do you want to talk about?"
"You're not going to like everything that we talk about, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be discussed." Ildri nodded, waiting for her mother to continue speaking. "I know that you're only sixteen, but if you have decided that you are the only one who can be the leader, you need to start acting like one."
"What do you mean?" Ildri asked. "I thought that I'd been doing pretty good."
"'Pretty good' isn't enough." Adaia replied. "You need to let go of your anger. There are many choices in your future, and you're not going to be able to choose effectively if you're being blindsided by hatred and prejudice." Ildri opened her mouth to argue, but her mother held up a hand, asking for silence. "You are doing the exact same thing to humans that you absolutely abhor them doing to you in turn." Ildri raised a brow in a silent question. "You are judging them all to be no different from one another without having even spoken to them. You assume that they're all going to hate you and look down upon you for being an elf. You don't give them a chance… you need to learn mercy, and forgiveness."
"I… I guess you have a point." Ildri crossed her arms across her chest and shuffled her feet.
"We aren't the only ones who suffer, you know." Adaia said softly. "You heard Andreina, didn't you? Maybe you should speak to her about what happened to her family. You should ask after her stories of the Orlesian Occupation."
"I've heard stories about the Occupation, Mama. You told them to me." Ildri argued, and her mother shook her head.
"She will have other stories for you to hear. Her family fought in the Occupation, too."
"If you think that's best." Ildri sighed.
"I do think that's best." Adaia's lips parted in a smile, and she opened her arms. "Come here, Ildri." Ildri threw herself into her mother's arms and hugged her tightly.
"I love you, Mama. I'm going to miss you."
"I love you too, dearest." Adaia pressed her lips to Ildri's brow. "I am so very proud of you, my girl. Please be safe. And when you see Loghain… tell him Adaia sends her regards."
"What?" Ildri started, looking to her mother, but she was already gone. Ildri sighed heavily, feeling tears build up once more. She's right. Who the fuck am I kidding, I'm just a kid, and they all know it. She fell to her knees, her chest aching from the effort to hold her tears back.
"Oh, now you're going to cry? 'Woe is me', and all that?" Ildri froze, shocked.
"It can't be…" She whispered, lifting her head. Vaughan Kendells stood not five feet from her. "I killed you."
"Your knife-ear mother's dead too, and you saw her." He sneered at her. "So why can't I be here, too?"
"Because I don't want you here!" She snapped. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"You have one person tell you that you can't run around doing whatever the fuck you want, and you fall to pieces?" He scoffed. "If that's the case, then you may as well give up now."
"That's rich, coming from you." She replied.
"Ah, but I'm dead. I don't have the lives of an entire country, if not the entirety of Thedas sitting on my shoulders." He shrugged. "All in all, I don't matter much. Unless, of course, you succeed in this quest of yours."
"What do you care?" She spat. "You're dead."
"It's not about me, it's about you." He replied. "Do you really want me, of all people, seeing you like this?"
"You're not even real!" She shot back.
"Ah, your head knows that, but does your pride?" He smirked. "Logic and emotions don't really go well together." The last thing she wanted to do was admit that he was right, but he was. She fought with her rage and anger for control, because she wanted to kill him. Again. Ildri rose to her feet, and while part of her screamed to kill him, another part urged her to calm down. He's got to be here for something other than making me want to kill him all over again.
"What the fuck do you want?" Ildri ground out.
"While that knife-ear urged you to let go of your hatred, I'm here to encourage it." He took a few slow steps towards her, and Ildri urged herself to remain still. "I have to say, this new Arl of Denerim seems to be off to a good start." He commented. "He's already had a Purge – that's got to be some kind of record. Still, he needs to keep you dirty creatures in your place." Deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. "Still, what else can one expect from a Howe?" Ildri's gaze snapped towards him, and he chuckled. "I'm surprised that you didn't put the pieces together yet. That guard at the Alienage told you that Howe was the new Arl of Denerim… and poor Andreina Cousland's family was put to the sword… by Arl Howe." For the second time that day, Ildri felt as though she'd taken a blow to the stomach. She wrapped her arms around herself and held tightly. Oh Maker… I fucked up. I really, really, really fucked up. "I wonder if he's learned yet, exactly who was involved in that little incident? Or what he's doing to them? I'm sure it's something rather… gruesome." Vaughan laughed, and the sound sent shivers down her spine. "Or perhaps he's using inventive methods to get the information? After all, it hasn't been that long since that day." Breathe in, breathe out. "All that effort for one knife-eared whore… and look what it caused. When you return to Denerim, take a good look in the Alienage. But remember, everything that you see in there is your fault." Ildri clenched her hands into fists to keep them at her sides. "No matter what anyone outside of this room ever says, you and I know the truth. All those deaths, from the Purge and the plague and whatever else has happened since you've been gone is all your fault." He said the last few words in a sing-song voice.
"I KNOW THAT!" Ildri exploded. "You think I haven't fucking thought about that already? Do you think that I don't see something every single damned day that reminds me of something from the Alienage? Then I remember that I single-handedly fucked over the Alienage. Do you have any idea how guilty I feel about that? No, you fucking don't! So why don't you just take your holier-than-thou, bigoted, self-centered attitude, and shove it up your ass!" When she was finished, Vaughan disintegrated, as though she'd destroyed him with nothing more than her words. She heard the next door open, but she stood there for a while to regain control over her emotions.
"You have passed this portion of your test, pilgrim." Ildri heard the Guardian speaking, but didn't look up. "You may proceed."
"What… was the purpose of this test?" Ildri asked.
"The test of oneself. To see if you could overcome your own darker nature."
"And if I had failed?"
"You would have been unable to proceed further. You would have, in all likelihood, returned to the entrance. After you left, you would be unable to return for the remainder of your lifetime." The Guardian explained.
"Well… that's good to know." She replied. She took a few deep breaths and walked into the next room. The door past that room was still closed, and she couldn't open it. So, she decided to sit down and wait for the others. Sten was the next one to enter the room. He seemed to be more quiet than usual, somehow, so Ildri remained silent. Alistair was after him, and he crossed the room and leaned on the wall before sliding to the floor.
"So… was that just as odd and uncomfortable for you as it was for me?" He asked, but the humor fell short. They sat in silence until Andreina entered the room. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and Alistair leapt to his feet when he saw her.
"Are you all right?" Ildri heard him whisper.
"I've been better." She murmured. "Riordan's not back yet?"
"Nope." Ildri answered. "But the Guardian told me that these trials aren't fatal – not the ones we just passed, anyway, so if we don't see him in a while it just means that he was sent back to the entrance."
"How long do you think we should wait for him?" Andreina asked.
"Maybe until after I have a snack." She replied.
"Do you have any cheese?" Alistair piped up.
"No, you ate it all, you damned cheese hound."
"What can I say?" Alistair grinned. "I have a nose for cheese."
"I wish you had a nose for when you need to take a bath." She grumbled, and Alistair chuckled. Ildri fished some bread out of her pack and threw a hunk at Alistair.
"Is it poisoned?" He asked, inspecting it. "Or moldy?"
"What, I can't give you some bread without there being something wrong with it?" Ildri asked, taking a bite of her own piece.
"Did you hit your head in there? Or are you Ildri's not-so-evil twin?"
"Why don't you ask your Warden senses?" Am I really such a bitch that I can't even share food without people thinking I'm trying to kill them? "There's nothing wrong with it, Alistair."
"I guess that can't lie to me." He conceded, referencing the Warden senses. "But if I fall over dead tomorrow, I'm blaming you." Ildri scoffed and got to her feet, intent on checking the door again.
"Hey, I'm just joking around." Alistair said. "I didn't mean to offend you."
"You didn't offend me, Alistair." Ildri told him. "I did." She offered no further explanation as she tested the door – this time it swung open easily. "Well, that tells us something. I don't think it was going to open until we all got back, so this means that Riordan's probably not coming." She took another bite of bread and looked through the door.
"What's over there?" Andreina asked.
"Not much." Ildri replied after swallowing. "But there's a huge hole in the floor in the next room. I wonder what it's for?"
"Perhaps it was used to dispose of the most annoying of this Andraste's followers." Sten grumbled.
"Humor? From you? Hold up, we need to mark this on the calendar!" Alistair cried out.
"You probably shouldn't antagonize him. After all, you don't want him to decide you're one of the 'annoying followers', do you?" Ildri remarked.
"Hmm… fair point." He allowed, and Ildri smirked. She quickly finished her piece of bread then led the way into the next room. Surrounding the large hole where eight squares that came up and out of the floor, four on either side. They didn't do around completely, however, there was a large gap on either side that Ildri knew that she, at least, would be unable to jump.
"Thoughts?" She asked, looking back at her companions. Andreina walked over to one of the squares and looked closely at it.
"I think it's a puzzle." She mused, still inspecting the squares. Alistair walked over to her and accidentally stepped on it. When he did, an opaque square appeared over the chasm with an odd noise.
"Is anyone here any good at puzzles?" Ildri asked her companions.
"I've always enjoyed puzzles." Andreina admitted quietly.
"All right. This part is your show." Ildri gestured towards the chasm.
"Are you sure?" Andreina asked hesitantly.
"Go ahead." Ildri waved her arm again. "You do not want me trying to figure out a puzzle." Andreina nodded and began giving orders, shuffling them from square to square. She was the one who went out onto the bridge as it appeared, and was the first one across the chasm.
"A Blight ravages the land, and here we are, playing with switches and stepping stones." Sten growled, and Ildri suppressed a chuckle. It wouldn't do to have him think I'm laughing at him. The final room had a wall of fire, but past it there was a large dais, and a statue of Andraste with a flame in one hand and the other over her breast. On their side of the fire stood an ancient altar, and Ildri stepped up to inspect it.
"Cast off the… trap… trappings of worldly life and cloak yourself in the… the goodness of the spirit. King and slave, lord and beggar; be born anew in the Maker's sight." Ildri read aloud, struggling in places.
"That's very good. You've really improved." Alistair commented.
"Just 'cause I can read it doesn't mean I can understand it." Ildri grumbled. "What the fuck are trappings?"
"Only you would swear when we're in sight of Andraste's earthly remains." Alistair sighed.
"I think… I think we're supposed to undress." Andreina commented, her cheeks scarlet.
"What makes you think that?" Ildri asked.
"Trappings are possessions, or things. 'Cast off the things of this world', is essentially what the first part says."
"All righty, then." Ildri removed her blades and set them down on the ground. She began to unbutton her shirt, but looked up when she heard Alistair make an odd noise. "What?"
"Nothing!" was the strangled reply she got. She shrugged and continued undressing. While she was still a virgin, the naked body wasn't something she had never seen before. She had often shared baths with Shianni and Soris, although the latter had stopped sharing sometime after they'd all turned twelve. The body wasn't something to be ashamed of, it just was. Seeing as Sten was wearing less than everyone else, he was the first to be fully undressed, followed shortly by Ildri.
"Are all elves so… small?" Sten asked, looking over at her.
"I'm actually taller than most elven women." She informed him, studying him in turn. Not bad looking at all.
"Are the two of you just going to ogle each other all day?" Andreina called over. The woman was trying to cover herself with her hands, and doing a poor job of it. "Or can we get moving?"
"By all means." Ildri smirked at her then stepped towards the fire. When she reached it she paused to look at it. It wasn't giving off any heat or making any of the crackling sounds one associated with natural fire. So, definitely magical fire. She put a hand into the fire, and when it didn't burn, she stepped through. Her extremities tingled and she felt something cool wash over her skin as she stepped through. She turned back around to face her companions and beckoned them to walk through. Sten followed next, then Andreina and Alistair. As Alistair stepped through, the Guardian appeared in the fire.
"You have been through the trails of the Gauntlet; you have walked the path of Andraste, and like her, you have been cleansed." The Guardian intoned. "You have proven yourselves worthy, and may approach the Sacred Ashes." He faded from view and the fire died. Andreina quickly ran over to her gear to put it back on.
"What if we're supposed to go up to it naked?" Ildri teased.
"Then Andraste will have to forgive me." Andreina replied.
"Congratulations. You've found your pot of holy dirt." Sten grumbled, and Ildri laughed.
"What is it with you two? 'Fancy-assed pot', 'pot of holy dirt'…" Alistair shook his head. "Must you be so irreverent?"
"Just be glad that Morrigan stayed behind." Ildri pointed out.
"I am glad, but still."
"Andraste did a good thing for the elves, but her Chantry turned its back on us." Ildri explained.
"Can you be… I don't know, but not so callous about this?" He pleaded.
"I'll be more impressed with these Ashes if they actually work. Until then, I'm reserving judgment."
"Fair enough, I suppose." Alistair sighed and put his gear back on. Ildri seriously contemplated walking up to the Ashes in nothing in her skin, but she didn't want Andreina to have a fit. So she too returned to her pile of gear to get dressed. When the four of them were clothed once more, they crossed the room and walked up the stairs on the dais to stand at the feet of Andraste's statue.
"By the Maker…" Andreina breathed. "I can't believe we found it!"
"I didn't think anyone could succeed in finding Andraste's final resting place… least of all us. But here it – here She is." Alistair spoke. Ildri allowed them their moment, and then approached the Urn. The lid was heavier than she'd thought it would be, but she got it off and set it to the side. She pulled a leather pouch from her belt and held it close while she took a large pinch of Ashes.
"They're warm." She said to the room at large. She stepped back from the Urn and gestured to her companions. "I'm not the only one who made it through the trials. Go ahead." Andreina approached first, then Alistair. Sten made no move to approach the Ashes. "Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yes." Sten nodded his head. Ildri shrugged her shoulders and stepped forward to put the lid back on.
"We should probably get back to the others." Ildri mentioned.
"Yes… Riordan returning without us might have put them a bit on edge." Alistair agreed.
"I wonder what caused him to fail?" Andreina murmured.
"Well, that's something you're not going to ask him. None of us are."
"I wasn't suggesting –"
"Good. Neither was I, I was just getting a point across." Ildri cut in. "Now, shall we get going?" There was a pair of doors on either side of the last room, and they both led the party outside. They walked back to the front of the building and re-entered through the main doors.
"Here they are, safe and sound!" Nadia exclaimed upon seeing them. "We started to worry when Riordan came back without you."
"Yes, we must have gotten separated." Ildri said before any of her companions could reply. "I don't know for sure what happened. You all right?" She asked Riordan.
"All I have injured is my pride." He admitted with a small smile. "Do you have the Ashes?"
"Yep, right here." Ildri patted the pouch on her hip. "How about the rest of you, are you all right?"
"I have some small news." Morrigan broke in. "While we were awaiting your return, I collected some of the dragon's blood. As much as I thought we could carry, as a matter of fact."
"I take it it's valuable?" Ildri remarked.
"Very valuable, and rare. If we were to take this to the Wonders of Thedas shop in Denerim, we could gain a small fortune."
"Good. That's awesome." Ildri smiled over at the witch. "Hey, do you know what parts of the dragon they use to make armor?"
"I had thought you might want to make use of that. We will have to carry it down the mountain, but the dwarf merchant should still be waiting for us in the village."
"All right! You damn near read my mind." Ildri smiled up at her.
"'Tis only common sense." She scoffed, but Ildri saw a small smile on her lips all the same. Barkspawn chose that moment to greet his mistress. She didn't notice him until he'd almost knocked her over.
"Hey boy! Did you miss me?" She squatted in front of him and rubbed his face and neck. He licked her face in response. "It's good to see you too."
They made their way back into the temple and found Genitivi. He'd not moved much further than the entrance, and was still studying.
"You're back! Did you find it?" He asked, hobbling over to them. Ildri removed the pouch the Ashes were in and showed them to him. "Oh…oh my." He swallowed, and Ildri could hear his heart pounding in his chest. Wait, what? I must be imagining things. "What was it like, coming to the Urn?"
"There were tests. I don't think I'll tell you all about them, but I'll definitely tell you some of it."
"Thank you." He stammered, smiling. "We have to tell people about this!"
"I'd appreciate it if you withheld my name. I can't speak for the others on this, though."
"Of course, I can do that." Genitivi agreed quickly.
"I hope those Ashes are self-replenishing." Alistair broke in.
"I'm pretty sure that Andraste can take care of Herself. Her, or the Guardian."
"What Guardian?" Genitivi asked.
"I'll tell you about it later. Why don't you travel to Redcliffe with us? We're planning on going to Denerim afterwards, and you'll be able to see the Ashes put to work." Ildri offered. "We have a wagon that you can ride in, if necessary."
"Thank you very much." He replied, bowing his head.
La Lionne – French for 'The Lioness'
Vaughan is replacing the fight with the shadow-selves. I thought that it would be easy enough to defeat 'yourself' in a fight, especially with others to help you. I figured it would be a lot harder to fight against yourself like this.
If you have any suspicions or questions about Riordan's talk with the Guardian, please PM me. I would appreciate having spoiler-free reviews.
