Recap:
"If you are willing to entrust you heart to me, I promise to never let the Dread Wolf catch your scent again". Looking into his eyes, I saw nothing but sincere devotion and love. At that moment, I realized I could love again.
Chapter 10
Abelas:
I could only look on the kingdom that Banal'ras created. Spirits roamed freely, uncorrupted. Many looked to her as a hero, a leader in many ways. For many a century they pushed against the veil, clawing for a chance to be a part of the waking world. The spirits came and left as they pleased, some carrying out tasks, others just exploring. One could say that she is gathering an army, one of spirits rather than men. She hardly ever spoke of why she left the veil torn, only that it was to peacefully merge the two worlds. Many a time she left the castle to make more small tears in various places. Each time she would return with many spirits of every variety at her heel. Having such allies would easily contend with the forces the Dread Wolf has garnered. I once asked her why use spirits instead of contacting her allies from the Inquisition, she only responded with "Armies made with men and women cannot be trusted, people are too easily corrupted. Spirits are direct beings that all have one trait they follow with. A spirit of desire will always have a wish for something, a spirit of rage will always be angry. I can count on them more because of this fact". The way she said such things almost made it seem like she didn't trust me, but after the time we've spent together I knew I shouldn't take her words to heart.
It was sometime in the mid evening, the sun low in the sky when I found her on the battlements, looking about the courtyard and beyond. I quietly walked up behind her and spoke "To see so many spirits roaming free reminds me of the time before I became Mythal's sentinel". She looked to me with a soft smile that reached her silvery eyes, "You have been on this earth for some time Dar'misaan. Having seen it in its true form before Solas destroyed it out of vengeance". Her smile faltered as she continued, pain expressed heavily in her features, "He told me a great many things, now I can only see them as empty lies. I should have listened when he said separating would be kinder in the long run. It wouldn't hurt so badly then". I could only look at her with sympathy, as I have never known such pain. I wanted her to know that she didn't need to suffer like this alone. In the short time that I have known this she-elf, I've come to see her as more than a friend. Her soul is different than that of any other shemlan. I sought to share her pain, to keep her safe from being hurt in such a way again. My thoughts served as my only barrier from taking any sort of action. What if she still harbored feelings for the Dread Wolf? Would she eventually return to him and forgive his actions against her? Such doubts kept me at a distance, until now. "Have you ever thought of abandoning your anger and going back to him?" I finally asked the question that kept me from this woman. She shook her head looked to the scarred sky with a cold, hard glare "If I abandon my anger, I will hurt. I refuse to go back to him. I refuse to be hurt again". She walked down to the courtyard, that cold look in her eyes still laced with pain. I could only follow unable to come up with words to say. I finally gathered my nerve "Banal'ras?" She turned to face me, and I struck before any logical reason could be thought and kissed her, holding her close. I felt her body go rigid with surprise before she returned the kiss I had forced upon her. I pulled away from the kiss, but held her close "If you are willing to entrust you heart to me, I promise to never let the Dread Wolf catch your scent again". She pulled back to meet my gaze. At that moment, amber gold eyes met shivering silver and I knew I would protect this she-elf for as long as she would have me. "Ar lath ma, ma' banal'ras" I whispered, so faint it was nearly lost on the wind. I waited with baited breath, praying to Mythal that she would give me the answer I so longed for "Va'var ar lath ma, ma' dar'misaan". Those words couldn't have taken away the sorrow that was my old name any faster as she made to kiss me again. I accepted it with fervor. In my mind's eye I could only grin, 'She's mine now Dread Wolf'.
Cole:
To interact with so many other spirits was different. Most of them didn't have names and only went by what kind of spirit they were. Those that had names tended to be more sentient in the sense they knew the time they now existed in was not the same as before. These spirits were often the ones that would follow the shadow home after she opened the veil in a new area. They were loyal to her, thankful to be free of the fade. There is so much to learn from them, and most of them are happy to have the chance to pass on their teachings. Dar'misaan learned many new spells from some spirits of knowledge. Banal'ras learned more stealth tactics and even mastered an occupation long forgotten. While she is an assassin like myself, she mastered the hunter occupation through one of the pride spirits. He took pride in his skills in life so his spirit took on that same aspect. If I recall correctly he said to call him Drom. As a hunter, he taught her to see heat signatures and remain completely invisible to all. Any rogue can turn invisible, but none can completely erase the sound of their breath or their scents. To say the least, the presence of the spirits has been very beneficial for the shadow and her sword. Dar'misaan has held feelings for Banal'ras for some time now. I try to help him tell her, but he always finds a reason to keep his feelings to himself.
I was speaking with a wisdom spirit when I saw the both of them on the battlements, and then in the courtyard. Feeling their souls, I could feel no hurt. They were finally free. The question now was, would the Dread Wolf still fight for her or would he seek revenge as he had done so many years ago.