Hello everyone! I'm moved in to my new place, but far from settled in. However, I did have some time to get some writing and proofreading in, so here's the next two chapters for your reading enjoyment. I had originally intended for these two chapters to be one and the same, but then I realized that it was absurdly long, so I divided it up.
Special thanks again go out to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, or followed this story. And if anyone is interested, I wrote a short story titled "A Noble Fight" which takes place when Eebon is a teenager, and provides some backstory on him. Also on that note, I have another recommendation, the story "Selfless Love" by Hot Elf. I think that Silas and Leliana are portrayed perfectly in the story, and if I had my way it would be the epilogue to Leliana's Song.
Anyways, here's chapter 11, Daughter of the Dalish. Enjoy!
Teagan and Isolde, as well as the now back to normal Connor, had insisted that Endrin and her group stay in Redcliffe for one more night and partake of their hospitality. Endrin on the other hand had wanted nothing more than to get out of Redcliffe, and away from the memories of the undead and demons, however she turned an ear to her fellow Wardens and their companions, who were all up for a good feast. Isolde had provided dresses for Endrin, Kylae, Morrigan, Wynne, and Leliana, but only Leliana and Wynne actually wore theirs. Kylae just didn't feel right wearing such finery, and Endrin refused to wear any human garment. When Endrin appeared for dinner she was still only wearing her intricately carved Dalish leathers, and Kylae in her steel studded leathers that she had picked up in Ostagar. Roaran as well was still dressed in his chainmail, and probably for the same reason as Kylae. Morrigan appeared wearing her purple and black clothing, and offered no explanation as to why. All the others were dressed in richly made and colorful clothing… except for Sten, they couldn't find any clothing in his size, and it was unlikely he would wear it even it was provided.
Eebon appeared wearing Cousland heraldry. All blue with two green wreaths rising almost like wings. Eebon might have been a Grey Warden, but the heart of Cousland would always beat inside his chest, and Eebon had been giving more and more thought to his Cousland blood as it was possible he was the last of his line.
"We really cannot thank you enough for what you've already done for us." Teagan was saying, "But there is still the matter of Eamon's condition."
Tylis bit into a turkey leg and spoke around it, "I shaw Eamon 'n da Fade." Tylis swallowed, "He really didn't know that he was dreaming, but he knew that something was going on. From what little information I could get out of him and the demon itself, I gathered that Connor made a deal with the demon to keep his father alive, and that the demon did in fact save Eamon, but also trapped his soul in the Fade." He looked around the table, all eyes were on him, and were deadly serious. "This isn't about curing a disease anymore… this is about breaking a demonic curse." With his peace spoken, Tylis gave his undivided attention back to the turkey leg.
"I still believe the Urn of Sacred Ashes could cure him." Isolde said, in her heavily accented voice. "In fact it is our only recourse still open to us."
"Then we will find it!" Alistair said quickly.
Just as quickly, Kylae said, "And who died and made you the leader?"
"We don't have a choice, Kylae!" Alistair snapped, "Like Dharr said earlier, we need someone to unite Ferelden with us against the blight! And since Teryn Loghain is our enemy in this, and Teryn Cousland has been murdered, then that leaves Eamon as the best candidate for the job!"
Dharr joined his voice to the discussion. "I still don't see why Teagan can't take over as Arl."
"It is true, that I am well known by the nobles." Teagan said, "Although I lack the popularity of my brother, and therefore, his influence."
Endrin took a whiff from a tankard filled with ale, then wrinkled her nose in disgust and put it back in front of Roaran. "You are sure that you have already tried every other cure for Eamon's condition?" She asked.
"Yes." Isolde and Teagan answered at the same time.
"And Teagan, you are sure that you yourself would not be able to unite the land?"
"I didn't say that, I only said that Eamon would have a much better chance."
Endrin sighed. "Then we will do our best to find this urn. But in the meantime, I think you should assume the duties of the Arl and begin recalling your knights. If we cannot find it, then it will be up to you after all… And… I won't lie, I don't put our chances at finding something that is more myth than anything else very high."
"I will do as you request." Teagan said. "And thank you so much for your offer to help. It's hard to imagine how anyone could help us more than you have already."
"Thank us if we succeed." Endrin said. "We've had a near impossible task to begin with, and it only becomes harder by the day. Do you have any idea of where we should start our search for this whole crazy quest?"
Isolde answered. "My husband once funded the research of a chantry scholar named Genitivi, out of Denerim. His goal was to find the resting place of Andraste, and he knows more on the subject than anyone else. I believe you should start as his home in Denerim."
Endrin nodded. "Then we leave in the morning." She looked to her own followers. "As soon as you are finished eating and drinking, I recommend that you get as much rest as you can. We'll have long days of travel before us."
Roaran drained his tankard of ale, and held it up in the air, signaling for another, while he waited for his refill, Roaran stabbed a rather large rack of ribs from a dinner platter. Before diving in, he said, "Then we're really going to be here for a while… I eat and drink a sodding lot!"
Kylae had been in the process of draining her own tankard, and nearly choked at Roaran's last comment. She coughed several times and thumped a fist into her chest twice. "He ain't lying!" She laughed, "I eat and drink a sodding lot too!"
Roaran raised his freshly filled tankard in a toast to his friend, then took a long pull and started stuffing his face again.
Dharr rolled his eyes at their antics, but couldn't suppress a small smile himself. He asked Endrin, "You intend to seek the urn before fulfilling the treaties?"
"I do." Endrin confirmed.
"Is that really the best choice? You have admitted yourself that Andraste's Urn is more myth than fact. What if we spend weeks, or even months searching for this urn only to discover that it is nothing more myth? I think Teagan should do his best to unite the lands, and we should focus our attention on the Grey Warden's traditional allies."
For the first time since sitting down to dinner, Sten spoke. "Be silent, Warden. Your leader has made her decision and it is now your duty to obey. Nothing more, nothing less."
All eyes moved to Sten. The giant rarely spoke as it was, and when he did it was usually only to answer a question. Endrin nodded appreciatively at her friend.
Tylis wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and had to suppress a belch before he spoke up, "There is one more thing on my mind. What will happen to Jowan?"
Teagan answered, "As much as I'd like to see him executed for poisoning my brother, it must be my brother who makes that decision. Jowan will remain in the dungeon until Eamon can be cured, then judgment will be passed."
Tylis nodded.
Morrigan flung open her bedroom door. "What!?" She yelled, "Is there a reason you're not letting me sleep?"
Tylis could not help the blood that rushed to his face, nor his embarrassed smile. Morrigan stood in the doorway with a sheet wrapped around her body, and very little else. For the first time Tylis saw her with her hair down, falling to the center of her back, he'd never allowed himself to notice how beautiful she was. "I, uhh… I… Maybe, you'd like to put some clothes on?"
"If I close this door, I'm going back to bed, and not reopening it! Now spit it out! What do you want?"
"I need your help."
"With what!?" Morrigan yelled.
"I'm going to break Jowan out of the dungeon. And I'd like your help."
Morrigan's scowl disappeared and was replaced by her more familiar, part seductive part sadistic smile. She mulled the request over for a few moments before saying, "Hmm, set loose a blood mage who would otherwise almost certainly be handed over to your chantry and executed… how can I say no to that? Let me get some clothes on!"
A few minutes later found Tylis and Morrigan leaving the keep and making their way to the castle dungeon. Two guards stood watch outside the door leading down the dungeon and cellars, but it was the middle of the night, and in the darkness and deep shadows, the two mages were all but invisible.
"What's the plan to deal with them?" Morrigan asked.
"A touch of entropy. Cast a sleep spell on the left guard, I'll take the right one." Both Tylis and Morrigan reached out their hands, at the same moment summoning their power and unleashing it in potent spells. The guards immediately slumped forward, then fell the ground, their loud snores could be heard from where Tylis and Morrigan stood.
The door was locked, but a quick search of the guards revealed the key. There were no guards or anyone else in the cellars, but there was a guard at the dungeon door. Tylis cast another sleep spell, and the guard feel heavily to the ground.
"You know, as easy as this is, it's a wonder mages have never turned into thieves. We could empty out the castle's entire treasury in a couple hours!" Tylis grinned.
"Very tempting." Morrigan agreed sarcastically, showing her rare sense of humor as she knelt and took the cell key from the snoring guard.
"Jowan!" Tylis called loudly. "Where are you?"
Jowan's head appeared through the bars of one of the cell doors. "Tylis, what are you doing here?"
Tylis and Morrigan came to a stop in front of Jowan's cell and Morrigan turned the key in the lock, pulling the door open. "What does it look like?" Tylis said, "We're here to get you out."
"Yes, I can see that, but why? Why are you doing this?"
Tylis really wasn't sure why he was doing what he did, so he stopped thinking and just answered on instinct. "Because we were friends once. And because while what you did was wrong and deserving of punishment, they will either execute you or send you to Aeonar. And neither of those options are what you deserve."
"No." Jowan said, and sat down on the too thin bed. "No, I'm tired of running. I need to pay for what I've done, both here and back at the Circle Tower. My life has been nothing but one failure after the next. I don't want to run anymore."
"Jowan, why do you have to be such an idiot?!" Tylis yelled. "Are you saying you want to die? Because that's exactly what will happen to you! If you're sorry for what you did here, and what you did at the Tower, then get away from here. Use your Maker given gift of magic to help people. There are thousands of people fleeing the blight, and being massacred by the darkspawn, help them! Do something useful with your life for once!"
Jowan stood up. "You might just be right, Tylis. I would offer to come with you and help you on your Grey Warden business, but I don't think that having a maleficar on your side would help your cause very much. Maybe I will go to Tevinter after all. It's probably the only place I could go where I wouldn't be hunted." Jowan walked out of the cell, then stopped and turned back to his old friend for the last time. "Can you tell me… Do you know what happened to Lily?"
Tylis' face darkened. "No I don't. I left before Greagoir came to, although I can imagine it wasn't anything pleasant."
Jowan's face saddened. "I would trade places with her in an instant if I could." He looked down at his feet, then back up to Tylis. "Good bye my friend. I would say that I hope we meet again someday, although I think that in truth, neither one of us wants that."
"Good bye Jowan." Was all that Tylis said, and Jowan turned and ran out of the dungeon and to freedom.
Morrigan watched the blood mage go, then turned to Tylis and said, "I like you more day by day, Tylis. But you do know that they will come looking for someone to blame, as only mages could do what we just did, it is very likely that one or both of us is going to be blamed for this."
Tylis stared at Morrigan, it was the first time he could remember Morrigan calling him by his name instead of 'little mage'. He said, "I'm not so sure… a few guards got lax and fell asleep on duty, and a dangerous maleficar took advantage of the situation... Or the much feared blood mage magiced his way out of the cell and put the guards to sleep. " He chuckled, "Who would deny that?"
Morrigan laughed as well. "And you're crafty as well. Yet another reason for me to like you." She started to make her way back the way they'd came. "Time to go back to bed." She said, turning her golden eyes back at Tylis. "And… if you'd like to come and keep me warm tonight, I would not be opposed to the idea."
Tylis was absolutely stunned, he's never been asked to bed before. Especially not by a beautiful seductress who was far more powerful than most of the Circle Mages could ever hope to be, and she was also one of the most beautiful women she had ever met. And yet, something inside of him screamed that this was not right. As soon as he said the words, he regretted them. "I'm sorry Morrigan. Perhaps another time."
"Such a shame!" Morrigan said, almost sounding genuinely disappointed. "It would have been fun."
It was all Tylis could do to keep from calling after her to wait. The Circle of Magi wasn't exactly a charm school, and Tylis had always assumed that sex was a thing people only did when they loved each other, although Morrigan had treated it so casually. Tylis wasn't sure what to make of it. Under normal circumstances he would have asked either Kylae or Eebon, although now that he thought about it, he was sure that they would have just laughed at him. 'Oh, what to do?' Tylis thought to himself, then started making his way back to his own room, 'I just know I'm gonna regret this!'
"So just how big is Denerim?" Endrin asked soon after leaving Redcliffe.
"I'm not exactly sure." Alistair answered. "It's the biggest city in Ferelden… has a population of maybe… seventy or eighty thousand."
Endrin stopped walking and blinked in surprise. "That much? Really?"
Alistair nodded.
"It's hard to think of that many people all living in one place."
"Don't the Dalish have any cities?"
"No." Endrin shook her head. "We used to. Back before we were called the Dalish, we called ourselves Elvhen, which means 'The People', and most of our race lived in a city called Arlathan. But Arlathan was destroyed in a war with the Tevinters and then they enslaved my people. After we won our freedom, we built another city and named it Halamshiral."
"What happened to that?"
Endrin snarled. "Our former allies in the wretched chantry didn't like how we refused to worship your damned Maker and how we chose to worship our ancestral gods, the Creators."
"So… there was a war?"
Endrin nodded. "Yes. Halamshiral was completely destroyed. Some of the elves finally bowed to the will of chantry and took to living in human cities." She glanced at Kylae up ahead, "That is where the alienages came from. Some of us however chose to remain free, and we are the Dalish. Do you know the oath of the Dales?" That's a stupid question… how would a human know that?
"No." Alistair said.
Endrin said the words that she had said hundreds of times before. "We are the Elvhen, never again shall we submit."
"Is that why you wouldn't kneel to King Cailan?"
"Yes." Endrin answered. "I will not bow to any human, king or otherwise."
"I see." Alistair said, "I can respect that." They walked on in silence for a short time before Alistair said, "What was it like living with the Dalish?"
Endrin stared at him. "Alistair… how am I supposed to answer that? It was home, and they were my family. We Dalish think of our entire clan as an extension of the family, although I never knew my 'family' family."
"We have that in common then." Alistair said, "My mother died when I was still very young, and of course with my father being King Maric, I didn't know him either." Alistair was silent for a moment. "Actually, I suppose I should say this now, especially since we're on our way to Denerim… I have a sister, a half-sister actually. Duncan found out about her one way or another and told me a few days before we got to Ostagar, so I never had the chance to go and see her. Do you think we could go and look for her while we're in Denerim?"
"Of course." Endrin said, "If you know how to find her, then it shouldn't take long."
"Thanks." Alistair said, sounding relieved. "You're a good friend."
"I try… but don't tell anyone. I like to keep my expectations low."
Alistair and Leliana, who'd been standing nearby, both laughed. "Good one." Alistair said.
Endrin sighed. "If you're really curious about the Dalish, then I'll tell you the story of how I lost my clan, my brother, became tainted, and became a Warden."
Both Alistair and Leliana perked up, and Endrin noted how everyone else started to draw closer. Endrin had always been tight lipped about her life before coming to Ostagar, and had only vaguely hinted at it. "Well, I know I've bragged before about how I was my clan's best hunter. My clan's elders frequently told me that they were surprised that someone as young as me could be as skilled as I am. But… I was also known for being a trouble maker… always getting into fights, wandering off to 'hunt' when I was supposed to be at the camp doing chores with everyone else, falling asleep during one of the many history lessons." Endrin found herself smiling at the memory of it. "Ashalle must have had a lot of patience to put up with me… But anyways, that's why I was out in the forest the day it happened. Me and my clan-brother, Tamlen, got in trouble for fighting over something stupid, and of course we both snuck off the minute Master Ilen's back was turned."
Endrin ran so fast through the forest that her booted feet barely touched the leaf covered ground. She was gaining fast on the three humans ahead of her. She and Tamlen had found them wandering near their clan's camp, and Endrin had suggested that they give the humans a good scare. Endrin leapt over a fallen tree, then ducked under a low hanging branch and pulled her bowstring back and let the arrow fly, never even slowing in her full-on sprint. The arrow buried itself in the soft dirt only scant inches from one of the humans feet. Endrin notched another arrow and slightly altered her course, driving the three shemlen to where she knew Tamlen stood ready.
The humans came to a rapid halt as Tamlen suddenly appeared in front of them, arrow notched and pulled back, moving his bow back and forth from one human to the next. "So…" He said, "Three shemlen trespassers. What do you think we should do to them lethallan?"
Endrin replaced her bow across her back and drew her dar'misaan. "I think we should make them run and get some target practice in." That wasn't what she wanted to do, they'd already agreed just to scare the shemlen.
"W-we're not trespassers!" One of the humans said. "We didn't know you owned this land, I swear! We were just out exploring and we found this cave with all this really ancient looking stuff inside."
"And you… took some didn't you?" Tamlen asked.
"They're lying!" Endrin said, "We've been camped here for months and there's no cave around here!"
"We're not lying." The human insisted. "We found this inside… take it!"
Endrin reached out and accepted the small carved statue. It looked to be a statue of someone half elf half halla. She quickly examined the statue, then held it out to Tamlen. "I think this is Ghilan'nain, but I've never seen her portrayed like this."
Tamlen came to much the same conclusion. "So you're not trespassers, you're just thieves… that's even worse!" He set the statue down and then stood up and drew his arrow back again.
"No!" Endrin yelled, and pushed the bow down. "Can you imagine how upset the Keeper would be if we started killing humans? These shemlen are like vermin! You kill one today and tomorrow there's a hundred of them roaming around and out for blood!" Endrin stooped and picked the statue up, putting it in a pouch on her belt. "Show us where this cave is, and if it really exists, then you can go."
The cave was exactly where the three humans said it was. Endrin had nodded and waved the humans away, warning them to never come back, and to leave the Dalish alone. As soon as they were out of sight, Endrin turned to Tamlen. "What was that all about?" She said, almost yelling. "We agreed that we were going to scare them, not kill them!"
"You're too forgiving lethallan! These damned shemlen have destroyed our homeland twice now! Whatever the shemlen touch, they destroy!"
"Those three didn't. You're remembering things that didn't even happen in your lifetime and holding it against the shemlen today! How does that make any sense?"
Tamlen rolled his eyes. "Whatever… we can argue about that some other time. For now I want to go and check out this cave. Maybe we can recover a few more artifacts before we head back to the clan."
Endrin chuckled, "And the Keeper might even forgive us for wandering off again."
Tamlen laughed as well.
"Whoa!" Endrin said as soon as she passed through the mouth of the cave. She looked at Tamlen, "Did you just feel that?"
"I felt a chill…" Tamlen said, "But inside of me. Like someone just walked over my grave."
"It's not right. As much as I hate to say it, we should go back."
"Are you scared?" Tamlen taunted.
"Yes!" Endrin said quickly, "I'm telling you, something is very wrong here! We shouldn't be here!"
"Oh, come-on! It's just a-"
"MOVE!" Endrin yelled, just as a walking skeleton bearing a sword took a swing at Tamlen, Endrin just barely pushed her friend out of the way in time, then drew her dar'misaan and swung low, her blade easily cutting through the frail ancient bones, and the skeleton collapsed to the floor, Endrin kicked the skull off its neck and the skeleton stopped moving.
"A walking skeleton!" A now hysterical Tamlen said, "How is that possible!"
"Bad magic probably." Endrin said, surprisingly calm. "Do you still want to stay?"
Tamlen managed to pull himself together somewhat. "Well… you killed it pretty easily. Let's stay a bit longer at least, try and find some more of the artifacts."
"I had a feeling you'd say that… The skeleton got my blood pumping pretty good. I'll go first. Stay back with your bow and cover me."
The two young hunters slowly made their way deeper into the subterranean ruin. They encountered walking skeletons only two more times, and they were easily put down. The feeling of wrongness that they had felt since first entering the cave seemed to grow stronger the deeper they progressed, and although neither one of them wanted to say so, they were both terrified and would have wanted nothing more than to leave and get back to their camp. They made a sweep of the ruins, recovering a few smaller pieces of elven history, but most of artifacts were full sized statues or other icons and were far too heavy to lift. The corridors more or less went in a circle, with small rooms here and there.
"I think this is last room we haven't checked..." Endrin said, pointed to a forbidding looking door, and her voice turned suddenly hopeful as she said, "Unless you want to go back now."
"We've come this far already." Tamlen answered. "I want to see this through."
"Alright." Endrin answered, and she grabbed hold of the large heavy door. "Help me get this open." Together, the two elves heaved open the massive door to the sound of growling.
"Blessed Creators! What is that thing!" Tamlen yelled.
The 'thing', looked like some weird kind of demonic bear. It might have even been a bear at one time. Bony spikes protruding from almost every inch of its skin, and its fangs were grossly oversized. It fixed them with black eyes and roared, then charged. Endrin's bow was in her hand in an instant and before the bear could close the distance and attack, she'd put two arrows into its front. But this bear, or whatever it was, seemed to be unnaturally strong, and just kept coming.
"Endrin, get out of the way!" Tamlen called, and Endrin immediately complied. An arrow flew from Tamlen's bow and hit the bear in the head, but only bounced off its thick skull.
Endrin notched another arrow and fired, the missile found its mark behind the bear's foreleg, and the bear turned its attention to her. Endrin dropped her bow and drew her blade. Tamlen fired another arrow, this time hitting the beast in its side, but the bear kept its attention on Endrin. Endrin stood her ground, gripping her dar'misaan with both hands. The bear lunged at Endrin, jaws agape, and that was where Endrin struck, driving the tip of her dar'misaan into its wide open maw. All the bears power now counted against it as it only served to push the sword deeper. Endrin pulled the sword out and stared with disgust at the black blood that stained the blade. She'd never seen blood any color other than red.
"Are… are you alright?" Tamlen asked.
"I think so." Endrin said, "At least I'm still in one piece… that was one hell of a hunt!"
Tamlen laughed nervously. "Yeah… let's not do that again."
Prior to that moment, neither of the elves had noticed the huge mirror that sat in the middle of the circular room. Probably ten or twelve feet tall, and four feet wide, the mirror was held up by a statue of an elf woman on either side. Both Endrin and Tamlen could feel the sense of wrongness, and maybe even evil that came off of the mirror, and even more eerily, the mirror provided no reflection. On the other side of the room was a tunnel that judging from the sunlight coming from it, led back to the forest. Endrin started to make her way to the tunnel and out of the ruins.
"Hey, Endrin… you're just going to leave without looking at the mirror?"
"After what we've seen and had to fight against just to get this far? I can't believe you want to stay… Tamlen get away from that thing! It's not safe, can't you feel it?"
Tamlen kept moving towards the mirror. "It's just a mirror lethallan! It can't do- Hey! I think something just moved, inside the mirror! Endrin, come look at this… it's starting to clear, I can see things."
Endrin did indeed start to come over to Tamlen, but her intention was to get him away from the mirror. "Tamlen, get back!"
Tamlen acted as if he didn't hear her and started to reach towards the mirror. "It's moving again! I can see things… a city… underground, I think that… is that a dragon?" His fingers brushed up against the glass. Endrin grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to pull him back. Tamlen yelled, "ENDRIN! Help! I can't look away! It hurts! HELP!"
"TAMLEN!" Endrin yelled, and tried to pull her brother away, but it seemed as if Tamlen was pulled into the mirror by something of immense strength. There was a bright flash of light, and Endrin flew through the air, landing hard on her back, and she remembered nothing after that.
When Endrin came-to again, she was outside the cave again, and there was a human man looking down at her. He had dark skin, long black hair, and a thick black beard. "I'm… terribly sorry!" He said, and then Endrin passed out again.
"What…" Alistair asked, "What happened to Tamlen?"
"I don't know." Endrin said, as a tear rolled down her cheek. "We never found him, but I'll get onto that in a moment. Tamlen was my best friend practically since birth. A lot of the people in my clan thought that eventually the two of us would be married." Endrin couldn't help a short laugh. "But that was never going to happen. We had talked about it before, and neither of us wanted it. We had been friends for so long, neither one of us wanted to be anything else. I mean we were so close that I really did consider him my brother… and no one marries their brother!" Endrin and all the others as well shared a laugh. "But we decided not to tell anyone, so they would just keep wondering." Endrin laughed again.
Endrin slowly crawled out of bed. She was in the Keeper's aravel. She wondered what she was doing in the Keeper's dwelling. Endrin found her bow, quiver of arrows, and dar'misaan, and donned them all. She stepped out of the aravel and blinked in the afternoon sunlight.
"Endrin!" It was Ashalle. The older elf-woman wrapped Endrin in her arms. "You're awake, finally!"
"Uhh, good to see you too Ashalle." A somewhat confused Endrin hugged her surrogate mother back. "What… exactly happened to me?"
"We were hoping you could tell us!" Ashalle said, still holding her adopted daughter. "A human man carried you back. He said that he found you outside a cave. What happened out there?"
"Ashalle, you're kinda constricting me." Endrin managed to get out of Ashalle's grip. "What exactly has happened? How long was I out?"
"Two days!" Ashalle said. "I haven't left your side since the minute you were brought back. The human said that he found you alone outside a cave, but aside from that, we don't know anything about what happened. The Keeper said that you were sick with something she had never seen before, and she had to use old magic to cure you."
"I… I…" Endrin wasn't sure what to say. "It's… coming back to me a little bit. I remember the cave… And, there were… there was… some kind of bear, but it wasn't like any bear I've ever seen before." Endrin thought for a moment. "And, there was a… really big mirror. Tamlen went to touch it, and I tried to pull him back, and then… I don't remember anything after that… I was really out for two days?"
"Yes. Oh, I'm sorry Endrin, but Keeper Marethari wanted to see you as soon as you woke up."
"About what?"
"She didn't say, but I imagine it's about what happened to you and Tamlen."
"Well, I guess I should go see her then." Endrin started to make her way to Hahren Paivel's fire. Marethari and Paivel had always worked closely together, as it was the mission of all Dalish to uncover their history and heritage. Marethari as the Keeper was in charge of most everything that happened in the clan, and Paivel was the clan's lorekeeper, and knew the most about the Elvhen history and origins. "You wanted to see me, Keeper?" Endrin asked.
"Yes, I did." The Keeper said. "How are you feeling, Endrin."
"A bit confused, but other than that I'm fine."
"Good. Because if you feel up to it, I need you to take Merrill back to the cave. With any luck, Merrill will be able to locate what it is exactly that made you sick. And you will be able to locate Tamlen, alive or dead."
"He's not dead!." Endrin said quickly. "I survived, and Tamlen is every bit as strong as I am!"
"I believe you." Marethari said, although Endrin didn't believe her. "But we must prepare for the worst, even so."
Endrin turned to go and look for Merrill, then thought better of it and turned back to the Keeper. "If I may ask, who exactly was this human who brought me back?"
"Have you ever heard of the Grey Wardens?" Marethari asked.
"No."
"The Grey Wardens are an order of warriors sworn to defend Thedas from the darkspawn, and-"
"What's a darkspawn?"
Marethari sighed. "Never mind. It would take too long to explain. When you come back ask Hahren Paivel to tell you. He could probably explain better than me in the first place."
"Ma nuvenin, Keeper." Endrin started making her way towards Merrill's aravel.
Endrin slashed what she would later know was a genlock across the throat, then spun around and disemboweled it.
"What-what was that?" Merrill asked, "Was that a darkspawn?"
"You're asking me?" Endrin said, "You're the First… aren't you supposed to know about this kind of thing?"
"I've never seen anything like it!" Fenarel said. He was another hunter from Endrin's clan, although Endrin had never particularly liked him, he was too nervous, and too much a stickler for the rules… and any other word that happened to leave the Keeper's mouth. "You can feel the evil coming off of it."
"Oh, shut up, both of you!" Endrin said, "We're almost to the cave. We need to hurry, Tamlen could be hurt, sick, and possibly dying!"
"Wait." Merrill called, "Are you alright? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine."
Fenarel said, "She's right, you do-"
"I said I'm fine!" Endrin insisted, "Stop fussing over me and let's go!"
As the three elves returned to the cave, they found it to be now populated by darkspawn. Fenarel and Merrill were both barely able to keep themselves under control during the ensuing fights, while Endrin on the other hand cut into them eagerly, as if they were the cause of her frustration and anger. Two genlocks, as well as a much taller hurlock came out of one of side rooms and without hesitation barreled towards the elves. Using a strategy they had agreed on, Endrin moved forward with her dar'misaan in hand, she would hold back the darkspawn, while Fenarel and Merrill hung back and relied on their bow and magic.
Endrin ducked under a darkspawn axe, at the same time dropping to a knee and spinning so her back was to the darkspawn, and driving her dar'misaan backwards and into its midsection. Endrin twisted the blade and felt its body shudder one final time before dying. The much larger hurlock bowled Endrin over as it charged on by, moving straight for Fenarel. Merrill leveled her staff at the charging monster and fired a bolt of arcane energy, on contact, the hurlock stumbled but still kept up its charge. Fenarel stood rooted where he stood, too terrified to move.
Leaping back to her feet, Endrin didn't have time to take up her bow, so instead she brought her sword back over her shoulder and threw it, the sword hit the hurlock in the shoulder and it spun directly into a wall. Endrin pulled her small skinning knife and dashed at the dazed hurlock, jumping onto its back, and reaching around its head, she thrust her small knife into its eye with all the force she could muster. The hurlock fell face forward, with Endrin still on its back. As Endrin stood back to her feet, she suddenly felt dizzy, and had to reach out and brace a hand against the wall.
"Ar-are you a-alright?" Merrill asked.
Endrin sucked in a lungful of air. "I'm okay…" She said, "I'm okay… It's just the exertion. I need to catch my breath." She suddenly glared at Fenarel. "What in Andruil's name happened to you?!" She demanded.
"I… I froze. I don't know, it's just that… these things!"
"They bleed and die like anything else!" Endrin snapped. "Now pull yourself together. We have to find Tamlen."
Merrill said, "With these things down here I can't see how he could have survived."
"Don't say that!" Endrin yelled, "Don't you dare say that! Tamlen is smart and resourceful. He's still alive, I can feel it!"
"Endrin, wait!" Merrill said, and before Endrin could protest, Merrill grabbed her on either side of her face and turned her head back and forth. Even in the dim light of the underground ruins her sharp elven eyes could see the slight discoloration under Endrin's eyes. "Endrin… you don't look so good. Maybe you should head back to the camp and let the Keeper try to help."
"No! I'm staying until we find Tamlen!"
And the search for their lost clan-mate continued. They encountered no more darkspawn, but they also found no trace of Tamlen. Finally, Endrin stood once more in front of the door that would lead to the mirror.
"Endrin," Merrill said, "What is it?"
"I can't… go back in there. Go on, I'll wait here."
Merrill and Fenarel together heaved the door open. Inside they saw the mirror, the dead body of the bear-thing, and a human surrounded by the corpses of five or six darkspawn. "Duncan!" Merrill said, "What are you doing here?"
"I came here hunting the darkspawn." He answered. "And my search led me here. This mirror, it has become tainted with their evil." He looked out into the hallway to see Endrin still standing outside the door. "And you must be the young hunter I met previously."
"That's what they tell me." Endrin answered, still not daring to enter the room. "Although I really don't remember. Have you seen Tamlen, a blond man about my age?"
"No." Duncan answered. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your friend is gone, there is no way that he could have survived here, even without the darkspawn, he could not have lasted these two days, not with this tainted mirror." He pulled out a gleaming sword. "And the mirror must now be destroyed, before it's evil draws more darkspawn to it."
"Wait!" Merrill called, "The Keeper wanted to use the mirror to find a cure what happened to Endrin."
"There is a cure, and the Grey Wardens have it." Duncan said, "But you will find nothing from this mirror except for more death!" Duncan heaved his sword forward, shattering the mirror.
Endrin sat by the fire in front of the aravel that she shared with Ashalle. Her hands idly stitching a torn shirt. They hadn't found Tamlen, despite their best efforts, they could not even find a trace of him. Endrin had refused to leave at first, even after both Duncan and Fenarel had returned to the camp, she and Merrill had stayed behind, searching every room again for any clue or trace of their friend, but they found none. Finally, Endrin had been forced to admit defeat, and returned to the camp to report her lack of findings to Marethari. Endrin had then been dismissed, so Marethari and Duncan could discuss the cure he had previously mentioned.
"I'm so sorry about Tamlen." Ashalle said quietly from the other side of the fire. "I know that you two were close."
"Why?" Endrin said, "Why do I have to suffer so much? Tamlen was always the one I could go to when things were bad, or when I just needed someone to talk to. He was every bit the brother I never had… and now… I'm going to have to go through the rest of my life without him." Endrin felt the tears start to well up around her eyes. "It's not fair!" She dropped the shirt she'd been stitching up and wept into her hands. She looked up when she felt Ashalle's hand on her shoulder.
"This belonged to your father." Ashalle opened her other hand to reveal a carved wooden ring, despite its small size, the ring was engraved with finely detailed foxes and hares. "It's a Keeper's ring, as he was the Keeper before Marethari. But I think he would have wanted you to have it."
Endrin stopped crying and stared at the ring, now laying in the palm of her hand.
"And this," Ashalle said, reaching into a pocket, "Was your mother's." She held out a necklace carved with small wooden beads, each one painstakingly carved in the shape of a forest animal, hawks, bears, deer, wolves, and so on. Ashalle put necklace around Endrin's neck.
"Tell me about them, Ashalle." Endrin was already fingering the beads on the necklace.
"Oh Endrin, you know that we don't talk about the dead. Nothing good can be brought up that way."
"Please Ashalle… I don't know anything about them. It's… a part of me that I've never known."
Ashalle sighed. "Very well. I suppose you should know after all. Your parents were from different clans, and while that normally wouldn't be a problem, your father was Keeper, and it created issues with both of their clans, so they had to meet in secret. And one day when they were meeting, a group of bandits found them. Your father held them off with his magic and allowed your mother time to get away, but they eventually overwhelmed and killed him."
"But… my mother got way?" Endrin asked. "I had always thought that they died together."
"No. You're mother escaped, and hunters from our clan found her. By that time she was already pregnant with you, but with your father gone, it seemed that she had lost her will to go on. She held on as long as she could, and then one night shortly after you were born, she just wandered off into the forest and never came back."
Endrin's eyes widened, "She just left? She abandoned me? Her own daughter!"
"It's not like that Endrin." Ashalle said, "Your mother loved you so much, but… with your father gone, it was like a half of her had died with him. She tried, really did try to be strong for you, but she just couldn't managed it."
"So…" Endrin almost didn't ask, but she felt she had to know. "Why… did you take me in?"
"Because your parents were both good friends to me. And it was the last thing I could do for either of them, and more importantly, because I love you like you are my own daughter."
Endrin looked up at Ashalle, new tears forming in her eyes. Endrin reached over and hugged Ashalle fiercely. "You're my mother!" Endrin said. "I love you too, Ashalle! You're my mother!" She insisted again, "You've always been my mother!"
Me again... sorry, but I just wanted to say that I was seriously disappointed with how small a part Ashalle was given in DA:O, especially since she was the only family that Mahariel has in a sense. I tried to bring out more of the relationship that the two of them had. Hope I succeeded.
