I was surprised to learn that people were still paying attention to this. You honour me with your continued interest. I very much appreciate the chance to finish what I started; your enthusiasm gives me hope that my ideas don't, in fact, fall on deaf ears and a lonely page. Thank you.


The Darkspawn advanced onto the Keep; fire flying through the air to take down walls and so many soldiers. Through every inch of chaos, every expertly planned attack and every seemingly endless wave of Darksparn, the Keep holds. Some were left to question whether or not it was worth it. Theron received word only moments after this victory that the location of the Mother was found. With no time to rest or even think, he had no choice but to assemble a team in order to combat this enemy. Velanna was among those called. The path towards the Mother's lair was a dangerous one, but nothing past what they had already encountered. The trip itself was nothing more than an array of nerves and excitement. No one said much of anything to each other.

As they enter, Velanna seems distracted. Theron turned back to her. That was when it started.

"I'm glad to see that you are well sister." Velanna's head shot over to the shadows, to find her sister stalking towards her with an almost upbeat attitude. Her eyes widened, purely out of shock to see her. She never thought she would. Such a memory she wished she were able to treasure.

"Seranni!" She called to her beloved kin, wishing nothing more than to close their distance with a welcoming embrace. She was sure she would be able to save her from her choice. But Seranni's beliefs were as tightly knit to the Architect as ever.

Her words were comforting. They seemed to melt in the ears of the hardened Dalish woman. It was as if her concept of her sister's fate was not such a bad thing after all. The Architect was kind to his people; her sister believed it. Beyond that which happened between her and the Warden, Velanna wanted nothing more than to be with her sister, were the option available.

"Velanna," He said, cautiously, "Tell me you don't believe this." His brows lowered slightly as his head tilted to gain a better view. But she wanted to keep her back to him, though his voice seemed to jolt her back into reality.

"Seranni, they killed our friends. And so many others! Don't you remember?" Theron's voice seemed to guide her from the darkened path. She attempted to look to the bigger picture. Seranni's eyes had lost their natural hue; now glossed over to show nothing. Nothing.

"I do." Her sister replied, and went on to explain that she hoped to help the Darkspawn. Listening to both things she had spoken of, it was clear how misguided she had become. Perhaps something within the Architect could force people to mistrust.

"Come with us, Seranni." He began, using gentle tones for an obviously delicate situation. One false step and this could all come crashing to pieces, "You can tell others of your wish to help the Darkspawn overcome their bestial nature." Theron lied through his teeth, but she seemed vulnerable enough to believe it.

"No!" Seranni retorted, "I have work to do. But the Architect is waiting for you. You will see." And as quickly as she was there, she was not once more. Velanna took a few steps to follow her.

"No," She had called faintly to her sister's trail, "Don't go..." Theron looked to her, but she could only keep her gaze to the ground, her head now filled with newly gathered information. Thick with confusion, Theron closed the distance between the two, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Velanna," He said, to no answer, "Lethallan!" She looked up. No words needed to be said; he simply looked to her; her eyes swimming with nothing more than the desire to follow her sister. To save her. "We have work to do." Theron said, pulling away from her and turning to head off towards an opened door.

Down a spiralling staircase that seemed flooded with all the kinds of Darkspawn they had encountered. He threw himself deep into the fray, leading the team's assault with such force and velocity that he hadn't noticed the Children that seemed to sneak by him. A painful shriek from behind him caused him to throw his head back. Velanna was on the ground, being almost mauled by one of the Children.

"Go, Commander!" Sigrun had rushed to maintain his position with the remaining Darkspawn, allowing him to retreat to her side. His blade ran clean through the Darkspawn that attacked her, lifting it up and over his head to hurl it from her form to the ground. Dropping the blade to his side, the Warden knelt to her, pulling the glove from his hand so he could feel her.

"Velanna." He said, and she seemed to stir to his call. In the distance, Sigrun's enjoyable chuckle was heard as she defeated the last of their wave of attackers. But there was only silence from the body of their companion. "We must have something to help her," He frantically spoke, searching through the packs for something to try and heal her, the glass bottles clinking as they were tossed against each other. She suddenly exhaled heavily, her body jolting slightly in the movement. Theron withdrew his notice from his search and gave it back to her, his uncovered hand touching down against hers.

Slowly, her eyes opened, and closed again. She blinked several times, pulling herself back into reality. Looking up, her eyes connected with his slowly. Theron's free arm flew around her, lifting her against his chest plate suddenly. Her hands rested against his shoulders as he grasped tighter, lips to her ear. "You assured me of your caution." He worriedly said. But she pushed him off, her altered perception from a glance at her sister clouding any kind of narrow minded judgement she used to be so famous for.

"I need to," She began, faltering as she fell back into the palm of her hand as she attempted to stand, "-Find Seranni." Velanna pushed off the ground, standing as tall as she could on her own two feet as she descended the stairs, taking Theron's companions with her.

"Velanna." He called, refusing to follow someone else's command. "She is not well. Beyond what we can salvage."

"Don't tell me that!" She shouted, turning on a heel to glare him down.

"I've seen this kind of sickness before. That will one day devour our own souls. That took Tamlen when he curiously glanced into that strange mirror. When you fall out of line, losing your own ability to think, that is a place we cannot come back from."

"You waste your breath on me." Velanna seethed, turning back as though he no longer deserved her attention. "I came here to save my sister. Or I will lose my all trying." She started to walk then, healing taking effect as her strength returned. Sigrun glanced back to her Commander, who closed the distance between himself and the group in a heartbeat.

"I came here to do what needs to be done. And I will. Though not out of stubborn heroism or foolish revenge." He spat, crossing Velanna's path to lead his group into the abyss.


More to come.