Edit: 5-22-16 correction to grammar and changed POV from First to Third for all characters.
They stopped in Redcliffe on the way back to Haven. Mia and Solas had thought if Cara saw where they found her, it might trigger her memory. They meant well, but it was a painful reminder; the world she had thought of as home for so long was just an illusion. Maybe not a fair observation, she had a history there, had lived there longer than she had lived here, or so she imagined. She had no idea how long she had lived before the trip through the Eluvian and without any records of elvhen history she would never know.
Cara paced the area, and half hoped to find something that had crossed over with her. She supposed it was absurd. She didn't even know if she had crossed over physically, though the injuries suggested she had. It was a long shot thinking anything other than she and Remus had come through. Even Remus was missing his collar when he was found. Perhaps some things were not allowed to slip through. She blinked at the tears that threatened to fall.
"Are you all right, Violet?" Varric asked.
"I had a necklace; I had hoped it might be here."
"A gift from someone special?" Maxwell asked.
"It doesn't matter, it's not here." She only the soil darkened by blood, where she had lain. There was no use dwelling on it, that life, that world, was gone. "Is there a bookseller in Redcliffe?" she asked Mia.
"There is a dwarf near the docks that had some books. I didn't stop to see what he had, though. We have an hour, but we should split up. A couple of us won't be as noticeable as all eight of us."
"I'll go with Violet to the book merchant. He's an old friend of mine. Decent dwarf, but he loves to haggle."
"I will keep Remus with me," Solas said.
"Thank you, he isn't fond of crowds," she said.
"Beardwall, how about a drink? Not enough time to get drunk, but enough to catch up on local gossip," Iron Bull said.
"It's Blackwall, sounds good after months of traveling."
Cara couldn't help but chuckle at his nickname for the bearded man. Iron Bull gave her a wink as the two of them walked off. No one else seemed to think it as funny as she did. Oh well, their loss.
"Varric, what brings you to Redcliffe? I thought you were in Kirkwall?" the dwarf asked.
"I was, but my friend here asked if I would travel with her to Haven. How's business, Dern?"
"It was better before the mages showed up. They're more interested in selling their books than buying new ones."
"Oh? As in books on magical application?" she asked.
"I'm up to my stones in them. Can't give them away. Have a look; I'll give you a discount for every book on magic you buy." Dern said then he turned to Varric. "I sent an order to your publisher but I'm getting the runaround. There is a demand for your books, but they want to raise the price on them. These people want entertainment but can't afford to pay what he expects. Think you can help a friend out?"
While they talked business, Cara searched through the books. Many of them were similar to the one found in Haven, which meant they were worthless, but she managed to find three which held promise. Then she found it, hiding in the back, behind rows of worthless books. The tome was old and tattered. The enchantment protecting it from the passage of time was still strong. The gold embossed title and symbol on the front had nearly worn away, but the pages were pristine.
She held it in her hand, traced the letters on the front, and then traced the markings of the tree symbol on the center cover. She opened it and read the inscription. There were two, one in common and one in Elvish. In waking dream is freedom. Mala tara aravas, ir su aravel tu elvaral u na emma abelas. Tel'enefenim, lath sulevin, lath araval ena. (Your mind journeys, but the journey is longer when alone within. Never fear, be certain in need, and the path will emerge.)
She flipped through the pages and many of them were half filled, but the pages were enchanted. What was written was in Common, but it was incomplete. At first glance, the spells appeared unfinished, but they were done in cipher. Only someone able to unlock the code could reveal the hidden writing. This was exactly the kind of book she was looking for.
She placed the stack of books on his counter. The special tome stuck in the middle. "Let's see what you've found." Dern took the books and set them in two stacks. "These three here, 15 royals and I'll throw in those two there for free."
"Wait, you're going to give me those two for free?" The tome she expected to pay the most for was one of them.
"The book on herbs you can find anywhere. I have a dozen of them. This one." He held up the precious book. "It's gibberish, and frankly it makes me feel weird being near it. I almost feel guilty giving it to you. That book is no good. Besides, I owe Varric for getting me started. I'd still be bumping around Darktown selling poisons if not for him."
"Thank you, Dern. I'll be sure and recommend you to anyone looking for books." She added a blank journal and ink and he added her total.
"Appreciate it. Good luck with that book, and thanks for taking it off my hands."
Cara stuck all the books in her pack and tried not to bounce on her toes in excitement. While he and Varric shook hands and said goodbye she slipped some coins under his ledger book. He would find it when he closed up for the day.
"Alright Violet, what is so special about that book. You look like Bartrand did when he found a rare item."
"It is rare indeed, one of a kind no doubt. It's a spell book. The reason no one can read it is that it's done in cipher. It was probably the only thing of real value he had."
"Shit and you took it, just like that?" He sounded both awed and disappointed.
"Actually. I slipped him an extra 10 royals for it."
"You're all right, ya know that?"
"Thanks, Varric. I thought if I acted surprised, he'd realize it was worth something to me. Even if he didn't know what it was worth, it felt wrong to cheat him."
Cara didn't have any other things she needed to do in Redcliffe. Any armor or weapons she would purchase and sell through Harritt so they returned to the gate to meet up with the rest of the group. Along the way, they passed an elderly elven man muttering apologies to his wife for not visiting her shrine during these troubled times.
"Sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help but overhear. Perhaps I could help you?" she said.
He looked at me for a moment. "You would help an old man out? You have the look of a city elf, but your weapons say otherwise. Are you Dalish then? Did you leave before you received your vallaslin?"
"Neither city elf nor Dalish, though in all honesty I don't remember much. I do know how important it is to remember our loved ones and would be happy to take flowers to your wife's shrine."
"Few would help a stranger, especially in these troubled times."
"If not for the kindness of strangers I wouldn't be here. Let's just say I'm paying it forward."
He gave her the location in an area the scouts had marked but Mia hadn't yet explored.
The storyteller was trying to interest people with tales of Redcliffe. When she spoke of Alastair as a young boy asking for stories and toy soldiers they stopped to listen. She told them of a spirit in the lake to the north. A spirit of Valor who likes blood lotus flowers is rumored to dwell in the lake. Cara filed the information away for later. It could be some time before they returned to Lake Luthias.
It should be a simple task taking flowers to a shrine. At least it would be easier for them than for an elderly man, due to the rifts, demons, and bandits. Just as they found a campsite, a bear attacked and Cara froze.
She felt the fear creep up her throat and steal her breath away. She tried to draw on magic to cast a barrier but couldn't. The Large Bear barreled down on her, but she was rooted in place. Just as a giant paw was about to strike, she was flying, something had knocked her out of the way.
He tried to get to her in time but she was too far ahead. She was just out of range of the group when he cast his barrier. He watched as the paw was about to crush her, and then a blur came from the side and sent her flying. He breathed a sigh of relief and rushed to her. Soon he was next to her pulling her to her feet and pushing her behind him as he cast his spells.
"Carina, you can do this."
She couldn't see him, or hear him. She was still trapped in her fear. He cast another barrier spell over them and turned to shake her gently, to get her to focus on him, but they had limited time. The commotion had alerted two more bears that were nearby.
"Cara, please! Look at me!" Finally, her eyes fluttered as she began to focus and she was back in the present, no longer trapped in her fear.
"Solas?" Then she looked behind him, her face hardened and she stepped around him. Instantly the atmosphere changed. Her magic flared and the clouds turned dark as she called the storm and rained down lightning. For a moment, he watched in awe at the power she had just called forth. He knew the power was there, but this was more than he expected. She continued to surprise him.
When she finally came around Solas was gently shaking her to get me to focus on him. Just as she realized what had happened she saw the bear reach out to strike him. Cara finally felt her magic return. Now her anger at her own weakness and fear for Solas brought a storm more powerful than anything she had expected.
Iron Bull and Blackwall were occupied with the first bear. Remus and Maxwell were battling another while Mia and Varric fought a third. Then behind Varric, a damn rogue came out of nowhere. Cara froze it, and Varric turned and shot an exploding bolt into him. She rained down lightning while her staff shot ice bolts and electricity. Just as the first bear fell, another joined the battle as well as another rogue. She could feel the disruption of the air behind her, spun, and froze him before he could sink both his daggers into Solas's back. She struck him with the staff blade, and then spun behind him and struck again causing him to shatter.
"Nice one! Now can I get a little help over here?" Bull yelled.
Cara cast a barrier around as many as she could reach. Hers was nowhere near as strong as Solas', but it would help a little. "How many damn bears are there? Is that five or six?" she yelled.
"I think that's only four Violet, but keep the lightning coming as long as you can," Varric yelled back.
Electricity filled the air arching from her staff as she spun and threw it into the nearest bear, and then it arched into the others. Slowly each bear fell, one by one until only one was left. With a final slam of her staff, she sent electricity into the bear as lightning struck from above. Solas continued to cast ice at it and everyone else struck simultaneously. The last bear finally fell and Cara collapsed to her knees, the storm disappeared as fast as she had called it.
He was soon beside her, checking for injuries. He finally released the breath he had been holding when he found only minor ones. "I'm okay, just exhausted. I don't think I've ever called a storm, let alone kept one going for so long." She told him weakly and then passed out in his arms.
"Shit, she's okay isn't she?" Iron Bull asked. All of their companions surrounded him, their worry and affection for this slip of a girl clear in their faces.
"Solas, what was that? I didn't know she could do that," Mia said.
"I doubt she knew she could either. She will be all right. Thank you, The Iron Bull, she has a couple of bruised ribs from being knocked out of the way, but no other injuries. A day or two of rest and she will recover." Remus whined quietly beside her. "She just needs sleep, falon."
There was a risk to approaching the man. She moved slowly, whining to show she meant no threat. He was afraid at first and then became curious. She needed him to be curious, needed him to follow. She crept closer, head and chest low to the ground, in a show of submission, friendliness. He began to relax. When he stepped forward, she stood and turned. A soft woof and then walked away. He stopped. She turned back, whined, and then began to walk again. He needed to follow. After a few failed attempts, he finally understood.
He was hesitant at first, but she didn't blame him. She was as afraid of humans as they were of her. They moved cautiously through the forest toward the mountain, closer to the cave where the babes were. She heard their voices on the wind. They were hungry again. She turned and yipped at the man urging him to hurry. Their cries would bring others and at this pace, she would have to leave the man behind or risk their safety.
He understood and quickened his pace. Soon they were close enough for him to hear them and his steps found a new purpose. She raced toward the cave ready to defend them, but all was well. They both squealed in delight when she approached. Tiny fingers poked at her nose while a tiny hand pulled on her ear. She would miss them, but soon they would be toddling about and she could not continue to care for them.
The Shepard put down his staff and knelt beside her. The babes looked at him with wonder. She doubted they had seen another human; at least they would have no memory of one. He reached for them and they grew silent. She huffed hoping to reassure them he meant no harm. He spoke to them in a language she did not understand. Lifted them up and set each on a knee. They pulled at the fur collar on his coat. He looked at her and reached a hand out slowly. She shied away from his touch at first, but his voice was soft and quiet. She allowed him to reach for her, allowed a gentle hand to rub over her shoulder and back. He would take them in; her work was done.
She walked to the entrance to leave and he followed. When she went in the opposite direction of his home, he called to her. She hesitated, he was a sheepherder, and wolves were his enemy. She should move on. When she didn't turn he followed. When she stopped he turned back motioning for her to follow him this time. The babes cried out to her as well. She sighed and followed cautiously.
They reached his home and a woman came out to greet him. She cried when she took one of the babes. Talking excitedly and asking questions. He showed her the basket and motioned toward the edge of the forest where she hid in the shadows. The woman was frightened at first but called her closer. When she was near her, the woman knelt and the babe in her arms reached for her. She laughed and moved to hug her in a gesture of thanks. Then she stood and opened the door to their humble cottage, the man walked past her with one babe, yet she stood there waiting. She called to her, "Lupa", and motioned for her to enter. She would have a home if she wanted it.
Cara woke in a tent with Mia beside her, placing a cool cloth on her forehead.
"You're awake! Solas was certain you would sleep a few more hours," she said.
Cara tried to sit up, but her body ached all over and the world spun.
"You really shouldn't try to get up. You over did it with that storm. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it."
Cara gave up on sitting, any movement made the pounding in her head worse.
"I wish I knew where it came from." She knew one skill mages had was a lightning cage, but what she had done was larger. "So what exactly happened? I remember the fight, but before that. The only thing I really remember was the bear coming at me."
"Iron Bull was the only one that could reach you in time. He knocked you out of the way while we redirected the bear's attack. All the noise brought the attention of two more, and then others that were nearby. I had no idea there were going to be so many bears in the area."
"Well, it explains why I feel like I was trampled by a dragon," she said.
Mia laughed. "I'm sure he will be happy to hear the comparison."
"So how many did we kill? I lost count at five."
"There were seven total, plus three mabari and two lyrium smugglers. They must have followed us from that last group of bandits we fought. They intended to injure us and let the bears finish us off, but your quick reflexes saved Varric and Solas." As if on cue, he entered the tent. He gave us an irritated look.
"You should be sleeping still," he said.
"A headache makes it nearly impossible," she said. He nodded sat beside her. His hand slipped under her neck, cradled the base of her skull, and sent a wave of healing magic as well as a gentle wash of ice which eased the pain. "Mmmmm, thank you, much better."
"I will leave you to rest," Mia said as she slipped out of the tent. Then the voices of the others mixed with hers. "She's awake, but needs to rest more."
Solas handed her a mug. "Drink this; it will help restore your mana as well as help you rest." He helped her sit up so she could sip the warm tea.
"Thank you."
"We will return to Haven tomorrow after you have rested."
"Again, I'm a burden rather than a help, and because of me, plans are delayed."
"No, you were very helpful. Your storm was just what was needed. Not one of us was injured thanks to the distraction it caused the bears. We would still be here healing wounded instead of you simply needing rest."
"I'm glad everyone else is ok, considering I was the one who ran straight into the mess."
"We are all fortunate. You especially, since taxing yourself to such a state is not wise. It also raises more questions. No one in this age possesses such skill or talent."
Cara sighed. Once again, she had given away more information than she wanted to. "Always with the questions, tell me, if the roles were reversed what would you do? Would you guard your secret well, or trust me?"
"Perhaps we share a similar secret. Do you not sense it?"
Cara should have known nothing she had done had changed his perception of her. Her mind raced a moment as she thought just what he was implying about himself, but then she realized he simply meant he was also Elvhen. He'd shown he had some trust in her. She thought of the dream and how humans and a wolf had trusted each other. Could she do any less with Solas?
"There is still so much I don't remember, I hadn't realized what I sensed." She chewed her lower lip. There were times she could almost sense him near before she saw him. When he was close, she was too overwhelmed to focus on anything but keeping her own feelings under control. "You're right; there is no point in denying it."
As soon as she admitted it, his aura changed. He had let his guard down, one he held as tightly around his emotions as he held on his expression. There was one less secret between them. "Ma serannas, lethallan."
Cara handed him the empty mug, handle out, but instead his fingers curled around hers. She left her hand there a moment before slowly pulling back and settled back into the bedroll. "Now what?" she asked.
"Now you rest. When we return to Haven, we will continue your training. You must learn to contain your power," he said.
"What about today? You know there will be questions."
"This can be explained away as a rare event, but you cannot continue to display such abilities without drawing attention. None but other Elvhen will sense your aura; it is up to you if you choose to mask it."
"I'm an open book to you, aren't I?"
His smile made my breath catch in my throat. "It is refreshing. A pleasing side benefit I did not expect to find when I joined." Her heart skipped a beat at his flirting.
"Sweet talker," she murmured. Had she been sitting up she might have kissed him, but the sedative in the tea had caught up with her. As she drifted off, she thought of his partial confession. It was an unexpected deviation from the game, and she began to wonder what other things would be different between them.