Dragon age: Tragic Endings, New Beginnings

Chapter fourteen: Papermoon

I'm falling down into my shadow
Grasping onto every breath
As I await the Deadly night

So scary, but you can't give into this
Fear of pumpkin carraiges
'Cause all the witches see it in your eyes

See you in your dreams, yeah, baby
Your nightmares too, that's where I'll find you

Fairy blue
It is only for you
That I would crush the stars
And put them on display
Black Paper Moon
If you really put your faith in me
When you're lost, here I am
"forever" with your soul
Waiting here above you patiently,
Just like the shining moon

A symbol rises to the surface
Of the crimson sweetness that I had submerged it deep within

Your destiny isn't so immutable
Anything that you can dream
Can also be the fate that you will have

Don't try to use deceit on me
I will not break, I won't surrender

Fairy blue
you are my everything
The reason I go on
In this captivity

Eternally
If you raise your voice and call for me
I will find you, my dear
Wherever you may be
And I will be sure to set you free from this ensnaring curse

Leliana glanced at the two men around her. Both were completely different both physically and mentally. While one was an antivan elf, the other was a royal bastard from Ferelden. Both of them were handsome, but both had different personalities.

But the one thing the two shared in common, whether they would admit it or not, they both shared the same feeling of love for a girl who was right now lying on her death bed, waiting for a cure that could save her.

Even though someone might be dying right now, Leliana could help but find it cure by the way the two were acting. They both seemed to be wanting to forget their sorrows but drowning themselves with booze. She smiled; they both were completely obvious about their feelings, but one, Leliana thought with disdain, shouldn't be showing his.

Zeveran was an assassin, and he grew up in a whore house. He had clearly said he never understood what love was, or meant. Zeveran by nature was a cruel, heartless sex maniac, with only two thoughts on his mind, who to kill next and who to tap next. He clearly seemed to love what he does.

Leliana never really liked Zeveran, but she didn't necessarily hate him either. She just didn't think Zeveran should have feelings for a woman who was clearly in love with someone else/ Leliana knew that if Sage found out about his hidden feelings things would just get awkward. Sage only loved Alistair no matter what, she only had eyes for him, Shes already shown that by fighting a navy ship, and tracking him down.

Leliana sighed, she would pray to the maker that Zeveran som,eday would move on and love another. Hopefully soon…

She looked over at the two who were to engrossed into their thoughts to noticed that she was in the room. She twitched, clearing her throat she got their attention. She gave each of them a concern look as she said. "We should plan before we dock on the island. We don't know what to expect when we land."

Zeveran took another sip from his glass while Alistair rubbed his forehead. Clearly neither of them thought they would be thinking, let alone using their brains tonight. Alistair looked up from his glass, "Leliana be truthful, are we seeking after a myth?"

Leliana sighed, she knew that question would come up sooner or later. "Alistair, Sage was so certain that the spring exists, and at this point I think we need to believe it does."

He nodded his head and sighed. "I'm sorry Leliana I just…"

Leliana gave him a sympathetic smile as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know Alistair, but we need to plan."

"Yes we should…sorry."

Leliana laughed as she removed her hand from his shoulder. "Don't apologize for nothing Alistair, you did nothing wrong." She smiled as she picked up her glass and drank from it. "The spring, since its mystical it is most likely being protected by something, if that's the case, we should be prepared.

The three sat in silence once more, contemplating what they would do when they arrived. Zeveran finished his wine and placed his empty glass on the table. "My friends I believe that if it comes down to it, two of us should fight, if we have to. And the other should make sure Sage gets to the fountain."

Alistair had a feeling that Zeveran wanted to be the one to bring her there. He wouldn't allow that. "If we do run into that problem, I'll be the one to bring her."

Zeveran was about to argue when Leliana cut him off. "I agree with Alistair, you should be the one to bring her."

Alistair through the corner of his eye, he saw Zeveran glare at him. Smiling he stood up. "Then its decided, now if you don't mind, I'm going to go check up on Sage." And with that said, he walked out of the room.

Alistair carefully opened Sage's bedroom door, and quietly walked into the room, making sure he didn't wake her. He looked down by her bed and saw Zane laying there. The mabair looked up at Alistair and whimpered at him

Alistair sighed as he crouched down to the dog and began to stroke his head. He could sympathize with the hound; he too wanted Sage to be okay. Standing up he sat down by her bedside and held her hand.

He bent his forehead down and began to pray to the maker, hoping that they weren't chasing after a fable.

Hours later Alistair had woken up, shaking his head he wondered when his mind drifted into the fade. Yawning he looked down at his lap where he found Zane's head resting on it. Smiling he placed his hand on the dogs head and began to stroke it softly.

Looking over at the bed, he found that Sage was still sleeping peacefully, he sighed as he stood up, the war dog by his feet. The two soon walked out of the room, and onto the deck. Once out there Alistair took in a deep breath of air, taking in the salt in the air, and freshness of the wind. Glancing around he felt his eyes widen as they rested upon a island in the distance.

The island was small, and covered in mountains and trees. When he looked at the island he felt a strange pull, a magical pull. This must be the island that had the springs, there was no other explanation for the magical vibe he got from it. He felt the corner of his lips twitched upward, there was his hope, this small island held the key to saving Sage, and Blood.

Turning swiftly around he ran back into Sage's cabin, and began to place his armor on. Once finished he looked down at Sage, who's eyes still yet open. Smiling he lifted her onto his back, and placed her cloak over both of them. Smiling he whispered, doubting if she heard him or not. "Sage the island, its real, well be able to save you both!" The only reaction he got out of her was a small lip twitch. He would take it as a sign that she was happy.

Walking in a fast and gentle pace, he went out to the deck and saw that he wasn't the only one getting ready. Out on the deck he saw many of Sage's men preparing the sails, and weapons. He smiled, her crew was very loyal to her, it show by how the men were getting ready. Looking up at the stirring wheel he saw both Leliana and Zeveran geared up and ready to go.

Both of the rouges wandered down to him, both looking anxiously at the approaching island. Leliana smiled brightly while Zeveran smirked smugly. "The crew is going to watch over the ship, it took some time to convince them but they finally agreed. The three of us are going on the island alone."

Alistair smirked as he turned back around to the island. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Now are you two ready? We need to be on our guard."

Both rouges smiled and nodded their heads. Zeveran crossed his arms and took another look at the island. "My friends, lets try not to make enemies while on this island, who know what lies ahead. We could met our maker if this island isn't it, no Sage would meet her maker if we have the wrong island. "

Leliana glared at him as she placed a tight grip on his shoulder. "Don't talk like that Zeveran!" She exclaimed. "This has to be the island."

Zeveran snorted and looked back at the island, "There is always room for error, my dear Leliana."

They anchored a little ways away from the island and took a small boat to shore, where they saw white sand, that held some lyrium within the grains. Zeveran was the first to bent down and examine the sand. "Oh odd to find lyrium in this small amount."

Leliana chirped brightly as she bounced up and down giddily. "This has to be a sign! It just has to be!"

Zeveran sighed as she stood up and glanced around the shore. "Its either that or were on an island that holds a lot of rouge mages. "

The group sat off into the forest, using Alistair's templar abilities they decided to seek out the point where the most was. As they walked the forest grew dense, the plant life was taking over, and the forest seemed to go on for miles. But as they made their way deeper into the woods the sounds of the forest seemed to grown quieter and hushed, till they reached a point in the forest where it was completely still and silent. Zeveran seemed to be the only one concerned about the fact that for a forest of this depth was this quiet, seemed unnerving.

Stopping he glanced around and drew out a dagger that was dipped with crow poison. Sage's life was on the line, he wasn't about to take any chances. In a hushed voice he bent over and whispered to the other. "My friends, it would seem we are not alone…"

Right as he said this, a furry of arrows flew out from all directions of the forest. Prepared Alistair drew out Duncan's shield and protected both Leliana and Sage, while Zeveran just deflected each of the arrows with the dagger he held in his other hand. He wasn't about to waste any poison on arrows.

Once the shower of arrows ended, Leliana drew out her own bow and arrow and began to shoot hers toward the top of the trees. She smiled when she heard a man cry out in pain and fall from a tree.

The group watched as five or more elves jumped down from the trees and run over to their comrade. A female elf who seemed to be younger than her friends turned towards the group. She seemed to be the same age, or younger than Sage. She had long black hair and bangs and beautiful yellow eyes. "You're going to pay for that Shem!" She hissed.

Leliana sighed, but right as she was about to respond she noticed how different these elves were from the elves she was used to. Instead of them being short, these elves were taller, most of them, the males were taller than Alistair. They didn't have makings or tan skin, instead they wore very distinguishing clothing, and had very pale skin, some, like the one who had threaten Leliana, had skin as white as snow.

These elves, just by their appearance weren't ones to mess with. Leliana took in a deep breath as she bowed before the black hair elf. "I am terribly sorry for injuring your friend, but it was only in defense, we just wanted to know who was attacking us." She finished by lifting her head up and looking at the elf directly. "We don't mean to be intruding, or trespassing, we mean no harm."

The black haired elf eyes narrowed at Leliana, as she placed her bow away. "What are you shems doing here? This placed is unknown to any outsiders. "

Leliana cleared her throat as she too placed her bow behind her back. "We know if a magical spring that can cure any aliment. " Leliana began as she moved aside to show Sage, who was draped over Alistair's back. "You see our dear friend has been shot, and we have no way of helping her."

The black hair eye's widened then narrowed, "How do you know of the Tamashii no Haru? "She glared as she placed a hand back on her bow.

Leliana back up a bit, regaining her composure, the Tamashii noHaru as they called it must be the spring. "Our friend Sage had heard of it, you see she first sought out the spring to cure her friend William, he is also in a state where we cannot cure him. Please were begging you, please let us have some of the water to cure out friends."

The black haired elf sighed and turned away from Leliana, "I will take you to our Seija, he will tell you more about the Tamashii no Haru." She said as she turned on her heels and walked away. Looking over her shoulder she called out to them "Arent you coming?" She asked coldly.

The group nodded to each other and set off and followed the elf.

When Zeveran had first seen the elf he was actually amazed by the other elf's beauty. He thought he had seen beauty when he met Sage, but in his eyes now, the elf was gorgeous. Her hair was long and silky, and her eyes were like the color of the sun. She was breath taking.

He had never felt nervous around a woman before, but being in this girls presence change his whole way of acting. He was anxious about everything she did. Would she stop and tell them to leave, would she attack them without notice? Did she even notice him, and would she ever turn around and look at him only? He had never felt himself asking these kinds of questions before.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when the girl called out to them, apparently while Zeveran was lost in his thoughts they had reached the village.

The village was unlike any dalish camp he had ever seen. Instead of living in caravans', they lived in tree houses that were connected with bridges, and branching. These were strange elves.

The black haired elf led them to a hollowed out tree where a latter greeted them. Climbing up the seemingly never ending latter that was made out of vines and bamboo, Zeveran had noticed the tree had holes in the bark that seemed like windows. Finally the latter ended and the group found themselves in a home that had bookcases blocking the walls, and rather large bed that was made out of cloth and hay, some leaves were mixed into the makeshift bed. Also there was a hand craved table with matching chairs in the middle of the room.

At the table in the middle of the room sat a beautiful female elf. She was tall and slender, with skin as translucent as the moon, with silver blond hair and blue as the sky eyes. It was strange, she looked like the black hair girl, yet the eye color and hair was different.

The older elf smiled and stood up, walking over the black haired she smiled as she placed a caste kiss on the girls forehead, the younger elf blushed in embarrassment as she back away . "Mother…" The younger elf muttered.

The older elf laughed whimsically, as she went back over to her chair. "Oh Artemis, my child, you need not to be embarrassed. " The woman closed her book and looked at the strange group of humans, and an elf. "Now who are your friends?"

Artemis glared at her mother and pointed her finger at the group. "They are NOT my friends, they were found wandering in the forest. They told me they are looking for Tamashii no Haru."

The older elf smiled brightly when she turned back towards the group. "So you are looking for the spring, may I ask what for?"

Alistair let out a breath of relief. "Thank the maker its real…" Clearing his throat he spoke clearly to the elder elf, who looked to young to be a keeper of the elves. "My, love has been shot by a gun, she is slowly dying, and we have no way to help her. We were hoping use some of the water to cure her. "

The elder elf stood up and began to walk towards Alistair. "And how may I ask did you find out about our secret?"

Alistair stood up straight as she made her way to him. "Sage, she heard about it in our home land of Ferelden, she was going to seek out the waters to heal her mentor William, he was cursed by a blood mage. Please can we use some of the waters to cure them!"

The elf eyes twinkled a bit when she looked at Sage, "You two have been tainted by blood that is dark, and yet you two are alive, but slowly dying. May I ask what is ailing both of you ?"

Alistair cleared his throat. "We are Grey Wardens, and old order that protected people from Darkspawn and the Arch-Demon. We drink the blood of the Darkspawn so we can sense them, but we will both die in thirty years, because of the taint."

The elf nodded her head and she began to circle the two. "Very noble, but yet you are willing to cut your lives so short to protect people. " She smiled, "And when I look at both of your hearts they are very pure, but filled with Sadness."

Alistair wondered if that had to do with anything. He dismissed the thought and looked at the elf as she spoke "My name is Aceso, and I am the Seija, of these elves. I am also the guardian of the fountain. " She smiled and looked back over at the Artemis. " I believe they will be allowed to travel to the fountain, but Artemis I want you to go with them. "

"But mother!-"

Aceso shook her head and held up a hand to silence her. "No, they are pure of heart, I believe the gods will allow them to take the test."

Leliana had caught her sentence unlike Alistair and Zeveran. "What do you mean by test?"

Aceso turned to the bard and smiled peacefully at the red head, "The gods will place judgment on those who seek the powers of the Tamashii No Haru, it is to make sure they will not use the fountain for evil. "

Leliana looked at her perplexed, "But why though? Isnt the spring only used to heal. "

Aceso turned around, placing her hands behind her back she gazed out the window, towards a rather large mountain in the distance. "The spring when used will not only reverse the wound but it will also reverse the person's age as well…"