Dragon Age Abomination's Origin

by raw666

This is what happens when only a demon hears a girl cry and that ancient Desire Demon wants fusion, instead of possession. Read as this abomination mage changes the Dragon Age universe forever as the War and Blight threaten not only the mortal world, but also fade as well from the Archdemon. Abomination/Leliana Shianni/Alistair OC/Zevran Morrigan/Secret. Rewrite Complete

21. Chapter 21: Denerim, city of the Selfish

Dragon Age: Abomination's Origins

Chapter 21: Denerim, City of the Selfish

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age. Now that is taken care of, review or feel Aveline's wrath.

Beta Reader: Albert

Last Update: 10/24/2014

Scene I

It had been a long nine days for the Grey Wardens' group. It started with Alistair thanking Aveline and the others for helping him save Eamon's family. He owed Eamon a lot for taking care of him when he was a young lad. After giving his thanks, the group stopped by the village to pick up some last minute quests from the Mage's Collective, Chanters Board, and the Black Stone Irregulars. All but the last group had new missions at the time as they left the village, with Aveline ridding in the back of the carven until her leg was fully healed while catching up on her sleep using her special sleeping potion. It proved to be pointless, as the Archdemon had not shown up for quite some time. She was tempted to stop taking the drug, but she was not ready to risk it, at least not yet, so she kept on her meds.

As Aveline road in the back, the rest of the group methodically completed the missions for the Chantry, mostly checking on refugees that were late and determining if they were all right. They found most were detained by darkspawn attacks but they would live to see another day thanks to them. A few had been killed off by the darkspawn and the group took great pleasure in wiping out any stragglers that lingered among the corpses.

They also had two more missions from the Chanter's Board. The first was to locate a lost journal of a knight, who had died in battle against Loghain's forces. The second was to report the result of Bannorn's fight to keep his land out of the hands of Loghain/Howe's forces. The battle had been short for Loghain/Howe's forces were half as strong as the Bannorn's force and were clustered together in tight groups, allowing Leliana, Shianni and Morrigan to easily dispatch the remaining fighters from a distance away.

They also had the chance to complete a mission for the Mage's Collective while walking on the road. They found the location of one of their own operatives that has gone missing. Unfortunately, the operative was killed by an abomination, which they quickly dispatched before grabbing the mage's journal and the operative's ring. Overall, these events added two extra days to their one-week travel time, but it was well worth it for all the gold they would collect for completing these missions.

While on the road, Eleanor began telling the group about herself. How she grew up as a tomboy rather than trained as a noblewoman. She had always been more interested in handling a bow and sword then playing with dolls or looking pretty to attract lord such and such. In fact, it was the battlefield where she met her future husband Bryce Cousland. She told them many war stories and to the delight of most of the group, embarrassing tales on members of her family. Like the time Aveline was reprimanded by her teacher for sleeping in his class. She argued he was too boring and that she should have a mentor that could actually teach.

Eleanor also tried to use the time to reconnect with her distant, yet caring, adopted daughter Aveline. Although the reconnection was resulting in mostly a positive experience for the two, Aveline remained somewhat distant including details about her past. Eleanor explained that while on business her husband had found Aveline near the Jade Empire territory, to the east. She did not go into much detail as she said her husband was tight lipped about the circumstances and only said that Aveline needed help.

So, after nine days of travel, they made it to Denerim, a place of news and power, for it was the capital of Ferelden. The city was protected by a huge fort stories high, and walls that you could see miles away. Just inside the fortified front gates was a huge market district where a large number of merchants were hawking their merchandise from little tents or inside a few buildings within the district. These buildings were mainly used by two kinds businesses. Merchants that made their own goods, like Wade's Imperium, run by an emotionally stressed blacksmith; and those that sold expensive items or sold a huge amount of regularly shipped merchandise, like the Circle of Magi's Wonders of Thedas, which were often run by the tranquil.

However, it was not just the stores that made up the market district that mad it distinctive, but also the many other sights that gave it a homey robust view. One such sight was a huge Chantry that normally opened from dawn to dust, but was currently closed due to holding the funerals of soldiers lost in Ostagar, giving a sobered view for all those that came near it. The second was a huge tavern called the Gnawed Noble Tavern, a place where the nobility came to see "Who is the most pompous of them all," or that is how Eleanor, Aveline, and Alistair felt when they entered. Perhaps most importantly, the market was a place where all the legal and illegal mercenaries and guilds met. Groups that included the Black Stone Irregulars, the Mage's Collective, and the Chanter's Board were all congregated there, giving out jobs to those who know where to look.

It was a busy and bustling city, which they had absorbed in for a few minutes before the Warden group went to work. Bodahn took the horses and wagons to a stable while Leliana immediately wanted to hunt for Marjolaine. Almost in unison, the others disagreed that this was the time to hunt and kill Marjolaine.

In fact, Aveline was the one to point out the folly of the plan, "Marjolaine probably has set some sort of trap which we must plan to address. So let us deal with a few things in the market district, like Alistair's sister and Genitivi while you and Zevran scout out the location of Marjolaine and look around for possible traps and ambushes."

Leliana agreed as she and Zevran disappeared to the back alleyways and towards Marjolaine's hideout while the group went to Genitivi's house, only to find it locked and empty. Seeing Genitivi was not there, they decided to hit the Chantry for news. They talked to the chantry's curator, who was worried that the many relics in the Chantry were indeed genuine, while off to the right an old bat of a priest was singing the wrong version of the Chant of Light. She changed some of the words into food, like breast, ham, and roast. All the while, the curator droned on about relics for such a long time, Aveline decided that they had wasted enough time and now needed her to provide them with some useful information.

"We are sorry to hear that, but can you tell us where Genitivi is?"

"I don't know," the young female curator answered Aveline. "I do know his assistant Weylon left a few days ago and will return soon. I hope Genitivi's research bears fruit. I know the Ashes could very well be real, with all the research I have done they look to be the real thing."

"Thank you," Aveline stated before turning towards the group. "Looks like we will be here for a couple of days."

"Well, since we're here, can we visit my sister now?" Alistair asked hopefully.

"Yes, we'll make a stop before meeting up with Leliana," Aveline told Alistair, who smiled back at Aveline as he led them deeper into the market to his sister's house.

Scene II

Deep within the market, stood a broken down shack among buildings and tents, used primary for laundry services by the looks of it. It was Alistair's sister home and he stood outside nervously moving back and forth to klep from developing cold feet. He realized he could not do it alone, so he begged the others to come in with him. It did not take long for Shianni, Aveline and the others to agree out of interest or just to shut him up and they headed into the small shack.

Once inside, Alistair nervously called out, "Err… Hello?"

"Eh?" a redhead woman greeted Alistair. "You have linens to wash? I charge three bits on the bundle, you won't find better. And don't trust what that Natalia woman tells you either, she's foreign and she'll rob you blind."

"No, not exactly, um look… this may sound sort of strange. Are you Goldanna? If so, then-" Alistair started off, but Aveline cut him off.

"We actually were hoping that you take care of our bedrolls as well as our clothing," Aveline quickly stated as her eyes shift from a deep glow that seemed to examine the woman intently.

"What are you doing?" Alistair quietly asked.

"Preventing you from looking like a fool… as we can sense she is not your sister," Aveline quietly mumbled.

"Well, I can do bedrolls, but I charged per item rather than by the bundle. Bedrolls are harder to clean then even fancy clothing. They are wool and sometimes leather that I have to deal with," Goldanna explained.

"That's fine, Sten can you gather all our dirty clothing and bedrolls from the caravan?" Aveline asked the large qunari who looked cross.

"It shall be done Kadan," Sten acknowledge before going to retrieve their laundry.

"Thank you Sten," Aveline nodded to the giant before turning around to face Goldanna. "Mind if we talk while Sten comes back with the bundles."

"Um… sure but no tomfoolery while you're here!" Goldanna yelled at the small group.

"Don't need or plan too," Aveline stated, as she could not imagine what there was in the small house to be 'tomfoolery' about.

A quick glance can tell you that the family was poor. The house was very small and rundown with signs that too many people lived under one roof. Especially with only one bedroom holding seven bedrolls, and a main room that held not only a small kitchen but also a dining table supporting seven chairs with two additional chairs propped up against the wall. Overall, a common home of a family that barely makes ends meet. No one except the most desperate or deprive would mess or steal from them.

The house had little to spark one's interest but gave the group an excuse to move around and talk very quietly. "Aveline," Shianni whispered, "What do you mean she is not Alistair's sister?"

"We mean what we said," Aveline answered quietly. "She has no ties to Alistair, biological or otherwise."

"How can you tell?" Alistair asked in a quiet demanding voice, not sure that he wanted to believe Aveline.

"For one, her physical characteristics are so different from yours. Unlike your half brother, you two look nothing alike," Aveline explained. Aveline spoke the truth.

Goldanna was a short redhead woman with dark green eyes, had a dark complexion that was paled by constantly being indoors, and she had a pie-shaped face with thin cheekbones and a weak chin. While Alistair was a tall dirty blond, with brown eyes, light tanned skinned. He also had a very thin angular face and sturdy chin, very different in appearance. Obviously, Alistair's traits came from both sides, especially since Cailan was also a tall blond with pale skin, and a distinctly sturdy chin to go with his bony face and blue eyes. It was apparent that Cailan was related to Alistair while Goldanna did not appear to be.

"Well, maybe she got her looks from her father's family," Alistair tried to make an excuse.

"Alistair," Aveline sighed. "The second and more powerful reason is that she hasn't a single drop of elven blood while you Alistair are a first generation elf slash human hybrid. That is why you resemble a human more than other half-breeds do. Most people do not realize such half-breeds are rare and result only from the mating of hybrids or a hybrid and an elf."

"Are you so sure?" Alistair asked, still hopping desperately that Goldanna was his sister, for if that was a lie, then everything he thought he knew about heritage, except possibly his father was a lie too.

"Unlike what the Chantry tries to make people believe, blood magic is not always evil," Aveline had explained to the group. "The Tevinter Imperium has used it for healing or as the basis for developing new healing techniques. One particular technique derived from blood magic was used to identify infections within the blood of a specific person. It could also be used to have a feel of the genealogy of the person you're sensing."

"You use blood magic?" Wynne asked, voicing her concerns as well as the concerns of other members in the group.

"In context, no, otherwise all healing spells would be illegal. Besides, we rarely, if ever use the darker blood magic that the Circle and the Chantry forbid. What this technique involves draws on the specific person's mana found saturating the air around them to perceive a person's genetic makeup or as you called it, bloodlines. That is how we and the Imperium can tell if a person is sick or tainted, what race they are, and what are the blood ties linking a person to others," Aveline explained to calm Wynne down.

"If you are sure that Goldanna is not my sister, than this may not belong to me and I should return this," Alistair stated while holding up an amulet, one that Aveline and Wynne immediately recognized.

Aveline shook her head, "We don't believe that belongs to Goldanna's mother. We recognize it and we are telling you that is most likely your mother's amulet, not hers."

"Maybe your right, but I still need to know for sure," Alistair stated.

"A word of warning," Aveline's mother Eleanor stated to advise Alistair. "She is very poor and may lie about her mother owning any jewelry. Once you give it to her, she may just to sell it on the street. I've seen servants do this from time to time, mostly low paid servants." Eleanor mumbled the last part.

"You really think she would?" Alistair asked in shock.

"Alistair, I can speak from experience, she is very poor, and of course she would do something like that. Plus, I don't want to accuse her of anything, but she gives off a vibe that suggests she is a gold digging harlot," Shianni explained as she glared at the woman who was eyeing Alistair like a piece of meat.

"Then what do you recommend I do?" Alistair asked.

"Just ask about it subtly and I will help you with that," Shianni suggested to her lover.

Alistair nodded and went to talk to Goldanna with Shianni while Aveline and the group stayed behind to talk. "So, what is so special about that amulet that got you two slack jawed?" Morrigan asked.

Aveline sighed as she pulled out a single gold and silver ring. It was an enchanted ring, she had found in the Tower of Magi. It had the same carved holly symbol of Andraste found on Alistair's amulet. Eleanor was the first to connect the two symbols with what Aveline meant, "Alistair's mother was a mage."

"Not just any mage," Aveline corrected while ushering Wynne to continue.

"The Ring of Power was given to the Mages in Lake Calenhad of Ferelden," Wynne explained. "The Holly Amulet of Defense was given to the Mages in Monsimmard of Orlais."

There was silence as Eleanor stated what everyone thought, "Dear maker, now everything fits into place. For its one thing to discover that King Maric had a relationship with an elf. It is another to find out she was an Orlesian elven mage. It could destroy Maric's image to much of the nobility. No wonder they developed elaborate schemes to keep it a secret. Even if it meant that the child must be lied too and hide him in plain sight."

Aveline nodded in agreement as she mumbled, "We sure hope Arl Eamon is ready to deal with a young man who will not take kindly that he was lied to for so many years."

Scene III

It was not long before the group had moved outside the little house, with Alistair obviously becoming very angry. He discovered Goldanna had absolutely no connection to him, but she was also a harlot who cared little for her dead mother and indeed would do anything for money. It was lucky for her that Sten returned when he did, as Alistair was about to blow his top from Goldanna's ranting about her life and her lack of concern about anyone or anything. Once they paid half for her services, they left for Gnawed Noble Tavern to some rooms they acquired for the night. Once they were alone and after Alistair had calmed down, Aveline and Wynne explained their theory to Alistair. He was thoroughly stunned to hear their belief about his true heritage.

"Why would Arl Eamon lie to me about my mother?" Alistair asked in a begging tone.

"Alistair, humans are selfish creatures and Eamon is no different," Aveline explained. "Maybe not to the level as Goldanna, but he is selfish when it comes to his country. He wanted to protect Maric's image and prevent any civil unrest that may harm Ferelden. He is looking out for his best interest, which is tied to Radcliffe and Ferelden's interest. Perhaps that is something you should consider doing too."

"You think I should be selfish too?" Alistair asked.

"Alistair, you need to look out for yourself," Shianni told Alistair bluntly before Aveline could mutter a word. "You can't save anyone if you can't save yourself first. Otherwise, you could die and nothing will change for the better. I want you to think for yourself and do what you want, instead of what others want."

Alistair nodded as he silently mumbled, "I'll need to think this over."

"We'll, since you are thinking it over, why don't you and Shianni stay here with Shale. Our resident golem seems quite happy scaring the maids and waitress found in this tavern," Aveline stated as Morrigan watched in amusement as Shale emitted a low growl to scare any passerby that came close.

Shianni nodded as Aveline's group left the tavern. They left Alistair to think about his future, Ranger to wander around looking for any stray tasty morsels, and Shale to glower menacingly at all the maids. Shianni stayed at the Alistair's side silently comforting him, while the others moved to help Leliana with her clash against Marjolaine, hopping Leliana did not do anything rash in her anger towards her ex-mentor.

Scene IV

It did not take long for the group to arrive at Marjolaine's hideout to find it was still intact. The building was small and seemingly indistinguishable building from the many other buildings on the dock, and left alone by the human and elf that were tempted to burn it to the ground. However, Leliana patience won out as she and Zevran stalked the build from the shadows before calling over the group once the two rogues spotted them.

Once they the group was at their side, Aveline asked Leliana, "What are we dealing with?"

"Take a look," Leliana stated while handling Aveline a handheld spyglass.

Looking through the spyglass, Aveline noticed that the front was protected by two chevaliers, heavily armored knights from Orlais, all armed to the teeth. They were lined up perfectly to be snipe by an archer through the windows.

Aveline felt it was suspicious so she asked, "Any explosive traps found?"

"No," Leliana answered Aveline. "But when Zevran and I scouted the place and we found at least two more chevaliers, in addition to two apostate mages. Knowing Marjolaine, those two men are probably pawns she used to determine the enemy's strength. After they die, she is going to talk to us before sending her men to deal with us. She also knows we are here. She must have noticed Zevran or me scouting the place but she hasn't run out the back entrance. She is probably hopping I am coming in the front. That is probably her plan to kill me."

"Well, let's not disappoint her," Aveline said with a slight smirk. She then ordered Zevran, Morrigan, and Sten to hit the back to make sure Marjolaine did not escape.

The trio nodded and quietly made their way towards the back of the building. While the trio slipped around to the back, Eleanor and Leliana lined up their shots on the knights before letting their arrows go. The armored knights only had the warning of broken glass before the arrow lodged into their throats as they fell to the ground, suffocating from their own blood. As the knights fell, Aveline's group had rushed into building and reached the main room just as the knights drew their last breathe. Once they were all gathered in the room, Leliana took point and opened a second door that led to the main room of the building. Leliana quickly raised her bow when she spied Marjolaine waiting to greet them.

"Leliana! So lovely to see you again, my dear," Marjolaine said with a wide smile. She stood in a room with a backdrop of her stolen collection of art and books whose bindings glittered.

A show casing to make the opponent get distracted from the woman, but Aveline was not distracted. Instead, Aveline took the time to critically examined Marjolaine. Marjolaine was nothing short of beautiful, with her wavy brown hair and sleek, elegant, gold noblewoman clothing. She was a beautiful, yet deadly flower, with her golden daggers on her waistband and her personal Dragon Thorn Long Bow on her back. A long bow that was her deadliest weapon with ruins carved into it to increase its strength and the damage of arrows, while increasing the user's aim, willpower, and cunning.

Most would be intimidated, but Leliana was not intimidated or willing to talk friendly when she snarled, "Spare me the pleasantries. I know you're-"

Not wanting to hear the rant, Marjolaine interrupted Leliana to change subjects, "Oh, you must excuse the shabby accommodations… I try to be a good host, but you see what I have to work with? This country smells like a wet dog everywhere. I cannot get the smell out. Even now it is in my hair, my clothes… ugh."

Aveline notice that as Marjolaine talked, she had subtlety looked at the door at the left that led to the kitchen/exit, and at the door to the right that led to her bedroom. So, Aveline decided to get to business while Leliana lowered her bow and arrow.

"Why did you send those assassins after Leliana?" Aveline bluntly asked.

"So business-like, your companion is, not at all in the manner that I thought an abomination should act," Marjolaine commented but Leliana wanted to get straight to the point.

"You framed me, had me caught and tortured. I thought that in Ferelden, I would be free of you, but it seems I am not. What happened to make you hate me so? Why do you want me dead?"

"Dead?" Marjolaine asked in mocked shock. "Nonsense, I know you, my Leliana. I know what you are capable of. Four, five men… you can dispatch easily. They were just sent to give you cause to come to me, and see, here you are."

Leliana was not convinced as she growled, "Stop toying with us. What are you up to, Marjolaine? Why are you in Ferelden?"

"In truth. You have knowledge that you can use against me. For my own safety, I cannot let you be," Marjolaine admitted before asking questions that reveal a completely new level of paranoia. "Did you think I did not know where you were? Did you think I would not watch my Leliana? 'What is she up to?' I thought. 'The quiet life, the peasant clothes, hair ragged and messy like a boy, unlike the braid and combed hair she used to wear… this is not her,' I concluded.

"You were planning something,' I told myself. So I watched… but no letters were sent, no messages, you barely spoke to anyone. Clever, Leliana, very clever. You almost had me fooled, but then you left the Chantry to join this group so suddenly. And not just to anyone, but to team up with Aveline the Black Demon. A woman that had personally killed off so many of my own clients and contacts found within Thedas. So what conclusion should I draw? You tell me."

"You think I left because of you? You think I had some plan for revenge. You are insane! Paranoid!" Leliana accused Marjolaine.

"Not everything is about you, Marjolaine. We didn't know any of the men that we killed were connected to you. And Leliana is more concerned about the Blight then killing you," Aveline explained.

"Oh, is that what you think?" Marjolaine asked. "You may have spoken the truth about yourself, but if I were you, I would believe nothing she says, not one word. She will use you. You look at her and you see a simple girl-a friend, trusting and warm. It is an act."

"I am not you, Marjolaine," Leliana argued. "I left because I didn't want to become you."

"Ah, but you are me," Marjolaine countered Leliana's argument, "you cannot escape it. No one will understand you the way I do, because we are one and the same." Marjolaine smile grew even wider as she continue to rant, "Do you know why you were a master manipulator, Leliana? It is because you enjoy the game; you revel in the power it gives you."

"We trust Leliana, no matter what you say," Aveline countered.

"Thank you," Leliana said while she gave a small tear of happiness before turning too Marjolaine. "You will not threaten me or my friends again, Marjolaine. I want you out of my life, forever."

"She won't stop chasing you if you let her live," Aveline advised Leliana. "And you cannot let her get away for all the crimes she committed against you and many others."

Leliana hesitated for moment, before she readily agreed with Aveline, "You've caused too much pain for too many, Marjolaine. It ends here!"

"And you think you can kill me like that?" Marjolaine asked mockingly. "I made you Leliana. I can destroy you just as easily."

"Let's see you try!" Leliana yelled before she stretched her arrow back and then let it lose, and the battle had begun.

It started with Marjolaine evading Leliana's arrow before charging at her. The two other doors opened to reveal a chevalier and an apostate in each room. However, the ones coming from the kitchen were soon dispatched by Zevran getting the drop on the apostate, while Morrigan in her bear form, teamed up with Sten to take care of the armored knight. After a few bashing/slashing moves, the knight was eventually killed by Morrigan swatting the man into Sten's sword.

The second apostate mage was dispatched by Aveline with her spell Mana Clash, while the second armored knight was being pinned down by Eleanor's arrows and Wynne's water and plant spells. Eleanor and Wynne were not doing much damage against the man's armor and shield. However, it did not matter in the long run as Sten moved in for the kill.

Back with the fight between Marjolaine and Leliana, Leliana soon found herself on the defensive with her bow being a shield against Marjolaine's daggers. The fight continued for a few minutes until Marjolaine caught the bow within her two daggers and then, snapped the bow into pieces. Leliana watched in silent shock and horror as her broken bow splintered in front of her eyes as it slowly slipped from her fingers. Marjolaine used Leliana's shocked state to punch the young woman in the face before she delivered a kicked in her stomach. Leliana fell to the ground, doubled over in pain as Marjolaine stood over with a mocking smile. Marjolaine was about to strike Leliana down, when Aveline used Slam, to send Marjolaine flying into a nearby wall.

Marjolaine quickly recovered and closed in to strike at Aveline at speeds Aveline barely kept up. So fast, Aveline was barely able to hold her off with her swords as Marjolaine proved to be an expert duelist. She quickly got under a novice's guard and ready to strike a lethal blow against Aveline, but luck was with the mage. With quick reflexes, Aveline hit Marjolaine with an overpower Typhoon Wind to send Marjolaine tumbling away from her to allow her to regroup.

Marjolaine then rolled to her feet to engaged Zevran. He came out of the shadows to strike Marjolaine down but soon found himself in a duel with the woman that trained Leliana. Unlike Aveline, Zevran was an expert duelist and made Marjolaine sweat as they fought as the two danced to the beat of the clang in their blades. The two dueled at a pace that it became impossible for Zevran's companions to provide a helping hand to the crow turned ally. He was on his own and so they moved away from the duelists as the two never stayed in one spot and never separated. They evenly matched each other strike for block, block for strike, dodge for sweep, and sweep for doge.

As the two dueled, Marjolaine noticed his footwork and concluded how to win this duel. It took her awhile to realize Zevran was a power user when it comes to attack. A power user keeps their feet on the ground for most of fight when it comes to standard strikes and defense to parry off attacks. They also know to give a leap dash for their powerful attacks to create maximum damage.

Zevran hide it well, but once Marjolaine saw it, she proceeded to take advantage of Zevran's style. So when he tried to dash, she fell to the ground, kicked his feet from under him, sending him tumbling to the ground. As he fell down, Marjolaine brought her blades together, and slashed Zevran through his leather armor. It created deeps wounds on his chest and legs that made him cry out in pain as he fell to the ground. Zevran was soon out of the fight, and he now had to pray that someone would save him.

His prays were answered and Marjolaine's victory was short lived, as Morrigan used Pull spell to pull the woman towards Morrigan in her human form. The Pull spell brought Marjolaine in close. Once Marjolaine was in range, Morrigan unleash a storm of lightening onto the woman. Marjolaine screamed in pain, but quickly recovered to strike at Morrigan's hand that gripped her staff. Morrigan screamed as she let go of her staff and lost concentration on the spell, leaving her at Marjolaine mercy.

Marjolaine grabbed Morrigan and held her in place, planning to slit her throat when she felt a blade dug deep into her back. She turned her head to see she was struck by a pissed Leliana, with her two daggers pushed into the order woman's body as far as the blade could go. Satisfied the older bard got the point; Leliana pulled out one of the daggers out of Marjolaine's back. She held it up to her throat as Morrigan escaped from Marjolaine's gripped as the young mage backed away.

There was a piercing silence as everyone watched to see what Leliana would do. Only the sound of the last knight being beheaded by Sten broke the silence. Marjolaine weakly turned her head slightly to look Leliana in eye to give Leliana a small smile as she coughed out, "I guess (cough) dying this way (cough) isn't so bad (cough), aye my sweet Leliana (cough)."

Those would be Marjolaine's last words as Leliana slit the woman's throat. The master had died in the apprentice's hands, leaving only a corpse that Leliana had slowly let go as it slid onto the ground. Time seem to stop as the group quietly checked on each other as Leliana stood over Marjolaine's lifeless body in shock. Aveline approached Leliana as she used Group Heal to heal most of the group's injuries while Wynne treated Zevran's wounds that were more serious.

As Aveline walked over to Leliana, Leliana began mumbling, "She's dead. She's dead because of me." Aveline quietly wrapped her arms around Leliana to give a quite comfort as she continued to mumble, "I need some time to think, away from all this."

Aveline nodded and bent down to pick up Marjolaine's bow before handing it to Leliana. "Here, take this. You need it more than a dead woman." Leliana nodded and hugged the bow before Aveline told Leliana what to do, "Rest at the Gnawed Noble Tavern marked on the map. We will talk there, later when you are ready."

Leliana nodded numbly and walked out of the building before frantically running towards the Market District. Once Leliana was out of sight, Aveline turned to the group to bark out some orders, "Take anything of value to make it look like a robbery. Once done, burn the house and the corpses. We don't want even the blood stains to show evidence that we or that woman, Marjolaine was ever here!"

The others quickly responded and summarily went to work while Aveline stared in the direction of the fleeing Leliana.

Scene V

Much to Leliana's relief, it was mostly quiet in Gnawed Noble's Tavern. When she arrived, she heard Alistair talking to Shianni about how Aveline and Shianni were right about the need to take charge of his life and start thinking about what he wanted and not let others control it. Shianni was so happy to hear the declaration that she rewards him with a kiss that caused them both to blush like schoolgirls. Now, Leliana began to giggle at the display, having done similar and sometimes more passionate things in public when the situation required it.

However, she stopped when the couple got even more passionate, and went into their room for privacy. She thanked everything holly that the walls were so thick to hold back most of the sound of their passionate relationship. Of course, she also cursed everything else for not making the wall next to her thick enough to prevent her from hearing the loud moan of their orgasms or Shianni's screaming out Alistair's name. The sounds went on once for an hour or two. Very impressive, especially as Shianni admitted she was a virgin and Alistair was definitely a virgin as he grew-up in a monastery, and there were no women in the Wardens until Aveline and Shianni joined.

Once the lovers were done with each other's first time experience, Leliana took the time to think in silence. Going over her confrontation with Marjolaine, she could not believe how much of a fool she was for not realizing that Marjolaine was using her. She was a tool to be thrown away when she became too independent or useless to Marjolaine's needs. She actually let a tear roll down her cheek as she realized the signs were always there but she had ignored them.

As she ignored the outside world while deep in thought, she didn't notice someone walk in to the room and wrap her arms around her. "Are you alright Leliana?" The stoic yet gentle voice of Aveline Wolf Oracle asked the troubled girl.

Leliana looked into Aveline silted eyes to see something different. They were not eyes filled with wisdom beyond human understanding, but rather eyes filled with so much concern that Leliana did not have the heart to lie to, "I'm will be fine, I was just thinking."

"About what?" Aveline asked quietly.

"That she never really trusted me," Leliana admitted before she explained her fears to Aveline, about how Marjolaine was just using her and may never have trusted her. "It… It hurts to realize that I never really knew her," Leliana almost cried when she spoke those finale words.

"Maybe you did but didn't want to admit it," Aveline suggested to Leliana.

"I knew she was ruthless, but I didn't know how far she would go," Leliana explained herself. "She was self-serving, cruel… she used people, then discarded them, but that's how she survived in the life she led." Leliana then stammered, "W-what if she's right. What if we're the same, I… I should just have stayed in the Chantry."

"She would have attacked you there eventually," Aveline had pointed out.

"Maybe, but that is not the point. I was a different person there," Leliana stated. "I forgot my life as a bard while I was in the cloister. I felt safe. I didn't have to watch my back all the time. Suspicion is what made Marjolaine the person she was. Don't you see? It ruined her; it will ruin me too. It's already happened. When I killed her, I… I enjoyed it. Seeing her dead gave me satisfaction."

"Leliana, you're only human. Don't punish yourself," Aveline told Leliana.

"But that is no reason to rejoice over her death. That is what she would do and I don't want that," Leliana continue to explain. "What we're doing… what we've done, hunted men down, killed them, and part of me loves it. It invigorates me and this scares me. I… I feel myself slipping."

"You're not slipping," Aveline started, making Leliana believe that she was comforting her while keeping her on the path of light. Leliana would be shocked when Aveline took another path, "This is who you are. You're not someone that stands by and allows injustice to escape. You're not someone who will allow others to fight your battles. You believe that 'Some people deserve to be assassinated,' as Zevran would say. You understand that sometimes it takes the art of a spy as well as a bard to win the day. Don't deny it, embrace it, and never lose what you believe is right, for that is all we can do in the end."

Leliana was quiet throughout the whole conversation, asking herself if Aveline was right. She tried to deny it at first that she went to the Chantry for peace. However, she realized that was a lie. She did not find peace at the Chantry. All she found was boredom. In fact, being on the road with Aveline had made her feel more alive than spending an eternity hiding in the Chantry.

Aveline sensed it as she gave Leliana one final push, "You know we are right, this is what you are and where you belong."

Leliana at this point did not need any more convincing, "You're right. The world was made beautiful, but it was also made to be dangerous. To really experience it, I have to embrace this, not… not hide away in some nunnery."

"We're glad you realize this," Aveline stated with a smile.

"Sometimes it takes another to show us the truths we hide from ourselves," Leliana stated. "You know, when I was given that vision, I didn't know where it would lead me. But faith has rewarded me, I found you."

"We're glad your path led you here too," Aveline stated with a small smile.

"You don't know how it makes me feel to hear you say that," Leliana smiled. "But now it's getting late. I think I might turn in early. I can't help thinking about how soft and warm my bed is. You're welcome to join me, of course. Andraste says we must share our blessings."

"Well, when someone as beautiful as you state that, no man or woman can deny such a request," Aveline stated, while silently putting up a silence spell.

"Good, now come with me, before I lose my patience," Leliana had ordered Aveline.

The two soon joined in passion, all the while, Leliana thanked everything that was holly for a silence spells.

Scene VI

Silence prevailed as Aveline lay in bed with Leliana in her arms. Earlier, after their passion played out and exhaustion took Leliana, Aveline took the time to explain what else had transpired that day. She explained how the group spent the day collecting gold for an odd job and finishing two other jobs given to them by the various guilds. One was notifying various apprentices around the market that their apprenticeship was terminated by the Circle of Mag. The second was breaking the news to the two widows that their husbands would not return home. After the money was collected, it was decided as a group, Alistair was forbidden to give bad news since he seemed too often to get hurt relaying bad news.

It brought a smile hearing Aveline tell jokes and her adventures until Leliana just could not stay away. She quietly went to sleep embraced by her lover. A lover that began to comb Leliana's hair while she slept, thinking back to when her mother confronted her with such a gesture, and to the burning of Marjolaine's body.

Flashback

Aveline watched in controlled glee as all that remained of Marjolaine was a pile of burning ash. She was so enamored by the fire that she did not notice Eleanor until she was right behind her. "Yes mother?" Aveline asked.

"Why did you manipulate Leliana to kill Marjolaine?" Eleanor asked, obviously a certain old lady blabbed to the old middle age woman. "You knew this would harm her. So why make that sweet girl go through it?"

Aveline sighed before stating, "People like Marjolaine allow their greed and fear to rule them. She would never leave Leliana alone, and we wanted Leliana to realize this and not be afraid to eliminate such a threat when she faced it."

"And so you planned it, to have a fight break out and then have Leliana kill Marjolaine after confessing why she went after her," Eleanor accused Aveline.

"Yes, except the part about Leliana killing Marjolaine," Aveline admitted. "We actually planned that either us or someone else perform the killing blow to lessen the pain. But not all plans go exactly the way we wanted. But in the end, it doesn't matter. She will get over Marjolaine's death and be what she is, and we get what we wanted, Marjolaine dead."

Aveline expected many things from her mother after that answer, and she was not disappointed when she was slapped hard enough to leave a red mark. "How could you?" Eleanor asked. "How could you be so casually talk about manipulating that poor girl to kill her former master?"

Aveline sighed before answering, "Do you know why there have been very few fusions between human, spirits, demons and gods?" Aveline asked and Eleanor shook her head 'no.' "It is because that while it combines the best between entities, it also combines the worst. We are a very caring creature that would do things for the sake of all life, but we are also a cold heartless bitch that conspires to destroy empires for the sake of progress of all life. You may not like this, but if we have to manipulate our comrades to protect them, to destroy a city to save Ferelden, or even if we have to burn Ferelden for the sake of all Thedas, we would do it without hesitation, without fear, and without a care. For we are what we are meant to be, a hero and sometimes a villain."

Eleanor was angry, so angry she bluntly asked, "Are you so selfish that you took away Leliana's chance to make a decision for herself?"

"You misunderstand us," Aveline stated to Eleanor. "She always had a choice. True, we planned to kill Marjolaine today, but Leliana chose to listen to us when we advised her to kill Marjolaine. If she let her go, we would have probably killed her later in secret had she escaped." Aveline then smiled. "We are willing to do anything to protect you, but we also always respect one's choice."

Eleanor looked at her daughter in shock. "So you're selfless when it comes to free will."

"No," Aveline answered Eleanor quickly. "We just believe everyone should have a right to chose, even if it would be better to make the choice for them." Eleanor was silent as Aveline watched Marjolaine's bones turned to ash.

End Flashback

As Aveline combed Leliana's hair, Aveline silently whispered, "We will always protect you, our sweet Leliana."

However, she forgot one simple question when she said this. Who protects the protector from the darkest of men?

Please review so my reading population will understand Aveline's adventures. Also, review if you want to offer a remake similar to note six or something funny, or opinion on whether a quest should be cut or added for the Grey Wardens to do in Denerim. I plan to have the Crime Wave and the Trial Crows Missions added at some point but eliminated were the Last Request and Favors for Certain Interested Parties. The others are still up in the air, so remember, your review matters.

Author Notes

1) I need an excuse for the Grey Warden group to stay in Denerim for a couple of days to do some missions that effect the party and there long term missions. So I created the problem of Genitivi's 'assistant' not being available at the moment but she would return in a couple of days.

2) I didn't want Marjolaine's hideout to be so close to the entrance of the city for I felt that would be too convenient. So, I decided to put it closer inside the city, near the river, that way if Marjolaine thinks she was too exposed, she could retreat into the city until things quieted down, perhaps fleeing by ship.

3) I always had trouble accepting that Goldanna was Alistair's half sister, and not just because of her attitude. In Dragon Age, they implied she was sent away to keep quiet about Maric's bastard child. However, if that was the case, why not keep her in Redcliffe and well paid so she is less inclined to tell everyone Maric has a bastard child. Heck, there is even the option of just making her disappear, but they didn't.

Thanks to the books with twitter confirming Fiona is Alistair's mother, I now believe Goldanna's mother was used to hide the fact Alistair is the child of a Grey Warden Orlesian mage. Goldanna was used as a cover if Alistair ever took the throne. It also explained Loghain's comment of putting an Orlesian puppet on the throne. Of course, this is just a theory that can be proven or disproven easily, but I am going to run with that theory for I like it.

4) Aveline's Bloodline technique is an old skill with several weaknesses: she needs to be relaxed to use it, can only concentrate on one person at a time, and there mustn't be a bloodletting or magical battle in the area within days. So she can't use it as a scouting technique.

5) I never understood why or how Marjolaine had qunari guards and unchained mages part of her security, so I replace them with chevaliers and apostate mages.

6) I am not going to write Lemons at this time for I am not sure my story needs it and the chapter is long enough as it is. However, if anyone wants to try for Shianni and Alistair or Aveline and Leliana, they are welcome too and if I like it, I will post as an omake in one of the following chapters.

7) Aveline by no means is good. She wishes for things like freedom and a brighter future. However, she is not afraid to walk in the dark to achieve her goals for humanity.