Straight


Vera's sanctuary is always peaceful, quiet and calm. Vix love this place more than her own Fade. As far as she remembers, she would come to this place every night after she goes to bed. In here, the Fade Walker taught and told her many things about human's world and beyond.

Anyway, there's something on above: The mystical world that connect and relate with the Fade with too complicated to describe way. Vera just said that place kept the fortune webs: the some kind of machine that controls everything's fate.

She never told anyone about that, but it must be important.

However, when little Cousland opened her eyes in the Fade tonight, she found this place destroyed. The gigantic sculpture still there but most of dream flowers have dry and perished. She could sense many people were moaning in agony.

"The old god…!" Some of those cried.

Something not right, the petals those scattered around the place were flying in the unusual whirlwind and faded away. The eternal full moon was eclipsed by a gigantic shadow which was flying in the sky.

Vixena knew that thing. It's the taint dragon: the Archdemon!

"Don't worry, it's just another memory." Someone said and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Lady Grey Warden turned to face her soul sister. In that time, everything back to normal. No debris or dying flowers, the sanctuary was still being the same as it always was.

"What is…that?"

The Fade Walker sighed. "My mother's memory…She saw it in the day she was born."

Vixena gasped. That's must be terrible experience for a baby girl.

"This place use to be her, some time her remain could appear like the echo from the old days." Vera explained sadly. "The most angst is the most powerful memory, she always sorrows for the day her mother die by the Archdemon."

"That…you never tell me."

The raven silky long hair waved while she spun around. Vera is an honest one, she couldn't meet her soul sister in the eyes when she has to tell ashamed past of her beloved family.

"Well, when we talk about this, perhaps I should play it straight."

Vixena doubted that. "You never play anything straight, Vera."

"Yeah, that is my bad habit. Anyway…as you might wonder, I don't help you just because you're my soul sister. But because we also have the same target."

As the Grey Warden, she had only most important purpose. "The Archdemon…"

"To be honest, my mother and I tried to kill it for more than a millennium. We're never success because we need help but found none. Even the Grey Warden doesn't trust us."

"I don't blame them." Little sis said. "People always fear in…something they never know."

Big sis smirked. "You're right. That is why I never tell you this, the teyrn's daughter shouldn't involve with the Blight. But now you're Grey Warden who will stop this disaster, you have to know why I have high hope on you."

"Why don't you tell me sooner? Place don't say 'you never ask'."

She chuckled. "I'm not your templar, my little fang. My reason is only stupid shame…well, did I ever tell you about a woman who tried to change the string of fate."

"The string of fate…from the fortune webs that control people's fate? I think that just another bedtime story."

"It's protected by the Great Mother herself. But one of Fade Walker denied the rule and invaded to the above. She wanted to change her love's fate, even that might effect on the world."

"Unfortunate, she had succeeded. But instead of brought her husband back from the underworld, he reborn to another person. And the world we ever know had change forever because her selfish. That is the shame we wish to undone."

"But…What about the Archdemon?"

"It…was born from this cause. The Archdemon is our responsibility; even if it didn't kill my grandma."

Vera didn't hold her grudge for the taint god but she want to redeem her family's sin. This one always does what she should, not what she could. She was a goddess, no matter how taint her blood was.

"Well, that not important, I can't deny your help anyway." Vix said with smile. "Thank you for trust and hope on me, my sister."

The Fade Walker blushed. She looked so cute when she didn't hide her emotion with sarcasm. "Er…doesn't mention it. And…oh, I have something for you."

That slander hand twisted. In next second, a red rose appeared from the thin air.

Younger woman blinked. "This is…"

"Sorry for invade your privately, but I can't let my sister's precious gift wilt." The immortal smiled. "I enchanted it with Lylium and some spell. This rose will blossom like this for…a century, I hope that long enough."

Now is time for Vixena to blush. "Thank you, Vera. This means so much to me."

The tear escaped from the back of her eyes, but big sis swept it off.

"Keep it, and cherish every second you have. Nothing could live last forever even me. But you will have enough time to enjoy your live, if you know what your heart wants."

Little one smiled with tearful eyes. She knew what that meant. "You never play anything straight."

"And you never speak your mind." Older woman jested. "Keep deny it and you will lose him someday."

"I…don't know…I think I…Well, I not exactly sure about my feeling. Maybe we just…" Even was blushing hard, Vixena still denied.

Vera raised her eyebrows, smirking slyly. "Oh…it's just my imagination, then."

Lady Grey warden growled. "Now I know why you never use any blade, your sharp-tongued could kill even the mage and spirit."

"If my foxy brain serve me well, I think we both done it together."

'You couldn't defeat your mother.' Vix thought. 'She raised me. I got that tongued from her. How could I better than the original?'

"Whatever…" She yielded. "I rest enough. I think I should wake up and…attend to some business."

"Right, do what you want. Just don't cry when he find someone who 'fit' with him. I warn you." The wicked immortal jested.

Vix cried and cover her ears with her hands. And then, she woke up like that in unfamiliar place. In her hand was an enchanted rose that she got from her meddler soul sister.

Judged by the look of it, she knew she was in someone's tent. And from…er…smell; this must be Alistair's tent. She could recognize his manly scent anywhere.

But why she was here? Last thing she remembered was her idiot carried her to somewhere. Why he didn't bring her to her tent?

"Because you don't set your tent up, perhaps..." The big sis replied. "Well, look at the bright side. This is good time for some…exploring."

'Explore…explore what? Are you tried to convince me to…?'

Immortal one just hummed.

Well, Vera was right, she always want to know about what's Alistair hind from her. Looked around, Vix found this place was neatly than she ever imagine. The tent own kept everything in their place, even a shirt with a big hole that rolled neatly near his pack.

'Wow, he set his tent nicely. This is almost better than mine.'

"Yeah, it must be better if he have a big sis who forces him to clean his tent." Again, Vera interjected annoying.

'Garr…Please, my dear sister. I need some time alone.'

"All right, see you later." And then, the Fade Walker was gone with her giggle.

Thank to anyone, Vix sighed and was holding her head. Her sis was a good one but sometime she was unbearable.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Someone said it from outside.

'What?' Doesn't mean to pry, but lady Grey Warden paid her attention to that voice. By the sound, she thought the talker was nearby.

"Of course, I like it. You look delicious, Alistair."

Almost drop her jaw, she recognized that voice: is Leliana. But what the hell is she talking about?

"But it look…isn't too much?"

"No. it looks good. Now look at me and open your mouth."

Whatever it was, Vix couldn't stand it anymore. She stormed out Alistair's tent like the angry bronto.

The first thing she saw were the shirtless ex-templar that stood beside the bard. No, they were facing to another. Alistair's rear was facing her, so she could see his bare back while he was bending to…

Slander hands were pulling his face down. Leliana giggled and whispered something to his ear. They seemed happy together, which made Vix wanted to growl and crush everything in sight.

"Keep deny it and you will lose him someday." Vera's words came to her mind, she runaway from that scene as fast as her legs could carry her.