Dragons and Thrones: Rising Tensions – Breaking of Bonds

Chapter 36 of my crossover story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks.
Veridissima: Thanks, yeah, it's part of Orlesian culture, their scheming and all, they hide their faces to make it harder to read them :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Not really, just practicality, they were told that was his house colours, so they got garments in those colours. Orlesians respect no one but their Empress, notice the way they were acting the whole time around Jaime and Brienne, remember what I said about Orlesian accents and the condescending attitudes they have are blatantly obvious.
Thewritter1996: Thanks.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
coronadomontes: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin. Dragon Age belongs to Bioware.

Briala

Briala was shocked, no, horrified, by what she had heard. She took this moment, certain nobody could see her, and slipped out of the ballroom. She had been present, standing at the back with the other Elven servants, blending in and listening. She heard Celene's speech, knew now her plans.

'She, how could she…?' She thought in dismay. 'I know she could not publicly make such a declaration yet, but...She didn't even hint, there was no sign of it in her eyes...'

Briala felt her own eyes stinging as she recalled Celene's iron expression; the promised hint of what was to come. The very same eyes that had looked so deeply into her own, held such promise, such love.

Yet in a heartbeat, that had vanished. 'She...betrayed me, I asked her, pleaded with her, to save the Elves of Halamshiral, they are in danger from these forces. But she intends to attack the city, to raze it to the ground if needs be...With no concern whatsoever for the Elves there.'

The very thought of it turned her stomach and she fought to maintain her composure. There were still a few people milling around. Right now she had no choice, there was someone she had to see. So she began to make her way back to her personal chambers.

She managed to thankfully make her way into her chambers without being seen. She considered what the two Westeros people must think now.

'Are they...do they accept this, or are they justifiably angered as well?' She wondered. 'No, more than likely they don't care one way or the other. They just want to return home, I wish them well in that. Before I would have Celene would grant them passage home, without a doubt. Now, I know she cannot be trusted.'

Eyes still stinging at Celene's words, how she had lied to her, Briala quickly changed her clothing, once more donning her armor and daggers. Once dressed she made sure her door was locked; and then, taking a moment to mentally prepare herself, she opened up the secret passage and began to make her way through it, heading down to the city itself.

Once there she stuck to the shadows, an easy enough task in the city at night. Making her way through the streets she headed for her intended destination, the Elven Alienage. She had an important person to meet there; the only one who could possibly help her in this mess.

She paused and sighed. 'I had such high hopes, I saw Celene as the light that could end our darkness. But he knew, he knew just what she was, while I was blind...Now I have to go and admit that.'

Squaring her shoulders however she pressed on, entering the Alienage.

Entering the Alienage the difference from it to the rest of the city was immediately obvious. The place was run down, walled off from the rest of the city and crumbling. Briala skirted around a few dubious large puddles on the unpaved ground and began searching for the person she came seeking.

'Look at them all.' She thought sadly. 'So many, downtrodden, their spirits crushed...It isn't right, another broken promise by Celene...'

Celene had promised to end this suffering, she had not. Briala shook her head, looking around at the Elves, many of them desperate. More than a few eyed her warily, with disgust. She wasn't surprised, her clothing and general appearance proved she lived in the Palace while they wallowed in slums.

She wished she could show them she shared their plight, she wanted to help. 'But what help have I given them, nothing.'

Still full of self-pity and doubt, Briala barely noticed the familiar figure standing waiting for her, beneath the Vhenadahl. She started when she saw him. He was unlike any Elf in the Alienage, just the Vallaslin on his face could attest to that.

His features were more prominently Elven than even the Elves around him, than even Briala herself. He was smiling serenely, waiting for her to approach, toying with his staff. Approaching the mage, Briala felt all the confusion and guilt she felt bubbling up inside her and fought to push it back down.

She stopped before him and spoke softly.

"Andaran Atish'an, Felassan." She greeted the Elven mage.

Felassan merely smirked. "Briala, so, you've come at last...I thought you'd be seeking me, after the incident in Halamshiral."

Briala raised an eyebrow. "You know about that?"

"Of course, as well...many other things." He replied. "So, am I to assume then, you've woken up?"

Briala didn't say anything for a while; sensing her unease, Felassan led her away from the Tree of the People and to a quiet corner where it was less likely they'd be overheard.

Finally she spoke. "It is as you said; Celene just made an announcement, based on my reports and the reports of two foreigners, that she intends to attack Halamshiral and destroy those who have occupied it. Regardless of the cost to innocents, especially the Elves living there."

"Troubling words indeed." Felassan replied. "Especially as they go against our policies of freeing our people...That is after all, our most important goal."

Briala sighed, as if she needed reminding of it.

"But to achieve that goal, we must...sacrifice, even if that means, dealing with a conflict of interest." He continued. "We may need to...cut off, sentimentality."

Briala felt herself squirming slightly at his words, she knew what he meant. She knew, if it came down to it, she'd be faced with a choice, her love for Celene, which now seemed to hurt almost as much as Celene's betrayal, or her fight for the freedom of her people. As things stood, she could not see any way she could have both.

When she returned to her chambers and changed again, unlocking the door, her mind was whirling. She and Felassan had spoke for some time after that, in which he revealed he may know something that would aid them, if they used it right. He had whispered one word to her, before she left. A word that even now, would not leave her mind.

Eluvians.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.