(Told by Mariah Hawke)
After the rift to the physical plain closed, I managed to defeat the large spider demon. With no way out, I tried wandering around to see if I could find another rift. It felt like I had been searching for only a few hours when I fell into a Fade version of a lake. Darkness surrounded me as I tried to swim to a surface, but eventually I found out that I didn't even know which way was up.
Suddenly I was practically spat out and landed here in this odd dimension. As usual, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to look around. Most of the creatures left me alone and since I had nothing better to do, I did a little light reading.
The first book I opened, showed me something that I knew was true. My daughter was alive. We were ontop a snowy mountain and the first thing that I tried to do was hold her. After a face plant in illusionary snow, I realized that what I was witnessing was a past event. Something I could see, but not truely be there. Imagine my surprise when a two legged dragon swooped down and kept my daughter warm.
After see that my child was safe, I returned to the realm and continued my search. Time is different here, I quickly found out, for a minute for me could be between a second and a year in physical realms. Just my luck. Discovering immortality without actually enjoying it. There were perks though. I got to see my baby girl grow up into a fine young woman. A brave warrior, an enchanting mage, a skilled rogue, and even an amazing dragon slayer! I was so proud and a bit jealous.
More books appeared as I wandered, giving me insight of my daughter's life. Some more than I would have wanted, but I do have to admit, my girl has good taste in men. Even if a certain man was rotten for leaving her in a crucial moment. I wanted to throw a fore ball at him, but all I did was try to touch my daughter's shoulder. There was a moment I thought she could feel me, but I was torn out of the moment before I could make sure.
In the strangest realm I've ever been to, a man in a golden mask and strange robes stood before me. "Who are you? Why are you here?!" He seemed angry and a little frightened. "You should not be here! Return to where you came!"
"Sure, just show me the way out first. Who are you?" I told him sarcastically, practically demanding the identity of the man in front of me.
"I am Miraak. First Dragonborn. Former Dragon Priest. Unfortunate slave to Hermeaus Mora."
"Wait, what?!" Melody interrupts my story.
"Don't interrupt, it's rude. You have your father's manners." I tell her then return to the story.
Yes, Miraak was before me and trying to get me out of Apocrypha before I shared his fate. Thanks to the books around us, I understood most of what he had said when he introduced himself. Dragonborn is what my daughter as an adult was called. I thought there was a connection. I was right of course, but I wasn't happy about it at first.
"Miiiirrraaaaakk!" A ghostly voice filled the air as tentacles appeared out of nowhere and captured the both of us. "Why force our guest to leave? She is necessary for my plans."
"I will not let you force another Dragonborn to serve you, demon!" Miraak knew what was going on and I was putting it together.
I was bait, my daughter was the prize.
"Let?" The swarm of tentacles and eyeballs laughed at him. "Oh, my champion. You will help me lure the Dragonborn into my service. She may have denied her soul to me once, but with your help and the mother of the Dragonborn, she will be my new champion. If she survives that is."
The tentacles tightened around Miraak as one thrusted into his skull. "Bend Will Shout! She needs to learn- Aaaaahhhhh!"
I got the message. I used my fire magic to escape the tendrils and run for my life. Not that I could escape really, but it was worth a try.
It felt like hours, but who knows how long it really was. Miraak's mind was no longer his own, my daughter was being drawn to that fate and there was nothing I could do about it. But I am Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall and I don't give up. I searched to see if any books could help me warn my daughter. I mean, there has to be a connection between Apocrypha and the Fade, right. Mages could communicate through the Fade, I just hade to find out how.
"The nightmares I've been having." Melody guesses.
"Yes, I found a book that could help me warn you in your sleep." Varric never gets interrupted when he's telling tales. "Sorry about that, Honey. Now shush!"
Now, without further interruptions. I used my daughter's dreams to warn her about what was to come. Didn't work, obviously, but you can't blame a mother for trying.
I even found other ways to try to interfere and contact my friends and family of possible dangers. Since I could see some of Varania's movements, I was able to make lyrium warnings on cave walls that only my friendsand family would understand. Thank goodness I paid attention when Merrill taught my children Dalish culture. Just a bit.
I also found out that Varania has been in contact through Miraak, giving the demon knowledge about red lyrium. The knowledge formed into a book and was used by several of Miraak's misguided followers. From what I could tell, they infected a man to test out the effectiveness of red lyrium in the real world. Some guy named Thorn or something like that. After seeing what they wanted to see, all of Miraak's people we infected by choice. I stole the book in hopes that I could get my daughter to understand what was happening.
Hermeaus Mora figured out was I was doing and used it to his advantage making my daughter believe that all she learns is because he let's her. Miraak found me several times, being less of himself everytime I saw him. He finally caught me locked me up and tossed the key, setting me up as bait for when he needed to fight...
"Melody." The young Grey Warden spoke. "The demon set up a complicated trap for Melody."
"Yes, we can still escape now, but we'd be leaving Miraak behind." I tell the young women before me.
"Why should we save him?" The elf asked. "He made his choice long ago and is now paying the price. He and Varania can have each other after what she did to Shartan. They deserve the spikes on their chains."
"So did the love of my life, Fenris." I said as calm as possible, remembering my love. "He chose to fight in a ring to free his mother and sister. He lost his family, his memories, his former life. He was a mindless slave until he was shown another way. Miraak has seen the other way but is still trapped as a slave. Varania was given several chances and still betrayed my family, but a fate bound to that monster, Hermeaus Mora, is something I wish for no friend or foe."
The Warden and elf ponder a bit until Melody speaks up. "My mother is right. Miraak is like any victim to a demon or a slaver. He needed something to start taking the fight to the dragons and Hermeaus Mora took advantage. He probably is doing the same to Varania. We need to give him some knowledge of our own."
"And what would that be?" The young Warden asks my daughter.
"As we say in the dragon toungue, Dovahkiin Los Ni Zaam." I have a feeling that we'll be learning about the meaning of that phrase very soon.