Chapter 40) Ruins

Cleon POV


"I don't know what I'm more aggravated about. That you four went so far without supervision, or that you made it so far without getting caught!" Lyna, Tamlen, Merrill, and me knew better than to say anything. It was better to let Zathrian ramble while he lectured. It was easier to listen to than Keeper Marethari's. "You know the dangers in going into the forest, and the hunters should've been watching better." Besides, we knew we were in trouble because he loved us and we scared him. "Did anything hurt you?" See? He ruffled our hair, studying us closely. "Anything scare you?"

"No, there was just a ruin," I answered. Out of the four of us, I found it the easiest to talk to him, so I tended to be the speaker for our group. "We thought we heard wolves, though, and wondered if we'd see any pups."

"…There are no pups there." Zathrian's face was dark, but I knew it wasn't directed at us, so while the other three squeaked and hid behind me, I just waited for him to continue. "Just a ruin?"

"Yeah?" I thought back a bit. "Oh! I thought I saw a lady! But the others didn't see her." I'd been trying to point her out, hiding in the foliage, when Zathrian found us. "She looked kind."

"…" Zathrian hugged me tight, and I tried to figure out why. "…She will not take you…" I thought I heard him mutter. But it was so quiet. "I will not let that spirit have you." Zathrian? "You four are confined within the boundaries of the two camps for however long Marethari and I decide." Aw… "Let's go inform Paivel that his four rambunctious children are safe and sound, yes?"

"Okay." What did he mean by those mutters, though? Was it one of those ancient people things?

It was probably better just to hold his hand as he led us back. And assume I just heard wrong.


I did not like being here. I very much didn't like being here. What if the same thing that happened to Tamlen happened to them? Even though my instincts weren't screaming this time, it could still happened. After all, this place had been guarded by a fog. Something didn't want to be found. And yet… I'd been here before. Not inside, just to the outside. But I'd been here. And I distinctly remembered the four of us had just wandering up, no fights or convoluted fog or sylvans in sight. Why? Was it a recent thing? It couldn't be, though, if there were old tales. This was all so, so confusing.

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I leaned against a broken wall. In our search for ways forward, we had found a secret room filled with dust and the smell of old paper. The latter was because there were books. Lots and lots of books. Written in a mix of Dalish and old Tevene or something. Yeah, I was just confused. We also completely lost Elspeth and Morrigan to them.

"For someone who talks about duty a lot, she gets distracted by books easily," I muttered, glowering at Elspeth's back. She didn't notice at all, and I relaxed, shaking my head. "I hope it's not stealing their souls or something."

"Please don't give life ideas," Alistair sighed. He was next to me, studying the mosaics dotting the wall. "And I don't know. Maybe this is what's keeping her from snapping. Like how Morrigan isn't nearly so snappy and witchy when she's reading." This was true. She and Elspeth actually seemed rather animated in talking. "You going to help?" Huh? "Aren't you listening to them? They're trying to guess elven words based on context." No small part of me was glad about that. It just seemed wrong that shemlen would have enough knowledge of the elven language to read things easily.

"How are they understanding the Tevene or whatever it is?"

"Hmm…" Alistair tilted his head, playfully cupping a hand around his ear. "Something, something, similarity to modern Tevene, something, something, Mother taught me some, something, something."

"I get it." Alistair just grinned and I sighed again. "This information better make it to my people."

"I already made sure they planned on it." Oh, there was Aiden. "I figured you'd want that," he added. I smiled and nodded, relieved. And glad they respected that part of my culture. "Regardless, found two rooms not far. Let's leave them to study and check them out." Yeah, maybe Morrigan or Elspeth could find an answer to why this place was so damn weird.

"Cleon." Of course, as soon as I followed Aiden into the hallway, Sten accosted me. "Are the Dalish truly so strong to warrant all this trouble?" he asked me bluntly. I could only stare at him. Was that really something to be asking me? Especially right now? "This is complicated madness. If we are to find 'allies', then we should look elsewhere." Okay, you know what?

"Don't underestimate my people." I glared up at him, and he met the look with an impassiveness that just made my blood boil. "Ours is the strength of the trees and land. Only a fool threatens that." Did his eyes narrow? I couldn't tell. "Look for a path in the room with Alistair. We're continuing on this path, and you can follow along or stand aside."

I really thought he'd actually leave. But instead he nodded, and went into the room to right. Slowly, I let myself relax, shaking my head. Sometimes it felt like he challenged us to make us not indecisive. I supposed it was an awkward sort of kindness?

Since he headed to the right, I went to the left, and found… something I wasn't expecting. Stone casings lined along the walls, each marked with letters too faded to read. I knew this place. It was a 'crypt'. Why was it here?

Aiden was wandering the wall, barely even glancing at me as he peered at one in particular. "Why are they above the ground?" he asked softly. His hands gently brushed the dust and rocks off the top, fingers tracing what remained of the writing. "I know you told me once that the Dalish bury their dead, but…"

"These could've been elves that chose Uthenera," I answered, just as softly. I saw a small spring with an old, ceramic jug half-buried in the center and carefully picked it up. What was this…? Oh, wait, Keeper Marethari once told Merrill about an old ritual. Was there an altar nearby?

"Uthenera?" There was. So, I carefully set the jug on it and quietly prayed. "What's that?"

"It's the long sleep." Prayer finished, I picked up the jug again and took a small sip of it. It tasted cold and even sweet. "Back when the elves were immortal, some would grow weary and choose to sleep to let the newer generations lead." I carried the jug back to the spring and gently poured the water in. "They'd retire into chambers that were both bed and tomb. It would make sense for them to be above ground." I might've continued, but I yelped as the jug I held suddenly shattered, shards slipping underneath my gloves and gauntlets to nick the skin and make me bleed. "Ow… the tales never mentioned that would happen!"

"What did you do?" Aiden came to my side and helped me remove the gloves to make sure none of the shards were embedded. Some of my blood dripped from my fingers and into the spring. Almost immediately after we heard the groan of stone somewhere, felt the shaking of the floor, and, in the distance, heard what might have been a roar. "…What did you do?!"

"It's supposed to be a ritual expressing respect for those who made the sacrifice take the Uthenera." I slipped the gloves back on and sighed. "Don't ask me about the rest of it."

"If we have to fight some old elven creation, Cleon, I honestly might hurt you." I was just glad you were showing frustration, Aiden. Now, if we could get Elspeth and Nuada to do that, then all of us could be emotional messes together! Well, except Sten. But I somehow doubted anything was cracking his composure. "I mean it."

"Relax." I waved a hand to wipe away the worry. "If there was a Varterral, we would've known by now, and that's probably the only one that would've lasted so long."

"…And they say city elves are insane." Aiden sighed. "I have a headache."

"Ir abelas." A thought occurred to me. "Oh, that's all assuming these are elves." He gave me a curious look. "What I said about Uthenera. This place is human built. If they were humans from before your Chantry established…"

"Then they could also be the graves of humans." Who knew? Certainly not us. "This is obviously not the way forward, regardless." This was true. "We should help Alistair and Sten."

"Lead on." He sighed again, clearly not liking the phrase, but he didn't say a word as he led the way out. I remained quiet, following closely.

"Cleon." Hearing my name, I paused and turned back to see Elspeth running for me. What happened? "Oh, good, I found you," she panted, rubbing the sweat off her face. She was clutching something in her hand. What was going on?

"Should I get Aiden?" I asked her. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him disappear into the room. "Or the others."

"No, it isn't anything of that sort of importance." And what was that supposed to mean? "Another room suddenly opened up." Ahaha… was that what the moving stone had been? Please tell me a stack of books didn't fall of them. "Morrigan and I went in to check it out. It was mostly empty." Wait, really? "But, I found this." She held out her hand, shifting to cup the object.

I bent down a little to study it. A vial. A vial with thick, crimson liquid inside. Was this blood? No, it couldn't be, though? Even in a vial, it should've long dried out by now, yes? Though, I did sense a bit of magic in it. "What is it?"

"Take it." Uh… "Please, trust me." Oh, well, when you put it like that, I had no choice.

Sighing, I took the vial from her, cupping it just as she had. When I blinked, though, I was suddenly in a very different place. The forest, but younger than I had ever seen. Corpses and weapons scattered about, the smell of smoke and rot choking my throat, the taste of blood permanently staining my mouth. Magic singing in my blood, and bringing my sword down again and again, protecting my lord with my life as I swore. This is the fate of those who chose Dirth'ena Enasalin. I would-

Hands on my shoulder, and I jerked my head up. Another blink, and I was back in the ruins, Elspeth looking right at me. The vial was clutched in my shaking hands. "I'm sorry," she murmured. She let go of my shoulders and took a step back, shoulders slumping to make herself less a target. "I should have guessed it would affect you more." What would? What was that? "There is a spirit in it." A what? "Perhaps 'spirit' is a poor word. Ghost might be better. Someone who once lived sealed themselves in it." I glanced down at my hands. "I only… caught glimpses of their memories. Since you are not a mage, I thought you would also. I'm sorry." Well, I had a latent magic that gave me sharper instincts. But she must've forgotten. "Truly, I am."

"It's fine," I replied slowly. The words didn't seem to cheer her up. "Well, what else did you glean from it?" No offense, but I wasn't risking something like that again. But Dirth'ena Enasalin… that translated to 'knowledge that leads to victory' or something. I'd never heard of it.

"From what I gathered, they were an 'Arcane Warrior'." A… what? That would imply… okay, so the magic I'd felt in the memory had been…? But, mages didn't really fight like that, right? "It is… difficult for me to communicate with them. They had to listen to my own memories to pick up the words." …Elspeth, you were absolutely insane for letting a spirit muddle through your head. "I do not know much else, but it seemed to be a path some elven mages took in the past." Okay.

"So, why give it to me? I'm not a mage." I glanced down at my hands again, carefully opening them to reveal the vial again. How long had they been stuck? "Morrigan is. She would've been right there."

"But I do not think she would share that piece of knowledge." I felt the need to defend her, but Elspeth shook her head. "I feel like she would keep it close, as a bargaining chip for future favors. It is not that I feel she is greedy or petty, but that she cannot comprehend someone helping her without wanting compensation." Uh… "Besides, it's elven. It should be an elf who chooses who learns it." I could only stare, startled to hear such words from a shemlen. "If a human learns, it should at least be someone elfblooded, and someone who will teach the art to all those willing to learn." Her hands shook a little as she clasped them. "Besides, I believe the spirit would prefer to teach someone of elven heritage anyway." …Well, I supposed I could give it to Zathrian then, when we got back. He'd appreciate the new knowledge.

So, I carefully put the vial in my pack, wrapping it gently in my spare clothes, mentally apologizing. The spirit would have to wait just a little longer before I could get them to their next and last student. "Ma serranas." I hoped she got what all I was thanking her for. Finding it. Giving it to me. Wanting it to stay with elves and those of their blood.

Her slight, pleased smile hinted she did. I hoped I was right.


A little down the path, we found a large, open room filled with records. Most of them burned or water damaged. A few looked shredded. Damn werewolves. What information and stories could've been there?

I shifted through the remnants as the others poked around the room, curious about what I could read. Sadly, though, there wasn't much. There was a couple of snippets talking about the ruin, but all it did was confirm the place was built by humans, despite the elven carvings and statues, and a 'terrible presence' destroyed it. What could that have been, though? Tevinter? Something else? Fen'harel's teeth, with so little information, you could make a case of the fall of the elves being due to elves and not have anything to disprove you!

At least there wasn't a damn mirror anywhere. If there was, I was grabbing everyone and running. I would not let them suffer the same fate Tamlen did. I would not.

"Hey, Cleon?" Alistair, why were you calling me? "Cleon?" I heard you the first time. "Why is there a dragon here?" …A what?

"Alistair, did you get into some alcohol or something?" I asked, turning away from the papers. And found myself looking right at a dragon. A rather angry dragon. "…Fen'harel's teeth." WHAT WAS A DRAGON DOING IN A RUIN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST?! IT WAS HUGE AND HAD WINGS!

Everything was chaotic. No one had any idea of what was going on. It was just a desperate running around, trying not to get killed. Dodging fire and wings and claw, hoping the walls wouldn't cave in as rubble fell.

Seeing Morrigan pinned by a stray piece of stone and the dragon aiming for her…

My feet moved on my own, and I slid in front of her just before the claws connected. They snagged on my armor and I had a severe feeling of disorientation as it lifted and threw me up. Gritting my teeth, I swung my legs around to flip and managed a pretty decent landing on a rock jutting out from the side. A glance to the side suggested it had actually been part of some sort of balcony, when this ruin was whole.

I carefully touched my armor and grimaced when it basically fell apart immediately, clunking dully to the ground below. Though I suffered no injuries, I almost felt like I'd lost a friend? Ridiculous, of course. But that armor had kept me alive from Highever to here, all the way through the horror of Ostagar. I was legitimately upset that the dragon had destroyed it.

Shaking my head, I watched the dragon fly in the air, breathing fire at the ground. Elgar'nan, how were we supposed to kill it?! Were all of them this strong? Then what about the Archdemon? How were we supposed to kill it?

Creators, you really did like to punish the insane.

"Morrigan, will you stop arguing with me and just ice his wing already?" Was that Alistair? "I know you hate me, but this is kind of life and death here!" Yep, that was Alistair. I couldn't see him from here. Was he on the other side of the dragon? "Come on! Cleon would be impressed!" …Alistair, were you using me as bait for her?!

"Lady Elspeth!" And there was Aiden, just a bit below me. Blood coated the right side of his face, but his left eye was sparking with confidence. Somehow. "Coordinate with Morrigan to snipe out the opposite eye of the wing she will target." …Aiden, eye shots were difficult. Now, granted, large dragon meant large eye and, therefore, large target, but still. "Morrigan, shut up and listen to Alistair! We don't have time for you two arguing like brats!" …I think he snapped. Should I be amused or scared? "Cleon? Where are you?"

"Here." I made sure to jump down by his left side. "Hope you have a good idea," I told him. "Because those scales are harder than Nuada's head." That got him to smile. "What do you need?"

"When it hits the ground, Sten and I will take the flanks. With luck, we'll get the underbelly." Right, it wasn't scaled there. "Alistair will be making sure it doesn't bite us." With what? His shield? "While we're doing that, I want you to get on the dragon and stab it behind the head." Okay… wait, what. "Please just do it."

"Can I ask where this idea is coming from?" Because who thought of things like this?

"Garahel." That was… "The elf who killed the Archdemon of the Fourth Blight." Well, if it worked on an Archdemon… all of us were quite insane.

"Mythal, protect us."

"Pray while you get into a place to jump." Oh, he definitely snapped. I was so not arguing. "Please." There was the Aiden I was used to. Mostly. Still not arguing.

I glanced at the others, smiling slightly when I saw Alistair lift Elspeth to a ledge not dissimilar to the one I was returning to, and saw her actually smile before aiming, drawing the bowstring back for a long draw. He smiled back before turning, adjusting the straps on his shield. He caught me staring and winked at me, making me wonder if I should roll my eyes or smile. I ended up doing both. Near Alistair, Sten and Aiden were both holding their greatswords, Aiden's low, by his leg, and Sten's up, resting against his shoulder. Morrigan was not far from Elspeth, a limp and blood the only hints of the earlier pinning. She looked rather murderous, almost snarling at the dragon hovering overhead. It growled back, watching and waiting. Was this actually going to work?

Didn't matter. There was no more time to think. Because Elspeth loosed the arrow and everything just focused on executing the plan Aiden set up.

From my perch, I watched the arrow fly and I knew it hit when the dragon loosed a deafening roar that echoed on and on and on, rattling my ears and disrupting my balance even. But disorientation didn't affect Morrigan's magic, and one of the wings froze, sending it crashing to the ground. It immediately tried to snap, but somehow Alistair's shield did actually hold up against the fangs. Sten and Aiden lunged forward, greatswords biting into the side. I absently noted that while Sten's cut was smoother and more even, Aiden's was deeper. It screeched, thrashing about as blood pooled under its claws. I waited for it to come closer to my perch before dropping down. And promptly slipping and crashing onto my shoulder. I grit my teeth against the pain, knowing that it was going to bruise, but I could still hold onto my daggers. I could keep going.

It kept shifting and jumping under my hands and feet as I crawled up. Arrows and magic flew over my head. I kept hearing the strange sound of teeth and claws grating on metal. The sound of flesh ripping was strangely rhythmic. I made myself ignore them, though. I just needed to find some soft spot where my daggers could actually get in.

I finally found it. Straight on the head. Of course. I was so about to be thrown again.

Sighing, I sat up on my knees, brought the daggers up above my head, and slammed them down as hard as I could. Blood erupted from the wound even before I ripped the daggers back out. The resulting toss of the dragon's head… well, it threw me, just as I expected. Who knew flying was so terrifying? Especially when there was no convenient perch nearby.

Thankfully, Sten was not only able to catch me, but willing. "You should have secured yourself," he told me as he set me down. I refused to answer that. "But the dragon is dead." I didn't know of anything that could survive two daggers to the head.

"Thank you for being a very convenient net," I deadpanned at last. He… actually smiled a little? Did that amuse him? Um… "If you'll excuse me, I think a little bit of walking will be good for reminding myself that the ground is nice." I bowed a little and walked away, glancing tentatively at the dragon. It… was dead, right? Right?

"Here." Something metallic was thrust at me. I hesitantly took it and peered around it to see Morrigan had been the one to hand it over. She refused to look up at me. "It is an armor I found shortly before the dragon appeared," she mumbled. It was really unnerving for her to be talking to the ground. "Do what you will with it." Aaand she stormed off. Okay. What did I do? "Where did you mangy things come from?!" And we had werewolves. Of course we did.

Handing the armor off to whoever happened to be closest, might have been Alistair, I ran towards where I heard her, and saw she'd opened a door without telling anyone. And there werewolves were there. Snarling. One lunged forward at her, but I kicked it back, standing in front of her. "Get the others," I whispered. I could feel the scowl burning a hole in my back. "Please." She huffed and left. Okay, seriously, what did I do? And if these werewolves didn't stop snarling, I was seriously-

"Stop." Okay, I knew Aiden had said the werewolves had the ability to talk, but it was definitely another thing to hear it directly. "At ease, brothers and sisters." I was assuming the one not snarling was the one talking? "I ask this of you, outsiders. Are you willing to parley?" What.

"What is that coming up now?" I demanded. I gripped my daggers tightly, hearing the others settle behind me. If these werewolves so much as twitched wrong… "If you wanted to talk, then why didn't you before attacking the Clan?"

"That was different." I supposed it was good it didn't deny the attack. "The Lady believes you do not know the full story." …Probably, yes. I'd been told this before. I didn't like having it confirmed, though. "She wishes to speak with you. Peacefully." Did this mean they weren't going to hold the werewolves we killed earlier against us?

"And what guarantee is there that this isn't another ambush?"

"What would be the point?" It somehow managed a shrug. "Our Lady would be displeased, and more of our brothers and sisters would be dead. We protect our people." …I didn't like they were like Dalish. I really didn't. "She had wished to meet you in the forest, but we would not let her." Was that where that ambush at the beginning came from? "We intend on protecting her to our last breaths." Great. Wolves' loyalty. Constant no matter what, it seemed.

"Might I ask how she changed your minds?" Aiden came up beside me. Seeing his greatsword on his back, I made myself loosen my grip on my daggers. Just slightly. "It's quite a difference," he continued lightly. I glanced back at the others, and noted with a grimace I was the only one armed. But I couldn't drop my guard. Not after what they did. I just couldn't yet.

"Swiftrunner thought it would not matter," the werewolf answered easily. "The Lady disagrees, and since you made your way around the barricade, we must acquiesce to her wishes." So nice to hear that. "Will you parley or not?"

"Considering I tried earlier, we might as well." Aiden sounded quite done with all of this. I was glad he was showing some frustration. "Please, lead us to her."

"Very well." It crouched though, snarling. I tightened my grip on my daggers again. "If you break your promise and harm her, we shall all come back from the Fade again and again to make you pay." That… was some loyalty.

Cautiously, we all followed the werewolves inside. The first thing I noticed was the flower petals dancing in the wind. A giant tree was centered in the back of the room, blooming beautifully in spite of the ruin surrounding it. Smaller trees swayed along the walls, almost like they were waving. Werewolves stood on guard in front of them, baring fang, but none made any movement towards us.

The ones standing on the raised mosaic growled and a couple of them prepared to lunge. However, branches moving like fingers stroked their heads, soothing them. The branches then shifted, revealing someone who appeared like an elf, but with greenish skin. Branches twined about arms and legs, and… and I knew that face. I knew those eyes. Creators, this was…!

"I bid you welcome, mortals." This was the Spirit I saw right after Tamlen… right after I… "I am the Lady of the Forest." Creators, what are you doing? I'd appreciate some insight right about now! "I am glad to meet you at last." Was this a weird dream or something? If so, I'd gladly appreciate waking up now, thank you very much!

When did my life get so damn complicated?


Author's note: Brecilian Ruins! Pretty place. Mostly a lore building place, but it is very pretty. The elven name for Arcane Warrior is revealed by Solas in Inquisition, if your Inquisitor took up the Knight Enchanter specialization. Knight Enchanter is stated in game to be derived from Arcane Warrior teachings. I have no idea why there is a dragon there. But here we go.

Next Chapter – The Fade with Layla