Meeting Fen'Harel, how does it fare for Anuira? The second of the last three chapters in this story.
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Enjoy!
~.o.O.o.~
Credits for any tevene goes to katiebour at deviantart and the dragonage wikia.
Credits for any elvish goes to FenXshiral and whom ever is responsible for the LingoJam elven DAI translator. I'm sorry if I abuse the language. Bare with me, I'm trying
Chapter 50
~.o.O.o.~
"Ane himem Lethal'lan." (You are different Lethal'lan.) Solas said in his usual calm, almost arrogant way of speech as he came to a halt a few paces away from where Anuira was leaning on the banister.
"Na tas." (You too.) She replied frostily forcing her arms to stay by her sides. It irked her that he dared call her friend even now. After all he had done.
Solas always clasped his hands behind his back, often turning to pacing – like he did now – giving of an air of superiority when he needed to assert himself. It could be because he was nervous, excited or feeling bad about something and he always made it look like he was indifferent. It was his way to control his feelings. She, however, would sooner cut of her own hands than give in to such bad habits. No, her arms would remain at her sides, not crossing in front of her aggressively as was her habit, born so long ago in the depths of the Free Marshes' wilderness.
She stared at him with her turquoise eyes, hardened and calculating. Watching him pace in what appeared as a nonchalant manner, to and fro across the bridge with his hands firmly clasped firmly behind his ramrod straight back. Even though he tried to be so mindful of his body language he still gave away much. He was hesitant, uncertain of her intensions and that made him restless. His every nerve and every sense seemed to be acutely on edge as he watched her closely, waiting for some hidden danger.
Oh if he only knew…
"I am here as you whished, may I inquire as for the reason?" he asked irritated – falling into the kings tongue by way of habit and with poorly hidden curiosity when Anuira remained silent for to long. His stormy blue eyes fixed onto her lean armored form, appraising her every move.
"Din'das, solasathe harellan." (Impatient, proud traitor?) Anuira smirked. Her eyes sparkling with dark humor and glee that she'd won the first challenge.
She was going to enjoy this, may the void take her but she couldn't help herself. He had always looked down upon all life other than that he deemed worthy and now she got a chance to shove it back in his face. She was but a being of flesh and blood, magic or no magic and she couldn't stop herself from her pure delight in the matter.
Solas calm veneer cracked ever so slightly, giving a rare glimpse into his self as he involuntarily scoffed at her insulting words but refrained to answer the accusation. Anuiras smile widened at that and she let slip a muted chuckle. She knew he had no patients for games at this point, but she also knew he couldn't quite help himself. Being the curious soul that he was got sucked into her game at the clues laid out before him, she was a puzzle he needed to solve and it was obvious that Solas was currently warring with himself. Wanting both to walk away in indignation and stay to sate his curiosity.
"When last we met you stated you would treasure the chance of being wrong once again." she offered, switching to kings tongue for good measure and settled in to wait for him to acknowledge her statement.
"Yes. I suppose I did." Solas said as he virtually stiffened, scrambling to compose himself as his eyes found the floor at her feet as they so often did when he didn't trust them to hold his conviction.
"Then you would be happy to learn that I found a way?" she asked him with a wicked smile that had his eyes fly open in shock and his compose crumble.
"That is not possible!" he gasped. Obviously taken aback by the statement of the tiny elf in front of him. His reeling mind was obvious as it played across his features while he processed Anuira's statement.
"Oh but it is Solas." Anuira at this point looked like a predator knowing the hunt was over but playing with its prey for the fun of it. Her turquoise eyes filled with dark mirth and mouth spread in a wide grin as she looked up at him through her black lashes.
"Are you not happy?" she mocked when he did nothing more than shake his head in disbelief. His thoughts obviously running a mile a minute and his mind a million miles away.
"Re te'elana … Na? Thu?!" (It's not possible… You? How?) He spluttered lapsing back to elvhen and still too shocked to get a coherent sentence out of his mouth.
"Solas vys mar laia… Sul ga mar eolas, ny din sileal." (Pride will be your fall… For all your knowledge, you have no wisdom.) Anuira stated coldly while staring him down, her glee swapped with fierce determination and a hint of irritation. Did he think so little of her even after all she had lived through?
"You bear the soul of Mythal within your own and still you are deaf to her pleas." she continued spitefully before Solas could collect himself enough to open his mouth.
"You truly are a slave to your own ambition."
"You know nothing!" he howled at her. His anger was as fiery as it was instant. His fists clenching hard at his sides while his eyes narrowed to glowing slits of cold fury.
"You are but a shadow of my people and you dare speak of Mythal as if you could possibly comprehend her will!" Solas more or less spat the words at her as his eyes took on a cold glowing hue. The familiar smoke of excess mana whirled around him in wisps and small clouds and Anuria knew he was going to attack her.
Anuira never flinched and never moved. Locking her gaze upon his glowing rage she watched him cast his spell and trusted in the mental voice of her mentor and friend. "No harm will come to you, hold your ground Da'ean."
As the ice started crystalizing in the air – ready to be shot straight at the heart of the infuriating elf standing in front of him – Solas froze, mid cast. He saw the infuriating smile return to Anuira's lips and felt a chill run the length of his spine to settle uncomfortable somewhere in the pit of his stomach.
"Now, now old friend, let's not get ahead of ourselves." A familiar gravelly voice rang out as the billowing clouds of smoky mana gathered ever denser beside a now very tense Solas.
Anuira bowed her head slightly in respect.
"Andaran atish'an, Mythal. Ar las ane son." ('Enter this place in peace', Mythal. I hope you are well.)
"My dear girl, your manners are impeccable as always. I, however, am not the one you should be worrying about." spoke the wisp as the smoke slowly gave way to reveal the form of Mythal.
Though not the form of the aged woman called Flemeth; witch of the wilds by the humans or Asha'belannar by the elves of this time. This was an elven woman, with skin pale as the moon and with rivaling white hair, billowing down to her waist in soft curls. Her form was slender and ageless, with sharp features and a frame just a few centimeters shorter than Solas. Her voice changed as she came into focus, the crackling and hoarseness dissipating from it, leaving it ringing clear and strong. The only thing remaining of her old human form was her golden eyes, still teeming with knowledge and raw, mysterious power.
"How is this possible?" Solas exclaimed in a breathless whisper.
"We merged… this... this should not be possible!"
"There is more to me than meets the eye, old friend. You know not the whole story and for all your years of experience you are still naive." Mythal stated in her usual roundabout way of speech.
"Now if you'll be so kind as to behave." she continued sternly and at his nod, she released her hold over him.
"This young elf has not only the knowledge of the Vir Abelasan, dread wolf. No, in releasing her own magic - or should I say Falon'Din's - she shattered the barriers shackling her mind, created by your veil. The veil that hindered her – and her peers - from their Elvhenan heritage." Solas eyes was currently glued to Anuira. He looked at her as if trying to see inside her very soul and looked.
"As if that was not a feat in its own accord." Mythal continued.
"She too has merged with someone, and through her actions gained his trust and approval. Not to mention she has also rekindled and in the process captured the heart of Dirthamen – who we all thought was going to wither away after the loss of his brother." Mythals words were filled with pride directed at Anuira who couldn't help but blush slightly and try her very best not to fidget at the unwanted attention.
"She also commands the unshackled Spirit of Compassion which even with bindings would be a feat worthy of praise." spoke a deep male voice from the depth of a billowing cloud, this time beside Anuira.
"Andaran atish'an hahren." ('Enter this place in peace' elder.) Anuira spoke softly bowing her head to her friend and mentor as he emerged from the smoke.
" 'Ma lath." (My love.) Mythal greeted the male elf with brilliant black hair in contrast to hers, tied neatly in a thick, intricate braid reaching his lower back. His frame just as lean as Solas but with broader shoulders and more distinguished muscles. His thick neck a stark contrast to his pointy nose and slim lips. His skin was tanned as if he'd been outside most of his time and his eyes bore the same color as Mythals. Filled with the same knowledge and power but with a hint of something darker, lurking just beneath the surface.
Elgar'nan met Mythal in a brief embrace, touching their foreheads together, before turning to Anuira.
"Da'ean, ane son ar las?" (Little bird, you are well I hope?) Elgar'nan greeted her with the nickname given her by Dorian in what seemed a lifetime ago.
"Vin, serannasan ma hahren." (Yes, I thank you elder.) She answered with a warm smile. They knew each other well by now and she wasn't formal with him most of the time. But publicly, she knew her place and respected him well enough to grant him his due.
"As humble as ever, da'ean." Elgar'nans voice warm with the affection he held for the young elf who so graciously had given his threatened soul a safe harbor for the time being.
"Indeed." Mythal spoke looking fondly over at Anuira.
"You do the people proud child."
Solas cleared his throat suddenly, making all eyes snap to him. Most warmth drained from everyone's features but he couldn't care less.
"Are there any more of our beloved family members joining us or can we get this meeting onwards?" Solas said poorly hiding his disdain for the other male and clearly not happy with being forgotten.
"Fen'harel…" Elgar'nan spat, eyes burning with long pent up anger and resentment.
"Yes, I…" Solas lost his words and looked away from Elgar'nan with a bitter frown.
"No old friend. None other than myself and Elgar'nan has the ability to separate their soul from their body seeing as how you were all raised from the people due to your extraordinary abilities." Mythal drawled her answer, giving Solas a stern look of disapproval before looking over to Anuira.
"Now. Would you be so kind as to explain this plan of yours so that I may hear it in the flesh?"
"Of course, hahren." Anuira politely replied.
"It's a simple spell. A cross between a dispelling of a barrier and an invocation of glyphs, only it's amplified on a huge scale." she took a deep breath before continuing.
"I was hoping to act as the anchor together with Cole, or as you call him, Compassion. He has the ability to cross between the fade and this world and I have the mark of magic which gives me roughly the same ability. He acts as the anchor in the fade and I here while linking ourselves together in the middle of the two planes." she took a short break to look between Elgar'nan and Mythal who both nodded in agreement.
"You know Compassion well and thus you should be the one to join with him." Mythal spoke as Elgar'nan hummed his approval before allowing Anuira to continue.
"Dorian and I have worked tirelessly with the Dalish clans, mage-academies and friends to make glyphs all over Thedas which will act to slow down the progress of merging the different planes over several years, making it possible for them to merge without burning the world we know in chaos. Not many know the real reason for these glyphs as they are led to believe they are wards to protect Thedas from the spread of red lyrium. We felt it necessary to keep most information to ourselves else we cause a widespread panic and riots." Once again she stopped to get approval before continuing.
"As I mentioned, myself and Cole will act as the anchors to the spell. I will link the fade-prisons to Coles place in the fade and from there Ghilan'nain, Sylaise, Dirthamen and June will pour their mana into Cole. From this side you; Mythal, Elgar'nan and Sola… Fen'harel will pour your mana through me and I will amplify it with my own. As the two planes clashes for the first time one of us must take the backlash of the magic into ourselves to protect the glyphs and in turn Thedas. That will most certainly destroy that persons own powers, though it should not kill. " Anuira finished and looked to Solas who wore a look of utter horror as it dawned on him who was intended to take said backlash.
"You want me… to…" he trailed of as he looked at Anuira in rattled despair.
"All of us has decided you either do this willingly as punishment for your selfishness, or we will force it upon you." Elgar'nan stated with blunt bitterness. Solas didn't even acknowledge him as his gaze was still focusing on Anuira.
"Don't you dare blame her! She was intent on taking the blow herself. We disagreed as we find her more valuable than your miserable hide." Elgar'nan sneered furiously, staying true to the rumored temper of the God of vengeance. A hand laid upon his upper arm stopped him in his onslaught. Mythal nodded to Anuira, intuitively knowing the young elf had something up her sleeve.
Anuira turned to Solas again, pinning him with her ruthless sea green eyes. A smirk forming on her lips as she could see his pride warring with his longing for companionship. She loved to finally see the man squirm. To finally be able to make him feel as small and insignificant as he had always made her feel.
"Last we met you told me you would treasure the opportunity to be wrong again." she repeated her words from the beginning of their meeting.
"You were the one who so valiantly told me that sacrifices were a tragic necessity. Now that the sacrifice is your own power - instead of every living being in this world - you hesitate? You certainly live up to your name…" The last words were scoffed, mockingly at him as he lowered his head with a deep, defeated sigh.
"You are right. Once again my ignorance shames me. I will do as you ask." Solas managed to wheeze out of his constricting throat.
