"It would be easier to show you Solas's abilities throughout the centuries than to explain it," Dirthamen started when Hamin joined them.
"Show us?" Shianni asked. "Do you mean find him so he can attack us?"
Dirthamen laughed. "No." He looked at Hamin.
"Understood, I will stop any from disturbing you." He bowed his head and turned to the door.
"Each of you just needs to touch me." Dirthamen returned his gaze to those around him. "Then all will be made clear."
The keepers exchanged looks.
"Are you certain?" Hawen asked.
"I am still the same person you knew this morning, Keeper Hawen," Dirthamen pointed out. He gave them a soft smile. "Besides this won't work without contact. It will be hard enough the way I am planning to show you."
Hawen shifted.
Deshanna closed her eyes. It was as if his words were a blade to the gut. "Very well," the words fell from her lips as a strained breath. She placed a finger on his shoulder.
"Full hand, please, Keeper Deshanna."
Her gaze flickered away from him. She nodded and rested her hand against his shoulder.
Shianni hesitated before placing her hand beside Deshanna's.
Hawen took a deep breath. "If you're certain…"
"I am." Dirthamen met the keeper's gaze.
Hawen looked away before placing his hand on Dirthamen's other shoulder.
"You as well, Atisha."
Atisha bowed her head. She stood behind him and placed her hand beside Hawen's. Her eyes closed.
"Close your eyes." Dirthamen glanced at them.
The keepers closed their eyes.
"What?" Shianni asked.
"This won't work if your eyes are open."
Shianni frowned and glanced at Hamin. Her gaze flickered to the others around Dirthamen. She bowed her head, eyes closing.
Dirthamen closed his eyes. This would be easier if he could touch their temples, but he did only have two hands. He breathed.
The aravel dissolved around them, replaced by a darkness illuminated by lights twinkling like stars further they were from them. The lights closest to them were images of different places, different times. Some of the now, others of the past and future. Dampened sounds and soft remnants of scents drifted from the images closest to them.
"What is this place?" Shianni breathed, eyes wide as she looked at the images hovering in darkness.
"A less chaotic form of what I see at any given moment," Dirthamen explained.
"You mean you see all of this all the time?" Shianni mouth opened, gaze flickering from one image playing out to the next. "There are so many, how do you keep them all straight?"
"By ignoring them for the most part," Dirthamen explained. "If there is something important or directly affecting those around me, it will come to the forefront." He smiled. "Though this is far from the reason I am showing all of you this."
Atisha frowned. "You're muting some of your ability. This would affect your hearing, taste, smell, and touch as well. It's why there were small pools placed in every temple within your chambers, to dampen the effect."
Dirthamen chuckled. The sound felt hollow even to him. "True enough. As I stated, this is a far less chaotic version so as not to overwhelm all of you."
"You can see what Fen'Harel is doing then?" Hawen asked.
"I can."
"Then we don't really need a spy there, would we? We have you." Hawen tore his gaze from the images to Dirthamen.
"In theory, yes, I could. However, there are limits. If I wish to focus on events for long periods of time, I would have to close myself off to my surroundings. Much like we are doing now."
"Which is why Hamin is guarding the door," Atisha stated. "We can, while here, see if something is about to happen."
"Unless it will greatly affect or harm us, when we enter the moments in time I wish to show you, it will be harder to see what is directly affecting the camp," Dirthamen informed them. "In other words, my gifts do have drawbacks."
The keepers exchanged glances.
"It's no wonder you're a creator, though. What you can see at any given moment," Hawen trailed off with a shake of his head.
"This is how you're going to show us what the Dread Wolf can do?" Deshanna asked.
Dirthamen bowed his head. "To understand my blood family and Solas's full power, we should start at the beginning. Keep in mind, the moments are from eight thousand years or less in the past. It won't fully reflect Solas's abilities in the present."
"Couldn't you show us moments to come then?" Shianni asked.
"I could. However, in doing so it would set you to believe one future is more likely than another." Dirthamen thought on the moment he wanted to show them first. "This first image is from the Dark War against the forgotten. Solas wasn't yet at full power due to a lack of understanding around his own abilities."
An image moved from the mass towards them. Light enveloped the group.
The light increased before dimming in layers of dust and dark clouded skies. A green tint clung to the sky in the distance a darkness as black as the deepest night overpowered the Fade tinted world.
Nothing but dust stirred from the wind whipping out across the barren landscape.
"What is this?" Shianni breathed. She turned, taking in the change in scenery.
A blur of white shot over a boulder. The howling wind drown out sounds from the animal as it bounded in and out of sight. It soon came into view through the dust storm.
A massive white wolf. The fur was muted thanks to layers of dust clinging to the unnaturally white fur. Apart from the whiteness of the fur and size, many could have mistaken this for a natural wolf from a distance.
Yet, close two more details stood out. First, around the wolf's neck hung a familiar blackened half jaw of one of its kind. Leather wrapped around the jaw and allowed it hang from the wolf's neck. It was not as loose as it would have from around the elf who the neckless belonged, but loose enough so it didn't appear to be choking the wolf.
Then there were the wolf's eyes. They were grey, sharp with an intelligent glint in them.
The massive wolf slid down into a sheltered area in the rocks were Dirthamen and the others stood. Blood tapped against the dusty ground from a large gash on the wolf's shoulder and back.
The wolf shifted, its form shimmering as it moved forward. An elf appeared where the wolf had been stepping moments before.
"Fen'Harel," Hawen breathed. "And this world?" His gaze moved from the figure of a younger Solas to the landscape.
There were differences between the Solas they had seen and the one here. For one he had hair and another he looked to be in his twenties rather than forties.
Clicking filled the air, slicing through the howling wind.
Solas grimaced. He pulled the rough staff from his back, gaze flickering over the boulders.
Shadows leapt from the dust.
"Maker's breath!" Shianni jumped back.
Hawen and Deshanna backed up as if to protect Dirthamen.
"What is that?" Hawen's hand moved to his staff.
"It can't harm you," Dirthamen stated. "This blade of the shadow ones, or blade of the forgotten if you would rather, exist only as an image of the past."
The Blade straightened, skin drained of all but dark gray and black veins. It appeared akin to shriek among the darkspawn, but different. Its or his fingers had elongated, nails turned to blackened knives. His body was devoid of armor.
A rattling, clicking shriek filled the air. "At last," the words hissed from the blade as he lowered his head. "One of the elders, rip for the kill. You're mine."
"You'd think so." Solas grinned even as he went into a battle-ready stance. Solas backed up until he was backed into a corner.
Hawen frowned. "Why is he cornering himself?"
"You'll see."
Solas braced himself against the stone. A smear of blood coated the stone behind from where the wound touched the rock. His gaze flickered away from one blade to the boulders surrounding them.
More clicks sounded from around the rim.
Shianni shivered. "That sound is worse than the one made by Darkspawn." She rubbed her arms.
More blades leapt into the small sheltered space.
Solas's glanced over the new arrivals. He lowered his hand. Blood dripped from the tips of his dirt crusted fingers. Stone swirled around his fist.
"We have you now." The blades of shadows moved closer. It bared down on Solas. The tip of it's blade glittered in the little light. "Die, Elder!"
Black blood sprayed across ground and surrounding rock.
Thump! Dust ross around what little remained of the blade's body.
"Did he…" A small breath came from those around Dirthamen.
"He did," Dirthamen confirmed.
Solas had used the raw energy of the "Fade" to rip apart the body of his enemy.
"Which of you is next?" Solas smirked, the smile mirroring that of wolf's grin.
More blades charged.
They skidded back from a raw blast of magic. Small wisps of green light flickered from Solas's hand. He gritted his teeth.
Blood tapped against the ground. "Abyss's taint," Solas cursed.
"Uncle!"
A dark figure dropped through the dusty air in a blur of leathers. Bone flashed in the little light. It vanished into the skull of the enemy the figure landed on.
An owl appeared, diving after the figure. The owl landed near to Solas. It started to grow, shifting its form from an owl into…
"Creators, Falon'Din," Deshanna breathed.
"What happened to the trapping them plan?" Falon'Din demanded. "You went the wrong way."
Thump! Dust rose from where the dark figure had fallen flat on his back.
"Dirth!" Falon shout.
The figure vanished before a blade would have struck where he'd been. He reappeared next to Falon'Din in the same heartbeat.
"Are you all right, brother?" Falon glanced at Dirth even as he moved as if to guard both Dirth and Solas.
"Fine," Dirth replied.
"Wait," a small smile appeared on Hawen's face. His look was mirrored by Deshanna. "Is that your younger self?"
Dirthamen bowed his head.
"Good." Falon nodded.
Falon shot fire towards the approaching enemy. He charged, spinning a crude scythe around. The rough blade sliced into the arm of an enemy.
A shriek filled the air.
"Abyss's taint!" Falon exclaimed. "More are coming."
"Which is why I said not to fly," Solas growled.
"Oh." Falon twisted and slashed through the arm of the blade he was fighting. "Makes sense."
Dirth was binding Solas's injured arm with a few torn pieces of hide. Solas fired a few shots of lightning with his free hand.
Falon leapt back. "Uncle, use your bow thingy. It will get rid of the reinforcements."
"Yes, I'll get right on that," he stated as he shot another wave of lightning towards the enemy.
"I can stabilize your grip," Dirth's voice was small compared to the other two.
"Whoa! I never said that, Dirth. The bow doesn't like you." Falon's eyes widened until the white dominated the eyes. "Bad idea! Not happening!"
"I won't touch it, just help Uncle."
"Focus, Falon."
"Fine, fine." Falon turned back to the enemy. "I'll keep them back, but don't even think about touching the bow, Dirth."
Dirth bowed his head.
"What would happen if you touched it?" Hawen asked as Solas and Dirthamen's younger got into position.
A simple recurve bow materialized in Solas's hands.
"It would rip apart my hands," Dirthamen stated.
"What?!" both Hawen and Deshanna exclaimed. "Then why are you helping him?" Deshanna demanded.
"It was the surest means to wipe out the enemy at the time. Falon had barely awoken to his abilities and I didn't have Fear and Deceit for wider ranged attacks. Thus Solas's Bow of the Slow Arrow, was really the only option left to us."
Solas hefted the bow. "Just brace and help with the drawing, Dirth. I can do most of the drawing of the bow."
Dirth stepped in behind Solas. He took Solas's hand on the string with both of his. "Ready."
Solas nodded.
They drew back Solas's hand. A green arrow appeared.
"Release!" Solas ordered.
Dirth released Solas's hand in the same moment Solas let go of the string. The arrow vanished into the sky.
The dusty air was ripped asunder. Green light flooded the space. Massive boulders raced from the sky, blazing with the familiar green fire.
The enemy backed away, clicking in fear. They leapt up the boulders.
"No, you don't!" Falon leapt. His scythe sank into the back of one of the Blades of the Shadow Ones.
"Let's see what he did," Dirthamen stated.
The world blurred. It steadied itself a few miles from where they had stood before. They were now hovering in the sky.
"What the," Shianni breathed.
Below a massive group of the blades were raced over the barren land.
A flash appeared in the sky near to where Dirthamen and the others stood.
The sky was torn once more.
The boulders slammed into the enemy below. They left nothing alive in the wake. Only craters remained where the blades had been marching moments before.
"What?" Shianni had her hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
Hawen stared at the ground.
"This is," Deshanna breathed.
"What are," Hawen started, "the other creators capable of?" He tore his gaze from Dirthamen. "Can you show us?"
Dirthamen bowed his head. The dusty, scarred landscaped dissolved into darkness. Soon they were back in the chaotic version of what he saw.
It would go faster to give them a run down a few examples. Still, the first vision was what had originally been asked for. "Very well, I can show and summarize what the others could before the fall of Elvhenan."
Hawen bowed. "Ma serannas, Dirthamen."
A figure appeared in the space. He wore extravagant robes, the base of which were white. Reds, yellows, and oranges were placed over the white towards the center of the robes and gold trimmed the robes. A solid gold sun framed his head.
The man's long, golden hair fell down his back and his amber gaze was locked on them. His features were stern, almost narrow.
"This is Elgar'nan," Dirthamen explained.
"Or legends say he pulled down the sun into earth," Deshanna stated.
"His abilities were those of fire, lava, and plasma," Dirthamen started. "When he awoke to his abilities, he destroyed the part of the mount he and Solas had been standing moments before. Solas only just managed to be unharmed by throwing up a barrier around himself when it happened.
"Elgar'nan preferred style was close range combat supplemented with his long-ranged fire and plasma attacks. He was well known for coating his body in fire and lava until he turned the ground under him to glass. His long-ranged abilities were known to sear scars into the ground or even wipeout life around him, searing it until only ashes remained."
"He sounds destructive," Shianni commented.
"He was," Dirthamen stated.
"He is the god of vengeance and fatherhood," Hawen pointed out. "As for the searing everything to ash, this has been known in our stories for ages now. It was also said he has abilities over light and lightning."
Dirthamen bowed his head. "He does. However, he preferred his abilities over fire when in combat. He used his ability to cause flashes of light to blind his enemy and lightning to enhance his fire abilities."
Hawen frowned.
Deshanna moved closer to the image of Elgar'nan. A frown also pulled at her lips. "It would have been nice to meet him to see his abilities firsthand."
No, it really wouldn't have been.
"He has a very nasty temper," Dirthamen stated. Then there was the fact he would always view normal members of the People as beneath him. Dirthamen wouldn't say anything like this given how they were viewed in the People's eyes.
The image of Elgar'nan dissolved into the surrounding area. Solas replaced him, but not dressed as he had been in the last vision or even as he had been while with the Inquisition. Rather he wore his entire set of armor June had crafted him before the full split among the nine of them. This includes the wolf head cowl and elegant staff he was missing in this time. More because Dirthamen had taken them from Solas after he had fallen into uthenera.
"Solas is Elgar'nan's younger twin brother," Dirthamen started. "According to him and Elgar'nan they were born only minutes apart. Where Elgar'nan tended to use his strength and temper, Solas was more level headed and calmer. He used cunning to outwit those he fought against, especially later in life.
"Before the split, he was known by the People as the Dream Guardian for his abilities to keep them safe while they slept. This is where most of the stories about him in the dreams and nightmares of the People came from.
"Where Elgar'nan's domain would be considered light and the sun, Solas is dreams and the Fade. While in the Fade, there is no dream alive or ever to have existed who can match him. His abilities stim beyond that of a rift mage. He tends to use his abilities to strike fear in the enemy in order to win the battle just as it starts.
"He was the one who created the start of the barrier between the world in the Abyss at the end of the Dark War against the Forgotten Ones. Twenty thousand years ago, he created the Veil to seal away the others."
"What?" Shianni gasped. "But the Veil has always been there."
Dirthamen smiled at the girl. "I wish they had been; it would make the idea of tearing it down to remake Elvhenan an impossible one."
"If he created the Veil, then why can't he just tear it down now?" Hawen asked, frowning.
"He's not at full power. Given a century or so of being awake and he will be close enough to the levels he was when he first created the Veil."
"That long, he'd be dead by then, right? So, we have nothing to worry about?" Shianni breath. "Thank the Maker."
"Apologies, Hahren Shianni, but no."
"No? But you just said…"
Dirthamen held up his hand. "Yes, under normal circumstances, it would take one of us a century to regain our full powers after being in uthenera for so long, but you misunderstand something."
"What?"
"We aren't affected by the quickening."
Hawen's and Deshanna's eyes widened. Shianni gaped.
"Meaning all nine of us will never age passed what we appear as physically in the images I am showing you or as I appear now. I've remained appearing twenty-five since I turned twenty-five. Solas only aged from his twenties because of the adverse effects the Abyss had on him when he sealed away the Forgotten.
"Then there is also the fact the Inquisition had to track down and speak with Mythal for her aid against Corypheus which in turn led Solas to being able to find her after the fighting had ended."
"Mythal's awake!" Hawen stepped forward. "Then we should find her as well."
"She can't do much to aid us without a physical form," Dirthamen stated.
"What?" Deshanna frowned.
"After Solas found her, he took the power she had amassed since being awake and," – Dirthamen's lips twitched – "alive this entire time. Which makes more of a hypocrite then anything else."
"So he can tear down the Veil then?" Shianni was shaking.
Dirthamen shook his head.
Deshanna was frowning.
"Mythal's abilities helped with regaining some of his strength but it was also a good move to start to isolate himself and make it harder for people to get in close to stop him."
"How so?" Hawen asked.
"How is the Fen'Harel a hypocrite?" Deshanna asked before Dirthamen could answer Hawen's question.
Dirthamen sighed and rubbed his eyes. "He imprisoned the other seven for the murder of Mythal's physical form."
The two keepers stared at him.
Shianni frowned. "But you just said you can't die, right?"
"You misunderstand," Atisha spoke this time. "The creators have near mortal forms, as stated before. Dirthamen's current health state is because of his fact. Yet, when all but my master's natural state is killed, they don't die. Mythal would have been reduced to the purest form herself, a sort of spirit. She could then in turn inhabit other bodies but could never be destroyed. Her powers could be reset but not fully taken.
"If Dirthamen is killed, rather being reduced to this state of being, his abilities to reset time on himself would kick in and his mind would be returned to a point in time before his death." Atisha paused. "From my understanding it, the resets aren't far back in time, at most a day." She looked at Dirthamen.
Dirthamen bowed his head.
"What the other seven did was take Mythal out of the picture for a time in order to stop, as Falon'Din put it 'Her meddling in their affairs,'" Atisha continued. "But for this to work, Elgar'nan had to remove another from position to act against them."
"Who?" Shianni asked.
Atisha looked at Dirthamen
"Me." Dirthamen gave a small smile.
(Author's Notes: Originally, I wanted to go over all of the nine's abilities, but the story sort of took another turn with the conversation. Oh well, let them go where they want to in conversation.
Also, I am really behind in fanfictions because from October through November I was working on my book. I started this chapter at the start of December. So happy holidays and new year everyone!)