Chapter Four
Night Terrors and Hunting Grounds
"Hold here, Shem. These ones can pass, but your order is not welcome." The Hunter at the entrance said, allowing Merrill, Hawke, Varric, Fenris, Isabela and myself passage, but keeping the Templars out.
"We know. Lady Cousland told us as much. We will not bother you," Axel bowed his head to the Hunter, causing them to look to me in shock. I smiled and headed toward Marethari.
"Thank you for coming so quickly, Dirth'len, as you said when you brought Feynriel to us 3 years ago; he is in need of your help now."
Merrill looked startled, "Child of Secrets or Secret one… Lethallan, you've been given a title! You are Vhenallin; friend of the people!" I gave her a small smile.
"Is the ritual ready, Marethari? It will be Hawke, Fenris, Isabela and I going into the Fade to assist Feynriel." She nodded and led us to her Aravel. She had us all lay down, holding hands. Bela, being Bela, snuggled up to my right with Hawke on her other side and Fenris on my left.
I was the first to wake in the Fade, followed closely by Hawke, then Fenris and Bela.
Without a word, I began forward, and the others followed. When we got to the first… obstacle, I was more amused than anything, by the fact that Fenris refused to let go of my hand.
"Well… it is rare to see two forgotten magics in a single day. It's usually a slow place – the Fade – not many surprises. I wasn't sure I'd like this one but it has… potential."
I looked to the shade before us. It was 7'6 even as it hunched forward like Quasimodo in the 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'. The shades voice oozed like a smooth drip and was reminiscent of molasses with how slow it spoke. Its skin was pulsing purple veins covered in torn brown cloth, and it had only one purple eye that glowed like light in fog. Torpor, I remembered it was called, had two arms, but no legs. It floated of the ground.
Fenris gripped my hand tightly, saying, "Do not trust it; it will lure you in if it can, Hawke."
"I never thought demons were the chit-chat types!" Isabela chuckled.
I giggled and the Demon turned to me. "Call me… Torpor. I might have a proposition that would interest you."
I rolled my eyes. "You want the boy, but he is under my protection. I have slain many of your kind, demon; I have no want for Power, Coin, Magic or Strength!"
"No… you desire the love of…" I cut him off. "Love is only love if it is not forced, Torpor! We make no deal with the likes of you!"
"Have it your way," his voice dripped in an uncaring manner as he attacked. 3 other shades and a rage demon rose around us as we fought them.
"Well… I am mildly hurt it didn't try to deal with me; not that I would have accepted but damn." Hawke pouted.
"I'm sorry, dear, do you see these wings? They're bright enough that I couldn't help but eclipse you as a potential Vessel." It was true. As with my last venture in the Fade, my wings were out in full force.
"… Fair enough, I suppose!"
As we entered the second area, I was pushed forward and the others vanished. I believe it was because I was female, like Arianni, but I wouldn't know for sure until the next trial.
I approached Feynriel, who was studying at a desk with Vincento.
"That's it, Feynriel. Hard on the down-stroke, then lift. Good! I will have you scribing all my letters soon. If I'd known you were such a bright lad, I'd have brought you into the buissness years ago." The demon praised in Vincentos Antivan accent.
"Does this mean I can come with you to Antiva, Father? Mother said maybe this summer… right Mother?" I admit, having the young version of Feynriel looking at me like that, calling me mother, hurt like hell and made me very angry at the Demon for it.
"Don't trust him, hun. Your father never wanted anything to do with you, much as I hate to say it."
Feynriel looked directly at the man, "Why are you lying to me?"
"Don't listen, son; she's always been ashamed of you. She wanted you gone so that she could go back to the Dalish. I'm the one who loves you," the Demon shot me a glare as Feynriel looked sad.
"If that were true… why can't I remember you?"
"I'm sorry, Feynriel, but it's a trick. He only wants something from you." I sighed.
"Why…? That's right; I spent my whole childhood waiting for you!" Feynriel shouted, angry.
"Your mother never allowed…"
"My mother loves me. She showed me the letters she wrote to you, I was there when we mailed them… you never wrote back. And it was mother who taught me to write, not you! I've never met you before… who are you?"
Feynriel manipulated the fade, even as the demon was trying to keep it solid saying, "Don't… question…"
When the Desire demon was revealed, light purple skin, wearing nothing but her horns and gold chains, Feynriel shouted and ran off.
Everyone was instantly brought back to me.
"You! You turned him against me."
I snorted, "Not like you were powerful enough to keep him anyway."
She thought for a moment before turning a brilliant smile on Isabela. "Would your Pirate Queen stay if the open water beckoned? What do you say sweetheart? A two mast brigantine, square-main topsail… a hundred well-built lads to answer your every whim; I know you've been looking for a stiff masthead."
I chuckled as Hawke and Fenris looked at me in disbelief – why would I bring someone who would succumb.
"Well, Bela, I can't beat that… should I turn around now to let you stab me in the back, or would you rather it be a surprise?"
"You are just the sweetest."
"The 'Sirens Call Two' waits in Kirkwall harbor; I'll be under the furs in the Captains quarters."
I chuckled as Isabela looked at me and shrugged, "I like big boats… I cannot lie," and attacked.
When she was beaten and we were alone again, the boys turned to me, "Did you know she would…?"
"One thing you must know about the Fade, it that it is always changing. You can never truly predict anything about it. Last time I was in the Fade, we acquired a spirit of Justice and killed a centuries old Baroness."
I knew they took that to mean that I didn't, but I couldn't tell them otherwise.
In the next room, it was Hawke who was pushed forward – so yes, it was a gender thing. But Fenris and I were still fully able to watch what happened.
Hawke now looked like Orsino, I assumed. He was only 5'4 with balding grey-white hair, pale skin, pointed ears, and bright green eyes. He wore the robes of the first enchanter with a three headed dragon staff.
I heard the demon speak, "My people, I present to you… our hope. His features my mark him as human, but in his heart beats the blood of the Dales! He came to us to learn his heritage; to release the power from a lineage as ancient as our race!"
"I… I don't know what to say…" Feynriel looked older now.
Hawke spoke up, "That is not the Keeper, Feynriel. Demons can take other forms."
"He lies! The First Enchanter is a pawn of the Templars!" the Marethari clone shouted.
Feynriel scoffed, "Enough, Demon! Keeper Marethari warned me of this; mother's people have no Circle but they refuse to consort with demons." And just like that, Feynriel was once again gone. The image around us blurred and I could move once more.
The clone looked to Hawke, "Why did you interfere?" before turning into a 16 foot, ugly purple pride demon.
"With my power, Feynriel would have changed the world!"
"Um, have you seen an Abomination? They are ug-ly," Hawke sneered.
"You put such stock in appearances? Perhaps that is why your friends' loyalty is only skin-deep! You think this slave would choose you over true freedom?"
Fenris growled and released my hand, "Cast your eyes elsewhere demon. I won my freedom from the Magisters long ago."
"But you fear them still; they have left their marks upon your body and your mind. With my aide, you could be free forever! You could have power enough to not only challenge any who would dare think to chain you, but to protect this one as well. The Magisters would love such a… fetching slave." I did not see that coming. The demon was pointing at me as my jaw hit the floor.
"I need no protection, love. I've been free for…" The Demon was muting my words; Fenris couldn't hear me, only see the horror on my face.
"What… what would you want of me?" Fenris sounded slightly hesitant.
"A moment of your time, nothing more."
"If you realize my attachment to her, you know I won't hurt her."
"I would not ask it."
And so Fenris attacked Hawke. I was crying as I plunged a dagger into Fenris neck. I knew he'd be okay, and said as much after Hawke finished off the Pride Demon.
"You really didn't predict this. You'd never put Fenris in a position to possibly kill you." He was right. I had thought that Fenris would resist with me here. I had pushed him into it instead.
We trudged back to the main area to talk with Feynriel.
"I'm not sure if this is real; if it is, then I owe you my life… again. The fade seems different now; I can see the seams, the stitches holding it together. I feel as if I could wake at any moment."
"Dreamers control the Fade and the dreams of people in it." Hawke explained.
"I see why the Chantry fears us. I've heard tales of Magisters who stalked their enemies and used their dreams against them. I must master it; I have to find someone to study under. Perhaps in Tevinter; if these powers can be trained, it would be there. Can you give my mother my farewell?"
I hugged him and said, "Look for House Pavus. One day I will be friends with the son, Dorian, so I know their house does not use Blood Magic."
He nodded. Then he was gone, and we woke up.
A while later, I heard Fenris and Isabela near Hawke and I. "I must apologize for my weakness. I would have thought myself above such influences."
"Does this mean I'm not getting my ship? Bugger it all!"
I gave a small smile before launching myself into Fenris' arms. "Never put me in a position to have to kill you again? I can't handle it, love." He was startled when he caught me, and I saw the Templars near the entrance flinch – I could hear Axel thinking of Cullens' feelings in this.
Fenris leaned in and kissed me, shocking the hell out of me. I kissed him back. I had over-heard Fenris tell Isabela that I hadn't predicted the betrayals so she and Hawke would be having a talk later.
She ambled off to stand with Hawke and Merrill as they asked for the tool to fix the Mirror.
Fenris sat and pulled me into his lap. "I… have been thinking about it, the Fade. That a demon could have played so easily on my fears… disturbs me. I failed you both, and I won't let that happen again."
"I'm sorry, my love, have you seen that I'm still friends with Anders? Everyone gets at least one free possession before I begin to hold it against them."
He chuckled in my ear, "Hawke said something similar, you know."
"Damn… I was hoping he'd wait to talk to you till I had my chance… I love you, Fenris. You don't need to protect me, you know. Slavers will likely pay you to take me back; my own parents joked that anyone who kidnapped me deserved it."
He let out a full belly laugh causing Hawke to wander over.
"What did you say to get a laugh from him?"
"Ransom of Red Chief. Boy gets kidnapped and not long after they try to pay the father to take him back. My mother used to joke that anyone who kidnapped me deserved it and that she wouldn't be paid to take me back."
Hawke snorted before laughing as Bela did the same. I heard a curious small voice ask, "Would you tell us the whole story?" I turned to find a small boy looking at me wide eyed.
I smiled, "Sure! As soon as we get back from the Varterral Hunting Ground, I'll sit here and tell 'The Ransom of Red Chief' for anyone who wants to hear it."
The boy smiled and took off to tell other people.
The first enemies we had in the Cave were spiders. I really hated spiders, use to fear them, but haven't since coming to Thedas. My Topaz sending stone warmed. "Alistair?" I asked.
"Love; I have a bit of bad news. My advisors won't allow me to come to Kirkwall while the Qunari are steadily getting more hostile…"
I sighed, "I figured. I'll have to find someone to sleep with soon though. It's getting to be a real pain always being so horny with no one to scratch the itch."
He laughed, "Ask your Knight-Captain… or Fenris. I'm sure one of them will oblige."
"What do you say Fenris?"
He snorted, "Perhaps."
"And I broke things off with Cullen, love. He didn't know about my Magic, and that would be unfair of me; to continue something when he didn't know…"
"Oh… well, does he know now?"
"Oh he knows. I have a mini-barracks set up in our home – we have 4 Templars living there. Cullen has his own room-slash-office and the second dining room has been converted into a four man room."
"They can't do that!"
"I allowed it."
"Oh. Well as long as you're okay with it, then."
"I'll talk to you later, my love… be safe?"
"For you? Always, my wife."
"Well… this sucks," I sighed as I cut the connection. "And not in the fun way," Bela nodded.
I was making sure to collect amulets from the fallen hunters; Radha, Harshal, and Chandan really were the only 3 hunters, and their locations were exactly the same as in the game. It took us and hour and half to clear the way to where Pol was hiding.
"Pol, it's safe! Keeper Marethari sent us!" I shouted, causing Merrill to look at me wide eyed as the red-headed elf stepped from the shadows. I was surprised to find he wore no Vallaslin – I thought that had just been an oversight in the game.
"Praise Andrast… I mean the Creators! I thought I'd never get out of…" that's when Merrill stepped forward and Pol froze in his tracks.
"Aneth Ara, Pol; are you hurt? We have some potions…"
"Stay back! What do you want from me?!" he shouted in obvious fear.
Everyone looked between him and Merrill.
"Pol, what is it? I'm only trying to help…"
"Stay back, don't touch me!"
Hawke spoke up, this time. "You know Merrill couldn't hurt you if she tried; the worst she could do is make frowny faces…" Fenris snorted, "Ara said much the same when we first met her." I grinned.
"No; don't you know what she is? Creators, someone help me!" and he turned on his heel and took off.
"Pol! We have to catch him; hurry!" Merrill took off after the scared boy.
We all ran forward, but didn't make it more than 20 paces when we heard, thuck-thuck-thuck of the Varterral moving toward Pol. I grabbed Merrill and covered her eyes as we watched the beast lean down and snap the elf up.
The Varterral was… icky. It had 5 legs; two on either side and one coming from its butt area. It was all limbs no fat. Each leg was like a giant skewer and its head had two appendages coming out of it… they were hands. It was grey like rock except for its underbelly and 'webbing' on its knee joints – those were honey colored.
When the fight was over, Merrill rushed over to Pol, "Maybe… maybe it's not too late. Ara, Hawke, you can save him can't you?"
Hawke took a small step forward, but I shook my head. "I'm sorry Merrill; this was his time. We couldn't have saved him…"
"But… surly you knew he would…"
"I did know, and I checked what would happen if we saved him… Merrill, it was him or that little boy that wanted me to tell a story to the Clan. And it wouldn't have been peaceful for the boy. He would have slipped into the main fire, Merrill. I will never sacrifice a child for someone else. Not if I can help it."
Merrill sobbed as Fenris wrapped his arm around me.
"There was nothing you could have done Merrill… the blame for his death rests on the Keepers shoulders."
"The… the keeper?" Merrill asked.
"Did you not see the way everyone looked at you in camp? How they whispered about you behind their hands? Marethari has been telling them about blood magic and what it could lead to as though you have already been possessed."
She looked so lost.
We left the cavern and Hawke and Merrill approached the Keeper. I wandered over to the fire where the whole clan was gathering, they'd even allowed my Templar guards in for the tale.
"This is the Tale of boy, who was kidnapped from the city he lived in by criminals, they took him to a nearby cave and waited for signs that people were looking for him. As they waited, they devised a way to keep the boy calm – he had been a pain, you see, always hitting and yelling. They allowed him to play at being a Tribal Chief named Red Chief. The boy was so horrible that by the third day, they didn't even care that there was no sign of people looking for the boy; they sent the ransom note anyway, asking 200 Sovereigns. They received no response until the next afternoon, and when they did, it was not what they were hoping for at all! The note said, Gentlemen: I received your letter about the ransom you ask for the return of my son. I think you are a little high in your demands. I hereby make you a counter-proposal, which I believe you will accept. You bring Johnny home and pay me 50 Sovereigns, and I agree to take him off your hands. You had better come at night because the neighbors believe he is lost. And, I could not be responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw bringing him back. Very respectfully, and was signed by the boys' father. Well by this point, the kidnappers were fed up with the boy who now called himself Red Chief, and gathered both the boy and the money and returned the boy to his father in the cover of night. No one knows what became of these two thieves save that they likely never took another child hostage again."
At least I could still tell stories…
"That was a wonderful tale, Dirth'len; thank you for telling it to us," Ilen smiled at me as Axel laughed.
"Knight-Captain Cullen might like that one, My Lady."
"I have no doubt he might, Axel. Now, we must be off, Keeper, before it grows too dark for travel."
"Dareth Shiral, Da'len."
