Part 3

Darkness, what once creeped up on me like a burning flame, was now calm, cool, and it washed over me like water. I felt at home with the shadows again. The hushed whispers of promised torment, now quieted, just a nice peaceful quiet state of mind. And my dreams were pleasant, for I had not had a good dream since Zevran left. I never really did get the hang of blocking out darkspwan nightmares, I grew used to mi amor chasing them away with his mere presents.

I could stand tall and fight anything with my assassin by my side.

All was quiet and I was happy, something I have not felt in years, and it felt foreign to me. I smiled as I dreamt about being reunited with Zevran and introducing him to little Darren. I dreamt of us three walking Antiva's beach shores at sunset, bare feet meeting sand, watching both of my boys with a smile, father and son splashing water at one another. My heart ached then, a longing I wish for, that was how I knew this wasn't real.

If I find out I am trapped in the fade once more, I'm becoming a professional demon hunter. I thought as the world around me dissolved.

My eyes flashed open as the thought ended, the blurry white celling coming to focus, however I did not recognize the shading of sunlight around me. I slowly tried to sit up only to be met with a sluggish movement and heaviness in my limbs. My confusion only lasted for a moment when I heard movement coming from my right.

"Good, you're up." Her eyes met the Talon's as he shifted in the chair by the bedside. "We were starting to think something went wrong after all."

I started to ask what he meant when the scratching in my throat startled me, it felt like burning dwarven alcohol of the questionable kind going down my throat. Thankfully Viago handed me a cup of water to help quell it, after a few sips I felt like I could talk again. "How long was I out? What did I miss?"

The Crow sat back down in his spot, closing a book she guessed he had been idly reading. "You've been asleep for three days. As for the second, that depends on how much you remember."

Alessa gently held the cup as she sat crisscrossed, the silk blanket wrapped around her frame. "I remember falling behind when my slow steps failed, and I fell before I could get to the doors where you were. I don't remember much after that. Just a presence helping me to someplace cool. I thought I heard whispers, but they weren't like the dark ones, it was calming and… maybe in Antivan?"

"Yes, I got you to the well here in the Crow's Temple with little time to spare, the High Guardian is the one you probably heard." Viago explained when I gave him a sheepish look, for I didn't think he would believe my rambling. But... wait, the Crow's Temple?! "Anything more?"

I sighed, not sure if I should explain the feeling I had after and the visions. Were they visions or real?

"Well, I then remember feeling calm, almost tranquil, then it was like the world exploded and the burning intensified. It was like the Joining all over again. I felt the darkness consuming me, it was leaving but trying to pull me down too. The whispers where no longer whispers, they screamed at me." I casted my eyes down to my shaking hands, glad that I had drank the water. But the red lines on my forearms confirmed that my nightmare was real. "It felt like my arms were being torn. I'm guessing that was real."

The Talon at her side sighed, but it was not him that answered her statement.

"You are half right my dear." A light tan skinned older man with greying hair said at the door. His white, grey, and red outfit was unusual, for it looked noble but something a priest would wear too. The air around him spoke of danger, yet he was calm and collected. It made Alessa cautious.

"Am I? I know what I felt, just not what I saw or heard."

The man smiled, not in an unkind way, as he took a few steps towards her. He gently took one of her hands as he placed the other on top. "I do not doubt you, Alessa Tabris, Hero of Ferelden. Allow me to say it is an honor to meet you."

"The honor is mine, if one is to believe, you are to thank for helping me?"

"My apologies, I am High Guardian of the Temple, and the one who helped cure you so to speak. Please, if you have any questions, I will be happy to assist." I noticed out of the corner of my eye Viago's narrowed ones. "For now, I must return to my duties, make yourself at home till you are ready to fly. There's no rush."

I watched as the Guardian left and could not help but feel like I was in the middle of a feud of sorts… or a game. Possibly both. The Talon's glare never lessened once for the brief chat we had. Good job Tabris, what did you get yourself into this time?

Three weeks later I found myself looking out the carriage windows as I spot the villa in the distance. Viago sat in front of me with a masked look, even if he was happy to be home in Salle once more. The past few weeks of traveling had been taxing for the both of us as we took turns driving the dracolisk carriage, that was until the impatient Crow decided to take a small detour to Seleny. From there he rented a horse carriage with a driver to take us the rest of the way. I was too tired and sore to argue, not when I was still getting my bearings back from the Temple. But he spoke little since I had woken up, not that he was one to make idle chit chat.

I now understood why I was out for the count for three says, for Viago said that I was cured from the Taint and all its corruption cleansed from my veins. I could scarcely believe what I was hearing, I was technically no longer a Warden, the second one to have been cured. And I was told to keep quiet, for the Temple was scared and not to be known by anyone outside the small circle of Crows who did. But it left me with more questions then answers.

But, after such an even and only to get a few days to be up and moving? Damn Viago.

I sighed in relief as the carriage came to a stop, the driver hopping down to open the door. A few of the sentries that guarded the villa during the day stood at attention in a line at the entrance of the villa's gate. When their Talon stepped out and walked by, they bowed their heads in respect. A formal welcome home yes? I thought as I collected my new brown leather travel backpack. The Crows stayed that way till I walked by them, which surprised me greatly. What made me frown a bit was when I passed Steffen and Ramon, they did not glance up. The normal calm, cool weapons trainer and the jokester smile of my friend were now gone, replaced by the typical mask the other assassins wore.

I kept my thoughts to myself as I followed Viago up the stairs to the front doors.

The master poisoner said not a word as he made his way to his office, I took this as a dismissal and went to the stairs that led to the second floor. I placed my hand on the spiral wood railing as I walked up them. Down the hall to the far room on the left, I slowly opened my door and quietly slipped inside. In the span of almost a month nothing had changed, except for the smell of freshly cleaned sheets, and folded bath towel and clothes. All for easing the stress of traveling from one's self.

I heard a knock on my door as I started to unpack. "Come in." I glanced over my shoulder as Ramon walker in, his smile not quite reaching his face. Steffen's silent shadow politely stayed by the door as he waited for me to give the ok.

"Ramon, Steffen," I smiled softly at my friend and guardian, "it's good to see you both again."

"I should be saying that to you pequena ave, for you look far better now than when you left." The Rivain made himself comfy in the chair by the desk. "You had a few of us worried for a moment."

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to, you know. It wasn't something I could control" I tried to hide my discomfort by messing with the pack, petting the soft rabbit fur liner. I only got so far into thinking how childish I was being when different hand stilled my restless ones. When I looked up, I saw that Steffen's mask had soften.

"We know." His brown eyes showing how sincere his was. "But that didn't make it any easier for those witnessing it."

"Life of a Warden." I huffed in bitter amusement. "Apart of the job."

"And you aren't one anymore."

"You know then?" His statement made me do a double take. I had not expected him to know right then, maybe in a few hours? Or till Viago told him?

"Yes, we got a messenger bird a few days ago with a brief update that you were alive, that could only mean one thing." He shrugged as he took a step back.

"The Talon sent one while you two were in Seleny." Ramon said as he held a grin that didn't look convincing. "Guess you are still stuck with us for a little while longer, si?"

"Oh, that explains why everyone was prepared so quickly." I gave him a curious sideways look. "Which reminds me; why were you both so formal with me?"

In an instant cool mask slipped back into place, gone was the warmth of Steffen's soft touch or Ramon's joking remark. The weapon's trainer answered in a clipped tone. "It was out of respect, Alessa. You were in the presence of a Talon, it was only polite to wait for all parties to enter before we, the guards do."

I shook my head in confusion. "I don't understand I – "

"It is nothing to worry about." He nodded to me. "We shall leave you to unpack and relax. Again, it is good to see you well." And with that he gestured to his fellow Crow and left, closing the door behind him on the way out.

I stood there for Maker knew how long before I turned back to repacking, not really catching what was going on. But one thing was for certain, the moment I woke up it was like everything was turned upside down.

Maker, what did I do?

Author's Note

Ok guys and girls, this is the last part for Blood Price :) however I had plenty more to upload so no worries! But for future chapters what do you guys think; when Alessa is finally reunited with little Darren, would ya'll like to see how Viago meets him too? Would you like to see maybe a possible Origins companion? I have it set up, but not completely detailed out.

Anyways, next chapter will be up sometime in the beginning of next week, classes are almost done with so that means more writing!