Please note that my story will contain: Violence, Death, Torture, Racism, Rape, and Blood/Gore. If any of these things make you uncomfortable or trigger you I recommend you to no longer read my story. There will be no trigger warnings.
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Her bones ache, deep and constant. A throbbing is keeping her from falling back asleep. Dull murmur flows around her and for a moment, she can understand it. A creak, shifting and twisting, the words just brushing against her mind before fading. That is not normal. Eyes flying up, Arinda gasps loud and painful, her throat burns. Something touches her lips as they help her up, and she can't control as she gulps it down. Cool liquid and Elfroot potion mixed in. The potion is pulled away, the noise that leaves her is feral. "Easy there. You had us scared for a minute. Someone, get Wynne!"
Slowly, the young elf is lowered back down. The fuzziness in her vision fades. The person close to her comes into focus. Ryan stares at her. Worry, concern and guilt cover his features. "Don't move until she arrives." Warning her, he turns and whispers something to someone else. She doubts she could leave if she tried. A part of her feels like she shouldn't have survived. If she wasn't so familiar with the spirits, her magic, Purpose, that merged with her. If these things did not come to pass, the girl Arinda would not have endured.
"- heard you. I am coming as fast as I can. Do not rush me, young man!" A voice snaps. A weak 'sorry' follows, and this is when she notices she is in a tent. Wynne comes in and slowly sets herself next to the teen. There is a stern look upon her face and the woman's wrinkled hands glow as she looks her over "Be still, the damage in the ritual was rather extensive."
Ryan shies away "I'll let the others know she has awoken." The man stands up slowly. A wince shows and faintly the elf hears a pop.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Elondo made it very clear she survived." The words are said sharp and angry. The elder healer once more glares at the male and he hurries out. Rather quickly, she relaxes, her shoulders droop, but the glow remains and the cool sensation continues over the girl's body. It fades and her attention is drawn back to Wynne "I want you to follow my finger." Holding her pointer up, she holds it a foot away and moves it side to side.
The young elf does as told, following the finger. After a moment, the healer touches her head and pulls away. "There doesn't seem to be any more damage. Though your eyes are still red and irritated…" she trails off. At the face Arinda gives her Wynne laments "When you went through the alteration it put great strain on your body. The blood vessels in both eyes burst. You twisted so much you ended up breaking your hand and nearly died of blood loss…"
This has her shocked. Blood loss? Blinking slowly, she is helped so she may sit up. Once that is done Arinda is given a look, pity, but the old female. "I would prefer you rest, but we have been sitting here for nearly a day. We had to fight off two large groups of Darkspawn."
Grunting, she nods and shifts her limbs to get a feel. This brings attention to her body. She is only in pants and a wrap around her chest. Not embarrassed but confused, she looks at the woman. "As I said, you bled a lot." No really an answer but Arinda instead focuses on moving her body. Toes, fingers, and limbs. Everything is uncomfortable and feels tight, but after five minutes the elf manages to stand. Wynne helps put her armor on, lighter than usual.
Once she has everything on she feels ready to collapse. All of her usual armor isn't even on, mostly her leathers and only a metal over her chest. Her daggers were taken with a glower "You will only be using the bow for the next day or two. I don't want you to strain your body while trying to twist and fight in the thick of it." The words are spoken slow and at the moment she will listen. The elf has no energy to fight on this.
Coming out she blinks as she sees two small fires. At one sits Elondo, Leliana, Ryan and Zevran. Catching the young elf male's eye, she turns and heads towards Alistair, Sten, Morrigan and Oghren. Sitting down with a loud thud the teen winces as it rattles her bones. Before she can do much of anything else something is shoved in her face. Blinking she glances over and see's Alistair with full cheeks "You'll need this. It might not feel like it but you are starving." The man doesn't say anything else.
Taking the offered food, a bowl of stew, she nods in thanks and begins eating. There is no taste, which could just be with how bad the injury of her transformation was. The male next to her shifts and small chunks fall in, cheese. Peeking out of the corner of her eye; he gives her something like a smile but it doesn't reach her eyes. He rests a hand on her shoulder before standing up "I'll help Wynne with the tent. After you finish we need to move out. I'm sorry."
Turning to look back at the fire Arinda sighs and finishes the food. The cheese does help.
"You survived." Looking over she sees Morrigan looking at her. The gold eyes practically glowing against the fire. Giving the woman a blank look she is surprised that there is no snide remark or sarcastic words. Finally the witch lets out a breath "For better or worse."
Solemn silence stretches before everything is packed up. Standing up is painful and someone attempts to help her. But once she sees the mousy brown hair of Elondo she shoves him away and sneers "Don't touch me." An expression of hurt follows, but she turns away and follows after the others.
It is awkward for everyone but she really does not care. As they continue moving the tenseness within her joins loosen. The pain is still there but not as bone deep as before. Her steps become silent once more and she walks next to Alistair. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but I tried to stop them. Or have them talk to you about it. Being a Warden is honorable, but we never live long. It is something that will wear and tear over time… you are… you won't live for long." Sorrow coats his words.
A long sigh leaves the young elf at his words. They don't help her feel better. She can understand the sentiment to what Ryan and Elondo did. They still took away her choice, this is something she will be forced to live with for the rest of her brief life.
The walk is silent, they don't get very fair when something shifts in the air. Arinda tilts her head "Hold. Something is ahead, a manner of spirit I believe." From the dead or the fade she does not know. At the female's words, the group pulls their weapons out. Turning around the next bend the scent of ozone smacks into her and everything twists. Light appears; they have to separate fast when things descend upon them.
Arinda must fall and roll away to avoid a Large Sword in the shoulder. Her body pulses with pain, joints and limbs sore and tense. Still pulling out an arrow, she coats it in magic before letting it smash into the white spirit that is coming towards her. Swinging the bow out, the elf parries the dagger that is heading towards her side. The arrow in her hand is stabbed into the being and used to impale the thing going for Morrigan. Another arrow aimed and released. Minutes go by and the fighting is over with.
Walking around, she gathers her arrows and even grabs some of the Darkspawn's arrows. Now that she a Warden she won't have to worry about being infected. The thought is bittersweet. The brunet knows she can't stay mad at the other two, that will not stop her from showing the anger. Twirling one of the barbed black arrows from the creature, she turns and tilts her head. Catching sight of Alistair the teen speaks up "How much do you actually know about Archdemon's and the Blight? Other than history." Her words cause some of the others to look at her.
The dirty blond haired human furrows his brows while straightening "I can't say. I know they are supposedly old gods. I don't know how true that is. Whatever it is, Wardens are the only ones who can kill it." She nods in understanding. Even she isn't entirely sure what it is, not having looked into it too much. "Have you ever asked yourself why that is? That Warden's are the only being that can kill this creature." Turning, she stuffs the arrow into her quiver.
Her words give them pause. Ryan speaks up; walking closer to the young girl "What do you know?" Eyes narrowed at her she grins while glancing at the others of the team. Letting her eyes fall back onto the pseudo leader. Alistair comes next while Elondo drifts over lethargically. "I know a lot." She teases a bit maliciously. Not allowing them to speak up she leans back with her arms crossed. "When someone strikes a killing brow against the Archdemon, the old soul must go somewhere. If a normal person kills it, it can just jump to a Darkspawn or something." Speaking directly she flickers her gaze to see the others finishing up "If a Warden kills it… it will go into the closest blighted creature. Most couldn't handle it and they will die, taking the being with them. Pretty much you will have to die if you kill it."
The shock on their faces is rewarding; she sobers up quickly. She isn't the only person who lost something. Clenching her hands tightly she stares at the others, expression serious. "This was something the first Warden's learned. I personally don't know if there is a way to do it differently but that isn't to say we can't. For now our focus will be killing it, I will talk with Morrigan for an alternative way." At this she see's Alistair grimace. Smirking she walks past and pats his arm "Don't worry babe, we will try not to poke and prod at you too much." He squeaks with wide eyes "ME!?"
Laughing, she nods "You are the oldest Grey Warden, like I said. Don't worry." Hearing a groan behind her, the teen continues on. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Elondo take a step towards her but Ryan stops him and shakes his head. Good.
Oghren makes a loud sound and they all wander over. The short man is holding up a large tome looking thing. "I knew it! By my beard… It is her writing." The last part is spoken soft. Shifting around the others Arinda peers over the male's shoulder "Some of her notes I see…" There isn't much she can make out. The female writes like doctors in her old world.
Flipping through the pages the dwarf is careful, he finally stops. "She did find evidence of the Anvil! It is… Sodding balls… The Dead Trenches. It is somewhere past The Dead Trenches and… oh…" She can barely make out the male's name and she is quick to look away. That isn't for her eyes. Backing away, the girl makes her way over to Morrigan.
"I will need your help with something Morrigan." The golden eyes female tilts her head to show she is listening "To kill the Archdemon a Warden must give the final blow… in doing so the Old God soul will travel to and through them… Killing both in the process." Eyes widening, the elder glances quickly over to Ryan. Curious. "Between you and me, I believe we could create or find some other way to destroy the creature, or at least so the person does not die doing so." There are several silent moments. Nodding the pale witch looks back towards the younger "Mother had many grimoires that held darker magic. Perhaps she would have something that could aid us." ah yes. Her.
Before either can talk anymore they are called over. "Look's like we are heading to and past The Dead Trenches. It is crawling with darkspawn so I want everyone to be in groups. Alistair, Arinda, Wynne and Oghren. The second will be with me, Morrigan, Leliana and Ash. The last is Elondo, Zevran and Sten. We will have a Warden with each so that we can have an idea when and where any Darkspawn are coming. Is that understood?" Everyone nods. "Arinda and Alistair you are both in charge. I am the leader of the second group. Sten you will help Elondo in the third. Move out."
Oghren informs them they are close to The Dead Trenches. They all agree to stop and gather their stamina and rest. As she relaxes, massaging her sore muscles, the girl sees Elondo has hesitantly sat himself next to her. Not speaking up, Arinda puts her focus on getting the knots and pain from her legs. Wiggling her toes in the boots, the younger sighs and leans back. "I am sorry." Twisting at his hands he picks at his skin.
Dull eyes flick up at the words. "I shouldn't have forced you like that. It's just… I didn't want to lose you." Voice small, the long-haired brunet glances away. His ears seem to droop with shame. The youngest elf closes her eyes and breathes in and out. Fluttering them open once more, she turns and looks towards the male. This close, she can see the way his pallor is not what it once was. Guilt tries to claw its way up, but she does not allow it. "I am so sorry I didn't talk to you about it before." his words take on a pleading edge to them.
Sniffing, she knocks her head back against the hard wall behind her "You can apologize, it doesn't mean I will forgive you. At least not right away. I am still going to die from the Darkspawn taint Elondo. You didn't stop to think, did you? By the Warden's supposed oath I may not go home to my family, nor can I get involved with things like war or choosing a side." Not to say she will listen to them. This was not her choice and she won't let it stop her from going back to her family in Kirkwall. "It will take time to earn my trust." Silence follows. She feels a hand cup hers.
"I really do like you, Arinda. It was the only option I saw. I was selfish, please give me a chance." It takes a moment to get it. Blinking wide eyed at the boy she shows confusion and other emotions, "Are you really talking about… courting while we are in the ass end of Darkspawn town!?" the nerve of him. Flustered by what she said, the younger can feel his hand grip her own tighter, sweaty but firm. "Yes… Yes I am. Both you and Zev have been so honest in different ways to me. Unyielding and Fierce. I respect it. I am not a kid, even if I understand things differently than others. Just give me the chance to prove it."
Pressing her lips into a thin line, the young girl closes her eyes and pulls her hand away "How about we talk about this when we don't have old rotting bodies around us and aren't in danger of being shanked by a Shriek?" She stands up quickly, bewildered and thrown. Sitting herself next to Zevran, she ends up tilting into him a bit, but the tan man doesn't seem to mind. "That seemed to be a titillating conversation." Teasing the girl he bumps her shoulder with his own "Keep talking elf and I will make you unable to have children." Not even looking at the male, she takes the dried meat from his slack hand and pops it in her mouth.