Chapter #1: Dawn In A New World
Orion
The image before him was of two humanoid look creatures, strange considering he was looking into a mirror where he should only be seeing what he considered to be a handsome reflection of himself. Orion had just come back from the gym after spending over an hour working out his muscles to maintain his physique. It wasn't that he was so tired that he was hallucinating, but as he reached out to touch the mirror, his fingertips sent ripples as if it were some sort of liquid.
His heart began to race and he tried to rip back his fingers, but they refused to budge. The two in the mirror both looked panicked themselves, a sword and bow were drawn, both meant for him and he knew it, yet there was something strangely familiar about the two, and the place they were standing.
"No no no no! This isn't happening… It's a dream!" He yelled, but he was alone in his apartment, slowly being sucked into his mirror not matter how much he struggled. He gave one final, last gasp struggle before he began feeling exceedingly tired. Eyelids slipped down blocking his view as an explosion rendered him motionless. The last thing he remembered was the cold ground that welcomed his warm, recently showered skin.
Waking with what felt like a hammering hangover, Orion tried to think back to what he'd done. How much did I drink to get this bad? Fuuuck, tell me I'm not in some strangers bed. But that was the least of his worries, for when he opened his eyes he didn't find himself in a room, not one that would have been his first choice, not one that he liked either. The place he found himself faltered and the would be walls rippled as the wind blew against it. A tent? He asked himself before pushing himself into a sitting position. I don't remember going camping.
Hearing strange voices is what drew him outside. He put on an attire that looked strangely familiar, one that had been provided for him in the tent. The language sounded similar to him too, not that he could understand it, but he was sure that he'd heard it before, somewhere.
Coming face to face with a pair of elder people, one a male and the other female with white hair that showed her age, still it was not that that drew a gasp. No, it was the long pointed ears that stuck out. No way… this is some weird… games-con or something. Orion had been to a couple in his years, but this lady took her cosplay to the next level.
"You're finally awake." The man spoke, his full beard trimmed to a manageable length and his eyes brown. His black but greying hair tied back into a wolf's tail. There was also the loop earing on his right ear, Orion knew that he didn't wear one on the left. The armour he wore had seen more than its fair use, although the patterns that were carved into it still retained great detail. The strangest thing was, that Orion knew this man. "My name is Duncan, I'm…"
"A Grey Warden." Orion breathed, his chest tightening and his brow creasing. Duncan! From that game!
"Correct, may I know how it is you know my occupation?" Duncan continued while Orion just turned to the elf.
"And you… You must be Keeper… Marethari?" Orion said, ignoring Duncan's question and drawing even more curiosity and concern from his new acquaintances.
"Keeper of this clan." Her expression grew hard and her eyes narrow. "What were you doing in that cave with my people? How was it that you all came to be unconscious?" She asked, getting right to the point.
His mind flew back to the event that saw him land in this world, a world where he'd explored countless times over and knew the names of several people both important and not. But how did I get here… was there some sort of gate, a… mirror! Recalling the last thing he remembered before waking up gave him the chills.
The strange sensation of being forcibly taken, consumed by his own mirror gave his chills all the more reason to spread. It wasn't possible, physically there was not explanation as to how his mirror had transported him to a game. Dragon Age Origins… no fucking way. Disbelief was plaster upon his face, now with a small amount of facial hair since he'd been out for so long.
"There was a mirror. I touched it and it pulled me in. I think… I think I passed out once I got through. There was an explosion." Duncan and Marethari shared a gaze before the elf spoke.
"Duncan here found you, along with one of our hunters unconscious before a mirror. He carried you back." I knew it! The Dalish elf origin story! I am in the game.
"There was a second elf there, a male. You didn't find him did you." Duncan's gaze grew heavy upon Orion who stepped back.
"You're very knowledgeable, care to shed some light on how you knew this?" Marethari was listening closely, a whisper wouldn't even escape her.
"I saw a ... what looked like a man and a woman from my side of the mirror ... but you only carried two back, didn't you? Tamlen isn't here, is he?" Orion knew the answer, Tamlen was never there in any playthrough. His fate was sealed and he'd end up being killed far later in the game. Turning into a darkspawn and suffering the song until his dearest friend finally put him to rest. Orion always wished he could be saved, but there was never the option.
"You know all of our names and that this human is a Grey Warden. How is it you know all of these things?" He knew he should come clean, give them the information they wanted and see if he couldn't get Duncan to take him somewhere. The mirror! They return there, perhaps I can return with them and…
His vision blurred as he felt something hard strike his jaw, snapping his head to the side. That headache returned like the devil. As Orion fell to the ground he swore he heard the sound of a blade being drawn. With a dazed expression he looked up to see Duncan, dagger in one hand while the other held a male elf at bay, one with an expression that screamed vengeance.
"Why is there a shem! Two shem among our people… Keeper? They attacked my sister and Tamlen still hasn't been seen." Sister… Sister?
"Calm down Valhen. Your sister rests peacefully for the time being. Duncan saved her along with this human from ancient ruins." Orion knew that the girl, this, Valhen's sister was tainted with the blight as she was in the game. Hang on, does that mean I'm tainted? Panic spread across his face as he looked up to Duncan who was now offering him a hand up.
Orion made his way to a stump after taking Duncan's hand and slumped onto it, burying his face in his hands. This is a game. It isn't real, it can't be real. It's a dream, one of those stupid dreams I get when I get obsessed with a game. Yeah, yeah that's what it is. I'll wake up soon and I'll laugh about it. Smiling almost madly, he felt reassured by his own assessment of the situation. Getting pulled into a video game was impossible.
I'll wake up and be on the floor of my bathroom. First thing I'm going to do is grab a hard drink from the nearest pub, then get a proper rest. Though as he was contemplating on his actions once he awoke, the wind was making him cold, his lack of footwear allowed him to feel the blades of grass and bark that had fallen from the stump.
No… it feels too real… way too real. Pinching his cheek softly, he slowly strengthened the action until he could no longer bare the sharp pain and let go. He felt his eyes welling with tears and wondered what all these elves would think seeing a human break down. They'd probably celebrate, mock him. He knew all too well the history of the elves in this games, Dragon Age Origins, hell even the series as a whole.
Once the dominant race that lived without fear of death the elves were once the masters of magic. But as humankind started to spread and their population boomed, wars broke out and after hundreds, thousands of years, the elves were defeated, made into low class citizens or cast out from society with the majority of their culture destroyed.
It was then that he saw a familiar face, well, side of it anyway. The girl from the other side of the mirror was up and walking alongside another of her kind. Searching his mind for one of the minor characters that you never got to spend much time with, it came to him. Fenarel, a friend of the Dalish Elf you played as during the origin story. Well… small changes so far, nothing big though.
As he watched the girl speaking to the Keeper, he noticed that Duncan had slipped away. It never did say when he left, but he was always waiting at that cave with the mirror. Fear jolted him to his feet as he remembered what happened when the elven party arrived at the mirror. Duncan always broke it, shattered the Eluvian. No, he can't do that, not before they give me the chance to go home, to my world, not this… game.
Walking towards the group as they finished talking with the Keeper, he froze as Valhen made direct eye contact. The male strode forwards, fists clenched but thankfully without a weapon in his hands. Orion knew what was coming, another punch, another painful shock that he would endure from someone he knew didn't know the full story, not like him. But it never came, instead he turned back to look at his sister who had taken an interest in the human before her.
"I remember you. Standing on the other side of the mirror." Swallowing, Orion nodded. The girl like her brother had silvery-grey hair. Hers going down past her shoulders with her pointed ears holding back the strands that threatened to fall forwards. Valhen's was far shorter however, trimmed to a moderate length with his pointed ears easily visible. "How did you get here?"
"I touched the mirror from my side, it… pulled me through to this place. I passed out like you and Tamlen." His eyes darted from one elf to the other, both having deep green eyes like healthy Burford Holly leaves. Valhen was also the slightest bit taller than his sister, but with the average height of elves being basically the same as humans, it was a surprise that Orion found himself looking down at both of them.
"Liar! You attacked my sister!" Valhen growled, showing his anger towards Orion yet again. Please let the girl be more level headed. He prayed.
"No, I was knocked unconscious by whatever that blast was. The Keeper said it's been a few days." A few days huh, sounds about right if I'm remembering correctly.
"Listen, I want to go with you to the mirror. I want to go back through to where I belong, not here, not with elves like him wanting to tear me apart." He gestured to Valhen who snarled, fingers tapping the hilt of a sword.
"Done." The girl said, surprising both of the males at her flanks.
"You can't be serious, he's a shem." Fenarel argued.
"Shem or not, there was danger when Tamlen and I went there. The Keeper said that Duncan believed that darkspawn could now be there, being drawn to the mirror." Orion knew she was right, that Duncan was right. There would be several small encounters with darkspawn and giant spiders before they would reach the Eluvian this time.
"Look at him. Barefoot and wearing ill fitted clothing. I doubt he can even fight." Valhen pointed out, making Orion feel a little self-conscious about his current attire. It was tight across his chest and the sleeves were stretched around his arms. He wasn't the tallest man but he was in good shape, he had to be for the life he lived.
"Well, I've been practicing with a bow. I could back you up, if you guys let me." His offer was immediately shot down though.
"No! I'm not having a shem aiming arrows at my back." Valhen quickly retorted.
"He won't be the only one behind. You two are going up front while me and…" Her eyes turned to him and a warm smile came across her face. "My name is Nesinni. This is my brother Valhen and our friend Fenarel."
"Orion. Nice to meet… two of you." His eyes flicked to Valhen who smirked. Why couldn't there only be the one elf, this guy's going to be the death of me. This was the only major change that Orion could see, other than his own addition to what he thought was solely a virtual game, there wasn't anything gam breaking. Please let the rest of the story be unchanged. He prayed to whoever would listen.
"We've got to get Merrill before we head to the ruin, but first lets get you a bow and see if you can hit a target." Nesinni said, leading her now group of four to Ilen, the clan's bowmaker.
With a little persuasion from Nesinni, Ilen handed over a bow which was given straight to Orion who looked it over. He knew that it was a good bow for that point in the game and would do him just fine until he was able to return home.
Next was target practice, but upon arrival there was another elf shooting. Orion was introduced to the two and their names quickly jogged his memory. Junar was an elven archer and hunter for the clan while Pol was the newest member of the clan. He'd fled Denerim after being arrested for theft, a skill that didn't go over Orion's head. Thievery and the ability to escape the law. Useful skills.
The news of the missing hunter and a shem being brought back to the camp had spread life wildfire, though with such a small community it was a given. Nesinni and Orion were both questioned and with Pol being taught archery a battle for pride ensued. Elves were known for the skill with a bow above all other species and it was going to be proven that even a fledgling Dalish joiner would outshine a mere shem.
With his new bow in hand and quiver fastened to his back, Orion readied himself as he recalled all the training he'd put into archery back at his club. Nock the arrow, string through the gap. Push the bow away and pull the string towards yourself… keep your knees slightly bent and bring you thumb to your cheek. Orion went over the instructions he'd been taught to get back into the motion of things. Pol had been warmed up and had fired an unknown number of times into the humanoid shaped target several meters away.
Deep breath and then breathe slowly, release the arrow at the pause and… A soft twang was like music to his ears and the thunk as the arrow pierced the hay and burned itself into the wooden part of the target made Orion smile. He turned to the elves finding only Nesinni smiling back. Right… they hate humans so I shouldn't be expecting much.
The little competition dragged on and on and without a way to tell the time Orion lost himself to the task at hand, beating an elf wanting to join the Dalish. Pol was no slouch though, he wanted, needed to prove himself to the Dalish so that they'd take his wish to join them seriously.
Both he and Pol missed shots, hit the centre of the torso and head, missed several more times or made shots that would only maim the target if it were real. But neither were ready to give it up, Orion had just gotten back into it and was slowly getting better and better. Orion's selfish wish to return home wouldn't let him take it easy though, and by the time a stop was called it was Orion was the better archer out of the two, with barely noticeable lead. Thankfully it had been Nesinni keeping track of the scores.
"I didn't expect a shem to have such skill. Are you a bandit?" Junar asked. Orion quickly shook his head.
"I joined a club." Orion started
"A ... club? What is a club?" Nesinni quickly answer, causing Orion to realise they could be thinking of a blunt weapon.
"Uh, well, a group of us took lessons for several months. I probably got more practice in than Pol." He turned to his defeated opponent and smiled. "Don't worry, just keep it up and you'll be better than me in no time." Nesinni smiled at his modesty.
"A shem who doesn't mind encouraging the Dalish. You are strange. Thank you Pol, for putting our new… ally, to the test. I feel more confident going back to the ruin now." Nesinni admitted. Well that makes one of us. I've never loosed an arrow at a living target before. This realisation had his blood running cold.
"May the gods keep you safe and return Tamlen to us." Junar spoke, offering a small prayer to the party before both groups went about their business. For Orion, it was bittersweet as he already knew the answer to that prayer. They wouldn't be finding Tamlen and then they'd lose Nesinni too, the only real questions he had related to himself and Valhen. What was to be their fate? Would he return to his world and be done with it, and what part does Valhen have to play in the game since the playable characters never had playable siblings.
Their leader in Nesinni led them about the camp, a place that Orion was familiar with after going over the Dalish origin story half a dozen times or more, definitely more as he always rest if something about his characters appearance bothered him. He'd played it fanatically during his younger years and often revisited it, getting lost in the magic of Dragon Age all over again. So when Nesinni and her brother Valhen went and spoke to many of their clanmates, the conversations were reminiscent as he'd heard them all before.
Paivel, the old storyteller who managed to rope the siblings into telling a story to the younglings. Maren, the keeper of the Halla, beautiful stag-like creatures that elves used to ride into battle, a tradition that faded after the fall of the Dales, a thing he found tragic. Since then they were used mostly to pull the aravels when the clan shifted.
Ashalle was the final one they visited, a friend of the sibling's parents and one that gave them a key to an old chest after giving them the true recollection of their parents demise. The father slain by shem and their mother's disappearance, Orion disliked Ashalle for keeping these things hidden but understood that the siblings may have acted differently if they'd been told at a younger age. Everyone keeps things for their own reasons. He didn't want to judge too much since the knowledge he had could greatly affect the world of Thedas.
With their meeting all attended to and the party ready, they set off in the direction of the cave that housed the old elvish ruins. Orion knew the way and wasn't at all surprised when Merrill asked about not one, but three people following Nesinni.
"The Keeper told me it was only going to be the two of us." She started.
"The Keeper gave Fenarel permission. My brother wouldn't take no for an answer and the shem… wants to go home." Merrill seemed to study him once Nesinni was finished talking. I wonder if how they use magic is different? I bet I can see a few cool spells before I have to leave. Magic didn't exist in the real world, his world, but here on Thedas there were many strange and unexplained things, even Orion didn't know everything with his extensive gaming of all three games. But that knowledge wouldn't do these people any good, he was headed home where he'd recall this as a mere dream.
With Merrill deciding not to argue the point of so many people heading out to find Tamlen in the ruins, she fell in line and joined the now party of five. I've never had so many people do this part of the game, it's going to be a breeze. He'd always done it with three, so now with the addition of himself and the surprise of who he assumed would be the protagonist of the story's brother, he had great faith in their joint capabilities.
They travelled through the forest along elf made tracks. Over roots of ancient trees up and down hills and small gullies. Orion wasn't much on tramping but given the good shape he considered himself to be in he didn't complain at all. Instead he self-motivated himself, thinking about how easy it was compared to some of his rugby and martial arts trainings. Both had kept him fit during high school but left him with enough time to play countless run-throughs of Dragon age.
The thought of having to fight didn't really occur until Orion found himself looking across a small gully at the usual two darkspawn that were stationed there. Though when Nesinni told them how she and Orion would take them out with a single arrow each, the blood drained from his already pale face.
"H-hang on… I've never killed anything… that big before." He lied, trying to worm his way out of it. Truth was he'd only killed bugs and fish, the odd bird, never anything… man sized. Valhen was having none of it.
"Either you go and prove your worth or I'll make sure you have an accident on the way to the mirror. Got it shem." Valhen threatened, causing Orion to agree to the plan quickly. He didn't want to die and being with four elves who disliked humans well, he figured it was better to do as he was told.
Steady breathing, wait until it's stationary. Released on the pause between breaths… It was training all over again, the only thing he was thankful for was that the darkspawn hadn't noticed their presence or felt the imminent threat that was the sharp points of their arrows. Sweat, cold and ill-smelling trickled down his spin, dampening the elvish clothing he'd been gifted. Steady breathing. He told himself again, Nesinni waiting for his release to loose her own. She was patient and observant, never putting any pressure on him while he could feel three other sets of eyes all on him.
There! He loosed an arrow that was swiftly followed by another. Each hit their marks, but Orion's was slightly off and the darkspawn screeched in pain. The others ran forwards but Nesinni put another arrow in its chest, ending the creatures life before either of the males got there.
Orion hung his head and blinked his eyes. I just shot someone… thing. A sick felling welled up inside him as he registered the hard fact that he'd just shot something that big, that intelligent. He jumped and dropped his bow when a hand came to rest on his shoulder. Eyes bulging and sweat on his brow.
"Easy human, Orion. You should have told me you hadn't killed anything big sooner." Nesinni's words were soft and welcome, unjudging too unlike her brother who'd threatened him.
"You wouldn't have brought me if I did. Are you ... you're not gonna send me back, are you?" He answered fearfully, but with the shake of her head she smiled.
"You've shown your willingness to achieve your goal of reaching the mirror. The next one will be easy, I promise." She grabbed his bow and stood up, waiting until Orion did the same before handing back his weapon.
"Thank you." He whispered before following the leader.
They came upon the corpses as Valhen and Fenarel put their blades through weak spots or gaps in their rusted armour. That went better than I though. At least I hit the damned thing. Just a few more encounters and I'll be able to have that shot, followed by some strong whiskey. But it was not to be as he was grabbed and pushed up against the closest tree.
"What the hell was that?! You screwed up, that creature probably yelled for help." Valhen was angry, again. It didn't surprise him but the blood coated blade did. Orion knew about the darkspawn taint and although it wasn't guaranteed to infect you, getting cut with a bloodied darkspawn blade was a good way of going about being inflicted with a deadly disease.
"Stop it brother! He hit the target, better than I expected to be honest." Oh gee, thanks for the support. Orion threw a dirty look Nesinni's way even after the encouragement he just received, but the brother did let him go. "They're both dead so let's move on. There's no point in waiting for more to ambush us." As they started forwards again, Orion decided to give them warning.
"There are three more waiting along the path just around that bend there." He pointed ahead to where the campfire was. "Two will rush us, the last one will hang back and fire arrows at us." The party had all turned to him and looked questionably at him. Shit… maybe I should have kept my mouth shut… but then someone might have gotten hurt in the surprise… then again, I always took care of those three with ease.
"You know this how?" Merrill asked while Nesinni and her brother edged forwards to the firepit Duncan or the darkspawn may have used.
"Instinct… I guess." Orion offered with a shrug.
"When we get back, we're going to have a long talk with the Keeper about this, should you be correct." Merrill and Fenarel caught up to the siblings who both held their hands up, signalling to stop, Orion fell in silently behind them.
Ahead of them were the three creatures Orion had said there would be, this made the party a little anxious. He just smiled, hoping that they wouldn't think him some kind of event telling mage user. Though if he was accused of that, being amongst the Dalish would result in the best treatment possible for him.
If he were in a Circle Tower then he would be subject to many of their rules and strange punishments, and the worst thing about it is that he couldn't give them anything more than knowledge, he couldn't foresee everything, many parts of the game were passed through with loading. Not to mention the large cities, he'd be lost and probably be heading into the dodgy part of town before he knew it.
Worse than the circle would be Tevinter. Though he didn't know much, he would be surely treated as a lab rat. Tests would be conducted upon him before they did something radical that would be the end of him.
The encounter went down without a hitch, Orion and Merrill taking the rear throwing magic and arrows at the archer at the back while the other three went into melee combat against the two genlock swordsmen. The archer was defeated with Orion only hitting it in the leg while Merrill lit it ablaze. Nesinni, Valhen and Fenarel disposed of the other two without suffering a scratch.
No questions were asked at that time, but Orion was sure his allies had some concerns about his apparent prophetic power. This would only worsen as they delved into the old ruin for once they passed a couple of fallen darkspawn, the work of Duncan, Orion informed them about their opponents in the next room.
"There'll be one on the left with a mace, and an archer to the right. The third will watch for an opening before he comes out. Be careful, that one's an archer too." Orion's information proved incredibly accurate and with he and Merrill taking down the first archer while the male elves disposed of the mace wielder. As soon as the third emerged Nesinni sent an arrow into its chest and it slumped to the ground.
The celebrations were short lived as Orion warned of the traps behind the door to the right as they entered the room. They were disarmed, and the party continued on, using Orion's knowledge of enemy location to slaughter the next three and then set upon killing the genlock emissary, a darkspawn magic wielder.
With how things had been going he figured it would be straight forward. He and Merrill would provide support and target the emissary while the other three took out those that rushed. His arrow struck home, this time in the emissary's stomach thanks to him slowly getting the hang of shooting living, human sized targets.
Merrill's magic also struck it, but the beast just cast a spell with almost no sense of danger. It struck Fenarel with drain life before healing one of its brethren. Orion loosed another arrow which struck it's shoulder. Merrill followed up with a more powerful magic attack, her Arcane Bolt hit and knocked the creature back.
"Valhen! Fenarel! Keep them busy!" Nesinni ordered as she broke away from her far of the fight. Seeing what she was doing, Orion knocked another arrow and aim at the healed darkspawn. As Valhen wheeled about, inadvertently opening his opponent to Orion, the human let loose his arrow. As it pierced the darkspawn's flank, the emissary was finished off by Nesinni.
Valhen didn't blink, slicing the normal genlock's sword hand off before driving his blade through the monster. Behind him Fenarel bested his opponent too and the party all took a minute to gather themselves. It was a tough fight, but with their superior numbers and his plan, they had beaten the final barrier between themselves and Duncan.
"That mage was a piece of work." Merrill commented as she cast healing magic and regeneration on each of the party as time allowed.
"Forget that, I found two arrows in its torso and seen your spell knock it down. It was getting up when I ended its miserable life." Nesinni had a rather disturbing smile on her face, one that showed a certain joy about ending such creatures. She'll make a good warden. Orion thought.
"Shem." Came a stern tone belonging to the only one who addressed him so aggressively. The other three elves watched on while Valhen eyed Orion. "Thanks for the help. Guess you just needed some live testing." There was the tiniest of smiles on his face that Orion noticed, but it was short lived. "Let's get through that door. You said Duncan is through there right?" With a nod from Orion, Valhen led the way inside.
Orion was excited to get in there, even though he knew Duncan was there and might cause a problem for him. As the final door opened the group came across Duncan, surrounded by several darkspawn bodies. Wow… I didn't really think much of it in the game… but after seeing what they can do first hand, Duncan's impressive. Their encounter with so many darkspawn and the resilience of the emissary had given him a new appreciation for the effort they all put in to killing, it was a tiring line of Grey Warden turned to greet them, a little blood on his armour, all belonging to his victims.
"You're the elf I found wandering the forest aren't you? I'm surprised you've recovered." Right… this is his first time here… how did I make it out of the ruins then? The last thing he remembered was the cold ground beneath him. Perhaps we… instinctually made our way out? He wondered, before recalling that the Keeper had said Duncan carried both he and Nesinni back to the camp. Looking past Duncan to the Eluvian behind him, Orion saw hi opportunity for home.
Again the conversation seemed dull, repeated half a dozen times or more that made Orion want to groan. Yes he was a Grey Warden, yes they were Dalish, but all he wanted was for them to shut up and let him go back through the mirror that was only a couple of meters from him, back home to his comfortable life. Back to the friends and family that he wondered even knew he was missing. Oh fucking hell. My date with Elise! I hope I wake up in time for it. Though he was doubtful since three days had passed on Thedas. Shit! What about work!
"So you and your friend Tamlen both entered this cave? And you saw this mirror?" Duncan asked, wanting to gain an understanding of what happened.
"Yes, Tamlen touched the mirror and I blacked out." Nesinni answered calmly, now having come to learn that it was Duncan that took her back to the Dalish.
"Curious, did you know darkspawn are drawn to this mirror? Old Tevinter in origin…"
"No, it's not Tevinter," Orion murmured. "It's ancient elven, from when Arlathan was still standing." The look he got from Duncan was a testing one, while Merrill stole his gaze and questioned him. Right, keep your big mouth shut Orion. He scolded himself.
"It's elvish? Are you sure?" Orion nodded in response to her.
"You can talk about it back at the camp." Duncan interrupted. "Overtime they break, and when they do they become filled with the same taint as the darkspawn. Tamlen's touch must have released it… It's what made you sick." He gestured to Nesinni.
"So it's true. I had the darkspawn plague." Nesinni replied softly, the terror of her past illness being fully realised, only Orion and Duncan knew that she was still infected by it an always would be.
"You have it still. And it will infect others too so long as this mirror exists. Your recovery is only temporary. I can sense the sickness within you and it is spreading." Valhen put his hand on his sister's shoulder and spoke to the warden.
"So she's got this taint… has it spread to any more of us?" He asked, not concerned about physical touching one infected.
"No, I can only sense the taint inside her." Duncan confirmed with Orion breathing a sigh of relief. Thank fuck, I don't think I'd last if I got infected. Nesinni leered at him along with Fenarel, but Orion was simply too happy that he hadn't contracted the illness, after all, not everyone made it even if they were offered a spot within the wardens.
"No… No she can't… there's a way you can fix this right?" Valhen snapped, demanding an answer.
"We'll speak about it with your Keeper later. For now we must deal with the mirror, it is a danger." As Duncan made his approach to the mirror, Orion knew that he had to act. Stepping forwards and calling for him to stop, the warden turned again and faced him.
"The human, I take it you know this mirror is dangerous right?" Duncan asked.
"Uh, yeah, of course it's dangerous. But when Tamlen touched it, I think he somehow connected it to my world. If I touch it, I might be able to get back there. Please, I need to try. I don't really belong here." His eyes pleaded for Duncan to hear his reasoning and accept.
"Touching it again may cause you to catch the illness, is this something you are prepared to risk?" Duncan's words were probably truthful, if Tamlen and Nesinni got infected then he could very well follow the same path.
"I'll take the risk. I just wanna go home." A cold sweat trickled down his spin and Duncan moved aside. Stepping up and reaching out, Orion was about to touch the mirror when something appeared to move inside it.
A black wing and a line of lights, fear struck him and his reach faltered. That's not home. He told himself regretfully, but he did know what it was. Darkspawn and the underground that formerly housed the dwarves. He didn't know exactly where in the Deep Roads, but this mirror needed to be destroyed. Turning heel, he looked over the party gathered and looked to the ground.
"It's not going to work, I think I'm too late. Do what you need to, Duncan." He was barely three steps went Duncan shattered the Eluvian, dispelling any power that drew darkspawn to the location and destroying the only chance that Orion had to return to his world, back to where he knew he belonged.
"It is done. Now, let us leave the cursed place. I must speak with the Keeper immediately regarding your cure." Duncan was focused on Nesinni for good reason. Orion already knew that this elvish girl would become the hero of the fifth blight, but what choices would she make? And what was he to do with his new life or was it still a dream. Orion certainly hoped for the latter.
"What about Tamlen?" Fenarel questioned, there main goal in returning to the ruin was to find their missing friend and fellow hunter.
"There is nothing we can do." Duncan replied bluntly, attempting to spare them the pain of finding him. Sooner or later Duncan, Tamlen will show up.
"I'm not leaving until I find him!" Nesinni growled. Ah, that's right. There was a chance to have Tamlen reveal his true feelings towards a female character. Poor Nesinni. Assuming that was the reason for her current desire to continue the search, Orion wouldn't step in, he didn't need to as Duncan followed the game's wording.
He explained that it was the Keeper's magic and Nesinni's willpower that kept her alive for the three days they were unconscious. But for Tamlen it was too late. Untreated for that long he was as good as dead, so the warden thought. There would also be no point in looking for a corpse as the darkspawn took the tainted ones back. A memory of something far into the journey popped into his head, an enemy that he truly did not want to face.
"Why would they take his body? Not to… eat it, I hope…" Fenarel stated his hope.
"Darkspawn are evil creatures, and it's best to leave it at that. I'm… sorry." Duncan spared them all the pain of knowledge.
"So now we can just… leave the cave? Will it be safe?" Nesinni asked.
"With the mirror destroyed, I doubt the darkspawn will return." Duncan answered.
"Can we return later and search the ruins? We could learn from many things here besides the mirror." Merrill asked, and it was then that Orion smiled, knowing that Merrill would return with or without the Keeper's permission. She had a bigger part to play after Nesinni left with Duncan, she had Hawke to meet and a life to build in Kirkwall.
"The cave is not safe, everything here was exposed to the mirror's taint. If your people must come here, they should cleanse it with fire." Because fire is the answer to everything. Plague, enemy supply lines… zombies.
With the mirror shattered and the party's questions answered to a satisfying level, everyone now including Duncan, returned to the Dalish camp where only the warden, the Keeper and Nesinni gathered to speak in secret about the cure.
Orion knew about the conversation having controlled the characters in every origin story, so he didn't mind sitting it out, he wasn't going to miss out on any of the information that Duncan dropped. The same could not however, be said about Valhen who was pacing back and forth, eyes fixated on the three. Once in a while one of them would shoot Valhen a look and the elf would take a few steps back before beginning to pace all over again, slowly working his way closer and to another glare.
"You there, shem. What are they talking about?" Valhen asked as he stood over the sitting human. Oh great, he changed his method and now I get to deal with him.
"I can't hear. They're too far away, and my ears aren't as good as yours." He smirked at him. "You can probably hear more than I can." Oh how he knew alright, but he wouldn't tell Valhen, not after he'd threaten his life and shown almost nothing but distain for him.
"Liar. You knew of those creatures. Their numbers, location, their skills. You corrected that other shem so confidently about the mirror too. I think you know what is being spoken of, so tell me." He growled, fists clenched as his side.
"So what, you think I can read minds or something? I'm not special, I don't have any powers or anything. I just want ... wanted ... to get back home." But with the mirror gone there wasn't another way he could think of, unless he found another Eluvian, but the next one he could find would be in the distant future.
"Pathetic shem. Useless in and out of a fight. Perhaps you should have had an accident befall you." Orion stood up and looked down at the elf. He was taller by a few inches and although he wasn't one for violence in his own world, he wouldn't let himself be trampled on, not if he had to stay on Thedas.
Luckily for the both of them, Nesinni moved away from the Keeper and Duncan. Valhen took after her leaving Orion to rest, and plan. I need… I need… allies. So far he considered Nesinni to be the closest thing to an ally or friend in this game world, but he needed more. He knew several dozen people fairly well, but he also needed protection. He had never held a sword before and his archery wasn't exactly amazing. But to go to Ostagar with Nesinni and Duncan would be suicide. I could, see if I can change the events, help out where I can. Yes, if I can prove myself and set about a big change… I could even save King Cailan.
Saving the current king would have unknown ramifications, he always died beside Duncan after Loghain's betrayal. With a plan in mind all he needed to do was to convince Duncan to let him accompany him on the journey, and since it was only the Keeper and him speaking he made his way over. The voices softened and stopped completely as he came to be standing next to them.
"Duncan, take me with you to Ostagar. I can help you, plus I don't think the Dalish will let me stay here too much longer." Duncan's gaze hardened as the two shared a look.
"And why would you assume Ostagar is where I'm going?"
"The Grey Wardens and Ferelden's armies are all going to gather there eventually, right? There'll be another big fight against the darkspawn to the south." He took note of how Duncan's eyes exposed his surprise. "It is a blight. You are right about that." He added.
"You seem to know more than you should for someone who had been here conscious for all of a few hours. How can I trust you?" Orion didn't know how to answer the warden's question. He'd done nothing wrong so far and had helped his group of five, including himself, clear out the darkspawn in the ruins.
"I know things that can help you. If you take me, with what I know, you could save hundreds, maybe thousands of lives." Once I get them to get rid of Loghain then perhaps Lothering and other towns won't fall to the blight. He knew it wouldn't be a definite outcome, but he believe that it was better than allowing Loghain to withdraw his forces and play the part of king and weaken Ferelden.
"You should take him with you Duncan. He will not be able to stay with us, and if his knowledge proves false you could always use another soldier in the army." Marethari added on since the two men remained in a deep silence as they measured one another.
"So be it. You will accompany myself and Nesinni, so long as she agrees to…"
"Don't worry, she'll see it your way and survive the joining." Orion smiled while Duncan's brow furrowed. Did I say too much? Again? He wondered, stepping back with a bow.
Taking Duncan's silence as dismissal, Orion went away from the warden and Keeper, taking a seat on a stump near the edge of the clan's occupied land so that he was out of the way. He remained there and watched as the ceremony for Tamlen played out and how the clan came together to farewell Nesinni, but also her brother Valhen.
This was something he didn't expect, there was never two protagonists in the games, ever. Yet here they were, a brother and sister, two future Grey Wardens. There was going to be some changes to the storyline of the game, that much he knew. But in what shapes they'd come in and how having two main characters raised a lot of questions. Who would be the leader, would they influence the other's opinion. What if at some point Valhen got sick of Orion and followed through with his threat of an accident.
It's just one more person. He won't change things too drastically. Just do what you need to and stay out of their way. Once the king wins at Ostagar and the Orlesian Grey Wardens arrive I'll be able to ask for help in how to get home.
So with an extra companions, Duncan, Nesinni, Valhen and Orion began their several day journey towards Ostagar. Towards the battle that within the confines of the game saw many of his early favourites bite the dust time after time. Cailan crushed by an ogre, Duncan vanquishing it only to fall because of the small wounds and fatigue suffered throughout the battle. All the brave men and women who lost their lives with every play through, now Orion had the chance to make it all different. This time we'll win. This time the reinforcements will arrive.
I want to give a massive thank you to Emmadilla who had been a huge help in getting this chapter going. Without her I would not have been able to produce the chapter as good as it is. I also drew inspiration from her Fallout 4 fanfiction, Caught up in a dream. Please go check it out. It's a huge undertaking at 30 chapters and over 140k words, and she's still going!
I myself have wanted to write a dragon age fic for a long while now, and I've finally started. This is the first chapter in a long line of them, just bear with me as I don't update as often as others. Hope you all enjoyed.