Chapter 13: Asha'bellanar

Today the wind was different; the birds flew in unusual ways almost as if they were trying to tell me something. Even the stars at night were giving me signs and so I went to my dreams. In it I saw a man with sliver eyes, hair red as embers with strange markings on his face. A figure then appeared to me out of the shadows, Asha'bellanar…the woman of many years, she told me that the man would come to visit my clan soon and that I should wait for his arrival. When the sun came, I moved my people to the Free Marches. Some of in my clan would grumble and complain but as soon as I explained myself they would quickly come to understand. I am tied to her just as the man in my dream is…for better or worse. A request from Asha'bellanar was not to be taken lightly; among the People she's a vengeful and sometimes capricious being, just as likely to kill a supplicant as help them.-Recollections of Keeper Marethari Talas

Sundermount

The gang headed up the mountain as they continued to fight off more of the undead. "The Veil is so thin here; even non-mages can feel it. Perfect place to bury your dead" Fenris said dryly. "The ancient elves were brilliant"

"I hate to say it, but my ancestors were not thinking clearly when they decided to that" Merrill said. Halfway up the path they spotted a temporary camp and a dalish hunter. He spotted the gang; he took one look at Merrill and glared at her. This was not lost on the others, the Dalish were known for being a very close knit group, harming one of them was essentially like declaring war on the whole clan. Something must have happened between Merrill and her clan…but whatever it was, Merrill was not talking.

"So the Keeper finally found someone to take you from here"

Merrill took a deep breath. "Yes"

"Then finish your task quickly, shemlen. We cannot be rid of this one too soon"

"Isn't Dalish comradery delightful?" Anders said sarcastically.

"I have made my choice, and I'll save our clan, whatever you think" The hunter just scoffed and walked past her. Merrill lowered her head and all that was left was this awkward silence.

"Sundermount seems very…mountainous today, doesn't it? Lots of…rock and hillside" Ericks said trying to change the subject.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…let's go. We should hurry" They came up a little further until they arrived to the passage through the mountains. Merrill sighed and turned to the gang. "I'm sorry. You're not really seeing the Dalish at their best" she said. "We're good people that look out for each other…just not today, apparently"

"But the Dalish are delightful! I was just thinking of inviting the whole clan over for tea"

Merrill tilted her head. "I'm sure they'd never accept an…oh. Right. Sarcasm" she said. "I must see this through, even if my people don't appreciate my efforts"

"Let's go, Asha'bellanar isn't known for her patience" The gang headed into the caverns. The caverns were once an ancient Tevinter mine where slaves mined for silverite, lyrium and orichalcum. Nowadays the caverns are home to large nests of giant spiders. The gang cut down the last of spiders near one of the cavern's exits. Once outside they were stopped by a magical barrier, the air spoke in whispers as if the dead were trying to speak to them. Merrill came forward. "I can open the way, one moment" She took out a small dagger and then cut deeply into the palm of her hand; blood flowed freely from Merrill's hand. The blood then swirled around her and then with a grunt she shot the blood onto the barrier. The barrier soon shattered like glass and the way was opened.

Merrill turned back to the gang, who were less than pleased. Now they understood why her own clan rejected her, Merrill was a blood mage. Even the Dalish who used magic different from the Chantry's Circle frowned upon the use of blood magic. Fenris frowned. "Blood magic? Foolish, very foolish" Merrill nervously scratched the back of her neck. They had the same looks on their faces as her clan when they knew of what she learned.

"Yes, it was blood magic, but I know what I'm doing. The spirit helped us, didn't it?"

Ericks crossed his arms. "Oh yes, very helpful. Right until they take your mind and turn you into a monster"

"Well…yes, but that won't happen. I can defend myself"

Anders shook his head. "Last words of the foolish"

Merrill then cleared her throat. "You should be careful up ahead, restless things prowl the heights" They followed the elf into the burial grounds, it was littered with make shift tombstones and skeletons clad in armor full of arrows. "The elders came here to sleep in the days of Arlathan. They called it Uthenera or the endless dream" Legend says Sundermount was the site of a vicious battle where the ancient Tevinter Imperium and the elves of Arlathan unleashed horrors into the waking world, and creatures prowl the heights to this very day, unaware that the war for which they were summoned is long since over.

"But they don't sleep peacefully anymore" To their right was the altar to the elven goddess, Mythal, the Protector and the All-Mother, and goddess of love. They headed to the altar but not before the undead started to rise. The gang spread out so the undead couldn't get them all at once, Ericks threw a flask of oil at the skeletons and Bethany lit them on fire. Soon the sibling felt themselves getting weaker; a hex glyph was underneath them cast by the arcane horror. Anders slammed the ground with his staff and dispelled the glyph and then fired needles of ice. Fenris phased through the arrows and cut down the other skeleton. Once the skeletons fell, the gang focused on the horror. Merrill summoned roots from the ground to hold down the horror so the rest of the gang could but an end to it. A few more undead appeared and was quickly cut down until all was quiet.

"I think it's safe now; place the amulet on the altar. I'll begin the rite" Ericks placed the amulet on the stone slab and Merrill came up to the altar. "Hahren na melana sahlin" she said. "Emma ir abelas souver'inan isala hamin vhenan him dor'felas"

"In uthenera na revas" A bright light in the shape of a dragon swirled around the altar, the gang prepared themselves for another battle. The amulet shook and then broke apart as a figure emerged from the amulet. Before them stood Flemeth.

Aaah, and here we are!"

"A witch!" Fenris said gripping his sword tightly.

"It's all right, Fenris. She means us no harm" Merrill then took to her knee and bowed to Flemeth. "Andaran atish'an, Asha'bellanar" Flemeth looked at the elf, and her eyes were almost soft and gentle.

"One of the people, I see, so young and bright. Tell me, child, do you know who I am, beyond the title?"

"I know only a little"

"Then stand, young one. The people bend their knee too quickly" Merrill stood up and joined the others. She then gazed at Ericks. "Took some time but you kept your end of the bargain, I half-expected my amulet to end in a merchant's pocket"

"No one wanted to buy it, maybe because there was a witch inside of it" Ericks said.

"Just a piece, a small piece but that was all I needed" Flemeth said. "A bit of security should the inevitable happen, and if I know my Morrigan…it already has"

"Someone I should know?"

"She's a girl who thinks she knows better than I or anyone" Flemeth gave a slight chuckle. "And why not? I raised her to be as she is; I cannot expect her to be less"

"Is she your daughter or your enemy? I not so sure" Bethany said unnerved.

Flemeth gave a dark grin. "Neither is she"

"You could have flown to the Free Marches, why did you need me?" Ericks asked.

"Because I have an appointment to keep, and wish to have it without distractions" the witch said. "You smuggled me in quite nicely"

"So what are you? A vision?" Bethany asked.

Flemeth gave a loud hearty laugh. "Must I be in only one place? Such limiting things bodies are" she said. "I am but a fragment cast adrift from the whole, a bit of flotsam to cling to in the storm"

"You don't need to understand, child… only know that you have saved my life as I have saved yours" the witch said. "An even trade I think"

Fenris frowned. "You are no simple witch"

The witch grinned. "Figured that out yourself, did you?"

"I have seen powerful mages, spirits and abominations but you are none of them" the elf said. "What are you?"

"Such a curious lad, the chains are broken but are you truly free?" Fenris was taken aback but then he regained composure.

"You see a great deal"

"I am a fly in the ointment, I am a whisper in the shadows" Flemeth said. "I am also an old, old woman, more than that you need not know" She turned to the altar and looked at the sky, she turns her head towards Ericks. "Destiny await us both, dear boy. We have much to do"

"But before I go, a word of advice…the world is upon the precipice of change, it fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss" she said. "Watch for that moment…and do not hesitate to leap when it comes"

"It is only when you fall that you learn if you can fly"

Ericks raised a brow. "Cheap advice from a dragon"

"We all have our challenges" The witch then gazed at Merrill. "As for you, child, tread carefully. No path is darker than when your eyes are shut"

"Ma serannas, Asha'bellanar"

"I shall now take my leave; you have my thanks, boy…and my sympathy" The witch glowed and leapt off the cliff, a dragon soon took flight afterwards to parts unknown. With that done, the gang headed back to camp.


Dalish Camp

When the gang got back, the Keeper was waiting for them. "Ma serannas, child. Your debt is paid in full" she then turned to Merrill. "It isn't too late to change your mind, da'len"

"Dareth shiral, Keeper" Merrill said as she joined Ericks side. "I'm ready, let us depart" The gang left the camp with Marethari looking on in sadness. The rest of the clan turned their backs to Merrill as she left; she was now dead to her clan. Merrill held back her tears even though her heart was breaking. They headed to Kirkwall.


Lowtown is home to a squalid elven alienage. Here, like in most Thedas alienages, elves are packed into tiny rundown apartments and effectively segregated from the human population.

Kirkwall's alienage is even more dilapidated than the rest of Lowtown, but the elves go to great lengths keeping the place looking bright and festive. The vhenadahl ("Tree of the People") standing in the middle of the alienage is a symbol for elven pride and shared cultural identity, and it is lovingly cared for. It's difficult to say if the elves would continue confining themselves to the alienage if they were given the chance to mingle. They may not admit it, but some feel that living among their kind is far better than living with humans, no matter how terrible alienage life may be.—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Kirkwall Alienage

The gang was back in Kirkwall. The sights, sounds and smells were all different to Merrill, the elf was always used to the wilderness. It was going to take some getting used. There was so many people, she use to think the camp was crowded at the time but she knew nothing. "Elgar'nan. Is this…is this really where the elves live?"

"Yes. This is it" Fenris said bluntly.

"If you think this is bad, you should see where I live" Anders said.

"I didn't think it would be so…so…" Merrill said. "I've never seen so many people in one place before. It seems so lonely"

"Working your way up will be fun!" Ericks said. "All right, that was a lie. It won't be fun"

"Some adventurer I am, barely set out and I'm already daunted" she said. "Thank you for everything, for all your help" Ericks gave a smirk; the rogue had way of making everything seem alright. Merrill just blushed and played with her fingers. "Will you come visit me? Not now, of course but maybe later? I could use a friend"

"Alright, but only because you used that 'you kicked my puppy' voice" Ericks said. "If you want we can even make it a tour"

"Thank you. Ooh I'm thanking you too much, aren't I?" she said. "I mean it, though" Merrill went into her new home with a small smile; maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.

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