Chapter 47: Mirror Image pt1
Lowtown
Ericks made his way around Lowtown heading for Merril's house in the Alienage. The elf had something she wanted to show the rogue but wouldn't say any more than that. On his way, Ericks passed the Hanged Man and Varric. "You have got to hear this, Hawke" the dwarf said. "There's this tale making the rounds…"
Ericks raised a brow. "A tale? Do tell"
"They're saying you single-handedly fought off a pirate invasion, at midnight, on the sacred ground of the chantry"
"That all? They don't mention my stunning good looks? Or my cunning wit?"
"Nah, they skip straight to the part about the loveable dwarf with the gorgeous crossbow and the heart of gold" Varric said. "I try to steer them straight, but you know how these stories go"
"Just…don't be surprised if people seem in awe" Ericks just mockingly rolled his eyes; Varric was in good spirits considering what went down with Bartrand. His brother was now in a sanitarium being watched around the clock by family aids, there was no change in him…he still ranted and raved about hearing the singing of the red lyrium idol but at least he wasn't hurting anyone else or himself. With Bartrand out of commission, Varric had to step up as the new head of House Tethras as well as the new Deshyr of the Dwarven Merchants' Guild…a new role that he absolutely hated to no end but nevertheless swallowed.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for your tall tales if you were the main character instead of me?"
"You know how there's a recipe for those poisons and explosives you make? Well, there's a recipe to a good hero too" the dwarf said. "One part down-to-earth, one part selfless nobility, two parts crazy, and you season liberally with wild falsehoods"
"Let that stew through a good audience for a while, and when it's done, you've got your hero"
"Okay, I got to know…what's your story with these ridiculous tales?" Ericks asked.
"I'm a compulsive liar, and I also love the sound of my own voice" he said. Ericks just gave the dwarf a look that said he knew better. "Fine, if you want to get technical…I don't know. It's just what I do"
"Stories, big and small, have power. I mean that's all history is after all, the best tales, the ones that last. Might as well be mine"
"I'm surprised you don't get anything in return for spreading those stories"
"Shows what you know, Hawke. The stories are their own reward" Varric said. "You really need to see the look on someone's face when I told them you ripped the arms off an ogre. Just once"
"I guess awe works. A little reverence wouldn't hurt, though"
"You may not be my best-dressed or cleanest friend, Master Hawke, but you're all right in my book" he said. "Anyway, I'll quit exaggerating before it goes to your head" Ericks and Varric made it over to the Alienage and headed inside of Merrill's house.
Merril's House
"Merrill? I'm here, where are you?" Ericks asked. The elf poked her head around the doorway and smiled.
"Ericks, you're here" she said. "Hello Varric, good to see you too"
"Likewise, Daisy"
Merrill motioned the men to follow her. "I've got something to show you! Come and see" Ericks and Varric came into the next room and saw a gold mirror with very intricate designs and a very large crack in the middle. It was old, possibly from before the time of the old Tevinter Imperium. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"You're much prettier" Ericks said with a smirk.
"Heh, smooth..." Varric said amused.
Merrill blushed "Oh, you're too kind! Is…it warm in here? Stop babbling, Merrill…" the elf then cleared her throat to regain her composure. "I've spent the last few years restoring this" she said. "My friends from the clan found it in the Brecilian Forest in Ferelden" Her head went low. "Poor Tamlen, we never found him and we found Theron's body with the shattered pieces of the eluvian"
"What's an eluvian?" Merrill explained that the eluvian was a product of the old elven empire that once covered Thedas. Every city had an eluvian, they were used to let the ancient elves communicate across their empire, but to what extent she didn't know how.
"My people have lost so much. We know almost nothing of the days before Arlathan…this is a piece of our history" she said. "At first I wanted it to use it to find Tamlen…but it's been too long, he probably dead by now, if he wasn't already"
"But still, I know it can help my people. I can at least recover this one small part of our heritage"
"Daisy, did the mirror have something to do with your friend's disappearance?"
"I don't know…when we tracked Tamlen and Theron to the ruins, it was full of traps and monsters" Merrill said. "Anything could have happened"
"The Keeper wanted me to destroy the fragment I kept. She said our ancestors meant it to be forgotten" she said. "But it's a Keeper's place to remember…even the dangerous things. We argued. I…left, she's wrong; this mirror could teach us so much about who we once were!"
"Oh boy…" Ericks said rubbing his head. "Tell me you didn't bring the killer mirror to Kirkwall just because it's pretty"
"It's not dangerous, I promise! I fixed it, or tried to…with blood magic. The mirror won't hurt anyone" Ericks and Varric gave a very skeptical look. "I do! I have it totally under control"
"Easy Daisy, we trust you but you have to admit…this whole thing is kinda unsettling" Varric said. "Just promise us if things do get out of hand, that you'll come to us"
"I…okay, but everything will be alright…you'll see" Merrill said. "But…it doesn't work. I've tried everything and I think it's because it needs to be finished with a special tool"
"An arulin'holm and my clan has one, it's been in their hands for generations…"
Ericks crossed his arms. "But…"
"I can't go back there alone…you have no idea. The Keeper, I can't talk to her" the elf said. "We fight or talk circles around each other" Merrill's shoulder slumped. "She has a disappointed frown that turns your bones to jelly! Please help me? You will, won't you?" The elf gave Ericks the pleading puppy dog look; he was always a sucker for such tactics since Bethany used it all the time on him when they were children.
Ericks sighed. "Andraste's flaming tits…alright, I'll help"
"Ma serannas! I'll find some way to repay you, I promise!"
Sundermount
Hours later, the gang headed out of Kirkwall and to Sundermount. In the three years since meeting the Sabrae clan, the elves have yet to move on as is customary for them. Instead the established roots here on Sundermount and have built connections to the local alienage in Kirkwall, allowing some of the city elves to join the clan. This has of course been divisive to say the least as many of the Dalish look down on city elves believing them to be not true elves. They have also had a few run ins with the Templars, due to the Dalish being more open about magic than the Chantry. The Keeper has held her ground, refusing to be intimidated by the human law and so far the Templars have backed off and left the clan in peace. The gang arrived into the camp where they felt the hostile eyes upon them. Three years later and the Dalish were as unfriendly as ever…especially toward Merrill who they had the greatest disdain for.
Merrill sighed. "Keeper"
"You return to us, da'len. Have you reconsidered this path at last?" Ericks now understood why the Sabrae clan hadn't moved on yet. The Keeper was waiting for Merrill to see the errors of her ways and come back…like a mother waiting on her child. Perhaps that was where most of the animosity Merrill had gotten from her former clan mates came from…they felt like Merrill got special treatment from the Keeper. It would explain why Marethari hadn't taken on a new First yet.
"I…" And the gang was in the middle of the world's most awkward family quarrel.
"Hello again, Keeper! Don't you look lovely?" Ericks said trying to break the tension.
"My apologies, Hawke. Be welcome among the Dalish"
"Keeper, I need the arulin'holm, the ancient carving blade that Master Ilen keeps" Ericks sighed, so much for easing into the questioning.
Marethari frowned, which made Merrill feel small. "I see. You wish to rebuild the eluvian"
"You don't have to approve of it. I'm invoking vir sulevanan; I shall do whatever task you wish"
The Keeper snorted. "Well, I'm glad to know I can still disapprove" she said dryly. "It is your right. I will give you a service to perform, if you insist"
"So…what just happened?" Isabela asked.
"Our history belongs to all Dalish, child, so our clan's most cherished relics can be claimed by everyone" the Keeper said. "Any Dalish can perform a service for the clan and gain ownership of such a item…for a time"
"That is what Merrill has invoked. Even though she lives apart, she is still one of the People"
"What exactly is this thing we're asking for?" Ericks asked.
"It is an ancient carving tool used by our wood-shapers, passed down for countless generations" the Keeper said. "Our clan has carried it since before the fall of the Dales. It is as old as Arlathan itself"
"Uh-huh…for the record could you two try to be less elfy for the sake of the poor humans and dwarf present?"
"We are what we are, child. But I'll try to speak more of the common tongue" she said. "A varterral has taken the lives of three of our hunters"
Merrill's eyes went wide. "T-That's impossible! The varterral was created to keep the People safe from forces that would do us harm"
"Something has happened to incur its wrath; da'len…what it was is irrelevant. No one else must fall to its anger" the Keeper said. "It lairs in a cavern in the mountainside. Seek it out, slay it"
"Do this for us, and I will give you the arulin'holm. May the Dread Wolf never catch your scent" The gang went on their way.
"The cave must be near camp. The Keeper would just warn the hunters away, otherwise" They found a cavern in the mountain side and walked in.
In the days before Arlathan, there was a city in the mountains beloved by Dirthamen, Keeper of Secrets. Its people were wise beyond measure, thanks to his counsel, and the city flourished.
Then a high dragon settled in the mountains, and her hunger threatened the city. The elders cried out to Dirthamen for protection as the dragon's rampages struck ever closer, and for three days and nights, the people shut themselves in their homes and watched the skies in dread.
On the fourth day, Dirthamen heard them. He whispered into the mountains and the fallen trees of the forest gathered, shaping an immense and agile spider-like beast. It was the varterral. With lightning speed, vicious strikes, and venomous spit, it drove back the serpent. From then on, it was the guardian of the city and its people.
Many years passed. The gods were trapped by Fen'Harel and the people left to gather in Arlathan, but the varterral kept its everlasting vigil, guarding Dirthamen's city as it eventually crumbled to dust. To this day it stands there, watching over the rubble. Any travelers foolish enough to wander there find themselves face to face with wrath incarnate.—From The Tale of the Varterral, as told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin clan of Dalish elves
Varterral Hunting Ground
Not soon after entering the grounds, they found the body of one of the hunters. Ericks went to the body and took the amulet around the neck. Merrill lowered her head in sadness. "Radha…" she said. "Falon'Din guide you, lethallan"
"What were the hunters doing here?" Ericks asked.
"The Keeper would have sent them to recover elven artifacts from the Varterral before the camp had to move again"
"It must have attacked because the hunters were in its territory" Isabela said.
"No, normally they let the Dalish come and go as we please" Merrill said. "Something must have provoked it" The gang went in deeper.
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