Chapter Thirty-Seven

Blackmarsh

The night we got to the Blackmarsh was nice enough – not too cold, or anything. My night with Alistair the night before, I had told him I'd taken Lyna to bed. He'd flushed and stammered and said… "Makers' Breath… I admit I'm… jealous, but… watching you be with Isabela was hot and just imagining you with Lyna… Makers' Breath…" before taking me to bed and showing me how much that thought turned him on.

When Lyna was told of his reaction she laughed and wondered how Zev was going to react. I told her, "Zev is so equal opportunity that he'll see it as either a potential way into my bed, or just a way to have more fun with you in other womens' beds. Possibly both, now that I think about it."

Anders looked as though he wouldn't mind having a turn, but I swiftly shut that down when he'd asked about the possibility. Told him I allowed Lyna because there was no danger of falling in love – her heart was already taken. With what I had going on now, I wasn't going to risk that. Besides, Alistair wouldn't mind me sleeping with women but he was highly jealous of men.

The blighted Werewolves didn't dare to attack until they thought they had us good and surrounded – and when I took beast form, it threw Anders, Nate and Velanna for a loop. I'd had to explain that bit with a little help from Oghren – meaning Oghren started talking about the one time I kept watch in Beast Form and he'd gotten to see me naked for it.

I skipped along in the marsh as though it was a flower field, much to the amusement of my pack – I hadn't given Velanna a bracelet, but she was pack enough. She seemed upset until I pulled her aside and told her that the reason was that she wouldn't be seen for more than a decade after this mess, so if I saw her again, then I would give her one.

We made camp no far into the Marsh. Anders was looking troubled.

I grabbed his arm, "Talk – what's your deal?"

"Just… I thought the Chant of Light was all Chantry propaganda to vilify mages…"

"Half of it is, yes. The Magisters did invade the fade, but the city was already blackened. The Blight is a sickness from the Void originally brought back by Andruil – the Dalish Creator of the Hunt. The Magisters weren't even attached to the blight by the chantry until after the third blight – as I've told sister Leliana when her own faith was shaken. Obviously, the maker never actually abandoned this world; just as no parent can abandon their beloved child without good reason, a god will always watch over their creations. I always watched over my sons even before they knew I was… I mean, the first 50 years, I had to trade for information as I was still in slavery, so it was less reliable, but after that… I frequented their Alchemy Shop and frequently bought tamed beasts from them. It was the best way to see with my own eyes that they were okay. My point is that while some of the Chant is true, a good chunk is hogwash."

"The Golden City was… already…?" Nathaniel asked.

"That city in the fade is not even the Makers' Seat – it's Arlathan, home of the Creators. Now, to buissness. Tomorrow, we will find the body of Kristoff, the Grey Warden who came here hunting the Darkspawn. It was a fucking Ambush against him. Damn Darkspawn."

Velanna was gaping at me, "The… city in the Beyond… is Arlathan? How…"

"When the Veil was created, blah-blah-blah… I'll explain later. We will be ambushed by the one who calls himself 'The First' because he is the first of 'The Mothers' children. The mother is a 'freed' broodmother – like I talked to the Architect about, remember? Well, when we meet her to kill her, you will understand exactly why the Architects research is just… No Es Bueno. And since I like to keep you all on your toes, I'm not going to tell you exactly what we will be facing here. Just that it will be a unique experience for us all – spirits, darkspawn, demons… and a little twist."

Lyna gave me a skeptical look, "I don't know, Lethallan – that sounds like a normal Tuesday so far."

Oghren grunted, "Is there anything you'll tell us about it?"

"Oghren will absolutely hate it, but Velanna and Anders will find it interesting enough."

Lyna sighed, "So something to do with magic, then?"

"You could say that." I was sniggering as I thought of how Oghren was going to react when he woke in the Fade. But the real question here… would I even go? Last time someone tried to send me into the Fade didn't work at all. Sloth was a demon, however so maybe that was the difference? I would regret not telling them if I didn't fall asleep.

The next morning, I found the Toy horse and gave it to Oghren.

"What's this; a baby's plaything?"

I smirked, "Didn't you say you wanted a Pony back at the Vigil?"

I heard coughs and laughs – everyone had been there for that conversation since it happened at dinner.

"You paid attention to what I said when I was drunk? That's… special. Oh, hey – wanna buy a bridge? Too bad it's not a real pony, huh? Just as well – the real ones poop."

"You want money, just ask – no need to pull a bridge into it."

He laughed, "This is… you make me laugh, Alpha – thanks."

I winked and we all got underway. The moment we were all around Kristoffs body, 8 Darkspawn surrounded us. The First, and 7 Hurlocks. The First was fucking ugly. 5'9 with peeling grey bits of skin hanging off him… everywhere. His eyes were milky like a dead body might have, his armor looked scavenged and 'repaired', and he had no nose at all. The smell was horrid; a mix between decaying body, three-day old vomit, and cat piss that I knew would haunt me for days to come.

"Yes… that is your Grey Warden," The First said, his voice deep and scratchy, as though from long disuse – which was quite likely the actual reason. I gagged and shouted, "Its times like these I wish I could puke on command. Elunes' Grace that smell!"

The First ignored me and approached Lyna who gripped her bow tightly. "The Mother told it to me that if he was lured to this place and slain, that in time you would come. And the Mother, she was right. The Mother is always right."

"Yes, yes, we know it was supposed to be a trap. Can someone spray this asshole down with perfume? Or do we think that might make it worse?" my eyes were watering as the First looked to me. "If you knew, why come?"

"I'm no cliché monologue-type villain; can't we skip this part? I feel like we should skip this part…" I was holding my nose. The First held up his palm and what seemed to be a rift appeared in his hand. And all went 'Dark'.

Unlike everyone else, I was standing when we 'came-to'; I hadn't felt myself 'fall asleep' at all.

Ugly Butt growled like an animal and shouted, "No! We have come to the Fade as well? It cannot be this!"

I was fucking ecstatic that the stench didn't transfer to fade at least. "You weren't first in your class I take it?" Lyna actually sounded amused as Anders and Nate high-fived over that one. I was taking deep breaths and literally singing Hallelujah under my breath.

"The Mother, she has deceived me… I am betrayed." And here is where I began feeling sorry for him. He sounded so broken; not angry like in the games. "I can never trust my mother either." Oghren grunted and looked disturbed.

"Looks like someone was considered expendable, hmm?" Nate grunted as my elbow met his gut – I was too short to hit his ribs.

"I am the First! I am not being expendable. Both the Grey Warden and the Mother will be learning this!"

"Now look, you made him angry. Depressed, I could work with; Angry, not so much." I pouted.

The Children and Hurlocks around us attacked as the First turned and stalked off. They really weren't much of a fight, strangely enough.

"Um… Tara?" Lyna asked hesitantly. I hummed as I examined the bodies of the Children.

"You… are reptilian." Nathaniel said. I glanced down. My Dragon wings were out, my hands were clawed, my skin was scaled, I was red, and it looked as though I had gained a snout. Well… shit. At least my hair had stayed the same – but looking into the mirror of ice I summoned, my eyes glowed bright gold. My tail was flicking back and forth with neutrality.

"So this is what happened when you bring a Dragon into the fade? How interesting… you know Dragon Hunters who consumed too much Dragon Blood in the past here in Thedas looked similar to this? No snout or wings, but otherwise…"

"You're not upset?" Anders asked. I shook my head, "I'm a Dragon, Anders – a red dragon… this is my half-way state – I've been able to turn into this since I was in Azeroth. How you holding up, Oghren?"

"Did that… thing say the Fade? We're in the fade?!" Oghren shouted. "Oghren, use your inside voice."

"Sod that! I'm a dwarf; I'm not supposed to be here, that's where humans dream. Dwarves don't dream!" he was panicking so I placed my hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes. "You know me; trust me. We will be out of the fade in no time. We will be back in the Waking World within the day. Your body is fine, just asleep. I swear to you Oghren, we will be fine."

My words did seem to calm him. "You better be right. If we get back and my body isn't fine, I'm making you buy me several rounds."

"When we get back, if something is wrong, I will have Alistair buy you a set of Casks, deal?" he nodded though Velanna looked at me curiously and I realized we hadn't told her my relationship with the King. I chuckled as Nate awkwardly explained I was his mistress as I added, "Look at it this way, Oghren… you were right next to me – you might be groping me as we sleep."

He did look better about that. I chuckled.

I knew what the fade was like, so I thought hard about what I wanted, causing the weapons to magically appear before us. Oghren got an Axe, Velanna and Anders got staves, Lyna and Nate got Bows… I chose no weapon. With these claws, I really didn't need one, anyway. My tail could be a good weapon too.

As we started along to close the tears in the veil, Velanna asked, "What did you mean you are a dragon? It is not the first time you've said it, but I'm starting to think you meant it in truth…"

Lyna chimed in, "She may look elven, but her soul is that of a dragon – a unique happening in one of the worlds she's lived in called Nirn."

I spoke, "In the beginning, the Divine god Akatosh – Dragon God of Time – granted the ability of Dragons to man. He represents the qualities of endurance, invincibility, and everlasting legitimacy. Akatosh took pity on the plight of Men, who were slaves of the Ayleids, and drawing precious blood from his own heart, blessed Alessia with the blood of dragons. Alessia became the founder of the Septim Empire as Akatosh proclaimed that so long as Alessia's generations were true to the dragon blood, Akatosh would endeavor to seal tight the Oblivion Gate for good and deny the armies of Daedra and undead to their enemies."

"Wait… The gods of Nirn actively intervene?" Anders asked.

"Why would they not? Even the Maker does things here – like marking me as his Champion. Akatosh went so far as to allow himself to be summoned by one of Alessias descendants to fight of a Daedra not… 400 years before my 'birth' there, give or take a few decades. I've even spoken with a Divine or two – Kynareth was notable… she's the Divine of Air, Wind, Sky, and the Elementals. Ever since I left my life as a human behind, I have attracted more gods to me than I care to count. I have a way of calling to them, it seems. Kynareth liked how devoted I was to creation ad life, Akatosh liked that I embraced being a dragon, Elune… I don't know what made her adopt me, and I'm not really going to question the whims of gods."

"You are a god…" Lyna scoffed.

I shrugged, "I was not always one, Lyna. 2 lives I was a mere mortal. Look, there are the Baronesses holds… come around to the docks with me."

We did so – not one spirit looked at me oddly, showing the others that they were bespelled.

"You… you're not a spirit like everyone else. How did you get here?"

"Drop the act demon. I know the girl was taken over. You cannot fool me," I snarled and lunged to attack the fake woman. She gave a startled screech before turning into her Desire Demon form.

"How did you know?" the demon snarled. "I'm a dragon… and maybe I have a hint of demon blood – which is why I am immune to demons. You can thank my father for that."

I tore out her throat.

After clearing the Catacombs, much to Lynas' amusement as I tried to get bits of 'flesh' out from under my nails, we emerged.

"Halt! Who enters the Blackmarsh?"

"Grey Wardens, Trapped in the fade." Lyna said.

"Trapped? Then you're just as we are; locked in this nightmare. We've been here so long at her mercy. I almost forgot what it was like… before. There is a Spirit that's come to free us, perhaps you could help him? If it's possible…"

I gave the poor man a smile and nod as we headed off to meet Justice.

"The Mansion will not protect you, Fiend! Come out and face your crimes! Be cautious, my friends. The Baroness has power within her lair, and she knows it well. We rush in at our peril." The Spirit was see-through and fully armored, just like in the game. He stood at 5'8 though Kristoffs body was at least 5'10 so he would have that extra height later. His voice was ethereal and deep… almost soothing. I could see a hint of blue eyes under the visor of his helmet, but otherwise, his armor covered him completely.

"Hello, Ser Justice. Would you like some help?" The spirit turned to me, startled. In fact everyone around us looked at me in awed silence.

"What are you?" He seemed cautious. "Me? I am a Dragon and Goddess of Shadows… and I am heavily supportive of justice. I wish to see the Baroness defeated for what she's done here, same as you." He nodded. Justice gave the people his speech and we charged the Mansion.

"My, My… all that shouting outside, and now you've finally decided to barge in? Without a proper invitation?" she was… I was feeling more insecure. If even the villains of this world were so pretty, what hope did I have? Her wavy black hair hung to her shoulder-blades looking freshly cleaned, her eyes were green and her make-up perfect. She was thin, but not horribly so, and her skin was flawless. She wore a red Victorian-esque dress that would have been the 'fad' in Orlais years ago, and her voice held that French accent that came from the region too.

"Foul sorceress, you will release these poor souls and submit yourself to Justice!"

"Justice; is that what you are calling it? What of their punishment, for burning my home and me within it?"

"You were stealing our children, using their blood to feed your ill-placed Vanity!" one man shouted and I winced at the insult. She looked pissed.

"As was my due! You lived on my land, and I was your rightful ruler! Your blood was mine then, just as your loves are now."

"Actually, if you had been in Tevinter you may have been right, but not here – and even then, using innocents will only make things worse." I shrugged.

"What's this? The pathetic fools have managed to recruit yet more sympathizers?"

"We are not alone, Baroness; your reign ends here." Justices voice really made me feel powerful… like having his approval meant that I would succeed.

"As it happens, I am no longer alone either." The first came around her. I laughed causing people to look at me.

"Oh, Baroness… your new pet has already lost to us once, and will lose to us again." Lyna was smirking as she spoke, causing the fight to begin. Justice engaged the First while our group handled the shades and wraiths.

When it was over, she didn't just use the First to sunder the Veil… she used the souls of all those trapped here too.

We woke up exactly where we started, by that hut near Kristoffs body. Kristoff was 5'10 with tan skin blue eyes and stubbly black hair and beard. Justice stood there, armor red and black in Orlesian fashion.

"What… where am I? What is happening?" Justice looked around before it dawned on him. "No! This is the world of Mortals; beyond the Veil! And this… a mortal body of Flesh. I'm trapped within!"

"Justice… it will be okay. For now, let us go kill the bitchy Baroness." Justice looked at me as I spread my wings. Something had happened to them… no! Now my wings were Spectral and dripping in shadows… they were still red and mostly corporeal, but they were see-through! Ugh! I liked my wings the way they were! I was pissed.

Velanna looked at them and moved to touch before glancing at me. I nodded and held a wing out to Velanna and the other toward Justice.

Each companion reached out and ran a hand along my scales. "It is… solid. How unexpected," Justice said. His voice was still that soothing deep one from the fade and overlapped Kristoffs natural baritone.

I smiled as we headed off to seal rifts and fight demons. It didn't take as long as I expected; there weren't as many as in the game.

Before the final battle, we stopped for a moment… nothing more awkward than the future Hero of Amaranthine needing a bathroom break mid battle. While we were stopped, I pulled the Lyrium Ring out of my bag and handed it to Justice who looked confused for a moment.

"What is that sound? Such beautiful singing… the stone within this ring, is it Lyrium?" Nate, Anders and Oghren watched with interest while we waited for Lyna and Velanna to get back – apparently the Elf Mage was on watch.

"Am I… allowed to keep this? Is it to be mine?" Justice asked, though his eyes never once left the ring that sat in his palm. I smiled, "That is the idea of a gift, hun."

"When mortals dream of Lyrium in the Fade, it is not like this. This song… saddens me, but it is breathtaking. Of all the things I hope to see in this world, this will no doubt be the most precious. I shall keep it by my side as a reminder that even in misfortune, good can be found."

I caught sight of Nates astonished face and Anders looked thoughtful. Oghren… well he looked indifferent.

"That's good, then. Look, there's Lyna – let's go."

We approached the Baroness. "So this is the world of Mortals? How very dull it seems… so immutable and unchanging. Yet, I am here; I have crossed the Veil! The Spirits will watch in envy as the mortals of this realm bow down before me," I could see the faint smirk on the demons face as she looked around.

"Good luck doing that when you're dead, bitchy bee," I snorted. She whirled to look at us. She caught sight of Justice. I saw her gaze flick to the ring for the slightest of moments.

"It seems I was not the only one drawn here… How very tiresome. When I defeat you, I will take that trinket as my prize," she began changing then, turning into a 10 foot tall purple demon with 4 black horns, 8 neon green eyes and lobster clawed arms. I sniggered and flapped my wings, drawing the demons attention.

One claw shot out to try and hit me back down, but I performed a circular loop to dodge the arm. I decided to simply distract her by flying around the head and horns while the demon tried to bat me down to the ground. Thankfully, my companions were smart enough to take advantage of my antics, and blades and magic began flying around to damage the Demon.

I sliced at the back of the neck, missing the first two times when I had to retreat too soon, but managing to embed and retract my dagger on the third swipe. When the demon fell forward, Justice dashed up and took the head off.

I landed and shook my wings free of blood before folding them.

"And so it is done. For what it is worth, thank you. May the victims of this place rest in peace, wherever they may have gone. It seems I cannot return to the fade, however, I am trapped here in the body of this… Grey Warden? I can feel the memories of this poor man. They are difficult to see, but he was a Grey Warden? He was slain by the Darkspawn… the one called the First that we beat in the Fade?"

"Yes. His name was Kristoff, and the First was doing the bidding of the one known as the Mother. Grey Wardens are the only ones in the entire world who can kill Archdemons or the leaders of the Darkspawn that emerge every few centuries. Before a few months ago, the last Archdemon was 400 years ago. In fact, Lyna here is one of the Wardens who ended the blight with me a few months ago…" I explained.

"It seems I am at a loss. I know nothing of this world beyond the few memories of this… Kristoff, and what I have seen in the Fade; yet I do not wish to die. What shall I do? You seem to be a creature of Good Character, and you are of this world… can you advise me?" wait, me?

"Join us? Get Justice for Kristoffs death, then when you are more knowledgeable you can make your own choice?" I was hesitant. I knew it needed to happen, but I wasn't sure why he was asking me rather than Lyna, who was for all intents and purposes, the leader of this group.

"That… would be a good purpose. To get Justice against the ones who commanded this mortals death… Very well, I will join you."

I set up baths for everyone, taking the first shower for myself. I made it quick then walked out to see Anders waiting for the Bath; he'd explained to Justice how to bathe while I cleaned up, then took his turn in the Shower while I made Steak, Green Beans, and Mashed Potatoes with brown gravy for dinner.

The next morning, I made everyone stay put while I shifted and went to fight the spectral dragon in my new Dragon Form. My whole damn form had changed to be see-through red and dripping with shadows… I was more than a little pissed at the Mother for this slight, and took it out on the Dragon in the Marsh… she was no challenge for me.