Many people have played the different installments of the Dragon Age franchise and quite a few have written fan fiction stories about how their character suddenly falls into the universe, stumbles across the main protagonists or have deliberately gone in search of them to supposedly aid them in their struggles. Very few take into consideration that only a certain kind of people could actually exist in an alien environment that was completely foreign to their own.

Now some writers have attempted to brush aside this little nuisance in the forms of a gaming apparatus, knowledge and proficiency in magic, training from the main characters, or the glorious device known as plot armor also known as the it's just a story so whatever. Life, however, was not nearly so kind and most certainly not convenient. Oftentimes writers forget to acknowledge the true severity of what was actually occurring, trying to fix everything or making it all go to hell in a hand basket.

This story is not so different except the woman that suddenly finds herself in an unknown and unforgiving land really is an average person. She lived a somewhat sheltered life, graduated high school, and worked as a simple janitor, cleaning up other people's shit for a living. Her mother and grandmother were retired, she was horribly single and couldn't afford to get a car or handle the nightmare that was car insurance. She had a yowler named Cosmos, a dark calico cat that she would gut anyone that dared to mess with her cat.

Ah but there was something unique about her and no, it's not the fact that she has ADHD, severe persistent depression, bipolar depression mixed, and insomnia. Nor was the fact that she was genetically predispositioned to function in lower light environments or had absolutely terrible depth perception. She was the short, fat chick with a smart mouth, a satirical wit, and a heart of gold.

No, what made her unique was that before she was miraculously transported into the land of Thedas, she had once resided within the Fade, the Golden City itself. It was a giant cosmic joke that she and a group of others found themselves within this wonder of wonders and she watched in horror as everything they touched became black and radiated a terrible and frightening aura. Only the place where she appeared remained untainted, along with the spirits that had remained in proximity to herself.

The other spirits within the city became vile and twisted, their very essences being corrupted by the hubris of men. The spirits had all screamed in agony and despair as they were forced to conform to the perverse desires of the invading humans and there was nothing she could do for she too had been one of their victims. The men and women that had been transported to this place had invaded her home and tortured her for weeks or was it months, she couldn't really remember.

She had been subjected to countless atrocities, most occurring in her own bed or throughout her home until every inch had been tainted with horrific memories. Everywhere she had looked in her home, all she could remember was what they had done to her. Her body had been violated, used and ultimately broken. So many tears shed, so much blood and agony, sorrow and fear yet for some inexplicable reason, her soul would not yield. This had angered them, enraged them, and the torture would escalate in both intensity and frequency until at last, they had grown tired of her.

She had been taken to her bedroom, all cleaned up and pristine to make it look like everything was normal. Then one final time, each man and woman took turns with her. They beat and raped her in her own bed and when they were fully sated and she was covered in their filth, they cut into her and allowed her to bleed to death. It was not a quick death and all the while they were laughing. Still she endured, waiting for the end of this living nightmare. Her eyes had closed and she welcomed the darkness of oblivion.

Her broken body still lived and she was unable to move. She remembered the glowing entities that had approached her. Some were warm, others cool, some crackled like electricity or fire, and others flowed like water or air, but the pain she once felt and the terrible fatigue had been melted away by their presence. In that moment, she had felt joy once more, having forgotten what it had even felt like. So many positive emotions once lost to her had been given life anew. She could feel the spirits trying to help her, but her body was too destroyed and beyond their ability to repair.

Then the others came, her tormentors. She begged the spirits to flee, not wanting them to face the creatures that had done this to her. Some listened to her plea, but as soon as they left her radius of influence, they were besieged by the corruption and transformed into the embodiment of sin, demons. The remaining spirits decided to remain with her, to act as a living shield. She hadn't understood what they had meant at the time.

Her body was a lost cause, nothing to be done, but her soul, yes, her soul could be housed within a new vessel, a new body and then she understood. The spirits had decided to fuse together, combining their power and essence to create a new body for her to claim. In doing so, they would be spared from the fate of their brethren and she would be given new life. By the time she had worked it out, it was already too late.

When she next opened her eyes, she was within a new form. This form had been determined by her soul, a reflection of her inner self, but she didn't exactly have time for a proper examination of her new body because she was too busy running for her life. She was being chased by a spiky, bloody and very big looking bear. The only thing she could compare such a creature to was the Bereskarn, a bear that has been infected by the taint which was similar in nature to a Blight Wolf.

She had a hell of a time trying to outrun it and avoid the waking dead roaming about the place. Said place looked to be some kind of underground ruins. Had she been paying closer attention, she would have noticed the partially overgrown floor plate. The moment she stepped on it, projectiles shot towards her but she was finally granted some luck in the form of a strong body slamming into her and pushing her onto the ground. The bolts embedded themselves into the opposite wall.

She barely got a chance to catch her breath before the mysterious figure had hauled her onto her feet and placed himself in between her the spiky bear still barreling towards them. He withdrew a pair of short swords as another figure came into view with a bow and an arrow already notched. She didn't really think, the adrenaline pumping through her veins and blinding her to all else except surviving. She grabbed the bow her savior had in reserve and the quiver from his bag.

Archery was one of the few things she had been interested in. Hell it was the only sport that she actually liked. She wasn't sure if martial arts were classified as a sport or not but she did learn some, not a lot, from a few different styles. It was mainly for self defense, fat lot of good it did her in the end. Those thoughts ceased as her laser tight focus kicked in and she readied her borrowed weapon which proved to be rather difficult. The weapon was obviously designed for a man and it was taking a lot of strength just to draw back the string, but she managed to get an arrow notched.

Good thing too because her savior was a reckless buffoon. He charged straight at the bereskarn with an almost infuriating nonchalant attitude and although his movements belied years of experience, he was still an idiotic fool. His associate was almost as bad and was trying to shoot the damn thing in between the spiky bits which required to be a little too close to the creature's claws.

"Oh for crying out loud! Make him look up, damn it!" She yelled, momentarily surprised by her voice and seemingly British accent.

The archer ignored her which was beyond rude, but her savior realized exactly what she wanted. Get the creature to look up and essentially it's big fat mouth. He had to be quick because he could see her arms trembling from the effort to keep the bow string in position. He ordered his friend to disengage and as soon as he was in the clear, he whipped around the bear and used his blades to force it to look up and howl in pain at the same time. It was the exact opportunity she needed and she released her hold over the string.

The arrow flew through the air and entered the creature's mouth, straight through the roof of its mouth and directly into the brain. The bear like creature staggered a bit before ultimately collapsing. He barely managed to roll out of the way before being buried beneath. He looked over at the girl... woman that had so succinctly defeated such a powerful beast. She had the most stunning red hair he had ever seen, her body had such lovely curves, but it was the eyes that held his attention.

She had the bluest blue eyes that put every gemstone and mineral to shame, almost like a glowing liquid blue. Were it not for the expression on her face, he would have believed her to be a mortal goddess. His friend was the first to comprehend what her face was saying.

"You've never killed anything before, have you shemlen?" He asked bluntly.

Would Tamlen ever learn even the smallest amount of tact and compassion? He honestly believed that he had become so incredibly jaded by their constant nomadic lifestyle that any kind of social decency was beyond his capacity to learn or comprehend.

"I apologize for my kinsmen. The finer social graces are quite difficult for him." Her savior commented, earning a withering look from his irate friend.

"If you're referring to his rather blunt lack of tact then I'm used to it. A former employer of mine had a shit ton of charisma but had a supreme lack of tact. As for his question, I've killed small annoying insects that like to crawl where they shouldn't but I've never killed something as large as a bereskarn and that is not something I ever wish to repeat. I'm no killer and this experience has proven that to me." She responded, still unable to tear her eyes away from the dead creature in front of her.

He stood up and walked towards her. He forced her head up so that he could break her fixated gaze and she finally got a good long look at her savior. She was pretty sure her mouth had fallen open. Dark shaggy hair, a slight scar across his right eye, and stormy blue eyes, but she swore this guy could be Adam Driver's brother. Come to think of it, his voice was similar to Ben Solo from the newest trilogy of the Star Wars franchise. If his name was fucking Kylo Ren, she might just laugh herself into a second grave. Now there was a sobering thought.

"Artz...my name is Artz." She introduced, hoping to learn his but his associate had other plans.

By plans, she meant that he had gone on ahead without bothering to tell his friend, so they were startled when they heard him shouting about how he couldn't look away.

"The Eluvian!!!" She yelled, silently cursing herself for being distracted by a pretty face.

The duo took off down the hallway, but didn't get far due to a pack of wolves and she wasn't able to fight them. It had taken everything she had to pull back the bow string and hold it until she got the best shot to take out the bereskarn, so her savior got their attention and told her to get to Tamlen. She reached the room she had originally come from and was shocked to see him pounding on the surface of the mirror but on the opposite side. He had been sucked into the mirror and was now trapped within the mirror verse.

She knew it was stupid because she knew the Eluvian had been filled with the same corruption that permeated every cell of a darkspawn's body and that by touching the mirror, she would become infected too but every fiber of being screamed to save him. The moment she touched the mirror, his image disappeared. The mirror began to glow and pulse and she was once again pulled away by her savior. He covered her body with his as he shielded her from the incoming blast of negative energy.

When it was over, she rolled him off her. His body was shaking from minute tremors, his skin was feverish to the touch, and what little coloring he had before was now gone and he was as pale as fresh snow. He was in no condition to go anywhere but if she didn't get them away from the blasted contraption, they'll both be killed by the taint. She attempted to drag him from the ruins but she wasn't strong enough, so she had to do her title as Queen of Jiggery Pokery justice and get creative.

After locating some sturdy vines, decent sized sticks and some less than stellar but mostly intact tapestries, she fastened the tapestries to the sticks to keep them taut then used the remaining vines to create reins to strap onto her back, shoulders, waist and to her upper thighs. Her legs were the strongest asset she had at the moment so she was going to use them to get him back to his people. If she was lucky, then the Grey Wardens were real and could save her fallen savior.

It was grueling work and she was already beyond exhausted. All she could think about was how this man, no, this elf had so valiantly come to her rescue, not once but twice and both times using his own body as a meat shield. She couldn't give up, not after all the terrible things she had endured. She had to save him, she needed to save him, and so onward she went. Muscles screaming from the burning pain as tears began to slip down her cheeks.

Her legs buckled and she hit the ground hard, but she refused to surrender. She clawed at the floor, her vision blurring from a greater onslaught of tears. She didn't have the strength to return to her feet so she flipped over and used her legs to push against the overgrown roots, collapsed rubble, and raised stone slabs. She forced her body to drag across the ground, moving her makeshift stretcher inch by inch. Her legs ached and her arms and hands were covered in scrapes, scratches, and newly forming bruises.

She only stopped when she was suddenly blinded by the sunlight filtering through the trees above them. She unhooked herself from the makeshift harness and tried to stagger around to check on her out cold savior, but luck truly was not on her side because a group of darkspawn came rushing towards them. She barely had time to grab one of his short swords, a Dar'Misu, to stop the initial strike to her savior but that was all she had in her. It knocked the blade from her hand and back handed her.

Everything was a big blur but she was definitely aware that she was being dragged away by her ankle and even in her weakened state, she knew why she was being kept alive... broodmother. They were going to force feed the bodies of others to her and make her become a giant blob with tits to be impregnated and pop out more darkspawn for the horde. Her head smacked into a rock and it was lights out.

The sounds of a crackling fire reached her ears, along with the distant sound of flowing water, the rustling of leaves being blown about by the wind and what sounded like panting. There was a low whine from somewhere to her left, so she turned her head in that direction. She let out a small squawk of surprise when a coarse tongue licked her face. She scurried backwards as her eyes flew open and she was greeted by a black wolf with vibrant ocean colored eyes.

"So you finally awake. I am pleased that you yet live." A rather familiar voice to her right spoke.

She sat up properly and looked in that direction. She froze in shock with eyes wide and just a tiny bit of fear because she was about ninety percent certain that the bald elf sitting on the ground near the fire was none other than Fen'harel, the Dread Wolf also known as the hedge mage, Solas.

"There is no need to be concerned. I am not the one you know, not exactly. My name is Solan and I am the Heart of the Wolf, cast out by Fen'harel to prevent his own emotions from interfering with his mission to restore the ancient world of the elves…and yes, I can read your essence quite clearly due to your rather unique physiology." The elf known as Solan explained before the wolf with black fur plopped his head into her lap to demand attention.

She absent-mindedly stroked his head, his tail thumping the ground in delight. This action earned a soft chuckle from the mysterious elf.

"It would seem that our furry friend has claimed you as his. He was the one that brought you to me for healing. Your head injury was more severe than I anticipated yet has been completely healed in less than two days. The spirits are very protective of you and as they should be. You saved them from a terrible fate and they, in turn, saved you. They are also quite glad that you activated the eluvian. It has granted you a most generous boon... knowledge, a great deal of it in fact. As of now, you are a living repository of ancient and lost knowledge. It will serve you well in the days to come." He continued.

"Does he have a name, the wolf I mean?" She asked, her brain still doing the backstroke and latching on to the simplest question currently available.

"He refuses to share that information. I believe that he wishes for you to give him a name, perhaps as show ownership or even fealty." Solan answered, smiling slightly as the wolf let out a short yip of agreement.

The crimson haired woman looked down at the rather large wolf, gazing into those deep blue depths that struck a chord of familiarity and trust within her very soul.

" Poseidon." She whispered, almost in a trance.

Said trance was broken by a very happy wolf lacking her face until she managed to shove the overactive beast off her. She took a moment to catch her breath and wipe the saliva from her skin... yuck…when a thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Oh no, my savior...the elf I was trying to protect!" She started, her emotions sky rocketing.

"Ah, young master Theron Mahariel of the Dalish elves. There is no need for concern. The spirits within the Fade have informed me that the Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens had found him not long after you were captured and is currently with his clan. Unfortunately, he was corrupted by the taint and will need to journey to Ostagar to attempt the Joining." The elf informed, calming her slightly.

The events of Ostagar from the Dragon Age: Origins game flashed through her mind and she knew that she needed to help but how? She was no warrior, could obviously not wield the weapons of Thedas with any degree of proficiency and some last minute training wasn't going to help her either, but she needed to save Duncan at the very least, Cailan too if she could. She doubted that she could save anymore than that.

"The battle will not occur for a short time, a week or so at best. I will take you to the port town of Gwaren and book passage to the Free Marches for you and Poseidon." Solan informed and cut her off before she could protest,

"I will go to Ostagar in your stead. I hold mastery of several skill trees and I now know how to craft Mythal's Favor. The knowledge you gained from the Eluvian will save a great many lives, but to save a great deal more, there is somewhere else where you need to be."

"Kirkwall, the City of Chains." She breathed, remembering the events of Dragon Age II.

"I have several friends in Kirkwall and the surrounding areas that will aid you. Here, take this." He replied holding out a silver band with runes etched into it, "This will identify you as a truth seer. Even the Grand Cleric will heed your council and they will know that you speak the truth, no matter how bizarre or fantastical it may appear. It will also help you decipher and understand the knowledge you now possess. I will not lie to you. It will take several years for you to gain proficiency with the skills and crafts you now know, but it will be more than enough to aid you in your quest."

"Why are you helping me, Solan?" She asked, very curious as to what his true motives were.

"Because I believe that you can alter fate, bring about change to this stagnated world, and perhaps one day, you'll save someone from themselves." He answered enigmaticly.

" Solas. You want me to change his mind, don't you?" She questioned, taken aback by his words.

"No, though it would be nice. I miss being complete, but I would not ask that of you. No, I had someone else in mind, several people actually. One is blinded by hatred, another blinded by faith, another is shackled to an ancient past, another is lost within despair, another is trapped by fear, another is bound by duty, another is betrayed, another bound by heritage, and the last is destined for terrible strife, sorrow, and loss." He answered in a cryptic manner but she understood it perfectly well.

"Fenris, Sebastian, Merrill, Anders, Isabella, Aveline, Varric, Bethany, and Hawke...is it Marion or Garrett?" She wondered, "Wait...how did I escape the darkspawn?"

"Garrett and you didn't escape. You were rescued by Poseidon and a human noble named Fergus Cousland. Unfortunately, your wolf was only able to get only one of you to safety. The other is currently with the Wilder folk. I believe they are referred to as the Chasind." Solan responded, "Enough questions for now. If I am to return to Ostagar in time, we must make haste to the coast. Come."

He pulled her to her feet and with a wave of his hand, they broke camp and left the area. The journey was fast paced, too fast for her new body and for the last third of it, Solan carried her on his back as he ran across the ground. It felt more like gliding than running, his feet barely touching the ground most of the time. She could only assume that it was a mage thing and spent the majority either asleep or asking random questions which he seemed to thoroughly enjoy answering. He reveled in her avid curiosity and marveled at the depths of her imagination.

Far too soon for the other's liking, they finally reached the port town of Gwaren. Solan, the ever helpful elf, gave her an enchanted bag and told her to work out how to use it on the voyage to the Free Marches. He also gave her a rather heavy coin purse. She decided not to look inside for fear of gawking and calling unwanted attention to herself. She did actually hug him which he sort of expected but was still surprised by how much warmth and caring he felt from her in regards to himself.

She eventually released him and boarded the ship, her loyal wolf bounding up the plank after her. She waved goodbye to him as he smiled. Yes, she was indeed the person he thought she was and she had no idea, but that very fact was going to save her life one day and quite possibly the whole of creation too. He just hoped that the others like Poseidon wouldn't cause her too much trouble. She has enough to worry about without that lot dragging her into constant danger.

Once the ship was no longer within view, he turned and left. He needed to reach Ostagar and change futures that were once set in stone. Blessed be the path of the Star of Andraste. Not a bad title but the Star Child wouldn't make much sense in the land of Thedas... at least for the time being.