When the Herald of Andraste awoke from her regenerative nap, the group began to make their trek to the main path that led to the King's Road. A certain storytelling dwarf noticed just how annoyed the Dread Wolf appeared to be, so while Starshine walked at the head of the group with the seeker and the spirit mage, he decided to be a nosy little busy body.
"I can't help but notice that you seem, shall we say, a little off and by off, I mean pissed at the world. Care to talk about it, Chuckles?" Varric asked in his usual stellar manner.
"It is unimportant. I simply could not enter my mate's dreamscape while she slept earlier today." Solas admitted, trying to play it off as nothing, but there was a lot of something behind that nothing.
"I take it that this sort of thing doesn't happen very often?" He queried.
"In truth, it has never happened before. She has always been open to me and has never denied me access before. I am not even sure that it was her that was keeping me away." The ancient elf answered, his frustration barely concealed.
Before he could reply, their group came to a halt and for good reason. The King's Road was filled with smaller battles occurring all over the place, mages and templars duking it out. If this wasn't an actual war, the dwarf would have called it a full knockout brawl after a bad hand of Wicked Grace and one too many drinks. They were not pulling their punches either, all of them out for blood.
"Senseless." The Herald said quietly, horrified by what she was seeing, "What purpose does any of this serve? It just creates a never ending cycle of hatred and revenge. It's wrong, it's so wrong."
She wasn't wrong, this kind of violence was completely and utterly pointless, but they did need to get out of the way, find some cover, or straight up murder some folks. If they didn't do something soon, the refugees at the Crossroads were going to pay the price. Solas whispered instructions to the others to move towards an emptier section of the battlefield and out of the direct line of sight.
"Solas!" Artz shouted in panic.
That was the only warning they had before a flurry of arrows rained down upon them. To her credit, the snowy haired woman managed to divert most of the arrows with her magic so that they didn't hit them, but she couldn't get them all. One landed in her left shoulder, another to her stomach, and another implanted into her right thigh. The seeker's side was grazed, but didn't break skin. Anders's left hand got impaled and he, personally, got his right cheek cut, a nice trail of blood seeping from the wound.
The only one to come away unscathed was Solas and that's only because little Miss Starshine had gotten in between him and the archers. The elven mage was currently attempting to pull out the arrows and keep his mate's blood inside her body. The spirit mage had pulled out the arrow in his hand, did a quick healing before assisting Solas in trying to help the woman they both loved. The seeker of truth took up a defensive position in front of them to block any further incoming projectiles.
He on the other hand went for the nearest cover he could find, pulled his crossbow so lovingly named Bianca off his back, and came to a quick decision. They were not in the best defensible position and with Starshine out of commission and the other two mages attempting to stabilize her, they were up shit creek and needed a paddle. He pulled out the sending stone and called the magical rogue he knew was in the area.
"Angel! We got trouble! Artz has been hit by multiple arrows and we're pinned down out in the open near the entrance to the Crossroads on the King's Road. Could really use an ex machina right now." He informed before raising out of his cover to aim, only to have to duck or get hit, "Maker's flaming balls, I can't even get a shot off."
There was something that sounded like what Angel referred to as the Wilhelm scream which had him peeking out again, only to smirk. He recognized the scantily dressed pirate known as the Queen of the Waking Sea, Isabella and she was dicing things up alongside the former Antivan Crow, Zevran Arainai. A stone fist slammed into another target and he caught a brief glimpse of Daisy, the Dalish elf known as Merrill.
That explained two out of three rogues and a verified mage, meaning the other rogue and the warrior from the report was Angel and Broody themselves though he didn't see them yet. The area cleared enough to where he could abandon his cover and join the fray, taking up position next to his group and spouting off bolt after bolt, mowing down his enemies. Fire, ice and lightning attacks soon joined in, meaning that Blondie and Chuckles had managed to heal Starshine.
Once they had taken care of the immediate enemies, they fell back to behind a ruined and still burning home, but at least offered enough cover for their enlarged group and a chance to take stock of everyone's current physical states and who required healing.
"Well hello, my lovely." The assassin began, only to be punched by the spirit healer.
"Keep it in your pants, Crow. Now isn't the time." Blondie snapped hotly.
"No offense, Zev. I love you, truly, but you're not my type and to be fair, neither is my Sea Empress over there, but that doesn't mean I won't look or accidentally flirt since I seriously have no idea how to flirt. Meh. Anyways, it is an absolute delight to meet you, Captain Isabella, Zevran of Antiva, and the absolutely adorable Merrill of the Dalish." Starshine rambled in her usual cute and endearing way.
"Oh um, hello. It's a pleasure to meet you too, Miss, oh uh Lady Herald ship." Daisy floundered a bit, cheeks tinting pink from the attention.
"Well how about that. You really do know things like our favorite dwarf said." Rivaini commented, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Now, now, Isabella, no need for suspicion. We are all friends here, are we not?" Crow butted in, attempting to keep things civil.
Starshine looked at the Antivan Crow first, her eyes piercing.
"Rinna."
She looked at the pirate queen, ignoring how Zevran had frozen in place.
"Naishe."
Rivaini's eyes widened and unknown emotion flitted through her eyes. She then looked to the Dalish elf that blinked innocently.
"Tamlen."
This made Daisy blink a few times, eyes becoming sad for a moment, but then smiled at the snowy haired elf. Zevran cleared his throat, not looking at anyone in particular and although a bit rattled, Isabella still smirked like the badass she believed herself to be.
"Solas, what's the plan? We can't leave these idiots fighting. It will spill over into the Crossroads. Do you think we have the numbers and power to clear out this part of the King's Road?" Artz asked, shifting into her advisor/planner mode.
"You could clear out this area on your own quite easily, vhenan, but for the sake of my sanity, we will split into two teams. Lightning with earth, fire with ice. Seeker, you are with the Herald. Varric, find a perch, you're the wild card. Zevran and Isabella, cover Merrill and Anders." Solas determined.
"And pray tell, why should we listen to you?" Rivaini asked, a challenge in her eyes.
"Please." Artz piped up, looking at their new associates with big, hopeful eyes.
Daisy and the Crow crumbled in less than two seconds flat and the lady pirate shifted uncomfortably before sighing.
"Fine." She acquiesced with a grumble.
The two groups splintered off and began clearing out the area using a pincers formation. The last place to be cleared out was a ruined fort that possessed another deposit of red lyrium. The Herald stepped up and used her magic to resonate with the corrupted material, changing it from red to blue. Then proceeded to throw up nearby with both the spirit healer and the Inquisitor looking after her. They needed to get her away from the lyrium pronto. He wasn't sure why it made her so sick, but no need to expose her to it any longer than necessary.
"Okay, kitty. Spill it. What are you and why did you react like that to regular lyrium?" Isabella demanded, crossing her arms.
Artz looked over at the pirate in confusion, her eyes tired from the constant battling and the effect of the lyrium. Solas wrapped his arms around her, bringing her fully into his arms. Shit, seriously Rivaini, don't piss off an ancient god-like elven mage by acting in any ways threatening towards his mate. Anders moved closer to the snowy haired mage himself and the seeker inched closer to a more frontal defensive position. He wasn't sure how to diffuse this without alienating his old friends and his new friends.
"Petrichor." Starshine said suddenly.
He, Anders, Merrill and Isabella all answered in unison.
"The smell of dust after the rain." They replied.
Artz smiled, but the way she smiled completely and utterly broke his heart. Well, shit, the proverbial cat was out of the bag now.
"What do stars do, Empress?" The Herald asked with that heartbreaking smile still on her face.
Rivaini's eyes widened as realization dawned on her face, along with something close to horror entering her facial expression.
"Shine… Starshine…your Angel's sister!" She exclaimed, clearly shocked by this revelation.
"What, but she's an elf! Not saying that's a bad thing, of course, but Miss Angel is human, like completely human." Daisy piped up confused.
"Just because we do not share blood, does not mean that we are not family. Sisters in all but blood, a bond that transcends time, space, and matter. Something in which the very laws of creation will never be able to explain, simply that it exists is impossible which means it's true because the impossible is my normal." Artz replied, "Don't suppose any of you know where to find my sister, my truest believer?"
"Unfortunately, no. She and that sexy elf of hers disappeared this morning. She left this with us in case the dwarf called." Zevran answered, revealing the sending stone from under his armor.
The Herald of Andraste removed herself from her mate's arms and staggered over to the assassin. She would have fallen had it not been for Rivaini's quick reflexes as a rogue. The pirate gently led her to the Antivan Crow, a look of worry etched on her features. He wasn't surprised by the sudden switch of emotional tracks because they had all spent years listening to Angel tell stories about her sister and they all cared for a woman that they didn't know if they were ever going to meet.
Artz held out her hand for the sending stone, making the assassin tilt his head in curiosity. She simply held her hand there, waiting for it and refusing to be moved. Finally the Crow sighed before taking the necklace off and placing it in her outstretched hand. Starshine's eyes took on that faraway look that he hated.
"Anna…where did you go? What happened?" She spoke softly, "Running, you're running, but why? Why are you running, Anna? What are you afraid of?"
Artz gasped, her breathing accelerated and came in short breaths. Solas fade stepped to behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist before shouting to Anders. The spirit mage took up the space in front of her, forcing the pirate to release her and step away. Tears poured from her eyes as she let out a choked sob that would stab anyone in the heart. Her eyes regained their original clarity and she looked outright pissed, but insanely determined as well.
"Let go." She ordered.
"Vhenan…" Solas began.
"Let go of me now. I will not tell you again." She cut him off, her voice sharper than any blade could ever be.
He nodded to Anders and the two slowly released her and took a few steps back to give her some space. Her eyes began to glow in a fierce, electric blue light, swirling with power and twinkled like reflective dust. Imagine their surprise when an orb of the same light swirled to life around her before becoming so bright that they had to shield their eyes from being blinded. There was a flash and the light was gone. The Herald of Andraste was nowhere in sight. Whatever she had seen after touching the sending stone had seriously juiced her up and now they had no clue where she was.
…
Former slave to a Tevinter magister and highly adept elven warrior, Fenris, was currently chasing after the woman that had been by his side since after he slaughtered the Fog Warriors and ran from his master, former now dead master. He had suffered injuries during the massacre his former owner had ordered him to do and she had found him. She had just recently lost her world for a second time. He hadn't really believed her story at the time, but he was in desperate need of aid.
She had tried to heal him with magic, but he did not react well to the simple swelling of magical energy. She hadn't even touched him yet and he had recoiled so harshly, fear coursing through his veins. She had immediately stopped and used her runic bracers to magically bring out bandages and poultices. She took the utmost care while tending to his wounds. She was kind and caring and carried herself like a warrior that had seen far too many battles, hands long since soaked in blood.
She told him about herself and about the one she called Her Doctor. To this day, he still did not know why he had decided to trust her. She was a mage and he hated magic, yet could never bring himself to hate her. When his brands had been supercharged with magic after taking a blast meant for her, his heart gave out from the pain and his one desire was to live by any means necessary. Why because of the tears she had cried, the look of utter heartbreak on her face… it did something to him.
A gentle warmth had encompassed him as the darkness threatened to engulf him completely. It was like standing in a beam of sunlight, it was so warm and he wanted to bask in it forever. When he opened his eyes, he saw that her entire being was glowing with a soft silver light, her eyes a molten silver and shining with a light from within. Luminescent tears streamed down her cheeks and he realized that the warmth he was feeling was from her magic.
She had used her magic to calm the lyrium within the markings on his skin and restart his heart. The pain he had once felt all the time was completely gone, nothing more than a memory. She had saved him and he swore an oath of eternal loyalty to her, that no matter what he would always be her friend. Ever since then, they had been together, fighting alongside each other and keeping each other as safe as possible.
When they met the Hawke siblings, Garrett and Bethany, he had been hesitant to trust them, especially with the abomination named Anders around, but did it stop his dear friend from squealing like a fan girl, no, no it did not and after a bit of debating, he decided to give staying in one place a try for a while. The irony was that he now actually owned that mansion in Hightown that Danarius, his former master, had stolen from a merchant. She had found the deed and gotten him to sign it one night when was drunker than normal.
Then came the idiocy that was the spirit mage and that damn spirit of Justice that made him go crazy on an innocent mage girl. Oh the pain that had caused him to hold Anders back, absorbing the raw magical energy into himself and with it came memories and emotions that were not his own. He saw through the spirit healer's eyes and felt what was in his heart, breaking his own as he finally understood. Mages in a circle were nothing more than slaves trapped in a cage, constantly scrutinized and often lusted after.
Anders, himself, had actually been raped many times during his youth at the Circle of Magi. His good looks and toned physique made him into eye candy and a bloody target for the sycophants within the Templar order. That was why he escaped so many times, trying to flee from the ones that used him like he was just a piece of meat, a toy to be played with whenever they saw fit.
The absolute worst time of the man's life had been when he was thrown into isolation for a year. They had just entered his cell and used him over and over again and no one stopped them. The isolation cells were in the basement and under magical suppression wards at all times, meaning that the spirit mage had been absolutely helpless and unable to defend himself. It was why Anders had learned spirit healing magic, in order to heal himself of the physical trauma but could do nothing for his psyche.
So when Fenris learned that the spirit mage had deliberately rendered himself helpless to remove the spirit of Justice and return him to the Fade, he had been shocked because to make himself that vulnerable again, it took courage of the highest caliber. And when he learned that he was the reason why, the elven warrior had never been so touched in his life. Were his emotions running high already, yes, yes they were, but did it truly matter in the end, no it did not.
He chose to go down to Darktown, even though his body protested greatly, because he could not and would not abandon him…not now, not after all of this, not after finding out just how much he had suffered at the hands of templars and how far he was willing to go just to protect the broody elf that hated magic. Arriving at the clinic and seeing the sight that greeted him upon entry, it snapped something inside of him.
There was his friend being raped by templars just as Anders had been years ago and the spirit mage was being restrained, a sword to his throat, and looking so utterly defeated. There had been no light in the man's eyes and that was a look he knew very well. It had been the same look in his eyes that he saw every day looking into a mirror while still serving Danarius. His body lit up in the blue light from his markings and he slaughtered every last Templar.
He had dropped his sword to check on Anders first. He needed to see his eyes, to know that he had saved him, that he had brought the light back and he almost fell over in relief. The light had indeed returned to the mage's eyes along with a great deal of confusion, but it didn't matter how strange his actions appeared. He was simply grateful that he had been able to save him from the templars. After seeing to Anders's wellbeing, he checked on Amy and her first concern was for him and Anders, forgetting her own trauma in lieu of worrying over them.
He had not been pleased when Captain Isabella tried to remove him from the clinic. His rage towards the templars still burning hotly, his brands lighting up as he pulled back his armored hand to rip out her heart on pure instinct. The spirit mage had called out to him which stopped him from completing the action and he staggered over to the helpless spirit healer to check on him. Both she and the dwarf got the message that he was staying and left him in peace.
Ever since that day, he had stuck like glue to Anders and Amethyst. He refused to let them go anywhere near templars without him and when Anders was blamed for the destruction of the chantry, he had personally stopped an attack from the idiotic Prince of Starkhaven when Garrett refused to kill the spirit healer. It had shocked everyone just how vehemently he had defended mages and their right for freedom.
Living someone else's memories had changed his outlook on life in the Circle. Magisters were still on his shit list, but innocent mages should never be forced to live like slaves, to be treated as less than sentient beings, and deserved the chance to find love and happiness. His words and actions had deeply touched the mages amongst his friends, none more so than Anders and Amy that had been by his side for years and making life worth living.
They eventually parted ways, Amy staying with him and traveling to Tevinter and Anders returning to Ferelden, wanting to use his skills as a spirit healer to help those caught in the crossfire of the mage and Templar war. He had been reluctant to let him go, but she had insisted that he be allowed to find his own path and to trust in him and his abilities.
When Amy got a call from Varric a couple of years later on the sending stone, he had been absolutely stunned. Amy's sister was in the village of Haven in the Frostback Mountains located in Southern Thedas. She was apparently the Herald of Andraste and possessed the Anchor on her left hand. Then come to find out, she was in the body of an elf and was a gifted mage on top of it all. He knew there was something that his friend didn't tell him, but he trusted her so he doubted that it was much of an obstacle.
They had immediately packed up camp and he called in a favor with the pirate captain that was their friend. Meanwhile Amy had contacted Merrill and told her about her sister being in Ferelden. The Dalish elf made quick time to catch up with them and joined them as they boarded the Siren's Call II to discover that the former Antivan Crow was on board and had decided to come along since Isabella had been talking his ear off about Amy and her mysterious sister.
Upon learning that Artz was now officially in the Hinterlands, more specifically at the Crossroads, he had noticed a shift in Amethyst. The more time it took for her sister to come and meet them, the more nervous she became. He knew the moment that she had given Arainai the sending crystal and said she was going scouting that she was going to run, so he followed after her and she most certainly ran and kept on running. Even with his speed as a warrior, he was having trouble keeping her in his sight.
He was caught off guard by a sudden flash of blue light, blinding him for several seconds before he took off again. He broke through the trees and stopped short at the sight of an elf with silvery white hair and glowing blue eyes. The area around her seemed to ripple and shine. She honestly looked like a goddess to him, she was so beautiful and ethereal, and he felt drawn to her like he had known her his entire life.
"Anna." The snowy goddess spoke softly.
"Artz." His friend responded.
This was Artz! Maker have mercy! This incredible goddess of light was the woman he had been wanting to meet for close to a decade!
"I know why you ran. I saw everything the moment I touched this." Artz continued, holding up the sending stone.
Saw what exactly?
"Artz, I…" Amy, no, Anna started but stopped, choking on the words.
"Anna, did you honestly believe that I would reject you, that I wouldn't want you anymore?" The snowy goddess asked, her tone bordering incredulous.
"I…I don't know what I was thinking. I was just scared. I didn't know how you would react if I told you the truth; taking so many lives in not one lifetime but two, being with Solas like that when I knew how much you loved him, that I refused to be with Fenris in any physically intimate way because you loved him just as much if not more than Solas…I'm sorry. I don't know what to feel, what to say…except that it's been hell without you and that I never stopped believing that I would find you." Anna rambled, tears streaming down her face as she wrung her hands.
Artz smiled at her which just made his friend cry even harder. The light faded from around her and from her eyes as well. The snowy haired elf pitched forward, her eyes closing.
"Artz!" His friend screamed in panic and he was moving.
He couldn't catch her before she hit the ground, but he did turn her over and held her in his arms. Her face scrunched up and she lost coloring her in already pale skin. She rolled out of his arms and started making all sorts of retching sounds. He tried to get closer to her to help, but she started upchucking violently. Anna pulled him back a few feet and Artz seemed to calm down.
"Artz?" Anna called out in worry.
"Ir abelas, Fenris." The goddess apologized, "I've been having an adverse reaction to lyrium since I woke up at Haven. It makes me sick for some reason which is really pissing me off right now because I would like very much to hug you and snog you senseless. Just give me a minute to think."
The elven warrior felt a bolt of pain hit his heart, lowering his head. He had finally gotten to meet the woman he had been pining after for almost ten years and he couldn't be near her without making her so sick that she kept throwing up the contents of her stomach. Was he not meant to have that kind of happiness?
"Okay, I got it, though be advised this will probably knock me out. It's been that kind of day." Artz said suddenly.
His sight was blinded by the electric blue light from before. He could feel it piercing through every part of his body. The roughness from the solid lyrium in his markings melted away and became nothing more than raised flesh. The liquid from the brands seemed to start flowing through his veins, but did not solidify. It became cool and seemed to merge with his very blood.
He felt the wash of coolness answer his call and he opened his eyes to discover that the water from the nearby stream was swirling around him. He reached out in fascination and it came to his hand. He could feel it in his mind, the shape and flow of the water. He was controlling it. The sound of a thud reached his ears and his gaze snapped in that direction. Artz was lying on the ground, on her side and was unconscious.
He didn't even think before rushing over to her, stopping prematurely when he remembered the physical reaction of his presence had made her sick, but she didn't seem to react this time. He knelt down next to her, ignoring the squawk from his friend as the water he had been controlling dropped to the ground, drenching her in the process. He reached out in a hesitant manner, afraid to touch her, but his touch did not cause her to grow ill or lose coloring. If anything, she seemed to be getting stronger.
Wait, was he sensing her aura? Yes, yes he was. There was a connection between them now and it was clear as day. A sense of calmness washed over him and for the first time since he woke up without his memories, he felt whole and grounded like there was a clear and distinct reason for his existence. His eyes softened as a small smile graced his lips. Anna knelt in front of them, looking like a drowned kitten.
"I apologize. I am experiencing a bit much at the moment. Give me a moment to catch up, would you?" He apologized, his smile slipping into a smirk.
Anna shook her head in a fond exasperation, a smile coming to her face as he felt relief flood her entire aura.
"You do realize that she used the lyrium to essentially make you into a mage, right? An elementalist to be sure, but you were using magic to control the water and you hate magic." She pointed out, her purple eyes searching his eyes.
"I hate magisters, slavers, most of the Templar order, and the chantry bigots that did nothing to stop the crimes being committed on both sides, but magic itself, I don't hate it. I haven't for years. Between you and Anders, the Hawke siblings and Merrill, and now Artz, I will never be able to hate magic in its entirety ever again." He revealed, letting out a soft chuckle.
"She's mated to Solas." Anna spit out.
"He'll just have to learn how to share." He replied simply, lifting the snowy goddess into his arms, "I suggest finding someplace to bunker down until either she recovers enough to travel or they find us to regroup and seeing as you now have the sending stone back in your possession, that shouldn't be a problem."
He saw her face go blank before she started cursing in elven. She immediately called Varric and told him that Artz was with them. She also filled them in on most of the details, leaving out the part where he could now control water with magic. He couldn't wait to see the look on their faces, especially Anders and Merrill, when he shows off his new talent. He knew that he would need to practice some to avoid any accidental injuries.
Last thing he wanted was to hurt Artz and his friends because he didn't put in the effort to learn. He doubted that he would manifest any other magical abilities outside of water manipulation. Just something his gut was telling him, but his intuition was telling him that although limited to the single element of water, he would be able to do a whole heck of a lot and that the snowy goddess in his arms would be able to show him how.
…
Zevran Arainai, former member of the Antivan Crows and former traveling companion of the Hero of Ferelden, was finding the circumstances of his current association to be most intriguing. The leader of the Inquisition was an elven mage and mated to the enigmatic elven prophetess known as the Herald of Andraste that used a mysterious power to transport herself to parts unknown.
Then there were the former companions of the Champion of Kirkwall, a rather interesting lot to say the least. He has known Isabella for years now and he had never seen her change her tune so quickly about anyone before. She had a healthy dose of suspicion one second and then settled into a horror filled worry in the next second. Such a drastic change in one that was usually always so calm headed was startling to say the least.
Then there was the spirit mage and his instant protection of the Lady Herald. He had obediently done as the Inquisitor had ordered without doubt or question. The pathological liar that was Varric Tethras, well when one gains his loyalty, it was obviously unbreakable. The lovely Merrill was a surprise, but to take such an immediate shine to someone was unusual for a Dalish elf, even if she had been separated from her clan for some years now.
He was rather intrigued and confused by the so called relations between the woman known as the Angel of Death and Mercy and the proclaimed Herald of Andraste. He was not sure exactly when they had met, given that the snowy elf had never been to Kirkwall for obvious reasons. He supposed it was possible for the two to have met while they each wandered the Free Marches, but that brought up another question.
Where were Fenris and Solas during these times of getting to know each other and forging this incredible bond that was spoken of? The elven warrior had said that he had been waiting to meet Artz for almost a decade and he was under the impression that the elven mage had never met Fenris.
"Do yourself a favor, Crow, and don't think about it too hard. It will just give you a headache." The dwarf warned.
"Oh? I take it that you have the answers that I seek then." The assassin surmised.
"Some of them, but to protect Angel and Starshine, they will remain unsaid and believe me when I say that they are worth protecting, even if I have to die to do so, I will. Just to give you some context." The rogue replied ambiguously.
"Should you prove trustworthy and of an impeccable moral character, perhaps ma vhenan and her truest believer will give you the answers that you seek. Though I doubt that they will be forthcoming any time soon. My heart especially. She has not even confided in her newly acquired secondary mate, but that may change with both her sister and Fenris in the equation now." Solas commented, an underlying threat in his tone and words.
The former Antivan Crow could sense something very dangerous about the elven mage that had been made the leader of the Inquisition. It would be ill advised to delve any deeper into the mystery that was the Herald of Andraste. Just what has he gotten himself into this time?
…
The seeker of truth chewed on her lip nervously, the hand on the hilt of her sword tightening and loosening sporadically. The disappearance of the Herald made her extremely worried. The way she had spoken to her mates was also unsettling. She had never sounded so cold before, almost like that of a battle hardened warrior. She did not like that.
The snowy haired elf was a kind and gentle soul despite acting like a sassy little shit most of the time. She was blunt and snarky, taking no crap from anyone or anything. She loved to help others, solve problems, and act as a listener and a therapist. Her compassionate heart and determined spirit were things that Cassandra loved about her. Seeing her eyes light up when she learned something new or how they seemed to sparkle when enthralled by a story or tale, it was truly a wonderful sight to behold.
What she witnessed today was something that she had not been emotionally prepared for. She had seen her charge struck down by multiple arrows, barely holding on to consciousness. Her mates were fighting against time itself to save her, not giving a damn about themselves. She had been relieved when the mysterious rogues and mage had shown up, but also weary as well. She was positively giddy when three different magical attacks in the forms of fire, ice and lightning had joined the flurry of attacks, meaning that the mages had successfully healed the Lady Herald.
When they had managed to find cover, she scrutinized the new additions. The copper toned woman with piercings was scantily dressed in an off white, almost beige tunic that was held together by laces and wearing no leggings whatsoever. The woman practically screamed pirate. Then there was the elven rogue, cadence and accent placed him as Antivan and she had heard the word Crow a few times, meaning that he was a member of the assassin's guild known as the Antivan Crows.
She then heard his name and corrected herself, a former member of the assassin's guild known as the Antivan Crows. The man was once an ally and comrade to the Hero of Ferelden and was one of the few assassins that she would actually be able to trust. Leliana had spoken quite well of him which in plain speak was that the man had a good heart, once you got past all the damn flirting and sexual innuendos.
Her gaze then fell upon the known maleficar that was the Dalish elf, Merrill. Former traveling companion and friend of the Champion of Kirkwall, she left her clan to restore an ancient artifact of elven design and used blood magic to expunge the taint from it, but looking at her now, she was having some difficulties picturing her as an evil blood mage. She seemed quite innocent, a little naive, and with her abilities as a seeker, she could sense no darkness from the elven woman. She was the very picture of good, radiating purity and light.
The woman that Varric called Rivaini was beginning to annoy her. Her blatant disrespect for both the Herald and the Inquisitor was rubbing her the wrong way. Fortunately, the Lady Herald had things well in hand and convinced the trio of new arrivals to work with them and they efficiently cleared out the area. The snowy haired elf pointed to a ruined fort nearby, saying she could sense the corrupted song of red lyrium originating from somewhere within.
Dispatching the enemies inside, they discovered a note with the generalized area of where the Templar encampment could be found which put them one step closer to stabilizing the region. She watched as Artz used her magic to harmonize with the red lyrium, the corrupted red light bleeding away into the pale blue light of normal lyrium. She was not, however, expecting the Herald to suddenly lose the contents of her stomach.
The lyrium, something about the lyrium, was causing this to occur. That explained why she was so afraid of the potent lyrium potion she had tried to give her on the way to the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Was it possible for someone to be allergic to lyrium? It seemed preposterous considering that the woman was a mage and using lyrium potions to restore mana was essentially a fact of life. She did not know what to make of any of this.
There were so many questions revolving around the Herald of Andraste, her Champion not so much, but Artz, herself, was turning into quite an enigma. Then combine the reactions of the pirate, the dwarf, the blood mage, and the spirit healer to a single spoken word and things became even stranger. Now the Herald was gone, having used yet another strange power to teleport herself to an unknown location and leaving them behind.
She didn't even take her mates with her which was alarming. She rarely separated from her fellow elven mage and after the inclusion of the Grey Warden, when not with Solas, she could always be found in the spirit mage's company. She did not take either of them with her which did not bode well. She had sworn an oath to protect the Herald of Andraste, to not fail her as she did Divine Justinia, and she was beyond her reach, unable to keep her word. She was sending prayer after prayer to the Maker and his bride to keep her charge safe until she could be at her side once more.
"Lady Cassandra," The voice of Anders broke through her constant praying and she turned to look at him, "Amy just called us on the sending stone. She and Fenris are with Artz. She's safe."
"Thank the Maker. Do we know what condition she's in?" She asked, relief and worry fighting for dominance.
Relief that she was being protected by two of the Champion's former companions and worry because she had been on the brink of exhaustion before she had suddenly disappeared. The spirit healer sighed, reaching into his pack to absent-mindedly pet his cat, Merlin, which seemed content to be carried around.
"She passed out again. That magic orb thingy she did drained her of her remaining stamina. Her mana reserves are just fine, but she's physically exhausted. They're finding a place to camp out until she either wakes up or we find them." The blonde haired mage informed, his eyes tight from his own worry.
"How are the others taking it?" She asked, trying to find something to talk about.
She absolutely abhorred the concept of small talk, but she was concerned for the Grey Warden's emotional state. He had recently and quite accidentally mated the Herald of Andraste and seemed to be connected to her emotional state, just as Artz seemed to be connected to the Inquisitor's emotional state.
"Merrill is a ray of sunshine as per the usual. She seems to be the calmest among us right now. Varric is on edge about something and I think it has to do with the assassin. Said assassin looked like he was trying to solve an incredibly hard puzzle and Isabella is like a damn snapping turtle. She is kicking herself for not realizing who Artz was sooner. She loved listening to Amy tell stories about her sister. I think there might be some hero worship going on there.
As for the Inquisitor, well he's not doing so well. He was already frustrated by something before we headed into the King's Road then Artz got hurt. The battling, the purification of the Red lyrium deposit, and Isabella making demands, then that whole thing with the sending stone and Artz disappearing…he can't sense her right now. The mating bond is silent like she isn't even there. The only reason why he hasn't charged off on his own to find her is because my link to her is still active." Anders answered, tension coiling into his body.
"And what about you? How are you holding up?" The seeker of truth asked as gently as she could.
"I…I felt her emotions when she touched the sending stone; pain, worry, sorrow, loss, grief, rage…she seemed to settle on apathy for the most part and incredulity." He answered.
"Apathy and incredulity, why?" She echoed, wondering what had caused her to lock onto those two things.
"I think the apathy was in regards to what she felt overall for whatever she had seen like it didn't matter what she saw, it simply wasn't important to her in the long run. As for incredulity, I think that has to do with Amy herself. Most likely, Artz was feeling incredulous that Amy would believe that whatever occurred in the past, actions and inactions alike, would actually alter how she felt about her and that was why seemed so pissed when she left. She simply couldn't believe that her sister would ever feel that way and went to confront her about it.
Knowing Amethyst as I do, she probably thought herself into a downward spiral of self doubt and depression, quickly followed by worry, fear and guilt. Now that I think about it, I believe that is exactly what happened. It's a trait that both she and Artz seem to share, a drawback of seeing the world through their hearts, I suppose. Artz was devastated when she took a life and every life lost, it cuts into her.
Amy has spent a decade with Fenris. He was constantly being hunted by slavers from Tevinter, trying to take him back to his former master. She didn't hesitate to kill anyone that dared to take him away from her. It was a mentality born of necessity and she continues to use that mindset to protect her loved ones. It was why she was known both as the Angel of Death and the Angel of Mercy. She was only cruel to those that dared to harm what was hers, but showed mercy to the enemies that were simply doing as they had to, whether it was for duty or survival.
The bloodiest hands are those of the healers and she and her sister are healers of the heart, the mind, the spirit, and healers of the very soul. Amy has been killing for a long time, believing that so much blood was on her hands. I'm not surprised that she began to doubt herself and the choices she had made in her life. I'm also not surprised that she became afraid of what her sister would think and feel, how she would react to the truth of her being a killer." The spirit mage sighed after talking so much, his eyes filled with sadness and resignation,
"She really is an idiot, that one. I've been with Artz for less than a couple of weeks and I know that her feelings for her sister would never change, no matter what she may have done or didn't do. The love they share is beyond words, beyond actions, beyond imagining. She'll remember that soon enough, I suspect. It is after all very hard to resist Artz."
The seeker of truth smiled at that. The Grey Warden was not wrong. The Herald of Andraste was the strongest person she knew, a strength surpassed only by the power of her heart and that heart would change the world. It did make her wonder how someone like Artz even existed. She seemed to be too good to be true, yet she was entirely genuine and up front. She didn't dance around an issue as others would, but tackled the problem head on.
The snowy haired elf, everything that she was should be completely impossible, but as the Herald said before the impossible was her normal. The only way for the Nevarran royal to comprehend the strange elf was that she was created by the Maker, forged by his will and granted the strength of Andraste's heart and spirit. There was simply no other explanation except that Artz was created for the sole purpose of saving this world from its many follies.
…
Artz came to some time near dusk and found herself in the arms of the elven warrior, Fenris, who had always been her go-to romance in Dragon Age II. The man that voiced Fenris also voiced Balthier from Final Fantasy XII which was why she always went after him until she started paying attention to his actual backstory then she fell for him as Fenris, not as Balthier. She really was a sucker for tragic backstories. The fact that all three of her chosen romances for the first three games had all been elf blooded was entirely coincidental, though Alistair didn't know that his mother was an elven mage and current Grand Enchantress of the rebel mages, the former Grey Warden named Fiona.
"How are you feeling?" The warrior asked and she blushed deeply.
She wanted to melt into a puddle right then and there, because his voice was even more guttural and sexy in real life. Solas's voice was dreamy, but Fenris's voice just made her want to jump his bones and fuck him into next week. Pull yourself together, idiot!
"Fine." She squeaked, flushing in embarrassment.
A deep rumble emanated from his throat as his chest moved and she realized that he was chuckling. Sweet mother of Jefferson Davis, even his fucking chuckle was sexy as fucking hell. She was doomed. She cleared her throat and looked around. She blinked as she recognized a nearby shrine of sorts.
"Senna's shrine." She said aloud.
"A grave of some kind, yes. It's elven in origin though it appears that no one has visited it in several months, perhaps even a few years." The sexy self concurred.
"Her mate is in Redcliffe village. He hasn't been able to make the journey since the mage and Templar war broke out." She informed, glancing at him briefly, "Can we clean it and place fresh flowers please?"
He looked down at her and she noticed that his eyes seemed to be a mix of forest green and ocean blue. How odd, in the game they had definitely been green, a forest green in fact. Perhaps it was Poseidon's influence or even the residual traces of lyrium in his veins.
"Would it please you?" He asked, his eyes searching her eyes for something.
"It would relieve her mate to know that her shrine was cared for." She answered.
"But would it make you happy?" He questioned, making her pause for a moment.
Thus far, she had simply following the mechanics of the game; going on side quests, collecting herbs, acquiring crafting materials, recruiting agents, closing rifts, but she hadn't really thought about whether or not it made her happy. She had always found it rather tedious in the game, go here and do that then report in, but did it make her happy?
She thought back to all the people she had met since arriving in Thedas, in both Haven and the Hinterlands. She had worked diligently to support the Inquisition, doing everything she could to help, but she really didn't get much in the way of rewards. She frowned at that. She didn't have to do anything, but she did because she wanted to. It wasn't because she needed to. She genuinely wanted to help, to make people smile, to hear her friends laugh, and to spare others as much pain as possible.
She had her answer.
"Yes, it would make me happy because the feeling I get from helping others is one of the best gifts that a person can receive. The knowledge that you helped someone even though you didn't have to…it's wonderful." She said smiling.
His eyes softened and he seemed relieved. Wait… was this some kind of test? Well he had spent a lot of time with her truest believer, so he probably wanted to know whether or not the stories he had been told were true. Looked like she responded correctly. He gently helped her to her feet which is saying something considering he was wearing those spiky finger things as hand armor. He hadn't hurt her at all, no discomfort whatsoever.
Her heartbeat quickened as his arms came around her waist. It was just a simple gesture, making certain that she was balanced and wouldn't fall over, but her body was acting like a hormonal teenager. She was beginning to wonder just how old this body was. She looked up at him shyly and discovered that he was smirking, his eyes glinting with a mischievous light. That ass! He was doing this shit on purpose, but could she really complain about it though…may the lone wolf take her this time.
She, begrudgingly, removed herself from his loose embrace and made her way towards the shrine.
"Fenedhis." She cursed in elven, when she tripped over a concealed root.
Lucky for her, her elven warrior had been following her closely and caught her about the waist, bringing her into his arms with an audible thump. She blushed scarlet, feeling the tips of her ears heat up as well. Fuck her life, fuck her sideways…
"If that is what you desire, little star." He commented into her ear.
Wait…what…she hadn't said that aloud.
"Your thoughts are quite loud, little star. I started hearing them after you regained consciousness. Does it trouble you?" He elaborated.
She closed her eyes and focused on their auras. She gasped at what she found. She could sense the bonds she shared with Solas, Anders, and apparently Anna, but there was a bond between her and Fenris and it was much stronger than the ones she shared with the spirit healer and the Dread Wolf. She froze in place when she realized how she had referred to Solas in her head.
"There is no need for trepidation, Artz. Amy…Anna has already told me about your mate though I was unaware that you had mated Anders, but there is no need for you to be concerned. I will not reveal his secrets or yours to anyone without your consent." Fenris promised.
She looked up at him again, searching his eyes and more importantly their mating bond. She smiled when she felt his honesty and sincerity. He meant every word and that made her so happy. She was even more grateful that he didn't seem to mind her being mated to the Grey Warden.
"Let's try to keep the mind reading thing a secret from the others, otherwise they'll never stop pestering you. They can't seem to figure out how my mind works or how I do the things that I do or how I keep it all straight in my head." She requested, smiling at him again.
"I would certainly hope not. My star needs an air of mystery to keep everyone else guessing. It will serve you well in the future." He commented, leaning down slightly.
His breath tickled her skin and she felt a shiver go down her spine, the heat building between her legs. For the love of the bloody Maker, just kiss her already, damn it! He smirked, having heard her thoughts. He learned down further, his lips so close to hers, but stopped suddenly. He pulled back harshly while grabbing the Blade of the Archon from his back, pushing her behind him and taking his stance.
A large brown bear charged over the hill and ran straight at them. She reached for her magic and it answered her call, picturing the bear being frozen in place. Ice erupted across the animal, slowing it down but stopping it entirely. Fenedhis lasa! She forgot that bears were resistant to ice magic. The bear was hit from the side by an arrow covered in silver flames and she spotted her truest believer nearby, bow drawn and items scattered at her feet.
Artz immediately moved back to give her lone wolf more room to engage. It took her a second to recognize the bow that the brunette woman was utilizing, The Sorrows of Arlathan. It was a Tier 7 weapon made from Dragonthorn. In the game, it required a dexterity of thirty four to equip on a rogue. She could stats of the bow in her head.
Longbow, Two-handed
Dagonthorn (Tier 7)
Requires: 34 Dexterity
Damage: 9.60
Critical Chance: 1.60%
Armor Penetration: 8.80
Range: 46
Strength Modifier: 1
3 Damage
Rapid Aim
6% Ranged Critical Chance
3 Armor Penetration
Ancient carvings cover the limbs of this bow. It looks to be some form of elven, either a poem or a prayer of some sort.
She shot off a fee fireballs when the elven warrior jumped from being clawed. She caught sight of the magnificent greatsword known as the Blade of the Archon. It had been her favored weapon in Dragon Age II. She either used it herself when playing warrior class or equipped it to Fenris when she played either mage or rogue class.
The Blade of the Archon
5 Star, Red Steel
21 physical damage (34 per second)
2 Strength
5% Critical chance
5% Attack speed
6 Damage vs. demons and undead
Requires: Two-handed
It might not have been the best weapon in the game, but it was her favorite. The predominantly red handle with some black, and the dark grey blade with silver along the straight edge. She just loved watching either her or Fenris, but especially Fenris, swipe across enemies like the ultimate fucking badass. Man, that was hot.
"Focus, Artz!" The elf chastised, making her roll her eyes.
She froze the bear again, this time it passed the resistance check and froze solid. The elven warrior wasted no time in decapitating the poor creature. Yeah, you can skin that thing yourself, buddy. He gave her a flat look and she simply raised an eyebrow while crossing her arms. What…the big, bad Fenris doesn't want bear guts on his armor, hm? He scowled at her and she smirked.
"Alright, that's enough, you two. I'll handle the defrost, skinning, preserving, and storage. You two go pollinate or something." Anna snarked, making her laugh at the Doctor Who reference.
She decided to play out the scene, so that her lone wolf could understand why it was so funny.
Doctor: That wasn't a gravity pocket. I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that. What do you think, Jabe? Listened to the engines. They've pitched up about thirty Hertz. That dodgy or what?
Jabe: It's the sound of metal. It doesn't make any sense to me.
Doctor: Where's the engine room?
Jabe: I don't know, but the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite, I could show you and your wife.
Doctor: She's not my wife.
Jabe: Partner?
Doctor: No.
Jabe: Concubine?
Doctor: Nope.
Jabe: Prostitute?
Rose: Whatever I am, it must be invisible. Do you mind? Tell you what, you two go and pollinate. I'm going to catch up with family. Quick word with Michael Jackson.
Doctor: Don't start a fight. I'm all yours.
The two handed warrior blinked as he placed his sword back onto his back. He looked at her curiously, a strange smile on his face. He approached her and brought her into his arms.
"Do that again." He commanded but she could hear the awe and wonder in his voice.
She decided to go with a different scene altogether. She wanted to show him the scene from the episode called Voyage of the Damned.
Doctor: To the bridge.
Foon: We're going to die.
Copper: Are you saying someone's done this on purpose?
Foon: We are. We're going to die.
Astrid: We're just a cruise ship.
Doctor: Okay, okay. Shush, shush, shush, shush, shush. First things first. One. We are going to climb through this ship. B. No. Two. We're going to reach the bridge. Three. Or C. We're going to save the Titanic. And, coming in a very low four, or D, or that little iv in brackets they use in footnotes, why. Right then, follow me.
Slade: Hang on a minute. Who put you in charge and who the hell are you anyway?
Doctor: I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm nine hundred and three years old and I'm the man who's going to save your lives and all six billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?
Slade: No.
Doctor: In that case, allons-y!
Fenris genuinely smiled at that, his eyes alight with an emotion she could not name.
"Amy…Anna told me about the Doctor, but to actually see it…will you show me more?" He requested, showing a youthful eagerness that usually marked the birth of a Whovian.
"Not all at once, mind you since there is quite a bit of it to see, but you must pay the price for admission, my lone wolf." She replied coyly.
You know what I want, Fenris. The question is whether or not you give it to me.
He chuckled softly, his smile slipping into his usual bad boy smirk. She squawked when he suddenly pinned her to a tree and crushed his lips against hers in a fiery and passionate kiss. He did not relinquish her for several minutes, breaking apart long enough for a breath before meeting her lips again. He completely dominated the kiss, making her mold to his every whim, and when he finally allowed her to breathe properly, she was light headed and her legs were mush.
He smirked at her again, his eyes possessive and proud. It was making her so hot, but she felt a flash of something cut through her erotic haze. Solas…she could feel Solas. He was close by and he was worried. Oh wow, she could feel the difference now. She knew what her emotions felt like and how his felt like, there was definitely a difference. She managed to get her head back on straight, but it did take a moment for her legs to hold her up on her own power.
She then bolted away from Fenris, ignoring the startled call of her truest believer and headed in the direction of her Dread Wolf. She crested the hill and saw them enter the valley nearby. She focused on the path directly in front of the ancient elf then pictured herself there, essentially fade stepping across the distance. She slammed into his body as he grunted from the impact, his arms instinctively wrapping around her.
"Vhenan." He whispered in relief.
"Turns out you were right. Fenris really is my primary mate, so you're gonna have to wait until after him because I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna jump long before we make it to the agreed location." She spoke lowly into his ear.
"As long as you are happy, that is all I care about." He replied, his words warming her heart.
"I am and have been since I met you." She responded honestly.
He pulled back to kiss her gently, his feelings for her flooding her conscious mind. He really did love her.
' Was that ever really in doubt?' A familiar voice entered her mind.