TRANSLATION:
Emma Lath = my love
Ma Vhenan = My heart.
Fen'harel = dread wolf
Dirthamen = Keeper of Secrets
Ghilan'nain = Mother of the Halla
Shartan woke in a foul mood as he was chained to the floor with a fade mark reeking of the dread wolf's magic burning on his right hand, he opened his eyes to see four soldiers pointing swords at him and that made him lash out as memories sprang forth. He gathered his magic ignoring the pain from the mark he would apologize to his soulmate later for the pain he was causing her, but that would come after he got free and turned the dread wolf into a fur coat for this!
Cassandra and Leliana hurried into the basement and started jogging towards the door when a pulse through her soul mark gave her just enough warning to throw herself at Leliana knocking her down as the door to the cells flew off its hinges and through the air. Cassandra cursed and was on her feet and running through the door with Leliana on her heels, they burst into the room and what they saw made both of them take a step back in fear of the mage now standing in the center of the room. Standing at six and a half feet tall and built like a large Hart, his hair was obsidian in colour with pale almost silver skin with eyes that looked like molten gold. The thing that made them step back was the fact that the room looked like a tornado had hit it with the guards lying unconscious on the ground against the walls while the man in the center dressed in the mercenary outfit they had put on him was simply pulling the shackles off one at a time with a flash of magic each time and dropping them to the earth.
"DON'T MOVE!" a familiar voice yelled at him and Shartan turned to see his soulmate standing in the doorway swords drawn and glaring at him, Shartan smirked at the sight 'Emma lath has always looked most beautiful like that, well unless I count tied up in bondage naked except for ropes and all for me.' Shartan thought and quickly brought his mind back to the task at hand there would be time later to indulge in those fantasies. "Cassandra I do not believe I taught you those skills for them to be turned against me." He remarked and saw her shock and realized that she did not know him. "Really have you forgotten your Hart so easily? I'm hurt Emma lath all those nights in the clearing with burning passion between us as struggled for dominance." He placed a hurt looked on his face while making his voice suggestive.
Leliana saw to her shock Cassandra flush not from anger but embarrassment. "It was not like that those were sword lessons not what you are suggesting!" Leliana decided to step in before Cassandra killed the prisoner, 'not that he is really chained at the moment.' She thought looking at the pile of warped metal at his feet. "Did you have anything to do with the breach or the divine's murder?" She asked harshly glaring at the man who only looked at her with cold amusement. "No I do not remember what exactly happened but I know this I would not waste my time killing the old crow, she at least was better than some of your other divines she at least was trying for peace." Leliana and Cassandra became Angier at the words of this man, Leliana decided to move on and deal with the elven man's disregard for the divine later. "What about the mark on you hand? Explain that then!" Cassandra said tone showing she was very close to punching the man. "Oh this?" He said idly waving his hand. "It is the mark of the dread wolf from his foci I don't know how it ended up on my hand but when I find him I will turn him into a new coat for this, I mean is it so hard to come and find me before doing something so stupid like trying to breach the veil so soon after waking."
Cassandra was brought up short by his words, she looked at Leliana and saw the same confusion on her face. This man was speaking as if the elven heathen gods were real and that he was on a first name basis with one. "What do you mean? Just who are you and how much do you know about the breach?!" She demanded glaring at him until she met his eyes and found herself falling into pools of molten gold that seemed ageless. "I am Shartan the last high priest and soulmate to Ghilan'nain Halla mother before her death, and as to this breach I know nothing at the moment but once I see it I might be able to tell you more." His deep voice sent shivers down her spine as it reminded her of the nights in the clearing where they trained and discussed philosophy, then his words caught up with her. "Wait that is impossible that would make you older than the Tevinter imperium!" Leliana said shocked, the man turned his gaze on to Leliana and Cassandra was still wrapping her mind around what he said and all of what exactly it meant.
Shartan looked at the other human she reminded him of Dirthamen's priests the cunning and beautiful ones that stole your secrets through seduction. "No I am older than the elven empire of old, but that hardly matters as the mark on my hand is getting worse so if you want my help let's go as I don't like causing Cassandra pain." His words stirred the women and Cassandra came forward with rope to bind his hands, he waved his hands and sent the rope flying across the room. "I am working with you peacefully but that will change quickly if you seek to bind me! I have been bound to many times at the mercy of those I do not trust to allow it!" Cassandra looked shocked at his words but swallowed and glared at him. "If I give you my word that no harm will come to you will you let me bind your hands until we are past the village boundaries?" she asked glaring at him Shartan ran his eyes over her armored form thinking she would look better in the armor of the Halla mother design, but he still saw the power and faith that all of his soulmates possessed. "Very well I will agree to that so long as you remain at myside during that time." Shartan said and allowed himself to be bound and the bard left ahead of them to ready the forward camp for their arrival.
The walk up to the gates outside the village was awkward there were so many things Cassandra wanted to ask Shartan but it was not the time or the place for that, as soon as they were through the gates she turned to cut his bindings only for him to pull and the rope to burn through the center and come apart as he pulled. He waved for her to lead the way and fell in step with her without a word, as they climbed the path the breach pulsed and she dropped to her knees from the pain gasping. At once she felt strong hands helping her stand again with tender care, she looked at him and saw he appeared fine. "How are you dealing with the pain?" She as shocked that he could stand as she knew that pain transferred but it was always less than the actual amount, he simply shrugged. "I have dealt with a lot worse, this is nothing compared to the pain of holding your soulmate in your arms as she dies in pain. Come we should hurry the pulses are coming faster and I must devote most of my power to stopping the mark from growing so I can do little to stop the pain transfer." His voice was bored but Cassandra felt the pain in his words as he spoke of holding his dying soulmate, as she jogged beside him she wondered just how many soulmates he has had before and how many of them met a painful end?
Before she could ponder much farther they were thrown off the bridge by a bolt from the breach, when demons started to rise in front of them she cried out. "Demons get behind me!" she cried as she charged the demon in front of her drawing her twin swords, she had started with sword and shield but found the method of dual wielding she had been taught by him to out class the other styles she learned. Just as she engaged the demon in front of her Cassandra noticed another demon rising behind her but was to busy to face the other demon, the sound of a sword being freed from its sheath rang out followed quickly by the whistle of a great sword cleaving through the air and the other demon let out a shriek of pain. Once the demon she had been fighting fell she whirled to see Shartan cleaning a great sword while sitting on a rock watching her. "Are you ready to move on or do you want to rest first?" he asked bored smirking as he settled the blade on his back, she made a disgusted noise and waved him forward and the bastard bowed mockingly as he moved to follow her.
Varric cursed as he dodged another Shade's blow before putting a bolt through its skull, he and chuckles had been fighting along side these soldiers for what seemed for hours now. He heard a sound he never thought he would be happy to hear as the Seeker's battle cry rang out across the battle field and she rammed her swords into a nearby Shade, following on her heels was a great sword wielding elf who Varric guess was the prisoner now freed. Varric backed up to give himself and chuckles a clear shot and as he looked for his next target he watched the new elf swing his great sword with ease, Varric watched out of the corner of his eye how well the elf and the Seeker were working together they almost seemed to dance around each other with a grace that reminded him of Hawke and Broody towards the end of time together.
Cassandra watched as the last demon fell Solas came forward in a rush seizing Shartan's wrist. "Quickly before more come through!" He shouted as Solas shoved Shartan's hand into the rift, Cassandra was driven once again to her knees as pain screamed through her mark making her cry out from the pain. She dimly heard Varric speaking. "Shit Seeker are you all right!?" suddenly the pain was gone and she could breath again just in time to hear Solas speaking again. "Closed excellent it seems that you-" he got no further as Shartan punched him full in the face sending him sprawling, before anyone could react Shartan was on top of Solas and roaring in his face. "Again Solas how many times did Mythal, Ghilan'nain and I tell you to play the long game!? Did you even try and find me!? I could have helped with this foolishness but instead you rush again, this is what caused Mythal's death and my soulmate's death in the first place! Now get up you are going to help fix your mess or so help me I will turn you into a new wolf pelt coat for Ma Vhenan Fen'harel!" with that he pushed himself off Solas and came to Cassandra's side, crouching he ran a pulse of magic over her and her minor aches and pains vanished. "Are you alright Emma lath?" He asked with concern, at her nod he helped her up and the group moved out for the forward camp with Solas looking ill and scared of her Soulmate and Varric looking very confused.