Daughter of Tethras
Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age
A/N: Sorry it's been a while, I got behind on my final courses on my last semester here (Graduating this semester), and I've had to focus my attentions elsewhere. Please, enjoy this chapter. A very important discussion goes on here.
Chapter 32 (Discussing the Journey)
"This truly is a beautiful place," Bianca said while walking through the Emerald Graves with her father. Much of the beasts and the freemen that ravaged the land had been dealt with some time ago by their group.
Varric looked at her with a smile and let out a quick breath of air. "Peaceful when it's not chaotic." Bianca gazed up at the shimmering green leaves that shimmered in the sunlight above them. "It almost makes me not want to leave this place."
"I could stay in the Graves forever if I knew it would remain this way." They approached the Cliffside and stood at the edge, gazing in awe of the environment. Bianca took in the amazing view of the rolling clouds separating below, to reveal a distant river surrounded by plains of grass, and mountains that rose like towers embracing the skies.
"I talked to Cassandra, Dad." She kept her focus on the view, and closed her hands gently. "She doesn't seem happy that we're talking about leaving Thedas to explore, but she's supportive."
"Yeah, I imagine it's more to do with losing a friend than losing the Inquisitor, if you're worrying about what she's thinking about." Varric turned towards her and her gaze whisked over to him. "I haven't fully accepted Isabela's offer yet. You and I need to decide if this is what we want; that's what Isabela and Hawke say. We would be leaving a lot of people behind."
That gave her a momentary sense of nervousness, but mostly due to the friends she'd made sense joining the Inquisition. "Who would go with us? Other than everyone we have back at Skyhold, I don't think there are a lot of people that would miss me much…"
"You can't forget about the people you've impacted, those who see you as a hero, but they will move on with their lives." He folded his arms and turned his head sideways at the cliff, peering down at the space below. "Isabela wants a decision soon, but she's giving us time. At least until we stop Corypheus."
"That sounds fair."
"It is." He glanced back and curved up the corners of his mouth. "Anyway, the people that would come with us are among Isabela's crew that she's building. She and Hawke told me that we can invite anyone we'd like to join us, with a few obvious exceptions."
"Like what?" Her heart dropped as she considered the meaning. It didn't take much to know that one of the friends who had become the closest to her wasn't going to be able to make that journey. "She mentioned the outside world didn't have mages or elves, so I wouldn't be able to invite Sera?"
"Well Sera could try to wear a hat to cover her ears up for the rest of her life, and we'd have no problem." Varric chuckled and shook his head. "I'm fairly certain birth defects exist out there, such as how Isabela mentions that to the rest of the world dwarves are humans with stunted growth."
She scratched at her chin and squinted for a few seconds. "That's not a bad thought, if she'd go for it." She pulled her hand away with a sigh and shook her head. "Something tells me she might say no to the new world."
"Never hurts to ask. I've got a few friends back in Kirkwall I'm planning to invite along."
"Oh?"
"Although some of them have ties, such as Aveline, so I'm certain they'd turn down the invite. Thane asked his sister along, I think she'll be joining us. I've also asked Leliana to extend some invitations to some of her friends from the travels with the Warden."
"Like Oghren?" Her eyebrows rose and a flicker of hope shot through her. Varric looked at her opening eyes and laughed.
"Yes, he's actually accepted the invite. He's bringing his family along."
"That's great." She separated her lips to form a wide, toothy grin, and did her best to resist the urge to cheer. "Anyone else?"
"Leliana has sent Morrigan and her son an invite, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen since Morrigan is a mage." She walked to a nearby tree and leaned against it, crossing her arms in the process.
"She's good about not using it in sight of anyone. What's the worst that can happen?"
"Isabela spoke of a time she learned about in this new world…while mages and magic do not exist, people who attempt to recreate magic are called witches and they are not looked on favorably. If a mage leaves with us, there's a risk that they will be hung, burned at stake, or just simply ostracized."
"Nice to know it's not a perfect world out there too."
"Yeah, but the thing is, according to everything Isabela learned, it's nothing like it is here in Thedas. Nothing so demonic or dangerous as the hell this country seems to be forever plagued with."
She agreed since the only thing she was hearing about were judgments made by society as a whole. "I could live in a world without demons, without darkspawn, without mages or-" Just then a distant roar filled the air and chilled her bones. She tensed and looked over her shoulder.
"Or dragons," Varric muttered. He pushed his hand through his hair and closed his eyes. "Anyway, I've not heard anything from Morrigan about the invite, so I don't know that she'll be going with us. Leliana sent one to Alistar, despite knowing he can't leave."
"Yeah, as King of Ferelden, what's he going to do? Abdicate the throne?"
"He might want a heir before he does that." Varric approached her and looked in the direction of the dragon. "I would love to send Merrill an invite, just like you probably want to send Sera one…assuming elves could get past whatever ancient being is protecting that barrier, Sera might be able to go more than Merrill would even be allowed."
"Why?"
"Merrill still practices blood magic on occasion." His answer was quick and blunt, but the look on his face was that of sorrow. She frowned when she saw it, but had nothing to say. "As much as I like the kid, even I know taking her to this new land would be hazardous for her, us, and people there."
"That's unfortunate."
"Yeah." He took in a slow breath and cleared his throat. "Leliana says she isn't certain whether she will leave with us or not. If she does, she will ask David if he will join us."
"The Warden? I guess if he does, that would be great. Why is she not certain yet?"
"She wants to wait and see what happens after Corypheus is defeated, and after the divine is selected." She snapped her fingers, suddenly remembering that Leliana was one of those being considered for Divine. She wanted Leliana to be with them, she was like a mother to her and she felt comfortable around her.
Varric smiled at her and gently pat her on the shoulder. "I know you would love to have her come. That's a major deciding factor for her, too, so keep that in mind." Her heart rose and swelled with hope.
Even still, she wouldn't ask Leliana to turn down an offer of Divine if she were to be the one considered.
"Who else do you think would go on that trip?"
"David reached out to some of his old friends: Nathanial Howe and another dwarf, Sigrun. We haven't heard anything back from them at this time." He curled an index finger over his chin and squinted his eyes. "There is just one problem."
"What's that?"
"Isabela isn't entirely certain how Grey Wardens are going to fare getting across that barrier. There's a chance nothing will happen, but there's also a chance the darkspawn taint they have within them might kill them. There's no way to know, no answer, and I'm not sure how willing I am to subject any of them to that."
"If that's the case, I really don't want to make Oghren go and risk his life on something that he wouldn't be able to control."
"I brought it up with him." Varric pulled his hand away and laughed. "That guy is a fighter through and through. His words were 'I survived the blight, I survived the joining, I'm ignoring this false calling, and I can survive a damn ancient barrier'." Bianca laughed and felt a shot of pride pulse from her heart.
"No matter what, I'll always admire him."
"Admire the heroics though, not the foolishness."
"Oh yeah." She was curious what kind of magic effect the barrier would have. If it was designed to keep things out while keeping things in, then certain traits could certainly become poison. "What if that barrier is like the joining for the Wardens? What if some didn't make it and others did? What if no mage has ever left this country because they died going through that barrier?"
"It's a mystery," someone said from behind. They looked over to see Thane walking towards them. His eyes were sharp and calm, and his lips were stretched into a calm smile. "Isabela actually took me across recently to show me what it's like. There is so much we don't know about that barrier, and we don't have the ability to study it."
"I thought you left!" Bianca pulled away from the tree and hurried over to Thane. "So what was it like?" Thane dusted off the shoulder of his armor and shrugged.
"Weisshaupt or the barrier?"
"Both. You haven't given any word back about it."
"The leaders there are agitated and have a lot to deal with, I'll put it that way. They offered to have me join as a Warden, but I turned them down so they sent me on my way." Thane shrugged. "I get the feeling they're about to crumble to the ground. Corypheus really did a lot of damage to the Wardens."
"Yeah." She bowed her head and fell silent as Varric approached the two. "I had a lot of faith in the wardens, and I still do." She raised her head up and a faint smile grew. "Am I wrong for that?"
"I don't think so." Thane brought his hand down onto her shoulder and turned his strong eyes into hers. There was a note of wisdom in them that drew her full attention towards him. "There are a lot of good people in the Wardens, and you should never forget those people under any circumstance. If you allow what Coryphus has done to define them, then you condemn even the ones that you hold as heroes."
He started to smile, but it was brief, and he started to speak with a gruff tone. "The ones that did turn, they need to be held responsible for their actions." Bianca nodded once and held her breath. "But think about your heroes, did they listen to Corypheus calling? Did they follow him blindly, or were they smart enough to know it was false?"
Her heart jumped into her throat and she grinned widely, knowing that both Oghren and Alistair hadn't been involved in any of this mess. "They knew it was fake." Even David hadn't been involved. According to Leliana, he not only knew the calling was false, he was trying to find a cure for it.
"And they were strong enough to resist the calling." Thane snapped his fingers and pointed to her. "Don't forget Stroud himself. If you haven't considered him a personal hero of yours at this point-remember that you wouldn't be standing here outside the fade if it wasn't for his sacrifice. Every warden wouldn't be safe from Corypheus if not for his sacrifice."
"That is true." She hadn't thought much about what transpired there since she wanted to forget the whole ordeal, but she did thank Stroud for his actions. "He is a hero."
"And Weisshaupt will remember him as such, I am told." Thane crossed his arms and looked towards the cliff's edge. His chest started to expand, and fell when his mouth opened. "As for the barrier, it is truly a thing of mystery, as I've said before. Going through it, I felt a strange sensation in my body, almost like it was trying to cleanse me."
"Cleanse?"
"I can think of no other way to describe what I felt. At first there was this burning sting that lasted for a few seconds, and then a euphoric feeling came over me." Thane hummed and looked to the sky as though trying to recall something.
"There was this being that guarded the barrier. Isabela and I spoke with him but he was not fully forthcoming in much of his answers. He said that he does not always remain at the barrier, he walks Thedas in humanoid form. He can feel when someone is approaching the barrier, and there he goes to sleep and can mentally put himself at the point where the vessel attempting to leave Thedas is located."
"This being. He allowed Isabela to leave before and allowed the two of you to leave a second time?"
"Yes. He said he knows of our plan to journey out and explore the new lands, and is allowing us a limited number of passages through the barrier until we leave for the final time."
"Did he discuss what happens to those who attempt to cross the barrier when they shouldn't? Like the mages, elves, and so on?"
"We did ask about it, even asked about Grey Wardens. He told us no Warden has ever attempted to make passage outside the barrier, so he doesn't know what effect the barrier's magic would have on them." She felt like this guardian would know the truth and this was one of those answers that wasn't forthcoming, but speaking her mind on that matter wouldn't help. "If any ancient elves were among the living, they might be able to answer that question…"
"How would they be alive?" Varric asked with a smirk. Thane spread his arms out and shrugged.
"No clue. Elves, the guardian will normally turn away, but not many have attempted to cross either. The ones that have, they've always been city elves, no Dalish will leave Thedas behind. Apparently."
"So he just turns them back?"
"Yes. The guardian has never allowed an elf passage. Magic cannot get through the barrier either, as it repels magic in general." Thane gently lifted Bianca's hand and she frowned at the anchor. "The guardian said he might be able to do something about this if you choose to come with us, so don't worry about that."
"I'll try not to." She was eager to know what could possibly be done, or if the guardian was lying. "What else? If magic can't get through, what does that mean for mages exactly?"
"I don't know." Thane scratched his forehead and his face started to tense. "I told Bethany about the trip, but insisted she not go because of this uncertain danger. She's insisting she goes, and says she knows how not to use or rely on magic, and wouldn't use it in the new lands…she doesn't want to stay here. I don't want to be responsible for another one of my relatives dying on me."
"You think the barrier would kill her?"
"Her and any Warden that tries to pass. If it doesn't kill them, it'll do something to them…As for the guardian, I don't know how to appeal to any kind nature in the guy. If I could, I'd ask if he was able to remove my sister's magic, or even the Warden's darkspawn taint. The only thing he said he'd be able to do was try and decide if something could be done about your anchor."
Bianca raised her hand and looked towards her anchor with a furrowed brow. "I…wonder why he even cares about that, then."
A rustling sound echoed nearby and Bianca dropped her hand and turned quick to see who else would be approaching. Varric started to reach for his crossbow, but a familiar voice gave him pause. "Relax," someone said, "It's only me."
A tall dark-skinned woman with two daggers on her back made her way through the brush. Bianca stared at her with skepticism and looked back to see Varric relax and Thane smile. "You guys know her?"
"That's my wife," Thane remarked with a laugh. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and she raised her hand over her mouth as Thane approached her. "Isabela, it took you long enough."
"I told you, I thought I saw someone following them." Isabela pulled a female dwarf from the bush and pushed her forward. Bianca's eyes widened as the dwarf lay sprawled out on the grass; she was wounded heavily but still breathing. "Any idea who this is?"
"That's Amelia." Bianca knelt down beside her birth mother and growled as Amelia struggled to raise her head. Isabela huffed and crossed her arms while Varric sneered at the woman. "Why were you following us?"
Amelia rolled her eyes and spoke between hoarse coughs. "You weren't on guard, I thought I could attack you and your damned father. How was I to know you were meeting up with someone?"
"You couldn't." Bianca pulled Amelia to her feet and shoved her against the trunk of a nearby tree, holding her in much the same situation that Leliana held the chantry sister that attacked them once before. "Give me one reason I shouldn't feed you to the dragon."
"It's important you not lose yourself to your anger," Thane said quietly. Amelia mocked him with a laugh and sneered at Bianca.
"You may as well," Amelia replied, "You know as well as I do that I'm not going to quit until one of us is dead." Her blood started to boil and she began to reach for the handle of her axe.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard her father's voice behind her. "Bianca, just leave her. Isabela's wounded her enough, but she seems able to move on her own. You don't need to do this."
"You don't know how bad she and Marcus were. You don't know the hell I went through with them. You don't know the pain they've caused me."
"No, but I understand." Varric's grip squeezed her shoulder and she looked over at him. His reassuring smile warmed her and she started to loosen her grip on Amelia. "I know it hurts to see her, and trust me, I hate them as much as you do, but if you kill this woman here…you lower yourself to their level and to your mother's level. They're beneath you. You are a better person than they could ever hope to be."
She dropped her gaze to the ground and closed her eyes, still holding Amelia in place. The woman ripped out a scathing laugh and her glare shot back to the woman. "Go ahead and kill me." Amelia smiled weakly and narrowed her eyes. "I know you want to."
Her father was right, and if she killed Amelia now, she recognized the situation as being so similar to Leliana that she would be teetering the line of hypocrisy.
"Can you run?" Bianca's tone came out in a soft whisper that was clouded by her anger. Amelia smirked back at her and shrugged.
"I suppose I can move on my own. Yes."
"Then leave." She released Amelia, pushing her forward and watching the woman stumble to regain her footing. "Get as far away from me as possible, and you know what?" Recalling Leliana's 'message' to the sister to deliver to the Chantry mother, she smirked and crossed her arms. "You can tell my 'mother', and Marcus, that the next time someone plans a sneak attack on my life or my father's life, we won't be as forgiving."
Amelia ran her hand over her neck and scoffed. Bianca reached for the handle of her axe, and the woman's eyes enlarged for a brief second before she turned and started to limp away.
The group watched for a second and Thane tilted his head to the right. "Should we tell her she's headed in the direction of that dragon?"
Bianca leaned her head back and let out a frustrated growl. "I've had enough of this." She turned and looked at her father. "When we stop Corypheus, I'm ready to take Isabela's offer and explore the new lands." A faint smile spread across Varric's face and he whispered his agreement.
"Well then. That settles it." Isabela removed her daggers and looked in the direction that Amelia was limping. The dragon started to roar and Amelia's scream echoed into the air. "Should we go help her?"
Bianca removed her axe and let out a heavy sigh. "As much as I don't want to, I didn't let her go to send her to her death, so we might as well."
"Good choice," Varric muttered, "Though I wasn't planning on fighting any dragons today. Amelia included."
As you can see, this trip is definitely not something just being mentioned. I do plan on a sequel when this story is done. Anyhow, what are your thoughts about the discussion and about the events in the end here? Do you have any thoughts about the barrier's effect on mages and wardens? Do you think the guardian would be able to do something for the anchor on Bianca's hand? Why do you suppose the guardian appears to care about that but said little in regards to anything else to Hawke? Who is the Guardian? As we see Isabela was late to the talk because of Amelia, I think it's a nice touch to see Bianca not only letting her go, but taking action to at least keep her from being killed by the dragon. What are your thoughts? Do you think she should have let Amelia go, or should the group have killed the woman on the spot?