Daughter of Tethras
Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age
A/N: I am sorry for the long delayed. I believed that I had taken this down with a group of other ongoing works that were being delayed due to many other things going on in my life; and that led to me not focusing on this tale. I realized I had never taken it down, because of how many chapters were already up, and started working on the ending of this tale. So you will be seeing this tale in it's finality and the sequel coming up soon! Please, enjoy!
Chapter 43 (Preparations Being Made)
Abelas's statement about the barrier brought many questions and concerns for Bianca and the rest of Isabela's would be crew. While he said a mage or grey warden wouldn't necessarily be met with death upon crossing, it was still something that could happen.
She'd not gotten a chance to inquire about Cole, who was an entirely different matter. Hopefully, this guardian would have some empathy, if any at all.
Still, there were more immediate matters requiring her attention; and that was the still present threat of Corypheus. With everything that was happening, however, she almost forgot about Davri. The one woman that stood between the adventure and future that she was hoping to build with her father. The woman hadn't made herself known for some time, but Bianca could almost feel her very breath drifting from every shadow.
Deciding to think little about these issues, Bianca went to see how her friends were all faring. She started first with Sera, and was shocked to see the girl already packing up her belongings. "I want to be ready to leave when the time comes," Sera said while closing the box that held her clothing articles. "I don't want to hold anything up."
Bianca smiled and leaned against the door frame. "You're not at all worried about anything Abelas mentioned?" Sera looked up and shuffled her nose a bit.
"About what? Magic users might die? I'm not a mage and I'm not a warden, so I don't worry about that." Sera stood upright and put her hands to her hips. "I know I have to find out how to handle the issue with my ears in a world where elves apparently don't exist."
"But she is worried," said Cole's disembodied voice. Sera groaned and Bianca turned around to see him descending the staircase. "She's worried about friends. Like you are." He folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes. "I do not know how I will fare going past the barrier, but I am eager to try. I would ask you not to worry too much about me if possible."
"That's not an easy thing to ask." There was no getting around the concerns that were laid out, especially not knowing what could happen. Cole was an interesting case in of himself, a spirit that had possessed a corpse and was becoming more and more human each day. "There's always the chance, and I hate to think about it, that the barrier could rip you from that body easily." Of course, that was the least of her fears. For all they knew, Cole's body could decay while he walked. "I'm not going to ask that you don't come with us Cole, but I want you to really think about it…Okay?"
Cole grinned from ear to ear. "I have. The risk is worth it. To see a whole new world, to explore outside of Thedas with my friends; why wouldn't I take the chance?"
"Because if you die, that's going to hit everyone hard." There was a difference in leaving everyone of Thedas behind and seeing someone die on the spot. Bianca had to trust the people of Thedas would survive their own future, as opposed to allowing the continent to collapse on itself.
"It's a chance I'm willing to take." Cole raised his shoulders. "Once Corypheus is done here, I feel as though my part in the Inquisition is over. I fought here to help stop him, whatever comes next is up to the leaders of the inquisition."
Seeing as how he was dead set on going, Bianca decided not to waste anymore time worrying over the situation. She gave him a hug, and Sera soon joined in. She was glad to have such devoted friends willing to pay whatever price may come along.
"Hey Boss!" Iron Bull's voice echoed from below, giving the three a start that tore them apart. Still trembling from the shout, Bianca leaned over the railing and curled her fingers around the wood. Bull was looking up at her, his lips curled back in a smile. "I just wanted to say, whatever happens, it's been an honor working with you." She smiled back at him.
"You too, Bull."
"I'm going to miss you, we all are. You and Varric, and even those two."
"We're not going anywhere just yet. We've still got Corypheus to deal with."
"Ah." Bull brandished his arm in the air and laughed. "He's practically dead already." From the minute she met Bull, he always seemed to be watching over the group. She admired that about him, and felt a deep sorrow over having to leave him behind; but there definitely weren't going to be any Qunari where they were going.
The same was said of Blackwall, or Thom Rainer, as it were. He would be joining the Wardens after this and had no desire of leaving them back. Someone had to stay and help battle the never-ending onslaught of Darkspawn.
Dorian wanted to come along, but at the same time, he wanted to go back to Tevinter and make it a better place. Bianca believed he could make a true and sincere impact, so while she wanted to ask him to come along, she hadn't done so. At the same time, he would have to be willing to part with his magic, and that didn't seem like something he would want.
Vivienne was the same way. Entering this new world would be hardest on her surely, because outside of Thedas, none of them were important. None of them were known. Not only would she have to give up all her magic ability and risk death across the barrier, but she'd lose every ounce of influence and power that she had.
Bianca had asked her, and confirmed that the very thought of all that could be taken from herscared her. Even still, all the prominent members of the Inquisition couldn't simply take off like that.
As she left the tavern, she saw Varric walking with Hawke across the courtyard. She raised her hand to wave and the two men smiled at her. "Have you talked to any of your friends, Thane?" Hawke's expression grew solemn and he started to nod.
"It's a similar situation with your companions, I'm afraid." Hawke shifted a bit to the right and crossed his arms. "Aside from my wife, the others won't be joining us. Fenris carries too much risk, even he acknowledges that and doesn't want to chance it. Sebastian and Aveline are tied to their positions, obviously. I side with Varric on his concerns regarding Merril going across." His shoulders rose and he cleared his throat. "However, I've spoken with all of them and they are going to provide as much aid to the Inquisition as possible. Merril and Fenris plan to arrive to help even the field out once we all leave."
She was glad to hear of that, because with four major players of the Inquisition leaving-in addition to Leliana herself-that left five empty spots that needed to be filled quickly. "Who will replace Leliana as spymaster?"
"I hear Morrigan is considering that position. Zevran as well. Some of their former companions will be joining the Inquisition as well. So, I am not too concerned about any empty positions being in dire need of filling."
"Okay, that's good news at least."
It seemed that everything was in place, so with that, all that would be left was to say their final goodbyes. Her heart was heavy just thinking about it, more now than it had been in the past. She was excited to explore a part of the world that nobody from Thedas had ever gotten a chance to; but she was terrified all at the same time.
"There's a great fear in not knowing," Hawke said calmly while gazing at her. Bianca glanced at him with a nervous smile and Varric draped a loving arm around her shoulders. "Every single one of us feels it. Especially with what Abelas said in the back of our minds, I don't know if any of us truly believes it yet."
"What's that?"
"That there will be no returning to Thedas once we cross that barrier."
Bianca sucked in a deep breath and looked over her shoulder just as Scout Harding walked up to them. Harding had a nervous expression on her face as well and was busy curling a strand of hair around her finger. She stopped once she made it over to them and cleared her throat loudly. "You know something," Harding stated, "I think this will be the first time I've explored new lands without having to report to someone."
"Oh you can still report to someone," Varric said with a chuckle, "Whenever we get to wherever it is we're going…you'll be the first to scout the area and let us know what's out there." Harding's eyebrows shot up and a smile flickered on her ruby lips.
"Well." Harding seemed to perk up, the smile growing. "In that case, I'll be happy to put my skills to work." Any good crew needed someone to search the area, that went without saying. "Isabela hit land before, right?"
"Only once," Hawke remarked, "She hasn't passed the barrier that often. Even then, she said it's ocean as far as the eye can see. So we'd be on the boat for a while before we hit any land, I believe."
The more Bianca thought about it, the more excited she became. It was a shame they wouldn't be able to report their findings back to Thedas; because for sure scholars would love to know what was outside the continent's borders. Hell, they'd just love to know that the 'world' they thought Thedas was, was only a continent on a much larger, unexplored world.
"So, your sister's coming along." Varric rubbed the back of his head and looked up to Hawke. "She's aware of the dangers of being a mage going against that barrier?" Hawke nodded solemnly.
"She knows that crossing the barrier means losing the magic in her, and that she'll give up her magic for whatever price the Guardian asks." He let out a heavy sigh. "I just hope the price isn't too steep. Either way, both of us will be glad not to have to worry about magic and being on the run for it."
"It'll be something new to get used to, having to find new ways of solving problems without magic." Varric smirked and Hawke started to roll his eyes. "Either way, it's a journey to look forward to."
Bianca looked up towards the entrance of the grand hall and felt a sudden tinge in her chest. With a sigh, she looked down at her hand and closed her eyes. "I have to go talk to Cullen and the others about planning for Corypheus." Varric nodded at her and gave her a quick pat on the back.
"Go ahead Bianca, we'll talk more about the trip later."
"Okay…" As she made her way up the steps, she began to wonder about the mark on her hand. It was a type of magic as well, and she wasn't sure what would happen to it going across the barrier. The guardian may well remove it; but at what cost?
She didn't care if she lost a hand, as long as she could live her life and explore the new lands they'd discover. What was a single hand in exchange for a brand new life and adventure?
Time would only tell, and she hoped it would be sooner than later that she'd learn the answer.
While discussing with her advisors, however, it seemed that time had arrived. The anchor surged and the familiar cringing of her hand grew fierce as Corypheus opened a new breach in the sky. Her heart sank when they heard the explosion outside. The fight had come too quickly, with all that was on her mind; but now the time had come to push her thoughts aside and take down the last threat to Thedas. It was the least she could do before she left; but the Maker only knew what Thedas would deal with next.
So we've arrived at the turning point. Corypheus is here and the group is about to leave Thedas once and for all; but don't forget, Davri is the primary, personal antagonist. She's still out there...So we may see her once more.