Daughter of Tethras
Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age
A/N:
Chapter 46 (Leaving Thedas)
"What happened?" Everyone seemed to swarm them once they arrived on the boat. Scout Harding was overcome with a grief the moment she saw Lantos's body being carted aboard while Sandal hurried to take Bianca's arm in his.
"They're okay," Bethany said, "They ran into Varric's ex." The woman frowned. "They had a rough fight and Lantos stepped in to help." Harding fell over Lantos, her arms wrapped around the man. Her body shook with each sob. "He died a hero, which may be the best that anyone can say for him."
Bianca approached Harding and slowly placed a hand on her back. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "We didn't even know he was in the area. If not for him…" Harding looked up and a smile formed through her tears.
"I understand." Harding wiped away her tears and sniffled while staring down at Lantos. "I just…wish I had one more time to talk with him." Harding leaned over and gave Bianca a quick hug. "I'm glad he was there for you."
"What of that woman?" Oghren asked with a grumble. He started to reach for his war axe and narrowed his eyes. "Should I start a hunting party?" Bianca said nothing and shook her head. He seemed to realize and lowered his chin to his chest. "She's gone then?"
"She can't poison anybody anymore," Bianca answered. She took a few steps away and looked around the ship. It was a fairly large, wooden ship outfitted with cannons and every bit of décor one might expect to find aboard a pirate ship. Isabela had opted for plain white sails, given she liked the symbolic idea of a fresh start. The woman was standing at the mast, looking over everyone with a protective eye.
"If everyone wants to take a rest, that is okay," Isabela began. "If you're ready, I will set sail for new lands and open seas." Hawke walked up beside her and gently kissed her cheek.
Nearby, Bianca saw Morrigan's son, Kieran, standing with Leliana and David. She tilted her head a bit and walked over. "Morrigan's sending him off?" David nodded and a somber look came over him.
"She wanted him to know his father, wanted him to have a better life without the corruption of magic and other problems he could face in Thedas." His voice broke. "I never met my son; but I don't know how happy I am with the idea of separating him from his mother like this."
Kieran frowned at them and slowly shook his head. "She thinks I'll be safer," he replied, "I don't know why but I know my mother has her reasons for doing the things that she does."
Bianca let out a sigh and turned away, not wanting to question Morrigan's decision. She knew how tough it had to be on her, and she couldn't judge her actions when it seemed they were done with the best of intentions.
She looked to Oghren, who stood proudly next to his wife, three sons and one daughter. The oldest was a little older than she was, he was fairly tall for a dwarf as she was and seemed to be the most ready to set sail. It had to take a lot for the entire family to agree to travel out of Thedas, but it just showed how close they all were.
She knew the son had a wife and child of his own, and they were aboard the ship somewhere as well.
As for Bethany, she moved alongside Hawke and Isabela, but was at the railing of the ship looking across the waters. The wind sailed through her hair and her gaze was so intense and fixated that Bianca was left wondering just what could be going through the woman's mind. Hearing Bethany's history, she knew the woman felt like the magic she had was a curse rather than a gift, but to have it removed from her for the rest of her life had to scare her in some way.
Then again, everyone was scared in one way or another. Nobody knew what to expect or what they would find. "Isabela." She called out and the captain of the ship looked at her with a proud smile. They needed to start now, lest they never begin their journey. "Let's set sail. Where we go from here, Maker only knows."
"Alright." Isabela called out. "Let down the sails!" Oghren and his sons ran for the ropes to let the sails down and Bianca soon felt the ship budge, causing her to fall off her feet with a surprised yell. She moved back onto her feet and Isabela smirked while turning the wheel. "Haven't been on the seas have you, Miss Tethras?" Bianca groaned as she felt the world begin to spin.
"Nope. I can't be the only one." Her hands moved to her stomach and she looked to the others, some of whom were laughing. Although, to her morbid pleasure, Sera was already rushing to the side of the boat. "See!"
"We haven't even begun to move just yet. Wait until we've got a full wind at our backs."
"Oh no…" She reached for a crate nearby and quickly took a seat. "I think I'll sit down for a bit."
Once they got moving and the turbulence seemed to subside, she felt a little more comfortable with trying to move. Varric walked up to her and extended a hand. "Hey, need a little help?" She placed her hand in his with a smile and he pulled her to her feet. She stumbled at the first few steps, but was getting used to it after a while. "Didn't get much chance to practice on a boat."
"Not really, but it seems the others have. Even you!"
"I've done a lot of things in my lifetime." He chuckled for a bit and walked towards the right side edge of the boat. Bianca followed after him and folded her forearms on the railing.
The rail was a beautiful maple brown with a carved molding adorned by crafted dragons. She gazed at the waves splashing on the boat and turned her head to see the shoreline slowly drifting away. Varric stretched his arm out, pointing to where they left. "There it goes. Thedas."
Her heart started to sink and every second that drew the land further away felt like someone was draining her of all the energy she had. A tear fell from her eye as she remembered those they were leaving behind. "No turning back now," she said, "I'm really going to miss them all."
"But to be the first people to explore the lands outside." He furrowed his brow. "Though we can't really know if we are the first." Bianca turned to him and the corner of her lip started to curl.
"Well we already know Isabela travelled outside the barrier twice, and Hawke went with her once."
"That's true." Varric leaned upright a bit. "And with as old as Thedas is, who can say for sure how many have explored. Abelas did say those that have left the barrier never returned. For whatever reason, the guardian allowed Isabela to return. Hawke said it was because she was returning for him, and then us."
"I'm curious about this guardian, he's supposedly one of the ancient Elven gods, right? Fen 'Harel."
"That's what Abelas said. Goes into his dreams to come to the barrier anytime someone is about to cross."
That strangely reminded her of Solas, but only because he would talk about entering the fade in his dreams. Bianca looked out it the clear blue sky and breathed in the crisp, salty air. "I wonder…" Her eyelids opened halfway and a soft hum escaped her lips. "I wonder what the equivalent of the fade is for those outside Thedas. If the fade even exists out there."
"Likely not. Or if it does, it was the discovery of magic that brought it about. I really can't say, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I care to."
"I understand." She looked down at Varric's leg and saw that the one he got trapped in the clamp was lifted slightly off its heel. "How is your leg faring?" Varric's body moved back and his arms stretched outward while his hands clasped the railing. He peered down at his foot and raised his shoulders.
"It's okay, not in terrible condition. Bethany healed it up as much as she could, but it's still sore as shit." He chuckled once and started to set his foot back down, wincing slightly as it touched the floor. "I guess I should be grateful for whatever last little bit of magic she can use."
"Same." She turned to glance over her shoulder and saw both Harding and Sandal sitting near the pedestal they had laid Lantos's body on top of. Sandal was sipping on some tea while Harding was gazing over the deceased. "I wonder if they've made peace with everyone back at Thedas before leaving. I know Sandal and his dad weren't on the best of terms."
"Why don't you go talk to him? You've barely said a lick since we got on."
She nodded and began to walk over. Sandal raised his head up slowly and his soft gaze connected with hers. "Hey," he said, "I've got some tea, and we've got some coffee brewed, if you want either."
"Thank you." She saw the two pots sitting nearby and picked up the one with the coffee. A tray of cups sat beside them. As she poured herself something to drink, she turned her attention to Sandal. "So, how did your father take everything?" Sandal closed his eyes and raised a cup to his lips.
"Surprisingly well." She raised her eyebrows and Sandal swallowed his drink. He lowered the cup and flashed a quick grin. "He said he was proud of me for taking the steps for adventure that I was and wished me the best. He wants me to become a big-time merchant in the lands outside Thedas."
She sat beside him and Harding looked away from Lantos's body towards them. "Why didn't he come with you?" Sandal's smile faded and he looked down at his drink with a solemn expression.
"He said this was my journey to take…We've been at ends so much that he didn't want to force me into his shadow again." The man had to know they weren't returning to Thedas. She started to remind him of that, but Sandal was already a step ahead of her. "I told him about the barrier, about the ancient magic and the restrictions." The man shook his head slowly and his entire body sank as a heavy sigh fell from his lips. "When we said goodbye, he knew it would be the last time."
"Everyone did," Harding replied. She glanced back at Lantos, her eyes flooding over with fresh tears. "Lantos told me he'd come say goodbye again at the port, but somehow I knew when we parted before that it was the last time I'd see him." Harding wiped away a tear, quickly, and then cleared her throat. "But he sacrificed his life for something that was good, something that was right, and I don't think he would have us worrying about that."
The scout turned her head and a mournful smile turned up on her face as Sandal and Bianca tried to smile back. "Our friends being left behind, and Sandal, even your dad, all accept that this is our journey to make. They're still alive, and they'll always be a part of who we are; but I don't think any of them would want us to mourn them. They're not quite dead yet."
"No," Sandal replied, "But it is hard." Bianca slowly leaned against him and set a careful head upon his shoulder. After a few seconds passed, she saw Varric peering over at the pair. Sandal eventually cleared away his throat and whispered something to her. "Lately, I feel like your father keeps wanting to murder me in my sleep."
Bianca closed her eyes and grinned. "He might. Sleep with one eye open."
After some time, which felt longer than expected, the skies were starting to darken despite the sun being high in the skies. Bianca was at the bow side of the boat, helping Oghren to clean some of the weapons on board the ship when she first started to notice.
They stopped what they were doing and stood from the bench they were on. Isabela was calling to put down the anchors and raise the sails. Directly in front of them and at their sides stood a tall, purple wall that looked like a wall of smoke. It seemed to rise up and close miles above their heads. "It's the barrier," Oghren said breathlessly, "Shit, it looks different than I expected."
Bianca felt as though she could reach out and touch it. The barrier locked out all light and visions of the world beyond it. As the ship lurched to a stop, with the very tip of the boat touching the barrier.
This massive wall was thick and heavy, and the longer she stared at it, the more she felt stricken with grief. The overwhelming sensation coming over her was like that of the well of sorrows, deep and unsettling. "How many lives were lost trying to cross through this?" She wondered. Oghren looked towards her, shook his head and raised his shoulders.
"As many as the guardian did not allow to cross, I'm sure."
"You would think he'd simply send them back."
Isabela walked towards them, with the rest of the boat's crew and passenger following. "As if it were that easy," she remarked, "We are miles from any land, and most are unwilling to go back once they are driven by exploration."
She heard her father curse under his breath and looked to see him staring above them. As she followed his gaze, she became paralyzed by what she saw. Hovering in the skies far above them was a man who looked exactly like Solas, his face was solemn and he had his arms crossed over his chest.
"I assume you have questions," said the guardian. As he floated towards them, his features becoming easier to see, grief and shock floored Bianca. Tears welled up in her eyes as a new understanding echoed in her brain. "Hello, Bianca. Varric. It is good to see you one more time."
So we see that Solas is the true guardian of the barrier. It poses questions for Thedas's future; but we will never know what shall become of Thedas or the barrier. Though, if Solas is only the guardian and he must permit people to leave, if he is defeated by the inquisition in the future, then this crew may be the last to ever leave Thedas alive.