Chapter 17: The Keeper's Pain
Alim was in shock; thought that…that may not have been a strong enough word. He was frozen, staring down at Bellethiel, and at the injuries the poor girl had sustained.
How could this have happened? She had been fine only moments ago and now…
"ALIM! WE'VE GOT COMPANY!"
He heard Alistair's voice from somewhere far away, somewhere that he did not care to go. All that mattered was Belle now, perhaps with magic he could…
"Lim wake up," Alistair cried out, "We need you!"
She had needed him, he had been distracted…and…and the wolves had done this to her.
What kind of Grey Warden was he? What kind of man was he?
"Alim…Belle needs you to fight," Leliana's voice cut through the fog, "If YOU DO NOT FIGHT, SHE WILL DIE!"
That did it, the sister's warning brought the elven mage back into the now. He spun drawing spellbinder, and his staff. Werewolves were trying to flood the chamber; Alistair and Sten were holding them back, but…
Alim's eyes flashed with pure unrestrained fury! These flea-bitten mongrels had hurt Belle!
They did not know what pain was…but he would teach them!
He summoned a savage wind; it drove the creatures back, crushing then against tree roots and crumbling stone walls.
It was a start…but not good enough.
He charged them, with Alistair, Bandit, and Sten at his side. The elven mage was a terror, a spinning storm of death. His staff would put one of the injured wolves off balance, making it easy prey for his new sword.
Over and over he attacked them; yelps of pain filled the chamber, when a wolf got too close to one of his companions he will fling lightning from his fingertips. The world became nothing but blood sweat, and fur.
The wolves fell back, unable to face his fury.
He panted, sweating and exhausted, but he was not done! His fury demanded more blood…more wolves to punish.
Demons sang out top him from the fade, offering their aid, offering to make him more powerful.
It was hard to resist, but he managed to pull back, he could not give in, he would not turn into an abomination! The others still needed him.
Belle still needed him.
He returned to the injured huntress, Morrigan was doing what she could, but the throat wound was bad. Alim tried healing magic, but that did not work. The curse fed on it…and Belle's fever climbed.
He stopped…this…this could not be happening.
"We have to get her out of here," He said, "back to the surface."
"Tis unwise," Morrigan informed him, "I believe she would not survive the trip."
Alim almost yelled at the witch, but held his tongue; she was only saying what he was thinking.
"I will stay and guard her," Leliana offered, "You must find Witherfang. If the curse no longer existed you could heal her no?"
Alim nodded, the sister made sense.
"Take care of her," he ordered.
Leliana nodded.
"Bandit stay with her," he told the Mabari, "keep them safe."
The dog barked an affirmative.
"Tis another wolf Alim," Morrigan said coldly.
He growled as he faced this new threat, a lone werewolf creeping out of the shadows from below, it walked with its head bowed and its tail between its legs. Two other wolves accompanied it, they growled at the wardens and their companions.
Lightning crackled from Alim's hands.
"STOP!" the cringing wolf cried out, "Brothersss and ssisterss be at eassse."
The other wolves obeyed, Alim paused, what was this now? Were the beast trying some type of trick?
"I ask you thisss outssssider," the beast hissed, "Are you willing to parlay?"
Talk? They hurt Belle and now they want to talk?
"Why should I?" Alim growled, his fury now equal any werewolf in this place.
"I have come on behalf of the lady," the werewolf responded, "She believes that you are not informed of everything you should be."
Alistair steeped forward, the way Alim was shaking, and he did not trust that the elf would not simply attack in his rage.
"If you were willing to talk, why wait until now?" the former Templar asked.
"Swiftrunner did not deem it necessary," the wolf replied, "The lady disagrees, we must acquiesce to her wishes. She means you no harm, provided your willingness to parlay in peace is an honest one," the wolf glance passed the two wardens, looking at the wounded elf. "Our Lady could help her, ease her pain, give you time you need to save her."
Alim wanted to shout at the wolf, tell it to mind its own business, but…but if there was even a chance that...this…lady could help Belle?
It was a chance they would have to take.
"I agree," Alim nodded, "Take me to your lady."
The wolf growled, "Follow me…but I warn you…if you break your word and try to harm her…I will come back from the fade itself to see you pay!"
Alim, Alistair, Sten, and Morrigan followed the werewolves. Leaving Leliana and Bandit to watch over the injured dalish, whatever was going on the sister prayed that they hurry.
She feared that Belle did not have much time.
IOI
Leliana wasn't sure how long she sat there waiting for the others to return, but it felt like it had been a while. She was grateful for Bandit's presence, without the dog…with only the badly wounded elf for company…well…this place was starting to make her nervous.
Giant spiders, undead, werewolves, not to mention the various traps they had encountered, no…this place was every ghost story she had ever heard growing up.
She did not like it, not one bit, this was the kind of place that would have given even Marjolaine pause, but all these threats were not her main concern.
Her biggest concern was Belle.
The poor elven girl was dying. Leliana could see that she was running a high fever, but the biggest threat was blood loss. She had changed the bandages on her neck, but the new ones were quickly soaked in blood.
A shiver ran down the sister's spine, if Bellethiel died…what would she tell the others?
What would she tell Alim?
The elven girl moaned; Leliana did her best to comfort her. Bandit whined; the Mabari licked the girl's hand.
Bellethiel's eyes snapped open.
"Alim," she gasped.
"He is not here," Leliana informed her, "he…he went to get you some help."
The girl's violet eyes were wide and cloudy with pain; her breathing was heavy and labored. She grasped the sister's hand, her grip so tight it hurt.
"You…you must…must promise me something human," she panted, "You…you must help….help Alim…he…he will need all the help he can get."
"I will do whatever I can to aid him," Leliana promised, "You have my word."
"Swear," the girl gasped, "Swear on the name of your god!"
"I swear," Leliana said, her eyes stung, she…she could tell the girl did not have much time left.
Bellethiel relaxed, knowing that Alim would have help seemed to sooth her pained mind.
A wistful smile came to the elf's lips.
"I…I would have liked to have seen your world. To…to have seen what was beyond the borders of our forests. I…I would…I would have followed him to the end."
"Don't talk like that," Leliana snapped, "You are going to be all right! Alim will return and…"
The sound of heavy boots interrupted her; she turned to see a most unusual sight.
Sten had returned the qunari was accompanied by two werewolves.
Leliana was concerned, what had happened now?
"I am to bring her to the main chamber," Sten informed her. He reached out and scooped Bellethiel into his arms like she weighed nothing. The elven girl lost consciousness again.
He turned without another word.
Leliana hurried after him, Bandit hot on her heels.
"What has happened?" she asked.
"The warden has made a deal with these creatures," Sten said flatly.
"What deal? What has happened?"
The Qunari did not answer, there was no need.
Leliana cursed under her breath. Why did Sten have to be so stubborn!
The main chamber of the werewolves' lair was quite beautiful. A silent grove surrounded by the crumbling walls of the temple. Many werewolves surrounded them, old, young, some even pups.
The sister shivered, she could not imagine being born into such a curse.
At the top of the dais stood a woman, she was willowy, with deep green skin, dark hair, eyes. Instead of hands and feet, she had tree branches.
The sister regarded her curiously; this had to be the Lady that the wolves had spoken of.
Sten lay Bellethiel at the Lady's feet, with the utmost care, the green woman touched the girl's fore head, blue magic flowed into her.
Leliana almost panicked, Alim had tried that before! It had only made the girl's condition worse!
She tried to move forward, but Sten stopped her.
"We must let the creature help," he informed her.
Surprisingly, it did seem to help, Bellethiel's breathing was less labored, her skin less pale.
The Lady of the Forest rose, she sighed, "This one will not survive the transformation. The outsider will need to hurry."
Leliana shook her head, what in Andraste's name was going on!
A series of angry growls alerted them that the others had returned. Leliana looked up to see Alim, Alistair, and Morrigan striding towards them, Zathrian, the Dalish Keeper at their side.
How had the Keeper gotten here she could not help but wonder?
IOI
Alistair came up and stood beside Leliana, he…he was trying to hold his temper in check, but after their encounter with Zathrian it was hard.
"What has happened?" Leliana asked.
It took Alistair a second, but he realized that Leliana had not been here when they first met the Lady. She did not know what had been said.
"It was him," Alistair spat, "The Keeper created this sickness…this curse. He could have cured it at any time."
Leliana's eyes widened, he could see that she did not understand.
He whispered quietly to her, explaining what the Lady had told them, and what Zathrian had confirmed. A tribe of humans had captured Zathrian's children centuries ago, the boy had been killed and the girl raped and beaten. She had survived, but had killed herself when she discovered that she was with child.
Zathrian had summoned this curse down on the humans, the spirit he summoned as part of the curse, was both the Lady of the Forest and Witherfang the wolf. She infected the humans, turned them into were wolves, as vengeance for the deaths of Zathrian's family.
Leliana could not believe what she was hearing; she remembered seeing all the sick and dying elves back in the Dalish camp. If Zathrian could end their suffering by ending the curse, then why had he not done it?
Alistair remembered his Templar training, a spell cast was bound to the mage that cast it. Zathrian could have ended it, but had chosen not to, he had decided that vengeance was more important than saving his own people
Alistair's eyes returned to Alim, the little elf was furious, he was terrified for Belle and knowing that the Keeper could save her and would not made him want to tear the man's head off.
Belle was one of the man's clan, one of his children!
Why would he not help!
IOI
Zathrian's bearing was cold…arrogant even, he regarded Bellethiel with a look of disgust; to him she was already a wolf, one of the worthless dogs that had attacked his clan.
"You have brought death on this da'len warden," the Keeper spat at Alim.
"You can save her," Alim begged, "Please…end this curse…for her…and your people."
Zathrian almost laughed, "I will not grant these creatures their release, justice must be served, for my son, my daughter, and so many others. Justice is eternal…like my pain."
"Are you certain your pain is the only reason you will not do this?" The lady asked crossing her arms, "Have you told the mortal how you created this? Have you told him what you did?"
Zathrian's eyes narrowed, "I did only what was necessary!"
"Witherfang and I are bound as one being," the Lady said coolly, "But such magic could not be accomplished without help. He needed power beyond what he could summon himself. He used his own blood to bind me into this world."
Zathrian said nothing; he would not deny the truth.
"Your people believe you have discovered the immortality of their ancestors Zathrian, but that is not true. As long as your curse exists, so do you!"
"No!" Zathrian growled, "That is not how it is!"
You bastard!" Alim snarled, "You flat-ear blood mage bastard!"
"Everything I have done is for my people!" Zathrian hissed.
"Bullshit!" Alim spat, "You are doing this because you don't want to die. You are willing to let your clan suffer, to let Belle suffer just to save your own ass!"
"She was dead the moment she left my protection!" Zathrian roared, "I can save those not yet cursed! Bring me the spirit's heart Grey Warden and I can do it!"
"HE WILL NOT HELP!" Swiftrunner howled in fury, "We must kill him! WE MUST KILL THEM ALL!"
"See," Zathrian said triumphantly, "they turn on you just as quickly, they are savages, worthless dogs! Do what you came here to do Grey Warden or get out of my way!"
Alim's eyes glowed red, fury flowed off him like water.
"You will save Belle now," he said coldly, "You will end the curse, even if I have to force you to!"
"We're standing up for what is right here!" Alistair said coming to Alim's side.
"THEN YOU SHALL ALL DIE WITH THEM!" Zathrian laughed madly, "All of you shall get what you deserve!"
The keeper dug his nails into the palm of his hand, blood flowed, he directed it with the oldest of Elvhen magic, let it flow into the trees.
The sylvan awakened, they would kill the wolves, they would kill the wardens, he would seize the Lady's heart himself.
He would have justice!
IOI
Morrigan summoned her most powerful spells down on the Keeper's demon possessed trees.
Keeper? Morrigan laughed at that now, Zathrian had not been a Keeper for many years, he was a sorcerer, a blood mage playing at the role, and he lied to himself when he said that his people meant a whit to him. Alim would do the man's clan and the world a favor simply by killing him.
All that mattered was his precious vengeance.
Alim flew at Zathrian, magic and steel clashed loudly. Alim whirled using his staff and sword to equal effect.
Morrigan cast a minor enchantment: Sten, Alistair, and Leliana's weapons blazed with fire that would make things a little fairer in dealing with these demonic trees.
She was surprised to see that even Alim's dog had been effected, the Mabari blazed with magical flame.
Morrigan chuckled, would wonders ever cease.
One of the sylvan scooped up Alistair; he slashed viciously at its arm. All the creature had to do was tighten its grip.
Morrigan would not allow that, Alistair had saved her life before; honor demanded that she return the favor.
She summoned cold, freezing the branch that held him. Alistair snapped it easily, He landed on his feet. Sten pushed the damaged sylvan back, giving the former Templar room to breathe.
He looked at Morrigan.
"Focus on the fight fool," She spat, "Tis not my job to save your worthless life."
He nodded thanks, not that she wanted or expected him to.
IOI
Leliana threw a fire flask into the one of the Sylvan's face's; at least she thought it was the creature's face. It shook maddened with pain.
She fired flaming arrow after flaming arrow at the creatures, but always she never left Bellethiel's side. She would guard the elf with her life.
She had promised Alim she would protect the girl and she had meant it.
There had been a time when her word had meant nothing. It was a ruse, just a trick to get the things that she and Marjolaine had wanted. It had not worth and no meaning.
She intended to change that.
And with the Maker's blessing she would!
IOI
Alim had given himself to the storm.
It had been such a long time, so very long since he had done anything like this…years…centuries.
No, he thought, that had not been him that had been the stormbreaker, his memories were now a part of Alim, the mage tried to focus, to keep himself at the forefront.
He would need to if he wanted to defeat this mad flat-ear!
"I AM A KEEPER!" Zathrian shouted, "I will have justice! You will all suffer!"
Alim called on the wind, he asked it to blow, and he asked it to take the rain, to chill it, to make it cold to make it hard.
The wind blew down into the chamber, it carried hail and sleet.
The winds missed Alim's companions.
They only had one target today.
They battered Zathrian viciously.
The Keeper's eyes widened.
"Impossible," he shrieked, "no mage can do this!"
"A stormbreaker can," Alim growled renewing his attacks.
"THE STORMBREAKERS ARE EXTINCT!"
Zathrian swung his staff, he had intended to crush Alim's skull.
The elf dodged and spun. Spellbinder flashed, the blade bit deep into Zathrian's wrist.
The Keeper's hand exploded, he fell… wailing.
Alim did not let him fall he sheathed his sword, and dropped his staff. He kneed the Keeper in the stomach, his fist struck Zathrian in the face, he struck again.
"The Stormbreakers live again in me," Alim snarled as struck the Keeper again and again, "The defenders of the elvhen have returned, and their rage is directed against you flat-ear! May the creators have mercy on you, for I…certainly will not!"
Alim kicked Zathrian, the elf tumbled to the ground, wounded, and sobbing, holding the stump of his ruined hand.
Alim drew his sword.
Swiftrunner was there, he growled with excitement.
"No…no more," Zathrian whimpered, "I…I cannot defeat you."
"Finish it," Swiftrunner hissed, "kill him now!"
Zathrian's eyes widened in fear.
"NO!" Leliana cried out, "Alim stop! Lady please stop him."
Alim paused, he was furious and out of breath, magic sang in his veins, but he still remembered where his priorities lay.
Zathrian could not die yet.
He needed to end the curse.
The Lady of the Forest held the wolves back.
"How can we expect him to grant us mercy, if we show him none," the Lady said.
"I cannot," Zathrian gasped, "I…I am too old…to know mercy."
"Has this not gone on long enough?" Alim spat, "Are you so afraid of death that you would see your people die?"
Zathrian looked upon Bellethiel, her chest rising and falling in hard gasps. He found himself, remembering another elvhen girl. He found himself remembering his daughter, remembering finding her will her darmisu plunged into her own heart.
Tears fell from the Keeper's eyes. He turned to the Lady of the Forest.
"What of you spirit?" he asked, "You are bound to the curse as much as I. Do you not fear your end?"
The Lady gave him a sad smile.
"You are my maker Zathrian, you gave me form and consciousness, where none existed. I have known pain and love, all the joys of life, but now…now all I desire…is an end." The spirit fell to her knees, she wiped away the old keeper's tears, "I beg you maker, father, please put an end to me. Show mercy."
Zathrian felt his heart break, to see this spirit, this creature to have come so far, too be more of a person than he. It made him realize the truth, it…it was time.
Zathrian nodded.
"You will do it?" the Lady asked, "You…you will end the curse?"
"Yess," Zathrian rose, a tired smile on his lips, he held his staff in his remaining hand, the stump of the lost one cradled to his breast. "Let…let us bring an end to it all."
He gave the Lady one final look, she nodded an affirmative, it was time.
Zathrian whispered the words, the words that would unbind her, he brought down his staff on the stone, finishing the spell.
Life left him in a rush, Zathrian sank to the ground, as the light faded from his eyes, he saw his children waiting for him, all the friends he had lost long ago welcoming him.
Zathrian smiled.
He had missed them.
IOI
As Zathrian died, the lady of the forest vanished, she disappeared in a column of blinding light. Where the light had fallen, the werewolves changed, they shrunk their figures becoming less wolfish.
When the light faded, all that remained was a room full of humans and Dalish, the rags of their old clothes clinging to their restored bodies.
The curse was now over.
IOI
Alim ran to Bellethiel, he let healing magic flow, there was still time…he could still.
"Belle, Belle wake up…we did it!" Alim cried, "We saved your people. They are safe Belle!"
Bellethiel opened her violet eyes, she smiled weakly, her fingers brushed Alim's face.
"I…I knew you could do it emma lath," she said happily, "I…I…knew that we could…"
Her eyes seemed to focus on something far away, her smile became more triumphant. She could see them…they had not abandoned her.
The gods of her people had come…they…they were welcoming her home."
IOI
Bellethiel's fingers fell from Alim's face, the light faded from her eyes.
Alim called her name, he cried it through scared and angry tears, but Bellethiel was beyond hearing him.
The Dalish had wanted so many things. She had wanted to see the world, to travel beyond the borders of her clan. To travel, to fight, and love at the side of Alim and his companions.
She had wanted to be a Grey Warden.
Yet that was not her destiny, her destiny was to end here, to leave the world trying to save her people.
So she died in the arms of the man she had only just started to love.
As the Creators' had willed, so would it be done.