Hope you like... and thanks
She was ahead of the great silver hoard by days... but still, it had been a sight to see - even as a hawk.
They must have numbered in the tens of thousands. A sea of silver skinned corpses marching in unity toward the city walls of Denerim, slaughtering every bandit camp, blood mage coven, every corrupt village guard, cheating husband... ANYONE who they knew was guilty.
But was this JUST?
She banked toward the capital as she saw the familiar statues erected to her father and King Therin flanking the main road approaching the cities outer walls.
She needed to find this mage soon. She ws convinced there was no way she could charm all those souls into surrendering their annointed task - or if she should. She needed to find Saris, and make her do it.
On the roof of an apothacary, an old woman tended a pigeon coup, and for a moment panicked as she saw the hawk approach, until it sprouted two long, lovley legs, and grew into the naked beauty she knew well. "Trying to give me a a heart attack?" she asked as she pulled a rope leading into the building below.
"Never," Lilith sighed, "I'm happy it was you and not your asssistant."
"You'd slip in his drool."
Two women rushed up, and quickly dressed Lilith in the same outfit she originaly met Sanguinus in.
"ANOTHER LECHER!?" the young beauty gasped out in astonishment.
The old woman smiled, "Only 'helps' women. Threats, bribbery don't work. Also, he could prove a valuable asset if 'recruited' properly."
Lilith shrugged, "Well, let's hope he's worth it... we have only a week at best. But I need to meet with King Therin first. Is there no other more appropriate dress?"
"No need," the old woman answered, "He left for the Hinterlands two days ago, taking half the standing garrison, and ALL the knights from the region to wipe out the undead... guess he didn't hear about the magic dragon."
Lilith smirked.
"ANORA," the old woman added, "is still here. NEVER leaves. Perhapse the second smartest person in Thedas wouldn't mind meeting the first?"
...
Anora paced the floor of her war room, glancing at the wall and table maps, shaking her head. Her military aides stood stone-like as the brilliant tactician tossed out carefully considered strategies after weighing them against one another.
She finaly walked out onto the battlements to clear her head.
Lilith was waiting, "We need to speak... alone. But first, you need to move the children out of the city - today."
...
Thirty hours later, and fifty eight thousand children, and their confused mothers were moved to a far more secure keep north of the city. A fortification so sound that three dragons had failed to breech it's walls, and even the Darkspawn left it alone during the last three Blights.
The general populus was informed only that it was a drill, a rehersal to prepair for the next time the city was attacked.
The two women decided to let the silver-skinned menace take it's toll on the crimminal element... and to see just what EVIL it was drawn to in Denerim... now that the rogue was no longer there to bait them into following him.
As soon as all that was finished... it was time for one last 'issue'.
Lilith stared into the queen's beautiful eyes.
Anora smiled back, "Yes dear?" she asked.
"I...," Lilith began, then rethought her request. Still, why should such a wonderful intellect, and beauty be lost without an heir, simply because of time, and fate SHE could alter. "I forgot what I was going to ask. Good day my queen."
...
The 'mage' operated out of a small two room apartment in an alley down from a run-down bordello even Lilith never heard of (She would stop in once this issue was resolved) and didn't seem to possess any eartrhly possesssions outside what was needed to live.
The man himself was haggard in dress, but clean and in good health, even his teeth were bright and all present. He, however, was blind.
She was feeling defeated in her goal to seduce him when...
"Orlesian perfume," he sighed softly, "Rare for this neighborhood, yet delcious to the nose."
She stepped closer.
"Silk," he sighed with a smile,"I hear it against your skin. You are light, the boards are barely creaking. I also smell blood... but not yours. AND how were you expecting to pay for this information? I hear no coins jingling. Are you a new hire from down the street? I doubt it... you smell too expensive. Perhapse you plan to kill me after I answer? Than I shall lie."
She stopped.
"Your breathing has quickened. Either I am right... or you are impressed by this old blind man. also... you are in heat are you girl? Or was that simply the place you are storing the object you wish me to hold? Smart move... bad neigbors."
She was speechless.
"Fret not...unless you are having your flow of blood... which I would have smelled... I CAN help you. Do not be afraid. I am far beyond the ability to harm you in the way only men can harm a womans pride."
She stepped in, slowly.
"No judgement here girl. Trust me. Come closer... if you still wish answers. I have a feeling you are in dire need of them to come to me. I need no payment from women... I have a debt to pay I never can to one."
"Thank you," she sighed as she stood beside him, pressed her flat belly to his arm, and placed the ring in his hand.
He immediately gripped the ring as if it were stabbing his palm. He grimaced in pain and clutched the arm holding it as if to assure himself it was still there.
Lilith tried to get him to release it for the sake of his life.
"NO," he screamed, "She is... NOT evil... she is wounded... ill of mind. She was lost... broken hearted... raped... robbed of her self-worth by... a mage. ULDRED. But not as a man... as a demon. She is trying to get herself right... but her wound is deep. Only one ever loved her... he still does. YOU have a choice... Lilith: Let go of your ambitions for him... save her. Or fight a war without end against the army of the righteous. Melt them down to ash and they will reanimate others. You cannot win. They have one cause. Only her salvation ends them, and only HIS love can bring it. OR her end."
"Sanguinus," she sighed, "She tried to kill him."
"She tried to kill a fat old man," he said as he relaxed, "But he has grown young... yes?"
"yes."
"Strong, very handsome? As she remembers him from when they first met. She loved him from first glance, and he her. He knew of her defilement... and loved her more for her willingness to move on, and trust him."
"Why did they part?"
"His father. She had no name, so the old Tevinter prick told her to leave... for the good of his son. She loved him enough to go. HE followed till he lost track of her... renouncing his father, his name... it only broke her heart. So he returned to his house and vowed he would never have an heir."
"But his word to me..."
"Yours to him. Did you ever ask him HIS opinion?"
She suddenly felt overcome by a sense of her own selfishness. It was unsettling. She gathered the ring and made to help him to his feet. "I need to get you out of here... get you somewhere safer."
He grinned, "You are kind Lilith, but if what is coming to Denerim is coming. I need to stay. Perhaps it is fate that brought you here, as well as them. You have a choice. I will tell you where she will be in three days time. If you are willing to put aside your ambitions and show mercy to one who has felt none due to illness and a heinous crime committed against her as a girl... then bring him to her. OR if you think your will is the one to be done, go to her yourself and end her. Neither outcome will stop HIM from being free. But it will stop THEM. Her hatred is what spurs them on."
"But I've been told he needs..." she almost screamed in frustration.
"By who?," he grabbed her wrist,"the mute. She is half elf... HIS daughter. Did you release her in the Hinterlands... safe? You released her into her own backyard. Spirits led you to her? HIM. Your dream lover. He has been onto you... for years. You have been played, girl. He has been using Saris to distract you. He no more lost his power than you lost yours. He only needed you to give him his strength, and find his child. SHE is his eternal lifeline. THEY are long gone. But you still have a choice to make. In three days Saris will be HERE. good luck."
