A/N This one got a little wordy, but time is caught up and we are on the same plane.
Enjoy
As Greagoir and Cullen made their way down to the foyer of the tower to greet the visitors awaiting them, several templars were standing semi circle around the five –armed- strangers. Greagoir watched as the cloaked and hooded figures stood patiently waiting, there were some . Walking forward between the strangers and the templars Greagoir addressed the guest.
"My name is Knight-Commander Greagoir and I would like you to state your business here." He tried to sound less annoyed as possible.
One of the tall figures stepped forwards extending a gloved hand in greeting.
"Well met, we have come seeking one of our own." When the gesture was refused she swept her hand in motion to the companions behind her.
Perplexed the Knight – Commander scoffed, "One of your own?" he looked at the hooded female quizzically "I am not sure whom you are referring."
Cullen watching from behind Greagoir, felt as he has heard this stranger's voice before, pitch slightly differs but altogether familiar.
Shifting slightly she continued as cordially as possible, "I am looking for a young girl, albeit her age I am unaware, maybe about seven seasons." She admitted.
Greagoir feeling a little more annoyed now, "Could you remove your hoods and state your names, before we continue?" His voice remained firm.
She looked to the group behind her – remained quiet, nodded their consent.
The second tallest, with a long translucent staff on his back, removed his hood, his short silver hair shifted back in place, Laps Lazuli eyes holding a hint of mischief against his pale peach skin.
"Xellexes Slivercloud, High elf Wizard, Felwithe." He bowed his head slightly in greeting.
The next had an elegantly carved bow it looked too big for its owner, they removed the hood and short silver-lavender hair ruffled from the hoods fabric, her lavender eyes, enhancing her tanned skin held a firm gaze to the strangers before her.
"Lili'Enyel Swiftleaf, Half-Elf Ranger, Surefall Glade, Qeynos." She bowed her head slightly not taking her eyes off the Commander.
The two shortest removed their hoods simultaneously, both had mahogany tresses that fell past their shoulders, each bright, deep peridot eyes containing curiosities taking in all of the men in their presents, warm honey skin making their eyes brighten more.
"Ruroni Swiftleaf, Wood elf Bard, Kelethin." Who had two swords strapped to her back, they eminated a magical aura.
"Tenkou Swiftleaf, Wood elf Druid, Kelethin." She had a wooden staff with vines twisted around, little flowers blossomed and retreated it seemed. They bowed at the same time, smiles playing at both of their lips.
The woman that stood before Greagoir pulled her hood off, her head slightly bowed and a golden hair ornament dangled within her warm platinum blonde hair, long pulled into a ponytail at her shoulder blades, she looked up, and a pair of warm aquamarine eyes looked back at the commander. Her pale skin was slightly tanned and glowing against the torch light. Her face eerily familiar, making Cullen's heart skip.
"Deedo Swiftleaf, High elf Enchantress, Felwithe." She bowed her head once again.
"Deedo?" Cullen harshly whispered, as he pushed his way to the front to stand next to the knight commander.
"You know this name?" She asked as she raised a tapered eyebrow.
Cullen mouth agape, as he shook his head ever so slightly yes. "Oh!" she walked to stand in front of Cullen and reached for the necklace he wore.
"How did you come to this?" Deedo said fingering the chain to place the gem in her gloved palm. Cullen leaned back slightly; she stood to meet him eye to eye.
"I…I… it was given to me…" he stammered on as she examined the stone.
"From my name… please tell me… I had crafted this and some others, with a few trinkets for a little girl." She looked him in the eyes pleading as tears started to well.
Greagoir watched the woman, unusually tall for elves, the two girls look no more than twelve seasons short like the elves here, even Deedolett was fairly tall, and the other half-elf? He was not all too sure on how to handle the new comers
"I am who you need to speak with, if you will come with me… all of you." He nodded as Deedo turned her head to look at the older man. She nodded her return and then to the others behind her.
~O~O~O~O~
The group –lead by the knight commander headed to the second floor and to his office, Cullen followed behind the group assessing each of the strangers. He wondered why in the name of the Maker this woman looked and spoke similar to Deedolett, they even walked the same, graceful steps practically gliding through the corridors.
Once in the office the group stepped in, Deedo took the seat near the desk, Xellexes stood to her right and Tenkou to her left, Lili'Enyel stood nearest the door while Ruroni placed herself on the sill of the window, strumming her lute a soft song play filling the room with a warm relaxing essence.
Cullen went to enter when the knight commander halted him.
"Allow him in I have some questions I would like to ask." Deedo words softened Greagoir's expression, allowing Cullen to enter observe.
Once Greagoir was seated at the desk, he folded his hands as he assessed at the woman before him.
He inhaled deeply before he started his questions, so many he wanted to ask but with the First Enchanter, he would have to hold until his return. "You said your name is Deedo, and you are from a place called fell-with? Where exactly are you from?"
Deedo smiled graciously, "It is pronounced, Felwithe, it is a city in a place called Norrath. The world from whence we came. Yes my name is Deedo, and it seems as though it has struck a chord with the two of you." She nodded before she continued looking back at the man with the necklace, "If that is the case, then tell me where I can find the girl and how do you know of her?"
Greagoir's brow knitted as he listened; visibly he was formulating questions and answers to give. "She came to us fifteen winter's ago. She has been gone from the tower for over a season and a half, she came back once as leader of the Grey Wardens."
Now it was Deedo's turn to look confused, "Fifteen years...Grey Wardens? She is a Druid then?" Sounding awed.
Greagoir assured her she was not what she said, Druid, whatever that maybe. He went to explain what a Grey Warden actually was; he could see she was rather proud that the girl was doing something so righteous and a guild, again lost to the two templars standing in the room.
~O~O~O~O~
From her spot by the window Ruroni notice faint light in the distance; she motioned for Lili to show her. Cullen watched as, Lili summoned a spell – his skin tingled slightly, but barely noticeable, she gasped then summoned Xellexes, he too went to the window and looked, they muttered a few words and he turned to Deedo whispering in her ear.
"Pillar of light, you do not recognize it?" She excused herself and went to the window; she leaned on the sill following the finger of the Ranger. Deedo straightened up and pointed out into the distance,
"What lays in that direction? There was a light my friends tell me and it is not something we know of."
Cullen spoke up after watching them silent for a time, "Denerim, home of our new King Alistair."
Deedo jaw tightened, "Tell me either one of you, where is she, where is Deedolett?"
Greagoir went to speak but Cullen beat him to it, "Who is she to you?" his heart raced as he looked into the eyes of the familiar elf woman, his palms started to sweat from the worry in the woman's voice.
"Ruroni, Tenkou, Lili…Please leave the room." Deedo hung her head slightly as she looked back out of the window, the three girls left without a word.
Greagoir followed them to summon some templars to watch them. Once he came back in Xellexes had his hand on her shoulder for support.
"Now tell us how you know of Deedolett." The knight commander prodded,
She gazed in his direction then sighing, her stomach twisted, this was to be where she found her. All the years she missed, she patted Xellexes had and went to sit in her seat.
"She is my daughter."
~O~O~O~O~
Sten laid Deedolett down in the bed that had been prepared for her once they arrived in the castle. Chairs were set about the room for two persons at a time. Wynne and Alistair took the first watch then Leliana and Zevran. With word sent out that the Archdemon had been defeated, it would be just a matter of time before the Circle heard.
Alistair refused to leave her side even when it came time for the shift change several hours later, Leliana and Wynne coxed him into getting some rest and promised they would wake him if something happened.
There she lay still, no visible movements but her mind was fully active.
Deedolett was back in the Circle, she was sitting with Jowan in the library helping him with one of the more difficult spells he had been having trouble with.
"Alright, now you have to focus on what you need the spell to do, then once it is formed in your mind, you project."
She demonstrated a miniature spell for him to see, when the spell disappeared the second it was formed, she tried it once more and the same thing happened, they heard laughter behind them, when they looked up to see Cullen was doubled over trying his hardest to keep the laughter contained.
"Ah, so now I see." Deedolett stood up and began to cast again, in his unguarded direction, before he could dispel the spell he was paralyzed looking her in the eye.
Their turn to laugh as the templar stood with a look of shock plastered on his face. Deedolett walked up to him placing a hand on his cheek.
"Having fun dispelling my spells Ser?" she smiled sweetly, she removed her hand as he slowly came around.
"Miss Surana, I apologize I could not resist." He smiled rolling his shoulders to work the stiffness out.
She giggled followed by Jowan, "Please no more, I need to see him through this." She turned back to her teaching.
Deedolett looked from time to time to see Cullen still watching them, her to be exact, and soon it was time for lunch. Cullen had left some time earlier and had not returned she and Jowan closed their books ending the study session.
"Olett hurry up cook is serving my favorite today." Jowan tugged at her robe leaving the books they used about the table.
Deedolett looked at the table then to Jowan, she pointed at the books, "You are going to help me clean this up first." She tugged her robe back.
"Fine, if I miss out you will be making me some more." He picked up a, single book and put it back then dashed out of the door to the dining hall.
"JOWAN!" she called after him as he scampered out of the library, she grinned shaking her head, then summoned a spell to hold the books for her so she could put them away. Her stomach growled as she put the last book in place.
Cullen came in after he asked Jowan where she was, catching her summoning the spirit to hold the books and follow her he was impressed, "How did you do that Miss Surana?"
She looked around, "Do what?" she tilted her head to the side trying to figure out what he was talking about.
"The spirit that carried the books for you, how did you do it?" he stood fixed on the spot behind her to see if he could see the form of the 'thing' behind her, the air wavered slightly but no definite form.
"Oh, that well I am not sure exactly," Deedolett chuckled nervously "but one day I was having a little difficulty carrying a few things when I was coming down the stairs, and I lost balance and went to catch myself, but when I looked up, they books and other things floated, I was thinking 'Please do not fall'." She hoped that it was a good explanation.
Still a little confused, he nodded and asked her if there were other things, it could do Deedolett's stomach growled again he looked at her she blushed a rosy pink and excused herself.
"I will walk with you to the dining hall, if it is ok with you." He prodded gently he was rewarded with a smile that made him weak in the knees.
"I would like that Ser."
~O~O~O~O~
Greagoir and Cullen both sputtered, "D-daughter?"
The knight commander finished "How is this even possible, when she first arrived she had nothing but a wooden box." He remembered the day fondly.
Deedolett was a tiny thing, found out in the snow after Winter's Day by the Tower doors.
Deedo did not want to remember but if it was going to help her see Deedolett again she may as well recall the tale once more. She revealed that the girl taken from her, and she was a product of a lunatic's obsession with her, the man used magic to subdue her impregnated her. The details were fuzzy still but she knew she had a little girl even though most of it was a blur; the child looked so much like her that she did nothing to deny it.
The knight commander and Cullen felt like it was a rouse and could not of possibly happened, until Deedo stood pushing her cloak behind her shoulders showed a faint scar along her taut abdomen where an incision had been made.
~O~O~O~O~
Deedolett had been summoned to the Harrowing chamber, it was late as all was quite in the hall, save for few templar keeping watch, metal shifting as she passed them in the hall. Once she arrived she saw balanced on a thin pin-like base with a bowl of singing liquid, lyrium.
Her focus shifted to the sound of a heavy sigh, she looked to her left, and Cullen stood with the most sad expression emanating throughout his whole body. Cullen pointed a finger at himself and nodded Deedolett smiled slightly, her attention was then shifted once more when a gentle hand pulled her elbow.
"Magic exists to serve man, never to rule over him."
They walked over to the lyrium it was still singing. First Enchanter Irving tried to give her warning but was quickly cut off by the Knight Commander. Irving laid a hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze, he and Greagoir stepped back allowing her to prepare.
Cullen stepped next to her, as was his Commander's instruction. The singing was too wondrous to notice his warmth next to her. Placing her hand in the liquid, she lifted her hand to see the lyrium seeping through her fingers and coated her hand she smiled as the music covered her.
Deedolett started to sing softly with it as it enveloped her in a brilliant flash of light. Cullen watched as she swayed, catching her before she fell laying her on the blanket to keep the cold off her body. He drew his blade with a heavy heart, knowing she would pass but for her it seemed a little excessive.
Cullen watched as her lidded eyes darted about, taking in her sleeping form she was as beautiful sleep as when she was awake, steeling his facial expressions as to not give off any signal of his ever growing feelings for her. He felt a hand on his sword arm.
A hushed whisper came from the Knight Commander "We all do boy."
Cullen looked at Greagoir questioningly before he turned his attention back to the girl lying next to his knee.
Irving stepped up, her father of sorts, "You love her we can see it in your eyes even though your face does not show it." Irving chuckled slightly, Greagoir agreed.
Greagoir took the sword from his hand and sheathed it back to the Cullen's back.
"Relax Ser, she is coming around." They all looked as she stirred; she opened her eyes for the briefest moment the lyrium coated her aqua eyes silver, then her normal color came back just as quickly.
"This girl is special, quickest Harrowing ever, her will is strong." Irving smiled through his thick grey beard.
"Take her to her room. Her things need to be moved to the next floor." Greagoir made sure Cullen had a good grip on her before he ordered the other templars to mover her things.
Before Cullen stepped out of the chamber door the commander called his attention again, "Watch over her for a while, talk to her as she sleeps." The older man nodded and left Cullen to his duty.
~O~O~O~O~
The knight commander arranged rooms for the guest a floor up, it was late into the night and the urge to go to Denerim was great, but morning would have to wait.
Cullen trailed behind them once more observing, Deedo turned her head slightly in his direction, and nodded ever so slightly. Cullen cleared his throat as the approached the prepared rooms.
The knight commander opened the door and walked them in, "I hope the room is to your liking, I am unsure as to when the First Enchanter will return until then, Denerim is the last place she was heading."
He left with a nod leaving Cullen with the group.
~O~O~O~O~
The room was large and held five beds, a pillar in the center of the room with ample space for the basic needs, a fireplace heated the room from the left wall. The twins put their things down, and began pulling off their boots climbing into one bed, as it faced the fireplace and was soon sleep with heavy sighs.
Xellexes took to the right side of the room near the window and lay down with after propping his staff at the foot of the bed, unclasping his cloak, and removing his boots as well. Lili'Enyel took the bed near Xellexes, she could see the sky from her position by the window, she laid her bow against the wall, and removed her boots and cloak, and then she pulls a large box from her bag and metal arrowheads and shafts, creating arrows quickly and quietly.
Deedo removed her cloak laying it across the bed, the outfit she wore was nothing anyone had seen, her top was short clinging to her large breast, it was low in the front light blue edged in gold. Her skirt – if one could call it such, of the same blue and gold, slit up the sides exposing her long shapely legs –dagger strapped to one thigh, her long torso was tight and showed her muscle tone, she was no ordinary magi she was too fit.
Her hair long, really long, she kept it pulled together at her shoulder but it went well past her behind, it glowed in the light of the fireplace. Cullen watched her closely she looked so much like Deedolett it was uncanny; Deedolett was short about as tall as the twins he gathered. He watched as she tucked the twins in, unclasping their cloaks and kissing their foreheads as she covered them with a blanket.
Deedo turned to Cullen as he stood by the door, she nodded again and bade him to sit with her.
She sat on the edge of the bed as he pulled up a chair and sat, it felt natural to him and it felt right, he felt safe.
"Tell me, is she pretty?" she smiled as she reached over grabbing a box slightly similar to the one Deedolett given him.
"V-v-very." He closed his eyes as he hung his head, "You look like her…I mean…she looks like you." He felt long, warm fingers touch his hand. He looked up to see her smile, the same smile that makes his knees weak.
"She gave you the necklace you said." She opened the box lid and pulled out a bar of translucent material she whispered and the bar was coated in a green light, when she finished the bar glowed. Pulling her dagger, she proceeded to cut the bar like ripened fruit.
Cullen watched as she worked, molding the metal into a long thick chain, she pulled a rose-colored stone from the box and took some of the cut metal and formed a dragon shape. Deedo then attached the stone to the shape and clasped it to the chain.
Deedo tugged on the clasp and it did not give, she put the dagger under her pillow and closed the box, handing the newly made necklace to Cullen once she turned her attention back to him.
"This is for you. Wear it in good health." She smiled offering it for him to take.
"Thank you…" was all he could say, he watch her as she worked and was amazed at how quickly she did it. "She gave me the box the day she left, it had not been opened." He admitted realizing that e never answered.
"I opened it the day she came seeking help, after she saved the tower from evil." He slipped the necklace over his ginger locks. "She saved me, that day, and I hurt her…I said some awful things… I.. I"
Deedo listened to him pour his heart, Lili spoke to her mistress in a tongue never before heard. Deedo responded, their voices sounded like a soothing lullaby. Cullen just listened wondering how Deedolett was doing as his mind drifted.
Deedo pulled him from his thoughts, "Would you like to come with us, we could always use the extra hands, a guide if you will." She smiled sincerely awaiting his response.
"Yes, I would like that very much." He gave an assured nod.
