A/N Even a bit late I am still on time :)
Read, Review and Enjoy!
In the fleeting moments of life we often see the true nature of reality shifting to our means. The fabric of our world being physically manipulated to better ourselves in someway, most times, the smallest way. What is seen as coincidence is known as providence in that moment, and without others to point this out to us; we never seem to truly understand the consequences that could impact the world in that moment. In that slightest of a second, the entire fate of the world rests on your shoulders, even if you don't realize it. One decision, given to one person, perhaps only once in their lifetime. Some people get more than one, others none, but in these moments we see who we truly are. We see who we want to be, who we wish to become, and what we could become, then a moment later the decision is made, and from then on the world is forever changed. Flemeth taught me this well, in my first moment I chose to survive, my next to prosper, then it was all taken away. Darien knew this well in his life, lived by it. I know because I remember it, but in his moment he decided an action that he did not understand, and he and his entire clan suffered for that. I understand that now; I did understand that at least. Now I'm not sure, two paths, many destinations. I see all of my doors, but cannot hope to see what's past them; cannot hope to even approach them alone.
And so I choose my path, another moment, another permanent alteration, and hope that in this choice I am able to change this world for the better and avoid turning myself into an agent of chaos.
I look up at Darien, "I choose to be a Fademage." I saw with so much determination and resolve that the world shapes before me. In that split second as Darien waves his hand to permanently alter my being, I realize that I can do anything. I can hunt down Loghain and end the Civil War, I can kill his conspirators to end the suffering before more are killed. I can leave altogether and position myself in a place of power at Kirkwall. I see every door, but I shudder to think of the ramifications each choice has on this world.
The ritual completes and I cannot even remember what my other options were, if there was any. All I feel is the cold embrace of death closing in before leaving me to suffer, all I hear in a moment of true rebirth is Morrigan's concerned voice, "Dylan? Dylan?"
I crack my eyes open to find her there, her golden eyes that crease when she laughs and when she worries, those crimson lips that speak sarcasm and truth in equal measure, I feel her light but affirmed touch as she holds me up in a sitting position.
I sigh and fight to loose myself in all that she is.
Taking a moment away from our situation I look to her and see in her expression so much worry, so much confusion, so much relief as she meets my gaze that I immediately cup her cheek with my gloved right palm and watch as the simple act brings tears to her eyes. "I'm alright Morrigan."
She closes her sharp golden eyes and holds herself from breaking, as strong as she is this almost made her doubt herself. I close my own as I feel her hesitate in the next impulse. I capitalize on it and capture her lips with my own, sealing my future, my fate, my destiny. Yet the only thing she knows in that kiss is that I did not choose to be with her in this moment. I was forced, and if Leliana was in her place I would have done the exact same thing, but she isn't so I deepen the kiss and wrap my arms around her, feeling her finally just let go for a moment and not care about the implications.
Yes life is fleeting, but its only when you have no other choice do you truly see who you really love.
She pushes against me, pinning me to the forest floor as our wandering hands toss armor and bits of our robes off of us. In this fleeting moment; we are alive and want to enjoy it. Damn the consequences.
Every path was taken, explored, and cleared, all but one.
"It looks like this is all we have left to search in this area of the forest." Alistair states as he wipes beads of sweat from his forehead. They'd been fighting possessed trees, bears, wolves, the occasional werewolf, and a small group of Darkspawn that seemed to just have popped up out of the ground.
Leliana sighs at marveling over the sights and smells the forest had, but she can't enjoy it. Her mind was elsewhere, with someone else. In her moment she betrayed the man she loves and drew her bow on him all because she didn't know if she could trust him. She sighs, yet she loves him. She keeps her exterior bright and happy, smiling to a butterfly that decided that Sten was sweet and land on his head. The grey giant growls his disapproval, but doesn't raise his hand to smash the creature, much to her surprise, but gently bring it to his palm before letting it fly away unharmed to land in her hair. Leliana giggles on the outside, but is slowly decaying from her own self-doubt on the inside as she follows Sten closely, smirking up at him knowingly.
Wynne felt weak and strangely strengthened at the moment, she wished she understood why, "Very good, lets see what awaits us in the next clearing." She responds to Alistair's statement.
Zevran nods beside her while sneaking a few lurid glances her way, "Yes, let us be done with this part and move on."
Shuffling down the path they come across an large open area, littered with dead Sylvan trees.
"What? Did the werewolves do this?" Leliana asks as she inspects the broken branches and scorched earth around one of the destroyed Sylvans.
Alistair feels unease as he sets his eyes upon a strange looking tree with reddened orange leaves, He becones the others as he approaches to me shocked as the tree unfolds into a well-defined sylvan tree. He palms his sword, ready to strike, but is shocked once again as the tree speaks.
"Hrrrrm... what manner of beast be thee that comes before this elder tree?" The leaves shakes with each heavy step as the tree greets its visitors.
None of them speak, for fear of provoking the massive creature, they all had more than a dozen bad experiences with possessed trees with the last hour to know to be cautious.
Alistair swallows and keeps a firm grip on the hilt of his longsword, "You aren't going to attack us, are you?"
The tree stretches a branched arm, "Ah, thou speakest of the others, how filled they are with hate? I apologize on their behalf, they cannot control their fate." It waves the same branched arm in greeting, "Allow me a moment to welcome thee. I am called the Grand Oak, sometimes the Elder Tree."
Wynne stares in awe at the sight, "The world is... certainly full of marvelous, unexpected creations. Each day we see something that we never thought possible."
"Wow..." Leliana breathes in surprise.
"And unless thou thinkst it far too soon, might I ask of thee a boon?" The Grand Oak speaks calmly, in rhyme.
Zevran tilts his head in question, "Why do you speak in rhymes?"
The Elder Tree answers in kind, without a care at having its question ignored, "I do not know. Why dost thou not? Thy words seem plain, a mundane lot. Perhaps a poet's soul's in me... Does that make me a poet tree?" It chuckles at the thought.
Zevran blinks a bit, "What a strange creature."
Alistair smiles a bit, "A poet tree. Yes, I get it."
"I was but a simple jest, a jibe to entertain my guest." It replies with a strangely calming statement.
This peaks Leliana's curiosity, "What... are you exactly?" she asks with a tilt of the head.
I am an elder oak nothing more, Though once I dreamt of a time before, when I roamed the world and howled with pain, not of this world bit twixt and twain. Perhaps I was a spirit then? A wandering thing drawn to this glen? But then that spirit joined with a tree; since then, a tree is all I be." It explains.
"You're much more then a simple tree." Alistair states.
"There are many just as I, but mad they are I shall not lie. A spirit trapped within a tree, no mouth to scream or eyes to see. A cage of bark, a prison wood, a thing of rage where nature stood. So twisted sylvan they become, but I am not the same as some. I accept my fated oaken home, I feel no need to rage and roam."
The group of Blight battlers stare up at the Elder Tree in wonder for a moment, not only taking in the size of it, but the peculiar way it spoke. Then Alistair speaks up once more, getting them back on track, and taking this opportunity to ask, "I want to know more about this forest."
"I can only speak to what a tree may see. It may not help you, but it is enough for me."
He nods and thinks of a good question, but Leliana beats him to the punch, "Why is it called the Brecilian Forest?"
"That is but a human name, one placed upon this land, their claim. A claim they stole form ancient elves, whom they first killed, and were killed themselves."
"There were elves who lived here?" Wynne asks out of curiosity.
"It was the elves who planted the seeds, raised the forest, saw to its needs. But that was all... so long ago. That they are dead is all I know."
Alistair finally speaks up, impatience getting to him, "Where can we find Witherfang's Lair?"
The tree bends its twig fingers, "In the center of the forest the weres do dwell, or so go the tales my fellows tell. But they cannot be followed there; the forest doth protect the weres."
"Why do the trees protect them?" Leliana asks in confusion.
"Perhaps weres use magic to command the trees? All I know is they move as they please."
Alistair worries, "Is there any other way to get to the center of the forest?"
The Elder Oak seems content to say, "Perform the boon as I ask and I shall reward thee for the task." It pauses for a moment, "I have but one desire, to solve a matter very dire; as I slept one early morn, a thief did come and steal an acorn."
"And you want it back, I take it?" Alistair finishes reluctantly, they were wasting time Eri didn't have. He shakes his head with a sigh, "We could look for your acorn, but what's in it for us?"
The tree seems to contemplate it for a moment, "Hrrrrrm. My wooden skin has some magic, see, and part of it I can give to thee."
"What good would your wood do me?" He asks impatiently.
Zevran snickers behind him for some reason.
"The forest would see thee as a tree, and so no harm would come to thee." The Grand Oak announces clearly, and continues as Alistair watches the tree impatiently. "To the weres the forest doth cater, and with my skin their lair you could enter." It clarifies for him in understanding.
"That sounds like a fine reward." Leliana answers for them all.
"Willst thou then perform the task? Willst thou save me as I ask?" The Elder Oak asks carefully.
Alistair nods in acceptance, "Yes, we will find your... acorn for you." He shakes his head at the idea as it passes over his lips.
"Go to the east to find this man. I shall await, do what thou can." The Elder Oak declares as it folds itself back up into what looks like a normal tree once again.
The party turns away from the clearing to head back to the path.
"Great, now we have to find a thief that stole an acorn, for a tree. Have I mentioned that I really hate it here?" Alistair comments as they move towards the next part of the forest.
Leliana stays silent, as does the rest of them, keeping alert for any lurking werewolves in the shadows.
The Hawke siblings were indecisive in their action, Aveline was not. Her higher standards for morality lead her to do things just and right. As such she chose, once they finished capturing the cargo from the merchant ship, to report it to the proper authorities.
Sword bashes against shield, metal scrapes as arrows fly overhead, "Hold them back!" She shouts to Carver and the other Red Irons behind her.
What she hadn't expected was the fact that the Kirkwall guard was so corrupt that as soon as they heard of the expensive missing cargo's location they decided they needed it more than the Red Irons.
"Yah!" Carver beheads another guard without hesitation as an arrow narrowly misses his head.
"Watch your back Carver!" She shouts to him as she notices a mass of dark clothed individuals fighting to get to them. Not the Irons.
A flash of light ignites three guards in a mass of bright blue flames, actually melting their armor at the same time as searing their skin. "Ah ah ah!" One guard turns to ash before her very eyes, leaving her to fear who might have done this. This wave of guards dead, and the next backing up for reinforcements, Aveline turns with Carver to address the shadows behind them. "Who's there?" She orders as she points her sword in their direction tentatively.
"Well hello to you to Aveline."
She faulters as none other than Bethany and Garrett Hawke step from the shadows, both accompanied by two archers, one an elf, the other human. All wearing dark clothing. "Hawke? What are you doing here?" She asks in a bit of fluster.
"I told them to come."
She turns to see Carver there, sheathing his greatsword, frowning through the blood covering his red and brown armor. "What?"
He looks to her then says, "They said they could help, plus they were smuggling the cargo into the city when we stole it."
Aveline blinks at the statement, "Smuggle? Why would you need to smuggle Antivan silks?"
"Finery, they were finery." Garrett corrects.
Aveline shakes her head and rubs her forehead, "This makes no sense. Imports from Antiva aren't even under a Tariff."
Bethany sighs, "Well don't thank me for killing those guards or anything, I'll just stand here and nod my head like always." She folds her arms across her chest.
Aveline nods to her, "Thank you, but we need to get to the bottom of all this."
"Yes, lets."
Everyone looks up to see Meeran on the upper balcony of the port, standing right next to Athenril who looks pissed.
Garrett instantly steps back behind his sister to try and get Athenril to not notice him. Bethany just rolls her eyes.
"There seems to have been a misunderstanding." Meeran states as he looks to Athenril, she glares at him and he sighs before addressing his crew, "We have stolen something already owned by these Smugg-" Athenril elbows his ribs. "Entrepreneurs." He bites out. "And are going to return it!" The Red Iron Mercs in the area seem lost as to what was happening while the Hawkes and Aveline were simple surprised at the outcome.
"Well, that settles that then." Bethany states with a blank expression.
"Aveline, Carver I need to speak to you!" Meeran calls across the docks.
The two of them turn to each-other and share a worried look before following the boss off to the side.
Athenril pops up from the shadows right beside Garrett, making him jump a bit, "Now that that's out of the way, what were you two doing all this time?" She doesn't seem angry.
Bethany speaks up for her and her older brother's agitation, "We were trying to recover what was stolen!"
Athenril scoffs, "More like steal it from the buyers."
"What?" The two of them say at the same time.
She rolls her eyes, "I already some the finery to some nobles in Hightown and Meeran was going to 'steal' it so they could be given to the 'proper authorities' without any problem or connection to us!"
Garrett blinks, "That actually makes a lot more sense."
Athenril glares at him and she shrinks back again, "What I didn't count on is someone calling the guard." She looks between the two of them with suspicion.
Garrett holds up his hands in defense, "Hey, don't look at me! I was trying to recover what I thought was stolen, I didn't warn anyone!"
Bethany huffs, "This is ridiculous."
Athenril sighs heavily, "Then if you two didn't, who did?"
Aveline swallows down her apprehension as she enters Meeran's office with Carver, knowing she was going to have to sell her bit pretty well, or she isn't getting out of there without a fight.
Garrett shrugs, "I don't know, but what I do know is that while we all talked and got things cleared up, the guards took up a defensive position around the warehouse."
Athenril facepalms.
Bethany sighs, "Then we'll have to get rid of them before delivering the Finery."
Garrett cringes, he hated doing this, killing guards, but they had to unfortunately.
"Wait!" Athenril stops them from charging with the Red Irons into the fire. She points to the port, to a small ship actually. "We could take that and dock it over in the Wounded Coast. I already have a transit cart there I use to smuggle goods in and out of the city.
Bethany groans.
Garrett sighs in relief before frowning, "Wait, do any of us actually know how to sail a boat?"
"Not that I can tell, and she's a ship love."
They all turn to see a female pirate dressed in lurid clothing and strutting with a smirk on her dark lips. She stops just short of them and puts a hand on her hip, "Well look at the man we have here." She smirks and looks up and down Garrett's figure, causing him to clear his throat with a light blush.
Athenril turns to her with a smirk, "Well, there you are. Took you long enough."
The Pirate shrugs, "It usually takes longer to get my boots on." She smiles to them before beckoning as the fighting heats up outside. "Come we have to leave now."
They turn immediately to storm down the docks and take the ship. Bethany speaks up as they raise anchor. "Who are you exactly?"
The curvy female pirate turns to her and smirks, "Isabela, Captain Isabela."
Moments define who we are.
"Wait! Hold the ship!"
Everyone turns to see Aveline and Carver bolting down the docks with three Red Irons hot on their asses.
"Oh shit." Isabela shouts, "Raise the sails! Full stop!" She points to three of Athenril's rogues who apparently know what to do and they immediately stop the ship and toss a line for Aveline and Carver.
The two of them grab onto the rope for dear life as Bethany and Garrett protect them with barriers and fireballs that immediately push the Red Irons back.
Meeran appears just as Garrett drags the two aboard and they set sail again. "You fucking Fereldan wild shitheads! I'll carve out your e-!
Boom!
His side of the docks blows apart into splinter, tossing him and his company into all directions as Isabela calls for full mast.
Everyone looks at Bethany who shrugs and brushes off their stares at the intensity of her magics in that moment. "That was nothing."
Isabela laughs and wraps an arm around her shoulder, "That's what I like to see! A whole group of mercenaries tossed into the sea for attacking my ship."
Bethany blushes as Isabela kisses her cheek and walk off to deal with something else.
Garrett finally breaks out of his shock and turns to Aveline and Carver, "What just happened? Why was Meeran attacking us?"
Carver just glares at Aveline who stays as stoic as possible as she says, "We had a disagreement."
Aveline didn't take any chances as she kicks Meeran's desk up, pinning him to the wall as she runs one guard through, Carver doing the same to the other. "Run!" She calls as she grabs the correspondents and manifesto Meeran kept with him at all times, bolting out of there only to find the ship she meant to escape on leaving port, "Hold the ship!"
Garrett shakes his head, "I don't want to know." And walks off to see if he could rest for a moment,
Athenril smiles to the two, "Well, you can always join my group if you want. We keep things bloodless if at all possible. We don't trade in flesh or skin either. I like to call myself an Ethical Smuggler." She smirks.
Aveline hands her some papers and a large book, "Here, I suppose you'll put these to some use then?"
Athenril's eyes bulge, "Holy crab walking- Y-you actually stole Meeran's manifesto?" She breathes in shock.
Carver shares a surprised look with his twin sister.
Aveline folds her arms, "Yes, and I think he'll want to get it back too."
Athenril nods, "We can protect the two of you just like the Hawkes, its one of the benefits of working in the shadows after all." Carver and Aveline take turns shaking hands with Athenril, "Then you're signed on?"
Carver frowns, "We don't have much choice... again."
They take a breather, finally free of the Red Iron, the Kirkwall guard, just the open water showing them the path to safety as the moon rises on the horizon.
Skin upon skin, breath upon necks, hands brushing lightly along lovers' arms. I feel Morrigan sigh against me as I lightly kiss her neck, we'd had sex before, no doubt, but this time it was different. We stayed wrapped around each other's forms, breathing each-other's scents, listening to our hearts. I smile as I feel her continue to draw my Vallaslin on my bare chest. She looks content, almost happy, for those rare few moments like this.
"What will you do?" I hear her ask me.
I over and meet her eyes, I smile and kiss her once again, feeling the total resolve in our connection there. I pull inches away and feel my heart start to clench, she feels it and holds me closer, "I cannot remain."
She closes her eyes and nods, "Tis true then, you have your powers."
I brush my fingertips along her jawline and she opens her eyes with a serious expression. I stop all movement and stare back, reading her thoughts as she read mine.
In a few moments I'd be gone, probably for years, at the very least I couldn't return before the Blight ended, so right now was our time. I capture her lips with my own once more, pushing as much passion I can into my lover's soul as we turn over in our tent just outside the Ruins, making one last moment for ourselves as the sun starts to set upon the world.
They made camp, in the forest, the creepy haunted forest, where the werewolves roamed and spirits possessed trees and-
Alistair shakes his head, thinking about their problems won't solve them. He steels himself and continues his patrol around the small campsite they made in the Grand Oak's clearing. It seemed the safest spot at the time, but now he had doubts as he patrols the empty mist gathering at the edge of their site.
"So what is out there?"
He jumps around to see Leliana there. "You scared me." He sighs and steps a bit closer, seeing how puffy and red her eyes are and cringing at the lost look in her eyes. She'd been crying.
"Are you going to answer my question?"
He freezes and thinks about what she means, "Oh, I haven't heard anything yet. Its been quiet. Thank the Maker for that."
She frowns at his answer, but stays quiet.
He continues his patrol while silently watching her stay, standing there lost in herself. He nearly regrets banishing the swamp siblings, almost.
Tears fall to moments of pain, moments of loss.
Regrets burning in the heart of a bard, eyes closed, no more tears, lost a lover...
To moments of great strife, of difficulty.
Energy sparking across bare skin, lips upon lips, needs and wants, fire and ice, Fade and Blood... "I love you." being breathed in the shadows of the night. Fears of loss building up as tears form in golden and dark brown eyes.
We fight our existence and try to make these moments end.
Centuries of hatred burn as his goal is still within his grasp, "I will need to leave the clan for a day."
"Of course keeper, I will keep us safe." A First bows in respect, suspicious, but obedient.
Yet... when we finally look back on our moments... do we regret it?
Darien steps into the Fade one last time, passing through the barriers.
"You have played your part well Darien."
Dairen looks up to find Pause there, holding the door open for him.
In the fleeting moments of life we often see the true nature of reality shifting to our means. But too often what we see as OUR means, is really masked by another's. I take that step, that last faining breath, as I walk into the Fade. My journey has ended with the Drifter, my part has been played.
I step past the Spirit and watch as he locks the door behind him. "Come."
I wait a moment and feel the door for its mechanism before breaking it, keeping it unlocked as I follow Pause down my last path.
I only hope that in my afterlife I can look back upon this realm and say that I did the right thing in betraying Pause, in helping empower the Drifter, in forcing a change upon the world.
The silent whips of the morning mist hug to my body as I leave Morrigan's tent, pulling my hooded robes close to me, regretting this choice as soon as I turn to leave.
I could not leave with her there pulling me back. I couldn't look into her eyes and say I would return, could every return. I can't lie to her.
So I leave, a note by her head, a simple flap of wings through the morning mist and into the warm embrace of the sun and sky as it rises on a new day. A new life. A new Drifter.
My name was once Darien, now its Dylan once again. I can see the door I chose, feel the paths I have crossed, and now with the help of a young Dalish Hunter, I can finally see through the cracks, finally imagine the rest of my path beyond my door. I have a hand on the wooden frame, another on its knob, all I have to do now is learn how to open it.
A/N And now the story takes a turn I have been waiting for for half a year. :) Hope you all feel as strange as I am to be past this point. FYI The reason this one is a bit late is because I was up all night working on Scorpio's Legacy ;)
