Chapter 22:
Nimwen and Solas passed through the eluvian, still holding hands. The sight of raised bows had her reaching for Shockmaw. "Stand down!" she commanded.
"Lower your bows, you idiots!" Atisha snapped. "We have more important things to worry about than the Dread Wolf!" She strode through the small group of sentinels. "Leave the girl with her mother. We're moving out!" she barked.
Vir shifted and turned to Nimwen. "It was nice to travel with for a time, Lady Nimwen." He held out his hand to her.
"Ma serannas, Vir," she said, taking his hand.
He shook her hand. "May your dreams be guarded and journey safe." He bowed his head to her before hurrying after Atisha.
"My lady." The sentinel holding Lori stepped up to Nimwen.
"Mamae!"
"Lori." Nimwen reached out and took hold of the little girl. "Are you okay?"
"Sully?"
Nimwen saw Lori was looking at Solas with wary eyes. "Yes, his name is Solas," Nimwen explained, putting the girl on her hip. "He's…" Before she said it, Nimwen looked to Solas, wanting to get his confirmation before she spoke.
Solas nodded, eyes almost pained as he looked at Lori.
"He's your daddy, baby," Nimwen said.
"R-really?"
"Yes, and he loves you very much."
"He does?"
"Yes, he feels really bad he scared you earlier. He just… doesn't know how to be a daddy yet. But he's going to learn, because he wants to be the best daddy you'll ever have." She turned to Solas. "Right, vhenan?"
"Right." Solas stepped up to them and took one of Lori's hands in his. "Ir abelas, da'len. It wasn't my intention to scare you."
"Hey, Lori," Nimwen leaned in and whispered to the girl. "Daddy's still a bit nervous, why don't you give him a hug?"
Lori nodded, and reached across and used her other arm to hold his neck. "Hi, daddy," she said.
"Hello, Lori," he whispered, eyes half closed.
"Lori, my arms are getting tired," Nimwen lied. "Would you mind if daddy held you for a bit?"
"Well… if you say so."
Nimwen snickered at the almost haughty response coming from her two year-old. "What do you say, mind taking her for a bit?" Nimwen asked.
Solas looked from her to Lori; then, nodded. He carefully took the girl into his arms.
Vir raced up the slope towards Nimwen. "Lady Nimwen." Vir stopped panting. "I just thought I should run back to tell you the trail goes cold halfway back to the city."
"Where is Mahvir going?" Nimwen pondered.
"Mahvy! Mahvy!" Lori yelled. "You gotta find him, mamae, he hurt."
"What do you mean, da'len?"
Tears welled up in Lori's eyes. "He-he got blood here," she pointed to her lips. "A-and he walk funny. I yell, but he no listen. He go-g-go…" Her face grew red as she burst into tears, crying into Solas's shoulder. "I-I-I-I want br-brother!" she sobbed.
Solas shifted. "He's leg is broken," he informed Nimwen without meeting her gaze.
"And here I thought all that blood was from something else." Vir shot a glare towards Solas. "Atisha said we would find Master. But, I think he was heading back to the inn and she's wary of shemlen cities."
"B-broken?!" The news made Lori cry even harder.
"Lori, Lori, it's okay," Nimwen assured her, wincing at the high-pitched wailing. She rubbed the toddler's back. "It's okay, da'len, we're going to find him."
"Mahvy's broken!" Lori screeched.
"He's not broken, da'len," Solas tried to explain. "His leg is broken, the bone, not him."
"R-really?" Lori hiccuped.
"Really, sweetheart," Nimwen nodded. "We're going to find Mahvy and everything's going to be all right, so, please calm down, Lori."
The girl sniffled, tears and snot running down her face.
"Which inn were you staying at, vhenan?" Solas asked.
"This way!" Vir told him, ignoring the fact Solas's question had been for Nimwen. Vir raced down the slope.
Solas scowled.
"The Gnawed Noble Inn," Nimwen responded.
"P-pretty soup?" Lori asked.
"Yes, Lori, they have pretty soup there," Nimwen smiled.
Solas followed after Vir. The group arrived at the edge of the city where Atisha and the other sentinels were waiting.
"The blood trail stopped half way here, but the direction seemed like he was heading for the city," she informed them. "My group will move off and search elsewhere for our master." She shot a glare at Solas, eyes narrowed. "Here, wolf." She held out a cloak to him. "So you don't draw attention to the fact we ancient elves still exist."
Solas hesitated and then shifted Lori in his arms so he could take the cloak. "Ma serannas."
"Pretty," Lori gasped as she eyed the cloak. She groped with her tiny hands until she took hold of the fabric, and pulled it over her head. "Imma rogue." She grinned from beneath the cloak.
Solas chuckled. "I hope that isn't what you grow up to be, da'len. May I see the cloak?" he asked.
"Mine," Lori giggled.
Solas shook his head.
Atisha rolled her eyes. "Kids." Her gaze flashed to Vir.
"I'm not a kid!" Vir's face turned bright red.
"We're moving out!" She moved off into the field once more. "Fan out and see if Master went elsewhere!" she ordered.
"Lori, daddy needs his cloak," Nimwen said as she pried the material out of the girl's hands.
The toddler pouted. "Fine."
"Get used to this, vhenan," Nimwen joked as she put the cloak around his shoulders.
"Ma serannas. I will try. It's only been eighty centuries since there was a child in my life." He gave her a weak smile.
She smiled gently at him, putting a hand to his cheek. "Don't worry, you have plenty of time to catch up," she said.
He nodded and touched her hand. He walked into the city.
The city was much how Nimwen had last seen it, nothing had changed. They passed through the market and made their way to the inn. Just as they stepped inside they found Cullen and Sera in the main room.
"Inquisitor-" Cullen's eyes narrowed at the sight of Solas.
"Commander," Solas greeted Cullen with a curt nod as if sensing the sudden tension in the room. "Sera."
"Fenny," Sera glared.
"Fenny?" Solas scowled.
"Well, that's your name, yeah?" Sera crossed her arms. "So, what you doin' here? And why you holdin' Lil' Inky? Why is he holding Lil' Inky?" Sera asked Nimwen.
"Because I let him," Nimwen replied curtly.
"I have a feeling much has happened," Cullen said, eyeing Solas with suspicion.
Solas sighed. "I am not going to blow up the world now, Commander."
"That's it? Just like that. 'Oh I'm the big Wolf Man and I'm gonna bring back our people, blablabla. Oh, wait, nevermind, I take it all back!' that simple?" Sera didn't look convinced.
Solas's scowl depended. His eyes narrowed a little. Light purple glow started to come over his eyes. "No."
"Solas." Nimwen's voice was quick and sharp. "Not in front of Lori."
He blinked. His eyes returned to normal. "Ir abelas," he muttered eyes more than half closed in a slight pained look.
"Perhaps, we should speak in private?" Cullen asked.
"Yes, let's," Nimwen said quietly.
Solas nodded. He followed behind Nimwen towards their rooms. When Nimwen entered the main part of the rooms, it was to see several items on the table.
"What is this?" Nimwen asked.
"Were those there when we left?" asked Cullen.
"I dunno," Sera shrugged.
"Dirthamen," Solas whispered the name. He set Lori on the ground.
Two packages were stacked on the table. Beside them, the sweater Nimwen had given Mahvir was neatly folded a sealed letter placed on top of it. Her name was written across the envelope in the neatest script she'd ever seen.
"He…" She felt her heart tear at the sight of the sweater, months of love and labor. She picked up the letter, and carefully opened it.
Lady Nimwen,
I knew from the time you sang the lullaby to me, this was the future which awaited us. I wanted to tell you not to tell Solas, but knew it wouldn't make a difference. I always knew there was no future where you could have both of us; yet, I couldn't bring myself to tell you this. Our family fractured too long ago for everything to be repaired in a moment of confession. Solas will eventually see me as me or he will forever hate me. Those futures remain uncertain.
What I do know, is the future where he is with you, the one where you two are together and happy, was the best overall future. He loves you more than anything else in this world. Never think of yourself as less and don't you dare compare yourself to Mythal again. You are far better a mother than she ever could hope to be.
I will forever be watching over our People. My time to lead them passed long ago, but I know your future and your past will always act as a beacon to our People. You are hope, your kind heart and how you see the good where others, myself included, only see the pain and darkness will always shine through that darkness. Never lose your light, Lady Nimwen. Never stop believing you have a future, a bright one with your beloved.
I ask you not to try and find me. If we are fated to meet again, it will happen of its own accord. If we are fated to never meet again, then remember only that the moments with you, made me see what a real mother is like and for this I thank you.
May your dreams be guarded and your journey safe.
Dirthamen
P.S. The package contains Lorien's birthday gifts.
By the time she neared the end of the letter, the words had gone blurry. She put a hand to her mouth as she let this set in. If her heart had been torn before, now she felt it shatter. "No," she murmured. She no longer trusted her legs, and slumped down into a chair. "No, no, no! How could he do this?"
"He left, didn't he?" Solas asked, voice even.
Nimwen couldn't speak. She thrust the letter into Solas's hands and buried her face in her palms. It wasn't right, it wasn't fair! How could he believe he had no place with them? They could have worked out their problems, Nimwen was certain of it. There had to be another way, there was always another way.
"Mamae?"
Nimwen looked up and saw Lori staring at her with concern. The woman pulled her daughter into her lap, and held her as though she were an anchor in a storm.
The sound of Solas folding the letter followed. "Vhenan, he's right. Our-my family fractured long ago. There is too much history, especially given all that just happened between us. And," Solas trailed off.
"We could have worked through it," Nimwen insisted. "You and I worked through it. It's not too late, our family can be together. I won't rest until I have both my children again," she swore.
Solas sighed. "But, he's not a child, Nimwen. He's over eighty centuries old."
"Don't you talk to me about age," Nimwen snapped at him.
"Still, Inquisitor, it's kinda weird, yeah?" Sera said.
"He may not be my blood, but he's Lori's brother and I've come to see him as a friend and a son," Nimwen stated. "I have never turned my back on my friends or my family, and I won't start now."
"What are you going to do? Rush off after his sentinels to find him? Not even they can track him if he doesn't wish to be found. You can't trick a man who sees and knows everything. Something I still seem to be learning." Solas rubbed his eyes.
"I-I…" With every moment, her hope deflated, as she realized the truth in Solas's words. "He's-he's really gone, isn't he?" The world around her felt dull, gray. Not too long ago, she felt having Solas and Lori with her would restore the peace in her world. Now, she had them both, but, once again, something was lost to her.
"And, holy bones, you are older than dirt, Solas! Geeze, you like, are King Cradle-Snatcher, aren't ya?"
Solas's eyebrow twitched in irritation. "I am well aware of my age, Sera. My thanks for stating it bluntly."
"Daddy?" Lori asked.
It took a moment for Solas to look at the girl. "Yes, da'len?"
"Is Mahvy gone for real?"
"He did state in his letter there is possible future we cross paths again," Solas told both the little girl and Nimwen.
"He be at my birthday?"
Nimwen sighed. She realized her daughter needed her for support, not to see her mother in a state. She composed herself and looked her girl in the eye. "I'm sorry, da'len, but Mahvy won't be at your birthday," she said, stroking the girl's hair. "But, he loves you very much, and worked really hard on a present for you, okay?"
"B-but, I want Mahvy." The sheer sadness and disappointment on the child's face felt more painful than Nimwen's own heartbreak.
"I know, da'len," she whispered. She hugged Lori again so the toddler wouldn't see the cracks in her mother's mask.
Solas bowed his head, but didn't otherwise speak.
"What now, Inquisitor?" Cullen finally spoke up.
Nimwen let out a shuddering breath. "I don't know," she admitted.
"I'm hungry," Lori suddenly proclaimed.
A small smile appeared on Solas's face. "That answers that question, vhenan."
Nimwen returned the smile. "How about we see if they're still serving pumpkin soup, what do you say, da'len?"
"Pretty soup!" Lori clapped.
"I'm going to check on Franne," Cullen said, making his way to his and his wife's room.
"I'm outta here, got a date," Sera added.
"A date, with whom, may I ask?" Solas cocked an eyebrow at Sera.
The rogue snorted. "Out of the loop, eh, old man? I got a date with the cutest Arcanist this side of Thedas." She winked. Without another word, Sera ran to the window. She thrust it open and leapt through, shouting a hurried "good-bye" as she disappeared into Denerim.
Solas scowled, a look of disapproval at the way the rogue departed on his face. Then, he frowned. "She's with Dagna?" he asked Nimwen.
"I was surprised too, but, as it turns out, they were made for each other," Nimwen chuckled.
Solas shook his head. "She always did hate her own kind."
"Hey, now, they're in love. Be happy Sera found someone who can handle her...zany tendencies."
"I am quite happy for her. Just making an idle observation."
"Well, you can make idle observations over dinner," Nimwen said as she stood, Lori on her hip. "The pumpkin soup is quite good...you'll love it," she said, heart panging at the memory of who told her that.
"If it is anything like butter squash soup, I don't doubt that, vhenan." Solas followed her out of the room.
* ~ Two Months Later ~ *
Dirthamen skirted the edge of the crowds in Val Royeaux. His limp heavy and leg throbbing from the long trip here. He grimaced at the thought within the day he would be heading back to Denerim. Yet, at the same time, each moment away from his son made his heart and mind flicker with worry. He knew his son wouldn't pass while he was here, but the knowledge did little to aid him.
A few passing elves paused and nodded to him before hurrying on their way. It was the same. There were the People who knew who he was and those who just saw a poor elvhen limping through the crowd.
His breathing grew labored with each passing second. He paused, his gaze falling over the bench under the apple tree he and Nimwen had stopped at. It was taken this time by a young couple. He smiled and continued on his way. He had a party to hide in the shadows of after all.
It took him longer than he had hoped to make it to the grand cathedral. Careful not to draw attention to himself, he moved up the closest staircase, heading for the floor Lorien would be on. He kept to the shadows when he heard the echo of Cassandra's voice. When it started to become a reality, he moved so he was hidden from sight.
Sure enough, Cassandra appeared with a dwarf. The two of them seemed to be arguing.
A gasp came from Deceit who was perched, as always on, Dirthamen's staff. "That's Vair-Vair!" She made to fly off his staff, but Dirthamen flicked his wrist. "Dirthy, I want to talk to Vair-Vair. Dir-" She gagged on his name.
"For the last time, Varric, that is not how it happened!" Cassandra snapped.
"Come now, Seeker, what's wrong with a little embellishment if it makes you look good?" the dwarf smirked.
"Saying I beat an entire legion of undead with a chicken leg while wearing an Orlesian ball gown, is taking it far past embellishment!"
Varric let out a dramatic sigh. "You crush my artistic abilities."
Cassandra let out a groan as the rest of the room snickered.
"Uncle Vary!" Lorien squealed as she toddled over to the dwarf.
"Sage, Maker's Mercy, kid you're getting so big," Varric grinned as he hugged the child.
Dirthamen shifted a little in the shadows. He moved his weight off his bad leg and leaned against the wall.
"It's Vair-Vair." Deceit gave a choked caw. "Please, let me talk-"
Dirthamen took hold of the bird and stuffed her into his bag.
"All right, now that everyone's here, why don't we get started?" Nimwen suggested. "Solas, can you get the cake?"
Dirthamen tried not snicker at the thought of Solas getting the cake. He knew Solas loved sweets just as much as his daughter did.
Solas moved into Dirthamen's view and set down the cake at the table. He no longer wore his old armor instead wore a plain long sleeved shirt. Dirthamen eyed the necklace Solas wore. He still had that old thing? It was laughable considering how young Dirthamen and Falon had been when they had found the broken jaw in the snow.
"Cake!" Lorien squealed as she clapped excitedly. Her hair was curled with two pink ribbons tied on either side of her head. Her dress was bright green with a large pink bow on it matching her hair ribbons.
"Slow down, dear, you have to blow out the candles first." Leliana smiled. She wore the same fanciful robes Dirthamen had seen her in when they first met, but this time the Divine had forgone her large hat.
"Cake," Lorien beamed.
The cake was quite the sight. It was large enough to feed all those present, and had bright pink frosting. Dirthamen also noticed there seemed to be insects made of frosting scattered along the cake. Bright colored butterflies, shiny beetles, even fuzzy green caterpillars all inhabited the pink planes of the cake. In the center were three candles, that with a snap of her fingers, Nimwen set them alight.
"Everyone ready to sing?" she asked.
"Oh, is it time already? Do make sure to hold me up so everyone can hear my lovely voice."
Nimwen laughed as she picked up the glowing blue crystal hanging from her neck. "We can hear you just fine, Dorian."
"Hiya, Uncle Dory," Lorien waved to the crystal.
Dirthamen couldn't help but to smile. He kept his eyes trained on his sister, watching as she moved between the others. The bright, happy smile on her face. When the others started to sing to her, he joined in, whispering the words so as not to draw attention to himself. His gaze flickered to Solas.
Solas shifted a little during the song. He didn't sing and Dirthamen couldn't stop himself from chuckling. The only reason Dirthamen knew this song was having been awake in this new world for as long as he had. Solas looked completely lost.
After everyone finished singing, Lorien took a deep breath and with all her might, blew out all three candles. The group cheered as the cake was taken by Thom to be cut.
"Okay, you ready for presents?" Nimwen asked her.
Lorien's face lit up. "Presents! Presents!" she squealed.
"She getting the presents." Deceit popped her head out of Dirthamen's bag.
"Stay quiet," Fear snapped his beak at her.
Dirthamen moved a little, ignoring both ravens. He watched as one by one, his sister was presented with an array of presents. From Sera, she received a basket of cookies shaped like an array of animals and painted with enough frosting and fixings to make Dirthamen's teeth ache. From Thom, Lorien was gifted a rocking halla, carved with obvious care and ornate designs. From Cassandra, she got her a small toy sword, and, Varric, it seemed wrote her a story book.
"A book!" Deceit struggled in Dirthamen's pack. "Vair-Vair wrote her a book! I want a personal book. Why does that mortal get one from Vair-Vair?"
Dirthamen hit the raven on the head. He stuffed her back into the bag. "Be quiet," he hissed.
The one known as Cole, gave her a sunhat with a floppy brim and a daisy embroidered on the top, which Lori immediately put on.
"Give her mine, next," Dorian insisted.
"Keep your pant on, kadan," the Iron Bull teased.
"They are quite on, thank you. I would just like to hear her get it before Maevaris drags me back to the wretched meeting I should be at."
"All right, all right," Nimwen said, setting down the bright summer dress Josephine had sent from Antiva. She picked up the box labelled from the magister and placed it in Lorien's lap. "This one is from Uncle Dorian, you remember what to say?"
"Ma serannas, Uncle Dory," Lori recited, just as she had for everyone else's gift.
"You're quite welcome, love."
Lorien went to work ripping away the colorful paper wrapped around the box. Once it was gone, she opened the container and let out a gasp. "Pretty!"
"Oh, it's precious," Nimwen cooed as she lifted up the toddler-sized mage's robes. They were made in the Imperium style and fashioned out of light blue fabric.
"She's bound to have some magic in her," Dorian said through the crystal. "And even if she doesn't, we can't have her inheriting her's father's dreadful fashion sense."
Dirthamen chuckled. He could just see Solas's scowl from where he stood.
"We can't all have outfits that make more noise than we do, Dorian," Solas retorted.
"Maker man, you are with a Comtesse and still you fight me on this," Dorian sighed. "I'm not even there and I know you're wearing a potato sack."
Dirthamen had to place his arm against the wall for support. He couldn't breath through his muffled laughter. That was brilliant.
Solas's scowl depended. "At least, I didn't alert all the venatori we were there before we were ready to attack them."
"Now, now, children, let's all get along. We're not even through all the gifts," Nimwen said.
"Perhaps, we can do mine next?" Leliana suggested.
"Huh, wonder what kind of gift you can get from the Divine?" Varric pondered.
"I don't see a box anywhere," Nimwen said as she looked around.
"Well, it's not exactly something you can box up," Leliana explained as she pulled something from her satchel.
Lorien gasped. "Nug!" she squealed as the Divine presented her with a baby nug.
"He is one from our latest litter," Leliana smiled as she adjusted the red bow tied around the nuglet's belly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lorien grinned as she snuggled the tiny creature.
Dirthamen felt warmth spread through his heart as he watched his sister and the little nuglet.
Fear snapped his beak. "What could she possibly want with food?"
"Shush," Dirthamen scolded the demon.
"You be… Nummy!" Lori declared.
The newly dubbed Nummy gave a snort in reply.
"That's a fine name," Nimwen said. With Lorien occupied with her new pet, Nimwen went ahead and opened an intricately wrapped gilded box, no doubt from Vivienne. "Oh, Solas, look at this," Nimwen said as she held up the tiny ball gown.
Dirthamen coughed, holding back laughter at Sola's almost blank expression. Nimwen did know Solas wasn't the one to go talk to clothes with even clothes meant for his daughter. Yet, still it was funny watching Solas's expression.
"It's lovely," Solas seemed to chose his words carefully.
"Thank you very much, Vivienne," Nimwen said.
"You're quite welcome, darling," the enchantress replied.
"Okay what's left? We have…"
Dirthamen watched as Nimwen picked up a familiar box. A flash of emotions passed over the woman's face as she stared at the gift.
Sorrow filled Dirthamen at the sight of her pain. "Ir abelas, Lady Nimwen," he whispered.
"Look, da'len, it's Mahvir's gift," Nimwen said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Mahvy!" After setting Nummy beside her in her chair, Lorien snatched up the gift and began to open it. "Lookit, lookit, he make wolf!" Lori said as she lifted up the golden wolf.
"It's very pretty," Nimwen said.
"Lookit, daddy, he make me wolf!" Lori said, thrusting the wolf in Solas's face.
"I see that, da'vhenan." There was a softness which filled Solas's voice, but didn't get rid of the suspicion Dirthamen could see in Solas's pale gaze.
Dirthamen backed a little further into the shadows. It was just a toy and, yet, Solas seemed to think Dirthamen would harm his precious sister with a toy. Pain stabbed Dirthamen's heart.
"Now, Burton have friend," Lorien said as she pulled out a familiar raven from her pocket. "Burton meet friend, Rupert," Lorien giggled as she made her toys face each other.
Perhaps he should have made the wolf male, but then that wouldn't have been appropriate for a three year old. Dirthamen managed a small smile, but his eyes flickered to Solas who was watching Lorien.
"Rupert?" Nimwen chuckled with a raised brow. "Where does she get these names from do you think, vhenan?"
"Perhaps too much time with Master Tethras," Solas joked, but his eyes didn't leave Lorien or the toys.
"Hmm, what's this? There's something else in here, Lori," Nimwen said with faux shock.
"Hmm?" Like a quisitive puppy, Lorien peered inside the box to see its remaining contents. "What that?"
"Why, I do believe it's a puzzle," Nimwen said as she lifted out the puzzle.
"It wolfs," Lorien stated as she pointed to the picture.
Dirthamen smiled, ignoring Solas completely now. He didn't care right then Solas thought there might some trick or trap to the gifts. All that mattered was Lorien's bright, smiling face.
"Happy birthday, Princess," Dirthamen whispered.
"Pretty," Lorien cooed as her little finger traced one of the flowers Dirthamen had carved into the frame holding the puzzle together.
"Mahvir worked very hard on it for you," said Nimwen.
Lorien tilted her head back. "Ma serannas, Mahvy!" she shouted to the sky. "Think he hear me?" she asked her parents, eyes hopeful.
"I'm sure he did," Nimwen replied, her smile twitching.
"If not, than the Cathedral at least knows you thanked him," Solas said with a small smile.
Nimwen jabbed him with her elbow. "Okay, Thom, got that cake cut?"
"Got some pieces right here," the warrior said as he came in with plates of cake.
"Cake!" Deceit wiggled out of Dirthamen's bag and hopped down.
"Deceit!" Dirthamen hissed.
The raven hopped out of their hiding place and took the sky.
"Deceit," Dirthamen hissed again. He staggered as he tried to use his magic to get her back. He placed weight on his bad leg and ended up falling instead. his staff clattered to the ground. "Fenedhis," he spat. That damned demon!
Dirthamen stanched up his staff and pushed himself further back into the shadows. He knew Lorien had seen Deceit and, then, his staff and hoped the future she alerted others wasn't the one which would happen.
"Cake, cake."
Dirthamen could just see Deceit dipping her beak into a slice of cake by Thom. He groaned.
"What the blasted?" Thom sputtered as he tried batting away the bird.
"Was that a bird?" Vivienne asked.
"Want me to shoot it?" Sera offered, a hand on her bow.
"No, no, we swore we wouldn't kill anything today!" Nimwen insisted.
"Looky, Nummy, birdie," Lorien giggled.
Deceit let out a shocked caw as Thom batted at her. "Rude!" She flew higher.
Solas stood, eyes narrowed.
Deceit dived back at the cake. "One slice and I'm gone, Mortal, give it!"
Dirthamen groaned and buried his face in his palms. He didn't have the energy to stop what was going to happen next.
"She's not getting all the cake!" Fear launched himself into the air and raced over to Thom as well.
"It's mine, Oaf!" Deceit snapped at him.
The two ravens collided over Thom's head. They managed to grab a slice each before breaking apart. They spat insults at one another, dropping pieces of cake on Thom's head.
"What in Andraste's name?!" Cassandra stood up and began waving at the birds. "Shoo, shoo!"
"Throw a book at them," Sera yelled.
The Iron Bull burst into laughter at the Seeker's attempts to scare off the ravens.
"We aren't birds. We want cake!" Deceit cried. "Dirthy, make them understand!" She dove for the ground and flew across the table, trying to dodge Cassandra's swipes at her. She landed on Varric's shoulder. She prend a little.
"Huh, this one's white," Varric said.
"Don't just stand there, get it," Cassandra snapped.
"Relax, Seeker, you don't have to respond to every problem by punching it," Varric chuckled. He turned to Deceit. "I think it likes me."
"Words hold me with every page, want to see him, talk to him," Cole cryptically responded. "Finally, he's within my grasp, I've never been so happy."
"Who are you talking about, Cole?" Cullen asked.
"What in blazes is going on? Someone fill me in!" Dorian demanded from the crystal.
That was right Cole had been a Spirit of Compassion. Well, so much for that, but Dirthamen certainly wasn't moving from his hiding place.
Deceit puffed out her chest a little. "More romances, please? You're romances are brilliant!" She blinked at Cole. "Compassion, can you translate my thoughts again? Dirthy won't let me speak!"
Cole cocked his head, as if trying to better understand her.
"Deceit?" Nimwen stood there in shock. "Is that you?"
"Who?" asked Vivienne.
"Mortal Soft Shoulder, help!" Fear landed on Nimwen's shoulder and stuck his beak into her hair to hide from Cassandra.
Solas was eyeing the birds, his eyes intense. Dirthamen knew the moment the birds moved from Solas's love and from Varric, Solas would attack them.
"Fear?!" Nimwen gasped, trying to get the demon out of her hair.
"Fear, Deceit, really?" Dirthamen asked through his connection with the birds. "And Fear, get your beak out of Lady Nimwen's hair."
Fear removed his beak and blinked at Nimwen. He fluffed his feather and settled himself on her shoulder. "Cake?" He pointed at the cake with his beak.
"If you're here, then he…" Nimwen began to look around as if expecting Dirthamen to be sitting at one of the tables. "Where is he?" she asked Fear.
Fear cocked his head. "Well, you can't understand me, Dirthamen is blocking our speech. But if you must know… Cake first!" He jabbed his beak towards the cake again and, then, glared at Nimwen.
Dirthamen felt somebody poke his shoulder. "Aneth ara, Princess Lorien." He looked down to see Lorien standing beside him. He gave her a soft smile.
She beamed up at him, pure joy on her face. "It came true!" she whispered happily. "I blow candles and wish you come, and it work!" She hugged his waist.
Dirthamen stroked her hair. "How have you been, Princess?"
"Good, I tan now," she said, showing him three fingers.
Dirthamen chuckled. "Yes, you are. Happy birthday, sister." He straightened a little. "I can't stay long," he told her.
"Why not?" Lorien pouted. "You no see Nummy. He wanna meet you."
"Ir abelas, Princess, but I must return to my own child soon. He's very sick and I can't be away long. I came to see you today and wish you happy birthday." He looked at her and smiled a little wider. "Can you keep a secret?"
"I keep it," Lorien nodded.
"Good. About half a year from now, our family will be together again. Perhaps, Solas will be a little happier then. Until then, know I love you and that I am also staying away because I don't want you and Lady Nimwen caught between Solas and me fighting." He sooth her hair. "I know fighting is bad, but sometimes anger clouds better judgement."
"So, you go?" Lorien frowned. "You come next birthday?"
"I will." Dirthamen moved a little. "Until then, may your dreams be guarded, Princess." He lifted his hand and time stood still. Dirthamen pulled himself to his feet and limped from his sister and the party. Time resumed when he was out of the cathedral. "Fear, Deceit, enough games, we're leaving."
"But, cake?" Fear whined in Dirthamen's mind.
"And I just met Vair-Vair. You're not even letting me talk to him."
"Now!" Dirthamen looked to the sky and saw the two ravens driving towards him.
"You're such a slave driver," Deceit complained as she landed on his staff.
"We didn't get more than a mouthful of that cake." Fear's talons dug into his shoulder.
Dirthamen ignored them and limped off into the crowd.
Flamewing: I want to go cry in a corner. Book 1 is done. But you heard right, this is only book 1. We are working on the third book to this series and will start posting book 2 on my account soon. So, those of you hoping to see what happens next, hop over to my page (Flamewing80) and keep an eye out for Heart of the People.
HerenyaHope: I can't believe it's done. I'm not prepared for this *sob* but worry not dear readers, as my companion said, we have a sequel that shall be posted on Flame's account, so if you want to continue on this crazy train go check out Heart of the People on Flamewing80. Also just check out Flamewing80's page in general, some good stuff there if I do say so myself haha. I just want to say again how thankful Flame and I am to all of you who have followed our story for so long. You guys are the best :0)