Consciousness returned to Relden slowly.

With a groan, he managed to crack open his eyes. It took Relden a moment to realize he was laying down. When he did, the elf attempted to raise himself up on his arms, only to slam back down when they gave way out of weakness.

'What happened to me?' Relden wondered. His head felt clouded, as if his thoughts were buried and had to be unearthed one by one.

He heard the noise of something – canvas? – shifting, and then a voice spoke up.

"You're awake! Thank the Creators!" Relden turned his head to face whoever had come in, noticing as he did that he was in one of the aravels, the caravans that the clan used as homes and transportation.

"Fenarel," Relden greeted his fellow clan member and hunter. "What happened? I… I fear I cannot remember how I got here."

Silence. And then.

"Relden… You were brought back to camp by Grey Wardens." Fenarel's face was filled with worry. "The Keeper and the Wardens secluded themselves with you for half a day. It has been two days since then. We feared you wouldn't wake at all."

"I… I can't remember any of that," Relden admitted. "I only remember that I was out with Tamlen, and… Tamlen!" The realization struck Relden like lightning. "What happened to Tamlen? Was he afflicted with whatever I was as well?"

Fenarel shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flickering away from Relden. "When the Wardens arrived, they brought only you." He continued hastily before Relden could say anything. "Most of the hunters are out looking for him, though!"

Relden tried to raise himself up again, this time managing to get himself into a sitting position. "I have to go help search."

"What? Relden, you are in no shape to be going out anywhere, much less searching for Tamlen." Fenarel frowned at him. "The Keeper wanted to see you once you woke up. I would go and fetch her, but now I'm not sure I can trust you to stay put while I do so."

"Then it is good that you will not have to."

Fenarel turned, seeming relieved. "Keeper, it is good to see you. Perhaps you can keep Relden from being foolish."

The silver-haired woman smiled at Fenarel. "We shall see." As Fenarel left the aravel, the Keeper turned to face Relden.

While Relden would have ignored Fenarel and gone to search for Tamlen, he could not – would not do so, if Keeper Marethari told him to stay. Relden was not her apprentice, he had no skill in magic, but the Keeper had been a guardian and caretaker for him, beyond the normal care of a Keeper for their clan. And so Relden held a greater respect for Marethari than simply respect for the Keeper of the clan.

"It is fortunate that Duncan found you when he did. I know not what dark power held you, but it nearly bled the life from you. It was difficult even for my magic to keep you alive."

The idea that he came so close to death was not something Relden wished to think about. His next thought was even worse.

"Keeper, what if Tamlen is sick as well?" The lack of surprise and grim expression on Keeper Marethari's face told Relden that she had thought of the possibility already.

"If he encountered the same thing you did, yes. But the Grey Wardens said they found you alone outside of a cave, already stricken."

Relden ran a hand through his hair, wincing as his fingers caught on snarls. It took him a moment to try and find a way to phrase his request. "Keeper Marethari, please. I need to go find Tamlen. Whatever happened to him, I should have helped him. If I survived, then surely he has as well." The Keeper gave Relden a look that he couldn't identify, and shook her head.

"Da'len, the affliction that took you was a grave one. Even with my magic, your life was at risk from it. If Tamlen has been struck by the same illness-"

"Keeper, please." Relden didn't look at her, keeping his eyes cast downward. "I need to find him."

She sighed. "Very well. There are things I must ask of you before you go, however. Duncan thought there may have been darkspawn inside of the cave. Is this true?"

"What do darkspawn look like?" The name sounded familiar, but these 'darkspawn' were no creature that Relden had seen before.

"Like a man, but dark and tainted with evil. Perhaps you fought one in the cave and it wounded you."

Relden shook his head. "My memories of what happened in the cave are still not entirely clear, but I do not remember any such creatures. The only thing I remember us finding were spiders."

"Is there nothing else you remember encountering in the ruins?" The Keeper looked at him, as if trying to impart the importance of her question with her gaze.

Unfortunately, Relden could give her nothing with his memory as lacking as it was. "I am sorry, Keeper. I swear, if I remembered anything else, I would tell you."

Marethari sighed. "I had hoped for answers once you woke, but instead all we have are questions." She stepped towards Relden, and met his eyes. In her eyes, Relden could see the same determination and worry that gripped his heart.

"If Tamlen is as sick as you were, then he is in grave condition. Duncan and his Wardens left to go investigate the cave as soon as you were stable, but in the chaos of your arrival, none thought to have him give the location of it. You are the only one who knows how to get there, da'len."

Relden met the Keeper's gaze with his own. "I will find Tamlen and bring him back, Keeper."

A small smile formed on Keeper Marethari's face. "Take Merrill with you, and go swiftly," she told him. "I must remain here. I have ordered the clan to pack the camp so that we can go north. With what has happened, and what is to come, it is too dangerous to remain."

She left to go take care of her duties, and Relden went to find Merrill.

"Relden!" Fenarel approached, worry etched onto his face. "I wish to help search for Tamlen."

"It will be dangerous. Whatever caused me to fall ill, and whatever is preventing Tamlen from returning, could easily find you as its next target." Relden warned his fellow elf. Another hunter joining their search would be helpful, but they were dealing with unknown dangers.

Fenarel seemed determined despite the warning. "If I can help find Tamlen, then the risk is worth it."

After a moment of hesitation, Relden told him, "Go ask the Keeper. If she approves, then you may join."

Fenarel nodded, and immediately ran off to find Keeper Marethari. Relden went to continue his search for Merrill, only to find her waiting at a nearby aravel.

Merrill was the Keeper's apprentice, her Second. She was taught lore, customs, and everything else she needed in order to become the next Keeper after Marethari.

She didn't waste any time on pleasantries. "The Keeper said I'm to accompany you back to the caves to search for Tamlen. If there's some clue that you might miss, perhaps I can find it as her apprentice. And if…" Merrill wavered, but then continued in a stronger voice. "When we find Tamlen, I can help take care of him until we return and the Keeper can tend to him."

Relden nodded at her. "Very well. Fenarel wishes to come along as well, but is asking permission from the Keeper. We will wait for a short time, but if-"

He cut himself off as Fenarel ran up to them.

"The Keeper has given me permission. Let's go." Relden gave a small smile.

The ruin was not easy to find. The more Relden tried to focus on how he and Tamlen had reached it before, the more the details seemed to flee from his mind. His memory failing him like this worried Relden, but with Tamlen possibly in danger every moment before they found him, there was no time to deal with it. Once Tamlen was safe, Relden could bring it up with the Keeper.

Through a combination of what little Relden could remember and following the signs of passage left by what only could have been the Grey Wardens, the trio was able to reach the ruins.

"There is something unsettling about this place," Merrill murmured uneasily. Fenarel scoffed.

"They are only ruins. Now come, Tamlen may be inside." He strode down towards the entrance, Relden and Merrill hurrying to catch up with him.

Relden would have preferred to move slowly through the ruin. When he and Tamlen had come through the ruins, a nest of giant spiders had attacked them. With these… darkspawn creatures, whatever they truly were, showing up in the area, Relden worried what they might encounter.

"Fenarel, we don't know what's in here. Perhaps we should move more carefully."

"With every moment we spend taking our time, Tamlen could be getting worse!"

Fenarel's words struck Relden. If he had to choose between his own safety and saving Tamlen, the choice was obvious.

"You're right," he agreed grimly, quickening his pace. Unsheathing his knives, Relden took the lead, trying to remember the turns that he took previously.

It took them minutes – what felt like far too long, especially after Fenarel's reminder of what was at stake – to reach the odd statue from before. The hallway before was filled with the corpses of giant spiders

Merrill gasped. It was difficult to make out, since she was breathing heavily from trying to keep up with the two more fit hunters.

"That statue – it's a statue honoring one of the Creators! What is it doing in a human ruin?" Merrill stepped up to examine the figure closely, as if trying to discern the reasoning behind its presence. "I wonder if this ruin dates back to the time of Arlathan, if a statue like this exists here…"

"This forest is nowhere near Arlathan, and a statue of our people being in a shem creation means nothing." The moment he said the words, Relden frowned. It was too familiar, as if he'd heard it or even said it before. He shook his head, sending strands of hair whipping about, and ignored the feeling. Continuing, he added, "Even if this ruin was important, we are here for Tamlen."

Merrill looked down to the floor abruptly, wringing her hands. "Oh! I'm sorry. You're right."

Besides a nod, Relden didn't acknowledge Merrill's response. Instead, he looked down the two paths from the statue, trying to remember which he and Tamlen had turned down before. He decided on the left after a moment, and motioned for the other two to follow him.

The hallway led into an open room, and Relden walked in, head turning to see where the other paths were.

It was the only thing that kept him from being beheaded.

When he turned his head, Relden caught movement out of the corner of his eyes, and immediately ducked. A curved blade sliced through the air where his neck had been, and the elf heard a guttural growl from the direction it had come from.

"Enemies!" He snapped out, warning Fenarel and Merrill. Relden looked at his opponent, and faltered for a brief second.

The creature was some terrifying mockery of a person, with shriveled and discolored skin. It wore bloodstained armor, and its head was completely void of hair. The weapon it had swung at Relden was a curved sword that looked to be in some disrepair, the metal dull and scratched.

Relden only paused to revolt at his enemy's appearance for the slightest of moments, and then he moved. Pushing himself forward while still remaining crouched from his earlier dodge, one of the knives in his hands flashed upward at the hand holding the weapon. When the creature moved its weapon to prevent that, Relden stabbed his other knife up into the creature's throat.

It staggered backward, and Relden followed up by plunging the second knife into the thing's neck as well. The blood that came out was vile, more like sludge than blood and darker than it should have been if the darkspawn was anything like an elf or human.

Yanking his knives out of his foe's corpse, Relden turned his eyes to the rest of the room to see Fenarel and Merrill fending off two more darkspawn.

Fenarel was fighting both at once with his sword and shield, deflecting and avoiding what blows he could while searching for opportunities to attack in return.

Merrill was his support, casting spells to distract and entangle the darkspawn. The vines on the walls came to life, throwing themselves at the two creatures to stop them from attacking Fenarel, and the stone beneath their feet formed itself into spikes that shot up at them.

One of the thing's blades crashed into Fenarel's shield, and he staggered back with a curse on his lips. The other attempted to take advantage, but a stone spike from below forced it backwards instead.

By the time the first darkspawn could attack Fenarel again, the elf had recovered, and was able to deflect the attack with his shield. With the darkspawn being the one caught off guard this time, Fenarel followed up and beheaded it.

An arrow felled the other as it charged at Fenarel, and the two turned to face Relden, who had drawn his bow and fired.

Cleaning his knives, Relden frowned. "These must be the darkspawn the Keeper was talking about. If they are here, we must find Tamlen quickly."

"Right!" Fenarel and Merrill responded in unison, and when Relden figured out which path was the correct one, the two followed close behind. This time, despite knowing the importance of finding Tamlen, their pace was slower, Relden and Fenarel constantly looking about to spot any lurking enemies.

There was only one other encounter with darkspawn along the way, and the two were quickly dispatched by Relden and Fenarel. Without the element of surprise, Relden was easily able to use his arrows to take them out while Fenarel kept their attention.

Eventually, the trio made their way as far as Relden remembered going. The path ended in front of an open room, and they entered.

The people within turned to face them.

"Ah, you are the one we found in front of these ruins. What brings you back here?" The darker-skinned human frowned at him. "Should you not be resting? Your illness was a serious one."

Relden glared at the shem. "And what business is it of yours?"

"Forgive me, I have not introduced myself. I am Duncan, Commander of the Grey Wardens." Relden gritted his teeth. The Keeper had mentioned this human's name along with the Wardens, and had credited them with bringing him back to the clan. Even if the man was a shemlen…

Relden bowed as shallowly as he could. Through clenched teeth, he told Duncan, "Thank you… for saving my life, Duncan of the Grey Wardens." Despite not being able to see them, Relden knew that both Fenarel and Merrill would be staring at him in shock. His hatred of shemlen was well known among their clan, and for him to bow and thank one was something one would only have spoken of in jest.

But in this case, his pride also demanded that he properly thank someone who saved his life for no reward.

Duncan seemed slightly taken aback, but then smiled. "It was the right thing to do. It would have been cruel to leave you as you were, unconscious and ill in front of these ruins."

When Relden remained silent, Fenarel stepped up beside him. "If you don't mind, we are searching for our comrade, Tamlen. We believe this is where he was when he and Relden were separated. Have you seen any sign of him?"

One of the other people in the room scoffed, and all attention fell onto them. It was a dwarven woman, with brunette hair captured in a loose bun on her head except for two strands that framed her face. A tattoo of some symbol was set underneath her right eye.

"One exit, and no body. All tracks out of here are darkspawn." Relden noticed Duncan giving her a sharp look out of the corner of his eye, but ignored it.

"So you're saying that Tamlen could not have been here?" He glared at the dwarven woman. Relden had never met a dwarf before. They mostly kept to themselves, far away in their underground city, but given this one at the moment, Relden wasn't sure they would be any better than humans.

Another dwarf – male, long dark blonde hair and a matching beard – spoke up. "What she likely meant to say," he stared disapprovingly at the woman, "was that there is no sign your companion left this room. Either he never entered, or a fell fate befell him."

Relden hissed out a breath. "I will not believe it," he spoke, and the coldness of his voice was almost a surprise even to himself. "Whatever happened to Tamlen, I was at his side when it occurred. If I survived, then so did he."

Duncan took a step forward, bringing Relden's attention back to him. "If your friend was in the same condition you were, I fear that there is little to be done. Your condition was grave when we found you, and without the aid of your Keeper, you would not be here now."

"And if I refuse to believe you?" Merrill gasped behind him. Duncan looked at him gravely.

"I will not insist that you believe me, but I assure you. If both you and Tamlen came into this room, and he was tainted as you were, there is no way that he could have survived."

Relden went to respond, but a hand on his shoulder distracted him. He turned to see Merrill, who was looking at him worriedly.

"Relden… He's right. If Tamlen had the same illness that you did when you were brought back, there is little chance he survived. Even with the Keeper's aid, there were moments where we weren't sure that you would make it," she told him softly.

"I am sorry," Duncan spoke, not having heard Merrill but knowing what she likely said. "I truly am. But trust me when I say that there is no way that your friend remains alive. The darkspawn are… evil creatures. Even if he had somehow managed to survive the taint for all this time, the darkspawn that were drawn here would not have been so kind."

Relden clenched his fists, staring at the ground. Tamlen couldn't be dead.

…But Merrill said that even he had barely survived with the Keeper doing her best to save him.

Tamlen, his best friend since childhood, would not have died like this.

Whatever sickness he had come down with nearly killed him, and Tamlen had been alone for days.

Tamlen had to be alive.

The darkspawn were here for days, with Tamlen at their mercy, and they had attacked Relden immediately.

Tamlen was dead.

In the background, Relden heard Merrill and Fenarel discussing things with Duncan and his companions. Something about the mirror that stood in the room, and darkspawn.

He didn't care. Tamlen was dead.

Duncan walked towards the mirror, sword raised, and smashed it with the pommel. A blinding burst of light filled the room, and when it cleared, the mirror was in shards.

Tamlen was dead.

Merrill and Fenarel walked back towards him as Duncan gave orders to the other Wardens with him.

Tamlen was dead.

Even as Merrill and Fenarel helped him rise to his feet, Relden felt ill, and he couldn't tell whether it was his condition rearing its head or if it was simply his grief, in the form of a physical ailment.

Well, I'm a terrible person for taking so long on this.

Sorry!

(I think) I warned you guys at the beginning of this story that I am bad at sitting down and actually getting writing done, especially during the school year. I meant to keep to my schedule, but that did not turn out well.

Hopefully this chapter somewhat makes up for it, but I doubt it.

Updates in the future will try to be consistent, but after this, I doubt they will be. All I can promise is that I will do my best to write and get these out when I can.

Also, to anyone who's wondering why I changed so much of the dialogue:

The stuff with the Keeper in the camp felt dumb. Tamlen is Relden's best friend since childhood, there's no way he would sit around asking the Keeper questions about the Grey Wardens when Tamlen could be in danger. I cut down the dialogues with Fenarel and Merrill for the same reasons – all of them should be anxious to go and save Tamlen.

I tried to throw in some subtle hints about how Relden was being affected, but not sure how well those turned out. Meh.

The dialogue with Duncan, I tried to make somewhat unique. Mora, Daren and Nalia are all there. Nalia is super shy, so she doesn't even get a mention. Neither Mora nor Daren give a crap about this random elf, but Daren at least tries to be somewhat polite about it.

Relden actually breaks down at the idea that Tamlen is dead because… yeah. Best friend since childhood? You don't just go "oh no, I can't believe he's dead" and move on with your life. He's not crying yet, but that's mostly shock. Losing your best friend, especially in this type of situation where you had this desperate hope that he had survived, is super rough.

The explanations about the taint, the darkspawn, and what's happening to Relden will come next chapter. It gets touched on by Duncan, Fenarel and Merrill, as it does in the Origin, but Relden is obviously not paying attention.

Alright. One more Dalish Origin chapter, maybe an interlude, and then we move on.