"It's the Witch! Run! Everyone run!"

Makeeda and Lanaya awoke suddenly, hearing screams throughout their camp.

"Don't let go." Lanaya said as she grabbed Makeeda's hand.

Makeeda grabbed her bow and quiver, running behind Lanaya as they left the camp. It was on fire, elves scattered everywhere. Makeeda felt like the world was spinning slowly, everything still around her as her home burned down. Children were dead, kids that were almost her age, amongst other elves. Makeeda was grateful that Lanaya didn't stop to take in the sight around them. Makeeda would have stayed to help if Lanaya hadn't been pulling her along, leading her deeper into the forest. They ran until they couldn't possibly run anymore, stopping to catch their breath. They could hear the Witch behind them, knowing her wolves had caught their scent.

"Climb." Lanaya said, pointing at a tree. Makeeda did so, allowing Lanaya to give her a boost up. Makeeda climbed, knowing Lanaya would not make it in time to go unnoticed by the wolves. She sat in the tree quietly, watching the beasts circle around her sister.

"Elf?" the Witch said, stepping down from her sleigh. She was a beautiful woman, in a twisted way. Makeeda hated the sight of her, knowing what she was had been doing to the sister clans of the Dalish. "Where is your sister?"
"She died."
"Do not lie to me!" the Witch said, slapping her.

Makeeda drew an arrow from her quiver, steadying her aim on the Witch.

"Your majesty!" a wolf barked, noticing her.

The Witch turned and Makeeda let go of the string quickly. It was blocked easily, whisking past the Witch's head. Makeeda jumped down now, taking another arrow out quickly, shooting one of the wolves.

"Stop." the Witch said, using her magic to freeze the movement around her. "You, girl, will behave yourself if you want to keep your sister alive."

Makeeda felt the paralysis leave her body.

"What do you want?" Lanaya asked.
"You Dalish have hidden away from my rule, and I will not allow it any longer."
"You are scared of the prophecy, aren't you? You fear the Dalish magic our Keepers possess?"
"Prophecy?" Makeeda asked, never hearing of this before.
"Two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will defeat her-"
"Hold your tongue, elf-"
"I am not your subject, Witch." Lanaya replied.

The Witch shot a green wisp at her. Makeeda watched the light leave her eyes as she slumped to the ground. Makeeda cried, half in shock of what had happened. The Witch touched her face with a surprisingly gentle grip.

"Dear… Come with me… You will be happy again."
"No. I'd never go with you."
"You have no choice."

Makeeda tried to run, but failed quickly, her vision going blurry as she fell to the ground.

Months had passed after Makeeda was taken as the Witch's prisoner. She was forced to stay in the palace, living under the Witch's rule. The time passed by slowly, and the ice castle was difficult for Makeeda to adjust to in her dress and bare feet. When the Witch lingered outside of her cell, she often spoke of giving Makeeda a gift. Makeeda knew nothing about the gift she intended to give, but she wouldn't accept anything the Witch had to offer. She wanted nothing from the woman except a release from the captivity she was living in.

Makeeda sat, now, in her prison cell, shivering from the chill the ice was currently giving her. She heard Jadis coming, knowing the Witch was starting to form an idea of what to do with her.

"Get up, dear." Jadis said, her guard opening the cell door. "It is time to go."
"Why do you pretend to be nice to me?" she asked.

The Witch laughed lightly.

"You will need something nice to hold onto… This ritual will be hard on you."
"Ritual?"

The Witch gave her guard a small nod, allowing him to grab the girl by the arm. She lead them into a separate room in silence. It was small, with a table sitting in the middle. There was a cup there, sitting on the table as if it was a glorified monument in a trophy room.

"This is your new life." Jadis said, lifting the glass in her hands. She looked down at it, swirling the liquid slightly.
"New life?"
"Yes dear. I am giving you a gift."
"So you have told me before, but I really doubt it is considered a gift."
"It is a great privilege." She handed the cup to Makeeda, who took it hesitantly. The light blue liquid shined against the glass. It was beautiful, though Makeeda knew it was not intended to look good. "Do you know what lyrium is?"
"No."
"It is what gives mages their magic, it is what is in their veins. They are born with the power of magic, but lyrium gives them their strength. It allows them to grow stronger in their powers." Jadis explained. "This is lyrium."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You will drink this lyrium, elf, and become what I am."
"I will never be anything that you are." Makeeda scoffed. "This is against my people-"
"Your people are dead."

Makeeda gave the glass back, walking back to the door of the room. She saw two minotaurs coming at her, and knew she was no match for them without her bow. They took her down as she kicked and screamed, dragging her back over to the witch on the ice. They pinned her to the floor, letting Jadis kneel down to squeeze Makeeda's jaw. She winced, opening her mouth. Jadis slowly poured the liquid down Makeeda's throat, forcing her to swallow it. Makeeda choked, feeling the lyrium burn threw her. She swallowed as much as Jadis gave her, feeling it seer through her as if her body was being lit on fire. She screamed and the minotaurs let go of her arms. She curled herself up, holding her stomach as the lyrium settled there. She felt like she was going to explode, to be torn apart by this liquid that changed her blood. She felt herself losing consciousness, her head spinning from the fight her body was putting up to resist the serum. She felt tears on her face, knowing this was against all her people had ever believed in. She felt the pain leaving her body now, her heart pounding against her ribcage. She closed her eyes, the voices around her mere muffles now as her body grew unconscious.