SEARCH AND DESTROY

THE VANGUARDS STEPPED OUT FROM the dark alleyway. Their heavy armour reflecting the full moon's eerie light.

"It's her, The Lady will be happy to see this." One of the guards said.

Leliana saw him kick the elf with full force sending her sprawling, crashing into the alleyway's thick stone wall. She landed on a pair of wooden barrels that splintered underneath her along with an unpleasant crack from Sinniralin's ribs. The guard tugged at the whip dragging Sin's lifeless body along the rough surface.

"Stop it! You're suffocating her!" The bard screamed before she could think the better of it.

The guards turned around, six pair of cold eyes sizing her up. The leader snorted when he saw her.

"Just take the girl as well."

Two of the vanguards advanced on her, swords and shields raised in their hands. The bard drew her daggers positioning herself in a defensive stance. Two guards. She had taken on worse than that the last couple of months and she nodded confidently to herself. She could do this. They had taken Sinniralin and they would regret it.

The first guard charged at her. She was surprised at the speed considering his heavy armour, but dodged him effortlessly. Jabbing her daggers at his legs she missed and they clanked against the heavily armoured leg. She turned quickly cursing under her breath as she sped towards him, flying through the night air like one of her deadly arrows waters spraying from her boots. The vanguard swung his sword at her, but she merely ducked blocking the second vanguard's sword with her daggers. She moved swiftly across the small street slashing at the guards, her blades flashing in the moonlight. The second guard clasped at his throat after her sharp blades had drawn a thin red line across the thick throat. She was hurtling towards the other vanguard when she saw the leader swing his iron boot towards the elf's head. A blow from that boot with enough force would kill her!

"Noo!" She yelled as she changed direction throwing one of her daggers at the leader, aiming for his neck. The world seemed to slow down as the dagger flew towards him, his boot swinging towards Sin's head. Leliana saw in terror how a fourth hidden guard stepped out from the shadows, throwing his shield into the air, the dagger bouncing off it like a small pebble. Then the leaders boot connected with Sin's head. Something was wrong, these were no normal guards! Leliana could hear Sin whimper feebly and she felt her whole world sway before someone hit her over the back of her head.

~•~

"Ellie darling, mother's going to tell you a story and I want you to remember this one so that you may tell it too one day. Can you promise me that you will?"

She nods solemnly at her mother who smiles in response, flattening the woollen blanket on top of her before she starts humming softly, her voice carrying the tune perfectly.

"In a land long forgotten, far beyond meadows and marches lived the warrior Geraldes. Sworn against the enemy of evil, of sin he one day stumbled on a big silver locket, round in shape, strangest symbols etched into it. Picking it up to sell it for a good fist of gold, he put it around his neck. Darkness swirled to life, turning the poor man into its slave. The locket gave him strength and powers man could only dream of. Many sought to steal this powerful charm, others who saw the dark deeds he committed tried to stop him, but none succeeded. What man did not know was the Geraldes was no more a man than a demon was a bird for the locket was so strongly enchanted he was no longer in control of his own mind, but had become the Darkness' faithful servant. Geraldes -the slave of Darkness fought an endless war, no man, no creature able to stop him until the day when he stopped by the river. Fatigued and weary from decades of battle, from the Darkness tearing at his frail human body, the dark locket burning against his chest. The warrior fell to his knees, drinking of the water when the fair Erdira emerged from the river's bend. Erdira was as beautiful as she was kind hearted and though she had heard of this man engulfed by the Darkness she was not frightened when she saw him, but instead she wondered what troubles could have brought this wretched man here and so she sat down next to him, offering the man some of her bread. As he turned to look at her she saw he had no eyes, only hollow sockets burning with black fire. Still she did not fear him and as she touched his shoulder tears fell from the man's now visible brown eyes. For over six hundred years had he lived, not once since he put on the locket had someone dared to touch this dark man and as Erdiria's hand gently touched his shoulder the locket fell to the ground as did Geraldes, his body nothing but withered old bones. The locket was never to be found again, but some people say Erdira hid it somewhere no one would ever find it again so that the Darkness would be gone from the world until the end of time. It did not take strong warriors, or mages to defeat this man, this evil. It only took one woman who did not fear the Darkness. "

Her mother looks at her, pulling a strand of hair from her face as she kisses her forehead.

"Remember this Ellie. Never fear the dark, it cannot hurt you."

~•~

Waking up Leliana found herself lying on the plush bed of a luxurious chamber. Four bedposts rose above her head, lavishly embellished with a beautifully carved pattern. Breathing slowly as to not alert her captor to that she had awaken she stayed still, eyes observing her surroundings from under half-lidded eyes, her ears straining for any sounds. Turning over in bed carefully as if asleep she gazed around the empty room before sitting up. Where was she? Where was Sin?

Crawling silently across the bed her mind reeled. What were those vanguards? They weren't like normal guards, these ones had used magic. She could feel it and what was it they wanted with Sin? She slid off the bed soundlessly landing on the thick carpet. Marjolaine had taught her many things, but her stealth was something she had learnt as a small girl running around Cecilie's estate trying not to disturb the grown ups. Marjolaine had merely taught her how to use it and when. Creeping across the carpet-clad floor towards the door she listened carefully for any movements outside, her heart thumping wildly, head throbbing with fear almost preventing her to move. Closing her eyes she grabbed the heavy metal ring on the door gently, putting some weight on it as she tried pulling the door open. It didn't budge.

"Blood and damnation." She muttered looking around the room. The picking tool she had used earlier had been dropped to the ground when Sinniralin had pulled her close. Leliana felt a pleasant shiver creep up her spine as she thought of the feel of the elf's strong, demanding hand on her hip, her body craving the elf's attention and the heat radiating from Sin's body.

Sinniralin. The charismatic, enchanting elf who had nearly kissed her. The woman that she -without a doubt in her heart, belonged to. Someone had taken Sin away from her. Years of suppressed wrath and passion swirled to life. Where ever they had taken her to she was going to find her.

Feeling the determination build up she moved silently towards the big painting hanging above the beautifully adorned vanity desk. Careful not to make any sound she reached for the heavy painting stumbling backwards as the thick copper wire it hung from snapped. Twisting her body she let the painting fall towards the bed landing on it with a soft thud.

"That was close." She muttered as she wedged the nails holding the wire in place out from the thick wooden frame.

"Not bad." The two nails made for a perfect picking tool. She slid it into the lock flicking her hand until she heard the satisfying click of the door unlocking.

Holding her breath she pulled the door open, ready to attack. The corridor laid quiet the dim light from the small oil lamps casting shadows along the walls. Listening carefully she crept out into the corridor almost sliding across the floor letting the shadows mask her presence. Turning at a corner she frowned. This estate was too quiet. Where was everyone?

The corridor ended abruptly at a brown door, golden strange signs carved into it. Throwing a quick glance across her shoulder she opened the door slowly stepping in to the opulent room.

"By the Maker..."

~•~

The rain poured down mercilessly on her where she hung, arms tied above her head, her feet barely reaching the cold ground.

The man stood in front of her, staring at her with cold eyes, the leather whip in his hands.

"So, this is the great Darkness, the Destroyer of Light." He stated.

"You sound disappointed." Sinniralin said from where she hung. One thing she had learnt was that no matter the situation never let your opponent know you have no idea of what was going on. A good guilder wouldn't have to talk her way out of things anyway, unless that was of course the chore.

The man's face remained unemotional. "We know what you are. We know why you are here."

"Well isn't that marvellous, then perhaps we unhinge me?" Sin slurred where she hung limply from her hands, her head throbbing madly, the ropes cutting into her wrists roughly. The man laughed, his cold laughter drawing forth memories long forgotten.

"I wonder...you have the Darkness within you, still you have yet to kill Sàbhailiche. Why haven't you killed the champion?"

"What?"

"You are nothing but an elf right now, I can sense you caging the Darkness or else it would have done its duty. Sàbhailiche would be dead, Thedas bowing before one ruler."

"Listen you crazy fool, I don't know what you're..."

The man gave a small nod then she heard the unmistakable hiss and crack of the thin leather whip as it tore through the cold rain. She barely had time to brace herself before the sharp whip connected with her back and she felt the instant cutting pain on her back as her skin split open. She screamed in surprise and pain, her body trying to twist out from the ropes.

"If you will not unleash the Darkness, then your death will do the deed." He said staring into her eyes.

Hot blood trickled from the gash on her back burning her wet, cold skin. She heaved, her head spinning from the pain when another lash sliced into her back. Her body shook, and her eyes swam with tears as pain took its recognition. She could see her linen tunic turn dark with her thick blood. The whip struck again and her pained shriek echoed across the yard.

"Please..." She whispered weakly.

Ha'thet adir nach. Let me out. The voices sang in her head as she fought to stay conscious, hanging on to the last thread of control. The wicked essence within her was too powerful. It threw itself against her mental barriers. Her mind reeled in frenzied fear, it was taking over! It drew its power from somewhere. It got stronger here, in the presence of this strange man.

"No..." She moaned as the first crack in her barriers appeared and the Darkness quickly slithered out from it, still crashing against it to widen it.

"You cannot stop it." The strange man persisted. There was something familiar about his voice and she pulled at it with her mind. Why did she recognize his voice? Her vision blurred and she blinked stubbornly in an effort to stay conscious. The way he moved. She knew this man somehow.

"You are so magnificent, yet so fragile. I thought you'd be more powerful than this." She felt his eyes scrutinize her where she hung.

"Who are you?" She whispered.

"I am an old friend, Sinniralin..."

She shuddered involuntary. He knew her name. She had slipped up again. Somehow these people knew of her, what she was, who she was. They had mentioned the same name as the voice in her head, Sàbhailiche. How could they all know about that name? About the bard. Clenching her jaws in determination she focused on keeping the Darkness in check. They wanted her to kill Sàbhailiche, the wanted her to kill Leliana. Why? Who was the bard? Why did she matter? Whatever the reason she wouldn't let that happen. She would rather be tortured for weeks than carry out the dark deed.

"Do your best." She wheezed through clenched jaws staring defiantly straight into his familiar eyes.

~•~

The room was oval, rows of benches creating a circle in the middle. Looking around it the bard realized the room could easily fit at least a hundred people. The same strange symbols she had seen on the door were carved into the dark wooden benches and on the walls hung large colourful paintings reminding the bard of linen curtains. Spinning slowly she felt a chill creep up her spine as she watched the illustrations on the wall. They seemed to depict something terrible. The first picture depicted a young child surrounded by this darkness, like a black mist. The third showed a high rising tower as a small figure fell towards the jagged rocks below the tower, pointing like spears up towards the sky. She moved on to the fourth painting. Red flames and a white light burst from a woman's chest as a white figure with a black shadow following it ripped at the woman's chest. The two figures had an eerie familiarity. She shuddered as she walked up to the middle of the room, her stomach churning in horror as she got closer to the shrine standing proudly in the centre of the room.

In the middle of the room stood a statue of Andraste kissing the feet of a woman. The woman held a staff in her hand and her face wore a cold, victorious sneer. Beneath the statue lay a scroll in the middle of what seemed to be some sort of offering. She felt her heart beat rapidly as she stepped closer to the strange shrine. A long dagger with a blade reminding the bard of a flame lay covered in dried blood on the shrine. Leaning over the shrine she read the first bit of the scroll before the sound of a door opening caught her attention. Grabbing the dagger in one hand and the scroll in her other she spun on her heels diving into the shadows. A hooded figure moved towards the shrine with slow, respectful steps. Whoever the figure was would surely notice the missing pieces from the shrine and sound the alarm, she couldn't let that happen, she had to find Sin first. Using the thick front of the bench behind her she shoot off from it with her feet burying her dagger in her enemy's neck. He slumped to the floor clasping at his throat, nothing but air wheezing out from his mouth. Towering above him she whispered silently.

"Maker have mercy on you." Then she clasped his head between her hands and wrung it. His neck snapped with an unpleasant sound and he fell into a lifeless heap as she let him go. Grabbing his robes she dragged him to the back row of the benches, rolling in him underneath it then she slipped on the robe pulling her hood up. This place was dangerous, she had to get Sin out and this man just made it a little it easier for her. Tucking the scroll into her boot she left the eerie room behind as a blood curling scream reached her ears.

"Sin!" She would have recognized her voice from miles away, but she sounded near. Staring wildly about her she ran back the way she had come turning at another corner, speeding up as the screaming continued. What are they doing? Finding another door she jerked it open ready to attack but it lead to an empty stairway. She could no longer hear the elf, but something pulled her up the stairs. An image of some sort of terrace flashed before her eyes, just like it had in her earlier visions from the Maker. She nodded to herself before sprinting up the stairs.

The stairs ran up, and round and round seemingly forever until she could see the entrance. Catching her breath she opened the door and darted to the side behind three large barrels. Pulling out her stolen dagger she carefully glanced across the large terrace taking great care not to be noticed.

Sin's body hung lifeless from the ropes blood pouring down her back. She was surrounded by a small crowd of these strange followers watching the woman standing behind Sin as her hand holding the whip was raised above her head before she used the force of her whole arm to flog the elf's back with the whip. Sin's body thrashed in the ropes muffled cries slipping across her lips. The bard covered her mouth with her hands as to choke a scream, tears streaming down her face. She was frightened. She could not save Sin anymore than herself. All this darkness in this place, how could she not fear it? What these people did, the shrine, it scared her. These people were not the Maker's shepherds, but someone else's, someone wicked. This whole place was surrounded by it, draped in its darkness. Marjolaine and Raleigh had been right, she was weak! She couldn't even find the courage to stand up for the woman she… A soft voice rang in her mind, soothing her. "Remember this Ellie. Never fear the dark, it cannot hurt you." Closing her eyes taking a deep breath she focused on her hands holding the dagger.

"It cannot hurt me." And with that she bolted out from her hiding place. She hit the first follower before anyone noticed she was there, the woman's body fell lifeless to the wet ground. The others quickly turned around staring at the woman. The bard had once again hidden the dagger in the robes' wide sleeve, her hood pulled up to cover her face and she turned like the others staring at the woman.

"What happened?" The man standing in front of Sinniralin where she hung pushed his way through the group of followers. Leliana mimicked the others taking a step backwards as he brushed past her, melting in with the crowd.

"Who did this?" He yelled in fury as he stood up. "Hivara! Search this crowd, someone's a traitor!" He shouted and the woman holding the whip quickly pushed to the first few followers yanking their hoods off.

As all of the followers and their leaders were busy with staring at the dead woman no one noticed how the bard quickly whisked out her dagger back stabbing the man standing next to her before she slid back into the small crowd as he crumpled to the ground. Again she did what the others did now slipping back to the crowd of followers who had already been questioned by Hivara. No one around her seemed to notice her where she eased closer to Sin. The man was livid shouting for healers, ordering followers around as she came up to stand next to the elf. Slipping her into hand in Sin's leather boot she hoped the elf had had some sense and kept a spare dagger in it. As she felt the cold leather of the hilt she whispered a thankful prayer to the Maker. She watched the man. It was he who had captured Sin and obviously these people followed him. He would make a good distraction. He did this to Sin. Turning to face him, her head still bent low just like the rest of the followers she saw him rise from his squat. Feeling like time slowed she raised her head staring him dead in the eye before releasing the dagger she had found in Sin's boot. His eyes widened in surprise and shock as the small dagger buried itself between his eyes.

The followers and Hivara screamed in horror rushing towards him as the bard swung her dagger at Sin's ropes, the robe billowing behind her in a fluid motion as she cut the ropes holding the elf. Catching the half unconscious elf in her arm she grimaced as her arm rubbed roughly against her flogged back. Gritting her teeth she dragged the elf along with her running towards the ledge of the balcony. Sin awoke slightly moaning in pain.

"Ssh." She hushed the elf who obliged. "This is going to hurt, but do not scream." She whispered as she pulled Sinniralin up onto the ledge with her. Below them roared the Amaranthine Ocean's wild waters.

"She!" Hivara screamed pointing at her where she stood on the ledge as the followers turned around their hands burning with magic.

"Not the water. Please." Sin gasped, her whole body shaking fiercely.

"I'm sorry darling, but this really isn't up for discussion." And with that she pulled the elf with her as she pushed out from the rim of the terrace plunging towards the dark surface.

They landed with a painful splash the angry waters pulling them outwards. Using all of her strength she pulled the elf with her towards the docks further away. Sin kicked weakly next to her gulping fists of water. Hold on. She wanted to tell Sin. Stay with me. But there was no time to speak. Not until they reached the docks. Feeling her muscles cramp she closed her eyes kicking against the water.

Coughing and spluttering she dragged the lifeless elf onto the shore. She wasn't breathing. She tried breathing life into her again, but the elf remained still, her chest still not rising and falling as it should.

"Sin." She shook the elf.

"Sinniralin." Feeling the panic creep up on her she shook the elf harder. "Please!"

Pulling her into her arms she tried slapping her face, her tears falling like raindrops onto the elf's fair face. "Come on Sin. Please. Please…"

.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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AN. I am so VERY sorry for this taking so long, I've been stuck in a sort of funk where I couldn't write, probably because it's been stressful at work so I've had to chill out by reading lots of other lovely fanfics. ;) Also… I did something as nerdy as make a Dragon Age video. I know I'm a neeerd! Lol but if you do want to check it out you can go to my profile here and follow the link. ;)

I want to thank my trusty followers and reviewers: Trystan438, Nightwish11606, StarKrazy, izzy30 and jugalettePENNE. Thank you all for your reviews and for helping me get my butt in to that chair and write. ;)

And of course a huge thank you to all of you who read, review, subscribe, add to faves etc etc. I know there are a few of you who aren't actual members her on ff-net, so if you want to know when I update a story you can find and add me on Twitter (Elmjuniper). I'll post updates about this project and the other ones I have and my books. So all of you lovely readers are more than welcome to add me.

Enough babbling, I hope you liked the update. If you do, please review (that kind of rhymes).

Take care!

~Elmjuniper