DISCLAIMER: Bioware owns everything, even my soul, but not my heart or Sin. My heart belongs to my beautiful fiancée and Sin, well she's mine. Well, and then everything else you don't recognize from the game.

AN. As always big fat thank you to all of you who reviewed, read, faved, subscribed etc. You all make my day you wonderful, wonderful people. ;)

I'm really, really sorry this chapter has taken so long. I've been distracted by this wonderful girl of mine. ;)

Thank you Nightwish11606 darling for coming up with the name Tura.

Aaanyway, I hope you like the chapter!

Till next time, take care!

~Elmjuniper

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~•~

WHEN MEMORIES FADES INTO EMPTINESS

SÀBHAILICHE WILL SAVE MILLEADAIR THE Destroyer or condemn him. – Scrolls of Tura

~•~

Cold. Cold water surrounded her, the impenetrable darkness of the water pressing against her battered body as she sunk deeper and deeper, gulping fists of water in a desperate attempt to breathe. The waves ripped at her wounds, blood and water blending like tiny swirls, the bottomless depth of Amaranthine ocean's sucking her towards the earth's core. She let herself be dragged down. Her heavy body limp and lifeless. Then someone grabbed her by her wrist pulling her back towards the distant surface.

They broke the surface Sin's lunges screaming for air. Her ears pounding and head throbbing, the strong Amaranthine currents pulling them outwards towards the vast and endless ocean, the waves crashing down on them, their angry roar deafening them to each other. The bard kicked underneath her with determination as she pulled Sin along with her through the thick waters. Little black dots swam in front of her eyes growing larger and larger melding into a wholesome darkness surrounding her. She fought back desperately, willing herself to stay conscious gulping more water as the storm tossed them like helpless debris between the strong, high rising waves. She could feel the bard's kicking grow weaker, the cold from the coarse water penetrating her very bones. She would not make it. Not this time.

Leliana struggled underneath her pulling, kicking, yanking Sin along. The elf swallowed another fistful of water. Let me go! She wanted to tell the bard. She wasn't going to survive and Leliana had a bigger chance of surviving if she left her behind. Leave me! She screamed inwardly, but Leliana held her in a firm grip, the heat from her body seemingly melding them together. Clinging to the warmth, gripping on to it she felt herself slowly burn out. Darkness. Sweet relief. It drew her in bathed her in its serenity, stripping her of her fears. It was so welcoming, so warm reminding her of home. She wanted to stay here.

She felt an abrupt pain jolt through her body as she was being pulled abruptly back to life by soft lips pressed tightly to hers, air was once again granted her aching lungs.

"Sin." Nimble, soft hands willed her back to reality.

"Sin please wake up." Something soft muzzled her neck as someone muttered. "Is this you doing a runner on me? That's not very chivalrous of you..."

The intense pain came crashing down on her like a ton of Orzammar stones and she groaned in discomfort. "By Andraste's saggy tits..." She whispered weakly.

"Hey you..."

She opened her eyes staring into the bard's worried eyes, millions of thoughts and feelings swirling in the grey of her iris. If she was to come back for life for just this single moment it would be all worth it.

"We need to get you to Wynne." Leliana was cradling her protectively.

"No, I'm fine…" She tried to lie, but gasped midsentence from the stabbing pain in her back, her head throbbing with such force she thought it might explode. Her whole body ached and for the first time since that day in the tower she felt powerless, helpless.

"Sinniralin darling, your skull is cracked, your back..." The bard's voice quivered.

"Hey..." She smiled where she lay, Leliana's arms wrapped around her, her saddened face close to hers. A feeling of security settled despite their desperate situation. "Don't worry. It looks much worse than it is...I'm just a big baby."

"I'm taking you to Wynne and you can't stop me." Leliana said determinedly as she slowly helped her up. Sin felt her surroundings spin madly feeling as if she would faint again. Vomiting from the pain before nearly stooping to the ground the strong bard held her up firmly.

She didn't remember much more than Leliana dragging her along narrow alleyways, just flashes of images of them fleeing across the wet cobblestones and through the marketplace. The bard didn't care for subtlety, but bolted through they city not caring for guards or the occasional street urchin. Both Belkin and Glub would shake their heads in disapproval she thought dizzily where she tried to stay conscious.

~•~

"Young lady you have an incredible knack of getting yourself hurt." Wynne's motherly voice chided her when she stirred to life in the big bed.

The pain was unbearable and she whimpered feebly. "Blasted rain and blood and damnation and…Andraste's hairy ass." She cursed, her hand carefully clasping her forehead as she tried to sit up.

The bard smiled from the chair she was sitting in, knees pulled up to her chest her slim arms hugging them, chin resting on the top of her knees.

"And you tried to kiss me with that mouth." She said softly the group of companions' heads snapping towards her in shock, the witch's golden eyes turning into two slits, the teryness face wearing an angry expression, Zevran's eyes gleaming with happy, happy thoughts.

"I did...not! I was simply trying to hide us from the guards." Sin retorted a little too defensively for any of the companions to believe her.

"Call it what you will seductress." Leliana said, now weighing on her chair smirking mischievously causing Deanna to push to her feet storming out the room before slamming the door angrily. The companions stared in surprise at each other the bard's suddenly looking forlorn. Sin grunted.

"Why are you all here? You think this is some sort of social gathering? Be off with you all!"

They all stood to leave except for Wynne who simply remained where she was ignoring the seductress' hostile glare.

"I know you're in pain Sin." She said. "But you're being insufferably obnoxious." She filled in before leaning back into her chair closing her eyes.

"You would be too if you were in this pain." Sin muttered, secretly enjoying being taken care of.

"How did I get here?" She finally asked.

"The bard came stumbling in here with you bleeding and vomiting three nights ago." Wynne explained.

"What happened out there?" She remembered only fragments of what had happened tree nights ago.

"I don't know all the details. You should ask Leliana about that."

"Could you please ask her to come back?" Sin asked sheepishly.

"Are you going to try to kiss her? I warn you, you are in no shape to be doing such thing." The mage said.

Was that a smile Sin could see on the enchantress' lips?

"I won't."

"She hasn't left this room since she came stumbling in here with you." Wynne said as she rose from her chair.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

Sin felt herself blush. She remembered how the bard had stared into her eyes, placing her soft hand on her cheek. Sin had wanted to kiss her then, responding to the strange pulsating vibrations she felt drift from Leliana, her whole body had longed for the bard's body, as if it was a missing piece of herself. But could it be really possible that…Leliana felt the same?

"Why was Leliana here all the time?"

Wynne chuckled amusedly. "That my dear girl you have to figure out on yourself."

Sin huffed. You old bat of a mage! She muttered inaudibly and rolled over so that her back was facing the mage, but when she was certain Wynne couldn't see her she smiled to herself. The old enchantress had become the closest thing she had to a mother and she liked how Wynne was not afraid to speak her mind with her and the enchantress possessed magical skills and knowledge that reached beyond Sin's own. Sin knew Deanna thought that the grey haired enchantress was a bit of a nag, but even the blonde teryness had to admit one could always feel the warmth of Wynne's kind-hearted, motherly personality.

Chewing her lips a fleeting thought crossed her mind. No matter how much she liked this small group of companions, the motherly mage, the brother-like Allycat, the fair teryness, the begrudging Quanari, the charming, suave Antivan and...Leliana, Sin knew she was a danger to them all. As much as she had wanted to kiss Leliana…it was wrong, selfish. Even the mage would think so. There was no place for…love? No, not during times like these and not for someone like Sin.

"Wynne?"

"Yes?" the enchantress turned around.

"I feel tired, I'll talk to Leliana later." She said feeling her heart grow icy cold a feeling of emptiness settling. She forced away the thick lump growing in her throat. Whatever the darkness inside her was, one thing was clear to her. She could no longer have the things others had. Most importantly, she could not have…Leliana.

~•~

She huddled underneath the thick branches of a fir tree, her cloak pulled tightly around her to keep the cold of the night out as she wept silently. She had hid in the secret pocket of the wall for a good few hours before she had dared crawl out from it clinging on to the lifeless body of the man she had called father. She had wanted to scream when Glub had been pierced by the thick blade of the soldier's great sword, but she knew better than that. She knew Glub would have sacrificed himself for nothing if she did that. So instead she covered her ears and closed her eyes crawling into a small ball.

The man's voice cut through the empty dungeons, slipping between the thin cracks of her fingers.

"You will never speak of what you saw here old friend." Then Glub's scream filled her head as the man cut out the large man's tongue leaving him in a pool of his own blood.

She wiped her nose with the long sleeve of her linen tunic. It was dark blue with fine white broidery on it. Her mother had made it for her only days before she had gone off to Denerim. She sobbed quietly not because she was frightened or scared, but because for the first time she understood that she was truly alone. Mother was gone. Glub was gone. There was no one else. She despaired where she sat, cold and miserable. She could use a spell to light a fire or to keep her hands warm, but it would only alert nearby animals preying for food. This much she had learnt from the members of the guild, her family. She hid her face in the bend of her arm. The guild was gone now.

It had started when the teryn of Highever had been murdered. Kih'on and Fala hadn't come home that night, neither had Bróm or Elisaíd. She had been frightened that night, by all the yelling and screaming, but Glub had told her to be brave and that so long as they stayed in the lair they would be safe. He sent some of the family away through the tunnels telling them to find the other safe houses spread across Ferelden. He tried to send her away with Lughaidh, but she refused. If mother came back for them she needed to be there, besides she wouldn't leave Glub on his own. He had laughed and shook his head, but made her promise if things turned bad she would follow his command no matter what. The rest of the family had been wiped out by the strange man and his soldiers when they had come for her. She chewed her lip. Why? Why did they want her?

She pulled her knees up towards her chest. She had done what Glub had told her. She had used the tunnels just like Glub and mother had taught her to and she had fled south just like mother had instructed her.

"Then, where do you go?"

"To find the Dalish?"

"Yes baby, to find the Dalish."

She tried rocking a little back and forth to keep herself warm where she sat. The road was going to be long, but she remembered it well from last time, and mother had taught her what signs to look for. And then there was the messenger bird Glub had released before stuffing her in the wall pocket. It should have reached the tribe. Someone should be looking for her as well. Someone. But not mother or Glub. She thought to herself miserably before crawling into a small ball sobbing quietly, the memories of mother and Glub, of the guild, of her family fading into nothing but emptiness the surrounding dark the only thing that remained.

~•~

Leliana fiddled the silver charm she held in her hand. It was slightly heavier than she would have imagined it to be and she could feel a sense of oppressed darkness radiate from it where she walked. Looking up her eyes fell on the familiar brown of silky hair. She stopped in her tracks blinking once just to find the marketplace empty of anything reminding her of her former mentor. She shivered slightly at the thought of running into Marjolaine and quickened her steps.

Pushing up the door to Wonders of Thedas a wave of faint incense greeted her and she smiled as the opulent store revealed itself. Shelves filled with books ran along the walls, some of the books lay scattered in a lazy manner across the store and nothing but the low murmuring of burning candles and books being opened and flicked through could be heard through out the dim lit, large room. It had been a long time ago since she last visited this place and she found she easily settled into the quietness again.

Walking up to the large counter she saw one of the Tranquils standing behind it. The tranquil proprietor greeted her with his monotonous voice, his eyes indifferent and absent of any emotion.

"Hello." She greeted the tranquil as she drew nearer.

"Hello." He answered in that absent voice the Tranquils spoke in.

"I was wondering if you could take a look at this charm." She placed the locket on the counter.

The tranquil looked at it with his uninterested eyes before picking it up studying it closely.

"This is the amulet of Tes'Hathr." He said, blinking before putting the amulet back on top of the counter.

The bard frowned. Tes'Hathr? She had never heard of this name before. Perhaps it was some sort of elvish deity. The Tranquil left his place behind the counter disappearing behind the rows of bookshelves leaving the bard to ponder. She had had the vision of her mother the other night for a reason. This charm wasn't just any charm, she could feel its powers pressing against her hand. Couldn't the Tranquil feel it?

The Tranquil returned with a book in his hands. "In this book you may read of Tes'Hathr." And with the he returned to his chores ignoring her.

The bard pulled the book closer, tip toeing slightly where she stood as she let her eyes sweep through the heavily worded pages. Witches, demons, dark spawns, dragons, and Hallas. She flicked through the pages impatiently until she came to a small picture. Neatly written underneath the picture was a short text: Tes'Hathr – Creator of Old Gods. Also know as the Maker's fallen brother. Sources speak of twin souls. Father of Andraste and Aithne according to several sources.

Andraste had a sister? She had never heard of such thing. Her mind flashed back to the statue in the strange room on the altar and she felt a chill creep up her spine. Letting her eyes fall on the picture and she shuddered. The illustration was richly detailed, a man's square face and determined eyes staring up at her. His left side was handsome, the brown eye seemed to penetrate her with its authoritarian and patient stare, yet there was something soft and gentle about him. She let her eyes trail over to the other half of the face. Just as handsome, but with and edge of some sort, his features alluring and enticing. The hair was not short cropped as on the other half but long and unruly, dark wavy hair framing the milky-white skin. There was a certain fire in this eye, full of defiance, and vengeance. There was a certain eerie familiarity about the second half of the face.

"Is this...all there is?" She asked looking up from the thick book, trying not to sound disappointed.

The tranquil looked up from the pile of parchments he was organizing. "There is much more in here to read as you may well see." He answered gesturing towards the fully stacked bookshelves.

"Uhm..." She started before realizing there was no point in trying to explain what she meant. If there was something more about this mysterious Tes'Hathr in any of these books the Tranquil would have given it to her. Closing the book carefully she nodded a quick good bye before turning to leave. She would have liked to stay longer, taken her time to browse through the seemingly endless rows of books. In Lady Cecilie's estate there had been a large library. She used to walk around in it the tips of her fingers slipping gently across the backs of the books. When she was too little to read she did it just because she liked the feel of the soft leather underneath her fingertips and when she was older because it helped her know which books she had already read. She shook her head regretfully. A lot of things had changed since that night and whether she liked it or nor, life had brought her here for another reason than remembering her past.

Pushing the door open the bustling from the crowded market place and the early morning sun's gentle rays swirled gingerly in through the small crack. She pulled to a stop before leaving turning towards the Tranquil who stood dusting off a pile of books next to her.

"Excuse me…" She said carefully.

He lifted his head greeting her with a timid nod. "Yes?"

"Have you ever heard of Sàbhailiche?"

He frowned something strange flashing behind his eyes before it was gone. He seemed different from the other Tranquils she had interacted with.

"No. I have never heard of it. Now if you excuse me." He said before turning his back on her to continue with his monotonous dusting of books.

Narrowing her eyes slightly she pushed through the door scurrying across the small alleyway back to the Gnawed Tavern. The Tranquils obviously knew nothing of this strange charm, but maybe…her eyes fell on the witch as she walked inside the dingy tavern.

Morrigan was wearing her usual attire of shredded fabric and skin tight leather. Oh, she did not mind the skin the witch was showing, in fact she quite liked it. Morrigan was the only one – apart from the alluring elf, who didn't wear war attire, but simple clothes. Leliana supposed none of them needed it. They were both so powerful and magnificent, Morrigan with her fast flying spells and quick mind and Sin with her arrogant attitude and undeniable powers. The two of them were more lethal than a quick assassin bard, especially the elven Guilder. People were drawn to the two of them. Leliana had seen the way peoples' heads turned to stare at them whenever the entered a room. Not just because they were more than fairly good looking, but because their presence radiated a strange sort of dangerous power.

"Hello…" she said sweetly placing herself next to the witch who gave her an angry glare where she sat highly uncomfortable at the lack of personal space.

"Please tell me why you are harassing me bard." Morrigan said in her characteristically cold tone as she let her magic warm the lukewarm soup she had been served.

"You are very powerful, are you not?" Leliana said softly giving the witch an innocent look.

Morrigan scoffed. "Flattery will get you anywhere." She muttered letting the bard know she knew what she was doing.

Keeping her face she handed the witch the charm. I must be losing my touch...

"What is this?" Morrigan twisted the charm eyeing it suspiciously.

"I was hoping you could maybe tell me." Leliana answered honestly.

"'Tis a charm." Morrigan offered lazily putting it down on the table, although Leliana could see the flicker of interest in the witch's eyes.

"Yes of course." She chuckled. "But what kind of charm? No one has been able to figure it out." Leliana grinned inwardly as she knew this would surely work on the proud, self asserted witch.

She huffed. "'Tis not a normal charm." She stroked it with her fingers concentrating on it when she yelped suddenly, releasing it looking as if she had been stung by something. She stood up rubbing her hands.

"What happened? Are you alright?" The bard stared at her.

"I…am fine." Her eyes narrowed as she sat down again peering closer at the charm. "I am sure I have read something about a charm like this one in mother's grimoire."

"Look." Leliana pointed at the charm. "You did something to it." The charm had been sealed shut, but a thin crack was visible on its side after the witch's little toss. Picking it up the bard tried to pry it open with her fingers, but it did not budge.

"Strange." She muttered as she tried once more.

"Here." Morrigan handed her a knife her face now intrigued and full of curiosity.

Wedging the tip into the small crack the bard wiggled the knife using all her strength. She grunted in annoyance when it remained shut.

"That's not going to work. It's sealed shut with magic. Let me try something." Morrigan hissed her hand now burning with magic.

"No!" Leliana wheezed through her clenched jaws. "There are templars here, they'll see you!"

"Like they haven't already." Morrigan muttered as she let her magic reach out and wrap itself around the charm. Tiny sparks bounced off it and it remained locked.

"Try doing that as I use this damned knife to pry it open." Leliana suggested earning herself a hostile glare from the witch.

"Do you want to lose your hand?" She asked in annoyance.

"No." The bard answered before adding sternly. "So you'll just have to prove me how good you are. I mean if you can do it." Taunting the witch. A bold move she thought, but it would work.

"Watch and learn bard." Narrowing her eyes, concentrating she aimed her powerful spell towards the small crack. The spell would cause more damage than a great sword, but only in the slit where Leliana's knife was wedged into so that it wouldn't cause the bard any unpleasantness. "Now." She ordered Leliana who pried the charm with all her might. Morrigan's spell hit it and it flew up high in the air before landing with a loud clank on the wooden table.

"'Tis impossible!" The witch raged before blasting the charm with a spell. It shot from both her hands burning a hole in the table as flames and smoke rose from the spell.

The tavern was filled with frightened screams and upset roars, people pushing to their feet fleeing towards the door as mail clad soldiers tried to make their way through the small door. The bard jumped to her feet just in time to avoid the high rising flames watching the witch shrug at the commotion around them as she picked up the locket grinning widely.

"Never doubt me again Sister." She purred tossing the unlocked charm to the bard who caught it easily before nodding towards the door. "Although, I think I might have caused us some unwanted attention."

Leliana turned her head towards the entrance.

"That means go!" Morrigan hissed grabbing her by the back of her leather armour as she took off towards the elf's room.

~•~

She was tired and her clothes soaked from the endless drizzle that covered the sky. She had tried to duck in under the shrubbery at first, but found that when she brushed against the twigs and branches the green leaves sent a downpour of water on her. She silently whished she had brought the tar-coated cloak mother had given her for weather like this. Pulling her cloak closer she gritted her teeth as she pushed on.

She let her eyes trail the ground looking for any plants or roots she could eat. She hadn't eaten since the day before Glub had died and she had fled through the tunnels, and she was hungry. She saw a hare flee as it heard her small feet thud across the mossy ground. She wrinkled her nose. No she wasn't quite that hungry. Not yet.

The forest grew darker and the further in she ventured the closer together the trees and bushes grew. Large boulders covered in deep green, thick moss lay scattered across the murky ground looking as if giants had swept past strewing them across the ground like small pebbles. Fern pushed up from the green moist moss in various places reminding her of tiny soldiers bowing before their king.

She picked up a thick stick from the ground using it as cane pretending she was old like that man she had once seen in Highever. He had been old and had used a fancy cane with a horse head made out of bronze for a handle. It had looked very pretty. He wasn't one of the nobles though. A highborn or a noble would have the handle made out of gold and not bronze. This man was probably just a successful merchant. She smiled to herself. Glub had been impressed when she pointed this out to him and even mother had gloated at her eye for details. The nobles…the nobles were the ones to order the chores from her mother. Glub and mother had thought she wasn't old enough to understand. They had both been wrong. She knew everything. Mother had said she would explain everything when she was older, but she was old enough! Why didn't they understand?

She looked at her hands as magic overtook them, her feelings intensifying, overwhelming her. Why couldn't they see? Her hands burst aflame as the pure magic exploded from her body, sapphire flames shooting from her chest. Pulling at the warm, familiar feeling she let the magic bounce between her hands as she regained control of it. Why couldn't they see she was just like mother?

TO BE CONTINUED…