Passing through the time rift had been a strange experience, where it felt as if her insides were being mashed up and pulled in all directions at once. It felt like she needed to throw up, but she wouldn't allow her body to respond so pathetically. Besides, who knew what adverse effects throwing up in a time rift could have?
Just before her journey through the tides of time ended, Arwen closed her eyes and lost her thoughts. Her eyelids fluttered open like a butterfly's wings very slowly, and her amber-gold orbs took in the sight of a sky flashing with green energy and lightning. In the sky there was a massive tear from which balls of green fire shot out like arrows from a bow, or a bolt from a crossbow maybe.
"Did I teleport back to the time of the Inquisition?" Arwen asked herself, confused. She sat up and wrapped her slender arms around her trim waist and cried. "I must have messed up the spell like I mess up everything!" Arwen sobbed and her petite frame shook, freeing a strand of her raven-black tresses. She felt so stupid! Just then she looked up and saw a little dwarf watching her curiously. Arwen sniffled but tried to compose herself, because as she was an Empress she could not lose her composure so easily. She had to be brave now more than ever! "H-hello?" Arwen greeted, her tone questioning. The little dwarf must think she was crazy, crying on the road so pitifully!
"Hello, are you okay?" the dwarf asked, giving Arwen a little smile. Arwen could read her and could tell that she thought Arwen was strange but also wanted to help her. The dwarf seemed like a good person. "I am Daga, I came from Orzammar to study magic."
"But dwarves can't learn magic, silly," Arwen said, her laugh chiming like bells. She jumped up to her feet feeling much better after her cry, her usual peppiness returning. Arwen ran her hands over her dress, her hand following the lovely curves of her slender and voluptuous form. This was Arwen's favorite dress because her father had given it to her; he always found dresses that were the perfect fit for her troublesome body. Arwen smiled thinking of her father and how she had always been his favorite. Her dress was creme with green piping and dragon scales down the sides; the back was open save for some fabrics criss-crossing over the gap. Her sleeves were long and flowy, but her smooth shoulders were exposed. Her hair was braided back with a creme colored ribbon, and her hair fell loose in the back in a silky, ebony cascade. Her slippers were cherry red with silver designs etched across the material. Dark grey stockings teased the form of her long, slender legs without making her too exposed. She giggled and twirled around, letting her skirt billow up around her. "What do you think of my dress?"
"It's really something!" Daga said, smiling big. Daga had curly red hair pulled into a few small ponytails, and her skin was light brown. Her skin wasn't as smooth as Arwen's, but it was still nice. Daga had on some light armor with a big shiny breastplate with the symbol of a griffon on it. Her pants were purple with silver ribbons cinching them close to her thighs. Her scale mail was purple and silver too, and she looked very cute and classy. Arwen giggled at their contrasting appearances - her taller and slender (but still curved) and Daga being shorter and stockier but much cuter than Arwen. They were both lovely in their own unique ways! "I think of you as a friend already."
"Me too," said Arwen. She smiled and ran her delicate fingers through her hair, walking over to Daga and giving her a big hug. It felt good to have made such a nice friend already in such a strange place. She remembered then why she was here in the past and became sad. "Are you on a quest too? I came from... a different time. I am here to stop the sixth Blight from ending the world in my time."
"Oh wow, that's crazy! I am journeying to study magic, but I dream of concocting a potion or enchantment that restores the dwarves to their former glory and also ends the caste system," Daga told Arwen earnestly. Arwen clasped Daga's hand smiled.
"In my time I helped the dwarves achieve that once I became Empress of Orlais and put those snooty jerks in their place, so I don't think you have to worry about it so much. I'll fix it eventually, or maybe this time we can fix it together, Daga!"
"Yes! That's amazing, we should work together. But we also need to stop the sixth Blight from destroying the world." Arwen nodded to Daga seriously. They started to walk together down the road. They were in a forest and walking down a path, there were lots of flowers on either side of the road, and the Frostbacks were in the distance
"By the way," Arwen remembered, "Where exactly in Thedas are we? This area doesn't look completely familiar to me. Are we in Ferelden or Orlais?" Daga quirked her cute brow and looked confused, her brown eyes sparkling.
"Ferelden? I've never heard of it. We're in the Ferelais Marches!" Arwen gasped at Daga's comment.
"The Ferelais Marches? What is that?!" Arwen had never heard of such a place, and she was well studied in Thedas' geography, having been born a princess after all. Then she pieced together the puzzle, snapping her fingers to affirm her deduction. "I must have caused a time paradox when I cast that spell! Maybe instead of going back to one time, several mashed together to create a patch-work time! Oh no, I hope I can fix this... It's all my fault!"
"No, we can figure this out together, Arwen! Don't cry, I hate to see you so sad. We can accomplish anything - we'll stop the sixth Blight and solve this time paradox, and who knows what other adventures we'll also get into? I know we can do it."
"Really?" Arwen sniffed. Daga nodded and Arwen filled with confidence again. "I have to be a brave girl. I won't let myself get so depressed when I have a world to save."
"Good!" Daga cheered. She patted Arwen on the back and they began walking toward the Frostbacks, if they were even called such in this strange time and place. Even though Arwen was frightened she felt relieved to be with a friend, and she knew everything would be all right. Together, they set out on the first steps of their journey.
Continued in Chapter 3...