Nethra was sitting in Hawke's library, passing time while Merrill and the rest of Hawke's companions discussed plans to help with the blood mage epidemic. Her nose was stuck deep into a book about lyrium and its side effects, reading the words 'memory loss' over and over again.
The mumbling in the other room didn't bother her – in fact, it almost served as a white noise to her reading. She often came with Merrill to Hawkes house when she became too stir crazy from being in her own home so often.
Three hasty knocks sounded from Hawke's front door. They would not have stirred Nethra if she hadn't heard the voice that signalled after them.
"Hawke! This is Knight-Captain Cullen. We are in need of your help. Hawke!" The knocking continued until the almost-bald woman sighed in admittance and opened her door.
"What?" She groaned, exhausted from thinking about all the work she still needed to do.
"Several of our Templar soldiers have gone missing in Lowtown. I recall someone in the chantry telling you about it. Have you acquired any…" The blond man's voice trailed off as his eyes caught a certain freckled elf in the room to the left, "You." His voice was low as he marched into Hawkes library.
Nethra barely had enough time to stand up before the Templar's hand grabbed her holey blouse and slammed her back up against Hawke's bookshelf, causing three volumes to wobble and fall off. The elf's small hands were no match for his, no matter how hard she tried to pry his fingers off of her top.
"Hey!" Hawke rushed in, grabbing her staff, "Let her go!"
"You don't understand, she has had a warrant out for her-"
"Oh, I understand clearly, Ser." Hawke almost shouted, "I understand that that poor mage was almost forced to become tranquil because of trigger-happy soldiers like you looking for any excuse to rid us of our powers. I also understand that you just ran into my home and attacked my friend for absolutely no justifiable reason. If you have any hope to leave my home alive, I suggest you pretend that you never saw my friend. Now put her down."
Cullen grunted angrily, before releasing the elf, allowing her to fall to the ground, clutching her chest.
"Don't worry, Hawke. This wouldn't be the first time he's attacked me. And I doubt it will be the last." Nethra mumbled, slowly lifting herself off of the ground. She caught the soldier's eyes looking down at the lyrium book's open pages. His eyes flicked up to Nethra, then away to Hawke.
"Please, meet us in Lowtown at dusk. We must begin investigating as soon as possible." He shot Nethra a final glare before exiting the home.
"Well, that was awkward. No wonder you've been avoiding Curly." Varric scoffed.
Booms sounded throughout the cracked walls of Nethra's small home. Patches of previously undisturbed dust fell through the ceiling and onto the creaky floor. The elf paced around the room, her staff patiently waiting by the coat rack near the front door. Screams could be heard from the alienage outside, the sounds of swords clashing and magic bursts echoing closely behind.
"Alright," she whispered, hands twisting into her hair in thought, "to the hanged man, then the docks. How hard can it be?"
The fighting outside became louder. Rhythmic marching vibrated the already-shaking floorboards.
She sat down in defeat. "I can't do this." She covered her face with her hands in frustration. "I just need to face the fact that I'll die here."
All of a sudden, the door burst open to reveal a familiar face, marked with Dalish tattoos.
"Merrill?"
"Garas i'em, Nethra!" The brunette beckoned with haste. "Get your staff!" Nethra stood, shocked. "Mala!"
'Now', she had said.
Nethra ran to her staff and followed Merrill out the door and into what felt like a battlefield.
The city-elf tree that once stood mighty and tall was now in flames. To her left, she saw a Templar soldier striking a weaponless elf down with ease.
"Quickly, Nethra!" Merrill grabbed her hand and took off in a sprint, dragging her up the stairs and out of the alienage. Shouting sounded from all around. Screaming and clashing swords invaded Nethra's ears.
"So much death…" The freckled elf almost whispered. They continued running toward the outskirts of Lowtown, past The Hanged Man and up the stairs toward Kirkwall's docks.
The docks were crowded with Templars. Nethra could hear a familiar man's voice shouting over them, giving instructions on who to attack and who to leave alone. She spotted the champion of Kirkwall waving at Merrill and herself.
"Let's go, Merrill! We need to leave! Nethra, take cover! Stay safe!" Hawke shouted, grabbing the rope that docked a small rowboat.
"Sorry, I needed to help her!" Merrill defended, running through the crowd of Templars.
"They're coming!" A woman shouted, pointing to archers lining the walls of Kirkwall.
"Men, take your positions! Wait for their attack." The blond Knight-Captain turned to the Champion of Kirkwall, "Hawke, Merideth has fallen, but there are still many Templars who follow her will. This will be, Maker prove me right, the last fight we need to secure Kirkwall. I need everyone's help to make sure this place doesn't turn to rubble if we-"
Nethra felt an immense pain near her shoulder as she heard a group of gasps.
"Ah!" She fell to one knee, clutching the wound.
"Nethra!"
"The first draw has been shot! Move, men!" The Knight-Captain shouted before running toward the fallen elf. "The arrow skimmed your shoulder, but it isn't fatal. Come with me." Merrill helped Nethra up as they followed the Templar into a rather large fishing shack. He shuffled up to a small sailboat, secretly docked in the wooden building. He quickly began loading it with food and supplies as Merrill helped the wounded elf onto one of the seats. She looked at him anxiously. "I have made many mistakes working under Merideth… I just hope that after this battle, I can start to make things right. Both of you get to a circle as soon as you can. Tell them what has happened." They each turned to the door as marching began to sound from the outside. "Go! Quickly!" He said.
"No! I need to fight!" Nethra shouted, "I've been cowering in my home for too long. I need my magic to mean something!"
"Nethra, sathan." Merrill whispered. Please. "You must go!" the tattooed elf quickly wrapped a bandage under Nethra's armpit and over her shoulder to stop her wound from bleeding.
"Merrill! There you are!" Hawke's voice sounded over the fighting, "I can't find Anders! I have a feeling…"
Merrill nodded her head. She turned back to the freckled elf. "Sathan, Nethra. Ma nadas josa!" You must flee!
Merrill ran to Hawke, the two disappearing into the thousands of fighting civilians. Nethra tried to follow, but the Knight-Captain grabbed her shoulder.
"Please. She has told you to leave! You must-"
"I'm not going anywhere! I've been running all my life! Let me through!" She pushed as hard as she could into Cullen's chest.
"I can't let you do that, Nethra." His voice was calm, almost soothing, "I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me some day." He held out his hand, a blue light emanating from the tips of his fingers. The blue light boomed, knocking the elf back, tripping, and falling into the boat. She tried to block with her staff, but he had knocked the magic out of her for the second time in her life, leaving her helpless. Her eyes tearing up as the blond man pushed the small boat out into the river, allowing the stream to carry her out of the city. "Andraste guide you. May we meet again."
Nethra could have sworn that she heard his voice crack, but the exhaustion she felt from his spell purge had left her barely conscious. Before she knew it, everything went dark.
Hello again! Thank you again to TheDoctorsTimeLady for the reviews! I really appreciate them! Don't be afraid to leave suggestions too! Thanks for reading everyone!