Bioware owns all but what I made up : ).
So it's been forever, well okay, not forever, but it feels like forever, since I've posted on any of my stories. And if you didn't all pass up my long and lengthy notes to read, then find you hate me because it's not a continuation of the story but a kind of one shot, well I'm sorry. I hope you will all allow me to explain, and that not too many of you will hate me more.
First, let me tell you, I promise that I have not abandoned Kai, her story, Ali, the twins, Zev or anything else having to do with Soulmates, The First Cut is Always the Deepest, Whispering Sighs of the Blade, or my spin off Leather and Lace. I love writing them, for them, and well the story and the game. It's definitely been a labor of absolute love. I know too it's common for people to abandon fanfics and never come back to them. That's not going to happen.
Now for the reason why I haven't, until now, posted anything on my stories...drum roll please...or how about a kazoo? How do I say this without sounding like a pretentious git, I'm working on a writing project all my own, with characters that I made up. Think of it as if Harry Potter, Call of Cthulhu, True Blood, DAO and the T.V. show Lost Girl had an orgy one night and one of them wound up pregnant. I know, I suck at descriptions, let's just say that this odd chapter is an intro through Kai and company to some of the characters you'll meet, and you notice they bear some semblance to those you already know and love, and yet they are their own too.
Alas, there is only so much time in the day, and even the night, to do things in. I work a day job for a living, and then I have a house, and family. Other things that take up my time, not to mention the usual day to day flotsam and jetsam we all have to do-food, clean dishes, clean clothes, clean house, BLEH! So, I have only so much time to devote to writing, I even try to write on my lunch hour at work. And I also had to have hip replacement surgery-one hip down, one more to go-and that did set me back a little too. I set myself a goal of finishing this novel-after the initial world building and research which took over a year-three years to finish. So, I know this is a long time to go without a fix, but I hope you'll all bear with me and understand.
You'll all be getting hints and special info on the characters in this chapter that no one else has , I intend to let things unfold in the books, so when the first one does come out, you'll all be ahead of those are just beginning the tale. I wanted to do this because those of you who have supported me, you helped me to be brave enough to go for something and to publish on my own. I can't tell you all how much your support of my humble attempts at writing has been. It's meant so much. I hope to give you all more insight, more inside track, more things for you all to be 'in the know'. Of course only if you all are interested.
Now for the shout outs-and I have many since it's been a while. I hope you'll forgive me that too. I haven't forgotten anyone, and I keep copious notes on every one of you who have sent me reviews or favorited. THANK YOU! I know I usually do shoutouts on each story of those who supported that story, but this is for all of you for all the support. Appreciation goes to EasternViolet, VolunteerElf, Revan Vakarian, ladyluck278, Selena Khristafur, huntress serena, BabyInf3rno, Tiffy333, JayBetti, Squall Ravenheart, MK Moore, LadyAliera, Doveslight, Portrait of a Scribe, Freyja23, FailedWolf, Sazubo, csorciere, daphanie, NeKoriki-chan, KitKat Cousland, happylilcpck, Melsande, manic kitty, Kauri-Luna, Caralina Winterheart, Lourdes23, blondie-moyashi, Spoo-da-loo, inkedhearts, Sword Whisperer, LilSasuNaru, Artzielady94, Etaine M, Ianfearcc, spunkpunkmunk, Khrystafur, WickedLovexD, Stormy Blue, Nymra, Pure Time, Gloryfaz, KrystylSky, Destined For Hell, Shom, Essindra, Huntemon, little-ivy, ureeber, Elphaba, red-n-black-diamonds, Leafy365, windeetree, FinalThorn, Ayzling, darrian808, , shemsgirl, WardenN7, Mazanti, DA Fan34, SkylarNightshade, Winterborn, ZenHeyerdall, waterlily0777, TheAwkwardOne92, Aliciamagski, , o_Ashy_o, SaiKaya01, ZenDen, Lalauna, shuriowl, alysscousland, emzat0r, DoctorPopeSamuel, jbots, Kitten Again, Cardinala, , whitestar19, Traitor-Hero, sam623, MultiCat, Alibear Girl, Yuki-sama12, and alden833697. I hope I didn't misspell anyone's name. Remember, support each other too and please check out each other's stories.
And finally, my shout outs to my little circle of fellow writers, friends and supporters who said "Doooo Eeeet" when I talked about writing this crossover. Please check out their fanfics too. Much love and MUAHs to my friend ladyamesindy (whose muses drive her to write so many great stories for both DA and ME). To mireli, Violet Theirin, and Stacy Henning I love you guys. Thank you guys too. I couldn't do it without you. 3
Kai found herself sitting at one of the long wooden tables of the dining hall back at Highever Castle, a bowl of oatmeal gave off steaming tendrils that curled up with the scent of honey and spices that she always flavored it with. A plate of Nan's sticky buns sat next to it, along with a mug of that incredibly bitter café from Zev's homeland that she always added half a pitcher of cream, and several spoonful's of honey to, just to make it palatable. Even then, if she drank too much of it she'd shake like a Templar after a lifetime of lyrium, and forget sleeping at all if she drank any past the noonday meal.
She picked up the wooden spoon about to tuck in when the loud clunking of a mug being set down on the table by someone with an irritated sense of authority made her look up to see who was joining her.
She expected maybe her sister Morrigan, whose temperament was touchy on the best of days, and positively volatile with the pregnancy. She knew it wouldn't be Shale as the golem didn't do lowly things like drink and eat as "squishy" ones were wont to do, though if the stone giant did drink the mug would have been smacked down with just such force.
It wasn't Olwyna the new cook of Highever who sometimes managed to join them when there was a break in her duties and who, as queen of the kitchens, larder and supplies, would have the authority to slam the mug down with that kind of muscle-after all if she broke it, so what? But Maker help the poor unfortunate if anyone else shattered one of her "charges".
No, the person who sat down across from her was a complete stranger, maybe someone her brother invited as a guest of the castle? The woman wore an irritated expression that reminded her of Morrigan when talking to or about Alistair, or anything really.
She watched as the woman brushed long dark curls out of her face with an annoyed flick of her hand, tucking the tendrils behind slightly pointed ears before taking a long drink of mug whose contents, from the smell, contained café as well. Though Kai suspected it was, unlike her own, undiluted. When the mug was set back down on the wooden table with a satisfied sigh, she snuck a look-black liquid, halfway gone now, pooled in the mug. Yep, café, straight, Kai gave a little shudder.
Kai scooped up a spoonful of the porridge, nibbling delicately while trying to watch the new arrival out of the corner of her eye. The woman was dressed strangely, not any clothing style she recognized-not that she was an expert like Leliana-but they were not Fereldan, nor Antivan, or even Navarran. It was cloth like she'd never seen before either.
The woman's hair was black, with long soft curls cut into layers, and reminded Kai of her own unruly locks. The features were bolder than hers, high cheekbones, and a more arching nose. The lips were full; the eyebrows thick and curved, chin pointed and set in a strong jaw. The skin held a more golden hue than Kai's own peaches and cream, but other than that, they could be mistaken for sisters... except the eyes. The woman's eyes were hypnotic in not only their color but their gaze. They reminded Kai of the wolves that attacked them in the Korcari Wilds, the gaze of a hunting predator, or of her friend Sten, the Qunari. Sten's lavender eyes shared the same intensity.
Kai knew her own vivid blue often caught people's attention-especially when she was enraged, or so she'd been told often enough. Or when the noble's feckless sons who tried for her hand commented on them ad nauseum as a means to be complementary and ingratiating, she supposed. But the eyes that looked into hers were of a strange and dangerous beauty. A dark blue ring encircled a bright green that melded into a golden yellow at the center near the pupil. You could fall into eyes like that.
Her inner musings were interrupted when the owner of the eyes in question spoke around a mouthful of eggs and bacon while waggling her fork. "Why don't you take a picture, it would last longer."
Before Kai could reply another stranger answered as she too sat down across from her. "I don't believe they have photographic apparatus here. You remember the old days; it would be 'paint a picture,' Ty."
The one known as Ty only snorted and grinned at her companion by way of answer before scooping up more eggs. Her friend simply placed her own mug and plate down with a quiet dignity, before holding out a long and elegantly tapered hand to Kai while smiling warmly. Kai grasped the forearm, rather than the hand, in a warriors grasp returning the grin with one of her own.
"I'm Poppy Geraint and my rather brusque and ill-mannered partner is Tyche Trevelyan."
Her partner only rolled her eyes and swallowed before addressing Kai. "Ty, only my mother and Budger call me Tyche."
Kai sat down and continued to spoon more porridge while watching them both. They were an interesting pair, like looking at the sun and the moon. The one who could be her sister was all dark hair, honey skin, those eyes. Her partner was all pale spun gold. Her platinum blonde hair, lighter than Zev's, wore a short blunt bob, though Poppy and Kai shared the same pale skin, Poppy's eyes were deep blue/purple, rather than forget-me-not blue. Their similarities ended there, as Tyche's-Ty's, Kai reminded herself-partner was exquisitely beautiful. Something Kai would never be accused of, at least not in the way that elves like Gnat, or Naseel were.
That was it! Poppy reminded Kai of Gnat. The same platinum blonde hair, the same exquisite and delicate beauty-Poppy was a lot taller than Gnat-they were both like living dolls. Kai wondered if Poppy was full or at least half elven.
As if she could read her mind, Poppy pushed her hair behind her ears, which were indeed pointed into soft tapers, with a smile at Kai. "Does that help?" Kai could only stare at the woman, before she could stutter something out she grinned and explained. "It's a talent I have, to know the surface thoughts of someone I touched. And yes, I'm sort of like your elves, but not. I am half human, yet my ears are still tapered. My kind is called faeries, or fae, where we come from."
Kai cocked an eyebrow at her, "Where you come from, where is that?"
"Where we come from." Ty answered with a smirk, before her partner could.
Poppy gave her friend a scowl before turning back to Kai. "Let's just say we're not from around here and leave it at that, shall we?"
Kai grinned and nodded.
The one named Ty's smile widened. "Besides, you're dreaming at any rate."
"Dreaming?"
"Take a look." The one called Ty just pointed down the table to where Alistair, the real Ali, her beloved and not a dream shadow, sat talking to another stranger, whose clothes-if it were possible- were even more bizarre than the two that sat with her.
Though some of his clothing resembled someone from Orlais-with the fancy lace edged sleeves and brown button down breeks, and leather boots, it ended there-the vest he wore was covered in gears like the dwarves used in their machinery, though on smaller scale. The hat, sitting on the table next to the man's plate, was like nothing she had ever seen before, and the goggles around the band looked like a dwarven invention, as did the device strapped to his wrist that held a multitude of buttons with strange runes written upon them. His black hair was worn a little long and blue eyes lined with kohl like women-and even the men-in Antiva.
Alistair caught her looking their way and motioned her to come over. He looked like an excited little boy, which made her laugh. The other stranger must have caused some furor for him. She called to Argus, or the dream Argus who rose from his place behind her to follow along.
Ali grabbed her hand as soon as she stopped in front of them. "Mi gra, this is Keir Fagan, Keir this is Kai. Watch what he can do. Show her, Keir."
Kai did laugh this time, "Ali, really, the poor man isn't some mabari doing tricks."
Argus gave a woof as if to object to the word tricks. She gave him a pat by way of apology.
Alistair only blushed, and stammered but Keir cut him off. "Actually I do perform tricks, of a sort. Magic tricks, sleight of hand, and even tricks that are more-"
"Elaborate?"
Now it was the stranger's turn to blush. Kai only patted his shoulder. "I knew a man when I was a child who did such tricks, he even taught me some of them." When Keir looked at her with raised eyebrows, she explained. "Only the simple ones, like, well, here, watch this." Kai took a silver from her coin pouch, and made it 'disappear' and then 'reappear' from Argus ear, which had the mabari tilting his head to the side in a confused look.
Alistair's voice took on a teasing tone. "He also taught you how to pick pockets and do tricks with cards, including cheating at them!"
Kai only rolled her eyes. "You have to admit picking pockets did come in handy from time to time."
The magician grinned at them. "I can only imagine." He took one of Ali's toy figurines and held it between his hands, before closing them over it then opening them to show it was gone. He made more hand motions then lifted his hat off the table to show the figure sitting there.
"And they call that magic." Ty's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Indeed."
Kai turned to find, not only, Ty and Poppy standing behind her, but Wynne-from whom the 'indeed' came from. She shook her head at the mage, "Well it's not on par with your healing spells, or Morrigan's shape shifting and combat spells, but it does delight and thrill."
"So does a fireball engulfing an enemy." Kai turned to find Morrigan had joined them while Kai was talking. She knew that her sister was real and not a Fade construct, since the mage could visit the Fade, and by what she said next. "Ah, I see we now have not one idiot, but two. And still the dog is the smartest of the three, and he is merely a part of your dream, my sister. 'Tis a pity that the fop and the fool are not figments of your imagination also."
This comment elicited blushes by both men, a "hey!" from Ali, and a "well, how do you like that?" from the magician. Both received a raised eyebrow from Morrigan as well as a curving up of one corner of her lips.
Her sister was interrupted from another retort by a raspy sarcastic voice. "One can't always choose the quality of one's company, alas."
Kai watched the little old man approach the table with Shale in tow. He was a little rounded in the shoulders, with a ring of grey hair surrounding an expanse of smooth skin on his scalp. His face was wrinkled and his lips looked like they spent a lifetime sucking those sour yellow fruits that came from Par Vollen. And while his body and face looked ravaged by time, like with the stranger Ty, his eyes told a different story. They were black, so black that there was no distinction between pupil and iris, and yet they sparked with a sharp intensity that belied the infirm looking body. Kai still got the impression of great age, but not frailty.
He reminded her of Morrigan's mother, Flemeth, when they first met her at their cottage-well, shack really-in the Wilds. That pretense of harmless vulnerability and even senility hiding great power, that both shared. Kai knew this stranger was not one to go into battle against unless one had no other choice. That Shale seemed comfortable with him was a relief to her mind, even if this was only a dream?
She watched Morrigan give the man an appreciative nod, which he returned by grasping her sister's hand gently and brushing his lips across her knuckles in a courtly fashion. "Though may I say that the virtues of this company have only been elevated by a presence such as yours?"
Kai watched in amazement as Morrigan, rather than snapping at the man for being a fool, bit her lip while two bright pink spots rose on her cheeks. The mage was blushing with the flattery.
"Hoo, hoo, Budger, you smooth talker! Who knew you had it in you?" The newest voice belonged to a small man with dark brown hair, green eyes, a goatee and a rakish smile. He too wore strange clothes including a leather shirt of sorts-or a type of very thin armor-unbuttoned over a cotton shirt. One hand cupped, while the other covered, Leli's fingers and he gave the bard a saucy wink, which had the redhead giggling and blushing.
At first Kai thought he might be a surfacer, a dwarf residing topside, but she looked to Oghren who sat across from the stranger and Leli. There was no way to mistake the man for one of the dwarva.
The one referred to as 'Budger' merely sniffed loudly. "I have been messenger and guardian for the high Fae court for longer than you've been alive, youngling Simon. I know how to be charming and engaging. It's called manners. While yours is merely to woo and bed, mine is to show proper respect and diplomacy."
"There is something to be said for wooing and bedding though, is there not?" Zev grinned as he came to stand next to Kai. "It is after all, one of the more pleasurable pursuits."
"I would have to agree with you."
Kai felt her hand being grasped in a strong yet gentle grip. The blue eyes looking into hers with a spark of mischief were set in high cheekbones. The rakish smile sat about a chiseled chin with the thinnest of shadow of copper whiskers giving a sexy dangerous edginess to a face that would have fit right in with those feckless noble's sons her mother kept hoping she'd find attractive. His dark auburn hair was combed back and not in a style unlike some Fereldan's wore, but his clothes like the others were strange.
Her hand was given a similar treatment as Morrigan's, except instead of grazing her knuckles, lips strong yet surprisingly soft, connected with the skin of her hand.
Ali stood in place at the table, and she felt Zevran move to stand at her shoulder. Kai removed her fingers from his grasp with raised eyebrow and placed them over her hip brushing her dagger. The man looked to Zev and Alistair, before giving her a wide grin and charming shrug of his shoulders.
The one called Simon admonished his companion. "I'd say that the lady is spoken for, Bastion."
"As I see, but it's not them I'm worried about." Bastion gave her dagger a quick little glance before he grinned and winked at her.
"Sometimes you are wiser than you act, my friend." Ty laughed and clapped a hand to his well-muscled shoulder. "The lady could kick your ass, despite what you are. I think she's fought nasties worse than you."
"As have you, have you not?" Bastion grinned at Ty. "You two remind me of each other, though I think that this lovely lady," he waved a hand at Kai, "is not nearly as grumpy as you, my friend."
"I'm not grumpy, I'm just...I just haven't had enough coffee."
By "coffee" Kai assumed she meant the café, though she suspected that it wasn't so much lack of the bitter brew, or crossness, but sadness, really, some inner pain that the surliness covered up.
Her inner musings were interrupted when Bastion only laughed at Ty. "You never have enough."
"She could swim in an ocean of it and it wouldn't be enough," her partner teased back.
Ty pinched the bridge of her nose in response-a maneuver that Kai was familiar with as she'd done it many time herself due to her own companions. "If I had a vat of the stuff I'd drown you all in it right about now."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, oh testy one," Simon admonished.
Their banter made Ty laugh. It was obvious to Kai that this was a group that bonded with each other, much like herself and her own companions. And she suspected that they had done so through battle of some kind. Their group's connection ran deeper than mere proximity or sharing day to day contact.
Though she enjoyed watching their interaction, she couldn't help but think how odd this all was. In fact that they all seemed to be real and in the Fade with her, like Ali and Morrigan, and not just constructs of her dreaming mind. They were too real, though not like any people she'd actually ever met. They looked and dressed like no one she'd seen, not even in old paintings of days gone by.
"We're stranger than anyone ever dreamt of in your philosophy, perhaps?" Poppy laughed at her startled expression. "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear your thoughts about us."
Budger interjected before Kai could reply. "Misquoting Shakespeare again, Tyche is a bad influence on you; you're picking up her bad habits."
"How do you know he wouldn't be flattered, oh ancient one?" The one known as Simon leaned closer to Leli, with a mischievous grin, which had her friend giggling again.
The old man glared at his companion with the same expression that Morrigan saved for Alistair, which-unlike Ali-didn't faze the little man one bit. "Sir William and I were close friends, as you well know." His nose went up into the air as he stood up straighter a look of pride showing on his face, a hand on his chest. "I was his inspiration for the role of Puck, I'll have you know."
"Either Willie was drunk or Budger showed a more youthful prankish side than we ever get to see." The one known as Ty stage whispered to her partner behind one of her hands.
"If I haven't shown a more lighthearted face to this group, it must be the company I keep. As I told the beautiful young woman earlier," He waved a hand at Morrigan. "One can't always choose the quality of those with whom one must associate."
Ty only grinned and clapped a hand to one of his bony shoulders. "Are you trying to tell us that you were once youthful and frivolous, you, Budger, really? I thought you were born old and crotchety."
"Young, yes, foolish, no." Budger's thin lips twitched with the barest hint of a smile. "Youthful foolishness is your and Simon's purview, with the emphasis on fool."
Simon's smile only widened. "Love you too, mate."
Ty shook her head at him. "Budger, you have the personality of a brick."
His wrinkled lips turned upward into a real smile this time. "Yes, well unlike you, a brick has it's uses."
Kai noticed him reach into a pocket on his vest to that had a fine chain leading to it. He pulled out a round metal object attached to the other end of the chain, which had a knob on the top. It looked like a large locket. He pushed the button and the device clicked open, instead of a painted portrait inside, there was a white disk with strange runes running around the edge of the circle. Two sticks joined at one end together rested in the middle and each pointed to a different rune.
Like the magician's vest with the gears, this reminded Kai of a dwarven invention, but the runes didn't look like any dwarvish she had seen in Orzammar or the Deep Roads. It must have made sense to him though, as he gave a little nod, and sniffed before closing the lid with a snap and placing it back into the pocket. "I believe it's time for us all to go."
Kai looked at them all. "I don't know where you are all going to 'go' as this is supposed to be just a dream of mine."
The one known as Budger gave her the look one would give to a slow child. "You of all people should know, nothing is ever as it seems on the surface."
Ty smiled at her. "Isn't that the truth? Well, nice meeting you and thank your Maker for me that you had coffee; you'd be surprised how hard it is to grab a cuppa on some occasions. You really are a lightweight though, aren't you?"
Her partner stepped forward, smiled and shook her hand. "What my friend means to say is, thank you for having us."
Ty only leaned in over Poppy's shoulder. "No, I meant exactly what I said, Poppy's just a little prissy."
Her partner grimaced at her. "I'm not prissy, I'm polite, unlike you Ty." She turned back to Kai. "Besides, you're about to wake up soon."
Kai only smiled and nodded. She supposed it made perfect dream sense. "Maybe you'll come back and visit. It's certainly been...interesting. Or maybe it was just something I ate."
The one called Ty only laughed as she began to walk away. "You wish."
Kai watched as they all trooped out the door of the dining hall some waving goodbye as they disappeared into the sunshine.
She felt Alistair come up behind her and wrap his arms around her. His lips caressing her neck and nibbling her ear before he whispered in it. "I thought they'd never leave."
Kai turned to wrap arms around his neck her lips curved in a smile as she anticipated the kiss. Their lips were a hair's breadth apart when she felt herself being pulled from the Fade.
"Bugger!"
Ty woke with a start as the chair she was sitting in began to lift and tilt, almost dumping her onto the floor.
She stumbled to her feet with a grumbling half yell. "What the bloody-"
Ty was cut off mid curse by her new roommate, Alys, who materialized as she lowered the chair back into place, blowing a softly glowing lock of red hair out of her face. "You fell asleep playing that game again."
Ty rubbed sleepy eyes. "I love playing that game, though it did give me the weirdest dream."
"Yes, well you best love getting to bed so you can go to work, Detective Trevelyan. After all, you need to keep Oddy and I in the manner to which we've become accustomed. Though if you prefer unemployment, losing the flat, and living under a bridge, that's entirely up to you. Of course, you will keep in mind that finding a bridge that's troll free is very difficult."
Ty threw up her hands in defeat. "Ugh, it's not bad enough I have a partner who is a mother hen, now I'm haunted by someone who thinks I need another."
"Maybe it's just that you need keepers, plural?" Alys laughed and pushed Ty in the direction of her bedroom. "I've washed your dishes and programed your coffee maker."
"That's the only reason I let you move in shade."
"Sure, sure, Ty, keep talking tough and someday I might believe you."
Ty just smiled before continuing on to bed. "Don't forget to save my game."
.