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"The fact that we are living does not mean we are not sick."
― Joseph Brodsky

Chapter 2:Sick

The darkness slowly began to vanish as Jade's eyes fluttered open. Everything was blurry at first until she blinked a few times then her vision started to clear. A throbbing pain erupted in her head, making her groan as she brought up a trembling hand to massage her aching temples. She sat up, gasping when the attempted movement caused her body even more pain, and weakly pulled her knees to her chest, carefully allowing her chin to rest on her knees. Her body quivered uncontrollably as she let out a shaky breath to calm herself and some of the pain slowly started to go away.

Closing her eyes, she instantly remembered what had happened back at the ruins and her eyes opened widely in realization. She looked around her familiar surroundings, confirming that she was back at camp in one of the aravels. That much was obvious, but the real question was how did she get there? Memories of that strange shem leaning over her flooded into her mind and she figured he'd probably been the one who'd returned her to camp, but what about Tamlen? Was he alright? Did the shem find and bring him back as well? She hoped so.

It was a little while before the pain subsided enough for her to stand up, though her body still shook slightly as she made her way outside on clumsy feet. At the sound of her quiet groan of pain, Fenarel twisted around and gave a relieved smile when he saw her. The hunter hurried over to her, catching her by the arms before she could fall and helping her stand properly on her feet. Eventually, her body fully relaxed and the pain went away completely so she was finally able to stand up straight without her friend's assistance. Fenarel smiled, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"It's good to see you're awake." He said."You've the gods' own luck, lethallan."

"Fenarel," Jade breathed,", what happened to me? Where am I? Is Tamlen alright?"

Fenarel frowned."We're not sure. You're back at camp. A shem brought you back here about two days ago."

"A human was here?" She asked.

"You don't remember him?" Fenarel queried with a frown.

"Maybe." She said with a shrug."Did he say who he was?"

"He said he was a Grey Warden who just appeared right out of nowhere with you slung over his shoulder." Fenarel explained."You were delirious with a fever. He claimed to have found you outside of some cave in the forest, unconscious and alone. The keeper's been using the old magic to heal you."

Jade quirked an eyebrow."The shemlen was a Grey Warden?"

Fenarel nodded."That's what he claimed at least. He just left with most of the hunters almost an hour ago to look for Tamlen in that cave. I don't know when they're going to return, though."

'Tamlen,' Jade thought,', I hope they find him soon.'

"The keeper wanted to see you when you awoke." Fenarel said, letting go of her arms and turning away to leave."Wait here while I get her."

Jade sighed quietly and folded her arms over her chest, looking down at her feet as she waited for Keeper Marethari to come. She hoped the Grey Warden and the rest of the hunters would find Tamlen soon. Thoughts of that strange mirror filled her mind, making her shudder slightly. Why did Tamlen have to touch it? It was because of that stupid mirror that both of them could have probably been killed, yet his curiously had gotten the better of him and now, here she was, hoping that he was alright. She snapped back into reality at the sound of footsteps and looked up to see the keeper approaching her.

"I see you are awake, da'len." Keeper Marethari said with a small smile. The elderly mage had once been a beautiful young woman with light blonde hair and an easy smile and while her appearance wasn't at all grotesque, age had turned her once blonde hair grey and her skin slightly wrinkled. Jade had learned only a few years ago as a teenager that her father was the keeper before Marethari and had chosen the female elven mage as his first because of the obvious wisdom and love for her people she held that matched his own. Marethari remarked several times that Jade was much like her father in many ways, including the mercy she often showed to humans unlike most elves who preferred to shoot them on sight like Tamlen. After Jade's father was killed by humans and city elves, as Jade discovered from Ashalle barely two years ago, Marethari took over as keeper and continued to lead their clan ever since. Jade touched her father's old necklace that her mother had left for her before disappearing in grief over the death of her father. She hadn't wanted it at first, but eventually decided to wear it since it was all she had left of her parents as Ashalle made sure to remind her of several times.

"Keeper." Jade gave a curt nod of acknowledgement.

"It is fortunate that Duncan found you when he did." Marethari said."I know not what dark power held you, but it nearly bled the life out of you. It was difficult for even my magic to keep you alive."

"Does that mean Tamlen could be sick as well?" Jade asked worriedly.

"If he encountered the same thing you did, then yes." Marethari nodded."Duncan said he found you already stricken and alone outside a cave. He thought there might have been darkspawn creatures inside of the cave? Is this true, da'len?"

"I can't say for sure." Jade sighed and shrugged."What does a darkspawn even look like anyway?"

"Like a man," Marethari answered,", only dark and tainted with evil. Perhaps you fought one in the cave and it wounded you?" She suggested.

"N-No," Jade shook her head,", no, it was that mirror. I'm sure of it."

"A mirror caused all of this?" The keeper was taken aback."I cannot say that I have ever heard of such a thing before in all of the lore we have collected over the years." She heaved a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose."I was hoping for some answers when you awoke, but all we have received are even more questions it seems. And Duncan is still with the hunters looking for Tamlen. If Tamlen is as sick as you were, then his condition must be grave. We can only hope that he will be found soon so I can heal him before the worst occurs."

Jade closed her eyes, praying silently to the goddess Mythal for herprotection of Tamlen until he could be found. She jumped slightly at the sudden sound of someone yelling and quickly spun around with wide eyes to see Duncan and the hunters returning to camp. A relieved smile spread across her face when she saw that with them, they were carrying an unconsciousness Tamlen.

"Thank the Creators!" Marethari exclaimed."They have found him!"

"What?" Jade and Tamlen said in unison about two days later. The two exchanged a look before turning with pleading expressions to Marethari.

"Tell me you're not really making us leave, keeper." Jade begged."I thought you said that you were able to heal us both."

"Only temporarily, I fear." Marethari said with a frown as she folded her arms over her chest and sighed."My magic was able to heal your wounds and keep you alive for a time, but only joining the Grey Wardens can truly prevent your untimely deaths."

"My order is in great need of help and you both are in need of a cure." Duncan chimed in."I hope that you two will join when I leave later tonight. The two of you would make excellent Grey Wardens. Of that, I have no doubt."

"Will we ever be able to return to the clan?" Jade asked.

"I am not sure, da'len." Marethari's shoulders slumped."But we cannot simply stand aside and watch you both die when Duncan and his order offer a way for you to survive."

"This is more than just charity on my part." Duncan said."I would not make this offer if I did not think either of you had the proper makings of Grey Wardens. Let me be clear; it is highly likely that neither of you will never be able to return to your clan. We go to fight the darkspawn at Ostagar, a battle that shall take us very far from here. But we need you two and others who are like you in order to defeat the darkspawn."

Marethari gave a reluctant nod."A great army of darkspawn is currently gathering in the south and a new blight now threatens the land. We cannot possibly outrun this storm. A very long time ago, our people made an agreement with the Grey Wardens that we would aid them during a blight. We must honor that agreement now. It breaks my heart to send you both away, but I could not live with myself if I simply let you die slowly from this sickness. This is more than just your duty, da'lens, as well as your salvation."

"If it is our duty," Jade said slowly,", then I agree."

Tamlen sighed."As do I."

"Come on then, da'lens." Marethari declared."Before the Creators guide you from us, let your clan embrace you once last time."

It was with a heavy heart that the two hunters reluctantly left with Duncan a few hours later, with nothing to remember their old lives and clan by but each other.

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Elven Translations:

Da'len - Little child; to describe someone young, innocent, or dear.

Mythal - (Literally: The great protector) Chief elven goddess; Wife of Elgar'nan; Goddess of love, protection, and motherhood.

Shem/Shemlen - Humans

Aravel - A wagon or tent used by the Dalish; humans call them "landships"

Lethallan - Friend/Kinswoman (Female)

Next up: Chapter 3:Responsibility