A/N: Anyone have anything they'd like to see happen? I bet so. Well... I'm no George R.R Martin, but I do plan on killing people. Don't get attached to anyone. It is a short chapter, apologies. However, I think you will enjoy it. Have fun, darlings!
The First of Clan Lavellan walked among her people, head held high, short hair curled just under her pointed ears. Her piercing red eyes swept around, evaluating the situation at hand. It was time for the Clan to move, but did they have enough supplies?
It had been four years since Mina had left Kirkwall; since she had heard from Hawke; since she'd found out about the demon inside of Ceras. And now, she was the First of a Clan. Ceras was her greatest ally, and she had magic power beyond her wildest dreams.
Strangely enough, there was some weird secret order of Elves that made deals with demons to make them stronger. At first, Mina was absolutely pissed off. However, it became clear that Ceras was the one who ruled over the demon. Not the opposite. It was still a bad idea... Demons were a bad idea in general. Always, in the last four years, had Ceras been by Mina's side. Always did they fight together. And, in that time, Mina had only seen the demon really rear up that one time.
The same amount of time that had helped her become closer to her sister and father also had an effect of how she came to feel about humans. She didn't hate them... more like she actively avoided them. However much she ignored it, she was hurting, deeply, because of the Champion. She talked to Varric in letters all the time. At least... until about a half year ago. His last letter was very short and urgent. Something like, 'Seekers looking for Hawke. Trouble. Stay Hidden.' Mina had hidden it among her other letters, still trying to figure out exactly what was going on. She re-read it and the many other letters over and over.
When the Kirkwall Chantry exploded, Hawke had exiled Anders, tried his best to defend the mages, and ended up killing both the Grand Enchanter and Meredith. It was a bloody, brutal battle... Mina just wondered if Anders was still out there causing havoc. He seemed to always be in trouble. Since then, the Mages and Templars had been in an active war that didn't seem to have an end in sight. It was increasingly worrying the Elves, due to the fact that they had no animals to hunt because they'd been scared off, or no trees to take shelter in in many places because they'd been burned down.
Mina was ready for war. She was ready to fight for the ones she'd come to call family. She was ready and she was pissed. Too many times already had she seen one of her Clan members become ill and, in many cases, die. One rule had been burned into her mind these past few years: Humans Ruin Everything.
She was in the Halla pen, singing to them when Keeper Deshanna approached her, a grim look on her face. Deshanna sat down by Mina and waited for her to stop singing.
So count your blessings everyday.
It makes the monsters go away; And everything will be okay
You are not alone. You are right at home.
Goodnight. Goodnight.
Goodnight. Goodnight.
Mina took a breath and pet the nose of the Halla closest to her before looking at her Keeper. She was worried about what the older woman had on her mind. The look on Deshanna's face at that moment never said anything good was about to happen.
"Gelsomina... I must ask you to do something for me. For the Clan. And, I am very sorry about it, da'len," she started.
"Keeper, I am happy to do anything you ask of me. If it must be done, then I will do it," she repled nervously.
Deshanna chuckled dryly, "You might soon change your mind about that."
There was a moment of silence between them. A kind of mourning for what was about to transpire. The Halla seemed to sense the aura of the two mages and retreated to the other side of the pen.
"Da'len, there is a meeting of sorts, put forth by the Divine of the Chantry. It's to try and make peace between the Mages and Templars. We have watched this conflict with great worry, and I must know what is going on. I have to ask you to go there and be my eyes. Know that I trust you completely with this task. I would go myself..."
Mina's heart dropped into her stomach, "The Clan needs their Keeper. I will... do my best to find out all I can. When and where will this meeting take place, Keeper?"
Deshanna wrapped her arm around Mina and smiled like she often did when Mina was worried about something. It was a motherly gesture, though Deshanna was more like another sister to her.
"I admire your bravery. It will be in a week's time, in a Ferelden place they call Haven. They are calling it the Conclave as well. Travel as fast as you can, talk to as many people you are able to, and return to us safely."
The young Elf woman once again packed up her few belongings and said goodbye to the place she considered her home to go off on some unknown adventure for an unknown amount of time. Ceras was upset by this news, of course. But, much to Mina's surprise, Ceras had planned on leaving as well. She said it was past time to keep on her mission with the slaves. Mina had almost forgotten about that...
"Well, if you ever need me, you know how to get my attention!" Mina said with a giggle. They'd developed a unique kind of summoning magic due to what they had done in the fade with Fen'Harel. Ceras smiled and reached to her back where her tribal-looking High Dragon tattoo spread across her back. If they stood side by side, their tattoos would complete each other. Two dragons dancing in the sky together.
"I will do just that. And, do me a favor? Don't be too much of a Siren around the humans."
That's what they'd decided to call Mina's particular type of magic. Siren Magic. "Oh... no promises. I'll be on my best behavior... if they let me."
Ceras looked at her little sister exasperated before whistling for Keter. Mina watched her sister and her faithful companion wander off into the familiar trees around them. And, suddenly, Mina felt alone in the world again. The last time had been in the Hanged Man...
She whispered a prayer to try and shake the feeling, "Fen'Harel, if you hear me, I miss you. You haven't been in my dreams lately. The fade is quite dull without you around. And the world is getting scarier by the moment. Help?"
Luckily, Thalion was out hunting, so it saved Mina the awkwardness of saying goodbye. He'd become increasingly protective of both her and Ceras. It was a foreign thing to be protected from someone who wasn't trying to kill her. It was a father thing.
She glanced behind her one last time as she stepped out onto the road, leading a horse. She didn't feel ready for what was ahead of her just yet. She dearly missed the old crew at the Hanged Man... and more than ever, she was missing Hawke. He'd make a joke with Varric to get her to laugh. With a heavy heart, and determined mind, Mina set out to this Conclave. Things had to change soon.