The Dalish Origin
"I wonder if those shemlens were telling the truth," Tamlen pondered, as he and Epona Mahariel approached the dark caves that three bandits had spoke of when they had run into them screaming.
Epona had killed them. The shemlens had promised not to tell anyone that their clan was around, but Epona didn't believe them. If the humans had been violent, they'd hunt down her clan, and as a huntress she refused to let her people come to harm if she could help it.
"Perhaps we should tell the Keeper these ruins are here? She would wish to study them," Epona said, peering into the darkness of the caves.
Something about them left her uneasy.
"She might be interested in it, but let's discover more before we head back," Tamlen insisted, heading into the ruins.
Epona reluctantly followed after her beloved. The ruins were baffling, a mix of human and elven. She couldn't help but draw the walls on her sketchpad with a piece of charcoal. It would keep Tamlen waiting, but she would draw if she wanted too.
Besides, the little ones would enjoy seeing the drawings. Lyna especially, their daughter loved her drawings. Epona had became pregnant with her young, during her and Tamlen's courting. It was a scandal, of course. But all worth it.
"See anything interesting, Epona?" Tamlen asked, whistling off tune to whatever song he had in his head at the moment.
"I am unsure," Epona admitted, not even sparing him a glance. "We should have spoken to the Keeper about these ruins first. Which begs the question, why did you wish to come down here so badly, Vhenan? We could have gathered a proper party to search these ruins."
"Aren't you curious?" Tamlen beamed, but she could see straight through her lover's excitement. "We could be discovering our history. Our people may even write songs about us!"
"You aren't fooling me so easily, Tamlen," she chided, frowning at the shemlen made statue.
She took a note of it and sketched out the shape as Tamlen sighed.
"Well the Keeper might forgive me if I brought back something good? For... Well you know..." He shifted uncomfortably.
"You always get into trouble." She smiled, glancing over her lover who snorted.
"I don't mean to. Trouble just seems to always find me no matter where I go. I could go do my private business and get jumped by a bear knowing my luck!" he complained.
"Well, you did have your legs swarmed by ants a few times ago," Epona teased. "We heard your shrieking from the other side of the camp and rushed in, only to see you in your undergarments.
Tamlen groaned. "You're not being a supportive lover, Epona. You should not laugh at my misery."
"I love you really-"
She tensed though at the sound of rustling and carefully put away her sketchbook. Tamlen drew his swords, just as she touched her bow.
"What do you hear, Epona?"
Groans and growls reached their ears as strange corpses staggered off the ground at the end of the hallway. Epona released an arrow, alarmed. The undead were here, guarding the ruins.
This was a dangerous place.
Something terrible always happened when there was this many undead. But even after they were done Tamlen strode on, seemingly determined.
"Tamlen, the Keeper would want us to go back!" Epona insisted, following after her oldest friend, her lover, into this large room with a strange mirror that stood tall within the centre of the room. "Please stop. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go home."
They were greeted by a large monstrous creature that resembled a bear. Epona cursed and released an arrow, aiming for it's eye and thankfully hitting it, earning an enraged snarl. Tamlen charged, plunging his sword into it's chest but got swatted away in the process. Epona gasped as it lunged for her. She ducked and rolled away. Drawing a dagger she swiped at it's side, earning a roar and a swat from a set of claws.
Thankfully her armour took the damage and she got back to her feet, only to see Tamlen back on his feet, whistling to draw it's attention off her. Epona rushed over, jumping on to it's back and releasing an arrow into it's skull, earning a dying groan as it collapsed, leaving her to roll off back on to the ground.
"What the hell was that thing?" Tamlen cried out.
"It looked like a bear," Epona mused, shaking her head. "Tamlen, this is too dangerous. Let's leave, get a full search party-"
"But look at this, Epona!" Tamlen beckoned, startling her as he rushed up the steps to the mirror, looking so eager. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"That mirror could be anything, Vhenan. Let's go back home, check on Lyna and then return with a proper search party," Epona pleaded.
Tamlen was entranced though.
"It's so clean, not even a scratch or a lick of dirt-" Tamlen jumped, sounding startled. "Woah! Did you see that?"
"Tamlen. Get away from it. Now," Epona ordered, feeling a sudden creep of danger flooding her senses. "This isn't right. Something is wrong."
She drew her dagger, twisting it so it rested in a guarding position.
"I just need a closer look! Hold on a moment," Tamlen insisted and she shuddered as he traced his fingers over the glass. "It's showing me a city... I think it knows we're here! It's underground..."
She saw another ripple from the mirror and approached cautiously, reaching out so she could grab Tamlen and drag him back. They needed to get out of here. This was wrong.
Tamlen cried out, scared. "It saw me! Help! I can't get away!"
"Tamlen!" Epona screamed, lunging for him only for a blinding, bright light to flood her vision and overwhelm her senses.
.::.
Lawrien gasped. Ciara whirled round, dagger in hand, searching for the danger. But Lawrien was already sprinting off into the forest, her eyes wide with alarm.
"Lawrien, wait a moment!" Duncan rushed after her, calling back to them over his shoulder. "Stay here, we'll be back in a moment!"
Ciara frowned, sheathing her dagger. Torph however clutched his hand axes tightly, frantically looking about the forest. Narascha too looked nervous. The rest of them began to sit down and take a snack break, rubbing their aching legs.
One of the Wardens had been telling Torph and Narascha ghost stories. Whichever Warden it was, Ciara didn't know, but they had terrified the pair. Duncan had lectured them on the tales after Torph screamed in the middle of the night, having heard a wolf howl. Narascha had leapt out her tent, armed and alert, palming her double handed axe. She had started yelling, saying she'd murder them all if they tried to claim her soul.
It had taken Duncan nearly an hour to settle the dwarves back down. And to kill off Lawrien's laughter.
"We're fine. I believe Lawrien and Duncan sensed some Darkspawn? Though it does feel off..." Ciara noted, frowning as she tried to figure out what the corrupted feeling was and where it was coming from.
Lawrien's senses had always been better.
Hopefully whatever was out there wouldn't be too much trouble. If it was, Duncan could probably handle it.
It was Duncan after all.
.::.
Epona's eyes felt heavy. In fact, everything felt heavy, as if she had been ran over by a bear. A little sniff startled her into opening her eyelids though, and she saw Lyna's big blue eyes staring wide eyed at her.
"Mamae!" Lyna gasped. "You're awake!"
"Lyna, my own heart!" Epona raced to sit up, despite the dizziness threatening to throw her back down.
She hugged her daughter close to her chest. Brushing the five year old's red hair back. Lyna tucked herself into her lap, all while Epona tried to fight off her dizziness. A cool hand brushed her hair back, and she blinked up at Keeper Marethari, who frowned. She knelt down on the pile of blankets around Epona, and somehow, she found herself still cold despite them.
"You've been sick for two days, Da'len." Marethari brushed out some of the knots in Epona's hair, her brow furrowed. "How do you feel now?"
"Exhausted and dizzy." Epona frowned, tilting her head. "I remember two people in the forest... They looked upset..."
A pale girl with blonde hair and a tanned man, both shemlens. The man had apologised to her before she blacked out. Everything had ached, and her sight had blurred in and out constantly before she blacked out on the shemlens.
"Where's Tamlen?" she asked.
Lyna whined. "No one knows where Papae is."
Epona shivered. "What?"
"How much do you remember, Epona?" Marethari asked gently.
"Tamlen touched that cursed mirror," Epona said breathlessly. "Afterwards I don't remember much, except two shemlens? A girl and a man. We were in the forest..."
"Two Grey Wardens," Marethari said. "You were lucky that Duncan and his young companion brought you back here when he did. I do not know what dark power held you, but it bled the life out of you. It was difficult for even my magic to keep you safe."
"Then..." Epona trailed off, glancing down at Lyna who blinked who up her with those big, beautiful eyes. "Tamlen could be sick too?"
"Like mamae was?" Lyna frowned. "Is papae going to be alright, Keeper?"
"He's lost in the woods," Marethari said soothingly. "It could be he's trying to make his way back to us, but has gotten confused, sweet child. Now, your mother and I need a moment alone."
Lyna tightened her grip on her, and Epona instantly held Lyna closer.
Marethari clicked her tongue. "Children."
Epona pressed a kiss to Lyna's brow. "Go, love. We're about to discuss boring adult things."
Lyna wrinkled her nose. "Ew."
"I know." Epona nuzzled her. "So you best hurry, Lyna. Otherwise you'll hear boring matters."
Lyna pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll bring you flowers, Mamae!"
"Thank you, my sweet."
Lyna climbed off her lap and rushed outside, yelling loudly how 'mamae' was awake and needed flowers. Epona smiled, but it weakened when she met Marethari's gaze.
She picked up a brush and began untangling the knots from Epona's red hair. It wasn't in it's usual ponytail, and flowed down her back in a wave.
"You were found outside of the cave, unconscious and alone by the two Wardens," Marethari said. "His charge said there was some kind of old corruption leaking out from within the ruin you had been inside. That it seemed to be like that of the Darkspawn taint. Do you remember seeing any Darkspawn, Da'len?"
"I am unsure, Keeper," Epona admitted. "The ruins were strange, I sketched out some of the carvings, but didn't have time to sketch out the beast I encountered."
"I got your sketchbook. I'm unsure what is within that ruin myself, considering the mix of human and elven history within both." She shook her head. "But you mentioned a beast?"
"Yes, Keeper. It was like a bear, but monstrous."
"No then. The bear might have been corrupted itself, but it was not a Darkspawn. They look like corrupted men, dark and tainted with evil."
"I saw nothing like that, Keeper." Epona frowned, just as the Keeper lowered the brush. "There were spiders, walking corpses and that bear."
"Dark magic, walking corpses," Marethari sighed. "And you also mentioned a mirror?"
"Yes. It didn't feel right, but Tamlen seemed entranced by it," Epona insisted.
"A mirror caused all this? I have never heard of such a thing in all of the lore we have gathered." Marethari frowned, shaking her head. "I was hoping for more answers when you awoke, but instead it has only led to more questions. Will you be able show us where it is, Da'len? Without you I doubt we can find these ruins."
"Of course, Keeper." Epona nodded.
"First, eat some food and have some water," Marethari said. "You need to keep up your strength."
"I feel so tired..." Epona admitted. "Am I truly recovering?"
Marethari softened, and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. "Give yourself some time, Epona. You've only just awoken."
"Tamlen doesn't have any time. I must find him." Epona tried to stand, but wavered. Her sight blurred, and she grew dizzy, and immediately a pair of hands pulled her back down in to the bed.
"No. Eat and drink something first," Marethari said firmly. "I won't have you fainting while you're away from the camp. Merrill is going with you. I've already sent her to fetch you something to eat-"
"I'm here!" Merrill rushed inside, balancing soup, a plate of fruit and a cup of something steaming hot. "I've made you some tea, Epona. It should help waken you up a bit more."
"That's a lot of food, Merrill," Epona chided.
"You need your strength," Marethari insisted. "Eat all of that first, then you may look for Tamlen."
"But if he's as sick as I was-"
Marethari frowned. "You can't run yourself into the ground. It's not just you and Tamlen you must think of. You have to think of Lyna too. You're her mother, no matter how young you are."
Epona sagged against the blankets. "Alright... I understand..."
Marethari was right. Lyna must have been stressed, no matter how happy she may seem right now. Her father was missing and her mother had been unconscious for the past few days. Epona needed to be careful.
Epona gave herself an hour. She sipped at her tea, forced down her food, and marvelled at the flowers Lyna brought her. Lyna ended up climbing into her lap, cuddling against her. It wasn't long before the youngling started braiding daisies into her hair, her tongue sticking out her mouth as she focused. Epona barely restrained a laugh at sight. That was a Lyna trait.
"Will you be alright, Mamae?"
Epona stroked her hair. "I'll be alright, sweet. I just need to go find your Papae, alright?"
Lyna frowned. "But you're sick. When Merrill was sick she had to stay in bed and rest, right Keeper?"
Marethari softened. "Yes, but your Papae is still missing, Da'len. Only your Mamae knows where he was."
"In a ruin! That's what the shemlen said." Lyna perked up. "Did you find more of our history, Mamae? Will we share it at the next clan meeting?"
"I don't know what we found, sweet," Epona admitted. "Only that there was something dangerous there."
"Something you will try to stay away from," Marethari said firmly. "Find Tamlen and come home. That's all your party needs to do."
"And if we run into the Grey Wardens?" Epona asked, grimacing. "As much as I hate being indebted to shemlens... They did save my life I suppose..."
"Give them your thanks." Marethari smiled, but the smile faded. "But don't linger. We're leaving the area. Darkspawn are dangerous and the shemlen in the nearby village are stirring. Some of their men have gone missing."
The Keeper threw her a pointed look, and Epona struggled to suppress a wince.
"Never be so hasty, Epona."
Lyna blinked. "I don't understand."
Epona stroked her hair. "I have a bit of a temper and make bad decisions under pressure."
Lyna giggled. "I already knew that, Mamae!"
Epona grimaced. Great, her own daughter was laughing at her. But it pleased Epona to see a smile on Lyna's face, so she smothered her face in kisses. That earned a few shrieks.
Epona vowed that everything would be alright. That this life would continue on as normal. They'd find Tamlen and reunite their family once more.
She didn't want to lose Lyna's smile.
My book cover for my upcoming fantasy book The Wardens of Strar is up now. The release date is the 28/09/21 :) If anyone wants to check it out, please look for The Wardens of Strar on Facebook!