AN: I have had the urge to write this for a while, but lacked the confidence to post it. Any comments and constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoy it.
Warnings: Adult themes, death, blood, your typical fantasy violence, and some raunchy stuff in later chapters.
Disclaimer: All characters and story belong to Bioware.
Chapter 1 - Dreams
Her heart was pounding and her breathing was heavy as she ran through the darkness. She could feel him getting closer. The gnarled branches bite into her flesh, leaving large red welts in their wake as she forced herself through them. She turned her head, seeing the green glow of his eyes as she ran. There was a sharp pain in her ankle as she felt her feet falling away from under her. She slammed into the floor with a thud that took the air from her lungs. Panic set in, in part from the sudden lack of air and from the impending attack from the one that had been chasing her. She tried to get to her feet. Pain radiates from the bone. She cried out, the sound echoed in the darkness. He was closer now. Closer than he had ever been before. If his face wasn't covered she would be able to see the details of his features. All she could see was the twisted snarl of the mask that hid him. The mask covered most of him but left the bottom half of his face exposed. Her pulse raced as she lay motionless, her eyes shut tightly. Trying to will him out of existence. The weight of his body pressed against her as strong hands pinned her to the ground. She could feel his heat against her flesh through the thin fabric that covered her.
"Open your eyes," He growled in her ear. She obeyed not knowing why. Looking up at him, trembling. She studied the curve of his chin, the shape of his lips. His hand grabbed her chin. His touch was static. "Mar emma da'len" His mouth twisted into a wolfish grin as he brought her face inches from his. His scent was intoxicating. Feeling breath hot on her lips her resistance crumbled. The world grew black fading away around her.
Ellana woke. Screaming, she lurched up from her bedroll. Her body was slick with sweat, her breathing laboured. Her fist balled around the thin sheet covering her. It took some effort to uncurl her fingers, her knuckles seized from the pressure she must have put them under.
"Ellana!" The voice of her brother rang from beyond the threshold of her tent. Moments later, the door to it was flung open. A man stood at the doorway. He was taller than most and the hair on his head had been shaved short. She could see so much of herself in his face it was like looking in a mirror sometimes.
"I'm alright," Ellana's voice was croaky, her throat dry. Arrel crossed the distance between the entrance to her tent and her in a matter of moments. He placed a hand on each cheek. His hands were cold, which cooled her hot skin. He studied her carefully, turning her face left and right in his palms, his pale features darkening with worry.
"Was it that dream again?
"Not the same one as before, it was different this time." There was a pause. Ellana shifted her body crossing her legs as she sat up, her hands rubbing the birthmark in the centre of her chest causing the skin to redden with friction. "He was still there though," Arrel looked at her. She could see the worry in his azure eyes. Since they lost their mother, he had become increasingly protective of her.
"The Keeper will know what these mean surely? Have you spoken to her about them again?" He brushed aside a strand of auburn hair that had become stuck to her face. "They have become more frequent haven't they?" Ellana shook her head. While Deshanna was wise, she would not help with this. She had already told her what the dream meant. She was his and he was coming.
"They mean nothing, Arrel. Just nightmares that's all." She smiled at him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Millenia turned to centuries, centuries melted into years, years into days and days into minutes. He had lost track of the time he had been sleeping. He watched as the world carried on without him. He watched as the people he had sacrificed everything for, sacrificed her for, now use his name as a curse. Observing as they wore what marked them as slaves proudly. He hated them and pitied them in equal measure. The rage inside him festered and rotted inside him. Until he decided to become what they feared. He couldn't remember when in his slumber she had come to him. A young. Terrified thing. Babes in both arms. Her eyes were tearful but strikingly beautiful. From what he could remember she was Dalish, a mage he would wager.
"Please Fen'Harel, save my daughter, hide her from Felon'Din don't let him take her to the beyond." She begged, her eyes filled with tears as she held one of the newborns toward his monument. He could tell from the grey colour of her skin that she was near death. Stalking from behind the stone wolf he looked at the female, as she sobbed.
"Can your healers not tend to her?" His roar echoed around the glade. He watched as the Dalish woman stiffened at his presence.
"They won't help her, they say she has already been claimed. Please I will give you anything you desire, don't let her be taken." She bowed, her forehead touching the ground as she held the baby closer to him. He took the child, studying her like one would an object. His eyes fell on her face. There was something about her. She felt old, familiar. He saw the face of someone he knew in her features. She had a mark on her chest, in the same place where she was. No, it couldn't be. Something snapped within him, and an old wound he had long forgotten opened up.
"The only thing that I desire is this child. When she is of age I will come and take what is mine." The young woman opened her mouth to protest. How could she give the Dread Wolf her daughter? Death would certainly be a better outcome for her. The other baby cried, and she looked down at him. What fate would befall him? Her presence made him whole; what would he do without her? "Well?" He asked, showing an increasing lack of patience.
"Ma nuvenin." Her voice shook as she wept, gripping her child tightly to her chest. He placed a finger on the babe's chest. The air around him crackled with magic, the electricity of the atmosphere made the female's hair stand on end. Whispering ancient words, he focused the energy on the tiny girl in his arms, watching the colour return to her skin. The magic disappeared. Silence fell in the glade as they waited. At last, it was broken as the newborn started to cry for her mother. Taking one last look at the infant, he placed her gently in the arms of the woman. "Ma serannas."
He said nothing, simply lifted his hand to dismiss her. He turned away slipping back into the Fade.
"Ariella..." He whispered as he returned to his slumber.
"The evening was already upon her by the time the meeting had finished. She watched as Arrel stormed toward Deshanna. The muscle above his eye twitched, it always did when he was like this.
"Are you completely mad, or are you trying to get her killed?" His fist was clenched, she could tell it took a great deal of self-restraint to stop him from doing something that he regretted. "You can't send her alone, it's suicide!
"Ir abelas, Arrel," The older woman halted, turning herself to face the enraged youth. "I understand that you want to protect your sister. I have seen this event in my visions. It was Ellana's face that I saw there. She must travel alone. What will come will change the fate of not just us but all of Thedas. I won't hear any more on the subject,"
"Fen'Harel ma ghilana," He cursed, partly under his breath, but it was still loud enough for the Keeper to give him a glare that could curdle milk. Ellana stepped forward, placing herself between the wrath of her brother and the female.
"Thank you, Keeper, I will do what the People require of me and report back with what I learn," She bowed out of respect. Deshanna looked down her nose at Ellana. The disdain she felt for the younger woman was clear. Ellana knew that the only reason she was First was because of her skill as a mage and nothing else.
"You will leave in the morning. Dareth shiral," Arrel grunted as the Keeper turned to leave. Ellana jabbed him with her elbow.
"Arrel, I appreciate that you want to protect me but you are the only one that has not been tarred by the past actions of our family. Don't give her a reason to do so now." Ellana addressed her brother once she was sure that the Keeper was out of earshot. "I will journey to this conclave and report back, and I will be in no more danger than you are when you are hunting."
"But the Shems..."
"Will be far too busy with their business to notice I am even there." She placed her hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and sighed leaning into her touch. She wasn't just his sister, she was his twin, a part of him. He leant down resting his forehead on hers, holding her tightly.
"Dareth..." He said, his voice little more than a whisper.
"Ma nuvenin," She replied, closing her eyes tightly. She was trying to burn the image of his face into her memories. Elanna couldn't help but feel it would be the last time that she would see it. He nodded, before finally letting her go. That was their goodbye. Neither of them had the strength to say the word itself. She watched as he slipped back to camp. She sighed wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing her shoulders. She allowed the tears that she had been fighting to hold back to come. Sobbing silently into the night air.
The morning came after a sleepless night. Ellana had already left before the rest of the Clan had awoken from their tents. While she knew that most of them would sing praises to Mythal for unburdening them of her presence. She didn't want to see her Arrel, one goodbye was already difficult enough. Seeing him again now would break what will she had. Instead, she set off alone, with no fanfare or songs to soften her departure. Just her, the equipment that she carried and the morning's frost. The journey to the Frostback Mountains would be long but she was determined. Part of her hoped that with this undertaking she would no longer be looked at as an outsider among her people. They would stop whispering offerings to the Evanuris when she passed. The other part of her knew it was pointless, even the Keeper looked at her as a cursed thing. She was starting to wonder if it was her that was in the vision. She was also starting to wonder if she was just using it as an excuse to see that back of her.
Days passed as Ellana travelled alone. The roads were largely empty save for a few travelling merchants. That changed as she drew closer to the Temple of Sacred Ashes. The roads became marching grounds for Templar's and Circle Mage's alike. Not to mention those looking to make a profit out of the historical event itself. For the sake of avoiding attention, she chose forested paths. Even those that didn't have much knowledge of the People knew that seeing one on their own so close to a gathering of humans was unusual. She hid from passing eyes, using the trees as her temporary refuge as the talks began. Her experience thus far had been uneventful, but she could see why the Keeper would want to know what had transpired. Nobody would have expected what would happen. The air changed, it felt heavy and thick with magic. It became heavier and heavier until it popped. Bright green light engulfed the temple before exploding outwards.
Ellana was blinded for a moment before the deafening eruption of walls assaulted her senses. Before she knew it, an unseen force pushed her back tossing her body through the air like a rag doll. Her body collided with a rock. The sound of her head hitting the rock made a sickening crack. Pain numbed everything else. For a second everything turned black. Her ear rang. There were cries. Panicked, terrified cries as the world came back into focus. Ellana hauled herself back to her feet, then ran towards what remained of the temple. She didn't know what she could be but she had to try and do something. Reaching the threshold she stopped. The green light that seemed to cause this still lingered. It was oppressive. Heavy. She made her way through it shielding her eyes from the light. Monsters started surrounding her. She reached for her staff only to find that she had lost it in the initial chaos. She had virtually no choice but to run. Her feet carried her as fast as they could scrambling over rubble and bodies until she saw someone caped in light. Frantically, she reached for them, her hand grazing the light that drenched the figure. In a flash of searing pain and blinding light, Ellana was tossed back. Her head collided with something solid, robbing her of consciousness.
She could smell flowers. The wind carried their sweet but sickly scent. She lifted her head from the ground. Her body felt weighted as if it wasn't hers. She studied her surroundings taking in the details of where she was. The sound of pouring rain was the first thing that she heard, the fat droplets hitting something above her head, bouncing through gaps and hitting her face. Slowly, she raised herself off the damp ground. Her legs felt shaking and unstable under her weight. Her vision was mostly obscured by the inky dark blue of twilight but she knew that she was in a forest. The sounds of nighttime insects chirping and the musky earthy smell of rotting leaves underfoot told her that she was right. Ahead of her, she could see the flickering lick of flames in the distance, casting shadows on the trunks of the trees like dancing ghosts. The only other light came from the green-yellow glow of fireflies that darted around her. A scream broke the otherwise peaceful scene, a heart-breaking bellow of agony echoed through the silence. It was a sorrow that couldn't be described in words. She felt a cold stabbing sensation throughout her whole body. She grabbed a fistful of linen from the smock that covered her otherwise naked skin.
As she waded through the moss coated trunks of the trees towards the firelight, she was drawn to the source of the cry like a moth to a flame. Her path led to a clearing. Around the perimeter, a semi-circle of torches was evenly spaced. Masked figures were standing before each of them, their eyes cast down to something on the ground. They spoke, it was a language that she had never heard before. It sounded comforting, like home to her but also completely alien. Their voices made her head hurt. She turned her gaze to where they were looking, seeing two bodies on the ground. One female. Limp and lifeless. The other male. He was kneeling with his arms tightly around her, his face covered as the others looked down at him. He cried out again, his eyes burning with rage. It was a rage that could burn the world. It frightened her. She wanted to run but her legs wouldn't move. Stepping back, a fallen branch snapped under her foot. The man turned his head sharply, looking directly at her with the burning in his eyes. Clenching the fabric tighter, her knuckles turned white as the pain in her chest became unbearable. Tears fell from her eyes like rain from the sky. She heard him cry a name before the wet ground beneath her gave way, opening to an abyss that swallowed her whole. She screamed as the darkness took her.
Their voices spoke but he didn't hear them. He was still trying hopelessly to stop the blood gushing from the wound on her chest.
"Ma'arlth." Her voice was weak. She reached out and touched his cheek. He took it, grabbing it tightly. For once he was helpless. None of the magic he possessed could stop her from slipping away from him. "Ir abelas...," her voice was little more than a whisper as the light faded from her eyes. Frantically, he took her to his arms holding her tightly against him trying in vain to stop her from leaving him alone. But it was pointless, she lay limp in his arms, life had left her body. He looked down, blood staining her pale face. Covering his hands. He screamed, the pain of his heartbreak was too much to bear. He looked at those that stood before him. Their faces were as emotionless as stone. Tears burned his eyes as the rage within reached a tipping point. He cried out again. This time it wasn't sorrow but rage. A burning rage consumed him like wildfire. A noise caught his attention as he turned. Someone else was with him, invading his dream. He tried to catch a glimpse of them but the dream started to fade, falling through his fingers like sand.
"No!" He cried in defence trying and failing to keep hold of her "Ariella!"
He bolted up, his heart was beating hard in his chest. Why now? Why torment him? Had he not suffered enough? He had walked the Fade countless times since that day. Was it because of her these memories haunted him? He slammed a fist against the wall next to his bed to try to calm the firey rage that had ignited within him. He stayed by her side since they had found her broken in the Frostback mountain, He had done all he could to stop the mark from taking her, the rest was up to her. Varric was the one that pulled him away from her to rest. He wished that he had stayed. Closing his eyes he breathed deeply, remembering the techniques to quell his anger he used in the past. He was able to temper his fury.
"Chuckles?" The voice was followed by a knock that broke Solas's concentration
"What!?" His reply was harsher than he had intended. "What is it Varric?"
"I promised I would let you know if there was any change with the girl. She is within the land of the living" The mage rubbed his forehead, getting to his feet. He looked down at the dwarf as he opened the door.
"Thank you Varric,"
Translations:
"Mar emma da'len" - You are mine, little one.
"Ma nuvenin." - As you wish
"Ma serannas." - Thank you
"Ir abelas, Arrel," - I am sorry, Arrel
"Fen'Harel ma ghilana." - The Dread Wolf guides you (You're making a mistake)
"Dareth shiral" - Safe journey
"Dareth.." - Be safe
"Ma'arlth.. - My love
