The Dalish Origin – Part 2
Fenarel cut down the last darkspawn. Merrill joined his side just as Epona slumped against a tree, her sight blurring. The darkspawn had ambushed them from the shadows, but during the fight Epona began to feel weak again, weak and sickly.
They brought out whatever sickness was within her.
"I don't understand! We've never seen such creatures before in all our lives," Merrill cried. "What were they?"
Epona wiped the sweat off her brow, and grimaced. "I believe they are darkspawn. Keeper Marethari spoke to me of them earlier."
Merrill startled, staring at her with wide eyes. "You're pale, lethallan," she breathed out, hurrying to her side.
"Now that you mention it, she isn't looking so well." Fenarel's expression mirrored Merril's, full of concern and fear.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about it," Epona breathed out.
She clutched her bow tighter, frustrated at the worry her clan, her family, were all showing her. Epona was supposed to be their future Warleader. She was supposed to be strong and unwavering.
Merrill shifted, worried, but nodded in the end. "Alright, but we'll keep an eye on you."
Epona pushed away from the tree, wiping the sweat off her brow again. "No need. I shall be fine." She stalked away, but paused when she found the remains of a camp site.
Merrill, who had been lecturing, bumped into her from behind. Epona winced painfully, but managed to keep herself upright. Everything was starting to ache again. If this was how she felt, she had no idea how Tamlen was coping.
"This wasn't here before," Epona breathed out.
"Perhaps the Wardens are investigating?" Fenarel suggested.
"Well none of them are here and we've seen no sign of Tamlen..." Merrill tilted her head, seemingly puzzled as she looked around. "Wait... Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Feneral asked, startled.
It was too quiet. "There's no forest creatures. There's nothing here," Epona said.
"There is something in the air... It's not quite right..." Merrill noted, eyes wide with worry.
"It feels like the mirror..." Epona shivered.
That drew her a few worried looks. Epona felt her face twist into a scowl, and was satisfied when the pair looked away.
Teach them to mind their own business.
"It's like that mirror has unleashed some kind of sickness." Merrill remarked, shaking her head as they continued on. "We need to hurry, find Tamlen and get out of here."
"Agreed."
The sooner they got back home, the better. Epona wanted to lie down beside her family and rest.
.::.
Epona ducked a blow from a darkspawn's sword, spinning round beneath it to slice it's knees with her dagger. It buckled, so she cut it's throat and tossed it aside. She threw the dagger when a darkspawn charged at Fenarel's back, but the blade only skimmed it, clattering off a wall as she yelled.
Fenarel moved too slowly, but that was when the darkspawn burst into flames. It was then slammed into a wall, by nothing but thin air.
That was when Epona spotted some kind of symbol on the ground, glowing with magic. She looked up to see a vaguely familiar blonde girl at the end of the corridor that lead towards the mirror. The girl paused, startled, before smiling her way.
No shemlen had ever smiled at Epona like that. It was rather unnerving.
"You're the elf we found in the forest!" The Grey Warden grinned.
"I have a name!" Epona scowled.
"I'm Lawrien, it's good to see you're still alive."
"I didn't ask for your name!" Epona protested, but she huffed. She needed to show some gratitude, considering they saved her life. "But thank you, for saving me. I appreciate the time you spared in escorting me back to my clan."
Lawrien tilted her head. "You sound surprised."
"Shemlen don't usually help us," Fenarel said, yelping when Merrill jabbed him.
Lawrien scrunched up her nose. "People are stupid." She brightened up, speaking away before Epona could even begin to think upon her words. "So what are you doing back here?"
"We're looking for our friend!" Fenarel rushed to her side. "He was scouting this ruin out with Epona before she grew sick. Have you seen him?"
"Nobody else is in the ruins. We've only found darkspawn." Lawrien tilted her head, frowning. "Everything else had either ran or died from the corruption."
Epona grimaced. That meant Tamlen must be wandering the forest.
"Um sorry... But what is this 'corruption'?" Merrill asked hesitantly.
"It's the 'Taint'," Lawrien explained, turning away. "It's not any good news. Your clan needs to get away from it fast. Duncan's trying to stop it's spread at the source, that mirror you found caused all of this."
Epona winced at the thought. She should have been faster, or at least more stern. She should have dragged Tamlen out of here, but they had both allowed their curiosity to get the better of them. Now her beloved was missing,
They made their way back into that Creator forsaken room where the mirror still stood, only this time with a tall man standing before it, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"I thought I heard fighting." He mused, turning to face them though his eyes widened when they glanced over her. "You're the elf Lawrien and I found in the forest aren't you? I am surprised you recovered."
"You heard fighting? Why didn't you come assist?" Epona frowned, crossing her arms.
"Lawrien left me on my own to deal with my own share of Darkspawn." the Grey Warden said, amused as he nodded towards the defeated monsters littering the floor.
"Sorry!" Lawrien laughed.
Epona frowned. The shemlen girl was not taking the situation seriously at all, was she?
"I am Duncan, of the Grey Wardens." Duncan bowed his head. "I am pleased to finally meet you. Last time we spoke you were hardly conscious."
"Andaran atish'an, Duncan," Merrill greeted nervously. "I am Merril, the Keeper's First."
"I'm Epona. Thank you for saving my life," Epona thanked him gruffly.
She was too busy searching the room. But sadly, there was no sign of Tamlen. No, that would have been too easy. She would need to search the forest, after another search of the ruins of course. Shemlens would find it difficult to track a hidden elven hunter after all. The Grey Wardens could have easily missed Tamlen.
"I am Fenarel," Fenarel said, but his voice turned into wonder. "Did you two come here by yourselves, shemlens? Those creatures were many."
"For now it's myself and Lawrien," Duncan explained. "But some of my other Wardens and recruits are camped further away. We would have came here together, but Lawrien ran off when she felt the mirror's corruption leak out." Duncan paused, but frowned, tilting his head at them. "May I ask why you are back here? It is dangerous."
"We're looking for our brother, Tamlen." Merrill told him.
Epona spotted Duncan glance at Lawrien. She shook her head, before tilting her head. "There isn't anyone here. But I did feel something... Strange? Yeah strange a few days ago."
Merrill frowned, curious. "Um, I'm sorry but what do you mean by 'strange'?"
Duncan swiftly cut in, staring at Epona instead. "You and Tamlen entered these ruins together and saw this mirror. Is that correct?"
Epona frowned. Why was he deflecting? Lawrien tilted her head, about to speak up, but Duncan threw her a warning glare. Lawrien huffed, but obeyed the silent order.
"Yes." Epona gritted her teeth. "Tamlen touched it, then he couldn't pull away. Before I could help him there was a flash of light, and I ended up blacking out."
"I see. This is unfortunate," Duncan sighed. "The Grey Wardens have seen artefacts like this before. We believe it's Tevinter in origin, used for communication, but overtime some of them have seemed to break. This one was corrupted by the Darkspawn taint. When your friend Tamlen touched it, it must have been released."
"It made you sick," Lawrien said, staring intently at her. "In fact you're still sick."
"She is?" Fenarel frowned. "She went pale when we met the Darkspawn earlier..."
"Lawrien. Not now," Duncan hushed.
"But she could join. She's a good person-"
Epona frowned.
"Not now," he insisted. "They are still looking for their friend, but I fear he must also be sick too."
"Then we take the mirror back to the Keeper. Perhaps she could study it? Find a cure of some sorts?" Epona suggested as she brought out her sketchbook, determined to at least draw it for memory's sake.
She wanted to keep a detailed record of her own history. To share with future generations of her family and friends.
Her clan.
This book would be passed on to Lyna. Then Lyna could hand it over to her children one day.
"The Darkspawn are drawn to the mirror," Lawrien said sadly. "If you take it back to your clan they will attack them. Corrupt them too."
"I do not fear this sickness. The Keeper can cure it," Merrill said, proudly. "She has cured Epona before, she can cure her again, and the rest of us."
"She may have weakened it but she cannot cure it," Duncan said sternly before glancing over her, making Epona frown. "I'm sorry but your cure is only temporary. I can still sense the sickness in you and it is spreading. You can feel it, can't you?"
She had been feeling weaker. Her bones heavier. Her aim wasn't as true anymore, something was corrupting her from within and it hurt.
"I... I believe there is something to what you say..." Epona agreed, hesitantly.
Not that she wanted to admit it. Epona wanted to recover, for her own sake and Lyna's. They needed to be strong for Tamlen, for when he came home.
If he came home...
He had to though. He had to come home.
"No! This can't be true!" Merrill cried out, eyes wide with horror.
"You may confirm it with your Keeper if you like, but for now we must deal with the mirror," Duncan said as he approached the mirror, drawing his sword.
It shattered within one single blow.
Another light had Epona cover her eyes, stumbling back. It took a moment to clear the flashes from her eyes, but once it was gone she saw Duncan had returned to their side, sheathing his sword.
"It is done," he said heavily. "Let us leave this place. I must speak to your Keeper immediately in regards of your cure."
"What about Tamlen?" Fenarel growled.
Duncan's tone grew solemn. "There is nothing we can do."
Epona twitched, her blood boiling. She barely kept her temper back. This was her savoir. He had saved her life. She wanted to be somewhat respectful.
"I cannot leave without my partner," Epona said firmly. "He could be lost within the forest, delirious, or passed out. And if not, there must be at least a body I can bury. There has to be, so our daughter and I can bury him."
"Let me be very clear. There is nothing you can do for him." Duncan frowned, and Epona winced at the thought. "He has been unattended for three days now with the Taint running through his veins. Your Keeper's healing arts and your own willpower helped you survive but Tamlen has no such chance-"
"You don't even know him," Epona insisted. "He can be stubborn-"
"Epona. I am sorry but your partner had no chance of survival. Trust me when I say he's gone. Now let us return to your clan." Duncan tried to hush her but she was loyal to her family.
Loyal to Tamlen.
"Then at least let me recover the body!" Epona hissed, she was trying to keep calm but her temper was starting to get the better of her.
Merrill must have noticed because she felt her hand on her shoulder, squeezing while the shemlen child shared a glance with Duncan.
"The Darkspawn would have taken it," he said, voice deliberately calm.
"Oh Creators... Not to eat I hope..." Fenarel whimpered.
"Fenarel!" Merrill protested sharply.
Epona shoulder's sagged, defeated. "Then there's... Nothing... Truly?"
Tamlen was just gone? She had nothing?
Her best friend, her partner, her lover. They were supposed to always have each other's backs. To be by Lyna's side.
"The Darkspawn are evil creatures... It's best to leave it at that. I'm sorry," Duncan apologised.
Epona vaguely heard Merrill say something about studying the ruins. But why would that even matter? Tamlen was gone. He was gone and Epona was too young to raise Lyna by herself and he wasn't supposed to just die-
Epona was terrified to share her own parent's fate. But the world was cruel. It had taken Tamlen away.
"No!" A young voice cried, just as a pair of softer hands caught her.
Everything grew fuzzy and Epona went limp.
"Epona!"
"Lawrien, hand her to her friends. We must bring her straight back to Keeper Marethari's camp."
Epona faded into darkness.
.::.
Epona stared at the wall of the aravel, exhausted and angry. She had woken up here, with Lyna was cuddled in her arms. That was an hour ago, now Lyna was asleep, having been spent from all her tears. Epona didn't want to close her eyes though.
If she closed them, there was a chance now that they wouldn't reopen, and there was no way Epona would willingly leave Lyna behind. The Dread Wolf would have to drag her soul, kicking and screaming.
Shakily, Epona pressed a kiss to Lyna's hair. She didn't want to go, she didn't want to be sent away with the Grey Wardens, but Marethari was firm. She had said there was no cure for her here, and that they wouldn't watch her die.
They wouldn't let Epona die surrounded by the comfort of her family, so they would send her off with strangers to die instead. It was a cruel thought, and one Epona hated, because she knew they only wanted to try save her.
But if she was already this weak, then she didn't have much time left.
Epona startled when the aravel opened up, revealing the blonde Grey Warden. Lawrien sat down in front of her, frowning.
"It's busy out there," she said.
"We're running from both the shemlen of this area and the darkspawn." Epona shifted, leaning back further against the pillows. "Or at least they are now..."
"And being separated from your family scares you. You expected to grow up here, become a hunter-"
"A Warleader," Epona said. "I was supposed to both attack and defend for our people, but now..."
"You will still be doing that," Lawrien said firmly, her eyes hard. "But it will be for all of Ferelden instead."
"Ferelden?" Epona laughed. "And what has Ferelden's people done for my people? Apart from the minority such as Duncan and yourself?"
"They've done nothing for me either," Lawrien admitted. "Except lock me and my family away in towers for having abilities none of us chose to have."
Epona stilled.
"The Templars came for my brothers, one by one. My mother cried every time, begged them not to take her sons away. A piece of her broke each time, and she was filled with despair and anger. So much anger, all aimed at herself." Lawrien scowled. "None of us have seen Aristide, Fausten or Jesper in years. Then one day the Templars came for me, and my little sister unlocked her magic from all the stress. My little sister was so powerful, the Templars struggled to contain her magic, due to Kirkwall's weak barrier against the Fade, or something like that. I wasn't paying much attention, too busy holding Myra. They decided to hand us both to Ferelden, because only I was able to keep Myra calm at the time."
Epona frowned. "And yet you'd fight for them? You would protect them, after they tore your family away?"
Lawrien smirked, it was a dark, twisted thing, and it almost made Epona shiver. Almost. Because she recognised the look. It was full of protective fury.
"I'm strong enough now that I can defend myself. They try to take my family from me again, and I'll fight them all. Meanwhile, I can fight the real monsters. That's the darkspawn," Lawrien said, eyes sharp. "They are only filled with anger and hate. The desire to murder everything is all they seek. That's what I'd protect people from."
They remained in a comfortable silence for a moment, before Epona recalled the ruins, how Duncan hid something about Lawrien.
"You said you sensed something strange back in the ruins," Epona said, staring at the blonde. "Duncan tried to deflect the topic-"
"And thus, you think Duncan is hiding something, possibly something to do with Tamlen." Lawrien shook her head. "No, he's trying to protect me, but my gift is not something to just hide away."
"Your gift?" Epona frowned.
"My name is Lawrien Amell, and many of the Amell family are born with a gift. I'm an empath."
Epona startled. "An empath? As in you can sense my emotions?"
"Yeah. Duncan tries to hide it in case someone tries to take advantage over it, but it's my gift, and I know when someone wants to use me." Lawrien grinned. "And when that happens, I'll set them on fire!"
"Why do you shemlens keep resorting to setting things on fire?" Epona scowled.
Lawrien snorted. "Fire looks awesome. My problem is that none of you wear shoes. Doesn't that hurt?"
"My feet are fine."
"They are probably shrivelled prunes."
"Again, they are fine," Epona huffed, but quietened down quickly. Lawrien paused, tilting her head, but Epona ignored that. "What would they have done to Tamlen, Lawrien?"
Lawrien glanced down at Lyna, when they both noticed that she was fast asleep, Lawrien met her gaze again.
"They could have killed and ate him, or corrupted him to transform him into a ghoul. It's what people become when they are corrupted by the darkspawn taint and survive it. It's what you will become if we don't give you a chance to become a Grey Warden. They will become as destructive and murderous as the darkspawn."
Epona flinched. She couldn't even imagine what a ghoul looked like, but if it was anything like those darkspawn. The thought of Tamlen becoming one of those things made her shiver.
"And they can't be saved?" she asked, clenching her fists.
Lawrien shook her head.
Epona shakily inhaled. A ghoul would attack them, and she could see that. Some monstrous creature attacking their clan, cutting down their whole family. But to think that monster would be her or Tamlen made her want to vomit. Epona could be lying beside Lyna when she was corrupted by those murderous thoughts, and the thought of killing her own daughter tore at her heart, left her gasping. Bile choked her, but she swallowed it back down, and hardened her resolve.
"I'll become a Grey Warden," Epona said. "If I stay here I'd turn into one of those things and turn on my own clan. I would rather die fighting the darkspawn. At least then I can give them hell for what they've done to Tamlen, and myself."
Lawrien grinned. "Welcome to the Grey Wardens, Epona."
Epona glanced at her sketchbook, then down at Lyna. She reached down, brushing the soft strands back. "I guess I must give her the book now, far earlier than I ever thought to..."
"Or you could return it to her after you help us save the world from a Blight?" Lawrien offered. "I think you could easily visit your clan afterwards."
Epona hesitated. "I don't know... If I die during this war, then who would ever bring it to her?"
"Duncan would. I would. Ciara would."
"I may not know who this 'Ciara' is, but I do appreciate the sentiment." Epona glanced back down at Lyna, who slept peacefully at her side. "Lyna will have this book, but I shall take another with me to sketch within."
That way a piece of her would still be home. No matter what.
.::.
Epona embraced Lyna one last time. She had already said her goodbyes to everyone else. She had even said goodbye to Tamlen. Now all her focus was devoted to her daughter. Lyna squeezed her tight, her tiny hands twisting into the folds of Epona's cloak. By the Creators, this would probably be the last time she ever held Lyna, and the thought was killing the part of her that believed she had all the time in the world.
She didn't. Not anymore.
"I love you, more than anything," Epona whispered. "Stay safe for me, for me and Papae, alright? Be a good girl, listen to the clan, and show the world what you're made of one day."
She pressed several kisses to Lyna's hair, before cupping Lyna's face, studying her one last time. She had done a rough sketch of her daughter earlier, so she could have a piece of her daughter with her, but it wouldn't be the real thing.
But Lyna would be safe.
"I love you too, Mamae!"
Epona barely suppressed a sob. And it took everything she had to leave, to not run back and grab her daughter and never let go. She could hear Lyna crying, but knew Ashalle would look after her, just as Ashalle raised Epona.
A hand grabbed hers, and Epona startled, blinking at Lawrien who gave her hand a tight squeeze. Epona took a deep breath, and forced herself to strengthen her resolve.
She wouldn't hurt her clan. Now she could survive, and break the darkspawn for stealing her life away. For hurting Tamlen and Lyna. For hurting everyone Epona loved and cherished.
The clan would go on without her.
And that thought made Epona feel more alone than ever.
"You don't have to hold my hand, Lawrien." Epona glanced at their joint hands.
Lawrien shook her head solemnly. "But you'd be alone otherwise."
Epona looked upon the heritage ring on her finger, the ring Marethari gifted her. The last gift she would probably ever receive from her clan. Her mother's necklace hung upon her neck, while a bracelet Ashalle had given her was strapped around her wrist.
Lawrien smiled. "You have their gifts."
Epona felt her lips flicker into a brief smile. "Just as you have yours, I suppose."
She and Lawrien let go of one another, and Epona strode forward to match Duncan's steps.
The Wardens of Strar, my upcoming fantasy book, releases on Amazon in paperback and ebook this Tuesday! It's finally happening. I can't believe it :D