Chapter 5 – Revasan

Ghouls were the worst part of the darkspawn in Lyla's eye. She could take on as many genlocks and hurlocks, even an ogre or two, without flinching but seeing someone turned by the taint to do the Archdemon's will? That was too close to comfort, too close to what she nearly became.

A future that Duncan saved her from. She wasn't grateful then, she hadn't realised what was going to happen to her. She was grateful now. These poor souls didn't deserve this. Not even Loghain deserved this.

She cut down the nearest darkspawn creature, some blighted wolf or some such, but she barely paid it any mind. Killing darkspawn was simple work for Wardens, something in their shared taint helped, and the lack of fear in Lyla's mind helped even more. Five more ghouls fell to her axe and sword but as she span to attack the last, she froze in horror.

The rest of the clan continued fighting the dwindling darkspawn but Lyla just stared at the ghost from her past.

"TAMLEN!" She screaming in horror as it hit her. Her oldest friend, Tamlen stood impossibly before her.

Countless months ago he had died, the accident that given her the taint had hurt him too. He had disappeared that day. The clan even had a funeral for him!

He had been handsome once, even Lyla had noticed that. And all the rumours of romance between them had been flattering to say the least. His well styled blonde hair used to take forever for him to do, countless days had been spent waiting for him to get it just right. He had been so vain, so full of love. For both himself and his clan.

Now? Now he was just a shell of his former self. His well-loved hair was gone, leaving a bald, grey skinned man before her. His vallaslin shone gold against his diseased skin. His eyes used to be the same blue as the sky, reminding everyone of the freedom of the Dalish, he had loved that description. They hung dim in his head, sunken into deep, dark shadows.

They had been practically brother and sister, together fighting and hunting since they could talk. Losing him had taken more of a toll on her than most of the rest of the clan. Only Merrill and Ashalle meant more to her.

Touching the mirror had tainted them both, but Lyla had survived. She had thought him lost! She collapsed to her knees as he slowly, determinedly walked towards her.

He walked as though every step was through a bed of glass. Grimacing as he held his hands up high, as far from the knife at his side as possible.

"Lethallan," he moaned, agony pulsating throughout his voice. He froze as he got close and suddenly covered his face with his hands. "Don't look at me! I… Am… Sick…" The words came slowly out of his mouth with brutal effort. Lyla could feel his pain as he looked at her through his fingers.

"Creators, have mercy. It can't be," Lyla sobbed as she stood. She slowly walked towards him with her arms outstretched. The fighting had stopped around her now, the darkspawn either routed or defeated, it didn't matter. She could feel her clans eyes on her back, could hear their questions but she ignored them, concentration only on her poor friend.

"No. Closer." He groaned. "Please, lethallan, please." He stepped back once more, tripping on a root behind him and falling on his back.

"Ir abelas, lethallin, what happened to you?" Lyla whispered softly as she grew closer. She dropped her weapons, keeping only her small dagger on her waist as she stood before him.

He closed his eyes and grimaced before letting out a howl of pain. "Don't want… to hurt you. Please… Stop me…" He moaned. "The song… in my head. It hurts! I can…. Hear him calling. He wants me to… hurt you. I can't stop it!" He roared and swung an arm at Lyla but she jumped back away from it. Horror ignited in his eyes and he looked at her, begging.

"I can help you," She fell to her knees as she sobbed. "Please, lethallin, please! I can't lose you again. It was hard enough the first time. There was so much I wanted to tell you. I had so many secrets, Creators, how I wish I told you."

"I know… Lyla… I know," he groaned. "I loved you… as a sister… I knew how your heart lay. I would… have accepted you, sister. Please, stop me!" He rose to his feet slowly and stood over her, anger and hatred in his eyes as he smashed his hands down.

Lyla felt the tears flow down her face as she slashed up, grabbing her small dagger and slicing it across Tamlen's throat. She held him as they fell together to the floor, not caring about the ugly noises she was making as she watched her old friend die.

"Ma serannas, lethallin."

"Ir abelas, lethallan, ar lasa mala revas," she sobbed.

She held him as the light in his eyes left and she was left alone. Her head fell over him and she cried harder than she knew she could.

Translations

Lethallan/lethallin – close friend. Lan is feminine and lin is masculine.

Ma serannas – Thank you

Ir abelas – I am sorry

Ar lasa mala revas – I give you your freedom