3-An Early Awakening to Save a World

A couple of years after her last visit to Highever … when she told Maric the alternative worked, Flemeth received a cryptic message from the town of Solas just north of the Silent Plains. It came from one of the Dalish Clans in the north through Ancelan in Highever. Were the Silent Plains in Nevarra or were they in the Imperium? Hard to tell from a map. The Imperium claimed it, but didn't really care enough to interfere with the people there, or so she had been told.

The Silent Plains were just wastelands left over from one of the Blights. Flemeth didn't know which one. Her vast intellect did not include too many specifics of world-shattering history. A thing that she could never justify as truth. "History" always changed so much with the person doing the telling.

However, seeking vengeance upon the darkspawn who killed and have continued to kill her spirit's elven descendants was of interest. Yes, she looked human, but she was Elvhen at her heart. Her spirit. They were one being now.

The coded signature on the message was from someone Flemeth's spirit would dearly like to see again. There was an old friend who had been in uthenera. It seemed that old friend had awakened a couple decades or so ago. He had only recently found out about Asha'bellanar, the name the Dalish gave Flemeth. He figured out a way to contact her. He didn't go into details in the brief note.

So, she flew north … circling around the Waking Sea lest she run into another surprise storm … and changed into a hawk before circling the village of Solas. It wasn't too small, but there was no Alienage. It had a busy market selling candles, flowers, armor, weapons, clothes, fabric, food. Necessities and niceties alike. As in many villages, the elves were mostly servants and the humans gave orders … but at no time during the three days she scouted the village in various bird forms, did anyone abuse any of their servants, be they human or elf. There seemed to be wealthy humans there, but not nobility. Her old friend had not given a location in his message other than the name of the village and she saw no elf who looked like him. But then, she no longer looked like Mythal. She spent three days flying around the village and perching near to the people. Mythal felt he would know she was near, even in a bird form.

As she started to fly away on that third day, however, a raven flew up next to her. She could sense it was a mage, so she warily followed it into the countryside to a large copse of trees next to a lake with a small cabin near the shore.

When the raven reformed into her friend from all those centuries ago, she reformed into Flemeth with her red armor and hair done up to look like dragon horns. He did promise long before he went into uthenera, that he would set wards to awaken him when the world needed him. His wards were the strongest of any of the Evanuris.

"Well, you look different, Mythal," he said with a small smile. He was still one of the few beings who could pull off a bald head and pointed ears … likely because people would be more engrossed in his serious amber eyes and narrow cleft chin.

She laughed. "Fen'Harel, you look exactly the same, my old friend." Then, she did something that her daughter Morrigan would vehemently deny could possibly ever happen. She hugged Fen'Harel for a long time. Both of them in tears before they broke their embrace.

"What name are you using? Hopefully you didn't introduce yourself as Fen'Harel to the Dalish elves," Flemeth explained.

"I awoke over twenty years ago. I stumbled through a rarely used Eluvian miles north of here and had no idea where I was. I was bruised, weakened, stumbling around after my wards forced my awakening … for some reason. I think I know why, but these things are seldom plainly shown," Fen'Harel explained. "The Dalish took me in and assumed I'd been attacked by humans, shems in their terms. Fortunately, I overheard their tale of the wicked Fen'Harel, trickster and Dread Wolf. By the time I went into uthenera, the remnants of the Evanuris had begun to call me Solas. It is the name I go by now."

Flemeth laughed. "The bastards gave you the Elvhen word for arrogant as a nickname? How ironic."

Solas smiled and continued, "I learned a great deal about the Dalish Creators and had to hide my horror of knowing who those Creators really were. The Dalish cared for me for several months while I regained a small bit of my physical and magical strength. I worked some complex foresight spells with Keeper Marethari. I told them that I was trying to regain my memories. The foresight back then told of a world catastrophe, but nothing specific. I kept having a vision of a land different and far from here and the birth of a human female. Anyway, I traveled with the Dalish until I could bear it no longer. These brave independent elves worshipping the beasts who subjugated them, marked them and used their ancestors all those years ago. I caught up with them from time to time over the years when they traveled north. I even attended an Arlathvhen."

She sighed. "My experience with The People is one of mutual respect. They do not know I am Mythal. They call me Asha'Bellanar, the woman of many years. I gave them the strong, powerful and protective Flemeth," she said quietly. "What about the human child in your vision? Was the world catastrophe here?"

He smiled. "I am uncertain about her for now. There were other thoughts that were in the forefront. Even in my slumber I felt the pain, the suffering and loneliness of our people. I also felt the pain of other races. The pain of anyone with magic. Thedas teeters on the edge of change it will never recover from … unless the change can be guided safely. During my meditations in the Dalish camp, I saw a rot cover Thedas because of stupidity. The Keeper thought it may have been about a Blight and explained to me what they were. My main goal then became to try to make enough adjustments to my foreshadowing about the Blight to save Thedas."

He looked at her curiously. "I've heard the name of Flemeth all the way up here, along with a myriad of stories and legends. As you said, the Dalish call you Asha'Bellanar. After I heard their stories, I was curious if … Mythal was inside. At a recent Arlathvhen, Keeper Marethari spoke often of the aid Asha'Bellanar gave to the Sabrae Clan. I told her that I had a memory of a great, wise and very scary Asha'Bellanar coming to my rescue once and asked if she knew how to contact Asha'Bellanar. She laughed and explained that usually Asha'Bellanar just showed up. However, on their return trip to Ferelden, she sent a party to Highever with the message for the Mage Collective to get to you. That they had gotten other information to you that way before, but gave no guarantees."

"And, glad I am that your message found me, Fen'Harel." Flemeth sat on a log outside the cabin while Solas built a small fire in a prepared pit. "I have killed many humans who would torment the Dalish who traveled the Brecilian Forest of Ferelden. The Dalish are nomadic. No doubt, many you've met have seen me before." She shook her head sadly. "At first, I made them fear me to my regret, but I'm trying to make up for that. I've made my home in the Korcari Wilds in southern Ferelden. I keep watch on them from time to time and they are very protective of me, as well."

"How did you become Flemeth?" he asked. "I assume from the tales that you were the 'demon' who joined with the mage?"

She frowned. "As you know, Mythal was murdered. She walked the Fade … or Beyond, as the Dalish call it." She turned to Solas and took his hand. "She understands why you created the Veil, but there were many times she wished you had not. She walked the Fade for time unmeasurable until one day, the anguished screams of a mage drew her back to Thedas."

"Slightly different from the tales I've heard," Solas said with a small chuckle.

"By the time Mythal found Flemeth's manifestation in the Fade, Flemeth was beyond rational thought," Mythal explained. "Revenge was all she wanted. Mythal thought her fate was to wander aimlessly for all eternity. Then, Flemeth gave her a new life. A new purpose. At the time, revenge was all Mythal wanted, too. Flemeth willingly joined with Mythal's spirit. They left none alive at the manor. Was it Highever as in the tales? I don't really know. The castle and village I visit and fly over from time to time do not look the same as Flemeth's memory of that manor, but it was a very long time ago. Of course, I have no real recollection, so all the stories may have a grain of truth buried in them, but I doubt any of them are the factual tale. Sorry about the confusing telling of the names. Right now. We are both Flemeth and Mythal. You may call me what you choose. I answer to both."

"So, you became a spirit and then returned to join with a human," Solas said. "Curious that the Dalish call Mythal the All-Mother and Protector; however, depending on which side one is on, Mythal can also be the Creator of Vengeance."

Flemeth laughed. "Pretty much sums me up, wouldn't you say?"

Solas smile slowly faded. "I was so angry when they ambushed you and killed you. They had gotten too powerful and lost any reason for their actions beyond power. The Veil was the only answer to stopping their overwhelming power. They ended up killing each other and destroying Arlathan."

He stared into the fire for several long moments. "Recently, I was in the Crossroads, retrieving a few of my tomes, when I felt a warning of an arrival through an Eluvian I had marked with an alarm centuries ago. The Eluvian was completely destroyed after a woman from another world came through it. Melted. Irreparable."

"Woman from another world? Could she be the human babe from your foresight?" Flemeth asked as she reached for the mug of cider Solas handed her.

"That's a strong possibility, Mythal. I still spend time in the Crossroads from time to time, as I always have. There is an Eluvian at the bottom of that lake over there." He pointed to a clear lake near to the cabin. "Curiously, the Eluvian that was linked to the destroyed one was placed by me on her world. It was also in a lake."

"I thought we weren't supposed to do that." Flemeth slyly smiled and took a long draught of cider.

Solas merely shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps 'placed' is not correct. I simply moved the Eluvian to the bottom of that other lake so long ago. I explored. This was before my uthenera. I was one of the few left who regularly traveled the Crossroads. Even factions of the Evanuris had started to use roads at the end.

"Surprisingly, there is a dwarf that travels there from time to time," Solas said as he stirred the logs to keep the flame going. "His name is Sandal. He is a dwarf of few words. Yes, a dwarf … in the Crossroads. I could never get him to say much. He would say, 'Come back tomorrow,' and he'd be gone. I left it at that and we got along fine. I'm fairly certain he was no spirit."

He sighed. "I became curious about the outer towers and went through an Eluvian that exited in a cave. It put me into a dense forest near the coast of a vast sea. The native humans were generous, curious that I could understand them … seeing as I was an elf and looked quite different from them."

"The Eluvians can attune travelers to the nearby spoken language of the destination," Flemeth explained. She laughed. "I've explored them as well, Solas, but I don't recall the place you mentioned."

"I'm uncertain if anyone can explore the entirety of the Crossroads," Solas mused. "Anyway, these natives told me of their legends and their spirit guides. Mostly, they revered nature so we got along well. I told them of the Eluvian and cautioned them not to step through without a guide. They asked me to put it where no one would see it. So, we put it at the bottom of a large, deep lake. I tuned it to allow only those of their heritage access if they had an emergency." He reached under his shirt and pulled out a leather necklace that had an intricate pendant on it — colorful wires and threads with an azure stone in the center. "They gave me this pendant. We celebrated and I left, promising never to return as I did not belong there."

"Wise," Flemeth whispered.

"Sadly, if I am to believe the sobbing dialog of this woman, they did not remain respectful of nature," Solas said quietly, tears starting to well in his eyes. "She must have been a descendent of those wise humans. The Eluvian was destroyed. That lush, beautiful world is gone. I wonder if she has some part to play in Thedas." He smiled at Flemeth, "As you are so fond of asking … was it fate or coincidence?"

After a few moments of quiet reflection for both of them, he added, "To change the subject to something more immediate to my meditations on the Blight, the Dalish say Flemeth has birthed many daughters over the centuries. That the spirit goes from crone to daughter after the body ages and becomes decrepit. Do you have a daughter now?"

Flemeth nodded, took another long drink and explained, "I took to bed many Chasind men and wandering humans who got lost in the Wilds. I've had many daughters over the years. Powerful mages, all of them. Two live now. Yavana in Antiva and Morrigan back in the Wilds. Yavana and her cultists are guarding the Silent Grove where many dragons have gone to rest, slumber and awaken when their time is due. Many have died." Her sad visage morphed into a small smile. "We just awakened a Great Dragon, even though an unexpected storm put everything out of order. She has gone to live in the Frostbacks, away from hunters and those who thirst for dragon blood. Let Thedas believe that the Great Dragons are all gone. My other daughter, Morrigan, lives with me in the Wilds."

Flemeth sighed. "I have also had a foreshadowing of the Blight. Seven Great Dragons entered their slumber long ago. They have been sought by these mindless creatures called the darkspawn. When they find one of the seven, they corrupt it with their taint and the body becomes the Archdemon, but the essence of the Archdemon is still that of a Great Dragon. No one knows where these darkspawn come from." She took a drink from her mug. Solas was sitting there in rapt attention, so Flemeth continued, "We left a memorial of the final seven of the Great Dragons in Arlathan, as I'm sure you recall. Humans found the memorial when they scavenged Arlathan and adopted the Great Dragons as their gods. Early Warden mages translated a map they found etched in the Deep Roads where elves and dwarves co-existed. So, the Wardens know where the chambers are located. I believe that the Wardens have even reinforced the chambers over the centuries. One of those marks on the map is below the Korcari Wilds. It is the Great Dragon called Urthemiel."

"And the one you helped awaken in Antiva?" Solas asked.

"Her name is Brysethrax. Every High Dragon has a very small chance to birth a new Great. Brysethrax was born from a High Dragon in the Frostback Mountains." Flemeth's face clouded in anger. "A dragon hunter killed the High Dragon and was going to kill the younger Great. An earlier iteration of Flemeth was nearby and killed the dragon hunter and his entire party. The hatchling went with that Flemeth to the Silent Grove. In pain and sorrow, the young dragon entered a very long slumber, only awakening recently."

"Fascinating," Solas said quietly.

"Anyway, as to where I think you're going by asking about my daughters, I am training Morrigan to birth the babe with the essence of Urthemiel. She is learning the ritual to be performed just before the Archdemon is killed by a Grey Warden. They are the Order who figured out how to kill the Archdemon. Sadly, they have splintered into factions along country borders; however, the Warden-Commander of Ferelden is competent. We can hope he stays so. I've already told Morrigan that she will become Flemeth when the child is old enough. Earlier incarnations of Flemeth did not tell their previous daughters. My mother did not tell me, but I grew less resentful when I realized the great power I had received." She smiled at Solas. "The power of Mythal. We'll see if this works out better." She raised her eyebrow to Solas. "I assume that's what you meant."

He sighed. "I did. I'm glad my weather interference did not result in the death of the Great Dragon," Solas said.

Flemeth narrowed her eyes. "The storm?! You conjured the storm that sent Maric's bastard to Highever?"

"Ah, you are aware of that. Of my many rituals, there was only one where Ferelden survived the Blight with the least devastation. The necessity of Maric's survival was such a clear foreshadowing. In all the rest, he was on a track to die in Tevinter. I wasn't completely certain the bastard would cause Maric to stay in Ferelden and not travel, but as far as I know, he is still alive. For balance to have a chance, Maric needs to be the King during the Blight. That was my strongest foreshadowing. Maric's heir to the throne — untrained and inexperienced, thrown into the leadership of Ferelden much too soon — would have left Ferelden a ruin and would lead to other threads pulling everything awry."

"It took blood from a Great Dragon to awaken Brysethrax. I had arranged for Maric to come to Antiva. One of Flemeth's previous incarnations aided an ancestor of Maric to drink the blood of a dying Great Dragon to get its power, so even Maric still had traces in his blood. Fortunately, the Mage Collective came up with an alternate process, rather than keeping Maric at The Silent Grove for the blood collection." She sighed. "Let's hope you didn't just pull loose a binding thread, Fen'Harel. My foresight told me that Maric's son would end the Blight," she said very seriously. "I was flying back from Antiva in my dragon form. That storm almost killed me."

Solas took her hand. "Mythal, I am so sorry! I didn't know …"

Flemeth continued, "I was caught in it. I do believe that would have been the end of Flemeth if I hadn't been rescued by a healer from Ferelden's Mage Collective — a group of free mages who stay out of sight quite effectively. In thanks for saving me, I have made certain they are even more effective in hiding. They have shapeshifting and stealth magic now. In return, they run messages to me and keep me informed about what is actually going on. It gives foresight increased context, as you know. It worked out well for me, as painful as it was at the time. So, I forgive you." Then, she sighed. "So, to change the subject again, do you plan to stay up here?"

"It seems that storm added one more thread to the weave of the future," Solas whispered, more to himself. "No, if you don't mind, I'd like to return to Ferelden with you and follow the woman from the other world. That tower had six Eluvians to places in Ferelden. The key to the Deep Roads Eluvian was missing and that Eluvian had solidified into a stone replica. I don't know if my sensing her is wishful thinking or some kind of link, but she survives somewhere in Ferelden." He rose and helped Flemeth to stand. "Let's get a restful slumber tonight and leave in the morning."

Flemeth stood. "The Grey Wardens travel the Deep Roads quite often. Maybe she ran into them … or she'd be dead if she was by herself. Anyway, I'll go with you to see who this woman is."

"She might have seen them through the Eluvian, then. Perhaps she can help us find the balance in Thedas with magic and those who would subjugate mages … and elves," Solas said as he opened the door and lit the small lantern inside.

"Don't you think you're expecting a lot from this poor girl," Flemeth chuckled.

"Perhaps," Solas smiled at his old friend. "As Mythal told me once, fate often intervenes when the spirit is needful enough."

"I believe Mythal also said that oftentimes it is just coincidence," Flemeth said as she went inside the cabin while Solas placed the wards of silence and misdirection.

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AN: It was so nice to see your encouragement, Judy! As you know, that is what I write these tales for. :) Also, thanks to the follows! Next time, Mari gets her first glimpse of this new world. To her surprise … well, you'll find out. ;)