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Vhenan'ara	By : Arcanis_Born Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 6576 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from this.

Chapter List
- 9
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- 11
Dragon Age: Origins is owned by Bioware, as with all its characters, the story as it deviates from canon is mine, however, as with the personalities of characters as they deviate from those in the game.
I hope you guys enjoy, and I would appreciate any reviews!
Translations:
Da'len: Elvhen. "Little child, or little one."
Lethallan: Elvhen. Casual reference used for someone with whom one is familiar. Akin to "cousin" or "clansman".
Pendejo: Antivan. "Asshole."

The water was cold, but it felt amazing on her burning muscles and aching joints. Floating softly on the water, Riel looked up at the sky and watched the clouds dance across the moon. Lost in her thoughts and memories, she just let the peacefulness of the moment engulf her. No Darkspawn, no enemies, no dragons, and certainly no dangerous and alluring amber eyed elf.
That one seemed the most dangerous of all. Darkspawn she could handle. Wolves, cultists and other creatures hardly stood against her and her companions fighting prowess. And the dragon…. Well, she survived. However, Riel wasn't sure if she would be able to survive whatever it was that happening to her when it came to that man with his honey eyes and blazing warmth.
Again, her breath caught as Riel remembered the handsome elf and the uncanny way he seemed to lower her defenses just by being around. None of her other companions managed to take up her mind as much as he did. It seemed that whenever Riel wasn't careful, her mind would wander to those mischievous eyes and tempting smile. And the small things that he did to care for her or make her smile were slowly destroying the careful defences she had spent years crafting to protect herself. And a part of her was silently happy that he could.
Floating there on the water, a voice came to her from her past. Echoing in her mind, Riel was transported back in time to when she was still with her clan.

"I see you are pained, da'len. Tell me, what troubles you so?" The Keeper's voice was just as strong in Riel's mind as it had been on that day.
A young couple in their clan were celebrating becoming officially bonded to each other. Keeper Marethari had seen Riel's confused and agitated look and came over to stand next to her. The Keeper then spoke to her softly, making sure they still kept a measure of privacy even amongst the excitement and partying.
"I am not a child, Keeper," Riel bit back, anger coloring her words Even there amongst her own people, Riel could still not seem to let go of her anger and hatred, and it had caused many to avoid her or even act hostile in return towards her. However the Keeper had been always patient with her, her words soft and her tone understanding. The older woman's continued kindness and patience was a large part of the reason as to why Riel felt so close to the woman.
"I know that. You have been through much in your short life."
Riel looked over the Keeper, wondering how much she knew. She had not spoken much of her time with her masters before being found by the clan, and she wondered just how much the old Keeper knew.
"I may not know the details, but I am not blind," the Keeper replied, waving off Riel's concerned look. "I suspect that in many ways, you may even out distance myself in age. You have the eyes of someone who has seen and been through far too much for someone as young as you are." The Keeper was silent again for a moment as she collected her words in her mind. "It has been a year since we found you, yet you are still distant from many others of your age. Often I see you by yourself, standing away from the people of the clan as they go about their day."
Riel sighed as she returned to staring at the happy couple and their friends. More silence came as the two women watched the happy couple laugh and hold each other as they spoke with their families and friends. Completely open with their affections, they would kiss or hold each other as if doing so was completely normal and natural for them. Which, Riel supposed, was how the rest of the clan was as well. Everyone but her.
"I just don't understand it Keeper," grumbled Riel. "He will hurt Niala. Maybe not today, but soon enough. When they… couple… when he takes her to soothe his loins, she will be hurt! She must know this, yet she bonded to him willingly. And look how happy she is, surely knowing what is to come!"
The Keeper stood silent for a moment, letting Riel's words sink in. A year ago when a young male of their clan had found her badly beaten and covered in blood by the side of a path, he immediately informed the elders of the clan, including Marethari. The poor girl looked as if the Dread Wolf himself had chased her through the woods, and she was covered in wounds from her head down to her feet. Marethari had cleaned her up and healed the girl as best as she could, yet the worst of her traumas were something no spell or poultice could heal.
Even as time passed and her wounds healed, the girl remained scared. Every night as she slept, Riel would scream and cry in her dreams. And her panic would never be eased by gently comforting her as it would with normal children who had nightmares. For Riel, it was if every touch burned her. She avoided any contact, and even lashed out violently if someone were to even lightly touch her shoulder. Some of the clan had even seen the multitude of scars that covered the skin of Riel's back and upper thighs when they would stumbled upon her bathing. These worried clansmen would come to Marethari and seek advice on how to perhaps ease the girl, if not erase the scars on her body then help to mend her broken and bruised spirit. Yet no matter how many times people have tried to get her to open up and trust them, Riel would just pull further away.
With years of honed patience, Keeper Marethari carefully chose her next words. Sending a silent prayer to Mythal, she asked for help guide and protect this poor girl who suffered far too much in her young life.
"Perhaps. There is always pain when love is involved. Quick and angered words can hurt those we care for unintentionally. Jealousy and pride can hurt even deeper than any blade or arrow. However, love - that which is shared by two beings who care deeply for each other - is about caring for another person beyond ourselves. It is about putting the needs of others ahead of our own, and doing our best to keep them from harm. At times we may fail, but love is also about forgiving and learning to work through the pain. And above all else, it is protecting and caring for the one you care for as they were the most precious thing in all of the world."
The Keeper paused and looked at Riel, hoping her words were helping. Yet with the young woman's brow still furrowed and a scowl darkening her face, the Keeper searched her own mind again, hoping to find another way to help the budding woman understand.
"Look around you, da'len. We Dalish live not in nature, but apart of it. When the ground gives us her bounty, we take it without harm to her beauty or her life. We give thanks for her gifts, and we strive to always give back what we can. Yet there are others out there who do not care for the beauty of nature. They steal her resources, cut her trees without care, and over hunt her creatures. They take what they desire, not thinking or even caring how it harms her or her children. And when they are done, they move on like locusts, ready to scar more of her majestic beauty with their mindless ravaging. Now, that is not to say that she will never heal her wounds or cover up her scars, however they will not go away immediately. Sometimes it takes years, or even centuries. But when kind people see her hurting and try help in whichever way that they can, Nature heals more quickly to her former glory than if she was left alone to heal by herself.
It is the same with the Dalish, and in truth all people. When we give to others, we share in the bounty together. However, when something is taken, it wounds us, and not always physically. Pride, trust, security, even our own self-identity can be ripped from us by uncaring people who just wish to satisfy their own desires without thought to others. And sometimes it can take a long time for those wounds to heal, but with time and those who care helping, they can eventually disappear within the new beauty that emerges.
Talain will not take what is not offered, Lethallan. His love for Niala will push him to care for her more than himself, just as how Niala's love for him will push her to care for him more than herself. Sometimes hurt still happens, but it is the intent and how you repair the hurt that matters, young one."

Riel remembered the Keeper's words as if it was just that morning that she said them to her. Back then, Riel didn't understand what the Keeper's words meant, and to be honest, she still wasn't sure. It all seemed like such a foreign concept to her. In Riel's experience, men always took what they wanted, not caring if it was offered or not. Sure, it was easier if the woman just didn't fight back. That was another thing that Riel knew from personal experience. But even then, that still didn't mean it was offered willingly.
Yet, Riel had to admit that despite the weeks travelling with her the others, the men in their group hadn't really tried anything towards her. Aside from that one time in Lothering, Alistair never laid hands on her. He was just an ignorant fool, thinking that his constant jokes amused her or would win him her favor. When in reality all it did was just show how much of a ass he really was. And his insults towards her people or her land certainly didn't go unnoticed either. Riel still didn't trust him, but he was good in battle and proved to be of some entertainment when Morrigan was also around.
Bodahn and his son Sandal seemed almost afraid of her, which suited Riel just fine. They kept their distance when in camp, usually only joining the rest for meals or when Riel was discussing routes to take. Both of them were always friendly towards her, and even respectful.
And Sten, well, he seemed to hate her as much as Riel hated him. And at least he was honest about it. Still, what he did with that family bothered her. Since Lake Calenhad, Riel had been more leery about placing him on watch duty during the night. However, if he was going to truly harm them, there was plenty of opportunity for him to do so either while they travelled or fought. Riel would watch him, and keep him at a distance until she could tell where his motives lie and whether he could be trusted even so far as Riel trusted most people. Which wasn't much, but it would at least let her rest easier on the nights that he took watch.
That left the Antivan assassin and fellow elf, Zevran. Now he was man who Riel didn't understand. Normally the type of brash and blunt attempts to flirt with her would have just seen whatever man attempting it seriously injured. But with him? Around him, Riel felt safe. As if even if the Archdemon himself were to suddenly attack, he would defend her with anything he could, even his own life.
His laughing smile and honeyed eyes did strange things to her insides. Something about the way he smiled and looked at her just made her confused, and... aroused?
No. No, no, no, no. No!
Riel stood up in the water and shook her head hard, trying to banish such an absurd and dangerous thought. No, she didn't get aroused. All she felt was pain when it came to that, and she was so tired of being in pain. Tired of being afraid. Tired of sleeping with a dagger in hand, still half convinced that her old master would come and grab her again in the middle of the night...
"I just need some rest. That's all. They're dead, they can't hurt me anymore." Riel uttered to herself, trying desperately to banish her living nightmares from her thoughts.
Slowly Riel started to walk back to shore, where she would towel herself off quickly before she dressed and returned to camp. With sad, tired eyes, Riel stopped and turned around, looking out onto the river. With tears clouding her eyes, Riel made a silent wish to Mythal to watch over her people while she was gone, and she prayed that one day she could be free from all the pain and hatred in her heart.

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"Well, it has been fun being mostly silent with a small amount of glaring with you all, but alas, I need to retire for this evening," Zevran stated with a small chuckle. Carefully he stood up and wiped the dirt from his pants, keeping the ex-Templar still in his gaze. "After all, it is so very tiring defeating a high dragon while defending our fearless leader. I guess I could have napped earlier, but Alistair seemed to have beaten me to it." Zevran laughed good naturedly, yet his eyes remained cold as he stared at the other man still on the ground before turning around and walking swiftly back to his tent.
Alistair saw red at the assassin's words. However, before he could stand up and ram his sword through the arrogant murderers back, Leliana was beside him, pulling back down. Sometimes, like right now, he really wished the woman wasn't such a skilled rogue, then perhaps she wouldn't have been fast enough to prevent him from beating the brains out of the elf.
"Leave it, Alistair. He is just trying to get you angry so to start a fight with you. What do you think will happen if Riel comes back to camp and sees you two fighting?"
Alistair just continued to glare at the tent Zevran disappeared into as his mind churned at the all ways he would like to kill the bastard. As far as he was concerned, the Antivan elf was walking on claimed territory. Okay, maybe not exactly claimed. However, it had to be clear how he felt for Riel. Hell, Alistair even had made a comment to Zevran about 'wasting the Warden's time' by trying to be close to her.
True, the elf had proved himself useful in the battles they had, and Alistair was grateful to him for his help in the fight against the high dragon. However, Alistair also saw how Zevran looked at Riel whenever he thought she wasn't looking. The look of lust, of undressing her in his mind... Alistair hated it.
From the moment Alistair first saw Riel back in Ostagar, he was entranced by her beauty and grace. She didn't speak that much, but Alistair could sense the strength that she had inside of her. Even now, Alistair felt guilty about praying that if none of the other two recruits made it past the Joining, that the Maker would spare her and let her master the taint that poisoned her. Yet every time he tried to talk to the woman - to try and get her to open up to him - his efforts were met with fierce anger and most often elven insults that he didn't really understand.
As soon as the two of them had arrived at Ostagar, Duncan had pulled Alistair aside and spoken to him of how Riel had had more than her share of reasons to hate humans, especially men in general. Yet the older Grey Warden refused to elaborate on the why of it. All he would say was that Alistair must respect her wishes not to be touched, and even made Alistair promise to look after the young woman.
It was a promise Alistair took seriously. These long weeks, he has allowed Riel to have her space even though he was dying to be next to her. To hold her in his arms, and do the things that the men in the Grey Wardens would brag about doing to the women in their past. Not that he had much experience in that area, but he was willing to learn if she just would allow him.
Then one day this assassin comes crashing into their lives, and now seems to be slowly doing what Alistair had been trying to do since Ostagar. Alistair not only caught the looks the assassin gave his sweet Riel, but he also caught the quick glances that she would make at the other elf, even though she was more careful to hide it.
What was it about this elf that he seemed to be able to do what he couldn't? What he'd been trying to do for months now?
Why him?
And that last remark by the elf just pushed Alistair's irritation higher. The guilt over being unable to continue fighting the dragon ate him, however after being slammed into a wall by the beast for the unknownth time, he just couldn't find the energy to stand. Out of potions, all Alistair could do was drift in and out of consciousness until the fight was over, and all was quiet. As his mind weaved between conscious states, Alistair barely felt it when Morrigan pulled off his helmet and peered down at him. With uncareful hands, she prodded and poked at him until he got annoyed enough to try and shove her away. Somehow satisfied with his lame effort, she had stood and left him alone on the ground.
It took a long time before he was able to to even lift his head, let alone sit up. Yet eventually Morrigan rejoined him and told him bitterly to stay still while she worked her healing magic on him. Still he ached, and Alistair was positive that Morrigan purposefully left him in more pain than necessary. Yet he was out of healing potions and so could do little more than moan in agony until he was finally able to stand. Alistair was not prepared of the sight that greeted him, though, when he followed Morrigan into an old stone gazebo not too far away.
There against the wall was his Riel, resting against Zevran's chest. It was clear that she was asleep, yet the assassin eyes opened in a flash as soon as Alistair entered the heavily weathered gazebo. His first instinct was jealousy, his mind thinking back to all the times that he had wished Riel would lean against him when she was tired or worn out from fighting. His next emotion though was anger. Did he manipulate her into that position while she slept to try and be close to her? Did she even know where she was, and who she was against? Alistair made a move to step forward and take Riel from the lecherous assassin's arms, yet caught the light of steel down by the elf's leg.
"She chose to rest this way, Templar," Zevran had whispered to him, his tone as hard as the stone he laid against. With his left hand was on the hilt of his dagger, he glared up at Alistair in lethal warning. "And rest she will. If you notice the very dead dragon outside, that was her doing. And I personally think that she has deserved as long as a rest as she can. You will not move her, lest you find out just how sharp my blades actually are."
Coming back the present, Alistair stewed in his anger. The flowers were just the last straw in a very long line of grievances that Alistair had against the other man.
"Perhaps she would congratulate me on killing him. After all, the elf had tried to kill us once. Who is to say that he won't try again?" lied Alistair. However, the lie was easier than the truth in this matter. Truth that said that his precious Riel was falling for the same man who had tried to kill her. And probably would try again.

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Zevran was furious. Angry not just at the Templar, but at himself as well. He was moving too fast with his Warden. The flowers were too soon, he saw that now. He should have waited until she was more comfortable with him, and then maybe she would have opened up to him about why she liked those flowers on her own. Instead, he used his talent for eavesdropping to bypass her trust and rush into something she wasn't comfortable with. It was obvious from her reaction that she wasn't prepared for such an intimate thought, yet Zevran couldn't have allowed that bumbling idiot Alistair to give his Warden flowers before he did.
In truth, Zevran had been trying to find a way to ease Riel's nightmares for some time now. The idea to give her something she could take comfort in while she slept came to him the night that he guarded her door at the Inn at Lake Calenhad. Something that would help her feel protected and remind her that despite her dreams, she wasn't in that time anymore and there were people here who would protect her from ever having being hurt like that again.
Zevran didn't know the details of her dreams, but he recognized the pained cries and pleas for whoever it was to stop hurting her. Coupled with her aversion to touch and how she distrusted men, there was little doubt in Zevran's mind what had happened to her. And seeing as the Dalish do not tolerate such behavior, whatever happened to her must have happened to her before joining them.
The thought of his lovely Warden being abused in any way sent Zevran's blood boiling, yet for something so intimate and personal to happen to her…. It was why he was so careful with her. Letting her set what she was comfortable with and not pushing her unless she was ready. Yet he ignored his instincts and settled for his jealousy instead.
When Alistair had started asking about what type of flowers Riel would like, Zevran had known the Templar's plans without even asking. And the idea of that fool giving her something so intimate infuriated him. Not only would he get his Warden some flower that she probably didn't even like, but giving her something like that was his job, not Alistair's. And now his jealousy and his pride may have damaged what little work he had accomplished with his beautiful Warden.
Cursing to himself, Zevran knew that he had to explain himself to Riel. To try and fix whatever damage he had done by being too impetuous. Yet he wished to avoid a full out brawl with the foolish Templar if he could. Although it would be child's play to end his miserable life, Zevran needed the trust of his Warden. And gutting the imbecile where he stood probably would be looked at as a bad thing, no matter how much the man deserved it.
Zevran peeked slightly outside of his tent to see if the others were still outside. Unfortunately, the pendejo was still sitting next to the blazing fire, as well as the red haired beauty Leliana seated not too far away.
Good thing he was an assassin who mastered in stealth, then, no?
Silently, Zevran melded with the shadows of the camp and slipped free of his tent. Moving quickly, he was free of the camp without even so much as a leaf crunching under his steps. Within a few minutes Zevran found himself hidden amongst the brush near the shore of the small river. The mabari by the water lifted his head and sniffed the air as he caught Zevran's scent, yet the beast only huffed out a tired greeting before lowering his head and going back to sleep.
Out on the water was his Warden, bathed in the soft light of the moon above, causing Zevran's breath to catch in his throat as he witnessed her beauty. By the gods, she was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. Lithe and full of strength, she wasn't as dainty as most other elven women were. Under her smooth skin were muscles honed by hours of fighting or training with her blades. And even in the midst of battle, the smooth yet deadly way she attacked her foes was enough to cause distraction in even the most devout of Chantry brother.
Again Zevran felt a tightening of his small clothes, and he cursed his wandering mind. Although it wasn't exactly his mind that he cursed. More he cursed the organ that rested between his thighs, awake and standing proud at the deviant thoughts Zevran was having of his lovely Warden. Afterall, may have been a gentleman assassin, but he was still a man. And Riel was a goddess brought to the earth for him to worship in any way that she would let him.
After a few moments of watching her float effortlessly, suddenly Riel stood and shook her head, a look of fear in her eyes.
"I just need some rest. That's all. They're dead, they can't hurt me anymore."
Those words struck Zevran like a blow to the chest. Here he was, watching her like some pervert in the shadows, when she had already suffered so much. Disgusted with himself, Zevran was about to turn and leave when Riel turned, showing her back to him as she she looked out on the water. And that's when he saw them.
The burns. The scars. The awful remnants of torture and abuse.
Being raised by the Crows, Zevran knew a thing or two about torture. The recruits were trained to resist torture no matter how extreme, and as full Crows, they were taught how to torture as well as just being able to receive it. It was this experience that told him that the marks on her were not just simple lashings or beatings from a cruel master. No, she was tortured. And judging from the extent of the scaring on her back, it wasn't just once or twice. The marks reached down her back to her buttocks and even her upper thighs. As if they were made with the thought in mind as to what would be able to be easily hidden behind normal clothing.
If Zevran thought he was angry before, it was nothing compared to the rage he felt coursing through his veins now. He knew first hand what it was like to be on the receiving end of torture and cruel lashings. Yet what she had to have gone through to get such scarring was so much worse. Her entire back was one large tapestry of pain, a roadmap of all the cruelty that people can possess.
Without thinking, Zevran ran out of the shadows and confronted her, spinning her around and grabbing her wrists as he looked heatedly into her shocked eyes.
"Who did this you, Riel? Tell me, so I can have the pleasure of ripping their spines from their still twitching corpses!" Zevran yelled at her, for the moment oblivious to the fear in her eyes.
With both her wrists trapped within Zevran's strong grip, Riel's mind raced frantically. She promised herself that she would never be trapped again, never be forced upon again! With her instincts coming to life and her desire to protect herself overriding her common sense, Riel's careful control snapped. Without caring who was holding her or the repercussions of her actions, Riel felt her hands grow hot as she unleashed a mind pulse, knocking Zevran into the air and back several feet. With a grunt he landed on the shore, looking up to sky and wondering just had happened. Slowly he lifted himself up and regarded his Warden in new light. Disbelief and shock on his face, Zevran stared up at the woman who he had come to care so deeply for. His mind raced as it tried frantically to make sense of what just happened. None of it made sense, and yet...
"You're a mage?!"
With tears streaming down her face, Riel's whole body trembled, both from the power she had unleashed as well as from the fear and adrenaline racing through her body. She absolutely hated using her powers, knowing full well that anybody witnessing her use magic would lock her away again. It was the reason she desperately learned all she could about being a rogue. However, none of that matter now. Her long feared secret was out.
Zevran knew.
Would he try to lock her away too?
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Vhenan'ara