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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
- 12
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- 14
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.
Parts of this chapter come from the recruitment of Shale from the Dragon Age Origins DLC content "The Stone Prisoner." Credit for those dialogue choices goes to BioWare.
I hope you guys enjoy, and I would appreciate any reviews!
Translations:
Mi bella: Antivan. "My beauty." Endearment Zevran uses for Riel.

The village of Honnleath was almost due south of Redcliff along the edges of the Frostback Mountains. The group had travelled for several days following the mountain range in a western direction, yet with each step closer to the Southern Wilds, Riel felt more anxious.
The swell of the of the Darkspawn horde had come from the Wilds, erupting from underground tunnels until they broke free onto the surface and raged north. Ostagar sat on the edges of the Wilds, between the Ferelden kingdom and the region of the Avvars and the Chasind barbarians. And as each day passed, the horde spread further northward, destroying everything in their path.
And as so many before it, Honnleath was not spared the destruction caused by the Darkspawn despite being so close to the rocky mountains that separated Ferelden and the western country of Orlais. In peaceful times, Honnleath was a small farming village not far from the border between the two countries. However, these were far from peaceful times. By the time Riel and her group arrived to the small hamlet, the smoke and stench of burning flesh permeated the air as small groups of straggling Darkspawn looted and devoured corpses of the unfortunate townspeople.
Before they even entered the village, Riel could feel the foul beasts. The taint that flowed through her blood lighting up as it recognized its kin. The feeling made her stomach churn and her anger rise. Looking over at Alistair, his stern nod told her that he felt the wickedness just as she did. Pulling free her daggers, Riel ordered Sten, Leliana and her hound to guard Bodahn as she and the rest of group set about killing the remaining Darkspawn that roamed the village.
Various bits of human flesh and bones were littered everywhere as blood and bile covered the walls of buildings and ground. The sight of it was like a nightmare made real, and the monsters who created it reveled in the grotesque bounty. Feasting on and violating the dead bodies of old and young, men and women even as Riel's group approached the first of the beasts and set about their own slaughter.
Piece by piece, Riel cut through the Darkspawn enemy, their blood soaking through her leathers and burning her exposed skin. Her blades sliced straight through a Hurlock's arm as it swung a crude ax at her head, before stabbing the creature through its throat. Turning she ducked just as another Hurlock tried to slice at her neck. Riel kicked it back, straight into the swinging arc of Alistair's sword. At her back, Zevran fought just as furiously, dispatching a charging Gemlock before gutting a growling Hurlock that tried to run Riel through.
The battle was hard, but it was eventually won. Riel stood in the center of town, breathing in hard short gasps as she stared at the bodies of at least a dozen Darkspawn that laid dead around them. She lifted her eyes to her allies, taking mental note of their locations and injuries. Alistair seemed to be nursing a sore shoulder while Zevran sported a serious looking gash on his left leg. Morrigan seemed no worse for wear as her magic allowed her to stand back from the carnage and hurl her spells from a distance. What worried Riel however was the Darkspawn blood covering Zevran's face and skin. Blood that carried a death sentence if the person wasn't careful.
Fear heightening her senses, Riel quickly scanned the area and spotted an old well by a nearly destroyed windmill. Sheathing her daggers, Riel grabbed Zevran by his wrist and all but dragged him over to the well.
"Riel? What is the matter?" Zevran tried to ask, yet Riel was silent even as she leaned over the edge of the well. Seemingly satisfied, she took hold of the metal crank and started pulling up a bucket filled with the cool water. Once she could reach it, she wedged the crank and took out a cloth from her side pack. Then Riel soaked the rag in the water and turned to the still shocked and confused elf beside her.
"What are you doing, mi bella?"
"Darkspawn blood is poisonous. If too much gets in your system, it could kill you," Riel stated flatly, a deep frown on her face. With careful yet deliberate swipes, Riel cleaned up his face, then started to rub down his exposed arms.
"What about you?" Zevran exclaimed in worry, grabbing at her hand. "You are covered just as I, you should be washing it off yourself first!"
"Wardens are immune to it. We basically have to be drinking their filth for it effect us," added Alistair, his arms crossed over his breastplate. He stood several feet away, his obvious displeasure showing on his face as he glared venomously at Zevran.
Riel rinsed out the rag and started to lean over to clean Zevran's legs when he quickly took hold of her wrist and pulled Zevran up. "Mi bella, stop. You do not need to do this, I can wash it off myself." Riel stared into his eyes, a look of worry and anger mixing her expression before all emotion seemed to snap shut on her. Her face turning impassive, she handed the cloth roughly to Zevran.
"You're right." Her voice was flat and stoic, yet Zevran knew that he had somehow hurt her. "Morrigan, he has a gash on his leg. Would you please heal him?" Riel said, looking over to the mage. She then coldly walked away towards the rotting pile of Darkspawn. Kneeling down she started going sifting through their diseased bodies, looking for potions or anything useful they may carry.
Alistair turned and walked after her, saying nothing yet Zevran caught the look of smugness on the Templar's face as he walked away. Zevran started to head after them but Morrigan stepped in his path, blocking him.
"Did I say something?" Zevran asked the witch.
"'Tis no business of mine, assassin. Now stay still while I heal your leg, else Riel be angry at both of us."
"I just said to her that she needn't have to wash me off, yet this angers her?"
"Because of course, Riel always personally washes blood and other various vile things from her companions after a battle," Morrigan quipped back dryly as she stood back up. "Actually, no she doesn't, does she? Perhaps maybe she had reason to. Yet 'tis not my answer to give, is it?" Morrigan's voice was laced with barely contained irritation, and her eyes told Zevran that there was obviously more to this than he was seeing.
With his leg now healed, Zevran briskly walked over to where Alistair and Riel were going through bodies. Still feeling confused, but wanting to help, he bent down to add his own hands to the search. However Riel barked at him to stop. "Leave this to Alistair and I, Zevran. This is a Warden's job. Go back to the well and take care of yourself." The last bit was uttered in contempt even though Riel refused to look up at him. Zevran cast a look over to Alistair and felt his anger raise as he again saw the smug look of satisfaction on the fool's face.
"I'm sure there are some locks you can pick somewhere, Zevran. You can leave the dirty work to Riel and I. Don't worry, I'll look after her."
Zevran's fingers twitched for his blades, his anger rising. "Sounds like a fair exchange, my Templar friend. I'll watch our dear Riel in battle and keep her alive, and you can keep her safe from the already dead corpses that we have killed," he replied back, ice bristling the edges of his words despite the friendly tone.
"Would both of you just shut up? There isn't much here, anyway!" spat out Riel. Quickly she stood and went over to Morrigan who was casually waiting several feet away. "Here, I found three decent sized lyrium potions and a healing potion. Take them and put them in your pack."
"Thank you kindly, my friend," Morrigan replied with a smile and slight bow of her head. "Are we to look for this rumored golem, then?"
"I think it's over here, actually."
Riel looked over to Alistair and watched as he heaved a large section of a wood from a statue in the middle of small seating area not too far from the bodies of Darkspawn. The statue underneath was that a stone creature, it's arms raised high as if it were raging against the sky above it. Interspaced between the rock and stone looked like lines of pure lyrium, reminding Riel of veins on a body.
"It's magnificent!" Zevran awed as he looked up the statue.
"What did Bodahn say the phrase was? Dulm something?" Alistair asked.
Riel rolled her eyes and took out the control rod from her side pack. "Dulef gar," corrected Riel, joining Alistair in front of the statue.
"That's weird. Shouldn't it have moved?" Alistair cleared his throat and said in a loud voice "Dulef gar!". Yet still the statue didn't move.
"Riel, I think you may want to see this."
Riel looked behind her to see Morrigan standing over near one of the partially destroyed buildings. "What is it Morrigan?" Leaving the frustration of the golem behind for the moment, she hurried over to where her mage friend was standing. Morrigan's arms were crossed over her chest and her brow was furrowed as she gazed down at something on the ground. Following her eyes, Riel at first thought she was looking at just another tangle of flesh and bone from one of the many dismembered corpses that littered the village ground. Until she saw it move, that is.
"By the Dread Wolf, he's alive!" Riel exclaimed as she dropped down to the body before her. "Quickly Morrigan! Do your magic!"
"There is nothing I can do. He's beyond any magic, I'm afraid. It's a miracle he is still breathing as it is."
"H-...he-...lp" the man tried to whispered through cracked lips. Looking down at him, one of the poor man's arms was missing, as well as both his legs. It looked as if his flesh wasn't just sliced away, but actually gnawed on, causing bile to rise in Riel's throat.
"Shh… don't try to talk…" whispered Riel, trying to comfort the man. "Can't you do anything, Morrigan?" she pleaded without looking at the mage.
"The only thing that can help this man is a dagger to the heart, my dear."
Tears welled in Riel's eyes as she brushed a portion of bloodied hair away from the man's face. His green eyes stared up at her, wide in both pain and fright. Even though he was badly injured, the man still tried to move, forcing Riel to put her hands on him to keep him still.
"Don't try to move…."
"W-win...wind-...mi-..." the man's hoarse voice cried.
"What is that? I don't understand…" Riel leaned down to man's lips, trying to hear him better.
"Oth-...ers… wind-...mill…"
"Others? In the windmill?" Riel asked softly, watching as the man's face looked upon her first with relief, then sadness.
"He-..lp...them…" the man uttered one last time before all life left his eyes and his body moved no more.
"I commend this man's poor soul to the Maker. May he find peace at His side."
Riel looked up to see Alistair standing above her, his face solemn as he pronounced the man's last rights. Riel felt tears at her eyes, yet she refused to shed them even as her body started to shake. Suddenly she felt a hand on her back and she turned her head to see Zevran kneeling beside her. Staring into his honey colored eyes, Riel felt herself calm slightly. Sniffing back the tears, she stood and looked on her companions.
"Come on. He said there might be others who need help. And I'll be damned if I left anymore villagers die to these creatures!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Riel was not a cat person. Even when a little girl in their clan owned one, she disliked the things. Sure, they could be cute at times. But Riel always preferred dogs to the lazy and capricious creatures known as felines. And after their last encounter, she liked cats even less.
Turns out the old and mostly destroyed windmill did have survivors inside, protected behind a magical barrier that kept Darkspawn away. The few remaining villagers were thankful for being rescued, yet refused to help Riel with the golem outside until Riel had promised to find one man's daughter that had gone deeper into the windmill. Reluctantly Riel agreed. The father had feared the traps the old mage who used to live in the village had set up to prevent others from getting his work. Yet it wasn't the decades old traps that threatened the young girl when Riel found her.
It was a demon. In the body of a cat. And not a very nice cat, either. Turned out the demon wanted Riel to turn off a magical barrier that was keeping the demon trapped in the cellar of the windmill. And if Riel refused, the desire demon would kill the poor girl next to it. It was the tip of Riel's tongue to go tell the demon to bite pile a cow shit when from beside her, Zevran spoke up.
"If we free you, what becomes of the girl?"
"Then I leave with her," the demon replied calmly.
"No way!" exclaimed Riel, unsheathing her blades. Yet Zevran placed a hand gently on her arm, stopping her.
"Very well, demon. As long as the girl is not harmed, we will free you."
"What do you think you're doing?!" Riel yelled at Zevran, pushing him away from her.
"Trust me, mi bella…." Zevran winked at her, displaying confidence despite the insanity of his words. "Just stay close to the girl."
The puzzle unlocking magical barrier was difficult, but soon enough Riel felt the magical energy in the room discharge. The demon possessed cat pured and stretched it's legs before looking at Riel.
"Wonderful! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my prize!"
"Didn't anyone ever tell you to never make deals with assassins?" Zevran laughed before shouting to Riel. "Quickly! Grab the girl!" before throwing a smile knife at the creature.
"Traitors!" the demon hissed. A large dark cloud erupted around the cat, forming into the shape of a desire demon.
Quickly Riel reached forward and took hold of the girl's hand, pulling her hard against Riel. "Hurry! Run back to your father!" Riel yelled at the girl, nearly shoving her towards the door. Thankfully the girl didn't need to be told twice as she bolted screaming up the stairs and out of the cellar.
Shades and skeletons came out of the shadows, immediately attacking the group. Riel slashed out with her daggers, yet the pointed blades didn't do much against the already dead skeletons. However, Morrigan was quick with her spells and quickly went about casting fire and frost spells, heating the already brittle bones before encasing them in ice.
"Shatter them Riel!" Morrigan cried out. Following her friend's lead, Riel punched out with her dagger at one of the frozen undead, and to her surprise the thing shattered under the pressure. The bones and ice breaking into small pieces at her feet. Smiling Riel found her next target and did the same.
"Alistair, protect the stairs! Morrigan, stay up there and keep casting!" Riel shouted before launching herself at the desire demon that was currently fighting with Zevran. The demon lashed out one of its clawed hands at Zevran's face, leaving behind three deep cuts in his flesh. Yet still the elf fought, taking the pain in stride.
Riel took advantage of the demon's distraction and dug one of her daggers into the demon's back, right between its shoulders. With adrenaline fueled strength, Riel then pulled the blade downwards, slicing a deep wound all the way down the creature's back. The demon wailed in pain before turned to attack Riel. Riel struck again with her other dagger, this time digging the blade deep into its heart. A final wail burst forth before the demon collapsed to the ground, then vanished into smoke.
The remaining shades and skeletons in the room also vanished, their power tied to the demon that summoned them. Panting, Riel locked her eyes on Zevran across from her. Her hand rising on its own, she stopped when her fingers were nearly touching the ripped flesh on his face.
I can wash myself
Riel's face hardened, wiping away the look of concern and fear on her features and replacing with a cold look of anger mixed with irritation. He doesn't want my help she thought to herself.
"Do not worry, mi bella, I'm fine," Zevran stated, seeing her expression change.
"Of course you are," Riel replied, her voice emotionless. Turning on her heel, she marched over to where Morrigan was and quickly walked by her. "Heal him," she muttered without looking at the witch.
The father of the girl waited back where Riel had first found him, hugging his daughter to himself. Riel placed a fake smile on her face and greeting the pair, both of them offering her their thanks. The father of the girl then explained that the golem outside actually belonged to his father, the mage who once owned the windmill. A hero from the war between Ferelden and Orlais, the mage had used the golem as a great advantage against the armies of Orlais before finally coming back to Honnleath with it. However, somehow the golem broke free from the mage's control and killed his owner. With its owner now dead, the golem froze into the position it was in now. Distraught over her husband's death, the wife of the mage sold the control rod, hoping to never see it again.
The father of the young girl told Riel that his mother most likely told the merchant that wrong activation phrase as to prevent the golem from ever awaking again. However, as long as Riel promised to take the creature with her when she left, he would tell Riel the proper phrase. Immediately Riel agreed, and was told the proper words to wake the stone creature. Then after smiling through another round of thanks, Riel and her companions made their way back outside and to the where the golem still stood.
Standing in front of the golem with control rod in hand, Riel tried desperately to control her emotions and focus on the task at hand. Yet Zevran's words kept going through her mind, stealing her focus away. She wasn't even entirely sure why she even felt angry at his words to begin with. However his words haunted her mind, acting like tiny daggers, cutting away at her calm exterior.
"Are you going to use the phrase, Riel?" Alistair asked from behind her, startling from her thoughts. "You okay?"
Embarrassment reddened her cheeks at being caught off guard. "I'm fine Alistair," Riel snapped back at him.. Looking back at the golem, she cleared her voice and uttered the phrase the man told her. There was a rumbling emanating from the golem before the creature suddenly came to life. Years of dirt and debris crumbled and fell from its body as it shook out its arms and stretched as if it were just a normal person coming awake from a night of rest.
Then the thing's glowing eyes fell upon Riel, bringing a lick of fear to the base of Riel's spine. From behind her, Zevran casually stepped closer to his Warden, readying himself in case he needed to act quickly to defend her.
"I knew the day would finally come when someone would find the control rod," the golem stated with a sigh. "And it's a mage, too."
"The mage you are looking for is right here, golem. Perhaps you need your eyes are in need of repairing."
Riel looked behind to Morrigan, seeing her offer a knowing smile before hiding her emotions yet again. Did Morrigan know?
"Right," the golem said with a huff before continuing. "Well then, are all the villagers dead?"
"No, some escaped," replied Riel, bringing her attention back to the large grey golem.
"Pity. I stood here watching these fleshy villagers scurry about me for, oh I don't know how long. Many, many years."
"And the people didn't know? Creepy," Alistair shuddered.
"I was finally starting to get used to the quiet too. Not that I'd have wanted a band of Darkspawn to come running in and start slaughtering everyone, but at least it was delightful change of pace compared to how my days normally went."
"Forget creepy. That's outright disturbing."
"Oh I don't know Alistair. If I were to be forced to spend decades watching you everyday, I think I would rather welcome the Darkspawn as well," laughed Morrigan morbidly.
"Well go on, out with it. What is its command?" the golem stated flatly.
"I'm not an 'it' you know." Riel felt her irritation to grow at the golem's way of speech. She had spent a good portion of her life as an 'it' - an object to be used and forgotten when no longer wanted. And she wasn't impressed in being called such again.
"It's not? Well whatever it is, it certainly thinks rather highly of itself."
"You know, this reminds of a time back in Antiva. I was sent to kill this barrel of a man who had cheated his fellows out of a rather large amount of money. He had this habit of singing whenever he took his evening bath, however his voice was better suited to that of a braying donkey than a man. So you can imagine how well he sung."
"What does this have to do with anything, assassin?" Morrigan spat out, her voice clearly showing her annoyance.
"My dear Morrigan, you cannot rush a story! That takes away the fun of it!" he replied with a wink.
"Can we please get back to the matter at hand? As in the golem that is standing in front of us?"
"Yes, I agree with the whining knight."
"Hey! I don't whine!" Alistair replied back to the golem, whining.
The golem sighed heavily again before looking at Riel. "It does have the control rod, doesn't it? I am awake, so it must."
"I have it right here," answered Riel, showing the rod to the creature.
"I see the control rod, yet I feel…. Go on, order me to do something!"
"Fine," Riel snapped. "Attack Alistair."
"Hey! Riel!"
"I feel… nothing. Nothing! I feel no compulsion to carry out its command!" the golem exclaimed in amazement. "I suppose this means that the rod is…. broken?"
"So does this mean you go on a killing rampage now?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" the golem stated to Alistair. "Although I suppose I could go and kill all those vile birds…. Those evil birds and their foul droppings… I could crush them all!"
"I think you may have a problem with birds, my friend," replied Zevran.
"I suppose if I can't be commanded, does that mean I am free? That I have free will, yes? Except, what should I do?" the golem focused again and Riel in front of it. "It has no control rod dictating its actions. What does it do?"
"I am fighting against the Blight. I am a Grey Warden, and so is Alistair here."
"The Blight? That has to do with those Darkspawn creatures, doesn't it? Interesting."
"Our fair lady Warden here is an excellent fighter, and she intends to gather a whole army of Fereldens to fight against the Darkspawn and end this Blight. Those of us who are not Wardens have chosen to help her, fighting along side of her."
Riel looked over at Zevran and slightly smiled before looking back at the golem.
"I suppose I have two options then, don't I? Go with it, or go elsewhere? I have no idea what even lies beyond this village. I have been trapped here no long, my memories of anything outside are gone."
"What do you want to do, then?" asked Riel.
"I honestly do not know. I have to admit the question perplexes me."
"If I may say, we came here looking for a golem to help against the Blight. And here stands such a creature. I say we let him join us, no?"
"Are you sure? He does seem rather dangerous…."
"If you are frightened Alistair, I could buy you a stuffed toy at the next town we come to," Zevran replied with a mischievous wink.
"I will follow it about then. For now. I am called Shale, by the way."
"Fine then. My name is Riel. If you're coming, let's get going then. It's starting to get late and the others are probably wondering where we are."
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Vhenan'ara