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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
- 16
- 17
- 18
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 warn you now. This is not a happy chapter. Major TRIGGER warnings for those sensitive to rape, abuse, or sexual trauma.
Translations:
Mi bella: Antivan. "My beauty." Endearment Zevran uses for Riel.

It was the smells that woke her. The stench of dried blood, festering wounds, fetid urine, and other vile and disgusting things that marked the room she had spent so long in. It was a smell that she would remember, lying awake in her bed at night, even years later.
The smell of her captivity.
Riel's eyes flashed open and she screamed. An ear piercing, fear born wail that shook her down to her very core. She was back Back in the room of her torment and nightmares. The threadbare mattress under her creaked as Riel scooted herself up against the backboard, causing the chains around her ankles to clash together.
Frantically Riel looked around the small room that haunted her dreams. It was the same worn and dark wood walls, the same dirty pale paint covering them. The same faded pictures on the walls of people she never knew. Even the dirt on the floor was the same as it was before.
She was back
"No! No! No! NO!" Riel screamed to herself as she grabbed hold of the chains that latched around her ankles and pulled as hard as she could. However, she knew they that wouldn't budge. They never did. No matter how many times she pulled or thrashed against them, the long lengths of metal were securely fit into the ground below her. Yet still she yanked, irritating the already inflamed and thin skin of her sore ankles. "This isn't real! This can't be real! Please, no!"
"Eh! Shut yer mouth in 'ere!" The deep voice coming through the closed door across from the bed stopped Riel dead. A sickening slime of dread slid down her spine as she heard the familiar baritone.
The wooden door to the room opened slowly, revealing an aging obese human. His old clothes were torn in some areas, sweat marks darkening the blue tunic that he wore. Thinning, greasy hair fell across his round and pudgy face as his cold dark eyes pinned Riel with a hard and nasty glare.
"I 'avn't forgotten yer lil' escape, either, you elven bitch. Rich said 'ta wait 'til he got up, but maybe yer awake 'nuff to play now, eh?"
"Stay away from me!" Riel screamed out, edging herself even further back against the board behind her. Yet it was no use, there was no getting away. There never was.
The man's twisted smile revealed several broken and busted teeth, and made his face look even more repugnant. Slowly he walked into the room, knowing his prey had nowhere to go and nowhere to hide from him. "Ya know, I told Rich that we oughta just bust yer legs up this time. Not like ye'd be needin' 'em," the man sneered as placed his heavy pawed hands on the bed.
"Don't touch me!" Riel yelled as he reached for her leg.
"Aww, is 'at any way to speak ta yer daddy?" he laughed as he grabbed hold of one of her legs and pulled Riel closer to him. Desperate, Riel kicked out, managing to kick the man solidly in his face with her free foot. "Bitch!" he roared before backhanding Riel across the face.
Pain exploded in her head as blood filled her mouth. Disorientated, Riel cried out as she felt heavy hands grab both of her legs and pry them apart. She tried pushing the immense body away, yet his weight and size was no match for her small frame. Immediately Riel felt his sweaty body covering hers, the stench and feel of it causing her to gag and cough.
"Give us a kiss, love," the man purred in his heavy voice as he reached for her face. Bile mixed with the blood on Riel's tongue as the man pressed his fatty lips against hers as his hands grabbed roughly at her breasts. "Mmm… ya know how I love it when ya fight. Makes the lovin' sweeter, it does," he laughed darkly.
"Get off of me!" Riel cried again, tears streaming down her face.
And then there it was. That hard, putrid thing pressing against her soft core.
"NO!"
Mi bella, the past is gone.
I swear to you, they can never hurt you again...
Trust in me, mi bella...
You are never alone.
The rich, sweetly accented voice broke through the pain and anxiety in Riel's mind, acting like a beacon calling out to her.
Focusing her eyes on that of her old master's, Riel felt a fiery heat flow through her, lighting her up from the inside out. "You shall never touch me again, you PIG!" Riel roared before a wave of flame erupted from her flesh.
The blinding heat rushed forward, consuming the man above her as his painful screams echoed around the room. With a strength unknown to her, Riel heaved the burning body from her and on to the floor below. Looking down to her legs, Riel was surprised to find the chains that used bite into her ankles now gone.
"They cannot take me!" screamed Riel as she leapt off the burning bed and ran from the room. Even free from under her the vile man, the flames coming from her skin refused to abate. Everything Riel touched caught on fire as she stumbled through the old house, from the walls to the very floor that she walked on. Each footstep that she made leaving behind a burning trail that leapt up and consumed anything it could. By the time Riel reached for the door that would lead to her freedom, the small dirty house around her was alive with the fire that she wrought, the flames greedily licking and eating at the aged wood and grime.
I am here, mi bella.
"You shall NOT take me!" Riel bellowed before rushing through the front door of the house and out of her nightmare.

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The next time Riel opened her eyes, she was standing in a long hall in what looked like a grand castle. The windows around her were high and the light from the sun warmed her skin. Around her were the smiling faces of strangers of all races, looking at her and clapping in applause. Confused, Riel slowly made her way down the hall. The men and women on either side of her were dressed in a variety of ways, from casual city clothes to those of noble born, to even many more wearing armor of different types. Yet they were all cheering her.
Feeling her face flush, Riel continued walking down the long carpet towards the large dias up ahead. Standing there were others, yet these men Riel felt as if she knew somehow. She could almost feel them, as she felt Alistair in her blood due their shared Warden status.
Were these other Grey Wardens?
"Congratulations Riel! You did it! I knew you could!"
Riel focused her eyes on the figure standing in the middle of those who awaited her, her face brightening in a huge smile as she recognized the dark brown hair and trimmed yet full beard. "Duncan!" Riel exclaimed happily, running the rest of the way and taking the stairs of the dias two at a time.
"I knew you could do it, Riel!" Duncan congratulated her as she joined him. Unable to contain her joy, Riel jumped at her one time mentor, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a tight hug.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her mind still fuzzy.
"Of course I would be here, Riel! You ended the Blight! The Darkspawn are gone forever! I wouldn't miss your celebration for the world!"
"What do you mean, the Darkspawn are gone?" Riel asked as she pulled back, worry and confusion etched across her face.
"That was the last Arch Demon! When you killed it, all the Darkspawn everywhere died! You saved all of Thedas, Riel!" Duncan explained calmly, holding her comfortably against him.
This is wrong
The feeling wriggled against her mind even as she looked into the smiling face of the only human male she ever truly liked. Riel tried to grasp the memories of the fight, yet they were as if wisps of smoke in her mind no matter how hard she tried. Yet the feeling of something being wrong persisted, eating away her happiness and relief.
It was the feeling of Duncan's arms around her that finally laid the last piece into place into Riel's mind. Only one person ever held her like this, and it wasn't the human Grey Warden standing before her. In fact, Duncan - the real Duncan - never really touched her at all. He would have been shocked and amazed at how she just leapt at him, not holding her comfortably in his arms as he was doing now.
Quickly Riel backed away from the man's easy embrace.
"You're not Duncan," Riel half stated, half questioned. Yet even as the words left her lips, she knew the truth of them. "You're not Duncan!" Riel said more firmly, her eyes darting around to the still laughing and smiling people around her. "None of this is real!"
"What are you talking about, Riel?" the man looking like Duncan said, laughing slightly as if he found her statement absurd. "Of course this is real. You defeated the Blight. You are the hero of everyone!"
Mi bella.
"Where's Zevran?" Riel shouted, stepping even further back from the people in front of her. Her mind was so foggy, it was hard to concentrate. Yet she knew if she could just get to Zevran, she could figure it out. If she could just find him, she could be safe.
"Zevran is gone. Back to Antiva. You didn't think that he would stick around when the other Crows were chasing after him, did you? Did you think that he would stay for you? All of your companions went back to their lives, Riel. Your place is here, among the Grey Wardens."
I'm here.
"Where is Alistair then?" Riel suddenly felt dizzy, the world around her starting to gloss over.
"Ruling Ferelden, of course. All of them left you. You are alone here, Riel," the man claiming to be Duncan replied, his voice going deeper than before.
You are never alone.
"You shall NOT take me!" Riel roared again, twin blades suddenly appearing in her hands. She launched herself at the pretenders, slashing and twisting her blades at them. Yet instead of her daggers meeting the flesh of her enemies, the blades sliced through the images as if they were nothing more than smoke before disappearing in wisps.
"Why do you resist?" a slow, garbled voice echoed from around Riel. Her eyes darting around, Riel kept her blades at the ready as she turned, trying to pinpoint the location of the voice.
Mi bella.
"Because I am not alone!"
I am here.
"And you shall not take me!"

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The Fade was a dangerous place. Her people, the Dalish, called it 'The Beyond', and it was a realm of spirits, dreams, and demons. It was a place Riel both feared yet was intrigued by. A place where thought could create anything you wished, if only you had the will and knowledge to do so. It was the place where the humans preached that their Maker lived along with his mortal bride Andraste. And according to the Chant they taught, where the first Darkspawn came from.
Ages ago, a group of Tevinter mages thought to take the Maker's power for their own. They entered the Fade and sought out his Golden Palace from which he ruled. Yet as soon they stepped foot inside the Golden Palace, their greed and ambition turned the palace as black as their souls. Corruption leaked forth from their evil, twisting and bending them into the very first Darkspawn. Then they were thrown out of the Fade, where they continued to spread their vile corruption across Thedas.
Or at least, that's what the Chant of Light said.
Riel wasn't sure if she believed the tale herself. What she did know is that while the Fade was a place to be feared, there was power here. Power that was shared to her in the form of others, trapped there as she was.
Power enough to change her very shape and being.
And so with each level Riel passed through, she gained new abilities. A mouse to hide and travel through small holes. A large stone golem to batter down massive doors and swing powerful attacks at enemies. A flaming skeleton that was immune to fire and allowed her cross into blocked off areas. And a spirit form, that allowed her to access hidden doors that could only be seen through the eyes of the Fade itself.
And with each level's guardian defeated by her hand, a new path was opened in the realm around her. Paths that led to the tormented figures of her friends and allies, trapped in their own nightmares as she had been.
Riel rounded the corner of the path slowly, her blades ready for any creature or demon that approached. In an open area just ahead stood Wynne, the corpses of many child mages lying at her feet.
"I failed them…" she whispered as she looked upon the child corpses. Her old face a mask of utter despair, Riel's heart reached out to the older woman. Carefully she made her way over the mage, keeping her senses on alert in case it was another trap.
"Wynne? Do you know where we are?" Riel asked carefully, making sure to stay a few feet away from the mage.
"How could I have been so careless? I tried so hard, yet still they…" Wynne's words were stopped by a sob that rose in her throat, keeping her from continuing.
"Wynne! This isn't real!" shouted Riel, finally causing Wynne's head to raise. A brief flicker of recognition appeared in her eyes before the grief took over once more.
"Of course it is real! Can't you see their bodies? I failed them!"
"This is the Fade, Wynne. This is a trick. You have to focus!"
"The Fade? What… What are you talking about? Where did you… Where did you come from anyway?"
"Think Wynne. What is the last thing that you remember?"
"Why, I was in the Circle Tower. I was-" Wynne's face scrunched as she tried to pull forth the memory, yet Riel could tell it was difficult for the woman. "Where was I? We were fighting against a demon..,. weren't we?"
"Focus Wynne!" Riel cursed out. "We need to get out of here and rescue the others!"
"Don't leave us, Wynne."
Riel's eyes darted over to one of the bodies, horrified to see the dead child stand up despite the obvious hole in its chest.
"Yes, don't leave us! We need you Wynne!" another child said as it stood a few feet away.
"Maker's breath!" Wynne whispered as the bodies of the dead children around them rose and started to walk towards Wynne.
"Fight them Wynne! They are not your students!" screamed Riel as she sliced at the closest body. As soon as her blade made contact, the image of the dead child disappeared and was replaced by that of a skeleton, it's flesh rotted away and boney fingers reaching out to clasp at the older woman.
Together the two of them beat back the creatures, destroying them until finally it was just the two of them standing alone in the open area. Panting, Riel turned towards the mage and smiled, thankful she finally found someone real in this nightmare realm of dreams.
"Riel, what is going on? Wait- what's happening?" A shimmering light quickly began to form around Wynne's body, causing her to disappear completely before Riel could get to her.
"Wynne!" Riel shouted, reaching out her hand to take hold of Wynne, yet all she touched was air. "Please don't leave me!"
Riel felt tears once again pricking at her eyes. Despite all the false images and lies that she had seen in this place, Riel knew that was Wynne. She knew that Wynne was real. And now she was gone. Leaving her alone again.
You are not alone.
The calming Antivan voice that had followed her through this whole place again spoke to her. It was her one comfort in this strange, confusing, and frightening place. Riel didn't know if it really was him that spoke to her, or her crazed mind that was only making her believe that. Either way, she would take it. If it got her out of this insane place and back to her friends, Riel would use whatever she could.
Straightening her spine, Riel wiped at the tears that formed at the corners of her eyes. She would not let this place win. She would get her friends back. And then she would make whatever demon that did this wish it never was ever created.
"I'm coming, everyone," Riel steely voice uttered as she walked back to the portal that led to this place. "None of us are going to be taken."

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More demons. More fighting. More death. Yet Riel refused to let it scratch her resolve. With her Fade given abilities, she was able to fight through a legion of Darkspawn, demons and shades until finally a new path in the Fade opened for her. Praying that it would take her to the one face that she needed to see most, she stepped through the portal.
Like the area where she had found Wynne, the path Riel walked opened into a small area surrounded by strange and jagged cliff faces. And in the center of it was Alistair.
"Hey Riel! It's great to see you!" Alistair said cheerfully when he saw Riel approach.
"Alistair?" replied Riel cautiously, eyeing the woman standing next to the man.
"I was just thinking of you! Isn't that weird? This is my sister by the way," he said, motioning to the woman beside him. "Her name is Goldanna, and her children are here too! Isn't it wonderful?"
"You seem… happy…" Riel wasn't quite sure what to make of Alistair's reaction as she looked upon his goofy smile and relaxed stance.
Was this actually Alistair?
True, he looked the same, and even had the same foolish grin he used to sport whenever he tried joking with her. However, it'd been awhile since the ex-Templar had greeted Riel so happily. Usually now he either shyly smiled as he stumbled through his words, or he glared at her until he walked away. Which one usually depended on whether Zevran was nearby or not.
"Alistair, this isn't real."
"Of course this is real. I am the happiest I have ever been!" Alistair exclaimed, his face beaming.
"Alistair, is your friend going to stay for tea?" the woman beside Alistair stated flatly, her cold eyes locked on Riel.
"This is not real, Alistair, and that-" Riel pointed to the other woman. "Is not your sister. This is the Fade, and she is a demon!"
"Wait, why are saying such mean things? I knew you were cruel, Riel, but that is uncalled for! I am finally happy, why are you trying to ruin it?"
"You can't stay here Alistair. As happy as you are right now, you'll die here unless you wake up and see this for what it is!"
"Don't listen to her, little brother! She has always been mean to you, even when you were only trying to help her! Don't let her destroy your happiness now!" the woman screeched.
"Fine, don't believe me. Just use that brain for once and answer me one question. Where were you before you came here?"
"That's easy! I was-" Alistair paused, his brow furrowing as he thought. "I was… Wait, it's a bit fuzzy…"
"Brother dear, this woman is bothering the children! Send her away, then come have some tea."
"No, I think I remember now… It was a tower…. The Circle? It was under attack?"
"It still is Alistair. And we need to get out of here before these things drain us dry!"
"No! You cannot have him!" the woman beside Alistair roared, her voice morphing into something dark and twisted before her form changed into that of a shade.
"By the Maker! Look out Riel!" shouted Alistair as he shoved himself between Riel and the shade, taking the blow meant for her. "Ahg!" he groaned as the shade's claws raked across Alistair's back. Without his armor, the claws scratched deep into his flesh, yet he still managed to twist his body and land a brutal backhand on the shade behind him.
"Alistair!" Riel shouted before gripping her blades and rushing forward, slicing at the creature. Suddenly more shades appeared, surrounding them on all sides.
"This… doesn't look good,"
"Alistair! This is the Fade! Your thoughts create your surroundings!" Riel exclaimed as the shades gathered closer to the pair.
"Wait, what?"
"Oh by the Creators!" Riel rolled her eyes as she dodged a swipe by one of the shades before twisting and digging one her blades inside whatever the thing used for a face. "Concentrate on your sword! On your armor!"
Alistair's confused look faded and he closed his eyes for a moment. His body shimmered as he was suddenly clothed in his armor with his sword and shield at his back. Just as a shade was about to attack him, Alistair opened his eyes and grabbed for his blades, taking it free from its sheathe and swiping forth in one smooth motion, cutting the shade in half.
After the shades were dead, they stood side by side, breathing heavily.
"Riel, I… Thank you…" Alistair stated after a moment, his voice soft.
"Don't worry about it," she waved, smiling at him.
"Listen about before, I wanted to say…" Like previously with Wynne, a shimmering field began to take over Alistair's body. "Hey, now what? Wait, where are you going? Riel?!"
"Two down. One to go," Riel stated calmly as she sheathed her weapons and walked towards the portal. "I'm coming Zevran. Just please hold on a little longer."

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Okay… She was so not prepared for this.
The last path - the one that led to Zevran - was opened. Riel had fought and defeated the demons that guarded the way forward. And she thought that she was prepared for whatever dream or nightmare that awaited her as she stepped through the portal that led to where Zevran was being held.
However, nothing could have prepared her for this.
In the open area between the cliffs, there was a single bed. And on it, was her Zevran. And on him were several very naked human and elven women.
"Z-Zevran…?" Riel's voice was barely above a whisper as she choked on his name.
Silks of red and gold covered the bed that he laid on, his hands bound by silk scarves above his head. Yet he hardly seemed to be struggling against them. Instead he squirmed under the woman's touches and kisses. The image of it searing itself into Riel's mind as she stood there, unable to move or speak despite how her mind and heart screamed at her.
"Oh, look sisters… We have a visitor…." one of the women purred in a sultry voice as she spied Riel. Her curly blonde hair bouncing playfully against her shoulders as she turned her head.
"Do you think that she will join us?" another dark haired woman asked, a wicked smile upon her lips.
"Look Zev darling… We have a gift for you…" the first woman murmured down to him. It was then that Riel saw that Zevran's eyes were squeezed shut and his mouth set in a deep frown.
"I will not be fooled by you foul wenches!" Zevran spat out angrily.
"Oh, but don't you want want to see who we brought you?" a third elven woman asked sweetly before ducking her head down and taking his mouth in a hard kiss.
However Zevran ripped his mouth away quickly, opening his eyes and spearing the woman with a deadly glare. "Away from me! I do not want this!" he seethed, his eyes spitting fire. It was then that he saw Riel standing motionless just a few away. "Mi bella?" his voice squeaked in disbelief, a brief flash of happiness in his eyes before fear and sadness clouded his vision. "This is not what it seems! Please, Riel! You must believe me!"
Tears flooded Riel's eyes as she watched the scene before her. Pain exploded in her chest as she watched the naked women roam their hands over Zevran's tattooed body, from his chest down to his legs. And when they got to the length between his legs, Riel felt her body nearly collapse from the tremors shaking her body.
"Too bad you can't please him like we can. You may be well used, but you are clueless when comes to how to please a man aren't you?" the elven woman hissed as she fondled him. "You can't even handle to be next to his hard length, how can you ever expect to please him as a woman should?" she teased as her hands ran up and down his very hard and erect shaft.
"By the gods, please do not listen to them Riel," Zevran cried out, throwing his head back against the pillows behind him.
"See how hard we make him? Do you think you could ever make him like this? Would you ever want to?" the blonde teased with a soft laugh, lifting herself slightly off the bed. "Will you watch as I ride him, sweet Riel? You should have seen me do it before. I had him screaming out my name. It was such a sweet sound when he released in of me…." she laughed she began to straddle Zevran.
"Gods… please…. no!" Zevran pleaded helplessly from under the woman.
That was what broke Riel out of her stupor. The mournful cries that escaped his lips sounded so much like her own from her own tortured nightmares.
In a flash Riel had her blades in her hands as she leapt at the women on the bed. In a single motion she had taken the head from the one straddling Zevran's waist before digging her other blade into the eye of the dark haired woman beside her. The elven woman was last, her hissing face distorting into that of a demon before Riel slashed out with her blades, slitting its throat.
Now dead, the bodies of the women disappeared into mist, leaving just Riel and Zevran alone on the bed. She was still crying as her body heaved, her breaths coming in fast, short gasps. Yet even with the demons gone, Riel refused to look upon Zevran or release him from the binds at his wrists.
"Riel! Please! Mi bella…. Set me free! Please…." his voice heavy with shame and regret, Zevran pleaded with her, yet Riel still refused to look at him. Within a moment, the same shimmering that took the others started to cover his body as well. "Wait! No! Not yet! Please, I won't leave you like-"
And he was gone.
Riel wiped her eyes on the back of her hand then sheathed her blades at her back. Slowly she stood up and walked back to the portal.
Alone.
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Vhenan'ara