Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Blood Promise	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4559 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
Blood Promise

There was endless blackness. Cold nipped at her skin, freezing and burning. Malicious laughter in the background, within the darkness, teasing and taunting.
You can't save her. You can't save any of them!
She went to her knees, holding her head as the pressure fell upon her like crushing waves. She couldn't take much more. The impending darkness. The loneliness.
A scream raked her ears. There Bethany was, being dragged by two armored men. The crest of their order blazing upon their chests.
Jordan! Help me! Please!
The screaming, filled with terrible fear. She had to do something. She couldn't let them take her sister. She ran, but wasn't fast enough. She reached, but was never near enough. Bethany became more distant, the darkness suddenly shifting.
A burning light passed by her, illuminating the darkness. She was back on that terrible field. More screams, now of death and torment. The creatures of nightmares ran about, killing and corrupting. The ground thick with blood and taint. She pushed herself through it all, determined to find her. Determined to free her. Then to run, but to where, she didn't care. Just run, fast and hard. Until she was safe.
Mist surrounded her. The cries of battle and death sounded all around. She was in a swamp now, dead trees and blood-filled waters. More laughter. More darkness.
A man stood before her. Familiar with his leather coat and feather pommeled shoulders. His back was to her. He was whispering something, but she couldn't understand him. She reached to touch him, slight hope running through her, only to be dashed when he suddenly turned to face her.
This is your fault! he yelled, eyes of bright, burning blue flames flashed with anger. She stared frightened in those swirling vortexes. If you had not distracted us, we could have saved her!
He began to advance on her. She backed away, shaking her head.
She is lost! They're all lost! All because you wouldn't heed our warning!
She wanted to say something, but her throat caught. He was right on top of her, those eyes becoming brighter and filling with more rage.
All is lost. Your promise is broken.
He moved, and she saw her. Bethany, standing still, her affect flat, eyes dull and lifeless, and the blazing symbol of Andraste burned onto her forehead.
***
“No! Bethany!” Jordan screamed as she wrestled with the sheets, flinging her limbs about as she desperately tried to free herself.
“Jordan, calm down!” Anders ran to her, placing his hands on her shoulders to force her back on the cot. “Relax. You're all right.”
Jordan snapped her eyes open and looked up at him, seeing his calm but concerned face. The image of Bethany staring at her with those lifeless eyes, the brand on her forehead, ran through her mind. She couldn't let that happen. “Let me go,” she spoke.
“Why?” Anders asked.
“I-I have to save her!” Jordan tried to push herself up, but Anders kept her down. “Let me go! I have to save Bethany! She was tranquil! They'll make her tranquil if I don't do something!” She began to cry and Anders brought her up and into his arms.
“She's not tranquil,” he said, holding her.
“But I saw her,” Jordan sobbed into his chest. “She wasn't there anymore. It wasn't her. Her eyes. Oh Maker, her eyes!” She shook as the tears flowed. Her hands wrinkling his robes as she held onto him, not wanting to let go.
“It was just a dream,” Anders said soothingly. “Bethany is not tranquil. And I don't think she will become one either.”
“How do you know? She's an apostate. They'll see her as dangerous and think it's the only thing they can do with her. I need to go make sure that doesn't happen.” She tried to get up again, but Anders still wouldn't let her.
“Jordan, I know you think you need to save her, but going to the Gallows and trying to break her out will only cause her more pain. They'll for sure make her tranquil after that. But I know they won't because I know Bethany is a smart mage. And if Cullen was the one that brought her in, then he'll make sure she's not harmed.”
Jordan looked into his eyes, seeing the soft and caring brown. She remembered the harsh and angry blue from her dream. “You're sure?”
Anders hesitated a little. “Yes. I'm sure.” He half smiled at her, and even though Jordan knew he probably wasn't sure himself from the slight hesitation, it still made her feel better.
He let go of her. Jordan lend back on the cot, suddenly grimacing. She had noticed it when she had awoken, but the headache was just now starting to drive itself into her brain. She took in a sharp breath as she flopped back on the pillow, holding her head between both her hands. The last time she had had a headache this bad was back in Lothering before they were forced to leave.
“Jordan, what's wrong?” Anders asked as he looked over her.
“It's... ah.” Jordan looked up into his caring eyes. She could see he was worried about her. It made her happy to see his reaction, to see he cared for her, but she wasn't sure how to take it at the moment. “It's nothing.”
“It doesn't look like nothing. Let me take a look. Does your head hurt?” Anders leaned in to examine her, but she pushed his hands away.
“No, I'm fine,” she said standing. “I... I have to go. I'm sorry I bothered you.” Jordan then took off out of the clinic, the pounding in her head matching the pounding of her footsteps.
“Wait! Jordan!” Anders ran after her, not caring that he was leaving his clinic open. He couldn't let her go, not with how she was acting. She was unstable right now, and he needed to stay with her. He followed her through Darktown, soon realizing where she was going.
Jordan didn't stop until she reached the large window she liked to stare out when she needed to recuperate. Today the sea was calm, barely any clouds in the sky. A ship was making its way into the harbor, its white sails fluttering in the wind. Jordan focused her gaze on them, gripped her hands on the cold stone of the window ledge, but nothing she did seemed to steady her. Tears burst from her eyes and she fell to her knees. Her head pounded and her heart ached, both pains threatening to rip her to pieces.
Anders stood behind her, quiet as he gazed at her shivering form.
“I'm really never going to get her back, am I?” Jordan asked.
“If Justice and I can achieve what we set out to do, then I'll make sure you do get her back.” He went next to her and stared out at the sea. “I'm so sorry, Jordan. I wish there was something I could do now, but I can't. It'll put her in danger, and Justice and I haven't come up with a plan of action just yet.”
His closeness gave her comfort. Jordan stood and wiped her eyes, calming herself. “I understand. I just wish there was something that could be done now. I don't want Bethany to suffer. It's not her fault she thinks it's best for her to be in the Circle. That would be mine.”
“How so?” Anders asked as he turned to look at her.
“Because long ago I made a promise to her that I would never let anything bad happen to her. That I would be there to protect her always. And I meant it.”
“I know you two are close.”
“Very close,” Jordan said as she stared out to the sea. “Bethany means the world to me. Even in the Gallows.”
“She's lucky she has you as a sister. I've often wondered if I had someone like you if things... might have been different.” His eyes shifted away from her, peering downwards.
“You do,” she said half-smiling at him. “You have me.”
Anders smiled back, not just from her words, but he could also tell she was feeling better.
“You know, it's funny,” Jordan said looking back out at sea. “I was prepared to protect Bethany my whole life. Seriously. But instead, she turned the tides and protected me.”
“Forgive me if I can't see how giving herself to the templars is protecting you,” Anders said with a bit of anger. Jordan could see the hardness in his eyes, more than likely hatred from what Bethany had done, especially to her. At least, at that moment, his eyes were still brown.
“It might be hard to understand now, but there was a reason,” Jordan continued. “Back when we were both very young, around the time we found out Bethany was a mage, she had a horrible nightmare one night. I remember her running into my room, crawling in bed with me and crying her eyes out. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me she had had a bad dream. She dreamt templars had come for her, to take her away to the tower. Carver and I were no where in sight, and Mother and Father did nothing to stop them. They just let the templars take her to the tower, where she saw all sorts of contraptions used for torture and death. I mean, things you wouldn't think a six year old would know or even dream about.”
A small half smile curved Anders's face. “No, I can believe it. That dream actually sounds familiar. In fact, I don't think there's any mage out there who hasn't had it. But the thing is for most of those mages, part of the dream comes true, while the other part may come true later.”
“But you're working to prevent that, right?”
“Trying too.”
“Well, I wanted to prevent that for Bethany, at least. After she told me the dream, I said she had nothing to worry about. Father and Mother were never going to let her go. Father was already doing everything he could to keep the templars away. And Carver and I weren't going anywhere, either. But you see, from all the things in the dream, that's what scared her the most. We weren't around. She was all alone.”
“Another thing I can understand,” said Anders.
“At that moment, I knew what I had to do,” Jordan continued. “In order to make her feel better, in order to show she would never be alone, I made her a promise.” Jordan held up her right index finger, showing Anders the small scar upon its print. “I promised her I'd never let anything bad happen to her. That I'd always be there to protect her from anything. Even bad dreams.”
“Hold on,” Anders said as he stared at her scar. “You made a blood promise? With a mage?”
“Well, yeah,” Jordan said as he gawked at her. “Remember, I said we were young. She was six and I was eight. Neither of us even knew what a blood promise was, or what it would mean later on. But when I made that promise, when we placed our fingers together that night, I didn't just do it to make her feel better. I did it because I meant it. She was my little sister, mage or not, and I loved her.”
“That was a very brave thing you did,” Anders said as he took her hand. His finger rubbed against her scar, gentle and tender. It sent a slight shock through her body, making her feel warm.
“It's why Bethany surrendered,” Jordan said softly. “Because she was willing, Cullen waited until I returned before he took her. That way she could release me. That way I wouldn't suffer because I thought I had failed. I don't know if what she did helped at all, but I still feel like I failed. Bethany's gone, just like Carver and Father. Besides Mother, I'm the only one left.”
Anders kept her hand within his as he continued to rub the scar on her finger. He had suspected it, but wasn't sure he believed it. Now that Jordan had told him, he understood Bethany's actions a little better. Making a blood promise was a serious matter, especially when it was done with a mage. “It makes sense now,” Anders said as he stared at her hand. “I can't say that I agree with Bethany, but I now know why she did it.”
“Yeah...” Jordan sighed as she took her hand from his. “But don't think I would ever take it back. If I knew, even then, what would happen... If I knew what a blood promise was, I still would've done it. I don't care.”
“Jordan...”
“It's my doing.” Jordan stared at him with painful eyes. “I did this to myself and I don't regret it.” She grimaced as the pain in her head flooded back to her attention.
“I can help you,” Anders said, seeing her misery. Seeing her hurt.
Jordan shook her head. “No. I'll deal with it on my own. You're not Bethany. You're not my father.”
“But if you would let me see...”
“Anders... I'll be all right.” Jordan smiled at him, but it was weak. “I just need to go back to my mother now. Let her know she didn't lose both of her daughters in the same night.”
“O-of course.”
“Thank you, though. I'm glad to have you as a friend.” Jordan then walked away from the window, making her way into Darktown. Anders stayed where he was, watching her go until she disappeared from his sight. He hated her this way. It wasn't like her at all. It wasn't the Jordan he knew and loved. Things were going to be rough for her now, and even if she didn't ask, he was going to make sure he would be by her side to see her through it.
***
Months went by. Seasons changed, which turned into years. Jordan felt heavy, abandoned. For the first few months, she felt as if there was nothing for her anymore. She had lost her sister, for the longest time, her only meaning in life. Anders helped. He would visit her every now and then to make sure she was all right. The others would visit as well and give their support. Eventually, Jordan came out of her gloom when Varric presented her with a distraction.
It took some time, but eventually Varric was able to find buyers for all the treasure they brought up from the Deep Roads. He made Jordan more than she could have ever hoped for. It was enough not only to give a little to all her friends, but for her to also receive the life she had wanted for herself and her mother.
Leandra had went to see the viscount while Jordan was on the expedition. She had explained to him the situation and even showed him the will. Viscount Dumar thought it over, but determined that he was unable to give the Amell mansion back to Leandra. The will was too old and past its date. The mansion was the property of the city now, but if she wished, she could buy it back. When Jordan heard this, she was determined to go to the senaschal and buy the mansion before anyone else could. It was the first thing she did once Varric gave her the money. Soon her ancestral home was now her property, and Jordan and Leandra moved out of Gamlen's home the very next day.
As the years passed, Jordan's adventures didn't really stop. Many times she and Isabela went about Kirkwall, making trouble and mischief. They very well soon became notorious not only for their fun in the Hanged Man almost every night, but also for their constant searches for the relic Isabela was still trying to get her hands on. Many times Isabela would drag Jordan on a wild goose chase, as they followed leads that sounded promising. Most lead to nothing while others lead to Jordan getting majorly hurt, a quick trend that seemed to happen more and more. Jordan sometimes hesitated every time Isabela would come to her with a new lead. She would go with her friend no matter what, however. Not only because of that, but because Jordan knew it would be fun, despite how it might end.
This was something Anders wished would end. Many times, most during the night, he would get a knock on his clinic's door that happened to be Isabela and Jordan back from one of their crusades. Always it was Isabela with only a few scratches and bruises while Jordan was black and blue with broken bones and one or two gashes. The two women would laugh it off, but Jordan could tell it was something that bothered him.
During those years, Anders had proven a true friend as he made sure to check in on Jordan from time to time during the first few months Bethany was gone. But once he noticed Jordan would be all right and was distracted from both the money and Isabela, he began to retreat. Most of the time Jordan would find him in his clinic, either healing patients, writing his manifesto, or working on his research to heal a broken spine. When asked if he would go with her and Isabela on some of their adventures, he would always decline, having too much that he needed to do. Jordan worried about him, knowing he didn't leave his clinic much, and when he did, most times she had no clue what he was doing.
Aveline was another friend Jordan rarely saw after the Deep Roads. Although she would occasionally see the warrior in the Hanged Man at night, playing cards with both Varric and Fenris, Aveline mostly stayed at the Viscount's Keep. As the new guard-captain, she took full charge of the guards, assigning them new patrols and requiring extra training. Some of the guard weren't pleased she was made captain and boycotted her new roster, but once they realized what she was doing, most of the guard stood behind her. On-duty casualties were down along with crime in the city. Seneschal Bran wasn't happy with the higher budget the guard pulled due to the extra training and different patrols, but he couldn't argue with the results. The city was safer with Aveline as guard-captain, and that in time, it would save the city more.
Fenris never left Kirkwall, even after returning from the Deep Roads. Jordan was almost sure he would due to the fact his debt to her was basically paid. Yet he continued to stay in the abandoned mansion, drawing attention from the neighbors around him. A few times Aveline had to intervene in order to keep Fenris from being discovered. It was one of the things she constantly warned him about, that she wouldn't always be able to keep the guard from investigating the house and eventually pulling him from it. Fenris didn't act as if he was going to left, however, either from the mansion or the city. Jordan would occasionally visit him to see how he was doing, but just as with Anders, she could barely get him to leave the house. Varric seemed to be the only one that could talk him out and into the Hanged Man to play a few rounds of Diamondback or Wicked Grace.
Merrill was another that Jordan had trouble trying to leave her house. She, along with Varric, would sometimes accompany her and Isabela, but it wasn't often. Merrill liked to stay in her house, mostly because whenever she left it to go about the city alone, she would get lost. Varric had given her a ball of twine to help her find her way home, proving helpful, but at the same time driving the rest of Lowtown crazy. Merrill also felt out of place as she was never fully able to adapt to city life. She missed her clan terribly, the elves in the alienage nothing like them, and most of them avoiding her all together. The only one Merrill really talked with was Arianni, who would do what she could to help Merrill adjust to the city. Merrill also started becoming very secretive, or at least for her room. Every time Jordan visited her, Merrill would lock the door to her room and would divert the conversation if Jordan tried to ask about what was in there. It made Jordan think about that mirror she had seen, wondering if that was what Merrill was trying to hide. But why, Jordan couldn't be for sure.
Varric did as Varric always did: stay at the Hanged Man and tell stories while playing card games with his friends. With Bartrand gone from the city, he was now in charge of his family's affairs, including taking the Tethras seat in the Merchants Guild. Not once did he ever attend any of the meetings, preferring to do any busy he was forced to do right in his office at the tavern. It made Jordan and the others laugh to hear his many excuses for why he was never at any of the meetings. The Guild eventually gave up trying to get him to follow their order. As long as he kept his family's affairs in order, then they pretty much left him alone.
Jordan kept herself busy by visiting her friends when she could and going with Isabela whenever the pirate found new information on the relic. But even with the Amell mansion finally hers, and her mother not living in Lowtown anymore, Jordan still felt herself hollow. She missed Bethany, and even though as the days went on it was easier for her, she still hated the thought that her sister was in the Gallows. For the first six months since Bethany's departure, Jordan had heard nothing from her. It wasn't until one day, as Jordan was going through the mail in her new home, did she finally receive the letter she had been waiting for.
***
To my dearest sister,

First, I want to tell you that I am fine. I know you worried, especially since it's been six months and you've had no word from me. It is only now that I've been allowed to send you anything, and there is much I wish to tell you.
To begin, the night that I left, Cullen took me immediately to the Gallows, and from there, the Harrowing Chamber. I found it scary that it was the first thing I was to do in the Circle. There was no warning, but it was necessary. As a mage outside of the Circle for so long, they needed to initiate me in as soon as possible. Blood was also taken from me to create my phylactery. I will not give you the details of the test, not because I am forbidden to say, but because I don't want to worry you. Just know that I passed, otherwise I would not be writing this to you, and that the name suits it very well. I'm sure if you really wished to know what the Harrowing is, Anders may be willing to tell you.
After the test was complete, I was brought to my room, I believe by Cullen, but I can't be for sure. I was unconscious when I was brought. I awoke in my new room and there I stayed locked within for a week or so. I'm not quite sure. It could have been longer or shorter. Time passed slowly. Yet every now and then I would get visitors. Chantry priests would come in and talk with me, along with templar escorts. The priests asked about my life, and I did not lie to them. I told them about you and Carver, and about Mother and Father and our life on the run. I was also visited by the first enchanter, along with the knight-commander. Orsino is a good man. He treats all us mages with respect and tries to do everything he can for us. To make our lives better. Yet there is only so much he can do with Knight-Commander Meredith constantly peering over his shoulder. That's what she was doing during the time Orsino was visiting me. She didn't say much, only stood in the doorway and listened. I find her presence unsettling, and her eyes seem so cold.
You may be happy to hear that Orsino knew our father. They weren't necessarily friends, but they were junior enchanters together. Orsino was surprised that I was his daughter. Apparently our father had a reputation at the Gallows that you would have been proud of. He was just as you: charming, mischievous, and always getting into trouble. I assured the first enchanter I would not be up-holding the reputation of my father. He seemed relieved by this.
It wasn't until after the meeting with the first enchanter and knight-commander was I finally released from my room and free to walk the Gallows. In order to help me, I was given a guide and a mentor, a senior mage by the name of Sacha. You may find it strange that she was chosen to show me around considering she is blind. It surprised me, really, to think a mage could function without the use of sight, but she acts as if that isn't a problem. Sacha walks freely around the Gallows as if she can see, and in truth, you may never realize that she is blind unless you looked her fully in the eyes and saw the milkiness. She is truly an inspiration, and has shown and taught me a lot. I enjoy her company.
I won't lie to you, living here in the Gallows is hard. We are constantly watched, the templars vigilant with their stares. There are some that frighten me, for I have seen the cruelty they inflict upon the mages here. I keep my distance the best I can, but I cannot always avoid the templars who despise mages. I have not been hurt yet, so do not go thinking that. I know you have probably already had thoughts.
There are good templars, however. Cullen is one of them. He checks in on me every now and then, making sure I've settled in to Circle life. It is he who will make sure this letter gets out to you without interference. He is a decent man, and has even told me about Esumi, the mage he loves that lives in the Circle in Ferelden. Theirs is a tragic love, I believe. A beautiful thing that if only there was no tension between mages and templars, might have been able to flourish.
I have also seen Thrask and Emeric. They are also templars I don't mind being around. They do not seem to hate mages like some of the others. Thrask and I, along with Sacha at times, have had many civilized conversations about the Circle. What's wrong, what's right, what should be fixed. He listens to us mages and tries to take in account what we go through just because of what we are. Emeric as well seems to have a similar mindset as Thrask, but he is more interested in the bones you gave to him long ago. I'm not sure what he believes he will find with them, but it is his full focus and obsession. I'm not sure what you did, but maybe giving him the bones wasn't the best choice.
Then there's Keran. I see him every now and then as well. He has somewhat become Thrask's shadow. I believe the older templar felt sorry for the boy after what happened. Since he must stay a recruit for many more years and not show any signs of demon corruption, Thrask has took it upon himself to teach him and to make sure he doesn't become one of those hateful templars. So far Keran has shown nothing but kindness. He does not seem bitter towards us even after being tortured by blood mages. He does tell me sometimes that he still has dreams about them. Nightmares about what they did and what he fears may happen. I reassure him that he's fine, but behind his sweet smile, I can still see the pain and fear.
I heard what you did, that you were able to buy the Amell mansion and now you and Mother live in Hightown. I am happy for the both of you. It's something I know you deserve. Please, give my regards to Mother. Let her know that I am well, and that I love her.
To you, Jordan, I want to say that I am sorry if I caused you more grief. Knowing you, I'm sure my departure to the Gallows hurt you in many ways. I want you to know that I am sorry, but I don't regret what I did. The blood promise we made together as children was dangerous, and should have never happened, but it's not something I—as well as you, I'm sure—don't regret either. So please, Sister, forgive me and let me go. I'm sure you are planning some way to free me, but I'm asking you not to. I'm happy here, and I finally feel like I belong. No longer do I have to look over my shoulder when preforming magic. No longer do I have to fear templars branding me dangerous, although some might still think it, even with me safely tucked away in the Circle. But that's a discussion for another time. Just know that I love you, Jordan, and I do miss you and Mother. I even miss Uncle Gamlen at times. I also wanted you to know that you can come visit me if you wish. During the time when the mages are allowed in the courtyard is when visitors can come. I hope to see you and Mother soon. More can be discussed than what I can write, and you can see how I truly am. Happy. Content. Relieved. Thank you for everything you did for me, but now I think it's time for me to find my own way.

Love with all my heart,

Bethany

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age 2
- 33
- 34
- 35
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Blood Promise