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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
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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.
Translations:
Mi flor hermosa: Antivan. "My beautiful flower."
Mi amiga bella: Antivan. "My beautiful friend."

Riel came awake with a start, the images of her dreams quickly fading from her mind. Covered in sweat, she braced her head in her hands as she shuddered deeply. Strangely, this was the first time in many months that had dreamed of Tamlen and what had transpired within the underground ruins near where her clan camped. When Duncan had found her, she was delirious with fever and nearly dead, yet the Keeper managed to beat back the taint that crawled within her veins. At least, for a time. Somehow, the mirror that she and Tamlen had found became tainted by Darkspawn, and that taint had transferred to her when she got close to it, nearly killing her. If it wasn't for the human Warden, Duncan, she would have died down in those ruins.
A part of her had even wished that she had.
Instead Riel was tainted with their foul corruption. A living death awaited her, even with the powerful magics that her Keeper had used on her. Riel's only hope was to travel with Duncan down south to Ostagar, where she would become a Grey Warden. It wasn't a cure, but it would grant her years to live instead of dying painfully in just days. In exchange, she would be required to hunt and kill Darkspawn wherever they hid; a task looked on with as much honor as fear by the many peoples of Ferelden. And at Ostagar, at the edge of the Kocari Wilds, she would help the other Wardens there beat back the growing horde of Darkspawn and end the coming Blight.
Yet despite the king's jubilant optimism, the battle had ended horrifically. Their forces were abandoned by their reinforcements, and most of those gathered were killed, including Duncan and the human leader, King Cailen. It was only because of Morrigan's mother did Riel and Alistair manage to survive the slaughter and carnage that became of that night. And now the deserter, Loghain, spread vicious rumors and lies about the Wardens, saying they were the cause of the defeat of the armies at Ostagar.
If Riel could, she would gladly sever every limb the bastard had before slowly skinning him alive. She may not have thought much of the human king - or truly much any of the men and women who gathered at Ostagar - but if there was one human that Riel could find herself mourning for, it would be Duncan. In the short time that Riel had known him, he had seemingly done the impossible and gained not only her respect, but her trust. He had shattered her beliefs of all human men being dangerous and evil creatures, if only becoming the single exception to every rule.
During the two weeks that they traveled together to get to Ostagar, Riel and the senior Grey Warden had reached a sort of comfortable peace. As the days wore on, Riel had guessed that the Keeper had told him what little she knew of Riel's past, complete with a warning about being touched. During their travels, not even once did Duncan ever attempt to help her up, or stand too close to her. Always managing to keep a respectable distance from her, Duncan never even walked directly behind her. Little kindnesses such as these chipped away at Riel's cold demeanor as they traveled, allowing her to relax in a way that she never really could back with her clan. And through the long nights that they camped together, Duncan never once asked her personal questions or about her past, with some nights passing by where she barely spoke at all.
The turning point for Riel had come on a rainy afternoon, when they were suddenly attacked by a vicious group of wolves. With only a dagger in hand, she fought as well as she could, yet even with Duncan's superior experience, there seemed no end to the wolves that surrounded them. When Riel lunged forward to stab at a near wolf, a second wolf took the open opportunity and sank his teeth deep into Riel side. Pain flooded her, yet still she fought, slashing at the wolf that bit her. The rain poured down in heavy sheets, washing away the blood that poured forth from her wound and made the ground beneath her soggy and uneven. When only a few wolves remained, Riel felt her strength leave her. Dizzy from blood loss, she misjudged her dodge and fell backwards to the ground.
However, Riel didn't feel the pain of the ground rushing up to meet her. As quick as lightning, Duncan was there, cradling her gently in his arms. Carefully he laid her down before turning and quickly dispatching the remaining wolves faster than Riel could keep track of. Once the wolves were dead, he came over to her and kneeled beside her, pulling a small vial from his belt. Bracing herself on the jagged rock beside her - one that most assuredly would have killed her had Duncan not prevented her from falling - Riel took the vial and gulped it down greedily.
As the healing potion began to work, never did Duncan scold her or even offer her help in standing up. Without a word, he simply smiled warmly down at her before standing and gathering up their supplies. Not even chastising her to be more careful while they fought, Duncan just waited calmly while the potion did its work and Riel was able to stand again.
That was also the night that Duncan began showing her how to wield two daggers instead of just one. After they had made camp for the night, Duncan broke their usual end of day silence by first speaking of when he was learning how to fight with daggers. How he would fumble with the blade until he learned how to balance the blades just right. His story became a lesson, as he showed her at first how he handled the daggers, then gradually started to fight better. Through the whole recounting, Riel remained silent, yet her attention never wavered from his tale. Duncan spoke in a way that made it seem as if he were just relating an interesting memory from his youth, yet in truth he showed Riel with his own blades how he eventually became a master at dual wielding.
Later that night, Riel offered to take first watch. And when Duncan had laid down to sleep, Riel set to work practicing what he had shown her. One some level, Riel knew that Duncan only pretended to be asleep as she fumbled and cursed softly as she worked with the daggers. Yet it didn't bother her like it normally would have. He let her practice in solitude, granting her a measure of respectful privacy as she learned the new style.
That was when Riel started to truly respect the man. Duncan never coddled her, or make her feel weak or inadequate. When they fought, she was expected to hold her own, just like any other fighter. And at night around their small fire, Duncan would speak of tales of his youth, interlaced with small tricks or pointers on how to better use the daggers that Riel equipped. At one point she was even sure that Duncan fashioned his stories purely to help her, as the troubles he sometimes spoke of while learning to wield two daggers, were exactly the troubles that she was having at the moment. Yet he never once made it seem like he was teaching her anything. And as the days passed, Riel grew steadily better with her blades thanks to his stories.
Duncan may have been human, but he was a good man. Better than any Riel had ever known. And when they had finally reached the ruins of Ostagar, Riel found that she was actually sad that her private time with the senior Grey Warden was over. Back to the cruel realities of what humans were like, with even the Quartermaster thinking that she was just a lowly servant and threatening to beat her! Thankfully Duncan wasn't that far away, or else the army would had to have found another man to sell the people supplies.
That was also when Riel met Alistair. Another Grey Warden, Riel had hoped that he would be like Duncan. Yet the first time she encountered him, he was antagonizing a human mage about Chantry business. It also didn't help how he immediately thought to start flirting with her. And their relationship went downhill from there.
Lacking any of the sense, decency, or calm intelligence that Riel had grown accustomed to from Duncan, Alistair was crass, idiotic, and often paid little attention to how much his words upset her at times. Maybe he wasn't dangerous to her, but he still was just as loathsome as most humans.
And then the unthinkable happened. All their work preparing and planning for their assault on the Darkspawn was lost when Loghain quit the field instead of acting as reinforcements to Cailen's army. Even though Alistair and Riel lit the signal fire on top of the tower, no help came for those fighting down below. As a result, not only was the battle lost, but King Cailen was killed, and worst of all, so was Duncan.
Saved by the witch Morrigan's mother, Riel awoke to the terrible news inside of Flemeth's hut deep within of the Kocari Wilds. With the army defeated and most of the Grey Warden's killed, it was then up to Riel and the bumbling Alistair to now fight against the Blight that threatened the lands. As one last piece of aid to their cause, Flemeth sent her daughter Morrigan with Riel and Alistair as they sought out new allies to rebuild an army.
It seemed like ages had passed since Riel had left her clan to travel with Duncan. In reality, it had only been a couple of weeks since they had left Flemeth's hut in the wilds. First to Lothering where they managed to recruit both Leliana and the giant Sten. It was there that they had also learned of the ailing health of the Arl of Redcliff. A knight searching for information had stopped of at the town's Chantry where Riel and her group had encountered him. He told them that the arl had suddenly fallen sick, and the only way to save him was to find the fabled "Urn of Sacred Ashes". Only, no one knew where this urn was. The only man who might have had any clues to its location had disappeared himself, although he was last seen in Denerim.
Distraught over the arl's health, Riel had promised Alistair that they would hurry to Denerim to try and find this Genitivi, or any clues that would lead their group to him. Which was what they were doing now. Although, it wasn't going to be easy. Denerim was the ruling capital of Ferelden, and where Loghain's forces would be strongest. They would need to be careful not to be seen or risk imprisonment or even death if they were caught. Who knows how far Loghain's lies had spread or how many of the people believed them. But it must be done. If what the knight at Lothering said was true, their only hope of curing the arl - and gaining his much needed help against Loghain - was to find Genitivi and these ashes.
Sighing deeply, Riel found the rag that she used as a towel, and the brush that she liked to use on her hair. As she exited her tent, her eyes immediately searched out the lone figure standing watch as the rest of the camp slept. Spotting Sten's huge frame several yards away, Riel merely nodded her head in greeting as his steely eyes met her own.
The early morning light barely lit her way as Riel made her way to a small creek that ran close to their camp. While traveling with Duncan, Riel had gotten in the habit of always trying to camp somewhere close to water. Not only did it have a practical use as a source of water for cooking and bathing, but Riel enjoyed the simple act of listening to the water as it rushed along the ground. The soft sound comforted her, reminding her of the clan who had adopted her after she ran from her old captors. The Dalish were close to all nature, and respected it fully. Water was one of the many gifts of the Creators, and finding good, clean water was always a sign of good fortune amongst her people.
Riel sat down near the edge of the stream and rinsed out the old rag before using it to scrub her face. The cold freshness helped to banish any lingering thoughts of her nightmares, and the cool breeze across her skin helped revitalize her. Without any soap, Riel did the best that she could to wash herself down, making note of any injuries that she may have suffered from yesterday's attack. Morrigan had cast a healing spell on her after the fight was over, but even magic didn't cure everything.
Normally this time of the morning was quiet, as most things were either not awake yet, or just beginning to go to sleep. The quiet peacefulness of the early morning was something that Riel relished, especially while traveling with so many people that she barely knew. Often awakened by her own nightmares, any thought of sleep was driven away by the time the sun barely started to be seen above the horizon. With only herself awake besides the single guard standing watch, Riel would spend the mornings planning out the upcoming day in quiet relaxation.
This morning, however, it seemed as if her normal morning solitude was not to be her's. A twig cracked behind her, alerting Riel that she was no longer alone. Spinning around, Riel readied herself for an attack and cursed at herself for forgetting her daggers back in her tent. She had other means to defend herself, but she preferred to only use that if absolutely necessary. Besides, Riel still had the small hunting knife in her boot that she could easily to slit the throat of any would-be attacker.
"Do not worry, my lovely Warden. It is only I, your devoted follower Zevran. I saw you leave the camp and I thought to myself "Zevran", I thought, "just last night she said that she wanted to always know where you were. So, you should go after her so she will know exactly where you are."
"Somehow I doubt that was your motivation for following me out here, Zevran," Riel scoffed as her hand drifted away from the boot that held the hunting knife in it. Turning, Riel faced the creek once more, trying to ignore the other elf as much as possible. Yet as he came closer and kneeled down beside her, his scent surrounded Riel, assaulting her in ways that were both unwanted, yet alluring at the same time.
"Ha, yes, you have seen past my little facade. In truth, I was curious about you, so I thought that maybe I could risk some bodily harm if only to get to know such a beauty as yourself a bit better."
Riel refused to look up at him, yet she could feel his amber gaze bore into her from his position beside her. Sitting by the creek, everything seemed extremely peaceful so early in the morning. Yet now she couldn't help but feel tense and inwardly she cursed at the assassin's closeness. She wanted to send him away; to tell him not to bother to try and get to know her better. She may die tomorrow, after all. So could he.
Suddenly, the thought of the golden skinned assassin dying so soon after they met made Riel's breath catch in her throat.
Why did she care? He was just another man, after all. She could see herself mourning her new friends Leliana or Morrigan, but she couldn't say she would be all too upset over the death of the Qunari or even the fool Alistair. She cared for them as a leader should, and would fight to defend them, but they did not affect her like the women of the camp did. Not like Zevran was proving to. What was it about him?
Riel had convinced herself that she had needed allies against the coming Blight. Comrades to watch her back as she traveled to assemble the army that they needed to defeat the Archdemon. That was why she had originally let the others follow her. She was not stupid, and no matter what she thought of the male gender, she knew they were much needed evil if she were to save her people - and all the other people of Ferelden - from the horror that was the Blight.
So what was it about this elf that made her heart flutter and her cheeks blush? Was it because he was an elf as well? Was it a form of kinship based on them being both elven rogues?
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even notice when Zevran placed his index finger and thumb on her chin, pulling her face gently so he could look straight at her.
Shock and surprise showed clearly on Riel's face as he held her gaze. Her normal reaction to being touched was to pull out her dagger at anyone who thought that they could touch her so. Even if it was another elf, Riel was determined to never let herself be manhandled and abused by another man. Already, she had suffered too much for her to ever go back to that life. Yet, Riel couldn't bring herself to move under the intense gaze Zevran gave to her. Liquid honey eyes bore into her, seeming to push past all her defenses and down to her core. A place that was still as scarred and broken as it was when she was accepted into the Dalish clan that she called home.
"What troubles you, mi flor hermosa?" Zevran purred gently, he himself lost in the silver eyes of the woman before him. Earlier he had come awake to the noise of someone moving about the camp and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was his rescuer from the day before. Curious about where she went, Zevran had quickly dressed and followed her silently to the small creek that lay close to where they had camped.
At first, Zevran had only intended to watch her beauty from afar, yet he felt that would only distance his Warden from him more if she were to discover him hiding in the shadows watching her. So he risked his life for the chance at perhaps getting a chance to get to know her better. Certainly, Zevran had seen many beauties in his life, some he had the misfortune of having to kill, and some that he did not. Antiva itself was full of beautiful women, selling their wares or their bodies on the streets. More than a few times he had taken one or two to bed with him, seeking their company and pleasure.
Yet none seemed to match the woman in front of him now.
Even with the gruesome scar across her face, there was something ethereal about the female Warden that captured his attention, even from the first time that he saw her come around the bend into the trap that he had set for her and her group. She seemed to have the face of an angel, soft and innocent if you caught her when her guard was down for a moment. However, Zevran had seen those eyes turn to fire when she was angry, her features darkening and her mouth curving into a frown or a snarl. And yet even then, her beauty remained, only more dangerous and wild. It was part of the reason that he found himself stoking her fire when he spoke to her. To see the fire and passion that she held within her eyes... It was truly something to behold.
However, right now, her eyes seemed sad. Tired. Like she carried the world on her slender shoulders and was growing weary from the weight of it all. It touched a part of Zevran's heart that he wasn't quite sure existed. All he knew was that it caused him to want to gather the woman in his arms and take her away from this all, away to where she no longer had to worry about monsters or Darkspawn. Away to where it would only be the two of them, together, hidden away from the world and its troubles.
The urge to lean forward and kiss those luscious lips tempted him beyond reason, yet Zevran held himself in check. He knew that he already gambled with his life by touching her face, yet he couldn't seem to help himself. He needed to look into those eyes. Eyes that had haunted his dreams the previous night.
"You should not be so sad, mi amiga bella. Surely there are many good things to be found, even in this struggle?"
Riel was at a loss. She felt paralyzed by his touch; by the look in his eyes. She couldn't comprehend the look she saw deep in those amber eyes, yet they held her still as she felt her heart rate increase and breath come faster. Only when she felt his hand cross the divide between them and lay lightly on her own did she feel the spell he cast on her break. Quickly she pulled herself away from the tanned and handsome elf, pulling her hunting knife free from her boot and held it toward him in a threatening fashion.
"W-what did I say, assassin? Do not touch me! Do so again, and I will take something far more precious from you than your life!" Riel threatened as she gazed quickly down between the male elf's legs. Her voice quivered, and she was sure she didn't sound nearly as threatening as she wanted, however she felt her point was made well enough. With her free hand, she gathered up her rag and brush without removing her eyes from the dangerous man in front of her, or dropping her blade from its position.
After another moment of stillness and silence, Riel quickly stood and marched back off towards the camp, leaving Zevran behind, still sitting by the creek. Even with her brandishing a blade at his throat, Zevran could not help but smile at what had just happened. For a moment - a brief, solitary moment - he was able to see her without her guard, without her distrust or anger. And by Andraste's mercy, she was even more beautiful.
It was then and there that Zevran decided that he would wear down his Warden's defenses so that she could at least trust him not to hurt her. Yes, he desired her in ways that were painful, both physically and mentally, but what he found that he wanted most was her trust. Her body...
Well, that could come later, if at all. No, what was more important was being able to fulfill his earlier impulse of wanting to gather her in his arms and wipe away all that hurt her and caused her to worry until none of it was left. This feeling was foreign, and he didn't really understand it himself. But if there was one thing that Zevran had learned many years ago, it was to always follow his instincts.
And right now his instincts told him that he must protect this woman - this goddess, and to find a way to make her smile finally reach those beautiful silver eyes.
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Vhenan'ara