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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
- 39
- 40
- 41
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.
TRIGGER WARNINGS for this chapter.
Please do tell me what you think so far of the story! I would love to know your opinions!
Thank you all so much for your continued readership! It means so much!
Translations:
Mi bella: Antivan. "My beauty." Endearment Zevran uses for Riel.
Usted hijo de puta: Antivan. "You son of a bitch."

Riel ran through the thickly wooded forest, searching for signs that would show her where Zevran went to. Unfortunately, the waxing moon was partially covered by cloud cover, and little light reached down through the trees. However, Riel didn't give up. Elven sight was better than humans, and even with little light, they could see clearer and farther than other races could up on the surface.
Blast it all! Where did he go? Riel cursed to herself as she looked around. Surely he couldn't have gone that far from camp? Riel stopped running and focused her breathing, reaching out with her senses. The night was quiet, with the owls and other night creatures out hunting their evening meal. The calm wind lightly brushed against her skin, bringing with it the scents and smells of the dry earth and evening life.
However, something else was carried on the wind, something familiar, yet Riel couldn't place the scent. It was too faint to tell what it was, but the slight echo of it reeked of deep warning and danger. Riel looked around, trying to focus her eyes through the darkness. Off in the distance to her right, she caught a slight movement. A light. Slowly she creeped towards the flickering source, her senses on alert.
Staying hidden in the shadows, Riel etched herself forwards, being careful to even rustle the leaves under her feet. Through the brush, she spotted the campfire, and sitting around it were two men. One thinner than the other, yet both were poorly dressed. Their leather armor was frayed and badly maintained, it was also ill fitted, as if the men either cared little for their armor condition, or didn't know how to maintain it.
The taller one was lanky, clean shaven despite his filthy brown hair and tanned face. Probably almost six feet when he stood, he looked to weigh no more than Riel herself did. Yet the bow at his back didn't require massive upper body strength or weight to wield. His squinted eyes didn't seem to miss anything as he leered over the cards in his hand over to his companion.
The other one was shorter, and much fatter. Looking as if a he were a honeyed roll glazed in sweat, the other man looked more well groomed or caring of his appearance than his friend. His longer hair was darker and tied back behind his nape of his neck, and has at least a few full days of beard growth on his cheeks and chin. Clubbed fingers scratched at the hair on his face as he looked over the dog eared cards in his hand. With shrewd eyes he looked over to the man across from him, his cruel smile revealing missing and darkened teeth.
Riel backed away from her hiding spot slowly, her hands instinctively going for the blades at her back. By the Void! No! she cursed, realizing she had forgotten her daggers back by her own fire. Fully panicked now, Riel eased herself from the shadows and backed up, keeping her eyes on the two men in front of her. However, her back suddenly hit something hard, stopping her short.
"Well, what do we 'ave 'ere?"
Riel's blood ran cold as the familiar voice reached down into her chest and clutched at her heart. Her first instinct was to run, yet before her feet could comply with the demand from her brain, a heavy palm wrapped itself around the back of Riel's neck and lifted her off the ground. With a great heave she felt herself being tossed forward, through the brush that she had been hiding in and into the view of the men at their camp.
"What's this?" the skinny one exclaimed.
Coughing, Riel tried to drag in the breath that had been knocked out of her, her eyes going wide with fear. She looked around quickly, her eyes latching onto the ropes and leaders that slavers used to control and capture slaves.
"While ya two louts were playing at cards, this 'ere knife bitch was spying on ya!"
"Oi! Not my fault, it is! Benny 'ere was takin' too long wit his cards! We be seein' who takin' first watch!"
"And while ya be gamblin', dis 'ere wench was 'bout ready to run off, probly to her clan, no doubts Then we'd 'ave a rain of arrows pickin' us off!"
Riel felt herself being roughly flipped over, and brought face to face with the same face from her nightmares. The same greasy black hair. The same dark, deep set eyes. The same cruel, evil smile. The only thing that was different was now his face was covered in burn scars. Yet that only added to the sinister look of the man as his ruthless eyes looked Riel over from head to toe.
"Wait a minute…. I know 'his one!" the man exclaimed in disbelief. He reached down latched his big palm around Riel's throat and pulled her up, her feet dangling as he easily held her aloft in his one hand. "Well I'll be! It seems 'ere be a Maker afta all…" he smiled, revealing two missing front teeth.
"What is it, boss?"
"Years back, me and me brodher 'ad ourselves a nice 'ittle step up, we did. A bunch o' knife eared bitches we whored out to whoever 'ad da coin. An dhis 'ere is da bitch who ruined it all, she did! Killed me brodher and gave me dese scars!" The man's expression then turned from shock anger, to the lecherous hungry gaze of dirty lust. "I've been hopin' to run inta ya again! How 'bout a roll, dhen?" he laughed, bringing Riel in close to his body. "I wonda, do ya still taste as sweet?" the man asked before licking his tongue along Riel's cheek.
Riel struggled against the hold around her neck, her fingers futilely trying to pry the thick digits from her skin. Suddenly she felt a thick wave of magic swell inside of her. "Never… again!" Riel screamed against the hold on her throat, just as a bolt of electricity ripped through her and arched straight into the man who held her. Cursing in pain, the man dropped Riel to the ground below.
Gasping for breath, Riel didn't waste time on her fear or surprise. Instinct was all she knew, and it everything in her told her to run. And so she did. Pulling on every reserve bit of strength she had, Riel took off at a dead run. Past the man and his men, through the brush and back out into the night.
"Benny!" the man coughed hoarsely.
"Got it, boss!"
Riel ran as fast as she could, jumping over rocks and logs as she went, her only thought to get away. However a deep pain lashed through her suddenly, causing her to crash down to the ground. Looking down at her leg, Riel screamed at the arrow she saw protruding from her upper thigh. Attached to it was some type of rope, and an instant later it went taut, wrenching her back viciously.
"Ya ain't gettin' away 'at easily, ya bitch!" the man screamed angrily as he marched over to Riel.
Frantically Riel tried to pull the arrow from her leg, yet the barbed tip refused to budge. Crying desperately, she instead tried to scramble away, yet the rope on the arrow kept her from moving very far. Riel then felt her body being flipped over roughly, hands grabbing at her body as she flailed against them. Magic sizzled in her fingers, yet it went unused for so long that Riel had trouble focusing her panicked mind in order to unleash it. Instead her body warmed, the inner defensive fire that had always come to her in times of need building under skin. Yet before the flames would be made real, something was tightly wrapped around her neck, sending a paralyzing shock through Riel's whole body.
"Heh, think again, ya knife ear! I gots smart ta ya from the last time!" the man laughed darkly as Riel's body convulsed. "Found me one of 'hose giant freaks from up north, I did. Dey got ways of dealin' wit ya magic types. Managed to git me one of 'heir fancy necklaces. Stops the magic in ya, it does!"
Riel tried screaming yet all she could managed was a small strangled cry as her own body betrayed her. Shocks of electricity cascaded through her, leaving her breathless and weak, unable to even lift her head. Her mind reeling, Riel couldn't move or fight back as she felt herself being lifted from around the waist and draped over the man's shoulder.
"Maybe we'll 'ave a bit o' fun wit ya 'fore I sell ya off!" the man laughed darkly as he carried Riel back to his camp.
"Nice shot Benny!" one of the men exclaimed happily. "I've been itchin' for a roll lately! Ever since leavin' Denerim, I been thinkin' of 'ose bitches down at ta Pearl!"
"This one is mine, ya blighter!" the man holding Riel cursed to his companion. "I've been dreamin' of gettin' hold of dis bitch for years!"
"Awe, come on Rich! I'm sure ta bitch can take a round or two!"
"Heh, play ya for her, Benny!"
"Fine! Ya two can fight o'er what's left! But first poundin' is mine!" Rich, her old master replied in a gleeful sneer.
Riel screamed in out in her mind, unable to move or even whimper as she was flung down to the ground, landing roughly on a dirty bedroll by the fire. Inside, she fought furiously against the mental hold that the magic blocking collar inflicted in her. Yet no matter how hard she demanded her body to move or her lips to scream out, nothing obeyed her. Silently she cried, cursing herself and everything in existence for what she knew was coming.
Please Mythal no! Please not again! Creators! Mythal! HELP ME!

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Zevran breathed in heavily, sweat running down his face and back as his eyes focused on the tree in front of him. The poor thing had withstood the brunt of his anger and training well, yet like the three others of that night, was now mostly useless for his desires. Slashed and cut to pieces, the tree was barely more than an upright stick now, the thick bark that used to cover it now laying in pieces at his feet.
Immediately Zevran eyes searched out another tree. Another silent victim to his rage as he battled his inner demons. His inner misery at his own mistakes and failures. Focusing his mind, his well trained eyes looked out into the darkness, missing barely anything.
Perhaps that was why he heard it. At first it was faint, a small sound carried on the wind. Yet it caught hold of his attention and didn't let go. Straining his ears, Zevran looked in the direction of the sound, willing his mind to focus. Again he heard the sound, and this time, there was no mistaking it. The blood curdling sound of a scream echoed through the woods around him. Yet it wasn't just any scream. It was her scream.
"Riel!" Zevran shouted, immediately launching himself into a run.
The blood in his veins racing as hard as his legs as Zevran sped through the darkness, his whole body tuned to the source of the scream. He would know her voice anywhere, any time. The same voice that called out in her nightmares, screaming for help as she battled her inner enemies. Yet this was no inner enemy she fought. Something was very, very wrong.
Please gods, help me find her! Zevran prayed as he ran, his eyes searching the darkness for any signs of life for movement. A flicker of light brought his attention to his left, his eyes narrowing on the faint source. His instincts screaming at him, Zevran slowed, his dagger in his hand as he cautiously approached the light source.
Years of training came back to him, as Zevran sheathed his blade and swiftly climbed up a tree, gaining a vantage point to better see. Yet what his highly evolved eyes witnessed sent his blood raging in pure fury.
"No cheatin' ya lout!" a chubby man sneered to another, lankier man beside him. The two of them huddled over their cards while by the fire, Zevran witnessed a much larger man pin a small elven frame underneath him.
"I ain't-" the lankier man started before his voice was cut off. The chubbier man looked up from his cards just in time to see his companion lurch over, a throwing knife lodged deep in his eye.
"Bloody 'ell!" he screamed, backing up and looking around, his shrewd eyes searching the darkness.
Silently Zevran dropped down from his perch. His face a mask of anger and fury, he came up the man and dragged his dagger deeply across the chubby man's throat. Blood gurgled out as he tried to yell out a warning, his voice being lost in the rush of red liquid the poured out. With a thud he fell to the ground, his hands futilely clasping at the his throat as he died.
The man by the fire skittered off the body beneath him, going for the sword that laid not a food away and grasping it in his hand. With the skill of a trained warrior he then leapt to his feet, staring down Zevran with a deadly glare.
"Who the fuck are you?!" the man sputtered, his eyes quickly going to his fallen men before going back to the elven male in front of him.
"I am someone death hides from, for even it fears what I can do," Zevran sneered evilly, taking a step towards the man. "I am the nightmare demons run in horror from. I am that which the gods themselves quake when I walk past, averting their eyes so not to garner my wrath." Zevran leveled his blades at the man, his eyes sparking vicious and deadly fire. "And now I will show you why!"
In a blink Zevran attacked, his blades cutting and slashing out, seeking out flesh and bone. The man was not without skill, however, and met Zevran's attack head on. Together they went back and forth, their blades singing as they cut through the air around them. Zevran's quicker strikes being met equally by the man's hard thrusts of his long sword. Yet Zevran did not relent. Repeatedly he struck out, craving the blood of the man with a desperate and foul need that screamed out from his very being.
Their blades clashed together, their faces brought to within inches of each other. Yet the man laughed, despite how many cuts now covered his body.
"Want ta turn wit the knife eared bitch too, do ya?" the man laughed darkly before using his superior upper body strength to push Zevran away. "Sorry, but I 'ink I ruined 'er a bit. No worries, though. Many more where she came from. Although, she did taste bloody sweet on me lips!"
Zevran didn't breathe. Didn't think. All he saw and felt was the anger that boiled in him as he sped forward, twisting his body just as the man slashed his sword down. Yet for of his strength, the was a slow oaf compared to Zevran's speed and agility. With a well experienced turn of his body, Zevran struck out, bringing his blades against the man's inner arms, disabling his attacks. Then in quick succession, Zevran slashed again, cutting deep into each of the man's thighs, forcing him to drop down to the ground.
The man screamed in pain as Zevran cut through the man's exposed calves, the daggers slicing down deep to the bone. Then with a flick of his wrist, Zevran did the same to the man's upper arms, cutting through tendon and muscle, completely disabling him. Then with a few quick cuts, Zevran removed the buckles holding the man's leather armor in place, before pushing it aside with the toe of his foot.
The skills and training of his past centered in his mind, Zevran expertly sliced down the man's back, effectively leaving him prone and unable to move. Yet still he breathed, even as he bled from the multiple cuts along his body.
"You will not die easily, usted hijo de puta," Zevran seethed as he stepped around the man's body. He then knelt down, meeting his burning gaze with the man's fear filled eyes. "When I am through with you, even the Maker himself will not be able to recognize you." Zevran than stood, his eyes searching out the small form by the fire. Quickly he sheathed his daggers and went over to her.
Falling to his knees by her side, Zevran brought his face down to hers. Tears filled his eyes, his previous anger and fury gone as he looked down on Riel's bruised face. Her wide eyes shined with tears, her mouth working in silent gasps.
"You are safe, mi bella… I-... I am here…" Zevran whispered, his voice breaking as he carefully pushed aside her hair from her face.
Zevran then quickly reached down, snapping the exposed part of the arrow that protruded from her thigh in half and tossing the excess away. Then carefully he pulled her into his arms, cradling her close to his chest as he slowly stood with her. With a sure stride Zevran carried her away from the camp and towards a small stream that trickled a short distance away. There he gently laid her down on the soft grass.
"Can you speak?" Zevran asked, his voice hoarse with sadness.
Riel wanted to scream, to cry, to pull at the evil thing that bound both her body and her magic. Yet all she could manage to do was slightly lift her head, hoping that he would see the collar that was wrapped tightly around her neck. Zevran cursed at her silence, his mind searching itself for what to do. Only when the moon above glinted on the metal clasp on her neck did he finally notice the collar that held her.
"By the Void!" he cursed, his hands quickly moving to unfasten the tight metal clasp. Yet it refused to unlatch no matter how hard he pulled on it. Thinking quickly, Zevran reached behind him and pulled out his dagger. Leaning down so their noses almost touched, Zevran met her eyes with his own. "Trust me, mi bella…" he whispered, hating the look of fear in her eyes as he brought his dagger to her throat.
With a sure cut, Zevran sliced through the magic binding collar. Riel screamed then. An ear piercing, wailing cry that ripped free from her lips with the force of a gale storm. Her arms flailed about, suddenly free from their paralysing stillness. Yet even as she thrashed, Zevran held her to him, whispering softly to her in Antivan.
"I am here, Riel. It is only I. You are safe. I promise you, you are safe…" he whispered to her over and over again as she screamed and cried out in bitter agony. After a few moments, Zevran felt her latch on to him, her sobs coming more even now as she cried against his neck and chest. He held on to her like that, her small body convulsing in sobs and tears as she let loose all the emotion that had built within her but was unable to release due to the collar.
"Oh Zevran," she moaned, her tears hot against his skin. "I am so sorry…"
Zevran pulled back from her slightly, just enough to look her in the eyes. "You have nothing - nothing to be sorry for, Riel. This is not on you. Do you understand me?" Riel nodded sadly, fat tears tears still falling down her face. "I need to see to your wound, now, mi bella. Will you allow me?"
Unable to speak, Riel just nodded her again. Zevran placed a soft kiss against her forehead before pulling back and shifting his weight further to her side. Cursing to himself, Zevran looked at the wound in her leg. He had removed the feathered end that held the rope, yet the wood of the arrow was spiked on the shaft. A cruel weapon, it was meant not to kill, but to disable. To torture and cause as much damage as possible as it tore through flesh and bone.
Zevran quickly scanned the ground near him, looking for anything that could help. With a curse, Zevran quickly removed his armor then pulled his inner tunic over his head. Using his teeth, Zevran ripped through the fabric, shredding it into several pieces. Then taking one piece, he wound it tightly into a cord before leaning back into Riel's sight.
"I need to remove the arrow..." Zevran stated softly, pain lancing his chest as he looked into her eyes. "I am going to place this in your mouth. It will help," his voice broke as she nodded to him, opening her mouth slightly. Zevran gently placed the corded cloth into her mouth, his heart breaking again over the look of cold determination in her eyes. "I will be as quick as I can. I promise."
Zevran then turned his focus to the arrow, his previous anger surfacing slightly as he looked at the horrible piece of wood sticking from her skin. Carefully he lifted her leg, one hand gently cradling her calf while his other hand grabbed hold of the barbed head end of the arrow. "Forgive me," he whispered sadly, his gaze holding on to Riel's silver eyes. With a grimace, Zevran felt his own blood drip from his hand as the barbs and spikes dug into his flesh. Yet he ignored the pain as he gripped the end tightly in his palm. Then with one swift motion he ripped the foul thing from her flesh.
Riel screamed again, the sound searing itself deep into Zevran's soul, sure to haunt his nightmares for years to come. Quickly Zevran tossed the arrow shaft to the side and reached for another strip of the fabric that once was his tunic. Using it as bandage, he wrapped it tightly around Riel's thigh, keeping her from bleeding out.
Zevran then laid himself next to Riel, gathering her in his arms as she cried in painful sobs. Holding her in a gentle yet firm embrace, he tried his best to comfort her. Stroking her back and hair, Zevran softly whispered Antivan to her. The words a jumble of love and sorrow. Of regret and future promises. The meaning not in his words, but the feeling they allowed him to convey to her as he held her against him.
When finally her cries slowed, Zevran looked down at her, his eyes filled with their own unshed tears. Yet he couldn't allow himself to break down. Not yet. Not when she still needed him. Gently he caressed her face, wiping away and drying the tears that drenched her skin. In silence, they stared at each other like that for a short time. Both unable to find the words they wanted to say.
It was only the knowledge that his work was still not done that finally managed to force the words past his tongue. "Know that you are safe here, mi bella. However, there is still something that I must see to. I will not be far, nor will I be gone long."
A flicker of fear danced across Riel's features and Zevran inwardly cursed. Yet he couldn't leave things unfinished. After placing a soft kiss to her forehead, Zevran took one of his daggers and placed it into Riel's trembling grasp.
"You will not need this, for I will not be far. Know that even though you may not see me, you are safe, Riel. Do you trust me?" Riel nodded her head, fresh tears falling down her cheeks. Gently Zevran brushed them aside with the back of his fingers. Spending one more heartbeat looking into her eyes, Zevran then quickly stood and disappeared from her sight.
Riel wasn't exactly sure how long she laid there, looking up at the stars through the trees above her. Coming from somewhere beyond her sight, agonized screams echoed out, yet they didn't belong to her or Zevran. And in a strange and twisted way, the pained screams comforted her. Soothed the angry and bitter part of her soul that found joy in the knowledge that whatever was happening, it was well deserved. Riel's only regret was that she was not the one holding the blade that finally ended the gurgled cries.
Silence then filled the area around her. The cries of her old master no doubt quieted by Zevran's blades. And inside, Riel heart leapt in thrilling joy. A cruel and satisfied smile twisting her lips as she watched the stars twinkle above her. Then came the sound of Zevran's footsteps along the grass. However, he don't come straight to her. Instead, Riel heard the splashing of water on flesh.
Only after a few minutes of washing did Zevran rejoin her. Lying next to her on the grass, he pulled her once more into her arms and held on to her. Feeling a sob choke in his throat, he cursed against her neck, tears pricking at his eyes despite how hard to tried to hold them back. Even seeing to what little justice he could give her, it was not enough.
"You came for me…" Riel whispered softly.
"I always will, mi bella. Even though you hate me. I will always come for you."
"I don't hate you…" she replied, squeezing him against her briefly.
Zevran heard her words, yet he couldn't trust them. Not when there was still so much that he had yet to make up for. Not when he wasn't quick enough to save her. Not really. The images of what he came across seared into his mind like a horrible nightmare, mocking him and all of his previous promises to her. Everyone now lying bare and broken between them. If there was any time when he felt less deserving of her, it was then. His one last promise to protect her from the horrors of her past now forever shattered.
"Will you let me take you back to camp?" Zevran breathed, almost expecting her to turn her down. For her gratefulness at being rescued by him to wear thin and be replaced with her anger at him for his failure to protect her.
"Take me back," she whispered softly.
Zevran nodded against her, before gathering her into his arms and standing with her. Her head resting against his bare chest as he cradled her, Zevran carried her the distance back to the shared camp. The walk silent, even as Zevran's mind screamed and wailed inside of him. The echoes of Riel's screams ricocheting around his consciousness, as the images of her lying prone and helpless flashing before his eyes.
"By the Maker! Riel!" Leliana yelled out when the two of them got close to the camp they shared. "Wynne! Morrigan! Hurry!" the bard called out as she rushed over to Zevran.
"What- oh my!" Wynne breathed as she ran over.
Zevran could just imagine the sight he presented to the women. Barechested and covered in blood as he carried her. Riel lying in his arms, cuts and abrasions covering her naked skin. Her armor gone, her tunic ripped and bloodied on her body. Bruises covering her face.
"Zevran! What happened?" Leliana asked him, her green eyes searching his for answers.
"She needs aid. Question me later, after she is seen to," Zevran stated firmly, gaining a nod from the woman.
"Bring her over to my tent, Zevran. I will tend to her there," Wynne stated, motioning towards her tent. Zevran nodded to the older mage, too many words choking him to say much more. Carefully he ducked inside the woman's tent, before he gently laid Riel down on the bedroll there. Once she was free from his embrace, Zevran backed away, letting Wynne past him to see to her.
"She-... She has a wound in her leg," Zevran choked out, remembering her scream when he removed the arrow.
Wynne's years of experience as a healer took over, her eyes going over Riel's body and noting each injury the woman had. She then closed her eyes and brought forth her healing magic, pouring the blue light into Riel's body below. Through this whole time, Riel kept her eyes fixed on Zevran's, even when her back arched as the blue light filled her.
"Tell me what happened," Wynne finally said. "I cannot heal her properly unless I know."
"She…. -" Zevran stopped, unable to form the words in his mouth. The horror of his failure like a weight holding down his tongue.
Suddenly Leliana was by his side, her small body taking up what little room there was left inside of the tent. Her hand came up to rest on Zevran's cheek, bringing his gaze to hers. "Tell us, Zevran… please…"
"Slavers…" he finally managed to say, a hot tear running down his cheek and solidifying his disgrace.
"Was she…" Wynne stopped, cringing at the words that she had to ask. "When you came upon her. Did they…"
Zevran snapped his eyes shut and nodded his head, the truth of it still too much for him to bear. Wynne cursed under her breath, shaking her head in sadness. "I need you to leave the tent, Zevran," Wynne stated firmly after a moment.
"Of-... of course," he whispered shamefully, quickly pulling away from Leliana's friendly touch and exiting the tent.
"Leliana, I need you to go get Morrigan. Find her. And tell her to bring her herb satchel. Go now, child! This must be done quickly!"
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Vhenan'ara