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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.
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.
Despertar a mi diosa dormida: Antivan. "Awaken my sleeping goddess."
Fen'Harel: The Elven god of tricks and fear. Commonly referred to as the "Dread Wolf".
Mierda: Antivan. "Shit." A common swear word.
Mythal: Elven goddess of motherhood and protection.
Ma serannas: Elvhen. "My thanks" or "Thank you".
Lath'falin: Elvhen. Translated as "loving friend of blood." Someone born of the same parents, or one as close as a sibling.
Arlathvhen: Elvhen. Meeting of the Dalish clans, every ten years. Means "for love of the people."

The moon was high in the sky by the time Zevran heard a wolf's lonely call echo through the window. Two more flares of magical power had occurred since he received the letter earlier that day, bringing Zevran close to the brink of anxiety. Yet he needed to remain calm. Not for himself, but for his Riel. She had not awaken again, however she did once speak in her sleep, mumbling absently about riddles. Nothing that Zevran could garner any meaning from, and as he didn't wish to wake her, he remained curious as to what images and troubles that filled her more peaceful dreams.
With a flutter of wings and feathers, a black raven landed on the window sill of the room Zevran shared with Riel. Its yellow eyes scouting out the room before cawing quietly towards Zevran.
"Yes, I heard it. However, she has yet not awakened. Not fully, anyway," Zevran answered back to the raven. Again the raven cawed, its gaze going over the sleeping form of Riel beside him. "I assume you are asking about her? She is as she was earlier this day. Her powers flare during times of nightmares, yet not all of her dreams are such, thankfully." Zevran carefully pulled himself from Riel's embrace and sat up on the bed. "Did you acquire what I asked?" The raven made a show of pecking under its wing, adjusting its feathers in an obvious way. "It is hidden away? Or you have hidden it?"
The raven narrowed its yellow eyes on Zevran, almost looking annoyed if such a thing could be done by a bird. It then hopped up and down on the window sill several times, before looking out into the night behind it. Another quiet caw broke through the silence, followed by the bird stretching its wings.
Zevran sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "Yes, you are right," he groused wearily. Their time was fleeting, and he had other things he needed to focus on at the moment other than pestering the woman with questions.
Looking over to the sleeping form beside him, Zevran hated having to wake her. She was again resting peacefully, the last flare of her magics ended over an hour ago, yet it had lasted for at least several minutes. Even with his arms around her, and his soft voice whispering to her, Riel couldn't seem to pull herself free from whatever nightmare that had taken hold. Desperate, Zevran was close to waking her any way he could then.
Thinking quickly, he covered her body with his own, taking her hands in his and kissed her deeply. The contact was enough to break the spell of dreams that she suffered from, quelling the buildup of magic at her fingertips. Riel didn't fully awaken even as she returned his kiss, but she calmed under him, which was all he desired at the time. Murmurs of his name on her lips could be heard before she fell back into the deep restful sleep that she was now in.
Gazing upon her now, Zevran wondered just what sort of state she would be in once she was awake. For almost two days she had slept, dreaming and healing from whatever trauma using her magic had caused her. Ideally, he should be waking her to eat and drink, not to travel more under the cover of night and shadows. Healing wasn't just about sleeping away the days after all, but taking care to nourish and replenish your body. Something that unfortunately was going to have to wait for his dear Riel.
Just one more thing for Zevran to regret, yet could not be helped. This place was just not safe enough for her to be in. Not when her magic flared wildly and Templars walked the streets, on edge at they searched for users of magics that could further harm the people of this town.
Carefully he leaned down to Riel, bringing his hand up to lightly cup her cheek. "Mi bella… It is time for you to awaken," he crooned to her quietly. Slowly she stirred beside him, yet still her eyes remained closed. "Come now, the night is fresh and I wish to walk with you." Zevran hoped his gently pleading would get to open her eyes, yet all she did was nuzzle deeply against his chest.
"I'm tired…" Riel mumbled against him.
Zevran sighed deeply. He then lowered his head and placed light kisses against her jaw. "Despertar a mi diosa dormida."
His kisses were enough to draw a smile to her lips even though she grumbled playfully. Slowly Riel opened her eyes and looked up at Zevran, her smile broadening. At least until her eyes flickered to their surroundings, where they went wide with confusion. Quickly she tried to sit up, yet Zevran gently held her back.
"Where are we?" she asked, fear tainting her voice.
"In Redcliff," Zevran explained calmly. "After the battle you collapsed, and we took you here to rest. However, now I regret that we must continue on."
Riel silently fought against the fear that bubbled up inside of her. Confused and her mind foggy, she tried to make sense of where she was and what she could remember last. "I remember the Darkspawn… Fighting them… Then, nothing…" she whispered, trying desperately to keep her voice level despite the panic that laced through her.
"They are dead. Because of you, we were able to defeat them. However, you were so drained by the battle that you feel asleep immediately afterwards. I have been watching over you since."
From the window sill came an impatient cawing, making Zevran cringe. He was about tell the bird to leave them alone, when the black creature flew into the room and settled itself at the base of the bed the two elves were laying in. It cawed again, its yellow eyes darting back and forth between both Riel and Zevran. Then with its beak it took hold of a small bit of the blanket Riel was using and pulled, its wings flapping out as it flew backwards several feet, taking the blanket with it.
"By the Void! Is that a raven?" Riel gasped, eyeing the bird carefully.
"Yes…. And no…" Zevran replied with a frustrated sigh. Facing the raven, his eyes narrowed and his tone became harsher. "I will explain later, however," he then turned back to Riel, a shy smile lifting the corners of his lips, "right now we must hurry."
"What? Zevran, I don't understand?"
Another wolf's howl echoed through the window, bringing a sharp tremor to Riel. A wolf was an ill omen to the Dalish, representing the trickster god Fen'harel, the Elvhen god of mischief and evil. It was him who Riel named her hound after, as not only a connection to her people, but as an outward declaration of her refusal to be afraid. By naming her mabari after the Elvhen god, it was her statement to herself and others that she wouldn't be made to be afraid any longer. For she had the master of such evils at her heel, protecting her even when nobody did. However, that wasn't her hound's baleful howl that she now heard through the window.
Instinctively, Riel reached across the bed and tightly took hold of his hand. "Fen'harel…" she whispered, her voice laced with fear.
"It is alright, mi bella," Zevran replied, cupping her cheek in his hand and bringing her gaze up to meet his. "This wolf is one our side, I swear to you." He then turned to look at the raven. "Tell her we are on our way. We will be only a moment behind you."
The raven looked to each elf before cawing slightly in response. It then took flight, its powerful black wings carrying out of the room and out into the night beyond.
Zevran then pulled Riel's gaze to meet his own once more. "Trust in me, mi bella. I will explain everything to you in time. For now, we must leave. Are you able to stand?"
Riel mentally snapped shut away her building fear, forcing her mentality into that which she used when in the midst of battle. With a stiff nod of her head, she pushed herself up from the bed and stood. For a moment she wavered, her legs weak, yet she wouldn't let that stop her. Weakness of body could be pushed through if one had reason to. And while she may not know whatever danger she was in, Riel trusted Zevran with everything she was. If he told her that it was time to leave, she would hold her questions until he was sure that they were safe again.
Bracing her hands on the wall by the bed, Riel fought for her balance. Thankfully Zevran was again at her side, his arm moving around her waist to help steady her. Offering him a quick smile of gratitude, the two of them walked around the bed to where the door was. Down on the floor was a small leather bag which Zevran picked up hooked the strap over his head.
"When we leave the Inn, we avoid the trail. There is a rockier pass that is more difficult, however it leads further away from the castle and is not one the knights or guards use on their route. However, I will help you up it, mi bella. From there, we stay to the shadows, and I will lead you to a small carriage house that is no longer being used. They will meet us there."
"They?" she asked.
"Why, two of the loveliest ladies that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I may say so. Other than you of course, mi bella diosa," Zevran replied with a mischievous wink and grin.
Riel rolled her eyes, yet inwardly she found herself thrilled that they weren't alone here. Besides Zevran, there were really only two people who she truly trusted. And knowing that they were waiting for them eased Riel tremendously, even though she knew little else at the moment.
Stealthily the two of them sneaked past the closed doors of the other rooms, and down the stairs into the main tavern. Over at the bar stood an unfamiliar human male, a handful of cards gripped in his pudgy fingers. Zevran mentally cursed, yet continued silently past him, hoping the human would be too engrossed in his game to notice the two elves sneaking passed.
"Oi!" the human called out in a loud whisper. Zevran turned his body to shield Riel's face from being seen by the human, before placing a dry smile on his face and looking over at him. "Lady Nightingale sends her regards," the human stated in a gruff voice, motioning with his head over to a handing satchel by where the cloaks were usually hung. The human then went back to his cards, all but ignoring the two of them again.
Zevran's eyes narrowed first on the human, then to where the satchel hung. It was true the man had used the code that Leliana told him to watch for, yet still his suspicions rose. Still, Zevran nodded his thanks to the man behind the bar and continued past him, making sure to keep his Riel as hidden beside him as possible. While most humans were likely to confuse one elf with another, stories of the elven Grey Warden with silver eyes and a scar across her cheek would have spread since the weeks since they had saved the town. For his and Leliana's plan to succeed, Zevran knew that he had to keep the identity of the woman beside him from as many people as he could. Lest rumors be spread damaging her efforts at the Landsmeet when it was called.
Keeping Riel hidden at his side, Zevran's well experienced eyes to scan over the satchel before taking it from it's hook. There seemed to be no trip wires or suspicious latching attached to it. Casting one last look over his shoulder towards the barman, Zevran quickly took hold of the satchel and then quickly led Riel out of the building.
"What is inside?" Riel asked once they exited out into the night air.
Zevran remained silent, however, as he scanned the area around them. The night was clear and cool, and the moon above provided more than enough light for his sensitive eyes to peer into the darkness and shadows that lurked beyond the Inn where they stood. Apparently satisfied, Zevran lowered his honeyed gaze down to hers, a smile forming on his lips.
Under the glow from the moon above, Riel almost seemed to glow as she stood close beside to him. The way her midnight hair contrasted against her pale skin was a vision unto his eyes as she stared at her. By the gods above was she ever beautiful, with her slender features and rose hued lips. She was still in the tunic that he gave to her, and while dirt blood were splattered over it, under the light of the moon the blood added a certain savagery to her appearance that he was far from immune from. Combined with her tousled hair and silver eyes, she looked every bit the goddess she was to him.
"Zevran?" Riel asked, pulling him from his mental wanderings.
Instead of answering, however, Zevran took her into his arms and pushed her far into the shadows of the Inn behind them. Riel's back lightly slammed into the wood as his body overshadowed and covered her own. When Riel looked up into his eyes to ask if anything was wrong, she felt the breath leave her lungs at the hungry look she witnessed in his eyes as he looked down at her.
"Mi diosa…" he whispered softly as he gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips. Zevran lowered his head to her neck, first breathing in deeply of her scent before placing featherlight kisses against her nape and collarbone. "You are everything to me, Riel. Never forget that." His voice was low as he spoke, filled with promises of lustfilled pleasure as his body pressed against hers. Zevran then lifted his eyes to meet hers, the deep seductive longing in his eyes mixed with an endless pool of love and need.
Zevran knew that he should be moving quickly with her. From the information that Leliana had gathered, the guards did regular rotations of the lower area of the town, while the knights patrolled the paths leading up to and around the castle. And both groups met in the middle, right here outside of the Inn. If they were going to go unnoticed by either group, he needed to move Riel quickly to the meeting point he had set up with the two women earlier.
Temptation clawed at him to taste her perfect lips, and to feel her naked body against his. To let his hands wander over her flesh and make sure for himself that she was unharmed and whole. It was the same drive that he always felt after a battle ended or enduring the wait while she recovered from whatever ailed her. It was far more than just purely sexual, yet that was certainly a part of it. To see the silver gleam in her eyes as he loved her. To feel the warmth of her body against his as he gave her pleasure. To hear his name on her lips…
All of it combined into an intoxicating and addictive drive that went far deeper and thicker than simple carnal release. For she was his heart. His soul. When she breathed, so did he. When her heart beated, so did his. Through her, Zevran was finally alive. And during those painful moments where he was forced to simply watch as she recovered from whatever recent attack did to her… Zevran tasted what true death was like. For to live without her, that was a hell even the Void itself could not outdo.
The shrill sound of a bird cawing sliced through the heated moment that Zevran and Riel were caught within. Sighing heavily, Zevran lightly ran his fingertips across her lips. "When I have you safely away from this, we will continue this moment, mi bella. For now, we must hurry."
Zevran reluctantly pulled himself away from her warm body and took her hand in his. Casting a look around to make sure that no one was visible, he quickly pulled Riel away from the small alcove they hid in. Together they crept along the shadows that led away from the Inn and up to a rocky and overgrown path that led up a steep hill. From overhead, a raven called, it's black body circling in a wide arch back along the path they came from.
"Mierda!" Zevran hissed, his eyes scanning around frantically. Spotting a thick bramble of long weeds, he pulled Riel over to them and quickly ducked them both down to the ground.
A dozen or so feet away came the sound of heavy footsteps, along with the telltale sound of thick metal clanking against itself. Not a guard, for they wore lighter mail, this was a knight coming around the path that led from the castle to the Inn. And as all knights were, this one was trained as Templar, the insignia of the Templar order emblazoned on the front of his silver armor.
Zevran's hand reached for his blade, pulling it free from its sheathe. While Leliana had pressed into him how she didn't wish any harmed, he wasn't about to let his Riel fall into the hands of an overzealous Templar. Under the employ of the Arl of Redcliff or not, all Zevran saw in that moment was a threat to his soon to be wife and goddess.
"Zevran, no…!" Riel quietly hissed, placing her hand on the arm of his that wielded the dagger.
Just then the knight up ahead shouted out a pained groan. Both elves lifted their eyes in time to see something fall from the sky above the knight and land on his head.
"What the-?" the Templar exclaimed, rubbing his head. Looking up, he grumbled quietly to himself as he saw the black bird above. "Sodding birds!" he cursed out a moment before something else fell from the sky and landed square between the Templar's eyes. "By the Maker! What has gotten into that thing!"
Riel could have sworn the bird let out a cawing laughter before it flew off in the opposite direction from where she and Zevran hid. The Templar, now grimacing in his foul mood, stalked off back towards the path that led up to the castle. And away from the two hiding elves.
Once the Templar was out of sight, Zevran sheathed his dagger and took hold of Riel's hand once more. Quickly they snuck back over the rocky and overgrown path that led up the hill they stood next to. Riel felt a cluster of butterflies in her stomach as she looked up at the steep and gravelly path before her. Obviously this path wasn't used for a reason, and probably only ventured by adventurous youth looking for a thrill as they either climbed or slid down the hill. However, to Riel it looked even more intimidating than a rampaging ogre.
"I will be behind you the whole way, mi bella. Trust in your footing, and know that I will never let you fall."
Riel looked over her shoulder and smiled softly at Zevran behind her. However even his reassurance couldn't quell the queasy feeling that she felt in the pit of her stomach as she looked at the trail ahead. Mythal, guide my steps she prayed silently to herself. Then with a sigh she carefully stepped forward, testing the gravel filled ground with each step as she slowly made her up the hill.
It was difficult, and once Riel almost lost her footing entirely, thankfully Zevran had kept his word was immediately behind her, holding her up. Taking a breath to steady herself, Riel again pushed herself forward. Grabbing hold of weeds and jutting rocks to aid her, eventually Riel reached the top of the hill. And standing just at the edge offering her arm was the beautiful visage of her friend and companion Leliana.
Riel grabbed hold of the woman's arm and allowed herself to be guided up the rest of the way. Once at the top, Riel pulled Leliana into a tight embrace. "I am so glad that you're here," she whispered hoarsely.
"Where else would I be?" Leliana giggled quietly. She then took Riel by the hand and led her over to an old abandoned building not too far off. "I have a gift for you, Riel. Come and see."
Quietly Leliana led Riel passed the building to the wooden shelter just beyond, where in better times a carriage would have been waiting to be used. Inside Leliana led her, and into one of the hay covered horse stalls. There hidden away in a corner was an old gas lantern and a large leather bag. With steady hands Leliana lit a low flame in the lantern and set about opening the bag.
"I wasn't exactly sure your size, yet I knew you were smaller than I was, so I went from there. And I know how you like to have your upper arms and shoulders covered…" Leliana stated quietly as she pulled something out of the bag. "I even managed to find some warm yet adorable boots and pretty bracers to go along with it. It may perhaps be a bit shorter than you are used to, however. I had to get it adjusted, and I think the seamstress may have removed too much."
Riel became speechless when Leliana turned around and showed off what she held. It was a beautifully crafted leather armor, fit enough for generals or royalty. Tinted with multiple shades of green, the leather was inscribed with leafwork with silver metal acting as both an embellishment and reinforcement. The decoration wasn't extravagant, yet the elegance of it was in its subtle and well countered with form and function.
The beauty of it could have compared to a gown fit for a queen as she attended her court of nobles. For Riel, it was the most exquisite thing that she had ever seen.
"Ma serannas, lath'falin!" Riel exclaimed happily. Reverently she reached out her hand to lightly touch the armor that Leliana held. "Oh, but I cannot accept this!" she stated, pulling her hand back sharply.
"Nonsense! It is our gift to you, for everything you have done for us so far."
"Do I not get a word of thanks, as well?"
Riel looked over to see the witch Morrigan stalk over to them. "Morrigan!" Riel exclaimed before nearly running the woman over to embrace her.
"'Tis a pleasure to see you, as well my friend," she replied stiffly. Lightly she patted Riel's back before gently pushing the other woman away from her and stepping back.
"Thank you for the distraction earlier, my lovely Morrigan," Zevran stated with a small chuckle.
"Yes well, I shan't have needed to distract that oaf if you hadn't tarried so," Morrigan snapped with false bitterness.
"The raven. That was you, wasn't it?" asked Riel.
"Gruesome spiders are not the only form I am able to take when the need arises. However, the longer I remain as such, the more taxing it becomes on my reserve of magic," she replied with obvious annoyance towards Zevran. Morrigan then shifted her focus over to Leliana, her eyes quickly moving to the bag at the rogue's feet. "Do you have what I asked?"
"Of course!" Leliana bent over and rummaged through the bag for a moment before pulling forth two medium vials of blue liquid. "I only managed to get five altogether, but that should be enough to get us to Southmere. From there, the Brecilian forest isn't far, and from what I remember, it is full of herbs you could use to brew more."
"My thanks," Morrigan replied with a short bow of her head. "Now, I suggest that we not tarry here any longer than we must. We have what we came for, and Riel seems well enough to travel at least for a time."
"We're going to Southmere? Is that where the others are?"
"Aye. We figured that coming here in a small group would be best. It would allow us to restock and tend to you without arising much notice from the arl or those watching him," replied Zevran.
Riel felt tears stinging at the corners of her eyes as she looked on the others standing next to her. "I am sorry that I am such a burden, everyone. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't need to sneak around like this."
Zevran pulled Riel against him and wrapped his arms around her. "You are never a burden, mi bella," he said softly to her.
"As much as it pains me to admit such, the assassin is correct. If I thought you a burden, I would not expend the effort that I have."
"Thank you," Riel replied tearfully.
"Oh hush before you have me crying as well!" Leliana giggled. "Now, let's get you changed. It would be best to away from here before morning comes. Southmere is two days from here, nestled deep within the Hinterlands. The others should be no more than a day or so ahead of us, so we hurry we can still make it to the edges of the Brecilian forest within a week's time."
"From what I can remember of what Keeper Marethari told me, there should be a clan in that area this time of year. The Keeper didn't say much about them, only that their own Keeper was secretive and distant, even at the large clan gatherings that take place every so often."
"They are our best bet for getting the support of the Dalish, are they not though? Unless there are other clans nearby?" asked Leliana.
Riel shrugged. "I honestly don't know. The clans keep separate most of the time, only coming together once every ten years during Arlathvhen. For the rest of the time, they are spread out across of all of Thedas. I don't even know where my own clan is right now."
"The only Dalish that I know of are those that travel around Antiva, and I doubt they would aid us even if they could travel here in time. They think little of humans and their conflicts, and have been known to be increasingly violent towards anyone they deem as 'outsiders'," added Zevran.
"Let us hope then that these Dalish are more welcoming of us, even with their mysterious keeper," Morrigan remarked snidely. "Come then. There is much distance to travel, and little time to do so in."
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Vhenan'ara