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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.
Mi diosa: Antivan. "My goddess."
Mi amor: Antivan. "My love."

Southmere was your typical small town in the midst of the wilderness. Close neighbors, devout families, and hardworking people that spent most of the daylight hours out in their fields or tending their homes. If it wasn't for the rampaging Darkspawn, it would have been idyllic.
As it was, the few buildings and houses that remained standing were either burnt out or still in the midst of a blazing fires that ate and tore at the insides of this one peaceful community. The smell of charred bodies, blood, and corruption was a foul and rank odor in Alistair's nose as he looked over the scene before him. The people who once lived in this peaceful village were either now dead or long gone, making the place deserted. Even the Darkspawn who befouled this place were now gone, leaving nothing behind but their corruption and the destruction that they caused.
"By the Maker…" he sighed, looking over the carnage.
Even if there were survivors who managed to flee in time, there was nothing left for them to come back to. The land already showing the signs of the Tainted corruption that the Darkspawn carried with them, it would take decades for it to recover enough to be suitable again. Perhaps even longer. Everywhere the Darkspawn went, they carried their Taint with them, corrupting even the very air people breathed as they made their way north from the Wilds.
"Perhaps there are survivors…" Wynne stated softly.
"If there were, they either are long gone, or were dragged off by the sodding 'spawn," Oghren huffed.
"Come on. Let's look around. We might find… something…" Alistair replied wearily.
Ever since splitting with the others, Alistair had taken on the leading of the group as they travelled eastward along the Hinterlands. The land itself was a mixture of rolling grassy hills and rich arable farmland that supplied much of the western towns and cities in Ferelden, including Redcliff to the north.
The Hinterlands were dotted with small communities of farmers, and Southmere was the largest settlement between Honnleath in the west and Lothering in the east, even though that was saying much. Perhaps no more than a couple dozen people had once lived in the small farming community. Yet they were farmers, not warriors trained for battle. As such they match for the corrupted evil that had swept over them, destroying everything they touched.
"It's mostly the bodies of men. Do you think perhaps the women and children escaped?" Wynne asked hopefully.
Alistair couldn't bring himself to answer as he looked around at the carnage. He may not have been with the others while they battled along the Deep Roads, yet Leliana had told him of what she and the others had found while down there. About the evil and vile things that Darkspawn did to those they captured.
"It will be dark soon. There is nothing here for us to find. We should move on."
Alistair looked up at the giant Sten and grimaced. He had hoped…. For what? For survivors? For something to tell reassure him that something could be salvaged from this horror? That even he had rushed the others here instead of taking his time, it wouldn't have mattered anyway?
Since leaving the area where he and the others were ambushed by Darkspawn, Alistair had kept a reasonable yet staggered pace as he guided the others over the Hinterlands to Southmere. Hoping that perhaps by the time they reached the small community, Leliana and the others would already be here or not be far behind. And yet as he now looked upon the death and destruction before him, Alistair's mind plagued him with the what ifs of that simple decision.
What if he had pushed himself and the others to get here sooner? Had not taken the longer route on purpose, in order to delay their arrival? Would they have gotten here to save these people? At least some of them? How many women and children were now fated to turn into foul things of nightmares because of his decision?
"Maker…. Is this what you deal with?" he wondered quietly to himself, thinking of all the times Riel had made decisions for the rest of them.
Which route to take. Which area to explore. Who to befriend, who to aid, who to defend. Who to instil as king over an entire race of people.
How many times had he taken advantage of her role as leader? Depended on her to make the hard choices so he didn't have to? Alistair knew he was no good at leading. He was a soldier, not a commander. Which is why after the loss at Ostagar, he had deferred to Riel to lead them. Thinking that her calm, stoic temperament was better than his jovial easy going nature. Even when angry, Riel seemed to always make the best choices for them.
Perhaps the truth was, he just wasn't capable of living with the after effects of his choices. Of the lives that would be affected by his decisions. In the Chantry, he would have just been another knight, following the orders of his commander or the Divine. In the Grey Wardens, it was no different. Following Duncan around while he led and made the decisions for the Wardens under him.
Alistair had always just followed orders of others. Whether it was the Chantry's, Duncan's, or now Riel's. Yet until now, he never truly appreciated how much those orders effected the ones making them. What it did to their minds when those decisions ended poorly, or the weight they played on the minds of ones making them.
Take this one simple choice he had made days ago - to take their time as they made their way to Southmere. It had changed the lives of so many people. Something he had thought right at the time, now he realized, was so incredibly wrong. And it was something that he would have to live with for the rest of his life. These people's deaths, and the deaths that would result from the capture, were now on his hands.
Is this what you deal with everytime?
Alistair thought back to the first time he and the others were in Redcliff, when they fought through the undead and spirits brought forth by the possessed Connor. How had he missed how tired she had been then? How drained? And the way he behaved towards her…. It brought a feeling of sickening shame to Alistair's stomach as he thought of it.
Then again at the Circle Tower. Choosing to brave the demons and abominations instead of allowing the Knight Commander to invoke the Right of Annulment, which would have ended the lives of every single mage still living and fighting to survive with the tower. Greagoir had thought Riel made for even trying. The risk of even one blood mage escaping was too great, he thought. Yet Riel stubbornly lifted her chin and declared that even one innocent dying needlessly was an even greater crime.
At the time, Alistair thought Riel was mad. To fight against an entire tower of blood mages and abominations on the slight chance of saving people who might be corrupted…
Alistair turned subconsciously, his eyes seeking out the elderly mage Wynne several feet away. She was one of the few Riel had managed to save that day. Kind, patient, and compassionate to an almost fault, Wynne reminded him so much of what he often dreamed his mother would have been like. And he would have let her die, out of his own fear and distrust. Without knowing what kind of person she was, or the goodness she carried within her.
And not just her, either. When Riel and him had first come upon Wynne, the elder mage was protecting several other mages, a few of them no older than mere children. One looked to be Connor's age, no more than ten or twelve. And the knights would have killed them to prevent the spread of demons. The bitter irony of his support of that action was a hard lump in his chest thinking back to his own defence against doing the same thing to Connor himself back in Redcliff.
However, just as Riel couldn't sacrifice Connor's life for the so-called 'greater good', neither would she would have sacrificed the lives of those mages. Strangers to her, yet she risked everything for them. Even her own sanity.
Yet for the longest time, Alistair could remember being angry with Riel for what happened at Redcliff that day. The supposed 'deal' that she had made with the demon that possessed Connor. However if placed in the same situation, Alistair wondered what he would have done in the same situation. Sacrifice Isolde's life to save Connor's? Risk battling the demon, endangering Connor's life?
No matter what he thought at the time, Alistair now knew Riel made the only choice she could have. The only one that had the potential to save the most amount of lives. It was what she always had done. Apart of who she was at her very core. Saving the lives of people she didn't know, giving them every chance she could, even if it put herself at risk.
This time Alistair's eyes drifted over the hulking form of the giant Sten. The man had coldly killed an entire family in a blind rage over losing his sword. Yet Riel could not simply let him starve to death in that cell in Lothering. Or worse, be left for the invading Darkspawn. The Qunari was an enigma of mysteries, both loyal yet distant. His composure outside of battle that of quiet stoicism. Yet in battle, he was a beast who cut down everything in his path. The savagery needed to perform such a ruthless murder plainly evident as he cut down his enemies. However, knowing what he did, Riel not only freed the giant, but still allowed him to travel with them.
And of course, hot on the heels of the the thought of Riel's saving of the Qunari, was the image of the smiling and laughing assassin from Antiva.
Just as Sten was, Zevran was a killer, admitting fully how he had murdered for both coin and clan. Yet Riel had taken the other elf into their group. Accepting his pledge of loyalty as she had accepted that of Sten's. And yet Alistair had not hated the Qunari as he had hated the Antivan elf. The cold truth of it, was it wasn't because of what Zevran had done that caused Alistair's continued ire. But what Alistair saw what he was doing.
Riel wasn't a fool. Alistair knew that. She was stubborn, hard willed, and vicious to those who threatened her. She cut down her enemies with a cold surety that reminded Alistair far more of giant Sten than he wanted to admit. Yet she wasn't foolish. Alistair knew that. It seems that he had just forgotten it for a time.
At her core, Riel was everything Alistair had wished he himself could be. A leader. Someone who others would turn to. Knowing not just how to make the difficult decisions, but ready and willing to make them and dealing with whatever came afterwards. A core value that he still struggled with, judging from his reaction upon coming here to Southmere.
Was that why he loved her? Admiration? Was what he felt even love?
The image of braided red hair and beguiling green eyes entered Alistair's mind. She was like Riel in so many ways, yet in many ways she wasn't. Where Riel was hard and distant, Leliana was warm and welcoming. She even laughed at his corny jokes, where Riel usually either just rolled her eyes or threatened him. Leliana was even patient with his blunders, giving him time to apologize.
Alistair remembered again the way she had smiled at him that night as she walked to inform Morrigan of their plans. Why hadn't he ever noticed before how amazing her smile was? The way her summer green eyes seem to sparkle, even when there was little light around? Thinking on it, Alistair realized that he always had an easy time whenever he talked with her. Well, easier. His words still seemed intent on causing him problems whenever the topics ranged into something more personal than the evening meal or tactics for upcoming battles. Yet where all he seemed to do was insult Riel, Leliana only smiled and seemed to understand him. Blunders and all.
"What d'ya want ta do 'bout the others? Miss red and the Warden will be here soon," Oghren stated flatly.
Alistair paused as he thought about their options. Staying in the village wasn't safe, in case more Darkspawn returned to pillage anything. Bandits were also known to crawl through recently destroyed towns and villages, looking for things to sell. Both would be a problem if Alistair and the others were caught unaware. Yet they couldn't leave either, as the others wouldn't know where to look for them.
"I shall stay, and will inform the tiny Warden about what happened here," Shale volunteered.
"And what about the rest of us? We can't leave Riel and the others behind," Wynne stated from beside the golem.
"We're not leaving them behind," Alistair replied sternly. "We'll head back to the cave we camped in last night. It isn't all that far from here, although it is enough out of the way to not likely to be found by returning Darkspawn or scavengers." Alistair paused, waiting for anyone to voice their disagreements. Instead everyone remained silent, as if waiting for him to decide about what to do next. "Good. Now let's go. I've had enough of the smell of death for today."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The smoke from the fires could be seen from over a mile away, yet it wasn't until the village came into view that Riel knew for certain. Until she witnessed the smoldering fires and the burned out buildings for herself, she had continued to hold out that maybe - just maybe - her fears were not being realized. That it wasn't yet another village sacked and destroyed by the Darkspawn that had flooded onto the surface for the past few months.
"Spread out. I want to know how long ago this happened," she ordered to the others.
Please, Mythal, let them be okay…. she prayed to herself.
Even though Riel had never been to the small farming community before, her heart ached for the people who had died here. Mangled and twisted bodies were strewn everywhere, pieces missing from their corpses as birds and other carrion animals feasted upon the rotting flesh. Walking along the carnage, Riel's foot nearly tripped over something on the ground. Looking down, a thick lump of sorrow lodged in her throat.
Riel crouched down, scooping up the small child's doll in her hands. The doll's blonde hair was burned, but still mostly intact. The blue dress it wore was covered in blood though, and one it's button eyes were missing. At one time, this little thing was probably incredibly precious to someone. A smiling little girl who played joyfully with it while she spent her days among her family and then would hold it tightly to her chest as she slept at night.
Zevran watched with sad eyes as Riel held the small doll in her hands. Being an assassin, he was no stranger to death, yet the death of a child was something that he could never agree to. Even if others of his order would commit such foul deeds, it was one of the few things that he had always refused to do. No child deserved death. Although knowing the evil things that would happen to those captured by the Darkspawn, death would probably be a mercy compared to what awaited whatever poor souls who were captured here.
"We will end this Blight, mi bella."
Riel looked over to Zevran, tears glistening in her eyes. "They were just children, Zevran," she replied tearfully.
Zevran wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I know. However, there is nothing we can do for them now."
"Riel!" Leliana called out from a short distance away.
"Come now, mi diosa. Let us continue. The others should be close by."
Riel nodded her head sadly. After taking one more look at the doll in her hands, she tossed it down to the ground and followed Zevran towards where Leliana was.
"I knew it would eventually show up. The whiny knight will be pleased, no doubt."
"Shale!" Riel exclaimed with a smile. "Where is everyone? Are they alright?"
"The others are making camp in a cave not far from here. We arrived here yesterday, however the Darkspawn were already long gone. Pity. It has been too long since I was able to smush something."
"Fret not my stone friend, I am sure there will be more squishy things for you lay your massive fists into soon enough," Zevran chuckled.
"Oh I do hope so," Shale replied almost gleefully. "Now, shall I lead you to the cave? The whiny knight has been by several times already today, pestering me with questions about the red headed thing."
"He was asking about me?" Leliana asked, surprised.
"Indeed. All its questions these past few days have been about it. What it likes, and what it eats. Honestly, how am I to know such trivial things?" groused Shale, obviously annoyed.
"Wonderful," Morrigan replied, rolling her eyes. "Do I have to put up with the fool's ignorant blathering on about Leliana next?"
"If you are jealous Morrigan, I am sure the dwarf Oghren would be able to whisper sweet things to you. If you don't mind his breath, that is."
Morrigan glared at the chucking assassin next to Riel. "Oh do not make me ill! 'Tis enough I must deal with the various stenches of you males as it is. I would rather lie with a nug then have that ale swilling, belching ignoramus whisper anything to me."
"Alright, alright," Riel stated, hiding her grin at the banter. "Come on. Let's go meet up with the others.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alistair stood at the edge of the cavern, looking out over the rolling hills as the sun above began casting the brilliant shades of purple and reds that brought along sunset. Inwardly he debated whether he should go back to Southmere to check on Shale again. Perhaps scout the outlining area once more while he was there. Honestly, to do anything other than this useless waiting.
The previous night he had lied awake in his tent, images of those villagers being dragged off tormenting his mind every time his eyes dared to close shut. Except, instead of the faces and screams of numerous strangers being slaughtered by Darkspawn, one face in particular stood out among the rest. Only, it wasn't who Alistair thought it would be. The face who had previously haunted his dreams and nightmares had now shifted, changing from dark hair to red, and silver eyes to brilliant green.
From back inside the cave, Riel's hound suddenly let out a raucous bark and sprinted out past Alistair. An explosion of joy mixed with apprehension erupted in Alistair's chest, knowing that there would only be one reason why the mabari would race off the way that he did.
First to be seen coming over the hill beyond was the grey stone frame of the golem Shale. She was easily as tall as the giant Sten, however Shale would be the first to complain to any who would listen about how her previous master has quite literally shaved down her frame from a much more massive size. As most stone golems were certainly at least a few feet larger than she was, it did make Alistair wonder just how one exactly went about 'shaved' down a golem. All Shale said on the matter when he asked what it taken to do such a thing was 'a lot of nerve'.
However, coming up alongside the golem was the sight that Alistair found that he had truly been waiting to see. Fiery red hair locked in various braids that crowned the head of a woman who had somehow become curiously more important to him over the past few days. Not that she wasn't important. It was just that since waking from his injuries after fighting with the assassin, the woman had somehow edged her way into his consciousness in way that was both strange and unfamiliar.
Alistair couldn't keep back the beaming smile seeing her gave to him. Especially not when the smile he got in return from her nearly sent him to his knees with how brilliant it was.
"It's good you made it back!" he stated as they neared. Instinct in him had him wishing to embrace the woman, yet he held back, fearing her reaction. They were travelling and fighting companions after all. Not anything more than that. Even though Alistair felt himself suddenly wishing for something more than that during that moment.
"How are you and the others?" Riel asked to Alistair.
Alistair looked over to the smaller woman, almost as if seeing her for the first time. And perhaps, that was more true than ever before. Dressed in an amazing suit of leather armor, Riel looked just as beautiful as she always did. Her long black hair was done up in a tight ponytail at the back of her head, and her silver eyes still cast the same deep, haunting look they usually did. Yet there was something different in the way he regarded her just then. Something had shifted inside of Alistair, and where he would have once felt the anxiety and breathlessness that being so close to her usually brought on, now he felt more at peace standing next to her. The pull of his soul no longer dragging him towards to exotic beauty, but now gently guiding him in another direction.
"We're doing good. I'm just sad we couldn't get to the village in time to save the people there from the attack," he replied regretfully.
Riel noticeably stiffened, and Alistair could tell that she echoed his sentiment, even if she didn't say so. After a small pause of silence, Riel lifted her gaze to the sky before bringing it back down to Alistair's.
"It's too late to travel any more today, especially if there are Darkspawn in the area. Is there room inside of there for a couple more tents?" Riel asked, motioning with her head towards the cave behind him.
"It may not look like it from the outside, but it's a pretty decent size inside," Alistair replied. "Oghren even managed to snare some nugs earlier, so there is fresh meat cooking over the fire if you are interested."
"Oh those poor little bunny pigs! Hopefully he put them out of their misery quickly! I just adore those cute little animals!" Leliana exclaimed sadly, her hand coming up to cover her mouth in horror.
All of their eyes went to her, their expressions ranging from amusement to shock. "I've never seen you so upset over an animal before Lei," Riel stated to her, biting back a smile.
"I can't help it! Haven't you seen the way they scrunch up their noses when they sniff the air? Or the way their long ears twitch when they sleep? They are just so adorable!"
Morrigan rolled her eyes at her friend. "Please do not tell me you are to be shedding tears over those annoying little creatures!"
Leliana giggled and stuck her tongue out at the witch. "Oh hush you. I saw the way you were petting that stray cat back in Redcliff. I happen to know that you have your own soft side, Morrigan."
"I most assuredly do not," Morrigan groused, her bright yellow eyes narrowing on the red head. "The feline merely had… something in it's fur… I was only removing it. Because… Well never mind," she huffed, obviously annoyed. "I am tired and wish to retire. Stay out here and continue on as you will, however I shall be seeing to my own tent and belongings for the night."
Morrigan than pushed passed the small group and into the cave beyond, studiously ignoring the giggles of both Leliana and Riel. Although the was a small amount of bitter mumbling that could be heard before the witch disappeared inside.
"Come mi bella. I know you are tired, so let me bring you inside to the fire so you may rest while I set up our things for the night."
"You know, I can help set things up too, Zevran," Riel scoffed as she let herself be led towards the cave.
"This I more than know, mi amor. However, I would prefer for you to save your energy for much later this evening," he replied with a solicitous wink. "I think perhaps you will need it for when I have you away from the others, alone in our tent..."
"Ugh…" Shale groaned. "If they are to be making those dreadful noises again this evening, I will gladly remain out here, scouting the area for possible things to squish." Shale then turned around and stalked off, leaving Alistair and Leliana alone.
For a few minutes, a thick silence prevaded the space between them. Both unsure of what to say, or how to continue onwards.
"I'm really glad-"
"I am happy to see-"
They both spoke at the same time, causing a deep blush to redden Alistair's face while Leliana giggled playfully.
"Look, I just wanted to say that I am sorry," Alistair stated quickly.
"Sorry for what?"
"Mostly for being such an idiot," he laughed nervously. "I guess I am just not used to… things," he stated after a moment. "Duncan used to sometimes tell me that it takes more to being a Warden than just hitting things. But really, it's the only thing I've ever been good at. That and making a fool out of myself."
"Oh I think that you could be very good at a lot of things, Alistair," Leliana replied coyly, taking a step closer to him. "You just need to be given the chance to. And perhaps, you just need someone to help show you the way…"
Alistair's breath caught in his throat as he looked down at Leliana. The way her eyes sparkled with mischief, as well as something else far deeper… It called out to some inner part of himself. As a hound being called to attention, this hidden part of Alistair seemed captivated by the woman in front of him. Ready and willing to almost beg for something... Anything. As long as she was the one who offered it to him.
"I uh-"*cough*"I think I might like that…." he managed to finally say.
"Come Alistair. Come sit with me by the fire. I think I have more stories to share that you might like," Leliana stated with an enticing lilt to her voice. Reaching out, she took hold of his hand, and together they walked back inside the cave, side by side.
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Vhenan'ara