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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
- 54
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- 56
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 amor: Antivan. "My love."
Mi diosa: Antivan. "My goddess."
Las cortesanas: Antivan. "The courtesans." High class prostitutes for the nobles or wealthy.
Mi diosa tentador: Antivan. "My temping goddess."
First: Elvhen term. Apprentice to the Keeper.
Shemlen/Shem: Elvhen. Literally "quick children". The original name of the Elves for the human race. Often used in a derogatory sense.
Vallaslin: Elvhen. "Blood writing." Mark of adulthood among the Dalish elves to honor their gods.
Ir abelas: Elvhen. "I'm sorry."
Aravals: Elven landships. Used for sleeping and storing their belongings.
Arlathan: Elvhen. The major city of Elvhenan, original homeland of the elves. From the phrase "ar lath'an" meaning "This place of love".
Uthenera: Elvhen. Waking sleep; immortal. Uthenera was the name of the ancient practice of immortal elves who would "sleep" once they tired of life. Literally: "Eternal waking dream".

Riel sat the morning fire, a cup of hot tea cooling in her hands. Nestled behind her was Zevran, his arm wrapped comforting around her waist while in his free hand he held his own tea. Ever since awakening at dawn Riel had been silent, lost in her thoughts as she went through the automatic motions of the morning. Guilt at not returning to Leliana and Alistair ate at her mind, as well as what little memory she had of the night before.
She could only remember flashes, yet one memory shined brighter than the rest. A promise made to her by the light of the very fire that she now sat beside.
Do not worry, mi bella. I will not kill the fool.
The promise kept swirling around in her mind, mixing with her own actions against the other Grey Warden the day before. The power that she unleashed against Alistair frightened her, straining her already weary nerves. For years Riel had feared her magic, shutting away in her mind and locking it down tight no matter how bad things got for her. No matter how much pain or anger she experienced, Riel refused to open that box in her mind that contained the dark and deadly magics that she was cursed to be born with. And yet now, it seemed as if the box was not only open, but broken wide apart, unleashing everything she had repressed over the long years.
Perhaps Zevran won't kill him, but will I? Will my powers end up killing someone?
Before, Riel always feared having someone find out that she carried magic. Even among the Dalish, magic was looked upon with caution. And because of the threat of Templars, whenever one clan attained too many mages, some were even sent away, either to other clans or off into the wilderness to fend for themselves. No one clan ever had more than a small number of magic users. Both from protection against the Templars, and to protect their own people.
A mage was dangerous. Capable of casting powerful magics that would make even the stoutest and well trained warrior flee in horror. And that was without the threat of possession. There was a reason why the Circle's came into being so many centuries ago. Originally started no doubt to aid young mages control their powers, they had evolved into nothing but an elaborate system of control and hushed slavery. With mages barely more than weapons to be used by whoever controlled their leashes.
It was why apostates were always so feared. Without the Circle to carefully watch for signs of possession, mages outside of their control were looked upon as weapon without a sheathe. Without a master. Capable of either great acts of kindness, or massive events of destruction. Yet despite all the power that mages held at their fingertips, they were still people. Capable of love, grief, worry, anger, and hate. They weren't simply weapons, emotionless and uncaring. Many just wanted what others had.
Love. Happiness. A chance for a family. Living their own lives, fear from torment, pain and persecution. How much safety could freedom buy? How much freedom could be sacrificed for the sake of protection before it killed the person they were supposed to be protecting?
"A weapon with a soul," Riel murmured softly as she stared into the fire.
"What was that, mi bella?" Zevran asked into her ear.
Riel smiled sadly, meeting his eyes briefly. "If you could stop fighting, just set aside your blades and become something else…. Would you?"
Zevran was silent for a moment as he thought. "While I perhaps could, I don't think I ever will. Even if I am lucky enough to live through to old age, I doubt that I will be able to set aside my blades for long. It has become too much of who I am, I think." Zevran lightly kissed her shoulder as again silence stretched out between then. "However, I do not think that you do not speak about blades and daggers, mi amor," he whispered against her neck after a while.
"I can't set it aside, Zevran. Believe me, I've tried," Riel stated with a hint of sad humor in her voice. "I tried to be something that I wasn't, but it was joke. No matter how hard I practiced or how much I learned, I was never as good at being a rogue as you or Leliana are."
"You are excellent with your daggers, Riel. Do not diminish your abilities so readily."
Riel gave his hand a soft squeeze in appreciation, yet still her mind worked against her. "I can swing a dagger, however I have never been able to be good at traps or locks. Even when you've tried teaching me, I always break the pick or set off the trap without meaning too. I am not very good at stealth, either. Even Sten can sneak up on me!"
"And yet you have many other useful abilities."
"That's my point. I do have other abilities. Things that I can't control. It would be as if someone was taking your hand as you held your dagger, and striking out blindly at the people around you, and not being able to stop it. For a normal person, they could just drop the dagger. Remove the weapon. But for me, it's as if the dagger is tied to my hand, unable to be free of it. And not being to control where it struck, or when." Riel lifted her hand up, her eyes fixing to the static blue energy that wrapped around her fingers. "I can't put my weapon down, Zevran. And I can't control it. How long before it strikes at someone I care about?"
"Then you will learn, mi bella. This world is not without teachers of magic."
"I'm not going to the Circle. I can't," she replied firmly, anger lacing her voice.
Zevran reached out his hand and took hold of hers, ignoring the magic that sparked free from her flesh. "And I will never allow it, Riel. However, there are those outside of the Circle. Mages who live as apostates such as Morrigan and her mother. And there is also the many Dalish clans that travel the lands. Perhaps one of them?"
The mention of the Dalish brought the woman Lanaya to Riel's mind. "Lanaya is First to the Keeper, which means she knows magic. All Dalish Keepers are mages, and so are their apprentices."
"I remember her. Didn't she wish to speak with you before we left for the deeper forests today?"
Riel nodded her head, thinking of her options. "It's not just her I have to see, though…"
"You worry over Leliana."
"I should have spoken with her yesterday," Riel grumbled sadly.
"There is still time today to do, mi bella. The morning is still early, and after you speak with her, we can meet with Lanaya," Zevran replied before pulling himself away from Riel and standing up. He then offered his hand down to her. "Come, mi diosa. Let us go visit with your kin. Then we shall meet with the Dalish," he added with a sly smile.
Riel rolled her eyes as she stood. "The Dalish are my kin, Zevran."
"And so is Leliana. Which is how I know that she is probably just as anxious to settle things with you as you are with her," Zevran crooned, pulling her against him.
"Yeah well, you better be willing to take an arrow for me just in case she isn't," Riel replied in a half joking manner.
Zevran suddenly became serious, his hand coming up to cup her cheek in his palm. "I will always take a blow meant for you, mi bella. If I could, I would hide you away somewhere safe, away from all these battles and dangers. Somewhere that I could protect tend to you as you deserve."
"Hmm... As wonderful as that sounds, you know would get bored," Riel smiled coyly. "After all, did you just tell me that you wouldn't be able to give up fighting?"
Zevran chuckled briefly. "Oh that is not one of my worries, mi bella. If there is one thing that I have come to know about you, is that wherever you go, a battle is sure to follow. I would just have you safe and secure beyond sturdy walls while I fought the battles for you." Zevran then pressed himself tighter against Riel's body, lowering his head to place soft kisses from her jaw down to her collarbone. "Besides, with you, I could never be bored," he purred against her neck.
"Zevran…" Riel gasped breathlessly.
Immediately Zevran released her as he mentally chastised himself. "I am sorry mi bella… I forgot-"
Riel stepped back into his embrace and kissed him, cutting off his apology. The taste of her lips on his own brought his body roaring to life in an instant. On their own, Zevran's arms pulled Riel flush against his body while one hand clutched at her armor while the other gently fisted her hair. The passion he had previously kept tightly restrained spilled forth the moment her tongue slipped over his, bringing forth a deep moan as she kissed him deeply. It had been so long since he was able to feel her like this, it took all of his will not to toss her over his shoulder and take her back to their tent right that very moment.
Too soon did she pull away however, ending the passionate kiss between them. With her eyes remaining shut tight and her breathing coming in ragged gasps, she nuzzled her face against his own. "I'm trying, Zev…" she whispered softly.
Zevran kissed her forehead and smiled. "And I will be here when you are ready, mi amor." He then took hold her hand and stepped backwards, leading her away from the fire. "Until then, I believe there is a certain redhead that needs seeing to, no?"
Riel nodded, pushing away the strange mixture of hurt and desire that swirled inside of her. "I just want you to know, it isn't because I don't want to… I just..."
Zevran chuckled softly. "I understand, mi bella," he reassured her, giving her hand a small squeeze. "Know that you are more than worth any wait. And when you are ready, I will give you memories that will make even las cortesanas of Antiva jealous with envy…" he replied with a lurid wink to match his seductive smile. "Now let us be on our way. Before I am too far tempted by your beauty mi diosa tentador."

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The camp of Dalish elves were already busy when Zevran and Riel reached the first araval of the close-knit group of family and friends. With young children running free underfoot while the older ones helped their families attend to their everyday duties, it made Riel suddenly homesick for her own clan. True, she only spent a few years with them, but to her, they had become her family. Even with how distant she always was and the anger she constantly lived with, the small group of elves were the closest thing Riel had to a real home. And now being amongst this clan, Riel had to wonder what her own people would think of her now. Of how much she had changed over these past few months.
"Riel! I am glad you decided to visit with us!"
Riel looked up to see Lanaya walking briskly over to them. Again a small tingle of recognition ebbed in Riel's mind at the sight of the other woman. A sense of familiarity that defied the small amount of time the two of them had actually known each other.
"Ir abelas, Lanaya," she replied contritely. "I did mean to come by last night. I guess I was more tired than I thought…"
Lanaya brushed off her apology and smiled warmly at the couple. "Do not trouble yourself. I am pleased you came by today. In fact, Sarel was just about to begin a story about to tell us a story about the days of Arlathan. Would you like to join us?"
"You do us much honor, Lanaya," Zevran replied with a short bow. "That would indeed please us, wouldn't it, mi bella?"
Riel nodded, unable to deny the loving smile he gave to her. "That would be lovely. Thank you."
"Come, this way. Sarel is our clan's storyteller, and his tales are much loved by our people. In fact, he just got back from visiting with his birth clan not too long ago, and he has promised the young ones new stories to tell that he had learned while he was away."
Lanaya led Riel and Zevran to medium sized fire where several logs and makeshift chairs was gathered around. There were already several people sitting in rapt attention as an older male with sandy red hair was speaking in over exaggerated tones to a few children in front of him.
"...and then they sprang forward, brandishing their blades. With a fearsome cry they charged at the shemlen who had been hunting them." Sarel paused as a small whoop of approval burst forth from the children. "The shemlen realized too late that they had been tricked. Before they could even draw their own blades, the foul men were cut down, their blood raining forth and painting the ground red with it." Another cheer from the crowd, this time from the older children and young adults as well.
"Sarel… You know Adana doesn't like you telling that story to them…" Lanaya tsked the man in the center of the crowd.
Sarel laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know they love the tales against the shems, Lanaya."
"Perhaps," Lanaya replied, eying the giggling children with mock disdain. "However, we have guests today. Maybe a different type of story is in order? Perhaps one you learned while you were away?"
Sarel abruptly quit his laughter as his eyes drifted over to Riel. His deep brown eyes roamed over her slight frame, almost as if he were appraising her for a funeral rather than a story. Instinctively Riel raised her chin in defiance, unwilling to let his cold stare cow her. It also helped that Zevran's hold around her waist tightened slightly, the small squeeze a silent reminder of his protection.
"Ah yes. The Grey Warden. And this is… her bodyguard, I presume?" Sarel asked, moving his eyes over to Zevran?
Keeping on hand still on Riel's waist, Zevran bowed down with his usual grace and charm. "Zevran Arainai, at your service. Follower, protector, and-" Zevran paused as he looked passionately into Riel's eyes, "devoted lover, when the mood strikes her."
Riel could have strangled him for how embarrassed he made her. She was sure the red tinge of blush went from her browline all the way down her toes. Yet his forthright declaration did manage to make her forget about the defensiveness that she was feeling a moment ago.
A small shift of whispers erupted among the gathered people, especially among the young adults, making Riel's blush worse. The children giggled and some even pointed up at Riel, their whispers being passed behind cupped hands to the person next to them. At that moment, Riel wished she had gone straight to see Leliana. Perhaps then she could have avoided this whole embarrassment.
"Ah, forgive them Warden," Sarel stated, trying futilely to hide his own smirk. "The ways of city elves are different than our own. We mean no disrespect."
"Riel is actually a Dalish, Sarel. Born of Keeper Marethari's clan," Lanaya corrected, her own face flushing.
"A Dalish? Yet she has no…-"
"I was adopted. Well, sort of. I was accepted into her clan," Riel stated, forcing her spine straight and her feet to remain despite how badly she wished to run off and hide.
"I don't understand. Is there a problem?" Zevran asked, looking to the three of them in turn.
A short moment of awkward silence passed before Lanaya finally cleared her throat and spoke up. "Among the Dalish, only adults may take lovers."
"I am an adult," Riel snapped, her eyes sparking fire as she glared at Sarel.
"You may say the words, but you do not bear the mark of one who has sought the rite," Sarel replied stonely. "I didn't know the shemlen allowed children to fight their wars for them. Although it shouldn't surprise me, seeing as how they have no problem with killing our da'len where they sleep. Perhaps they think that if they put a sword in the hands of a flat ear youngling, we will not fight to protect our own."
"Sarel! That is enough!" Lanaya cursed out angrily. "You shame us! This is a Grey Warden, and you will pay her the respect that is her due!"
Sarel marched swiftly over to where Riel stood, a deep set glower on his face. Beside her, Riel could feel Zevran tense, readying himself to defend her if needed. However, Sarel kept on moving past them, his hurried stride taking him several aravals away before disappearing into a lightly decorated araval that Riel assumed was his.
From beside Riel, Lanaya sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Forgive him. His birth clan… They lost several members when Templar's raided their camp one night. Sarel's younger sister was of mage blood, yet too young to control her powers when the men set upon her. She… The Templar's attempted to use their abilities to quell her magic so they could take her, but they ended up killing her instead. She was… only three years old."
Riel gasped, her hands coming up to cover her mouth as sorrow filled her. "By the Creators!" she cried, letting Zevran pull her into a tight embrace as he comforted her.
"The Templars left with Sarel's mother and two others of mage blood, along with the Keeper's First. The Keeper was allowed to stay, although her was hurt badly. Sarel just found out about it when he returned to visit with them. He is still… dealing with the news."
"A tragedy to be mourned, yet why would he blame Riel of such an act? She is one of your people, is she not?" Zevran asked, his arms still around Riel.
"The reason the Templars found them was because a city elf who was planning to join the Dalish was captured, and they…. They found out the clan's position from him, and that they had mages. The city elf was an apostate himself, and he sought sanctuary within the Dalish. Sarel blames the elf who betrayed the clan's position, and when Sarel saw that Riel is without the Vallaslin, he must have assumed that she was a city elf as well."
"I do not understand. The tattoos on your skin?"
"They are a mark of adulthood among the Dalish. When one reached the age of maturity, one undergoes the rite of Vallaslin. When you announced her as your… And yet she didn't have the Vallaslin…"
Realization came among Zevran as a heavy blow to his chest. He had known that the Dalish often mark themselves when they become adults, but he never thought of why Riel herself didn't have them. Perhaps it was because he knew of her past and how badly she had suffered, that the idea of her without the tattoos just made sense to him.
"Oh, mi bella… I am so sorry…" Zevran whispered sadly down to Riel. "Please forgive me, I wasn't thinking."
"May I ask… How old are you, Riel?" Lanaya asked quietly.
Zevran glared over at the woman and was about to tell her where she could stuff her question, when Riel responded, cutting him off. "I-I don't know," she answered honestly, her head still against Zevran's chest. "However, Keeper Marethari said that I should I desire to, she would schedule the rite for me whenever I was ready. I just… With everything that I…-"
"Say no more. I understand," Lanaya replied with a soft smile. A quiet moment filled the space between the three of them, when after a few minutes Lanaya finally spoke. "Will you two walk with me?" she asked, her arm open wide as she motioned away from the group fire.
Again Zevran was going to speak when Riel cut him off. "Of course," she whispered, wiping at the tears in her eyes. Zevran looked down at her, his eyes offering a silent question if she was sure. Riel smiled sadly and nodded her head, lacing her fingers with before walking alongside Lanaya.
The three of them were silent at first they walked among the clan. Occasionally people would smile or wave at Lanaya and she would return the gesture, yet she remained silent as she led the three of them to the furthest edges of the camp. Finally she stopped by a statue of Fen'Harel, and placed her hand on the hound's head almost affectionately.
"I was adopted too, you know," Lanaya finally said, keeping her eyes on the statue. Smiling fondly, she continued on with her story. "When I was just a little girl, my father was a merchant's assistant in a big city. I don't remember much of that time, but I know I loved my father deeply. He used to buy me sweets when he could afford to. He never raised his voice to me, either. Even when I probably deserved it…" Lanaya's smile disappeared then, her eyes growing cloudy with tear. "One day, our caravan was attacked by bandits. They killed everyone but me. My father tried to protect me, but they… One of them cut off his head right in front of me!"
Lanaya was crying now, and Riel tried to go to her, offering the other woman comfort. However Lanaya shooker head and smiled sadly, stepping back from Riel.
"The bandits kept me for a while. They did… horrible things to me. But if I cooked their meals and didn't fight when they… I was allowed to live. For several years I lived like that, until one day out of nowhere the bandits who I lived with were attacked. They had travelled too close to a Dalish clan, and the clan attacked before the bandits knew they were even there." Lanaya paused, thinking back. "It was… like something out of a dream. Yet for some reason, I wasn't scared. The men who I had lived with for years were suddenly being cut down around me, and I just stood there, watching it all happen. And then, he was there…"
"He?"
Lanaya looked up at Riel and smiled broadly, tears shining in her eyes. "Zathrian. He was a force of nature, casting spells in a deadly fury of power. Yet when he saw me, he stopped, losing the spell he was casting part way through. I was in nothing but dirty rags, with mud and dirt covering me, yet he picked me right up into his arms. Then without a word, he carried me away to his clan, leaving the others to finish off the bandits." Lanaya paused and walked closer to Riel, both women crying openly as they faced each other. "I don't know what you went though. Only you do. However, I recognize the hurt you carry. The pain. And especially the anger. Even when rumors came to us of a young woman being adopted by Marethari's clan, only Zathrian was allowed to know what little details there were. However, I was there when the messenger came to us. I saw the look of pain on his face then, and it was the same the same look he gave to you yesterday when he figured out who you were." Lanaya turned towards the clan's camp, her eyes automatically seeking out the Keeper as he aided the wounded warriors. "It was the same look he gets whenever he thinks of what happened that day he found me... Or when he thinks of his own daughter."
"Zathrian has a daughter?" Riel asked.
"Once. A long time ago," Lanaya replied with a soft sigh. "You see, our people used to live a long time. A lot longer than what we do now. Back during the days of Arlathan, our people could live centuries, and only left this world when they chose the time was right for themselves. We called it the Uthenera - the Waking Sleep. And somehow Zathrian had managed to regain that lost part of ourselves."
"He is immortal?"
"I am not sure, honestly. I have more… skepticism than others of our clan. All I know is that he was as he is now, Keeper of our clan, when the grandparents of our oldest members were but children. He has watched over us, and taken care of us, for longer than anyone can remember. However, this is the first time in all those years that he has chosen to take on a First. Before, he would train one or two, in case he fell in battle. However, it was never official. And never with such intent. I never knew why he chose me. After all, I wasn't even born a Dalish. Yet, shortly after he received the news from Keeper Marethari about the girl they found, he proclaimed me as his First."
"That must have been a shock. Not just for the you, but for the clan as well."
Lanaya nodded to Riel. "A rival of mine began a rumor that Zathrian had been… inappropriate with me. And that was why I was chosen over them," she scoffed angrily. "Zathrian has always been a father to me! I've always admired the man, and I love him as any daughter would. However, he loves me as a father should. And has never acted otherwise towards me."
"People can be cruel when they become jealous. This is true for any people, whether they be elf, human, or dwarf," Zevran added.
"I never questioned it though," Lanaya smirked sadly. "Not until I saw him look at you with that same look he would still sometimes give to me." Lanaya returned her gaze to Riel's. "Last night I went to him, and I asked him about it. For all these years, I thought that the sad look he would sometimes give to me was because of what I had suffered. However, when I saw that same look of pain in his eyes it reminded me of when the messenger came to us that day. So after the others had gone to bed for the night, I went to him and asked him. I asked him why he looked so sad sometimes. And why after all this time, he chose me to be his First."
"What did he say?"
Lanaya paused as she again sought out Zathrian in the crowd of people. "He told me I reminded him of his daughter…" Lanaya wiped away at the tears that were gathering at her eyes. "Many, many years ago - long before anyone here was even born - Zathrian told me he had a family. He was young then. Before he realized that he had somehow unlocked the ancient immortality of our people. He had fallen in love with a young city elf maiden, and together they had two children. A boy, and a little girl. However, his young wife couldn't let go of the family she had in the city, so she would sometimes visit with them. However, as dangerous as the roads are now for young elves travelling, they were even worse then. And as they do now, bandits would prey on those who travelled them, killing and stealing to suit their needs."
"Oh no…" Riel gasped, already guessing at what was to come.
"His wife was lucky. They killed her almost immediately. However, his son, old enough to have caught his first hunt, died protecting his younger sister. And the girl… Well…"
"Where was Zathrian?" Zevran asked.
"He was gravely wounded, but managed to somehow survive. After he healed enough to stand, he gathered a bunch of the Dalish hunters and went after the bandits. It was too late, however… His daughter already had been… They had already..." Lanaya again wiped at the tears at her eyes. "That day he came upon me, standing in the middle of the chaos of the dying bandits, he said I looked so very much like his own daughter. And since then, he has raised me as his own."
"That is why he chose you to be his First?"
"Last night, he told me about a vision that had come to him months ago. Of a woman coming from west during a time of great darkness on the land. She would become a uniting force between all races that would put an end to the darkness that raged, and that we would know her by those that followed her. And at her heels, she would bring with her his Uthenera."
"And is says that woman is me?"
"He told me that at first he wasn't sure. The vision came to him the night the messenger told of the girl that Marethari found. And a few days ago, it came to him again. And then when you told him that you were the one who Marethari found…"
"Oh Lanaya…" Riel whispered.
"I guess I should have known the day that he named me as his First. However, he has been with the clan for so long, to think of us without him as our Keeper… I just thought…"
"No one wishes to think of being without a loved one…" Zevran replied.
"The Dalish have suffered so incredibly much. Beyond our loss of Arlathan and the Dales. Our people suffers even to this day. You and I are proof of that, Riel. However, Zathrian, he is a good man. He has done so very much for our people. Through him, we even have touched a hint at our long forgotten past of when we were immortal. And now he walks a man awaiting his death… It is not fair!"
"You're right. It isn't," Riel stated firmly, bringing Lanaya's gaze up to hers. "I will find a way to end this curse upon your clan. And I will find a way to do it while keeping Zathrian alive. It's the least I can do for everything he has done for not just our people, but for me as well."
"Thank you, Riel. I know that you will. The Creators themselves have sent you to us. I know you break this curse, and keep my father safe."
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Vhenan'ara