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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
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.
One line is taken from the game Dragon Age, that of what the Guardian says to Riel at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.
I hope you guys enjoy, and I would appreciate any reviews!
Translations:
Mi bella: Antivan. "My beauty." A term of endearment Zevran uses for Riel.
Sal'uthyn: Elvhen. "Eternal lights of the sky." A type of night blooming flower.
Mi rival indigno: Antivan. "My unworthy rival."

The sun was nearly set by the time Riel decided that she had healed enough. The lack of potions and other supplies worried her, however. Morrigan had managed to find some elfroot in amongst the ruins on the summit, which she was currently brewing into some small healing potions. However, they were out of lyrium potions and were without much food or even bedrolls. She had not expected to be gone so long from camp, but Genitivi was insistent that they head to the temple immediately, and Riel could tell that he would have hobbled here on his own had she and other left him to return to camp.
Yet now as she gazed upon the large antechamber on the other side of the clearing, Riel cursed once more as she weighed her options.
Even if they left now to return to camp, they would be travelling much of the way in the dark. When they went through it earlier, the old temple was barely lit by the various windows throughout the chambers. Yet with the sun gone, there would be no light to guide them now. The small offshoots that held cultists surely had fires and torches burning, but Creators know how long they would have lasted without anyone to tend to them. They would be stumbling around in the dark, prime targets for any ambush from hidden enemies.
However, staying where they were was also not much of an option. Morrigan was using the last of the wood from the crates to make the potions they would need. Once that was gone, they would have nothing to keep them warm or light the way. With no bedrolls or tents, they would be at the mercy of the bitter wind that even now chilled her uncovered skin to uncomfortable levels.
And to go forward yielded as much worry as promise. Inside, they might indeed find more enemies, which would mean fighting. However they might also find more potions or at least shelter from the winds and cold snow. With enemies to tend to their fires or torches, the way would also likely be lit well even as night descended upon them. The problem was staying alive and in good condition while fighting those same enemies. The previous fights so far have proven that these men and women who follow this deranged cult were no fools when it comes to blade or arrows. Some were even mages, which might promise more lyrium potions for Morrigan. If they could survive long enough to collect them.
It was a gamble no matter what Riel chose. And like all the decisions that had been made since Ostagar, she was the sole one who seemed to bear the responsibility of making them. Even though Alistair was the senior Warden between them, he still deferred to her when it came to making the choices for the group. The others followed her for their own reasons, but in the end, each choice was left up to her alone. Which was both a blessing a curse. While it meant that she wasn't being forced into another person's daft decisions and idiotic choices, it did mean that she was alone with the guilt of choosing wrong or unwisely.
"You look troubled, mi bella. What is it that is on your mind?"
Riel looked over to Zevran as he joined her just outside of the stone gazebo they had been resting in. Thoughts of how warm he was against her sent another strange sensation through her, and quickly Riel turned her body to hide the reddening blush that surely darkened her cheeks. There were other more pressing concerns for her mind to focus on rather than the warmth he gave to her or the wonderful way he had smelled as she rested against him.
"We ah-" Riel coughed as she cleared her throat and forced her mind to focus. "We can't go back, despite our meager supplies. And we can't camp here. The best choice is to see what awaits us in the antechamber and hope that the Creators favor us enough to let us scrounge some useful supplies. If there are any more cultists hidden inside, we should be well enough to deal with them as we are, as long we are not swarmed or run into another bloody dragon."
"I agree." There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "You know, back in Antiva, the Crows would sometimes send two or three assassins in to do a particular job. Normally we worked individually, so during those times there was always bickering as to who would lead the small band. Sometimes the elders would choose one of us, other times we would gamble or fight for the lead position if we wanted it. In the end, the one who led would either take most of the payment for a job well done. Or, and much less desired, take most of the responsibility and subsequent punishment when the job went poorly."
"So you followed these others when you went on these jobs?" asked Riel, curious as to where this story was leading. Yet she had learned that despite how strange or seemingly off topic Zevran's stories were, there always seemed to be some hidden point to them. In fact, it reminded Riel of her time travelling with Duncan. Both men had a habit of using stories to impart some kind of wisdom or advice without it ever seeming like they were doing anything other than simply telling an interesting tale from their past.
"Oh no! No, I never was content to follow someone else's orders. The elders of the Crows were one thing, but when I was out with other members of our order, I never could just sit by and listen to what others thought that we should do."
"Yet you seem to follow me easily enough," Riel interrupted, more speaking to herself than to Zevran. Suddenly Zevran was standing her line of sight, his honey eyes staring into her own.
"You are no ordinary woman, my lovely Warden. I gave you my oath that I would follow you, even unto the Fade itself should you so need to." Zevran's eyes seemed to burn into hers, his face serious yet not hard or angry. Then the moment was gone and he smiled broadly, his eyes twinkling with the light of the setting sun. "I do find myself battling with old habits, however. So I must ask humbly for a favor if you would be so kind to grant me."
"What is it?"
"You see, I was so used to leading before coming to Ferelden. And with that came certain…. instincts… that come with such a position. I find myself wanting to offer advice or perhaps even speak of the choices that are to be made with you, our gracious leader. I am perfectly content under your leadership, do not get me wrong. Yet it would help to ease my mind if you were to ever feel the need to come and speak to me if you ever find yourself unsure of something or struggling with a decision to be made. It would help me feel useful, for more than just my blades at least."
Like so many times when dealing with the Antivan elf, she didn't know how to respond to his words or actions. It was as if he read her mind and knew her worries and troubles without even asking. Was she so easy to read? Yet none of the others had ever really attempted to offer their aid or even much advice in their travels. Where they went, who they fought, which jobs to take - it was all up to Riel. Sometimes Leliana would make a comment of approval after the choice was made, or Alistair would complain over some detail, yet she was always alone in the decisions.
For Zevran to offer this - she didn't know how to respond. She wasn't used to people offering their help, let alone accepting it. Even back amongst Riel's clan, the others tended to avoid her. The only one who didn't was Tamlen, and look what happened to him….
"So, you agree with going forward?" she asked tentatively.
"Absolutely. It is the only wise choice, considering everything. And do not worry, my lovely Warden. I should ever be by your side during whatever shall befall us behind those walls," Zevran added with a wink and wide smile.
"Is it decided then?" Morrigan stated as she approached.
Looking at Zevran's handsome face, Riel smiled. "We go forward."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"There is suffering in your past - your suffering, and the suffering of others."
The words that the Guardian had spoken still haunted Riel even as they slowly made their way down the mountain. Even with the daunting trials and the tests to their character, none of it had impacted her more than the words spoken by the strange being who guarded the ashes of the prophet Andraste. And Riel would gladly walk blindly and unarmored through any number of flames if only to avoid the Guardian's knowing gaze and strange questions.
Yet she had the ashes. And for the first time since beginning this journey, Riel was actually happy that she brought the idiot Alistair along. The stories of Andraste and her fight against the Imperium were not wholly unknown to her. Paivel would sometimes tell of her and the elf Shartan around the fire while her clan camped. However, it turned out she knew very little of the woman Andraste and her plight. Alistair, however, was incredible with his knowledge of history and Andraste's story. And even though she was never raised to revere the woman as Alistair had, even Riel had to admit to the sense of awe that she felt standing before the urn that housed her ashes. Once more Riel was glad that she turned down Kolgrim's offer to taint the ashes. Whether the woman was holy or the ashes magic didn't seem to matter at that moment. Just standing in front of a relic that many would have done anything to see filled Riel with a sense of accomplishment that she hadn't felt before.
And now, with a small amount of the ashes hidden away in her pouch, Riel couldn't help but feel proud of herself for doing what so many couldn't. She had faced the trials that even the devout cultists hadn't been able to do. And she emerged with a piece of history all her own.
"Riel?"
Alistair's voice called out to her, pulling her from her internal reverie. "What is it, Alistair?"
"Elves like flowers, right?"
The absurdity of the question as well the bluntness made Riel stop right in her tracks. With the torches they salvaged from the antechamber, Riel felt comfortable enough to brave the walk through the temple and down the mountain back to the village. Yet even standing in the light of the torches, she couldn't understand the strange look upon the ex-Templar's face as he looked upon her.
"What?" balked Riel in incredulity.
"Trees and plants, and other things like that. You and the other Dalish. That's where you live, right?"
"Alistair, what in the name of all Thedas are you going on about?"
"Perhaps our Templar hit his head harder than I thought," quipped Morrigan from beside Riel.
"Flowers, you like them, right?" Alistair asked again, still looking at her with an odd look in his eyes. Riel rolled her eyes and pegged him with a glare.
"They are fine, I suppose. Some are useful in potions or poultices. Although Morrigan would know more about that than I do."
"Good. Good…"
"Pay him no heed, Riel. I think the dragon may have roasted Alistair's brain a bit too much," laughed Zevran, who was joined by Morrigan's light giggle.
"Ha ha. It was just something I was curious about. No need to make jokes. They might hurt my feelings. All one of them."
"Okay, that's enough. We shouldn't be too far from Haven now. I think I see the outline of the Chantry just behind those trees there."
The rest of the walk down the mountain and through the village was just more of the normal bickering and banter that usually happened as they travelled. Alistair saying something stupid and being insulted by Morrigan or teased by Zevran. Strangely though, Zevran's usual flirting that he partook in with Morrigan was almost nonexistent. Thinking about it, Riel found that even his flirting with Leliana when she was with them had slowed down. It seemed as if the Antivan elf saved most of his playful flirting for her alone now. The thought again stirred strange feelings within her, and Riel wasn't sure if she should be happy or upset about it.
About a hundred yards from where the others were camped, a large barking noise could be heard. A moment later Fen'harel came bounding out from the bushes in front of them and nearly bowled Riel over as he leapt at her. Great soggy dog kisses were left all over her face as Riel hugged the beast tightly to herself.
"Yes, it is good to see you too, Fen! I've missed you too!" Riel laughed as the hound continued to slobber all over her.
"Mabari breath. Ewww…." Alistair groaned as he watched the duo.
"Now, I don't think that it's any worse than your own, Alistair. At least the dog bathes."
Alistair rolled his eyes and pushed passed the others, heading for the camp. Even in the flickering light of the torches, the evil smile on Morrigan's face was visible. That woman sure loved teasing the man. Not that Riel could blame her a lot of the time. And those times when Riel was too annoyed or flustered to answer the Templars strange questions or comments, Morrigan was always there to divert attention away from Riel and make Alistair squirm in ways that even Riel found impossible to not smile at.
Unlike Alistair, Zevran enjoyed seeing the mabari and his Warden together. The hound was the only creature able to get her to smile and laugh with any consistency. And with Riel's aversion to touch, it was nice to see how much the mabari comforted her. Although Zevran wished that his own touches were as welcome with Riel as the hound's were, he was in no rush.
Still, Zevran was more than pleased that she allowed herself to rest against him earlier. A woman like his Warden wasn't somebody who could be rushed when it came to something like trust or affection. When she came to him, it would be of her own choice, and he would welcome her in any which way that was.
"There you are! We were about to go looking for you! What happened?" Leliana came running out of the bushes next, barely stopping herself before she knocked into Riel much in the same manner Fen'harel had. Instead she dropped her arms and stared awkwardly at Riel and the hound. "We were worried about you when you didn't return at nightfall. Sten and I were planning on going into the village ourselves if you didn't show by morning."
"Thanks, Leliana. But we're okay. Just barely, but we made it. And you are not going to believe what we found," Riel replied with teasing look on her face.
"Oh, now you must tell me! You know how much I love stories! You must tell me every detail!"
"I will. But first, I really need a bath. Dragon blood smells awful even after it dries…"
"Dragon blood?! You fought a dragon?"
"Leliana, let's allow a our dear Warden a chance to rest before you start grilling us on the details, no? I am sure we will all feel much better once we are back at camp and are able to relax."
Riel looked over to Zevran and smiled softly, again thankful for his insight and timing.
"Oh, Maker forgive me! I haven't even allowed you to sit down before I am pestering you with questions! Come on, I promise to hold my questions until after you are able to rest."
"What would be helpful, sweet Leliana, is if you could see about perhaps heating up some food for our Warden. I am sure a full stomach would help loosen her tongue for you stories. And like I always say,-" Zevran paused as he looked at Riel with pure mischief on his face. "A loose tongue is always more pleasurable."
Any gratefulness Riel felt for the other elf vanished in her embarrassment and anger over his teasing of her. However, his lecherous teasings were beginning to bother her less as the days went on. Perhaps she was just getting used to his teasing. It wasn't as if she enjoyed them or anything.
Leliana followed them back to camp with Fen'harel barely leaving Riel's heel. Rarely was she ever gone this long from camp unless they were spending the night in a town, in which case the hound was with always with her then as well. Since Ostagar, the mabari had made it clear that this woman was his, and just like the old stories said, he was fiercely protective of her.
Which is probably why Zevran liked the animal so much. Even if Zevran could not guard her at all times, he knew the hound could. Especially while Riel slept or went off to bathe. And it seemed the mabari sensed the same in him. Zevran was the only other person beside Riel who the beast would ever listen to.
"I know you want to know the details of what happened, but honestly I would give almost anything for a chance to wash all this grime off me," Riel admitted when they finally got back to the camp. "I'm just going to grab a cloth and a fresh tunic and go to that small river that is near here."
"Of course! And while you're gone, I will reheat some of the deer that I hunted earlier with my new arrows. Go take care of yourself, Riel," replied Leliana with a comforting smile. It was clear the woman wanted to hug or touch Riel to assure herself that indeed the woman was alright, but Riel just wasn't comfortable with that. Even with her minor breakthrough with Zevran earlier at the summit, the thought of touching others still raised her anxiety passed tolerable levels. Instead Riel just smiled back, a twinge of sadness and regret in her eyes as she headed for her tent.
Lately, the enforced distance that Riel put between herself and others seemed to bother her more than normal. When living with her clan, the fact that she refused to let others touch her was a comfort to her still damaged heart and mind. And how things were in Ostagar only reinforced that. She didn't want or care for the feeling of others being close to her, let alone actually touching her. However that resolve in her seemed to be weakening. Chipped away at by honeyed eyes and a teasing smile.
Riel went over to her tent and ducked inside. At first she was just so grateful to be away from the eyes of others that she didn't notice the bowl that rested near her bedroll. Sighing heavily she sat down, she accidently tipped the bowl over, splashing water on her hand. Confused, Riel looked down and saw that the bowl held not just water, but several white flowers with soft petals that twisted at the end, making them look like twinkling stars. She lifted one to her nose and smiled.
Who would have gotten them? she wondered as she felt the soft petal against her lips.
Riel righted the bowl, then gathered up the things she would need to wash including the extra tunic that she owned. Then, with the flower in hand, she exited her tent and looked around. Everyone was seated around the fire except for Sten who stood a few feet away. With his arms crossed over his chest, he looked just as stoic and foreboding as always. Yet when he saw her, he nodded his head slightly in a small greeting. Riel mimicked the motion, then focused her eyes on those by the fire.
"Alistair, have you been in my tent?" she asked with annoyance. While she appreciated the gesture, she didn't like the idea of him being in her tent, touching her things.
"What? No, why?"
"You didn't put anything in my tent earlier, before we left for Haven?" she asked again, remembering the strange questions he asked her earlier about flowers on their walk down the mountain.
From the other side of the fire, Zevran stood up and approached Riel, his eyes a mixture of worry and expectation.
"If you mean the flowers, they are from me. I picked them earlier and considering how much death and blood we encounter each day, I thought that you would like something beautiful to smell before you fell asleep. I thought that perhaps it would help you rest easier."
Riel didn't know what to say. Again, this man surprised her with his kindness and thoughtfulness. Riel wasn't used to such kindness from people, especially from a man, and so she didn't know what to say to thank him.
"The Dalish called them sal'uthyn - 'eternal lights of the sky'. They bloom at night, and seem to glow in even in the faintest light. The Keeper told me that they are a gift from Mythal, to know that even when the stars do not shine, they are still there." Riel ducked her eyes away from his, her cheeks blushing from his gesture. "How did you know?"
"After we left Lake Calenhad, I heard you with Bodahn's son, Sandal one night. The boy had trouble sleeping because how dark it was with the overcast sky. You went to him and showed him these flowers, and told him that even if he couldn't see the stars, these flowers would always remind him that they would shine again."
The silence around them seemed deafening, and Riel was suddenly acutely aware of their audience. Her face stinging from embarrassment and other odd feelings, Riel couldn't seem to find any words to ease the silence that seemed to have overtaken the camp. It felt as if all the eyes of Thedas were upon her as she stood next to this strange yet compelling man.
"T-thank you…" was all she managed to say before her embarrassment got too much. Quickly she turned and walked off towards the river without saying anything else, Fen'harel following closely behind her without being called.
Zevran continued to stare after her, even after she was swallowed up by the darkness of the night. Sighing, he let his mind wander to what she would look like naked, floating in water with the moonlight shining off her glistening body. Just imagining it made the throbbing member between his hips twitch and stiffen, begging him to follow her and see if his fantasies lived up to the real thing.
"You are such a bastard!" Alistair cursed from behind him.
"I think it was sweet!" added Leliana, her knowing smile obvious in her words.
Zevran turned away from where Riel had disappeared and found himself nearly face to face with the angry Templar.
"You knew I was going to give her flowers, so you stole my idea and gave her some yourself!" Alistair spat angrily.
"What I knew is that you would make some bumbling attempt at giving her something she might not have liked out of some need of yours to endear her to yourself."
"And what was that?" Alistair exclaimed, pointing to the tent. "Aren't you trying to endear Riel to yourself?"
"No, my friend. That was me trying to find a way to ease the nightmares that she has at night. If I were trying to endear the lovely Warden to me, I would be preventing your mouth from working before you had a chance to anger or annoy her with your bumbling statements or questions."
"Why I ought to-" Alistair looked like he was going to hit Zevran, yet the elf didn't seem threatened or even flinch even as Alistair stepped forward ready to brawl. However Leliana was again between them, pushing Alistair away.
"Easy! Easy! You-!" Leliana pointed her finger at Alistair. "Go sit down or cool off somewhere." Next she looked at Zevran, who was still smiling and looking completely at ease despite how close Alistair was to fighting him. Although Leliana didn't doubt for a moment that despite the relaxed looked he held, Zevran was more than ready to fight just as Alistair was. "You, stop begging for Alistair to attack you. Although I am sure you are both manly men and everything, Riel wouldn't be pleased to come back to camp to find Morrigan and I nursing you back to health."
"Ha! Like I would care. Indeed, my silvers are on the assassin. Let them fight. At least it would be entertaining!" quipped Morrigan from her spot at her own fire several feet away. Leliana rolled her eyes and faced off at the two men again.
"Can we please just sit down and act like grown adults for a little while? I am sure both of you men are tired from whatever happened while you were gone. Sit down and save your beating for the Darkspawn or whatever else that is out there. Agreed?"
"Of course, dear Leliana. Please do forgive me," Zevran said with a small bow. "The deer smells absolutely wonderful and I would love to have some, if you do not mind." Zevran then sat down by the edge of the fire opposite to where Riel had disappeared into the brush. There he would be able to see immediately when she returned, and he wasn't going to sleep until he had made sure the stubborn Warden had eaten.
Grumbling under his breath, Alistair just glared at the smiling elf, wishing that the dragon would have saved him the trouble of killing him himself, and just ate the blasted elf.
"Just watch yourself, assassin. I will not hesitate to kill you if you hurt her."
"I assure you, mi rival indigno, that hurting our dear Warden is the farthest thing from my mind."
The tension between the two men was heavy in the air as they stared at each other, Alistair with his sharp and threatening glare, and Zevran's almost playful but just as lethal gaze.
Leliana looked back and forth between the two men before smiling to herself. "Well, things are sure to get more interesting in camp, I think."
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Vhenan'ara