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Of Ghouls and Broodmothers	By : Melaniem2108 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 18849 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Dragon Age series all recognizable characters are property of Bioware and EA. I make no profit from this. If I did Tamlen and Cullen would be romanceable in the first game.

Chapter List
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A/N: I know that ghouls are only supposed to live a short while but that didn't work for my fanfic idea, so ghouls don't die from a short life span and they don't go bald.This is un-beta'd if anyone wants to volunteer please let me know. Enjoy xMelaniex.
The small fire cast a dim light across the camp just north of the Brecillian Forest, illuminating the group's tents and the two bed rolls that the wardens were lying upon. Endless thoughts were running through Elyssa Mahariel's head. (Yes I'm aware that Elissa is the preset name for the Human Noble Origin. I wanted it for my Dalish Elf.) She couldn't help but keep her dark green eyes open 'That clan was so welcoming, it's a shame that we couldn't save Master Varathorn. I wish I didn't have to leave so soon. They reminded me so much of my own clan. Of Tamlen.' A wistful sigh passed her lips as she thought of her old clan mate, her mate.
It was a strong blow to Elyssa's psyche when she awoke at her camp to find that Duncan had not brought Tamlen with her. She had almost collapsed again when she went back to the caves with both Merrill and Fenarel in search for Tamlen's body. The exertion had almost brought the darkspawn taint to overtake her completely. Duncan had had to rush her from the Dalish camp to the ruins of Ostagar, carrying her some of the way as she was too weak to walk. 'He must have thought me a right fool, letting the taint get that bad. But I just wanted to see Tamlen again.'
"Elyssa you've been chosen to do something great, to protect the people of Ferelden, to protect the people of the world against the darkspawn. I see great strength in you, I've come to see a daughter in you. Don't leave them without you, don't leave me without you." She'd heard Duncan whisper this to her when she was drifting in and out of consciousness. Even when she was going through her joining she'd heard his voice alongside Alistair's.
From the moment Duncan told her to go to the Tower of Ishall she'd felt nothing but dread, it was as though she knew that there was nothing good to come from leaving him to fight without her. She'd been right. Duncan's death brought her spirits even lower, only the thought that she could get revenge on the creatures that had taken both her love and her father-figure from her had kept her going for the longest time. It had taken her through the harsh nights and the battles at the Mage's tower, the towns of Haven and Redcliffe.
It was only after they had saved Connor at Redcliffe that Elyssa had finally started to open up to the rest of her party. She'd become friends with all of her party, Sten in all of his stoic glory, had turned out to be a big softy, and she hadn't hesitated to make this knowledge known to Leliana who constantly teased him over it. Morrigan was like the sister she never had and Wynne really was a sweet grandmother under all her layers of "I'm not one of those old ladies that'll sit around knitting booties." Out of all of them Alistair had turned out to be her closest friend, though she had the feeling that he wanted more than that. Little by little she had been letting him into her heart. They'd opened up to each other, and just a few nights before the ordeal in the Brecillian Forest she had let him into her tent.
'Alistair.' His name finally brought her out of her reverie. She examined the camp quickly to see everything was as it should be. Sten and Leliana were keeping watch over the camp, Leliana yet again teasing him over being a softy. Morrigan was over on her separate side of the camp, already asleep as it seemed. Wynne and Zevran were both asleep. Alistair was snoring lightly next to her. It was the thought that she was safe with Alistair that helped her finally fall asleep.
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It seemed only moments after she had fallen asleep that she was brought into a dream. She was running through the forests nearby her clan's encampment. Her black hair blowing in the wind behind her. Someone was hot on her trail, she jumped and weaved through the brush avoiding the halla that were fleeing in fright. She quickly climbed a tall oak tree, trying to gain a vantage point, but when she looked below her nobody was there. "I could have sworn," she murmured, crossing the branches to see if she'd somehow missed the person. Still there was nobody around for at least a mile.
She waited before climbing back down, just as she reached the bottom arms wrapped around her from behind, yanking her away from where she was standing, moments before. She tried to fight whoever held her, but stiffened when they pressed their lips into hers, silencing her protests. She finally focused enough to see it was Tamlen. She immediately relaxed. "Shhh..." He lay his finger across her mouth, glancing behind her. Three shemlen ran past their hiding space, shouting that the knife-ears went that way.
Only when it was safe did Tamlen pull away, a huge grin on his face, his blonde locks covering one eye. "Enasal. That was fun wasn't it?" Elyssa shoved him away, "Fun?! Your dumb ass is the one that almost got us caught, it's just a prank you said, it'll be fine you said and yet who was the one that screwed up? You! Last time I trust you to come up with a good plan." It was only a small prank, soak all the shemlen's tents, and swap around all of their clothes and get away before they come out of their tents. Too bad he'd tripped over one of the shem's bed rolls and blew our cover.
"Come now Lethallan," Tamlen came up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her, his head resting on her shoulder. She tried and failed to shrug him off. "It still turned out well didn't it? We still got some good fun with the chase didn't we?" 'Hmm. He's not going to make me change my mind.' thought Elyssa. "Forgive me?" She turned her head away from his pleading gaze. "Emma lath, emma vhenan. Ma'arlath." Tamlen nuzzled his face into Elyssa's neck. The last words were what softened her resolve. "I love you too." She smiled, turning in his arms. He smiled victoriously before tackling her to the ground.
Just as she hit the ground it crumbled beneath her, the Earth changing around her. She fell in a heap far below the earth, the air thick with smoke. Tamlen was nowhere to be seen. Getting back on her feet she saw a hellish sight. A great dragon stood surrounded by masses of darkspawn. Its eyes blazing brightly looking as though it was glaring right at Elyssa, as if it were trying to burn a hole right through her very soul. She was frozen in fear unable to move as the dragon opened its mighty maw and reared up ready to turn her into a pile of char. The flames had only just started to envelope her skin when she awoke.
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Her eyes shot open as her body jerked upwards. She glanced about the camp to see Alistair was also awake, his hair drenched in sweat. "Nightmare?" Elyssa asked. "You had it too? It was as if the archdemon saw us. Saw us! It-" He was cut short by a loud shrieking sound. Everyone shot up out of their tents, swords and staves at the ready. At least ten Shrieks stormed the encampment, their serated claws slashing through the air. Elyssa stormed across the camp her twin blades sinking into the heart of every Shriek that crossed her path. She was about to stab another creature when she saw his face. She averted her strike, hitting the ground and narrowly missing her target.
"Tamlen?" His name came out as a whimper. "Tamlen!" Her arms shot out, her body clinging to his. "Lethallan, stay away. Don't want to hurt you." He pushed her away before running back through the woods. 'I can't lose him!' Elyssa quickly followed him, while everyone's attention was still on the Shrieks. "Tamlen wait!" She could barely make him out in the darkness of the woods. "Tamlen come back!" He still wouldn't stop running. She could barely see past her tears. 'When did I start crying?' "Tamlen PLEASE!" He finally stopped and turned to her.
"Lethallan, please, stay away." His voice was gravelly, as if he'd had sand shoved down his throat. "Why? We've been looking for you for months, and no sign of you! I've missed you." She whispered the last few words. He stared at her for a few moments. "I've missed you as well Lethallan." His gaze rested on her again, longer this time as though he were considering something. Before she could blink he was next to her, his arm wrapped around her neck, blocking her airways. She struggled until her vision grew cloudy, the last thing she could make out was Alistair's voice
calling her name before everything went black.
Dalish vocabulary translations by the people at dragonage .wikia .com /wiki /Elven_language
Some dialogue taken from the Dragon Age Origins game.
Lethallan- female clan member.
Shemlen- Quick children. Humans.
Enasal- joy in triumph over loss, variation of joyful relief.
Emma lath- My love.
Emma vhenan- My heart.
Ma'arlath- I love you.
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Of Ghouls and Broodmothers