343 réponses à ce sujet

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks Miri! I am glad you liked it. : )

[TanithAeyrs]

I don't know about the swoopers, but this Zev fangirl is very happy with the new art.

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL! I will do one for them later I promise. But I did this one for all you Zev fans, and for Night Hunter on FF.net. He wanted fan art of Zev's proposal.



Thanks for looking at it Tanith! *HUGS*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 85

Kai managed to buckle on enough armor to be halfway decent for company even of the unexpected variety.  Though it

had been over a year since the Blight when Kai had traveled in a tent and put on her armor while kneeling or had to

put it on quickly, those skills had not gotten as rusty as she feared.  When she had looked up from the last buckle

that would keep her breastplate from falling down around her ankles, it was to see her brother with one hand

grasping the breastplate of a frightened, round-faced Dalish elf who looked incredibly familiar.  Though it was

difficult to recognize features that were distorted by the red color rapidly turning to a purple, as Fergus’ other

hand rested right under the elf’s chin and he had pushed his face very close to his victim’s as he pinned the young

man against the tree. 
 
‘What do you mean she’s hurt!”  Fergus repeated, a fierce look on his face.  It was the little garbled mumble that

made Kai recognize Fergus’ prisoner.  It was the young hunter whom Kai had helped woo his lady love, Gheyna.  It

was Kai, and some persuasion on her part, that had convinced Gheyna to accept the boy’s proposal though he had not

been able to complete his test of manhood due to the werewolf attacks. 
  “Fergus!  Let Cammen go!  Fergus!”  Kai had to grab her brother and physically drag him back.  It took some doing

as Fergus was no soft noble who had others guard him.  Her brother, like her parents, like herself even, trained

almost everyday unless his duties running Highever kept him from it. 
  Kai finally managed to get her brother to stand down.  She went to the poor young elf as he bent over with one

hand on his knee and the other on this throat rubbing it where Fergus had grasped him in one big hand.  “Cammen! 

Are you all right?”  Kai flashed her brother a look and mouthed the words, ‘What were you thinking?’ before turning

back to the elf.  “How did you know to where to look for us?” 
  Cammen stood up, giving Fergus a scared sidelong look.  “I was...I was trying to tell your friend here that the

witch you travel with has been hurt and we have her back at camp.”  Cammen then blushed.  “She told us about the

ring she had, like the Mad Hermit’s magicked ring.  She said the ring told her you were close and to go and find

you.  She is quite insistent, and very....”  Cammen rubbed his leather armor which looked cracked as if from

extreme cold. 
  “Unrestrained?  Formidable?”  Kai smiled at him and patted him sympathetically on the shoulder.
  “He says she has been hurt!”  Fergus started to move forward, and Kai motioned for Argus to block him. 
  “Brother dear, she is obviously well enough to freeze poor Cammen and speak.  But if you keep choking the poor

boy, it will take us longer to find the Dalish camp and see to her.”  Kai raised her eyebrows in the code that they

had used as children (calm down it said). 
 Fergus stood still, clenching and unclenching his fists rapidly.  Wynne stood beside him giving him a motherly pat

on the arm.  Kai nodded and gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Cammen.  “So if you will help us

pack up, we can have you ride with one of us on a Ceffyl and direct us.”
  “Si...sit on one of those beasts?”  Cammen’s face paled as he pointed to Luna and the other Ceffyls behind her. 
  “Cammen, we will make better time if we ride.”  Kai put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
 
“Just think of it as riding on a Halla.” A very tall Halla, Kai thought to herself.
  “Think of them that way, my Dalish friend, and you will be fine.”  Zev had come to stand beside Kai. 
 
Cammen just gulped audibly and set about helping them disband camp, which meant leaving the forest as they had

found it as much as possible; no trash and the fire doused with water from the nearby stream.  Kai was not about to

burn part of the forest down due to negligence or haste, no matter how much her brother, or she herself, felt the

overwhelming urge to get to Morrigan and see that she was not hurt with their own eyes. 
  It took Kai’s constantly tugging on Cammen’s arm to get his attention as he rode sitting behind her.  She swore

he was riding with his eyes closed.  Her suspicions were confirmed when they finally made it to the Dalish camp and

Kai jumped off of Luna first.  She turned to find Cammen sliding slowly down the side of the Ceffyl with his

eyelids plastered shut.
  Kai rolled her eyes and sighed. It had taken far longer to get the camp than she had thought it would, probably

because the one who was supposed to lead them there pretended he was blind.  “Let me go, Zevran!”  Kai spun around

to see her brother being held back by the shorter Antivan, barely.
  Kai went and grabbed her brother’s arm, “Fergus!  By Andraste’s ass will you calm down?  We are guests here.  I

am trying to keep the good will of these elves so as to possibly save many lives.  You are always so level

headed...when you are thinking with the head on your shoulders that is!”  Kai slapped her palm on his well-armored

chest, “Let me do the talking.”
  Kai turned to Cammen who was now standing next to Luna with such a look of relief on his face it made Kai want to

laugh, despite all that was going on.  Luckily for her and her group, Lanaya’s clan recognized her and the rest,

save Fergus. 
  Kai was also grateful that despite Erys’s treachery, she had not left Lanaya and the Sun Hawk Clan on bad terms. 

One of the elven children ran up bowed and pointed to the Ceffyls.  Kai nodded and turned to Rhia, giving the

commands that would let the elven child lead them away to the halla pen, “Slan, garda.”  Kai gave them the words

for “safe” and “guard.”  The Ceffyls would stand watch in case of danger. 
  Cammen finally composed himself and led them down the hill to the open field in search of Keeper Lanaya.  It took

a few inquiries of the clan’s members, many of whom recognized Kai and either bowed or shook her hand.  Finally

they found the Keeper re-dressing the wounded arm of a hunter sitting in front of an aravel.
  Wynne went immediately to the man and began casting, then smiled when the man sat fascinated, watching as the

wound knit together before his eyes.  Kai grinned, she never ceased to be amazed at watching wounds heal with magic

herself, and she had had many more wounds healed by Wynne than the astonished elven man. 
 
Kai turned to the Keeper who embraced her.  “Welcome back, lethallan.”  Lanaya nodded her head at the rest of Kai’s

group, “and your friends as well.  You will no doubt wish to see your wounded friend.”  The Keeper’s eyes flashed

to Fergus who was standing on the balls of his feet with his hands fisted at his sides.  “She has been quite the

handful.”  Lanaya made a sweeping gesture and bid them to follow her.
  “She has taken a wound that will not let her transform, and that with her other....”  Before Lanaya could finish,

Fergus had grabbed the keeper’s arm and spun her around. 
  “What is wrong with her?”  Lanaya studied Fergus’ face a moment.  Rather than becoming angry at his rudeness, she

smiled and put her hand over the one Fergus had latched on to her with and patted it.  “Your...friend is as well as

can be after being shot.”  Lanaya continued before Fergus could say anything, “Cammen mistook her for an aggressive

hawk swooping towards me, meaning me harm.”
  “Cammen?  Isn’t that the name of the boy who brought us here?”  Fergus turned swiftly on his heel looking for the

young elf, his face red and his eyes bright.  Cammen had taken that moment to disappear.  The Keeper smiled and put

Fergus’s hand in the crook of her arm, forcing him to walk with her as they continued on their way to Lanaya’s

tent. 
  “She explained to us her missive from you, lethallan.  And I have sent messengers out to the other clans.  They

should be here soon.  I hoped to persuade the Mad Hermit to lend us his ring to find you, lethallan, but he would

not part with it again.  When we returned it with the letter you wrote and the supplies you asked be given to him,

he claimed we had scratched the ring.”  Lanaya shook her head and chuckled.  “We knew we would have to wait for you

to find us.  So we set up our camp in the same place we used during the Blight.  The hermit told us that you would

come.  And then your friend told us of her ring linked to that one?”  Lanaya nodded at Fergus’s hand in the crook

of her elbow, which bore a silver ring.
  Fergus nodded as the fingers of his other hand reached out to touch it.  They stopped in front of the Keeper’s

tent, and what ever magic the ring possessed must have been working, as the irritated voice of her sister floated

out of the tent’s doorway.  “Oh, do stop standing about as if you all lost what little wits you had to begin with! 

‘Twould be most considerate if the old bat would heal my wound so I might get out of this tent and find the

imbecile who shot me.  I want to thank him again for providing me with the opportunity to sleep in the woods among

such delightful company!” 
  The witch’s voice dripped honey sweetness; Kai winced.  She hoped Cammen could keep himself away from Morrigan

for a while.  She did not envy the poor lad her sister’s ire.  Fergus practically ripped off the flap of the tent

upon entering.  Wynne followed him at a more sedate pace.
  Kai smiled at Lanaya and shrugged sheepishly, “I am sorry, Keeper, Fergus has been beside himself, and I have to

admit to being worried myself.” 
  Lanaya only smiled, “They are in love with each other.  It is quite plain to see, even though your witch friend

hides it in scorn.”  Lanaya gave a low laugh, “She only spoke his name every sentence.” 
  “Aw, it is so much fun to hear witchy-poo is in love!”  Alistair’s voice sing-songed in her head before sobering

immediately, “I am glad she is not too badly hurt.” 
  “As am I, mi’ gra.”  Kai gave him a mental smile.  Kai ducked into Lanaya’s tent to see Wynne working on

Morrigan’s shoulder while Fergus sat holding her hand and stroking hair away from her forehead. 
  Kai went to the side of the bed and patted her brother’s shoulder before bending down and hugging her sister,

kissing her on the cheek.  It was the tears Kai saw running down Morrigan’s cheeks that caught her by surprise.  “I

thought you buffoons would never get here!  And the fool Templar kept running away from me when I tried to talk to

him in the Fade!” 
  This statement was followed by more tears, which alarmed Kai.  Morrigan had never been one for weeping, not even

in anger or pain.  “What do you mean he kept running away from you?”
  In her head Kai directed her ire at Alistair, “Ali? You have some explaining to do!”
  “Uh oh, I thought she was trying to trick me into coming into the dream Fade so she could use that dream net on

me again.  I wouldn’t cross the border between them when I saw her.”  Kai could almost see him blush.  “Hey, she

loves to torment me, what did she expect?”  Kai groaned at him. 
  “He says he thought you were trying to trick him so you could use the dream net on him again.”  Kai looked at

Morrigan, “You and Alistair really need to bury the hatchet.” 
  “Oh, I shall bury the hatchet, in his thick skull!”  Morrigan’s face turned red, and she balled one of her fists.
  “Riiight, that sentiment will make me run right to her in the dream Fade, and right on through it.”  Alistair's

voice dripped sarcasm.
  “Sister....”  Morrigan interrupted Kai by bursting into tears.  Fergus rose, moving to sit behind the witch and

pulling her back until she was gently settled against his chest.
  “There, there my love.”  Fergus wrapped Morrigan in his arms and kissed her hair, “It is alright now.”
  “Alright?!  Alright?!”  Morrigan practically screeched,  “It took me forever and aye to find these blasted

elves!  Then when I finally find them, that moronic whelp shoots me!”  Kai watched as her sister snuffled noisily.
  “Yes, Cammen has expressed his remorse.  He is very lucky he did not kill her or cause her to fall too far to the

ground.”  Lanaya looked at Fergus pointedly.  “It was lucky for your...mate, that she was coming in for a landing.”
  Fergus nodded, and it struck Kai what Lanaya was on about.  If the expressions on Wynne’s and Zevran’s faces were

any indication, they too understood the Keeper’s meaning.  Only Morrigan’s face remained confused.  She looked from

one to the other. 
  “’Tis most amusing to be sure, to play games with me.  But I, for one, have no patience for your jests.”  And

with this, the hand Fergus wasn’t holding began to glow with power. 
  Fergus grabbed her hand and kissed it grinning.  “I believe, my darling love, that the Keeper means you are

pregnant.” 
  Kai had to keep her lips held tightly together to keep her giggles from escaping as she watched her sister’s

already milky skin become white as snow.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 28 mai 2010 - 11:28 .

[VioletTheirin]

I love this chapter!!! Can't wait to see Morrigan preggers, it should be EPIC! And the new art work; Tres Magnifique!!!!! Well done my friend!

[Gilgamesh1138]

You spoil me! Thanks sweet girl! : D * HUGS*

[westiex9]

Lol i don't know why but for some reason cammen is always finding himself on the receiving end of bad luck, its like the Creators decided it would be awesome fun to make him their personal joke hehe

And

Fergus and Morrigan, lol they'll have interesting children lets hope none of them turn into dragon god's lol, that would make diaper changing a real pain!


As always this is the living essence of Awesome

Modifié par westiex9, 31 mai 2010 - 08:54 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL, dragon god babies... the tails and diapers could be a problem. And they would probably have to move to Orzammar, no wood. Yeah....



LOL thanks westie!

[Gilgamesh1138]

This was for Ladyames's son Pearce.  Her dog in game in Rafion. He wanted a human Rafion and a dog one.  I also consider this a portrait of Argus of course.   Argus Bunny!

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 04 juin 2010 - 11:29 .

[VioletTheirin]

LOVE IT and LOVE YOU...You are awesome! The Goddess of the Awesome Sauce!!! Need I say more????

[ladyames]

Pearce absolutely adores you and your skills!!!!! He loves Rafion's look! (he also giggled at Argus Bunny as a name ... I had to explain it!). Well done my friend! You made my boy happy and that's not always an easy thing to do!!!!!

[Gilgamesh1138]

You guys are the best! Thanks for the support! I am so glad the kiddo loved it. I will get a print made for him.

[Miri1984]

Gorgeous stuff. Love Cammen here as well. I've been a bit behind on my reading the last few days - catching up now .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw, thanks Miri! I am always behind on yours you mad typing fool you! *GLOMP*

[TanithAeyrs]

Great pic of the Mabari. You are so talented Gil.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw thanks sweet lady! I love to see your posts!

[westiex9]

That Mabari Pic is Awesome! so much personality in the dogs face  

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks Tanith, I you!

Thanks westie! I am glad you like it. Chapter 86 should be up soon.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 07 juin 2010 - 12:10 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 86




“It
cannot be true!”  Kai watched as Morrigan’s wan skin
blossomed with two red spots high on her sculpted cheeks. 



“Considering
what you and Fergus have been up to, it’s not only true, but should
come as no surprise.”  Kai grinned at her sister, “You of
all people know it isn’t good Fade spirits who bring babies,
right?”

 “Of
course I know that! 
I am not some bubble headed imbecile, or that fool Templar!” 
Morrigan scowled at Kai, her low voice becoming a growl, “I know
perfectly well how babies are made and where they come from!” 


 “He-yy,
that hurts my manly feelings, I know where babies come from too!” 
Alistair’s voice mock grumbled into her ear. 

 “All
one of your manly feelings you mean?” 
Kai gave him a mental grin, “Are you still sure you know, even now,
where babies come from, mi gra?” 

 “Oh
you, you are just as evil as Wynne!”  She could feel him
grinning.  “Though I do have to wonder if the world isn’t
coming to an end, Morrigan, spawning...”  She felt him give a
melodramatic shudder. 

 “Well,
I for one am very happy with the idea.”  Fergus grinned,
squeezing the witch’s slender frame more tightly to him. 

 “Fah! 
You would think ‘tis wonderful, but we have established that you
are mad!  I shall be cranky and get fat, and you will think I am
ugly.  ‘Tis a certainty that you will then go and find some
trollop to warm your bed.”  Morrigan’s angry face got
redder, but tears continued to slip down her cheeks, “And I will be
stuck at home with a squalling babe, while cooking over a hot stove.”

 “Cranky? 
She isn’t cranky now, she’s down right ****y!”  Kai had
to keep the laughter bubbling up in her throat from reaching her lips
at Alistair’s statement.  She clapped a hand to her mouth
which made her sister utter a low growl in her throat.  Kai held
up her hands in a placating gesture.

 “Now,
my love, I wouldn’t care if you were fat, but I don’t see that
happening.  And we have a cook, and she is the ruler of her
kitchen.  I doubt Olwyna would deign to let you anywhere near
one of her stoves, even if you had a mind to.”  Fergus kissed
the back of Morrigan’s head who, with her hair down, looked so much
more vulnerable and childlike, making her tears even more heart
wrenching. 
“So, why are you really so upset my beloved?” 

“Foolish
man, I am not upset!”  And with that the witch leaned forward
away from him and crossed her arms while putting her nose up in the
air. 

 Fergus
only grinned, grabbed her shoulders, tilted her head back and put a
finger under her chin to make her look at him, “What really has you
so upset?” 

 “Because...,”
Morrigan’s face got redder and more tears leaked from the corners
of her eyes, “because I don’t want to be like my mother!” 


 “Now,
love...”  Morrigan’s eyebrows drew down as her eyes
narrowed.

 “How
can I not be?  I was raised by her!  I am nothing more than
a cold-hearted....”

 “Uh
oh, witchy-poo is losing it!  I only teased her about looking
like
her mother.  Of course if she can turn into a dragon like
Flemeth, well then I recommend that Fergus replace all of the wooden
furniture at Highever with dwarven stone furnishings.  Dragon
babies and oaken highchairs don’t mix.”  Kai could hear
Alistair laughing at his own joke.

 “Hush
you! I am trying to be supportive, and your not hel-ping!” 
Kai complained. 
Alistair laughed harder.

 “ENOUGH!” 
Fergus’s sudden roar made everyone jump, even Ali,  “How
much do you have to do before you realize you are nothing like that
woman?  You helped my sister, you have saved her life on
numerous occasions, and you asked for nothing in return except her
friendship! 
Even when you were not sure you had her friendship anymore, did you
not return to save her, not knowing if she would forgive you? 
Would your mother have done the same?”  Morrigan’s mouth
opened, but Fergus continued, talking over what she might going to
say, “And did you not go and help rescue Zevran?  Or help the
Dalish against Bann Loren’s men?  Did you not help my niece
and nephew into the world?  Or call my sister, your sister? 
Would that old bat Flemeth have ever done any of these things without
wanting something in return?”  Morrigan just shook her head. 
“And do you think for one second I could love anyone like your
demon infested, **** of a mother who intended to kill you and take
your body?”  He glared at Morrigan, who now looked at Fergus
with pride and love and admiration shining in her eyes.  Again,
she shook her head. “Well then, I want to hear nothing more on this
topic.  You will be a wonderful mother, I have seen you with the
twins.” 

 He
leaned in and put his lips to hers, and Morrigan wrapped her arms
around his neck.  It soon became apparent that they were not
coming up for air any time soon, so Kai and the rest discretely made
their way back out of the tent into the camp, making sure the tent
flap was down and securely in place. 

 Kai
found herself blushing and hurrying towards the center of camp and
the fire pit laid with logs there, as the noises coming from the tent
behind them were getting louder  She also had the thought that
her brother and Morrigan were using the Keeper’s tent. 
“Keeper Lanaya, I am so sorry, I promise to have them out of the
tent, before tonight!”  And
I will burn the bed clothes for you if you want, she
huffed to herself.

 “Do
not worry yourself, lethallan.  They are in love and have been
separated and frightened for each other.  I do have tents set up
for you and your party.”  Lanaya walked them to a stand of
pavilions and led them inside so they could put their belongings
away.  “I expect some of the clans to trickle in over the next
few days.  I am hoping that no more than two, three days at the
most for the other clans to arrive.”

 “Thank
you, keeper.  I am grateful for your help and your friendship.” 
Kai returned Lanaya’s smile.  “Well, since it is early in
the day, I was hoping I might purchase some supplies from your
merchants and take them to the Hermit; I did promise I would visit
him again.”

 “I
know, lethallan, that he is eagerly awaiting your arrival.  When
we went to borrow his ring again, he told us he had to have it back
because you were returning and he wanted to make things nice for you,
so he had to know when you were coming.”  Lanaya smiled, “He
is quite taken with you.  We have been leaving supplies whenever
we are near to his camp as you asked us, including books. 
We just change them out.  He leaves the ones he has finished
reading, and we place the new books with the supplies.”

 “Oh
my, another man in love with you!  Zevran better watch out, he
has competition!  You might decide to run off and live in a
stump in the forest.”  Alistair’s voice laughed in her ear.

 “Ha,
very ha!  And no thank you!  That stump
smelled...aromatic. 
Stronger than even Oghren’s usual miasma.  Pass!”  Kai
grinned

 “At
least he stopped using pages from books for his backside.” 
She caught Ali’s shudder, and suppressed a chuckle.

 She
handed over a leather pouch with coins in it to the keeper. 
It would pay for the supplies she would take today and be good for
six more months of supplies for the poor man.  Lanaya smiled and
patted Kai’s arm, “The supplies we leave him along with books are
all collected by Master Varathorn.  He and his apprentices
usually take them when they look for ironbark to collect.”

Kai
grinned, “I will be happy to look for ironbark while I am on my way
there.  Master Varathorn was most generous to me in the past, so
I am happy to return the favor.”  Kai gave Lanaya a cross
armed bow before turning to her remaining companions, “Okay, who
wants to go visit a mad hermit?” 

“Ah,
a ride in the woods, bark hunting, and talking to a madman. 
That fortune teller in Antiva never told me that my life with you
would never be dull, my beautiful Kaidana.”  Zevran kissed
her, “I will go and fetch the Ceffyls.  My beautifully endowed
Wynne, shall I saddle up Bran for you?” 

 “I
believe I will go. 
Considering Kai’s penchant for trouble, a healer along is always
handy.”  Wynne flashed Kai a saucy grin and before she could
protest about not looking for trouble (it always knew just where she
was), Wynne laughed, “I also could use more plants for potions.” 


  Zev
walked off towards the lake and the halla pens where the Ceffyls were
pastured.  Kai, Wynne and Argus made their way to Master
Varathorn’s aravel.  It looked as though he had acquired a new
apprentice and the young man he had with him during the Blight had
been promoted.  Kai watched as Varathorn chastised the newest
assistant, while the other gave a sideways glance and a smirk before
plastering a salesman’s smile on his face and leaning across the
table to see to his new customers. 

  When
he saw who it was, his smile got wider and he turned and grabbed
Varathorn’s arm, giving it a shake until the annoyed man looked up,
“Yes!  What is it?!  I have to keep this scoundrel from
ruining what ironbark we have, I don’t have time for....”

  “By
Sylaise!”  And Varathorn was shoving the new apprentice out of
the way and coming around the table, “I am so glad to see you well,
my lady!”  He had her arm in a warrior’s grip. 

 Kai
smiled at him, “I am well, my friend, or at least trying to be.” 


 “Well,
you took a hard blow when last you were with us.  I and others
were worried.”  He smiled at her, giving her hand a squeeze. 


 “I
would say you, your clan, and the others took more of the blow than I
did, Master Varathorn.”  Kai grimaced. 
Lelyth’s dead and broken body on the bright green grass floated
into her mind’s field of vision.  She shook it away as her
heart squeezed painfully.  She put a wall up around her last
visit with Lanaya’s clan lest she start remembering the other dead,
including that little boy.  Stop
it! 
She
gave herself a mental head slap.  Kai was at least grateful they
hadn’t set up camp in that site again. 

 She
tried to give Varathorn a smile which must have reflected more of her
inner turmoil than she thought, from his giving her arm a little pat
and his own nod. 
“So, Master Varathorn, I have come to see you about the supplies
for the Hermit, and I thought I might look for ironbark for you while
we are out?”  She gave him a genuine smile and a little
chuckle at the way the craft master's eyes lit up. 

 “By
June’s left stone, that would be very much appreciated, my lady! 
I have more trouble with the new apprentice than I had with the old
one! 
I swear he is going to burn the camp down!  What is it with
these youngsters and their penchant for overusing fire?” 

 Kai
giggled as the young apprentice blushed and looked down, while the
older one smirked once again.  Varathorn turned to the older
one, “Don’t smirk so hard lad, or do you want me to tell Jonren
some of your tales of mishap?”  The smirk left the young man’s
face immediately, and it was Jonren’s turn to smirk. 
“Well Renthan, don’t just stand there looking pale, get the
Hermit’s supplies and be quick about it!” 

 
The
lad went to a chest and brought out two bulging leather bags. 
Varathorn turned back to Kai, “I put soap and a razor in there. 
But I don’t know if he has ever used the others that I sent. 
More clothes of course, lighter weight for the summer’s coming. 
Boots, his last pair were in need of replacing. 
I gave him a new skinning knife for the game he has been catching and
fishing line with hooks. 
I also put in sewing needles, thread and paste in case he needs to
make repairs, even a comb in case he lost the last one or it broke. 
Anything to remind him he is a shem, not an animal.” 
Varathorn smiled. 
“I think we have been making progress with him. 
He seems better, though he has his moments.  I think your
kindness did the most for him, lethallan.  The rest has just
been building on that.  I put new books in, they seem to make
him the happiest.  I do the trading with the shem merchants. 
It was only a matter of letting them know I was interested in books. 
We read them here at camp when he is done, and then sell them back
for new books.  It has been good for everyone.  I have
included more food items that will keep, along with flour, some
honey, tea, and some spices.  I added salting materials so he
can salt fish and meat to make them keep, and a couple of new water
skins too.” 

  Varathorn
looked up from the interior of the bag he had been holding, “I
don’t think I have forgotten anything.  But if he mentions
anything, well, just let me know when you return. 
I shall make sure he gets it.” 

  Kai
smiled and nodded, “I will see if there is anything I notice at his
camp that he might need. 
Thank you, Varathorn, here is a little coin for all your trouble and
kindness.  I gave Lanaya the coin to pay for the supplies, but
you should have some for your efforts.” 

 Varathorn
waved her away, “I will take nothing from you for that, lethallan. 
I am happy to help.  But if you feel you must repay me, look
with those sharp eyes of yours for ironbark. 
I fear this new apprentice is going to use it all on practice. 
Which means I may be sending him to clean out the halla pens
instead!”  Varathorn threw this last bit over his shoulder at
the youngster who was blushing. 

  Kai
waved her goodbyes and turned to find that Zev had been there waiting
with the Ceffyls. 
They packed the supplies for the hermit into the saddlebags and
started deeper into the forest.  At one point Kai thought they
might be lost.  Some of the paths that had been made by
Swiftrunner and his clan when they were running though this part of
the forest had grown over.  The forest animals apparently
preferred to make different avenues.

  It
was in one glade with Wynne plucking herbs that Kai and Zev sat side
by side on the log of a fallen ironbark tree.  She had collected
the bark from it and now sat trying to get her bearings.  Time
did not sit still in the forest, and Kai was getting a little nervous
that she would not be able to figure out where the Hermit might be. 
“It is certainly different from when last we came wandering through
here, is it not, mi cielo?”  Zev grinned and wound his fingers
with hers. 

  “You
can certainly say that!  I don’t know why I didn’t think to
bring one of the Dalish with me, or even ask Master Varathorn for
some landmarks.”  She gave him a rueful smile.


“Perhaps,
mi amada, it had to do with unpleasant memories?”  He gently
brushed hair away from her face.  Kai could only gape at him. 
“It would be natural for you to have such distractions running
through your mind, and I saw your face when you were talking to
Varathorn.”  Kai felt tears threatening to well up in her eyes
as she bit her lower lip.  “No, mi querida, don’t.” 
Zev leaned in to give her a lingering kiss. 

  It
was the woof from Argus that had them all standing with weapons at
the ready, or in the case of Wynne, her staff and magic.  The
crashing through the underbrush was followed by a shout from a
familiar sounding voice, “Hello, Warden, don’t attack, it is only
Tythen and I!”  The “I” turned out to be a person Kai had
not expected to see; Swiftrunner stepped out from the underbrush
followed by the Dalish hunter Tythan.  It was Tythan’s sister
who had been watching the children the day of the attack by Erys and
Bann Loren’s men.  Swiftrunner had saved not only Lana, but
the children, leading them into the forest and hiding them all in the
woods under leaves before drawing off Bann Loren’s men. 
Apparently, Swiftrunner had stayed with the Sun Hawk Clan.

  Both
of them wore a bow and quiver and had a string of rabbits and birds
that had already been field dressed.  Kai felt her face lighting
up in a wide grin.  Not only was it very nice to see familiar
faces, but here was a solution to her dilemma. 

  She
sheathed her daggers as she strode forward hand outstretched to grasp
first Swiftrunner’s forearm, then Tythan’s in a warrior’s
clasp.  That was not enough for Swiftrunner who then swept her
up in a bear hug lifting her off her feet. 
Tythan laughed at her dazed expression, “I think, my brother, that
you are squeezing a little too hard. 
I think she can’t breathe.”  Tythan clapped Swiftrunner on
the shoulder. 

  Kai
managed to gasp out, “You may not be a werewolf anymore, my friend,
but your strength is still formidable.  I am please to see you
again as well!”  Kai grinned, “I had thought you might go
with the soldiers in the bannorn or arlings.”  And then it
struck her that some of those dead bodies in the watchtower could
have been Swiftrunner and his clan if they had.

 Kai
found herself swallowing hard as her stomach rolled with a wave of
nausea.  She felt Zev’s warm fingers twine with her suddenly
cold ones while he put out his other hand in greeting to Swiftrunner
and Tythan.  Kai beckoned them back to the clearing around the
fallen tree where she told them all that had happened at the
watchtower and her plans for dispersing the remaining soldiers and
townspeople of Gwaren in with the elves until Anora was off the
throne.  Hence, the calling of the clans for a meeting earlier
than they would have normally gathered.

 

The
fact that she managed to get though the telling without vomiting she
supposed said something about her healing psyche.  Swiftrunner
grasped her hand, giving it a little shake, “Well, I can certainly
see why you want to ask if the Dalish can take them.  We move
around so much, and only certain members of the clans ever come into
contact with shem for trading.”  His yellow eyes looked
thoughtful, “I am glad you came to Lanaya with this, it is a good
plan.  And it is good to see you again, lethallan.” 

  “Shem,
lethallan?  Are you going native Swiftrunner?” Kai allowed
herself a teasing laugh. 

  “I
should hope so, since he married my sister just last month.  I
am to be an uncle when the leaves turn to flame and fall like rain.” 
Tythan clapped Swiftrunner on the shoulder and grinned at him while
the bearded human blushed. 

  “Well,
for whatever reason, your sister decided to give this poor excuse for
a human a chance. 
I couldn’t resist.”  Swiftrunner started plucking leaves of
grass and shredding them, “I have you to thank you know, Warden. 
You brought me to them. 
If you hadn’t I wouldn’t have met my Lana.” 

Kai
could only blush while Zev reached out a hand in felicitations while
grinning, “Congratulations, my once furry friend!  I hope you
have a healthy little one in the Fall.  But we shall be here
until the babe is born if we do not get to the hermit, no?” 
With this Zev gave Kai a sideways glance and a smile. 

  Kai
wrinkled her nose at him and gave him a quick kiss before turning
back to Swiftrunner and Tythan, “I hate to admit this, but this
part of the forest looks so different now that I am lost. I was
trying to reach the hermit to drop off supplies for him and to visit
with him as I promised.”  Kai felt a flush rising up from her
neck.  Ah,
the great and mighty Warden, Hero of Ferelden, lost in the woods, how
embarrassing. 
Kai did a mental squirm.

  “Well,
at least you stopped and asked for directions.”  Alistair’s
voice teased her. 

  “More
like I stopped because we were going around in circles, funny guy.” 
Kai gave him a mental grin.

  “At
least you still have pants.  We all know what would happen if I
were leading.”  He laughed reminding her of that time in camp
when he had teased her that he was going to turn their companions
against her with gossip so he could lead.

 “Actually,
my lady, you aren’t far from him.  He is just around the
bend.”  It was then that Kai realized some of the fallen trees
in the clearing were dead sylvans, the ones she had and her party had
killed in the clearing near the hermit’s home during the Blight. 


  Kai
blushed harder and slapped a palm to her forehead, while expelling a
loud sigh, “Now I know the clearing!  I certainly hope the
meeting with the hermit goes better than my leading us through the
forest.”  Kai grumbled under her breath.  Zev only
chuckled and gave her hand a squeeze before rising to get the
Ceffyls. 

  They
opted to walk as the distance was not far, and the deer or wild halla
track was narrow and required them to walk single file.  When
they came around a bend in between two gentle hills, the area opened
up into a clearing which was the only part of the forest Kai actually
recognized. 

  Or
at least she thought she did, but even this looked different. 
It took a moment and then Kai realized that the tent was actually
open and there were two cots inside with blankets and a mage light on
the beside table along with a pile of books.  The tent was
obviously being lived in.  The area was clean of its previous
detritus.  The fire pit had a cheerful little fire going with a
kettle on a tripod above the flames.  Wood was laid out neatly
for the evening.  The stump no longer had a large burrow under
its roots as if for some giant rodent.  Kai watched as a young
elf rose up from a crouched position near the fire where he had been
filling mugs with tea leaves. 

  Kai
recognized that auburn head of hair with the facial tattoo
immediately, as did Wynne, “Aneirin! 
Child, it is so good to see you once again!”  Aneirin walked
towards Wynne, his arms wide and a smile on his face.  They
embraced for a moment. 

  Before
they could start a conversation, the air crackled with energy and one
minute the space next to Kai was empty, then it was not.  Kai
had a moment to be thankful they had Ceffyls, not Chevals, who may
have startled but did not turn and run.  The hermit stood before
her.  Or at least she thought it was him, but the man before her
was clean, and while not clean shaven, his beard was trimmed. 
His hair was cut neatly and clean of dirt and leaves. 

  But
it was the eyes that looked into her own which revealed the greatest
difference; they seemed less haunted, more lucid.  For the
second time that day Kai found herself being grasped in strong arms,
though this encounter was so brief she would have missed it if she
had blinked.  She had no more started to pat the hermit on the
back when she was released and he had stepped back. 

  “I
knew you would come!  Do you know how?  The ring, the ring
of course! 
The ring you gave me!” 
This was followed by a giggle.  He threw up his hand and showed
her the silver ring she had given him.  It was glowing with a
soft blue light.  “I couldn’t let the elves have it, though
they have been kind, so kind...but because of you!  Always
because of you!  I needed it you see!  I wanted to have tea
ready!  And biscuits!  We have biscuits!  Aneirin and
I made them in the little stone oven we built.  Aneirin is my
friend too, so are the other elves.” 

  His
speech seemed to have changed from a series of questions to a non
stop torrent of statements.  Kai grinned at him, “I have more
supplies for you, clothes, food, some practical items, and of course
more books.” 

  Kai
went to the Luna and started to undo the saddlebags, “You just have
to tell me where you would like them placed her....”  Kai
turned to him with the leather bags in her hand, “I am afraid I
don’t even know your name.” 

  “I
know yours, I remember, it is Kai!  Kaidana Cousland.  I
didn’t believe you then, but I hadn’t really talked to anyone in
so long. 
Not even Aneirin.  He had nothing to trade for questions you
see.  But after talking to you, I remembered what it was like to
talk to people again!”  This was punctuated by another giggle,
“I remembered my name again too!  It is Nissyen, I am
Nissyen!  And when they
didn’t
come to take me away to the Tower, I realized you are a friend. 
You wouldn’t hurt me.  And then Aneirin talked to me, and the
elves came to visit, bringing things.  And I remembered I am
human.  And I had friends who would keep them
from
finding me.”  Then the old mage came and grabbed one of the
bags from her hands and started to rummage through it before looking
up like a naughty child, “Oh, sorry, thank you!” 





  Kai
smiled and gently stroked his old wrinkled cheek, “You are welcome,
Nissyen.” 

  The
old mage surprised Kai with the speed with which he moved, and the
strength of his grip when he grabbed her hand and grasped it to his
chest tightly.  The old man’s eyes dilated so much that they
looked black, and she felt as if she were looking at the bottom of
the Waking Sea.  His voice became calmer, deeper, and more
lucid, “What is the monster that does not think and has no soul? 
What is the monster that does think and has a soul made from blood? 
What is the maker of these puppets, and the puppet that cut its own
strings?  These are the questions for you this time, my friend. 
The answers you must seek, or rather the questions’ answers may
seek you, and soon too while you try and topple the apocryphal
queen.” 

  And
just as suddenly as he had grasped her hand he released it, the
simple smile returned to his face as he beckoned her to the fire,
“Come I have tea, and we have biscuits, did I tell you we have
biscuits?”

 




And a shout out to westiex9 who gave me the idea on the baby dragons in this, which I used!  Thanks westiex9!

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 08 juin 2010 - 10:02 .

[VioletTheirin]

Yay!! More more more! I love it hon, you are wonderful and talented. I already reviewed on FF.net but I feel it needs reiterated just how much you rock!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw you are too good to me! Thanks Sweetie!

[westiex9]

Hehe i just got the image of Morrigan Knitting booties! Evil booties!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Little black and purple booties for baby dragon feet.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 87

After her very pleasant visit with Nissyan and Aneirin (pleasant after Kai had gotten over her initial shock at the

old mage’s strange riddle), Kai and her group had come back to the camp with Swiftrunner and Tythan.  They had

slept the night in uneventful slumber to rise with the dawn and the sounds of aravels as the other clans that had

been farther afield trickled in.  By the mid afternoon, all of the Ferelden clans had arrived.  A large pavilion

with several long tables put end to end and surrounded by chairs had been set up as a meeting place. 
Lanaya had explained that this was the tent they used when the clans gathered to discuss Dalish business.  So, once

the representatives of the various groups had settled and established their individual camps, the elders made their

way to the tent to meet with Lanaya, Kai, Zevran and Wynne.  Argus was in attendance as well.  He lay at Kai’s feet

under the table, although as a Mabari he had very little to contribute to the conversation other than the

occasional ‘woof’.
Kai pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed as Keeper Hessyn continued his ongoing debate with one of his fellow

keepers, “What do you mean, we owe the Shem?  We owe them nothing!  If that is your way of getting me and mine to

take in a bunch of round ears you are sadly mistaken!”  The Keeper of the Falling Leaf clan crossed his arms and

scowled.
Kai could feel a headache developing behind her left eye.  Her shoulder muscles were so tense she felt as though

they were lodged permanently around her earlobes.  The debates had been going on for hours.  Most of the clans had

agreed to take in the soldiers and their families, save a few hold outs.  And that had slowly changed to only one

hold out.  
Normally, that might not be a problem.  The soldiers and their families were in such numbers that it wouldn't make

a bit of difference.  The problem, as Kai saw it, was that the clans were all interconnected – they met, traded

with one another and married between groups.  If they could not all come to an agreement, it might result in a rift

that would not only make things difficult now, but would widen as time passed.  Such a rift could weaken and

destroy the Dalish, and that she was not about to do.  
“By Mythral’s ******, Hessyn!  She and we are not saying that we the Elvhenan owe the shem anything!  You always were

one to take things and twist them to cause mischief and strife!  It is a wonder!  Did Fen’Harel come to your mother

the night you were conceived?”  The Keeper of the Dancing Otter clan put her hands on the long wooden table and

leaned in towards the man a sweet smile on her face.  Tanarys, Kai reminded herself.  She was spending the better

part of the debate trying to memorize the names of the Keepers so she didn’t inadvertently insult one.  
“Really, we already helped the shem in their little war with monsters because we had to, or so we were told.  All

because of some mouldering piece of parchment and an agreement with misbegotten legends.  I lost my brother

fighting for the round ears, and what do we have to show for it?  Land of our own?  Of course we don’t, Elgar’nan

turn eyes on them!  We received exactly what we always have, nothing!”   
“Are Dirthamen’s ravens nesting in your hair, Hessyn?”  Tanarys slapped a hand down on the wooden table causing the

mugs there to jump, “The Creators turn you into a halla!  It would sweeten your disposition.  Our ancestors gave

their word to the Grithon’as.  And we do keep our word Hessyn, or we would be no better than the shem.  But this

woman has not broken her word, and she has come to us for help.  I have no doubt if the boot were on the other

foot, she would help us.  It will do no harm to take in the homeless shem.  And might I remind you, if it weren’t

for this woman, the home we have would have been stripped and sent to Tevinter, and we probably would have been

next!”    
“No harm, no harm?  What, are you mad?”  Hessyn turned his glare on Kai and her group, “Lanaya’s own clan was

attacked by a shem traitor brought in by this...woman!”  Hessyn spit the word out, and his statement hit her like a

fist.  It took all of her discipline to keep her face neutral.  “Round ears only bring betrayal, destruction, and

death!”  
“Heey-y!  That was unfair!”  Alistair’s voice registered in complaint and Kai gave him a grateful mental smile

while Zev’s hand grasped hers under the table giving it a sympathetic squeeze.  
Keeper Lanaya put a gentle hand on Hessyn’s arm, “Keeper Hessyn, we are not sugges....”  
Kai broke in with an apologetic smile at Lanaya,  “Keeper Hessyn, you and yours owe us nothing.  And it would

actually be I who owe you.  Despite that mouldering piece of parchment and the agreement with... what was that term

you used?”  Kai smiled at him, “‘Misbegotten legends’, I think it was.  Well, despite that, I feel that Ferelden

owes the elves a great deal.  To me, you are Fereldans, we all are.  Unfortunately, I am not in a position to repay

you.  I hope to be in the future, but it is an...investment, shall we say?”   
Kai stood up and waved her hands to encompass the whole, “But with that said, I will not have some clans taking

these refugees against their fellow clans’ objections.  I will not be the cause of bad blood between you.  I will

just have to find another way.”  Kai looked around the room bowing to each of the elders in turn, “I am truly sorry

to have caused an upset in your routines.  And I thank all of you for coming and holding your traditional meeting

early for this.”  Kai nodded to her group and gave Argus the tapped signal on her thigh.  “I will leave you all to

discuss your private clan business.”  She smiled at them, though her heart was sinking, and made her way to the

doorway of the tent and out into the night air.   
Argus pressed close to her thigh, sensing Kai’s disappointment.  She patted his head, trying to distract herself

from the internal walls which were rapidly crumbling at Hessyn’s words.  He was right after all, it was probably a

mad idea for her to be asking for yet another favor.  Every time she approached the elves it meant death for them. 

Death facing the Archdemon or death from one of her own.  Add to that, other than packing the soldiers and their

families off to the Free Marches, Kai had no ideas what to do to keep them safe.  So far she was turning out to be

a failure at this ‘Hero of Ferelden’ thing.   
“Whose idea was it that I come back here again, mi’ gra?” Kai asked Alistair.   
“I blame boogity boo lady!”  Ali’s voice tried for levity.  
“Ha, very ha!  Yes, do extend my warmest and sincerest thanks when you see her next won’t you?”  Kai gave a mental

grimace.  “Tell her if she has any brilliant ideas to pass them along.  At least she could be of some sodding

help.”  
“Kai, mi amada?”  Zev’s voice broke through her little reverie.  Zev’s arm wrapped around hers, his voice soft with

concern. 
She shook her head at him and smiled.  “No, I’m fine.  It does still hurt, a lot, but what he said is the truth, no

matter how painful.  I am a round ear who has brought them death and destruction for very little in return except

to beg them for favors.”  Kai smiled at him and Wynne ruefully, “I guess I will just have to see if the soldiers

would be willing to go to the Free Marches.”  Kai pinched the bridge of her nose again, “I will have to send Scath

there to see if any of the freeholders will accept them.  That is if Kylon’s men and their families are willing to

go that far.  Maker, why can’t it just be simple for once?”  Kai felt one hundred years old.  “Well, I can spit in

one hand and wish in the other and see which one fill up faster, as old Nan used to say.”  Kai huffed out a sigh. 

 
“Ho there, little sister!”  Kai turned to see Fergus grinning at her while holding a tray with bowls of what looked

like roasted pheasant on a bed of some yams and various greens, with fresh bread on plates.  The smell of which was

making her mouth water.  
“Sex apparently agrees with him.”  Kai whispered out of the corner of her mouth.  
“You will find, mi cielo, that sex, particularly sex with someone you love, agrees with most people, no?”  Zevran

gave Kai a sly smirk and a sideways smile.  
“Zev is quite correct, though I must say, they truly make each other happy.  Who knew our prickly Witch of the

Wilds would have had it in her?” Wynne chuckled.  
Kai just looked at Wynne and cocked an eyebrow.  Wynne shrugged and smiled, “What?  I do happen to know about sex,

child, I did have a son you know.”  Kai couldn’t help but laugh as Wynne winked at her.  Zev gave a deep little

snicker.  
Fergus stopped in front of them all.  The scent of the food mingled more strongly with the night air, and Kai’s

stomach rumbled loudly enough to be heard by the others, who all laughed.  She realized she had not eaten today. 

They had food at the meeting of the elders, but her nerves had been such that she had been unable to force herself

to eat.  Now, her stomach was grumbling irritably to remind her of her negligence.   
“I think, little sister, you are either very hungry or you have a Mabari hidden under your shirt.”  Argus cocked

his head and whined, giving Fergus a confused look.  “There is a communal food station set up.  Apparently when

they gather the clans, the meals are all combined and everyone contributes.  I have offered to go hunting tomorrow

to help do our part.  Though I am not as good with a bow as you, sister dear.  You may want to volunteer your

services.”  Fergus grinned at her, “I had better get back with this before it is cold, or I might wish to face a

pack of Mabaris instead.  When you get yours, Morrigan and I are at the bonfire in Lanaya’s section of camp.”  He

stooped and kissed Kai on the cheek and grinned at the others before heading off again, the smells of his meal

trailing behind him.   
Kai’s stomach rumbled again, and she gave her group a rueful grin.  “You, young lady, need to eat!”  Wynne chuckled

at her, using her favorite jab at Kai’s expense.  They all started to walk towards the area of camp Fergus had come

from.   
Kai couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.  It had started when she had left the Keepers’ pavilion.  She had

attributed it to the elves of the other clans who had never seen her before or probably any round eared human ever,

for that matter.  But this feeling had the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.  
“Warden!”  Kai turned to see Cammen, the sweet faced elven hunter that Fergus had tried to strangle.  “I wanted to

speak with you, but your brother....”  She watched Cammen flinch and look toward Fergus’s retreating back.  
Kai grinned and gave Cammen’s arm a little shake, “My brother will have already forgiven you.  It is my sister, the

witch, whom you shot that you should watch out for still.”   
The elven hunter turned to her and gave her a small sheepish grin, “I swear I didn’t know the hawk was really a

shem!  It was just flying at our Keeper!”  Cammen’s face turned a brilliant pink.  
Kai grinned, “Well, I am just glad you didn’t kill her.”  
Kai watched Cammen’s face get redder still, “I couldn’t!  We are the Sun Hawk Clan, to kill one of our clan’s

namesakes is to invite the wrath of Andruil the Huntress!”  Cammen looked down and shuffled his feet.  “I know that

I often seem a fool, but I am a good hunter, one of the best!”   
“I know, Cammen, that is why you needed to take your test and hunt while the werewolf attacks were going on, not

just to win Gheyna.  I know what it is like to have people see you a certain way.”  Kai grinned at him and punched

him lightly in the arm.  “If it makes you feel any better, Morrigan treats everyone that way, and if she were

really that mad, you would be in a stew pot cooking as a rabbit.”   
“Oh, erm...well when you put it like that, I guess I do feel better.”  He gave her another happy smile, but still

flashed a look the way Fergus had gone.  “You’re sure about your brother though?”   
Kai nodded and patted Cammen’s shoulder.  A shiver went down her spine.  That feeling of being watched was getting

worse.  She looked slightly over her shoulder behind her.  She noticed Zev’s tension as well; he felt it too.  
Kai nodded to Zev and gave a little eye roll towards the edge of the forest.  He nodded and followed her lead.  She

grabbed Cammen’s arm while speaking to him and Wynne.  Speaking out of the corner of her mouth and giving Argus a

series of hand signals, she explained the situation.  “Don’t look, but there is something or someone watching us

all from the edge of the forest.  I want to walk a little ways away from camp and circle back quickly.  Be ready

with your bow.”  The young man nodded to her.  Kai raised her chin at Wynne who gave a slight nod.  
Kai and Zev walked closer to the edge of the woods, while Wynne and Cammen stayed back a ways as if to give them a

moment to speak.  Kai pitched her voice higher as if in anger, “I don’t wish to discuss it anymore, Zev!”   
“And I think we should talk about it!”  He looked at her raising an eyebrow.  “You always avoid the topic when I

bring it up!”  
She cocked her eyebrow and rolled her eyes towards the darkened woods.  Stalking closer to the treeline, she let

Zev grab her as if he was trying to stop her.  Kai could feel that whatever or whomever was skulking in the shadows

had definitely been following her, not the others.  She had heard the hint of movement as she moved to the

treeline.  She whispered to him, “Ready?”  He squeezed her arm in response before she tore it from his grasp and

whistled to Argus while drawing her daggers.  
They were about to plunge into the trees when her skulker revealed itself.  At first Kai wasn’t sure what she was

seeing.  It looked like a cross between a ghoul and a hurlock.  Its eyes were blood red and black instead of the

pale lifeless color of a normal darkspawn.  Its skin, rather than the dark rotting, emaciated skin of a darkspawn,

was pale as bone.  In fact, its face looked like a living skull, the nose nothing more than flat holes for

nostrils.  It smiled and showed black fangs for teeth.  Well at least something on it looks familiar, Kai thought

to herself.  A part of her wanted to giggle.  
Its armor was very different as well.  It wore a chain mail coif and hauberk under plate armor and cloth.  The

armor was well made and not crudely crafted.  No darkspawn had ever worn cloth before.  But, it was the deep voice

that spoke in complete sentences (albeit in a hissing lisp) like any human that chilled her to the bone,

“Greetings, Warden.  I am The Supplicant, and the Father wishes to...speak to thee.”  It tilted its head, raising

its hands in supplication while smiling with a mouth full of ebony points.  
“You know, I am afraid I am going to have to decline your very gracious offer.  Tell this Father, whoever he is,

that my schedule is full, and I just can’t fit another thing in at the moment.  But that I do thank him for his

kind invitation, and I do hope he won’t be too terribly disappointed.”  Kai watched the creature, for want of a

better word, tilt its bald, mail covered head to the side, a confused look on its bone white face.   
Not too swift on the uptake.  Smarter than an Alpha, but not brighter than a small human child.  Or maybe it just

didn’t get humor?  Kai had a moment to wonder before it spoke again, “Your ways are...strange.  The Father said

this is so.  You sound friendly, yet you say ‘no.’  Very confusing.”  It tilted its head again, “The Father said

that this might happen.  We cannot take no for an answer, Warden.”   
“We?  As in you and what army?  And as for the Father, he is just going to have to take no for an answer.”  Kai

smiled sweetly at the figure before her.  
The Supplicant looked at her as if digesting what she said,  “You will go to see the Father.”  Its hairless brows

drew down in what she supposed was an annoyed look.  “You will come with me.”  
The creature looked at her again and smiled a broad grin.  Uh oh, Kai thought, I may have spoken too soon.  The

Supplicant turned and made loud hissing noises into the woods.  Shadows began to break off from the surrounding

darkness, walking into the moonlight.  
“My dear Kaidana, perhaps you should be more careful when asking what army in future, no?” Zev’s voice held tense

amusement.  
“Wynne!”  Kai yelled behind her and the mage sent up a blast of magic that shot up into the sky and exploded in a

brilliant shower of sparkling light.  Kai knew that Morrigan would know the signal meant darkspawn and warn the

elves.  They had devised the use of the bolt of magic during the Blight on the battlefields.  If their groups had

gotten separated fighting and one of the mages was in the group, then they could be more easily located.  Wynne’s

bolt was a brilliant blue white, and it lit up the area causing the darkspawn to hiss and cringe at its radiance. 

 
Kai did a quick look at the battlefield, assessing what they were up against.  Apparently this Father had heard of

Grey Wardens and their abilities.  When the Supplicant said it (she refused to call it “he”) wanted her to go with

it, it wasn’t kidding.  
“You sound like Shale.”  Alistair’s voice did a nervous chuckle in her head.  “Please be careful mi’ gra!”  
Kai gave him a mental grin, “I will, beloved.  I wish you were here.”  
“I wish I was too.  For so many reasons.”  She could hear the wistfulness and the worry.  She huffed and continued

with her head count.  
There was one hurlock emissary, several genlock archers and several hurlock warriors including an Alpha in full

plate with a horned helm.  She gave Argus commands with hand signals and looked to Zev, who nodded.  To the young

hunter her instructions were simple, “Cammen! Darkspawn with a headdress there. Five shots rapid."  And then the

mayhem began.   
Kai had intended to go after the Supplicant, but the creature had backed off into the woods once more and she was

blocked from him by the Alpha, who gave the deep chuckle that seemed to be their trademark.  Kai was dancing with

the hurlock and his axe.  He swung the massive blade and Kai tried to get in close enough to cause more damage than

the shallow slices she was managing.
 
It was a bellowed war cry that had both her and the Alpha pausing in their battle to look for the source.  Kai

caught a brief glimpse of Fergus running full speed towards them.  She took a step back but the hurlock was not as

bright or too stunned to move or both.  Kai caught a brief glimpse of the Cousland family herald as Fergus’s shield

swung out and smashed into the Alpha with a screeching crunch of metal on metal.  The Alpha staggered backwards

bent over, arms wrapped around itself.  
More arrows flew through the air as the Dalish entered the fray.  Fighting with Fergus and his shield smacked of

the familiar.  It was as if she were fighting with Alistair again.  The old strategies came flooding back.  Kai

managed to paralyze the Alpha from behind and roll out of the way in a backward flip as Fergus took off its head in

one strong swipe.   
What was happening behind Fergus made her breath catch.  Keeper Hessyn was trying to fight a genlock, and two

shrieks had appeared behind him.  Kai took a running start.  “Fergus!  Duck!”  She put one foot on Fergus’ bent

back and launched herself into the air coming down stabbing her daggers into the backs of the shrieks and knocking

Hessyn and his genlock to the ground momentarily.   
She kicked the genlock in the chest as it got up and used its own sword against it.  She was just helping Hessyn to

rise when her hair was grabbed from behind and a dagger put to her throat pricking it.  She felt a drop of her

blood running down her throat and pooling where her collarbone met her neck.  
“I told thee, thou were to come with me.”  Kai felt the hot breath of the Supplicant across her cheek, “The Father

said if thou would not come, then to get thy blood instead.”   
“Kai!”  Fergus ran forward and Zevran wasn’t far behind him, with Wynne bringing up the rear.  Kai put up her hands

telling them to wait.   
“And what would the Father need with my blood, seeing how it is no different from the others here?”  Kai felt the

blade wiggle at her statement.  
“Thy blood is special, to be a Warden makes it so.  Thy blood sings.”  Kai could almost picture it tilting its head

in confusion.   
“I am afraid your Father is going to be sorely disappointed, I don’t have the taint anymore.  My blood can’t carry

a tune in a bucket, let alone ‘sing’.”  Kai chuckled.  
She felt the blade lift from her skin, though the hand holding her hair did not release.  Instead she felt the warm

carrion breath of the Supplicant on her jaw and throat as it sniffed the small wound there.   
“This one does not understand!  This one was told thy blood was needed, that it sings as ours does!  The tune of

they who must be found by my mindless brethren.  This is not possible!  Someone lied to the Father!  Thou are no

Grey Warden!  Where is the Warden?!  Thou will tell this one!”  
Its voice raised in a high pitched whine which turned into a scream of pain as Kai took the opportunity to raise

her elbow and jab it into the Supplicant’s groin.  She did a flip forward and used her boot to catch it in the jaw

as she rolled away from it.  She grabbed her dagger from the shrieks and turned to face the Supplicant, only to

find it had been encased in ice.   
Fergus went to it and shoved it over with his shield where it shattered.  Kai looked around quickly thinking

Morrigan must have been the one to freeze the thing, but the mage she saw was not the enchanter she expected to

see.  Nissyan stood a ways in the distance with Aneirin beside him.  The old hermit was grinning from ear to ear. 

“I decided to come and visit you this time!” he giggled, “And we brought more biscuits!”

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 24 juin 2010 - 12:52 .

[Slim Warden]

I like it, I like it alot.