"Garas quenathra, dal'en?"

The young girl simply stared at the divine creature before her.

Because to her, to her he was divine.

She stared. Stared at his coat, the long flowing robe that looked like it was made from the deepest part of the ocean, glimmering as green and blue water. She stared at his movements who floated forward as graceful and proud like that of a predator. Not the mighty bear or the cunning fox.

But the wolf.

Because just as he looked divine and beautiful..

He seemed alone.

She only continued to stare as he came closer and closer. It was first when he bent in her front and inspected her eyes that she remembered her father's warnings about the woods and ruins around her.

"Be weary around these forests, daughter. Spirits of a former world lingers."

"Elgar'na?"

The man frowned slightly as he without permission let his long fingers trace the edge of her jaw. She stiffened up a bit as she felt how cool they were in comparison with her hot, swollen skin that already had begun to bruice up.

"Banal'elgar, Dal'en."

She thought it strange how she could find herself as lost as she did when she looked him in the eyes like she did now. How he with a simple gaze of his ocean-iris seemed to know everything about her and she none about him in return.

Truth was the man thought the exact thing back about the young elf resting inside his shrine. And not just for the obvious reasons like the way her face that had been mistreated. Neither did the incredible bad state of his asylum that now looked so badly injured help to settle his worries.

Everything and everyone were different now. And as he gazed upon the girl in front of him he only felt more remorseful. Who would even beat a child like the sick individual had done? Humans? He knew of their cruelty long before even had met one. They liked to practice their evils on the ones least deserving off it.

But then again, that would mean she came from a city. And by the looks of it this was no such area. It remained just as vacant as when he had built it. This was not a place of the new people, neither the old. It was too quiet for that. Not even the native residents of the woods would voluntarily come here.

Yet here someone rested. But not through unawareness. The man's brow frowned deeper as he breathed in around him.

This child had magic, he were certain off it.

Someone like her wouldn't willingly come here. Nor would she be able to defend herself, not in this state.

"Garas quenathra?" He repeated as he looked at he girl that only remained silent this time around. In fact, she looked like she didn't even see him.

It was then he realized that she might have trouble breathing because of her swollen and bruised up eyes.

When his hand hovered over her face she instantly stiffened up and her hands took hold of his wrist.

"Hamin, dal'en." He whispered, as he felt her shivering. "Ma tel'enfanim."

She stared for a long while. Had it not been for the blood he would have thought it to be a frown cutting those deep scars in her forehead. Finally her handa left his, but remained in  tight fists as they landed at her sides.

For the first time he smiled, gently as his large, smooth palms slowly caught her cheeks.

His magic tugged at the muscles under her facial skin, knotting them back into their original pattern. As her face started to take it's normal form the man in front of her he begun to smile. The wounds were smaller then he first had thought. She would not have any lingering scars to remind her of her experiences.

"Ma melava halani. Ma serannas." She let out a quick sigh. Her pain easing.

And when her eyes steadily opened he thought could see himself in them.

Big, ice-blue eyes, but just as warm as sunlight and as deep as the sea.

She drowsily smiled back and soon fell back against the base of the tree where she was resting. The elderly elf slowly and gently leaned forward and loft her up in his arms, went up and turned towards the entrance that long since had been overgrown. He once more felt dis-encouraged as he observed the walls and the state of long since vanished paint as he went through the ruin.

Most of the walls had cracked and the floor had all but vanished under the earth.

Beautiful and terrible at the same time.

The forest had taken the liberty to move in during his far too long sleep. Yet another miscalculation from his side. Hopefully it would not cost him too deeply. Because even if the Magic might not flow as heavy as it once had  he still had a few hidden cards in his sleeve.

He nearly choked on his breath as he saw the outside world for the first time in eons.

The trees that once had been saplings now were far thicker and much higher than he ever thought to be possible. And as he spun around he saw the highest tower utterly destroyed by the Dahl'amythal that once had been gifted by his long since dead friend. And underneath it, he took notice of his own image, standing tall and full with pride among the rubble of a long lost past.

It had been golden once, like the flow of his own hair that he cut free. He would forever walk nude in this new world he had created. The nostalgia soon vanished as he felt the young girl in his arms nearly slip away from his grasp. His eyes instantly went down and as he gazed on her features his eyes slimmed into a smile.

While he had been golden, she was like an image of silver.

The next generation of elves.

He could not help but to frown as he saw her do, but then looked up one last time towards his former self.  He would join her soon and help her through it. But first he had to take her somewhere safe.

His eyes fell shut as he breathed out one long sigh and stretched out his neck.

South.

One step and he was there.

The songs and plays of laughing children led him right to a encampment of sorts. It looked a bit odd in his opinion and the ones in the camp looked a bit different. Thinner, smaller.

Weaker.

He scoffed silently in his head.

Slaves.

For one short moment he looked down on the girls wining in his arms. Her clothing surely looked like she belonged there. He was just about to turn, with the girl still resting in his arms. It was clear to him that they lacked the right mind to raise children and alone without any knowledge around he would be easy pray. An apprentice would do him good.

But when he saw an elderly woman catch a young boy in an embrace he instantly changed his mind. They were her family and cared deeply about her. Taking her away would be just as cruel as when his oppressors had killed his friend.

And so he placed her next the bulk of a tree as his hand roamed over her silver hair. She was sniffing and breathing hard. Just as he was about to rise he felt himself getting thrown back.

His deep from eased as he saw her hand clasped around the jawbone around his throat. He hesitated for a moment, but then let his hand close around the tooth she was holding, the left fang and pinched it off. A smile broke out on his face as he saw how the tooth that now rested inside the palm was enveloped by her tiny white fingers.

She ran.

He could see her from far away as she was being hunted by other children, along with a big dark shadow trailing it's fingers around her neck. She didn't even scream, merely stared as the black shadow devoured her. The older quickly ventured forward, positioning him between the girl and the shadow.

 "Din, Era'Harel."His words boomed around them and soon the shadow stopped in it's tracks as he rose his two hands. 

"Harillen." The shadow growled as it went around the two. "Tel'Din'an?"

"Masal Din'an."

"Tel'eth FEN!" The shadow growled as it was enveloped up into a dark, dark smoke.

And just as quickly as it vanished the environment started to change.

Where there had been great hollow dark trees there now was big blooming rose bushes. The muddy ground had turned into green grass and where there had been an endless road there now was an ocean.

The man nearly tripped as he felt the girl behind him attack him with a tight embrace. Blushing he turned his upper body as she rubbing her watery face in his green robe. A smile broke out as his fingers slowly followed the wild bob of hair that would dash freely around in the wind. Suddenly she looked up and when he grinned wider she rewarded him by smiling back, despite having red puffy eyes. Their hands met and he led her to the edge of the cliff smelling the salt in the air. They both breathed astonished as they could spot Seagulls diving into the water and erupted with glittering fishes in their peaks. As the sun was setting and the waves hit the shore hard and without mercy.

"Elgar?"

Before the man had the time to correct her she spoke again. "Sahlin then'thaneras."

The elder elf cocked his brow slightly as his eyes still remained on the horizon.

She was intelligent. To figure out that they are in the Fade should not surprise him as much as it did.

"..Falon'nuvinen ma? "

This time he turned his head and observed her for a long moment. Her elvhen was rather fluent. The occasional miss in her grammar was not a surprising thing for someone of her age. But that was besides the point.

Did he dare to promise her friendship when they likely never would meet again? He shouldn't. But neither did he have the heart to tell her no.

So he smiled and squeezed her hand a little bit tighter.

"Dareth shiral, Father of wolves."

Suddenly he he looked up, then down on the girl who smiled towards him. His hand instantly fell on her head and gave her a final, gentle pat.

"Dareth shiral, Daughter of moon."

And in an instant the girl was gone. He stared out on the sea that steadily grew golden and became an ocean of sand.

The world truly has changed.. He thought to himself as he saw the bones of the old empire rise up and down in the layers of sand that only escalated.

He had much to do in this new world.

Much to correct.

 `~)*(~´

"I can see you, Dalish."

She felt her face warm up even more as she observed him from the side.

She had not meant to poke him too hard with the stick that she instantly threw far behind her. She just wondered if he still was alive. The fellow she had seen him fight with just a moment ago weren't. Quite impossible when you lack your head.

He had seen her and from the sounds of it he in turn sounded incredibly stern and annoyed.

How could she had been so, so careless? Poking someone with a stick? Why did she poke someone with a stick? And not just some random stranger.

The one she had poked was a Templar and a human at that. And if he kept true to the stories about them he would given the chance chop her up, cut off her ears and rape her like all humans did. It was just as she had caught her own two pair of ears out of fear that she noticed him having a hard time to breath. She could even see the blood pulsate creep up from the cracks in his coal-black chest-piece.

For one moment she stood still, unsure how to proceed.

She had killed before.

But killing a Templar could lead to something worse. Second, there was really no reason to have him killed. Even if Kirkwall had been in complete disarray and more and more Templar's had been travelling through the woods.

If she killed him, she would doom her clan to a most certain death.

But did she dare to help him instead? Because that was her two options.

Save, or kill. Leaving him was out of the question. He had seen her, seen her face and knew she were Dalish. If she left him for the wolves he might want revenge for her decision. Then she thought back to her fathers teachings. He had been wrong about many things. He could just as well have been wrong about humans.

It had only been a few months since the whole city of Kirkwall had blown up. It made everyone paranoid. Every clan they met warned them to stay away from the human villages. The Templar's are getting violent. None is safe any longer. Not even non/mages.

"Is there something you need? Otherwise leave me to my death already."

She jumped a little as she was brought back to the current situation. His voice might have been stern, but it sounded strained.

"Do you really wish to die?" She asked after a moment.

A bitter laugh suddenly left his lips. "Ehh, no, I would prefer to die with my sword in my hand." 

"That is still dying!"

"You're very observant, elf."

Unnamed by the sarcasm she turned on her heel. Fine, if he wanted to die so be it.

She had already made it toward the other end of the small glade where she had seen him fight. She really shouldn't help him. Not after witnissing him kill that mage from earlier. But then again, he had been a bandit.

A bandit who had threatened to kill others.

After a moment more of walking she abruptly stopped and looked over her shoulder.

If she left he would die.

Was it really alright to just leave him there, on his own? Because she did have the means to help. To save him.

She didn't like using it, but what ther choise did she have?

After another minuit of inner battle, damning her own resolve she trotted to his side and quickly leaned down.

The man on the ground stared as he saw the shadow return and hover over him. His fist tried to seek out the sword, but he noticed that it had been thrown to far to the side for him to reach. He twitched a little when he felt her hair flow over his ear.

AS he looked back she took placed her hands on hiis breastplate, fidgiting with the strapps. Too weak he tried to remove her hands, but she pushed his back and threw away the breastplate.

The feeling of her cool hands against his naked and sore skin was rather sudden and made the Templar cough violently. It was when he felt the warmth that he once again stiffened up.

A mage.

He did not fear the girl though, for she was shaking like a leaf in the wind. If anything she feared him more than he her.

His ears buzzed with a slow tune, like a whissle and soon he felt incredible warm all over his body. His long since tired limbs grew strenght and his eyes became less blured. After another moment the tone faded and the ight surrounding her vanished.

He felt his face turn hot as she cupped his cheeks with both of her hands. The feeling of her warmth spread across the right side of his face and soon his eyes became even more focused.

He even thought himself see her brows frown as her hand traced the right side of his face, letting her finger follow his upper lip.

"Ir abelas, shem, there will be a scar here."

He blinked a few times, but then stared.

Her hair was the same like silver.

The air around suddenly changed. She had already risen to her feet when he paniced and grabbed her wrist. The man immediately let go of her as she felt her freeze and stumbled on his words

"I'm sorry! I Just.. I just wanted to thank you. --You could have left me to die here, but you didn't." The girl placed herself on her knees again, the man had risen up on his elbows.

"I am not an animal." She answered bluntly.

The man frowned "Why would I think that?"

The girl hummed in thought for a moment before answering. "Most do."

He huffed out some air in amusement. It was when he realized that they both had been silent for quite some time before he spoke again. "Still, I think I owe you something!"

"No need." But as she said that while jumping to her feet. Just as she had done so she went back down again. "Well, there is something.."

He felt a flush brew as she leaned closer. "If.. If it is within my power then you may have it."

And when he could spot the shadow of her hand as it approached his cheek he felt his heart skip a beat. Just as it was about to land it stopped right before his jaw. "Can..Can I touch your hair? "

"My hair?" His eyes widened.

Truth was that the he Templar heard this sort of questions before. But not through genuine affection.

The Brothels were not places he liked to go. But it had been a neccecity since people easily hid amongst the artisans for easy bribes. The question the Dalish mage just had made sent his mind back to some randow and awkward positions he'd rather forget. She must have noticed his hesitation, because she suddenly spoke with a stuttering tone.

"O-on your face."

He stared a moment, but then left out an awkward chuckle. "I see why not."

Her fingers landed on his jaw, brushed and ventured over his his chin, slowly and very lightly at first. After a while she became more eager as she scratched the surface. This is a new thing I need to add to my weird list, he thought to himself as he felt her dot his chin and jaw with her fingers.

He observed her features even more closely and could feel his cheeks burn hot. He hadn't noticed it earlier but she had increadibly bright and blue eyes.

His eyes then fell up on her ears. They were smaller then most elves but still had that sharp edge. She was very close to him and he couldn't help himself from letting his fingers catch the tip of her left ear.

She shivered then and even he in his bad state could spot her whole face turning pink. The Templar turned rather red himself as his hand quickly dashed back.

"I'm sorry! I..Uh," He stuttered as he removed his eyes from hers. "I've always wondered what elven ears feels like.."

He blushed as he looked away. He could feel her stare at him and then the most curious thing occurred.

She laughed.

He turned his head and gazed at the young girl as she laughed harder and harder. She practically fell down on her back besides him folding her hands around her abdomen and kicked her feet high up in the air. After a while she calmed down, giggled from time to time.

He fell down on the ground next to her and they gazed upon the setting sun as everything once more became pleasantly quiet. Birds sang and he could hear the pouring water from the stream just a half a mile away. She let out a laud sigh as he saw her head turn his way.

"I'm sorry for being weird."

"Eh, I've had my fair share of weirdness." The man answered with a soft chuckle. He felt his cheeks burn even hotter as he could make out the bright smile of her grin as giggled again.

They didn't say much more after that. Just looked up at the sky as the suns arms streched out over the tips of the trees. It was when he looked up again that she flew up. Grass and leaves fell from her hair and she quickly picked up her bag with herbs that she had dropped at the side.

"Ir abelas, but.."

"I know."

He had already risen to his feet, a bit dizzy but she caught his hands, holding him steadily. His eyes widened as he felt her shake.

"I'm a Templar but I won't kill you. Not when you have your clan." He whispered as he tried to see her features better and closed his fingers around her hands.

She quickly looked up to observe the man so close in front of her. He was a whole lot taller and broader than she would have been able to see when he was on the ground. Her cheeks flushed when she took notice of his eyes and face.

He was incredibly handsome now that she could see beyond the layers of blood. She felt a giggle as she saw his blonde hair that had tangled with leaves and branches from the ground. Without asking she quickly stretched out her arm and caught once, pulling it out, slowly as she could feel his breath against her cheek.

He stared, but then smiled brightly as she giggled and rose the tiny branch.

The girl nearly swooned in the next moment as she felt his lips brush lightly on her knuckles of the hand that still held it.

"Thank you for your aid, Milady."

The templar wondered if he might have overdone it when he heard her stutter again.

"Ah, yes. thank you for.." Her face burned even harder. "The eh.. Thank you for.."

She released his hands as she backed away, slowly. He looked after her as she became a small dot between the trees. His hand then let his fingers trace the new scar on his upper lip. He would never see her again.

And he did regret not asking her name.

 `~)*(~´

He had never been as angry as he was now.

Cursing, swearing in the native and lost tongue alike he stomped through the forest. He cursed his mother and he especially cursed the whole clan for their behavior. They had always picked on her. She did not deserve it but they did that anyhow.

But now they would send her away to do their dirty work.

They all had always been ready to have her thrown to the wolves.

The thought of her leaving harmed him in more ways then one.

If she vanished she might never return. And if she didn't he would feel lost.

Because she had yet to give in to his affections. In fact, she had been totally oblivious of them. Even though he had given her time and opportunity. He love her. He always had, ever since they started to hunt with each other.

They had been partners ever since she started to refuse using her magic. Sadron was the only one, besides his mother, that knew of how cruel her father could be. How he had forced her on everything. Magic, Vallaslin. Absolutely everything.

But she never cried, never despaired. She simply did what was expected. She worked harder so that they would become happy. It never helped.

No matter what she did she would always be the child who had killed her own mother.

Unfair. She was a child.

He would be dishonest if he said he didn't like her from the beginning either. Like all the others he had believed the rumors of her magic going wild. But when he was assigned to be her bethroed he had started to learn more about her.

She's wise, clever. Quiet, but honest.

He imagined his bride-to-be in his mind, her silver hair that the others always would remind her off. Her snow white skin that always remained white no matter how she was exposed to the radiant light from the sun. Her blue eyes. Her pink lips and the smell of wild flowers. He imagined how those sweet fragments allays clinged to her.

Then he imagined her falling, with a templar sword driven through her chest.

He did not dare to let her go.

She would be killed. Because she was a mage it was even crazier to let her do this all on her own. He found himself waling towards the lake that they had camped close too. He saw saw her by the edge her feet dangling down in the water. It was bit late on the evening, but the sun had warmed the water during the day. Her head rested in her arms, a warm smile was stitched to her face and she hummed with a light tone.

She never smiled. Ever. It filled him with curiosity and suspicion. He walked to her and placed himself besides her. Her smile had vanished, she had put on that blank expression again. Never showing emotions.

"You smiled." Sadron said with teasing tone.

"I did no such thing " She simply responded. His bethroed had always been cold with the others, even him. Not so strange Sadron thought as he observed her from the side. They had been cold to her, from the very moment she was born. But He had never seen the happy girl that obviously had been sitting at the rock earlier. He felt intrigued.

"Why wont you let me come with you?"

"Because your mother never mentioned having a partner for this trip."

"You never asked?"

"I didn't." His brde answered. "If she wanted me to have you with me she would have said so in the first place."

"I am a grown man with the right to choose my own path now. Just like you can."

"That may be in some cases, but the Keeper always decide in the end. Do not push this, Sadron. You know that Deshanna won't change her mind anyhow."

The young man looked away, angry and about to rise.

It was first when he remembered that this would be their last conversation for a while that he cooled and retook his seat on the rock. But not without jumping closer to her this time.

"I will miss you, emma'asha." He whispered softly after a few moments while observing her face.

Sadron soon fell forward with with fear in his eyes as he saw the rings caused in the water where she had fallen.

Oblivious, yes. Incredibly so. Because the eyes that stared up on him clearly couldn't tell what he had felt for so long.

A smile grew on Sadrons face and he leaped down, next to her with a bright laughter. She simply stared, words stuck in her throat as he returned back up to the surface.

"Wait a mome--"

She never managed to finish before she felt his hands catch her cheeks.

He fell further than she had intended but didn't stop to check if he was alright or not. All she had in mind was to flee. She had already swum far towards the shore when she could hear the boy shout after her as fast as she could. When could feel the earth at her feet and she started to run.

"Wait!"

She ignored him and kept up her pace, cursing silently as she felt the tears sting in her eyes. Her robes had been soaked with water and that slowed her down even more. Sadron was faster and in a few moments he had wrapped her in his arms holding her back against his chest. They both breathed heavily and stayed stayed quiet for what seemed like an eternity until she couldn't take it. The feeling of his breathing body close to hers felt wrong and unnerving.

"Let go of me, Sadron."

"No, not until you calm down." He gasped and repositioned himself better.

"Why are you doing this?"

The words confused Sadron even more. "Haven't you ever noticed, emma'asha? Haven't you ever noticed how I always concindred you more than my lethallan?" He whispered in her ear with a tender and softly.

The water didn't taste too great as he flew backwards and stared back up on the raging force.

"Do not presume to call me that ever again, Sadron! "

He didn't rise from the water this time around, simply stared at her, shocked while she paced back to their camp.

He couldn't find her unill the very next morning. The moment when she was about to leave.

She had a bag ready and as usual the short swords she always used on their hunts tucked at her hip. He thought she looked outstanding in the a thin blue robe and light chain-mail over her arms and thighs.

Sadron was observing the others. Some seemed relived over her going. Others didn't show. The parents and elderly however did seem rather angxieted over her departure. What if she would die? They would have no first if she did.

And what would her father say if she died?

Sadron scoffed as he walked passed some of his age generation, spitting where she had walked. When Sadron approached her gaze darkened. He frowned back and nodded towards the end of the camp.

He stopped by a great statue of Fen'Harel that stood tall and proudly just outside their first guard post. The hunter instantly vanished as soon as he saw her approach, cursing.

"Lethalla-- Sister. Before you go, a.. A word."

Sadron never stumbled on his words and she did somewhat ease the frown she held. Sadron went down in his pocket and dragged up a small pink stone entangled in a thin leather thread thread. He walked forward to her before she could sway him away and let the necklace fall over her shoulders. She gazed up on him again with confusion in her eyes.

Sadron let out a small sigh and cupped her face between his hands.

"Ar lath ma, lethallan."

Her eyes grew twice their original size and both her ears and cheeks became pink. He laughed, while she in turn tried to turn her face away. He gently forced it back to look at him.

"I know we're betrothed in name only, but I always have. Ever since I saw you from the first time in your crib I knew I would watch over you. I knew I would shoulder you. I knew I would be yours and you, mine."

He smiled as he closed in, but just as he brushed his lips against hers her head went aside.

"Ir abelas, Sadron, but I don't know if.." She could feel his breath hitch against her face, but he didn't lose his grip of her.

"When you return, we could speak more about it. Until then.." Here he had leaned back in over here and gave her a chaste kiss on her forhead. She picked up the stone in her hand

"It's pretty.."

"Keep it, as a promise."

She looked back at him again and he smiled softly down on her. She forced a smile of her own.

She avoided the big cities and kept to the small roads, avoiding contact with mages and Templar's alike. Those she met she ignored, pretending to look like a simple Dalish out picking herbs. For the most part they walked by, sometimes she needed to run.

It was when she stood by the docks in Kirkwall, when she stood before the sea that she felt something new.

Eager.

The wind smelled like salt and it brought the memory of the elderly Elf back to her where she gazed upon it's wrath and beauty. The small pink stone had been placed next the little wolf tooth around her neck.

No one had ever loved her before. Not even her father.

A sudden sting entered her chest as she thought back to the human Templar. The one she had helped about three years ago. Other elf's would have scorned her for thinking about him. She did it as well.

The warmth in her chest when she thought of his blonde, golden hair and honey-coloured eyes was misplaced.

Her clan was her path. Sadron was her path. No matter how much she hated it. She could not cast that away.

Not for anything.