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peopleofthedas2010-11-20 11:10 pm
valiasedai) wrote in peopleofthedas2010-11-20 11:10 pm
Where We Stand - Chapter 4
Chapter: 4 Sorrow and Wrath
Characters: Erise Caron, Varel
Words: 732
Rating: T for now
Erise's stubbornness undermines one of Varel's continued attempts at trust, and the Wending Wood holds darker things that she ever could have imagined.
Over at FF.net
"Make sure we are getting what supplies we can from Amaranthine." Erise nodded to a guard at his post, noticing the slight smile as he ducked his head. "If all goes well, the route to Denerim will only be a problem a little longer."
"How long will you be gone, Commander?" Varel's footsteps echoed as loudly as hers as they ascended the steps to the Keep's roof.
Erise paused. "Seven days should be plenty." With a small grunt she pushed the hatch to the roof open. "If we are gone more than ten, send a group after us. No fewer than five." Heavy plate made climbing difficult, and Erise only managed to get up with a bit of luck.
She turned and offered a hand to Varel. He took it, grasping her forearm as she pulled him up. It was an odd thing. She was unused to his open sincerity; she was too accustomed to dealing with the twisted subtleties of court. It was… nice, but an odd adjustment after seven years in the shadow of the Empress.
"Anything else, Commander?" She turned towards him and frowned.
"Yes. My name is Erise. You are welcome to use it." His eyes slid away from hers and she bit back a sigh. "Well, I believe things are in order. Is there anything you wish to discuss before I leave?" There was a line of pine trees that blocked an otherwise excellent line of sight. They need to be cut.
"I do, actually." His voice cut into her thoughts just before she could voice them. "The Keep is doing well and the other Wardens seem to be adjusting." Erise nodded. All things considered, her time in Amaranthine had been productive. "What of you?"
She was not prepared for this. Her breath was caught in her chest, fluttering and shallow, and her mouth could not quite form the words. "I–" Emotion welled in her throat. "I have been worse."
It was a poor answer and Varel frowned. "That doesn't tell me much. I'm sure this has been difficult for you."
Merde. She'd spent the past three weeks walling up her feelings, waiting until Kristoff returned. It was the only way she'd stayed sane, but it never seemed to get easier. And now the Seneschal offered a willing ear and the thought so tempted her she nearly spoke.
Non. She would not pour her troubles at his feet. He did his job well and honorably, and she would not burden him. Erise cleared her throat and gave a short nod. "It has."
He shifted slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips, but he did not push. They talked of the pines – they would be cleared, the timber cured and used as lumber – and he called her Commander.
Merde.
*******
The elf was mad with grief and snapped at anyone within reach, but Erise was loathe to turn down assistance when the forest was coming to life around them. The deposit of granite was the only joy the forest held. The dwarf would be pleased.
She had to admit a quiet pride in the way the other Wardens had grown into their roles. There was an odd mix of bravado and uncertainty among them, but none flinched from their task. When the tainted man had begged for mercy, none of them had flinched and the silent judgment their eyes had held in Kal'Hirol had been compassion. They were beginning to understand.
Eyeing the mine shaft warily, Erise drew her greatsword and started in. She could sense things down there – at least one was a Warden, the others felt like darkspawn, but wrong in a way she couldn't quite place.
A glyph appeared beneath her feet and her world began to spin, and when she lifted her eyes to find the voice that quietly soothed, her gaze met an unspeakable horror.
*******
Cold.
Shuddering from the ice that had settled into her bones, Erise struggled to sit up, her head spinning with the effort. Pain nestled in her wrist, stretching and settling with every movement. Hands were suddenly on her and she began to thrash before Anders' familiar voice met her ears. "We thought you weren't going to wake up."
He helped her to shaky feet, gripping her waist tightly when she finally managed to remain upright. As she pulled away, willing her legs to stop wobbling, she could see the concern in the mage's face; it was mirrored in the other Wardens. The elf sat sullenly in a corner, letting out a furious sigh every now and then. Leaning against the bars, Erise closed her eyes. "What did they do?" She had seen women kept by darkspawn – it was always kinder to kill them.
Nathaniel's voice was hoarse. "They took blood. You were gone hours longer than any of us."
When she looked back to her Wardens their eyes slid away from her gaze. Only the elf remained defiant.
********
The hand in hers went limp and a wrenching pang twisted her heart as the tainted song echoing in the man's blood disappeared. She had not known Keenan well, but he was a brother all the same. Gently closing the dead man's eyes, Erise bowed her head. "Va vers ton Créateur et repose en paix."
She slipped the wedding ring from bloody fingers and stood, trying to ignore the way her heart ached. "I… felt him die." Anders voice was quiet, almost reverent. "Is that what happens when Wardens – when we die?"
Nodding once, Erise took a few moments to collect herself. It would not do for them to see her cry. "Yes. We feel the moment of death in our brothers and sisters. With time, you will feel the darkspawn die as well, but that is… not the same." Those deaths made the blood soar and the killing became a thing of joy.
*****
"We can't just leave her!" Nathaniel's eyes were dark.
"She is too concerned with her sister to aid us. She stays." Erise kept her pace brisk, her stride long, and the others had to hurry to keep up.
A frustrated growl escaped the Howe's lips. "How can you be so cold? You only think of how you can use people!"
Her blood ran red-hot and she curled a hand around his throat, slamming him against the cold stone wall. "You have seen the darkspawn and the way their corruption twists and kills everything. You saw our dead brother. You saw her sister, already half-gone to the taint. You saw that… thing and its writings." Her grip tightened and she heard him choke. "We all face this until the day we die and there is no escaping it. I will not make a Warden out of her when I think she will desert us given the slightest excuse. Would you want her protecting your sister and her child, when it comes?" His panicked gaze finally broke from hers and he gave the slightest shake of his head.
Releasing him abruptly, she continued up the passage as his gasping breaths echoed from the walls.
******
Many thanks to Malaia for helping me with the French! I also changed "Maker" to "Creator" for this particular instance, as it seemed to be better suited. And, as always, a huge thanks to my beta,decantate .
Characters: Erise Caron, Varel
Words: 732
Rating: T for now
Erise's stubbornness undermines one of Varel's continued attempts at trust, and the Wending Wood holds darker things that she ever could have imagined.
Over at FF.net
"Make sure we are getting what supplies we can from Amaranthine." Erise nodded to a guard at his post, noticing the slight smile as he ducked his head. "If all goes well, the route to Denerim will only be a problem a little longer."
"How long will you be gone, Commander?" Varel's footsteps echoed as loudly as hers as they ascended the steps to the Keep's roof.
Erise paused. "Seven days should be plenty." With a small grunt she pushed the hatch to the roof open. "If we are gone more than ten, send a group after us. No fewer than five." Heavy plate made climbing difficult, and Erise only managed to get up with a bit of luck.
She turned and offered a hand to Varel. He took it, grasping her forearm as she pulled him up. It was an odd thing. She was unused to his open sincerity; she was too accustomed to dealing with the twisted subtleties of court. It was… nice, but an odd adjustment after seven years in the shadow of the Empress.
"Anything else, Commander?" She turned towards him and frowned.
"Yes. My name is Erise. You are welcome to use it." His eyes slid away from hers and she bit back a sigh. "Well, I believe things are in order. Is there anything you wish to discuss before I leave?" There was a line of pine trees that blocked an otherwise excellent line of sight. They need to be cut.
"I do, actually." His voice cut into her thoughts just before she could voice them. "The Keep is doing well and the other Wardens seem to be adjusting." Erise nodded. All things considered, her time in Amaranthine had been productive. "What of you?"
She was not prepared for this. Her breath was caught in her chest, fluttering and shallow, and her mouth could not quite form the words. "I–" Emotion welled in her throat. "I have been worse."
It was a poor answer and Varel frowned. "That doesn't tell me much. I'm sure this has been difficult for you."
Merde. She'd spent the past three weeks walling up her feelings, waiting until Kristoff returned. It was the only way she'd stayed sane, but it never seemed to get easier. And now the Seneschal offered a willing ear and the thought so tempted her she nearly spoke.
Non. She would not pour her troubles at his feet. He did his job well and honorably, and she would not burden him. Erise cleared her throat and gave a short nod. "It has."
He shifted slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips, but he did not push. They talked of the pines – they would be cleared, the timber cured and used as lumber – and he called her Commander.
Merde.
*******
The elf was mad with grief and snapped at anyone within reach, but Erise was loathe to turn down assistance when the forest was coming to life around them. The deposit of granite was the only joy the forest held. The dwarf would be pleased.
She had to admit a quiet pride in the way the other Wardens had grown into their roles. There was an odd mix of bravado and uncertainty among them, but none flinched from their task. When the tainted man had begged for mercy, none of them had flinched and the silent judgment their eyes had held in Kal'Hirol had been compassion. They were beginning to understand.
Eyeing the mine shaft warily, Erise drew her greatsword and started in. She could sense things down there – at least one was a Warden, the others felt like darkspawn, but wrong in a way she couldn't quite place.
A glyph appeared beneath her feet and her world began to spin, and when she lifted her eyes to find the voice that quietly soothed, her gaze met an unspeakable horror.
*******
Cold.
Shuddering from the ice that had settled into her bones, Erise struggled to sit up, her head spinning with the effort. Pain nestled in her wrist, stretching and settling with every movement. Hands were suddenly on her and she began to thrash before Anders' familiar voice met her ears. "We thought you weren't going to wake up."
He helped her to shaky feet, gripping her waist tightly when she finally managed to remain upright. As she pulled away, willing her legs to stop wobbling, she could see the concern in the mage's face; it was mirrored in the other Wardens. The elf sat sullenly in a corner, letting out a furious sigh every now and then. Leaning against the bars, Erise closed her eyes. "What did they do?" She had seen women kept by darkspawn – it was always kinder to kill them.
Nathaniel's voice was hoarse. "They took blood. You were gone hours longer than any of us."
When she looked back to her Wardens their eyes slid away from her gaze. Only the elf remained defiant.
********
The hand in hers went limp and a wrenching pang twisted her heart as the tainted song echoing in the man's blood disappeared. She had not known Keenan well, but he was a brother all the same. Gently closing the dead man's eyes, Erise bowed her head. "Va vers ton Créateur et repose en paix."
She slipped the wedding ring from bloody fingers and stood, trying to ignore the way her heart ached. "I… felt him die." Anders voice was quiet, almost reverent. "Is that what happens when Wardens – when we die?"
Nodding once, Erise took a few moments to collect herself. It would not do for them to see her cry. "Yes. We feel the moment of death in our brothers and sisters. With time, you will feel the darkspawn die as well, but that is… not the same." Those deaths made the blood soar and the killing became a thing of joy.
*****
"We can't just leave her!" Nathaniel's eyes were dark.
"She is too concerned with her sister to aid us. She stays." Erise kept her pace brisk, her stride long, and the others had to hurry to keep up.
A frustrated growl escaped the Howe's lips. "How can you be so cold? You only think of how you can use people!"
Her blood ran red-hot and she curled a hand around his throat, slamming him against the cold stone wall. "You have seen the darkspawn and the way their corruption twists and kills everything. You saw our dead brother. You saw her sister, already half-gone to the taint. You saw that… thing and its writings." Her grip tightened and she heard him choke. "We all face this until the day we die and there is no escaping it. I will not make a Warden out of her when I think she will desert us given the slightest excuse. Would you want her protecting your sister and her child, when it comes?" His panicked gaze finally broke from hers and he gave the slightest shake of his head.
Releasing him abruptly, she continued up the passage as his gasping breaths echoed from the walls.
******
Many thanks to Malaia for helping me with the French! I also changed "Maker" to "Creator" for this particular instance, as it seemed to be better suited. And, as always, a huge thanks to my beta,
decantate .