Chapter Text
The snap of a dry twig alerted Thalion that he was no longer alone in the clearing, the sound dragging his attention away from the crumbling wall and the faded images carved there. Carefully looking over the edge of the stone arch he was sitting on, wondering what had entered the clearing with him, he was surprised to see that his Keeper had found him and not one of the hunters or an animal.
"Thalion'Duin!" the older elf called up to him, the disproving look she wore mostly feigned. "I thought it was decided that you wouldn't go off alone anymore after the last incident."
"I told you I had nothing to do with that sylvan running rampant—that was the hunter's fault—I just happened to be nearby!"
He wondered who had snitched on him. He had wandered off from camp this morning despite being told not to; he couldn't keep himself from studying the faded images he had found here the other day. He had discovered many others like it that had somehow survived the passage of time and years of erosion. Though faded, the images remained legible, and he wanted to transcribe them before they had to leave. There was no telling how long it would take before the walls and arches completely deteriorated, leaving nothing behind to tell them what these ruins might have once been.
They had been lucky to come across them at all. They didn't find many of these ruins in the Free Marches, not in this good of shape anyway. Most of them were old human settlements with the occasional dwarven outpost, evidence of the ancient trade routes his mother spoke about.
These ruins appeared elvish from the markings he had discovered. From what he could see, the carvings were of individuals with pointed ears and markings on their faces following another figure, one that must have been the leader by how much larger they were depicted than the others and the robes they wore. They were all holding jugs in their hands. In contrast, the leader held something he couldn't quite make out due to the years of wear and tear. Still, it was some illuminated object, perhaps something of magical or religious importance.
Now, these were the kind of ruins he found interesting. Maybe this place was a ritual site or a place to give offerings to one or more of the Creators, or—
"Regardless of who's fault that was, you need to come down here," his Keeper said, pulling him out of his thoughts. At the way she stared at him, she didn't look convinced of his declaration of innocence either. "I'd rather not have this conversation while yelling up at you for all the forest to hear."
"Fine," sighing, he dutifully stashed his things back into his pack, dusting dirt and leaves off of himself that had accumulated while exploring the ruins. His mother was going to scold him something terrible for dirtying up the clothes she had just washed, but it was unavoidable if one wanted to find answers left buried in the ground.
"And don't just jump—"
But he was already leaping down from his high perch, his back arching into a flip that had him landing in front of her with a flourish. He stood, grinning up at his Keeper, elated that the move had finally succeeded. "What?" he blinked innocently at her, "I've been practicing!"
"You're going to be the death of me, da'len," Keeper Istimaethoriel pinched the bridge of her nose, counting to ten to keep her temper in check. It wasn't the first time she regretted compromising with her bonded, letting her Second continue training with him and his magical studies with her.
It created a true menace in the form of the young elf before her.
"You wanted to speak with me, Keeper?" Thalion asked, ensuring his pack was securely on his back after landing. "I'm surprised to see you up and about already. I expected you'd be down for much longer since we've never been here before." He gestured to the ruins around them.
He immediately took note of the serious expression on his Keeper's face, "The spirits I came across are restless. Since the humans started their civil war over the Circles falling, there's been more agitation among them. But this time, they seem to be almost holding their breaths for something to happen, which isn't like them."
That was concerning to hear.
"Did you get a warning? Do we need to go into hiding?" he asked, feeling for the first time some of the anxiety that some of the hahrens had been expressing as of late. If the humans were stamping down on magic everywhere, it wasn't far-fetched to think they would also start hunting the Dalish down harder. Humans and their Templars loved kidnapping their young mages, declaring to others that the poor elves were being saved from their own. As if the Dalish didn't know what they were doing when controlling their own magics.
The Keeper shook her head, her long braid of dark hair swaying behind her with the motion, "Not quite, but there are whispers of a gathering happening soon in the south. A ceasefire has been declared so that there may be peace among humans while they make the arrangements. Riya has made some concerns about it known to me." That had to be a large gathering if there was that much chatter happening in the Beyond for her and their First to pick up on.
"Has she seen something?" If Riya had been given a glimpse of a vision of events so far away, it had to be something dire. The spirits weren't known to provide them with frivolous warnings or messages.
His Keeper looked troubled as she led the way back to their camp, "I wish to ask you to take on a difficult task for the People." Her eyes softened as she regarded him. "You've been around humans before when your mother did her trading in some of the villages we've passed. I believe that makes you better suited for this task than the others since she's not in any condition to go herself at this time. This task must also be done in as much secrecy as possible, so blending in with our cousins would serve us better. No need for the humans to get the wrong idea about us."
Thalion was even more curious to know what they had seen and been warned about. It was true that his mother would take him with her to the occasional village when he was younger. She believed it was good for him to see some of the world outside their clan like she had in her youth, back when she left her home in Orzammar. But once his magic had unsuspectingly manifested, he was forced to stay behind for his and the clan’s safety.
She was currently in the middle of a pregnancy. It was a moment of joy for both of his mothers, but it had been hard on her body so far. She even had to give her apprentice the more difficult tasks when it came to her forge, not wanting their needs for crafting and smithing to go unmet. So, in her current condition, there was no way she would be able to do any kind of traveling.
"I assume you've already told Basurak he can't go since you asked me?" He couldn't imagine the man not insisting on going himself, always putting the clan’s safety first above all else.
His Keeper gave him a pointed look. "You know that it would be much harder for him to sneak around the humans, him being Qunari. And as much as I adore Basurak, he has never been known for his subtlety." She looked up as the camp came into view, and her face grew fond at the sight of the man in question standing vigil at its edge. He seemed to have been waiting for their return as he left his post to meet them halfway.
"Kadan," Basurak greeted Istimaethoriel, bending down quite far to give her a small peck on her cheek, making her smile and look much younger than her actual age. "You've spoken to Thalion'Duin then?" He asked her, his tone grimmer than usual, so he must have already been apprised of the situation.
"We haven't gotten to the part where you tell me what you actually want me to do, aside from traveling south," Thalion spoke up. "You're implying, though, that you want me to spy on the humans?" his Keeper nodded, letting him know he had guessed correctly.
"Yes, lethallin. Come, sit with me." She led them to settle in the circle of seats before her aravel. The meeting was now an official one as the three continued their conversation. "There's a small village in the mountains near the border where Ferelden and Orlais meet, Haven, we think it's called. That is where they intend to gather for their peace talks, as it holds some significance for their religion and is seen as neutral ground. If you go now, Riya says that you'll make it in time to see the outcome of the meeting."
She leaned forward to take his hand into her own, eyes imploring the importance of this task being given to him. "It's important to know how the humans plan to move forward once that meeting has occurred and how that might affect the Dalish—all elves, for that matter—if the worst comes to pass."
"I have to go now?" His hand tightened around hers. That didn't give him much time to prepare for the trip. Not to mention that he would miss out on all the exploring to be done here.
"I know how much you were looking forward to studying the ruins we found here," Istimaethoriel said kindly, "but this is much more important for us in the long run and the short amount of time we have to get you there. The ruins will still be here when you come back to us." That did little to quell the disappointment that grew inside his chest.
"But—"
"Don't be so disappointed. As First, Riya is more than capable of taking as many notes for you as she can while you're away," his Keeper tried to console him, though it wasn't as reassuring to him as she thought it was.
Thalion trusted Riya well enough, but she preferred to focus on learning how to run the clan rather than going out and exploring the wilderness with him. It was one of the many reasons he had never surpassed her for the title of First. He much preferred to spend his time exploring, gathering old relics, and rediscovering the purposes of the old structures they found. He was always searching for their lost people's history and hoping to learn from it to make them better and stronger.
He didn't feel like he needed leadership skills to do that, nor did he want that kind of responsibility thrust onto his shoulders; he left that and the daily goings-on to Riya and their Keeper. If they stayed in an area for longer than a few weeks, he was often gone days at a time. His mothers disparaged all the gray hairs he'd given them from how often he went alone in the wilds.
The hunters were just so bossy and only got in his way, so he never bothered to take them on his little excursions.
It wasn't as if he couldn't take care of himself. He was twenty-four and had his vallaslin for years; he was more than old enough to look out for himself. Thalion was glad he would soon have a sibling to take up his parents' time and stop them from worrying about him so much.
"What should I be looking out for?" Thalion knew he would do what was asked of him despite all his grumblings over missing out on the fun.
He was the best suited, as his Keeper said. He could take care of himself in the wild just as well as the hunters and fight without magic if he needed to blend in among the humans like an ordinary elf traveling alone. And if, for some reason, the clan needed to leave the area before he could return to them with news—or if traveling down to Ferelden and back took longer than expected—he could ask for aid from the spirits to lead him in the right direction if he needed to find them.
His Keeper considered his question a moment before answering, "Just observe the humans there and remain unseen if you can. Find out what the outcome of the Mage-Templar war is to be, and then return home," there was a sly look in her eyes then. "They say the temple there is quite old and used to hold the remains of one of their prophets before it went missing during the Blight."
That perked him up. Ferelden was full of old places where long-forgotten secrets lay asleep, just waiting to be found. If he took some detours to poke around on his way back north, he's sure it wouldn't harm anyone.
As if sensing his future intentions, Istimaethoriel looked like she was holding in another sigh, even though she had put the thoughts there in the first place. "Try to come back to us before the first of the new year, da'len." She shook her head at the pleased look that no doubt was poorly hidden on his face at the implied permission granted to him. Basurak wore a look that matched his partners, knowing all too well that once Thalion had decided on something, it was hard to get him to change his course—unless a more exciting puzzle was put in front of him anyway.
"Have you told the others of my departure?" Thalion asked.
She raised a brow at his question, "Do you see your mothers here telling me of their displeasure?"
He groaned. That meant she was leaving it up to him to break the news, which wouldn't be pretty, he already knew. "Well, no time like the present."
"The hunting party will go with you as far as the river pass. From there, the port near Wycome should not be far as long as you remain on the trail." She stopped him before he made to leave, her hand gentle on his arm. "If you come across one of the other clans that happen to be nearby, let them know where we'll be staying for the winter. Even though we're in the middle of the summer season, Riya says it will be a harsh winter this year based on the signs she's been getting."
"Easier said than done, Keeper," Thalion shared a look with Basurak. Their track record wasn't great for being accepted by the other clans moving around the Free Marches. Of course, not all of them were closed-minded. However, his Keeper wasn't taken seriously among the other Keepers from the other clans; even after sharing all the information they had found over the years, they kept her at arm's length.
"They'll come around da'len," his Keeper seemed so sure of that fact. Unfortunately, Thalion sometimes had trouble feeling the same optimism, but he said nothing further as he left to return to his family’s aravel.
It was frustrating how loud some could be in their disapproval of how open Istimaethoriel was to embracing others into their clan. That she had also chosen to bond with a Qunari runaway instead of one of their own didn’t help matters either. Basurak had made quite the impression at his first Arlathvhen when he arrived on Istimaethoriel's arm proudly, much to the horror of a few of the other Keepers.
It was one of the favorite stories the hahrens in Clan Lavellan loved to tell during the winter gatherings.
Thalion wasn't sure if they were the only Dalish clan with 'outsiders' living with them, but they certainly were in the minority. How they chose to practice their magic in general also set them apart from the others. Unfortunately, this had led to some odd rumors among the other clans of Clan Lavellan cavorting with malevolent spirits. Or worse, being compared to the elves far in the west who were rumored to worship the Forgotten Ones of all things.
Clan Lavellan just believed that all beings could live together in harmony, both in this realm and the Beyond. There only needed to be the correct precautions and invitations made with utmost sincerity. There hadn't ever been an incident with any unwanted possession that he could recall, and they had many mages in their clan to prove it.
Thalion sighed as he watched some of the younger children running around the halla pens, hoping to be allowed to pet the new fawns that had been birthed this spring. He looked forward to seeing the rest of the clan when they reached their winter haven later in the year to see if they had also been blessed with so many new halla. The small valley the clan's previous Keeper had found was perfect for spending the coldest season of the year together without worry of being disturbed by the shemlen.
He wondered if so many new halla was a sign that a new branch of Clan Lavellan would be formed soon. They already had two smaller branches that traveled in the same areas, and ever since moving back up to the Free Marches from the south, they’ve made it a tradition to settle for the winter safe inside their private valley to reconnect. There, they could combine what they had discovered, if they had found anything of note, and greet any new members born that year or anyone who had bonded into the clan.
That was why winter was one of his favorite seasons. The celebrations, sharing of their joy, and mourning of any who had passed were essential for how they all bonded and lived happily together.
Thalion wished that more of the other Dalish clans would embrace each other as a whole, as Clan Lavellan had. But there was so much distance among the People that it was difficult for most, their people having to constantly choose safety over unity. And meeting up every ten years did nothing to help bridge that gap.
Seeing his family's aravel helped Thalion from dwelling too long on those depressing thoughts, and he quickly pulled himself together. Forcing a smile, he approached one of his mothers working at her bench, knowing that the conversation he was about to have would be difficult for all of them.
"Mir da'len, you're back so soon. Did you run into more trouble out in the woods?" his mother asked, surprised to see him back at their aravel already.
Something in his expression must have given his inner turmoil away as she quickly set aside her mortar full of herbs to get up and envelop him in her arms. The scent of elfroot and nettle was strong as he pressed his face into her red hair, and he took in a fortifying breath, letting the soothing smell wash over him. He noticed it was down from its usual braid and wondered if she was having one of her headaches from all the stress she'd been under.
When looking at the two of them together, it was evident that they only shared their short height and the smattering of freckles across their faces. Otherwise, Thalion was told that he resembled his birth father in everything else with his warm black hair, golden eyes, and sharp features.
It was all Thalion really knew of him other than that he was a mage from another clan who had helped his mothers conceive a child. In all the years after his birth, they had never crossed paths with that clan again. The other Keepers assumed they had perhaps met an ill fate, either by the hands of the shemlen or some other disaster that could wipe out an entire clan. It wouldn't have been the first time it had happened, but it was still unfortunate that he never got to meet him.
"Is our little river-stone back already?" a cheerful voice asked from the back of their aravel.
He turned to greet his other mother but quickly became concerned when she tried to climb out of their aravel on her own, her short legs having trouble with the last step as usual. He rushed to her side to help her down and led her to sit by the fire pit. "Really, Ma, you need to listen to Mother and ask us to help you down from there. You're gonna slip one of these days."
Myarta just waved him away, "I'm more sturdy than you think," she said, tucking a short lock of brown hair behind a rounded ear. "Just because I'm toting this thing around doesn't mean I'm some invalid," she gestured to her large round belly. She had finally been able to conceive after many attempts. His mother, Valya, had sworn never to go through the awful experience ever again after he was born, so it was up to his other mother to do it. But being a dwarf, Myarta had a hard time conceiving throughout the process, and the two had been trying for a long time before they had finally found success.
Thalion wasn't sure which of the men in the clan had volunteered to help the couple. Honestly, he didn't want to know the details of his parents' sex life. But that didn't mean he wasn't curious about who he had to thank for his mothers' happiness. Everyone in the Clan was very excited to welcome the new baby into the family, and every new child was celebrated, so it didn't really matter in the end.
"How is the little terror doing today?" he asked, pressing an ear to her belly. His smile grew wide when his new brother or sister kicked out against the side of his face, the motion making Myarta giggle.
"They're restless, going to take after their big brother, no doubt. And here I was, hoping for a calm child this time," She teased, tugging one of the braids that framed his face. "They'll be throwing fists and terrorizing the hunters before they can walk if left up to you."
"And they would deserve it, too," he grinned.
Valya sat down next to her bonded. " What's brought you home so soon?" she asked, a clay pot of balm ready to help with the swelling in Myarta's feet, as she had been experiencing it a lot more than usual lately. But getting foot rubs was one of the many perks of being pregnant, and having a healer as your partner was also a huge boon.
His shoulders slumped with his mood at the reminder of what he had to tell his mothers, "The Keeper is sending me out on a mission. I leave first thing in the morning."
"To one of the other clans?" his mother Valya asked, her green eyes widening in surprise at the sudden news. As far as they all knew, the others were weeks of travel away, and all were lying low due to the growing strain the city-states had been under ever since Kirkwall’s Chantry was destroyed. As a result, the borders between the shemlen cities had been under even more scrutiny, making it unsafe for them to travel too close together.
"No, if that were the case, Riya would have gone." He took both of their hands, knowing the news would hit them hard once he told them. But honestly, he needed the contact just as much. "I'm being sent south overseas to Ferelden to find out what the shemlen are going to do about their mage rebellion."
"Ferelden!" Myarta gasped, "But you won't make it back before summer's end."
He nodded, regret rising inside him like a tidal wave at seeing the fallen expressions on his mothers' faces. All he could do was grip their hands tighter to ground himself. "I probably won't make it back for the birth. I'm sorry."
And he truly was devastated at the poor timing of it all. He had wanted to be there to support his parents when the birth happened, to see his sibling enter the world and celebrate that with the clan, but duty to the People always came first.
Valya's face might as well have been carved from stone as she handed him the small balm pot, a silent order to keep putting it on his mother's feet. "I need to have a few words with Keeper Istimaethoriel," she said before stomping off with short, brisk strides.
Watching her long hair start to rise on end around her as she left, Thalion didn't envy his Keeper at all. Once his mother got on a rant, there wasn't much that could be done to stop her until she screamed it out of her system.
Or blasted a new hole in the ground.
"You'll need to get packing," his mother patted his arm, letting him know she didn't need more of the balm for now. "Ferelden is a bit of a journey, after all."
"I'm so sorry that I won't be here," he apologized, wiping his hands clean with the cloth handed to him.
"There are bigger things going on than just little ol' me," she said, holding the side of his face with her small, calloused hand. The texture was rough against his skin, familiar and comforting. "And I suppose it'll be good to know what we're dealing with regarding their little war."
Thalion frowned, covering her hand with his own, "Keeper Istimaethoriel is worried that it'll affect the People poorly."
"And she can't send her First or her giant of a mate. They don't know how to deal with humans and their oddness." His mother laughed, and he couldn't help but join her because it was true.
"Not to mention, none of the hunters would know how to blend into a town if their life depended on it." Thalion just had to hope he remembered enough from his short childhood visits to help him go unnoticed by the humans. He could find some cosmetic paints to take with him to help cover his vallaslin and pose as a city elf if he had to.
That could work until he got to his destination, though he hated the thought of covering up who he was. He was proud of the marks given to him, marks that he'd earned. The fact that he had them go all the way down his body and not just his face was a testament to his will, even if he only did it to shove them in the faces of the few peers who thought him too young to receive them.
With that in mind, he left his mother to her own business by the fire and went to get prepared for the long trip that lay ahead of him. He debated with himself if he should pack light so he could bring back a few things he might come across for his mothers and his new sibling. If he was going to miss out on everything, he could at least bring back some items as gifts.
Perhaps he could stop by a dwarven trading outpost and bring back some of the ores found in the south that were harder for his mother to find in the Free Marches. She would be itching to return to her forge once the baby came, so that would be an excellent apology gift.
In the distance, on the other side of the camp, he could hear his mother’s piercing shriek as she found her prey.
"DESHANNA ISTIMAETHORIEL! YOU HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO!"
Thalion was glad that he was leaving when he was as he heard the sounds of cracking wood and stone and Basurak's shout of surprise. The camp would be near frigid for the foreseeable future, and he didn't envy his Keeper or his teacher one bit.