Trusting a Shem- Fanfic- Prt Five
Title: Trusting a Shem, prt 5
Author: Promisetruth
Rating: T
Characters: Fem!Mahariel, Alistair, Tamlen (Erm, the thought of him), Wynne, Zevran.
Pairing: Fem!Mahariel/Tamlen, Fem!Mahariel/Alistair
Summary: Female Dalish Elf (Mira Mahariel) and her journey as a Grey Warden. Her conflict with her old life and clan, more importantly with Tamlen, interferes with her choices and with her reactions to a certain Alistair. Fighting the abominations in the Circle Tower, Mira and Alistair have a moment. The 'voice' explains a tad bit more about itself. Mira thinks she is going crazy.
Other parts of the story can be found at:
promisetruth or promisefics (Fanfic Journal)
Note: Spoilers for the Circle Tower quest line. Hurray for getting out of jams! X-posted to Swooping_is_bad.
******
Abominations are worse than Darkspawn. Mira concluded as she shot another arrow into the mass of twisted flesh, it stuttered slightly in its movements but still continued to lash out against Alistair's shield. The damn things just would not die as easily! She pulled the bowstring back and landed another shot letting her eyes stray to the Templar. Matted hair, blood covered face, lips pursed together in concentration, and determination to slay the abomination. He was breathtaking. Mira winced at that statement, she was starting to feel for Alistair. The Dalish waited a moment. No voice. The clang of swords and the mutter of a spell maybe, but no voice. Her face creased with confusion.
"Alistair," she whispered under her breath. Nothing. "I am falling for Alistair." Still no voice. No scolding, no guilty memories, or useful advice. The elf shot another arrow and watched the creature finally slump down to its death. She braved to speak just a pitch louder. "I am falling for the Shemlen, I am falling for Alistair."
"Oh that is a shame. And here I thought that we were getting along so well," Zevran sighed, his eyes glimmering with mischief. The voice broke in. Let us see what happens when you do fall for a Shem. You have betrayed Tamlen and his love. Now watch what will happen Mira. "Well, does the lucky man know? Or would you like me to tell him, my fair lady?"
"What? No!" she protested. Zevran gave a slight bow and chuckled.
"As you wish my lady. But the Templar is not has thick as he looks, he will notice your wandering eyes one way or another."
"Mira, is everything alright?" asked Wynne, an elderly mage who had been at the battle at Ostagar and now faced the abominations with Mira. She was kind, if stern, and a very proficient healer. "I fear that we must take rest in one of the rooms tonight, and then press on tomorrow. We must stop Uldred but we must rest if we are to continue."
"Very well." Mira agreed, nodding at the human as she looked into one of the vacant rooms. It appeared to be normal, if one could call these boxes housing no sky, trees, or freedom normal for a sleeping room. Mira preferred a blanket or cot looking up to the wide, open night air. But this is what she had to deal with and so she lead the way into the chamber. The smell was horrible, for the corruption of blood magic and abominations left piles of flesh twisted onto the walls and clumped on the floor.
"Too bad we had to leave Leliana and Morrigan with the Templars at the bottom," Alistair commented. "I would have loved to see the look on their faces if they saw this," The Templar scrunched up his nose and puckered his lips, and in a high, mimicking voice he said. "This room is most disgusting, why Alistair the smell must be coming from you. How unappealing."
"He mimics the mage, no?" Zev asked, kicking a broken chair out of the way. "He does a good job." Mira held back a laugh as she closed the door behind them.
"Wynne," she said, feeling no anger to this human for one could not seeing how elderly yet spirited Wynne was. "You can take the bed."
"Oh nonsense, I can sleep on the floor. I may not be as young as you all but I can still manage to sleep on wooden floors."
"No, no, good woman, the bed is made for one to rest their weary bones. Please, be our guest," Zevran purred out debonairly. The old mage shooed him away with a wave of her hand but settled on the mattress. The assassin looked over to Mira and Alistair, flashing a smile. "If you two wouldn't mind, I would also like to sleep for now." he gave a quick wink to Mira and sat down so his back was against a wall without flesh disfiguring it.
"What was that all about?" Alistair asked Mira as they waited by the door. The elf shrugged her shoulders and looked down.
"I do not know." she felt the Templar's hand lift her chin up.
"Please, don't hide your eyes. They're so lovely, I want to look at them," Mira did not say a word. Why would he be telling her things like that now, out of all places. "I know I don't have a good timing with these things...first with the werewolves and now with mages corrupted by evil spirits...but please, will you tell me who you lost. Or at least a name? Something, anything?" Alistair's hand stroked the side of her cheek. Mira waited for the voice to chime in. But, she knew it would not. This heartbreak would be her fault.
"I lost a friend of mine, his name was Tamlen," Mira answered out, her voice as flat and casual as if she was listing off numbers or telling what the weather would be for the day. "He was effected by the taint before we could rescue him. He is presumed dead."
"Oh, Mira.." Alistair said, pulling her into a hug. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"It is not your fault," she sighed hopelessly. "You did not know him." Nor should he. The voice pointed out. Mira growled. How dare that voice make comments now, it never helped before. But it heard her thoughts and replied. Oh, but I have. You just choice to ignore me. Trust me Mira, I will not go anywhere till you come to terms with Tamlen. What a lunatic thing Mira had become.
"So," the Templar coughed nervously as he let go of Mira. "You and Zevran seem to be getting along well. Are you two...?" Alistair did not finished the sentence and looked away to the side. The man was embarrassed.
"No."
"But he is elven, I thought...with your..."
"With what Alistair? My hatred for Shems that I would pick an elf over a human?" Mira stopped short. Did she really just let that slip? Idiot. The voice scolded. The remark did not get past Alistair. He grinned.
"So you would pick a human over an elf?"
"I..." she trailed off trying to backtrack. That's when she felt his lips on hers. His scent enveloping her. The warmth of his body, so close, so tormenting. He had placed his hand on the back of her head, keeping her from moving away. Alistair finally pulled away.
"I'm," his face was bright red. "That wasn't to soon was it?" Of course it was. The voice answered.
"Alistair..."Mira looked down, still feeling the warmth of him on her lips. "Tamlen was my lover," she blurted out. "He was my bond mate, he was the only one who touched me, he loved me and I him. The Templar's face fell.
"Oh," was all he said. Mira felt bad but not enough to throw Tamlen away and go ahead and return the kiss to Alistair or even to love him. "So you wouldn't ever see us...maybe?" That caught Mira off guard.
"Maybe. But my heart still belongs to Tamlen. Alistair," she looked up at him. "He could still be alive!" And then it dawned on Mira. Tamlen could still be alive. She just had to search for him. There you go Mira. Praised the voice. Finally you stop acting like a Da'len with these humans and worked out the problem. I am not leaving till you find him. "He could be alive." she almost giggled. He could be alive!