Trusing a Shem- Fanfiction- Prt Eight
Title: Trusting a Shem, prt 8
Author: promisetruth
Rating: T
Characters: Fem!Mahariel, Alistair, Teagan, Isolde, Wynne, Connor, and all the other party members we have come to know and love.
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. Mira defends Redcliffe village from the unknown forces and makes a choice on how to save Connor.
Other parts/chapters can be found at: promisetruth or promisefics (Fanfiction journal)
A/N: So I changed the conversation of Alistair saying he is a royal bastard a bit. Because I'm lazy and didn't want to look up the correct lines. Just so it would work with Mira's reaction. Once again, sorry for how late it is! X-posted to Swooping_is_bad
Enjoy.
******
Mira watched the horde of undead race their way down the twisting path from Redcliffe Castle. Their howling that sent the villagers into panic was a relief of sound to the otherwise eerily silent night. Closer the mass came. One by one the creatures trickled down the barricades that they had put up to slow the attacks.
Since Tamlen's funeral the Dalish did not speak more then necessary, Alistair had joked that she was turning into to Sten by every passing day. His comment had been met by two stony faces.
"Prepare yourselves." the Templar warned everyone as the first of the fleet finally moved into ranged. Mira grinned, dropped her bow to the side, and rushed in with a heavy sword.
"Now that's what I'm talkin' about!" she heard Oghren cry as he plunged forward. "Looks like the Warden's got some fight in her after all."
"I want your death," she whispered into the ears of the skeletons, or at least to the place where their ears would have been. "I do not want to help Alistair." the monsters ran their blades across her exposed skin. It felt like nothing compared to the weight of no longer having Tamlen or the voice. Her Tamlen's death took a tole on her sanity. With every fallen foe Mira would whisper her love's name.
Strike. "Tamlen."
Strike. "Tamlen."
Strike. "Tamlen."
Each time she repeated the words Mira expected for him to be there. It was an endless night of slowly dying. When the sun did rise to show both triumph and loss there was a great cheer from the villagers. Blood and sweat covered faces gave hugs and praised their Maker. Mira looked upon the bodies that where strewn about. How could they be rejoicing when all of this death was around them?
"Grey Warden, my lady!" Bann Teagan cried as he ran over to the elf. "Thank you! But I fear there is something still amiss in the Castle, I know a secret passage way in. Please, meet me by windmill." Mira nodded and went to gather her companions. Oghren was having what seemed an almost complicated talk to Dwyn, the other dwarven fighter at Redcliffe. Wynne was healing the soldiers who had made it through the never ending night. And Alistair...he was staring at her with eyes that portrayed full and complete trust. The Dalish mustered up her courage. Help me, then Tamlen. If she helped her fellow Grey Warden then she could help Tamlen. If that was even possible now.
"Alistair," she formally greeted. He nodded back. An awkward silence enveloped the air around them. "I want to start by saying-"
"Mira," Alistair interrupted. "Mira please. There is something I need to tell you," he cleared his throat nervously. "King Maric was my father."
Mira stared at the man. Human politics. "This can be used to our advantage." she mumbled.
"Oh no! No, no, no. I'd rather not be king. I don't lead. Me being king would be bad." he protested.
"Then why tell me?" Mira sighed, the whole conversation pressing into her patience.
"No secrets," he beamed at her. "No secrets between us. You can trust me. And well, we can always ask Arl Eamon once we...once we find him. Right?"
"Yes," Mira agreed. "Then I can help you." she rounded up her party and headed over to the windmill where Teagan waited eagerly.
******
"We can't use blood magic! It's forbidden!" Alistair growled at Jowan, the former circle mage who stood before them as everyone tried to come up with a solution to the possessed Connor.
"I agree with Alistair. Mira," Wynne spoke softly. "We can not trust Jowan, he himself has proved a danger. And blood magic is not the solution to this. Perhaps there is another way?"
"I will do it!" came the harsh shriek of Isolde. "He is my son, you can sacrifice me." Teagan scowled at his sister-in-law.
"No Isolde, I will not let you do that. Eamon would not want that. He would never forgive me for allowing you do sacrifice yourself."
"But what about Connor? We can not just kill him!"
"Enough," Mira interjected, her voice cold and solid. "I have taken a life from someone I loved and I will do this for you," she unsheathed her sword. "No one will be the murder save but me. Where is Connor?"
"No! I will not let you!" cried the Orlesian mother. She quickly slapped Mira with one fluid motion. "You will not touch him!"
"Isolde!" scolded the Templar. "Do not dare touch her." Mira placed a hand softly on Alistair's arm.
"I am fine. Alistair, Teagan, if you would tie her up? It would be easier on all of us." she commanded. "Now, tell me, where would Connor be?"
"In his room." the Bann said. "Maker go with you Grey Warden."
The elf departed without a glance behind her. She had killed an innocent for their own good before, this would be no different.
When Mira reached the child's room she stepped in quietly, eyeing the lad with suspicion.
"Mummy? Mummy? Is that you?" Connor mewed out blindly.
"No more games demon, I have come here to slay the child. Show yourself." Connor withdrew further into the room with a sneer.
"I have heard tales of the Grey Wardens, even in the Fade. Tell me, Grey Warden, would you strike down an innocent child who only wants best for his father?" a voice purred out from Connor's mouth.
"He is no longer the boy they think he is. I am willing to do this so grief can be spared later on."
"Oh, is that so Grey Warden? Then strike. I will not let my vessel be taken away so quickly!" rage demons erupted from the ground and surrounded the elf. Mira dove to her left, narrowly avoiding a strike of flame. She lifted her sword and plunged it into the pillar of heat, the demon hissed and recoiled from her blade that luckily was enchanted with frost. The Dalish slashed against her current target, pivoted behind her, and made another deep wound into the other creature. They quickly melted into the ground.
"Face me!" she cried. Connor's body appeared before her, as if to say 'Kill me now, kill me if you can.' Mira struck relentlessly without an expression. Another innocent fell under her blade. Under her help. "Sleep well Da'len..."
The Grey Warden walked out. She would have to listen to rants from those who did not agree of her actions. She would have to listen to a mother's sorrow. She would have to listen because it was her duty. And once her duty was done, once she had helped, and by the Creators, loved Alistair she could be with Tamlen. And it was worth it.