Trusting a Shem- Fanfic- Prt Two
Title: Trusting a Shem, prt 2
Author: Promisetruth
Rating: T
Characters: Fem!Mahariel, Alistair, Tamlen (Erm, the thought of him), Dalish clan in Brecilian Forest, Leliana, and Morrigan.
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. After a rough night Mira, Alistair, Leliana, and Morrigan venture into Brecilian Forest to seek aid from the Dalish.
Other parts of the story can be found at:
promisetruth or promisefics (Fanfiction journal)
Brecilian Forest had a feeling of wrongness about it that Mira noticed as soon as they reached the outskirts. She looked over to her shoulder back to the rest of the group, everyone was on full alert. The Dalish wondered if it was due to last night's attack or because they were nearing elves that would strike them down if the Shemlens made one wrong move.
"Maybe it would have been better if I had just left everyone back at camp..." she muttered.
"Oh joyful, our fearless leader is talking to herself. Maybe then she will stay awake enough to warn us of an impending attack!" Morrigan sarcastically called out, her anger about the midnight assault still fresh in the apostate's mind.
"I hope your wondering if we could perhaps feed Morrigan to the Darkspawn, Mira." came the Templar's voice "That would be rather nice wouldn't you think? But then again I'm sure she's too vile and disgusting even for the Darkspawn."
"So the Darkspawn would rather feed on a half-wit Templar, yes? That can be arranged."
"You two ramble on like the Maker himself can hear you!" Leliana cried out, "Whatever beasts lurk in this forest need not to fear when we come for surely they have heard us by now!" The bard had a point. It was not the Dalish they needed to worry about but rather the creatures that tainted this forest.
"Leliana is right, we need to be quiet. To be crashing through the brambles and complaining at the top of our voices will disrupt things." Mira added.
"Ah, like the Darkspawn disrupted my sleep?" the mage replied smugly. Mira shook her head, she was never going to hear the end of that. She noticed that Alistair had paced his stride so he was walking beside her, no doubt he wished to discuss last night.
"Mira..." he whispered tentatively, making sure that the Dalish was the only one to hear his words, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't know you would take that much offence to it. Please, forgive me."
"Forgive you?" Mira asked. It was not the act of forgiving him that she questioned but the fact that the Shem was even searching for her forgiveness. No human had admitted its wrong doings to her before, let alone wanted to be pardoned for its acts.
"Yes, you know, saying 'Oh Alistair, you could do nothing wrong in my eyes.' and maybe flutter your lashes a little bit." he grinned down at her, "Forgiving me naturally." Despite herself she chuckled. A Shem that had humor, imagine that. Taking note of her positive reaction to him, Alistair pressed on. "Better yet, you could forgive me and leave everyone to get lost here while you and I travel somewhere warm and dry and have ourselves a splendid time!"
"Alistair!" Mira grinned. The nerve of this man! She closed her eyes and laughed into the forest; playfully slapping his arm as they continued down the path. Deep down inside her this felt right. Having an enjoyable time with this human felt right. Alistair felt right. Traitor. The voice was back. And it was demanding this time, causing her to tear open her eyes and stop laughing. The minute you start trusting this human is the minute you let Tamlen go. You disgrace his death and you defile his love. Look at yourself. Pawing all over this man. This Shemlen. Guilt ran up her chest like two intertwining snakes that crushed her lungs and stole her breath away. The voice was right. What was she doing? How could she enjoy herself when her love was dead? Or worse. The voice commented, making images of Darkspawn bodies corrupted and twisted flash in her mind. An elven voice startled Mira out of her thoughts.
"Aneth ara, Sister," a Dalish elf greeted Mira as a hunting party approached them, "It is refreshing to see another Dalish not from our Clan about these woods. But might I ask of your companions, it is a rather odd group to be traveling with." The female elf gave a questioning look at the humans that trailed behind Mira. The other elves in the party gave both looks of suspicion and resentment; glaring and eyeing the humans with an untrusting feeling that Mira was all too used to.
"Ma serannas, Sister," Mira replied as she bowed respectfully, "I am a Grey Warden now and I wish to speak to your Keeper about something rather important." She felt a tap on her back and listened to Alistair as he leaned in closely to whisper into her ear.
"Should we stay outside of the camp Mira?" The smell of him, a combination of sweat, man, and something else- something tempting and lush- made the elf's thoughts muddled and her pulse quicken. He had never been so close to her that she could feel his breath tickle her ear. The voice, whether it be her conscience or the side of her fully devoted to Tamlen, snapped into effect. And have you forgotten what Tamlen used to smell like? Have you forgotten his words and his breath on your neck? Tell me, can you even remember your mate's sent?
"Leaves, the forest, leather, freedom..." Mira listed, unaware that the answer had been spoken out loud.
"Not again..." grumbled Morrigan, "If she continued this prattle then we can just stick her in the middle of the horde and let her talk the Darkspawn to death, lest she end up talking us to our deaths!"
"Mira? I know that I often have the effect of making lovely ladies loose themselves in their own thoughts before, but what you said, I didn't quite catch that?" joked the human as he flashed his debonair smile. He mocks you in front of your brethren. In front of those who should respect and follow you. Do not allow this.
"Enough. All of you. Come with me." Mira turned to the first Dalish elf who had spoken to them, "They will not harm anyone." Though she knew that this did not put the elves at ease it at least let her enter the camp without any violence or bloodshed.
As they reached the camp of the Dalish a male elf, whose bald head reflected the afternoon's sun harshly, greeted them with an air of power.
"Greetings, I am Zathrian, the keeper of this clan, its guide, and preserver of our ancient lore. I have been told you are a Grey Warden, if this is to warn us about the Darkspawn then there will be no need. I would have moved the Clan already but in our present state we cannot travel."
"It is not just about that Hahren," Mira addressed, "But I have also come here seeking allies from the treaty that was signed. But tell me, what is effecting your clan so that you cannot move?" Zathrian motioned them to follow as he walked over to bloodstained cots that held paled elves. One, a young male, was clasping the side of the cot with such strength that his knuckles were turning white from the force. With his back arched he opened his mouth in a silent scream, gasped, and then repeated the process over and over again.
"Dear Maker..." Leliana whispered, her hand automatically covering her mouth in horror. "What has happened to them?" Zathrian cleared his throat.
"Werewolves."
"They're real?" Alistair asked, "I thought werewolves were only from children's stories so that they would not wonder into the woods?"
"No they are real, and if you wish to have our aid in the upcoming war then you must do the Dalish a favor."
******
"Mira!" She heard her name being called by the bard, "To your left, quick!" Mira pivoted to her left, raising the sword so that it would block the blow from the attacking werewolf. These beasts were strong. The Dalish back at the camp did not lie when it came to telling her about the perils of the werewolves that would attack them as they looked for Witherfang. The sword cut into the humanoid body, causing blood to splatter over her in a ridiculous fashion. She pulled back the blade and pushed it into the chest of the werewolf, it whimpered, and Mira sliced up. Kicking the body off her weapon she looked around to see how her other companions were fairing. They had been fighting their way through the forest ever since their departure from the Dalish camp. The smell of burnt fur accompanied Morrigan's spell as she roasted one of the creatures alive, sending it to a smokey death.
The mage wrinkled her nose in disgust "Most appalling creatures."
"There's something we both agree on." Alistair nodded as he wiped entrails off his sword on a tree that was close by. Mira looked around, it seemed a suitable location to call camp for the night.
"Alright, lets call it a night." There was a sigh of relief that echoed from everyone's mouth as packs were dropped to the floor and light conversation hinted its way through the breeze.
"Hmm what to cook tonight?" Leliana wondered as she dug through her back in search of something that could be eatable.
"What if I tried tonight?" Mira looked up in surprise, along with both Leliana and the Templar. Did Morrigan just offer to cook? "What? Why are you all looking at me in such a way? I lived with my mother alone in the Wilds, is too hard to fathom for your minds that I know how to cook?"
"No of course not Morrigan!" the bard said as she stood up and patted the dirt off of her pants, "Go ahead." She looked around the camp in a almost hopeless manner.
"She'll poison us!" came the cry of disbelief from Alistair, "Or at least she'll burn the food..." he grumbled, clearly unsatisfied with the choice of that night's cook.
"I'll go and fetch some firewood then." Mira told the group as she went into the forest.
Alistair watched Mira walk away. What was it going to take to win her trust, was it really that hard for her not to like him? He kicked the dirt. He made her laugh, he was sure of that. How could he forget that smile? His eyes trailed down to the pack that she carried, and lingered on the sword that she used- its blade still covered in blood. The Templar took a dirty rag that he hadn't had the chance to clean and used it to wipe the Dalish's blade. It was the standard type of sword that was given out to them at the battle at Ostagar.
"What ever are you doing Alistair?" Leliana asked as she stood behind him.
"Oh just cleaning Mira's sword, it still had blood on it."
"Then what did she take with her as she went into the woods? There are still werewolves about, not to forget other beasts and animals." The Templar jerked his head up.
"You mean she didn't take anything with her?" He stood up, dropping the weapon to the ground, "Maker's breath! What if she needs help? I need to help her!" Alistair dashed off into the forest leaving both the female humans giving questioning looks.
"He is an idiot." Morrigan said as she continued to gather the materials to cook supper with. The bard turned to her.
"Ah yes, but he is an idiot in love. Which makes his actions even more endearing. Now if only Mira could see that. I pray to the Maker that she will."
"You make me want to vomit sometimes."