A battle that would no doubt have lasted for several hours was over fairly quickly as the dragons ploughed their way through the Orlesian troops. The Lady and her husband had been a frightening force of nature, cutting their way across the battle with calm precision.
Adaia sat curled up at her husband's side, and her son wrapped securely in her arms as she gently stroked his head. She watched the two boys sitting quietly as they watched people come and go. Eventually, the doors opened, and all eyes turned to watch the tall man entering. Beneath the blood, haphazardly wiped away, she recognised Murtagh. His sons perked up, the older one running over to him with gleeful giggles. He made to scoop him up before remembering the blood all over him and settled with just smiling down at him and speaking softly.
"I would have been dead if the Chevaliers had broken through to us archers," Adaia whispered, and she felt Cyrion hug her tighter.
"The Maker kept you safe," he said gently.
"But what if it had come down to fighting in close quarters? If I had to rely on a blade?" she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sure I would be just as likely to hurt myself or an ally as I would have been to harm an enemy."
He was quiet when the door opened again, and a murmur ran through the people. She looked up to see the Lady striding in.
Blood was spattered across her pale skin, dying her snowy hair a reddish brown and faint pink. Her golden eyes swept over her family and then fell on Adaia. Their eyes remained locked as Fallyn slowly moved towards her.
"Why do you weep?" she said, gently kneeling beside them and brushing away a tear with her thumb. "Were these the first lives you've taken?"
The memory of the battle rushed to the forefront of her mind, and nausea brought bile into her mouth.
"Peace," she said softly. "You must feel it, understand that though they were your enemy, they were still living people with families, hopes, and dreams. Forgetting that will kill your soul and turn you into a monster."
"How do you cope?" Adaia whispered.
"I have fought monsters and men, dragons and tyrants," she said. "The only lives I had no regret taking were of Darkspawn. Pray for those you've ended. Pray for their souls and their families. Know that if you'd had a choice, you might have spared them. In time, though their lives will affect you, they will not break you."
Adaia took deep breaths, feeling her son in her arms, her husband's arms around her, the Lady's hands on her face. Peace slowly filled her heart when a new fire was lit.
Her green eyes locked on Fallyn's golden ones.
"My Lady, I beg you," she said. "Teach me to fight. Even just a portion of the skill you have. Help me have every possible tool to protect my family and forge a new world for them to live in."
Fallyn smiled softly.
"It will be hard."
"I am ready."
"You may bleed and suffer."
"I fear neither pain nor death."
"You will kill more people."
"Blessed are they who stand before
The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter.
Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just."
Fallyn's smile grew wider.
"We will begin in the morning," she said. "Get some rest."
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Age of the Dragon 5: Dragons, Riders, and Kings
FanfictionLife as an elf in Thedas has always been fraught with danger, especially now, as the Rebels and Cheveliars fight, with common folk caught in the middle. Adaia's main concern is keeping her husband and their growing family safe and fed, but when a ch...
