The Youth of the Dalish: A Dragon Age Fan-Fiction Story

The Oak Tree

They were four, Dalish, and brave. The lead hunter, Kurl, was in front of them, as they got near the oak tree. The other three, were friends of him, best friends. He had known these guys long enough to even know sometimes what they were thinking. He could tell what they desired, whether it was booze or time away from their wives. This time, he looked at their faces and he was able to tell right away what they desired— not being here, but being back at the camp with their loved ones. However, they knew that they had to be here to provide for their families.

"Boys, I think we got a gift from Andraste." Kurl hoped he was right.

They approached the sheep, carefully. Everything seemed normal— just a hoard of sheep wandering aimlessly on these woods. Poor bastards, Kurl thought, they are here trying to survive and we're thinking of guiding them back to the camp, and eventually murder them and eat them. Kurl wondered if that made them savages, but he decided that if this hoard of sheep was a gift from Andraste, she wouldn't consider him or any of the clan members savages. Andraste's judgment was the only judgment that the Dalish cared about. All the sheep were focused on looking at the stem of the tree. No matter what they tried, they would just come back to stare at the stem of the tree. They were so busy trying to get the sheep out of the center that they did not noticed what the sheep were actually looking at. Then as Kurl got to the center of the huddled sheep, trying to push them outwardly, he saw what they were looking at. No what, but rather who. A lady with white highlights was sitting at the top of the chopped stem of the weird looking tree. Her legs were crossed, and her eyes closed. However, the weirdest part, Kurl noted, was that her skin was glowing with... purple? Kurl did not need any more information to know what this was... a mage. Kurl started running back to the group, but before he reached Tobias he felt a hand gripping at his foot. His intuition told him that this was hand, but then he got a good look at what grabbed him, not hand, but hair? He tried to move, but the hair-coated hand did not let go. He was paralyzed. "Whats wrong?" shouted Tobias, who was at the arch of the circle the sheep had formed. Hurl was yanked, and pulled by the hair. He tried to yank free of the hand but it was so strong, it was like he was being pulled by the oak tree and not a mage. He bellowed as the hand finally won the tug-of-war between him and the mage."Kurl!" said Tobias who was already running with others towards Kurl. Unfortunately, Kurl had already been sucked inside the tree.

"What do you want witch?" Kurl said, snarling.

Kurl observed the vile creature with disdain as it opened its eyes, which were completely white.The mage smiled at him, a mocking smile, showing no teeth at all whatsoever. "Take me and leave my friends alone!" Dread took over Kurl. His heart started beating faster. She can take me, but not my friends, not Juli.

—————————————————————————————————————————

"Juli!" Uncle screamed at the top of his lungs. Juli ran towards the commotion. Father was pulled into that tree, and he was not willing to lose Father. Father was, beside Mother, one of the people he trusted the most. He could go blindfolded into the woods with Father, and he'd know Father will keep him safe. I trust Father. I Love Father. I will not let anything bad happen to him. As Juli reached the outer arch of the sheep, the wind started blowing faster. The beautiful sun was replaced by dark clouds and thunder. Juli was startled by how quick the wether had changed. "Father!" he shouted, with tears on his face, as he observed the brusque storm started about. Juli did not care, he was willing to do whatever it took to save Father. Juli started for the tree, but a hand grabbed his forearm from behind. Tobias."Father is in that tree!" Tobias knew that, he had seen it happened. However, he will not be careless with Juli, like he was with his son. Tobias was barely understandable with the lighting, wind, and thunder, "The others went to help and they did not come back!" Juli tried to pull free from Tobias' arm, but he couldn't. "Juli, come on! There is no time!" Tobias had no choice but to punch Juli on the gut, he didn't want to but had to. The punch was so strong that Juli fell to the ground— unconscious.