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

The Handkerchief

Uncle was dead. Juli was glad to have found Doreen, but he didn't know how to feel about loosing his uncle. He certainly was sad. However, Juli didn't cry. Not like he did when his father passed away. This sadness felt more like a void. He felt that uncle had many truths to tell. Uncle was always honest with him about humans, mages and everything else. He felt as if that void in his heart could only be filled by Uncle's honesty.

Everyone at the camp was devastated by the news. Even the ones that didn't know Uncle were gloomy. Every clan member is considered family. So if someone passes, even if one didn't know the deceased, one would still feel the pain. Even though every person in the clan was in deep sorrow, Mother was the one that had drowned in it. When Juli, Doreen and the three hunters came back to the camp without Uncle, Mother knew. And her eyes filled with tears. She was happy that Doreen was alive, but at the same time miserable that Uncle was gone. She hugged Doreen, and they both cried. They both wept as they held each other tight.

Doreen and Uncle almost burnt, but they miraculously made it out safely. She and Uncle had a very hard time after the camp burnt. Doreen said she was lucky to be alive as she and Uncle were attacked by darkspawn while they slept in some cave they found. Doreen seemed reluctant to tell the tale. Why didn't darkspawn attack us when we slept in our cave? Juli couldn't imagine how terrible it would feel to be awaken by such vile creatures. Doreen was covered in soot. She said that was from all the smoke that smoldered from the camp as she tried to get Uncle out of it. She was so traumatized by the whole thing; pulling Uncle out of the camp, so a darkspawn will slit his throat later on.

Juli sat on the ground, just outside of his tent. He stared at the hallas that were roaming about. He hadn't really noticed the beautiful white stags until now. They were the only ones that weren't aware of the tragedies. Their steep heads lowered near the ground, gnawing at the green grass. Juli had his bow next to him, he didn't know if the darkspawn would come back for revenge. He noticed how he only had Two arrows left on his quiver. Does Patrick know how to make arrows? Shouldn't I learn how to make arrows? His red shiny bow almost made him forget the fact that Uncle was dead. But how could he forget Uncle? He was the one that taught Juli the art of archery. He felt a great deal of nostalgia as he gazed at his bow. Even though this was technically a different and magical bow, it still looked exactly like the bow he used when he trained with Uncle and Doreen, and so he remembered those days of training. Had it not been only a few days since he trained with Uncle and Doreen? Even if it was just a few days, it felt like an eternity. What if I had not stormed out like I did when I found out Doreen was a mage, will Uncle be alive now? Will Doreen might had not been attacked by darkspawn? His head spun. The last few days had been so overwhelming, that he felt his mind couldn't really process everything— Uncle being dead, Doreen casting spells, darkspawn attacking them, and him feeling somehow guilty for all of it.

"Are you ok?"

A woman's voice made Juli flinch. He lifted his head— it was Theresa. Juli looked at the looming woman, and nodded.

Her gaze was penetrating. It was as if the woman studied him carefully, fascinated by him. She sat in a cross-legged position in front of him. She pulled out a handkerchief from one of her front pockets, and offered it to Juli, "Crying helps. When you decide to let it all out, you may find some use in it."

Juli was puzzled by the motion of the woman. What does she mean crying always helps? I mean, it's not like I'm not sad, but I don't feel the need to cry. Juli didn't feel anything— he felt numb. After the white piece of cloth hung in the air awkwardly for a while, he gracefully took it. The sturdy woman looked like she wanted to say something, but said nothing. She got up and left.

The white clouds cleared and gave way to sunshine. The sun was at its peak, and Juli was soaked in sweat. His metal armor just made the heat worse so he took it off. His brown trousers and tunic were drenched in sweat. He decided to go to the river to wash himself. As he got up to walk, Mother's head peered out of her tent, "Where are you going?"