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

A Darkspawn Mother

"I love you, Lila. I love you so much." It's not fair, Shannon thought, for a child to lose both of her parents so early in life that she won't even have a memory of them. She's only ten months old.

Shannon held Lila with those blackened hands she'd come to hate so much. Every minute that passed, the veins will cover more parts of her body; first it was from her knuckles to her wrist, then the corrupted blood vessels extended throughout her entire arms. Even clumps of hair had fallen off her scalp. Every time she felt corruption grow inside of her, she heard a faint voice. The Wardens referred to this as the "calling." They said that within a day or two, she would be a darkspawn. A part of Shannon was grateful for that— it'll give her a chance to die fighting for her people. A chance to die fighting for Lila.

"How do you feel?" Father's hand was on her shoulder.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Shannon didn't want to talk about she becoming a darkspawn with her father.

"Yes, she has your eyes. Beautiful indeed." Father leaned over her shoulder, gazing at his lovely grandchild.

This might be the last time she'd hear the raspy voice of Father. As old and spent as he was, he did everything within his limits to protect his granddaughter.

She turned around to face the man who's been there for her for as long as she can remember. His eyes were dried, however, his gaze was low and stagnant, like a lifeless and empty blue pond. To know that a loved one will leave you forever the next day must be the greatest pain of all.

She handed over Lila to him as she didn't want to corrupt her child as well. "I'm sorry Father." Her voice was muffled.

The short man stared up at her. Those solemn eyes bore into her, "You have nothing to be sorry about." The empty pool at his eyes filled.

"Doreen." Shannon snapped, "She'll protect you. She's strong. She can protect both of you."

Tears ran down his cheeks as he knew this was goodbye. He fell into her belly, "There must be another way Shannon."

She wanted there to be a magical potion that solved everything. However, she could feel the corruption taking over her. It was getting stronger by the minute.

Shannon...

That forsaken male voice beckoned her again. She pulled away from Father and rubbed at her temples, the humming and the voices were giving her a headache.

"You ok?" The question sounded silly, however, Father was willing to be there even in the most dire of moments.

You know you want to...

Shannon's head spun and fell to the ground. "SHUT UP!" The voices wouldn't leave her alone.

Father was startled and Lila started crying.

"What's wrong?" The Keeper was all concern at the entrances of their tent.

"The voices..." Shannon glanced at him. He didn't want to meet anyone's gaze as she was ashamed by she'd done.

Omar nodded solemnly.

"They don't shut up." Shannon tried to lower her voice as best she could.

Omar walked up to her. The looming mage's face was a sorrowful one. He knelt next to her. Omar offered his hands.

Does he want to see my disgusting hands?

His earnest gaze told her yes. For a moment she hesitated, afraid that Omar would be mortified by the way her hands looked. A muddy color coated them and blisters grew. Her nails... at this point, her nails looked more like claws. She didn't want to show her hands, however, the keeper seemed very persistent with that piercing gaze. She, lamely, gave him her hands.

Without hesitation the keeper held the wicked hands tight. If he was disgusted by them, he didn't show. "You're the strongest person I know, Shannon." He got a good look at her hands, "This," he lifted them, "is not you. The real you," his lithe finger tapped her chest, "is in here."

For a moment they held a mutual and honest gaze. A look that was that of a bird letting its offspring fly off its nest. Only this time the child would die on its flight.

"I want to help you fight them." Shannon's voice was sharp as she tried to push away the voices. "I need to go knowing that I died fighting for them." Her eyes went past Omar and peered into the crying Lila and her white-bearded Father.

"Of course." The keeper said without arguing. He could've argued the danger she presented for them, as she could turn into a darkspawn and attack them. However, the mage knew that this woman, more than anyone, deserved a chance at dying with dignity.