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

The Most Powerful of Clan Velthrin Made It Back

"We're here." Omar almost whispered to Quinn.

The black-robed mage had endured the pain of the bleeding whole in his shoulder. Theresa had pried the arrow out, she said that it was the only way for him to survive as the wood in flesh will just injure him more. The resourceful woman had ripped part of her trousers and wrapped the piece of cloth around the injured mage's shoulder. Quinn was unconscious, nonetheless, just like Theodore, he still breathed. Juli's eyes landed on the young healer. He almost felt a sense of admiration for the kid. To endure so much at such young age, Juli didn't think he could at the age of eight. Yet, the young and powerful healer had faced a giant, a mad witch, and an army of darkspawn and still lived. Admiration and respect, that's all Juli could feel towards the smart boy that wore spectacles.

They dismounted their horses. The grey wardens were on front, their eyes darting in every direction in the search of danger.

This is our camp, what dangers could there be? The thought felt silly. And Juli realized what had them so worried; the place looked deserted and quiet.

Gyles, with flail at the ready, approached a tent. The vivid sun of the morning revealed shadows through the white canopy.

The blonde warden took careful steps toward it. Juli readied his bow, for all they knew Templars might have have roamed about the camp while they were gone. His gauntleted hand grabbed the canopy. His eyes were all dread of what he might find. He yanked the piece of canopy that worked as a door for the tent. His tensed face was at ease.

He let out a sigh of relief. "It's the human and the blacksmith."

Patrick's black and bald head peered out of the tent. He smiled blatantly at their sight. He held one dagger with both hands. Clearly, Juli thought, he could craft weapons but he sure didn't know how to use them. Lou, Theodore's mother, Sam's mother and the blue-eyed boy stepped out of the tent as well.

"My poor boy!" Theodore's mother ran towards him. White hair trailed off behind her. Juli thought the woman to appear quite old to have an eight year old son.

"He'll be ok." Erick said plainly.

She took her son. As a mother cradles a baby, she took Theodore and carried him with both of her arms. The healer was coated with that black ichor that came from the darkspawn. His white staff looked black as it was utterly stained by it.

Juli noticed that Mother did not seem content to have arrived at the camp. Her grief must had been overwhelming. Juli knew that feeling, he felt the same way when Father had died; out of place. She clung the long green blanket to her body and went silently into her tent. Juli thought best to not bother her, however, he was, in a bizarre way, intrigued to ask her about his aunt. He wanted the truth about her. Only if Uncle were here...

Even if Juli knew how damaging grief was, even then, he noticed that Mother was acting strange. He didn't know what to expect from someone that had gone through such an ordeal. Sure ,all of us faced giants and demons and were at the precipice of death, however, we had a chance to fight. Mother didn't. She was chained, unable to fend for herself, and had to live horrors that he couldn't begin to imagine.

"Are you ok Doreen?" That soft voice caught Juli's attention. He sure was content to hear that voice again.

Even though Doreen could stand, yet, her fatigue was noticeable. Not to mention the black dots on her face, one would think she has some kind of disease. Anyone wold think we all carry a plague with how dirty we look and how much we stink.

"Sam." Doreen tried to smile. She reached inside her breastplate.

That bizarre feeling overwhelmed Juli again. He felt the sudden urge to suppress it. If Doreen noticed that he stared at her, she didn't care as she seemed focused on finding whatever it was that her breastplate held. After a few moments of fondling, she finally pulled out her hand.

"Here." Doreen offered something that was cupped between her hands to Sam.

The little girl's blue eyes were full of nothing but wonder. She reached inside Doreen's hands and pulled out a white flower. "You defeated the darkspawn?"

Doreen gave the innocent girl a benevolent smile. She glanced at Juli. When her eyes met his, there was a small furrow above her smile. She was asking him if he should lie to this girl. After all, they never defeated the darkspawn. It was luck more than anything else; the creatures, according to the wardens, just vanished.

"We." He regarded Sam, "We defeated the darkspawn, Sam. But, " he gave Doreen a whimsical look, "we couldn't have done it without her."

"When I grow up," the cadence of her voice was that of a vivid and loud orchestra, "I want to be an all powerful mage just like you." She pointed the flower at Doreen.

She wheeled and started running towards the green-eyed boy.

She waved the flower like a flag above her, " Look brother! Doreen the all-powerful-mage brought back the dogwood flower!"

"Somebody has a fan." Juli nudged her playfully.

She winced in pain.

"Sorry." Juli had almost forgotten that the girl had been thrown to the floor by a giant. She didn't have blood anywhere, however, she could have something broken inside.

"That's ok. What matters is that we made it back. Safe and sound."

Juli nodded.

"Safe and sound..." Juli whispered to himself.

Is that even true? Are we really safe? The witch, or my aunt, can come back for us. After all she didn't exactly die.

A thud startled Juli. With bow at the ready, he turned to see what it was.

Erick was helping Theresa get up. The sturdy woman had a hand on her left rib—she was hurt. After all of that fighting she did, how could she not be hurt? It's shocking enough that she is alive. For someone inexperienced to jump into battle, fight a giant and darkspawn willingly, a broken bone was the least amount of hurting that could have been done to Theresa by the wicked creatures. Erick helped her walk, she had an arm wrapped around his neck. They both headed for a tent.

That soft hand again on his shoulder. It was like a bucket of water dropped on fire, sudden and unexpected. He lowered his bow at the quelling of the battle adrenaline he still felt.

"You need to come down, Juli. We made it back. We brought Cathy back. We're safe."

He gazed at those green eyes. He trusted those eyes as much as his. He nodded.

"And besides, we all have had enough darkspawn fighting." A sudden sniff twitched her face. "Also, we could use a bath."

Juli grinned. They both headed for the river.