Prologue of the Prologue: Nelora Mahariel

Chapter 13: Love Struck Full Belly

Summary:

All seems to go well for Mahariel but when things go wrong then they go wrong all at once, that is the law of attraction.

Notes:

"She slept with wolves without fear, for the wolves knew a lion was among them." – R.M. Drake

The two lovers lay under some furs coddling .The elves are so close that they can feel the other's body heat and the bare skin and the soft wind of the other breathing. It is a wonderful moment of affection and closeness after being intimate. No words are needed to be happy and just BE there to enjoy the moment.

Tamlen looks up at the sky through the leaves and casually asks "So Nel would you become my bond-mate?"

She raises her head from Tamlen's chest and looks into his eyes, which are grey with a hint of light murky sky blue in them, frowning "Come on Tam we've talked about this. I'm just not ready for it. I need time because who knows... I might want to see the world, be free and do things." She glances down at his trained and slightly tanned naked body and smiles "And by the way we basically live as bond-mates without the luggage, just the fun bits, isn't this enough for the time being?"

He tucks away a strand of loose hair in front of Nelora's face "I know you don't want to be tied down but being bonded with someone isn't just that, it's celebrating something special between two elves- for instance us, it's having someone there to support you at all times and it's a beautiful tradition." He slightly frowns "You make me worry. Are you truly going to leave the Dalish to go explore the world?"

She sits up and just rants "Why do you have to make it so difficult Tam? Wouldn't you be there to support me if we wouldn't get bonded? And I don't know yet if I want to see the world or if I ever will but I like to keep my options open. One can never know what is about to happen, life is just that unpredictable and all the happiness is supposedly a combination of luck and illusions so I don't want to change the moment where I'm happy at." She takes a deep breath and looks into his eyes that even have tiny specks of blue so dark that it seems black in them "But tell me haven't you thought about learning of what is out there? Or haven't you thought of the next Arlathven? Perhaps I'd switch clans to see and experience more of this wondrous world and its creatures."

He seems a little hurt "Would you leave me behind and just move on from what we have here just to see what life is like in another clan? Like what we have between us does not matter!"

"There's no way I'd throw what we have away. And I'd leave our clan when you'd come with me." She takes his hand and plants a small kiss on it.

He smiles a bittersweet smile. "I'd follow you to the end of the world but I'm happy in clan Sabrae and I think that you are too." He looks down at their hands holding and caresses Nel's hand with his thumb "By the way I haven't thought about leaving the Dalish to see the world. All I need and want is with this clan: home, food, friends, and love. Why would I want to leave all that behind for something that I don't know, something so uncertain for people who dislike us-elves, for a worse life away from closeness and traditions... I don't want that. "

"I like our clan too, it's safe and comfortable as well as familiar and I love it but I can't help not to wonder. Just so you'd know if we'd get bonded then there would be expectations, which I'm not ready for."

"So you are afraid of people expecting you to have children? You don't want to have children, Is that the reason?"

"No I do want them but... later in life, when I'm ready, when we are ready. And I'll be ready, I just need time, we need time for something as big as a child." Nelora leans down on him smiles sweetly and kisses his nose "We'll get there, it just won't be now." She nuzzles his nose "I love you, you know that?"

"I do but you really know how to make me insecure about that with your world discovering ideas."

"Well someone ought to keep you on your toes."

"And because of that maybe someone should tame you." He grins wickedly, flips the situation and pins her on the ground holding her wrists above her head.

"Ouch, I'm hurt by that."

He whispers into her ear sending delicious chills and goosebumps down from her neck to her toes "No you're not."

He kisses her ear and she giggles. Tam moves lower with his kissing to her neck, collarbones, breasts. A soft sigh leaves her mouth but Nel slightly shakes her head "Mmm...No...no, no, no... I can't. I was supposed to see Master..." He bites her nipple; she gasps and curls her toes then lets out a whimper "hmmh... Varathorn, he needed me for something!"

He focuses on doing things to her body to hear her pleasure "Are you sure that you need to go now we could just..." He kisses her lips.

Nelora turns away her head, braking the kiss "No, I'd ruin my reputation of being responsible and reliable."

"What happened to the Nelora who got into trouble, always?"

She grabs a hold of his waist with one of her legs, makes him loose his balance and flips the position freeing her hands and establishing dominance. Her voice is dangerous and lusty as is her gaze "She grew up." Nelora looks at Tam with desire darkened eyes from top to bottom with her eyes lingering on his half hard on but then climbs off of him and goes to her clothes.

She is putting on her smallclothes with her back turned to her lover "So Tam what will you do now?"

He lay on the ground looking through the leaves of the place they've built for themselves "I think I'll go hunting near the meadow in the east. That is IF you are going to leave me here."

She pulls on her under armor shirt and snorts "IF I'm going to leave you here... That's not working on me. I'm not TAME enough for such pathetic attempts to be lured back into bed with someone."

"Hey it was worth a shot."

Nelora pulls her armor on, binds the straps, closes the buckles, ties all the tiny strings and leather strips. Finally when the armor sits right she goes back to give Tamlen a tiny kiss. "I suggest getting clothed. You can never know who or what you'll run into in the forest."

He rests his hands on her waist as he takes a moment to look in her big amethyst eyes "No creature as lovely as you, that's for sure."

She blushes a little, "Flatterer." They put their foreheads together as she says "Just stay safe, you hear me."

"I hear you and don't you dare to start getting into any trouble without me."

She runs a hand over his cheek, "We'll see about that." then gets up and leaves.

****

On her way back to the camp from their secret hiding place there are thoughts are swimming around in her head: is she ready to be bonded?- the answer feels like a no but it starts to lack certainty .Is Tamlen the one she should get bonded with? Is he the right elf for her? Do the others know about her and Tamlen? Do they know that they are more than friends? They must get a feeling that there is a little more between them but to what extent do they see it?

It has almost been a little over year when they started being together and a little less than a year when they began being 'together together' and all of it has been the happiest time of her life. The seasons, months, weeks, days and hours have just flown by when she has been spending time with him. When she is around him the world just fades away, the reality starts warping. When Nelora is not with him the day can be rainy and cold but when they meet it becomes warm and sunny without it actually being that. It is wonderful to be happy and so in love that one gets lost in the other person, like she does.

****

When Nelora has made it back to the camp she seeks out Master Varathorn.

She bows her head in greeting to the old master "Andaran atish'an, Master! I hope that I didn't keep you waiting for too long."

"Andaran atish'an Dalen, as a matter of fact you did. What in the name of the Creators were you doing for so long?"

She smiles blissfully knowing that she has a secret, so beautiful, so intimate and personal. There is this thrill with the meeting in the forest without others knowing that they are together. It always makes her smile when she thinks of the excitement of it. That's another reason why the becoming bond-mates seems scary. What if the passion and thrill are lost when the sneaking out and fun secrecy ends, what if they lose the spark they have now. Could their love run out? "Ah Master I was just wondering the woods, the forest is so beautiful this time of the year."

The elder man's expression softens "It is magnificent but that beauty hides danger within. In your case I'd guess forgetfulness. Since the time you got your Vallaslin you've been wondering a lot in the woods and living with our head in the clouds. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so changed by the period of meditation." Since time of obtaining her Vallaslin she has changed a lot, small part is thanks to the soul searching and meditating before having the blood-writing done and in large part to the relationship with her and Tamlen. To think of is she has forgotten many things while with him or thinking of him, like she is forgetting just now to answer or speak back when spoken to.

"Have I really?" Even though forgetful all has always has worked out well but things never stay the same, it is known that the luck has to run out some time - it's just a matter of when and how. It is said that perfection and happiness are illusions but they are illusions she likes and is lucky to have for as long as it is possible.

Master Varathorn sighs "I guess it just goes with you getting your act together."

Nelora clears her throat "Khkhm. What did you need me for Master?"

"Oh I have a list of things needed: some herbs, ironbark, a few smaller animal pelts. Just general things needed for the clan. I thought this would suit you because of the time you spend in the forest, so it would be easy for you to deal with that when you are away." He pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket and looks over it as if he is trying to see if something is still missing from it.

"When do you need it to be done?"

He looks up from the list and smiles "The next few days would be great, take your time but not too much of it. Head out of the clouds for this, Dalen."

Master hands the list over to her. A few hares, elfroot, deathroot, ironbark, wild halla antlers... nothing too difficult to obtain. Even though presented with a new task her thoughts keep going back. Still she has been so happy and lucky in more than one way... It is common knowledge that it all has to come to an end still or because of that knowledge there is this weird feeling of forgetting something...something important. Nelora starts to repeat her thoughts:

When... Just a matter of time... Lucky in more than one way... all has to come to an end...

And just like lightning from the clear sky the stars connect to make a constellation when she realizes: oh crap! When was the last time when she was on her bloody maiden period? Shit two months, 3 months? She doesn't know anymore. By the gods, how could she forget or not notice something like that? Shit, shit, shit, shit... It can't be... she's not ready for something like this... Who knows if one is...that? Perhaps Merrill, she studies the old magic and things. Perhaps she can check for it or at least give her some advice... yeah advice would be good too, perhaps a shoulder to cry on as well? Fenedhis she needs to see Merrill straight away. She should forget about master Varathorn and his lists, for now.

Nelora crushes the piece of paper into her pocket and just runs off without saying a word to the elder Master, the person who she was having a conversation with.

Varathorn is left there standing and looking of the young adult elf who has such delightful manners to run off in the middle of the conversation without saying a word. He scowls and grumbles to himself "What has happened with the youth always rushing somewhere... but I would be grateful if you'd get the things on the list still. It's not like anyone is listening to me anyway. What has come of the youth these days... truly what?"

****

Nelora quickly runs through the camp heading to Merrill's tent. "Mer are you there? I need to speak with you."

Mer opens the tent with her nose in a book "I'm here, you can come in."

Nelora is frantic. Her heart is pounding, tears in her eyes are making the world look blurry and the scare is making her speech fast and slurred "Oh I'm so glad you are here Merrill. I... I... I'm just not ready for it, but I'm not even sure that this could be happening; perhaps this is a false alarm! It can be that-yes? A false alarm."

Merrill looks at her best friend, who she has never seen so in pieces, so scared. She pulls Nelora to sit and puts her book down and holds Nel's cold hands. "Nelora I don't understand, are you alright?"

She tries to make eye contact while speaking but she just can't... she is ashamed and scared "I'm not, I am, well I don't know...I...I... "

Merrill keeps caressing her cold hands "Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in and now breathe all of it out. Slowly in and out, now slowly in and forcefully out. Now tell me what is going on?"

She is still doing the breathing exercise. Her head is dizzy but a tad bit calmer "I've missed my bloody maiden days for a while. I fear that I might be..."

The other elf voice makes a jump to higher pitch "...Pregnant? How long?"

"I don't know, I really haven't noticed... perhaps two months or more or less, I really don't know." She opens her eyes and stares at the ground "What do I do now"

"I could try old magic to see if there is life within you."

She looks up to Merrill her tears glisten in her eyes "You know how to do that?"

"Its old magic, rare magic and because I'm the keepers First I know things, I know magic. Now just lie down and well see about that pregnancy scare."

Mahariel lay down on the furs in Merrill's tent. The mage straightens her clothes and asks her "Are you ready?"

Nelora nods.

"Now just keep breathing deeply and stay still while I cast the spell."

There is a blue light emitting just brightly enough from Merrill to notice, her eyes glow blue and a bright light sky blue shiny swirling magic gathers around her hands, growing its mass. The further the magic is from Mer's hands the more mist like it is; the sight is beautiful the whole room seems to be filled with the said mist with tiny firefly like specks of light. Finally the mage places her hands on Nelora's stomach. The magic makes her skin tingle and sends cold shivers all over her body. As Mer moves her hands on her stomach this strange bloated and warm feeling fills her lower part of the tummy and the cold shivers go away. All she feels is this warm tingling and slight bloating. The blue magic fades away from Merrill's hands and the room. She opens her eyes that don't glow blue anymore; they're now just her normal green eyes.

She takes a hold of Nelora's now warm hand and smiles "There is life inside you. The life is new if I were to guess the age then I'd say he or she is about two months old."

Nelora quickly sits up and looks dead serious into Merrill's eyes "How can it be?" She drops her head into her hands and thinks out loud "We always made sure he'd cum outside. It just can't be. What will I do now?"

Merrill hugs her tightly "I'm so glad and sad for you, I'll be always here when you need me. If you want then I could see about magic that could end it. That is if you want it to end? Please don't want me to end it."

She hugs her back and places her head on her shoulder. She's letting her tears flow. These tears aren't happy or sad or anything, they just are. "Thank you Merrill, but I need to talk to Tam first, it's just so much and it isn't just on me, it's someone else's decision too." She sighs "You are a great friend do you know that?"

"You are too Mahriel, you are my best friend and no matter what happens I'll be there for you."

They end the hug and Nel brushes Merrill's bangs behind her ear "You are just so sweet and precious. Merrill, don't ever change." The other elf smiles slightly "But now I... I just need to go and find him. I'm not the one to wait. The faster this... whatever it all is, gets sorted the better."

Nelora gets up from the floor and heads to the tent entrance but the other elf grabs her hand "Wait!" She stands up and wipes away the tears from her face and smiles slightly "Can't let anyone else see your tears, they are a big private part of you."

"Thank you."

Nelora leaves the tent and jogs towards the forest's eastern meadow, where Tamlen said he'd be. She has something life changing to discuss.

****

Nelora has made it to their meeting spot. All she has to do now is track, find the trail and follow. It's simple because she has learned it as a hunter and she has hunted with Tamlen many times to know the way he moves in the woods.

She sees freshly stomped grass and follows the trail. The trail changes a little from confident and casual walk to quiet and sneaking walk, in some places she can see that he has stood still, changed his position., lain on the ground. Perhaps he was looking at the animals or some other quarry.

The distance to the meadow was quite short but the other hunter's tracks show that he was stopping and changing his positions often while trying to stay hidden. Tamlen was onto something and so she should be careful, it would be wise of her to keep her weapons at ready.

Suddenly the running of several creatures, focusing on the sound three creatures on two feet, different paces, different loudness of steps, different rhythm - probably shemlen. That can't be good. The shems are running from something or to something or someone. Tamlen has to be here somewhere, he needs to be careful.

The running of the shems comes to an abrupt stop. One of them yells with surprise in his voice "It's a Dalish." They have seen Tamlen. Nelora can see them. Three humans in strange raged clothing, in weird bright shades of colors that mismatch terribly and have no practical reason and Tamlen is standing opposite to them with his bow ready for shooting an arrow. She just needs to get there, fast.

She can hear Tamlen using his threatening voice on the humans "And you three are somewhere where you shouldn't be!"

One of the humans threatens him back "Let us pass, elf. You have no right to stop us."

Fenedhis I hope that I'll make it in time before am does something stooped. He has his bow on the ready; just don't make any brash decisions.
"No? We'll see about that, won't we?" Damn it Tamlen dial it down with the cockiness or it won't end well.

I finally make it to his side and I too draw out my bow, keeping it at a ready, just in case.

Tam glances at me and sends me a slight smile but then returns to his hard and serious act "You're just in time. I found these humans... lurking in the bushes. Bandits, no doubt." Is he being serious? These shems who wear rags and have no weapons are bandits- joke of the year.

One of the shemlen whines "We aren't bandits, I swear! Please don't hurt us!"

Tamlen frowns even more "You shemlen are pathetic. It's hard to believe that you drove us from our homeland."

The human looks confused "W...we've never done nothing to you Dalish! We didn't even know this forest was yours!" The humans didn't do nothing to the Dalish, don't they know of history?- the Exalted march? They are still no bandits just very ignorant shemlen.

Tamlen seems angry "This forest isn't ours, fool. You've stumbled too close to our camp. You shems are like vermin- we can't trust you not to make mischief." He glances at me "What do you say, lethaliin? What should we do with them? "

She doesn't trust humans either but there is something wrong with all of this, these humans should not have wondered so deep into the woods- there must be something they were looking for "Let's find out what they are doing here?"

Tam seems to be disappointed "Does it matter? Hunting or Banditry, We'll have to move camp if we let them live."

A shem squawks "I- look...we didn't come here to be trouble. We just found a cave..."

The shorter shem with a squeaky and crackling voice glances over the shoulder of one of his friends "Yes, a cave! With ruins like I've never seen! We thought there might be, uh..."

"Treasure. So you are more akin to thieves than actual bandits."

That shem must have been eating some interesting mushrooms because there are no ruins there, she'd know of it. "Are you being serious, we know this forest. There are caves, sure but no ruins. You LIE!"

The taller human who the squeaky crackling voice was hiding behind raises his hands in the air like giving up "I...I have proof!" He looks Nelora dead in the eyes and she nods then he slowly reaches for his pocket and pulls out a smooth stone in the lovely shade of soft azure with some black markings and hands it over to her "Here... we found this just inside the entrance."

Tamlen shifts closer to the other elf to get a better look of the object and his frown turns to surprise "This stone has carvings. Is this elvish? WRITTEN elvish?"

The person who gave her the rune smiles and speaks in a soft voice "There's more in the ruins! We didn't get very far in, though..."

Nelora mocks him "Why not, scared of the dark?"

The squeaky voice comments again when he peeks them from behind the taller humans shoulder "There was a demon! It was huge, with black eyes empty like the deepest wells! Thank the Maker we were able to outrun it."

Tam scoffs "A demon? Where is this cave?"

A quiet human on the right side of their bundle finally speaks up "Just off to the west, I think. There's a cave in the rock face, and a huge hole just inside."

Her fellow hunter keeps a steady eye on their quarry "Well do you trust them? Should we let them go?"

She knows that Tamlen isn't fond of humans and he wouldn't even bat an eye if he'd have to put them down but to her it just feels wrong to take life so carelessly when there's no need for that. "You've frightened them enough. They won't bother us."

He growls through his teeth "Run along then, shems... and don't come back until the Dalish have moved on."

Their expressions on their faces go to shock and then relief "Of course! Thank you! Thank you!" They scurry away with amazing speed. It isn't soon until they disappear into the forest.

Tamlen's demeanor is now different and even his voice is happier and lacks now any intimidation. "Well, shall we see if there is any truth to their story? These carvings make me curious."

Wait what she runs off into the forest to just talk to him, then they ran into some shems and now he wants to go into a frigging cave. "No, this demon makes me cautious and I have something we need to discuss."

He smiles softly and kisses her nose then mocks "Scared of a demon like a little shem, come on it's probably an animal or scary shadow that they saw wrong."

She looks up to him and frowns, then shoves him lightly "I'm serious Tamlen!"

He runs a hand over her cheek and holds her hand "Come on we are already here, now just a little to the west and we'll see the cave."

She looks away from his gaze and tells him again "But I need to talk with you about something serious."

"Nel we have all the time in the world, so let's just adventure a bit. Weren't you the one who wanted excitement and adventure in your life? Weren't you the one dragging me off to trouble with you? Now it's my turn." She hates it when he uses her own words against her.

"But Tam..." He places a finger on her mouth to quiet her.

"I swear back at our secret meeting place, we'll have time. Now where is your sense of adventure?" He lets go of her hand, pulls away his finger and starts moving away.

She also hates also when he has a point and grumbles to herself "I hate you so much right now!"

Tamlen has already wondered off far enough out of the understanding range of hearing.

"What? I didn't quite catch that?"

She looks at him and yells "I hate you so much right now! Did you hear that darling?!"

He chuckles.

****

There is this tiny path heading west that they are following, it feels strange, darker, the flora around there is dead, only a little green amidst all the brown and grey. As they get further the more of the nature is dead. Strange how they never got there and how they never saw this place before.

In the rock face is a huge crevasse "This must be the cave. I don't recall seeing this before, do you?"

The place seems to dark, too wrong and eerie "No and I don't think we should go in there alone."

He seems to be annoyed "There's nobody else here. And I'm not running back unless there' something to make a fuss over. Come on, let's at least see what's there. How dangerous could it be?"

Nel mumbles to herself "Yeah still hate you."

He answers "Well too bad because I still love you."

They begin their slow descent into the eerie darkness "It...looks like the shem was telling the truth. But these ruins look more human than elvhen."

The narrow crevasse has turned into a big room. Roots of trees have broken through some of the walls and the ceiling of the room, there are spider webs everywhere. Suddenly out of the blue two strange giant spiders crawl out.

She has never liked spiders, too many eyes and strange furry feet, especially when the spiders are giant. Thankfully they are easy to take care of- only have to take off the head and watch out for not getting poisoned or getting caught in their sticky webs.

She pulls out her daggers and charges on the spider nearest when Tamlen unsheathes his sword and tackles the furthest one.

When spiders defeated with ease they start to look around in the ruins. The place has many rooms and many spiders, some undead and a few traps. When they are walking through the place Tamlen suddenly stops in front of a statue.

"I can't believe this. You recognize this statue, don't you?"

She examines it a bit closer, seems to be elvhen, some god with a hearing stick "It's worn but it's vaguely familiar, reminds me of Falon'Din, you know, the Creator whose markings I bear."

"Exactly. Back when our people lived in Arlathan, statues like this honored the Creators. When the shems enslaved us, much of that lore was lost. "He glances over the hallway we're in "This looks like human architecture... with a statue of our people. Can these ruins date back to the time of Arlathan?"

"We're nowhere near Arlathan. This proves nothing."

He seems to be in awe "We must have lived in other places, too. Even if elves didn't live here, its architects knew of our gods."

"Fine but let's just not sit here like sitting ducks for any of the undead to gnaw on."

He turns to face her, clearly upset "How often do you find something like this?"

"Well as it comes out often enough to keep moving."

He comments "Still stubborn as ever."

"Wait you said that you love me as I am so this is what you'll have to deal with."

They still wonder the ruins; it seems that they've been making circles around the place. The rooms and broken halls all seem so familiar to them.

When Nelora has cooled down she began to notice that her Tam-Tam seems to be a little off. At first she just shrugs it off and let' s him have his space but finally she stops and places her hand on Tamlen's shoulder "Vhenan I see that something's off – it is in your walk and eyes, don't hide yourself from me."

Tamlen tries to smile but it is terribly forced and fake "It's nothing, the elvhen history just gets me."

"Hey you are elvhen but you never cared that much for our history before to be this upset. Talk to me."

He looks off into the distance when a gentle hand guides his face to face her. Nelora can see the doubt in his eyes- those beautiful stormy eyes. She wonders if their unborn child will look like him or her.

Tamlen meets her gaze "It's really nothing... It's just that this place makes me nervous."

"Then talk, that always calms you down."

"I suppose so... hey, weren't you supposed to be assisting Master Varathorn today? How did you end up coming with me?"

That was not what she was expecting from him. Should she tell him the reason now- tell him that she is with child in these dim and dangerous ruins where at any given moment they could be attacked? "I wanted to be with you, of course. And I really need to talk with you."

"I... thought that might be the case. I'm glad and we'll have the talking time. These ruins are not the place for important talks."

"I guess you might be right this time. But tell me how did you know of the statue?"

"There was a picture of a statue just like this in one of those old books the keeper never lets anyone touch. It was one of the old gods. The keeper called him 'the friend of the dead' "

"Falon'Din the god who is the brother of Dirthamen the same Dirthamen whose markings you bare and the same Falon'Din who's marking are on my face. I'm surprised of how little attention you've paid to your sort of patron god."

"Hey I just chose what felt right and I knew that, it just didn't come to my mind at that moment."

"Fine I'll ignore your ignorance this time. But when we get back to camp then we'll have a nice history lesson with Merrill about the old elvhen gods. And no arguing about that, you know you won't win that debate. But other than that what do you think all this is?"

"I'm not sure. This looks like a very old human place. Why would they build this? And why would elven artifacts be here? Maybe some of our ancestors lived here, in caves like the dwarves. I'll stick to roaming the land, myself."

"I'd stick to the land too. I love the sun I couldn't imagine living in darkness, away from greenery, nature, trees, stars and the seasons. This place is quite terrible- tell me why did you want to come down here so badly?"

"I don't know anymore. I have this odd sensation that we've... disturbed something. Like we just walked into a dragon's lair. Well whatever it is, it... it won't stop me. A Dalish hunter fears nothing! Let's just find whatever's here and get out. We can talk later."

Tamlen rushes off ahead of her. Nelora can see the familiar statue of her patron god and tries to reach her lover. Tamlen stops and asks her. "Have we been through this door?"

She looks at it and already Tamlen is moving towards it but she notices a big pressure plate in front of it. On the last second she catches him by the collar and scolds "Watch where you're going, you would have stepped on a pressure plate trap!"

"Sorry."

"You're sorry? Who knows what would have happened, I can't lose you especially now!"

He cocks his eyebrow "Especially now?"

"Forget about it! Just let's see what's behind that door and let's get out of here!"

Nelora with the help of Tamlen pulls the heavy door open they take a few steps into the new room. The air is stale and feels dusty. Suddenly a rawr of a bear fills the room and the two elves draw their weapons.

From the shadows emerges a great beast with a frame of a bear but it seems to be darker, partially rotting alive with furless patches and loose torn skin hanging. The beast has numerous arrows, polearms and even a sword stuck to its back and all that is between its hedgehog like bone thorns. Nelora wonders: How many have seen this creature and how many have perished in a fight with it.

The two Dalish hunters draw their weapons. Tamlen takes the bear head on while Mahariel does some damage from behind the beast. Despite the sorry state that the beast is in it is quite strong and resilient. Nelora slashes its tendons and it is furious. In that anger and what seems pain it tries to maneuver its way to her but then Tamlen plunges his sword into the creatures neck and twists it until a pop of the spine can be heard. The creature stays up for a second or two and then falls on its side.

Nelora keeps her eye on the dead beast; she goes near it, wets her hand and places her it near its nose. The beast isn't breathing, it's truly dead.

Tam's voice is a little shaky and upset "By the creators what was that thing?"

"I don't know Tam but I want to get out of here, now."

The fear and panic are suddenly gone from his voice. How can that be? "Wait let's take a look around."

"Are you kidding me Tam?"

"Come on, let's at least take a look of this mirror first. Can you see the writing on it?"

She throws her head back in frustration "Don't tam."

He chuckles "No worries I won't break it."

He walks as if mesmerized towards the tall looking glass. Nelora has to admit that the mirror is beautiful with its golden frame and beautiful elven carvings that those who have never seen would mistake for just ornaments when it's written elvish. The glass part of the mirror is weird though. It is dusty and grey and it doesn't seem to reflect almost anything.

"Hey did you see that? I think something moved inside the mirror."

She knew that it would be bad, that it wouldn't be a normal mirror. "Stand back. We can't be sure that it's safe."

It's like he isn't listening to her anymore. "See there it is again. "Wai don't you see it? There it is again. Can you feel that? I think it knows we're here. I just need to take a closer look. "

Nelora has a bad feeling in her gut mixed with curiosity because she saw the movement too. But still this feels off. She opens her mouth to protest but Tamlen is already standing in front of the mirror, touching it "It's showing me places. I can see some kind of city... underground?" He takes a closer look "And... there's a great blackness..." he's voice is beginning to shake "It saw me! Help! I can't look away."

She has a feeling that this is the now or never moment, now is the time to tell him what she wanted to all that time "Tamlen I need to tell you that I'm pregna..."

Suddenly there is a white explosion and everything goes quiet, ad cold and dark.

Notes:

In game this would be the part where Mahariels meet Duncan but I'm not taking that route, this Mahariel will go through the bitter ending.