When Fate Summons (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Enter Sandman

Far from the shores of Lake Calenhad, somewhere deep in the forest of the Bannorn, Anawyn practiced a basic cold spell, trying to freeze a leaf. Granny had made it clear that Anawyn was to practice until she got it right every time, and if Anawyn moved from the small clearing where she was practicing, Granny would be most displeased. Since they'd left the lake, Granny had been snappish and irritable, especially with Anawyn, so now the little girl focused hard, not wanting to give Granny anything to be upset about. She'd been out there for some time already, and the cold spells were making her cold, despite the warmth of the day. Despite how much she wanted to sit down and take a rest, it didn't seem wise.

Granny had kept Cybele by the campfire, saying the two of them were going to do some special practicing. At one point, Anawyn had been jealous that Granny seemed to spend more time training Cybele than she did Anawyn, but increasingly it was a bit of a relief when Granny's focus was on the other girl.

Anawyn was startled from her thoughts by the sound of someone tramping through the woods. Granny appeared, looking worried and annoyed. "Come with me," she snapped.

When they reached the campfire, Anawyn saw that Cybele was asleep. Granny glanced over at the figure in the blankets, but when she saw Anawyn watching her, said, "Hurry up and eat so you can get to sleep." She tossed Anawyn a piece of bread and an apple, then sat at the fire, studying in her big black book, ignoring Anawyn.

Although she was intensely curious about what was in the book—Granny called it a grimoire—Anawyn knew better than to ask. She quietly ate her food. When she had finished, she looked up, but Granny was still deep within the grimoire, so Anawyn got up and went to her own blankets, curling up. She was pretty tired after the mental energy expended in learning her first cold spell, so she fell asleep quickly.

She found herself wandering in the endless yellow landscape of the Fade. She vaguely remembered being here before, but somehow this was different. Instead of being caught in some kind of dream, and seeing the strange formations of the raw Fade only in passing flashes, she felt almost as though she was awake. And someone was calling her name.

"I'm here!" she called out. "Where are you?" But the words echoed through the Fade. She walked toward the sound of the voice as it continued to call to her.

The voice got closer and closer until finally she saw the caller. He was beautiful, his features finely sculpted and his eyes piercing, blue as the ocean. And so tall, taller than anyone she had ever seen. Anawyn could only stare for the longest minute, until finally the being gave a melodious laugh. She could have listened to that laugh for hours.

"Who are you?" she asked in wonder.

"That answer is complicated."

"Are—are you a demon?"

"Would I tell you if I was?"

"Probably not."

He chuckled. "Wise girl. I am ... contained in the body of your friend Cybele."

"What?"

"Ah," he said, studying her. "I see you do not know. Perhaps they have not told you?"

"I'm sorry, ser, but I don't really know what you're talking about."

"Would you like me to explain?"

Anawyn nodded.

"My name is Urthemiel. Have you heard of me?" At Anawyn's shake of the head, he smiled. "Before I was bound to Cybele, I was tainted. Corrupted. By darkspawn. You have heard of those?" She nodded again. "I was what they called the Archdemon. But the dragon form that I inhabited was killed. By someone you know rather well, I believe."