Evelyn's eyes fluttered open to the eerie greenish hues of the Fade. The viridescent darkness enveloped her, and as she tried to make sense of her surroundings, her head swirled with confusion. The atmosphere was filled with a cacophony of chanted whispers in a language she recognized as Avvish. "Is anyone there?" she called out, her voice echoing in the void that held her captive as she sat in the only spot of light as far as the eye could see. There was no answer.
Thankfully, the initial dizziness she felt began to fade, allowing her to regain her balance as she noticed she was adorned in her old onyx armor. Evelyn called out to the mysterious voices once more, hoping they would respond this time, but her ears were met with a chilling, maniacal laugh that caused her mana to surge with sparks crackling at her fingertips.
"Hail Lowlander, and bow before the might of Hakkon!"
"The Avvar god? I don't think so, I only kneel before the Maker and his bride."
"Fool!" An unseen force struck her down to her knees and then to her stomach, crushing and grinding her against the ground. "Did I hear you wrong when you asked for a sign from a god?"
She gritted her teeth, "No, I--"
"You thought your feeble Maker could reach you down here in our domain? Ha! His warriors - the Templars - come to challenge us from time to time, but they never defeat my people.
"Just because I do not bow does not mean you do not have my respect!" As if considering her words, the force which pressed her lessened. She tried to remember what she had gleaned from Dhara and the others when they spoke of the gods. Hakkon was one of the major three, the other two being the Lady of the Skies and Korth Mountain-Father. A piece of her armor was digging into her side making her think, "You're a warrior, are you not? Come and take the measure of me if it pleases you."
At the conclusion of her words, a swirling red jagged vortex appeared and out stepped a man wearing a dragonling skin. His body was painted in black and white paint, which stretched across his skin in thick lines resembling lightning. His irises were glowing red making him look nightmarish and his gaze all the more intense.
"Be careful what it is you ask mortal, for if I take your measure and consider you worthy, you must offer me something in return." She swallowed hard wondering what price this god would exact from her.
"If your word would redeem me in the eyes of your people, then perhaps it would be a price I'd be willing to pay." A fiendish smile spread across his face as he menacingly stepped closer. The sway of his large lean muscular form and towering height caused her to raise her chin up and set her jaw tightly. Looming before her she tried to keep herself from trembling, knowing full well the god could probably sense fear and weakness.
"To run from responsibility is as bad as running from battle, coward." His expression grew dark as his heavy brow drew down over his eyes. "Tell me, Phoenix, why I should give you such a chance when you've run from the people who need you most? More than those in the Circle. More than your family. Their existence has not been threatened, yet my people tell you their survival hinges on you, and you abandon them." Her eyes turned down towards the ground, feeling as if she'd just taken a blow to the gut. He was right.
"Why is it you, an all-powerful god, cannot save them?"
"It is not the Avvar way. Avvar do not pray for survival, they give thanks for what they are given regardless of how meager it is. They are strong because they refuse to accept defeat in any aspect of life; battle, hunting, sickness, famine, drought, they have defeated all these foes. To coddle them would soften them."
"Then why am I here?"
He strode forward placing a clawed finger on the center of her chest. Immediately she felt the burn of the inferno, "This is why. Aside from bringing new blood to the clans, yours is one they have never seen the like of."
"That's it? That's the reason?" He removed his hand as her rage surged forth. "You destroyed my life and took me away from my family and friends because I'm to be bred and used for my abilities?! I can't believe I began to think I could actually settle for--"
He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her to his face. Her toes dangled feet off the ground, "You dare take that tone with me? Hakkon Wintersbreath! Are you so short-sighted as to not see the import of your presence?" His breath smelt like dead corpses and she found herself gasping for air. "Very well, it seems a test of your own survival is in order." Tapping her mana at its core again, she helplessly hung there as he shattered the protective walls of her power one by one. Slowly the heat began to rise up as he stoked her mana until it was threatening to consume her.
Releasing her, she fell to her knees with her arms slightly out to her sides trying to quell the fire's rage, but it was too late. She was that scared ten-year-old girl again screaming in her family's courtyard as her magic ignited for the first time. Just like back then, she cried painfully as the ethereal fire lit up her veins burning her inside and out. Having received guidance from the senior enchanters in the Circle, Evelyn had learned to control her mana, preventing it from becoming a danger to herself and those around her. Through their teachings, she honed her abilities, constructing mental restraints to confine and manage the volatile power within her. She sought to wield her training to tame the surging mana once more. With a determined focus, she delved into her core, seeking to pacify the flames, however, just as she began to feel a sense of relief, Hakkon laughed deeply, "There will be none of that Phoenix. There is no running from this fight. You will either endure or perish, as is the Avvar way."
In a blink of an eye, he was gone and the world rushed past her with sickening speed. When it came to a sudden stop she stumbled to the ground. Taking stock of her surroundings, it seemed Hakkon banished her deep down into the bog where the roots of the towering trees of the Basin met the earth. They were taller than any building she had ever seen, easily fitting at least two Circle towers within its trunk. The roots themselves were like a living structure, home to animals and fauna alike. As far down as she was, there was little sunlight, which must've caused the fungi and native plants to mutate giving off their own eerie blue glow. Though still cold, the humidity that was trapped down under the thick canopy of roots and undergrowth took the frigid chill from the air, as did the absence of wind. Wild hoots and howls echoed all around as the darkness and shadows began playing tricks on her eyes.
Before she could divine even where to start climbing out of the bog, every muscle in her body clenched as her mana reached its capacity. The heat from her magic was burning every nerve painfully in her body looking for release as she fought it for control. She felt a sudden surge coming up, and unable to hold it in, it shot out in every direction from her core. Standing amidst the darkness, Evelyn burned like a brilliant star. The light frightened off the creatures lurking about her and the heat set fire to even the wettest logs and rubbery fauna.
As the magic subsided enough for her mind to begin working again, in her light she noticed a stone statue and altar built upon a small mound. The large crudely carved statute was grotesque like something out of a nightmare. Bones of various animals and some that looked human were piled on the altar. Some were haphazardly strewn about as if a hungry scavenger had scrounged around the strange shrine to pick at the bones. As she looked into the hollow black eyes of the figure, red lights began to emanate from them, but in a blink of an eye, it was gone. Hakkon…
Thinking of him made her wonder after his people, The Avvar, what happened to them? What of Dhara? Nothing around her looked familiar to her from their trek through the woods earlier. One thing that was noticeable was the smell of the area. Being well-traveled, she had been to wet and swampy places, and while they were never the most pleasantly fragrant, they didn't smell like this. The scent coming from around her was that of rot and decay combined with something she had smelt before, What was it? Though some of the fauna lay dormant amid the winter, there were visible signs that the area had been dead for some time. With her eyes now adjusting to the dim lighting of the forest floor, streaks of black ichor stained the water and the plant life. It made a trail weaving through the terrain like a blackened vein.
Feeling compelled to follow the path set before her, she inhaled sharply at another surge of her mana as she staggered forward. She grasped at her chest, feeling as if her heart was going to burst. Again, her power roared forth as she decimated more of the land around her. Realizing that she was destroying her only lead, she tried to move when she could through the pain. The smoke rose high escaping the dense canopy and into the sky, making the bog even darker as it blotted out all the sunlight. It clung to its companion, flame, as it climbed its way slowly upwards. The magical fire burned incredibly hot, and nothing was spared from its cleansing light.
Keeping her eyes trained on the ground, the trail led her to another one of the large trees, but this one looked as if it had been hollowed out purposely at its base. The familiar vile scent from before was stronger there, and upon peeking into the dark void of the trunk, something peered back with reflective eyes. Darkspawn.
As she turned sideways to reach for a staff that was no longer there, she dodged a number of small spears that were thrown at her. They barely missed, and she quickly snapped a barrier around herself as she tried to find cover. She didn't get far before her mana responded to the threat with a vengeance pumping molten fire through her veins. Like a beacon in the night, the glow she gave off was substantial, illuminating the enemy before her. At least a dozen genlocks bellowed at her, baring their sharp goblin-like teeth. They adorned themselves in the bones and skins of the native wildlife, some of which glowed with their natural iridescence. As fearsome as they looked, The Phoenix with pulsating orange veins and aura looked like a wraith.
Standing out in the open, she was helpless as another searing wave began to consume her. It now manifested around her, burning the ends of the fur vest and boots. The lanolin on the sleeves of her white wool shirt resisted the flame, but the inferno was too hot, and it too succumbed to the flames. Her barrier suddenly broke, unable to withstand her own magic. Coarse ropes of vines looped around her arms and neck as the genlocks tried to capture their prey, but they too were reduced to ash. When a few didn't work, the monsters tried to bring her down using more ropes in a coordinated effort. Losing her balance as she tried to break the ones coiled around her throat, she fell hard on a thick root, as charcoal and embers shot into the air on impact.
When she found her footing once more, rising from the black cloud, her eyes were aglow and her wings spread slowly out menacingly. Then genlocks froze watching the flaming demon staring them down, but before they could make another move, she exploded. In the close proximity to the base of the dead hallow tree, the concussive force of the blaze shattered the tree toppling it. It creaked and groaned as it fell, taking everything in its path with it including the earth beneath her. Evelyn scrambled away, dodging the dirt-covered roots as they popped up. Plumes of thick black smoke billowed quickly skywards, as sunlight made it down to her. Overhead she saw flocks of birds fleeing the tops of the trees against the blue sky.
With the genlocks dead and burned, she peered down in their broken base realizing beneath the tree was a labyrinth leading deep down into the earth. The uprooted tree had collapsed the darkspawn's operation and a loud roar from below echoed up at the disturbance. Lights flickered to life from down in the depths and a low rumble began to crescendo. Something was running at her with a vengeance - no, not something, more darkspawn. The genlocks must've been a hunting party, feeding their hungry camp below them. The torch lights of the darkspawn snaked upwards to her with no end in sight, and in her volatile state, as powerful as it was, she didn't have the control or discipline to attempt to take on hundreds of the blighted creatures. Not to mention that she was alone.
Trying to scare them off she hurled fireballs from her hands down at them. They were not as large as the ones her staff could produce, but they could still do some damage. When another surge of power overtook her, she channeled it into one large ball of fire. It shot down like a missile from a trebuchet, taking out a number of them, but the flame was quickly put out as dozens more trampled it out with their feet.
Getting closer she looked around the now dimly lit bog for an escape. What caught her eye instead was the statue of Hakkon standing untouched by the destruction around it. The fire flickered it's light up on the misshaped face, making it look as if he was laughing at her. "Damn you, Hakkon!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. In answer, the eyes blinked red then shot a beam into her chest. Stumbling to the ground gasping for breath, she felt as if she was shot with an arrow, but instead of blood ebbing from her, it was her mana. Panic set in as the bright orange liquid coated her hands and dripped down her, "No, no, no!" There was a moment when she thought he was taking her magic from her in punishment until it soaked back into her skin.
Her hands suddenly turned into flame, keeping their form yet they were made of lava! The slow transformation began at her fingertips and toes, spreading upwards. Maker, I'm going to die! What do you do before you die?! A howl temporarily interrupted her spinning around to see that the darkspawn, made up of genlocks, hurlocks and ogres had finally made it to the surface, but it didn't matter, her body was slowly being consumed by her mana. The only thing she could be thankful for was the fact that her burning appendages just tingled. She supposed it was preferable to being tortured and eaten by the darkspawn… who were getting closer.
Looking behind her once more, she saw that the fallen tree had created a rough path out of the cursed bog. Her mind was still able to control the phantom limbs that were beginning to feel as if they had fallen asleep. As she climbed, she tried to throw a spell or two back to slow their advance but she couldn't. By the time she reached the snowy top exhaustion began to weigh heavy in her fiery limbs. She crawled from the ledge as they became too much. Looking at them she realized why, she was melting. Her body was turning to lava, melting away into the frozen forest floor.
Stopping, she could do nothing but watch herself sinking into a puddle. This is it. Maker, please watch over my family--, her eyes grew wide as she looked up to see another statue of Hakkon situated a few feet in front of her. "The fuck..."
His laugh entered her mind followed by his voice, Pray to me for strength Phoenix and I shall give it. She blinked a few times realizing that what he was asking was not as simple as that. The god was asking her to forsake her own religion to save her. Your Maker would see you burn like his bride, but I would have you live, and push you to become stronger. You have but to ask. The eyes began to glow red again as she considered. She didn't want to die, but for the entirety of her life, she had believed in the Maker's plan for her. Now she questioned it. Never before had He made his presence known as Hakkon had. Never had he directly reached out in her time of need to offer salvation. Never had she needed Him to give her a sign as today and yet He stayed silent.
Looking up pleadingly into the ghastly stone eyes of the Avvar god she spoke, "Lord Hakkon, I have been abandoned by the Maker and find myself in need of a stronger God. I bow before you, please lend me your strength that I may crush our enemies and live to help your people."
The red beam shot from the statue again circling her body and the unexpected happened. She had thought Hakkon would stop her transformation, but instead, he had only sped it up. She held her breath out of instinct as her body liquified and she collapsed into a pool of molten lava.
By this time the darkspawn had surrounded her looking curiously at where their quarry had disappeared to. After they began to meander back from whence they came, the Phoenix shot up in a fiery display of flame in its many forms. Her once light and fiery wings dripped weighed down by the magma. They fluttered unable to move with the grace they had, as if she were a bird stuck in a tar pit. Finding her footing on top of the lava, she flipped her molten hair back which dripped excessively. As her body cooled, a hardened black layer formed over her muscle looking as if it was armor. Every movement she made splashed the liquid fire outwards, making the enemy flinch back. Taking a moment to feel the new power that coursed through her she raised her hand to examine it. There was a mark slashed across the palm of her left hand. Even in her current form, it stood out from the rest of her pulsating red.
Ignoring it for the time being, she called forth her magic as it she was wielding her fire, but what manifested instead was a whip-like rope of magma that whirled around her, striking several darkspawn maliciously. As if cutting butter, their limbs fell severed from their bodies. The heat from the wound caught their skins and feathers on fire adding further insult to injury as they howled out in pain.
A volley of spears and arrows were slung at her, but a wall of volcanic slag curled up melting the missiles before she pushed it back at them. It crashed down upon them with such violence, the only thing that remained of them were the lumps of their melting bones. Undeterred by the death just delivered to their comrades, the genlocks and hurlocks swarmed her in force in steady numbers. Evelyn experimented with her new power bestowed upon her by the demon god, throwing fire, choking ash and smoke clouds all while hounding them with explosive magma waves.
When they got too close, she drew on the inspiration of her spirit blade, sculpting the marked hand into an obsidian blade. She had overheard in her studies in the Circle that obsidian, if crafted with great care, could make the sharpest edge of any known material, even metal. With a hard strike to the heated rock, the shine of the glassy edge flickered in the dim light. The smoke and ash from the burning forest below began to suffocate the upper forest, making the fiery form of the Phoenix all the more terrifying.
Lowering her glare on the enemy surrounding her, she gave a quick glance over to the stone effigy of Hakkon. Endure or perish. Wielding the razor edge of volcanic glass, her first lunge tore through the darkspawn with an unmatched fury she had yet encountered. She was fighting for something more now. Having been abandoned by her god and people, she realized the meaning behind Hakkon's words. If she had not been taken from her old life, she would've changed little and died in the Circle Tower, her spirit smothered by those who caged her. With the Avvar she could be free to be who she was and discover the nature of the power she was given and how to use it to the benefit of the Holds.
Right now, the first wrong she would right were the blighted creatures in front of her. Lunging, slashing and stabbing her way from the center pool in which she emerged, every step she took burned the earth; Every swipe of her arm sent a hot stream of lava causing collateral damage to those who dared to attack her. When one lucky hurlock's serrated blade found her middle, it merely melted in her core. Whipping her head around and finding the creature's neck, it burst into flame, screaming and wailing as it shook until death came.
Hours later, the force in which they came at her began to waver and soon trail off. Tiring herself, she put everything she had into eradicating the last of the darkspawn. Her mana began to cool and her bright core slowly cooled. One by one her limbs solidified back into human form, and the more skin she saw the weaker she felt from the experience. Collapsing down on her side, goosebumps pricked at her naked flesh as she hugged close to the warmth of the black earth. Her eyes roamed about the desolate woods to the smoky sky as embers drifted on the wind. The fires still raged but the Phoenix had been emptied of all emotion.
Impressive, Phoenix. Hakkon offered a final word as the Fade beckoned. She had cast out the Maker, having prayed to Hakkon Wintersbreath in her time of need and he answered. To add to it, she thought of the Thane and how annoyingly pleased he'd be to find out that Hakkon, not the Maker, had sent a sign and thus prove him right – The Maker could not enter the Basin.
***
All morning after breaking the fast, all through training and now during his council meeting, Cullen had an anxious twitch gnawing at him. The Phoenix had gone outside the walls with a small gathering party to help her connect with the gods. At first, he attributed it to believing she may run again, but he reassured himself that the people she was with could more than handle her if she tried anything… at least he hoped. There was so little he knew about her magic and abilities that he worried she was keeping that knowledge to herself purposely.
He knew Kitsa was out in the wilds after a hunting party recently found her latest kill. That should have also made him feel better, knowing their Hold Beast knew best how to control the mage. Korth willing, Kitsa was aware that she was beyond the walls and keeping an eye on them. Dhara had been instructed to guide the group along the eastern trail and not deviate in case, again, she decided to escape. At least they'd know where to start searching.
Yet, the nagging in his gut refused to relent.
"Leliana reports that Axlan is preparing the warriors. He's increased training and drilling and his hunting parties have been pushing the limits of his Hold's boundaries." Cassandra crossed her arms with a frown, not at all pleased at having to relay this particular bit of bad news seeing that he was already in a sour mood.
"Does she know his intended target?"
"She working on that, she believes--"
The doors of the Great Hall opened with a groan and the slight figure of Dhara stepped through… alone. "My Thane," her voice was raised in alarm as she ran to the groups huddled around the war table, "The Phoenix… she--"
"Godsdammit, I knew she'd run!" He ran a hand roughly through his hair and then down his face.
"No! No, no Thane it wasn't of her own will this time!" He stared at her wildly waiting for further explaination, "She inhaled the pollen of a Catasetum orchid, and disappeared shorty after. We haven't a sign of her since, so I thought it'd be best if we returned to get help."
He sighed, though he was still fighting his temper, "You did the right thing, Dhara. Rylen and Cassandra will take it from here." The young woman face was pale, but her cheeks and nose were rosy from the cold. Her eyes were wide and he hoped it was not because she had been afriad to tell him what had happened knowing how he would react. Ros was always warning him about his temper. The copper haired woman would be Augur one day, and she'd figure out his anger wasn't directed at her. Still, he evened his tone, "You'll need to show them where she disappeared at." She nodded her head with earnest, and all five of them exited the hall at a brisk pace as time worked against them.
"I will consult the spirits," Dusan broke away from the group first, striding purposefully away.
"Rylen, take the hunting party that was about to leave out with you, along with Dhara. See if you can pick up her trail. Cassandra and I will follow with the warriors." Rylen gave an 'aye' and jogged to the gates having received his orders.
As the two continued on towards the training grounds, Cassandra looked over at him wearily, "We'll find her, my Thane. She's as far from the other holds as she can be. She'd need magic to…" she trailed of as they shared a worried look.
"Let's hurry."
***
"Phoenix, can you hear me?"
Evelyn tried to sort reality from the Fade as she woke in an unfamiliar place. The air smelled heavier, denser as if she was near somewhere wet and boggy. There was a woman and a few others talking as she blinked a few times, but their features were cloaked in shadow as the fire's light glowed from behind. Her nostrils and throat burned as if they had been completely dried out. She picked her head up trying to say 'water,' and though she had to repeat herself a few times, finally someone understood and handed her a wooden cup of it. Small sips were all she could manage until her throat moistened again. Finishing the cup, she was able to coherently ask for more this time. Looking into the face of the woman who handed her the drink, she saw traces of flaked blue paint and immediately startled.
The fire shot high, frightening the women who backed up and gave her space. Evelyn's wide eyes frantically searched for the exit, spying it behind the three figures who held their arms out as if she was a cornered Mabari.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
"It's alright you're--"
"Answers, now!" she demanded, tired of never fully grasping what was going on since setting foot in the Basin.
The door behind them opened and yet another woman stepped in, but this time she recognized her as the bear-woman from the time of the attack on her camp. "I knew ye were awake when every fire in the Hold suddenly came to life on its on accord." Her rich accent rolled from her tounge gracefully as her small smile crinkled the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Relaxing ever so slightly, the Thane nodded her head in silent confirmation, "Aye, ye remember me alright. In case ye forgot, I'm Thane Svarah Sun-hair, welcome to Stone-Bear Hold, Phoenix."
"W-What I am doing here?"
"My hunters found ye unconcious in the middle of what used to be a forest and fields naked as the day ye were born. Whatever were yer doin' in there?"
Evelyn's eyes stared off into the memory of Hakkon and darkspawn she unleashed from the earth. She had survived which means she must've impressed the god enough for him to allow her to build safeguards back up around her power. But he had also done something to fundamentally change her mana. Since waking up she had felt off, like she needed to reacquaint herself with the feel of her magic. How was she going to explain this one? "Well, I was out helping Redhold's gathers and inhaled some toxic flower pollen. It sent me into the Fade, or something like it, and I…" she cringed, "spoke with Hakkon." The collective reaction was one of awe and shock rather than blatant dismissal, "H-He did something to me, causing my magic to become uncontrollable, then the darkspawn came..." The quiet wonder was palpable as she looked from woman to woman as they tried to process the tale.
"Gods…" was the only reaction uttered after a few minutes.
"It seems to me, Hakkon as bid you to come to us and for us to find ye. Redhold is a three-day journey from here, so there is no way ye could've made it here on your own in such good time without divine help." She felt an odd pang of longing to be back among familiar faces. The feeling made her hug herself and she looked down to see she wore a clean tunic and pants. "What were you doin' fightin' those blighted creatures? Are ye a Grey Warden, Phoenix?"
"No, I'm," she paused wondering what to say, "I'm just a mage."
Svarah scoffed, "That's not what the spirits be sayin' about you. Now, these ladies will get you bathed and fed, there is somethin' you need to see." She turned to the others, "Be quick about it, we don't have much daylight left." With that, the Thane left her at the mercy of the three strangers.
***
"We've looked everywhere, her trail has gone cold." Rylen's voice was that of absolute frustration, a feeling Cullen shared having looked all day for any sign of the Phoenix. The hunters and warriors had covered as much ground as possible in the time they had until sun began to set. Dhara had lead them to where she found the Catasetum bloom, and they even found her tracks leading a distance away before abruptly vanishing. Having no choice but to return to the Hold, he hoped that either Augur Dusan had answers or that Kitsa had found her.
When the gates opened, The Augur was already waiting for him. His face was long and grim, and Cullen knew whatever had happened it was not good. "Thane, you must come at once, " lifting a hand he waved at Dhara to join them, and the three began their trek to the Augur's hut. "The spirits have found her, but…"
"But?" He couldn't help the gravel in his tone.
"She's in another hold."
The Thane stopped dead in his tracks, looking over with slight panic, "Which one?" The aging Dusan, put a hand to his back to guide him the rest of the distance to the hut. When they entered the Hold Spirits were already assembled and waiting for him.
"There you are, Thane Rutherford. Sit."
"With respect, Spirits, I ask you be brief as time is short if we are to prepare to liberate our Phoenix."
"Sit," the elderly woman rasped. "You will stand down for the time being and not go after her."
His eyebrows and nose scrunched together in confusion, "What?!"
"Am I speaking Orlesian, boy?" She laughed, "You heard correctly, you will cease your search."
"Thane," the ancient man with the white beard now addressed him, "The Phoenix has begun fulfilling the prophecy. To interfere now could doom us all."
"Did you not say before that we needed to keep her within our Hold? I have been doing everything in my power to do just that, and gods know that woman has fought me tooth and nail no matter what I say," he could no longer keep the frustration of the past weeks to himself. He had villainized himself to the woman who recently poured her heart out to him as to how she felt about being his prisoner. She had made him feel like a callous bastard who didn't see her as a human being with feelings, but he ignored it having faith in the spirits and gods that it was his duty.
"We are well aware of the tumultuous nature of your relationship with the firebird," the younger woman purred at him. Her spectral eyes were part pity and part amusement. There was very little that happened within the confines of the Hold walls that went unseen by the spirits. It was something that when he became Thane he had to get used to. After eight years, he was well used to having little privacy, and even less so with Dusan and Dhara present. Though sworn to the secrecy of what is said during the council with the spirits, the presence of Dusan and Dhara during conversations of a very personal nature never stopped the heat from rising to his face.
It had been awhile since his relationship with a woman had been discussed, the last time being about his second wife four years ago. Afterwards, he respectfully asked that they not bring up his marital situation anymore. But when the prophecy had been foretold, the subject had been broached again.
"If you'd prefer, your Master of the Hunt could claim her," he sighed at the rehashing of the conversation with her. The long-haired spirit they had long associated with the aspect of love. Each spirit had an trait, some attribute which made them more in tune with some clan matters over others. "But that would mean the end to your Thaneship." He looked up in pain at her words, "She carries with her great influence, which will only grow as she completes the prophecy. If she is to call Redhold her home, she will guide the people alongside its Thane. That doesn't mean the Thane has to be you, however."
This revelation was like a punch to his gut. After the unexpected death of the last Thane, his father, and his becoming the new Thane, he had promised to continue his legacy. For years all he's had as an companion was his duty. He devoted himself solely to his people. After the loss he had suffered, he couldn't condemn another to suffer his curse. It would seem though, now the spirit had presented him with an ultimatum, marry or lose the Thaneship - no, marry The Phoenix or lose the Thaneship.
Cullen pinched the bridge of his nose letting out an exasperated sigh. "Thane," he looked to the young women's soft words, "I know what troubles you, but I assure you The Phoenix is already cursed by her magic. Whatever curse you believe you carry may not be able to touch her. Even now her magic threatens to consume her, but she is strong."
"What do you mean it's threatening her now?" His voice echoed through the hut. He couldn't help but refocus the conversation back to the immediate problem, "Where is she?"
Wisdom spoke up again, "Stone-bear Hold, Thane."
"How? She's only been missing for a few hours? Stone-bear Hold is a three day trek?!"
"T'was Hakkon's doing." All three paled, even Dusan, having heard the news already. "He used her vulnerable state to cross her into the Realm of Dreams. What happened there we do not know, Hakkon hid her from us, but when she emerged, she was leagues away and on fire."
"On fire?" Dhara's voice was a whisper of awe. It had not gotten past him the way the young mage revered the gods chosen one. Even if mages were not as persecuted among the Avvar as they were by the rest of Thedas, they were still viewed as odd due to the fact that most didn't understand their nature. Cullen's mother had been a mage, a gifted healer in fact, so he had a better sense as to the quirks most people labeled as strange or unnatural. She had the uncanny knack of showing up when she was needed, often before anyone knew they needed her.
"Hakkon's interference will have repercussions, but as to what they are, not even He knows."
The longer she remained in the Basin, the more complicated things became. Cullen sighed having grown tired of doing nothing despite being advised to do so, "Regardless, you say I should do nothing, but I find myself in disagreement. Surely there is some measure of action we can take to retrieve her?"
The large bearded warrior floated forth from the right, "Tomorrow at first light, take a some men and camp in the wilds of the disputed territory, just outside of Stone-bear's claim. Let your quarry come to you."
***
Svarah led her through the dense wilderness that made up southern part of her territory. The longer they walked, the more barren the land became even by winter's standard. Everything just looked dead and dry, even the usually hardy coniferous trees. Slowly the gray trees showed charring along their trunks growing thicker and blacker as they approached the source of what had clearly been a large fire. Evelyn swallowed hard in anticipation of seeing the extent of the damaged she had caused.
Ahead were a few of her men, carefully inspecting what looked like a small eruption from the earth. The cooled magma that had risen up from a hole had cooled enough for them to stand on it.
"There," the Thane's voice jolted her from the memory of recent events, "look at that." Amidst the blacken landscape stood at least a hundred of small fragile sprouts of life. "This land had been devoid of greenery for some time now, but ye brought it back. It's a miracle!" It was indeed for she struggled to rationally explain anything that had happened that day. "The men here say this is buckwheat," she said bending a knee to gently cup one of the seedlings, "years ago after the Blight had ended, this had been a field, but it became fallow. We had let the forest reclaim it but the land never healed, until now that is."
Both women stared at each other shaking their head in wonder. Evelyn smoothed back her braided hair at a loss for words. She had fought darkspawn in the past, and had always burnt the bodies after the battle for fear of blight sickness. Was it possible the creatures had contaminated the land and thus the wildlife?
"Thane," she said thoughtfully, "do you know any Grey Wardens? I think perhaps the darkspawn are the ones making the land sick. And if they are, then anything that eats or drinks from the land will fall ill too. This could be why there's no game to be had."
Svarah face lit up in understanding and she paced nodding her head, "Aye, that would certainly explain it. Not sure how we didn't see it before. I don't know of any Wardens here in the Basin. The dwarves may know of one, the Wardens often go to the Deep Roads. There is a nearby Thaig, though to get to it, it's quite a journey. One I think you may not be ready for quite yet." She was right, Evelyn had not yet recovered from the ordeal and needed at least a day or two to rest.
She sighed, "No, you're right. I would be grateful Thane Svarah if you would allow me to impose on your hospitality for a day or two?"
"You may stay as long as you wish, Phoenix," she eyed her causiously, making Evelyn weary of what this extended stay in her Hold may mean, "It was not an idle jest that the young thane pups do not know how to treat a woman. Trust me when I say they are more interested in posturing than yer wellbeing." Evelyn accidentally gave a knowing look, having sensed some kind of deep feud between the two young Thanes. When Svarah returned the same expression back with a smile, she couldn't help but hear Mia's words, And don't let that wench Svarah Sun-hair fool you, she would use you as a brood mare and re-strengthen her Hold. Would this Thane try and manipulate her into staying? And what happens if she fails, will she use force? Only one thing was certain, the next few days in Stone-bear Hold was bound to be interesting.