An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 3/?
Fandom: Dragon Age (Video Games), Dragon Age - All Media Types, Dragon Age: Origins
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Alistair/Female Mahariel
Additional Tags: Mild Sexual Content, might become explicit sexual content, Novelization, zevran/warden in later chapters
Series: Part 3 of On the Warden-Commander Vie Mahariel
Summary:
Vie Mahariel is without her friends and family, and she is expected to fight in a war alongside humans. She has to gather an army, learn about the world of humans, play the game of politics, and most importantly, find her first love, Tamlen. But what of her shared destiny with fellow Grey Warden Alistair? And her deep bond with the assassin Zevran? Who exactly is Vie Mahariel in this larger, more chaotic world?
Alistair has finally found his place in the world, only for the world to crumble under his feet. As the Blight encroaches, he is forced to come to terms with who he is, and, ready or not, he must choose who he will become.
Zevran Arainai of the Antivan Crows expects nothing and takes whatever the day gives him. When he thought he'd get nothing more from life, his mark unexpectedly offers him the world.
Leliana chose a peaceful path, yet the world is wild and dangerous and beautiful. It is this world that her vision leads her to. A road of adventure, friendship, righteousness, and blood.
Morrigan has known the dark side of life since she was a girl, but only now will she know freedom. What will she do with it? And what is she willing to do to keep it?
“How dare you.” Mahariel’s voice was low, clear, louder than Alistair had ever heard it before. It trembled with restrained anger. “You could have sworn him to secrecy!”
Duncan sheathed his blade, calmly turning to the last recruit. This was it. If Mahariel didn’t survive, well, not only will Alistair have nightmares of this very night, the Wardens and the King’s army would also lose three highly skilled fighters. Well, they already lost two.
Duncan sighed, broad chest caving. “Like I told you once in that cave: we do what we must. It brings me no pleasure to end his life. The Blight demands sacrifices from us all. But the Joining is not yet over.”
Duncan held the simple bronze chalice to Mahariel, who glared at it. Her eyes landed on Ser Jory, then on Daveth. “He was a knight,” she said. “His honour would have bound him to the secret.”
“And it would haunt him as a warrior, that he could not commit his life in fighting the darkspawn.”
Eyes wide and glistening, Mahariel turned to Alistair. How he wished he had the words to calm her, or at least alleviate her anger toward Duncan. But all he could say was, “I’m sorry.”
“His wife is pregnant, wasn’t she?”
“Yes,” Alistair and Duncan said at the same time. Maker, that poor woman and child. Alistair shifted from foot to foot.
With a scoff, Mahariel grabbed the cup from Duncan and brought the rim to her lips. She swallowed once, gagged, then slapped a hand over her mouth, the dark potion dribbled over her fingers. Alistair coughed, as though the rust and burn of the potion sizzled on his tongue again. The cup cluttered to the marble floor as Mahariel fell to her knees. Like Daveth had. Alistair shot Duncan a look, which the latter replied with a jerk of his chin.
Mahariel heaved on the ground, back jerking as her body tried to expel the blood she drank, her full weight supported by trembling forearms. Her shoulders shook, hands balled into fists. Alistair heard the intake of breath, sudden and deep, then a scream cracked his skull. Wrath. Grief. Pain. All three drummed at his chest, paralyzed him. Mahariel’s cry rang in his ears, choked his own voice. Then instead of Mahariel’s writhing figure, Drummond was in front of him again, choking and crying blood. Nails peeling from fingertips as they clawed bricks. Gasps and curses came from four other recruits even as the Warden Riordan offered a prayer for the warrior.
Then silence. Alistair shook his head, gulped chilly air. Mahariel collapsed on her side, blue light escaping underneath her eyelashes. Duncan and Alistair ran to her, eased her on her back. Air wheezed in her throat, but her chest rose and fell.
