For DWC, from the Senses 2 prompt list: "6. The sight of something you lost, returned."
Some more tamlen Angst for @dadrunkwriting . this time a snippet of a fic i plan to write at some point.
setting: Temple of Sacred Ashes, approximately one week before this prompt fill
Pairing: Ciara MaharielxTamlen
Word count: 614
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Ciara watched as the last of the wisps flew into the doorway, allowing it to open and revealing someone waiting for them once more, though not the same Guardian as before. She was ready for whichever test came next. She took a deep breath and walked towards the figure which came into focus as she crossed the threshold. She could make out from the back that it was an elf this time. The armor was of Dalish make. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, so far all of the spirits they encountered were connected to Andraste; yet, as far as she knew no Dalish elf had a place in Andraste’s tale.
“It is so good to see you again, lethallan.” The figured spoke with a voice that brought Ciara to tears just hearing it. She found herself shaking when the elf turned around and revealed himself to be Tamlen. What in the creators name was going on here? This could not be Tamlen. Tamlen was dead. She knew that when she saw the ghouls in the deep roads despite her never finding his body. But yet. Her heart wanted it to be him so badly. She felt a yearning to step forward and hug him, to hold him once more; to at least let him know how badly she missed him and how she tried to continue the search despite the knowledge that this couldn't be true.
“Tamlen!” her voice trembled with relief as she stepped closer to the elf. “Tamlen you have no idea-” her voice broke as she went to hug him. Though when she tried to wrap her arms around his form, she found that they merely passed through him; as though he were a spirit with no corporeal form. The tears fell from her eyes as she buried them in her hands and sobbed. She knew it was too good to be true. She had accepted his death. As it was still a far better fate than that which had befallen Ruck and Hespith, but still part of her wanted it to be possible for him to be alive. “What are you demon?!”
“Some things lost can never be found, vhenan. Some mistakes can never be unmade.” The figure spoke sadly as Ciara lowered her hands and looked up at the being, tears still flowing from her eyes. “You have suffered enough, thinking there was something you could have done to save me. Those that survive must go on living.” He then placed a small necklace in her hand. “Take this as a token of my love, it is nothing when compared to the crafts of our forefathers but I know it would mean more than anything in this world . . . We will not meet again.” The spirit faded away.
Ciara wasn't sure how long she stood there in silent tears replaying his words in her mind and staring at the necklace in her hands and tracing the wooden animals with her fingers as she fought back the tears. The necklace was one he had given her when they were young, before they even went on their first hunt together, as a token of friendship. She thought about everything she had been through up to this point. All the friends she had made, the laughs she had shared with her companions. She realized how wrong she had been to judge humans at first. She was making a mistake. She couldn’t defile the ashes now.
Yet part of her felt relief at the words the spirit spoke. She could let go of the pain and uncertainty of what happened to him.
After several months of grief and denial, she could finally heal.
