Prelude
Fenris arrived in the alienage with trepidation. He hated alienages, the elves there as much slaves to their poverty as the elves in Tevinter were slaves in reality. He quickly made his way to Merrill’s home, ignoring the greetings from other elves as he passed. He’d rushed here on Merrill’s request, fearing there was something wrong with Hawke.
Knocking on Merrill’s door, he slipped quickly inside as soon as the door was opened. Once inside the dark dwelling he noted that Anders stood on the opposite side of the room, apparently also summoned by the Dalish elf.
“Oh good, now that you’re both here, we can begin,” Merrill chirped happily.
“Wait, why were we summoned? Is Hawke in trouble?” Fenris growled.
“Oh, no. Hawke is fine. This isn’t about Hawke,” Merrill said with a blush.
“What is this about then?” Anders spoke up. “I really prefer not to spend more time in the proximity of this prickly, mage-hating elf than absolutely necessary.”
“If this isn’t about Hawke, then no worries, mage. I’ll be leaving now,” Fenris grumbled.
“Oh! No! You can’t go yet Fenris, please,” Merrill pleaded. “I need help from both of you or this just won’t work. Please stay and let me explain.”
Fenris hesitated but then silently nodded. If Hawke wasn’t so fond of this blood mage he wouldn’t hesitate to leave, but he hated to disappoint Hawke by not helping his friend.
“Oh good! Thank you Fenris, and thank you Anders. I really don’t think I can do this without both of you,” Merrill began. “Do you remember, a few weeks ago when you were both here, with Hawke and Aveline, and you both began to argue like you always do? Then it escalated and Justice tried to attack you Fenris, and you activated your lyrium ghost abilities in defense?”
“Yes, I remember that quite clearly, stop babbling and get to the point,” Fenris growled.
“Oh yes, sorry. I know I babble. So sorry. Anyway that night I noticed the Eluvian I’ve been trying to restore react when you were both glowing. I … I would like your help to see if your combined Fade energies can maybe help me restore it. I would be ever so grateful if you both could help me, please,” Merrill pleaded. “I know neither of you like me very much, but this could mean a lot to the elven people. Please.”
Anders looked at the blood mage suspiciously. If he and Fenris had anything at all in common, it was their mutual distrust for the Dalish blood mage. “What exactly do you want us to do?”
“Oh, it’s simple really. Just go all glowy and touch the Eluvian. I want to see if that will help activate it again. Please?” Merrill said hopefully.
Fenris and Anders knew that nothing Merrill had tried so far had worked to activate the Eluvian, and they were both fairly certain it would never work. If they refused to help Merrill they were certain she’d go crying to Hawke and he’d lecture them, again, about being nicer to her.
Anders sighed. “Alright, fine. Justice doesn’t think this is such a good idea, but I doubt this will do anything. Fenris, what do you think?”
Fenris scowled but reluctantly agreed. “I’ll activate my brands and touch the blasted mirror if it will keep you from running off and crying to Hawke about us again.”
“Oh, thank you! You don’t know how much this means to me.” Merrill squeaked with gratitude. “Alright well there is not much needed to prepare. I suggest you both put down your weapons, as their magic may interfere with this, and Fenris please remove your gauntlets. I feel it has a better chance of success if you touch with your fingers directly.”
Anders nodded to Fenris and they both did as Merrill asked, leaning their weapons up against the wall away from the Eluvian, and then Fenris removed his gauntlets. Then they approached the Eluvian, and Anders allowed Justice to come to the forefront, his eyes glowing blue and blue cracks appearing under his skin.
“THIS IS FOOLISH. WE ARE DEALING WITH VERY OLD, DANGEROUS MAGIC,” Justice said, staring at Merrill.
“Oh yes, I know it is old magic, but I think it would greatly benefit the elven people. Please Justice, I really need to restore this Eluvian. Please?!” Merrill pleaded again.
“YOU ARE A FOOL ELF, BUT ANDERS AGREED. HE FEELS HE SHOULD TRY TO HELP. I WILL NOT MAKE HIM GO BACK ON HIS PROMISE.” Justice surprisingly agreed.
Looking warily at Justice, Fenris activated his brands, phasing into his lyrium ghost state. He and Justice approached the Eluvian and the mirrored surface began to react to their combined Fade energies, swirling patterns across the surface of the mirror.
“Oh, it’s working! Please, please touch it. I hope that will permanently restore it.” Merrill squeaked in excitement.
Justice and Fenris reached out their hands simultaneously, their fingers touching the surface of the Eluvian. As soon as their fingers brushed past the mirrored surface, they both knew something was horribly wrong, but before either one of them could react they felt themselves pulled forward, being sucked into the Eluvian by some strong, magical force.
The last thing either of them heard before being pulled in completely was Merrill’s scream.
***
Anders felt like he was being torn apart from the inside. He screamed silently in the swirling mists, his arms and legs flailing for purchase with something, anything, falling for what seemed like an eternity.
***
Fenris’ entire body felt like it was on fire. He hadn’t felt pain like this since the ritual that had branded the lyrium into his skin all those years ago. The pain continued to intensify until the warrior could take no more and mercifully blacked out.
***
Anders and Fenris awoke next to each other, both still wracked with pain. Anders slowly brought himself into a sitting position, looking around. They were no longer in Merrill’s alienage hovel. It was night, and they were surrounded by trees, lying on damp grass. Overhead the sky seemed to strangely glow and in the distance he heard strange sounds.
“Where in Thedas are we?” Anders groaned, mostly to himself.
