Prologue: Return

It was over. The Darkspawn Magister Corypheus was finally dead, torn apart by the rift opened by Inquisitor Lara Lavellan; clad in her black Warden Mage armor and Inquisitorial Helm forged of dragon bone; atop the floating ruins of the Temple of Sacred Ashes. But unlike the rest of the Inquisition, Lara was not celebrating the grand victory. No, her glowing emerald eyes; a side effect of a mage as powerful as herself physically entering the Fade not once, but twice; focused on the pile of rubble far below, where the Guardian of Mythal lay gravely injured after her battle with Corypheus's Red Lyrium Dragon. Her. Yes, the dragon was female, and Lara could feel everything the poor beast was feeling. The pain from the shattered bones, torn flesh and ripped muscle rippled through Dragon and Elf as though they were one.

She didn't stop to think, didn't inform anyone of her plan, Lara simply acted. The Mage surged forward, ignoring her lover Cassandra's cry for her to stop as the Inquisitor leapt from the edge of the ruins as they slowly floated down to rest in their original positions. Lara pushed through the soldiers between her and the Guardian. A small voice whispered in the back of her mind.

'Help…scared…don't want to die…' the voice whimpered, sounding like a scared child the whole while. A strong hand latched onto Lara's arm with an iron grip and Dorian's musical voice broke through to the elf.

"Lara, stop! Where are you going?" asked the Tevinter, his usual jovial tone nowhere to be found. In an instant, Lara snapped to him, her magic flaring as her fear and anger surge. Her emerald eyes glow brighter until they are engulfed in magical flames.

"Let go of me, Dorian! Right this instant, I can't just stand here and let her die after she fought for us!" screamed Lara as she pulled against his surprisingly strong grip. The Tevinter mage held tight, brow furrowed in confusion at the Inquisitor's outburst. It simply wasn't her. Everyone in Lara's inner circle knew her as a calm, collected young elf woman who almost never lost her temper with her friends. Now she was snapping at him like a cornered animal while trying to aid a dragon of all things? She had killed nearly twenty different dragons since the Inquisition had come together, and not once had she acted like this. The flamboyant man shook his head as the rest of Lavellan's friends caught up to the pair. Before anyone can so much as open their mouths, Lara's magic surged once more, emerald lightning sparking off her body and striking Dorian in the chest, flinging him several meters before he slid to a stop, robes smoking from the electrical discharge.

The crack of thunder snapped Lara out of her irrational rage in an instant and the flames in her eyes dim until they are nothing more than glowing emerald orbs once more, the anger that filled them a moment before replaced by worry and regret. Her mouth opened and closed rapidly, looking quite the part of a fish out of water as she attempted to apologize.

"Oh Creators! I-I'm so sorry Dorian, I-I didn't mean to do that!" she stuttered as tears well up in her eyes, Cassandra moving to wrap the petite elf in a compassionate hug, whispering consoling words in her lover's pointed ear. The Tevinter let loose a groan as he pushed himself into a upright position, The Iron Bull and Thom Rainer; Formerly Grey Warden Blackwall; moving to help the mage to his feet. Dorian gave the elf woman a brilliant, if slightly pained smile to reassure her. "Not to worry, my dear. I'm perfectly alright, just a little cooked is all." he joked, bringing a watery smile to the elf's face. "Now, do try and explain why you're so concern about the dragon. Unless I'm mistaken, which I never am, you've killed nearly twenty dragons already. Why does this one worry you so much?" the mage asked, face set in a concerned, but compassionate smile.

Lara sniffled for a moment before gently pulling away from Cassandra, her emerald eyes turning to the fallen dragon even as she moved toward the beast. Kneeling by the fire-breathing reptile's head, she stared into the Guardian of Mythal's beautiful amber eyes. "I don't know how…but I can feel her pain, her fear." Lavellan turned her watery eyes toward her friends, her tattooed face scrunched up in sorrow as the magnificent beast focused on her. "I can feel it all as though it were my own pain, my own fear. She's so scared…" Tears drop from the elf's face as she locked eyes with the massive reptile. Her friends turn to one another behind her, concern and confusion evident on their faces.

Cassandra stood just behind her lover, worry etched into her scarred face. She had never seen Lara so…broken over anything. Not when she was accused of murdering Divine Justinia, not when she had returned from that twisted future at Redcliffe, and not when Warden Stroud had sacrificed himself to save her and Lilith Hawke from the Nightmare Demon at Adamant Keep. At all times, she had been an anchor for the people, soldier and civilian alike, pushing forward no matter the risk, focused only on getting as many as she could home safely. And now here she was, crying like a frightened child over a wounded, dying dragon.

So lost in their own thoughts were they that none of them noticed Lara stretching her Marked hand toward the golden-green beast. None of the mages present noticed the magical energy swirling around their leader. None of the rogues acknowledged the instinct that something serious was happening until it was to late. Lara's hand pressed against the Guardian's armored forehead and…

"AAAAAAGH!" screamed the elf woman, her body stiffening as the feeling of ice and lightning surged through her veins as her magic surged in time with the dragon's, magical energy swirling around the two. Her scream shocked her friends into action in an instant. Dorian, Solas and Vivienne blasting the swirling magic in an attempt to shatter whatever spell was affecting the Inquisitor. Varric, Cole, and Sera using their enchanted bows and daggers to try and cut their way to Lara. Cassandra, Thom and Iron Bull struck at the magic with every iota of strength and ant-magical ability they possessed as the spell began to reach its peak.

Cassandra used every Templar technique in her arsenal as her fear rose with each pulse of the magic surrounding her love. Nothing worked and the spell only increased in strength until finally, for a split second, everything stilled. Cassandra stared for a moment before her eyes widened in both confusion and fear. Lara's necklace had begun to glow. That simple piece of jewelry was the only thing Lara had left of her mother, and it was glowing with golden light. There was a clap of thunder as the light blinded them all. By the time the light faded, both Lara and the Dragon were nowhere to be seen…

Light filtered through the trees overhead, shining brightly for the young elf girl to wonder at as she lay in her crib, her dark red hair spread out over her mattress as her emerald eyes flit from one leaf to another. A song floated through the air as her mother entered the room, her beautiful voice making the child giggle and smile at her mother's music.

Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby

Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay

And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow

Bless you with love for the road that you go

May you sail far to the far fields of fortune

With diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet

And may you need never to banish misfortune

May you find kindness in all that you meet

Her mother stopped by her crib, smiling down at her beautiful daughter as she continued to sing the lullaby.

May there always be angels to watch over you

To guide you each step of the way

To guard you and keep you safe from all harm

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

May you bring love and may you bring happiness

Be loved in return to the end of your days

Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you

I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay

May there always be angels to watch over you

To guide you each step of the way

To guard you and keep you safe from all harm

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay...

Her mother's head rested on her arms upon the rail of her crib, raven locks floating down over her arms, emerald eyes filled with joy as her youngest daughter smiled up at her with her currently toothless mouth. "Gah!" said the baby excitedly as she waved her arms haphazardly, attempting to catch her mother's long black hair. Her mother smiled lovingly as she reached down and brushed a few locks of dark red hair out of her daughter's face as even then the girl's brilliant green eyes began to drift shut from the lullaby. Just before it all goes black, the infant hears her mother's beautiful voice say quietly "Sleep well, little Lara."

((AN: Song is called Sleepsong by Secret Garden. Reviews galore please! Just try not to be rude when you do. thank i hope you enjoyed this chapter))