Solona of the Grey: Sensational Solona part 2
Chapter 1: Taking Command
Regret.
It was one of the words that Solona Amell, mage, Grey Warden, Blight Queller, Hero of Ferelden, and far too many other titles tried to avoid.
Regret was a poison; it got into your soul and leeched all life out of you if you let it. Solona made no apologies, what she had done during the Blight had been necessary, acts that many would consider treacherous, cruel, or evil had all been necessary in bringing the Archdemon and its darkspawn horde to heel last year.
No…Solona would not let regret touch her, she had no regrets…
No regrets…save one.
Lucian.
The warden mage tensed, she…she missed her son, her beautiful baby boy. It had been the right decision leaving him with his father Alistair, and his new wife Elissa, but part of Solona still hated herself for it.
A hole had formed in her heart, she…she missed Lucian so much!
She would not be there, she could not be there. What if Lucian got sick? What if he needed a healer? What if he was attacked by darkspawn? So many 'what ifs' bounced through h the mages head these days, far too many.
"Lona, are you all right my dear warden?"
The warden mage managed a weak smile, she tried to put a brave face on around Zevran, but sadly he had come to know her quite well over the last year. He was the last of her companions, the only one who had not left her, she was grateful for his company, even though he did know her a bit too well.
"I'm fine Zev, honest," she said sheepishly, "You have no reason to worry about me."
The Antivan elf frowned, he could see more than clearly through her bullshit.
Damn.
He sees me as a person, not some damn legend, Solona thought with a scowl, though refreshing it was a little too intimate for her tastes.
Solona was trying to shy away from intimacy at the moment, at least until she had managed to deal with her feelings over losing her son.
They were quite the odd couple, Solona, though pretty was terribly bookish. Her pale skin, short black hair, and sky-blue eyes were attractive she supposed, and her battle hardened body was quite toned after a year of warfare. The only thing marring her looks was a long blade scar running down the left side of her face, the injury had cost her the use of left eye, but her now enchanted dwarven spectacles helped to compensate for that, it allowed her dead left eye to see. She did not seem like the type to travel with a man like Zevran Aranai
Her dear friend, Zev.
Zevran was handsome, his blonde hair and bronzed muscular body made women, and even some men, swoon. An assassin, and former member of the legendary Antivan Crows, Zevran had first made her acquaintance when he had failed to kill her early last winter. During the course of her journeys to stop the Blight Zevran had been a useful sounding board when she was troubled. Unlike some of her companions, he never judged her for making the hard decisions. As an assassin, he had always understood that things occasionally got…messy.
He had not left her side…not once. He even held her hand as she gave birth to her son. They were close, perhaps a bit too close. Zev loved his freedom, and Solona was not ready for any kind of relationship at the moment. Though…she could not deny that she felt…stirrings towards her elven companion.
No…she would not do that to him, she would not use him for casual sex…no matter how much they would likely both enjoy it.
No…she needed to stay focused. She had been charged with rebuilding the Grey Wardens of Ferelden and that is what she intended to do.
Her emotions could wait.
A cold winter rain gripped the Arling of Amaranthine, Solona and Zev made their way down the Pilgrim's Path from Denerim. It could be worse, Solona supposed, it could have been snowing. Soon they would reach Vigil's Keep, once it was the home of the treacherous Arl Rendon Howe, an enemy of Solona's during the Blight, but now it was property of the Grey Wardens, the legendary enemies of darkspawn and the forces of darkness.
It was from here that Solona would begin the process of rebuilding the order…Andraste guide her. She the Grey Warden Solona, the new Commander of the Grey of Ferelden.
The female knight that accompanied them, kept shooting glances her way. Solona rolled her eyes, damn hero worship. Few understood what her victory over the Blight had cost the warden mage; few would want to pay such a price themselves.
Solona sighed, it was just something that she would have to learn to deal with, few people understood the basic truth about her.
Solona was many things; a hero was not one of them.
IOI
Mhari was trying very hard not to stare.
When lieutenant Keenan had told her she was going to be escorting the Commander up from Denerim she had almost died. She was going to meet the Commander, the legendary Solona Amell.
Was there anyone in Ferelden who did not know of the mage's brave deeds? How she had risen from nothing to a national hero. Few could claim such a rise, such accolades.
Mhari tried to remain calm, the Commander was just a woman after all…and once Mhari had taken her joining, she would be her commanding officer.
She wanted so much to make a good impression.
As the Vigil came within sight, the knight noticed something amiss. She brought their horses to a stop.
"Problem," the Commander asked her?
"No…I mean I'm not sure I," Mhari cursed under her breath, so much for making a good first impression, "what is going on, why are there no wardens to meet us?"
The Commander paused; she closed her eyes, tilting her head forward slightly, almost as if she was reaching out with her mind…
When her eyes opened they were cold.
"Draw your weapons," the Commander hissed.
Mhari obeyed, that elf travelling with them did so as well. What could possibly be…?
A scream interrupted the knight's thoughts. A man came running down the road behind him were four genlock warriors.
The Commander grimaced, the darkspawn were here, and they were attacking.
She flung out her hand, freezing two of the blighters solid, the third she took with a single swipe of her bladed staff. Mhari engaged the fourth; striking him down before he could escape.
The Commander nodded to her, Mhari felt…warm, to be complimented by a living legend, it was almost too good to be true.
"Nice sword work," the Commander smiled, "You're not just a guide are you?"
"No Commander, my name is Mhari, I was a knight in the King's service, I was recruited a few weeks ago, but have not taken my joining yet."
The warden mage nodded, she should have guessed, the wardens recruited only the best.
Sadly they had no time for warm praises; they still had a situation to deal with.
Once they had assured the man's safety he told them all he knew. Somehow the darkspawn had breached the keep; they had achieved complete surprise and had killed many of the soldiers before they had even realized they were under attack.
Mhari winced, she had come to know many of these men over the last few weeks, how could the darkspawn have surprised them so completely?
The Commander growled low in the back of her throat, even Mhari found herself intimidated.
"Zev get this man out of here," she ordered the elf, "find a patrol if you can."
"Of course Lona," he said with a nod, "but what are you going to do?"
"What I do best Zev," the Commander smiled wolfishly, she turned to Mhari, "Come along recruit, we have darkspawn to kill."
Mhari nodded curtly, these evil bastards would not get away with this.
They would see to it.
IOI
Warrior and mage moved as one, darkspawn emerged from everywhere, the man on the road had not been lying, the keep had been completely overwhelmed.
Solona shook her head; the darkspawn should not have been able to do this. The Archdemon was dead, this kind of organization was only possible during a Blight, without one, the darkspawn should just be a pack of mindless rabble.
It was just another mystery, one of many that the warden mage would have to solve. Sadly, she drew some measure of comfort from the chaos.
This…this she was trained for.
Mhari was a little over eager, but that was no fault, the female knight would need courage if she was going to survive the night.
An ogre came charging across the Vigil's courtyard, Solona burned it with a jet of magical flame, Mhari followed up by leaping onto the beast's chest, the creature fell, stunned. The knight drove her blade into its head before it could recover.
The warden mage nodded, the girl definitely had the skill to do the job.
They made their way up the main stairwell, there was a small guard post located here, along with several cells for holding prisoners that were awaiting transfer to Denerim. With luck some of the guard had survived the initial assault.
Solona did not get her hopes up; she could already sense darkspawn within, and…and…
Magic?
Solona kicked down the door, a lone mage stood alone against several hurlock warriors, around him lay the bodies of several Templars, the chantry's soldiers it seemed had been no match for the creatures.
Solona found her eyes drawn to the mage. He looked familiar to her, dandy blue robes, blonde hair pulled back into a tight pony-tail, with a single ear-ring with one ear. A coat with feathered pauldrons adorned his shoulders.
She had seen those robes before.
The mage gestured, a jet of flame burst from his fingertips, the darkspawn squealed as they were burned alive, finally the creatures collapsed.
The mage blew off his fingers, putting out the final sparks of flame there. He turned to face Solona, she gasped…
No…no it could not be!
"Um…I didn't do it," the mage Anders said with a shrug.
Fury flashed in Solona's eyes, "You," she hissed.
"I'm sorry good woman," Anders said pleasantly, "Do I know you, I'm certain I would remember such a…"
Solona charged, the blade of her staff pinning the larger man against the bars of his cell, he gulped loudly.
"YOU," Solona spat, "You nearly drowned me! Tossed me into Lake Calenhad and stole my staff!"
Anders gave her a puzzled look, "Drowned you, but I have never…" suddenly recognition flashed in his eyes, "Oh…oh, it is you, that mage girl that left with the Grey Warden, Sylvia was it?"
"Solona," the warden mage growled.
"Of Course," Anders said jovially, at least as jovially as one could say with a blade being held to his throat, "I believe I apologized once for your impromptu bath, and as for the staff, I needed it at the time. I thank you for the loan of it."
Solona growled; part of her wanted to burn Anders to ash, the other part wanted to drown him in Lake Calenhad.
"You are certainly a bit more violent than last we met," Anders said conversationally.
Mhari frowned.
"You are addressing the Hero of Ferelden churl," Mhari growled, "Show some respect."
"My apologies," the blonde haired mage shrugged.
"What are you doing here Anders," She hissed.
"Well," he smiled, "for the moment I'm being held at blade point by a beautiful woman, before that I was being transported back to the tower by these Templars here. Sadly the darkspawn have now killed them haven't they?"
Solona snorted, "I'm sure your broken up over it."
"Moved to tears," Anders smirked, "I'll have to send wreaths to their families."
"We don't have time for this Commander," Mhari reminded her, "There have to still be survivors in here somewhere."
Despite her anger, Solona nodded, she didn't have time to deal with Anders right now.
"You know this could work out for both of us," Anders smiled, "here you are in need of help, and here I am looking to get out of here. Could be a sign yes? The Maker moves in mysterious ways."
Solona released him, "You would come with us, you would help us?"
"I have no love for these things," Anders said nudging the burned remains of a hurlock, he wrinkled his nose in distaste, "I'll help you deal with these things, and later you can decide what to do with me…well later."
He stuck out his hand, expecting her to shake it.
Solona frowned, she still remembered the cold knives of Lake Calenhad biting into her sides, still Anders had a point, it would be nice to have a little back up here.
It seemed she had little choice.
"Very well then," she growled, "come on then if you are coming."
She stalked away from him, ignoring his outstretched hand.
Anders snorted; he shot Mhari a look, "Who does she think she is commanding me like that?"
"She is the Commander," Mhari reminded him, following after Solona.
"Oh…right," Anders said with a sheepish chuckle, "Right then…lead on, oh fearless leader."
Solona rolled her eyes.
Maker help them all.