Chapter 1
Because we need to get on with it no matter how painful
I woke screaming, and Ferin was screaming beside me. It sounded as if the whole of Weisshaupt was screaming with us.
"What in the Maker!" Breathed my lover Ferin, his Tevinter accent stronger than usual.
"It was Urthemiel, in Ferelden."
"Yes, but she saw…"
"Two Wardens. Yes, the Archdemon saw them. She saw two Wardens."
"How can that be, Tally? They all died?"
"That is what we were told, by the refugees fleeing from Ferelden. But somehow, some must have survived."
"We must help them! They are by themselves." Ferin stood from our bed. "Let us get dressed. I'm sure there will be talk about this."
We both dressed quickly and walked to the Great Hall. The halls were crowded, and everyone was asking if others had the same dream, and who could the two wardens be? It seemed natural that we all moved as one towards the great Hall, touching and talking to each other.
"It was a woman and a man," someone said from behind me.
"The man looked like Maric," I heard Senior Warden Ilbert say from behind me. "He looked much like the King of Ferelden, only younger."
I turned and hooked Ilbert's arm. "You met King Maric?"
"Yes, once when he and Warden Commander Duncan visited our conclave in Jader."
"And you think this man looked like him? How can that be, we heard Cailan Theirin died at Ostagar?"
"Who knows? We were told all the Wardens died as Ostagar, as well. Perhaps we do not know as much as we thought."
Ferin paced us, walking on the other side of Ilbert. "It couldn't been a King. The camp was too shabby, too pieced together."
"Perhaps you are right. Although his armor and weapons looked well made."
We entered the Great Hall, and the large room had never felt so small to me. I think every Grey Warden in the fortress was there. On the stage at the front of the hall stood the First Warden and his aids. They were talking amongst themselves.
"I must tell them of the similarities to Maric. I am sure I am not the only one to notice. But just in case, I need to tell them," Ilbert said, as he moved off towards the front of the room.
We milled about talking to each other for about a half hour before First Warden Teris finally spoke.
"My brothers and sisters. I know you have many questions, but I am feared we have few answers.
We have all shared a dream tonight, fueled by Urthemiel herself. And what she showed us, well, it would seem that there are two of our brethren in Ferelden, which is a blessing from the Maker indeed. As you all saw, a young woman, a blonde human mage, and a young man were noticed by the Archdemon. We believe that they were attacked by darkspawn soon after."
A light rumble of talking spread through the room, and as quickly dissipated. Teris paused a few seconds. "The man bares a striking resemblance to the past Kings of Ferelden: Maric and Cailen. Those who knew them while they lived say the unknown male Warden is similar in looks to them, almost as if he is related. Perhaps a cousin. But, he is not Cailen."
Lem, who stood a few feet from me, leaned over and whispered, "The woman mage looked like you." This startled me, but before I could ask him what he meant, Ferin moved between us, almost protectively.
"Orlais' continues to report that they have failed in all attempts to enter Ferelden. The Ferelden Queen and her father are blocking the Grey order, and refuse our aid. This new information may provide a new hope for Ferelden, although slim."
"It only takes one Grey Warden to kill an Archdemon," a dwarf yelled from the back.
"Yes," said the First. "Although it will take an army to get to her. Two Wardens are certainly better than none. I ask that you should pray for Andraste's help for these two brave Grey Wardens. Our brother and our sister. I know we each wish we could stand by their side, to help them in the fight against the Blight." As he spoke his next words, we all joined our own voices to his. "In war, victory; in peace, vigilance; in death, sacrifice."
"For the Grey Wardens!"
000
The next day Ferin and I were asked to attend the First Warden in his offices. Ilbert, Milun and Gaël, my fellow Wardens from Orlais, were there before us.
"Wardens," began Teris, I am asking you to travel to Ferelden, and attempt to enter its borders. Warden Ilbert will be in charge, as he is the senior most Warden. I know this is a dangerous tasking. But given our shared dream of last evening, I think, no I know, we need more information."
The First Warden took a sip from a silver goblet on his large Merdaine oak desk. "It would waste time to send a message to Orlais and ask them to send in a group. They may have already decided to do so. I am sure every Warden in Thedas has had the same thought. However, I can not be assured of this. I do not think that I need to tell you, if things have changed in Ferelden, and the Grey may enter unhindered, you are to go to Orlais and tell them to do so. I will give you a missive which gives you all my own authority in this matter."
"We must take what ever means necessary to end this Blight. I know you all understand this and what it could mean. I expect you to be ready tomorrow at dawn. Seneschal is already gathering supplies and monies to see you on your way. The two mages, Gaël and Tally, are to cast haste to speed the trip. Any questions?"
We had few questions. Ilbert asked about suggestions on routes to Ferelden. Given the reports of refugees pouring into the south of the Vimmark Mountains, we would have a small chance of catching a ship into Ferelden. Everyone was getting out, not going in. It was decided we would travel to Cumberland, a trek of which I was all too familiar, having taken it with Ilbert, Milun and Gaël only a few months earlier. We would catch a ship to Jader. From there, we would make our way in to Ferelden.
As we walked to our bedrooms to pack our things, I said to Ferin, "well, now you will be able to see the Silent Plains for yourself."
He laughed and said, "I suppose I will, at that, Tally. You've not shared much of what you saw on your trip, that is for sure."
Morning of the next day came very fast. We said goodbyes to friends, and wished them all luck, happiness, and most of all that we would see them once again. We each had a mount, and we also had three pack mules. The mules could carry more than a horse, and we were told they ate less. Milun complained he thought they would be not worth the bother as "mules are mulish," as he said.
As trips normally do, it seemed to take less time going back than getting there. Although it had been over six months since we arrived, the scenery had not changed so very much. The Silent Plains were a disappointment to Ferin, which caused me to tease him just a tiny bit. For all the history that had happened there, none was evident except the destruction, as we traveled miles and miles of melted rock and desert.
As we travelled south, we started to encounter groups of refugees from Ferelden. We dutifully stopped each we saw, and asked them what they knew of the stand of their country. We heard little more than we already knew.
Until one small group of elves, a family of with a young daughter, spoke of meeting two Grey Wardens and an apostate mage, with a dog of all things, in the town of Lothering. As I recalled my geography, Lothering was north of Ostagar, and would be a logical stop after the battle. The elves spoke of the kindness of the Warden, who they called Lady Solona. She had dispensed with a group of bandits that had harried the town. The family was able to recover many of their own robbed goods, including their daughter's pet lamb. We invited them to our camp, for the evening, and to share our dinner. They gratefully accepted.
That evening, the little girl came up to me and said, "You remind me of her you know. You look so much alike."
Before I could ask her what she meant, her father came over and asked that she help with clean up from our supper.
That night, as I lay with Ferin in our tent, I asked him about her comment. I told him about Lem's similar comment as well.
"Well," he said, "I did think you looked a little like the Warden from the dream. But it all happened so fast, I could not be sure."
"I thought she was much lighter in coloring."
"You hair is a nice golden color. The sun streaks it, you know. I'm sure it was darker when you lived in the tower." He kissed me along my throats pulse point. "As she is a mage, perhaps you are related. Fifth cousins twice removed or some such."