NOTE: I do not own the rights to any of the characters or locations associated with Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age Awakening, or (the soon to be released [^_^]) DA2, BioWare does.
Denerim, a city built upon a mountain surrounding an enormous tower. She is the capital of Ferelden and home to the royal family. The Market District is an ideal stop for any merchant to sell his or her goods to the people. She is a wonder to behold. But for all her ups, she has a dark side lurking in the shadows.
Lyna was squatting down on the balls of her feet as she placed her head on her arms over the counter of her father's make-shift merchandise booth. Her father had modified their wagon to allow a panel to fall out and be supported by posts. The cover could be unhinged to allow customers a brief reprieve from the sun as they looked over the wares. Yet, no one seemed interested in buying anything from their stall. Everyone just passed by their booth without giving any of their merchandise another look. If it weren't for the music that the minstrels were playing, she would have gone crazy.
"Lyna," her father called from his post beside the cart.
Turning her head to look at the tall, smiling human male with sun beaten skin, and whose big brown eyes could see that she was going a little stir crazy.
"Your mother is coming," he informed her pointing to a beautiful elven woman with raven black hair that fell loosely past her waist, dressed in a simple green and brown robe. Lyna's younger brother, Artan, a shorter and younger version of their father, was at their mother's side carrying a bag of food. "Here," Lyna's father said taking five silver pieces out of his pouch and holding them out to her, "take this."
"I can't. We haven't sold…" Lyna tried to deny.
"Do as I say daughter," he persisted sweetly. "You said you wanted to go to the Wonders of Thedas, yes?" he said taking one of his daughter's hands and opening it up to place the warm coins in her palm.
Lyna let out a sigh. "Yes, Father."
"Aneth ara pandraes," Lyna's mother said as she came closer to the stall.
"Aneth ara mamae," Lyna said smiling. It was rare that her mother would speak the Dalish language in public. Wonder what happened? Lyna pondered to herself, noting the wide grin on her mother's face.
"What did you find for us, Dalila?" Lyna's father asked her mother with a kiss.
Dalila smiled in glee at her news. "I found merchants willing to trade with us, my dearest Farrell."
"That is wonderful news," Farrell smiled excitedly as he embraced his wife.
Lyna ignored the rest of her parents' conversation as she went to the end of the wagon to help her brother load groceries.
"Thank you, Sis," Artan smiled as his sister took the bag from him.
"No worries, Brother," Lyna replied. "Want to go and look around with me, or do you want to stay here?" she asked helping her brother in.
"I'll stay here," Artan said when he was fully in the cart.
"You sure?" Lyna pleaded looking deep into his brown eyes. She could tell he was tired but she wanted someone to go with her.
"Yes. My feet and arms hurt," Artan said as he removed his leather boots and placed them next to him. "Mamae took me all over the city," he sighed.
Lyna smiled at his complaint. It wasn't long ago when she would have made the same one to father.
"Well, I'm going to the Wonders of Thedas," Lyna informed her brother as she made her way to the exit. "Is there a specific book you want me to bring back?"
Artan pondered on the question for a moment and had an idea. "See if they have any on the Dalish."
"Do you want songs, stories, or legends?" Lyna asked.
"All?"
Lyna smiled at his "simple" request and bowed. "Ma nuvenin shyraes."
"Ma serannas moraes," Artan said with a crooked smile.
"Lyna," Dalila called after her daughter before she could get too far.
Lyna turned to look at her elder mirror. The two of them were almost identical twins. The only noticeable difference between the two women was mere inches in Lyna's favor. "Yes mamae?"
"Your father said he gave you five silvers." For a small woman, she demanded respect. Her demeanor was so strong, she could make any war hardened warrior buckle. She also had a way of making all her questions sound like statements.
"Yes mother," Lyna said sheepishly.
"Here," Dalila said handing her daughter a pair of Dar'Misu daggers that had the Vhenadahl inscribed on the hilt. "Find a master craftsman and see if he will sharpen them. They may sell better than the other weapons we have."
Lyna looked at the Dar'Misu that her mother had given her and was surprised. "Mother?" Lyna asked, "These were your father's. Why would you sell them?"
Dalila gave her daughter a stern look that said, "Do as I say, now."
Lyna had no choice but to bow to her mother. "Ma nuvenin."
Dalila nodded her head with her daughter's compliance and went back to their cart-booth.
As Lyna walked past one merchant booth after the other, she could feel her stomach drop, dropping lower and lower until she found a blacksmith. At which point, her stomach was being dragged five feet behind her. Walking into the shop, she noted that it was mostly empty except for two men. One, a tall sandy blond haired man behind a counter, and the other, a dark skinned bald man working diligently on his anvil.
"Um, excuse me?" Lyna asked as she approached the counter.
The man behind the counter beamed into life. "Welcome to Wade's Emporium. I am Herrin, how can I help you?"
"Can you, sharpen these?" Lyna asked placing her mother's daggers on the counter.
Herrin took great care in observing the work their crafter took in making them. "What are they made of?" he finally asked. "I've never seen steel folded this way."
"It's made out of ironbark," Lyna admitted sheepishly.
The pounding of the hammer on anvil stopped dead. "You have Dalish weaponry?" came the voice of the man from the back of the workshop. "Let me see, let me see."
As the man came forth, Lyna's pain grew, for she held the same amount of enthusiasm for the blades. She loved the way their crafter took the time to craft the Vhenadahl with each individual leaf as real as they could be. Yet, the crafter did not spend his time making one. No. He made two identical blades to be used as one. In Lyna's eyes, they were the perfect pair.
"I'll give you three sovereigns for them," the man from the back said.
Three? That was more than they had made in a long time. They needed the money, but, Lyna didn't want to give them up. She had spent years looking and dreaming about her mother giving them to her one day. Still clinging on to that dream, "I was told to just have them sharpened."
"Five," the strange man insisted.
"Wade!" Herrin exclaimed to his friend.
"I need them Herrin," Wade whined.
Before Herrin could reply, Lyna spoke up. "They have been in my family for generations. I doubt there is any amount sufficient enough for them. So, if you will not sharpen them for me, do you have a sharpening stone?"
"Yes we do," Herrin said, glad that the girl wasn't allowing Wade to buy them. "Two silvers."
"Herrin, think of what I could make once I unlock their secrets," Wade said fondly pawing at the daggers.
"She said no," Herrin told Wade in a stern manner as he fidgeted behind his desk for a sharpening stone. "Besides, don't you have a suite of armor you need to finish for Lord Jonaley?"
"But, it's so drab. All these lords want the same thing. There is no challenge. No…"
"No Wade. Now get back to work," Herrin said taking the daggers away from Wade and placing them in front of Lyna along with the sharpening stone. "Unless you want to go back to eating gruel?"
Lyna had to stifle a giggle.
"No, no," Wade said slouching his way back to his anvil. "But one day, I want to make a fine suite of armor. Something that will challenge my skills."
Lyna smiled at the pair of them as she took out the money from a pouch and handed it to Herrin.
"Will there be anything else?" Herrin asked.
Lyna smiled at the man as she took the palm sized sharpening stone and put it into another pouch. "No, this is fine. Thank you."
"If you ever need a suit of armor or another stone, you know where to find us," Herrin said smiling as he bid her a good day.
"I'll be sure to remember you," Lyna bowed.
Back outside, she could hear the minstrels playing their songs again. While making her way to The Wonders of Thedas, she noted that she was dancing in time to the music around her. She tried to correct herself but as soon as she stopped paying attention, her feet went right back to counting out the rhythms. Giving up, Lyna just let the music take her. It was a wonderful feeling, being free in one's body.
Lyna was awe struck, like always, when she entered the Wonders of Thedas. It was such a wonderful place to go. There were books lining all the walls from the floor to the ceiling with little trinkets scattered here and there.
Lyna could not help but drag her hand across the selections. "Where to start," she thought aloud to herself.
"Can I help you," came a calm and even voice from behind a huge desk.
Lyna looked over to the man. He was a tall, bald tranquil. She didn't know the real differences between a mage and a tranquil, other than their voice patterns, so being polite she said, "I'm looking for a book on Dalish stories, if you have one?"
"I do not think we have any," the man informed. "We have books on other myths if you would like."
A little disappointed by the news, Lyna shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'll just look for something else."
"As you like. Should you require assistance, I will be here."
Lyna spent hours in the shop looking through all sorts of books. It was when she was sitting on a ladder, facing out to the store and not at the books, reading, that the tranquil proprietor called to her.
"Excuse me, miss," he called up to her.
Lyna looked over the edge of the book she had been reading, The Herbalist's Manual, to see the bald tranquil standing beside a man dressed in shiny silver armor. The armored man had dark skin, dark brown hair pulled back and tied with, presumably, a leather strap, and his beard was in need of a trim. "Yes?"
"Might I ask you to descend, so that I may acquire a selection?" the tranquil proprietor asked.
Lyna smiled down at the men but did not move. "Well, I'm already up here, so which one do you need?"
"The selection is far out of your reach, miss. I would need to move the ladder for you to acquire it."
Lyna just continued to smile. "There is no need for me to get down, you move the ladder, climb up here, climb back down, move the ladder back here, and have me move back into this spot. It would be easier if I got it, no?"
"What if you were to fall?" the dark haired man's baritone voice asked.
"Like most cats, I tend to land on my feet," Lyna slightly boasted.
The armored man let out a sigh. "Youth," Lyna thought she heard him say under his breath. "May as well," he said to the tranquil.
The tranquil proprietor bowed to the man then looked up at Lyna. "The book is on the top shelf, the case to your left, third selection from the right on the far left."
Lyna looked to her left. Should have let them take the ladder. She thought with a sigh.
Replacing the book she had been reading, Lyna moved to hug the ladder. Placing one foot on the small ledge that the shelves provided, was the easy part. Moving along the small ledge to the other side, that was another story. She could hear the Maker and the Creators laughing at her trying to cling to the little ledge as her bosom tried to throw her off balance. Why did they have to bless me so?
Without slipping and falling to her doom, Lyna made it to the book the tranquil proprietor sought. When she pulled on the dark blue binding, she saw a griffin on the cover. No title, just the silver inlaid griffon. "Is this it?" Lyna asked the men, not believing that she had over looked the book.
"Yes," the proprietor said as the other man nodded.
Lyna took one last look at the cover before she let go of her perch. Just as she said, she landed on her feet. After letting the pain subside from her fall, she stood up. The man in the armor was a lot taller when they were both standing on even ground. The mix of the man's height and demeanor made her feel like she should be an ant in comparison.
"Here you are," Lyna sheepishly smiled.
"Thank you," the man bowed.
When the two men went to the counter, Lyna felt a litter taller now that he was further away. Heading back to her perch, she started to wonder what a man like that would be doing with a Grey Warden's book. Maybe he's doing research. She thought. But he doesn't look like a normal scholar.
While Lyna tried to read more of The Herbalist's Manual, she found her eyes following the man as he went over to a desk and sat down to read.
"Look Dusan," came deep venomous words of a man with sandy blond hair and dressed in fine nobleman's clothing. He and his friend both appeared to be around, if not older than Lyna. "An elf that can read."
Quickly Lyna's hands went to her hair. Sure enough, she had moved it behind her ears.
"I doubt that," Dusan, an equal to his friend in both appearance and height, denied. "She's probably just looking at the clergymen's penmanship."
"You there, elf!" the first spoke.
Lyna glared at the men. Can't they just say "You there, woman," or "You there?" Why do they have to point out the obvious? Yes, I am an elf, what of it?
"What are you reading?"
"The Herbalist's Manual," Lyna replied to the men as she stuck her noise back into the book once again.
"I bet the tranquil told her that," the blond said shoving his friend in the side with his elbow sending both of them over the edge with laughter.
"This might surprise you, but I can in fact read." Lyna informed them slapping the book on her legs frustrated with the men.
"Riiiiight," the man laughed. "And pigs can fly."
"If you can read, then prove it," Dusan taunted.
"Fine," Lyan was fed up with them. Positioning the book so that she could read and watch them at the same time, she began, "Deep mushrooms are a fungi found underground in close proximity to lyrium veins. Then he goes on to describe various locations where they can be found. In addition to their restorative properties, they can also be made into potions and poisons. He gives a list of variable potions and poisons listed in order of ease to difficulty." Lyna had to turn the page to continue. "After chewing a deep mushroom, you can regain a small amount of stamina. Here, someone give a testimony on deep mushrooms and the man's performance in the field. They also make a wonderful additive to any stew. And now we have a recipe for 'The Best Rabbit Stew,'" Lyna said glaring at the men. "Would you like me to continue?"
After the men were able to collect themselves of their speechlessness, they both started seeing red. In unison they both started to yell at her, "How dare you!" Then the first blond stepped forward and announced, "I'll teach you to never disrespect ME!"
"Ooohhh. I'm scared," Lyna taunted. "What are you going to do? Climb this narrow ladder and hope I don't kick you off?"
"Dusan, take that side," the blond said as he took one side of the ladder.
Just as the two men grabbed the ladder, Lyna stood up and jumped down from her perch.
"I must ask you to exit the building," the tranquil proprietor said approaching the men. "You are disturbing the other customers."
"You're going to take that knife-ear's side?" the blond almost yelled pointing a finger at Lyna.
"I take no sides," the proprietor informed them. "She has not disturbed anyone. Yet, after you leave, I will ask her to vacate as well."
"We are not leaving until that thing does," Dusan vowed.
"Fine," Lyna said turning to the proprietor she asked, "How much for the book?"
"Follow me," the proprietor said as they headed for his desk. The tranquil proprietor pulled out a record book containing every book and trinket the Wonders of Thedas had ever held within it's walls. He quickly found the title he was looking for. "Five sovereigns," he said in his calm manner.
Of course. Lyna thought as she slouched.
"Ha!" the boys laughed. "The poor knife-ears can't afford a book!"
I'm going to kill you. Lyna grumbled to herself.
"Here," the blond said as he placed five sovereigns on the table. Lyna didn't even look at him. "I will take that," he said taking the book from her. "This should keep me warm and cozy come winter," he laughed as he and his friend made their way toward the door.
Listening to them laugh over and over was making it hard for Lyna to control herself. Just before they passed the threshold, she lost it. Her left hand went for a knife under her belt. Her arm reached back, and quicker than a hummingbird's wings, the knife was in the air. It soared past the blond's head and found a new home in the door jam. By their stature, she could tell that they were surprised and scared.
"The elf has weapons," Dusan said to his friend. "That's illegal you know." he informed Lyna as he turned around.
"Not only that, she tried to kill us," the blond added turning as well.
"And? I missed on purpose you royal pieces of trash," Lyna stated flatly losing more of herself to her rage.
The men started walking in unison toward Lyna. She held her ground and didn't move a muscle.
"I must insist that you take this outside," the tranquil proprietor insisted again.
"What did you say?" blondie asked ignoring the man behind the counter. His sights were on Lyna. As he came closer, his hand was going for a sword at his side.
"I said, you are a couple of ignorant, teat sucking, foul smelling, meat sacks dressed in royal cloth," Lyna said as her voice went flat of emotion.
Just as blondie pulled his sword free and raised his arm for a full strike, it was stopped dead by a stronger hand that held his raised arm firmly.
"I believe the proprietor asked you to leave," came the deep voice of the dark skinned and armored man from earlier.
"Release me!" the blond squealed.
The man applied more pressure to the boy's arm causing him to drop his sword. "You will leave as the good proprietor asked," the man said.
"The elf started it!" Dusan complained.
"Dusan, quiet!" the blond squeaked as more pressure was applied.
"But Boyd," Dusan tried to argue as if he were a five year old.
"Shut up! We're leaving! NOW!" Boyd yelled as his arm almost broke.
The armored man let go of Boyd's arm. Boyd fell to the ground cradling his injury while Dusan reached for his master's sword. "Leave it," the man said.
Dusan left the sword where it lied and helped his friend up. Both of the boy scurried out of the shop.
When the boys were gone the man looked at Lyna. "That was very foolish."
"What was?" Lyna beamed as she removed her hands from a pair of dagger hilts at her back.
The man looked her over. "You have more blades don't you."
Wow. Another person like mamae. Not a question, just fact. "More, than you need worry about, my good sire," Lyna smiled.
The man gave her a questioning look like he didn't believe someone so fragile looking could be carrying over twenty blades on her person. But it was true. Armor made you a target, normal clothing made you a secret weapon.
Lyna bowed to the man, "Thank you for your assistance." Turning to the proprietor, she bowed to him as well. "I am sorry for the follies of those men and myself. I most enjoyed my time here before they came. But if you will excuse me, I shall leave now."
After the tranquil bowed to her in kind, Lyna turned from the men and started walking toward the door.
"What is your name child?" the armored man called.
"Huh?" she asked turning back. "Lyna, Lyna Caron," she bowed. "And you?"
"Duncan," he said as he seemed to grow even taller.
"It is an honor to meet you Duncan. The next we meet, I hope it is under better circumstances," Lyna smiled.
The man bowed to Lyna as she returned to head back to her family. When she got to the door frame, she took her blade out and returned it to its rightful space at the small of her back.
As soon as she left The Wonders of Thedas, she knew the "bastard brothers" weren't far ahead. Yet, there were no guards called on her. Nor were there any issues as she proceeded back to their booth. But, she couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on here.
"Greetings, father," Lyna smiled as she approached him.
"Where have you been, child?" Farrell worried as he ran to embrace his daughter.
"At the store," Lyna said releasing herself from her father's death grip.
"It's almost dusk," Farrell informed her as he peered into her soul with his deep brown eyes. "You mean to tell me you were there this whole time?"
"Yes," Lyna said taking the full force of his gaze.
"Oh, thank the Maker," Farrell said as he embraced Lyna again.
"Did something happen?" Lyna asked trying to breathe through her father's strong grip.
"Some guards came by saying that there was an armed elf on the loose. I remembered your mother handing you her Dar'Misu and became worried." Farrell said squeezing again. "Dalila!" he called, "Dalila, Lyna's back."
Dalila came running out from behind the booth to embrace her daughter. "Blessing be to Mythal!"
Lyna let out a squeal. "Can't. Breathe," she tried to tell her parents.
After her parents got the idea, they let go. "We're just so happy you're home," Dalila exclaimed.
Lyna smiled at her mother. "I'm fine. Will you two stop worrying so much? You'll go grey quicker if you don't."
"I'm already going grey," Farrell informed his daughter as he played with his mostly dark brown hair. "No thanks to you and your brothers."
Lyna shrugged. "What can I say, we like keeping you on your toes."
"Lyna Mave Caron," Dalila stated to her daughter making Lyna shrink a little.
"There she is!" a voice exclaimed from behind Lyna. "The taller one with black hair!"
Lyna turned around to see Boyd and Dusan with five guards behind them.
I wondered when you would show. Lyna thought as she bowed to the men. "Good evening sers. How may I be of assistance?"
"These boys here," the Captain said in a stern voice, "say you are the elf who is carrying weapons within city limits."
"I am carrying weapons, yes," Lyna agreed.
"You see," Boyd shouted. "She admits to it! Arrest her!"
"But," Lyna interrupted, "I was sent with them so that they could be sharpened."
"That's a lie!" Dusan insisted.
"Has she returned them?" the Captain asked looking to Farrell.
"No, she has not. She has just returned to me," Farrell said and turned to his daughter. "May I have the blades back daughter?"
The word "daughter" is what caught the guards' attention. "Is she not your servant?" one of the men asked.
The look of disgust and rage was plain on Farrell's face. "She is our," he said taking Dalila's hand, "daughter."
Lyna could have sworn she saw some of the guards almost vomit. This is not going to go well. Lyna thought as she took the blades out of her pack and produced them for her father and mother.
"What other weapons do you possess?" the Captain asked not wavering in his pursuit.
Blades and daggers. Twenty three in all. Think you can find them? "None," Lyna said with a straight face.
"I don't believe you," the Captain said making Boyd and Dusan very happy. "Search her," he said to his guards.
All the men moved as one toward her, while Farrell protested. "She is no threat!"
"I don't care," the Captain said. "We have eye witnesses say that she tried to kill these two boys here in cold blood. I'm just trying to keep the peace."
"Ada,"Lyna said looking over her shoulder before her father and mother could protest more. "It's okay," she smiled.
Two guards held Lyna's hands while two patted her down in front and back. "Nothing here boss, just a sharpening stone," the guard in back said.
"You're pathetic," Boyd said as he moved in front of Lyna and shoved the guard out of the way. He had a smile on his face so wide, not even the Cheshire cat could compete.
"You know," Lyna said so that only he could hear, "I just realized that I lied."
"About time, winch!"
"About you," Lyna said as her voice started to grow empty and her eyes focused on their target.
Boyd was taken aback by her look, but Lyna continued. "You are not a royal meat sack. Oh no, you are far worse," she told him still growing colder. "You are the ignorant bastard offspring of siblings, who refuses to let go of his own grandmother's, who happens to also be his mother's, teat, sack of worms wrapped up to look like a royal bastard's feces," Lyna started out quietly, but her words were soon loud enough for everyone around to hear. From behind, she heard her father gasp and her mother's quiet applause. The guards holding her were trying not to laugh.
In a fit of rage, Boyd grabbed on to Lyna's blouse top and with all his might ripped it open to revile two harness holding daggers and small knives that contoured to the flow of her body. "I win," he said just before he turned toward the Captain. "You see! She's armed!" Boyd exclaimed with pride.
Lyna refused to feel uncomfortable and ashamed in front of the fool. There was no way on this side of the Beyond that she was going to do it. So with her head held high, she looked at the Captain who just glared back at her.
"Take her to the dungeons with the other ones," the captain finally instructed.
"NO!" she could hear her father and mother scream. If it was up to her mother, Lyna knew she would have her bow out and aimed at all their hearts. Scary things tended to happen when someone harmed her children. Most people learned only too late.
"Lyna!" came Artan's voice. He ran past the rear guard and grabbed onto her legs. "You can't go!"
Lyna smiled down at her little brother. It wouldn't be too long until he had to look down at her. Lyna looked at the guards holding onto her arms and pleaded. They looked at the Captain who agreed to let her go for a moment.
As Lyna knelt down to hug her brother, she hummed a simple tune to him. "Do you remember that song?"
"Yes, moraes,"Artan cried.
"Whenever you feel sad, sing it. Okay?" she said wiping away his tears.
Artan shook his head and began to hum the tune.
"Good," she said wiping more tears away. "Now I need you to take care of mamae and ada for me. Okay? Someone needs to make sure they age properly," Lyna smiled.
"No! Absolutely not!" Lyna heard the Captain shout. "You already used the Right of Conscription on that elf," he exclaimed pointing to a red haired elven male standing beside…
"Duncan?" Lyna asked aloud not believing who she was seeing..
"I will not allow it!" the Captain shouted again.
"She deserves to die in the dungeons," Boyd also yelled.
"We can take this matter up with the king, if you prefer," Duncan insisted.
"Captain," Boyd yelled again. "You must send her to the dungeons! She must pay for her crimes!"
"And what crimes are those?" Duncan asked. "The crime of outwitting a noble's son? Proving that she is more superior and that you could never over powered her on your own? Or the fact that she is of elven blood and stood up to you?"
"All of it! She should learn her place!" Boyd shouted as he pointed at Lyna.
"Is that true?" the Captain asked. "You wished her imprisoned just because she bested you?"
"She tried to kill us!" Dusan added.
"Excuse me, Captain," Duncan interrupted. "I was present when these boys came into the Wonders of Thedas. The only thing she tried to kill them with was her quick wit. Possessing such a thing is not a crime, is it?"
"That's not true!" Boyd shouted.
"She threw daggers at us!" Dusan insisted. "Otherwise, how would Boyd have known she was wearing a harness?"
"A lot of people are wearing harnesses," Duncan told the boys. "And I can assure you Captain, she did not use any of the blades that you see to harm these boys."
The Captain was growing a major headache listening to the conversation. "Enough," he demanded. "Men, release her and follow me. Duncan, if you want her, take her. Just make sure he is gone by morning," he said pointing to the male elf that was standing behind Duncan.
"But!" both Dusan and Boyd said in unison. "Wait until my father hears about this!" Boyd started. "We'll have you demoted back to private!" Dusan finished. And with that, both boys left while the guards followed their Captain.
All of a sudden, Lyna felt warmer than usual. And a little more bruised. With her little brother in her arms, her father on her right, and her mother on her left, she could bet that she made a scene to the others. But, it felt nice.
"Greeting again, Lyna," Duncan said as he stepped forward.
"Greetings," she nearly cried. Maker and Creators she could kiss him.
"Mythal has answered my prayers!" Dalila exclaimed looking upon Duncan. "Ma serannas. Ma serannas. Ma serannas."
"Yes, thank you," Farrell said standing up to clasp Duncan's arm. "How can we ever repay you for this?"
"I am looking for recruits," Duncan informed the family. "And I believe…"
"Re-cruiting?" Lyna interrupted. "Recruiting for what?"
"The Grey Wardens," the elven male said from behind Duncan.
Duncan nodded in agreement to the honor stricken faces of Farrell and Dalila.
"Why don't you sound happy about that?" Lyna asked the red haired male.
"I was Conscripted," he said flatly.
"What's Con-script-ed?" Artan asked looking up at Lyna.
Lyna shrugged her shoulders and looked up to Duncan.
"The Right of Conscription allows me to recruit Grey Wardens here in Ferelden," Duncan informed the child.
"Oh," was all Artan said. Then it dawned on him who the man was. Artan jumped out of Lyna's arms and went to the tall man in the shiny armor. "You're a Grey Warden?" he asked excitedly. "Did you have a griffon?"
Lyna stood up with her mother in tow. "Artan, I doubt he is old enough to have had his own griffon," then she thought better of the statement. "You're not, are you?" she asked Duncan.
Duncan laughed at the question. "No."
"Ada,"Artan exclaimed in excitement as he jumped up and down. "He's a real Grey Warden!"
"I think that's enough Artan," Farrell said picking the over excited boy up.
"But ada!" Artan protested. "He's a real Grey Warden!"
"I know son," Farrell softly stated.
"What say you, Lyna?" Duncan asked.
"About what?" she asked.
Dalila shoved her daughter.
"Oww," she said rubbing her side as she stared at her mother. "Seeing as how you have saved me not once, but twice. I would be honored to have the privilege of being recruited into the Grey Wardens."
"Twice!" Dalila exclaimed as Lyna shrunk from her mother's wrath. "What do you mean 'twice.' When were you going to tell us?"
"Um…Never," Lyna beamed.
"Lyna Mave Caron," Dalila scolded.
Lyna shrank in on herself again and realized she was flashing the whole of Denerim. Trying to close the gap as best she could, she looked at her mother. "I, was, hoping it would never come up?"
"Dalila," Ferrell said hoping to calm his wife. "She can tell you all about it on the way toooo…" he said looking at Duncan.
Duncan just looked at the man, not saying a word.
"Escorting you, and your other recruit, is the least we can do to show our gratitude for you helping our daughter," Farrell said trying to persuade the man. "Besides, if those boys really are the offspring of Lords, Andraste preserve them, we need to be heading out soon anyway."
"As you wish," Duncan softly sighted knowing the man was right. "We will need to make our way to Ostagar."
"Ostagar it is then," Farrell smiled. "By the way I'm Farrell, this here is Artan," he said shaking the boy up and down on his hip. "You know my daughter, Lyna. And my wife, Dalila."
"It is an honor. I am Duncan. This," he said gesturing toward the red haired elf, "is Darrian Tabris."
Darrian just glared at the family.
"Aneth ara Duncan and Darrian," Dalila said at the same time Lyna.
Andraste's knickers, that was long. And you're still reading! ^_^
I know it is vague on what the characters really look like in my head, but you should know what Duncan, Herrin, Wade, and the Tranquil Prospector look like. For all the others, I just made you a map. You can take it wherever you want. Extremely tall, short, boney, fat, one wrinkle, or a face that looks like the closet dog-thing in Evolution.
So the next chapter is about their trip to Ostagar.
Elven words in order of appearance:
"Aneth ara pandraes," Greetings daughter.
"Aneth ara mamae," Greetings mother.
"Ma nuvenin shyraes." As you wish brother.
"Ma serannas moraes," Thank you sister.
"Ma nuvenin." As you wish.
"Ada," Father.
"Moraes," Sister,
Ma serannas." Thank you.