Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age. Fallyn and Addien are partially my characters and partially Bioware's. I make no profit from this work.
A/N: This chapter was. . . very emotional to write. So many feels! Please please review!
Chapter Two: Separate Ways
The group continued on their way from Orzamaar toward Redcliffe through the Frostback Mountains. It was late afternoon when they passed through Sulcher's Pass. Spotting a man camped in the pass, Fallyn decided to stop and trade with the fellow.
"Er. . . you'll have to forgive me if I seem a bit nervous. Not many people traveling in this part of Ferelden," he began. He sighed. "Of course that's part of my problem, isn't it? Mule got spooked by a wisp and ran off into the woods. Now what do I do?"
Fallyn sneered at the man. "Are you asking me to find your mule?" she asked, irritated.
"Oh, no no no!" The man insisted, "I sent the elf to do that I wouldn't dream of asking a stranger to do it. Allow me to introduce myself, Felix de Grosbois, merchant and entrepreneur, at your service."
"I am Fallyn," the elven mage said harshly, "Pleased to meet you." Her words were almost a hiss.
Felix looked around nervously, eying the group of travelers. "I don't normally take this route, but with the war I was hoping for a bit of luck and good weather in the mountains." He laughed, nearly a choke, attempting to shake off the tension. "Sadly I've had neither. This trip has been on miserable disaster after another. I don't suppose you'd consider. . . helping a fellow out?"
"Help a fellow out. . .how?" Fallyn asked curiously.
"Of all the things that went wrong, the worst is this artifact I bought in Jader," he started, "Its a 'control rod,' I'm told. For a golem. No point in me keeping it, however, as I'll never get to use it. . . but maybe you could?"
"A golem? Well, that could be quite useful. Very well, hand it over!" Fallyn demanded.
Intimidated, Felix handed her the artifact. "You'll find the golem in a village called Honnleath, in the Hinterlands. Here, I'll mark it on your map." He took Fallyn's map, hands shaking, and marked the location. He handed it back to her with a tense smile. "I've heard it might be dangerous there with all the darkspawn about," he hesitated before adding, "But I'll wager that's not an issue for someone like you. Just hold up the rod and say 'dulef gar,' that will wake the golem up. Or so I'm told. I hope it works."
"I hope so, too. A golem will be quite an asset to add to our group, will it not?" Fallyn asked, turning to the group of misfits with a slightly wicked smile.
"Best of luck to you then!" Felix said with relief, "Now, I guess it's up to me to find that mule myself. . ." he said as he walked away.
"So, we're not heading to Redcliffe?" Alistair asked with disappointment souring his voice.
"Oh, come on! We need all the help we can get!" The elven warden insisted.
"Don't you think it's curious that this man just hands over an artifact that controls a stone beast? Perhaps we should use more caution," Morrigan suggested.
"A golem can take down an army of men! Just imagine what it can do to the darkspawn!" Fallyn said excitedly.
"An excellent point," Leliana agreed.
"But the Arl-"
"What is one man compared to a stone warrior?" Fallyn interrupted.
"What if we split up?" Addien suggested quietly.
The elven warden closed her eyes, squeezing the bridge of her nose, and shook her head. "We're better as a team."
"You leave half of us behind in camp for most of our tasks!" Addien countered.
"We're staying together!" Fallyn snapped.
Addien took a deep breath as Fallyn and Zevran took a look at the map. She lifted her chin and picked up her pack. "The hell we are!" Addien said defiantly. Fallyn glared at her, pausing a moment before stomping over. Addien suddenly found her boots very interesting as she mentally cringed.
"We're going to Redcliffe," Alistair stated as he took a step next to Addien. "We need the Arl's help. We cannot put it off any longer. If you wish to chase after a golem that may or may not work, go right ahead. But we will not follow."
Fallyn glared at the two before turning to the rest of the group- Zevran just smiled and shrugged; Leliana did not make eye contact with the elven woman. Sten paused a moment before stepping forward. "This is a fool's errand," he said boldly before standing beside Alistair. "The stone warrior does not end the Blight."
Fallyn turned to Wynne, who sighed deeply. "If anything were to happen, you will need a healer. I will continue to Honnleath, but I agree that it may be a waste of resources. We do not know what we may find there."
"Oghren?" Fallyn questioned as she turned to the dwarf.
"I'll be off with you, Warden. I know my stone."
"Morrigan?"
"The stone warrior has interested me."
"I'll journey to Redcliffe," Leliana said finally.
"Fine," Fallyn spat. "Let's be off then."
The group heading to Redcliffe continued through the pass in silence. They made camp near a stream shortly after nightfall and the evening tasks were split among the companions. Addien was adding herbs found along their journey to the pot of stew bubbling on the campfire when Alistair sat with a sigh beside the fire, armor making a hard clatter as he sad. Several tense moments passed before either of them spoke.
"Thanks," they both said in unison. Addien blushed and stared into the pot.
"I mean it, Addy," Alistair said softly, "Thank you. I'm really worried about the Arl."
"Thank you for supporting me," she said softly. "I can't believe I stood up to Fallyn like that."
"The look on her face!" Alistair said with a laugh.
"She does whatever she wants," Addien started. "It's always made more sense to split the group. By the time they reach Honnleath, we will have already reached Redcliffe to make arrangements for our acquired armies. Hopefully they will have found the golem in working order. I have a feeling that man was not telling us everything."
"I felt that, too," Alistair stated.
"Will you hand me your dish?" Addien asked.
"Done already?" Alistair said as he unhooked a metal mug from his pack. Addien ladled the stew into his dish and handed it to him with both hands. "Smells good," Alistair said as he reached for it.
"Would you mind gathering the others?" Addien asked as she ladled into her own dish.
"Of course," Alistair said as he stood up. Within a few minutes, the small group was gathered around the campfire enjoying Addien's rabbit and rice stew, rabbit graciously provided by Addien's mabari, Charlie. Charlie barked happily before enjoying the spare bits of rabbit tossed to him.
"How are we splitting watch for the night?" Alistair inquired as he ladled more stew into his mug.
"I will take third watch," Leliana offered, "I enjoy watching the sun rise."
"Second watch," Sten claimed.
Addien nearly dropped the empty pot in surprise when Alistair added, "I will take first with Addien."
"Me? On watch?" She didn't know whether to be happy or terrified.
"Yes. It's about time. Mwahaha! Now you have to stay up and pull your weight like the rest of us!" Alistair said with a laugh.
"I . . . uh, ok."
Leliana and Sten retired to their own tents as the two wardens sat at the campfire. Alistair sat in a linen tunic and plain breeches as he cleaned and polished his armor; Addien sat twisting, weaving, and braiding several lengths of leather cord that she had laying in her lap.
"What are you making?" Alistair asked finally, breaking the silence.
"I'm trying to repair the satchel I keep my healing poultices and herbs in. One of the cords ripped in the last battle and the bottom dropped out," Addien sighed. "So I took the whole thing apart and started over."
"You mean you made that?" He asked, thinking back to the satchel with the symbol of the Chantry finely woven into the design with the leatherwork.
"Yes," she said simply.
"Impressive," he stated. "So you wouldn't mind helping me mend some things, since you're so good at it?" He said with a cheesy smile, wiping the last of his armor with a dry cloth.
"Perhaps. But what can you do for me in exchange?"
"Aww, so just being a charming companion isn't enough?" he said with a fake pout. Addien shook her head with a smile. "How about this," he said after a few moments, "I can help you learn basic battle skills. If you want, that is."
"Really?" Addien asked as her eyes lit up.
"Is it really something that interests you?"
"Yes! I want to stop feeling so useless," she said quietly.
"You're not useless, Addien," Alistair insisted.
"Yes, I am. The only reason I was even recruited was because. . . because. . ." she sighed.
"How were you recruited?"
"I. . . Fallyn and I were friends with a mage apprentice named Jowan at the circle. It was right after my Harrowing. Jowan had heard. . . he was going to be made tranquil. He asked us to help him escape the tower. Fallyn was in love with him. . . so she agreed. He was my best friend and I couldn't bear to see him become disconnected to the Fade. So we helped him destroy his phylactery. That's when Fallyn found out he was running away with a chantry initiate named Lily. She was livid and turned us over to the First Enchanter and the Templars. Jowan was sentenced to death. Lily was to be taken to Aonar. Jowan used blood magic to escape. . ."
"You didn't know he was a blood mage?"
Addien shook her head. "I was terrified. In seconds, he had the group of templars and the First Enchanter crippled to the floor, on the brink of death. Lily refused to leave with him, scared of his blood magic. Jowan ran. Duncan was at the circle tower to take a group of mages to Ostagar to fight the war. He asked to take Fallyn and I into the ranks of the Wardens. He had said, 'It is a rare person who risks all for a friend in need.'" She sighed. "Fallyn went with Duncan gladly. I. . . would have stayed and faced the consequences of my actions. I was to be put to death. . ."
"Why? How could you have faced that if there was a way out?" Alistair asked, a hint of anger in his voice.
"I felt worthless," she said sadly. "Mages have no rights. They cannot have families- most never even leave the circle walls. The templars torment us- especially the women- and make our lives miserable. My best friend was a known malificar. Everything I knew was in ruins. Even outside of the Circle, mages are treated like garbage. I felt the only reason Duncan wanted me was because it was not fair to take one without the other. The only skill set I have is in healing. That spirit magic does not fight darkspawn. I resisted. So Duncan invoked the Right of Conscription."
"Was the Circle truly that bad?" Alistair asked, watching Addien as she continued to braid the lengths of leather. She nodded. "And the templars?"
"Most of them are corrupt and use their authority to torment the mages," she said softly.
"Was there no one who was good to you?"
"Do you remember. . . at the Circle tower, there was a templar imprisoned and he seemed to be going a bit. . ."
"Bananas? Yes, I remember him," Alistair said.
"We were involved," she said quietly. "Well, kind of." Addien blushed. "We only kissed once. But he was sweet to me. It was forbidden, of course, so it stopped there. But mages and templars are still people. They still have feelings."
"Do you still love him?" Alistair choked out.
"Love is such a strong word. He was kind to me. He made me feel wanted. But I knew it would never last and I became detached. I don't know if I ever truly loved him, as I was never allowed to love him. But I still admire him. I still care for him, but in a different way. Does that make sense?"
"I understand. I kind of feel that way with Fallyn," he started. "I was infatuated with her. She was beautiful and strong. And she kept hinting toward things. . . But she latched onto Zevran and left me in the dust. I see now that I didn't love her. But I care for her as a friend and a sister."
Addien was flushed with jealousy. Fallyn could receive affections so easily, but for her, the one tiny forbidden romance was all she would have.
"I wish I was more like Fallyn," Addien admitted.
"Why? She's kind of. . . well, a bitch!" Alistair said with a laugh.
"She receives a lot of love. Even if it's short. She's been in love," Addien sighed.
"That's not love," Alistair stated, "It's lust. She does what's convenient for her."
"I wish Cullen would have been braver," Addien said sadly.
"Do you want sex that badly?" Alistair said with a laugh.
"It's not that. Things. . . happen at the tower," she choked out.
"What do you mean?" Alistair said, watching her hands fumble with the leather cords.
Addien sobbed before rushing through her words. "I gained weight and they stopped. I wasn't pretty enough for them then and-"
"What do you mean?" Alistair said in horror.
Addien buried her face in her hands, the leather falling from her lap to the ground. Alistair moved to sit next to her and clutched her hands in his.
"What did they do to you?" he asked, holding her to his chest.
"They ruined me," she said, words muffled in his shirt. She threw her arms around him as the sobs overtook her body.