This is Like the Old Days
18 Harvestmere, 9:30
"What do you mean you changed your mind? It hasn't even been a month!" Kallian shouted as she skipped around and over darkspawn corpses to get across the room to greet Oghren.
The dwarf grunted as she hugged him. "Well, I looked up Felsi and we got to drinking and I told her I was a Warden recruit. You know, to look good. That got her real excited, hehe, so we went back to her place and made the double-backed…"
"Oh, um…that's okay, Oghren, I can fill in the blanks myself." Kallian lowered her voice. "You know there are risks involved in this, Oghren."
"Aye, lass, but you know me. I need to kill things and when in the Stone will I get to do that working in Denerim? That little pike twirler doesn't need a berserker, but I figured you do and apparently I was right." He waved his hand around the room, ample evidence proving his point.
She bit her lip, wondering if Oghren would survive the Joining. He put his arm up on the handle of his axe and leaned forward, his low voice bringing with it the distinct stench of ale.
"I know what yer thinkin'. You think I don't know the risks? I'm from Orzammar, kid. We all know about the Calling and the Wardens you see going into the Deep Roads never to return aren't old men and women. You Wardens think you've got all these secrets, but that nug was let out o' the bag a long time ago."
She let out a chuckle and nodded. She was here to rebuild the order, after all, and wasn't about to turn down capable warriors who were volunteering. "Okay, Oghren."
Zevran had joined them and clapped a hand on Oghren's shoulder. The dwarf returned the gesture as he gripped Zevran's arm.
"Nice to see ya, nug rutter."
"Truly, I am happy to smell you. This is like the old days, yes?"
Kallian snorted. "The old days. It was two bloody months ago."
Lucius barked and jumped around them, happily snapping up the dried meat Oghren produced from a pocket.
"He was here when I left. I can't believe the Wardens didn't kick him out," Mhairi muttered as the rest of the group approached them.
"Hey, if it isn't the recruit with the great rack." Oghren shot back with a smile.
"Yes, a prize for the Wardens to be sure."
"I know, I know, too good to be true, right? Hey, who's the mage, yer boyfriend? Should we leave you two alone?"
"Wow, a dwarf who smells like a brewery. You never see that aaanywhere," Anders rolled his eyes, nudging Mhairi with his elbow.
"Hmm. A mage comedian. I thought those normally died young."
Kallian cleared her throat. "I will have you know that this crude and smelly dwarf fought by my side through the Deep Roads, across Ferelden and during the final battle against the darkspawn."
As she spoke, the Denerim soldiers in their midst greeted Oghren, recognizing him from the battle.
Mhairi looked appropriately contrite. "I am sorry, Commander, I…"
Kallian smiled. "I recruit all kinds, Mhairi. Okay, so we have an additional recruit, which is good, but we still have unwelcome guests and hopefully more survivors to rescue. If we're all ready?"
She looked around the group to find everyone nodding. "All right, let's go."
xXx
"Mhairi, I am so sorry." Kallian looked down at the warrior as she closed her friend Rowland's eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Thank you, Commander. He would have made a brave Warden." Mhairi quickly wiped her face and slipped her gauntlets back on as she stood.
"He said talking darkspawn," Zevran murmured.
"Yeah, I was hoping that was my imagination." Kallian thought back to the dream she'd had when they stayed at Teagan's cottage. If the talking darkspawn existed…She shook her head.
"I have a bad feeling about this," she grumbled as she led the group forward.
xXx
19 Harvestmere, 9:30
Within the hour, Kallian's apprehension was proven quite valid, much to her disappointment. They had fought their way through more darkspawn ranks, liberated more survivors and then found themselves on the ramparts that ran along the mountain backing the keep. Kallian had eased them out and along the wall, surprised to find it was morning, and peered around the corner just in time to see a soldier being pushed off the rampart by a hurlock. The beast then turned, speaking, to face another human who was on his knees, a second hurlock behind him with a blade to his throat. Kallian thought she might be sick again.
"Be taking this one gently. We are wishing no more death than is necessary."
The man on the ground was brave, Kallian thought, as he replied "Necessary? As if your kind has ever done anything else."
"You are thinking you know of our kind, human? It is understandable, but that will soon be changed."
"Others will come, creature. They will stop you," the man replied.
Kallian stepped out from around the corner, followed closely by her companions. The darkspawn were clearly outnumbered, having only one additional hurlock and genlock on the ramparts. The apparent leader turned to face them.
"It seems your words be true, more than you are guessing," he said as he walked toward them.
It has paint on its face and a swath of purple cloth around its shoulders, Kallian thought. And it is talking.
Anders sounded absolutely delighted to be a witness to this. "It really is talking!"
"Well let's shut it up already!" Oghren growled.
"Commander…" their captive began. Kallian assumed he must be Varel.
The hurlock pointed at her. "Capture the Grey Warden. These others, they may be killed."
Anders acted first, firing a ball of flame at the head of the hurlock holding Varel. It was a risky move, but the beast dropped its weapon and staggered back, falling down as it tried to put out the flames on its head and shoulders. As Kallian and the others began fighting the darkspawn, Varel grabbed the sword at his knees and joined them.
With ten well-armed, skilled and determined allies fighting against the three remaining darkspawn, they were quickly put down, although the leader was particularly tough. Kallian found herself bent over and on the verge of vomiting on Varel's boots when the fight was over. Petra was at her side, casting a healing spell.
"Commander, are you all right?"
She laughed. "This from the man who was very nearly decapitated a few moments ago?" She stood up straight. "Thank you, Petra. I am nearly three months with child and I am normally able to keep the morning sickness under control, but for some reason, darkspawn just set me off."
She held out her arm. "Ah…Seneschal Varel, I presume?"
"Yes, Commander." Varel replied, gripping her arm.
"Please, call me Kallian. I…did you hear that?"
Kallian began walking along the ramparts toward the front of the keep, until they had a clear view over the baileys and the main gates. Varel squinted at the hill approaching the keep.
"Hmm, soldiers on the road. It seems we have more company. Hopefully they're more hospitable than our previous guests. Come this way, we can get down here."
Varel led them to a nearby door and down a circular staircase that took them to the keep's main entrance hall and outside to the lower bailey. Some of the soldiers who had been stationed at the main gates met them.
"Commander, it's King Alistair." The man barely had time to draw another breath before Alistair and his retinue rode through the gates.
"Oh great," Kallian groaned as she spotted Ser Rylock at Alistair's side. "What in the Maker's name is she doing here?"
She pulled her helm and gauntlets off, handing them to the soldier. "If you could be so kind, ser…?"
"Yes, Commander. My name is Daveth."
"Really? That takes me back. A Warden recruit I once knew," she explained as she lowered herself to one knee and bowed her head.
The others followed suit, Mhairi whispering "King Alistair" with such awe Kallian nearly laughed out loud.
Dismounting, the King pulled his own helm and gauntlets off, surveying the grounds. The others with him dismounted as well and stood at attention beside their horses. Rylock had spotted Anders and it looked as though she had to use every ounce of her energy to not kill him then and there.
"Looks like I arrived a bit late. Too bad, I rather miss the whole darkspawn killing thing."
Alistair sounded jovial, but his eyes betrayed a deep concern. He looked tired and Kallian knew instinctively that he had suffered as she had.
"I'd wanted to come and give the Wardens a formal welcome, but I…well, I certainly was not expecting this." He reached down to take Kallian's hand and helped her up, waving to the rest of the group to stand.
"What's the situation, Sister?"
Kallian planted a smile upon her face. "Oh, you know, darkspawn seem to enjoy my company. In truth, Alistair, I do not know. Perhaps the seneschal can enlighten us."
"What darkspawn remained have fled, your majesty. The Grey Wardens who arrived from Orlais appear to be either dead or…missing."
"Missing? As in taken by the darkspawn? Do they even do that?"
Kallian shrugged while Varel spoke. "I do not know, sire, I only know that I cannot account for all the Grey Wardens."
"I see. At least the Hero of Ferelden is still here and alive. That's something, right? Hello Zev, Petra."
"Pfft. We have suffered heavy losses, Alistair, but we are all right." She motioned with her hand and they stepped away from the group.
"This makes things quite difficult."
"That's a bit of an understatement. You're getting good at that."
"You know, we were at a guest house northwest of Amaranthine when I felt it, just before dawn."
Alistair's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, the fourteenth. I know. It was…"
"Very disturbing," Kallian finished his thought. "The closer we got…I just knew it was a lost cause. If I could have…"
Alistair dropped a hand on her shoulder. "Don't. You cannot blame yourself for this. Any of it. I won't hear it."
She smiled weakly. "Okay."
"You have quite the task ahead of you," he said, leading her back to the others. "Really, I'd like to help you fight the darkspawn, but you're on your own for the moment."
Oghren grunted. "Hey, what am I, chopped nug livers?"
Anders laughed. "From the smell, that's not a bad guess."
Rylock couldn't contain herself any longer. "King Alistair! Beware, your majesty. This man is a dangerous criminal."
"Oh, the dwarf is a bit of an ass, but I wouldn't go that…"
"She means me," Anders offered, hanging his head.
Rylock pointed at him, as if to be sure everyone knew of whom she was speaking. "This is an apostate we were in the process of bringing back to the Circle to face justice."
"Oh please," the mage scoffed. "The things you people know about justice would fit into a thimble. I'll just escape again anyway."
"Never! I'll see you hanged for what you've done here, murderer."
"Murderer? But those templars were…oh what's the use, you won't believe me anyway."
Alistair and Kallian were watching each other during this exchange, communicating through subtle changes in their facial expressions. By the spark of anger in her eyes and the set of her jaw, he knew she had made up her mind.
Alistair nodded. "Well. It seems there isn't much to say. Unless…you have something to add Commander?"
"I do. I hereby conscript this mage into the Grey Wardens."
Anders paled slightly. Rylock was outraged.
"What? Never!"
Kallian stepped forward, raising her voice. "It is rather presumptuous of you to assume you know anything about what has happened here, Ser Rylock, and I will not have you speak to me or my people this way on our lands. I have lost twelve Warden brothers and who knows how many soldiers and staff, I am tired, hungry and pretty bloody upset right now, so don't you dare push me." She leaned forward and jabbed a finger at Rylock for emphasis.
"I found this mage killing the very darkspawn who killed your templars and he has fought by our side since. I have conscripted him. He is a Grey Warden recruit and as much as you may hate that fact, there isn't a damn thing you can do about it because the Chantry does not have control over the Grey Wardens."
Straightening up again, Kallian cleared her throat and smoothed her hair back, tucking stray strands behind her ears. The silence dragged on for a moment longer before Alistair blinked and coughed.
"Well. The Grey Wardens do still retain the Right of Conscription. I must allow it." His tone of voice and the look he shot Rylock ended the conversation.
"If…if your majesty feels it is best," Rylock stammered, turning back to her horse.
Oghren laughed, punching Anders on the arm. "Ha! Way to go, kid. Welcome aboard!"
"Me, a Grey Warden? Ah…I guess that'll work…"
"Congratulations, ser mage. I look forward to fighting at your side," Mhairi offered.
Anders began to flirt with the soldier. Kallian rolled her eyes. Here I go all over again, she thought with a smile. Alistair caught her expression and laughed.
"If you've got everything under control, I will need to take my leave."
Varel nodded. "I believe the estate has been secured, yes. We have suffered losses, but the darkspawn are gone and there are survivors."
He turned to Kallian. "I am most grateful for your timely arrival, Commander. It is my duty to aid you in ruling the lands of Amaranthine."
"You are welcome, Varel. Listen, I…ah…I really need to eat something. We all need food and water and rest before we can attend to our dead, the Joining ceremony and ridding the estate of darkspawn corpses. Could you gather all the survivors together and see what provisions we have?"
"Yes, Commander. The kitchens are at the back of the keep, if you will join us there." He bowed to her and Alistair and turned, waving soldiers back up to the keep.
Kallian turned back to Alistair. "Are you sure you can't stay?"
Alistair nodded. "I wish I could, I do, but I'm on my way to Highever to meet with Teryn Fergus Cousland to discuss what aid we can offer him in rebuilding. Look, the security of Ferelden relies on the Grey Wardens now even weakened as the order is. It will be up to you to deal with the vestiges of the Blight before the situation grows out of control. No easy task, but I am confident you're up to the task."
"Thank you, Alistair. Please extend my greetings to Teryn Cousland. I would offer assistance if I could, but I think the damage here is extensive, to both the property and the people. We, too, must rebuild."
"Keep me informed of your progress, all right?" Alistair gripped her arm.
The king chatted briefly with Zevran and Oghren and the others before turning back to his retinue to mount his horse. "Good luck, Sister. May the Maker watch over you."
"Maker watch over us all, Brother."
xXx
An hour later, Kallian was seated at the head of a large dining table, watching the others eat. In addition to Varel, the senior staff included Captain Garevel who was to replace Rowland, and Mistress Woolsey, sent from Weisshaupt to manage the keep's treasury. From the soldiers' ranks they had accounted for Sergeant Marverlies and Private Evalyn and nine soldiers, the injured having been seen to by Anders and Petra, who were proving to be quite the healing team. Other soldiers had been sent out to scout the surrounding area and had yet to return, so it was anyone's guess how many more might join them. They had also found dwarven brothers Dworkin and Voldrik Glavonak, who had been hired to supply bombs and stone masonry work, respectively; a Circle mage ambassador named Cera; two merchants named Alexi and Yuriah; four household staff who cooked and cleaned; an elven grounds keeper named Samuel. She was delighted to discover that Alistair had arranged to send Wade and Herren to the keep to outfit her men, and equally happy to find them alive, even if Wade had done nothing but complain ever since.
Varel asked her if she had seen anyone else in the homes surrounding the keep and was saddened to hear she had not.
"We have a dozen homes here, a dozen families," he whispered as she and Zevran huddled close to him. "If they are lost, we lose a great deal in return. Collectively, they provide us with eggs, fowl, milk, butter, cheese, the ingredients required for the ale we brew, wool…"
"That is a loss indeed, Varel, and if they truly are lost, we must invite others to take their place. If the countryside is, as we hear, being terrorized by these roaming bands of darkspawn, an invitation to reside here, under our protection, will mean something. Perhaps even more so if we bring them into the keep itself to complement the household staff. There's an entire wing of servants' quarters."
"Perhaps," he acknowledged.
Captain Garevel leaned forward in his seat. "Commander, I hate to bring this up now, but I am reminded that we have a prisoner in the dungeon. He was found creeping around the grounds the same day we were attacked. It took four Wardens to capture him."
"Has he had no food or water since?" Kallian asked, sitting up straight.
Garevel shrugged, looking slightly baffled by her concern for a common thief.
"Maker's breath. Bronwyn?"
"Yes, my lady. Commander. Er…" The poor girl looked positively frightened as she leapt up from her seat at the far end of the table.
Smiling in an effort to hide her annoyance with the titles, Kallian stood. "If I'm wearing my armor, call me Commander. If I'm wearing regular clothing, 'my lady' will suffice, I suppose. Could you please ensure that some hardtack, a jug of water, salt pork and cheese be taken to the prisoner?"
"Yes, Commander." With a curtsey, Bronwyn scurried off.
Kallian cleared her throat and knocked on the table to get everyone's attention.
"Thank you. There is much to be done in order to clean up and recover from this attack, but I think we have a few priorities. I have a Joining ceremony to perform this evening, we must rest and then we must honor our dead and rid our estate of vermin that has invaded. While I take care of my duties, I would be grateful if the rest of you could find accommodations for us all. Many, if not all, of us need to clean up, as well.
"I think until we know for certain that we are indeed safe from further darkspawn attack, we should sleep in groups. There are thirty seven of us in total, plus Lucius, and it looked as though the Wardens' quarters were spacious enough to hold four to six to a room. As long as those who do not know how to fight are protected, we will be fine."
There was a pause and everyone looked at her expectantly. Sighing, she finally said "Dismissed."
Wood scraping on stone echoed throughout the hall and armor creaked and clanked as everyone stood and prepared to follow her orders. Zevran stood and took her hand. Planting a kiss on her knuckles, he stroked her cheek.
"You look exhausted, amata. We must find you a bed and get you out of your armor."
"When the others have beds, mio marito. We're almost there." She squeezed his hand and they followed Varel.
Varel showed them to the armory first, where everyone stripped off their armor and hung it up, putting their weapons on racks as well. Once they all had a change of clothing and a towel ready, they went to the common bathing room used by the soldiers. This room was fitted with several deep tubs enchanted with runes that would either fill the tubs with water or send a cascade of water pouring out of a stone disc suspended above each tub.
Varel had argued with Kallian, insisting she and Zevran go first and bathe alone as the lord and lady of the estate, and standing under a stream of hot water, she couldn't help but be grateful she had been far too tired to insist otherwise.
"This is fantastic," Kallian groaned as a she rinsed soap from her hair and body. "If it weren't for the long line of people outside, I could stay here for hours."
The hot water had done wonders to ease the aches and pains from her muscles and it was a relief to be free of the stench of darkspawn. She stood under the stream for a while longer before stopping the flow with a tap to the rune stone.
Zevran wrapped a towel around her and helped her out of the tub. Drying off and dressing as quickly as they could, they gathered their things and stepped out into the hall. Kallian sent all the remaining women in to bathe and instructed the men to do the same when the women were done. As each group bathed, the others waited, chatting. Strangely, in spite of how exhausted and traumatized everyone was, the atmosphere in the hallway was light. Kallian made a point of talking with everyone and saw that they were doing the same. Soldiers and staff and warden recruits were following her example, all mingling, getting to know each other a little, and offering comfort to one another. Having shared such a terrible experience had drawn them together, binding them and giving them a deeper understanding of the purpose they served. When they had all bathed, they climbed to the second floor to seek beds for the night.
Kallian pulled Varel aside to ask where she might perform the joining ceremony, wondering how she was going to approach the matter of having a potion to work with. She had made a point of bringing several vials of archdemon blood and Avernus' potion with her, along with the instructions for mixing it. The kit was contained in an ironwood box tucked into the very center of her pack.
"Varel, if you could tell me where our room is, I'd be grateful. I'll also need a private room for the Joining. Um…"
"You have a suite of rooms, Commander, at the end of the hall. There is a fairly large sitting room, den and library, bath, and bedroom. The Ambassador had been outfitting all of the rooms in this wing with runes for the baths, and we've been removing family portraits, but we have fallen a bit behind as you would expect. We should be on track within a few days."
He lowered his voice. "However, for the Joining, I would suggest the throne room. Everything we need for the ceremony is there and should any of your recruits not survive, it would be an easy matter to remove them from the keep quickly, with little notice, as there is an exit at the back. You wouldn't want to alarm anyone any more than they have been already."
Kallian was stunned and didn't know what to say. Varel knew how to perform a Joining; he knew recruits could die during the ceremony. He chuckled at her expression.
"Commander, the Orlesian Wardens were fairly tight lipped about many things, but you will find that many other things are widely known. However, as administrator of the Grey Warden lands here in Amaranthine, I am privy to information that they would not normally trust to others who are not members of the order. The Ambassador can assist you with preparing the potion and I am able to conduct the actual ceremony if you wish"
Recovering her voice, she thanked him. "Well, all things considered, that is definitely for the best. I have some things here in my pack, a refined mixture that I would like to use, but if you could please bring the recruits and Ambassador Cera with you, I will meet you downstairs. Zev, would you walk with me?"
She didn't speak again until they began to descend the stairs to the main floor.
"Maker have mercy, Zev, I'm nervous. I don't know if I can ask Ambassador Cera to do this. I mean, the instructions should really just be something like 'a shot of this and a shot of that, mix it up and drink it down', right? It looks short enough. You don't suppose it includes any dire warnings like 'this ritual may contain blood magic, proceed with caution', do you?"
By the time they had found the throne room, she was twisting her tunic in her hands, worrying about the souls under her care.
"You heard Alistair, amata. You must rebuild the order and by any means necessary, I would say. If anyone chooses to disagree with you…" he shrugged. "However, you have had reasonable success with honesty thus far."
Kallian laughed and nodded. "Indeed, it has served me well. Perhaps I'll leave out the darker details until I know better what I'm dealing with, but I will proceed with Avernus' new potion."
She remembered Ser Jory, a human Duncan had recruited along with her and Daveth. Upon seeing Daveth die, he abruptly changed his mind about becoming a Warden and had attempted to back out of the Joining. Duncan had to kill the man, leaving a widow and child behind. She had often wondered what Duncan would have done if Jory hadn't drawn his sword, forced him to drink the potion? She would never know, and hoped she would never have to make such drastic choices while she was Warden Commander. This made her stop and think for a moment. If indeed it was true that the less attractive aspects of being a Warden were widely known, and their recent victory against the archdemon was to give them a boost in popularity (how could it not? she reasoned), recruiting might be easier than she had imagined. It might be…sexy to be a Grey Warden.
Zevran pulled Kallian out of her thoughts by suggesting that they walk around to look at the various books and items on display along the outer perimeter of the throne room. She realized she was too tired to register much about the things she saw and resolved to make an effort to better explore her new home when she was more alert. Not too long into their stroll, the door to the throne room swung open and Varel and Ambassador Cera came into the room. Kallian could see Anders, Oghren and Mhairi waiting outside.
"Perhaps I should wait outside with the others," Zevran offered. "While you are performing the ceremony, I will prepare our bed for the night and make you some tea, hm?"
Nodding, Kallian kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Zev."
"Good luck, bella."
xXx
In the end, Kallian's concerns about the preparations for the Joining were unfounded. Varel and Ambassador Cera readily accepted her explanation that Avernus had developed a new mix of darkspawn blood for the joining and asked no questions at all. Cera read the instructions and proceeded to mix enough for three recruits. New worries filled Kallian's mind, but she pushed them aside and welcomed the recruits.
Varel, Cera and Kallian stood before Mhairi, Anders and Oghren, and the seneschal spoke.
"The time has come for us to begin the Joining. I shall speak the words that have been said since the first…"
xXx
Kallian stared down at the two Wardens who lay at her feet, faces twitching as the nightmares came upon them. Oghren stood beside her, belching every now and then. When he hadn't passed out, Kallian wondered if they'd mixed the potion correctly, but Anders and Mhairi had reacted just as Ser Cauthrien had, eyes going white, bodies stiffening and falling back, and they lived. The success of this Joining combined with sheer exhaustion had made her quite giddy, giving her the illusion of a second wind, but her energy was waning again and she wasn't sure she'd still be standing if it weren't for the fact that Zevran was by her side, all but holding her up.
Varel and Oghren had agreed to stay with Anders and Mhairi and they had fetched cots, blankets and pillows for them from the infirmary. Now that the rest of the household was sleeping and they were ready to turn in, Kallian bade them goodnight.
"Thank you for all you've done, Varel. Have a good night's sleep, gentlemen. We'll be in our suite." She and Zevran retreated to the second floor, Lucius at their heels.
Their rooms had obviously once belonged to Rendon Howe. They were huge, with beamed ceilings higher than she had ever seen, even at the royal palace in Denerim. The walls were covered with wooden paneling and a light plaster and each room was furnished with large, heavy pieces made of ornately carved wood, leather and fine fabrics. Large paintings had been removed from the walls and were propped up around the room, partially packed. She stopped and stared at a portrait of a young Howe, sitting on his throne, the robes of his office and a gaudy livery collar around his shoulders. He looked different, healthy, vibrant, almost handsome, and yet there was still something in his eye, a glimmer of the monster he would become, and she wanted the thing gone from her sight. She and Zevran pulled it and the crate it was to go into outside and locked the door behind them when they returned to their suite. Lucius settled down in the corner almost immediately and was snoring softly in no time.
Zevran took his wife's hand and led her through the sitting room and den and into the bedroom. A canopy bed of enormous proportions stood along one wall of the room, flanked by two windows covered with heavy drapes. A fire was crackling in the hearth and a warming pan had been slipped between the sheets. He pulled the pan out and returned it to its spot by the fire, helped Kallian undress and then pulled his own clothes off. They climbed onto the bed and under the sheets, gravitating to the warmest spot.
"I can't believe everyone survived," Kallian whispered as they pressed their bodies together. "Apparently that hardly ever happens. Might be my luck, might be the new potion, but I really don't care much. Too tired. Ti amo."
"Mm, go to sleep amata. As much as I would like to ravish you, I agree. Ti amo."
They were asleep before either could think to say anything more.
A/N: Tune in next time when Kallian, Zevran, their companions and the survivors of the keep pick up the pieces and carry on, finding an unlikely recruit in the process.
Thank you Bioware for the use of dialogue, some verbatim, some not quite. Thank you, readers, for adding me to your alerts/faves lists! As always, I love to hear from you, so please feel free to comment and review. Cheers, Biff.