AN: Alrighty, here's the second chapter for Arlathan :) Just wanted to give a big thank you to ZachMercurious for reviewing - and a shout out to those who put this story on their alerts/favorite list. It makes me happy to know the story is of some interest to people. As I said before, I expect I'll have one chapter out every week, and I DO plan to include every major even in the game though depending upon how tedious/time consuming that becomes content will change.
Thanks again for taking the time to read (I don't own anything) and feel free to comment should it so strike your fancy :)
~Voi
The noise from the war camp was near deafening after days of near perfect silence with Duncan. The scent of metal and thick leather hung heavy in the air, lingering amidst the all consuming smell of charcoal and great bonfires. And there were men, human men, everywhere.
She had met the King earlier, as so she had expected such things, and yet, perhaps not, for the sheer number of them made her head spin. The king himself had been kind, smiling encouragingly as he spoke to her, but she doubted such kindness would be universal; especially among the rougher crowd of warriors.
Ignoring the flicker of unease that passed through her, Elisaris walked quietly through the camp, her eyes darting back and forth as she tried to take in the entire experience in as little time as possible. She had elected to stay away from the small group of mages that lay just behind two templar knights, the dual presence of magic and cold steel more than she was willing to confront at so early a time. Still, she couldn't help but cast curious glances backwards as the sudden glow of bright blue and shimmering white painted the surrounding landscape with otherworldly color. It was beautiful really, and yet unsettling, unnatural, a part of the world she had never before seen.
Taking comfort at the familiar gold band on her finger, Elisaris moved steadily onward until the soft keening of an injured animal drew her towards a collection of sturdy iron and wood pens.
They were…dogs, big ones. Leaning just her chin over the high enclosure, the young elven woman gazed wide-eyed at the heavily scarred but doubtlessly powerful creatures roaming their small pens in relative solidarity. The exception came from the middle pen, where one was whimpering piteously in between moments of fright, anger, and growling.
"Poor thing…" Moving to where the lone creature was being held, she knelt by the door and extended her hand through the wide gap half expecting the furry beast to shy away. Instead, she felt the bump of a large furry snout against her hand and the wet slobbery lick of a very friendly Mabari.
"Hello beautiful."
Grinning encouragingly, the elven woman pushed her other arm through and brushed the back of the hound, murmuring soft words of comfort as the creature began to shudder once again in pain.
"Ah…found a friend have you laddie?"
Kind though the voice was, the unexpected comment nearly made the young Tabris jump out of her skin, her hands closing reflexively on the hounds' flank in fear. Eyes darting upwards she met the warm gaze of a man who introduced himself as the war camp Master of the Hounds .
"I-I'm sorry." Elisaris apologized as she realized she must be interfering with his work, "I didn't mean to make myself a nuisance."
Moving to take her hands away from the cage the man merely smiled as he shook his head.
"Nothing to worry about, seems like this big guy has a caring for you so who am I to say otherwise?" His smile drooped a little, "Besides, the way he's been deteriorating I don't expect he'll be living for much longer."
"What do you mean?" The young city elf frowned slightly as she glanced once more at the dog nuzzling her hand, "Is he dying?"
She left little more than half an hour later promising to return with the appropriate flower from the Wilds, only to be stopped at the gate by a solitary guard and his hound. Despite her adamant pleas that such a small trip would only take a few minutes, the man continued to refuse her, mentioning that it would be Duncan alone who could give her such permission.
And of course, Duncan had left her not two hours ago with instruction to find the other Grey Warden; Alistair. The only problem was that she was sure was sure she had looked everywhere but had seen neither hide nor hair of any man named Alistair.
Perhaps Alistair was an unfortunately named woman?
The elven woman felt a bubble of amusement rise at the thought but promptly suppressed it with a frown. It wasn't right that she was making small jokes after all that had happened, she owed it to them to continue her period of mourning, however long it might take. No doubt Alistair was a man; she merely had to find him.
And so, redoubling her efforts, the lithe woman began to scour the camp anew, pausing when upon entering the oldest of the ruins she heard raised voices, which immediately brought her to explore the small alcove to her right.
"What is it now? Haven't the Grey Wardens asked more than enough of the Circle?" It was a man's voice, and by the sound of it he was severely irritated. Stepping cautiously through the open archway, the young Tabris got a better look at both figures, both men.
"I simply came to deliver a message from the Revered Mother, sir mage. She desires your presence."
Younger than the other men she had seen in camp, the male dressed in the armor of a knight seemed almost apologetic as he conferred his message to the obvious disgruntled older man, a mage if his comments and clothes were any indication.
"What her reverence desires is of no concern to me; I am busy helping the Grey Wardens, by the Kings' orders I might add."
"Should I have asked her to write a note?"
Asked the knight sardonically, his face suggesting he was seconds from smirking.
"Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner!"
"Yes…I was harassing you…by delivering a message."
The knight expressed the irony of his words, as he continued to listen to the other complain and whine. Elisaris couldn't understand why the mage was having such trouble with the younger man, but perhaps the two had met before and come to less than amiable conclusions of each other.
"Your glibness does you no credit."
"And here I was thinking we were getting along so well…I was even going to name one of my children after you. The grumpy one."
Despite the situation and the fact that she was very much eavesdropping on this conversation, the young elven woman couldn't help but grin at this one joke. It felt strange, after so many days of being so hopelessly lost that this one smile would seem to help, at least a little. And yet, not a moment later, a wave of guilt swept through her and Elisaris felt her lips tremble in despair; it was not right that she should feel so at ease so soon. Indeed, so torn were her emotions that she all but missed the departure of the affronted mage, which left her with the strange, but seemingly benign human knight. Not that she had any idea on how she was going to deal with his peculiarities of course.
"Well…one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together."
If she hadn't known he was a man of strange humor she was sure she would have found him intellectually damaged. No other man had acted quite as he did, nor addressed her without any immediate commentary on her race. Still, she had no way of responding to his precious comment without sounding like a fool.
"Sorry, what?"
She flushed a little as the man drew nearer, his eyes glinting with mirth quite unlike the solemn expressions of those around camp, the sad expression she no doubt had adopted as well.
"Oh nothing!" he smiled charmingly and Elisaris couldn't help but puzzle over its strange familiarity, "Just trying to find a bright side to all this. Wait…we haven't met, have we? I don't suppose you'd be another mage…"
Elisaris thought back to the mages she had seen around camp and then looked at her own clothing, surely he was joking.
"Wait, I know who you are. You're Duncan's new recruit, that elf from Denerim. I should have recognized you right away, I apologize. "
"It's…alright…" Elisaris didn't know what to make of his apology, no one have ever been sorry for not recognizing her before, "Would you be Alistair?"
"Did Duncan mention me?" The knight looked at her ruefully, "Nothing bad I hope! As the junior member of the Order, I'll be accompanying you when you prepare for the Joining."
Not that knew what the Joining was, but the elven woman nodded anyway, surprised at her own lack of anxiousness around this human man. Indeed, it had taken her an entire day to get used to Duncan.
"My name is Elisaris." She offered her hand in the common greeting and found it easily grasped by a much larger one, gentle despite its size.
"Right! That was the name."
He sounded absurdly pleased with her as he smiled brightly. The human man, Alistair, she amended as she continued to watch him, seemed indeed to be all over the place when it came to his conversations. It was a refreshing change; something she imagined characterized this not-so-ordinary man.
"You know, it just occurred to me…there have never been many women in the Grey Wardens. I wonder why that is?"
She really had no idea, but managed as best an answer as she could.
"I supposed I can handle myself better than most?"
It sounded more like a question to her ears, but made the man-Alistair, grin, "I'm getting that impression"
The following silence seemed as to suggest he was considering her carefully before speaking once more.
"Anyhow, seeing as I've kept you here with all of my questions, it's probably best that we get back to Duncan. I imagine he's eager to get things started. "
She merely nodded silently before following him out of the ruins; no doubt he would know better where to find their leader than she.
As it was however, what she found was that he had no sense of direction.
"I…think we've passed that old woman before…unless…maybe she moved?"
The hopeful tone in his voice nearly made her laugh once more.
"Maybe…if we walk behind her…"
"Have you thought about asking for directions?" The elven woman suggested, as she watched him slowly circle the grounds once again.
"Directions? Bah! Grey Wardens don't need directions…" He puffed out his chest importantly as turned to give her a wink, "…why I know this camp like the back of my own – ack! "
The poor knight sailed unceremoniously into the air as he tripped over his own feet, going down in a clatter of metal plates and chainmail.
"Oh ouch… I think I pulled something…"
Elisaris just sighed; it looked like she would be the one leading.
* * * * * * *
"You found Alistair did you? Good."
Finding Duncan had been significantly faster after the elven woman had taken control of the situation, a detail which, by the look on his face he was well aware of.
"I assume you're ready to make preparations, assuming of course that you're quite finished riling up mages, Alistair?"
The older man gave his charge a pointed look.
"What can I say?" The taller knight laughed slightly, "The revered mother ambushed me. The way she wields guilt they should stick her in the army."
Elisaris felt her lips twist into a small smile and felt another bolt of guilt pierce her subconscious. Sooner or later this duality of amusement and guilt was going to make her mad, but until then she'd have to bear it as best she could.
It seemed their mentor too was susceptible to Alistair's humor; his lips also quirking in amusement before he regained his outward composure and grew serious.
"She forced you to sass the mage did she?"
The older man sighed a little, "We cannot afford to antagonize anyone Alistair. We don't need to give anyone more ammunition against us."
"I apologize Duncan," for once the junior Grey Warden appeared genuinely sorry, "I'll go collect who we're missing."
He returned nearly an hour later, with two bulky human men, both of whom were grumbling about someone's apparent lack of direction. The elven woman sympathized, but said nothing, feeling exceedingly small beside the newcomers and more than a little wary.
Alistair provided the introductions.
"This is Ser Jory, a knight from Redcliff. And this here is Daveth…a fellow from Denerim."
Elisaris met their greetings with a nod, but lingered a moment on Daveth, wondering if she had ever come across him at the Alienage. Alistair's comment suggested he was less that scrupulous and that was, unfortunately, the sort of human beings one could find in and around her wall enclosed community.
"Now then." Duncan summoned their combined attention, "Since you're all here we can begin. You four will be heading into the Korcari Wilds to perform two tasks. The first is to obtain three vials of darkspawn blood, one for each recruit."
Elisaris wondered what use the blood could possibly be used for but remained silent; it would be unlike her to draw attention to herself. Instead she waited for Duncan to mention the second of the assigned tasks.
"Also, there was once a Grey Warden archive in the Wilds, abandoned long ago when we could no longer afford to maintain such remote outposts. It has recently come to our attention that some scrolls have been left behind, magically sealed to protect them."
He turned to his junior officer, "Alistair, I want you to retrieve these scrolls if you can. The scrolls contain treaties promising support, treaties that may prove valuable in the days to come. Watch over your charges Alistair and return quickly and safely."
The younger man nodded, "We will."
"Then may the Maker watch over your path. I will see you when you return."
They all nodded, it was time to be off.
* * * * * * *
"Ugh!"
Groaning softly as she pulled her two swords from the back of a particularly smelly Hurlock, Elisaris felt her arms tremble a little from the strain. She may have been trained to wield weapons as a child, but years of relative peace meant she was unused striking such solid targets.
"That's all of them…let's keeping moving."
Alistair's voice was even despite the recent exertion, seemingly untouched by the effort that had been required to subdue the marauding band of darkspawn they had come upon. Part of her wanted to chalk it up to him being a human and therefore of stronger build than she. But to do such would be nothing more than an excuse, and she had seen well enough in the near constant fights that the pale-haired warden was more than capable of wielding sword and shield, almost masterful really. Elisaris frowned a bit in envy as she watched him slide his weapon back in the sheath, grinning good naturedly as he flexed his fingers and rolled one shoulder with practiced ease.
She wished she could have that sort of power.
If she remembered anything about the mother she had lost so long ago it was her advice that one should always be on the lookout for new skills, new talents to explore and adapt to one's own form of swordplay. The young elf doubted she could ever use the same sort of strength seemed inherent to the good-natured knight, but perhaps there would be some way to emulate the way he struck his opponents. It was worth a shot.
"Come on now! We're making good time, all that's left to find are those scrolls. The map says that it's right over…"
From over her shoulder Elisaris could hear both of her fellow Recruits groan, Alistair had yet to surrender the map to any of them, and as a result they had been wandering the same boggy pond ever since arriving in the Wilds.
On the bright side, Elisaris had managed to find the swamp flower for the wounded hound back at camp. But then, the way the four of them were traveling it seemed unlikely that they would ever make it back.
"Alistair…" The young Tabris hesitated before jogging beside the much taller human man, her voice carrying in the uncanny stillness of the Wilds.
"Hmmm?"
"Could I take a look at the map for a minute?"
She was trying to be as diplomatic as possible, but the small pout on his face suggested he knew exactly what she was doing.
"No you may not…" He held the map over his head and began to walk away, the map fluttering tauntingly in his large grip, "I know exactly where we're headed, so all you have to do is-ack!"
For what was to be the second time that day Alistair tripped and fell to the mossy ground below, hands flailing as he tried and failed to keep balance.
"By the Maker, I swear if I fall one more time…"
Kneeling down to pick up the now slightly damp map, Elisaris found her attention suddenly drawn to the pile of intricately carved stones upon which the vellum had come to rest. Pulling the map aside, she left it there in the dirt, temporarily forgotten.
What were these symbols? And why did they seem familiar?
Digging into the small pack at her side, the elven woman drew out a thin journal which they had confiscated from a deserted campsite a while ago.
Where were those notes about…there!
Holding up the book so that it was side by side with the pile of stones, Elisaris made one last check before beginning to read the copious notes left by the now dead scholar.
So these were the stones of those called the Chasind…
"Hey…"
Looking up the elven woman found herself surrounded by the three men, her breath catching suddenly in her throat as her eyes widened in fright.
They had been all around her…jeering as they pushed her between them…she had been little more than a child at the time, but there were some things one didn't forget.
Struggling not to panic Elisaris swallowed slowly and forced a smile, "Could I ask you three to take just a step back?"
Their easy compliance gave her the peace of mind to calm herself, She was glad they did not any questions of her.
"I think I've found something."
* * * * * * *
An hour later, Elisaris found herself smiling contentedly. Having commandeered the map from Alistair after his unfortunate tumble, they had made good time, finding several more piles of Chasind Stones that promised to reveal the location of what she imagined would be a particularly useful trove of items.
"Now I hate to question you, oh fearless leader, but do you know where we're going?"
The young elf looked up from the map in her hands to find the older Grey Warden looking over her shoulder, quite close under the circumstances.
"Do you…have to be quite so close?" she wanted to know after a long moment of just looking at him.
"Hmm? Oh me? No I suppose not…I just wanted to see if I could absorb your amazing map-reading skills if I looked at from your point of view."
"You mean a foot closer to the ground?" Elisaris asked when she realized he was nearly bent in half trying to put his head on the same level as her own.
"Well…yeah…"
The elven woman choked back a laugh as she pulled away from him, her eyes sparkling with mirth, "Did it actually work?"
"No…but it was worth a try wasn't it?" He gave a silly smile, as he rubbed the back of his neck, "It probably a good thing I like following rather than leading huh?"
Elisaris merely grinned once more before nodding towards their other two companions, "Be sure to tell them that too, I think they'll appreciate the sentiment."
"Ha-ha. Very funny."
The young rogue laughed again, "I'm serious."
And then she turned around, sauntering through the swampy marsh towards the location that the treasure was supposed to be resting. They appeared in a small clearing only a moment later, the embers of an old fire still smoldering in the earthen center.
Where was the…
"Hold on just a second…" A hand clamped on her upper arm and stopped her short, "Let's wait until Alistair tells us if there are any darkspawn waiting for us."
"Should it matter?" Elisaris didn't like the idea of those evil creatures any more than the next person, but fighting those things was part of their test wasn't it?
Walking more fully into towards the firelight the elven woman caught the dull glitter of metal beneath on the far log-seat by the fire.
There it was.
The chest of the Chasind came out with ease despite the rather secret circumstances it had been hidden in. It look little more than a sharp jerk to pull it free from its dirt vault, and little more than a fiddle with the old lock before the box opened.
Oh treasure… she hoped she might find something to suit her smaller frame, the heavy metal helmet and sword too large for her to use properly.
It wasn't until her hands touched the smooth of animal skin that the young Tabris paused in her search. Pulling out a thin slip of garment, scarcely half the thickness of her leather jerkin, the elven woman felt her eyes widening as she shook it out before her, looking in muted silence as she examined the symbols delicately embossed on the worked surface.
Was this armor?
Part of her wanted to believe it was some sort of joke, and yet she had heard enough stories in the war camp about the Chasind Folk that such garments came as little surprise. No doubt this scrap of cloth had more protective strength than what she was wearing right now.
Still…
Looking over her shoulder at the three men she tucked the dress under her arm and stood up flushing slightly.
She might as well get this over with as soon as possible, that way they could all get used to it.
"I…need to check this armor and see how it compares to what I have on. There are a few more pieces in the chest, but I think this one is perhaps meant for me."
"And just how do you know that?" Alistair's voice was teasing as he examined her smaller form with the cloth in her hands, "Does it come with a little card addressed to you, complete with little note from the Chasind?"
"Well…I suppose it doesn't…"
Elisaris shifted nervously but stayed where she was, she really didn't want to make this any more awkward than it would be.
"And they didn't embroider your name into the inside seams?"
"Well no…but..."
He had plucked the light blue-green fabric from her grasp not a moment later, unfurling it like a great banner of war flapping in the wind. Or would have, had the scrap of cloth not been so short and cut through.
"Oh…wow…" His grin quickly faded into one of flustered surprised, "You don't actually think they mean for you to wear this…do you?"
"I had been trying to tell you…" Elisaris responded, helplessly confused, as the human man continued to blush at the little garments, "But you wouldn't let me finish."
"Ah. Well. Here is your…" he flushed more deeply as it handed back, "…garment."
The elf woman flushed with equal embarrassment as she accepted the clothing back, "I…I'll be right back."
Then she was moving, disappearing behind the tree line, no doubt to change into the gift the Chasind had left. And yet, no sooner had Alistair finished picking through the rest of the contents in the old chest when her scream pierced the air, drawing all three men to their feet, though it was the Junior Grey Warden who acted first, long legs crossing the distance in a matter of seconds despite the heavy weight of the armor her carried.
Two darkspawn, just inside the forest line…how could he have missed that?!
He arrived to find the scene distinctively less than he expected. The lifeless bodies of two darkspawn lay face down in the thick underbrush, and there, pale though very much alive, stood the half-nude figure of the youngest Grey Warden recruit, her hand clutching a bloodied sword.
"Lady?"
Alistair turned to signal the other Initiates go back to the campfire, doubting at the young woman would be so predisposed to hosting an audience of other males in her undressed state. Indeed, she seems to be mortified at even his presence though he has not looked at her since first arriving at the scene.
"I-I'm sorry," she apologized, "I didn't mean to scream…and you get you worried."
"You were attacked," Alistair glanced at her for a second, checking for injury before resuming his polite look away, "That's hardly something you ought to be apologizing for."
"O-oh…well you see, I didn't scream because of the darkspawn…I screamed because…" she hesitated for a moment before mumbling something under her breath, "Because I thought I saw a spider."
Unable to help himself, Alistair wheeled around to look at the small shivering elf, his expression incredulous, "You mean to tell me that you screamed after you had killed the two darkspawn?"
"I…didn't want to make a big deal of it," her expression was flushed in embarrassment as she realized he was staring, "There were just two of them…and I didn't think that…"
"Didn't think is right…" Alistair continued to ignore her nudity as he gave a mighty sigh, "By the Maker, you could have been killed!"
"But…"
"You are my responsibility when we're out here," Alistair met her gaze solidly, his brown eyes serious, "It's my job to make sure you stay safe, I…"
He trailed off as he seemed to realize she was still very much unclothed, "Oh. Well. I…sorry…I'll just… now that everything is taken care of… I'll just…"he flushed a deep scarlet and passed his hand over his face, "…go."
And he was, turning around quickly before trampling away, the tips of his ears red beneath the short cut of his hair.
Elisaris merely waited for him to be out of hearing distance before she sighed, strange human indeed…
* * * * * * *
"And that should be the last of them…"
Looking up from the small glass vial from which she was drinking, Elisaris eyed her fellow recruits noting that they too could use a bit of the healing as well. Alistair was fine and almost entirely unscathed, though more a result of his own mistake than by skill.
They had found the Grey Warden tower about an hour ago, and had planned their course of action to minimize their damages against more numerous foes. They were supposed to pair up, one rogue one knight, and then work together. And everything would have gone fine if Alistair hadn't gone into battle following Ser Jory, the only other knight in the party.
Elisaris winced a little as she turned her neck, brushing the bruised skin against the rough edge of her armor. She had worked well with Daveth; it had taken considerable effort to continue dodging the constant swing of tainted weaponry but two rogues had the benefit of spotting for each other.
"Hey…do you have any extras?"
Looking up, the elven woman smiled at the exhausted by accomplished looks on the faces of her fellow recruits, they had stopped just short of her seated position, mindful of her past request.
"Just a second," propping her leg up on the stone ledge before her, the young Tabris unbelted the pouch on her leg that contained the smaller vials of healing potion, handing out two.
"Elisaris…could you…maybe…put your leg down?"
Alistair, she realized as she looked up to meet his gaze, was looking embarrassed again, noting with amusement the delicate flush on his features. The poor guy had yet to get used to the Chasind armor with its thigh high boots and high cut dress.
"Did you need a potion too?" the city elf questioning just in case he had been struck between the plates of his armor where she couldn't see.
"No…I'm good…"
His eyes seemed to be looking any anything but her; it earned a few snickers from their other male companions, but made the elven woman felt a similar flush cross her features.
She was slowly coming to know this human was one of a distinctly rare breed.
"Shall we go collect the scrolls then?"
What they found was less than what they had hoped, the crumbling pile of stones in much the same shape as the chest that was supposed to house the scrolls.
Picking through the debris of what had once been a chest, Elisaris felt her heart sink.
The darkspawn must have taken the scrolls. The box had all but been crushed into pulp.
"Nothing in there?"
Alistair's expression was grave as she turned to look at him, her own frown mirroring his own.
"Well well, what do we have here?"
The voice of a woman pierced the tense silence that had come with their discovery that the scrolls were gone.
"Are you a vulture, I wonder, a scavenger poking amidst a corpse whose bones were long since cleaned? Turning to her right, Elisaris watched as a woman materialized amidst the fog, her golden eyes glowing unnaturally beneath the dark fringe of her eye lashes, "or merely an intruder, come into these darkspawn filled Wilds of mine in search of easy prey?
She crossed the distance between them like a predator, radiating danger and easy grace. The elven woman paused as her hand settled on the hilt of one of her short swords.
"What say you, hmm? Scavenger or Intruder?" The fact she was addressing the elven woman and not the others made it clear who she wished to answer. Elisaris almost wished it was someone else, her stomach twisting uncomfortably under the luminescent gaze.
Scavenger or intruder…she doubted they fell into either category…unless the Wilds really were owned by someone…
"I am neither. The Grey Wardens once owned this tower."
"Tis a tower no longer, the Wilds have obviously claimed this desiccated corpse." Still the woman refused to move her uncanny eyes from any other figure, continuing to pin the elven woman where she stood.
"I have watched your progress for some time. 'Where do they go?' I wondered, 'Why are they here?'" Moving slowly, the strange, dark haired beauty crossed the open courtyard to stand under an arch filled with thick bramble, uncaring of the thorny limbs that plucked at her garments.
"And now you disturb ashes none have touched in so long. Why is that?"
The elven woman opened her mouth but no words issued forth, seemingly caught in the back of her throat.
"It's ok, don't answer her," Alistair seemed to understand the stricken look on Elisaris' face, "She looks Chasind, and that means others may be nearby."
The mysterious woman seemed amused.
"Oh?" Her hands animated her words, spreading wide as she mocked him, "You fear barbarians will swoop down upon you?!"
"Yes…" Alistair's face remained serious, "swooping is bad."
"She's a Witch of the Wilds, she is!" Daveth spoke suddenly, his face uneasy as he glanced from elven companion to the woman he accused, "She'll turn us into toads."
"Witch of the wilds?" Again the words of her companions were met with sardonic amusement, "such idle fancies those legends. Have you no minds of your own?"
"You there," her finger stabbed the air to point at Elisaris, "Women do not frighten like little boys. Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine."
The young Tabris paused for a moment to gather herself; for though this mysterious 'witch' had said otherwise, she was frightened. Darkspawn were one thing, evil and vicious though they may be, magic on the other hand…Elisaris shuddered but forced herself to comply, there would be no benefit in being rude to this strange woman. She would have to tread carefully.
"I am Elisaris. A pleasure to meet you."
"Now that is a proper, civil, greeting even here in the Wilds," the sudden smile on the strangers' face so changed her appearance that the elven woman blinked several times just to be sure, "You may call me Morrigan."
Morrigan…not 'Witch of the Wilds'…
Elisaris didn't know whether to laugh at herself for overreacting or throttle Daveth for even suggesting such a thing.
"Shall I guess your purpose?" Morrigan was talking again, though this time her eyes were focused not the elven maid but on Alistair, "You sought something in that chest. Something that is here no longer?"
Her ruse fooled no one, and it was very apparent the mysterious Morrigan knew precisely what they sought.
"Here no longer?" Alistair's eyes narrowed in accusation, "You stole them, didn't you? You're come kind of sneaky…witch-thief!"
Elisaris snorted as she struggled not to laugh. Leave it up to Alistair to completely ruin the seriousness of their situation.
Morrigan, it would seem, felt the same.
"How every eloquent of you, and how does one steal from dead men?"
"Easily it seems." Alistair muttered under his breath, "Those documents are Grey Warden property and I suggest you return them."
"I will not," the other woman crossed her arms, "for it was not I who removed them. Invoke a name that means nothing here any longer if you wish, I am not threatened."
Elisaris doubted Morrigan had anything to gain from lying to them, but at the same time there was little doubt the woman knew more than she was immediately telling them. She had managed to get her name the first time; she would have to try asking Morrigan a question this time.
"Then who removed them?"
It would seem she asked the right question.
"T'was my mother in fact."
Elisaris nodded readily, well that made sense then didn't it?
"Can you take us to her?"
"Ah…there is a sensible request." Morrigan laughed a little, "I like you."
The elven woman smiled in response, the other woman was deceptively kinder than she first appeared.
"I'd be careful," Alistair cautioned as he sidled up to her, eying her smile with concern, "First it's 'I like you' but then 'zap' frog time!"
"She'll put us all in the pot she will," Daveth worried fretfully, the intimidating cutthroat reduced to frightened boy, "Just you watch!"
Ser Jory, it would seem had had enough of the panicked soothsaying as well, "Well, if the pots warmer than this forest it'll be a nice change."
"Follow me then," Morrigan commanded as she turned to go, "If it pleases you."
Elisaris wasn't sure if such action was too much risk too soon, but as the dark haired woman turned to leave the elven maid was left with little choice.
"Let's go."
* * * * * * *
They arrived at a surprisingly modest house after several long minutes of walking through a misty bog and marsh labyrinth. Though the elven woman prided herself at being particularly talented with direction, she doubted that even she would be able to find this particular abode without assistance.
"Greeting mother, I bring before you four Grey Wardens to-"
"I see them girl," the smaller woman ground out, her sharp eyes moving from face to face as she examined them, "Hmm…much as I expected."
"Are we supposed to believe that you were expecting us?"
Alistair's skepticism with met with an uncommon nonchalance.
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shut one's eyes tightly or open one's arms wide, either way one's a fool."
"She's a witch I tell you! We shouldn't be talking to her!" Still Daveth bleated fearfully from his position at the back of the party, though Elisaris could not make out his expression behind her.
"Quiet, Daveth!" Ser Jory was beginning to sound nervous, "If she's really a witch do you want to make her mad?"
"There's a smart lad!" It would seem the sardonic humor was inherited from her mother, "Sadly irrelevant in the larger scheme of things. But it is not I who decides. Believe what you will."
The dark golden eyes shifted suddenly to focus on the elven maid, quiet though she had been.
"And what of you, does your elven mind give you a different viewpoint? What do you believe?"
"I…I'm not sure what to believe," Elisaris answered honestly, her eyes flickering from old woman to the mossy ground. She had managed Morrigan well enough, but this woman was incontestably more powerful and therefore more dangerous than her daughter.
"A statement that posses more wisdom than it implies," Morrigans' mother tapped her hand pointedly, "Be always aware…or is it oblivious…can never remember…"
The woman seemed, for a moment at least, suddenly more real as she shrugged off her forgetful mind, the image lost with her next warning.
"So much about you is uncertain, and yet, I believe..." she trailed off again as if surprised with herself, "Do I? Why…it seems I do."
"So…this…" Alistair's voice sounded skeptical, "Is a dreaded Witch of the Wilds…"
"Witch of the Wilds huh?" it was the older woman who scoffed at the title, "Morrigan must have told you that…she fancies such tales, though she would never admit it…oh how she dances under the moon."
Her sudden laugh echoed despite the openness of their surroundings.
"They did not come to listen to your wild tales, mother." Morrigan seemed unfazed by the strange behavior of her parent, at ease with the seemingly disjointed pattern of her speech.
"True. They came for their treaties, yes?" She turned away to rummage around behind her, "And before you begin barking, your precious seal wore off long ago. I have protected these."
A small sheaf of papers passed from wrinkled hands into the more youthful ones of the elven rogue.
"You! Oh…" Alistair quieted suddenly, "You protected them." He sounded stunned.
"And why not?" The steel haired woman seemed unsurprised, "Take them to your Grey Wardens and tell them this Blights' threat is greater than they realize."
The words produced a deep foreboding for the elven woman, "What do you mean 'the threat is greater than they realize'?"
"Either the threat is more or they realize less, or perhaps the threat is nothing…" the answer was more evasive than not, lost in another strange laugh, "or perhaps they realize nothing!"
She quieted again after a moment, her expression amused, "Oh…do not mind me," she laughed again, "You have what you came for."
"Time for you to go then," her daughter agreed nodding back towards the way that had come.
"Do not be ridiculous girl, there are your guests!"
"Oh…" the younger witch sounded less than pleased, "very well, I will show you out of the woods. Follow me…"
* * * * * * *
It was dark by the time they emerged from the Wilds, their pace a little ragged by otherwise strong. The guard at the gate seemed surprised they had managed to return without major injury, but Elisaris left the conversing up to Alistair and the others while she went to deliver the flower she had promised to the Master of the Hounds.
The news she received was good, and as she bid both man and furry beast farewell, Elisaris couldn't help the way the smile lingered on her lips.
She was glad to have helped them…
The meeting with Duncan began the moment she rejoined the others by the ever brilliant camp fire.
"So, you've returned from the Wilds. Have you been successful?" No doubt the question was meant to be rhetorical but she responded anyway.
"We have."
"Good," the oldest Grey Warden nodded, "I've had the Circle mages preparing. With the blood you've retrieved we can begin the Joining immediately."
The elven woman hesitated before turning to Alistair, "Maybe we should tell him about Morrigan and her Mother?"
The knight nodded, detailing their surprise encounter with the so called Witch of the Wilds and her daughter.
"Were they wilder folk?" Duncan wanted to know once the younger man had finished his recount.
"I don't think so…they might be apostates, mages hiding from the Chantry."
"I know you were once a Templar, Alistair, but Chantry business is not ours. We have the scrolls let's focus on the Joining."
"Yes Duncan."
"So you will tell us about this ritual?" Elisaris inquired as both men fell into silence.
"I will not lie; the Grey Wardens pay a heavy price to become what we are." Duncan cast a meaningful glance at all three recruits, "Fate may decree you pay your price now rather than later."
His rather diplomatic speech seemed to rather beat around the bush, Elisaris sought to clarify the situation just a little.
"You're saying this ritual can kill us?"
"As can any darkspawn you may face in battle," came the even reply, "You would not have been chosen, however, if I did not think you had a chance to survive."
"Well, let's go then." It seemed Daveth had found his courage now that the Wilds were behind the guard-protected gate, "I'm anxious to see this Joining now."
Ser Jory murmured in agreement.
Duncan nodded in acknowledgement of the two men, "Very well, then let us begin. Alistair take them to the old temple."