"Just take that herb to the Mabari trainer and meet us back at the fire," Neko watched as Deseray walked off, her grin ear to ear as the elf woman followed. Walking next to Alistair she quizzed him, wanting to know why he was grumpy and yet Deseray was so happy. "Why such a grumble guts Ali?" She put her hand on his shoulder checking him out before noting he had no injuries. "Well first off we found an injured man who Irma decided it upon herself to put him out of his misery even though we had the spare potions you'd made me, if it wasn't for Deseray that man would of died for no reason at all," he sighed before continuing his face stained with annoyance. "Then Deseray completly froze and couldn't raise her sword when she first seen the darkspawn, nearly died if that rogue guy hadn't of put an arrow in it's face. Then we got seperated from her because she ran off on us. We tried to find her but got surrounded by a group of Hurlocks and an alpha which was out of nowhere, and at this point I had to try calm down the guys because now they were freaked out thinking we were over run and out pops Deseray's with a short sword and a dagger, shield gone and full on whips darkspawn ass. I now can see why Duncan chose her." Neko smiled with pride at hearing Deseray was the one who saved them all, just turns out she was trained as a rogue not a warrior. "Turns out she found the herb the Mabari trainer needed to save one of the mutts from dying which was lucky because I'd forgotten all about it. Finally we see the ruins where the treaties were supposedly located but they weren't in the chest before this apostate comes out of nowhere shaking her hips like she was all knowing. She just swooped on us, refused to talk to any of us but Deseray, except to tell me I was stupid and she'd turn us into frogs. Turns out she was the witch of the wilds and her mother is Flemith. So she takes us to this hut reluctantly on my part mind you, to meet her mother who had the treaties. This little old woman had supposedly been protecting them for years."
Neko just stared at him thinking he was nuts, "And Deseray spoke back?" She watched him nod slowly before adding, "They wouldn't shut up, they just got along like a house on fire." Neko watched him pause and doubt washed over his features. "You know though, when Deseray spoke I couldn't stop listening. Every syllable that came out sounded." Neko watched him pause and cocked her head. "She has a really nice voice." Neko smirked at that, "You know one day I'll make her sing, she's amazing at that." But Alistair's reply made chills fly down her back. "If she survives tonight you mean."
Neko hid behind the ruin whilst they did the ritual, she couldn't watch but at the same time the anxiety was too much. If Deseray died here she had no idea what she would do. It was always sad when someone doesn't survive but for her, one of the only people she truly cared for was in danger. The red head she'd known since she was a toddler. The thought of watching her breathe her last moments was too much. But what could she do though, you didn't choose who could survive. The ritual did, no actually the blight did. As all these thoughts ran through her head she barely heard Alistair and Duncan call out to her. "Neko, your gonna want to see this." It was instantaneous, running up the stairs she seen the two women stir. Thank god. She felt tears burn her eyes knowing Deseray was going to survive. It was sad that the other two men clearly didn't. She noticed the sword wound in the knight but said nothing as it wasn't her concern. She watched as the two stumbled up and noticed Deseray had tears in her eyes. Watching the girl warily, she put out her hand to help steady her before watching in shock as Deseray ran off crying. Obviously it had been a shock to the poor girls system. She went to follow before seeing Duncan pointing at the elf. Sighing she walked up to Irma to see how she was before turning to Alistair. "Go to Des, she needs someone. Please."
Deseray stood at the cliffside and watched the terain. The place tonight was peaceful except for the few stragglers of darkspawn that would get taken out immediatly. But Deseray knew that the peace would only last but a few hours more. Wiping her eyes she took a deep breath before humming the hymn of Andraste. It was the most peaceful song she'd ever heard and her father had always made her humm it too calm himself down. Sometimes it would work for her, other times not so much. Just thinking about her parents though she felt her chest rise and fall faster. If they'd still been here she wouldn't of become a warden no matter how much she argued with her father it would of been truly impossible. It just wouldn't of happened she was his little princess never to be hurt, never to see a bad thing in her life. She had to smile at how ignorant she'd been. She had wanted to become a warden to be a hero, now she had no choice, it had just fallen to her thanks to fates hand. No it was thanks to that snivelling rat Arl Howe. Des felt her blood boil at the thought of the weasel and punched the ground screaming. "Now with that strength all Darkspawn should fall to your might." Des felt her face go beet red at the familiar voice. "Alistair what are you doing here?" She turned as he sat down beside her. "Oh so she's talking again. That witch must of put a spell on you. Neko thought you might want to talk to someone."
Deseray pursed her lips and looked towards the sky. "That chick never used to be this thoughtful. But thanks all the same." She turned towards the warrior and smiled. "Im fine you know, just abit shocked, poor Daveth and Jory though. Who would of thought the two chicks survived and the men didn't." Deseray scratched her head and looked away, she was talking too much. "Neko knew you'd survive you know. She has alot of faith in you." Deseray quickly looked at him and bit the inside of her lip. "How long has she been here?" She watched him pause and his brow creased in concentration, which she couldn't help but find adorable.
"Ahh, she was recruited about a year and a half ago but she went through the joining with me around a year ago. Apparently she had to be conscripted from the tower. Something about a blood mage." Deseray noticed his grimace at the words blood magic. "You don't like blood magic?" Alistair quickly looked at her, "Doesn't everybody hate it?" Deseray paused for a second. "Maybe, I mean I don't think it's bad if your using your own blood and using it for good and not bad. I mean it's just because it's associated with Apostates and Tevinter mages I guess it has a bad wrap."
Alistair face looked shocked "Are you always this open minded kiddo?" She quickly closed her mouth and turned around. She hadn't always been like this, it was more of just opening her eyes for a bit and looking at the world around her. Thinking of herself back at Highever she smiled sadly and opened up a little.
"I suppose you know about my family and Highever in general, yes?" She watched him nod before continuing.
"I'm young I guess everybody knows that by now. But you know I haven't acted my age in years. I've been oblivious to everything around me that didn't immediately begin and end at me. Don't get me wrong I wasn't selfish, I guess. Well maybe actually a little. But still I've never been nasty." She stopped, ok this wasn't coming out right. "Actually no, I was a pompous bitch whom everyone in Highever had a problem with." She smiled at her honestly before giggling a little. "I never did as I was told, I couldn't take no for an answer, I didn't act noble like I was supposed to. I loved to play with swords, get rowdy with the boys and for my age I guess you could call me a, no just a little promiscuous I guess. But I was alway's daddy's little angel. To my mum I was just a little rebellious and to my brother I was the coolest little sister in the world. I was a great aunt and my sister in law only had a tiny bit of a problem with my attitude as long as I wasn't rude around the kid." Deseray felt the cold air against her face and shivered, wrapping her arms around her legs and curling into a ball. "They were my everything, no matter what I did they believed in me, and Gilmore." She eyes started to tear so she tried to shake it off. "He was my best friend, the only one other than my family who didn't just view me as a nuisance. He wanted to leave, he wanted to see the world, he was the one who truly wanted to become a Warden and he ended up sacrificing himself for nothing. Father and mother are gone, Fergus is nowhere to be found. He was ment to be coming here. I hope he made it, I truly do but I don't want to have to be the one to tell him about his wife and son." She choked up and broke down, throwing her head down and letting it all out. Everything was broken, everything was fucked up. She didn't want to be here, in all honesty she'd of preferred to have died and stay with her parents.
Deseray tensed up when she felt herself be pulled against something hard. Opening her eyes all she could see was grey, she looked up and just stared. Here was Alistair a man she'd just met trying to comfort her. He was looking somewhere else but his eyes were determined. She also noticed his ears were bright red.
"Don't cry, us wardens will become your family. We won't replace the Cousland's and we will never try to. But we will be there for you, I will have your back and I will always protect you." Both of them didn't notice him change his pronouns from we to just him, but the moment was there. Feeling a little awkward Deseray just stared and finally when the tears had dried she reached up and pinched his ear. With the awkward situation she had to do something to defuse it. "You have really cute ears you know. They really suit you and when your embarrassed they flush." She giggled as he quickly let go and looked down on you. "Wh-wh- what a thing to say! Here I am trying to make you feel better and you pick on me."
"Oh come on Ali-Bear you had to of noticed the atmosphere. I just tried to make it better." She ended her sentence by standing up and winking down at him.
"Excuse me, Ali-Bear? Where the hell did that come from. No one calls me that, and hey you were crying a second ago where did this girl come from?"
Deseray roared from laughter which made Barkspawn bark and run around in circled, in some ways the Mabari reflected her emotions sometimes. "Oh you are just too cute you know. I just have to play with you. Also you liar, you let Neko call you that."
"Play with me, what do you mean play with me. I'm older respect your elders girl." She watched him calm himself before he pointed at her. "What happened to the girl who got here this morning. You've gone from being look at the ground, extremely shy to being obnoxious." Deseray laughed again and had to admit the guy was funny even when he wasn't trying to be.
"Im just," pausing she thought of her words before pouting. "I feel better, being around you apparently is like an antidote, everything just feels better." She noticed his ears blush again and failed to hide a smile. "Don't get so embarrassed ok. You'll get used to me. Let's go back to Duncan ok, also call me Des from now on."
Don't get her wrong, Deseray was still upset, she still would rather take a sword to the heart than live on without her family. But she was going to give this a chance. Being a warden couldn't be too bad. And she could save some lives.
Walking forward she barely noticed the rush of words of Alistair mouth but when she realised what was said she smirked.
"Andraste guide me, what have I gotten myself into."
Neko prayed by the time Des got back she'd be feeling better. It wasn't like her time with Irma had gone well. The woman had sat against the stone walls and just stared of into the distance a cold look on her face. Neko had tried speaking to her a few times but all she'd gotten is nods and shakes with no facial change. In the end it was Neko who'd broken down and given up on all conversation. Woman was serious about not opening up. Rolling her eyes she heard a giggle and turned to see the two missing wardens returning with smiles on there faces. She ran up to them and grasped Deserays hands before noticing her recoil slightly.
"Des?"
She pretended not to notice Alistair nudge the redhead closer. Instantly Deseray smiled up at her but it was still a little reluctant. Looking over at Alistair she was slightly hurt, but she shoved it aside and clasped her hands on Deseray's face. "You're feeling better? You're not ill from the joining?"
"It's fine Neko, I was just in shock, nothing to worry about. I'm not dead am I? Ali-Bear you can confirm it for me right." Neko quickly looked back at Alistair who's ears had gone red from embarrassment and heard a snort from behind.
"So the real shem has come out to play. Well hello Deseray nice to meet you." Neko looked back at Deseray who was happily smiling at the other warden. Well the game had definitly changed now, Des was back.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me that Deseray?"
"Didn't I tell you to call me Des, Ali-Bear?"
Oh god, Neko thought she flirting with him and he has no idea. Oh Deseray, now was definitly not the time.
A deep voice come from behind them and made them all jump in shock. "Now that everyone's friendly, you have a mission for tonight."
