Chapter 2: Fall of Highever pt2

Highever

On the way to kitchen, Jenra and Gilmore could hear yelling as they got closer. Jenra had known since he was a child the temper Nan had, she was not a woman to cross weather one was a noble or not. Jenra could swear that Nan can scare off even the fiercest darkspawn with her dreaded rolling pin, Maker knew it scared him. They came in and saw the two elven servants keeping their heads low as Nan went on her tirade. "Get that bloody mutt out of the larder!"

"But, mistress it won't let us near" The female elf said in fear.

"If I can't get into that larder, I'll skin both of you useless elves, I swear it!"

Jenra was watching from the doorway and shook his head. "Oh dear, we better end this quickly…I think she's serious" They walked towards Nan, one of the elves' eyes lit up as seeing Jenra hoping the young lord would help them out. Jenra and Fergus were very popular with the servants for their kindness; Jenra would often protect the servants from the more abusive soldiers under his families command. While Fergus was the one who talked their father into letting the elves from the alienages serve in their army, which made Highever one of the few places in Ferelden to have a platoon made up of elves.

"Err…calm down, good woman. We've come to help…" Gilmore said trying to lower tempers. Nan looked back and glared at the both of them which made the two heavily armored men flinched.

"You! And you! Your bloody mongrel keeps getting into my larder! That beast should be put down!"

"Nice to see you too, Nan" Jenra said trying to lift the air. "You're looking pleasant as always"

"I'm in no mood for your foolishness, boy! How am I supposed to work like this?" Nan asked.

"Oh dear, Mistress, calm down please…" The female elf said nervously.

"That's it! I'll quit, inform the teyrna. I'll go cook at some nice estate in the Bannorn"

"Nan please! We'll get the dog, calm down"

"Just get him gone! I've enough to worry about with a castle full of hungry soldiers!" She faced the two elves. "You two! Stop standing there like idiots! Get out of the way!" They moved from the larder so Jenra and Gilmore could get in. Once in they saw Fenrir sniffing around the floor like he was looking for something. The pantry was a mess, with barrels of lard, flour and grains all on the floor. The Mabari pointed his nose up and started barking and growling as the food bags.

Jenra whistled and caught Fenrir's attention. The mabari wagged his tail and came towards Jenra like nothing happened. Gilmore sighed. "Look at this mess…how did he even get in here?"

"I don't know…" Jenra looked at Fenrir. "You are a troublemaker, you know that?" Fenrir just wagged his tail happily.

"You need to do a better job of disciplining your hound…no wonder he keeps giving Nan fits"

Jenra rubbed his forehead. "Nan's been having fits since I was child, mabari or no" Fenrir's ears perked up and he started to bark while spinning in place. "What is going on with you? I've never seen you so hyper…"

"He does seem like he's trying to tell you something" They then heard something. "My lord, did you hear that?" Out of the crevices came six rats, big as cats from the looks of it they have been eating well. One jumped at Jenra and he swatted it away…Fenrir went after the dazed rat and tore into the vermin. Gilmore swiped at the rats, killing two at the same time while Jenra swung his greatsword and smashed the brains of the remaining rats. More rat's came out, they made quite the nest, one nipped at Fenrir but the mabari jumped away and bit into its neck. After a few minutes the rats were all dead, the floor was stained with blood as the air reeked of their corpses.

"Giant rats? It's like the start of every bad adventure tale my grandfather used to tell" Gilmore said. "Your hound must have chased them in through their holes, looks like he wasn't raiding the larder after all"

"So it does…good boy, Nan will have to give you an extra treat for this" Fenrir gave a happy bark.

"Now that this is cleared, I'll be on my way" Gilmore said. "I am to prepare for more of the arl's men" Gilmore walked away as Jenra and Fenrir walked out of the pantry with a vexed Nan looking at them with crossed arms.

"There he is, as brazen as you please, licking his chops after helping himself to the roast, no doubt" she said.

"Fenrir actually saved your roast, Nan. There were rats in the pantry" Jenra said.

"W-what? Rat? Not the large gray ones?" the female elf asked.

"Straight from the Korcari Wilds"

"They'll rip you to shreds, they will!" The male elf said.

"See? Now you've gone and scared the servants!" Nan said. "Those filthy things are dead, at least?"

"My faithful hound made sure it's safe"

Nan snorted. "Hmph, I bet that dog led those vermin there to begin with" Fenrir whined. "Oh, don't even start with the sad eyes! I'm immune to your so-called charms" Fenrir whined again and Nan sighed as gave the hound leftovers from cooking. "Take these pork bits and don't say that Nan never gives you anything…bloody dog" Fenrir gave a happy bark as he consumed his treat.

"Thank you, lord. Now we can get back to work"

"I shall leave you then" Jenra and Fenrir walked out of the kitchen; behind them they could hear Nan starting to bark orders to the servants. They walked along the castle grounds playing a little game of fetch along the way, not knowing that just up the path was his mother talking to some nobles.

"And my dear Bryce brought this back from Orlais last year. The marquis who gave it to him was drunk; I understand and mistook Bryce for the king" Eleanor saw Fenrir run up and catch the stick, almost barreling into her. The teyrna gave the hound a stern look and Fenrir's ears and tail drooped as he cowered behind his master. "Ah, here is my younger son. Can't you get that hound of yours under control?"

"Apologies mother, we were just fooling around and didn't see you" Jenra said.

"You know when your father and brother leave; you will have no time for such foolishness"

"As you keep reminding me, mother…" he said. "Oh yes, the kitchen is fine…Fenrir alerted us to some rats in the pantry. Nan shouldn't trouble you any further"

Eleanor sighed. "Ah, marvelous…rats. Just the thing for my guest to hear right before dinner" she said. "Darling, you remember Lady Landra? Bann Loren's wife?"

"I think we last met at your mother's spring salon"

"I remember, it's good to see you"

"You're too kind, dear boy. Er…didn't I spend half the salon shamelessly flirting with you?" Jenra remembered that embarrassing day, at his mother's party Lady Landra was very drunk and spent half the night trying to seduce him into bed with her. What was worse was that it was all in view of her family…the scene that was caused afterwards was talked about among the nobles for months much to Eleanor's chagrin. "You remembered my son, Dairren? I believe you two sparred in the last tourney"

"And beat me handily, as I recall. It's good to see you again, my lord"

"You're being too modest, Dairren…not everyone could back me into a corner like you did" he then took a look at elf next to Lady Landra. "And who is this lovely flower?" The elf blushed.

"This is my lady-in-waiting, Iona" Landra looked at the woman and smirked a little. "Do say something, dear"

"I-it is a great honor, my lord. I have hear many wonderful things about you"

"Don't look now, Eleanor, but I believe the girl has a crush on your lad"

Iona gasped and blushed. "Lady Landra!"

Eleanor chuckled. "Hush, Landra. You'll turn the poor thing scarlet"

Jenra kneeled and kissed Iona's hand as the elf blushed. "I look forward to learning more about you, my lady" Eleanor rolled her eyes; Jenra was his father's son as he had the same flair for grand romantic gestures as Bryce did. Such trite shouldn't work, but then again she ended up marrying Bryce because of his charms.

"O-Oh course, my lord"

"If you excuse me, I must see to Fergus"

"I shall join you soon, Jenra…I would like to see my eldest one more time before he leaves" Eleanor said.

"We shall take our rest now, dear Eleanor. We shall see you at supper" Landra said. "Good day, my lord" Jenra made it to the family of the castle, he stood in the doorway as he saw his older brother in his dark gray armor and sword and shield saying his goodbyes to his wife and young son. It could be possibly the last time they see each other; Jenra let them have their moment. Oren pulled on his father's pants and Fergus rubbed his head as he gave a gentle smile.

"Is there really gonna be a war, papa? Will you bring me back a sward?" Jenra pitted the child, he was still too young to know the implications of his father going to war, he hoped to the Maker that Fergus returned safely so young Oren would never find out. Fergus chuckled and knelt down to his son.

"That's 'sword', Oren and I'll get you the mightiest one I can find, I promise." Fergus gave Oren a hug trying his best to keep control of his emotions, "I'll be back before you know it"

"I wish victory was indeed so certain" Oriana said. "My heart is…disquiet" Oriana was the daughter of a rich Antivan trading family; she was the perfect definition of a proper young lady which endeared her to their mother.

"Don't frighten the boy, love. I speak the truth" Fergus said. Oriana was trying to be strong, but tears flowed from her eyes. Fergus went and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Dry your eye, love…I will come back to you" As they embraced, Oren saw Jenra at the doorway and his eyes lit up.

"Uncle Jenra!" Oren excitedly ran toward his uncle and Jenra picked up him up with a smile on his face.

"Ah, there's my little firebrand!" He said as he tossed him in the air. Oren laughed, Oriana bowed at Jenra.

"My lord"

Jenra chuckled. "Come now, with this 'lord' nonsense Oriana" he said. "You're family, you may call me Jenra"

"Come to see me off, little brother?"

"Yes, though I wished I could come with you and father…it's going to be terribly boring" Jenra said.

Fergus sighed. "I feel the same way, but the castle needs to be protected" he said. "And no better person I can think of protecting our home than you" He then smirked. "If its any consolation, I'm sure to freeze in the southern rains and be completely jealous of you up here, warm and safe"

Oriana crossed her arms. "I'm positively thrilled you will be so miserable, husband"

Jenra chuckled. "I see you've been getting lessons in wits from mother" he said. "Before I forget, Father wants you to leave ahead of him"

"Then the arl's men are delayed…you'd think his men were all walking backwards" Fergus said. "Well I better get underway, so many darkspawn to behead, so little time" He kissed his wife and son. "Off we go, then. I'll see you soon, my love" Bryce and Eleanor walked into the room, and Oren went to greet his grandparents.

"I would hope dear boy that you planned to wait for us before taking your leave?" Bryce asked. Eleanor placed her hand on Fergus' cheeks.

"Be well, my son…I will pray for your safety every day you are gone"

"Fergus will be fine, mother"

"Jenra is right; no darkspawn will ever best me"

The Maker sustain and preserve us all, watch over our sons, husbands, and fathers and bring them back safely to us" Oriana prayed.

"And bring us some ale and wenches while you're at it" Fergus said. Oriana frowned at him. "Err…for the men, of course"

"Fergus! You say this in front of your mother?"

Eleanor sighed. "You learn to get used to it after a while"

Oren tilted his head. "What's a wench? Is that what you pull on to get the bucket out of the well?"

"See what you do?" Oriana asked glaring at Fergus.

"I'll explain when you're older, pup" Fergus said.

Eleanor shook her head. "Like living with a pack of rowdy children, I swear"

Fergus chuckled. "I'll miss you, Mother dear. You'll take care of her, Jenra, won't you?"

"You know I will"

"Oh good. How thrilling to know I'm so well-taken care of"

"Enough enough, Pup, you'll want to get an early night" Bryce said. "You've much to do tomorrow" They said their goodbyes, and spend their time as a family. Little did they knew that their last night together would be their last….

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