~Arl of Redcliffe's Estate~
Eri, Zevran, and Zero finally got into the large estate a couple hours after the Lands Meet. Zevran had his hand on Eri's shoulder, knowing that she is pretty upset. She had tears in her eyes, almost the whole way back. As Eri and her two companions walked through the estate to her room, she noticed that her fellow group mates were not out and about, like they usually were.
When she walked into her room, she saw everyone crowded inside, and when they saw her, they all grew quiet from their conversations and looked at her.
Leliana saw Eri's tears, and got off the bed from where she was sitting, and went over and hugged Eri. Eri broke down in quiet sobs, as Leliana hugged her. Leliana finally let go and Zevran grabbed Eri's waist and led her to the bed, making her sit down.
After getting her a hanker chef, Zevran sat down on the bed next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Everyone noticed that Alistair wasn't with them, so they patiently waited to ask what had happened.
What had happened back there? How could he do this to me?…To us?
Eri is finally able to stop the sobs, but the tears keep coming. She is exhausted, for it has been a very long day. She quietly puts her head on Zevran's shoulder, as he rubs her back, trying to comfort her. Eri lets out a sigh as she lets the tears freely run down her cheek.
Zero gets up from where he was laying by the hot fire, and walks up to Eri and gently licks her hand. "Thanks Zero…" Eri mumbles, as she picks her head up off of Zevran's shoulder and sits up.
Leliana and Morrigan exchange looks, knowing that something must have happened if Alistair did not return. Sten stood in the corner, arms crossed, waiting to find out just what had happened at the Lands Meet, and why the young Elf was crying. Oghren sat on a large armchair, with a bottle of rum in hand, passed out. Wynne sat in a chair opposite Oghren, and looked at Eri with worried, concerned eyes.
After several more minute of silence, Eri stood up and faced her companions with tears starting to dry. All eyes, with the exception of Oghren, were turned to her, waiting for a explanation of what had happened at the Lands Meet.
The first to speak for Leliana. "Eri, please tell us what happened.. Where is Alistair?"
Eri sighed as she explained briefly on what had taken place, with help from Zevran who had helped fill in on parts she had either forgotten to mention, or didn't feel like explaining. Once she got to the part about Alistair's outbreak, she just couldn't find the strength to go on. Zevran had to fully takeover telling the events on what had happened, as Eri broke down crying once more.
Once Zevran was done explaining, Leliana was the first to speak up. "Loving Andraste! I am so sorry Eri!" The room stayed quiet as Eri just stared at the ground. She finally said, "I was so in love."
After several more minutes of silence, Morrigan spoke up, "Well, what I believe would do us all good, is rest. I am going to my room. Goodnight." and she left the room.
Sten took a few steps away from the corner, where he was standing and said, "I am sorry for what has happened to you, Warden. But I shall depart to my room as well. 'Night." Eri just nodded to Sten as he turned to leave. Leliana turned to Sten before he left, "Sten," she said in her accent, "will you please take Oghren with you?" Sten just grunted and grabbed Oghren, threw him over his shoulder and walked out.
Wynne got off her chair, got up and walked over to Eri. Wynne gently put her hand on Eri's hands, gave her an apologetic, sad smile, and then walked out.
Eri looked at Leliana and Zevran, her final two friends who remained in the room. She sat back down on the bed next to Zevran who she noticed was being unusually quiet. The three of them, and Zero remained quiet for a few minutes.
Finally, Zevran spoke up and broke the silence that was haunting over them. "Please don't be upset, Eri. Back in Antiva, if you get left by someone, you go to a Tavern, have a couple drinks, and get together with the first person you see! Of course only really desperate people do such a thing but… You get the point. There is always someone else out there."
Eri looked at him and tried to smile but just couldn't find the strength inside her to do it. "Anyways.." said Zevran as he stood up, "I will be a couple rooms down the hall. If anyone needs assassinating, just come and get me. See you in the morn." And with that he left.
After a couple of minutes Leliana left too, and it was just her and Zero. Eri went over to the door and closed it. Once she made sure there were no footsteps in the hall, she took off her armor and set it in a chest near her bed.
She then grabbed a thin, silky nightgown and slipped it on. It was her mother's nightgown. Oh, how she missed her mother. They looked much alike.
If only you can see me now, Eri thought to herself,
Eri caught herself fingering the necklace she had specially made. She hasn't taken it off since the day she had it made into a necklace. The chain was long and thin, but it hung down to just above her stomach. The item was a glass vase, enchanted by a mage so that it could not break. And inside the little glass vase was a red, red rose. It was the most beautiful rose, and it was the one Alistair had given her. A mage also enchanted it so that it would be forever preserved.
Remembering the night he had given it to her, brought yet another tear to her eye. She gently wipes it away, as she climbs into the large bed that felt too large, too empty. Alistair had sneaked in here the last couple of nights and stayed with Eri until she fell asleep. And now, she is going to sleep alone. Eri quietly cried herself to sleep.
As soon as her eyes closed, she was in another place, another time. The dream took her back to Redcliffe, the time when Alistair told her he was the rightful heir to the throne, but he didn't want to be king. Then, Anora came out of no where, grabbed Alistair's arm and began pulling him towards a large black hole, with a greedy grin on her face.
They were in Redcliffe, but the scene changed to a really high cliff, with lava far below, and Eri was right on the edge of the cliff. The sky above was dark and it was cold all around. Suddenly, Anora appeared again, grabbed Eri's shoulders and said, "He's mine!" then she pushed Eri off the cliff.
Eri screamed and the next thing she knew was she had jerked herself awake and was sitting up in bed, clutching the thin sheets around her. She was all sweaty and was breathing hard and fast, with tears in her eyes.
She looked over to the hearth and saw that there were just embers left. She must have been asleep for a few hours. Eri wiped the back of her hand across her forehead.
She thinks back to the dream and how she hasn't had a normal nightmare like that, ever since she had gone through the Joining. It was funny how she had nightmares about the Blight and the Arch demon frequently, but they never really freaked her out, unlike how this one did.
She personally couldn't stand Anora, but that doesn't mean that she should be having dreams of Anora throwing her off cliffs and such.
Is she happy that they are betrothed?
Suddenly, a soft knock came fro the door. Eri's eyes shoot to the door, then dart around the room, looking for her sword, just in case. Once she spots it, she cautiously says, "Come in." The door creaks open slowly, surely not to wake the others up. Zevran walks in the room and gently closes the door before saying anything.
"Aye, you are awake. I heard a slight scream coming from your room just now, when I was on my way back from the dining hall, sneaking food to my room, even though I'm not supposed to. You alright?
Eri sighed as she slid her legs over the side of the bed. She pat the side of her bed, next to her, motioning for Zevran to sit next to her. Zevran sat down and faced Eri, wanting to know why she had screamed.
"I had a nightmare." Eri said simply. "A nightmare?" Zevran asked, "but you always have nightmares. Did you get a whiff of the Arch demon's breath this time or what?" Eri smirked slightly but just shook her head.
"It was a…normal nightmare." Eri explained. "Whoa, so the almighty Grey Warden is not scared of the Blight or the Arch demon, but is scared of something as simple as a common nightmare, which everyone has? Interesting." said Zevran surprised. "Well, I am not your normal person ." Eri said as she looked at Zevran out of the corner of her eye. "True that, true that." said Zevran with a smirk on his face.
He couldn't help but know that with Alistair now out of the picture, that he himself, has a chance to possibly be with his fellow Elf. But now is too soon. He couldn't… wouldn't force her to make a choice to be with him, so soon after Alistair left her. He cares about her too much to put her through that. For now, he will just remain her friend, someone for her to talk to, and confide in.
"You know, back in Antiva-" he began, but not before being interrupted by Eri. "You must miss it. You speak of it often." Zevran smiled, remembering Antiva; the sights, the smells, the scenery.
"Eh, maybe. You would like to come sometime, no?" he asked her. Maybe, just maybe he could take her, and show her his homeland. "Possibly…" she said, "Once the war is over that is."
"Of course."
