Quickly they flew, running from shadow to shadow, trying to hide from the rising sun, which was greeted by crow's cawing. Turning back she could see the blood red sky and Castle Cousland, home. The lights coming were the result of flames during the attack and the flow of servants in and out are now Howe's troops. She feels dizzy, breathless, the tunnel used as an escape route was surprisingly long yet, she thinks she didn't leave it, perhaps part of her doesn't wish to leave it. She cries. A hand fatherly touches her, it's Duncan, "Elissa, we have to keep moving, they will soon start looking for us," he says, smiling.
"Yes, of course," she recomposes herself, "but from here to Ostagar is a week-long travel; by horse." He is right, I had better focus on surviving, don't dwell, don't dwell.
"Say, is there a farmhold near here?"
"Yes, Tomah's," Elissa says, pointing, "we can borrow some horses."
Duncan looks to the direction, he frowns. "I think I saw it. However asking for horses isn't a good idea."
Elissa tilts her head. "Why?"
He sighs and turns to her. "Anyone who talks or aids you is as good as dead."
Elissa opens her mouth but no words come from it. He's right. My presence endangers the people I should protect. I can't put them in danger.
"However, I suggest we lend the horses, without letting them know."
Elissa stared at Duncan, hand on her hips, eyebrows raised.
"We have to reach Ostagar, stopping the Blight is our greatest priority."
"It's their means of livelihood."
"Priorities girl. If Ostagar falls, Ferelden will fall with it."
After a short pause she points to the distant house, "We must take care, they are up already."
They approach it, Duncan hands her a piece of clothing, "Use it to cover your face."
She tries to improvise a hood as best as she can, Duncan nods, "I take the horses, you stay low and open the gates as soon as you hear me. And make silence, you and the dog."
Duncan moves silently towards the stable, moving from shadow to shadow, while Elissa crouches and tries hide near a bush, trying to hold Bo down she sees Duncan jumping over the small wooden fence and moving, apparently unnoticed to the stable. She starts looking for movement, she sees Tomah helding a big pack moving to a far corner of the small farm, he's probably going to feed his pigs while a woman opens the door of the house, she seems to be carrying a bowl. She sees the contours of a strong man approaching the stables, Elissa's heart misses a beat or two, she isn't sure of what to do. Her instinct tells her to try to create a distraction, throw a stone or release Bo there.
Before she can come to a conclusion, the man opens the door of the stable, a few moment passes when she hears horses' neighs and Duncan exits the stable on a horse, pulling the other one right beside his own. "Andraste's blood!," she runs to the gates opening them while the astounded farmers recover from the sudden trying in vain catch him. He passes by Elissa throwing her the reins of the other horse, barking can be heard, she calls Bo and the difference in speed makes the guard dogs soon give up of the chase.
They decide to avoid the roads at least while they are so close to Cousland Castle. There may be scout parties.
After some hours in a slow march due to the scarce number of tracks and Elissa's poor hiking skills, they go back to a road and follow it for the rest of the day. Their pace isn't particularly fast, Duncan said he planned to save the horses' strength, Lothering ought to be near. He also kept Elissa engaged in an ever changing flow of small talk, survival tips, travels.
The end of the afternoon is blood red, "Are you hungry?"
Elissa haven't had anything to eat since yesterday, she nods, "If it doesn't bother you," she feels her cheeks becoming hot, "I mean, I don't want to be an even greater burden."
He quizzically/wryly smiles "Don't worry. I suppose you've never had to march, especially in difficult terrains. Also, you've never been hungry, have you?", without waiting for an answer he taps her back, guiding her towards the wood. "How are your archery skills?"
"People used to say I am competent. Why?" a pinch of curiosity in her voice.
"This is a good opportunity to teach you the basics of hunting."
They manage to hunt two rabbits, Duncan teaches Elissa how to field dress animals, he examines the animal for any disease then swiftly cuts off their heads tying them against a tree to drain their blood, meanwhile he shows her how to set up the fire, which was far more difficult than Elissa could ever imagine.
She had never really thought about were her meals came from. Duncan explains as he dresses and skins the animals. She was mesmerized by the barbarism of the process and his skills. He opens the first rabbit, a stench comes from it, "Oh Maker, it's rotten!", Elissa says, closing her eyes, and shaking her head. "No it's not. Were you expecting petunia aroma?", both chuckle.
"I didn't know they taught Grey Wardens how to be comedians."
"Well, when I joined I already knew how to fight," he laughs briefly then goes back to his teachings.
"I suggest removing the urine sac, here. Pay attention to strange colors and smells," heart, liver and kidneys are removed, "here, you can give these to your dog," despite being caught off guard she nods and complies, staring at the blood in her hands.
"Now it's the easiest part, butchering. Remove fat and sinew, and slice ribs and the legs to roast, now let's go to the other one."
There is no talking during their meal, Elissa is eating slowly, closed eyes while biting and chewing, sometimes she stares at her food. What has become of us, of me. Eating meat on the road, Maker I can taste the blood. Her mind starts drifting back home, people who were part of her life, gone, her eyes start watering, she tries, in vain to fight, she clears the forming tears with her hands.
Seeing her struggle, Duncan breaks the silence, "Your competent is pretty good." Elissa's lips turned into a smug smile. "You'll cook."
Elissa stops, raised eyebrows and wide eyes, she recovers quickly to a neutral expression, "Tomorrow?"
He chuckles and shakes his head, "Until we arrive at Ostagar." They stare at each other a few moments, he sighs, "Look, this is very different for you. You have to learn how to do this, one way or another. I'd rather teach you."
He tells Elissa to double check the horses, see if the ties are holding them to the trees, while he gathers some materials be sure that the campfire will last as long as possible. "Let's try to get some rest, we leave before the dawn."
She nods,"To Lothering?"
"Yes, we go to West Hill then take the Imperial Highway until Lothering."
"A ship! Maybe we could get a ship at Lake Calenhad Docks!"
"Our resources are scarce, but it may be worth a try," he looks at Bo.
Following his gaze, "Don't even think about it."
Both chuckle. "We better rest, we have a long journey ahead."
As they lay near the campfire, Bo next to Elissa, as a guardian, she studies Duncan's expression, she can't read him. Light and shadow meld in his face, he is undoubtedly weary, she wonders if it would physical, from their day, or spiritual, caused by regret or penance for the sudden change in her life, "Thank you, Duncan."
His eyes widen but he soon frowns, he closes them, "hmpf...fool girl," he then tries to make himself more comfortable.
Elissa is at the dining room, alongside her family, she is starving. They were talking, happily, she can't make any sense of the conversation. The servants bring the meal in covered trays, one for each person, she can hardly wait, she feels like her mabari. With no ceremony she uncovers the tray and shocked, she sees raw guts of animals, the blood and stink still there, overwhelming her senses, "What!?", she asks, without taking her eyes from it. She turns to the her family, they are all deathly pale, no light in their eyes open wounds and blood stains can be seem.
A pair of hands holds her in place, the table seem to disappear and all of her family stare at her, an unholy cacophony made of her relative's voices could be heard, all of their mouths moving, no one in particular speaking. Her mother's voice becomes what seems to be the dominant one, "You left us," without expecting an answer her father's voice follow, "You failed us," the hands start to shake her, she can't fight back, "Elissa! Elissa!", they call her, soon the voice starts to change into familiar one.
She regains her senses, Duncan is crouched near her, his hands on her shoulders. "It's all right now." He releases her and moves away, it is dark yet. She shakes her head, and gently taps her cheeks, "Did I wake you up?
"You were having quite a nightmare. Anyway, it's almost time to hit the road so pack your things."
They finish packing their belongings and untying the horses when Duncan turns to her, "We need to reach West Hill, get some supplies."
"I have no money with me."
"Trade, was not what I had in mind."
"Thou shan't take the path of the wicked."
He laughs, "Looks like people still follow chivalry."
She frowns, "It's important to tell right from wrong."
Duncan sighs, "I know it may be, to some people, difficult to understand but things are different to Grey Wardens." Seeing that Elissa didn't reply, he continues, "What do you think of us?", he mounts up.
"You are very practical, if not single-minded. But there's a good reason to that. If I may ask, are all Grey Wardens the same, is there a code or something like that?"
Duncan pauses for a moment, "No, there are all walks of life. Good people, bad people, templars, murderers, petty thieves."
Nobles. She still remains silent and mounts up, eyes to the road.
"You are a good lass. The circumstances of my own recruiting were similar to yours," Duncan says.
"Really?" she asks, turning to him.
"I was young, I lived in Val Royeaux, I stole from a Grey Warden and unintentionally killed him, I was arrested and refused to join them, I chose to face execution. On the next day Warden Commander Genevieve invoked the Right of Conscription."
"But wasn't your decision a bit extreme?"
"Well, the Warden actually thanked me in his last breath, I thought that kind life should be terrible."
"And is it?"
"It has its ups and downs. Also, I'm from Highever too." Elissa's eyes widen, "Yes, I'd be a vassal of your family."
Elissa blinked and after a short pause, "Thanks Duncan, for everything."
They soon reached the North road, then the travel to West Hill had no incidents and took less than a day. The most prominent feature of the bannorn of West Hill is Bann Franderel's large fortress could be seen at the distance.
"It's early afternoon, let's find supplies and go to Lake Calenhad Docks. It's less than a day without forcing the horses."
"Duncan, let me try another approach."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Reach a farm, ask for supplies for a soldier going to join the fight in the south."
He nodded, "All right. You have your chance."
Duncan ties his horse in a nearby tree and sits under a treetop. Elissa comes back after half an hour, a bag in her horse and smiling, "I did it. Used the family blade to convince them."
"Helped your disguise as an aloof noble," he smirks.
"Oh Bo, Duncan has a sense of humor, how charming," she laughs, "Anyway, when we get to the Docks I can use my name and take us to Redcliff."
"Good to see I wasn't wrong about you. You're a resourceful lass," he says nodding, "Let's not tarry here, forcing the march will allow us to get there in the morning."
They meet a traveler on their way to Ostagar. when asked about ships leaving to Redcliff he said that no word has been heard from Redcliff for some time. With this information they take the Imperial Highway to Lothering, change horses, finally getting to Ostagar after a five-day travel.