Chapter Three
I stood with Alistair, Adrien, Jory, and Daveth as Duncan explained to us our task. He introduced us to a quiet man who was a junior member of the Order who would watch over us as we went about our tasks. It was strange. The role was supposed to belong to Alistair, yet he stood at my side, just as new as I was. (Though, honestly, Duncan could have probably sent me as the junior member. I knew enough and could probably find my way to Morrigan and the chest the scrolls were supposed to be housed.)
I looked over the man who replaced Alistair. It was hard to follow Alistair in an act. It didn't help that he was staring at me like I belonged in a kitchen. We were going to clash.
"I am Lotherine. I expect you to keep up- we won't be taking any breaks in the Wilds." He was looking at me pointedly.
We would clash, severely.
"Try not to slow me down, Slotherine. Everyone grab your gear and meet at the gate. I want to get this field trip done quickly."
He shoots me a cold glare for taking his place as leader, but I really couldn't help it. He was pissing me off. Duncan gave me a pointed look but otherwise ignored my insubordination.
I thought it was interesting that my fellow recruits did as I asked, though I'm sure Adrien and Alistair had given Dory and Dave a look that said not to cross me.
Sometimes I wondered if I really wasn't Rosalind.
The others left and Lotherine quickly stopped me, trying to intimidate me as he towered over me. "I am the superior officer on this mission. I would like you to remember your place."
"My place? And where is that, hmm?"
"Under me, my Lady." He said my title with enough sarcasm to fill the Nile with water.
"Allow me to enlighten you, Loth- can I call you Loth? If you have to pull rank to get your way, it means you aren't truly a leader. You're there to watch us and to guide us to the chest that holds the scrolls- which I could probably find on my own." I smiled at him sweetly. "Don't play with fire." I left the threat hanging in the air as I turned on my heeling, hoping my slightly long hair would smack him in the face as I left. I gathered up my pack as I walked to the gates, leaving him behind me.
Adrien was quick to catch up with me, dropping his heavy arm over my shoulder. "You know, you'd probably make the best Teyrna Ferelden has ever seen." He dropped his voice and his torso to speak in my ear conspiratorially. "You could probably usurp the King if you really wanted."
I elbowed him in the side- he didn't know how right he was in that statement. "Too bad I'm going to be a Grey Warden. You'll never become a Commander now, Adrien. Do you want to borrow my shoulder?"
He quickly ruffles my hair, laughing. "Oh, sister, your confidence is sure to smother the rest of us!"
"Anyone else would be hurt by that, but I know when you're really trying to compliment someone. It's too bad Mother..." My good humor was suddenly lost with the sudden memory of leaving our parents to die. It felt like I was dying—and I knew what it felt like to die.
Adrien's arm tightens around my shoulders, pulling me flush into his side. His head rests on top of mine, shushing me quietly as a tear slips out the corner of my eye. "I know, little sister. I know."
My arm went around his waist weakly, fingers wrapping into the leather of his tunic. "It's okay. I'll make the most out of the opportunity they gave us," I whispered, a sad smile pulling at my lips. "I'll keep you alive, brother."
Adrien let out a breath, shaking his head. "Don't steal my lines. That's rude."
Alistair was waiting at the gate for us, brows raising. "What's rude?"
Adrien detached himself from me, being over dramatic as he put his hand over his heart as if I'd mortally wounded him. "My dearest sister is acting as if she is older, trying to console me and use the lines reserved for me!"
Alistair looked at me with his brows raised. "This is where you hail him as the Queen of Drama," I informed him. He frowned his eyes before nodding at Adrien.
"Yes, stealing someone's lines is very upsetting. I understand your heartbreak."
I imagined my face resembled grumpy cat as I frowned deeply at both of them before we all started laughing quietly.
Dave walked up, looking like he wanted to know why we were laughing, wanted to be apart of the fun. I shrugged, looking away from everyone as I focused on pushing down the anguish I still felt. I felt someone hesitantly grasp my hand and looked up at Alistair, clad in armor of a Cousland knight. It brought me a bit of ease, almost regretting he would soon trade it for Grey Warden plate.
I raised a brow up at him, blinking just a bit at him.
"After.. After the ritual, there's something I want to talk to you about."
I grip his fingers lightly, head tilting as I looked him over. He seemed uncomfortable about whatever he wanted to talk about before it dawned on me. He was my betrothed—my parents had set up the match, my mind supplied. He would ask to be released from it, no doubt.
I forced a smile—even if he wouldn't be my fiance, he would still be my friend. He wouldn't leave Adrien and I... Right?
I recalled the one time I had made the wrong decision in the game, how he had turned from me, left because he couldn't accept the choice I'd made to let Loghain Mac Tir live to become a Grey Warden. He hadn't seen that I had made the choice because I wished Loghain to plunge his sword into the Archdemon, to repay his debt to Ferelden by saving it.
So that Alistair wouldn't have to make the sacrifice of going to Morrigan's room or killing the monster himself.
Alistair had gone off to become a drunk in the Free Marches. Left me before the battle to die.
I took a deep breath, looking up at Alistair. This one was not that one. He was raised by my family and because of that, we'd never mistreated him. He had never had to live in a barn, was never sent to the Chantry against his wishes. I had to hope that this small change made him stronger, less likely to desert me.
I nodded. If he didn't want to be romantically linked to me, I wouldn't stop him. I wasn't the same girl he knew, after all. "Yes, of course, Alistair. No getting stabbed then."
He had stared at me as I let my mind run rampant, following the changes in expression I undoubtedly made. He poked my chin, forcing me to stop chewing on my lip. "You really have to stop that habit, Rose." He smiled down at me kindly before dropping a kiss to the crown of my head, moving back over to Alistair as I'm left to lift my gloved hand to my head. Adrien caught me looking and quickly flashed me a knowing look that I stuck my tongue out at.
Soon we were joined by the Sloth, who shoot me a glare, and set out into the Wilds.
