Aedan/Sara 4
Dragon Age I FanFiction
Aedan paced outside of a closed bedroom chamber door, Alistair watched him as he kept stopping every few minutes to listen at the muffled voices from the other side. Looking around Alistair took in the small bookshelf filled with books in languages he had never heard, an iron pot was hoisted over a fire that licked around it, cooking what smelled similar to a vegetable stew. It was a small wooden hut with a straw thatched roof.
When the door opened a pinch faced old woman with fly away grey hair stepped out of the room. Aedan tried to shoulder past the old woman, but she slammed the door shut behind her. Alistair stood, a lingering soreness in his chest caused a small groan to escape his lips. She made to ignore them both, but Aedan stepped into her path in the short, but narrow hallway.
"She'll live, boy, now out of my way," Flemeth said and Aedan felt himself take a breath that finally seemed to relax him. They had been here for a few days, he remembered waking up on blood stained bedding on the floor. A warm wet cloth folded over his forehead and eyes. When he sat up he saw Alistair sitting in a chair by the fire watching over him. He had told him that they had Sara in the bedroom, that he didn't know her condition, just that she was still alive.
"I told you she'd live," Alistair said clapping his hand on his shoulder. "Now, woman are you going to tell us where we are?"
"Not yet," she answered cackling as she stirred the stew with a long wooden spoon.
"Or how we got here, then?" Alistair asked his eyes narrowed with the same suspicion they had the first time he asked these questions.
"Not that either," she answered not glancing at him.
"I know the other woman is some sort of witch," Alistair said, "you must be as well, I warn you, no funny business."
"I didn't just save your life to kill you, boy," she said turning to face him. "I just don't want to tell the same story three times."
"You could just tell us and we'd tell my sister," Aedan said finding his voice stronger now that he knew Sara would survive.
"Your sister is awake," the second woman announced and both men standing in the hallway jumped and fell into the wall. The sultry voiced woman was younger, with dark hair, and a mesmerizing shade of gold hues in her eyes. Aedan had to concentrate to keep his wits about him, he glanced at Alistair who seemed to refuse to look at her directly.
The door opened wider revealing Sara standing beside the other woman, back in her armor, now with two small holes, but it seemed to be cleaned and polished like their own armor was when they first awakened.
"What's happened?" Sara asked nodding her head towards the woman standing beside her, "She won't tell me anything, just that you two are alive."
"I told her not to," the older woman answered, "this little hut of mine is too small and way too fragile for the news I'm about to tell you. So let's step outside."
"Tell me now woman," Alistair ordered, but the old woman pointed to the door. They all jumped when the wooden door flew open letting in the midday sun. The younger woman laughed and led the way out of the hut.
When they were all outside the door closed behind them. Sara watched as the two women talked quietly to one another, both frowning as if deciding something. Sara could feel the tension coming from the two men she was standing between. Tired and sore all she wanted was to walk back into the hut and sleep a little longer. As soon as she opened her eyes though, the black haired woman told her to dress, she didn't help or watch, and then she opened the door when Sara had finished.
"Now," the old woman said, "I believe we'll start with names, this is my daughter Morrigan, and you can call me Flemeth."
Sara heard the swift intake of air from Alistair as he seemed to recognize the name. She looked up at him to see his eyes squinted as he thought the name over. She had heard the name before, but couldn't recall when.
"The Witch of the Wilds," Alistair said, "and here I thought nightmares weren't real."
"And you are Grey Wardens plus one," Flemeth said looking at the three of them. "If I had noticed during your ambush in the tower, I wouldn't have bothered with you, girl, count yourself lucky."
Sara shuddered as Aedan put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
"Don't talk about her like she's nothing," Aedan said, "why did you bother with two Grey Wardens anyway?"
"Because Grey Wardens fight darkspawn during a Blight," Flemeth said stepping closer to them. "I've seen their numbers gathering, they are being led by the Archdemon and have been for some time now."
"But didn't think of telling anyone did you?" Alistair asked crossing his arms. "Where is Duncan? What happened at Ostagar? And where in the Maker's name are we?"
"Duncan is dead, Morrigan and I were watching the battle from the beginning," Flemeth said, pausing to let the news sink in. Sara appreciated that the woman was at least frowning and sounded saddened by having to tell of Duncan's death. She glanced at Morrigan who seemed to look as if she were listening to a tale that had been told many times before.
"Duncan," Alistair whispered Sara thought for a second that maybe the news was too much for him and that he was about to collapse under the weight of it. She felt herself reach out to him, but recoiled, thinking better of it.
"King Cailan also," Flemeth said and Sara felt her own stomach drop.
"We lit the signal," Aedan said, "how did the darkspawn win?"
"Because Teyrn Loghain never released his army, instead he retreated from battle completely," Flemeth answered.
"Why would he do that?" Aedan answered, "Did he think he would get away with it?"
"Of course he did," Flemeth said shaking her head, "and he did, did he not?"
"I'll kill him, that rat faced bastard," Alistair hissed raking his hand through his short strawberry blond hair.
"Why would he want Cailan dead?" Sara asked and she heard Morrigan sigh.
"The crown," Aedan answered, "Howe and him planned all this, that's why Howe attacked us, to get rid of anyone that can lay claim."
"I'll kill him," Alistair repeated and Sara looked up to see him fighting tears, fighting to remain strong. His hands were trembling and the urge to comfort him came over her again. She feared it wouldn't be welcomed and only make things worse. She turned to see Aedan's own anger and frustration washing over him. Sara though seemed too tired to feel much anything. "Without Duncan, I don't know what to do."
"You are Grey Wardens are you not?" Flemeth asked her voice measuring them.
"How can we matter now?" Alistair asked his voice threatening to crack. "Duncan would know what to do…"
"Then let that guide you until you find your feet," Flemeth answered offering him a tight lipped smile. "What would he do?"
"He would focus on the Blight," Alistair answered, "he would…"
"What about the ancient treaties?" Aedan asked turning towards Alistair. Confused Sara looked between them, knowing nothing of ancient treaties. "The ones he sent us to find when we went into the wilds."
"Fergus," Sara whispered, her heart sinking. If King Cailan and Duncan had died, that meant the darkspawn likely didn't leave many alive at all. There would be little chance that Fergus was still alive. The thought nearly doubled her over.
"What?" Aedan asked turning to look at her.
"Fergus," Sara repeated looking towards Flemeth for any sort of answer.
"After the darkspawn pressed forward people scattered, but many didn't get out alive," Flemeth answered, "some did though, I'm sure."
"Hold on to that," Aedan said offering Sara a weak smile.
"The treaties allows us to call an army to defeat a blight," Alistair said, "Duncan sent us to retrieve them from the ruins."
"Are you sure it's a blight?" Aedan asked, "How do we know?"
"Without an Archdemon darkspawn are marauders, no true direction," Flemeth answered frowning, "when they become organized with a single purpose is proof enough."
"They have been testing the strength of the Dwarven armies now for months," Morrigan added, "they also don't come out from those caves of theirs in this number, do they?"
"Who signed the treaties?" Aedan asked, "Duncan had them."
"I retrieved those," Morrigan shooting a glare at Flemeth, "at the command of my mother of course."
"The treaties are for mages, the King's armies, Dwarfs, and the Dalish Elves," Alistair answered, "darkspawn only want to rip up the land and kill anything that isn't one of them."
"It's a start," Aedan said sighing, "I guess we'll start with mages at the Circle of Magi?"
"I hate mages," Alistair said, wincing when Flemeth cackled.
"Harsh words since one just saved your life," Flemeth said dismissing any comment.
"What about Loghain?" Sara asked, "We can't trust him."
"We'll go to Arl Eamon as well," Alistair said, "he's a good man, I trust him."
"He's been a friend of our family as well," Sara said, "but so was Howe and Loghain."
"I know him, he's not like them," Alistair said, "his influence can only assist us."
"Ah, a plan then," Flemeth said, "there's just one more thing, you'll need."
"What's that?" Alistair asked cocking an eyebrow.
"My daughter," Flemeth answered and Sara glanced at Morrigan to see the shock on her own face. She hadn't been told of this before now either.
"Your what?" Alistair asked looking at Morrigan and pointing his finger, "Her?"
"She is a skilled and capable mage," Flemeth said, "and a good guide around the lingering darkspawn in our wilds."
"Mother," Morrigan started, but Flemeth waved her hand.
"You heard me girl," Flemeth said her command seeming to wash over the younger woman, "you need to stretch your legs a little as it is."
"Fine, I'll go get my things," Morrigan hissed and she stomped around them, the door to the hut opening and slamming shut behind her.
"Children," Flemeth cackled shaking her head.
"And what if we don't want her?" Alistair asked, "I don't want her, do you?"
"She looks dangerous," Sara answered, "so she must be good at killing things."
"Including us," Alistair whispered, "in our sleep, whilst our backs are turned, put poison in our drink."
"Why save us just to kill us?" Aedan asked, "It doesn't make good sense."
"And she is my daughter, know that I am not doing this lightly," Flemeth said, "I expect you to realize the importance."
"Let her come," Aedan said turning to Alistair, "otherwise it is three against everything else out there waiting."
"And a mage makes those odds any better?" Alistair asked, "She could be crazy, a demon could…"
"A demon never will," Morrigan answered coolly, "shall we get on with it then?"
"Yes," Aedan said and Morrigan took the lead.
True to Flemeth's word, Morrigan was a skilled guide through the forest. It didn't soothe Sara's fears though. With every step she strained her ears to listen for anything else, but the four of them walking through the dense forest drowned out most other sounds. Morrigan would stop at bushes and point to berries that were edible. None of them ate the first few times, apart from Morrigan herself. After she didn't seem to have any ill effects from the berries, Sara grabbed a handful, but she noticed that Alistair never did. He lingered behind the rest seemingly lost in his own thoughts. When she would look behind her sometimes she would find him watching her and other times looking at something in the distance. Aedan gave Alistair space as well, not wanting to intrude on his mourning of Duncan, that Alistair just managed to hide in the set of his shoulders and the mask of his face.
As nightfall fell, Morrigan led them to a clearing protected on three sides by moss covered boulders. Flemeth had supplied each of them a roll of bedding, but only one tent. Morrigan had her own supplies strapped to her back along with a stave.
Aedan gathered wood and assembled them into a pile surrounded by rock. He was about to start banging two together, hoping for a spark that would catch the dry grass he used for kindling. Then without warning Morrigan shot a small ball of fire towards him, it struck the kindling igniting it. Aedan scrambled backwards as Morrigan laughed. Sara frowned when she saw Aedan smile and shake his head as he put larger sticks onto the fire so that it would last. Morrigan also passed out bread that she had taken from the hut and chunks of cheese. She laid out the berries that she had collected as they walked and this time Alistair was hungry enough to accept them.
"I've only met one other mage," Sara said, "a woman named Wynne, from the Circle."
"Prison," Morrigan said as she took another bite of food.
"Best place for them," Alistair grumbled and he stood and walked around the small camp wanting distance, but not wanting to leave the company of the others as well. Being an older member of the Grey Wardens he felt responsible, even though he didn't know what that meant. He didn't want to lead them, he didn't think himself worthy, and his heart wasn't ready for it. He wasn't Duncan, as he blindly followed Morrigan, hating every step he took down the paths she was leading, he tried to think of Duncan and how he would lead them. If he would know what berries were edible. If he would have found this camp suitable in a wilderness filled with darkspawn, wolves, and a number of other deadly creatures. Not knowing hurt more, because now he never would.
"Alistair?" Sara whispered causing the man to jump slightly. She held out another chunk of bread and he took it.
"So she steals bread off her mother's table, a real asset," Alistair said and he bit into the bread. Sara smiled watching him eat. She had started to point out everything else Morrigan had done, but knew he wouldn't appreciate it.
"Why do you dislike mages?" Sara asked crossing her arms against the cold air away from the fire.
"I don't," Alistair said, "I just don't trust them, I was in training to be a Templar before this."
"Oh," Sara said, knowing that Templars were skilled in hunting mages that go rogue or escape from the Circle of Magi. It was a tower just outside of Redcliffe, when a human shows they can do magic, they are taken there. Sara had always thought mages wanted to be there, to learn to use their ability, but she also knew they were hunted and forced into the Circle, because they were feared.
"The first darkspawn were mages you know," Alistair said, and Sara knew of that story as well. Their instructor at the castle had told them.
"How are you feeling?" Sara asked after a silence fell between them. Alistair didn't welcome the question and only sighed, scratching the back of his head then stepped around her.
"I'll take first watch," Alistair said, "Aedan and you need your rest."
Knowing that Alistair wouldn't give up first watch to someone else, wanting to be awake while he watched Morrigan and give him time and privacy to let himself think about Duncan. Sara didn't argue and neither did Aedan as he erected the lone tent and gestured for Sara to take it.
"I'll be fine out here," Sara said, "I want to be close to the fire anyway, I'm kind of cold."
"You take the tent," Aedan countered, "you've not been healed by Flemeth as long as I have, you need the rest."
"You take it," Sara argued crossing her arms. Then she heard laughter behind her and she turned to see Morrigan holding something in her arm.
"All this nonsense over a tent," she said smirking, "you are brother and sister, I believe the tent is big enough for the both of you."
"I've never shared a room with a girl," Aedan said crossing his arms.
"Well well, have you not?" Morrigan asked cocking an eyebrow, letting her eyes linger over his body. Aedan knew instantly what Morrigan was implying, but only shook his head, his face flushing. "Nobility and their noble intentions are boring, in that way."
"Leave him alone Morrigan," Sara said, her own face not hiding the embarrassment she felt.
"I brought you this," Morrigan said shoving the gown at Sara, "it is nothing special of course, but it will give you an option."
"Thank you," Sara said and she held the gown out to look at it. It was a thicker fabric, for cooler weather, sleeved to her elbows, in a dark, nearly black shade of blue with light blue trim and floral design. It was a fine made gown that didn't seem to fit two women that lived in a hut in the middle of the wilderness.
"Nothing of it," Morrigan offered, "I stole it anyway."
Sara watched Morrigan step around the fire and a disgruntled Alistair as she made her way back to her own fire and tent away from everyone else. She watched Morrigan rearrange her bedding, opening a book, using the firelight to read.
"Real smooth," Aedan hissed shoving his bedding into the tent, "just told her you were…"
"What are you saying?" Sara asked as she carefully smoothed out her own bedding on the other side of the tent, as far away from Aedan as she could get.
"Nothing," he growled kicking off his boots and laying down on his back. She turned away from him, facing the side of the tent. For a while she watched the shadows caused by the fire dance across the side and that seemed to take her mind off everything to fall asleep.
A few hours later Sara stirred hearing Alistair waking Aedan to take his watch. She looked out of the mouth of the tent to see Aedan taking a seat next to the fire. He took a few drinks from a leather pouch and settled in. Alistair put his bedding on the other side of the fire and laid down, his back to Aedan. Rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes she looked across the camp to find Morrigan curled up in her own bedding, the book open at her side.
Still feeling the weight of her healed injuries Sara sighed, but she no longer felt sleepy so she crawled out of the tent. Aedan nodded his head towards the tent, wanting her to go back inside it, but she ignored him and sat down beside him, her bow in her lap.
"Stop watching over me," Sara whispered leaning closer to Aedan so their talking wouldn't disturb Alistair. "It won't do you any good."
"You're my younger sister," Aedan said offering her a smile, "and no one else is here."
"Just don't, okay?" Sara countered finding his eyes in the firelight, they reflected the orange glow. He looked older than he did at the castle, less carefree. She wondered how she looked now to him. "Besides after we're in Redcliffe, I'll stay with Eamon and Isolde, right?"
"If you want," Aedan said offering her a smile, "although at this point I don't know who to trust."
"Surely we can trust Eamon," Sara countered, but the thought of being left behind while Aedan went in search of an army bothered her as well. Flemeth had made it clear that if she had known Sara wasn't a Grey Warden, she would have been left for dead. The thought stayed with her, Arl Howe and Loghain would want her dead as well, and wondered if Eamon's influence would be enough to protect her. Nobility so far has put a larger target on her back than any sort of protection.
"Eamon's lack of response during Ostagar is bothering me," Aedan whispered glancing over his shoulder to where Alistair was. They both doubted that Alistair was asleep when Sara glanced over her shoulder as well. He seemed too still, too rigid.
"The alternative is for me to follow you," Sara said looking back at her brother. For some reason Aedan seemed more willing of this plan now than he had before.
"I'm thinking that's your better option," Aedan said looking towards the surrounding wilderness. It was quiet, the only noise coming from the crackling fire just behind them.
"Then you're going to have to stop looking after me," Sara countered, "no telling what we're going to run into and if you're too busy trying to protect me from it, you'll be killed. You're more important than I am, you're in line for Teyrn, you're a Grey Warden during a blight, I'm just a girl."
"I already told you," Aedan started, but Sara shook her head.
"If I die, I want it to be because I didn't fight back good enough," Sara whispered looking down at her hands. "And if you die, I want to think it was because you weren't trying to save my life. Too many people have done that for me already."
"I'll get us through all this," Aedan said and Sara saw the determination in his eyes and in the set of his shoulders. "So it is settled then."
"What is?" Sara asked looking towards the wilderness she saw that she could see individual trees through the darkness now. She didn't know how late it was, but the moon was gone and the soft lightening of the darkness around them told her it was at least getting closer to dawn.
"That we stay together," Aedan answered shaking his head, "until we know who we can trust."
"And no more fussing over me," Sara said nudging Aedan with her shoulder, "agreed?"
"Agreed," he said, but Sara knew this change she saw in Aedan wouldn't allow him to do it. Although he was taller and broader than their father, she saw more of him in Aedan now than ever. He had finally grown up and although that made her feel better, she couldn't help but think that it was all happening too soon and the world seemed to be waiting to strike them all back down. She wondered if any of them could handle it when it did.
