A/N: *sigh* A year later, and I've still not refused Leliana's help in Lothering, so the dialogue is still off/wrong. Oh, and this chapter has been rewritten! I added in an Elvish word, 'Quel du', which is simply 'good night.'
To Lina, Dane's Refuge was a curious thing. Outside, absolutely nothing could be heard from within; it was as though someone had magically erected a bubble around the place so as to hide the sounds of indoor activity. The building looked small and shabby, and the idea of walking into a place that looked so small was nerve-wracking to herself and Tamlen. Once the door opened, however, and Lina managed to get a quick glimpse inside before entering, she felt marginally better. The music hit her ears sharply and suddenly, raw to her eardrums as her sense of sound picked up even the shrill notes that humans would miss. The music was oddly upbeat, happy and flowing despite the broken and dull mood of every refugee packed inside the inn. The bard's music seemed to seep into every corner of the room, and Lina had to fight to stop herself from swaying slightly in the tempo of the beat. Tamlen pushed her forward with his hand in the small of her back, preventing her from lingering in the doorway, and cursed under his breath at having to enter the place.
Alistair noticed the soldiers before they did.
He ducked his head near Tamlen's, ignoring the elf's sudden tensing up, and muttered a quick 'watch it…' into his ear. Lina, having heard it, scanned the room and motioned for them to draw their weapons. At the sound of their weapons being unsheathed, and the sight of Lina drawing her bow and holding an arrow loosely in her hand, the entire room went silent. The soldiers turned, the music picked up again –but quietly- and all whispers stopped completely as the one of the soldiers moved towards her.
"Well, look what we have here men, I think we've just been blessed!" Lina scowled, an eyebrow rising as she regarded the soldier.
"Didn't we spend all morning asking about an elf of this very description? And everyone said they hadn't seen her?" The tone was sarcastic, almost smug, and whilst Lina bit back a reply, Tamlen noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Movement that consisted of varying shades of pink.
"It seems we were lied to." The source of the movement came into full view at the soldiers words, and both Lina and the man in question turned to look at a redhead young woman who had appeared. She was dressed in a Chantry Sister's robe and, from the look on her face, was dead-set on getting involved.
"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge." The attempt at peace was fruitless, for even Alistair was ready to fight. Lina frowned at the woman, attempting to place her thick accent. Orlesian, perhaps?
"They're more than that. Now stay out of our way, sister. You protect these traitors and you'll get the same treatment as them." The soldiers behind the leader all drew their weapons, although Lina frowned deeper in confusion.
"We're Dalish elves; I'm not sure you can get less-loyal than us. Why assume we're traitors now?" At her question, the redhead stepped closer.
"Teyrn Loghain claims the Grey Warden's betrayed the King, or haven't you heard?" Lina heard Tamlen mutter an elven curse at the redhead's words, and her own stomach churned at the revelation. Brilliant.
"Enough talk. Take the Grey Warden's into custody, kill the sister and anyone else who gets in the way." With a roll of the eyes and the nocking of an arrow, Lina took a step back and readied her aim.
"Right, let us do this quickly." The soldier hadn't moved an inch before Lina released her arrow into the chink of the soldier's armour at the base of his neck. Blood spurted from the wound, and the other soldiers all but threw themselves towards them. Alistair immediately defended himself from two soldiers, whilst Tamlen started an offense against the archers at the side of the room. Lina and Duster put all their attention towards the leader and, surprisingly, the redheaded Chantry sister moved out of stealth and stabbed a warrior from behind. It took only a few minutes of solid fighting and arrow-releasing before the leader yielded, holding his hands up in defeat. Lina smirked when she noticed he was covered in his own blood.
"All right, all right, you've won! We surrender!" He was panting heavily, his hands placed flat on his knees and his shoulders slumped as he attempted to catch his breath. Lina calmly stepped forward and roughly yanked her arrows out of his broken armour.
"Good. They've learned their lesson, and we can all stop fighting now." The soldier straightened as the redhead spoke, and Lina threw a feral snarl towards the woman.
"They aim to butcher us! They deserve no mercy!" Lina nocked an arrow, prompting a yell of surprise from the soldier.
"No please, wait!" Lina glared at him, eyes narrowed and flashing with an angry amusement.
"They have surrendered! They were no match for you!" The redhead protested, but Lina only lowered her bow at the thin hand that placed itself onto her shoulder and squeezed lightly. She grimaced, surprised at how it was Tamlen telling her to stand down against humans. She paused for a few moments, hundreds of thoughts and outcomes running through her head as she tried to make a decision.
"Get out." Her words were harsh, all but spat towards the soldiers. Alistair watched her carefully, wondering how a quick, silent touch from her clanmate could calm down the bloodthirsty rage that had sprung up inside of her.
"Thank you!" The soldier and his remaining men scarpered out of the inn, and Lina carefully placed her bow back onto her shoulder. Impatiently, she shrugged Tamlen's hand from her shoulder and glowered at him.
"Thanks for your help, there, really. I appreciate it." Her eyes flashed darkly, and although Tamlen's eyebrow rose at her sarcasm, Lina ignored him to look at the redhead.
"I apologise for interfering, but I couldn't just sit by and not help."
"And who are you, anyhow?" Lina asked, her arms crossed as she regarded the Chantry sister. The woman smiled, a bright glint in her eyes as she put her weapons back in their sheaths.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Leliana, one of the lay sisters of the Chantry here in Lothering. Or I was."
"And I am Lina Mahariel, a pleasure to meet you." Lina uncrossed her arms as she spoke, shifted her footing more towards her left, and cocked her head to the side as she studied Leliana.
"They said you were Grey Wardens?" She looked at Tamlen as well, nodding, but more to herself than anything else. "I'm surprised you are elves, but the elves must want the blight defeated as much as Humans, no? I know after what happened, you will need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming along." Lina looked taken back at this, and she smirked at Leliana in a challenging way.
"Oh? And why would you join me willingly?"
"The Maker told me to." Leliana answered without a waver of hesitation in her voice, and Tamlen inwardly groaned; short of comparing it to a fairytale, there was no other answer that could make his clanmate dislike her than the one she gave. Lina fought not to roll her eyes, however she did give the woman a small smile at the depth of her belief and faith. Alistair looked to the dog, both of them cocking their heads to the side and laughing.
"Um, could you perhaps elaborate?" Duster moved forwards as she spoke, nudging her legs as though he approved of the redhead. Leliana stuttered on her next words, feeling nervous under their gazes.
"I know that sounds… absolutely insane – but it's true! I had a dream; a vision!"
"More crazy? I thought we were all full up." Both men behind her laughed at Alistair's comment, but Lina tried to repress a snicker at the upset look that crossed Leliana's face.
"What you do, what you are meant to do, is the Maker's work. Let me help!" Lina started to nod her head in acquiescence, however Tamlen cut in front of her before she could really speak.
"Please, for the love of the Creators, do not allow this zealot to come with us." His voice held several tones of disdain, which Lina knew would not be present if they were negotiating this outside. His words did not change her mind.
"Very well. I shall not turn away help when it is offered so freely."
"What? You're going to allow her to come with us?" Alistair stepped forward, disbelief sketched onto his face.
"Alistair, she's one Archdemon short of a blight."
"Yes, but she's more like 'Ooh! Pretty colours!' than '"Muahaha I am princess stabbity, stab, kill, kill!'" Alistair animatedly moved his hands as he spoke. Lina ignored him, rolling her eyes and casting Leliana a small grin. The redhead beamed.
"Thank you! I appreciate being given this chance. I will not let you down." Lina smiled briefly at her again before spinning and pushing her way out of the door. She was desperate for air that wasn't filled with sweat and blood. The rest of them followed her out, Tamlen quickly catching up to her and gripping her upper arm to slow her down. She kept walking, but turned her head to look at him.
"What?"
"What did you mean, 'thanks for your help'?" He asked, pushing her to the side slightly to make sure she didn't trip over a rock as they passed Sten's cage.
"Exactly what I said. Out of every human in there, Tamlen, I expected you to back me up regarding killing those who tried to kill us. We have never failed to stand by each other even if we disagreed on a point; why did you stop then?" Her eyes were shooting daggers towards him, although her face remained calm and neutral. Tamlen inwardly winced; she was more than simply annoyed. There was something else to the cause of her anger, something akin to a betrayal of mutual dependence. His hand moved from her upper arm to her wrist to prevent her from trying to hit him; he knew she wouldn't, but the precaution was needed anyway.
"We were in an inn full of shems. Killing them would have been reckless." She only scoffed at his words.
"Hasn't stopped you before." Lina muttered darkly, scowling and quickening her pace, intent on finding the campsite that Morrigan and Sten had left to set up an hour previously. And despite her annoyance, Tamlen noticed how she made no move to remove his grip on her wrist.
Lina didn't speak to Tamlen again for the rest of the evening. When they had laid their bedrolls down not five feet from the others, she didn't look his way, and instead huffed and puffed to convey her anger towards him. She had stayed on that bedroll even when he pushed her meal towards her, and made to take it only when he had sat down on his own. He supposed that, as she hadn't outright moved to the other side of the camp, she wasn't too angry with him. Most likely just trying to make a point.
A useless one, but a point all the same.
Lina even made a point of laying down on her bedroll and facing away from Tamlen when it came to much-needed sleep. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest, and she held back a laugh when she heard him sigh in annoyance. She fell asleep facing away from him, not even uttering a 'Quel du' due to still being annoyed with the dirty-blond.
All that side, when the nightmare struck, Tamlen was the one who had held her tightly in an attempt to calm her down. He was the one unhappily listening to Alistair as he explained the occurrence of the darkspawn dreams, and how some people could block it out better than others. When he had finished, Tamlen still had an arm wrapped awkwardly around Lina's shoulders in spite of her not needing it. She looked up from staring at her bedroll, a small smile on her face.
"Thank you, Alistair. We appreciate it." Alistair simply nodded at her and suggested that they pack up the camp. Lina objected, noticing how Leliana and Sten were still sleeping rather soundly (as soundly as the Qunari could, at least) in their respective beds. Finding Morrigan on watch at the other side of the campsite, as well as the Mabari, Lina insisted that Alistair get some sleep and decided to mull over a map to prevent herself from falling asleep again.
"I think we should look for the Dalish." Lina almost jumped out of her skin when Tamlen spoke, his voice close to her ear as he looked over her shoulder at the maps. Ignoring the strange feeling in her stomach that appeared at the revelation that he seemed to know just what she was thinking, Lina shook her head and traced the route to Redcliffe.
"Whilst I usually would not object… It has only been two months since we left our clan. To go back to another clan so soon would be silly. Besides, all we need to do is waltz right into Redcliffe, ask for the soldiers and then we can try somewhere else." As if to protest at her words, Tamlen shifted behind her and craned his neck to look at the maps more closely.
"Why not go to the Dalish?" Lina rolled her eyes and gave a sigh, resisting the urge to elbow him in the ribs for his insistence.
"Because we would be better suited to try Redcliffe first." Her tone was impatient, prompting Tamlen to give a sigh of defiance. His breath tickled at her ear, and Lina was suddenly very grateful that no one was watching to glimpse –and that he was too annoyed to notice- the delighted shiver that passed through her.
"I don't agree with that."
"Well that is not my problem, Tamlen. Last time I checked, you had made me the leader. If you don't care for my decisions, then you take over." She thrust the compass into his hand and started to move the objects holding the map down before Tamlen gave a sigh of defeat.
"Very well, Lethallan." With a smirk, Lina took her compass back and replaced the objects, smoothing the map out again and starting a search for notable landmarks. Tamlen squirmed behind her, watching her marking the map, and Lina rolled her eyes at him. Without moving her left hand from its place writing on the map, she brought her other arm up behind her and tugged lightly at the back of his hair.
"If it makes you feel any better, we'll go to the Dalish straight after Redcliffe. Just the two of us. We'll leave the Shems here in camp. And for goodness sake, stop acting so moody and defiant; it doesn't suit you." She then slapped his cheek lightly in jest and went back to studying the map.
She nearly knocked the ink bottle over in a moment of nervous-giddiness when he ruffled a hand through her hair before moving back to his own bedroll.