How the sky did shine on the crumbled, aged ruins of Ostagar. My back was warm, a change from the pressing, cold, stone walls of the tower. My face was arm as well, and it was an enjoyable feeling. I felt like an alien in a foreign land, and could tell by the reception from the occasional soldier that walked by. I didn't care, and for once, didn't care about the time either. But, I had a task at hand, and that was to find this Alistair fellow and get on with the preparation for the Joining- my savior.
I had already had a small bowl of something and was quite content. While I'd rather be selfish and simply bask in the sun, my belly full and my heart soaring, I knew that in a time such as this, there was no time for selfish emotions. The importance was defeating the darkspawn, and saving Ferelden. Guilty pleasures could wait.
Quickly, I made my way to the Quartermaster. With the little money I had, I could still trade in the odds and ends I'd found in the tower and on the way to Ostagar. I have a bit of a habit, you see, for collecting oddities. Whether it be a shiny rock that seems to call to me, or a beautifully crafted amulet found lying around. Back in the tower, I found i had no use for them except for keeping them as my little treasures. Now that I was out in the open, with barters and shopkeepers, I could sell them! The trip to the Quartermaster made my bag almost twitch with excitement.
The Quartermaster had a small little inlet of the camp for himself, with several bookshelves filled with armor and dummies dressed in them. Beside the camp stood a man who leather armor who was trying to sweet-talk a blond soldier. I watched the interaction, fairly amused by the girl's lack of response to his flirts. I stifled a laugh behind my hand when she turned on her heel and left the poor fool standing there. I must have made a noise, because he then turned around.
"Well," He took a step back, analyzing me. "You're not what I thought you'd be." He says. I narrow my eyes in a half-glare, not totally menacing but still getting a point across. I rest my hands on my hips and raise a brow.
"And what did you think I'd be?" I ask.
"Not a woman. Yet, here you are." He gives a short laugh. "The name's Daveth. It's about bloody time you came along. I was beginning to think they cooked this ritual up just for our benefit." There the people go again with the obvious paranoia. I'm starting to really hate that word...that feeling. Paranoia. It should go away.
"Isn't that a little paranoid?" I breathe the word out, hating every last ounce of it. Daveth gives another short laugh.
"Ha! That depends on what kind of life you've led. Me, I'm perfectly willing to accept that this Joining is some kind of punishment. I happened to be sneaking around camp last night, see, and I heard a couple of Grey Wardens talking. So I listen in for a bit. I'm thinking they plan to send us into the Wilds."
"The Korcari Wilds?" I ask, and Daveth nods. "Why would they send us into the forest?"
"Sounds like some kind of test. Maybe we'll hunt us a souvenir or two. It's all too secretive for me. Makes my nose twitch. But I guess we'll have to wait and see. Like we have a choice." He shrugs.
"Well, I'll watch your back if you watch mine." I offer a bit of what sympathy I can offer for Daveth. Of course, there's little...but only because he's so paranoid. Paranoia will drive one to their downfall. Paranoia made Jowan a blood mage...and I won't let paranoia take me, or anyone I know and love.
"Oh ho, I'll definitely be watching your back." Daveth smirks and I feel my face flush indefinitely. I cross my arms over my chest and give him another glare. But, rather than being all serious, a small laugh escapes my throat. I honestly don't know where in Andraste's name it came from. Perhaps it was a way of attempting to smooth down my rifled feathers. Or just a way to provide a haughty exterior to the shambling little girl.
"Just don't get too distracted back there." I say, uncrossing my arms.
"No Promises." Daveth gives a smile before walking off. I give a sigh, shaking my head. I see the Quartermaster only a few feet away and chat with him a bit. There's an elf woman who he says hasn't returned with his armor. I had looked around once or twice, maybe hoping to see her, but it was fruitless, and she wasn't even there. The Quartermaster continued on, apologizing for pulling me into his issues. We barter and I sell most of my things; the stuff I don't need. I buy a new robe, a nice pair of boots and some lyrium potions and health poultices. I thank the Quartermaster and head off.
The new robes and shoes feel even more better than the mage's robes that Senior Enchanter gave me. I snuggle deep into the fabric, noting the dark reds and the brilliant gold trim. The shoes make me feel as if I'm walking on clouds. These were definitely worth the buy. I wouldn't want to be fighting darkspawn in an uncomfortable ensemble, now would I? No, I wouldn't at all.
The scenery becomes familiar once more and I pass by the Quartermaster to the ruins. This has been a part of the camp that I haven't checked out yet. I intend to find every little part of the camp and now it. Another quirk of mine.
There's a short, stone ramp and I head up it just in time to see a dark skinned and black haired mage ranting at a fair skinned man. I stroll up to the both of them, eavesdropping or just waiting to say something. It doesn't matter, because no one notices.
"What is it now? Haven't Grey Wardens asked more than enough of the Circle?" The mage asks, annoyance rising in his voice.
"I simply came to deliver a message from the revered mother, ser mage. She desires your presence." The other man asks. He's not a mage. I decide to call him Joseph.
"What her Reverence 'desires' is of no concern to me! I am busy helping the Grey Wardens- by the king's orders, I might add!" The mage hisses, glaring at Joseph.
"Should I have asked her to write a note?" Joseph asks, and I stifle a giggle. Either they are too full of themselves to notice me, or I've become better at hiding my laughs, because they still don't seem to notice me.
"Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner!"
"Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message." Joseph sarcastically says.
"Your glibness does you no credit." The mage tightens his mouth and ensues a larger glare at Joseph. Nothing seems to strike the mighty Joseph down, and he stands his guard, not at all disturbed by the award winning mage glare.
"Here I thought we were getting along so well. I was even going to name one of my children after you...the grumpy one." Joseph gives another sarcastic comment, and I'm giggling like a maniac by now. Whether or not it's because some slipped something into my meal or that I've never heard arguments like these before, I don't know.
But, it seems the argument has ended and the mage has had enough. "Enough! I will speak to the woman if I must! Get out of my way, fool!" The mage gives a last glare at Joseph and turns, brushing his shoulder past mine and even has the audacity to glare at me! What did I do, exactly? Stand there and observe how well mages can get angered?
Suddenly, Joseph turns to me and starts walking in my direction. Why is my heart fluttering?
"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together." Joseph says, and I can't tell if he's joking or not. Clearly he is, because he smiles at my next words.
"I know exactly what you mean."
"It's like a party, we could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about." Joseph smiles at his own joke. "Wait," he grows a bit serious. "we haven't met, have we? I don't suppose you happen to be another mage?"
I raise a brow. Does the dress not give it away? The staff behind my back? "I am indeed a mage." I say.
"Really? You don't look like a mage. Uh...that is..I mean...how interesting." Joseph seems genuinely surprised that I am a mage. Why? Well, I can only assume that his mental image of a mage is solely driven by the grumpy one's attitude. Then, his eyes glitter with recognition. They're a sort of hazel color. From my standpoint, I can note bits of green with brown floating around the center of it. It's really nice, actually.
"Wait, I doknow who you are. You're Duncan's new recruit, from the Circle of Magi. I should have recognized you right away. I apologize."
"Oh, that's all right. I mean, it's not like you knew my face or anything. No offense taken." I say to Joseph, a brief smile on my face. Half my mind is screaming at me that this isn't Joseph, but Alistair. The other half is telling me to wait and see. Wait and see.
"Good. You didn't really catch me at my finest with the mage there.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Alistair, the new Grey Warden, though I guess you knew that." Ah, so Joseph is Alistair. The left half of my brain was correct, and I give it the approval.
"Actually, I was calling you Joseph for a while. I wasn't sure if you were Alistair or not. Glad you are, though. I mean, well not that I'm glad that you are...but...nevermind." I'm blushing more than usual. I clench my fists and turn my head, avoiding Alistair's glance.
"Are you all right?" He asks and I nod.
"Yeah, just peachy." I breathe through clenched teeth. Alistair freezes but then relaxes back.
"Right...well, as the junior member of the order, I'll be accompanying you when you prepare for the Joining." Great. Great. As if my face couldn't get any more red.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Fiona." I say, glancing up a bit and at Alistair. His eyes widen and he gives a loud, "oooh".
"Right, that's the name." He says and I smile.
"Well, uh, anyway, let's get going, now, shall we?" I say, starting to turn.
"Oh, yeah, sure. If you have any questions, just ask." Alistair says from behind my back and I hurry forward. I can hear him following, and for a moment, I really wish that he wasn't. I'm acting as dumb as Cullen and I'm shining as red as red can be.