"What are you doing?" Eric was shocked at the sight of Sten getting dressed in Edward's armour.
"Leaving."
"What?" He exclaimed. "You can't leave, we had a deal! You would protect us!"
"You do not want protection," the qunari stated, "you want to die here."
"Where will you go, then?" Leaning against the doorframe, I asked, surprised that my former husband's steel armour even fit him.
"I will seek out the Grey Wardens," he responded, "I have an obligation I will not neglect."
"I won't let you leave alone," I scolded and nodded for Eric to go to his room, "pack your things, Eric. We'll go together."
At that his eyes lit up as he left the room running and I could have sworn I saw Sten almost smirk.
"I see you do not wish to die," he commented.
"It was your plan to take us with you all along, wasn't it?" I asked smiling to which he answered, "Sataareth kadan hass-toh issala ebasit."
"Thank you," I said, fighting my tears as I walked towards him and took his hand into mine, "we will never forget what you did for us."
"You kept me alive when I had already accepted my death and forgotten my purpose," he contradicted, pulling his hand gently away, "so I should be thanking you, Kadan."
Smiling softly, I said, "Sataa saar ebasit. Ebsaam Sataareth ebost."
"As you have been for me."
I walked towards the chest where Sten had got the armour from. Motioning towards the great sword that hung above the fireplace next to the chest, I allowed him to keep it as I did not have any use for it.
Afterwards, I began packing everything I deemed important. Food, water, clothing, potions, soap, and so on.
With Sten's help, it was done quickly and soon we were outside. I was armed and dressed in my old leather armour by then, my hair tied up so that it would not hinder me in combat.
When I noticed Eric ogling me, I chuckled and asked him, "Never seen your mother like this before, have you, son?"
And he shook his head, grinning. "You have to tell me everything, Mother."
"I will," I said, kissing him on his forehead, before we set off towards the highway.
And there he stood. The darkspawn leader with the horned helmet, the one who had killed my daughter right in front of me.
Sten seemed to notice the glint in its eyes as well, saying, "It has been waiting for this moment."
My eyes darted around the place, searching for any traps, but there were none.
I noticed broken crates and a wagon with a decayed ox to my left, assuming they had already attacked other people. I was also aware of the few numbers of darkspawn we were facing, as there were three. That wasn't right.
And what I hadn't seen last time, I saw then, spotting three smaller darkspawn hidden in the shadows, ready to strike.
"You go for the warriors," I ordered Sten and he nodded, taking out his greatsword, "I'll watch your back and take out the rogues."
Unsheathing one of my daggers my eyes didn't leave the Alpha's and I whispered to Eric, "You know how your magic works. Don't be afraid to use it."
I felt his nervousness and nudged him.
Laughing darkly the taller darkspawn approached Sten as he let out a fierce battle cry, stunning his foes, which I used as my opportunity to take out the rogues.
I threw a knife into one's head and immediately unsheathed my other dagger to parry another's blow before I made a quick deal of it, as well.
Searching for the last rogue, I spotted it behind Eric as it stalked toward him. "Behind you, Eric!" I called as I sprinted at it and he turned around in surprise.
He squealed as it was about to bring down its blade, when suddenly a ball of fire exploded, roasting the creature to its death. Looking at my son's fiery hands, I smirked, pride filling my heart. I was aware that my son didn't know what he was doing, but he had acted instinctively in a matter of seconds and survived instead of being frozen with fear, and that I was proud of.
When I turned to Sten, I saw that two of the darkspawn were still alive. He was struggling with the Alpha while another was about to land a blow, when suddenly an icicle flew past me, spiking its head.
"Did I do it right?" Eric asked, still shaking a bit. "More than just that, honey," I answered, ruffling his head, before stalking up to Sten's foe from behind and landing a dagger in its neck.
Our eyes met when the darkspawn fell out of view and I flashed a smile at Sten, getting a nod from him.
"It is done," he said, "Anaan ebsaam ebasit. Let us leave."
We looked back at Eric who was approaching us, trembling.
"It's alright," I whispered soothingly as I wrapped my arms around him, "we're safe now."
When the shock subsided, he began to sob. "I'm afraid, Mother," he choked, pressing his head into my chest, his arms tightening around me.
"You don't need to, honey," I assured him, "you did well. We're safe now."
Katashok - The end of the struggle
Sataareth kadan hass-toh issala ebasit. - "It is my purpose to do what I must for those I consider important."
Sataa saar ebasit. Ebsaam Sataareth ebost. - "The world is dangerous. You are our protector."
Anaan ebsaam ebasit. - "Victory is ours."
Author's Note: And that's it. Liona's story has come to an end (at least in Lothering). Her journey, however, continues in the story 'Where The Heart Lies'.
