Denerim was not what I expected.
It was a bustling city, and I had expected that. We easily found Brother Genetivi's house, sadly lacking the man. His assistant, Weylon, has put us on the path to Lake Calenhad. At least we can kill two birds with one stone while there, perhaps find the Brother and get the mages to uphold the treaty. Things went smoothly as far as business goes. I let most of my companions wander the market district. Leliana had captured Morrigan, trying to get her to express an interest in fancy shoes. Sten disappeared into a weapons shop.
Alistair, Dog, and I wandered around looking for the address he had for his sister. When we got there, I had to practically drag him inside the small hovel. He was excited and nervous to find blood of his blood. I could not blame him.
She was vile. She was rude. I watched as her words set barbs in his heart, his face falling with disappointment with each passing moment. I tried to interject, to assuage her onslaught, only to have her barbs slung at me. They bounced off me, my heart to her was cold. Believe my surprise when Alistair's voice raised in anger to her over the way she spoke to me. I looked at him a bit shocked, but finally took his arm to lead him outside. I told him there was nothing for him there, and he agreed readily.
I still wonder if I said the right thing once we got outside. It seemed to change something about him. I told him everyone was out for themselves. Was that true?
We wandered the market more, looking for signs of my people. That is when the sound of a familiar voice washed over me. Something in me cracked as I turned the corner, and it took every ounce of strength in my body to not run headstrong and throw myself in his arms. I was still a lady, perhaps somewhat weak willed, but still a lady. Alistair pushed me forward, I was thankful for the smile he gave me.
The ancestor's truly hate me. When our eyes met, I thought my heart would explode from my chest. That rumbling voice, surprised, saying my name. I wanted to cry, but crying was a silly thing to do in the middle of a market. Here stood the last connection of the life I once led, the man I had stolen chaste kisses from in shadowed hallways, whose hand I held under the dinner table, whose arms held me in the darkest of nights, protecting me, and never demanding more from me. My glory would have been his glory, we dreamed of the day that my father would have seen him worthy to be my husband.
But that was another life, before the betrayal, before the Blight. A life of dreams unfulfilled. Here stood the stone of my heart, but he could no longer be my second. He was married, expecting child. I felt a twist in my gut. I barely heard him as he told me of how he got to Denerim, of how he had carried a gift for me from my father. I stumbled over words. I asked him when I would get to meet the lucky woman. I wonder if he heard the shaking in my voice. I wanted to ask why he didn't wait for me, when his faith in me had died. Instead I took the shield, Aeducan's Shield, from him and thanked him for his service to my family and to me. I strapped the shield to my back, and walked away.
The heart is a funny thing. Wounds to it hurt worse than any cut or bruise.
