Elena was lucky she hadn't worn a hole through the floorboards with her constant pacing and the man, whom she learned to be named Tomas, looked up with a small sigh of irritation. "You're making me nervous will all your pacing," He said as he continued wiping down the blade of his sword.
She stopped with a small frown and slumped against the wall instead, following the movements of his hands with her eyes. It was fascinating and intimate and she felt her face flush as she forced herself to look away.
"You handle your sword like you would handle a woman," She said, clearing her throat.
He chuckled and paused to consider her observation before nodding. "I guess you can say that. Do you not handle your bow as you would handle a man?" He questioned, arching a dark eyebrow as he studied her.
Her flicked over to the bow propped up against the opposite wall and she fell silent. Her bow had been gifted to her by her father only a few days before Rendon Howe betrayed him. It was an early gift for her birthday and she had cherished the bow and quiver tremendously. But it had soon lost its importance and had become just another weapon.
She looked down at her fingers and shook her head. "I have never been with a man in that way," She began. "But I suppose that I do not treat my bow as I should. I use it to kill, nothing more. It was important to me once and it should still be. But things are not the same as they once were."
"If you ever wish to master your weapon then you will learn to love it as one loves another person. You will be tender and rough, caring and unforgiving," He stood up and dropped the dirty cloth to the ground and sheathed the blade. "Are you ready, Elena?"
She nodded and he stepped forward, producing a rope from his belt and binding her hands loosely. "Do you remember the plan?" She asked nervously, bouncing from one foot to the other. She had known him for only a day and while she had no others to trust, she still could not trust him entirely. He was a stranger, but something about him put her at ease.
He nodded. "I take you to the door, announce that I have captured the Grey Warden, we take care of them and then we're free to roam about as we please. Relax. I will not forget or lead you astray. My friends were slain at Ostagar as well as yours."
She nodded and remained still as he slipped the bow and the quiver of arrows over her, adjusting them on her back. "You may need your weapon," He added with a small smile before pushing the door open of the abandoned shack and ushering her out into the street.
They walked through Denerim in silence, past the Gnawed Noble Tavern and straight to the massive doors. "You should've let someone take a look at your wound," Tomas said quietly. "Should things get bad in there it may slow you down."
She pressed her lips into a thin line, the pain had nearly been forgotten and replaced by the twisting and turning of her stomach until he had brought it up. Her nerves eased up and was replaced with a fresh wave of pain and she swayed on her feet, his strong grip on her arm the only thing keeping her from toppling over.
"Steady. Here we go," He set his jaw as they approached and the guards stepped towards them.
"Who goes there?" One guard asked as he stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"I have brought in the Grey Warden," Tomas said firmly, shoving Elena forward roughly. She stumbled and gave him a hard look as she tried to pull her arm away, but he gave it a yank and she stumbled again.
The guards exchanged looks before nodding to one another. "The Teyrn has the other Grey Warden in custody already," The one guard said casually and Elena felt her heart leap in her chest. Alistair! "Bring her in," They moved aside and pushed the doors open and Tomas shoved Elena inside.
Two more guards stood outside a door at the opposite end of the room and Tomas moved her forward and she struggled against him just for a good effect. The men raised their eyebrows as the pair approached.
"I have brought in the other Grey Warden," The men looked surprised and one reached for Elena but she brought her hands up and caught him in the face, causing him to stumble backwards. He clutched at his nose as his comrade drew his sword, but Tomas was quicker and drove his blade deep into the man's gut and twisted the blade before yanking it back out and stepping away from the small puddle of blood forming on the floor as he collapsed.
Elena had worked her hands free and grabbed the dagger sheathed at her hip, drawing it across the other man's throat as he lunged at her. His eyes were wide as he staggered back once more, clawing and clutching at his throat helplessly as blood leaked from the gash. He slid down against the wall before slumping down on the floor, his hands falling to his sides and his head leaned forward.
She felt no guilt; no remorse for killing those men and she could see that Tomas felt the same.
"The Landsmeet has begun. I can hear Loghain," He said, nodding towards the door.
Elena hesitated. She had no idea what she would find on the other side of that door. Loghain had an army of men behind him and a dozen supporters on top of that. She was only one person; surely she wouldn't get very far.
"Have faith in yourself, Pup, as I have faith in you," Her father's words returned to her and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady herself. She was a Cousland and the courage of a Cousland ran deep. Regardless of the outcome she couldn't back down. Alistair was counting on her. They were all counting on her. To see his face was all she needed.
All pain in her body was forgotten as she removed the bow from her back and readied an arrow, listening to her own breathing as she struggled to steady it. Her hands trembled with anticipation and she stole a glance at Tomas.
"I am not afraid of dying as long as I can show them the truth. I just want Loghain dead," He was calm and composed and for a moment she envied him.
Her mouth was dry and she glared heavily at the doors of the Landsmeet Chamber. She extended a hand, took another steadying breath and forced the doors open with a rough shove. There was no backing down now.
