Author's Note: Thanks to all who have read thus far. You deserve a cookie. Anyways, school has started and my free time is now non-existent. I'll try to write when I have free time, but I make no promises. This is kinda a wimpy chapter. I felt like I wrote it just to write, so sorry if it's kinda boring and all that. Oh and no dog? I can't believe I forgot him! I tried to add him in, but that was a bit of a fail. Oops.
Bell was roughly shoved into a small cell. She didn't try to get up, her legs momentarily grateful for the rest. A second later though, pain began to worm its way out, spreading its searing sting throughout her legs.
She grimaced and pulled herself into an upright position, massaging her muscles as she looked up at her captors.
"Give her a day to recover. Tomorrow, I will have a word with her."
Arl Howe turned and strode out of the room, leaving Bell with the rest of his gaurds.
"So the little knife-ear is finally locked up," sneered a man, slamming the door closed.
"I thought she was human," argued another man.
"Naw, she looks too elven to be human," commented another.
The men bickered amongst themselves until one man turned and shouted, "Oi! What are you?"
Bell sat silent.
"Come on! Or I'll open that door and beat it out of you!"
"And how do you know I'll tell the truth?" retorted Bell.
The man unsheathed his sword. "Well, when your life depends on it…"
Bell wasn't impressed.
"Your superior brought me here alive. Obviously, I am worth more alive than dead."
The man growled, but sheathed his sword.
"Come on, men. This one doesn't want to play."
The men left and part of Bell was sad; arguing with those men (no matter how pathetic the argument was) was the first real brain activity she had in weeks.
And then the memories came back: the whipping, the pain, the nausea. But then something worse crossed her mind.
Suicide.
Bell nearly vomited all over the floor. The thought of taking her own life scared her and to think that she let herself deteriorate to that state frightened her. She should be stronger than that.
To calm her mind, Bell began to softly hum the Chant of Light.
Its mellow tune and monotonous rhythm lulled her into a deep sleep, dreaming of nothing but the thought of escape.
Aedan had shaped up by the time he reached Ostagar. He met the king, drank some blood, and was on a quest to save Fereldan.
To Aedan, meeting Flemeth and all that went with her was a bit unsettling. And having her daughter follow him was not a reassuring thought.
"Here we are. Lothering. Pretty as a picture, isn't it?" said Alistair.
"And he speaks," exclaimed Morrigan sarcastically.
Aedan shot her a look; he knew how hard it was to lose his parents. He figured Alistair was experiencing the same thing with Duncan.
"All right," said Aedan, breaking the tense silence. "We'll resupply and rest before we head out."
"Where are we going?" asked Alistair.
"Denerim," Aedan answered subconsciously.
"Why? If I might ask," asked Morrigan.
Aedan didn't mention Bell.
"My family knew some of the nobles there," lied Aedan. "They may be able to spare some coin for food and armor."
"At the rate we're giving away our coin, I would say that is wise," huffed Morrigan.
Alistair nodded and didn't pursue the topic.
Aedan could see that the village was crawling with refugees.
"Let's be quick," Aedan said, surveying the scene. "I don't think they have much to spare."
The group nodded, and they split their duties. Alistair went to buy supplies and Aedan set off to gather news. Morrigan gave nasty glares to people who stared too long, keeping their questions to a minimum.
Rabbit, Aedan's mabari, trotted faithfully beside his master. In his depression, Aedan nearly forgot about his hound, but now the two were inseperable.
The group stumbled upon a lost boy, and Aedan quickly helped him.
"Go to the Chantry. Someone will take care of you," said Aedan pressing a coin into the boy's hand.
The boy nodded and ran off, and Aedan stood up to face Morrigan.
"Must we give our coin to every person we see?"
"It's not wrong to be generous-"
"It is when it threatens to send us off with nothing!"
Aedan pinned her anger on exhaustion. He had been pushing a hard pace and he knew his group was tired. Even Rabbit was yawning.
"Look, we'll get to an inn and I'll let you handle the money, okay?"
Morrigan threw her hands up.
"It is your decision, Warden. Just do not expect me to stand faithfully by your side like your hound."
Rabbit whimpered.
Aedan could feel her anger and quickened his pace to the inn. When they entered, the atmosphere changed. The people lowered their voices and glanced at the group.
A group of armed men walked forward.
"Are you a Grey Warden?" asked one of the men, eyeing them suspiciously.
"Why do ask?" replied Aedan, wishing Bell were here. She was much better at settling arguments.
The man next to the speaker drew his blade. "Because Loghain wants you dead."
Aedan grabbed his sword and shield and joined the fray.
He stunned most of the enemies, but they were thick in their numbers.
Aedan noticed a sister join the fight, but kept fighting. A man came dangerously close to killing Aedan and managed to leave a tiny slice on Aedan's neck.
Aedan quickly swung his sword around and expertly decapitated the man.
"I yield! I yield!" panted the leader, breathing hard and sweating. Clearly, he had not expected any real resistance.
"Then run to Loghain and tell him this," Aedan cautioned. He broke his menacing front though and allowed himself a smile.
"He'll have to do better than this."
Author's Note: Hopefully, that didn't make you cringe too much. Reviews and construc- eh, you get the point by now. I'm sure you're tired of hearing it. Anyways, thanks for reading!