Interlude - Utha
She likes them, the new Wardens. The Elven Commander and the Mage Arlessa. She wishes she had time to communicate with them. But finding paper and pen in the mines would've been difficult, and she doubts they knew the signs of a Silent Sister. She doubts Duncan ever had time to teach them.
Her heart keens as she remembers her old friend. Dead and left to rot among the darkspawn… it was an end he likely expected, given that he was a Warden, but he deserved a better death, in her eyes. She had hoped she could have talked to him, when he came down for his Calling, help him understand. Show him, in fact, what she and the Architect had done.
"Unfortunate." The Architect's voice draws her from her thoughts, and she turns to focus on it. They communicate well, for it is able to read her thoughts. It's useful, for when she is so angry that she cannot even sign. "It is lost to us now, the mines," it continues with a little sigh. "No point in trying to return."
She gives it a little glare, focusing on her annoyance. They had, after all, sunk a lot of time there.
"I know. Your former comrades are most impressive, Utha." It shakes its head. "It will be difficult to convince them."
Now, she focuses on her annoyance of its admission. 'Difficult', it thought? 'Difficult' was waiting for over twenty years for a promise, and no signs of an end yet.
"No, Utha. Do not fret. I will keep my promise to you." Its words are sincere, and she is reminded as to why she picked it in the first place. It made mistakes, but it always tried and never gave up. It wanted to end the Blights, just as she did. That, she knew, she could trust. "All is not lost yet." It turns to her and pats her shoulder reassuring, a gesture it had picked up from her. "But we might want to prepare for battle."
She looks up at it, studies its face, and nods slowly. Yes, she could see the wisdom in that. The Mother's forces were growing stronger, and these new Wardens were strong and skilled.
She hopes that they can at least see the reason in the two of them. She hopes that they will at least listen to them. It is crazy, but there is reason, and they have had some progress. Not enough, for her, but there is some.
She closes her eyes, and prays to the Ancestors… and then she prays to Duncan, in the hopes that maybe he could give them some sign from beyond. It's all she can do, now. Hope and pray that she did not make the wrong choice, that day long ago.
Author's note: Utha is actually a character that shows up in The Calling, where you see her first meeting with the Architect, and also some insight into her backstory. She was actually a comrade to both Duncan and Fiona, and knew Marric. But something that's made pretty clear is that she's only with the Architect because it plans on ending the Blights. Permanetly.
Next Chapter - Back at the Keep with Layla