The great city she had gotten so close to before loomed over her, ominous and threatening. She had to remind herself that it was just a city, and that the people in it hadn't gone off the deep end just yet. She had decided to walk in as a human, as she would not get a chance to shapeshift much, especially if she was to work for the Wardens. The dust of the road kept getting into her nose and by the time she made it to the gates, she ended up in a sneezing fit.
"Maker, are you all right?" A tenor voice spoke up behind her. She looked and saw an elf with messy brown hair staring at her, a chunk of bread in his hand and a waterskin by his side. She felt her stomach rumble as she stared at the bread.
"Thank you, I'm fine, just a bit of dust." She said. "I um... I don't suppose you have any extra food...?" He suddenly looked anxious and reached into his bag to pull out another chunk of bread.
"I'm sorry, it's not much..." He said, a waver in his voice. Claire sat down next him and carefully took the bread.
"Thank you so much. I haven't eaten in a while, not today, nor all day yesterday..." She said. "My name is Claire, by the way."
"Alberoth." He said. "Um, nice to meet you."
"Am I making you nervous?" She asked. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off as intimidating or anything..."
The elf shook his head, but Claire could tell. "No, no, it's fine, don't mind me!" He laughed nervously. She frowned as she took a bite. Despite being a bit on the stale side, it was amazing how good it tasted. Before she knew it, it was gone and her stomach was demanding more.
"You know I can tell I'm intimidating you." She sighed. "So I'll just leave you alone then, but thank you again for the bread. If I get a chance, I'll repay you."
He looked even more antsy than before. "No, no payment is necessary!"
"Just tell me why." She said. "Please, what is it about me that's so scary?"
"You're wearing that armor... and the staff... and you just seem like a mage, or at least someone who would chop my head off if I say something wrong." He said. "Shems don't like us elves, after all."
"Where I'm from, everyone is treated equally." It wasn't entirely true, but they certainly tried. "I don't care what you are, I'll treat you just the same as anyone else. With courtesy and respect." He looked at her like she was insane, but nodded. "But, since I suppose I'll continue to make you nervous, I'll take my leave now. Thanks again."
"No wait!" He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I just... don't know how to react when a shem – I mean a human, treats me, well, decent. I don't know where you're from, but I think I want to go there!"
"Well, I can't go back home, but when I was studying in the Korcari Wilds, there were some Dalish clans nearby, in the Brecilian forest." Claire was wondering if it would be possible to take him there in exchange for some help, or if it would mess up the story.
His eyes lit up like a kid in a toy store. "You know the Dalish? Please, please, take me there?"
"I don't know them, really, but I suppose I could take you, if you help me a little first?" She hoped he would take the deal, and by the look in his eyes, he would.
"Of course, what do you need help with?" He asked eagerly. "I don't exactly have money, but I can do other things."
"Obviously my armor is intimidating, and I'll need to hide the staff as well..." She said. "I just need a dress to change into, and simple shoes. That's all." He looked at her skeptically, but nodded.
"That I can do." He said. "There's a lady in town who owes me a favor, she had dresses and shoes and stuff. Follow me." He gathered his things up and started walking to the city. Claire noted that she was actually taller than him, and she wondered if she had grown a lot since she went to Tevinter. She hadn't noticed before with Abelia or Alessandra, if she had grown as tall, or taller, than them. The real test would be on Varric...
Walking through Denerim was exciting. It was so much larger than the game could show and she could smell so many different things. It was true, there was a lot of dog poop around, and dust, but there was also the smell of smoke, of meat cooking, and various herbs and flowers, and leather. Besides the smells, the sights were interesting too, something rather different than anywhere else she'd been. There were women in fancy dresses and others in peasant dresses all perusing the market, with men in armor or in plain clothes. She was sad to see the elves being treated poorly, but had to remember to not draw attention to herself just yet.
Alberoth walked into one of the shops and Claire almost missed it, trying not to stare at the pair of Grey Wardens walking their way. They were wearing the classic blue and white colors with the twin griffin crest on their chest plates and they looked like they were in a good mood. Oh how she wanted to just work in the Warden base, just to listen to their tales and see what being a Warden was really all about. All she ever saw was with Alistair, really, and he'd only been a Warden for six months before... She hurried inside the shop and looked around. Alberoth was speaking with the proprietor and gestured towards Claire. The gruff looking woman walked over to Claire and looked her up and down.
"Yeah, sure, I can get you something decent." She walked briskly to the back of the store and started rummaging through an old chest, then pulled out a blue dress and some shoes, tossing them to Alberoth. "Now get, both of you!" Alberoth smiled and thanked her before rushing out the door.
"I hope these fit." He said, handing the dress and shoes to Claire. "So what now?"
"Well, I can take you to the Dalish now, or you can wait until my business here is done." She said. She had no idea when that would be or if she would even be able to get in to work with the Wardens, or if she'd have to think of something else to do.
"Now?" He asked. "As in, right this minute? I... as much as I would love to, I should probably make sure things are ready back home."
"Then I'll come find you when I can." She said. "I don't know how long it'll take, maybe a few months. Once I get in, I won't be able to get out until it's done."
Alberoth frowned, but nodded. "I suppose I can wait then. Just don't forget me, all right?"
"I won't." She smiled at him, bowed, and walked off. She needed to find a place to store her things while she was busy pretending to not be a mage, but where would be good? She wandered around behind the buildings, looking for a good place to put the stuff. Finally, she decided to just become a Mabari and dig a hole by the wall to put the stuff in. She made sure no one was around and got dressed in the new dress, pleased that it actually fit. The shoes were a little tight, but she would live. She bundled her armor and old clothes up and laid them in the hole with her staff, then set up wards and protective spells to guard them while she was gone. After she covered her stuff back up, making the area look like the rest of the wall, she brushed herself off and went searching for the Warden base.
It was an old looking building, with a gate and courtyard like a typical estate would have, but there were Wardens milling about out front. Claire started to lose her nerve seeing all the Wardens and turned to leave when someone ran up behind her and grabbed her shoulder.
"Hey, we're not all scary!" He said. She turned and saw a happy young man with trim brown hair and amber eyes that seemed to twinkle with his charming smile. "What did you need? I expect you came here for a reason."
"I just... I've been looking for work and I've heard so many stories of the Grey Wardens, and surely you would need someone to cook and clean, right?" She couldn't believe how nervous she was! He raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Not very often someone comes to us for work!" He said. "Tell you what, I'll take you to see the commander and he'll tell us what we can do with you." He turned, then said, "By the way, my name is Stefen."
"I'm Claire, nice to meet you!" She said. "Thank you."
"Eh, don't thank me yet, let's wait and see if you can get a job." He laughed as he opened the door. It had different architecture than the Tevinter structures she was used to, and found she got turned around and had no idea how to get back out. He led her up stairs and through hallways until they got to a large room with a desk in one corner. Behind the desk sat a man Claire instantly recognized with his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and his beard and mustache
"Hey, Commander, found this girl outside, says she's looking for work and so... you know..." Stefen grinned as Duncan groaned and shook his head. The Warden-Commander got up and walked over to Claire, looking her up and down.
"And why would you seek work here with the Grey Wardens?" He asked. "I'm assuming you aren't looking to be recruited. What are your skills?" Haunting people's dreams, killing people while they slept, turning into animals, and if she wanted to really add to the fun, she could add sexually pleasing lecherous magisters to the list.
"I've heard stories about the Wardens and I love them, I love hearing about you. I can cook, clean, mend armor, serve food, sharpen weapons, garden... anything, really." She cringed at how desperate she sounded, but Tyranius did like to make her do a variety of things.
Duncan narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. "And where would you have learned all that?" He asked. She clamped down on her anxiety, trying not to let her voice waver too much.
"I... please, ser, I would prefer not to say." She said.
"If you want to work for us, you need to be forthcoming in your information." Duncan said. "We do not judge or discriminate here."
"I'm sorry, ser." She said, blushing. What could she tell him? "It's just that... I'm an escaped slave from Tevinter... please, please don't make me go back." She looked at him with pleading eyes.
"A slave?" Stefen exclaimed. "From Tevinter? Why would you come here then? Surely the Free Marches would be closer..."
"Stefen." Duncan shook his head. He turned back to Claire. "We do not tolerate slavery here and would never send a slave back to a Tevinter master. Very well then, Stefen, take her to the cook. I know she was complaining about too much work, now she'll have help. When you're done, come back and report." Stefen saluted and led Claire away.
"Tevinter, really?" He asked. "How did you manage to escape? I know those magisters like to keep a tight leash on their slaves."
"You have no idea how true those words are." Claire grumbled, hoping she would never see another collar again. "I saw an opportunity and ran. With the head start I had, and the lack of a magical leash, I think I was able to allude him. Look, I would prefer not to speak of it, please..."
He looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry, it's just such a strange concept to me. The closest we have here to slaves are the mages, and I suppose the elves."
"Yes, your way of dealing with mages is deplorable, I've noticed." She said. "Fear of what Tevinter has become shouldn't be an excuse to lock mages up like criminals."
"Hah, you should talk to Cedrik!" Stefen's smile was contagious and Claire found herself feeling happy for the first time in a long time. "He's always going on about the plight of mages. I can't really blame him, I suppose, considering what he's been through... But seriously, I think he'd get a kick out of talking to you. Oh, here's the kitchen!" He shoved open a small door and let Claire pass him. The kitchen was large room with an island in the center, covered in vegetables and meat. A small male elf sat in a corner peeling potatoes and a large robust woman was cutting carrots into a pot hanging over the fire. She turned, seeing Stefen with Claire, and glared at them.
"What's this? More mouths to feed?" She grumbled. "As if I didn't have enough work to do..."
Stefen chuckled and pushed Claire forward. "Dona, I brought you someone to help out!"
There was an evil glint in the woman's eyes as she studied Claire, grinning, her grey hair a wild mess. "Bout time you got me new blood!" She laughed. "Well then, what're you standing around for? Grab a knife and help Ian out with those potatoes!" Claire bobbed her head and grabbed the nearest knife, hurrying to the corner. She was glad she was used to being a slave, it would help her be one of the best workers the cook would ever know.
"So what'd you think of her, Commander?" Stefen asked, walking into Duncan's office. "Should have seen how fast she started working when we got to the kitchen! And Maker, can she peel a potato. Cook shouldn't have any problems now."
"There's something about her, I can't quite put my finger on it." Duncan said.
"You don't trust her?" Stefen asked, surprised. "She seems pretty legit to me."
"Keep an eye on her, just the same." Duncan said. "And let the others know as well. I don't want to take any chances."
"You think she's a Tevinter spy?" Stefen asked.
"Who's a Tevinter spy?" A serious looking man with black hair showed up. Stefen found Jasper's black eyes too unnerving as the man stared at them, unblinking.
"Well we don't know for certain, but there was this girl I found outside who said she wanted a job, so she's working in the kitchen..."
"She claims she's an escaped slave from Tevinter." Duncan said.
"And you don't trust her." Jasper said. "I'm fairly good at getting information from people, shall I befriend her?"
"Try not to draw attention to yourself." Duncan said. "We don't need her getting suspicious. I want you two to warn the others so they don't accidentally leak information to her. Now, was there something you needed to see me for, Jasper?"