Chapter 10
The unbearable scent of rot and excrement assault Hallen the moment he opens the door—even if he is a slave and has gotten used to deal with cleaning up waste, there is something in this smell that makes him hesitate. It smells like death—almost like what he had had to face back then, during the last days of his mother.
But still, the young boy braves on and go inside the tiny jail. Fenan is in there, and Hallen needs to take care of his friend.
He tries to clean the other boy as best as he could with a single rag and small bucket of water. During the process, a sense of hopelessness and anger arise in his heart when Hallen notices that Fenan's wounds are getting worse. Pus mixed with blood keep coming out and the few bandages the other servants managed to gather for them are in dire need of a change.
Yet there is nothing they can do to get more wrapping clothes or potions. The best Hallen and the adult servants can do is to gather the few wild herbs in the corners of the garden; they can't go look for more since there's no forest in the middle of a city. They cannot go out to buy medicines either—slaves have no money, and the Master, after tucking back his whip that was still dripping with blood, has specifically ordered that no money or resources should be spent on an ungrateful thief.
All Hallen's friend has done was taking a piece of bread from the main table. Fenan couldn't help it, Hallen understands—his friend was too hungry because the Master forbade him food as a punishment for breaking a small dish.
Something bitter and overwhelming is crushing Hallen's chest. It is the same feeling he has back when his mother…
No. Fenan will be fine. Hallen will save some of his food so his friend can eat more. He will fetch more water to wash Fenan. He will even give Fenan his own blanket and pillow, even if they are all rag and dirty!
Hallen will do his best. So Fenan will be fine.
xxXxx
"How is he?" Rem asks Hallen when she comes down to the kitchen. Her hands still adjusting her clothes but her red hair is still mussed around her long ears. Everyone, even Hallen, knows the Master has taken a liking to her these days and no one says a word whenever she comes back late at night after everything has been cleaned up. It's not Rem's fault, he knows, if she refuses, she would end up just like the slave before her. Rem does her best to help the other servants, too.
"He's… okay… I think. He drank all the soup I gave him but…" Hallens answers, feeling like he's telling something untrue.
'It's not enough' hangs between them. They both know Fenan needs something more than just water cooked with kitchen scraps.
Rem sighs, reaching into the large pouch tied to her side and pull out some grapes and berries that she probably was given to by the Master as a favor for her service. "Here, eat," she says and Hallen's thoughts darkens when he recalls how his mother has done the same until she was too sick one day and dared to deny the Master…
Reluctantly, he takes the fruits and throws them into his bow of porridge. With a spoonful of it shoveled into his mouth, the sweet and sour taste spreads all over his tongue, making him feel a little better.
Rem frowns but doesn't say anything. She just looks into the pot on the stove before pouring a bowl. "I've got some bread too. Maybe dunking those into this will help fill Fenan's stomach better."
Hallen nods, trying to say something about the bandage but before he could, the door to the backyard opened and Marcus steps in.
He is large even for a human but with his limp right leg and mangle right hand, Marcus cannot become a fight for the Master. Instead, he mostly helps out in the garden, carrying stones for small constructions or to just pushing the cart for water, logs and fertilizer.
Hallen heard that the Master is preparing for something big and that he will move up the hierarchy soon, so the entire estate needed to be upgraded to suit his new position. For days now, Marcus has been carrying big bags of fertilizer into the basement to prepare for the reconstruction of the entire garden.
Marcus is kinda scary at first glance but Hallen really loves him because the big man often plays with him and other kids. Marcus often sneaks some fruits from the trees for them, too. Just like now when he pulls out a small apple for Hallen before turning to Rem, holding out a small bag. "I found some more elfroots and other stuff behind that old wall in the North. Here, you can make more salve."
Rem nods, as she is pulling out the herbs to check, the other servants come in the kitchen for their dinner. They quietly ask Hallen about Fenan before a few give him one or two morsels of food.
As Hallen tries to finish his meal, Rem gently pats his hair, murmuring so quietly, "It will be all right, little one. Everything will be all right. Just you wait. Just you wait…"
From the corner of his eye, Hallen thinks Marcus is nodding at Rem's words, too. But he doesn't pay much mind to it. He quickly stands up runs to find Fenan in the basement with his hands holding a tiny of food and a cup of salve. Everything will be okay!
xxXxx
It hurts to think about it, but Fenan is getting worse. He cannot eat anything at all. His fever just keeps burning.
Marcus and Rem will give him an earful if they know this. No, they would even ground him in the lower house for months, but Hallen needs to do this. He just needs to be quiet while sneaking into the lab, grab a potion or twos and then get back to the servants' quarters as fast as he can.
Hallen is in the middle of sifting through the bottles with labels that he can't read when he hears footsteps coming close. Instinct takes over, he throws himself into one of the closets, pressing his palm against his mouth and nose to quiet himself.
Since the closet is too small to let him press back too far from its door, Hallen can see everything through the gap. His short but pointy ears pick up the words easily.
The Master is out there; he didn't go to bed like usual and is talking about killing a Magister to two men!
Hallen's mind screams as he realizes he has heard something he wasn't supposed too.
In his panic, Hallen stumbles backward and collides with a large vase.
It falls and crashes into pieces on the floor.
The door immediately opens, and all Hallen could see is the Master whose face covered in shadow and rage.
xxXxx
It hurts so much! The Master keeps bringing down his whip and the pain of each lash doesn't have the time to fade before the next one comes.
Hallen tries to beg but he can't even open his mouth. The whip keeps coming down. The whole room is filled with screams, lashing sounds, the cursing from the Master and the laughter of the two men.
Someone! Please, help me!
He screams and cries, even when he knows that it's useless. He has seen two servants being whipped like this before. They screamed and cried, too. Until they could no longer do so and the Master's rage has finally subsided.
Hallen has seen how the other servants disposed of those twos.
He will end up like that too…
The whip comes up again as Hallen closes his eyes, preparing himself for the pain.
But the pain doesn't come, instead, there is a strange, abrupt sound follows up by screams of panic.
Looking up, Hallen realizes a cloaked person is standing between him and the Master. The top of the whip is wrapping around their wrist, straining as the Master tries to pull it back. Behind them, the two assassins are fighting against two figures also covered with cloaks and masks.
The Master let out a snarl, he lets go of the whip to reach for his staff nearby. Several streams of lightning shot from it toward Hallen and the intruder but a wall of blue appears and stop them in their tracks.
The cloaked figure, without turning back, shouts at Hallen with a distorted voice in Common, "Hide yourself under one of the tables, it will be over soon."
Even with his body screaming in protest, Hallen still obeys and drags himself to a safe place. Wrapping his arms around his bloody body that is shaking with fear and pain, the boy watches as the fight escalates.
The Master does everything he could to attack, but Hallen's protector is gaining closer toward him with several kinds of fire and ice magic. Hallen has never seen a fight between two magic users before, but he knows that the Master is a powerful mage, so his opponent must also be very strong to make him panic like that!
Just as the intruder finally blasts the Master backward into the wall so hard that he cannot get up from his spot on the floor, their companions had finally finished off their own foes. It is then that Hallen notices that one of them is carrying a golden mage staff with a female statue on top of it, and the other one is holding two swords.
The one with the swords strolls over to the Master and stabs his still body in the back almost nonchalantly. Fear once again overtakes Hallen's mind that he remembers that these people are intruders and may very well kill him as he has seen them murdered the Master.
Just as he is thinking so, the person who has saved him knees down before the table and holds out their gloved hand. "You can come out now, little one," they say gently but the fear in him prompts Hallen to back away further into the wall.
He thinks that they would pull him out and start hitting him or worse just like the Master would often do, but the masked figure instead just drops their staff on the floor and pushes it away.
"It is all right, dalen. Please come out, your wounds need to be tended to." The voice comes from the mask is clearly female this time. It is soft and reassuring to the point that it reminds Hallen of his mother. This woman even calls him "dalen", too!
Realizing that this woman must be an elf to use that word, Hallen reaches for her hand and lets her gently pull him out. She keeps him in her lap as she looks over his injuries. A warm sensation envelops Hallen and he immediately feels the pain fade away.
When the woman puts Hallen onto his feet, all of his wounds are no longer bleed. The smaller wounds look more like scratches while the big ones have formed scabs over them. Chest heaving with excitement and wonders, hope surges in his small heart and it's only amplified when his rescuer takes his hands into hers and murmurs, "I'm sorry. I should have dealt with him sooner. You could have been spared from this."
Before he could open his mouth to voice a sudden thought of his, the door is pushed open and Rem runs in. She seems surprised at his presence but not the fact that the Master is dead.
"Hallen! What are you doing here!?" She is furious, but there is an obvious worry on her face when she grabs his shoulders and checks him all over.
"I j-just wanted to find some potions for Fenan!" He replies, not daring to look straight at Rem.
"Idiot! You could have been killed!" Rem snaps but before she could go into her usual lecture, the masked woman holds out a hand to stop her.
"Perhaps we can leave this for later? There are still things needed to be done." Her voice has become distorted again. It is only then that Hallen realizes that Rem doesn't seem to be scared of this stranger either.
"All right." Rem nods, turning to him and says, "Hallen, go back to our room and pack. We'll leave this Maker-forsaken place tonight." She emphasizes by stomping on the crotch of their dead master.
"What!?" Hallen cannot believe his ears. Leaving? Where would they go?
"No time to explain. I will tell you more about it later. Just go." Rem just waves her hand and turns to the masked woman. She says, "Ser, the other documents are in the main bedroom, but the safe is seal with magic. I saw Marius opened it with some kinds of scribbles."
Ser? This isn't a woman? Hallen wonders but quickly ignore it to focus on a more important thing that he was just about to ask—Fenan!
"Then lead me there, I shall deal—" the masked mage halts her speech as Hallen pulls at her sleeve. Maybe it's wrong to ask something like this to a stranger but he needs to try!
"Please save my friend!" Hallen begs, "You are a mage and you just healed me. You can heal my friend, right? Fenan is hurt, he keeps getting worse. Please help him!"
"Hallen, Fenan can wait a bit more!" Rem scolds, but there is a pain on her face as she says it.
Hallen knows Rem want to save Fenan, too, so he begs even more desperately, trying to drag the mage toward the door. He tries and tries, even when a voice in the back of his head telling him he could be killed for this. "Please help Fenan!"
A hand gently pats his head, making him stop in his track. Looking up, the mage tells him in a reassuring tone, "Don't worry, I will go with you so please calm down. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
They then turn to the other mage and nods, "I guess I'll leave that safe to you then?"
That person nods, pulling back their hood to reveal themselves to be a human woman with short black hair and shaft blue eyes. "No worries. Leave it to me." She smiles, turning to the one with two swords. "Can you deal with this room alone?"
Her friend also pulls off his hood to reveal an elf with dark skin and tattoo. He laughs cheerily. "Of course, my dear Cousin. In fact, how about us try and see which one of us will finish the job sooner?"
Hallen, despite his curiosity about the fact that an elf and a human are related, leads the masked mage with him to the servant quarters. On the way, as he explains about Fenan, he also discovers that there are other masked men running around the place, carrying weapons or strange things like the stuff he saw in the Master's lab.
Even more surprising is that the other adult servants are running around, ignoring the masked people or talking to them while carrying the large bags he had seen Marcus transported to one of the basements.
What do they want with all of those manures?
Just as Hallen wonders, the mage suddenly explains, "Those will be used to make sure that people won't find out that all of the slaves in this mansion had disappeared after tonight."
He wants to ask more but they arrive at the jail holding Fenan right then.
Once again, when the door is opened, a horrible stench comes out but Hallen doesn't give himself the time to prepare. He runs right in to check Fenan and discovers that his friend has soiled himself again. His bandages needed to be changed, too.
Afraid that the mage won't want to touch and help Fenan, Hallen attempts to ask them to wait so he could clean the other boy a little bit. But the mage just steps forward and takes Fenan into their arms without any hesitation.
As they coo gently at Fenan to calm him, Hallen concludes that this person must be a woman because she is using a feminine voice again. And the way she is rocking his friend reminds him a lot of his mom…
A dim but warm light slowly pushes away some of the darkness in the room, making Hallen stop his breathing to just wait.
Eventually, the light fades away and Hallen could see that Fenan's breaths are less rough than before. He doesn't seem to be frowning in pain either. Meanwhile, the woman takes off her cloak and wrap Fenan in it before standing up, holding the boy securely against herself. With her no longer cloaked, even in the dim light of the jail and the mask still covering her face, Hallen could see that her ears are round, and her body is fuller than a normal elven woman.
A human? Some primal fear in the boy flashes through his mind, bringing the images of the Magisters hitting and even killing their slaves. Quickly shakes his head to get rid of the images. This person is different, he wants to believe this. She has killed the Master and healed him, she had held Fenan without caring about dirtying herself.
He wants to trust her.
"I have slowed down his fever and stop the bleeding for now, but he would need proper cleaning and treatment soon. Let's go, dalen. We need to wrap everything up and leave soon so you should gather your things now."
The voice is still gently but the way she says it makes Hallen runs immediately to the room where his bed is. So many people coming in and out of the servant's rooms with various things so no one spares a glance at Hallen until they see the mage with Fenan in her arms. Once they see her, they either stop to look or work even faster, but none seems to be surprised by her presence, just like Rem and the servants above.
"Ser," Lori, the old elf lady, comes forward and bows, hand wave over the hallway, "We have prepared everything."
Curious, Hallen looks into the first room. He lets out a small scream and falls backward when he sees people lying on the beds. Dead people. All with unfamiliar faces.
"W-What is this!?" He cries out, shaking like a leaf but a pair of warm hands appear to pull him into a hug. Hallen knows right away it's Marcus.
"It's okay, kid. It's okay. This is for best." Marcus's warm hand pats Hallen's back, comforting the boy enough that his next question comes out more clearly in a tiny voice.
"What is going on? Why are there dead people on our beds!?"
"We will burn down this mansion soon to cover our tracks." The masked mage comes to him and presses her hands again his back, rubbing it gently. "The guardsmen and the magisters will want to investigate and just a few remains of bodyguards and a single Magister among the ashes will cause suspicion. So, we must make it seem like everyone in this place had perished in the fire and not run away."
He tries to take in her explanation. Eventually, he asks, "Where did those bodies come from?"
There is a pause before the woman answers, her voice seems so sad, even with it being distorted, "They were slaves that have been killed by their masters. Minrathous has so many of them every day, so I found and preserve them with magic and brought them here… I am sorry you have to see this, but this a must so that you can leave safely."
A painful memory claws at Hallen's hurt at her explanation. His mother… when she died, the master just ordered for her corpse to be thrown away. He knows that slave's bodies are simply thrown away and to be collected along the roads by the street cleaners…
Taking a deep breath, the boy murmurs his final question, "… Where are we going?"
"A place where you can call home and be free." She replies in a firm and clear voice, and something in Hallen breaks.
"What will I do there?"
"Eat, play, learn everything you want, make friends. And grow up to be whatever you want to be?"
"Will there be any slaves there?"
"Never."
"Okay." He nods, forearm wipes over his eyes when the tears come out. Pulling away from Marcus, Hallen steps into the room to find his things.
Since he doesn't have much, Hallen just shoves his only other set of clothes and Mother's charm into a small sack.
When he comes out, Fenan has already been transferred to Marcus while the woman is holding out her hand which Hallen takes without a word.
He doesn't say anything on the whole way to the main hall.
xxXxx
"How was it?" The mage asks her two companions who don't seem to bother covering identity like before.
"I finally found some papers in that safe detailing Marius's little deals with the Qunari," the short-hair woman says. "Just as you planned, I've rigged around the mansion fragments Qunari's weapons. Once they investigate and find out everything, they will think that Marius has attempted to betray his new "friends" and was forced to pay for it.
"I've obtained the proof that Marius is hiring the Crows to kill Dorian Pavus," the tattoo elf chimes in, holding out several scrolls. "It was quite easy to duplicate these contracts so I put some in that safe after Marian vacated it. I put in your little list of names and contracts between Marius and his allies, too. The Guardsmen will find them and that there will be some delicious drama happen."
"Good. I will have Feynriel start the next stage. Once the seeds of suspicion are sown, those Magisters will take care of each other for us." The mage nods. "We can leave then. Divide everyone into smaller groups as we did before. Make sure to time the arrival and check the silent wards so no one will notice you."
At this point, Hallen, while not really understand they are talking about, has firmly concluded that the masked woman must be a leader with the way she speaks to her men. But she is different from the Master. The Master didn't give orders while holding hands with a kid. And certainly not a 'knife-ear' like Hallen—as he would often call the boy.
The Master wouldn't gently squeeze his hand and ask, "Are you ready to go?" either.
Since this person so far has done nothing but made him trust her, he smiles and nods.
xxXxx
Just like her order, the few dozens of slaves divide into small groups and left the estate in different directions. Hallen's group, which contains Rem, Marcus, Fenan and the few other children, are being led through a series of turns and twists among the smaller streets that mostly used by slaves.
Eventually, they reach a small door that for some reasons, Hallen didn't see it until the leader mage raps slightly on it and murmurs something.
When they come inside, they travel through several more corridors until they arrive at a large room with so many people, most of whom are slaves judging by their clothes and health. The rest seems to belong to the woman's group since they all have weapons and staffs. Some of them dressed in clothes with weaving patterns that Hallens has seen a couple of times before on the Dalish slaves who were just captured.
Once everyone has arrived, the people whom Hallen assumes are followers of the woman help all the slaves taking off their chain with tools and magic.
The mage herself holds Hallen's shoulder still, murmuring softly for him to not panic as she creates little sparks of fire that cut into his collar. Since Hallen is a big boy, he doesn't whimper like the other kids at the closeness of the magic at all!
But just like every other slave in the room, Hallen has to let out a small gasp when the heavy chains finally fall off after a long while, leaving him much lighter than before. He feels like he could jump to the ceiling or even fly!
Happiness and joy overtake him as he grabs the robe of the mage and chants his thanks. His vision blurs from the tears that soon is wiped away by her finger.
"There is no need to thank me," she tells him. "But if you need to thank someone, do it to Rem, because she was first the one who was brave enough to ask for our help to save you all. It was her who persuaded everyone in Marius's estate so that this plan tonight could happen."
Hallen's head snaps to Rem is laughing with Marcus and the others. So that's why everyone and Rem didn't react at all at the presence of the strangers!
The mage then tells him to rest and eat as they will soon need to travel for a long while more. She also adds that Fenan is being treated and will be stronger enough for their travel. Hallen wants to ask more about the place where they will go to and her name, but the smell and sights of giant trays full of food and drinks people are carrying into the room make him forget it completely.
By the times he remembers it, Hallen's stomach is too full for the first time in his life, and he is too sleepy to care. The blanket they gave him is just so soft… he will ask… when he… wakes…
xxXxx
They walk through underground channels that don't seem to end.
They have walked for days. Sometimes they travel on the surfaces, through narrow paths deep in dark forests, but most of the times, they travel in the dark like this, with only torches and strange flying lights to shine their path.
They have so many people but there aren't many concerns about food and drinks. Their rescuers provide them with strange bread that are so flavorful and yet so fulfill Hallen only needs one small loaf for breakfast to feel full for the rest of the day. Sometimes, when they travel in the forests, their rescuers would hunt and feed everyone fresh meat cooked with wild herbs. Many of the slaves who used to be freemen also help with finding food. Of course, everyone is very cautious and tend to not wander very far.
For water, the mages use magic to create them when they travel underground. They even make ice to cool the water, which is wonderful in the humid air of the caves.
Of course, some of the slaves were still wary of the magic at first. But they didn't say much and now after sometimes, they seem to be more relax now by accepting the cool water and food. However, there are a few slaves who seem to be constantly on edge. They keep mumbling about the masters will soon catch up and punish everyone one for being traitor, and that they don't want to be here at all. Those are usually quickly shut up by others who are looking forward to their freedom. Hallen guesses that those slaves were forced to come along so that they won't spill the secret.
Hallen isn't worried like them, though. He knows the woman won't hurt them, and that she and her comrades will protect everyone here from the Magisters. Fenan is the proof of it. His friend has finally woken up yesterday and even if he is still very weak to walk on his own, Fenan is able to talk and eat more.
The woman still hasn't revealed her real name to them. All of her followers simply call her "Mask" so that's what everyone else has been calling her, too.
Hallen has been asking her many questions. Once in a while, she says that she cannot answer due to many reasons but most of the time she would explain everything clearly to him. The best part is that he has learned that she won't get annoyed like Rem when he asks too much. The others like to her answers, too, so he thinks that they won't mind him talking too much either.
So far, Hallen has learned that they will go to the Dales where they will live for a while in a special place with magic and wonders, that there are many rescued slaves there, children and adults alike just like their group. He asks and asks, the more he hears from Mask, the more excited he becomes at the prospect of living in a country where he won't be beaten or starved anymore, nor do he need to work until he is exhausted. But most important of all, Rem won't have to return to the kitchen with her hair tossed and her face grim anymore, Marcus won't have to go out in the cold or the burning sunlight just to fetch and fix all the statues and trees the Master destroyed on a whim, and Fenan won't have to steal food ever again!
The thoughts cheer Hallen up and suddenly, he finds the next question.
"Who is the one that started all of these?"
Something shifts in the air, Hallen looks around to see everyone is fully paying attention to him and Mask now. They probably want to know about this just like him.
"The one who has started our quest for a new homeland and freedom is Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf of Elvhenan," Mask says, and Hallen senses something in her voice that he can't quite place.
"The God of Betrayal and Lies!?" Someone shouts from the back. Hallen turns and sees that he is an old man with Dalish marking similar to his mom's. He notices that some others are having similar reactions. Some even look like they want to bolt.
"No!" Suddenly, Mask raises her voice. "His true title is the God of Freedom and Rebellion. But that was just what other people gave him. He is no god, just a man who wishes to help."
Letting go of Hallen's hand, Mask straightens herself and speaks, "I know many of you are confused and scared and I am not surprised. It is reasonable that you would fear what you have learned. But please give me a chance to explain everything. Afterward, if any of you wants to leave, I will let you go."
Her words, so clear and full of sincerity seems to have calmed down everyone a bit. The ones that want answer comes forward and start inquiring; the rest, including Hallen, listen on intensely.
Mask proceeds to tell everyone about the tales of the Creators and the ancient Elvhenan that elves were hailed from. Hallen doesn't know much about these things because his mother was a city elf from Nevarra with no family before her enslavement. And he has no father to teach him either. Yet judging from the various reactions of some of the elves that range from shock to horror, what Mask is telling seems to be very offensive to them.
Some of them scream at her to stop lying, but Mask keeps her composure and firmly fires back with so many explanations, numbers, and names that Hallen can't keep up. Eventually, an old man asks, "I heard that the human Inquisitor who has vanquished a being called the Elder One was Fen'Harel's soulmate. But instead of protecting her, he killed her nearly four years ago. If the Dread Wolf is truly benevolent like you said, why did he do it?"
Mask's composure seems to straighten up a little bit more as she replies, "He did not kill her. True, the Inquisitor is dead, but it was not his fault. Out of all the people who knew her, Fen'Harel was the one who loved her the most.
"The reason that he allows even your human friends to be rescued alongside you was because Trevelyan wished for it. The Dread Wolf has done many things, but harming his soulmate is not one of them."
It is only then that Hallen realizes that it does make sense that the human slaves are here with them too. Looking at Marcus who is standing beside him, a sense of dread suddenly runs through Hallen's head when he imagines what would happen if all the human slaves are left behind with the dead Master and a burnt down mansion.
Shaking his head to get rid of the images, Hallen continues to observe as the old man mulls over Mask's answer before mumbling that he expects to have more clear answers when they arrive at their destination. After him, the others come forward and the debates continue to a long while more.
Eventually, it finally comes to an end and the other elves say nothing more, they just sit down silently while Mask announces that everyone should rest for the rest of the day.
When it is time for bed, with his belly full of mushroom and berries soup, Hallen is preparing to close his eyes when he hears sometimes. His sharp ears quickly pick up it to be the voices of the short-haired woman and the tattooed elf, whose names he has learned to be Marian and Zevran, respectively.
"Our leader handled that quite well." The elf laughs. "That little outburst in the middle was a great notch."
"It won't be the last and it's not like this is the first time you saw that." Marian, who insisted to be called Hawke, shrugs.
"The truth hurts. Even if I don't worship the Evanuris, I was still a little shock when I first heard that. To be able to handle that many angry people and their insults every single time the name Fen'Harel comes out is not easy."
"It's only a natural thing to stand up for the one you love. We both know it. If it was Solana, wouldn't you do the same? You have already always jumped out to protect Sol whenever someone attacks her. I don't think it's that hard for you to stare down at an angry mob for her sake. And for Nehna's, too."
"I could say the same to you. You killed a Magister to protect our favorite grumpy elf."
"Well, I did do it for Fenris but at that time, we both wanted to kill Danarius mainly because he had taken Betty."
"And that too. I'm such a bad uncle. I couldn't even help you back then!"
"Zev, you were on your way back to Solana. There was no way we could predict that to contact you." She pauses for a bit before continue. "We should stop and let this curious little boy sleep."
Hawke chuckles, which is joined by Zevran. "Agreed, he must be very tired from hearing us grown-ups rambling."
Realizing that the two know that he has been listening, Hallen blushes. He turns around and curls up in his blanket. He sleeps without waking up for the rest of the night.
The next day, everyone continues to travel. The elves who had argued with Mask are still with them, no one has left, even if they don't say much right now or carrying the same spirit and cheerfulness as before. But at least they don't really look scared and hysterical like the other group of slaves.
xxXxx
"It's so big!" Fenan's jaw seems to almost touch the floor as he stares at the scene in front of him. Hallen has tried but still can't help but making the same face too. The other children are also gaping around them
It's incredible! Who could think that you can find a ship this big in a cave!?
A proud laugh echoes the space as a tall woman with so many trinkets on her person strolls toward them. She rubs Fenan's blond hair, making a mess out of it while saying, "Beautiful, isn't it? She is the love of my life and she will be the one to take you to your new home, my Little Beans."
"All of us will be on that big ship!?" a child asks.
"Will us… Will we be locked in the lower decks?" An older child asks.
"You will only need to hide for about half a day while we are still within Tevinver's water." Mask walks to them. "But after that, you are free to wander on the upper decks as long as you like. Unless we discover strange ships coming near us, that is."
"Just so you little guys here know, this generous person here was the one who gave me this beauty. I had promised with my life to transfer all the rescued slaves to the Dales any time they request, so don't worry and just enjoy your trip. I, Captain Isabela, will give you the best sea trip you ever get."
"All right, that's enough, Isabela! You boast about your ship every single time so just give it a rest this time and move on, we need to get out of here fast!" Hawke shouts from her spot at the top of the boarding plank.
"Fine, fine. I'm coming to get you back to your precious family! If you are that thirsty for Fenris, I can help you with that so stop nagging." Isabela screams back but she is laughing without any malice.
As he stares blankly at the two adults, Hallen hears Mask and Zevran chuckle. Maybe this will be a nice trip like the captain said since everyone looks so relax.
xxXxx
This is not fun at all!
Hallen whimpers as he pukes over the rails. His head keeps spinning and it's possible that he will vomit all of his inside to the sea if this goes on.
They have been cooped up in the lower desk for hours and, by the time the door was opened by one of the sailors to announce that it was safe to come out now, Hallen has lost all of his excitement for the trip.
He had bolted out to the main deck and has been vomiting for half an hour or so. He isn't sure, but it seems long enough. Next to him, Fenan is doing the same thing and so do several others. Maybe all of them will die before they see the land!
Just as he is thinking so, Hallen hears Mask's chuckle from behind. When he turns around, he sees that she is carrying a big tray with several cups in it.
"Sorry for keep you waiting." Mask says, "but these potions are the most effective when freshly made so I couldn't prepare them beforehand for you."
Hallens takes a cup, smelling a faint blueberry scent from it…
After an hour or so after her offer, Hallen finds himself running around the ships, playing hide and seek with the other children. His head feels lighter than ever, and the waves with its fishy smell are no longer bothering him!
"Don't run too fast, you will fall!" An adult yell when Hallen runs inside but the man makes no attempt of stopping him.
He runs pass corridors and rooms filled with bedrolls. He discovers the kitchen where a big man is cooking on a strange stove surrounded by sand, but he doesn't get a chance to come in and see more when he hears children's giggles down the hall.
Hallen keeps running, trying to suppress his laughter along the way. He keeps running and running, knowing that there won't be any master who would beat him for daring to have fun. Mask has even told all the children to play as hard as they could and once lunch comes, she will have something good for them all. The thought carrying his feet even faster.
When he runs pass a room, he sees the slaves who have been moaning and worrying sitting inside, silently looking at the floor.
Maybe they're having seasick just like him before.
Hallen calls out, telling them to come upstairs to have the magical drinks that will make them feel better. He doesn't stay to hear their reply but quickly runs away to find a hiding spot. Fenan is not going to catch him!
xxXxx
"Fenan is a what?" Hallen asks.
"A true half-elf," Mask repeats, her hands part Fenan's hair to reveal his ears. "See, his ears are short but pointy. His eyes are big but not that much compared to elves', and his nose is only somewhat straight. But he is quite tall compared to normal full-blooded elven children of his age."
Hallen takes a hard look at his friend. He has gotten so used looking at the other boy that he doesn't realize that his friend does look a bit different than a normal elf.
"I thought he was just a bit unusual. We all thought humans and elves can only birth elf-blooded humans." Lori comments from her spot at the end of the table, her hands never stop her needlework.
"Well, human and elf bonding pairs are very rare, not to mention half-elves can usually pass off as either humans or elves, depending on how much they take on each parent, so it is normal for you to not know about it."
"So my dad was… really my dad?" Fenan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Some people said that maybe Mom was cheating on him with someone else, an elf,… and D-Dad just took pity on her."
"No, Fenan, look at me." Mask suddenly takes Fenan's face into her hands, forcing him to focus all of his attention on her. "Do not believe that. Your parents had to be truly in love with each other. That was the only way for you to be born as you are."
"The only way?" Hallen tilts his head.
"Yes, Hallen. It is the only way. True half-elves can only be born from soulmates who had fully bonded with each other. If they had not yet completed their link, he would be born as a full human." Mask then adds, "But even if he is to be human, doesn't the only thing matter is that his parents love him? Fenan, do you remember what your parents were like?"
"I…" the boy swallows. "They were kind. Dad always gave me the most food, even though he was really hungry. He often carried me on his big shoulders… a-and, he told me that he loved me every morning before he went to work…"
Tears start to gather in his eyes and he continues, "Dad and Mom, they were always together. He would help braid her hair, and she would bring him lunch while he was working at the dock. When the bad people came, Dad told Mom and me to run. H-he tried to stop them but they just killed him. And then Mom—"
Unable to stop, Fenan begins to wail. Tears streaming down his thin cheeks as he cries and cries. Mask reach out to hold him as Hallen presses himself against his friend, trying to comfort the boy.
"I'm so sorry that I made you remember it." Hallen hears Mask murmur. "But please, never forget that you are loved and your existence is the proof of what your parents have shared with each other."
Sniffing, Hallen feels Fenan nod. Absentmindedly, he wonders if there are other half-elves out there who also get to know that they were born from love…
xxXxx
Playing with Zevran is really fun. But today, they have something even better! Mask and Hawke are teaching them to read Common, and Hallen has finally learned how to write his name!
His writing isn't as neat and clear as Mask's, but he thinks they look perfectly fine for a first learner like him. While the others are still struggling writing their own names, Hallen is in the process of learning how to write his loved ones'. So far, he is in the middle of spelling "Marcus".
Even Mask comments that he is a good student and perhaps, in the future, he could be the first to learn Elvhen among his peers.
"Mask, how long did it take you to learn Elvhen?" Fenan asks while he is sitting together with Mask, her right hand holding his as she tries to guide his pen stroke. The question pitches Hallen's interest, so he listens on
"It took me ten years," she replies but immediately adds when she sees Fenan's (and the other children's) horrified face, "but I was learning it all by myself. You all will have proper tutors, so I reckon it will be a year or two!"
A sigh of relief comes out from everyone's mouth before they all get back to their own work. Hallen, meanwhile, mulls over the thought that he would be able to read and write both Common and his mother's language in just two years.
The new goal prompts Hallen to ask Mask to teach him how to write in the old tongue. By the end of the evening, he finally knows how to write his mom's name in Elvish.
That night, when he goes to sleep, Hallen clutches in his hands the piece of paper that is thick with all names in both languages that he had learned, written over and over again by his arching hand which, two days ago, doesn't even know how to properly hold a pen.
He looks at Fenan who is dragging his index finger in a familiar pattern of the letter that Hallen had learned to be the name of Fenan's soulmate, a sweet and gentle elven name. They smile at each other and whisper the spelling of the words in the calming darkness.
xxXxx
He wakes up in the middle of the night upon hearing cries from the other rooms and ruckus on the top deck.
When he arrives upstairs, many people are already there and trying to restrain a couple of screaming men. Hallen recognizes them as the ones who had closed themselves off for not wanting to leave Tevinter in the first place.
From what he hears through the whispering of everyone watching, a couple more had already thrown themselves into the ocean, choosing to die because everything was too much for them.
It puzzles him that people would want to die just because they are free. Isn't freedom what every slave wants? Fenan certainly thinks so, too, because he asks Marcus but his big friend just pull both boys into a hug and says, "They have stayed as slaves for far too long… they saw no other choices."
Hallen and Fenan just glance at each other before nodding, and murmurs, "I understand."
But it seems that there is no use to lie because they hear Marcus exhale. "No, you don't, I'm happy that your spirits are still free enough to not understand it. But you will eventually do when you grow up. I pray that when that time comes, something like this won't happen anymore…"
Marcus and the other adults spend the rest of the night guarding and talking to the remaining people of the small group. Hallen doesn't know if they have changed their mind but during the next few nights, there are no attempts to kill themselves anymore, even if they still don't leave their room.
xxXxx
Hallen searches for Mask through the ship. She often works in her room most of the day, only comes out to teach everyone in the morning or playing with the children in the evening. Yet the sun is almost touching the horizontal already but there's still no sights of her.
At the end of the ship, Hallen's ears pick up her quiet voice and find his rescuer talking with Hawke and Zevran.
"So you don't feel strained at all?" Mask asks.
"No, I think when you and I first met, it was my first time being away from Fenris for such a long period so I wasn't accustomed to it. But eventually, my body adjusted so now I can be apart from him for months without any troubles." Hawke laughs.
"Same with my Dear duty forces her to travel a lot but the two of us has gotten used to it so much that, even without having physical contacts for half a year, Solona can still remain healthy." Zevran grins before adding, "Aside from the occasional frustration from the lack of intimacy, of course."
Hawke snorts at her in-law before turning to Mask again, "But you didn't know that? I thought you two have to travel away a lot apart from each other."
"Yes, physically. But he comes for me almost every night in the Fade…" Mask seems to be hesitant about something. "Perhaps I should tell him that we need some distance between us—both in this plane and the other. We have been together for so long that I sometimes do get worried about what would happen if, by chances, we cannot contact through dreams anymore."
"He will not be pleased with that arrangement." Zevran smirks.
"He will not. But he will understand. And I have my way to make persuade him." There is something strange in the way Mask says the last part but Hallen isn't quite sure. Adults can be really weird.
"True, true. All men have things they cannot say no to. For Fenris, I just need to have Betty and the twins siding with me and their father folds like wet paper in no time!"
"You have three more people on your side, of course, it wouldn't take much time. I only have myself and my Wolf is a stubborn old man." Mask pauses shortly before continuing, "But old age definitely has its advantages."
"Indeed, our great leader is a very easy-on-the-eyes elder," Zevran smiles… weirdly? "If you need help in that department, with him being so old and all, I could give you advices and supplies—"
The tattooed elf doesn't get to finish because Hawke quickly squats his arm. She rolls her eyes. "Way to destroy the mood, Zevran."
"Ahh, but we are in the exact mood!"
They all laugh before Mask turning her head to Hallen's direction, "Hallen, it's not polite to eavesdrop."
Wincing, the boy comes out from his hiding spot, not daring to look directly at Mask. "Sorry. I just wanted to find you. You said that you would play with us."
Mask chuckles. She pats his hair and then takes his hand. "My apologies, little one. Let's play then. For as long as you like."
Hallen grins, his mind completely forgets about Mask's conversation just now.
xxXxx
"Do you really have to go?" One of the children whines, pulling at Zevran's wrist. The shore is already in sight and when they finally land, Zevran will depart for Ferelden, which causes a great disappointment for many on the ship.
"I must, my little friend." He smiles sadly, rubbing her head. "I need to return to my family. But worry not, we will all meet again in the future once our new home is built. And I hope that you all will become friends with my little princess."
The children chorus their promises to play with Zevran's daughter. Some even demand that he will teach them how to fight once they meet again.
Hallen thinks that it's not a bad idea at all. The boy would love to learn how to use a dagger, and how to climb walls and roofs, too.
xxXxx
"Marcus, what's wrong? You don't look so good." Hallen tugs at the man's sleeve. His big friend is sweating and his eyes are constantly blinking as if Marcus can't really see. As Hallen looks around, he realizes that the other humans are in similar state—all are walking sluggishly or even have to hold onto their elven companions. He has been so obsessed with watching and discovering this strange land called the Crossroad ever since they walked through that big mirror that he didn't notice anything unusual about his companions at all.
"This realm was created only for the People, Hallen. Only elves can walk on it without any side effects." Mask explains as they arrive at a large empty space with so many beautiful colors and lights that shaped into flowers on the branches.
"No wonders," Marcus grumbles, dropping himself onto the floor to rest his back against a tree. "All the kids keep screaming about how wonderful this place is. But all I see is grey."
Another elven man resting nearby looks at Hawke and Mask, frowning. "You two don't feel tired? You are human, aren't you?"
Hawke smirks, "We are. But our souls are linked with our bondmates, who are elves, so we get to share some of the benefits of being one, but not all... In this place, we don't feel the strains, yet we still can't see the color like your guys. Half-elves can, though."
"I see." The man murmurs, "This soulmate stuff have a lot of things going on than I thought… How long until we leave this place, anyway?"
"Soon, about an hour. I've already sent news to our destination. They will be waiting for us."
At Mask's news, everyone cheers.
xxXxx
They walk on a long big road which, as Mask said, will lead them to the gate of their new temporary home. No one talk, the air is only filled with the sounds of footsteps; they are all too nervous.
Eventually, Hallen could see from afar a large mirror. But in front of it, there are people.
Mask still walks forward without slowing down so they all follow after her, trusting that she would not lead them to danger.
When they get closer enough for Hallen to take a clearer look, he sees that there is a man that stands out from the crowd before the gate.
He is elven and unusually taller than most elves Hallen has seen. He is completely bald and his clothing is simple with a pelt of fur wrapped over one shoulder. Yet there is something about him, something that makes him so different from the people around him. He is radiating authority even as his face is passive, but Hallen feels no fear, only a sense of awe and respect. This man is different from any Magisters Hallen has seen—he is not a normal man.
In just a few seconds, Hallen finally understands that this man in front of him is Fen'Harel. As he glances around, the young boy can see that the others have come to a similar conclusion.
As everyone is still wondering what they should, Mask simply steps toward the Dread Wolf while he does the same. The two meets into the middle of the space between the two crowds.
Fen'Harel tilts his head as he regarding Mask, and smiles.
"Welcome back, vhenan," he says. And pulls off her mask and hood.
Hallen has tried to imagine how Mask actually looks under her covering but it still surprises him for her to look so… normal. She is pretty but not as gorgeous or queenly as many of the noble mages in the Empire. She wears no rouges nor blushes and her dark hair just wrapped into a simple bun, not mentioning her plain traveling clothes and robe. And yet, because of that, there is something about her that, once again, reminds Hallen of his mother. Probably from how gentle she is looking at Fen'Harel.
Suddenly remembers back to the Evanuruis, Hallen's mind recognizes that the man has called Mask "vhenan". His mother had said that it's a term of endearment one would call their lover or spouse. But then, that would mean…
Just then, ignoring the murmurings of everyone, Fen'Harel reaches out to cup Mask' cheek. His eyes loving and full of joy.
Mask, in turn, presses again his hand. Her mouth stretches into a big smile as she says, "I'm home, my Wolf."
Their lips meet for a lingering kiss, the two is so absorbed with each other that it's almost like the world only consists of them. Hallen, meanwhile, sticks out his tongue and makes a disgusted noise because adults' kissing is gross!
That earns him a light whack to the back of the head by Rem. He yelps. It isn't that loud but Mask seems to hear it because she chuckles and let go of Fen'Harel.
"Sorry about that, Hallen." She smiles at him kindly, taking no offense at his rude reaction. "I believe it is time for me to properly introduce myself."
She looks all over the crowd that has following her these past few weeks and dips her head slightly. "I am Evelyn Trevelyan, Second-in-Command, and Bondmate of Fen'Harel. It is a pleasure to meet all of you."
Gasps and sounds of astonishment echoes all over the whole group. The old man who has asked "Mask" before comes forward.
"Trevelyan? Y-you are the Inquisitor!?"
Mas—No, Evelyn nods, she gives him a pinched smile, "Former Inquisitor, to be accurate. I had abandoned that title more than four years ago."
"Then all those rumors about you having an elven lover who was killed by him…?" someone asks.
"It was parts of our plan," Fen'Harel confirms. He takes Evelyn's hand into his as he explains, "Throughout the years, my bondmate had done everything to build and protect this entire organization. Several times, she has personally gone and save slaves like you and brought you here for a new life.
"There is no debt between us two you. If any of you does not want to fight, we shall not force you. If any of you wish to contribute, we shall welcome you with open arms. But as long as you are here, you are all freemen that can live for yourselves."
Everyone stares at him in silence, not knowing what to say or to react. Marcus and Rem the firsts to come forward. They go down on one knee, their backs straight and shoulders square. Both look almost like a warrior pleading to his lord.
Marcus is the first to begin. "My Lord, I was a slave but now that I am free, even if I couldn't fight, I can still build walls and plant seeds and even learn new things to help. So even though I am human, and a cripple one at that, would you and your people accept me?"
"And I," Rem speaks up, "I am just a former slave who has never even picked up a sword, I can only cook and make clothes. Useless that I am, I want to join in with your effort. So would you and everyone here take me, my Lord?"
Fen'Harel smiles. He extends out his hand in front of Marcus and Rem. He then says, "Never say that you are cripple or useless. It was small things done by servants and slaves like you that had built the victories and wonders of many great countries. Stand up and be proud of yourself. As long as you accept us to be your people and wish for this from your own heart, the People and I would be honored to have you here with us."
The two former slaves glance briefly at each other and smile before reaching out to take Fen'Harel's hands. They stand up, proud and confident, as if like they were reborn.
There is a moment of silence before someone else steps forward, a young elven man. He raises his voice, "Then please let me join your army, too, Lord Fen'Harel. I may not know much about Elvhenan or the roots of our people, but I want to make a home for myself and my friends. Please let me join!"
"Take me too! I can smith tools!" Someone exclaims.
"And I can carve things!"
"I can read and do calculations!"
It doesn't take long for everyone to chorus their desire to contribute. Each offers a skill of their own, from mundane things like cleaning to farming to fighting. Even Hallen and Fenan are shouting out that they can work too.
Fen'Harel and Lady Evelyn accept them all.
By the time Hallen has come done from the excitement, he finds himself being led by Lady Evelyn to somewhere along with the other children. When he tucks at her sleeve and ask, she smiles, replying that it will be his new home for now.
All the children are brought to a big building where a man name Itha greets them. He introduces himself the Hahren (apparently, it means 'elder.') of clan Adrihel. Itha explains that his clan and two others' main job is to take care of all orphans, humans and elves alike, and provide medicines and healing for the whole army.
Lady Evelyn then takes everyone to a large room where the healers are waiting. Hallen and his peers are carefully examined for any hidden sicknesses and wounds. Once it's done, they are led to another big dining room with so many foods waiting for them all the tables. There are also many children there who reveal themselves as former slaves just like Hallen's group. Quickly, everyone is settled down into their place on the table and the feast begins.
Hallen eats and eats, but he stops when he notices that Lady Evelyn announces that she must leave. All the children run to her, demanding that she stay a little longer. However, even as some of them cry and cling to her, the Lady can only stroke their hair, telling them that she will return but she cannot stay.
"You will come back, right?" Hallen whispers, tugging at the hem of her shirt.
"I will, I promise. And in return…" She kneels down to look at them. "Will you all promise to be good, play and study, and help your caretakers when you can?"
In unison, they all promise that they will show her how good they are when she comes back. But Hallen, Hallen will prove that he is the best out of them all. He will show that all of her effort to save him and his family was not a waste!
He declares that to Lady Evelyn, but she just shakes her head and says, "I only need you to be happy with yourself."
She gives him a kiss on the cheek, which prompts the rest to scream that she must do the same to them.
The Lady laughs, and kisses all of them.
xxXxx
Hallen quickly gets used to life in this valley. Hawke has left sometimes ago, returning to her family just like Zevran. Rem and Marcus and Lori all have their own job so they don't stay in the same building with Hallen at night, but they meet and eat together every day.
Each morning, Hallen wakes up with breakfast waiting for him and go to bed at night with a full stomach and a warm bed.
After the meal, they have classes where they can learn various subjects from language to math to history. He and Fenan can read Common now, or at least, slow but definitely better than before.
With the presence of the Rift, both of them has started to show sights of magic with the floor around the two boys often has ice covering them so they have an extra class to attend. Hallen is also thinking that maybe he could ask his caretakers to let him learn to fight in the training camp with the other bigger kids. But perhaps after he has finish language classes first.
Afterward studying, there are light chores where they help with the cleaning, cooking and taking care of the small games and poultries. There are no masters to beat them to work faster, and they can steal some snacks with only a few scolding from the adults. They can even play and laughing while working!
After lunch, there are a bit more chores where they often have to run around the valley to deliver small things, but once they are done, all the children can play and go anywhere they want. Hallen has learned that there is another orphanage on the other side of the valley whose many kids who would come to play during the evening.
Together, everyone explores the entire region, one part at a time. They are not allowed to go near the mage and headquarter buildings, plus the training ground, but everywhere else is a fair game.
Well, Hallen did try to sneak in but was discovered immediately. And after his punishment being having to eat Itha's cooking, which is the most horrible, disgusting, belly-rotting, tongue-numbing thing the boy has ever eaten, Hallen has sworn to never approach the camp until he was given permission…
Rem and Marcus are doing very well. Hallen's big human brother is always talking about what kind of plants he's growing and how crazy it is to be able to grow things that should have been extinct a long time ago. Meanwhile, Rem is learning to weave cloths and she obviously is having the best time of her life. His big sister can go on and on for hours on what kind of patterns she is working on and what color she could dye the threads.
Hallen is happy for them, but what makes him the most excited is that, even if they haven't announced it, he could see that there is something has happened between his two loved ones. They often shoot glances at each other, and when they hand over something to another, their fingers touch and linger just a tiny bit longer.
Of course, they act like there's nothing out of usual but everyone else could see it, even the usually dense Fenan. Most people are supportive, even the grumpy Lori, but there are still complains here and there that if Rem and Marcus get together, their child would definitely be a human and can't contribute to the People for its parents are not soulmates.
"What rubbish." Lori rolls her eyes as she plucks the chicken's feathers, lately, the old woman has started to test out her many new recipes she never had the chances to try out before. "Can't help because it being human? Then what the hell is Marcus doing here? And the other humans, too? Bah, idiotic, shallow, short-sighted fools."
Hallen agrees, trying to think about the fact that those people don't actually oppose Rem and Marcus getting together…
xxXxx
Lady Evelyn comes often. And Hallen trying to enjoy their time together as much as he can because aside from him, all the other kids want her attention, too. And just like him, they would try to learn so many new things just to show off to her.
Sometimes, Lord Fen'Harel comes along. The man is somewhat distant and a bit serious, Hallen must say but that doesn't mean the boy hate him. Fen'Harel doesn't play with them the same way as his bondmate but he would tell stories. He has magic that can create illusions to portrait all of his incredible tales so everyone could spend hours at a time just to hear him talk.
But what makes Hallen like Fen'Harel is how his presence seems to influence Lady Evelyn's mood. It's not that she isn't happy around the children but there is something more alive about her whenever the Dread Wolf is around.
Because of that, Hallen is very much welcome the presence of the leader and hope that the older man would come around more even when they had moved to their new home.
And most of all, the boy would even tolerance seeing the couple kissing each other. It is a big sacrifice for him because adult kissing is yuck! And those two kiss a lot!
xxXxx
Hallen tries to suppress his giggles as he hears Lady Evelyn footstep coming close. He is the last one, all of his friends had been caught but not him, he will come out victorious and—
"Got you!" The Lady exclaims as her arms wrap around him. Hallen shrieks and laughs as he wiggles in her hold but makes no real attempts to escape.
Later, when he has finally had his fills of game, Hallen steals the seat next to the Lady at the table where she gives him a big plate of her cooking.
He chomps greedily on the piece of fish, savoring its deliciousness as he listens to her stories about the Fade and Elvhenan. Eventually, a girl sitting opposite from them asks, "Will you come visit more often, Lady Evelyn?"
All the kids seem to have stopped whatever they are doing at the moment to hear her answer. Lady Evelyn doesn't even smile sadly this time, she just gives them a serious look and a soft answer, "I'm afraid I can only come around for another two months or so, Merra. After that, I will have to be away for quite some time."
Everyone runs to her and just like the first night he came here, they cry and beg for her to stay. But Hallen knows from her tone that she will not submit to their demand, so he only has one question for her, "Where will you go?"
There is something so different in her eyes when she looks at him, something that reminds him of fire and darkness.
"I will go with Fen'Harel for a war."
"What is war?" a very small child asks.
"A bad thing." The Lady says simply.
"But if you're going to do, it can't be that bad!" says another child. "You do only good things for us. You are a good person so you can't do bad things!"
"No, Johan. I'm not a good person." She shakes her head. "A good person does not wage war and kill countless people. However good my intention is or how many people I saved, there is no doubt what I currently do and will do are bad."
At her explanation, all the children become quiet. Even Hallen doesn't know what to say so he can only ask the next thing in his mind, "Will you come to visit us again?"
"I will, but not here. If we succeed, you all will be transferred to your new permanent home, and I will meet you there."
This time, her words get everyone into an excited mood again. But as his friends start asking Lady Evelyn about what they will have in their new home, all Hallen can think of is how sad she sounded when she explained everything to them.
xxXxx
He asks the adults about wars.
Each gives him a different answer. A few speak about glory but most tell him that it's indeed a bad and very sad thing but sometimes necessary.
Hallen thinks hard about their answer and recalls the sadness in Lady Evelyn's eyes.
If only he could stop the war and let her come back sooner…
He looks through the window down the center of the valley, where even in the middle of the night, faint sounds of training shouts and weapons can be heard.
Suddenly, something comes to his mind. He already wanted to learn how to fight, did he not? If he can fight, he could help Lady Evelyn with the war and she can come home!
That's it! It's so easy! Hallen is already the best student in his class and the caretakers even said that he is very strong and quick for his age. He may be still young but if he eats and practices enough, he will grow up fast!
Trying to calm down his excitement, Hallen flops back to his bed. He must sleep and wake up on time tomorrow. He will learn, will practice and take good care of himself.
Lady Evelyn will see. She won't be sad anymore once Hallen is there for her.
This war will end real soon!