Thank you all for the kind reviews!
Once I work through this I am going to do Awakening, Witch Hunt and DA2.
A vote: DA2's Hawke, male/female and Warrior/Mage/Rogue?
Thoughts please!
Edits as of 07/07/2015
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Chapter Nine: Getting to know you...
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"My hearth is yours, my bread is yours, my life is yours.
For all who walk in the sight of the Maker are one."
-Unknown verse recited by Chanter Devons by the Lothering Chanter's Board.
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Lesson one when leading a group; learn quickly to balance out conflicting personalities... or things will blow up in your face like a mis-cast spell.
Morrigan hated Alistair and the feeling was easily reciprocated.
Morrigan did not get along with Leliana either, especially when the former Sister decided to try to flirt with me even though I gently turned away all of her, realatively mild, flirtations.
She wasn't my type and that wasn't even counting the possibility that she was insane.
Lelianna did get along well enough with Alistair, though he watched her warily as if she were a lyrium bomb about to blow up in his face.
Sten was a stoic individual and hardly talked beyond 'yes/no' answers so thankfully I didn't have to worry about him.
Mongrel got along well with everyone. Even though Morrigan tried to hide it, I'd seen her feed him scraps a few times as we travelled.
I'd, personally, been able to converse with everyone easily enough. I was even able to ask Alistair some more details of the Wardens.
At first I thought it might work well enough to let the others talk to each other and work out their differences but now...
Morrigan and Alistair had been harping at each other for the past hour almost non-stop. They had started up almost as soon as I'd stopped talking to Alistair myself. First they talked about his 'failed' Templar training.
Honestly, despite the fact that he never finished said training and was prevented from joining the ranks of the fully fledged Templar ranks, he seemed to be one of the strongest Templar-trained individuals I'd ever me. I had little desire to let him Smite me in a controlled setting with his strongest Smite in order to find out just how long it would take to recover. I knew that one day though I might yet ask him to do such a thing. That kind of knowledge was important, especially if I wanted to prove my hypothosis regarding Lyrium, but now was not the time.
He followed up her own insult by insulting her nose of all things, saying that it 'looked exactly like her Mother's'. Thankfully that particular insult seemed to silence the two, as Morrigan refused to talk to him further after that, but then Leliana had to walk over to Morrigan with a smile. Morrigan was obviously in a foul mood and did not wish to be bothered, so... well, I got a bad feeling...
"So Morrigan, you truly do not believe in any sort of higher power?" Leliana asked brightly.
Morrigan sniffed in derision and looked scornfully out of the corner of her eye at Leliana.
"No, I do not," she bit out. "Must I?"
"Well then... What do you believe happens to you after you die?" Leliana waved her hands expansivly and turned doe-eyes on Morrigan. "Nothing?'
"Pah!" Morrigan snorted softy, an almost dainty sound despite being a harsh noise. "I will not 'go to sit by the Maker's side', if that's what you allude to."
"Only those who are worthy are brought to the Maker's side. So many other sad souls are left to wander in the void, hopeless and forever lost," Leliana looked sad then and I turned to watch her closely as she slumped her shoulders, seeming remembering something. "I pity them, lost and alone as they are."
"And what evidence of this have you?" Morrigan snapped. "I see only spirits, good and ill-willed and no wandering ghosts of wicked disbelievers denied the 'chance' of sitting at the side of this 'Maker' because they failed to follow the rules that MORTAL men and women have laid down."
"It... it must be so sad to look forward to nothing, to feel no love and seek no reward in the afterlife," Leilana's voice had gone soft then as if lost in some memory and she didn't seem to have registered Morrigan's words. She shook her head a second later, her eyes clearing, and looked to Morrigan who again scoffed and waved her hand.
"Yes, the anguish, it tears at me so. You have seen through me to my sad, sad core," Morrigan said mockingly and as a group the rest of us paused to watch them.
"Now you're simply mocking me," Leliana snapped, a flash of fire in her eyes for a moment that she normally didn't have.
"You noticed?" Mock surprise from Morrigan as she held a hand to her chest. "It appears your perceptive powers know no bounds! How astonishingly bright you are."
Leliana put her hands to her waist and leaned forward, "Let me ask you this, then, Morrigan. What if there really was a Maker? What would you say then?"
"Pah, there is no Maker so the point is moot!" Morrigan snapped again. "Why to you persist!?"
"Indulge me?"
"I find myself longing for the silence of the Wilds," Morrigan said, her eyes flashing and a faint lick of flame dancing across her hands before she crossed her arms.
I stiffened and moved a step closer to the pair. Magic flickering like that was a sign of great annoyance, anger or fear in a mage, very similar to a man reaching for the hilt of his sword. Morrigan continued and ignored my movements.
"But very well, if I must to end this incessant drivel; I would wonder why He has abandoned His creation. It seems terribly irresponsible of Him."
Leliana seemed to light up, happy to continue what she most likely saw as some kind of friendly debate that was in truth not friendly at all. She even clapped her hands together. I shared a look with Alistair and a glance at Sten showed he looked, bored maybe? Perhaps more unconcerned.
"He left us because we were determined to make our own way," Leliana said. "Even if we hurt outselves and He could not bear to watch if we do hurt ourselves."
Morrigan threw her hands up then, her voice raising but not yet reaching a shout, "But how do you Know as such? You cannot ask Him this. Perhaps He has gone to a new creation elsewhere and abandoned this as a dismal failure that is best forgotten. You cannot know. No one in the Chantry can know!"
"I do not need to know because I have faith. I believe in Him and feel His hope and His love," Leliana touched her chest over her heart and smiled up at Morrigan.
"'Faith'. How quickly you call upon that word when you have no true answers before you," Morrigan's voice dropped to a acidic tone that made me shiver.
"How can someone who practices magic have so little capacity to believe in that which she cannot see?" Leliana asked with widened eyes.
"Because Magic is real. I can touch it and command it and I need no faith for it to fill me up inside. If you are looking for your higher power, there it is. But I tell you this," Morrigan pointed at Leliana's chest and hissed at her. "'Tis the fool who ignores the truth in front of her, who denies it with her last breath. The truth cannot be undone, even if you bury it, hide it away or try to enslave others to your viewpoint that does not change the truth. IF there ever was a Maker he is long gone from this world and we are on our own. Our choices are our own to make, for good or ill, and cannot be claimed to be the will of some deity, ANY deity. Have 'Faith' if you must, but do not seek to enslave me with honeyed words that hide deadly poison!"
"How dare you!" Leliana drew herself up, offended. "I am NOT trying to... to... to 'enslave' you!"
"No? Then you are not like the other Sisters who draw in men and women with honeyed words only to lead them to madness and an undignified death choking on their own drool? I know the truth of the Snake you follow and I will not fall prey to it as you have," she hissed out.
Magic was arching along Morrigan's arms again, flames flickering and anger in her eyes. I moved forward then, signalling to Sten to grab Leliana and I carefully took Morrigan's hand in my arm and pulled her back a few paces. Her flames licked over my hand but did not burn as I'd feared. That meant she still had control over herself. She looked at me in surprise, the flames dying and though the anger drained away, her eyes were still filled with disgust.
Leliana however was struggling ineffectually in Sten's arms, though she did not truly seem to desire to be free of his grasp. Her eyes were wide, angry but fearful as she shouted.
"What do you mean by that! The Chantry is filled with good and noble people! What poison are you talking about!? TELL ME!"
Alistair moved forward then and placed a gentle hand on Leliana's shoulder and she stilled.
"I think she's talking about the Lyrium Leliana," he said gently.
"And if she is, then she is right Leliana," I said softly but firmly.
"What? What do you mean? Lyrium is for mages, you are the only ones who can use it without being poisoned, everyone knows that," Leliana looked at us with wide eyes.
"Leliana, listen to me please," Alistair said softly. "Duncan conscripted me into the Warden's before I could take my final vows as a Templar. If I had taken my vows I would have been expected to start taking Lyrium in small doses to 'augment' my Templar abilities."
"All that Lyrium eventually builds up in a body," I said, taking over as Alistair drew Leliana away from Sten and into his arms in a calming hug though she did not return it. Leliana didn't break my gaze but stared wide-eyed as I continued to speak. "Mages can dissipate it because our magic uses it up and drains the lyrium in our systems to where there is no poison left within us. Templar's don't have that kind of natural defense against it, they cannot dissipate the Lyrium and thus it continues to build up within them. Eventually the Templar's loose their minds. I saw a Templar on guard watching us as we played in the water during a hot summer day completely ignore a girl who had waded out too far in the water and was going to drown. Had I not Seen and gotten to her in time she would have died. He was lost in a waking dream because of the Lyrium Madness."
She let out a gasp of horror, her hand raising to her mouth.
"You see?" Morrigan said, her voice now soft and Almost kind. "'Tis not but a leash to control the Chantry's army of Templars and even then some of those who join the ranks of Templars are monsters themselves, be they man or woman. If you must believe in this Maker of yours fine, but do not ignore what has been done in His name like a blind fool as all the rest do."
"I... I will think on what you have said," Leliana answered softly as she looked at Morrigan. "I found succor in the Chantry, those I have known have only been good people... I... I..."
"Leliana," I said firmly, drawing her attention back to me. "There are good people and bad people regardless of what you are or who you choose to follow religiously. I ask only that you try to be one of the good people and that you do not do evil deeds and blame them on some higher cause."
"And what of you? Have you done evil?" Leliana asked softly. There was a broken note in her voice now, as if her soul was bleeding from an old and raw wound.
I shifted then and bowed my head and my hand tightened around Morrigan's arm. Her own hand fell over mine and I eased my grip and sent her an apologetic look for having squeezed too hard and sent a pulse of magic to heal any bruise I might have caused. I turned then to the others and straightened back up.
"A woman infiltrated my home, Kinloch Hold, disguised as a Chantry Sister," I looked Leliana in the eyes. "I Saw a vision of her forcing a war between the... a faction of people and the Chantry. I Saw slaughter in the streets of a city. This woman had already tried to manipulate the First Enchanter and the Knight-Commander into making a mage, a man I see as a brother, Tranquil. You know what that is?"
"It... It is a Rite to cut off a mage from the fade," she responded hesitantly.
"Not only that but one is cut off from ALL emotions, even a majority of ones free will is taken away if not removed completely," I glared at the ground for a moment before I looked back up at her. "I could have forgiven her the attempt, we caught her and stopped her in time to save my friend and prove his innocence as she had claimed he was a Blood Mage when he was not."
Another horrified, choking sound escaped her. I ignored it and pressed on with my story, I would not hide this from my companions.
"But the death and the carnage and the SLAUGHTER that I saw because of her actions? A false Sister whose only desire was to see everyone who would not follow the Chantry dead? I killed her," Leliana gasped, eyes going wide.
"I acted hastily and I killed her when I should have simply shared what I had Seen and let Greagoir get more information out of her. I meant to save lives with my actions and I accepted the blame for them. I accepted that I would have to die for what I had done," I stressed that last bit and she gave a faint nod.
"It was Duncan who saw more then a murderer in me and conscripted me into the Wardens. "You can always come back from something," I looked to Sten then, whose eyes had gone wide and thoughtful at my words. I turned back to Leliana. "You just have to choose to come back."
Leliana nodded thoughtfully at my words. The dark shadow from before began to fade from her eyes and she then pulled away from Alistair. For several long moments she stared at the ground, biting at her bottom lip. She walked over then and lightly touched my hand. Morrigan still had her hand mostly covering mine just as I still had a light, but firm grip on her arm.
"I don't... I think your heart was in the right place Darren. And Morrigan? I am sorry, I did not mean to..." she hesitated and looked at the ground.
"Pah, 'tis done with," Morrigan waved her hand. "Now off with you. 'Tis getting dark and we need a place to camp, no?"
Leliana looked at both of us for several long moments before she nodded with a teary smile. "I'll find us a wonderful spot. You'll see!"
She darted off ahead of the group, grabbing her bow and quiver from the back of Bodahn's cart as she did so. I let out a faint sigh and after Morrigan tapped my hand I let her arm go with a blush. Alistair coughed into his hand as he noticed the movement and shot me a look before he smiled and looked back at Morrigan.
"Well, that was close. With the way those flames were dancing over your arms Morrigan I was worried you'd burn her to a crisp," he said.
"Hmph, I am not some untrained youth," she sniffed. "I know how to control my powers," she turned then to look at Sten. "You are very quiet, Sten."
He looked over the group and then shook his head, "Only compared to some."
"Alrighty then! Cheese anyone?" Alistair asked as he clapped his hands together.
We all let out a faint snort or groan of noise as the tension drained away and we started off down the path.
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We made good time for what little daylight we had left after all the questing in Lothering and I expected for us to reach Redcliffe the next afternoon. Bodahn had tents that he was letting us use for the night and we set up camp in a nice spot just off the main road. Leliana had even found a stream that we could use to clean up and get fresh water from. Alistair started to set up the equipment to make stew and Morrigan and Leliana were at least united in the task of chasing him away from the pit as soon as they saw what he was doing. I'd warned Leliana about Alistair's statement regarding his cooking abilities, or lack thereof, before we'd even left Lothering.
"But I can make stew at least!" he'd cried out.
"I am not having some horrendous mess of cheese!" Morrigan pointed at the wheels he was holding in his hands. "Put those away."
He slumped away from the fire and sat down in front of his tent to tend to his weapons and armor before he began to nibble at the cheese like some mouse. Sten had taken it upon himself to patrol the perimeter of the camp with Mongrel and was out of ear shot. When it came to cooking though, I will say that the two women were amazing, each talking about the various fresh herbs that they had which could be used or saved for later meals. The animosity from earlier was still tinging the edge of their conversation but they were at least working together which was a relief.
I kept watching them, but when Morrigan mentioned that a rabbit would make the stew more filling Leliana eagerly hopped up and went off to hunt, stating that she was sure she'd seen one or two earlier. Morrigan shook her head as she darted off and she moved the pot to just out of range of the fire to keep the fluid warm but not boiling. I took the opening and moved to sit next to her.
"The two of you seem to have made up," I said softly to her.
"She is a fool but," Morrigan shrugged. "At least she seems to be willing to learn new things. I do not think she was expecting to hear what we told her and I did not expect her to react as she did. She was open to your words, which surprised me."
"There is that I suppose. It's nice when you find someone who is open minded," I shifted the blade of my glaive over my lap and worked on the edge. "I do have some questions?"
"If you must," She answered as she diced up a carrot.
"How did you become a shapeshifter?" I asked. "I've heard stories and legends but never met a mage who knew how to perform the skill."
"I was not born as such," she answered as she tossed the dice carrot into the bubbling liquid and stirred it. "'Tis a skill of Flemeth's, taught over many years while in the Wilds."
She gave that soft snort again and shook her head as she let go of the ladle and started to work on an onion much as she had the carrot.
"There are many tales I know, of the Witches of the Wilds. How we change shape and hide in the shadows to steal away unexpecting and misbehaving children from their parents. We are then believed to drag said children back to our 'lair' to be devoured," a laugh sounded that sent a shiver along my spine. The good kind of shiver. "A most amusing and idiotic legend that."
I offered a faint smile and shrugged. My tone shifted to teasing. "That does sound like something you'd do."
"Oh?" She shook her head with another laugh. "I truly doubt that a child would be worth the effort. They are filthy, smelly creatures that full of tears and snot and trouble."
"Don't forget the screaming, Maker the lungs on some children!" I said with a grin and she laughed again. "Some of the youngsters in the tower occasionally try to throw a fit when they don't get their way. Mind you in the case of a mage child throwing a fit, it's one of the few times I am glad of a Templars ability to Smite."
"Truly?" Morrigan tilted her head as she looked at me, her eyes narrowing.
"Oh yes, picture a youngster whose book or toy was stolen by an elder apprentice and the wash of their innate magic sweeps from the room, let's say ice," I use my weak talent with the magic to summon a small amount of snow in my hand. "Now cover the entire room with it as you shiver in your boots from the sudden temperature drop. Mind you the headache from a Smite isn't fun, but better a headache then a friend suddenly dead of the cold due to you loosing your control because of a bully."
"The youngster should grow thicker skin in that case. Mother would never have allowed me to have such a tempter tantrum," she said as she tossed part of the onion into the pot. "Was there a reason behind your question of my abilities?"
"I find myself curious to know if you could change into another Human, or an Elf, a Dwarf or a Kossith in all honesty," I answered with a shrug.
"The form of an animal is different from my own. One can study the creature, learn its' movements, its' habits. Think as it does. Feel as it does. In time you can take its' form as your own," she shook her head and shrugged. "I gain nothing from studying another Human or even one of the others as we are so similar that it would be pointless as I would learn nothing from them. So in short, no. What you see before you is the only Humanoid form I posses."
"Could you teach another to shift?" I asked as I set aside my whetstone and started to oil the blade.
"Anyone of sufficient will can learn, but the act of transformation is a magical one. 'Tis a spell you cast like any other and like any other spell, if you fall unconscious, if you are cut off from your magic or die, it will fade."
"So a solid Smite would indeed turn you back to normal as I had thought," I said with a nod.
"'Tis true. Were you wanting to learn the spell yourself?" There was a warning tone in her voice that told me that she would not teach me even if I said yes.
"Possibly," I said instead. "The thought of travelling about as wolf or a bird is tempting but we have no time right now for me to learn. Perhaps I might ask if we find ourselves with nothing to do, which is in all honesty unlikely."
"I see," Morrigan threw the rest of the onion into the pot and stirred it again. She glanced about, most likely looking for Leliana and then turned back to the forming stew. She looked at me with a raised brow. "Have you an opinion on my skill? Am I some unnatural creature to be tied up and put to the torch, hmm?"
"We've already proven your abilities quite useful," I answered and then grinned at her. "As for the 'tied up' comment? Perhaps tied to a flagpole and tickled."
She looked up from the pot fully at that, her eyes narrowing as she took in my smile. She gave that soft snort again and said in a dead-panned tone, "Try it and we will see what shall happen to you."
I held up my hands in a surrendering gesture and laughed. She smiled back faintly.
Leliana burst back into the camp with two hares in her hands, already gutted and cleaned. Morrigan turned to assist Leliana in cutting up the meat and putting it into the pot before putting it back over the flames to bring it to a boil. I stood, leaving them to it and put my glaive by my tent before I moved to sit by Alistair.
"So, you said you know Arl Eamon? Did he raise you or something?" I asked as I sat down.
Alistair choked on a piece of cheese and I pounded on his back lightly until he could breath properly. He cleared his throat and looked at me with wide eyes.
"I didn't say that, did I? No, I'm sure I didn't say that and even if I did, no," he grinned at me nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. "Dogs raised me. Giant, slobbering dogs from the Anderfels. A whole pack of them, in fact."
I stared at him for a long moment before I spoke with a dry tone of voice.
"Really? That must have been tough for them. They didn't teach you much in the way of manners either from the look of it," I looked at and indicated the flecks of cheese all over his lap. I then reached up and held my nose while leaning away from him at the same time. "And it does explain the smell."
"Weeell, it wasn't until I was eight until I discovered that you didn't have to lick yourself clean," Alistair said with a grin. "Old habits die hard you know."
We looked at each other for a long moment before we both burst into laughter.
"Anyway, how to explain this?" Alistair leaned back and swiped his pants clean as he chuckled. "I'm a bastard. And before you make any smart alack comments, I do mean the fatherless kind. My mother was a serving girl in Redcliffe castle who died when I was born."
"Dragonshit," I said without a thought and then face palmed with a soft groan as I realized what I'd just said.
"Ah..." Alistair was blinking at me in confusion when I looked up at him and then he suddenly went deathly pale as the puzzle pieces clicked together. "Oh, by the Maker... did you?"
"Yes, I saw who you are," I said with a soft sigh as I looked at the flames. "When we shook hands that first time."
"Oh... well that's... kind of a relief then actually. I was trying to work up the courage to tell you before we got to Redcliffe," he rubbed at the back of his neck then sat straight. "Wait so.. you saw my mother?"
"Yes," I answered slowly.
"Was she... was she," he was blinking rapidly again. "You said 'dragon... poop.'"
"'Dragonshit', I said 'dragonshit'. It's alright to swear you know, there are no Revered Mothers about to smack your hands with a ruler," I told him with a smile.
He actually looked around and after a hard look at Leliana ended up saying softly, 'Dragonshit' before he burst into a soft giggle of all things. I punched his shoulder to get his attention and he laughed.
"Right, right sorry, but I don't swear that much. Anyway, so... my mother wasn't a servant? What did you see? Please tell me?"
The hope in his tone and the wide puppy-dog eyes brought a faint, wistful smile to my lips. I figured it would be safe enough to say what her occupation was at least, but something told me not to mention her elven nature or the mage robes I'd seen in the vision. I slapped my hand on his shoulder.
"The vision first showed me King Marric, Queen Rowan and a baby Cailan in their arms. Then it showed Cailan as a boy in the distance, Rowan dead at that point due to her illness. Marric stood holding a woman who handed him another babe; you. Alistair, the clothing she was wearing," I hesitated a moment and then indicated the camp. "Right here, right now you are following in your mother's footsteps. As much as the Circle is no place for a babe, likewise it is just as dangerous..."
"To have a babe among the Gray Wardens... that's... I thought it wasn't possible. I mean, it's unlikely for a Warden to have a child," Alistair's eyes had gone wide. Suddenly his eyes watered up and tears fell from his eyes. He put his face in his hands and let out a faint noise. I decided to hold off on asking about his comment about children. "She left me though? To keep me safe? Oh, by the Maker."
"What Is he blubbering about now?" Sten's voice made the two of us jump. I turned to look up at the tall Kossith as Alistair scrubbed at his face.
"I don't know exactly how things are within the Qun, but men OR women can become Warden's if they have the skill," I said to Sten.
"Some Warden's have families before they join," Alistair said in a watery voice. "But it's rare to have children after the Joining. Most Warden's leave their children with their partner, to keep them safe and away from the Darkspawn."
Sten nodded after a moment. "That is wise. Children should be kept away from the enemy."
"This is... this changes..." Alistair stood suddenly. "I... I'm going to be in my tent for a few. Call me when dinner is ready? And Darren... thank you."
"Alright. Get your rest," I said as he ducked inside. I shook my head. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
Mongrel curled up at my feet and I gave him a pat as I let out a soft sigh. I glanced up to see Sten still towering over me though he was still intent on our surroundings. He spoke after a few moments of mutual silence.
"You claim to be able to See things, yes?" he asked.
"It is no 'claim'," I answered. "It simply is what it is."
"I see," I looked at him sharply, wondering if he was making a joke. I caught the faintest twitch of lips and narrowed my eyes.
"Why was he upset? The Imekari are to be raised by the priesthood," Sten sounded honestly confused.
"'Imekari'? Children?" I asked.
"Yes, children."
"Most children are raised by their parents," I answered.
"'Parents'? What nonsense word is that? If you must speak then use real words and stop making things up," Sten glared down at me and I bit back a smile at his reaction.
"'Parents', plural or 'Parent', singular are both real words in our language..." I waved my hand a bit then frowned. "What do you call the people who have children?"
"Tamassrans," he answered simply. "but the imekari do not belong to the priesthood, they belong to the Qunari."
"Uhh," I blinked at him. This was truly fascinating, if confusing, to follow along with.
"Parents don't 'own' the children, they... hrm how to put this? The Sire and the Dame," I said slowly, Sten nodded as he recognised the terms. I continued in a more confident tone. "Among us the Sire and Dame of a child are the ones who keep them and raise them and teach them about the world around them."
"How strange," Sten said slowly with a frown.
"So children, imekari, are raised communally among the Qunari. By the Tamassrans?" I asked. Sten gave a half nod.
"They are raised by the Qunari and study to find their place in the world. Through their studies we find what the imekari are most proficient at and place them where they are meant to be."
"So..." I started hesitantly, "Someone skilled at wood work might be a builder or a carver and someone skilled with making things grow would become a farmer?"
"Yes," he answered with a nod. "If you show the aptitude for a skill you are placed where you are meant to be."
"So why don't the Qunari raise their own children?" I asked.
"It obviously didn't work for you," he said dead-panned.
I stared at him for a few long moments and then smirked. "Cute."
"I liked it," he said with the first real smile I'd seen grace his face. I laughed but the laughter died when a serious look came to his face. "You are a Grey Warden but to have heard you and the other speak, you know little of your own order. You... do not know yourself or what you are for," There was a note of sorrow in his tone. "It was cruel of your people to leave you this way. The Tamassrans see that all Qunari know themselves."
"Becoming a Warden was a recent development for me Sten, just as being a Warden Recruit is new for you," I frowned up at him and then shook my head. "But I know more about who I am and what I both wish to do and must do then you make it seem."
"And is it because of your Sight that you know yourself so well?" Sten asked with a tilt of his head.
"Yes, and yet I could have chosen a different path if I had wanted," I said with a shrug.
"And yet you follow this path, you follow what you are meant to do. It is no different then I," Sten nodded once firmly as if he had won some kind of argument.
I fell silent for a long time and just watched Leliana and Morrigan as they cooked and flavored the stew.
"Sten," I hesitated a moment and then shifted a bit and pushed on to ask another question I'd been wondering about. "There are stories that the Qunari sew mages mouths shut. I would ask you directly if this is the truth or a fear-spread lie."
Sten shifted, eyeing me carefully. He'd seen me use magic and it most likely grated on him to an extent. I think the only thing that kept him from saying anything about it was that I was a Gray Warden before I was a mage. Minutes later I began to think he wouldn't answer me before he finally spoke.
"You are... Bas Saarebas... and yet you are Gray Warden. I do not know What to think of you. To answer your question however, in ancient days we did do such as demons can speak through mages," I felt myself bristle suddenly at his words but held my tongue. "As it is now, that is a practice that is no longer needed. We have collars, runed collars, that prevent the Saarebas from speaking without harming them and thus limit the threat they pose to those around them. The collar can even stop the Saarebas from using magic if there is a need."
"So if you found a Saarebas with his or her lips tied shut?" I asked as I tilted my head.
"I would report it to the Ariqun, the Soul of the Salasari for it would be proof that the Saarebas' Arvaarad was acting outside of his role," Sten said firmly. "The Arvaarad's job is to watch over and protect the Saarebas as well as those around them, not to torture them."
"Arvaarad?" I asked. "Is that similar to a Templar? A... partner if you will, that the Saarebas trusts to kill them if they fell prey to a demon?"
"That is... a close enough description," Sten answered.
"And if I was not a Gray Warden and an Arvaarad found me?"
"They would either kill you or collar you. Most likely the former if you resisted capture and perhaps even if you did not," Sten shifted his stance. "The Saarebas are susceptible to the whisperings and temptations of demons and must be watched."
I snorted out a laugh at that and shook my head. "Anyone can become possessed by a demon Sten, you don't have to be a mage or have been around a mage for something like that to occur."
"Saarebas are more susceptible to such a thing however," he answered with a frown and a glare.
I held up a hand. "Look, I agree with having a partner that can end you if there is a need. A possessed mage is no laughing matter nor is an abomination. The collar even seems like a smart idea for a child, not to prevent them from speaking but to isolate them from their magic when they are not in class. If we had such a tool then they could visit their families safely then instead of being isolated in a Circle and denied the love of their parents. Too many children are literally ripped from their parents arms and sometimes their parents are even killed in the process," I stood then and frowned at Sten. "As for possession; I have seen a cat, a CAT of all things, end up possessed by a demon. No mage helped with the possession either."
"I... find that unlikely," Sten said with a startled blink.
"Yet it is the truth."
We fell into silence again. Leliana called out after a moment that the food was ready and we all moved over to the fire where she was dishing up the bowls. Alistair came out of his tent and we set about eating. Leliana turned to Morrigan as she handed a bowl to Bodahn and Sandal.
"I do not understand why you had us make so much, even with our wonderful merchant and his son there is too much here..." Leliana broke off as Alistair and I both held out our bowls at the same time, much to Morrigan's obvious amusement.
"More please!" We said at the same time.
I looked at him with a blink and then pulled my bowl back slowly, having not realized just how fast I had polished off my bowl, nor how much of my food was on my face. I slowly wiped my face clean with a cloth as Alistair out and out laughed as Leliana filled his bowl with widen eyes.
"Alistair? What in the Void?" I asked him still looking at the bowl. "I don't eat like this!"
"Ahahahahah!" he laughed, rubbing at his eyes and wiping away tears of mirth. "I'm sorry, I am! Haha! I'd forgotten to tell you!"
"Tell me what?" I snapped.
"Well I did tell you earlier about the increase in stamina right?"
"Yes..." I answered slowly and he pointed at the bowl.
"We have to eat more because of it," His smile faded a bit as he looked hat me. "Try to never skip a meal, we cannot go too long without eating or else we'll get ill," he grinned again. "I remember my first meal after the Joining. I got food all over my face! The other Wardens laughed and laughed. It's like a rite of passage... sorta."
"I see. So you didn't tell me this on purpose just so you could watch me make a fool of myself, eh?" I said as I let a bit of coldness leak into my tone.
"I... NO! No of course not! I mean it IS kind of funny but..." He looked at the others, hoping for some help and simply saw raised brows. "No, I wouldn't do that! You're a mage! I know better!"
"Mmhmm," I held up my hand and let a flicker of lightning dance fingertip to finger tip. I grinned at him suddenly. "Truly?"
"Ah.. yes... I... I should run now shouldn't I?" He glanced to the others and paled as Morrigan nodded sagely and Leliana nodded with a wide grin.
He got up, not bothering to take his bowl back from the Sister and darted away from the fire and tried to hide behind Bodahn's cart. The Lightning Bolt I sent after him hit his rear just before he managed to duck under cover, which made him yelp loudly. The others all laughed at the sound, though Sten simply cracked a faint smile and I moved to take Alistair's bowl as further punishment. Leliana moved to sit by me and Morrigan eyed her warily for a moment. The two women had this weird silent communication that I'd seen before once or twice in the Circle before, but never really understood. Leliana finally nodded at Morrigan with a smile. She then turned to me when I cleared my throat.
"So, I find myself curious," I said. "What was life like in the Chantry cloister?"
Leliana smiled as she stirred her bowl. Now that the initial wave of hunger was gone and I found that I could eat at a more sedate pace I realized that the stew was quite good.
"Quiet," she said with a small smile. "It is a life suited for contemplation. Away from the fuss and the flurry of city life you could take a step back, see and enjoy the simple things. There, I found peace."
"I suppose the right kind of solitude can be peaceful," I said and then took another bite of food. "But you know how to fight, how to shoot. You seem to have an adventurous side."
"I can," she laughed. "I suppose it is my enjoyment of stories and lore. I was minstrel, so I know many stories."
"Truly?" I laughed. "Regale us with a tale then!"
"Oh! Story time?" Alistair came back over then and I sent him a mock glare. He grabbed his bowl and went to sit by Morrigan who glared at him as well, oh so seriously, thus he opted to sit by Sten instead. "Please, I love stories."
Leliana giggled then and shifted a bit. "I do know many stories. One my mother told me as a child always chilled me to the bone. You know of Flemeth?"
Alistair, Morrigan and I all let out various sounds of incredulous laughter. Leliana and Sten looked confused.
"What did I say?" Leliana said, sounding hurt.
"Flemeth is my Mother, girl," Morrigan said with a sniff and a chuckle before taking a bite of her food.
"Oh? Oh! Then you know the stories about-" Morrigan cut her off sharply.
"Of course. You think my mother would let me go without telling me all the stories of her youth?"
"My mother told me stories too," Leliana smiled happily. "She was the one who kindled my love of the old tales and legends."
"Hmph. My mother's stories curdled my blood and haunted my dreams. No little girl wants to hear about the Wilder men her mother took to her bed, using them till they were spent, then killing them. No little girl wants to be told that this is also expected of her, once she comes of age."
All of us stared at the Witch of the Wilds in various degrees of shock. Even Sten looked somewhat appalled by her words.
"I... uh... I see," Leliana said slowly.
"No, you don't. You really don't," she said darkly as she stirred the food in her bowl.
She then set the bowl down in front of Mongrel who whined and nudged her hand in comfort before setting in on the food. She looked up at Leliana and waved a hand.
"Well, go ahead and tell the tale you know," she said drily. "Who knows, perhaps it will differ from what I know."
"I... ah... alright," Leliana cleared her throat.
I shifted a bit closer to Morrigan and lightly brushed my fingers against her hand. She looked at me blankly for a long moment before turning back to our story teller.
"Ages ago," Leliana began, "legend says Bann Conobar took to wife a beautiful young woman who harbored a secret talent for magic: Flemeth of Highever. And for a time they lived happily, until the arrival of a young poet, Osen, who captured the lady's heart with his verse.
They turned to the Chasind tribes for help and hid from Conobar's wrath in the Wilds, until word came to them that Conobar lay dying: His last wish was to see Flemeth's face one final time.
The lovers returned, but it was a trap. Conobar killed Osen, and imprisoned Flemeth in the highest tower of the castle. In grief and rage, Flemeth worked a spell to summon a spirit into this world to wreak vengeance upon her husband. Vengeance, she received, but not as she planned. The spirit took possession of her, turning Flemeth into an abomination. A twisted, maddened creature, she slaughtered Conobar and all his men, and fled back into the Wilds.
For a hundred years, Flemeth plotted, stealing men from the Chasind to sire monstrous daughters: Horrific things that could kill a man with fear. These Korcari witches led an army of Chasind from the Wilds to strike at the Alamarri tribes. They were defeated by the hero Cormac, and all the witches burned, so they say, but even now the Wilders whisper that Flemeth lives on in the marsh, and she and her daughters steal those men who come too near.*"
We had finished eating while Leliana spun her tale and once she was done it was as if a spell had broken. Morrigan spoke first, thoughtfully.
"I know this tale but as Flemeth herself tells it she never led any daughters or army against the Chasind. She never fought against a warrior named Cormac nor would she have cared to. He fought a brutal civil war against his own people claiming it was to stop a great magical evil and thus was hailed a hero when he won."
Leliana leaned forward then, eager to learn more, "And DO you have any sisters?"
"None that I have ever met," Morrigan answered with a shrug.
"Is Flemeth what she appears to be then?" Alistair asked.
Morrigan laughed, "And what does she 'seem' to be, Templar?"
"A nutty old bat," he answered. I let out a groan as Leliana giggled. Morrigan didn't seem to take offense and merely shook her head.
"Sometimes I find myself wondering the very same thing in truth," Morrigan said, she leaned back with a frown. "What she also tells of the tale was that she was with Osen first, and they were indeed very happy and in love. But love fades in the wake of hunger. 'Twas Flemeth herself that suggested that she marry Conobar in exchange for him paying Osen enough for him to live well on his own," we leaned forward as a group again, Leliana wide eyed and eager for the tale Morrigan knew. "It all might have gone well, had Lord Conobar held up his end of the bargain."
"What did he do?" Leliana breathed out in a whisper.
"He bargained with what was not his," Morrigan said with a shrug. "He had not the promised coin to give to Osen. Instead Osen was led off into a field and slain in cold blood."
Leliana let out a gasp and covered her mouth with her hands. Alistair shook his head and even Sten was frowning.
"That was not honorably done," Sten said simply.
"Not honorable?" Alistair pipped up, appalled. "That was down right evil!"
"Indeed. Flemeth could speak with the spirits even then and they told her of the betrayal. When she learned of her lovers death she swore revenge, for even though she had suggested the arrangement, she had made it in good faith to give both herself and the one she had loved both a better life. She would not remain with a man who had proven to have no honor in his heart."
"What then? Did she kill him?" I asked.
"No, not she. The Spirits heard her plight and answered her call. 'Twas they who ended Conobar for the injustice he had wrought. The demon that Leliana's story spoke of came later. Conobar's people gave chase, for all that she was their Lady through the marriage with Conobar. There she found the demon and there he made her strong."
"So she says," I said as I leaned back, knowing more then Morrigan did about the truth.
"True enough," Morrigan allowed with a shrug. "Perhaps what she told me too was no more then a tale. But I know she is no Immortal as the legends claim. She bleeds easily enough, I have seen her cut her fingers when readying the ingredients of a stew same as anyone else when they are not paying attention. A blade to her heart would kill her just as it would any of us, were it lucky enough to find her."
"But do you believe her version of the tales?" Leliana asked.
"I do not believe everything she claims to be true," Morrigan answered with a frown. "Oft bitterness seems to cloud her memories, perhaps to her they are now worse then what happened at the time. But on the whole I believe most of it."
"Thank you," Leliana said. "I will keep what you have told me in mind when I tell the tale next time. Oh, do you mind if I embellish?"
"'Tis not my tale so what does it matter to me what you do?"
"Oh, thank you!" Leliana stood then and began to gather the empty bowls from our hands. As she walked off toward the stream she started muttering to herself about what Morrigan had told us. The others set about getting ready for bed and Sten stood up.
"I will take first watch," he said.
"Wake me and I will take the second," I called after him.
"Very well," he answered.
Once Morrigan and I were relatively alone I took out the gold chain I had been holding onto and moved a bit closer to her. I coughed into my hand... Maker, I wished I was more comfortable with flirting with a serious intent and not just to get on a Templar's nerves.
"I don't think your mother is an abomination," I said slowly, flashing for a moment on the memory of gold dragon's eyes boring into mine before looking into Morrigan's equally golden gaze. I gulped. Oh Maker, what was I doing? But I wanted to... I wanted to try at least.
"And what makes you say that, hmm?" She asked with a raised brow.
"She had you," Morrigan blinked and then blushed slightly before looking away with a huff.
"False flattery," she said.
"Not false. Here this is for you," I held out the gold chain.
She turned after a moment and looked at the chain. She blinked, eyeing me carefully for a moment before turning from me again. I felt my heart drop but her voice and words suddenly sent it straight back up and into my throat.
"Well? Are you going to put it on me?" she asked.
"As you wish, My Lady," I said softly as I opened the small clasp and slipped the chain gently around her neck.
It took me a moment to latch the clasp closed with shaking fingers but I finally had it set into place. She turned back around and touched the gold where it hung just below the hollow of her throat. I gulped as she smiled and stood.
"'Tis a pleasing gift, I thank you."
"You're welcome, My Lady," I answered.
She smiled, satisfied and walked over to her tent which was placed a little away from the group. Her hips swayed gently and I forced myself to look away.
Dear Maker, what was I doing? I was falling for the daughter of a Dragon! Oh, who was I kidding? I had already fallen for her. I could only hope that perhaps she might come to feel the same... And Maker forbid I break her heart for I feared that Flemeth might well EAT me if I did.
-=-=/*/**/*=-=-
The * is taken directly from the wiki codex entry about Flemeth.
AN:
Leliana joined the Chantry after some pretty harsh events, most of you probably already know what I'm talking about but I'll try to be vague for those that might not, but considering how tied she was to a person in her former life, she may not have known much about the Lyrium addiction Templars are subjected to when she became a Lay Sister, hence her reaction in this chapter. As her age is never really discussed I've decided that she is roughly twenty right now, young enough to not know all that much outside of what she had been taught by her former companion and the one who rescued her in the end. I speak of Leliana's Song for those who know of what I speak. This is to help increase the eventual tie to another individual and the desire to right the wrongs being perpetrated by the Chantry.
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