Author's Note: I realized that the last chapter left off in an awkward spot. I'll try to fix that soon. Thanks to everyone who is reading this. Y'all deserve a present or something. Thanks for reading and enjoy the story!
And just to clarify for anyone who happens to be a bit confused "y'all" is a Southern term here in the U.S. (I know it's used all over the world, but I just wanted to make sure that I covered my bases). It simply is the running on of "you all". Yeah, we're just that lazy.
Aedan watched as the guards scurried off. He sheathed his sword, then turned to the red-headed Sister.
"Thank you for your help back there, Sister."
"Not a problem," replied the woman, her Orlesian accent evident in her speech.
"Well, I had best be off," said Aedan, turning away from the Sister.
"Wait!" interjected the woman.
"Surely your journeys will bring you more skirmishes. I know they will. That is why I am to follow you."
Aedan turned, a quizzical look on his face. "I beg your pardon?"
"Oh, I am sorry. I know how strange this must sound, but I know I have to follow you. The Maker told me."
"Riiiight…" murmured Alistair, his face a mix of suspicion and confusion.
"I think we already have enough crazy," added Morrigan. "We already have Alistair."
"Hey!" Alistair whined indignantly.
Aedan shot both of them a warning glance and returned his attention to the Sister.
"I'll have you along…if you can answer a question."
"Of course," the lady replied.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Leliana."
There was a pause. Aedan looked expectantly at the Sister.
"What?" she asked.
"You didn't answer my entire question."
"I gave you my name. Isn't that enough?"
Aedan smiled as he recalled the same scenario playing out between him and Bell. Only Bell was the one asking the question.
"The question means much more than just your name. Where do you hail from? Where were you raised? Are you a compassionate person or a cold-hearted one?"
Sister Leliana opened her mouth to give a retort, but Aedan raised his hand and cut her off.
"The question is not a simple one. But if you think you will eventually give me your answer, your full answer, then you may come along."
The Sister thought a moment then nodded her head.
"Good," said Aedan. "Meet us at the windmill early tomorrow morning. Pack light, though. We have a long journey ahead of us."
The group stayed to clean up the mess they created and apologized to the barkeeper before heading out on their way.
It was then that they noticed a man locked in a cage.
He was tall and darker-skinned with piercing violet eyes and rows of shockingly white hair. He spoke with a deep, gruff voice, reciting a guttural language that sounded, surprisingly, slightly musical.
Morrigan approached the prisoner first, examining his cage. Aedan followed and attempted to speak to the man.
"Who might you be?" asked Aedan.
"Sten," came the curt reply.
"Well then, hello Sten. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Either you mock me or you show manners that I have not come to expect from your kind. Whatever the case, what is it that you wish?"
"To know your story," replied Aedan.
"I am in a cage. What more is there to know?"
"Perhaps how you got there?"
The man stayed silent.
"Fine. Then I will tell you mine."
Aedan proceeded to give an account of his life and quest, and the man seemed to be genuinely interested.
"So, will you tell me your story? I wish to bring you along with me. I just want to know if I should be watching my back at night."
"No. But you seem to have a noble quest and it may lead me to an answer I seek. If it is possible, I wish to follow you."
Aedan smiled to himself. Of course the Great Aedan Cousland would have people begging to be by his side.
A plan was worked out: tomorrow morning, before anyone was awake, Aedan would fetch the Sister and she would unlock his cage. She seemed to have very nimble fingers and for some reason, Aedan believed that the Chantry Sister may have experience in this field.
Of course, this all had to be done in secret; Aedan was fairly sure that the villagers wouldn't appreciate the release of their prisoner so he could tag along on his journey.
The rest of the day was spent gathering last minute supplies and news. It seemed that the Blight was close on their heels and the gravity of their quest began to sink in. If Ferelden was overrun, the other Wardens would have quite the mess to pick up. Aedan wasn't sure if their plan to unite Ferelden would work, but he had to convince himself that it would.
He was after all, the Great Aedan Cousland.
The next morning, the plan went off without a hitch. The group saved a dwarven merchant and his son right as they left Lothering and that marked the beginning of their adventure.
The group elected to go to the Circle of Magi first; it was the closest place to find allies.
And so the motley crew of two Wardens, an apostate, a Chantry Sister, a Qunari, and a mabari named Rabbit set off to save Ferelden and end the Blight.
The usual Public Service Anouncement: Reviews and constructive criticism accepted!
