Chapter 11: The Arrival

The wardens had finally reached the shores of the Free Marches. They had been fortunate, only one of their number had been lost in the battle of the Raiders. The loss of Serene hit those who had travelled with her the longest hardest though. They assembled on the beach, Justin supported Bethany, his strong arms holding her, tears ran down her face, thought she tried to be strong for her lost friend. Faizyl and Leonie stood together, the golem shone from the sea water from which she had just emerged. She was too big for The Call's long boats; the golem had literally had to walk ashore.

Merrill stood before them, the waves calmly lapping against the shores. The Dalish sighed, this was not the first time she had said the prayer for the dead over a friend. It would have been better had they a body to burn or return to the soil, but for a warden that was not always possible.

Serene may not have been Dalish, but Merrill considered her part of her clan.

Slowly she began to recite:

"Hahren na melana sahlin."

"Emma ir abelas souver'inan."

The Dalish paused, gathering her strength, blocking out her own tears.

" Isala hamin vhenanhim dor'felas."

"In uthenera na revas."

Merrill closed her eyes gesturing out over the waves.

"Dareth shiral Serene," Merrill said reverently, "May Falon'din guide you, and may the dread wolf never catch your scent."

"So let it be," the assembled said quietly.

It wasn't much of a funeral, but it was more than most Warden's received, most fell alone in the darkness taking as many spawn with them when they fell.

Serene would have approved of the small gathering of friends, her family, bound by the tainted blood they shared.

"She could have survived."

Justin turned to see Simon standing there, the man's normally bland expression was slightly pained, "We're pretty close to the shore, if she survived the wound and the fall, she might have been able to make it.

Justin did not count on that, the Waking Sea could be a cold-hearted bitch when she wanted to be, he had sailed her waters long enough to know that, and even if she had survived, they had no time to search for her. Constance would be leading the Prince to the rendezvous now, provided that she had found him.

Justin was not looking forward to telling the girl about Serene, Constance had come to see the elven bard as a mentor of sorts. She would miss her as much as they did.

She is lost to us, it was sad, but it was the truth.

The new wardens had performed quite well though, Tobey and Mateo had come out of the battle with only minor burns. Treasure was more than eager to carry on, she was trying to impress him Justin realized, she had her eye on that now vacant lieutenant spot.

The girl was good, but she would need a lot more seasoning before she was ready to step up and command. Justin would watch her, and try to rein in the bloodlust the girl possessed.

For now, they had to continue on, the mission took precedence.

They had a traitor to deal with.

IOI

Varric Tethras kept his distance while the wardens honored their fallen comrade. Her death was a shame, he had actually come to like the elf, had even thought up a proper nickname for her, Ruby, because of her ruby-red eyes.

He gave Daisy a quick hug as she returned to the others. Milady Sunshine seemed to be holding up better, but then she had Lord Sunshine now to lean on for support.

Varric chuckled; Hawke would likely have fainted if she could see her sister now, married and all grown up.

"Are you read to precede Ser Dwarf," Justin asked him.

Varric nodded, it was time to find Choir-boy, and hopefully they could help him get his country under control. Ostwick had already fallen to Starkhaven. If they managed to seize Kirkwall as well…

Varric tried not to think about that. That Inquisitor Thrash had shown no mercy to the nobles of Ostwick they had died brutally and publically.

The Dwarf had no intention of seeing Aveline do the same.

IOI

"I'm leaving you in command Brand," Isabela informed her First Officer, "Bring the Call to dock in Kirkwall; I get word to you as soon as I can return."

"Aye Captain," the elf saluted, "Though I don't understand why? We did our job getting the wardens here. Why not head back to Ferelden?"

Isabela frowned, it was hard to admit, but she…she had taken an interest in this missions success. Ali and Lis needed it to succeed, for no other reason to keep Starkhaven from knocking on their door; they had enough to worry about with the Orlesians right now.

Then there was the fact that Isabela still felt that she owed Hawke something. Sebastian had been one of them, one of Hawke's flock. She didn't doubt that if Hawke was anywhere in Free Marches she was likely on her way to Sebastian's side right now.

Hawke would likely need her blades.

Plus, there were all those cute young wardens, Isabela thought with a smirk, she had never actually been with a warden before, she found herself curious, it was said that they possessed great stamina and a high threshold for pain and pleasure.

Isabela was determined to test that.

She strode up to Justin and saluted smartly.

"Captain Isabela reporting for duty Commander."

Despite the loss of his friend Justin did manage a wry smile, "Are you going to be able to follow my orders…Captain."

"Your mission, your command," Isabela grinned, "besides you could use another blade. I'm willing and able to serve."

Justin snorted, he still did not particularly like the Pirate Queen, but her skills would be useful.

Plus he had promised Bethany that he would be nice to her.

He had no desire to anger his young bride.

"Then gather your gear Bela, we start out for the rendezvous in an hour."

"Aye-aye, ser." She smirked.

Kill me now, Justin thought.

IOI

It was an odd sort of army that marched into the interior of the Free Marches. Justin led with Bethany at his side, her war hound Milady trotted along happily beside them. Varric and Isabela followed close behind, the two friends catching up on their lives since Kirkwall. Merrill led the new recruits while Faizyl and Leonie brought up the rear.

They would hopefully be able to link up with the Prince soon and get down to the business of removing the warden traitor from the court of Starkhaven.

Or die trying.

IOI

The tide dumped her painfully on the shore, the elf was unable to move, the blade had come lose from her side after the fall, the blue waters were stained violet with her blood.

She coughed weakly, she tried to roll over, the bard glanced around her, the elf thought she could see a small patch of elfroot growing along the shore, if she could reach it she could begin tending to her wounds.

Serene whimpered in agony, the saltwater in the wound burned like Andraste's pyre. Plus her left arm looked broken; she was clearly not in the best of shape.

At least you're still alive, she thought, focus on that.

First, she had to tend to the knife wound.

She did not think the blade had hit anything vital, but it still hurt, right now blood loss was her enemy, she felt cold, she knew that she could not let herself fall asleep, if she did, she would likely never wake up.

She slapped her own face hard, forcing her to focus.

She slowly crawled over to the elfroot; she plucked some of the leaves, chewing them in her mouth until they became a fine paste. She applied that paste to her wound; pain blazed bringing her to full wakefulness. Her red eyes widened as she gasped as the paste began to disinfect the wound.

She wrestled off her chest plate, tearing a strip off her tabard, the elfroot should help to staunch some of the bleeding, the binding would work for a while, but she needed sterile bandages, perhaps a needle and thread.

What she would not give for a bit of healing magic right now.

Slipping off her tabard, she did her best to bind the knife wound, not an easy thing having the use of only one arm. Hopefully she could make a make shift splint, there was enough drift wood lying around after all.

Somehow, someway, Serene managed to struggle to her feet. She had lost her short sword in the fall, but she still had a bandolier of daggers, and her scythe and chain. Hopefully she could find some settlement along the shore, from their she could get patched up, and try to catch up with the others.

She staggered weakly, having to stop often to rest. She would need food and shelter soon. It would likely get very cold after dark.

She managed to find a piece of wood large enough to set her broken arm, once again using strips from her warden tabard to bind it.

Serene had never been more grateful for her bardic training; Master Benoit had made sure that she knew how to survive out on her own. Pain is nothing but a distraction little one, he would say, focus on your mission.

Right now that mission was to find a way back to the others.

She wandered down the beach until sunset, then she gathered up a small bit of drift would and built a small fire.

She checked her wound, it had stopped bleeding, but she would need to find some way to close it up soon, she applied a fresh coat of elfroot, it helped a bit, but still burned like living flame.

She sank to the ground near her small fire, she considered trying to cauterize the wound, but doubted that she could get the fire hot enough for that.

Serene would just have to hold out until morning.

Her stomach growled, sadly the bard had not had any supplies on her when she had went into the water. Food and fresh water would have to be her first priority tomorrow.

Tomorrow she would find food, but now…now she was so weary…she…she just wanted to sleep.

She sank into a dark and dreamless abyss.

IOI

"What do we have here boys."

The voice woke her, Serene looked up, she found herself surrounded by four armored warriors. Normally such a situation might worry her, but given the extent of her injuries it was not likely that she would be able to defend herself.

"Hello Messeres," she said weakly, "I don't suppose you could aid a Warden in distress could you?"

"Warden," the first speaker repeated, "didn't think they let knife-ears into the wardens."

"Lieutenant look at her tabard," another man replied, "griffon insignia."

"So, you are a warden," the first man, the lieutenant purred.

"Yes ser," Serene gasped, "I have become separated from my garrison, I…am certain they would reward you for my safe return."

"We might be able to get some ransom money out of this little one ser," a third one responded.

"Yes," said a fourth, "and if not from the wardens, then I hear the Witch King pays handsomely as well, and he can pay in lyrium."

At the mention of the Witch King, Serene tried to sit up she tried to grab for one of her throwing knifes. She felt arms wrench her to her feet, she cried out against the pain in her broken arm.

It was then that she got a good look at her 'rescuers.'

Their armor was stained and dented; they had a hungry desperate look in their eyes.

The sword of mercy emblazoned all four of the men's chests.

They were Templars, or at least…they had been.

"Bring the knife-ear," the one they called lieutenant barked, "Will see who will pay the most for this little bitch."

"Nap time sweetie," the man holding her growled.

Serene tried to fight back, but she was just too weak.

A hard blow struck the back of her head.

Serene slipped into the void…lost again in its depths.