The Wreath of Highever.
Chapter Eleven: Just a Shield.
"What do you think, my friend?" asked the dwarven merchant. "That is a good fit if I do say so myself!"
Elissa smiled as she adjusted the straps to her new suit of armour – a gift, courtesy of this fine dwarf, Bodahn Feddic. She felt better about herself as the weight settled on her shoulders; it was comforting to her, it gave her a sense of familiarity. Elissa and company had happened upon the dwarf and his son – a rather strange young man named Sandal – on the road. The dwarves were travelling merchants, moving from place to place, hawking their wares. They were trying to fight off a group of bandits, when the group had decided to aid them. In gratitude, Bodahn had offered them anything from his cart, be it new weapons, armour, an enchantment or two, courtesy of his son. It was an offer which all besides Morrigan and the dog had taken him up on.
"You and your friends are formidable folk, indeed," the old dwarf said to Elissa. "It's good to have fine young people like yourself on the road."
"That's what we're here for!" piped in Alistair, moving around in circles and stretching, adjusting to the weight of the suit of splintmail he was wearing. "Travelling the road, meeting horrid people…and killing them."
"Have a care where your eyes linger, Alistair," said Morrigan, who had caught Alistair's lingering gaze upon her as he stretched in her direction.
"Yes, well don't worry. It's not what you think," replied the Grey Warden, who had stopped moving. Elissa watched the pair as she did her own movements, adjusting to the weight of her own armour.
Even Leliana ceased practicing with her new daggers and bow to watch them. The bard had not even been with them for two days and she had learned almost everything about the kind of people her companions were. The way they moved, the way they spoke, the way they treated other people. Taking Morrigan, for example. Simply put, she was a bitch, a bitch who took pleasure in making others as miserable as she.
The Mabari hound, Dogmeat. Leliana had to chuckle a little after hearing his name. Such a strange name for a dog! Though she supposed it was a better name for a dog than, say, 'Bon-Bon' for example. Dogmeat was loyal, that was obvious. He was also very, very clever. That was obvious as well. He was terrifying when he has to be, but as sweet as a dove every other time. He was playful…and gluttonous – or rather…a lover of fine foods.
And Alistair? The bard smiled a little at Alistair. He was being accused of gazing at the witch, but in the short time the group and known each other they knew that the Grey Warden did not have it in him to be a pervert. At least not intentionally. In fact, looking at Alistair, Leliana was absolutely certain that the Grey Warden was a virgin. An absolute shame really. If he were born in Orlais, then perhaps that would be a non-issue long before now, unless he was simply waiting for the right woman to come along, Maker bless him. But his sex life notwithstanding, Alistair was a good man. Naïve at times, a little childlike, and maybe not the brightest star in the sky, but his heart was in the right place, and that was all that mattered.
And then there was Elissa. Leliana could tell straight away what kind of a person she was. She was brave. She was smart, perhaps a little foolish in terms of the choices she makes, especially if the brawl back in Lothering was any indication. If Elissa wasn't careful, that foolishness can and will get her killed. But despite that, when the time comes and the rough edges were smoothed over, Leliana could see the leader Elissa was born and bred to be. The bard could see her at the head of an army, commanding and fighting alongside her men through hardship and onto victory. And looking into her eyes sometimes, Leliana could see something else, something she did not like.
She could see that Elissa Cousland is also angry.
Angry and full of pain, and sadness heavier than the armour she now wore. She hides it well, of course, underneath all of that politeness and her friendly smiles, her noble breeding and upbringing, but it was a mask nontheless, and Leliana was good at telling the masks from the real faces. The bard could see where she hides hers. Leliana wanted to ask her what made her so angry, but…
But it was hardly her business, despite her bard training telling her that it was alright to satisfy her curiosity. The Maker told her to help this woman; He did not tell her why.
"I see." It was Morrigan's opinion that all men were perverted idiots, especially when they deny it.
"I was looking at your nose," explained the Grey Warden, matter-of-factly.
"And what is it about my nose that captivates you so?" her eyebrow rose in question, wondering where this fool was going with her nose.
"I was just thinking that it looks exactly like your mothers!" he said, smiling brightly.
Morrigan scowled at the Warden, pointing her finger as if cursing him. "I hate you so much!"
"What?" asked Alistair, innocently as the other women started chuckling to themselves.
Morrigan glared at all of them, as if they were all in on the joke. Even the dog seemed to be laughing at her. My nose does not look like Mothers! her thoughts screamed at them. "Never mind!" she threw her hands in the air in exasperation before cursing in some barbaric tongue.
Elissa turned toward their host, the dwarf Bodahn, and smiled. "This happens a lot," she explained.
"Say no more, my lady," Bodahn waved it off. "Banter is a must when travelling with others. It makes the day go by all the quicker. Isn't that right, my boy?" he asked his son.
"Enchantment!" answered Sandal happily, clapping his hands as if he was a child shown a card trick. Yes…well. Elissa thought the younger dwarf to be a little…simple. Not that that was a bad thing, per se. The Chantry mother at Castle Cousland once told her that the Maker smiled on the simple folk, and she believed it. The simple folk had no cares in the world, for they were always happy with life. They knew no sadness, no anger…no hatred… If the Maker did not smile on them, would they still be as they are?
"Well, anyway friend," began the lady Cousland. "We need to be off now. We need to be at Redcliffe as soon as-"she stopped mid-sentence, her head turning toward something in Bodahn's cart. Something which had caught her eye.
"My lady?" inquired Bodahn, watching the human woman climb atop his cart and rummaging through his wares until she had found what she was looking for. What was she doing? What was she looking for? "My lady?" he inquired again.
She found a shield. It did not look all that special to him. It was just a shield. And not a very good looking one at that. It was pitted and scarred, and the wreath emblem upon its face was faded, but the human was staring at it as if she had found the most precious treasure on Thedas. And then her wide eyed gaze transformed into a glare as she regarded the dwarf.
"Where did you get this shield?" she demanded coldly, her eyes were burning with cold fire.
"I-I'm sorry?" asked the dwarf nervously. She was so friendly before she saw that shield, and now she looked as if she wanted to cut his head off. But…why though? he thought to himself as Elissa climbed down from the cart. It's just a shield. It's not as though it was a family heirloom or…oh. Oh dear. Not again.
Bodahn's mind moved from the now, and back to the days when he was a simple merchant in Orzammar. Back to the days when Bodahn would hire Casteless dusters to scavenge what would be his merchandise from the lost thaigs and those who fell in the deep roads. Until one day, a woman from the Noble Caste chanced upon a pair of bracers in his possession. A pair of bracers which once belonged to her brother.
"Thief!" she had accused, and Bodahn found himself in a cell, awaiting trial. But…it wasn't as if he stole them! It was those Casteless who had gotten them for him!
It did not matter, to anyone else but him. No matter how loud his protests were, she was a noble, and he was merely Merchant Caste, and as guilty as sin as far as the rest of Orzammar was concerned.
But a few well-placed bribes here and there and Bodahn was a free dwarf again, on his way to the surface. His travels through the deep roads – incidentally – were where he had met the strange young dwarf, who he had adopted as his son.
Nowadays, Bodahn still gets his merchandise by questionable means – seemingly not learning his lesson – but he did make it a point not to take things which belonged to nobles. At least knowingly.
Until now, it hadn't been a problem.
The next thing he knew, the human's sword was unsheathed and pointing directly at him. The tip of the blade was mere centimetres away from his eyes. The others turned and looked at the display before them, all but one – the witch – shared looks of concern, wondering what it was that made their friend so mad.
"Enchantment?" said Sandal, a worried look etched upon his face as he watched the scary lady threaten Bodahn.
"Where. Did you. Get. This. Shield?!"
"Uh-I-uh… I got it in Highever, my lady! I found it in a junk pile outside Castle Cousland. Soldiers were throwing everything out. I-I saw no harm in taking it! Please, it's just a shield! I had no idea that it was yours!"
"'Just a shield?'" Elissa's voice started to crack under the heat of the anger she felt towards this dwarven scavenger. Her sword and the arm holding it quivered before the dwarf's eyes in barely contained rage. "This shield belongs to my family. It was my father's, and his father's, and his father's! It was first carried when Orlais had begun its conquest of Ferelden. Its bearer died protecting his king against Chevaliers at the Battle of Lothering," With emphasis, Elissa nodded at the scars of Orlesian blades still borne upon the shield.
"It has more value to me than 'just a shield.' It is not yours to peddle!"
And with that, Elissa stormed off, the shield slung across her armoured back. The gathering was silent. Nobody dared speak for what seemed like forever, and all were as still as statues.
"The pretty lady is scary…" Sandal whispered, breaking the silence, his eyes now wider than his usual stare.
Bodahn sighed in resignation. "It's alright, son," he said, placing a hand upon the younger dwarf's shoulder. "She has a reason to be mad."
"I should think so, dwarf," Morrigan broke in, arms crossed and wearing a look of annoyance, her voice carrying accusation for all to hear. "Be thankful she did not run you through. 'Tis what I would have done, were I she."
Dogmeat growled at the dwarf, in agreement with the witch.
"But…" Bodahn sputtered in indignation, his eyes switching between Morrigan and the growling hound. "But I didn't know that shield was hers! I thought it was just junk nobody wanted!"
"Yeah, well, one man's junk is an angry woman's thing with sentimental value," quipped Alistair, his eyes hardening. It seems that their new dwarven friend was quickly becoming otherwise, given what had just happened. Sure, the dwarf did not know what it was he was going to sell. To Bodahn and – admittedly – everybody else, that shield was junk, and it was not as if he had purposely stolen what was hers and her family's, but… Elissa was his friend, and she is hurting.
"Given what happened to her, I'd have to agree with Morrigan." The Warden then stopped to think about what he had just said. "Agreeing with Morrigan…that's just wrong!"
"I'm so pleased you and I are in agreement," replied the witch, the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Leliana just stood there and watched the lady Cousland storm off down the road, barely listening to the conversation taking place behind her. Her heart went out to the younger woman, and finally, she started to suspect what it was what made Elissa Cousland so angry. Maker, be with her this day, she prayed before running to catch up with her.
That was a feat easier said than done. Who would have thought that a woman wearing a full suit of armour could walk so fast? "I don't want to hear it," Elissa said as the Orlesian caught up with her, still walking at a brisk pace, her voice still cracking in anger. Finally, after a short silence, she said, "That dwarf had no right!"
"Bodahn didn't know what that shield was to you," replied Leliana, the voice of reason. "It was just a shield to him. Surely you could see that?"
Elissa just ignored her. Still walking. Still angry. Finally, Leliana just stopped following her. "Maker's breath! Why are you so angry over this?!" she demanded, her curiosity – her need to know – getting the better of her.
The question stopped Elissa dead in her tracks. The silence poured over them for those brief few moments Leliana watched the lady Cousland shake, until she finally turned to see the Orlesian, tears threatening to fall from her ice-like eyes.
"Why?" Elissa asked, moving forward until she was only a single pace from her. "Let me tell you a story, minstrel...Sister…whoever you are. Once upon a time there was a man. He was a good man who loved his family, and served his king with honour. One day, that king died. The man was visited by a good friend of his, they were to share the road together and share their grief for their fallen king together, as friends should. And then – and this is the important part – the man's friend betrayed him. He sent soldiers into the man's home, killed his servants, his soldiers…" Leliana watched the tears fall from Elissa's eyes and the bobbing of her throat as she tried to swallow the grief of her next words. "…his family…the boy…even the little boy!"
Oh Maker… Her heart went out to the young grieving woman before her. Leliana tried to take Elissa in her arms, the hard surface of the armour a little uncomfortable for the bard as she tried to hug her. But Elissa was unresponsive, save taking a step away from the Orlesian's embrace, throwing Leliana's arms away from her. "Don't touch me!" she snapped at the bard. Her eyes were as ice, as if to say that she did not need, nor want Leliana's pity. I don't need anyone's pity! In any event, her story was far from finished.
"And then," she spat, "the man's daughter swore to him an oath before he bled to death. That she would seek vengeance against the man who had betrayed and murdered their family. His wife stayed behind when she could have gone with his daughter. She stayed behind to keep the soldiers away as their daughter escaped their home as it burned around them!"
The lady Cousland wiped away her tears with an angry, leather gloved fist. "And then the daughter travelled to the capital with haste, to request that the queen provide her help in achieving that vengeance. But the queen's father had other plans. He declared himself as regent to the crown, he declared the man a traitor, his wife, his children, all traitors."
Leliana turned her head toward Alistair when Elissa gestured towards him. "The daughter came across four Grey Wardens, offering to share the road with them. It was good to travel with company, and so she accepted. And then the next morning, men came, demanding her surrender. The Warden's leader was convinced by his fellows to protect the girl from those who came to arrest her for her supposed crimes. They were all killed, all except for him," she nodded to Alistair.
"And then comes the dwarf and his son, whom the daughter and her friends rescued from bandits," added Leliana, her lightly-accented Orlesian voice was quiet, thoughtful; she was absorbing the dreadful tale is it was told to her. "He shared his wares with them in gratitude. But little did he know that he carried with him a painful reminder of the daughter's great loss, and not only that, but that he had it was an insult to their memory."
"That is why I'm angry," finished the lady Cousland, her voice low and cold, devoid of all politeness and noble upbringing, devoid of everything which told those who were with her that behind her hate lay a good and honourable woman, who was kind and loving. "Arl Rendon Howe betrayed and murdered my family. Teyrn Loghain declared my family traitors for crimes they had never committed. And I will not rest until I see both of them dead…or I am." She smouldered with hatred. Leliana could feel the heat of Elissa's hatred radiate upon her skin, as if it were a physical flame. "I hate them!" she cried.
And then she was off, storming once again down the road. Leliana just stayed there and watched Elissa's form getting smaller and smaller as the distance between them increased. Her mind focused on the tale Elissa had told her. The bard shook in anger and righteous fury. How could a man do this kind of injustice?! Not once in her former career, had she ever done as much evil as this man who had wronged Elissa Cousland.
And she was an evil woman, once. She had betrayed the secrets of the men and women who had taken her into their confidence and even their beds from time to time, men and women who had each fallen in lust with her, if not love. She had spied on them for her mistress, even murdered them for her mistress when she was required to do so. Dozens…hundreds. All betrayed. Many murdered.
But it was a job; it was what she did for a living. To her, it was like…she was a soldier, but of a different sort, one who fought her wars with espionage, seduction, sex…maybe even moreso than poisons and deadly blades. She fought her wars in the shadows, rather than the battlefield. She fought her wars alone, or in small groups, rather than among vast armies. But then even she had suffered betrayal, and what she had just heard…this was something that even the Maker should not forgive.
Betrayer, murderer, killer of children! And all for nothing! Leliana's heart screamed for justice for that young woman walking away from her. She wanted to help her kill this man. She wanted to do it herself!
And for Alistair, whose friends were killed simply for protecting an innocent woman, killed by a man who had no real right to claim a throne, no real right to declare an innocent family as traitors to a crown that was not even his.
Justice for them both! Her very soul cried out. In the Maker's name, vengeance for them both!
And then she stopped.
This cannot be what the Maker wanted for her…can it? Vengeance was such a dark path; surely He would not call on her to walk down it? She remembered her dreams, she remembered the dogs, so happy with her, playing and sharing their joy with her…before the bear and the dragon. Before Howe and Loghain. They were happy with her. She made them happy.
And then suddenly, the answer had opened her eyes. She understands now! It was there for her to see! The Maker did not want her to aid Elissa and Alistair in their quest for revenge. He did not want her to go down that dark path with them.
He wanted her to make sure that they did not go down that path either.
Moreso than that, He wanted Leliana to make sure that Elissa did not go down that path, lest it made her as evil as the man who wronged her.
Elissa did not get far before she stopped suddenly. What am I doing? She thought to herself, running a calming hand through her dark hair. Leliana did not deserve her anger; even Bodahn did not even deserve her anger. She felt like a child throwing a tantrum, striking against those who would try and calm her. This kind of behaviour did not befit a grown woman, much less a grown woman named Cousland. "Bugger," she said to herself. With a heavy sigh, she unslung her family's shield and stared at it, her gloved fingers caressing every scar and dent upon the face before resting atop the cracked and faded image of the wreath of the Cousland family. The Wreath of Highever.
Elissa stared at this shield deep in thought.
This shield was a family heirloom.
This shield had seen so much history, had been carried by so many great men in battle.
This shield – like the family sword strapped to her waist – was a reminder of the courage which was expected of every Cousland.
This shield…was just a shield.
Sentimental value was nothing to be angry over, her mind told her. Her heart was telling her otherwise, but thankfully, passion gave way before reason. She started back to the others, her head hung low in shame. She moved with sightless eyes, her heart filled with sorrow. She felt a presence beside her, felt a hand reaching out to grasp hers with gentleness. She turned her sightless gaze and focused, her vision revealing the beautiful Orlesian bard beside her, holding her hand.
Their eyes met, her's filled with so much anger, and the bard's bright with friendship and caring. Looking into Leliana's eyes, Elissa felt…something. She could not pin down exactly what it was she felt for the bard, but she was sure that what she felt was more than just mere friendship. It was not like the feeling of comradeship she felt for Alistair, nor was it the bond of true, undying companionship she felt for Dogmeat, or the amused tolerance shared between she and Morrigan. It was…more than that. But what was it, this…'something'?
Leliana smiled at the lady Cousland, bright and full of joy, joy the older woman was more than willing to share with her. And not only that, but her smile was telling Elissa something else, as if the older woman was communicating something to her, silently, but somehow as clear as if she were actually speaking.
"You don't have to be angry anymore. I'm here for you."
Elissa couldn't help but smile back, and squeezed Leliana's hand tightly.
"Thank you," her own smile told the bard.
End Chapter Eleven.
Author's Note: Ha! Bet you didn't expect this chapter to be finished so quickly, eh? EH?! Nah, actually this is just a slightly bulkier version of the second section of a larger chapter I was working on before deciding on splitting it into smaller chapters. Personally, I think that it works better this way.
So here we are! Chapter Eleven! I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, I thought that the unrelenting anger Elissa was showing towards Bodahn and Leliana came out well, I thought that the story she told the bard felt a little bit like a take that to Leliana, considering how much she enjoys telling stories, and Elissa's wasn't a particularly nice one. And the little messages Leliana and Elissa communicated silently to each other that she doesn't have to be angry anymore, I thought that was sweet.
That 'something' that Elissa felt as she looked in Leliana's eyes, you probably guessed it, but to me, that was the moment where Elissa had fallen in love with Leliana, though considering that she was mulling over what that 'something' was…yeah, she hadn't figured it out yet. But it's there.
BODAHN AND SANDAL! Yep, for you Sandal fans out there, I'm looking at you (figuratively, of course), yes you. I've got one thing to say to you. "Enchantment!" So there…that's you told. ^_^
And I would just like to thank etherealpuppy for favouriting my story, and so quickly after I published my previous chapter too, thanks for that!
Shutting up now…
