Chapter 11: Lothering pt2

The Chantry-Lothering

The party headed for the Revered Mother who was talking to a red-hair woman in Chantry robes. From the woman's accent she was Orlesian. "All is calm outside, your Reverence" She said. "I've given the doomsayer and his audience some peace of mind"

"Thank you, Sister Leliana…things are dark enough without someone spreading fear" the Revered Mother said. A chantry sister ran to them. "Yes? What is it?"

"Leliana, come quick!"

"What is it?" she asked.

"Some people have gotten into a fight with merchants over supplies. The Templars are too busy to break it up" she said worried. Leliana nodded and went with the sister to break up the fight outside. Before Leliana was away, hers and Jenra's eyes met, the woman's eyes went wide before she turned the corner. The Revered Mother was left alone and the party approached her.

"Is there something I can do for you, then?" she asked.

"I wish to talk about the qunari prisoner, your Reverence" Jenra said. She tilted her head and stood.

"It might have been kinder to execute him but I leave his fate to the Maker. Why does he interest you?"

"I wish to have him released"

The Revered Mother frowned. "Then his next victims might count you and me as their murderers"

"I was thinking you might release him into my custody" Jenra said. "Anything that happens, will be my responsibility"

"Who are you…? One does not just come and ask for a proven murderer"

"My name is Jenra, I am a Grey Warden" he said. "I'm recruiting the qunari to fight the Blight" The Revered Mother's eyes widen as she took a step back.

"You shouldn't be here; Teryn Loghain has declared the Wardens traitors of Ferelden"

"So we've heard, but Loghain has lied to you…he has betrayed the king" Alistair said.

"Please…leave, if you do I promise to keep you presence quiet"

"We're getting nowhere…perhaps we should just kill her and take the key" Morrigan said. Alistair and Jenra looked at her shocked for suggesting such a thing; they would have the whole village hunting them if they were to kill the Revered Mother. The Mother wasn't happy about Morrigan's answer and threatened to call the Templars…this was going nowhere, Jenra had to take control of the situation before it got out of hand.

"Apologies for my companion's outburst…we don't wish any ill upon you or this village" he said. "If you can't trust me as the Grey Warden, can you trust me as a member of House Cousland?" He took out his sword and handed it to her. "This is Night-fang, my family's sword and evidence of who I am" She examined the sword to check for anything that would give her doubt about Jenra's identity, the sword was certainly an unusual sword but that wasn't enough until she went to the hilt and saw the heraldry of the Cousland family, the wreath. The Revered Mother gave Jenra his sword back.

"Hmm, since our bann has forsaken Lothering, perhaps you are the best choice for secular justice after all" She went to her desk and took out a key and gave it to him. "Here then, take the key to the qunari's cage and take him away. I pray this is the right path, for all our sakes"

"You have my thanks, your Reverence" They walked away, Alistair glared at Morrigan.

"I can't believe you even tried that, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"I was thinking of getting our recruit, it was going nowhere quickly"

"That was dangerous, Morrigan…as long as we are considered traitors, Loghain has the upper hand" As they were talking, a man entered the Chantry…he gazed the room and when he saw Alistair his eyes lit up and he walked toward the party.

"Alistair? By the Maker, I…I was certain you were dead!"

"Sir Donall!" Alistair walked forward and greeted the man. "Not yet, no thanks to Teryn Loghain"

"I knew Loghain's story was rubbish, if Arl Eamon were well…he'd set Loghain right" This was news for Alistair; he knew Eamon was getting on in years but he didn't know he was sick. Donall explained that it came down recently, the best herbalist and mages in the land wasn't to help his condition. All seemed hopeless until someone brought up the Urn of Sacred Ashes, the ashes of Andrasre herself said to cure any illness.

"Isn't that just legend?" Jenra asked.

"Aye but we either chase the fable or let the Arl die" Donall sighed. "The Arl falls ill before the king died and Loghain declares himself Regent, if he planned this…such thoughts do not sit well with me"

"Wait…Loghain declared himself Regent? Without a Landsmeet?" Alistair asked shocked. "Is he trying to cause a civil war?"

"Who knows what that man is thinking, anymore…?"

"We're heading for Redcliffe as soon as our business is done here"

Donell nodded. "Well I'm certain you would be welcomed at Castle Redcliffe, the arlessa is there and she could tell you more than I could"


Lothering

The party came back outside and went to Sten's cage, who expressed surprise that they would come back for them. Jenra opened his cage and the qunari walked out…for a man who hadn't eaten in twenty days he looked no worse for wear. He went over to the chest and reclaimed his armor…as he grabbed a weapon he had a forlorn look on his face. Before Jenra could ask what was wrong, several men in full armor approached them. Their armor was emblazed with a symbol of a dragon, the heraldry of Teyrnir of Gwaren. "Well, look what we have here, men. I think we've just been blessed"

Alistair frowned. "Uh-oh, Loghain's men…this can't be good"

"Didn't we spend all morning asking about a fellow by this very description? And everyone said they hadn't seen him?"

"It seems we were lied to" They got out their weapons and the party got into a fighting stance.

"Sten, are you okay to fight?" Jenra asked.

"Yes" Before blows could begin, Leliana came up between them…trying to stop another fight from happening.

"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge"

"They're more than that, now stay out of our way, Sister" the leader said. "You protect these traitors; you'll get the same as them"

"Threatening a Sister…classy" Alistair said deadpan. "Loghain know how to pick his thugs"

"Enough talk; take the Warden into custody…kill the sister and anyone else that gets in your way"

Jenra pushed Leliana behind him and the Sister blushed a little. The party took out their weapons. "Stand back, madam…I don't think your words will get through them"

"Right! "Let's make this quick!" The battle began with leader going after Jenra, the party spread out to keep themselves on guard. Jenra pushed Leliana away and guarded with his sword, he kicked the leader away and saw one of the warriors come behind the Sister.

"Madam, behind you!" To the young lord's surprise, Leliana quickly grabbed the warriors arm and wrung the dagger out of his hand and stabbed him in the back all in one move.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I can handle myself" The archer in the back primed her bow, and Leliana took the dagger and threw it at the archer's head, killing her. Leliana then ran and grabbed the bow and arrow from the body. "I will help your friends, Warden"

"Uh…sure" Jenra went back to focusing on his battle; the battle quickly snowballed and fell to the party's advantage. When the battle was over only the leader and two other men were left alive. The leader was on his knees begging the party for mercy.

"All right, you've won! We surrender!"

"I say we kill them" Morrigan said. "They could go back to Loghain and tell him about our whereabouts"

Sten nodded. "Agreed, best to save us trouble down the line"

"No! They've learned their lesson and we can all stop fighting, now" Leliana said.

Morrigan crossed her arms. "Are you a fool? They tried to kill us, why should we give them any quarter?"

"In the end we are all the Maker's children…we should forgive like any good person"

Morrigan scoffed. "Such rabble…"

"We won't kill him, instead you'll send Loghain a message" Jenra said.

"W…what do you want to him?" the leader asked in fear.

"Tell him we know the truth and that he can't run from justice" The leader and his men were quick to agree and they ran away not wanting to risk anymore of the party's wrath. Jenra turn to Leliana who was placing the bow on her back and she then got on her knees praying for the men and women that didn't survive the battle. After she was done, she walked toward Jenra and the others. "Impressive, who knew a Sister could fight?"

"You flatter me, Warden…but I couldn't just sit by and not help" Leliana said.

"Please call me, Jenra"

Leliana smiled. "Jenra…such a nice name" Morrigan scoffed and rolled her eyes which didn't escape the notice of Alistair who gave a slight smirk. "My name is Leliana, one of the lay sisters of the chantry here in Lothering…or I was"

Jenra tilted his head. "What does that mean?"

"The Maker spoke to me…he said I would be needed and that he would give a sign" Leliana said. "What happened at Ostagar, and then an appearance of a Grey Warden in our small town, what could that be but signs?"

"Ooookay, we should back away very slowly…" Alistair said.

The sister blushed. "I...I know how this sounds…"

"Idiotic, inane, insane…by all means stop me when I'm wrong" Morrigan said deadpan.

"It's true! I had a dream…a vision!" Leliana said. She pointed to the locals. "Look at the people here, they are lost to despair and this darkness, the chaos…will spread. The Maker didn't want this"

"What you do, what you are meant to do, is the Maker's work. Let me help!"

"Well…she's eager, that's for sure…"Alistair said.

"It's another useful arm, it would be wasteful not to take her" Sten said.

"I will not turn down help when it is offered…welcome aboard, Leliana"

Morrigan crossed her arms. "Perhaps your skull was cracked worse than Mother thought"

Leliana smiled. "Thank you! I appreciate being given this chance, I won't let you down" The others walked away leaving Morrigan and Alistair. The witch saw the warden with a grin on his face.

"What, fool?"

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous…" Alistair said amused.

"Alistair do us all a blessing…jump off a cliff" she said walking away.

"Yeah, very jealous" As they got closer to the gate, Jenra and Alistair felt their heads ringing and the two Wardens went to attention. "Jenra, you felt that?" The young lord nodded. "Everyone, prepare yourself…darkspawn are close" They headed for the gate and saw two dwarves near some crushed boxes being attacked by darkspawn.

"Away with you, foul creatures! Leave us alone!" Jenra and Alistair came in and cut down two darkspawn while Sten and Fenrir hit the darkspawn's back ranks. Morrigan and Leliana attacked from a distance with their magic and arrows respectively. Before long they were able to drive the darkspawn back but they knew that would not be the end, they were only the scouts…which meant more weren't too far behind. And when they swarmed, the village would be in trouble. "Mighty timely arrival there, my friend. I'm much obliged"

"You are welcome"

"The name's Bodahn Feddic, merchant and entrepreneur." A younger dwarf came beside him. "This here is my son, Sandal. Say hello my, my boy"

"Hello"

"Road's been mighty dangerous these days, mind if I ask you what brings you out here? Perhaps we're going the same way"

"I doubt you want to travel with a Grey Warden" Alistair said.

"Hmm, Grey Warden…you know there may be more excitement on your path than is good for my boy and me" Bodahn said. "Farewell and good fortune" They got their wares that weren't broken and quickly ran away. Alistair rubbed his head.

"Why do I get the feeling, we'll see more of those two?" The party went on their way to Redcliffe.

Our merry band of heroes grows by two! Next Time! Review and Comment!