I expect tracking a Warden would be rather easy, with all the dead bodies left in their wake. Which allows for a cameo, even if they never show up in Awakening. It's my fic, so I'll use my favourite characters if I want, darn it! BioWare can own Dragon Age all they want, but my ideas are mine.
Fancy... I swallow, and sniff the room. Everyone else definitely got better smelling food than I did. Still, this meat is nice. And he wasn't expecting Mistress to drop in unannounced, much less a Mabari such as myself. It would be churlish to complain about an impromptu lunch.
Braids clumsily places his goblet back down, and motions to an attendant for a refill. Slow down, champ. It's still only noon!
Mistress' eyes silently groan, as she turns to our dumbfounded host. "Please excuse him, Lord Bensley. We camped by the shore last night, and I forgot how new to the surface he still is." Benny gives a 'think nothing of it' wave, but he still looks puzzled. I know, I know – who would have thought Braids would know which fork is for what? Noticing his expression, Mistress continues. "So I neglected to warn him about filling his waterskins with sea-water. As you can see, the taste still lingers."
"Aye" Braids mutters, draining the goblet a second time. "I gotta thank you, though... milord" he quickly adds the honorific. "You have a fine drop, and I can barely notice it now. Do all your oceans try to poison people?"
"... I'm afraid so" Benny offers.
"Figures. They warned about the sky, and pants, but not the water."
Eileen Two-Legs looks over, finally paying attention to someone other than Mistress. Here we go again... "Pants?"
"Some smartar..." Braids stops, when Mistress shoots him a look. "Alec, told me nonsense about murderous pants." Wait, I thought you said his name was Jacob?
Benny chuckles. "Oh, the Schleets? … I haven't heard that one since the War."
Eileen frowns. "The what?"
"They hide in the woods, waiting for unfortunate wanderers to try them on" Benny proudly recites, clearly from old memories. "Then they seize onto your legs, trip you over and devour your eyes."
"Before standing up on their aberrant legs, and stalking away to a new location to await their next victim" Nail adds.
"That's the ones" Benny grins. "Winter's their breeding season, when they don't just eat your eyes... they lay eggs in the sockets."
Braids scoffs, in annoyance. "He left out that part – I would realised sooner! I really need to punch him, when we get back. Pants laying eggs... it's preposterous!"
"Yeah, totally" Scruffy mutters to himself. "It started out as a nice little story about killer pants, but now you know about eggs, it's gotten silly."
"Exactly" Braids nods, unaware of the sarcasm. Heh – Eggsacks. Eggsackly. Wow, this is a dumb conversation. I bet Mistress will try to redirect it.
"I do have a question, Lord Bensley" she calmly proclaims. Called it. "Why did you request our help, and not the Amaranthine Guard?"
"I considered that, at first. But they're spread thin as of late, so I expect I would have received auxiliary troops at best. In my experience, they're either untrained or people like Mosley have associates join, to slip them information." Leaning back, Benny smiles. "Also, my daughter's safety required the best Ferelden has to offer."
"A fair point" Mistress replies. "No parent would argue that."
"Well, except for 'im" Braids drawls, pointing at Nail with his empty goblet. Oh, great. He's hammered. "Had his brute squad drag you off when we rescued his own daughter, didn't he?"
"... It was complicated" Nail shrugs, awkwardly.
"Oghren..." Mistress says with a weary groan. Scruffy, any comment? Unlike Braids, you were actually there that day, after all. He doesn't reply, but cautiously just continues eating. Hmm. Yeah, that's probably a wise move.
"Still, Father made the right choice" Eileen Two-Legs breaks the tense silence, smiling at Mistress. Which makes Mistress shift a little in her seat, and return a polite look while mostly hiding her alarm. What, you only just now noticed how she's been staring at you?
"I must apologise for the timing, though" Benny opines, apparently not noticing it either. "I sent that letter before we received word of the attack. You have my condolences for your men."
"Thank you" Mistress answers, nervously turning back to her plate.
"Of course, I would have asked in person if the other message had arrived beforehand as well" Benny adds.
"Other message?"
"From Bann Esmerelle, saying you and her had arranged your official introduction day with the local nobility. Is it still tomorrow, after what happened?" he asks. You're not very observant when people slightly panic, are you? Because she's never been good at hiding it.
"I would assume so?" Mistress says, nonplussed.
"She's making moves already" Nail whispers to Mistress.
"Ah" Benny suddenly frowns. "So it was her typical grand-standing, then. I suspected." Okay, maybe he is perceptive. Does this stupid woman do this a lot? Just invite herself and her idiot friends over, unannounced? I hate her already...
The guy from earlier, Stu I think, enters the room. "My lord, a rider has arrived.
Seeking the Grey Wardens."
"I guess Varel got impatient" Scruffy finally speaks. To be fair, we're a few days overdue. Or something happened. I hope not.
"Show him to the den, thank you Stuart" Benny orders. Is it still an order, if you say 'thank you'?
"Steward Stuart" Braids sniggers, transitioning into a burp. Shooting him another dirty look, Mistress crosses her cutlery on the plate. "It would seem duty calls. By your leave, my lord?"
Benny nods. "Of course. And thank you again, Your Grace." She's Amanda, not Grace... oof! That got me a dirty look as well. Get used to it, Mistress. I bet you'll be hearing that joke a lot. Especially from Furgus.
"You all finish eating" Mistress tells the others. "Make sure he gets some actual food in him. No more drink" she adds, motioning at Oghren.
"Fine, fine..." he mutters, poking some cauliflower. "They left the broccoli out in the sun."
"Just eat it" Scruffy sighs, as I follow Mistress out. "She can probably still hear you." We can totally hear you. Okay, Mistress. Let me go in first – I'm suspicious of the fact this rider found us so far off-course. My teeth are ready for some butt biting if they turn out to be an arsehole.
"I'll show you to the den. Walk this way" Stu says, as Mistress closes the door behind her. I've got too many legs, to walk that way. How about I just follow you? ... Oof. Another unimpressed look. Guess Mistress heard enough bad comedy from Braids. Fine – lead on, Stuart the Ste... oh! Now I get what Braids was giggling about. Cheer up, Mistress. It's a free lunch, in our honour. And our luck is finally going well today! Unless the mystery guest turns out to be someone we hate. Like a debt collector, saying we're now culpable for Toadface's many arrears. Culpable – that's a fun sounding word. Shame it's not one anybody ever wants to hear. If we're lucky, it'll only be another talking Darkspawn. He's come looking to ask what happened to his buddies, who did an Esmerelle and invited themselves to the Keep without a head's up they were coming over. Or a Darkspawn debt collector, seeking damages for all the ones we killed during the Blight. They're evil, so of course they have their own scumbag lawyers and shit... well, I've got news for you, Arsehole! That was self-defence! Come up here, start a fucking Blight ,and you dare expect us not to fight back?! Luckily, I can't smell Darkspawn stink. In fact, it smells more like... huh! I take a deeper sniff, and there's no mistaking it now. Mistress! Let's go! Stu, get on your hands and knees, so you can walk my way! I run ahead, making Mistress groan. "... We just ate. Leave the kitchen alone!"
Trust me, this is better than a kitchen! I race around a corner, and slide as I study the hallway. That door! And... there she is! Running in, I leap up at her lap. I missed you, my old friend! She giggles, and pushes me back a little. "I don't think this chair can fit both of us, Max."
"Max, you idiot! Get back here" echoes, as I hear Mistress stomping down the hall.
"Mischievous as always" she laughs at Mistress' shouting, rubbing my ear. "What is she to do with you?" Rub my ears more often? I smile, leaning into her hand. Because this is nice... "We're in here!"
Ha, that made Mistress stop! She should have trusted my nose. I could smell it was you, out there! I smirk, as Mistress audibly jerks to a brief halt out in the corridor. "... Huh" I hear Mistress exhale, as she appears in the doorway. "... I was wondering who could have found me, here."
"I'm full of surprises, no?"Chirpy gloats, standing up.
Mistress, look! Chirpy's back!
"Indeed you are" Mistress smiles, as they pull each other into a hug. "I certainly didn't think I'd see you so soon."
Chirpy makes a playful huff. "That's your own fault! Coming back to Ferelden, and not telling me? For shame."
"Yes, yes. I'm a terrible person" Mistress grins, as they pull two of the chairs nearer.
"Perhaps just forgetful" Chirpy answers. "At least you'll have people to remind you of such things, now you're an Arlessa."
"They can try – even Nan had trouble. Maybe they'll try the subtle approach, instead."
"You certainly didn't" Chirpy notes. "You thought tracking you here would have been hard, with your typical trail of dead bandits and Darkspawn? Even if I didn't recognise Daylen's particular magic woundings, there was little mistaking who had travelled that path."
"What can I say? I'm a woman of style." They both laugh at that, and Chirpy looks at the door.
"I assume they're all here as well?"
"Of course – you should come say hello. They'd all like to see you again, too. Probably even Loghain."
"Oh? I would have thought-"
Mistress shrugs. "Orlais? They tried, but I over-ruled that and sent notes to delay it. I..."
"Need everyone you can get, yes. I was in Highever, hoping to find you still with your brother... while I was there, the Queen arrived and told us what happened." Chirpy voices, sympathetically. "Then I came to the farmlands, and saw your warning signs outside a large property." Right, the apple farm.
"Just the four of us" Mistress sighs, rubbing her hands. "I fought a Blight, with less... but this might be worse."
"Because you don't have people like me?" Chirpy asks, watching as Mistress pushes the door shut.
"There's that, as well" Mistress begins, taking a seat. "... It's the Darkspawn. They can talk now. And plan ambushes. It was not just a mindless raid, they struck with design."
"... What?" Chirpy stammers, her eyes widening.
"Yes. Their Lieutenant waited for me, to give a message. The leader is some kind of necromancer, from what I understand... I'm going to approach the Templars, for help."
Chirpy's finger twitch, as she sits silently. "... I suppose my warning is going to sound like nothing, now. But you should still be careful. I've kept ears in place, and you were right. Howe's former supporters are scheming against you already"
Mistress frowns, tapping her chair's armrest. "Of course... she's currently just measuring me up, with little games. Outwardly, at least. I've taken my own steps, naturally."
"Naturally" Chirpy repeats. "I hoped you would, without my warning, but forewarned is forearmed as they say." And I'm four-legged, so this Esmerelle trollop is gonna have more limbs coming at her than she can deal with!
"... I don't suppose I can interest you in quitting the Temple expedition, to come fight Darkspawn like the old days?" Mistress asks, trying to smile.
"I would if I could, my friend" Chirpy sighs.
"Yeah, I know" Mistress says, with an apologetic expression. "But I had to ask... this would be easier if I had more than two of the old team – Loghain doesn't really count. It's a shame Shale is off wherever Wynne took her. I could use a crazy Golem right now."
"I don't know about Shale, but I believe Wynne is still back. She visited me not long ago, and said she was resupplying before going to a Circle Convention in Orlais... now I think about it, she did mention business in Amaranthine. She hoped to see you, if you returned to Ferelden in time."
"Huh" Mistress smiles, for real. "I hope she's still there... I won't try to recruit her, but she could definitely help me."
"Oh yes?"
Mistress drums the armrest with three fingers, now. "One would assume the Grand Enchanter will attend such a Convention." That's probably conventional for a Convention. And you've got your schemey face on. Or is that just your strategy face?
"I expect so...?" Chirpy nods.
"I have a few questions the Enchanter should be able to help with... and I know Wynne is stubborn enough to make sure the woman gets my letter herself. It won't just sit on an assistant's desk somewhere for eight months..."
"I smell a story" Chirpy smirks.
"... Oh, it's a big one" Mistress answers, looking back at the door. "If you ever come by the Keep, I'll tell you. It's not one to tell where we might be overheard."
"You better not just be trying to lure me in with that, after I couldn't help ... if I wake up, in Warden armour, there'll be" Chirpy's jesting trails off, when Mistress stares at the floor.
"I wouldn't risk that. Not again..."
Chirpy leans forward, in her chair. "You don't mean..." She gets up, and pulls Mistress into another hug. "Mhairi?"
Mistress shakes her head, bumping it against Chirpy's shoulder, while hiccuping out a couple of sobs. "I couldn't stop her... I couldn't help her!"
"Hey... hush. It's not your fault" Chirpy whispers, rubbing her back.
"When... I thought we had solved it, when Oghren was fine. But I had to watch her, choking... Daylen fucked something up. She was meant to be fine!"
"No, none of that" Chirpy sooths. "Nobody knows, until they drink. Alistair told me that much about the Joining. You can't blame anyone... she wouldn't have. She wanted me to tell you that, if this day came."
Mistress pulls back a little, red-eyed. "... What?"
"She came to see the Temple, a month or two ago. After she returned from the summit, we spoke. She said the Temple had given her peace. Come what may." Chirpy digs into her pouch, and inspects some of the papers she pulls out. "... This one." She holds out an envelope. "I was to make sure you got this, or to burn it, depending on what happened."
Mistress clumsily drops back into her seat, staring at the letter in her hands. "..."
"... I'll let you read it?" Chirpy offers.
"Max... go show her where the others are. I..." You want to be alone, when you read it. I know.
We step out, and Chirpy softly pushes the door shut. "... Lead on, Max" she says, glumly, before adopting a smile. "Must have a smile for our friends. Right?" Sure - don't let on about Mistress, unless she wants to tell them. Good plan. We start down the hallway, when she looks down. "... Did she say Oghren?"
I started playing Inquisition again, with a (nearly) Max-adjacent World State just to see how things would play out. Leliana's line about the Warden being the only person she still trusts made me have to fit her in again somewhere... and Mistress really needed a friend right about now. There's no way a master spy wouldn't be listening in on the Amaranthine scheming, after all.
Thanks to everyone reading/following, and Melysande for her feedback.
