The travelers walk quickly but steadily through the road. Its conditions allow them to cover a great distance in their half day of travel. They seem to be swimming against the tide, all the people who they had met were going in the opposite direction, they even saw a cart or two. Silence was everything they had, people seem to have been deprived of words, the one in the lead sometimes looks to the sides then to the skies as if looking for someone who was concealed from her sight, nodding and sighing.
It is already late in the afternoon when the person taking point, a slender woman turns to the giant who walks by her side. She clears her throat, breathing deeply, "Sten, we have to talk."
"Do we? Don't we have a long way ahead?"
"We can do both, can't we?"
"No. There's a Blight ahead and a person behind of us," the group stops, with the exception of Sten the others look back trying to see someone or something.
"You mean, following us?" Elissa asks.
"Since Lothering," he says.
"It's not a darkspawn," Alistair says, his hand is close to his sword.
"Why didn't you say anything, Sten?" Elissa asks, still looking at Alistair.
"You didn't ask."
"Shouldn't we do something about it?" Morrigan asks, her eyes darting from one position to another.
"No. Let's leave it the way it is. Actually, we shouldn't even have looked back," Sten nods. "Anyway, you have been a long time without eating or drinking..."
"And yet, I am able to fight."
She shakes his head, "Right. You said you were in the army—"
"I am."
"What are you doing so far in the south?"
"The Antaan is the eyes and hands of our people, it's how we see the world. I come to answer a question," Elissa stands in front of him, looking at his eyes, he looks back at her.
"What question?"
"The Arishok asked 'What is the Blight?'"
"Arishok? Taas-shok?", Elissa says, Sten frowns.
"Shok means war."
Elissa nods, frowning, "Did you get your answer?"
"Part of it."
"And shouldn't you go back."
He looks intensely at her, she felt her very soul being studied, Sten closes his eyes, for a brief moment, "I can't go back."
"Why?"
"I would be killed on sight. Dishonored, a deserter."
"Well, you are certainly welcome here, Sten."
He looks at her, frowning, his head leans a bit forward for a brief instants, he then reassumes his posture, Elissa feels it's a bit different, relaxed maybe, "Thank you, Warden Elissa."
Alistair says, "Sten, it's better not to call us Wardens. We are being hunted down," he looks at Alistair, "it would only make things too complicated, more than they already are," the giant nods. "Since you're foreigner, did you like something about Ferelden?", Elissa asks.
He looks to Morrigan and Alistair, his eyebrows raised, "Is she always like this?", they nod together, "Yes, there is no equivalent in Qunlat for those. It is a small, crusty sweet bread, this size," he makes a 'C' with his big fingers.
"Cookies?," she says chuckling, he nods, "And what did you dislike?"
"Your country smells like a wet dog."
Bo barks and starts whining, "Hey!", Elissa says moving a step towards the giant, frowning. Sten looks at her, his eyes widen, he leans back, "You hurt his feelings! Apologize!"
Sten turns to the mabari, "I'm sorry." Morrigan and Alistair, look at each other, their mouths wide open.
"See, Mom protects you," Elissa starts speaking with a childish voice, the mabari, starts barking, "Who's a biggy doggie?" the mabari barks even more excitedly and runs towards her. "No! No! Easy, boy," the mabari tries to hug her, his tongue trying to reach her face.
When she manages to calm down her mabari Alistair asks, "Elissa, can he really understand us?" she nods. "Moron dog," Bo starts growling to him, "Eh!? I mean where's the cute puppy?" Alistair says, in a childish voice, Bo barks happily.
Elissa laughs taping Sten's shoulder, "Easy Sten. That was a joke," Sten in response slaps her shoulder, Elissa fights for regain her balance, almost tripping and falling, "Ouch! Not so strong," he steps forward, he signs him to stop, rubbing her shoulder. "And there goes my right shoulder," Alistair and Morrigan start laughing, a shy smile takes shape on Sten's face. "Hey, it's not funny. Come Bo, don't mingle amidst the rabble," Elissa assumes a stereotypical noblewoman posture, her nose pointing to the sky and walking in silly steps, giggling.
They resume their silent posture and follow their travel. After an hour marching, the sun is setting on the horizon, Alistair says, "Darkspawn," drawing his weapons, "over there!", he points nearby.
The others also draw their weapons, Elissa turns to Sten, "Stay close to me," he frowns then nods.
They take advantage of the high ground to see what's happening, a turned over cart, and two short men trying to run from a group of six darkspawn. The beasts are getting too close of them for Elissa's taste. "Over here, beasts!" She fires an arrow, hitting the back of one of them, "Alistair, Bo, to them!", her eye quickly discern two archers, "Morrigan, archer!", she stops her casting, pointing her black staff to one of the archer, he becomes a block of ice, the other archer fires an arrow at Morrigan, she ducks, Bo overpowered one of the shorter monsters, making of short work of him immediately going for the one Elissa had previously hit, Elissa fires another arrow, hitting the other archer, downing him, she sees Alistair engaging the two other darkspawn, he seems distracted backstepping, trying to look at her.
Morrigan stands and resumes her spellcasting. Elissa takes aim, extra carefully not to hit Alistair, she's pulled to the ground, she sees a blade thrusting where her head was, a strong arm holds the darkspawn's sword arm, with his other hand, Sten grabs the darkspawn throat, lifting him from the ground, he tries to break free but soon a snap is heard, Sten grabs his sword and effortlessly pushes the lifeless body away from him.
Elissa stands to her feet and, followed by Sten and Morrigan, goes to Alistair, "Thanks, Elissa. Those were great shots," he says, Elissa tilts her head, frowning, "If it wasn't you…"
"It was me," a feminine voice comes from a hooded figure, who is approaching, wielding a bow and a quiver on the back. They immediately raise their weapons, the hooded figure slowly reaches for her hood and removes it, it's a red haired woman, she looks at them smiling.
"Sister Leliana!" Elissa says, motioning the group to lower their weapons, "You were the one following us? Why?"
"I saw what you did at Lothering, for Lothering, and for others," she eyes Sten. "You are a woman inspired by the Maker, you were a beacon of hope for those people," Leliana's eyes water a bit, "you have shown both mercy and an able hand in combat," Elissa feels her cheeks becoming hot. "I would like to fight by your side."
"But sister Leliana, it's a long, dangerous road."
She nods, "Your cause is just, the Maker shall protect us. Failing that, I can defend myself," she looks at the two darkspawn that she killed.
"Why sister Leliana, this is not decided on a whim," Elissa says, her hands on her hips.
"Call me Leliana, if you will," she closes her eyes. "Indeed, but the Maker has sent me a vision."
"That's it, I'll check on those two dwarves," Alistair says, raising his hands.
"I won't be one to deny help, anyway. Welcome Leliana."
Morrigan sighs, "That's it, Mother forgot to take care your head," she says, going towards the tombed cart, Sten follows her.
"Don't mind Morrigan, her language translates as 'having your company will be a delightful experience," both women laugh, "that young man is Alistair, Sten, you already know and this is Bo," he barks, "he said 'hi'", Elissa says. She clears her throat and looks at Leliana, "could you tell me about your vision?"
The redhead nods, her eyes shining as she gets ready to talk, "I don't know where I was, it was high place, I could see valleys, the world, darkness and chaos were engulfing it, little by little. The music was dying, the creation was at its end when it finally consumed everything, I was there, at the top of a mountain, alone, just witnessing the end."
"Oh? I suppose it's the Blight."
Leliana nods, "I woke up, shaken. How could the Maker let us alone in our time of need? I thought," she breathes heavily, "I felt lost, like I hadn't in many years, I went back to my room to meditate. When I entered there, I saw, on the dark blue quilt of my bed a laurel wreath," Elissa gasps, "I know, laurels are quite rare on winter."
It's the Cousland heraldry. Elissa shakes her head, "Couldn't it be a joke?"
"A joke?", Leliana puts her hands on her shoulders, "Only if the Maker has a sense of humour. We both know that the Maker has not left us. He wouldn't leave us without a chance to fight back," she frowns.
She's referring to my speech in Lothering. "I do believe, Leliana, that no parent would abandon his children," she nods. "Pardon my bluntness, but you don't seem like a cloistered sister to me."
"Well, I was not born in the Chantry. Also, don't all of us like to play masquerade?" Leliana's eyes have a piercing look, like an archer preparing to fire, her mouth opens a shy smile, like she's hit her target.
Elissa gasps, "I think we do, indeed. You must know that, with us you'll be in grave danger," the redheaded archer tilts her head, "Alistair and I, we are Grey Wardens."
Her eyes widen, she gasps then her face changes into an innocent facade like when they met at the Chantry, "Grey Wardens!?" she eyes Alistair, "It just proves my point about the Blight," Elissa sighs. "But actually, I was referring to where you come from," Elissa looks at her, "though you appearance at the time and your physique sell to an untrained eye a foot soldier, I saw through you." Elissa tilts her head, "Your hands and feet, the way you move, aren't the ones of a commoner, but of a noble, and not any lesser noble, mind you, also you mentioned how musical was my name, were you referring to a certain Orlesian song—
"Le lit de lys," both women speak together, Elissa's eyes widen.
"Don't worry, It's not any of my business and I'm a professional." Leliana says, smirking.
"Professional?" Elissa asks, frowning.
"I'm a bard, an Orlesian bard," she says, looking straight at Elissa, who gasps and takes a few steps back.
She had always dreaded bards, they are spies, noble killers, when she was little kid, a mere of threat of her father calling a bard at her misbehaviour, would make her go crying to her mother's skirt, Fergus would calm her down saying he would protect her from any bard. In retrospect it is funny think that instead of unusual Flemeth stories to scare her, her father would choose bards, best fear Man instead of the supernatural. Now she has a living bard in front of her, she can feel sweat in her face, Does she have a concealed weapon, can I kill her? Should I play along?
Leliana gently chuckles, "Calm down. I assure you that the Maker is my patron and I swear in Andraste's name that I don't mean you any harm, now or in the future," Elissa raises an eyebrow. "If I wanted, you know I had many chances."
"That's true, Leliana."
"Now we are in equal footing, Elissa."
"Leliana, I know it's quite vexing asking this to a bard like you but, could you keep the contents of our conversation to ourselves," Leliana nods, "information is a dangerous business after all," she smiles.
Both women stand and go to the rest of the group, Sten had just turned the cart into it's correct position, two dwarves were talking to Alistair, Morrigan was hooded, a bit far from the group.
An older sand blond dwarf steps forward and says, "Thank you, milady, for your timely intervention. My name is Bodahn Feddic and this is my son, Sandal", the younger dwarf has close cropped hair and eerie blue eyes, which seem not to focus on anything in particular.
"What a strong, nice boy you have here, Bodahn," she pats Sandal's hair. "Call me Elissa."
"That he is milady, that he is," the dwarf smiles. "Boy say hello to her."
"Hello," Sandal says monotone.
"My boy here is very special, a highly skilled enchanter," Bodhan says.
"Enchantment!" Sandals says, becoming excited, Bo runs towards the young dwarf, he starts petting the mabari.
"Yes, boy. A bit later," he looks back to Elissa, "he is what the mages call a savant," seeing Elissa frowning, "a person who excels at a single activity but—"
Elissa gently touches his shoulder, "I see, Bodhan." She looks to the cart, "Are you a merchant? Were you coming from Redcliffe?"
"Lothering." He looks to the ground, then to his son playing with the mabari, "If I may indulge, milady," she frowns, "er Elissa, sorry, you seem to travel a lot," she nods. "What say you if my boy and I join you in your travels, we banter items at your stops and I give you a nice discount for it."
Merchants don't get along well with nobles, each group loathe the other but yet they have to coexist, one has money while the other influence. Normally merchants would avoiding joining a noble's entourage for it would cost a lot of money also for it would mean that he has become a subject of said noble, Elissa remembers, Fergus marriage was a very lucrative business, Oriana's father had to pay a handsomely dowry.
Elissa changes her posture, she looks straight into Bodahn's eyes, she frowns, "Bodahn Feddic," he tenses, "know that we will travel this whole country and our company can bring great danger to you and your son. Know also that if you join us you will be treated as one of us, therefore we will protect you in the best of our capabilities. These are my terms," she offers her hand, he takes it, shaking firmly. "Welcome aboard, partner."
"Where to, Lady Elissa?" the merchant asks.
"Redcliffe, but we'll prepare to set camp and see if your cart need any repairs."