Afternoon's Rest
Aldanon managed to gain some time to talk with Wynne, and she told him that after delivering Shale to Tevinter, she sought to enjoy the last few years if not months of her life. After Tevinter, she travelled south through Nevarra before finally settling in Val Roeyaux over a two month phase. Based off what Aldanon could remember about Empress Celene's instructions, they were to meet the royal group in the northern part of the Merchant Quarter, but the intrigued looks on his new companions faces kept him waiting for them. Often Aldanon and Wynne would smile at their enthusiasm appreciatively, remembering that they were still rather young people like Alistair and himself, rather than grizzled and stoic like Duncan or Riordan, that there was another side to the duty and honour part of the grey warden life, the part of their lives that they would learn to cherish.
He contemplated what Alistair had said about when he was with the old Ferelden grey wardens that they were quite a group, in his own words, and really enjoyed themselves, like the time when the Anderfel warden Gregor bested them all at a drinking contest by a pint for every one of their half pints, treating every free moment like it was their last. Aldanon had known that they knew what would eventually come. Wynne also reminded him how he had taken to Morrigan's allure, and eventually approved to it, but Aldanon insisted that they kept off that subject. He loved Morrigan, and Anora was more like an old colleague, and he told Wynne that while romantic measures were taken before, but they seldom ever truly worked.
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He continued to survey the crowds until he heard the sound of applause coming from the Palace Way; Empress Celene and her courtiers, Anora, and Zevran and Oghren bickering heatedly, were striding through the crowds of elated citizens. It was clear that Celene was a popular ruler with the people, known as the one who had moved Orlais into an age of art and beauty, public appearances were commonplace and to the joy of the public, nobles and commoners alike. Aldanon and his party meandered towards them, and bowed to Celene and her party, the wardens followed jointly. Celene paced towards Aldanon, gesturing him to rise.
"Ah, Aldanon, it's good you've joined us, we feared the wardens were taking you up." she said in her usual serene voice, stealing a kiss on the hand from Aldanon while Anora was rapt by the beauty of the market.
"There is a matter of procedure I would like to discuss with you on the wardens' behalf, Celene," he began calmly, "About their enemy returning to threaten the city and must be dealt with." He added gravely, Celene nodded, her expression sombre. She knew what Aldanon meant, and cast her head down in thought.
"Soon, perhaps during the next set of discussions, but first enjoy yourself in the market." She said finally. She bid Aldanon farewell and moved off with while he turned his attention to Anora, and embraced her warmly.
"The conferences, how did they go?" he asked, somewhat eagerly, Anora stared at him surprised.
"They actually went quite well, the Empress agreed to my terms of allowing most of their tailor-made goods come to Ferelden in exchange for Ferelden's newest inflow of dalish and dwarven crafted weapons. She also consented to Ferelden gaining the mountain valleys beyond Jader, which is soon to be the main centre of Ferelden and Orlaisan trade!" her voice rose to excited scopes and pulled Aldanon in for a kiss, which took him by surprise to say the least. Once things cooled down a bit, he moved towards the still bickering dwarf-elf duo.
"I told you once, I told you a thousand times, dwarf," Zev disputed hotly "You are about as much a ladies' man as my hair is a mabari's tail." The dwarf madly laughed off the elf's choice of words.
"That's because it is you skinny weasel, and I'm about to prove that once and for all with my newly developed Orlesian language of love. HA!" he pointed, Just as Aldanon approached them both.
"Hello, you two." He interposed; they stopped and turned, and only succeeded in drawing him in.
"There you are, I was about to prove this dwarf's social graces for all to see." Zevran nudged at Oghren.
"Ha! I would have expected that from you," he grunted, and turned to Aladnon, "hey Aldanon, I've been learning some Orlesian pickup lines for the ladies, heh. Syphilitique nuget!" he added hoarsely, Aldanon stared at him, confused. "What do you think about that, eh? Eh?" he added enthusiastically, Aldanon looked sick.
"You just called Aldanon a syphilitic nug, Oghren." Zevran smiled craftily, Aldanon sensed he had something to do with Oghren's new language development. Just then the other wardens; Geoffrey, Argeles, Osecar, Durin and Elanea approached with confused looks evident across their faces, Zevran's humour turned to indignity.
"Ah, I see it didn't take that long for you to replace us." He said in a toneless voice.
"They're not replacements, Zev, they're just new companions." Aldanon replied defensively. Suddenly, he Oghren yelled out in defiance and trundled off towards a pair of finely dressed, rather attractive, noble's daughters. Zevran chuckled and leaned on Aldanon's shoulder. Osecar and the others gathered around Zevran.
"I've been treating our dwarven friend to a new language of love, now let us watch and observe." Just as Oghren had strutted up to them, he began uttering a long string of sentences in orlesian. You, yeah you, lend me your rears! Your rears! He said hideously, gesturing at their chests, the girls glared at him disgusted, find your own cravings and go away! One of them slapped him so hard he made an audible grunt. Aldanon stood there staring in shock with Zevran leaning smugly on his shoulder looking on at the scene as Oghren continued. This is not a goat's tail! He gestured at his trousers, one girl wailed in disgust and almost fainted, the other called out; the dwarf's gone mad! Call the guards! A pair of guards looked suspiciously at the mad dwarf, but Oghren reacted quickly and called out to them; No! Don't call the pigs! Lend me your rears! He persevered, and advanced in mock menace towards them; Brontos are in my bed! Many, many brontos! Before he could proceed the two guards grabbed him by the arms and dragged him off, still cursing in Orlesian.
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When Zevran finished laughing at the dwarf's predicament, Aldanon frowned at him, clearly not amused by the act.
He folded his arms and stared at Zevran, "You're a real douche, and you know it!" He growled grimly.
"Who cares, he got arrested!!" he screamed gleefully and collapsed laughing. Elanea stared at Aldanon.
"Does this sort of thing happen all the time between your companions?"she asked, utterly staggered.
"More often than you think." Aldanon answered shortly, and the archer's tall brow shot up an inch. Geoffrey changed the subject with urgency. "Did you speak with the Empress? What did she say?" he asked.
"Well, she said she would talk about it once we returned to Palais Royeaux, but until then the Market is ours to enjoy." Aldanon said with an enthusiasm rising with the mention of the market.
With Oghren trying to escape his fate, the group could enjoy peace from the rowdy dwarf. Anora had given Aldanon a fresh supply of sovereigns to spend in the market, the first thing we wanted to do was to find presents for the new companions in order to let them warm up to him. He went with Wynne, Osecar and Geoffrey to a Magical Artefacts store called The Lyrium Orb and with Wynne's advice, he learned what Osecar specifically liked and gave him a staff that Wynne had been saving for his return and a tome of spell craft.
Geoffrey also expressed an interest for a marble high dragon figurine, a granite cerberus carving and an amber phoenix that was warm to the touch, Aldanon bought them all and the two friends was quite thankful for his consideration, he also spotted a book that contained much of Orlais' history put into bardic song, and another of the creatures that walked Thedas, a perfect gifts for Elanea. Argeles was taken to the blacksmith shop; Chevalier's Arms and Aldanon bought him a pair of drakeskin scabbards for his blades, a new helmet, and an enchanted set of chainmail gauntlets. When found an inn to eat, Durin wanted an expensive lamb course which the house allowed him to finish outside the Inn, which Aldanon paid for; the grateful dwarf gave him one of his lamb bones to gnaw on. His taste is rather odd, Aldanon thought.
When he managed to catch a quiet moment with Elanea, he presented the books. At first she brusquely responded to this as an attempt to buy her loyalty, but Aldanon firmly told her to refuse the gifts if she did not want them, ultimately she could not refuse and accepted them. He only wanted her to understand that he would wish no ill on her for any reason.
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Zevran, ever the wily rogue, saw an exotic charm in Elanea, to resist her wild beauty proved too much for him. As they rested in the inn, he casually weaved his way towards her, a bold smile on his face.
"Tell me, Elanea, what was your role in your Dalish tribe?" he asked smoothly, the charm working.
"Well, once I was the best hunter in the tribe, indeed the finest in the Tirashan wilds." She said, fixing on him.
"In my day, I was considered the wildest youth in Antiva City." He said, his exotic voice washing over her, "And hunters specialize in wild beasts." He added cheekily, Elanea smiled at his notion.
"That's true," she said, "But when it comes to who's hunter and who's hunted, you can never be certain."
"Truly, so am I to be your prey?" Zevran asked, grinning, Elanea was not used to this foreign way of love.
"Assassins are akin to hunters, are they not?" she asked, letting it come, "I rather think we would be competing for prey rather than hunting. Perhaps we can indulge in such matters outside." The two elves departed for the street. Aldanon and Wynne who had seen the flirtations shared confused looks with each other and shrugged.
Oghren returned, he was drained from his encounter from the guards, and eyed Zevran with his new escort, growled and charged headfirst, roaring as he went, yelling "I'm gonna kill you!!" Zevran saw the threat and dodged the charging fist, but Oghren careered into Durin, who had just finished his roast, and immediately ended up sprawled out on the floor. The two dwarves looked up at each other and recognised each other.
"Wait, I do know you, the mad dwarf of House Branka!" Durin bellowed in fury, clenching his fists.
"Durin, I think I owe you a flagon for the face!" Oghren growled; reaching for a nearby mug of ale and aiming for Durin's nose, the next thing he knew, he was on his side with a heavy dagger pommel bruise on his head.
"I want no fighting here; we're wardens first and foremost." Argeles chided, the dwarves looked up at him
"Yeah well, we're dwarves first, and dwarven matters come first. Right, Durin?" Oghren turned to Durin
"Right," The dwarven warden replied, and threw a hit for Oghren's forehead. Argeles sighed angrily.
"A taverb brawl is just a waste of our time and resources." he said flatly, with an edge of anger.
"This is going to be a waste of my time and resources but I'm going to do it anyway." Oghren walked up to him, leapt up and headbutted the other warden in the head, at this Durin rammed him into the bar.
The rest of the group turned to see the two dwarves brawling across the tavern and others joining in, while the minstrels changed their tune. The two dwarves obviously sparred before, but the way they ducked and dodged every blow was astonishing, considering they were inhibited by alcohol. Durin only managed to get Oghren in the infamous dwarven-headlock once, but his rival managed to inflict the beard-grab-of-pain, "Not the beard!" Durin yelled. In the end, both settled for the Tapster's wrestle-rustle. Geoffrey would have stopped them under normal conditions, but he admitted to have enjoyed the scene of the two dwarves. Osecar on the other hand was getting anxious of being arrested and was permitted to discreetly use a sleep spell to knock Durin and Oghren unconscious. His timing was perfect, just as the two dwarves threw their finishing hits, they appeared to collapse form fatigue.
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Aldanon had to request to use his carriage to transport the sleeping dwarves back to the palace, while he borrowed a guardsman's horse and told the others he would meet them at the palace. On his way out of the Market, he spotted a strange sight; a young woman in scarlet hair and skin like sunlight, he tried to get a better look, trying to confirm his suppositions, but she had already melted into the crowd. It was the middle of the afternoon, and everyone was able to satisfy their hunger with a light lunch before getting a rest in their rooms, and here was his chance to talk to Empress Celene. He called Geoffrey to her conference hall; she had called Duke Claude d'Aubrac to voice his opinion on the matter. Aldanon stepped forth and cleared his throat.
"Empress Celene, as much as I appreciate the hospitality you've shown me, I fear I must ask this boon from you; the darkspawn are returning, the grey wardens have sensed it. Not in a Blight, but seemingly a mindless assault, not enough to destroy your city but enough to require her defences be tested. This is what the Grey Wardens have been tasked of, but this is where you come in: the Grey Wardens request the military aid of Val Royeaux's army and that of the surrounding provinces." Celene stared at him severely, but she could tell this was no easier for Aldanon, much less considering that he was doing it on Charles' behalf.
"You dare to ask this of a foreign monarch, Fereldan?!" d'Aubrac abruptly cursed, his disdain dominating the room, for he was clearly unmoved. "After all we've provided for you, you still want more from us!! Perhaps you should join your kind on the battlefield without the aid you seek. Let them do something honourable alone."
"You know as well as anyone that that's not possible," Aldanon viciously scowled down the duke, "If you do not wish to protect your city, you can always retreat back to your duchy." He added, tauntingly.
"Enough!" The empress raised her voice to both the men, "It's the ruling monarch who decides the course to take." She approached Aldanon and nodded; "I will honour the request of the Grey Wardens, Val Roeaux's hosts will assemble to defeat the wretched darkspawn. I trust the word of the wardens and of this man's." Aldanon bowed his head courteously; "You have the thanks of Ferelden and the Wardens, Empress Celene, how long until the armies have mustered?" he asked, Celene thought to herself.
"They will be ready to march in roughly three days. If I may take your battle plans, Duke Claude will begin enlisting the army to get underway." She said. Aldanon bowed his head once more and left, but not without throwing a derisive look at the ill-tempered Duke. Once outside, Geoffrey caught a chance to shake his hand.
"You've done us a great favour, Aldanon. Val Royeaux will soon stand ready to defeat the darkspawn. It happened much readily than I suspected." Aldanon nodded, an ill feeling suddenly swelling up inside him.
"It's good that it's been resolved so quickly, but such things seldom come at a cost. When we took part in the Battle of Ostagar, we thought we would end the darkspawn horde there and then, but it all fell apart, the grey wardens and the king died in one fell swoop. I fear something is bound to go wrong." He said morosely with a furrowed brow, and stared out from the window across the city.