A.N - This chapter is longer than usual because, well...it deals with Lothering and as I stated before I REALLY REALLY didn't like writing about this village, and I just wanted to get it over with in one chapter. I hate running my character through it too in fact...But hopefully I dealt with it in a different enough way to make it somewhat interesting. I know it might seem a little bit rushed...but well, that's because it *is* I've got some interesting ideas (at least to me) for stuff down the road, and I really wanted to get there quickly... So it's only going to go up from here (I hope!)

A.N. - Dedications go out to Arsinoe de Blassenville and kirbster676 (whom, BTW, really should write a one-shot on the fantastic idea they had for how to deal with Lothering!) Dedication also to shiyo-chan and socorro for liking how this story is unfolding as well. :) So glad to hear people out there are enjoying this first attempt at FF!


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"Morrigan, you did not lie when you said this was a small, dreary village" Artalise quipped at the large black wolf who was currently licking some blood off of her claws. She peered over the wall of the Imperial Highway, pursing her lips together.

Clearly the place was currently overcrowded. The air stunk of people and refuse, and the area closest to the ramp down into the village lead directly to an area filled with tents and what appeared to be refugees. A tall tower rose in the distance, the highest building around for miles. Clearly that was the Chantry, and a place Artalise would prefer to avoid. She didn't have a hatred of the place, but given her current situation, and the fact that she was traveling with an apostate made her hesitant to risk her luck.

"The Blight really does bring out the best in people, doesn't it?" Alistair commented as he wiped off his sword on one of the dead "tax collectors."

"Mmm." Artalise agreed as she scratched the head of her mabari, whom she had decided to name Oak. He didn't seem to mind the name. After searching the bodies and nearby bags for any interesting loot, each pocketing a few coins, they finally walked down the ramp. As they did so, Artalise could feel their questioning eyes on her. Maybe she should have gotten rid of her mage robes, as, now that she thought about it, they were just as foreign as Morrigan's preferred outfit.

"Hey now…jus' who migh' you all be?" called out a rough looking man who leaned against an old column. He approached the group. Artalise and Alistair turned their heads to look at the man. They then both exchanged glances, confirming silently that they had to be on their guard.

"Just travelers, making our way to Redcliffe." Alistair responded. It was a true enough statement.

The suspicion did not leave the man's look, in fact it only deepened as he inspected their clothing. "Since when does a mere traveler have the coin to afford a full suit of armor. And when does a knife-ear have the money to afford such an outfit?"

Artalise burned at the insult, and it took all her willpower not to cast a fireball at the man. She nudged Alistair ever so gently. This was going to be totally on him as she realized would have to play the part of docile elf servant.

Alistair gave her a startled look and then it slowly dawned on him that everything was on his shoulders. Oh dear.

"One can never have too much protection, hmm?"

"An' your elf-"

"I thought the robe highlighted her eyes."

"The mabari?"

"A stray we picked up?"

"An' the wolf?"

" The…ahh….mabari's female friend?"

The man looked unimpressed, and folded his arms across his chest, "An' the blood you all have splattered o'er yourselves?"

"Surely you were aware of the bandits up there? A man has a right to defend himself doesn't he?"

"That's a lot of blood."

"…There were a lot of bandits..."

The man snorted but said nothing. He seemed particularly interested in the fact that Artalise was carrying two rather ornately carved staffs but he said nothing about them. He focused his stare back on Alistair.

"You may wish to talk with the Chantry Templar, Ser Bryant, then. He was offering a reward to whomever drove the bandits out." He then looked away from the group, as if dismissing them.

Alistair breathed a sigh of relief as he walked up to Artalise as she start to head somewhere, anywhere other than near that man. "My vote is for getting out of this village as soon as possible, Chantry reward be damned. That man gave me the creeps."

Artalise nodded softly, "Agreed. But, at the very least, shall we see if village offers any food? What I wouldn't give for a piece of bread!"

"Or a slice of cheese" Alistair added, just as hungrily.

They were unable to take more than a few steps when the man they had been talking too, suddenly spoke up, and what he said caused the two Wardens to stop and stare back at him.

"Just a word to the wise travelers. Teyrn Loghain has offered a generous reward to anyone who can bring him one of those traitors who betrayed the King - The Grey Wardens." He smiled crookedly at them, "Should you come across any during your travels, of course, 'twould be good to keep in mind, hmm?"

Artalise was in shock, but she quickly masked it, remembering to focus her eyes on the ground like she had seen so many of her servant brethren do. She could however see Alistair flush with anger, his eyes flashing. The man arched an eyebrow and merely nodded to himself as if he had confirmed something. He turned his head to face the ramp leading down to Lothering once more, and Artalise did her best to drag Alistair away.

"Betrayers? The Grey Wardens?" Alistair muttered under his breath.

Artalise put an arm on his shoulder, trying to calm him down, "Calm yourself! That man was no simple farmer asking simple questions. He now knows what we are. I think we should be quick in leaving this place."

From below her Morrigan nodded her head in agreement with what Artalise was saying, though her attention was obviously somewhere else. Artalise peered in the direction Morrigan was staring and saw a nondescript youth lounging in the shade of one of the chanteys. Artalise shrugged and started walking in the direction her nose told her was the nearest place with some food, Alistair and mabari following closely behind. Apparently they weren't the only ones who desired to get to the inn quickly- Artalise nearly fell to the ground as a young elf boy shoved her out of his way as he darted apparently to the inn.

"Hey!" Alistair called out after him, but the elf boy didn't seem to notice. Oak growled and obviously wanted to go after him, but Artalise kept him back. She merely dusted off her robe and mumbled something to herself before the group resumed their walk towards the inn.

The instant she opened the door she wished she had decided to just leave this Maker forsaken village. Near the door waited several well armored and armed men who eyed her suspiciously. The apparent leader dropped a note he had held in his hand onto the table and sauntered over to them. The elf boy who had so recently shoved Artalise aside darted back out the door. Apparently he had been a messenger.

Alistair paused a moment when he finally made it through the door. He knew these men, "I recognize the leader. He's one of Loghain's men." He whispered to her, his hands moving towards his sword and shield, knowing what the eventual outcome of this meeting would be.

"So. My man tells me you two are just mere travelers?" He asked, smiling crookedly, his voice laced with amusement.. News apparently travelled quickly in this village.

The leader's eyes widened in recognition when he saw Alistair, "Ah, but apparently that is not the case? I recognize you!" he sneered as he pointed straight at Alistair, "I saw you next to your leader – the very man who lead the betrayal of King Cailan!" he started to withdraw his sword.

"Stop!" came a shout and out came running a young Chantry Sister, stepping between the two groups, "How dare you accuse and attack these innocent travelers!" she shouted as she spun around to confront the Teyrn's soldiers. If all eyes of those in the tavern weren't focused on the scene before, they surely turned to watch with rapt attention then. Would the soldiers actually strike one who wore Chantry robes?

The leader pointed an angry finger at Alistair again, "This man serves the one who betrayed and killed King Cailan – I was there at Ostagar with Teyrn Loghain – I saw with my very own eyes their treachery!"

"Funny, because where Duncan and King Cailan stood it probably look like treachery when the Teyrn left them to die at the hands of the darkspawn!" Alistair spat back, anger getting the better of him. How dare they blame the King's death on the Grey Wardens – all but the two of them whom had been slaughtered fighting alongside the King as the Teyrn's men left without swinging a sword.

There would be no more talking. The leader withdrew his sword fully, as did his other men and they charged at the group. Oak and Alistair became a wall in front of Artalise as she made Alistair's sword flicker with flames. Curiously, the Sister had also withdrawn daggers and was fighting off one of the Teyrn's soldiers. The door behind Artalise suddenly slammed open once more and in leapt a huge black wolf, snarling and causing some of the men to fall back for a moment in fright. Amber eyes flashed onto one of them and she leapt at him, teeth tearing at his throat.

The leader saw his men start to fall around him, and the distraction made it easy for Alistair to disarm him. The moment he was about to run him through though, the sister's voice called out again, "Wait – these men are defeated. Show them mercy!"

Alistair looked over at the sister with surprise, but the defeated leader grabbed a hold of the idea, "Please! My men and I give up…Just…let us get on our way…."

Alistair held his sword up to the man's throat, flames still licking the sleek metal and causing the leader to wince, "And to where will you be going? Back to Loghain? To report on us?"

The man opened his mouth as if to answer, but then shut it again just as quickly.

Artalise pursed her lips together, before dispelling Alistair's weapon, causing the man to let out a sigh of relief, "Let them go. Let Loghain be aware that we are coming for him." Her eyes narrowed at the leader of the Teyrn's men, "I have returned to Ostagar and I have seen the results of the Teyrn's treachery. Let him know that we shall come for him, and he shall pay."

Alistair flicked his sword towards the door and the surviving guards carried out their injured in as quick a manner as possible. Artalise then knelt beside Oak, examining him for wounds before directing her power towards the knitting up of the few slashes he had endured.

She looked up though, when she heard the chantry sister take a few hesitant steps towards them, bowing her head, "The Maker will thank you for your mercy."

Morrigan made a sound that sounded almost like a scoff, a peculiar noise to hear coming from a wolf. Artalise smiled tightly, "Perhaps. Thank you for your help Sister. I just hope we do not live to regret the mercy shown here today." She turned and resumed her healing of Oak, knowing Morrigan, with a jagged slice near her neck was eager for healing as well. Artalise looked up with a start, however, when she heard what the woman had to say next, "I wish to join your party."

Alistair arched an eyebrow, "You wish to travel with us mere travelers?"

The woman arched an eyebrow back, "I do not think you are mere travelers, yes? And I think you will need as much help as you can get, and so I would like to offer my services."

"Your services, Sister? We appreciate the offer, but we have no need for sermons. Now please, leave us be. I need to heal my companions" Artalise spoke crisply as she turned her attention to Morrigan's wound, focusing and watching it knit together. There was a faint murmuring coming from the other patrons, she assumed in part due to the growing realization that she was no elf servant but one of the Circle of Magi. Or at least, she was. Once.

"You have seen what I can do. I am good with daggers and a bow- I can protect myself. Please, let me join you." The Sister asked again, earnestly.

Artalise pursed her lips together, and she heard Alistair shift his weight uneasily behind her. Her eyes, however suddenly focused on the braids the woman had in her hair and she stood up to get a better look. Her eyes widened, "Oh? Can you braid hair?"

The other woman blinked, apparently surprised at the sudden turn in questions, "Ye…yes…I am…well known in this Chantry for my braiding abilities, actually."

Artalise grinned and nodded her head, "Your name then, Sister?"

"Leliana. And I am not a full Sister…just a lay sister. And…I have already left the Chantry here."

Artalise arched an eyebrow at the last statement, but then she shrugged. It didn't matter much to her, "You are welcome to join us if you so wish, then Leliana."

Leliana's face lit up and it looked like she was going to respond when Alistair suddenly pulled Artalise aside, "So…. let me get this straight. You are letting a lay sister come with us based on nothing but her hair styling abilities?"

"No – you saw what she did. She has skill with her daggers, and if she is as good with a bow as she says, I am sure Morrigan would appreciate a night off from hunting every once in a while. Maker knows with your skill with a bow we'd probably starve." She grinned as she brushed her hand along one of her now ragged braids "The braiding ability was just an unexpected surprise."

Alistair rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, not understanding her reasoning fully but deciding not to concern himself with it. By the slight growl and glare from Morrigan though, Artalise knew the other mage disapproved. Thankfully, it was relatively easy to ignore her in her wolf form. She turned back to the newest member of their party, "Tell me then, Leliana. Is the food here any good?"

"When they have any food here, yes, it is. The refugees make that a rare occurence."

Artalise sighed disappointingly, as did Alistair. So much for a meal then, for as she looked around she noticed the only thing that seemed full were mugs of ale. She turned to leave when her attempt at moving was interrupted by a "Wait!" She groaned inwardly, but turned to watch a rather disturbed man walk up to them. She guessed it was the innkeeper by the way he looked disgusted at the blood splatters on the table, as if he was calculating how much time and coin it would take to clean everything up.

"Is what those men said true then?" He asked, he asked in a hushed voice.

"Is what true?" Artalise asked, hesitantly

"That you are…." He lowered his voice even more, "Grey Wardens?"

Artalise looked at him intently for a few moments, wondering if he would prove to by ally or foe. Cautiously she nodded her head.

The man suddenly broke out into a smile, "Glad to hear it! Otherwise I'd ask you to pay for this mess," he spread his arms wide to emphasize his disgust with the sight. He turned to look at Artalise and Alistair, "My grandpa served in the Order. I'll have you know that no few amount of us respect what you Wardens do, and won't believe those rumors started by Teyrn Loghain's men." He paused, before motioning them towards his counter, "I don't have much to give you, but Terra back there just finished baking some fresh loaves. I imagine you'd like one, hmm?"

Artalise grinned and eagerly walked over to the counter as the innkeeper wrapped the loaf of bread up and handed it over to her while saying, "Now if I may, I'd advise you hurry up and head out of Lothering. The soldiers you saw in here weren't the only ones here. Wouldn't surprise me if that leader you spared went to find his friends."

Artalise nodded her head and slapped some silver coins onto the table with a smile, and waved off his protests. "We thank you." She stated, before she turned and followed the rest of her party outside.

The sun was starting to set, and they would have all preferred to have had the possibility of spending the night in an actual bed, but if what the innkeeper said was true, they had best head out.

The back way towards the Imperial Highway appeared less crowded than the way they had originally entered. Alistair apparently had had the same idea as he was leading the small group towards that area. However, their attention was soon drawn to a large being in a cage that barely fit him, and this pause allowed Artalise to catch up with them. The being looked unconcerned as he continued his apparent meditation, "Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit, aban aqun. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam Qun"

Leliana had a sad look on her eyes as she watched the…qunari, Artalise realized when she looked closer. A race she had read about, due mostly to her fascination that it was to the mages, the very same people the Chantry keeps locked away, that the Chantry turned when all else seemed lost to the invading Qunari centuries ago.

"This….man…is a murderer. He has the blood of many innocents on his hands. The Reverend Mother has condemned him to stay in this cage until the darkspawn comes." Leliana offered softly, as a means of explanation.

The qunari had stopped his recitations as the party had surrounded him but still had his eyes closed. Artalise's eyes narrowed as she approached, "Greetings."

His eyes opened and he looked at her, his expression emotionless. "You are not one of my keepers. Nor do you seem to intend to toss excrement at me. Why then do you bother me?"

Artalise's eyes flickered to where she saw the leader of the Teyrn's soldiers appear over the bridge and started to walk towards the tavern. Time was running short.

"My name is Artalise, a Grey Warden. Why are you here?"

A flicker of recognition of the title Grey Warden passed over his face, but it soon went emotionless again, "The human woman has already told you why."

"Why did you do it?"

"My reasons are my own."

"Artalise…you may want to hurry this up…the soldiers will be realizing we aren't in the inn sooner rather than later…" Alistair said nervously, keeping an eye apparently on the inn's door.

"Do you accept this punishment?"

"I have no other choice."

"You could come with us. Help us with ending the Blight."

"You would set me free?"

"Not free, no. But I will give you a chance to meet an honorable death outside a cage rather than die like a coward inside of one."

There was a pause as he thought this over, "How do you know you can trust my words? Don't your people consider me a murderer?"

"I have read books on the Qunari – yours is an honorable race. I will trust in you if you give me your word"

The man was silent again for a few moment, before he nodded his head "If my keepers will let me go, I will give you my word that I will serve your cause."

Behind him she saw the tavern door swing open and out poured the larger group of soldiers lead by the angry leader from Ostagar. She heard a muffled shout as one of the men saw where they were and alerted his companions as well. The faint sound of metal being unsheathed soon reached the Grey Wardens group's ears. So much for mercy, Artalise thought. She spun around and held a hand out to Leliana "Give me your dagger!"

The sister looked wide eyed as she handed over one of her daggers. Flames suddenly started to lick the blade and Artalise pressed the dagger against the lock, the heat from the dagger easily melting through the metal of the lock.

The rapidly approaching men of Loghain looked over with alarm as the giant of a man stepped out of his cage and stretched, before he turned and faced Teyrn Loghain's soldiers with a deadly serious look on his face. However, as intimidating as the qunari was, it was unable to stop them in their tracks like what happened next.

Morrigan, apparently tired of the taste in blood in her mouth strode out to an area that was clearly visible to the men who were intent on killing them all. There, she transformed back into human shape, in all her unclothed glory. She arched her back slightly, heightening the erotic nature of her pose, as a slight breeze lazily caressed her hair. Not a man who saw her was able to take their eyes off her, until, that is, Alistair and the mabari hound crashed into their front lines and a fireball lit up the lines in the back. Artalise misjudged the distance a little bit, watching Alistair and Oak tumble back with the rest of the Teyrn's men. She mumbled an apology as she sent small tendrils of healing power to each, first Oak and then the armored templar. The pause in action had given Sten enough time to reach the battle, where he then grabbed the sword off a dazed man and with one strong swipe of his sword cleaved the man's head off, showering his allies with the pulsing red blood.

Morrigan's own eyes searched through the crowd before she saw him – the one whom they had shown mercy to and had disobeyed them. She smiled, weaving a hex over the man, unbeknownst to him, before pulling his very life force out of him, gasping in pleasure as she had it fill her instead. The leader crumpled to the ground, his eyes in shock before she could see no more as the hound fell upon him.

The battle was soon over, especially once the men saw their leader fall. But they would be shown no mercy this time. The humans, qunari, and elf were soon searching through their corpses, and were often thrilled at the amount of silver found, as well as the occasional vial of health potion.

Artalise looked over at the newest addition to the party, watching him for a moment as he swung a large sword he had found on one of the bodies, she assumed to test its weight and balance. She had seen the Templars in the Circle do that from time to time when one of them had bought a new weapon and wanted to show it off. She slowly walked over, and stopped staying well without the distance of the sword's arcs. He stopped when he saw her standing there, and he looked over at her, not saying a word. Apparently it was on her to begin the conversation.

"I…I never caught your name."

He paused as he flipped the blade is in hand, nodding appreciatively to it, "My name is unimportant, but you may call me Sten." Artalise opened her mouth to continue, when a voice calling our her name stopped her.

"Artalise!" Leliana said urgently as she came across the two of them. Artalise turned to look at the other woman with some curiosity.

"Yes?"

Leliana pointed towards the village, "Many within the village believe the story told by Teyrn Loghain- and what is more they believe in the money to be had if they kill you. What you have done to the guards will only confirm to them that you betrayed the King, and thus deserve to die even more….They will come after you. There is already too much movement in the village…they are rallying themselves. Please, let us leave now before we must kill innocents."

"You would consider townspeople who would attack us innocent? If they attack us after what occurred to these men of Loghain, they deserve to meet their end." Morrigan said as she sauntered up to the group, her hands assuring the proper fitting of her clothing.

"They are driven to do what they do by hunger. These people are deprived of so much – a few sovereigns is more than most families will see in generation." Leliana said, her hands adding emphasis to her words.

"Is it not hunger that drives most people to do the evil they do? Hunger for food, hunger for power, hunger for money…'tis all the same and all leads to the same."

Leliana just looked at the other woman, at a loss for words for someone who held such a drastically different worldview than her apparent own.

"Enough. We will leave Lothering now. Alistair has said it will take only 5 or 6 days to reach Redcliffe. We can live off what we have and find until that point." Artalise stated, not wanting her party to fall into disarray so soon after they gained much needed members.

Morrigan looked slightly disappointed, but said nothing as the group turned and left little Lothering to whatever fate the Maker willed.


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A.N. College starts for me next week...so I am debating whether or not to stockpile some chapters for release while school is going on...or I could publish them sooner rather than later. 2 are already done, and a third is nearly so...any opinions? :)

A.N. - As always, reviews and critiques are valued and *always* make my day so much better.