Chapter 14:
As they approached Ostagar, Sylina found her breath taken away. It was beautiful. The high white stone arches and walls were a sight to behold. She wondered what it would have looked like were it not a ruin. Duncan saw her admiration for the place. "This is a fitting place to make our stand." Sylina nodded and craned her neck to try to see the top of the tower in the distance. She was smiling stupidly again, but she didn't care. "The King's forces have met the darkspawn several times so far, but the horde is here." He turned to her and caught her arm as she was standing on her tip toes to look at the buildings. "Sylina," he said, his voice bringing her back to the present. She turned to him. His face was set with a grim expression and he wore a slight frown. "We must defeat the darkspawn here," he continued, his voice urgent. He let go of her arm and motioned to the Wilds beyond the ruins. "If the Blight is not stopped here it will spread to the north and Ferelden will fall." He looked back at her. Sylina's eyes went round.
"Is it really so dire here?" she asked in a quiet whisper, worrying that if she spoke the words louder they might be true. Duncan opened his mouth to speak when a shout was heard. Sylina and Duncan looked toward the noise.
"Ho there! Duncan you have returned." A blonde man in golden armor was approaching them. Sylina felt her mouth hang open. He had guards on either side of him and a huge blade on his back.
Duncan seemed as shocked as her when she glanced at him. "Y-Your Majesty? I did not expect..." Duncan met the man halfway and shook his hand.
The king laughed. "You were not expecting a royal welcome?" He chuckled again and smiled at Duncan. Sylina couldn't breathe. She just stared at this man who was king. KING! she thought. The king of Ferelden. Here. Standing in front of me! Maker! She was completely missing the conversation going on between the two men and the next thing she knew, the king was walking toward her. She felt her brain leave her as complete shock settled in.
"I take it this is the promising new recruit I have heard about?" the king said smiling down at her. All she could do was stare at him with her mouth hanging open. Upon realizing what she was doing, her mouth closed with an audible snap.
Duncan stepped to her side. "Allow me to introduce you, your Majesty."
The King chuckled. "There is no need to be so formal, Duncan." His eyes twinkled as he looked at her. "Might I know your name my lady?"
Sylina blushed and tried to speak but only a sputter came out. She wanted to hit herself. She took a deep breath to steady herself. "My name is Sylina, your Majesty," she said, bowing her head slightly. She didn't want to be too informal. He was the king after all.
His smile widened and she blushed deeper. She suspected that her whole face was crimson. "I am pleased to meet you. I heard that you come from the Circle of Magi. You shall have some spells to help us in the coming battle then?"
Maker, why is he still talking to me?! she thought desperately. She nodded.
"Well, good. The Wardens are always willing to accept new recruits and I am happy to help them." He turned to his guards and Sylina sent a silent prayer of thanks to the Maker. "I have to cut this short. Loghain waits by my tent eagerly waiting to bore me with his strategies. We've won three battles against these monsters so far and our next battle should be no different."
Sylina looked up and glanced at Duncan. "Things are going well then?" she said and the king turned back to her. She wished she could shove her foot in her mouth.
He smiled back at her. "I don't know if this if even a true Blight." He sighed and glanced out towards the wilds. "There are many darkspawn, but we've yet to see any sign of an archdemon."
Duncan looked at the king. "You sound disappointed your Majesty."
The king chuckled. "Well, I had hoped for a battle like in the tales. A king riding to fight the evil darkspawn with the fabled Grey Wardens!" He shook his head and turned back to his guards with a frown. "I suppose this will do. I really must go. Loghain will likely send out a search party if I am not back soon." He turned to Duncan and Sylina. "Farewell, Grey Wardens," he said. With that, he walked away with his guards.
Sylina just stared after him. Did she really just meet the king of Ferelden? She shook her head. Perhaps she was still locked in the tower dreaming? If so, she had more of an active imagination than she thought.
Duncan turned to her. "What the king said was true."
Sylina stared at him and then shook her head trying to recall the conversation. "What?" she finally asked.
Duncan's eyebrows rose slightly. "That they have won several battles against the darkspawn so far."
"Ah, yes, that." Sylina nodded. "Well perhaps he is right? Maybe this isn't a Blight after all."
Duncan stroked his beard. "Some believe it is not, but I disagree." He started walking and Sylina caught up to him. "With each passing day the darkspawn horde grows larger. Tomorrow they may outnumber us." They had walked to a stone bridge and Duncan turned to her. "I know there is an archdemon behind this. Unfortunately, I cannot ask the king to act solely on my feeling."
Sylina's brow furrowed. "Why not? The king seems to regard Grey Wardens highly." She smiled - he almost reminded her of her own enthusiasm for them.
"I wish he would wait for the Grey Warden reinforcements from Orlais, then." Duncan sighed and looked across the bridge. "He believes our presence alone will win this war. But our numbers are too few. We will do what we can and look to Teyrn Loghain to make up the difference." He nodded to her. "We will proceed with the Joining ritual without delay." Duncan pointed across the bridge. "I have business to attend to. If you need me I will be on the other side of this bridge by the Grey Warden tents. You should rest, when you are ready find Alistair. He is another Grey Warden."
Sylina suddenly felt nervous. "Wait…I am just to wander around camp?"
Duncan had already started walking. He turned. "Just do not leave the camp for the time being. Until then, the time is yours." He then continued walking. Sylina watched him and bit her lip.
What in the Maker's name was she supposed to do now? She looked down at her tattered robes. Ugh, well I suppose my first order of business is cleaning myself up. Sylina headed across the bridge.
Upon reaching the other side of the stone bridge, first admiring the fantastic view for several minutes, Sylina recognized a voice. For a second she froze and then a large smile broke across her face. She hurried quickly in the direction of the voice and when she rounded a corner she saw Senior Enchanter Wynne standing by a brightly colored tent.
"Wynne!" Sylina shouted as she walked up to the older mage.
Wynne turned to her and her eyes went wide in shock. "Sylina?" She shook her head, "What are you doing here, dear?" Then she paused. "Oh, the new Grey Warden recruit. That must be you then?" Wynne smiled at her. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Sylina was beaming up at her old teacher.
"And congratulations are also in order for passing your Harrowing."
"Yes, it wasn't so bad," Sylina said, smiling shyly.
Wynne chuckled. "I see, so you know all there is to know now, do you?" She grinned at her old student. "Irving always said you were confident." Sylina chuckled, remembering Cullen saying something similar. "Becoming a Grey Warden then? Fighting alongside the King? Not too bad for a mage fresh out of apprenticeship."
Sylina nodded. "I only hope that I can prove worthy of Duncan's faith in me," she said quietly so only Wynne could hear her.
Wynne reached out and put her hand on Sylina's shoulder. "Child," she said. Sylina looked up at the older mage. "You have been taught well. I would know." A twinkle entered her eye. "Trust yourself and your skill and you will go far. Mages are always needed when fighting darkspawn. Perhaps you will even help stem this tide." She squeezed the younger woman's shoulder and a slight frown crossed her face. "Now, you are going to clean yourself up, yes? You look as if Duncan dragged you through the mud."
Sylina laughed. "I feel like he did. Do you know where I can wash up?"
Wynne nodded, "Of course. I have washing supplies in my tent. If you get water you can wash in there." A slight grin appeared. "Away from prying eyes, perhaps?" She chuckled and showed Sylina to her tent.
After washing up and putting on a new set of robes, Sylina felt much better. She had scrubbed every last piece of dirt off her. Wynne had said that she could repair the tears in her old robe so Sylina had left it with her. She smiled and started to explore the camp. There was a mother reciting the chant of light, a man selling wares to soldiers. She saw Duncan talking to some men by what she assumed was the Grey Warden tents.
As she was walking around, she heard soldiers talking about the upcoming battle. Some were saying that the next battle was supposed to drive the darkspawn back underground. Some were complaining about the dogs being muzzled, saying that it made them less effective during battle. Others were talking about how the Wilds gave them the creeps. Sylina made her way around. She listened to the people and enjoyed being out in the fresh air. She wondered if she would ever get used to being out of the tower, with the freedom to walk where she wanted.
Finally, she decided it might be time to find the man Duncan had told her to look for. Alistair, he had said. She looked around. Duncan hadn't exactly given her a description of the man. He could be anyone for all she knew. She sighed. Perhaps if she asked someone she would have a better idea of where to look.
She saw a guard outside a tent and approached him. "Um, hello," she said, smiling at him. "I was wondering if you could help me?"
The guard looked at her with disgust. "This is the tent of Teyrn Loghain. State your business."
Sylina was taken aback by his tone - he clearly didn't think highly of her. She frowned and set her jaw, determined not to back down. She definitely wasn't going to take that sort of attitude sitting down. "I merely wish for your help in locating someone. A Grey Warden by the name of Alistair. Have you seen him?"
"I am the guard to Teyrn Loghain. If you are not here for business, leave now."
Sylina ground her teeth. "I am not here to see Teyrn Loghain." She said his name louder than she expected. "I only wish..."
"Is someone looking for me?" A man walked out of the tent and Sylina felt her stomach drop.
Dear Maker, why does this keep happening to me? she thought and tried desperately to think of a way to disappear. He was a tall man with black hair and steel grey eyes that fixed her with a gaze that froze her insides. First the king and now the Hero of River Dane. She knew all about Loghain, having read all about him in a book. The way he had stopped the Chevaliers and earned his title, how he had been the last king's friend and was now Councilor to the current king. The man was a living legend. And he was standing a few feet away from her.
She tried to breathe, but felt like she might fall over at any minute from lack of air. Finally, she managed a small barely whispered. "I was looking for someone. A Grey Warden."
Loghain stared at her, his expression utterly unreadable.
Sylina couldn't tear her eyes from his cold ones. "I am looking for the Grey Warden Alistair." This time it came out coherent. She set her jaw. No, she told herself. No. You will not fall down in front of this man. You will get a grip and find that Maker be damned Warden.
Loghain stayed silent, observing her, and Sylina wondered if she shouldn't just turn and walk away – well, run away, more like. Finally he said, "You are the new Grey Warden recruit?"
Sylina blinked. It wasn't what she was expecting, but it was better than him ordering his guard to carry her off and slay her. "I am," she said simply. She did not smile at him. She kept her jaw firm and met his gaze with her own. She would not back down. Not to this man. There was something about him that told her that if she backed down he would never respect her. He reminded her of the templars back in the tower. Sometimes it was better to ignore them, and sometimes it was better to fix them with the same gaze they gave you.
"Cailan is far too fascinated with the Grey Wardens. His father brought the order here. Did you know that?"
"I did," Sylina said. She didn't move, not even to fidget. She simply watched him.
Loghain nodded. "Maric respected Grey Wardens. He said they have an honored place in the hearts of our people. But he would have understood that legends do not win battles." He paused and he folded his arms. "You are from the Circle of Magi. I heard the First Enchanter recommended you himself. A great achievement for one so young." His eyes ghosted down her and she suppressed a shiver. Now she really did want to run away.
Setting her jaw once more and realizing that she was really growing to dislike this living legend, she said: "Yes. Now I must search for a Grey Warden..."
"Yes, Alistair." He held her gaze. "Last report said he was by the ruined chapel on the other side of here." He pointed.
She turned as if to go and stopped, turning back to him she asked: "Do you keep tabs on all the Grey Wardens, Ser?"
Loghain had not moved, nor had his eyes left her. He regarded her in silence and then turned and went back into his tent.