Chapter 14
It took the group four days to make it to the site of the first attack. It was a small farm just outside the Wilds. The family was no longer living there so they could explore the grounds without being disturbed. They walked around the outside of the house trying to get a sense of the place when the screech of a hawk broke the tension in the group.
"Kya, can you sense if there was any magic used?"
"It's very faint out here so maybe the spells were casted from the inside the house."
They cautiously entered the house and spread out to investigate. The house was in tatters from what looked like a speedy departure. They moved from room to room, but didn't find any evidence of darkspawn or magic. They headed back out to the yard. The hawk was still flying around as they made their way to the barn. As they got closer Kya said, "The residue of magic is getting stronger the closer that we get to the barn."
They all drew their weapons as entered the barn warily. There was blood splattered on the walls and floors. Bella bent down and examined the dried blood. "It's darkspawn blood."
"There is magic residue in here, but there is something else here that I have never felt before."
"What are you sensing?" Bella asked
"Between all the magic and darkspawn taint there is this underlying sense of something ancient, but pure and good. Like I said, it's unlike anything I have ever felt."
"Where are the bodies?" Cullen asked.
"That is a very good question. All this blood there should be some dead bodies lying around." Nate replied.
They walked through the barn to the field on the other side. There in the middle of pasture was patch of ground that was scorched. They walked to the burnt area and it was easy to see the remains of bones in the pile rubble. Nate bent down and touched the one of the bones. "Darkspawn," he said.
"There is no way that the family would have burned the corpses. They were in too big of a hurry to get out of here," Kya said.
"Well, those bodies didn't sodding burn themselves. So who disposed of them?" Oghren retorted. The hawk screeched again in the sky and an uneasy feeling fell over the group.
"Look, it's only a few hours before it gets dark and I really don't want to make camp anywhere near here. Let's walk in the direction of the next attack site and then camp for the night," Bella said.
They all agreed and they headed north for about an hour. They found a nice clearing with a small pond nearby so that they could get water and bath. Oghren, Nate and Cullen set up the tents while Kya and Bella gathered wood for the fire.
"So Kya, I find it ironic and poetic that a templar and a mage would fall in love with each other. If you don't mind me asking how did that happen?"
"Well, I've know Cullen most of my life. I was taken to the tower when I was seven. At that time, Cullen was ten and templar in training. I had always tried to be friendly to all the templars by saying hello or wishing them a good day. Most of them just ignored me when I would say hello, but a few would respond back. Cullen, however, went beyond the normal friendly gestures. He would inquire about my day or ask how my studies were going and before we even realized it we were good friends. Our love for each other grew out of our friendship."
"I think the best relationships start that way," Bella said.
"Is that how you and Nathaniel started out too?" Kya asked.
"Oh, Nate and I aren't…I mean well, I've know Nate my whole life. Our families were close when we were growing up, and there was a time that we were romantically involved, but that was a long time ago." Bella replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought the two of you were together now. I see the way he looks at you and the two of you are so comfortable with each other. I just assumed. I'm sorry."
"No, need to be sorry. Nate would like to resume our previous relationship. I love Nate, but not the way he would like and the last thing I want to do is hurt him."
"I completely understand."
"Please continue your story," Bella prodded.
"Well there isn't much left to tell. We lived in constant fear that if Knight-Commander Greagoir found out about our relationship that he would have Cullen sent to away."
"Yes, I remember the Knight-Commander. He was a bit of a tight arse and a little over zealous for my tastes."
Kya chuckled, "Yes, I think that just about sums up Greagoir. About a month before the Celebration Tournament I had my Harrowing. Do you know that is?"
"Isn't that the test that every mage must go through to become a full Circle mage?" Bella asked.
"Yes, the apprentice enters the Fade and needs to face a demon that wishes to posses the mage's body. If the mage resists the demon then they are a full member of the Circle of Magi, but if the mage is overwhelmed by the demon then they are killed by the Templars that are standing over the mage while the Harrowing is taking place. A templar in training becomes a full templar after they successfully see an apprentice through their Harrowing. Cullen was selected by Greagoir to be the templar in training during my Harrowing. Which meant Cullen would have to deliver the killing blow if I came back possessed. We knew then that Greagoir suspected something."
Bella stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Kya, "That's horrible. How terrible for Cullen and for you! Well, know I completely understand why the two of you were so eager to join the Wardens when I approached you."
"You were the answer to my prayers," Kya said. "Would you really have invoked the right of conscription on Cullen if Greagoir hadn't released him?"
"Hell yeah, just to piss him off. I really don't like that man," Bella retorted.
Once Kya and Bella made their way back to camp they built a fire and prepared dinner. While everyone was busy eating Bella grabbed a towel, soap and some clean clothes and headed down to the lake to clean the filth of her.
"Where is the Commander going?" Cullen asked.
Nate and Oghren looked up as they watched Bella slip into the woods. "Oh, you know how those damn nobles are, they can't have a stinky crotch," Oghren bellowed.
"I don't think that's just nobles; most humans don't like to smell like a slime-filled cesspool," Nate chortled.
"Is it safe for her to go down there by herself?" Cullen asked.
"The lake isn't far. We would hear her if she called for us and we would feel it if something approached the area. Besides the Commander can take care of herself and she likes her privacy so just let her be," Nate replied.
Nate looked up as Bella entered camp a little while later. She came back dressed in tight fitting trousers that accented her behind very nicely Nate thought and a loose fitting blouse. Her hair was hanging lose around her face. She hadn't worn it down in a long time and Nate was surprise to see how long it was. Bella made her way around the fire, scooped out a bowl of the stew and sat down between Nate and Kya. She smelled like the jasmine from Highever. She smelled delicious and Nate had to use every ounce of self control to keep from burying his head in her neck and kissing his way down to her chest.
"How was the water? I was thinking about heading down to freshen up before bed." Kya asked.
"It was very pleasant and refreshing. No need for an aqua-warming spell."
"An aqua-warming spell?" Nate asked.
"It's a spell that will warm a small body of water for a period," Kya replied.
"Commander, do you remember how angry the Bastard King got when he found out that was how you girls weren't freezing your arses off on that trip back from the Frostback Mountains. He was spitting coals he was so mad," Oghren chuckled.
Bella smiled, "Yeah, I think his pride was hurt more than anything."
"So what's the story behind that?" Kya asked.
"Well after our trip to Orzammar we were traveling back through the Frostback Mountains in the dead of winter. At night if we made camp near a lake or pond Leliana, Morrigan, one of the mages that we were traveling with, and I would take these long baths. Morrigan would cast an aqua-warming spell on the water. It was wonderful. After walking all day in the cold it was like slipping into an oversized hot tub and there were times when Morrigan would create jets with the water that were so relaxing. Now, to say that Morrigan and Alistair were on less then friendly terms would be putting it nicely."
"They loathed each other. She was a feisty little apostate and she had it out for Alistair. She would have turned him into a frog on numerous occasions if you hadn't stopped her," Oghren piped in.
"Yes, well, that is true. Anyways, Alistair couldn't understand how we could even get in the water let alone stay in there for hours which sometimes we did. Morrigan just taunted him and told him that he wasn't man enough to take the cold water," Bella said with a grin as she reflected on the memory.
"Then this one day just before we made camp we were attacked by this small group of darkspawn who just happened to have an ogre with them. It was a messy battle and all of us were covered in blood when it was over. So after camp was set up Leliana, Morrigan and I headed down to the small pond for a bath. Zevran followed us in stealth mode. He saw Morrigan cast the warming spell so he decided to have a little fun. He stripped down to his small clothes, slipped into the water and proceeded to play tricks on us until we figured out it was him. Alistair heard the screaming and came charging through the woods sword drawn. When he saw Zev in the water with us Alistair came charging into the pond in full armor after him. He was half way to Zev before he realized how warm the water was," Bella laughed so hard she had to pause to catch her breath.
Nate couldn't remember the last time he had seen her laugh like this. It had to have been back in Highever before he had left for the Free Marches. Damn his father for sending him away. Nate lost everything due to that. Most importantly he lost the woman he loved. Now she was in love with another man whose child she had given birth too and he feared he would never win her back. What if he had refused to go when his father ordered him to the Free Marches and had married Brie instead. Would he have been able to stop his father and try to talk some sense into him or would his father have killed him along with the rest Couslands? Nate thought he would have killed him because Rendon Howe would have viewed his son as a traitor. Bella's voice and laughter as she continued her tale pulled him away from his dark thoughts.
"Once he realized the warmth of the water you could literally see all the dots being connected. He ranted half the night about how he froze his arse off and risked catching pneumonia every time he took a bath and we were living in lapse of luxury." Bella wiped the tears from her eyes as she continued to laugh. "Oh Maker, he still brings that up from time to time."
"That was motley crew you assembled on that quest, Commander, but somehow you made it work," Oghren said laughing along with Bella.
"Yes it was. That is why I am much more selective about who I recruit now," Bella said as winked at Kya.
"Hey, hold on to your ancestor's ass, I am hurt….wait a minute you did select me," Oghren said with a snort.
"Yes, I did, but it wasn't for your craftiness," she chuckled.
"Thanks for the good story, Commander. If you don't mind, I am going to head down to the lake to clean up before bed," Kya said.
Bella stood up too, "You might want to take Cullen down there with you. I thought I saw a couple of wolves when I was heading back," Bella winked at Kya and she mouthed "Thank you." Bella gave a slight nod. She remembered what it was like to try and find time alone with Alistair when you were surrounded by a camp full of people with over developed ears. If she could help Kya and Cullen carve out a few minutes to themselves she would.
"Good night, everyone," Bella said.
"Good night, Commander," Kya and Cullen said as they headed towards the lake.
She looked across the fire. Saw Oghren passed out on his bedroll and smiled. Once again, she managed to put together another motley crew. A drunk warrior, a mage and a templar in love with each other and man from her complicated past.
She felt his hands on her waist and his breath on her neck, "What are smiling about?"
"My current traveling companions they are just as motley as ever."
"Who are you calling motley?" Nate said as he started to tickle her sides. She squealed and tried to spin away from him, but he was too quick and his hands were on her waist as he pulled her to him. "That was very nice of you to send Cullen down with Kya 'for her protection'."
"Yes, well I am a romantic at heart."
"Yes, I know," he whispered as his hands came up to cup her face and he drew her in to gently kiss her lips. She responded as she pressed against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Nate can smell the jasmine on her skin, in her hair and it reminded him of the times they were together in the fields in Highever when she was his. All those times that she had laid beside him in those fields half naked as the two of them discovered each other's bodies. They didn't have sex until her eighteenth birthday, but they discovered that there were a lot of other ways to give pleasure without having intercourse and as those memories drifted across his mind, his desire and need for her surfaced too. Nate deepened the kiss and parted her lips with his tongue as he sought out hers. She tasted so good, like honey and berries. 'Oh Brie, I need you so badly,' he thought but didn't say. His hands slid through her hair as he pulled her even closer to him.
The feel of him pressed against her was so alluring and a part of her wanted to be with him desperately, but the rational part of her didn't want to hurt him so she pulled away, smiled up at him and said, "Good-night, Nate."
He refused to release her and with his hands still tangled in her hair he looked into her eyes and whispered, "You want me, Brie. I can feel you do by the way your body responds when I kiss you."
She sighed and said, "Your right, I do want you Nate, but," and before she could finish his lips crushed down onto hers with such an urgency that it took her breath away and for a moment she was lost in the sensation of his soft tongue as it glided over hers and the sweet taste of him, but she managed to pull away from him again and said, "Nate, please give me some more time."
He resigned himself to her decision, kissed her forehead and said, "I said I could wait and even if it kills me, which I think it will, I will wait, but Bella I'm not asking you to love…not yet at least. I just want you to want me as much as I want you and I know you do. When you're ready I can help you forget about King Whats-his-Name."
She laughed, "Well, if there doesn't have to be any great declarations of love then give me a little bit of time and I will let you try to erase my memory of King Whats-his-Name." She leaned up and lightly kissed him on the lips and headed to her tent.
They spent the next four months traveling to the different attack sites to investigate the damage. As with the first site, at all the other locations they found burnt darkspawn and a residue of magic that had that ancient and pure essence mixed in with it. Twice they stopped in Lothering to buy supplies and so that Bella could to send letters off too Fergus, Varel, and Sigrun. On their second trip to the village there were letters there waiting for her from Fergus and Sigrun.
That night at camp Bella had pulled out her bedroll so that she could sleep by the fire. It was a beautiful, warm, fall night and it wouldn't be long before the nights turned cold so she wanted to take advantage of it. She pulled out Fergus' letter to read it again.
My Dear Little Sister,
It was a great relief to receive your letter and to hear that you are safe. I am sorry to hear that you are frustrated with your mission and that it is leaving you with more questions than answers, but if anyone can get to the bottom of these strange attacks it will be you.
Ella is doing great. She is growing leaps and bounds. Thank the Maker she was born small otherwise no would believe that she was only six months old. Her strawberry blond hair has grown into tiny golden ringlets and her eyes are turning a deep green. I have to tell you, Pup, she is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen, and that is saying something because you were a gorgeous baby too. Leliana said that you would want to know that she is sitting up on her own and has started to scoot herself on her belly across the floor. She is waving bye-bye and loves to play peek-a-boo. I hope that you make it home in time to see her first steps.
I'm sure that you have lost track of time while on your mission, but the Landsmeet was held earlier this month. Varel did an excellent job of representing the Arling in your absence. It was announced at the Landsmeet that Queen Anna is expecting the royal couple's first child sometime in early spring. I know that this information is a bag of mixed blessings for you, but I pray that it also brings you some relief and some peace of mind.
Please come home soon. We all love and miss you.
Your Brother,
Fergus
"Are you trying to commit that entire letter to memory?" Nate asked as he sat down beside her.
"Huh," Bella looked over at him, "Oh, no, not really. I don't know why I keep reading it over and over again."
"I hope that it isn't bad news," he asked.
"No it's not. Would you like to read it?"
"I don't want to intrude on your privacy. I just wanted to make sure you were alright," Nate said as he tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
"I'm fine. You can read it. There is some interesting news in there," she said as she handed him the letter.
Nate quickly read the letter. Now he understood her mixed mood. The royal couple having a child freed Brie from having to tell Alistair about Ella, but it also now force her to truly let go of any hope she ever had of getting back together with Alistair.
"Well, frankly, I find it difficult to believe that there is a baby prettier then you were."
Bella smiled, "Ella is. Fergus is right she is beautiful. You haven't seen her yet, but when you do you will see I am right. You know we should be arriving home around the beginning of Twelfth Night. You should come to Highever and celebrate it with us."
"Really? You want me to celebrate Twelfth Night with you and your family?"
"Nate, don't you know by now that you are a part of my family?"
"I do now." Nate smiled down at her then he shook the letter he was still holding, "This is good news, right? It's what you wanted?" Nate asked.
"Yes, it is."
"But…"
"But nothing. This is good news."
"You can't lie to me Brie. I know this has to hurt and I'm sorry. I hate to see you in pain." He put his arm around her and pulled her to him. She rested her head against his chest.
"Thanks, Nate." They sat there in silence for a long time just staring at the fire. When she finally spoke she said, "I didn't realize that it was already September. We are three days away from the next attack site. After we visit that site how would you feel about us heading back home before the weather becomes bad?"
"I think that is an excellent idea. We aren't really getting any new information out of these site visits. Maybe Kya can do some research on this ancient, but pure essence she is feeling. Now, if you are going to make us march like darkspawn exiting the deep roads tomorrow you really should get some sleep."
Bella laid down on her side, "Good night Nate. Thanks for listening."
He leaned over and kissed her cheek, "Anytime, my dear." Nate stayed with her until she fell into a deep sleep then he took over for Cullen who was on watch duty.