Duty's Journey – Chapter 20

Indecision

Val Foret – two days later

Elinora would never have called Guerr Fort a fortress, but that was what the Orlesians said it was. Outside of the parapet wall that ran around the estate, there was nothing particularly martial about it. Burion also pointed out the open fields for maneuvers and drill. Anywhere else, there would be gardens.

Despite the casual practicalities, Elinora was shocked at the ornateness of the estate. The shrubs were manicured into prefect cubes and pyramids. Graveled paths were raked clean and even. And the manor house was ridiculously over decorated, everything carved and beveled.

Elinora missed the simplicity of Ferelden.

Her second shock came from a face she hadn't seen since the coronation ball almost two years ago. She'd grown out her hair, but her smile was still the same. Leliana ran to meet Elinora as soon as she recognized her. They dissolved into girlish squeals of delighted greeting, which confused Elinora's fellow Wardens, but she caught Rainer grinning.

"Andraste's flaming sword, what are you doing here?" Elinora demanded with a massive smile.

"Alistair has me using my old Orlesian contacts to improve relations with Ferelden. When I heard about a Darkspawn incursion and that there was this great female Warden leading an army of Grey Wardens to crush them, I simply had to come and see. I knew it was you. Anything I should write a song about?"

"Phht, hardly," Elinora said dismissively. "This lot took their time, but wasn't terribly impressive."

Leliana giggled. "You seem disappointed."

"I am a little. I needed to show these manly men how to mow down Darkspawn without running off like girls."

"Oh, was that what this was all about?" Burion rumbled behind her. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Sub-Commander Burion, met Leliana, bard and a companion of mine during the Blight."

Burion took Leliana's hand, bowed over it and delivered a courtly kiss. "A pleasure. I'm sure you have all sorts of juicy gossip about our battle maiden here?"

Elinora groaned as Leliana giggled. "You two fishwives have fun, I'm going to get a bath." Elinora turned and headed into the manor.

Leliana watched her go, noting the short cropped hair and unfeminine breastplate. "So how is she, really?"

Burion gave her a puzzled glace. "She's amazing. I've never seen such a lack of fear in battle, then good company afterwards. If she's built walls, then they are well hidden. I'd follow her anywhere. In fact I'm planning on following her to Ferelden when she leaves."

"She's going back?"

"High Commander Rainer," Burion nodded to a tall, blonde man who was directing Wardens to their barracks, "promoted her the other day. I suspect the official announcement will be tonight over dinner. Poor man, he has the worst timing."

Leliana cocked her head to one side and watched Burion's expression. "How so?"

"He finally got up the nerve to kiss her and now she's heading back to Ferelden."

Leliana concealed her shock with a simple, "Oh," and proceeded to get a few more details. There weren't many to be had, just that Rainer had carried feelings for Elinora for over a year, but chose not to act on them. There were two running theories on why: the first was an incident with a Warden named Quennel (which Leliana already knew all the details of, thanks to Zevran), and the second was Alistair.

Alistair. Her true love, Leliana knew it. But true or not, it hadn't precluded other lovers, at least not for him. Duty had bound him to seek the creation of an heir. Word from Ferelden had that issue dispensed with, between Maricen, Cailan and the child on the way. Poor Elinora. Each one, lover and child, had to hurt. It was really unsurprising that she would find another lover, but still, it wasn't what should be.

Leliana looked over at Rainer, giving him a hard evaluation. He was taller than Alistair, and not quite as handsome, but still attractive enough. Leliana couldn't help but notice he shared eye and hair color with Alistair, though the latter was long, straight and bound in a warrior's tail. A girl could defiantly swoon over such a man, especially one so cruelly pulled away from her own love. His arms could be very comforting indeed.

Leliana found Elinora soaking in a copper tub, oblivious to the world. "What is it with you and baths?"

Elinora squeaked, Leliana having successfully snuck into the room. "Don't do that!" Elinora sighed and shot a grimace at Finn, who was greeting Leliana with enthusiasm. "Ferocious war hound, indeed." Elinora shook her head and returned to Leliana's earlier question. "After weeks of being covered in gore, its good to finally get clean."

"Fair enough." Leliana sat on the edge of the bed, Finn settling in at her feet. She found the room a little plain for Orlesian tastes. "Next question then; what's between you and High Commander Rainer?"

Elinora froze mid scrub and bit her lip. "Nothing but mutual respect and camaraderie."

Leliana was not going to let her get away with that. "And long kisses by the fire."

"I'm going to feed Burion to an ogre," Elinora muttered. "Yes, he kissed me. What of it?"

"That's what I'd like to know. Burion tells me that you're returning to Ferelden now that this is all done, and you have the Command. What about Alistair?"

"What? You mean the man who claims to love me, yet slept with every noblewoman who threw herself at him? The one with the pregnant wife?"

Leliana flinched. "You heard about that, eh?"

Elinora nodded. "Its just as well, he needs spare."

She stared at her old leader a moment, then Leliana shook head. "I forget your were raised a noble sometimes."

Elinora splashed at her bathwater. "Oh yes, I know the game. I know what's expected, which is why I can't blame him as much as I'd like to."

"Still," Leliana sighed, "its not fair to you."

"No, its not. But I don't expect any of this to be fair."

"And thus the kissing." Leliana plucked at the coverlet on the bed. "Just kissing?"

Elinora groaned with frustration. "Yes, just kissing." She gave Leliana a conspiratorial glance. "He's offered more."

"Oooh." Leliana giggled as she got off the bed and strolled over to Elinora's pack. Rummaging around, she pulled out a long vest, meant to be buttoned to the chin. "What is this?" she asked judgmentally.

Elinora spared it a quick glance. "A vest. I think it has a more technical name, but I don't know it. Its normal in Anderfels."

"For men or women?"

Elinora shrugged, stood from her tub and pulled a towel around her. Leliana tsked. "You really should wear something that flatters your curves more, since you have them."

Elinora towel dried her short hair. "Sorry, I've been trying to be one of the boys. Curves are not helpful." Her mouth twitched a little as she pulled a clean tunic from her pack and a roll of bandages.

Leliana raised an eyebrow at the bandages. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I've been binding down my breasts."

"What? That's barbaric!"

Elinora shrugged again. "They don't stare as much."

"How is it that Rainer noticed that you're an attractive woman?"

Elinora secured the bandage. "Sheer luck."

Leliana passed Elinora her tunic. "So, what are you going to do about him?"

"I don't know." A bell tolled from somewhere. "That's dinner. Let's go."

Burion was right. High Commander Rainer did, indeed, proclaim Elinora Cousland Commander of the Wardens of Ferelden before the assembled Wardens at dinner. Leliana watched them closely.

Rainer's eyes never left Elinora. He touched her when he could, holding her hand a little too long when they shook, resting his hand on her shoulder as he spoke to the men. His admiration was obvious to anyone.

Elinora remained coolly aloof, neither pulling away or adding to his subtle affections. Leliana could see it, the conflict, the indecision, but only because she knew what to look for. Rainer whispered something to Elinora before she left the dining hall. The look she gave him was indecipherable.

War was easy, love was hard.