Dragon Age Origins and II belong to Bioware and Electronic Arts.
Rhyann had difficulty pulling her weight on the way up to the surface with a broken arm. Being unable to fight was easily the most difficult part of the injury. There were a few stragglers still loitering around Kal'hirol, and when a small horde had noticed their presence, the elf proved to be more of a liability than anything. Her weapon was designed to be weld with two hands, rendering her incapable. Opposed to being engaged in combat, she hobbled around the field feebly, dodging arrows and blades the best she could. The heavy armor she wore painted a huge target on her, so there were plenty of Darkspawn on her heels. Everyone else compensated for the loss of a blade well, but it didn't help to ease the elf's strife with her inabilities.
Then, there was her forgetfulness. The broken limb was still so fresh and new that she would forget that she had sustained the injury in the first place. Rhyann would make to pick something up, using her dominant arm as she would under different circumstances. Nothing prepared her for the pain of trying to move the arm. It felt as though someone had rammed several flaming blades into her skin, which in turn tore her flesh apart from the inside-out. Never once did she cry out, not wanting to appear weak in the presence of her comrades. If she had, surely they would judge her for being unable to cope with pain.
It took several hours of wading through the taint to finally reach the surface. They were all far too tired for conversation, deciding that silence was better company than words. Strangely enough, their packs had grown heavier, not lighter. Lyna was a self-proclaimed hoarder of anything shiny or interesting. As it turned out, dwarves were very much like magpies, except with business sense. Everything in Kal'hirol was shiny and valuable-looking. Her collecting was such a problem that they were forced to discard some of her treasures to make it possible to saddle the horses.
"You know, Sigrun, you're really good at killing Darkspawn. Ever think of joining the Wardens?" Asked Lyna during sorting through her pack to get rid of some of the more useless things she had acquired. A small pile had formed at her side, consisting of rusted jewelry, broken weapons, and bits of Darkspawn armor that she thought Wade could use, permitting the taint was scrubbed off of it.
"I haven't." Admitted Sigrun, rubbing her cheek thoughtfully. "It wouldn't really be much different than being in the Legion, would it? Except the Wardens get paid for getting rid of Darkspawn. If you think I'd be a good Warden, I'll be happy to join the lot of you."
"Of course we'd be happy to have you." Lyna had since finished going through her pack. Just by looking at it, it was clear that it had gotten considerably lighter. "But, we have the situation with the horses. We didn't think that we'd meet someone in Kal'hirol, so we only brought five with us."
Oghren giggled impishly. For the whole trek to the surface, he had been eyeing Sigrun in a way that very obviously was sexual in nature. He made no effort to hide his lurid gaze either. "The lady can saddle up with me." His hand coursed down his belly in a manner that looked as though he was trying to be alluring.
Sigrun's face went pale. "Uh, I'd rather walk, thank you."
Nathaniel stepped up. No effort was made to shield them to the fact that he had been listening in to their conversation. A disgruntled look crossed his face very briefly, but he did well to shake it off prior to speaking. "Rhyann can ride with me." He said quickly. "She's the lightest, and I'm the most skilled rider, so it won't be too much of a burden for my horse."
Rhyann had all the intention of fighting this development. Being in such close proximity to Nathaniel made her uneasy; his cold nature coupled with the fact that his family had a hand in the abuses she suffered only added to her dislike of the plan. By the time she started to voice her opinion on the matter, however, the archer was already hoisting her up onto his mount. Not wanting to cause a scene, all she could do was frown and pretend that she felt no agitation on the matter. Nathaniel didn't seem very comfortable with sharing the horse either. He kept his distance the best he could, and did no engage her in idle chatter that would have made the whole trip that much more awkward. Perhaps he had noticed her discomfort and didn't want to add to it.
The trip continued along without much incident. As bitterly cold as it was, no one noticed after the heat of Kal'hirol. All they could think about was getting to the Keep in a timely manner so they could report back to Varel that they had been successful and let him know about the warring Darkspawn factions. He needed to know so that research could be done into this, as well as the Architect and Mother, whoever they were. No one wanted to talk either; they were all too busy pondering what had happened in Kal'hirol and what that meant for the Gray Wardens.
Only once was the silence broken. It was nearing dark, and the winds had died down. Vigil's Keep was growing in the distance; in about an hour longer of riding, they would be within its gates. Anders rode up to Lyna, who was almost completely hiding in her furs. The only part of her face that was visible was her purple eyes peering out from the skins like a crocodile in the swamps. His horse nickered once, alerting her of his presence.
"There's something I need to tell you, Lyna." Said the mage. Due to the silence, the mage's voice carried over the remaining five easily.
"If this is a confession of your undying love for me, Anders, I have to reiterate that I'm flattered, but a lesbian." Joked the commander. The casual smirk splayed across her face made that obvious.
"Why is it that my love must always be unrequited?" Responded Anders, feigning heartbreak. "But seriously, I had heard some things at the Fealty Ball, whispers, really. But, it didn't bode well for you." Anders scratched his chin, eyes remaining focused on the horizon. "Some of the nobles were speaking of plans to assassinate someone. I assumed they meant you because they mentioned their target being a female elf in a position of power. You seem more likely to be a target than Rhyann, no offense."
The leather of the reins cracked under the tightening of Lyna's grip. "Well, shit. Did you happen to catch any of their names?"
"No." Lamented the man. "They were being discreet. I did my best to remain hidden, but—"
"—But a giant blonde man with magic spurting out of his hands sticks out like a sore thumb."
"Yeah, that. I should have told you sooner, it just slipped my mind until now."
Lyna shrugged, the furs brushing across the top of her head. "Ser Tamera told me the same thing, Anders, so I knew. I just wanted to find out what you knew on the subject before letting on that I knew about it." Though her face was hardly visible, a smile could be felt upon it due to the way her eyes lit up. "You have some roguish tendencies, you know: sneaking around, eavesdropping on conversations…what did they teach you in the Circle?" The Dalish woman chuckled to herself, finding her implications amusing. "Maybe I should hand you a pair of daggers and see how you fare."
All fell silent again until they reached the Keep. Some soldiers were sent to go fetch Varel and tell him to prepare for a Joining Ritual. Meanwhile, the Wardens were busy with unpacking their things from the horses. Rhyann was of little use. Her left hand lacked the dexterity and skill that her right did, so she often fumbled with the buckles and could only carry a limited amount of goods. The stable boys looked on with pained expressions, probably debating if it would be seen as rude to help without being asked to. When they thought she couldn't see them, one would make a move to approach and unload some things, but she always caught their eyes before they were able to. One eventually became emboldened enough to push aside his apprehensions and started unloading the horse, instructing her to go inside and help Varel prepare for the Joining.
As Rhyann, Lyna, and Anders were leaving the stables, each to attend to their own tasks in order to prepare for the Joining, Bacon bounded up playfully. He walked in a way that exuded great excitement; his stubby nub of a tail whipped to and fro excitedly whilst his flat tongue drooped out of his mouth. When he reached the Commander, he sat obediently with a yip, his tail still wagging madly behind him.
"What is it, boy?" Asked Lyna as she extended out a hand in order to scratch him behind the ear. The mage rolled his eyes at the affection. "Did you miss me when I was gone?"
Bacon whuffed in response. He shot to his feet, ran around in a circle and pointed his nose in a direction. It was as if he was saying Look, there's something interesting this way!
Just beyond Bacon was a kitten, probably just weaned from its mother. Its orange fur practically glowed, even in the dark, making it stand out even more amongst the gray tones of Vigil's Keep. Far too thin, the thing was more than likely starved, and with the chill in the air, the kitten had to be in a miserable condition. The Mabari ran up to it and gingerly picked it up by the scruff of its neck. From the way he was acting, Bacon must have formed a great affinity for the kitten while they were away in Kal'Hirol. There was no doubt that the dog did what he could to care for the kitten, especially with how gently he carried it, but they all knew that a dog didn't understand the needs of a cat, and his care could only go so far.
Proudly, the dog displayed the kit to his mistress, begging if they could keep it with a pitiful while. To compliment it, the kitten mewed as if trained by Bacon to do so on command. It looked so pathetic and helpless hanging out of the mabari's mouth.
Lyna shook her head. "Bacon, what have I told you about finding living creatures and bringing them home to be your…your puppies?" A burdened sigh followed, her purple eyes befalling the luminescent green eyes of the kitten. "I just don't have the time to care for a kitten on top of my responsibilities as Warden Commander and Arlessa of Amaranthine."
Another, more depressing whine followed. Bacon set the shivering kitten down on the dirt, his ears going flat on the top of his head.
The kitten lacked the sense of shame that the war hound was exhibiting, however. It made straight for Anders, who scooped it up with an enthusiasm that was never seen on the man prior. His grin grew wide as the kitten nuzzled against his face and purred so loudly that both elves could even hear it.
"Staying here with the Wardens isn't safe." Said the man aloud to the kitten. "We're always away saving Thedas from Darkspawn." Anders paused long enough to scratch underneath the animal's chin. His brows furrowed in thought before turning to the commander hopefully. "Lyna, if I promise to keep it out of harm's way, can the cat stay in my chambers? It would probably be a great mouser for the Keep, and he already seems to get along with your dog."
After deeply considering the offer, Lyna shrugged. "I guess you get your way after all, Bacon. Anders, you can keep the cat. Think of it as a gift from Bacon and myself."
Happily, the Mabari jumped upon his mistress, nearly knocking her over in the process, and swiped his wet tongue upon her face in appreciation. He then circled Anders, watching as his hand drifted from the cat. He licked the knuckles of his hand gratefully and bounded inside.
The mage grimaced. He too headed inside, shaking the slobber off of his hand as he verbally contemplated an appropriate name for the cat. Rhyann and Lyna followed close behind him, eager to get the preparations for the Joining under way.
Helping Varel was of little merit as well. Not much was needed for the ritual, and all of which were things that he could retrieve on his own. And, as it turned out, he already had the Darkspawn blood, the Archdemon blood, and the chalice ready. The only preparation that had to be made was waiting for the Wardens to arrive in the reception hall so they could begin the ritual.
No time was dedicated to rest and relaxation. Once the Wardens were all together, the ritual began. The same words that were spoken during Rhyann's joining were now spoken, but this time, for Sigrun, who shuddered from what looked to be a combination of cold, excitement, and even fear. Taking her sip of the noxious blood, the dwarf's eyes circled back into her head and she collapsed. Her breathing was heavy and slow, but she lived. Some servants were then called forth to prepare a feast; after sustaining on dried meat and stale bread for several days, the Wardens wanted a hot meal inside of them. After Sigrun had awoken, they all headed towards the dining hall to wait for their meal.
Lyna took a seat next to Rhyann. Her gaze befell the arm in the sling. She analyzed the injury for a time, silently making a decision in her head about something that was lost on the other elf. Rhyann fidgeted uncomfortably under her gaze. It vexed her to not know what the woman was thinking, especially when she kept surveying the lame arm with such curiosity.
"I'm going to send you home to Denerim tomorrow." Said Lyna finally. There was no doubt in her voice, making the decision a final one.
This didn't mean Rhyann wasn't going to fight it. Being sent away was almost as bad as being declared useless outright. A hand anxiously smoothed over her head, the thoughts souring her mood. "But, Lyna!" Whined Rhyann, slamming her good fist against the table. "Why do I have to go home? Are you making me quit the Wardens because of my arm?" Maybe she was jumping to some rather harsh conclusions, but it sure seemed that she was being pushed away now that her Commander had a whole host of healthy new Wardens at her side.
"Creators, no!" Gasped Lyna. "You're no good to me broken, Lethalan. I'm sending you home to heal for a few weeks. I thought that you'd rather spend the time you're out of commission with your father and cousins—other cousins —than here doing nothing."
"Are you sure?" Rhyann pensively fidgeted with a lock of stray hair, trying to rationalize her need to the Wardens, even when injured. There was something very disappointing about losing her usefulness so soon after finding it. "Maybe I could…I could be Varel's steward until I'm better, or do research into the Darkspawn, or—"
The Dalish woman shook her head. "My mind is made up, Rhyann. Besides, both of those would be far too stressful for you right now. You'll go home, enjoy some time at home with your family, and come back to us fresh and ready for battle." Disappointedly, Lyna stared down at her empty plate, hoping that she could will food to appear on it. "Nathaniel and I will personally escort you back to Denerim. I've spoken with Varel about the assassination thing Anders brought up. He mentioned something about someone called the 'Dark Wolf' in Amaranthine who can possibly help with that situation, so we're going to look into that first."
Rhyann didn't know if she trusted someone who called themselves the 'Dark Wolf', but she didn't question Lyna's plan. Lacking appropriate life experience to judge such situations, the city elf knew that her Commander knew better than she did. And, she occupied her company with all sorts of…shady characters. Such as that elf she traveled with during the Blight. He had been friendly enough, but there was something behind those green eyes of his that made him appear untrustworthy.
After dinner and washing off the grime from their excursion into Kal'Hirol, Rhyann retired to her chambers to pack some things and get some sleep. It hadn't hit her until she was in the bath, the gentle plip plip plip of water droplets sliding off her skin and into the dingy water. There was a brief escape from the horrors that she faced daily. This knowledge was enough to ease both body and mind, lulling her into a serene sleep. Rhyann fought it, refusing to look like a sloth who dozed off in the bath. Begrudgingly, she dressed and shuffled off to her chambers. When her head finally did make contact with the pillow, sleep washed over her quickly and suddenly.
For the first time since drinking the blood and becoming a Gray Warden, she dreamed not of Darkspawn and taint.
Waking early, Rhyann double-checked her bags to make sure she had packed everything she would need. This was quick work, mainly consisting of going over the spare clothes she had chosen to take with her. There was still some time until they left, however, so the elf decided to go say her goodbyes.
Both Sophie and Neria were still away from what she remembered, leaving her to skip them all together. Anders was the next on her list. His chambers were the closest to hers, factoring out the other two women. So, she headed there first.
The halls were dimly lit in the Keep. It amazed her that the torches on the walls still burned. They didn't seem any different than the ones that she had seen the first time she arrived in Amaranthine. Rhyann wondered if it was magic that kept them aflame, or just diligent servants. Such was a question for a later time, though. Arriving at Anders' room, the elf knocked twice. For some time, it was quiet inside. Perhaps he was still sleeping. Then, the slightest sounds of shuffling and the door opened slowly.
Neria peered out, bleary-eyed as she clung bed linens to her chest desperately to conceal her nudity and stave off the cold. Her hair was a disheveled mess, lending to the assumption that her and the other mage had been up to something in there.
"Neria!" Gasped Rhyann, utterly shocked by this development. She had known that the mages had always been close, if only from being acquainted from their days in the circle. But, she would have never figured them to be lovers.
Shushing the other elf, Neria held her finger to her lips. "Do you want to wake the whole Keep?" Asked the woman, still having her wits about her, even then.
Rhyann shook her head. "No. I…I thought that you were away at the Circle." The city elf tried to look into the room beyond the other woman, but was quickly thwarted when she stepped in the way. "Also, since when are you and Anders lovers?"
Neria half-giggled. The tiredness was displayed on her face, making it all the more obvious that she was not prepared for this line of questioning, especially this early. "Since never." A trademark grin crawled across her face. "Why? Jealous?"
"Maker, no!" Barked Rhyann. "But, what were you doing in his chambers, and in such an indecent state?"
"What you're thinking happened really did happen, but it wasn't because we're lovers. He's a man and has certain urges, and I'm a woman with the same urges. It's just easier and cheaper to go to bed with him when they set in than finding a brothel and buying a whore for the night. Plus, I generally know where he's been, so I don't have to worry about bothersome diseases."
"But, doesn't it bother you?" Rhyann wasn't trying to hide the fact that she didn't understand the whole 'casual sex' thing. In her mind, sex was an act between two people who loved one another, not because someone was bored and there was nothing better to do. "Doesn't it bother you that he just uses you for pleasure?"
"I use him too, so no." Neria stepped out into the hall, careful to close the door in such a way so that the noise didn't rouse anyone. Once out, she tucked the sheet under her arm carefully in order to keep her body concealed appropriately. "Maybe it's hard for you to understand, but we're really just friends. I know where I stand in his life, and I also know that if someone better comes along—someone he actually loves—the sexual part of our friendship is over. I've known this since the first time I slept with him, and I'm okay with it because I'm the one who encouraged it."
"You did?" In her confusion, Rhyann brushed a bit of her hair from her face. It was still hard for her to wrap her mind around the idea of such an intimate friendship, and yet, it wasn't her place to judge either. If it worked for them, and they were happy, that what was all that mattered. "But, what about you? What if you find someone to love?"
Neria's eyes lulled shut. A long silence took her. She was reminiscing about something, something that was so far away by now. Rhyann recognized that look because it was the same one that her father wore when thinking about her mother. "I already love someone, but he will never return the feeling. We never stood a chance to begin with anyway."
Somberly, Rhyann hummed in understanding. While naïve, she could relate to such heartache because she had once lived it herself. She recalled the days before her wedding and how she looked for any sort of escape from it because she genuinely believed that her and Alarith could have something if only her father would reconsider. Now it all seemed so childish; Alarith had always been kind to her, but never showed even the slightest of signs that he saw her as a woman to be desired instead of a child. She realized now that her feelings, as real as they felt at the time, were nothing more than a crush that faded with every passing day. It was just as her father said, and yet at the time, she still fought him about it.
"I'm sorry." Lamented Rhyann, bowing her head in shame. "I was being rude by asking you all of these personal questions. Please forgive me."
"It's fine." The elven mage waved off the apology with a flick of her wrist. "I always knew that someone would find out sooner or later, I just always figured it would be Lyna or Leliana. They're privy to all of the gossip that happens around them." Neria rubbed her face with a yawn, still obviously tired. "And about me being here, you went to sleep really early last night. I arrived shortly after you went to bed. I'll be heading back to the Circle with Lyna tomorrow; things are pretty nasty there with the potential recruits, so we need to act quickly."
"I see." Rhyann rubbed her face as well, trying to chase away the last lingering shreds of exhaustion from the previous day. "Well, since I won't be seeing you again until my arm gets better," she rotated her shoulder for emphasis, "I'll say goodbye to you now. When he gets up, can you tell Anders that I said goodbye too?"
Neria responded with a single nod. "Safe travels, Rhyann. And, keep an ear out for gossip for me when you're back with the nobles. I love to hear about all of the naughty things that they do behind closed doors."
After a brief hug, Rhyann decided to check if the others were ready to leave.
AN: Due to my work schedule this last week, I wasn't able to finish this chapter when I wanted to, so I apologize.