Chapter 21

Siofra sat under her mother's tree, deep in thought. It had been a couple of weeks since she had seen Tristan. She wondered about him every night, like she always had. Before, she thought of him as he had been when she last saw him, when she gave him up. But now she saw the man he had become. She thanked the gods for bringing him back to her. However, she wasn't sure how he would react to the truth. She wasn't sure he would care. Perhaps he would think her crazy. But she didn't mind. She needed to tell him everything. She needed to tell him about his father, and about how he came to exist in this world. If he kept his word and came back to see her, that is.

"It is not safe anymore to sit out here alone." Silas interrupted her thoughts. She sighed deeply.

"The Blight is over; there are no more darkspawn." Siofra replied.

"Yes, thanks to that Grey Warden." Silas admitted with a frown. Siofra nodded. He offered her his hand and she took it, arising from the ground. "Speaking of the man… he is here again, looking for you."

Siofra nearly stumbled. She looked at Silas. "Well, I will go see him then."

Silas did not let go of her. "I know everything," he confessed quietly.

"What?" Siofra was surprised. "What do you mean?"

"I know he is your son."

Siofra felt her stomach twist, her chest became tight and she struggled for words. "How?"

"I saw you in the forest. I saw Alras take the baby away. I know everything." Silas replied coolly. Siofra searched his face for any sign of anger or loathing. There was nothing there. He had known all along. He had known her father's shame then, yet despite it all, he had bonded with her, like he had always wanted. Siofra did not know what to say.

"Will you let me go to him?" she asked, looking directly in his eyes, pleadingly.

"I will not stop you." Silas replied. He let go of her arm. Siofra couldn't believe it. He had always hated humans, had gone on and on about his loathing for him, not unlike Ronan did these days. Silas had known about Rory, about their son. Yet he had never said anything. Perhaps time had mellowed him? Time… she would have time to talk to him later. Right now, she wanted to see her son.

"Thank you, Silas." Siofra said, turning away to go to the village. Silas did not acknowledge her gratitude.

…

Tristan sat patiently at the Keeper's fire. Loki lay stretched out by his side. He patted the hound's head as he stared down Ronan sitting across from him. The elf glared at him, making a show of sharpening his sword. The young lout made him question his decision to come back here. But he had promised the Keeper's wife, and he always kept his word.

Finally, the woman appeared at the fire, laying a gentle hand on Ronan's shoulder.

"My son, would you give us some privacy?" she asked him.

Ronan stood up from his seat. "Mother, I don't trust him. I don't care if he is the hero of Ferelden. I don't know why he is here and I don't want to leave you alone with him."

"Ronan, I asked him here. Don't worry. Just go. I will be fine." Siofra reassured him. Ronan gave one last menacing look at Tristan and then reluctantly left. Tristan straightened up and was about to stand up in greeting when Siofra motioned for him to stay seated. She took a seat across from him. "You have returned."

"I have returned." Tristan repeated. He didn't know what else to say. This woman made him nervous, not in a bad way, but in a good way, if that were possible. He supposed it was the way she looked at him, as if she had known him all his life.

"Did you find the woman you were looking for?" Siofra inquired.

"Yes." Tristan replied. He made no further comment.

"And yet you look just as troubled as before." Siofra remarked.

Tristan sighed. What did this woman want? Surely she didn't bring him here to ask about his wellbeing? "Not to be impolite, but what is it you wanted to tell me? I have obligations. I can't dally."

Instead of being offended at his words, Siofra smiled. "I am sure you have many obligations. But surely, you can indulge me for a little while?"

"Right. Do you wish a favour of me?" Tristan replied, a hint of frustration showing in his voice. He was trying very hard not to be rude. He muttered under his breath, "That is all that people ever seem to want from me."

"I wish only that you would listen to what I have to say. And that you consider carefully what I tell you before making any judgments." Siofra explained.

Tristan was terribly confused, but curious now. He removed his gauntlets and placed them on the ground beside him. Then he placed his sword and shield next to the gauntlets. "Fine. I have all day if you wish."

Siofra smiled. Where to begin? she thought. "Tell me, have you ever wondered about the tattoos on your face?"

Tristan chuckled. "Funny you should ask me that. A friend asked me about them not too long ago. I told her what I tell everyone, that they were always there. In fact, I hardly ever notice them. They are a part of me. It is only when somebody points them out that I remember them."

Siofra nodded. "They are indeed, an important part of you. But… they were not always there." Siofra gazed at her son. He watched her curiously, giving his full attention to her. He didn't know that he was gazing at the woman who had given him life. This secret had plagued her; hung over her head like a dark and ominous storm cloud, and pursued her every waking moment in a never ending hunt. Until now; there would be no more secrets. She told him everything.

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