The next morning Belyssa was very busy. She told her soldiers of Howe's treachery and what befall all those left in the castle. She placed the same Captain that was in charge of her safety in Orlais in charge of the army after explaining she would be joining the Grey Wardens. Like she predicted Malcolm returned to Ostagar; she wrote a letter to her brother telling him to get out of the Wilds and head straight to Lothering and seek sanctuary in the Chantry until she could join him there. She also sent out a small unit of men in the Wilds along the same path Fergus was instructed to take in the hopes of finding some sign of him. Once she was content in having done the best for her soldiers did she then head over to Duncan, on the way there she Gelric stopped her.
"Finally getting your wish, little girl."
"I wouldn't call it my wish."
"Really, I thought you wanted to be a Grey Warden."
"From the day I ran into Duncan and that Genlock, I had a feeling that I would be fighting the darkspawn when I was older and before you ask why I knew that I can't tell you." Gelric gave her look of disbelief. "I really have no idea why, I just did."
"Your sweetheart is pretty angry at Duncan, for recruiting you."
"My Sweetheart?" Gelric gave her another look and rolled his eyes.
"Alistair. He was arguing with him this morning, King Cailan had to intervene." Belyssa shook her head at the news. Why is he acting like that, I thought he would be happy we could still see each other, now.
"I don't get it. He mentioned something about me finding love and getting married, instead of joining the Grey Wardens. I told him a few months ago that I knew I would be fighting the darkspawn. I just wish I didn't have to lose my family in order to do that." Gelric gave a her hug.
"I am sorry about what happened to your family. Like them I think Alistair doesn't want to see you endanger and becoming a Grey Warden is not an easy life by any means."
"Alistair mentioned something that being a Warden was a cursed life. What is that supposed to mean?"
"Sometimes you have to take a bite, before you know how bad the food really tastes."
"What?"
"You will learn." Belyssa just shook her head at him.
"I have to find Duncan."
"He is probably at the Recruit Encampment. See you later." Belyssa left Gelric and sought out Duncan, she found him standing by a large bonfire, not far from the Kings Encampment. He seemed to be lost in thought, by his feet was Trouble nodding slightly.
"Greeting Duncan."
"Greetings Your Grace."
"Really, you are going to call me by my title?" Belyssa had raised an eyebrow at him.
Duncan chuckled at little at her comment. "No I suppose not, though I have never had a recruit that was also a Teyrna before."
"About that, it occurred to me this morning that when someone joins the Grey Wardens they give up the life they led."
"It has been the case;however, we never had someone join under these circumstances. King Cailan seems to agree that is a special case. He also said he is King here and he will be obeyed."
"I am guessing someone objected to me being made Teyrna."
"Loghain did. He and the King got into an argument about it. Cailan explained that it is temporary until we find Fergus and when Loghain asked if Fergus can't be found. Cailan told Loghain there was no way he was going to allow a traitor like Howe to prosper from his treachery." Belyssa had a bad feeling about Loghain's reaction to the news.
"So do you know who advised Cailan to send Fergus in the Wilds?" Duncan looked at her for long moment before answering her.
"Loghain, Bann Loren and Bann Cedric."
"Let me guess, Bann Loren and Bann Cedric are no longer here?" Duncan nodded.
"You and the other recruits must get ready for the Joining."
"The Joining?"
"Every recruit must go through a secret ritual we call the Joining in order to become a Grey Warden. The ritual is brief, but some preparation is required. We must begin soon."
"What do you need me to do? Where are the other recruits?"
"The other two recruits are some where here in the camp. Go find Alistair, he will know where they are." Belyssa left Duncan, as she passed Cailan's tent she stopped by to see if he was there after talking with the guard she continued her search for Alistair. Like this going to be easy, like finding a needle in a hay stack. She crossed the long bridge and searched for him in that area remembering how he like to look a landscapes from high places, no luck. She did find some other items and a beef bone for Trouble. She spoke to another guard, he was blocking entrance into the Tower of Ishal, on her way back she was stopped by another guard after talking with him a for a little while she was able to learn that Alistair was headed west. She took off at a jog hoping to catch up with him before she lost track of him again. She found him having an argument with a grumpy mage.
"What is now? Haven't Grey Wardens asked more than enough of the Circle?" said the grumpy mage
"I simply came to deliver a message from the revered mother, ser mage. She desires your presence." said Alistair very politely.
"What her Reverence "desires" is of no concern to me! I am busy helping the Grey Wardens—by the king's orders, I might add!"
"Should I have asked her to write a note?"
"Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner!"
"Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message."
"Your glibness does you no credit."
"Here I thought we were getting along so well. I was even going to name one of my children after you...the grumpy one."
"Enough! I will speak to the woman if I must! Get out of my way, fool!" The mage walked in to Belyssa as he exited the area.
"That is Teyrna to you ser mage." as she got in response was a harrumph. Alistair walked over to her smirking. Alistair noticed Belyssa approaching from the corner of his eye, he wondered if she was still angry at him. He knew she could hold a grudge for a long time if she wanted, it was one of few things about her personality Fergus warned him about when they were younger. He decided he would try to make her smile.
"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together."
Belyssa chuckled at him. "I know exactly what you mean."
"It's like a party we could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about."
"You are so strange."
"You know, you are not the first person to tell me that." They both laughed a little briefly, feeling a little awkward Belyssa decided to get to the point.
"Duncan sent me to find you. So we can get ready for the Joining." Alistair closed his eyes briefly, he really he didn't want to have do what Duncan told him he must as the Junior Grey Warden.
"Can you really trust someone else to make sure she comes back in one piece?" Alistair opened his eyes and look around him for a moment. He just heard a voice but he only saw Bel standing there with him, she was eying him curiously at the moment. He decided to change the subject. "Were Ser Jory and Daveth at the camp?"
"Only Duncan was there when I left."
"Lets take a look around camp and see if we can find them."
"Alright. I need to find the Quartermaster as well. I have a lot of items I need to sell. They are back with the bedrolls."
"You passed him when you came up here looking for me. Lets get the items you need to sell, first." As they were walking to back to get the items Belyssa wished to sell she noticed a man talking to woman.
"Any last minute wishes I could fulfill. Life is fleeting you know and that pretty head of yours could be decorating a darkspawn pike in the morning." Belyssa couldn't believe her hears that had to be the singular worst line used on a woman she ever heard, trying to stifle some giggles she looked at Alistair. His expression was the opposite of amused, as they approached.
"I guess that by that glare your answer is no. Oh well." The soldier had begun to walk away as they neared.
"This is not what I call staying out of trouble. You should get back to Duncan." said Alistair to the young man.
"The third recruit arrived? Is he stuffy like you?"
"Alistair do you think I am stuffy?" asked Belyssa
"Well you are not what I expected." said the young man.
"What did you expect?"
"Not a woman, yet here you are."
"This is the Teyrna of Highever and she will be joining the Wardens. This scoundrel is Daveth." said Alistair has he introduced the young man before her.
"Alistair you really need to stop that. You can call me Belyssa and what is wrong with my being a woman, Daveth?"
"Nothing really I just didn't expect Duncan's recruit to be a woman." His grin got wider, "Not that I object in any way, you understand."
"I noticed." said Belyssa dryly. Daveth just winked and smiled at her.
"Did you happen to see Ser Jory, Daveth?"
"He is up there somewhere I think he wanted to get the Maker's blessing from a Chantry Sister." Daveth pointed to the area Belyssa walked through earlier. Alistair went to go get Ser Jory and had Daveth walk with her to get the items she wanted to sell to the Quartermaster.
"It's about bloody time you came along. I was beginning to think they cooked this ritual up for our benefit."
"I see, what do you know about this ritual?"
Daveth's smile turned sheepish, "I happened to be sneaking around camp last night, see..." Belyssa chuckled. "And I heard a couple of Grey Wardens talking. So I listened in for a bit." Belyssa raised her eyebrows at him and watched a delightful blush creep up his neck, "I'm thinking they mean to send us into the Wilds." Before she could ask Daveth another question she noticed a man standing at the kennels.
"Luc Tar what are you doing here?"
"Do I know you?"
"I see you have forgotten me; yet, I think you will recognize my hound." Belyssa called Trouble over he came barking excitedly to her side. Once he was in view did Luc Tar realize who was standing before him.
"I see you both have grown much in these past years."
"It is good to see you too."
"Are you a recruit for the Wardens?" Belyssa nodded at his words. "I could use a Warden's help, I have a hound that was badly injured in the last battle."
"What do you need?"
"I need someone to into the pen and muzzle him. Though I do not think he will take to you since you smell of Trouble maybe one of the others that are with you." Belyssa turned to Daveth, he shook his head in the negative.
"I can check with the other Wardens if you like?"
"Please, I would hate to lose a hound." Belyssa had reached Duncan at the same time Alistair and Ser Jory did. Before she could talk to Alistair about Luc Tar, Duncan began giving them instructions that they would be going into the Wilds to get Darkspawn Blood as well as some old treaties. She found this strange but really didn't care since it would give her a chance to search for her brother. While Daveth and Ser Jory were gathering their gear did she then pull Alistair aside and asked if he would be willing to assist Luc Tar. She left him with Luc Tar as she went to sell her items with the Quartermaster, on her way back to Duncan, Luc Tar asked if she could gather a particular flower. It was component for a potion to help mabari that became infected with darkspawn blood. I wonder what would happened to a human if they became infected.
When Belyssa got back to the were the rest of the recruits were, she stopped them before heading out. As she was watching them gear up she noticed that Alistair was picking up a wooden templar shield and while she was still not happy with him she decided to give him something. "Alistair, Here I think you should use this shield instead of the one you currently have. Alistair looked at the Cousland shield she was handing him and was surprised by her gesture.
"Thank you, Bel; but I can't accept that. This your family shield."
"This shield is a much better than that one. We both know it, and since we are going to be fighting for our lives I would rather you be better equipped. Carrying back your dead body will be to heavy for me to manage. I can also lend you the family sword for the time being as well."
"Well, now that you have properly equipped me, I don't have to worry about running and hiding under a rock from any darkspawn we encounter." Belyssa just gave him a dirty look as she walked away from him. Trouble let out a low whine from behind him.
"She is hurting and very angry she couldn't save her family. It is easier to take her grief out with anger at you than curl into a ball and cry." said Trouble to him.
"I get she is hurt and so am I. I loved her family too. I just wish she would understand I did what I did at the request of Bryce."
"Give her time. You know how stubborn she can be."
"Sadly right now that is the one thing she can't have."
"You seem to know this area of Ferelden pretty well. Have you been here before?" Belyssa was talking to Daveth as they headed to the gate that led into the Wilds.
"I was born in a village not far from here. I ran away from me da, who had a heavy hand and a short temper, as soon as I was able to outrun him I took off. I lived in Denerim, a pickpocket. I snatched Duncan's money pouch. He caught me. He is quick for an old bugger. Faster than he looks. Chased me he did, would have caught me too, but the Denerim guards caught me first. They meant to stretch my neck but good, if not for that cheeky old bastard. He conscripted me right out from under them. I gave the guards the two fingered salute as we walked away."
"I'll watch your back if you watch mine." Belyssa winked.
Daveth gave her a leering grin, "Oh, I'll watch your back." He chuckled low.
Belyssa laughed and waved a hand dismissively, "Just don't get too distracted back there."
Daveth chortled, "I'll try to keep my wits about me." Belyssa heard a sound to her right when she looked in that direction she noticed Alistair glaring at Daveth. She just shrugged and went to speak with the guard at the gate.
"I know you have business in the Wilds just be careful." said the guard.
"I wanted to know if there had been any news on the soldiers that entered the Wilds?" asked Belyssa
"There is a group that is three days overdue. We are taking bets on how many will make it out alive." Alistair didn't bother to stop her from punching the guard in the nose, he did stop her from kicking him in the balls. When she glared at him, he reminded her of the "Sacred Sympathy".
"My brother is one of those soldiers out there. Next time you speak so callously I suggest you keep that in mind." was all she said as she stalked away from him.
"I think we need to be more wary of her than we do the darkspawn, Ser Knight." said Daveth as he spoke to Ser Jory.
"Shut it, Daveth." grumbled Alistair. With that all four of them entered the Wilds.
Upon entering the Wilds Belyssa felt a chill run through her, she glanced at Alistair briefly and noticed he seemed lost in thought. Alistair was trying to concentrate on how many darkspawn were in the area but he was getting mixed signals which let him know they could be just about anywhere in the Wilds. So he decided to try to narrow his focus to about a 100 feet on all sides. As he coming down the hill from the gate he heard.
"Be careful there is an angry family of wolves ready to ambush you." Alistair's snapped up to look at the person closest to him which happened to be Ser Jory.
"Ser Jory did you say something?" Ser Jory gave him a blank look while Alistair thought Ser Jory eyes were about to pop out of his head. "I will take that as a no, then."
"You better warn them or this could go very wrong." Alistair shook his head at the voice, he also noticed that no one spoke to him. I must be going mad. "Everyone ready yourselves there are some hungry wolves ahead." Belyssa as about to question him, as she armed herself but then she heard growling right before the wolves began there attack and all her questions flew out of her head.
It was not a difficult fight, some how she ended up fighting next to Alistair even though she didn't want to admit it they did know each others fighting style and they worked well together. Once the last wolf was down did Daveth start asking questions while Belyssa went to skinning the wolves for their pelts.
"How did you know there wolves here, Junior?" Belyssa smiled at how Daveth addressed Alistair.
"I know have told you before to call me Alistair." Alistair knew he couldn't tell them he heard a voice in his head, so he lied. "I heard the wolves coming." Alistair made sure he didn't look at Bel when he answered Daveth. Finally Ser Jory spoke
"What are you doing to those dead wolves?" Since Belyssa was the only one kneeling besides the wolves she answered his question.
"I am skinning them, wolf pelts have many uses."
"Here let me help you, I have some practice with that." said Daveth as he knelt and began to work on the remaining wolves. Once they were done they walked over to a small pond to clean off the blood when they noticed a body in the water. Belyssa began to pull the robed man out, she realized he was wearing chantry robes.
"Odd place for the Chantry to be." said Alistair. Belyssa went thru the man's pockets and found a letter, after reading it she handed to Alistair to read. He knew what that she wanted to find the boys father as well as the cache of goods he left out there for his son, Alistair nodded his consent. Once they cleaned off the blood from the wolf pelts Belyssa and Daveth rubbed some salt and herbs on them and hung them to dry by tying them to near by tree branches. They resumed their trek further into the Wilds by this point Ser Jory seemed to be jumping at every little sound. Belyssa was about to ask Ser Jory a question when they heard a voice call to them. Belyssa noticed that there was a wagon and several dead soldiers bodies lying about she ran over to the one that looked alive hoping it was Fergus. When she got closer she realized these were the King's soldiers. The fallen soldier looked up at them at has he spoke.
"Who is that...Grey Wardens?"
"Well, he's not half as dead as he looks, is he?" says Alistair. Belyssa just gives him an exasperated look.
"My scouting band was attacked by darkspawn. They came out of the ground...Please, help me! I've got...return to camp.." As Belyssa bent down to help the soldier she looked at Alistair her eyes pleading with him.
"We can take you back." said Belyssa.
"No if just bandage me up. I can make it on my own." This time Alistair bent down to give the soldier aide.
"I have bandages in my pack" he said as he withdrew them and he began to wrap them around the soldier both Belyssa and Alistair helped him to his feet.
"Did you see any other patrols out here?" she tried to hide the anxiety out of her voice.
"There were at least three others but I do not know what happened to them." Thank you!" the soldier groans "I...I've got to get out of here!" Belyssa just nodded as she and Alistair stepped aside for him to pass once they closed the gap she felt Alistair's hand gently squeeze her shoulder.
"Did you hear? An entire patrol of seasoned men killed by darkspawn!" says Ser Jory. Belyssa looks over at him, I know him from somewhere. Alistair is the one to respond.
"Calm down, Ser Jory. We'll be fine if we're careful."
"Those soldiers were careful, and they were still overwhelmed. How many darkspawn can the four of us slay? A dozen? A hundred? There's an entire army in these forests!" Belyssa did think the man's eyes could get any bigger, he seemed truly sacred.
"There are darkspawn about, but we're in no danger of walking into the bulk of the horde." Alistair says.
"How do you know? I'm not a coward, but this if foolish and reckless. We should go back." Belyssa could swear she see some sweat coming off of Ser Jory's forehead.
"We are far from helpless. We'll be fine and we need to complete these tasks for the joining." says Belyssa
"That's ..true" says Ser Jory
"Know this; All Grey Wardens can sense darkspawn. Whatever their cunning. I guarantee they won't take us by surprise. That's why I'm here." says Alistair in a very calming voice as if he his talking to a child.
"You see, ser knight? We might die, but we'll be warned about it first." Daveth adds to the conversation, Belyssa tries to stifle a giggle as she hears Alistair groan.
"That's...reassuring." says Ser Jory
"That doesn't mean I'm here to make this easy, however. So let's get a move on." says Alistair reaffirming his role as leader.
"I am looking forward to killing some darkspawn." says Belyssa.
"Blood thirstiness is such a charming feature." says Alistair while he is shaking his head at her.
"She is rare woman." says Daveth. While they were talking she heard the soldier fall to the ground, so she went to where he lay as she bent down to lift him up Alistair was there to assist her. Once they had him lifted they walked back the gate entrance and brought the unconscious soldier to the infirmary and made sure the nurse sent for a healer and a messenger's to inform the King.
Back in the Wilds they continued their hunt for darkspawn. Belyssa stopped a little ways passed where they found the injured soldier. She had found the flower Luc Tar described, as she was carefully removing the flower did hear Ser Jory begin to complain.
"Why are we stopping now? We need to get out of this place as quickly as possible."
"We are stopping because the Teyrna wishes to do some gardening." answered Daveth.
"Stop it, Daveth. Ser Jory I promised the Kennel Master I would bring back some of these special flowers, he needs them to care for the hound Alistair helped him with earlier. Besides we need to give the darkspawn time to find us, what do you suggest we do until they locate us?" explained Belyssa
"What do you mean, let the darkspawn find us?" Ser Jory sound very high pitched to her ears just then.
"One of the tasks Duncan gave us was to get three vials of darkspawn blood. That means we are going to have to fight them and I seriously doubt they are going to walk up and willing let us draw blood from their living bodies." Daveth started chuckling at her while Alistair shook his head after seeing the look on Ser Jory's face.
"That doesn't mean we need to stop every ten feet because you want to admire the scenery." said Ser Jory
"Why not The Wilds is such lovely place, I might I want to build a summer home here one day." countered Belyssa. At this Daveth could no longer contain his laughter, he had to hold his sides he was laughing so hard. Alistair looked over at them, he was not listening to their conversation, he was trying to sense any darkspawn nearby. Alistair noticed that Belyssa was smiling, he also knew her well enough to realize that her neither stance nor eyes showed any real signs of mirth. He sighed, She is so much pain I wish I could ease it somehow for her.
"You are, she is still angry at you that she is being stubborn so she isn't going to let you know that your presence eases her pain." again Alistair looked around for a body to go along with the voice he heard. I must be going crazy in here. As walked over to the recruits, Belyssa held up the flowers she found, he just nodded back at her.
"Be alert everybody, I can sense some darkspawn about." warned Alistair
"See Teyrna, looks like you are about to get your wish." says Daveth.
Ser Jory finally realized how Daveth addressed Belyssa, so when she began to walk away from them did he pull Daveth aside to question him.
"Daveth, why do you keep addressing her as Teyrna?"
"That is what she is."
"That is not possible. There are only two Teyrna's in Ferelden and neither would be trying to become a Grey Warden."
"That is how Alistair introduced her to me, she is the Teyrna of Highever."
"I do not what tomfoolery is going on here, but I will get to the bottom of it."
"Whatever you say ser knight."
"Look up there, poor sots. That just seems so excessive." they heard Alistair say as they got closer to him and Belyssa. When Belyssa looked up to see the dead bodies of three soldiers hanging from a tree, she felt her heart stop. She gave Alistair a hard shove and began to climb up the right side of the hill in effort to reach the bodies. Alistair started to call out to her when he realized she was thinking of Fergus, he cursed himself then as he looked up to see Belyssa making her way to the body of the first soldier. She had begun to cut him down, she didn't warn the others a body was coming down. Daveth and Ser Jory noticed Alistair jump back then all three men were coughing from the smell of the dead bodies. Belyssa called down to Alistair.
"Do you see him, Alistair?"
In between his coughs, he answered. "Give me a moment." he gave the bodies a quick look. "Their armour does not have the Highever colors."
"Are you sure?"
"Not a hundred percent; however, I am ninety percent sure. Come down and I will help inspect further."
"About that, there is no way to for me get back down the way I came up and I think there are some darkspawn on the hill to the left."
"Are you sure, nevermind give me a moment to check." Alistair closed his eyes to concentrate his senses and sure enough Bel was right there were several darkspawn on the other side of the hill to the left. "Yes, there are darkspawn to that side of you. You are just going to have to jump down, I will catch you." Belyssa just look down at him her eyes wide.
"Alistair!"
"I know, but you don't have a Bere to land on this time and besides that didn't work out so well for you the last time, remember. I promise I will catch you...love." Alistair cursed himself when he realized he said that last word out loud, he pointedly ignored Daveth's snickering behind him.
"What did you just say?"
"Stop stalling and jump now!"
"Fine" Belyssa readied herself and said a silent prayer to Andraste. "Ready?"
"BEL!"
"OK!" Belyssa finally let go, she kept her eyes closed and managed to bite her lip to keep from screaming like a girl. Ever since the incident with Bere all those years ago her issue with jumping from high places got worse. Before she realized it, she heard a small grunt and then felt strong arms around her, she also managed to get arms around Alistair's neck and her head buried into his shoulder.
"You two need a moment alone?" said Daveth. Belyssa opened her eyes to see Alistair giving Daveth a deadly look as he slowly place her feet on the ground and let go of her. When he noticed the blood on her lip so he gave her a kerchief to wipe it off. She closed her eyes for a moment then went about the task of seeing if any of these men were Fergus. Alistair was correct these were not Highever soldiers so she made sure Fergus was not amoung them was to check their fingers to see if she saw his signet ring, thankfully it was not there and she was finally able to let herself breathe. Alistair gave her shoulder another squeeze as he instructed to arm themselves. Once they were ready they came around the hill and immediately encountered the darkspawn, it was only a some Genlocks. At one point in the battle Belyssa was fighting near Ser Jory when all of a sudden Daveth came out of nowhere and knocked her to the ground, where he held down for a few moments. By the time he released her again the darkspawn were dead.
"Daveth what in the Black City was that?" she demanded.
"Ser Knight over here almost took off your head in the battle."
"I am sure he misjudged how far he was from me." Daveth gave her a dubious look which was then confirmed by a very angry Alistair as he started shouting at Ser Jory.
"What in the Maker's name were you doing Ser Jory. Bel is a fellow recruit and we do not raise our weapons against each other!"
"She is an impostor! I saw the ring she wears on her finger. There is no way she can be the Teyrna of Highever. I have met the Teyrna and she is not her." Before Alistair could do any real harm to Ser Jory Belyssa stepped in between them.
"How would you know that?"
"I hail from Highever, I was originally in the service of Arl Eamon, but he gave me leave to live in Highever with my wife Helena and it was when we were married last year the Teyrna she did us a great honor and attended our wedding."
"Bel, is that true?" asked Alistair
"Of course it is true, how dare you question my honor?" exclaimed Ser Jory. Alistair give him a nasty look as he takes another step closer, only to be stopped by Belyssa again.
"I have no idea if Mama went to his wedding. Remember I was in Orlais until eight or so months ago." she then turned her attention to Ser Jory. "I am now the Teyrna of Highever. Bryce and Eleanor Cousland along with Oriana and Oren were murdered by Arl Howe's men two weeks ago. Fergus is missing somewhere in these Wilds, so until he is found King Cailan made me Teyrna of Highever."
"Why would he make you of all people Teyrna?" Belyssa rolled her eyes, while Alistair muttered some obscenities under his breath.
"Because, I am Bryce and Eleanor's daughter Belyssa Cousland."
"The Cousland's daughter is in Orlais and is said to have an Mabari hound with here wherever she goes and why does Alistair not call by that name and call you Bel, if what you say is true.?" Daveth now groans
"Did you not just hear? She just told Junior that she was in Orlais when you got married and as of last night there is a large Mabari in our encampment. Junior has been calling her Bel for the past hour, which I am guessing is short for B e l y s s a." Daveth said her name very slowly so Ser Jory could hear the Bel part of her name. It took some time before Ser Jory's outraged look went to complete confusion and then to a dull blank look before he spoke again.
"I am not sure about all this, I will check this out with Duncan upon our return." Alistair was about shove Bel aside so he could hit Ser Jory when Daveth spoke.
"Until then can we finish what we were sent into these cursed Wilds for?"
"Yes. Daveth and Ser Jory will team up for all future fighting." Alistair used his longer stride to get around Belyssa to whisper into Ser Jory's ear. "You only come near her when we are being overwhelmed. Got it?" Ser Jory just nodded his consent. Belyssa walked over to the dead darkspawn bodies and began to fill the first of the vials she had. Daveth went about looting their dead bodies and then went over to try to open a chest that must have belonged the darkspawn. Belyssa went to see what was in a crate near a cage by the fallen tree she had cut the dead bodies of the soldiers from. There she noticed some rocks in an odd pattern. Daveth came over to see what she was looking at.
"I think that is a Chasind marker. Looks like is pointing towards the water over there." Daveth pointed to a larger pond off to the east of them.
"Hey Alistair lets head that way." said Belyssa. She noticed he was concentrating again when she spoke so she waited til he was done.
"Sounds good to me and there are more darkspawn that way." said Alistair. At this Ser Jory groaned. They encountered more darkspawn as they rounded the hill, who were in a fight with some wolves, they went after the darkspawn first and then turned their attention to the wolves. Once that battle was over with did find a body in chantry robes, Rigby, the boys father. Belyssa went thru his items where she found a map leading to his encampment and a last will in testament asking whoever found him to bring something to his wife. Daveth again made friends with a nearby chest, they continued down the to the larger pond where they encountered some more darkspawn and found another Chasind Marker and another marker on the way to Rigby's camp. From the top of the ridge they could clearly see some darkspawn had taken over Rigby's camp, this time Belyssa used her bow skills to kill about three darkspawn before the others encountered the men. With that battle over they ransacked the camp for any useful items. Belyssa found the lock box Rigby mentioned in his letter. They also found his journal explaining the Chasind Markers.
"Looks like it leads to some treasure. At least this will not be for nothing then." says Daveth.
"What are you, some of sort of thief? We are not here to find treasure." says Ser Jory indignantly
"I am a cutpurse and pickpocket, thank you very much. Why can't we loot the dead bodies and try to make a profit?" responds Daveth
"Daveth has a point, it's not like we get paid to be Grey Wardens." says Belyssa
"Actually we do get paid." interjects Alistair. All of them just look at him, he sighs as he starts to explain. "In addition to free room and board, all Grey Wardens are given a small stipend and of course we get to keep whatever treasure's we find on the dead."
Belyssa was surprised by this, though it did make sense she doesn't ever recall Talnor or Gelric in desperate need for money when she was younger. "How about doing work on the side?"
Alistair shrugged his shoulders with his response. "There is no rule against it. To my understanding you are not supposed to let it override any Grey Warden assignments. Gelric is a pro at side jobs and some of the other Wardens have worked to train other fighters." he gave Belyssa sly look then, she had the grace to blush and turn her head away from them at that moment. Ser Jory seemed to be outraged at the very idea.
"There is no honor or glory in being a sword for hire."
"Oh, and I bet you didn't get a stipend while in the service of Arl Eamon." says Belyssa
Ser Jory stuttered for a moment before answering. "That is not the same thing."
"Why?"
"Because it is." Belyssa was about to say something else when Alistair shook his head at her. While Belyssa and Ser Jory were arguing; Daveth found two other Chasind Markers, before they located Rigby's cache they encountered another small band of darkspawn. Once that encounter was over did they finally have the last vial filled.
"Finally, we can return to Ostagar." says Ser Jory.
At the same time both Alistair and Belyssa say. "We still need the treaties." for some reason Belyssa becomes embarrassed and she starts to blush. When she looks Alistair in the eye she says "I am sorry. I don't mean to challenge your authority."
Alistair give a smile that makes her heart skip a beat. What is wrong with me. She then hears him say "It is alright, I am not threatened. You make fine leader."
"Thank you, but Duncan said we are your charges for this task and I do not want to overstep."
"Since when? Ever since we met you have always taken command of the situation." his eyes are twinkling at her.
"Hey!" Alistair just chuckles at her response. Their mood is dampened by Ser Jory.
"Can't the other Wardens get these treaties?"
Alistair gives him a hard look. "No, this task was given to us to complete. The other Wardens have their own duties to fulfill." Ser Jory seems to struggle with his own annoyance.
"Ser Jory, why are acting this way. Didn't you compete for the chance to become a Warden?" asked Daveth.
"Yes, I won a tournament; but I left my wife Helena back in Highever and she is great with child. I just want to get this over with so I can return to her and my child."
"Do you know what it means to be a Grey Warden?" asked Belyssa
"Of course, Grey Wardens have the honor to fight the darkspawn. But once that is over, I will return to my family." Before Belyssa could say anything more, Alistair called for them to halt. He closed his eyes for a brief moment when he opened them this time Belyssa notice the color of his eyes to seemed to have changed and blue flames were coming from them. She gasped in surprise, when he looked at her she took an involuntary step back from him. His eyes continued to have the blue flames when he spoke to her.
"Bel, what's wrong?"
"Your eyes, they have changed...into blue fire." He realized she was little afraid of him, and though it hurt he pushed that feeling aside.
"Huh, that is the first time that has happened. I guess my ability is growing or there is a large amount darkspawn nearby. I am sorry, it will go out on its own." he tried to give her a reassuring smile. Belyssa took a deep breath and with that stepped closer to him.
"Does everything look different?" she asked as she continued to stare at him.
"I see an a tint of blue in my vision. I would arm yourselves and be careful I sense magic near as well."
"Instruct the three of them to fight as a group and take on the Emissary on your own." Alistair was growing tired of this voice and planned to Duncan about it.
"Let me take out the Emissary you three concentrate your attacks together."
"What is an Emissary?" said Daveth
"A darkspawn mage." answered Belyssa, before she could stop herself. She made it a point not to look anyone in the eye after speaking. When they came around the some old ruin did they see an Emissary and it shot a bolt of magic their way. Alistair was ready so he was able to use his templar abilities to dispel the magic before it could any harm. Like they planned Alistair when after the Emissary; however when Ser Jory and Daveth went after the genlocks, Alistair ran past while Belyssa stopped on the bridge with her bow to provide support. She noticed that Ser Jory and Daveth seemed to have the genlocks in hand so she turned her attention the the two hurlocks that were aiming their weapons at Alistair. She was able to kill one with her bow, the other hurlock started to go for Alistair whose back was to it since he was still battling the Emissary. Belyssa dropped her bow and started to run full out hoping to reach the hurlock before it could reach Alistair's back. She called out to him but he didn't respond to her. She noticed Daveth was just a few feet in front of her so she called out to him.
"Daveth bend down, I need to use you as a vault!" for a split second Daveth seemed confused but then it dawned on him so he did as she asked when she reached him and stepped on his back Daveth gave a her an added push. She ended up a little higher than she wanted but in the end it worked out, as she was landing she collided with the hurlock and stabbed him the back with the added momentum her dagger went straight thru coming out of his chest. They both landed on the ground, Belyssa on top of the hurlock where she used this to her advantage and stabbed the creature in the base of its skull. When she looked up both Ser Jory and Daveth had arrived to give Alistair a needed assist in finally killing the Emissary. When the fight was finally over, Alistair turns around to see Belyssa sitting on top of a dead hurlock.
"Do I want to know how that happened?" giving her that smirk of his.
"Piss off" Belyssa was suddenly angry at him as she tries to rise he holds out a hand for her but she just bats it away and rises on her own. She sees the hurt look in his eyes but decides to ignore it.
"What did I do?"
"Pay attention to what is going on around you." with that Belyssa storms off to loot the dead. Daveth is smiling at the exchange between them as he explains what happened to Alistair.
"The Teyrna noticed this darkspawn coming at you from behind so she dropped her bow and ran to reach it before you got a nasty axe in your back. She even used my back to leap into the air and as she came down she shoved her dagger so hard into it's back it came sticking out of his chest." Alistair blinked in surprise for a moment, using his templar abilities requires a lot of concentration so he had to block out the sounds of the others fighting or he would not have made it out of that fight. He bent down and pulled out the dagger Belyssa used to kill the hurlock when he was able to dislodge it he realized that the dagger was broken. He knew that was a gift from Fergus and she would be upset at its loss. When he finally reached Belyssa she was looking another of those Chasind Marker near the bridge.
"I am sorry that I caused you to worry, Bel." when he took a good look at her realized that she was holding her side and panic ran through him. "Are you hurt?" She gave him an odd look and when she pulled her hand away from her armour he blushed and turned away from her. It seems that in the last battle her leather chest plate of her armour was so damaged that she had to hold it in place otherwise she was topless so to speak.
"I meant what I said about not wanting to carry your dead ass back to Ostagar." she said as she walked away from him. "Daveth, I found another Marker it leads down this hill." Alistair just sighed as he followed them down.
"Pay attention there are more darkspawn down here." Alistair was thought he must be crazy now since he didn't bother to look for the source of the voice anymore, he just warned everyone. "Be careful there are more darkspawn down here." Belyssa realized that she didn't collect her dagger from the body of the hurlock, luckily Daveth just handed her a dagger. Sure enough just as they neared the Marker did more darkspawn appears and once the fighting was done, she and Daveth went to the Marker that was in fact the cache of weapons hidden by the Chasind. Because of her fighting style she had to let go of holding her armour in place and one of the genlocks she was fighting used that to his advantage and was able to give a nasty looking cut near her belly button.
"Don't try to hide that injury form me, Bel!" says Alistair, he also looks pretty annoyed as well.
"I had to let go of the armour to fight." responds Belyssa feeling a little defensive. She looks down at the cut and knows she can't bandage herself up. "Can one of you help me out here." Daveth perks up at her request, but he is cut down by Alistair.
"Don't even think about it, Daveth. Bel come over here and I will tend the your wound." Alistair had already begun to putting down a cloth she could lay as she was walked over to him. "Let take a couple hours of rest now, we are not far from the treaties; but, I can sense another large party of darkspawn and I would rather us be rested before another nasty encounter. Daveth can you set some traps at the top of this hill, just in case." Daveth nodded as he headed off to do Alistair's bidding. "Bel lie down here so I can properly tend to that wound." Belyssa was about to argue with Alistair but he that look on his face he had when she got hurt at the Pearl a few months earlier so she just kept her thoughts to herself and laid down on the cloth. Alistair was all business as he cleaned out her wound, it was not as deep as he originally thought, the cut itself was almost a full circle around her belly button. He was lost in thought until he felt a hand on his, he then turned to look at Belyssa.
"Will it scar?"
"I am not sure it could; though, I do not think anyone will notice." while he had her at his mercy for the moment he decided to explain what happened earlier to her. "Look I was not deliberately ignoring you or my surroundings before. It took a lot of concentration to use my templar abilities on that emissary. I felt the hurlock nearing but I didn't want to risk the emissary casting a spell by dividing my attention." Belyssa took a moment to digest his words and she came to the realization that because of the pain she is feeling at the loss of her family she is taking her anger out him. He doesn't deserve that, he has been nothing but patient and kind to me.
"I am sorry, I snapped at you. It's just..." she had to stop talking for a brief moment, she took a deep breath before speaking again. "I am sorry for being such a bitch to you." at this point Alistair is done bandaging her wound and sits up giving her the opportunity to sit up as well. He places he hand on her cheek, running his thumb against the softness of her skin.
"I understand. I am here whenever you want to talk about it." Belyssa felt as if she could become very lost if she continued looking into his eyes, sadly Daveth interrupted their brief moment.
"If you two are done, want to take a look at the loot?" Alistair mumbled something Belyssa didn't quite hear though personally she wanted to kick Daveth at that moment.
"What did you find?" asked Alistair
"Some weapons and armour and by the look of yours Teyrna you could use it." Daveth handed her some cloth, Belyssa went off behind a tree to change into the clothing Daveth handed her. It felt weird when she first put it on, but she felt the armour had some magical enhancement on it. As she came out from around the tree Daveth let out a whistle this caused the other two men to turned around.
"They call that armour!" says Alistair and as usual Daveth is laughing.
"Well it is either that or she give the darkspawn an eye full in the next fight." says Daveth grinning rather widely.
"Did any of you happen to pull my other dagger from that dead hurlock." Belyssa decided she was not having this discussion any of the men.
"Huh about that. I pulled it out, sadly the dagger was broken in the fight." said Alistair as he handed her the broken dagger. Belyssa pushed down the tears and pain that suddenly engulfed her and just nodded as she placed the dagger in her pack.
"Anyone hungry?" she then asked.
"Starving actually." responds Alistair's, she gives him a smile as she holds up a block of cheese."
"Cheese, you remembered."
"Honestly, how could I forget. I have some bread and ham as well." Belyssa begins to take out the contents of food while Alistair starts cutting everyone slices of everything. While they are eating something occurs to Daveth so asks a question.
"How did you know about the different types of darkspawn?"
"I have fought them before." says Belyssa
"I hardly think fighting one genlock at seven years old, counts as a lot of experience." says Alistair, Belyssa gives me hard look before smugly saying.
"It wasn't just the one genlock. While I was in Orlais I tricked the Wardens their into thinking I was one of them and went down into the deep roads with them. It was then that learned more about the different darkspawn and fought them too."
"YOU DID WHAT?" yelled Alistair
"You heard me."
"There is no way your father allowed this."
"He didn't know. My guards found out when I got back. I think the Wardens wanted to kill me for lying, but being the daughter of one the few nobles that supported the Wardens here in Ferelden stopped them; though, I have strong feeling it was Duncan that really stopped them."
"He knew about this?"
"I didn't know he did; but, yes he knows."
"You have the nerve to try to take my head off for not telling you I became a Warden and yet you go off on darkspawn raiding party and told no one! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!"
"My classes were over and I was bored."
"BORED! Most women go shopping, pamper themselves. NO! YOU GO OUT AND KILL MONSTERS! Do you have any clue how much danger you placed yourself in."
"It wasn't that bad!"
"NOT THAT BAD! ARGH, DAMIT BEL!" Alistair looked like he wanted to rip someones head off. "Just stop talking and get some rest, in fact all of you take a nap. I am going to stand watch and I will wake you in a couple of hours." with that he walked off talking to himself.
"And she wonders why Fergus used to say he didn't know if they should lock her up in the highest Tower they could find or just bend her over his knee and beat her."
"I can hear you."
"That was the point."
Belyssa looked up at him for a moment. Wow, he is angrier than he was after the Pearl. What is wrong with him? As she was getting ready for her nap, Daveth ask her about her relationship with Alistair. She explained their meeting as children and how he saved her from wild beast in woods at Dragon's Peak including how he would spend time with her family every year until six months ago.
"Well that explains a lot. I can see why he has it so bad." says Daveth.
"What does he have bad? Is Alistair sick?"
Daveth just looks at her for a moment and shakes his head.
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Nope, you will figure it out."
"MEN!" all she heard was Daveth's laughter as she closed her eyes to get some sleep.
True to his word Alistair woke them up a couple of hours later, though to Belyssa it felt as if she just laid her head down to rest.
"Before Junior made us rest I found a note on the body of a soldier, along with a pinch of ashes. I think it has to do with an old legend my Gran used tell me as a child. I would like to check out." asks Daveth
"Where do we have to go?" asked Alistair
Up that hill and face the dome in the water."
"It's on the way so that sounds fine." They had all become used to Ser Jory's groaning that none them bothered to comment on it. Once they packed up their small camp and made sure the fire was out all four of them headed to spot that Daveth mentioned. They watched him sprinkle the ashes onto some rocks and waited. They did not have to wait long when a shade calling himself Gazarath appeared and started attacking all of them, the battle took a little bit of time in the end Daveth was the one to deliver the killing blow.
"What exactly was the story you Gran used to tell you?" asked Alistair
"The legend says that Astia grew up in the company of Gazarath, a spirit of the earth. When Astia met Nebbunar, the two fell in love, and Astia hoped to bring her lover to see her spirit friend. But the spirit, angered and jealous, bade her begone. Gazarath told her that she would never see it again until she brought her lover's ashes and sprinkled them over their spot, and on the day Nebbunar asked her to marry him, she cut her beloved's throat, burned him, and brought his ashes to Gazarath."
"You didn't think that was something you should have warned us about?" says Belyssa as was walking over to Daveth while taking off her gauntlets. Alistair had feeling he knew what she was going to do next and decided not to intervene.
"I didn't believe the legend." says Daveth, from behind him Alistair heard Daveth hit the ground from what he guessed was a result of Bel punching him, this of course was confirmed by Daveth. "You hit pretty hard for a woman Teyrna."
"I will take that as a compliment. Something tells me you have been hit by a lot of women." smugly says Belyssa. Alistair just chuckles at the exchange, he still isn't to happy with her; however, she as more than proven she will make an excellent Warden and while Daveth reminds him too much of Gelric he makes the same conclusion about him as well. When it comes to Ser Jory he very doubtful, he takes a look over to the knight and sighs. There is no turning back now.
"Is that the Grey Warden Outpost over there?" asks Belyssa, he looks to see where she is point and nods. "There is another large group of darkspawn over there as well." Alistair was able to sense them without having to concentrate so hard this time, and once again his eyes change color confirming Belyssa's statement. The recruits just begin to ready themselves for one more battle.
"How did you do that, Teyrna." asks Daveth
"I wish I knew, it wasn't until Orlais that I realized that I could do it."
"So you are woman of mystery too." says Daveth.
"Pay attention!" barked Alistair. As they begin to descend down the hill they are met by band of hurlocks, this battle was tougher than the last one. Because Belyssa fighting with daggers she has to get extremely close to her targets, she completed some backstabbing maneuvers;however, she prefers standing in place and taking her enemies straight on if it wasn't for Alistair she would have lost an arm which was something he pointed out when the battle was over.
"Bel, you might want to think about fighting with a sword if your going to insist on facing your targets the way you do."
"What do you mean by that?" says Belyssa defensively.
Alistair took a breath to calm himself. You know how to handle her, why are you having such a problem with this now, he thought to himself at least he thinks that was his own thought. "I know how much you like to stand your ground when you fight which is great; however, your daggers are much shorter than a sword so that puts you at a disadvantage when you add arm length. No offense; but you are not a tall woman with a long reach."
Belyssa regarded him for a moment, at first she became very angry and wanted to hit him for insulting her fighting style then she too took a deep breath and remembered her time with Talnor and Gelric when they would critique her technique and realized that is what Alistair was doing in order to help her be a better fighter. "Don't laugh, but, I just don't think my sword technique is as good as my dual weapons."
Alistair let out the breath he was holding. "How about we spar when we get back to Ostagar and if you like I can give you some pointers. I am no dual weapons specialist; but, you are brilliant and will make it work for you. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but were those the weighted blades Fergus made for you?"
"Yes and so was the armour."
"I think it is time to switch all that out, you want to be able to move faster and use it to your advantage."
"Alright and thanks." For the first time since her arrival at Ostagar did she truly smile.