Chapter 25: The Next Move
"Is this really our only option?" Daylen asked as he faced his group of companions.
The young Wardens and their allies were once again holding a meeting at their campsite. After the events in Redcliffe, they were all eager to plan their next course of action.
"Daylen, the arl's condition is beyond any conventional healing techniques and if he doesn't wake we won't have any hope of challenging Loghain." Neria replied.
"What Neria says is true Daylen, although the arl appears to be stable we have no means of restoring him to consciousness." Wynne added.
"So, we are reduced to chasing fairy tales now are we?" Morrigan said mockingly.
"Just because you don't have any faith doesn't mean the ashes don't exist." Leliana replied angrily.
"Even if they do, how are we supposed to find what Chantry scholars have spent centuries searching for?" Alistair added.
"Apparently this Brother Genitivi that the arlessa spoke of may have discovered a lead." Aedan replied. "If we head to Denerim and search for his home, we can question him and decide for ourselves whether it's worth pursuing."
"You do realize this is sounding more and more like a wild goose chase?" Daylen mused.
"I agree." Sten added.
"Well I think we should at least try." Leliana persisted.
"Of course you do, but I'd suggest our actions not be dictated by a bard turned Chantry sister who's looking for some ridiculous notion of redemption." Morrigan replied.
Leliana immediately began staring daggers at her and for a moment Daylen thought he might have to step in to prevent a physical altercation. As the two women continued eyeing each other, Daylen took the opportunity to clear his throat.
"Before I even consider this, I think we should get another treaty under our belts. At least we know they exist and I'd feel a lot better knowing we had another army standing with us." Daylen said.
"Sounds good to me, the more direct support we have to fight the Blight the better." Duran added.
"Have you decided which treaty to pursue next?" Theron asked.
"Yes. I still think Orzammar is going to be our toughest one, so I've decided to seek out the Dalish. After we get their support we'll head to Denerim and look into this Brother Genitivi business." Daylen explained.
Everyone took a moment to voice their agreement before turning their attention back to Daylen. "Theron, I want you to head out and begin tracking any Dalish movements that you can find in the Brecilian Forest. Once you pick up the trail of one the clans and identify where they're camped, return here and we'll plan our next move from there." Daylen said as he faced the Dalish warrior. "We may have moved camp by then, but I trust you'll find us easy enough with your skills." he added with a grin.
"I understand, I'll set off immediately." Theron replied calmly.
"Wait! Daylen, you're sending him alone? What if he gets attacked?" Neria asked in a rather concerned tone.
"Neria, Theron is our best tracker and he knows how the Dalish operate. He'll move faster by himself. He'll also be traveling through the wilderness and we all know that no one gets the drop on Theron in the forest." Daylen said confidently.
"But-"
"Neria, it's fine. Everything Daylen said is true and I have no intention of failing, especially after he's placed such trust in me." Theron said reassuringly.
"Alright, then it's settled. Meeting dismissed." Daylen said. Afterwards everyone began heading to separate areas of the camp. Neria made sure to shoot Daylen an angry look before sprinting after Theron.
"Lovely." he said as he stretched in front of the campfire while Elissa took the opportunity to lay across his chest.
"You do realize that she's going to be upset with you until he gets back, right?" Elissa teased.
"This will be good for her, both of them actually." Daylen replied while grinning.
"What exactly is going through that devious mind of yours now?" Elissa asked playfully as she ran her fingers across his cheek.
"At the moment, thoughts of you that could very likely lead Aedan to murder me if he were preview to them." Daylen said as he kissed her.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." Leliana said as she approached the couple.
"Not at all, but if you were hoping to join us I'd have to voice my objection. I mean I'd be fine with it personally, but Aedan would probably-"
Daylen was suddenly cut off by a rather sharp punch to the arm from Elissa. He laughed at the look of playful outrage on her face before sitting up to speak with Leliana.
"So what can I do for you?" he asked politely.
"I was just wondering, you don't seem to be very religious. In fact, you don't seem to like the Chantry at all. You're Aedan's best friend and he speaks very highly of you. You're also a wonderful friend and a great leader, it just seems strange to me that-"
"That I'm a decent human being, despite not being a follower of the Chantry." Daylen finished for her.
"I didn't mean it that way. I simply think that the Chantry could benefit a great deal if more people like you were counted among its followers." Leliana replied.
"I'm sure there are plenty of good people who already follow the Chantry, but unfortunately they don't hold any positions of authority and the people who run things now aren't exactly what I'd consider to be 'decent' by any stretch of the word." Daylen said as he faced Leliana."And as for me, I choose to help people for the same reason that I fight to protect my friends and loved ones, because I want to. I don't need a religious mandate to tell me how to be a good person. I'll be as lousy or virtuous as I want because it's my choice."
"I see. It's strange, Wynne said something similar to me when I asked her about her faith." Leliana replied.
"Yeah, Wynne is pretty set in her ways." Daylen laughed. "I can only imagine what Morrigan would have said to you." he added as he continued to laugh.
Leliana suddenly got quiet as she stared into the fire. "You didn't?!" Daylen asked incredulously.
"Well, I'm not even going bother asking how that went." Daylen added while grinning.
"I hope she wasn't too much of a bitch towards you Leliana." Elissa said bracingly.
"It's alright, she was just being Morrigan." Leliana replied quietly.
"Well, if you want my perspective, there's also the fact that I'm a mage. That kind of inherently makes me wary of the Chantry. But that's not how it is for everyone, we all have different interpretations and relationships with the Chantry and I'm certainly not going to delve into my own personal views. Anyway, I think you've gotten the gist of how I feel unless there's something else you needed?" Daylen asked.
"No and thank you for taking the time to talk with me Daylen." Leliana said appreciatively.
"Well, I hope I haven't disappointed you too much. I figure it's important for a woman to get along with her boyfriend's best friend." Daylen chuckled.
Leliana blushed slightly before standing to leave. "You haven't disappointed me at all Daylen. In fact, I think now I can better understand why Aedan trusts you. And why Elissa loves you so much." she said while smiling as she left the couple.
"She's a keeper, that one." Daylen said after Leliana had left.
"I hope Aedan doesn't screw things up." Elissa added.
"He won't, trust me." Daylen said reassuringly.
"Well, I guess you'd know better than anyone." Elissa replied as she ran her fingers across his chest.
There was silence as the two of them took in the sight of the stars that were dotting the night sky. Eventually Elissa caught sight of Morrigan in her corner of camp and despite herself, she felt a familiar pang of anxiety.
"So...you've learned all you can from Morrigan now right? There's really no need for you to keep taking lessons from her now." Elissa said in a quiet but less than subtle tone.
Daylen couldn't help but smile as he looked at her. "I can learn how to assume new shapes on my own now, but Morrigan can still teach me how to strengthen them and maximize their potential." he replied.
"Oh." Elissa responded in a disappointed tone.
"You are one impossible woman, you know that?" Daylen teased. "I don't know how much more clear I can make it that you're the one I love." he added before sighing.
"I can't help it! She's obviously attracted to you and she's a mage! There's a part of you that you can share with her that you can't with me and it frustrates the hell out of me!" Elissa responded desperately.
"Elissa there's no part of me that I wouldn't be willing to share with you." Daylen said as he wrapped his arms around her. "You need only ask, milady." he whispered before kissing her. And there it was, that familiar feeling that Daylen could conjure at a moment's notice that completely reassured her.
"No fair using magic." Elissa pouted after they parted moments later. Daylen simply smiled as they returned to their stargazing.
Across the camp Theron was preparing for his journey as swiftly as possible. He knew that it would take him several days to pick up the trail of one of the clans and time was of the essence. Unfortunately, Neria was complicating his departure plans.
"Theron, you don't have to go alone! I know I can convince Daylen to let someone come with you." Neria pleaded.
"Even if you could, I would refuse. The trek will be faster if I'm alone and to be honest, this is how I would prefer it." Theron replied calmly as he gathered his pack.
There was silence for a moment as he continued his preparations. "I guess companions are a burden for you, you have always seemed to prefer being alone. I won't try to argue anymore." Neria said sadly before turning to leave. Before she could however, she felt Theron grab her hand.
"You are wrong. Although I have always been accustomed to wandering the forests alone at my leisure, I do not regret traveling with friends now. And I certainly don't regret traveling with you." Theron said as he stared into Neria's eyes.
Neria could feel herself growing warm and was sure that her face had gone red, she was glad that night had fallen and that darkness could conceal her embarrassment. "I'm glad Theron. Please be careful and hurry back, traveling won't be the same if you aren't here to...it just won't be the same." she said hesitantly.
Theron nodded as a small smile graced his face. He then took Neria's face into both his hands and lowered his head to hers. As his hands gently caressed her cheeks he pressed his forehead to hers. Afterwards, he released her and set off into the night while Neria looked after him. She watched as he disappeared into the darkness, quietly hoping that this wouldn't be the last that she'd see of him.
"I must say, this is getting quite interesting." Zevran commented as he surveyed the scene from across camp. He was currently taking turns playing Wicked Grace with Duran and Natia who'd set up a table near Bodahn and Sandal.
"The wizard is rigging things, not that I'm complaining. Theron being gone means Darrian won't have any obstacles and you beautiful will owe me a sovereign." Duran chuckled as he faced Natia.
"Don't be so sure about that handsome. Daylen's pulling strings alright, but I wouldn't be so sure that it's for your guy." Natia replied coyly.
"So am I to understand that there is coin being wagered on who will gain the affections of the young beauty?" Zevran asked curiously.
"Nearly everyone has a bet going. And if you even think about screwing things up by sniffing around Neria, you may wake up to find two very important parts of your body missing." Neria replied threateningly.
"That would be most unpleasant and also quite cruel to the many women and men who've yet to experience the thrill of my passions." Zevran said in a rather brazen fashion.
"You are one cocky bastard, I'll give you that." Natia said in an almost exhaustive tone.
"And a lucky one, Dammit! The last time I got cleaned out this badly was when I got drunk and played against Daylen." Duran explained angrily.
Both Natia and Zevran laughed before Natia decided to take his place. "I'm warning you pretty boy, I'll be a lot harder to take down."
"That simply means that it will be far more rewarding once I do my dear." Zevran replied in a seductive undertone.
"Then what do you say we make this more interesting?" Natia teased.
"And what did you have in mind?" Zevran responded playfully.
"You're a disciplined killer, trained by the best, right? If I win, you teach me your skills. So how about it?" Natia asked in a flattering tone.
Zevran observed her for a moment before responding. "And what would I get if I were to defeat your loveliness in this contest?" Zevran asked as he gave her a lecherous look.
"I'll let you decide." she replied coyly.
"Now hold on a minute! Natia you can't seriously-"
"Relax handsome. So what do you say?" Natia said as she faced Zevran.
"We have an agreement my dear. This will certainly be entertaining." Zevran responded before laughing.
In another quiet corner of camp, Leliana was currently lost in her own thoughts. Despite that, she recognized Aedan's approach instantly. "Are you alright?" he asked as he took her hands into his own.
"I'm fine Aedan, but to be honest I'll feel much better once I've settled things with her." Leliana replied quietly.
"I still can't believe she had the audacity to come to Ferelden and send assassins after you." Aedan said angrily.
"Yes, if you and Dog hadn't been with me when they attacked...thank you Aedan." she replied softly.
"I'll always be there for you Leliana, if you'll let me." Aedan said as he gazed into her eyes.
"I know and of course I will." she replied as they kissed. Afterwards, he held her in his arms as she hummed a rather beautiful tune that he'd never heard before.
"We'll end this in Denerim, I promise." Aedan whispered. Leliana nodded as she buried herself closer to him.
As Wynne sat outside her tent knitting socks for Daylen and Alistair, she couldn't help but notice the obvious pairings around camp. She'd long ago abandoned the notion of lecturing any of the young Wardens about romantic entanglements, they were after all young and she had to admit watching Daylen and Elissa gave her a rather warm feeling that she'd be remiss in ignoring. She grinned as she continued her work and was pleasantly surprised when Neria sat down with her.
"Trouble Neria?" Wynne asked, although she already knew the answer.
"I'm just worried about a friend, that's all." Neria said quietly. "Oh and I don't meant to dump my concerns on you! You have enough to worry about with..." she couldn't finish.
Recently, she and Daylen had discovered that Wynne was living on borrowed time. Her battle with the demon that attacked Petra had literally killed her and she was now being sustained by a benevolent spirit of the fade. The spirit would eventually have to return to the fade and when it did Wynne would cease living.
"Neria, I thought I explained this clearly to both you and Daylen. I have no regrets and I'm not afraid of facing what's to come. So while I'm still here I want you both to continue to come to me whenever you have a problem that you wish to discuss. Do you understand?" Wynne said gently as she faced Neria.
"Yes, thank you Wynne. It just seems selfish to trouble you." Neria replied quietly.
"Sometimes being young means being selfish. But for what it's worth, I've never felt burdened by chatting with either you or Daylen. So please feel free to share your concerns with me." Wynne said warmly.
"It's just that, the whole world is our enemy right now. I know that's an exaggeration, but with the soldiers who are loyal to Loghain, bounty hunters, and assassins hunting us, how can I not be worried about Theron traveling alone? I know the wilderness is his element and that he can handle himself but..." Neria trailed off.
Wynne of course immediately recognized the root of the problem as well as Daylen's likely scheme. She would have to have another long talk with him later about this among other things. For the moment though, she'd have to do what she could to allay Neria's fears.
"Neria, it is true that Theron is a capable young warrior and more than able to look after himself. But I believe his best reason for returning safely is you. He has invested a great deal of time learning what he could about you and I highly doubt that he'd allow himself to be killed before learning more. So, if nothing else please trust in his desire to return for your sake." Wynne said wisely.
Neria couldn't help but smile as she stood. "Thank you, Wynne." she said before hugging the elderly mage and proceeding to her tent.
Alistair arrived shortly afterwards, hoping to have a new pair of socks. "You know, we've all got bets going on those three." he said as he took a seat near Wynne.
"I'm aware and you should all be ashamed of yourselves." Wynne replied sternly.
"Oh come on Wynne, we're young and stupid. We can't help ourselves." he said while grinning.
"Just out of curiosity, who have you placed your bet on?" Wynne asked curiously.
"Darrian, no question. Theron's a nice guy and all but when do nice guys ever get the girl?" Alistair joked.
Wynne couldn't help but smile as she finished the first pair of socks and presented them to Alistair. It seemed to her that wisdom wasn't strictly reserved for the old as she glanced in Daylen's direction.