A/N: And the chapter 28 is here. Redcliffe storyline is nearing its end. Finally.
I wish to thank all those who have read this far. Special thanks to those who have fav/alerted Lenya's story and very special thanks to those who reviewed.
For continued support and encouragement thanks with hugs to Faelan.
Huge thanks for beta reading goes to Killa1934.
Dragon Age and all you recognize belongs to Bioware. All you don't recognize belong to me. Lenya belongs to herself.
Riding a horse was 'almost' like riding a halla, but only 'almost'. The thing was that it had been a long time since Lenya had been doing any riding at all and her armor really did not make riding any easier. Not to mention the saddle really was a new thing for her. You didn't use saddles when you were riding with halla.
When she finally gave up and called a stop, her ass was pretty much calling her an idiot; very clearly and painfully.
"I really envy you," Lenya said to Morrigan who just changed back to her human form. She had been flying above them as a hawk, "And you," She turned to look at Abelas who lay on the ground, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Lenya could tell that he was not overly tired.
"As do I," Leliana said, "It's been far too long since I have ridden a horse."
"I've never rode with a horse before," Lenya said, "And I think I would have preferred to walk if I'd know it kills my ass."
"You've never rode a horse before?" Leliana asked, looking at her incredulously.
"No," Lenya shook her head, "Before I left my clan I'd only seen horses from a far. Dalish have no use for them."
"From the way you handled Ser Perth's horse today I thought you had done this before," Leliana said.
"I've always been good with animals," Lenya shrugged and started to remove the saddle from her horse, "Stop that," She giggled and pushed the horse's muzzle gently away from her ear it had started to nuzzle, "Anyone ever told you that we elves have very sensitive ears, you big oaf," She added and gently brushed her hand against the horse's muzzle. Horse started to lick and playfully nibble at her hand, "I'll give you apples after I get these things off your back," She promised to the horse.
Leliana almost forgot to unsaddle her own horse since she watched Lenya so intently. In fact she did forget it and her Gelding reminded her of that by pushing her with his head and nearly toppled her over.
"T'is sickening to watch you," Morrigan muttered to her and left. To her surprise Morrigan had already set her own fire bit further from them. Leliana was not sure why she had expected her to stay with her and Lenya; it had been a silly assumption. She shook her head to her own stupidity and went back to remove saddle from her horse.
When she was done with her horse, Lenya had already set up a tent. Leliana tried to find her tent, but couldn't see it anywhere, "Lenya?"
"Yes lethallan?" Lenya replied.
"Where's my tent?" Leliana asked.
"Probably in Redcliffe," Lenya smiled, "I only took two with us and since Morrigan likes her peace we need to share this one," She explained and then she turned unsure, "It... it's not a problem is it?" She asked hesitantly.
Leliana was not sure she could 'just' sleep if they shared a tent with no one near to hear them, but she was damn sure that it would be too soon for Lenya. 'You've slept with her in the same tent before,' - She reminded herself. 'Yes, when she was wounded,' - another voice countered.
"Lethallan?" Lenya said and watched her worriedly, "I can sleep outside if it's a problem," She then offered.
'Oh great!' - Leliana thought, 'Now you made her feel like you would not like to share a tent with her,' - She cursed in her mind, 'Stop cursing and say something you idiot!' - That other voice urged her, "No!" She blurted out, startling Lenya, "I mean, no, it's not a problem that we share a tent."
Lenya studied her skeptically, "Are you sure?" She asked, "Because you do look bit wild eyed there."
"Yes, I'm sure, lethallan," Leliana replied, "I just have overactive imagination that plays tricks on me."
"What has...?" Lenya started and then her eyes went wide, "Oh?"
"Pretty much," Leliana chuckled and stepped in front of Lenya, "I'll manage," She said and leaned in to give Lenya a kiss. She did not want to push Lenya to go faster than she was comfortable, but sometimes her body just wanted to skip straight to the... - 'Dear Maker her lips are so soft.' - 'Okay, kissing Lenya while thinking about sex... not a good idea, at the moment anyway.'
"Slowly?" Lenya asked smiling.
"Uh-huh," Leliana managed, "I... I think... I think I need a... bath," She muttered, "I saw a lake nearby."
"Of course," Lenya smiled at her, "A bath," Then she grinned at her, "I'll see what kind of food I can make," She then left, leaving Leliana just standing there.
"She's evil," Leliana muttered and then went to get her towel from her bag.
Lenya started to cook the night's meal, but soon found out that it was no use. Her mind was somewhere else than food.
When she had decided to take only two tents, she had not been thinking what it might mean to sleep in the same tent with Leliana. It had just been her practical side thinking back then when. Morrigan refused to sleep in the same tent or room with anyone so she needed her own tent. Leliana and her had shared a tent and even a room before so it had been only practical to take only one tent for them to share. No need to take more supplies than they needed.
Of course now that Leliana had made her think what it might mean, it was pretty much the only thing she could think, "Oh crap!" She cursed and got up and followed the trail Leliana had left to the lake.
Without her armor Lenya was as silent as any thief and the forest was her element so it didn't take long before she stood at the edge of the forest and watched at Leliana who was bathing. 'This is a mistake! You need to leave right away!' - One part in her admonished her, but she ignored it.
Leliana was standing in the water so that Lenya could only see her silhouette and what she saw made her mouth dry out. Unlike elven women who tend to be small and slender, Leliana was very... ample. Of course she'd know that, but to see Leliana like this, without her clothes obstructing her view... "By the Creators," She whispered when Leliana turned and she saw her from front. She had to wipe her mouth, just to make sure she was not drooling.
She barely remembered to breathe as she watched Leliana bathing and when Leliana got out of the water Lenya knew that she should leave, but was unable to make her body comply.
When Leliana was drying herself with her towel she turned so Lenya could see her back and every naughty thought disappeared from Lenya's mind. Leliana's back was covered in scars.
Lenya must have made some sound since Leliana turned to look at her direction, "Who's there?" Leliana asked and covered herself with the towel and took dagger from the ground.
Lenya thought for a moment that she should stay hidden, but she dismissed that and stepped at the beach, "It's just me."
"Lenya," Leliana smiled, but then her expression turned horrified, "How long have you been there?"
"For a while," Lenya replied and embarrassment turned her ears red, "I followed you pretty soon after you left and when I got here I... I stayed to watch as you bathed," She explained, not even trying to make her actions look like something else than what they had been.
"Then you saw..." Leliana started and Lenya was sure she was holding back tears.
"Your scars," Lenya finished the sentence and nodded, "Yes, I saw."
Leliana watched her with horrified expression and before Lenya could do anything she bolted away towards the camp, wearing only her towel.
"Great work, Lenya," Lenya muttered to herself and then gathered Leliana's clothes.
When she returned to the camp she was greeted by Abelas who gave her a disapproving look, "Yes, I know," She said to him in elvish, "Where is she?" She asked then and Abelas turned to look at the tent, "Thank you."
When she got closer to the tent, she hesitated, not quite knowing what to do, "Leliana?" She called out hesitantly, but didn't get any answer, "Can I come in?" She asked then. When she did not get any answer at all she lowered Leliana's clothes on the ground, "I'll leave your clothes here, lethallan," Then she turned to leave.
"Lenya," Leliana's voice, barely a whisper, came from the tent, "Don't go," She pleaded and then opened up the tent flap, "Come in."
Lenya hesitated only a moment before she gathered Leliana's clothes again and got inside the tent. Leliana was sitting at the far corner, wrapped in her towel and hugging her legs to her chest.
"I..." Lenya started and sat at the other side of the tent, not wanting to impose herself on the already shaken woman she had started to love, "I'm sorry," She said, "I should have not spied on you," She added miserably.
"No," Leliana shook her head, "I don't mind you watching me," She smiled a little, "It's just that no one... no one has ever seen..."
Lenya wanted nothing more than to go and comfort Leliana, but she dared not to move. So she would not startle Leliana again.
"No one has ever seen the scars at my back," Leliana said finally, "Not even the Revered mother in Lothering."
"What happened?" Lenya asked quietly.
Leliana took a deep breath and locked her eyes on the tent wall, "I lied to you, you know? About why I left Orlais," She said finally. She avoided Lenya's eyes, only taking a peek to see how Lenya reacted.
"You didn't actually tell me anything about why you left Orlais," Lenya pointed out, "You gave me few shaky excuses and then changed the subject," She added, for a bard Leliana had been very obvious with the fact that there was more to it, "So I knew you weren't telling me something."
"I didn't feel like talking about it then. What happened to me... maybe it will affect us, maybe not, but you should know," Leliana said, still looking straight ahead and only briefly looking at Lenya, "I came to Ferelden and the Chantry because I was being hunted, in Orlais."
"Hunted?" Lenya asked, confused, "What for?"
"I was framed, betrayed by someone I thought I knew and could trust. Marjolaine-she was my mentor... and friend," Leliana replied, "She taught me the bardic arts-how to enchant with words and song, to carry myself like a high-born lady, to blend in as a servant..." She continued and Lenya let her speak without interruption, "The skills I learned I used to serve her, my bard-master, because I loved her, and because I enjoyed what I did."
"So you were dutiful, but you still got in trouble?" Lenya asked.
"You can say it was my fault," Leliana shrugged, "There was a man I was sent to kill. I was to bring Marjolaine everything he carried. I don't know who this man was. She gave me a name and description, and I hunted him down. I found documents on his body-sealed documents," She explained in a matter of fact tone.
Lenya started to see where Leliana's tale was heading, "You opened them, didn't you?"
"My curiosity got better of me," Leliana smiled sadly a little, but when she continued her voice was serious, "Something told me that I needed to know what was in those letters."
"And that something was right?" Lenya asked and Leliana nodded.
"Marjolaine... had been selling all kinds of information about Orlais to the other countries-Nevarra and Antiva, among others. It was a treason," Leliana explained.
"Isn't that what bards do?" Lenya asked, confused. What she'd understood from the explanation Leliana had given her about the bards they were spies and what Marjolaine had done sounded a lot like spying.
"Some," Leliana nodded, "But I had always assumed Marjolaine only operated within Orlais. This was an unhappy surprise for me," She explained, "My life as a bard taught me that my loyalties should be kept fluid. My concern was not that she was a traitor, but that her life would be in danger if she was caught. Orlais has been at war with so many countries. It takes a harsh view of such things... as I later discovered."
"Did you give the documents to someone?" Lenya wanted to know.
"To Marjolaine. No one else," Leliana replied, "I resealed them and gave them to her, as she had instructed."
"You told her about them, didn't you?" Lenya inquired gently. She knew that Leliana was very protective of her friends and probably even more so to those she loved. There was no way Leliana would have left the issue alone if she thought her mentor and love could be in danger.
"I should have left well alone, but I didn't," Leliana sighed, "I had to tell Marjolaine I feared for her life."
"She told you it was nothing, didn't she?" Lenya guessed.
Leliana nodded, "She brushed aside my concern. She admitted her guilt, but said it was in the past. That is why the documents had to be destroyed, she said," She said, "I believed her. I kept believing, up till the moment they showed me the documents, altered by her hand to make me look the traitor," Tears started to flow from Leliana's eyes as she spoke.
"That bitch!" Lenya exclaimed and everything could be damned, but she was not going to just sit there and let Leliana cry without trying to comfort her. She moved and embraced Leliana. Leliana stiffened at first, but then she curled against Lenya and cried.
Lenya had no idea how long she sat there, holding Leliana as she cried, but eventually the sobs ended and silence seemed to fill the tent, "Who are 'they'?" Lenya asked after the silence had gone for a while.
"The Orlesian guards," Leliana replied quietly, her voice still shaky from the crying, "They captured me... did terrible things to make me confess and reveal my conspirators," Lenya did not inquire more details of what the guards did. She could imagine what had happen all too well. Not all the stories told by the Dalish were pleasant ones and the scars on Leliana's back told more than clearly how brutal it had been. Lenya was clenching her teeth and her vision was bathed in blue light. If she would ever get anyone of those people who had hurt her bard in her grasp... "It was a traitor's punishment I endured, and at the end of it, all that awaited me was eternity in an unmarked grave," Leliana continued to speak.
"How did you escape?" Lenya asked as gently as she could. Keeping the anger, she felt towards those who had wronged Leliana, out of her voice was not easy though.
"I had a little help in getting out of my cell," Leliana replied, she had started to draw little circles on Lenya's arm. That touch started to eat away the anger that seethed inside Lenya, "And at least the skills Marjolaine taught me were good at something," She let out a tired laugh.
"And you never sought revenge on Marjolaine for this?" Lenya asked incredulously. She knew herself well enough that she would have gone after the woman and exacted revenge from the bitches hide tenfold.
"I did not seek Marjolaine out," Leliana shook her head, "If she thought I was coming for her, she would have me caught again," Shiver seemed to go through Leliana and she clutched Lenya a bit tighter, "I was tempted to confront her; I was furious, betrayed... but what could I do against her?" Hopelessness on Leliana's voice made Lenya want to go find Marjolaine and strangle her with her bare hands.
"And so you came to Ferelden, to Lothering," Lenya said, wanting to get Leliana's mind of the horrible things.
"Yes, I fled, to Ferelden, to the Chantry and the Maker," Leliana replied, "Ferelden protected my person, and the Maker saved my soul," She added, "And that is the reason I am here. The real reason. No more lies between us, at least in this."
"No," Lenya smiled a bit, "Reason you are here is because I was spying on you while you bathed and you freaked out when you found out."
"True," Leliana chuckled a little. Sound of Leliana's chuckle touched Lenya in ways she could not describe, 'By the Creators I love that sound' - She thought, "It feels good to have this off my chest," Leliana said and then she moved her head so they were face to face, "Thank you for listening, and understanding," She said and gave Lenya a gentle kiss before she returned to snuggle on Lenya's lap, "This feels good," She said and then yawned, "I could... just... fall... aslee...p... her..."
Lenya watched as Leliana's breathing got heavier and she drifted in sleep, "You are safe with me, my heart," Lenya whispered in her own language.
When Leliana woke up, the first thing she noticed was that she was not sleeping in her own bedroll. She was in fact sleeping in Lenya's lap. Next thing she noticed, was that she was wearing no clothes at all, only a towel.
When Leliana looked up she was greeted by a pair of blue eyes looking down on her, "Morning, Ma vhenan," Lenya smiled.
"Morning," Leliana said and then realized that, if it was morning she had slept like this whole night and that... Lenya had been sitting there holding her that whole time, "Please tell me that you did not stay like that the whole night," She said. The position Lenya was in had to be uncomfortable.
"Okay, I won't say it," Lenya replied.
"Why did you not wake me?" Leliana asked and sat up, "That doesn't look very comfortable."
"There is no place I would have rather been last night," Lenya said, "No position I would rather been than holding you in my arms and keeping you safe while you slept," She added and touched Leliana's cheek with her hand, "Ma vhenan."
Tears threatened to blur her vision as her head spun from the sheer force of the emotion Lenya's words awakened in her. There was no hidden meanings, no manipulation in Lenya's words; she meant every word she said.
"I... I don't...!" Leliana started, but there were no words to describe what she felt, just then and there. So she leaned over and kissed Lenya.
The kiss started as a light touch of their lips, but that lasted only for a moment before she could feel Lenya's arms circle her and pull her into a tighter embrace and the kiss deepened.
At some point she felt Lenya's hand start to wander on her skin and she could feel the heat starting to build up within her. Fleeting thought went through her mind telling her that they were supposed to take it slow, but it was gone before it had even properly formed, erased by the near torturing touch of Lenya's fingertips traveling on her skin.
Then the tent flap bursted inside and Abelas rushed in. His head tilted aside and tongue lolled out of his mouth. He let out an excited bark and his tiny tail moved furiously.
"Abelas..." Lenya pulled out of the kiss, her breathing hard and her cheeks flustered, "Very bad timing!" She almost growled at the mabari.
"Or maybe it was a good timing," Leliana said, her breathing was not any less labored and she was probably even more annoyed about the interruption, but part of her wanted their first time be perfect and not happening like this.
"Perhaps..." Lenya admitted, "But at the moment I want to strangle him," She added and gave Abelas a hard glare. Abelas lowered his head to the ground and tried to look very apologetic. He emphasized it by letting out a quiet whimper. His effort was ruined by enthusiastically wagging tail.
Leliana chuckled, "You could never do that to him," She said, "Look at how cute he is."
"He's too smart for his own good," Lenya muttered, still unhappy about the interruption, but Leliana saw that corners of her mouth were tugging as she tried to hold smile away from her lips. Lenya was right though, Abelas was too smart for his own good. '...Smart enough not to speak, indeed.' He was like four legged Morrigan.
Abelas, who came to the conclusion that he was forgiven let out a happy bark and then darted out of the tent.
"You better put your clothes on," Lenya said, "Or I might just continue what I was about to do before Abelas came in," She added and her eyes wandered on Leliana's naked body, making Leliana blush and lift her towel up.
"Perhaps you should go wait outside," Leliana managed shyly. She'd never been this conscious of her body before.
"You might be right," Lenya said and got up, "By the Creators!" She breathed when she was up and her eyes went wide.
"What?" Leliana asked, worriedly.
"My ass feels like Fen'Harel had been using it as a chew toy," Lenya replied and she stumbled out of the tent. Leliana heard her continue cursing. It was probably because of the riding and because Lenya had just sat on the hard ground all night that she was stiff.
Leliana started to pull her clothes on, but she stopped it for a moment and let her mind linger on Lenya's touch. She could still feel Lenya's fingers on her skin. Gently brushing and sending tendrils of pleasure through her.
"Damn you, Abelas," She whispered and pulled rest of her clothes on.
When she finally stepped out of the tent she was greeted by Morrigan, "T'is 'bout time you wake up," The witch said, "You think I enjoy staying on watch the whole night?"
"Enough, Morrigan," Lenya interrupted behind Leliana, "Abelas did the guarding last night as I instructed him to," Lenya said and Abelas let out a bark that could be only describe as a dutiful, "It's not my fault if you did not feel secure enough and decided to keep watch..." Lenya turned to look at Abelas and something moved between them, "... as a bird in a tree," She turned to look at Morrigan, "You really flew up in there and kept watch as a bird?"
Leliana felt miserable as she listened Lenya and Morrigan talk. Because she slept the whole night the others had not been able to sleep at all. Not even Lenya whose lap she had slept on.
"We seem to be alive and no one attacked us so you can stop complaining," Lenya continued. Leliana must have missed Morrigan's reply, "You were hardly in danger anyway in that tree."
"Fine, have it your way," Morrigan snorted and left towards her own fire.
"She is right to be angry," Leliana said, "Because of me..." She started, but Lenya put her finger on her lips and silenced her protests.
"Not because of you," Lenya shook her head, "I made the decision to stay in the tent and rely only on Abelas as a guard," She continued, "And I told Morrigan that she should keep herself safe. The fact that she kept watch the whole night as a bird was a surprise, but that is not your fault either," Lenya continued and Leliana wanted to argue about it, but she knew that this was a fight she could not win. Mainly because in deep down she knew that Lenya was right. Only thing she was guilty of was falling asleep, "Only thing you are guilty of is falling asleep," Lenya said and Leliana's head snapped up. Did Lenya read her mind? - She wondered, "I, however could be held responsible of all the things you are trying to blame yourself with."
"But..." Leliana tried, but was silenced again by Lenya, with a kiss this time.
"T'is sickening to watch," Leliana heard Morrigan comment.
"Then don't watch," Lenya scoffed, "Or you could talk with Wynne about it. I'm sure she will be happy that you two can share this dislike for my relationship with Leliana," She suggested then, "Think about how nice it would be to chat with Wynne each evening about how childish and stupid I am."
"Hrmph!" Morrigan snorted and again left them alone.
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?" Leliana asked and smiled.
"I have absolutely no idea what do you mean," Lenya said and then she grinned, "But... Yes I did."
"I thought so," Leliana smiled again, "I think we should get going, I fear that if we delay the demon will force the issue in Redcliffe and I'm not sure if Alistair can do what needs to be done."
"You are right, we do need to hurry, but you don't need to worry about our companions in Redcliffe," Lenya assured her and started to dismantle the tent, "If Alistair can't do what is required or Wynne tries to talk him out of it, I left Sten the instructions to slay the abomination."
"You didn't trust Alistair?" Leliana asked and joins in dismantling the tent.
"I do trust him, but he has never been forced to choose life or death of someone close to him. If he hesitates too long we may not have a Redcliffe to come back to," Lenya replied, "So I instructed Sten to step in if that happen."
"You didn't tell Alistair about that?" Leliana asked.
"Of course not," Lenya snorted, "If he thinks I don't trust him he just goes back to following me like a puppy."
"The idiot does that anyway," Morrigan joined the conversation. Somehow she already had packed her tent away and was ready to move, "Are you two done playing home?" She asked accusingly.
"Not really," Lenya shook her head, "Hard to be done when we never even began it," She added smiling innocently, "But if you meant if we have done packing then we are not quite done yet as you can see."
Leliana hid her smile. Lenya was the only one who could get even with Morrigan and it was always entertaining. It was almost as entertaining as watching when Oghren's tried to bed the witch.
"I'll be up there," Morrigan said like Lenya had not even said anything to her. Then the air shimmered around her and her form changed to a hawk.
"That must be great," Lenya said wistfully and followed the hawk with her eyes, "We better get these packed and get on our way," She said, "I really don't want her to come back again and ask if we are ready."
"I'd prefer that as well;" Leliana smiled and they got to work.
Ten minutes later they were riding towards the Circle Tower. If all went well they should arrive there before dusk and with luck they would be on their way back the next morning.
Alistair was standing in the castle wall and watched the road leading up to the castle. He had barely slept since Lenya had left, almost four days ago. If all had gone well Lenya should be on her way back and hopefully she had the mages with her.
"You should go to sleep," Wynne's motherly and lecturing voice said behind him, "You do no one favors if you fall down from exhaustion."
"I can't sleep," Alistair said, "I tried, but I keep waking up as soon as I am starting to fall into a deeper sleep," He explained. He felt the Fade all too clearly here. Sometimes the templar training was a pain in the ass.
"Are you afraid that things will go wrong if you sleep?" Wynne asked.
"I guess," Alistair shrugged, "Mainly I think it's the closeness of the Fade and I am also worrying my ass off about..."
"About Lenya," Wynne finished his sentence and he nodded, "She will come back with the help we need," She assured him, "If there is anyone in Ferelden who can get the mages and templars to help her it's Lenya."
Alistair turned to look at Wynne, "That is... surprising, coming from you," He said and studied the old mage curiously.
"I may not agree with her on some things, but I do respect her skills and her ability to unite disparate groups to her cause," Wynne smiled, "It's rather curious when you think about it. She has no diplomatic skills, she hates most humans she meets and despises politicking, but still she moves through them with almost effortless ease and secures their help against the Blight."
"It's hard to say no to her when she threatens to cut your head off," Alistair chuckled, "Luckily she is not as angry as she was when I saw her the first time. We would have a lot of headless humans here if she was still like that," He said and then lifted his eyes on Wynne's, "Most of that is because of Leliana, she calms Lenya."
"There is possibility of great tragedy there," Wynne said and then she sighed, "But I suspect that Lenya knows it... perhaps even better than this old woman."
"None of us knew what she had to go through in the Fade," Alistair said, "You could have not known," He comforted Wynne.
"You don't have to comfort me," Wynne smiled, "I acted on the knowledge I had and even though the lesson was already known to Lenya, I was not wrong to speak up."
"And what is the purpose of these lectures you are giving her?" Alistair asked.
"To prepare her for her role as a Grey Warden," Wynne replied.
"Not to be ungrateful, but I don't think it's working," Alistair said and rolled his eyes, "And more to the point I don't think she needs to prepare for it. She is natural at it."
"Perhaps," Wynne said, but before she could continue a shout from the tower alerted them, "I think Lenya is returning."
"Where?" Alistair asked and tried to see if anyone was moving on the road. He could not see anything there.
"At the lake," Wynne pointed down on the village of Redcliffe and sure enough there was a large boat near the shore there and smaller boat was moving towards the shoreline, "I'm impressed," Wynne said and shook her head in disbelief.
"Why?" Alistair asked. He did not see anything impressive on the boats.
"I would not think she could persuade Gregoir to lend her the use of those ships," Wynne replied, "Those are for templar use only."
"We better go meet them and find out if Gregoir is still breathing," Alistair suggested and they both started to move towards the stairs.
When they got to the main hall Lenya and Irving were already there. Alistair could not see any other mages around, but he saw Gregoir standing near Jowan.
"Who do you want to send in the Fade?" Irving asked from Lenya when Alistair and Wynne stepped inside the hall.
"I had not considered it yet," Lenya replied.
"I can have one of my mages do it, but I think it would be better if you decide it," Irving said, "It seems that the Lady Isolde trusts you more than she does us."
Lenya seemed to considered that for a while and then nodded, "In that case I think Wynne would be best suited for this, if she agrees to it that is," Lenya said and looked Wynne questioningly.
"I would be honored," Wynne replied and smiled, "And in that case I think I need to go to prepare," She added and left them.
"I'm glad you are back," Alistair said to Lenya after Wynne was gone.
"Worried that you have to beat the Blight all on your own?" Lenya smiled.
"Maker, I would not wish that fate on anyone," Alistair grinned at her and then looked around, "Where's Leliana?"
"She wanted to stay and see that the mages and templars get our horses to the shore safely," Lenya replied and turned to face Irving, "Do you need us for the ritual?"
"We are prepared for all possible outcomes, but it would not hurt to have you there as well," Irving replied, "You have shown remarkable strength of will by resisting demons here and before in the Circle. It would be foolish not to use a resource like that."
"We'll be there," Lenya nodded.
"Hopefully we don't need to kill Wynne if she goes and turns into an abomination as well," Alistair muttered.
"She's too stubborn to succumb to demons," Lenya snorted.
"Ah, been on the receiving end of Wynne's lectures, I see," Irving laughed, "I would appreciate it if you would not kill her," He added and grinned at Lenya.
"I promise that if she annoys me too much, instead of beheading her I just leave her standing by the road," Lenya promised.
"I thank you for that," Irving smiled, "She is really good with the children and I would hate to lose her."
"She just doesn't know the difference between an adult and a child," Lenya said.
"When you get older that line tends to get a little blurry," Irving smiled at Lenya.
"And here I thought that the old people were the wise ones," Lenya chuckled at Irving.
"No, we just think we are and use the gray hair as a weapon to make the younger ones think so too," Irving replied.
While he watched those two casually talking, Alistair could not really fathom how at ease Lenya was when she talked with Irving. Irving was the only human outside their group Lenya seemed to respect.
"I knew it!" Lenya exclaimed with feigned anger, "You sneaky old people!" She added accusingly. Her eyes betrayed her though. They held amusement.
"Now behave and I don't send you to your room," Irving continued and then they both started to laugh.
Alistair could only shake his head. He would never be able to fully understand Lenya.
A young mage approached Irving and Lenya. Her movements were a bit hesitant, "Yes?" Irving asked when he noticed her.
"We are ready to start, First Enchanter," The young mage said.
"Ah, good, the faster we get this done the happier I am," Irving said, "Please follow me," He motioned to Lenya and Alistair.
They all followed the young mage out of the hall.
Lenya stood at the highest tower she could find from the Castle Redcliffe and watched the stars. From what Irving and Gregoir said the ritual to save Connor had been successful. Boy himself had no memory of the time he'd been under the demons influence. Like Teagan had said; it was a blessing.
Arl Eamon had not wakened from his comatose state, but neither had he died. Whatever the demon had done to him had stopped the poison, but also still kept him unconscious.
And now Lenya had apparently agreed to go and find the ashes of a woman who had died hundreds of years ago. That itself told much about her own mental state. She must be completely out of her mind to even consider something like that and there she had been, happily... well not happily but at least not unhappily telling Isolde and Teagan that she would do it.
"I am completely and utterly insane!" Lenya said aloud, "There is no other explanation. I probably hit my head too hard at some fight and now I think chasing myths is a good idea."
"There is no question that you are completely and utterly insane, mon coeur," Leliana said behind her, "That is one of your most interesting qualities,"
"How comforting," Lenya chuckled, "What brings you up here, ma vhenan?"
"You," Leliana replied and circled her hands around Lenya's waist and embraced her and rested her chin on Lenya's shoulder, "Stars are out," Leliana said and they both looked up in the night sky.
"There is still beauty to be found in this world," Lenya said and leaned against Leliana's body, trusting her to keep her from falling.
"It comforts me to know that the stars will remain untouched by the Blight- that whatever happens down here, they will shine eternally, their light undimmed," Leliana said her voice and breath caressed Lenya's ear in a way that made her shiver, "There is a story about that cluster of stars over there," Leliana pointed in the sky, "Do you know it? Alindra and her soldier?"
"I can't say I've heard it," Lenya said and she knew that even if she'd heard it she would have said no, just so she could hear Leliana tell that story to her.
"A long time ago, there lived a fair maiden called Alindra," Leliana started to tell the story, just like Lenya had wanted, "She had many suitors, but spurned them all, for she did not love them," Leliana shifted her body a bit so they both were more comfortable, "One day, Alindra was sitting by her window in her father's castle, singing and dreaming, when her lovely voice caught the attention of a young soldier," Like always when she listened Leliana's stories she could see them happening in front of her eyes, "Entranced by her song, the soldier drew near to Alindra's window. As their eyes met, he fell in love with her, and she with him."
Lenya could easily relate to that soldier. She was as entranced by Leliana's voice as the soldier in the story was for Alindra's voice. Leliana's voice was like magic to her.
"When Alindra told her father about the man she had chosen, he was furious, for Alindra was high-born, but her love nothing more than a common soldier," The story continued, "To keep them apart, he had Alindra imprisoned in the highest tower of his castle and sent her soldier to the wars," Typical man, Lenya thought, they were always locking women up in the stories, "Alas, not a month had passed before news of the soldier's death reached Alindra. Alone in her tower, Alindra wept for her love and beseeched the gods to deliver her from this cruel world," Lenya liked that part, this lady did not pray for the Maker, but gods, in plural. Maybe this was a tale from ancient times when elves were still free, "So earnest was her plea that the gods themselves were moved. They gathered Alindra into their arms and lifted her high into the heavens, where she became a star," Lenya sighed at that. She always got emotional with these kind of stories.
"The gods also raised up the soul of Alindara's soldier love and there he dwells, across the horizon from her," In her mind Lenya changed the soldier to be a woman, "The band of stars between them is a river of Alindra's tears, cried for her lost love. They say that when Alindra has cried enough, she will be able to cross the river to be reunited with her soldier," Leliana finished the story.
They watched the stars in silence for a while before Lenya broke it, "That's a beautiful story."
"This story is one of my favorites, a tale of a love so great and so enduring that it defies death, and moves the gods to action," Leliana said, "Sometimes I ask myself, does such a love exist? Can it exist?"
"If we lose hope in love, then we are truly lost," Lenya said, her voice serious.
"I never expected you to say that," Leliana whispered to her ear, "It is... a pleasant surprise."
Lenya smiled, "I'm secretly a terrible romantic," Then she turned around to face Leliana, "Don't tell the others I said that."
"Of course not, It will be our secret," Leliana giggled, "I have to say there is certain severity to you," She said, "Finding a person behind that all is nice," She continued, "Maybe you should let your softer side show more often. Sometimes following your heart, not your head, leads you to remarkable places."
"My softer side, is for you alone, Ma vhenan," Lenya said and then kissed Leliana. After the kiss ended Lenya turned again and leaned against Leliana and they returned to watch the stars.
Teagan and Isolde had both been grateful for all they had done so they had no need to use their own coins to resupply themselves and even though the village had suffered in the hands of the demon the villagers were more than happy to lend a hand.
When they left the village and took the road that would take them into the Denerim everyone seemed to be in a happy mood. Well, except Morrigan. For some reason the witch was giving disapproving looks to Lenya.
"What's got into her knickers?" Alistair finally asked and nodded towards Morrigan, "Abelas did not put a dead hare there again did he?"
"No, it's not Abelas this time," Lenya replied, "Or at least I think it's not," She gave Abelas a questioning look and the mabari let out a hurtful whine. He obviously was gravely insulted that they had suspected him, "No, not his doings this time."
"Then what?" Alistair asked, but Lenya just ignored him now.
"Morrigan disapproved how Lenya decided to use the money we saved since Teagan and the villagers resupplied us," Leliana answered and she now got a disapproving look from Lenya. Leliana smiled at her and then continued, "Lenya gave quite a nice sum to Kaytlin and her brother so they could make a trip to the Denerim and find their relatives."
That surprised Alistair and he turned to look at Lenya who was looking anywhere else, but to them. He heard Lenya muttering something about bards not knowing when to keep a secret. Leliana obviously heard it too since she grinned at Alistair.
"I can see how the witch would not like that," Alistair said and then decided to drop the issue, "I know I said we should try to help Eamon, but is it really wise for us to go to the Denerim?"
"We should be alright as long as we disguise ourselves a bit," Lenya replied, "Mainly I think we need to cover our armor somehow or I do at least. I doubt we could stay hidden long if I go there openly while wearing this," She added and pointed at her armor, "I would leave it off altogether, but I might need it if things don't go as planned."
"Sounds reasonable," Alistair nodded, "You think it will be enough?"
"There is one other thing," Lenya said, "One very crucial other thing," She continued, "You need to appear to be leading us there."
"What? Why?" Alistair asked and dread appeared in his stomach.
"Think it through, Alistair," Lenya just suggested.
"I don't... Oh!" Alistair started and then it hit him. In the city ruled by humans and where humans thought elves to be little more than servants, Lenya leading them would reveal them really fast. He had been with Lenya so long that it didn't seem at all strange that she lead them. He should have though, since it had been barely a week when Teagan had struggled to comprehend that elf was leading them.
"I see you got it," Lenya smiled at him, "I am touched, that you had to think about it."
"You're welcome... I think," Alistair said.
"I think you and I should still mostly stay out of sight," Lenya said, "We know that Loghain has a general idea of what we look or this Howe has at least. Zevran said it was he who did the hiring. Loghain just approved it."
"You think they know how our companions look?" Alistair asked.
"They might know, but more than likely they have only descriptions of you two and then they have added something like 'they may travel with others'" Leliana replied, "The fact that Lenya, an elf, is leading us and that she is so noticeable works to our advantage. They might know how you look, but most will just dismiss our group because they are looking for a group led by an elven woman."
"Surely they have to know we know it and that we would do exactly what you described," Alistair pointed out.
"Oh, I'm sure there are some who do think that, but it is very likely that those are the people who command the people who do that actual guarding, not the guards themselves," Leliana said and she rolled her eyes when she noticed that he was staring at her, confused, "People don't usually pay guards for thinking and, take for example, guarding a gate is boring duty."
"And guards in big cities don't think elves are intelligent enough to come up with a scheme like what we are planning," Zevran said, "They tend to think elves are just filthy beggars who don't know how to tie their bootstraps."
"Okay, so we are trusting to the stupidity of the guards and for the arrogance of the humans," Alistair summed up what he'd understood of the joint explanation.
"Pretty much," Zevran nodded, "We just need to keep our glorious leader in check so she will not go chopping the heads off from the people who insult her," He added and shot a grin towards Lenya.
"And for a moment there I thought this will be easy," Alistair also grinned at Lenya.
"I don't have a habit of cutting heads off from people," Lenya said, "I just help them and remove the parts they no longer need."
"I'm sure they do appreciate how kind you are," Zevran laughed.
"I hope so," Lenya just said, "I put a lot of thought in my efforts to make their lives better."
Alistair smiled as he watched Lenya and Zevran engage in a conversation. It was always rather entertaining to listen to those two. He still did not approve Zevran's sexual innuendos towards Lenya, but he knew well enough that Lenya did not need a knight in a shining armor coming to her defense. She was perfectly capable of being her own knight in a shining armor and Alistair had to admit that she was better at handling Zevran than Alistair could ever hope to be.
He turned his head and saw Leliana watching Lenya and Zevran as well. She seemed to be amused of the display those two were providing, but there was something in Leliana's body language that said 'She's mine' whenever Zevran added flirts in his talks.
While he listened those two he almost managed to forget that they were on their way into the city where all the power was in the hands of a man who had put a price on his and Lenya's heads. Their plan seemed a good one, but he could not shake the uneasiness he was feeling.
A/N: And that is the end of the Chapter 28 and the Redcliffe storyline. It ended up being at least one chapter longer than I though it would be.
Fluff this chapter contained could not be avoided. I had to get Leliana's past told and this seemed like a good time to do it. I also wanted to deepen the romance a bit... :) It does seem to happen really fast, but not sure if I can help it much and of course there is a lot of days when they just travel and nothing out of ordinary happens. Hopefully the time balances itself out. :)
I also wanted to get Leliana's Alindra story to the story. I've always liked it and it is also something Lenya would enjoy.
Alistair and Wynne relationship I will keep pretty much as it is in the game and it does fit those two well.
Really don't know how Lenya's relationship with Irving became how it is. That was those things that just happen on their own.
Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed the chapter.
Reviews, good or bad, are welcomed.
