Chapter 28

The Lady and the Lost

The assembly of the clans was yet another overly large building, built by a small people.

Bethany could almost hear her sister making some crack about how the dwarves must be compensating for something; it brought a hint of a smile to her face. Marian, Maker bless her, couldn't be serious about anything for five minutes. She had always tried to brighten the mood when things got too serious. Bethany missed that.

The assembly had been in session when they arrived, one of the guards had led Justin in leaving Bethany alone with Faizyl and Milady.

The Mabari whined nervously at the random dwarves who passed far too close to her mistress. After the attack in the commons, the dog had refused to leave her side when she ventured from the warden quarter. She stroked the pup's head, trying to calm her.

Faizyl leaned up against the wall, studying an arrowhead as he rolled it over his knuckles. She really did not know what to make of him. He was clearly a competent warrior, but the strangest things obsessed him. On the way here, he sang" I'm going to the assembly," in a childlike refrain over and over again. Justin's glare had finally caused him to be silent. Then, once that was done he began asking her how it had felt to be dosed with the Black Hand. He had never met anyone who had survived it until now.

It was something that she did not care to discuss.

She just did not understand the dwarf, true her own experience with his people was extremely limited, but from what she had learned from her friend Varric, Faizyl did not seem to fit. He did not seem like a nobleman's son.

He cared nothing for politics for one, could care less in fact. Business and the advance of his house held no pleasure for him. He was interested in engineering she could tell, that climbing vest he wore was proof of that, and he was clearly a skilled archer, but all these were tools a means to an ends.

What he clearly did not like was the King.

She had mentioned how much the dwarves had gained under Bhelen, that the recovery of several of their thaigs outside of Orzammar was an impressive feat. Faizyl had snorted at that, saying that for all of Bhelen's successes it was important to remember how many bodies were buried beneath them. Bhelen's ascent to the throne had been far from bloodless, and that one day he would have to answer for it.

That was the last time she had discussed the King with him.

Behind the closed doors, the Assembly had turned into a shouting match. They could hear the angry muffled voices even through the hard stone doors.

"My lords do not trust this man!" Justin roared from inside, "He is a parasite and will bring destruction down upon you and your houses!"

Bethany shivered slightly; Justin could be very… passionate when he wanted to be, she was happy not to be on the receiving end of that statement.

"Your man has quite a set of pipes on him my lady," Faizyl chuckled, "I say he fits in quite well in the Assembly."

"Justin is just angry. He has…" that is when she realized what the dwarf had just said, her eyes widened, "Oh…um…Justin…he and I are not together." She said quickly fighting a blush, "He is one of my best friends just…" she realized how bad her sputtering sounded and just stopped, "…it is complicated."

"Ah…friends with benefits then, I understand," the wild eyed dwarf giggled, "Not that I blame you. Wardens are quite skilled in matters beyond battle from what I understand."

Her blush deepened, "No! That's not it either…he…we…I."

Faizyl cackled, clearly enjoying her discomfort, Milady growled at the archer.

Bethany groaned, ugh the man was such a …dwarf.

They were quiet then for at least a moment. Milady rubbed her head against Bethany's hand, trying to sooth her troubled mistress.

She found herself wondering how the others were doing. Wren had seemed fairly confident in what he needed to accomplish. Bethany would have preferred to go with them, but Justin had said no. She was still not back to full strength yet, and he felt safer with her here.

Bethany did not want or need to be coddled. She could take care of herself, usually; the poison blade that had caught her had been a surprise. If only Lord Gavorn had not dived behind her she might have been able to protect them both.

Or he might have died in your stead.

She hated the fact that everyone felt the need to protect her; it was something that had seemed to happen all her life, others willing to sacrifice themselves for her sake. Mother, Marian, Carver, even Justin: she was not just some fragile doll. Her powers should have been enough; sadly sometimes they came up short.

Of course all these points were moot, hopefully Justin would be able to convince the Assembly of the righteousness of their cause, that the dwarves would see how much of a danger these rogue Templars were. These Exaltednists were a cult; they worshipped their Knight-Commander, swearing that he was invincible.

Justin intended to put that lie to the test.

She fought the urge to start pacing, the shouting within the chamber intensified.

Maker she thought with a shake of her head.

"You there Mage?"

The voice was cold and authorative. Bethany flinched, she hated to be called "Mage," she was a person, and deserved to be treated as such. She turned to give the dwarf who called herself a piece of her mind.

And found herself standing nose to nose with a powerful human female knight.

The woman was beautiful, but with a hardness that only a life of combat could bring, her blonde hair was cut short, her blue eyes piercing. Her manner suggested a woman used to command, and more than used to having her orders obeyed. She carried a great sword strapped to her back. The silver and blue tunic she wore was covered by a fine suit of silverite plate, the symbol of the white griffon emblazoned her chest plate.

The woman was another Grey Warden.

"I was told that there was a warden addressing the Assembly," the woman said in a clipped Orlesian accent, "I would speak with him."

"They are still inside," she said nervously, something in the sharpness of the woman's words made her want to obey immediately. Faizyl regarded the new Warden curiously.

The door to the Assembly flew open allowing those inside to exit. The first was a human man in the robes of the Chantry. Though dressed as a brother his carriage and physique suggested a warrior. He practically sneered at Bethany and the female knight as he exited.

Justin was not allowed out until last. The dwarves had feared he would create a scene. He emerged glaring death at the retreating "brother" the object of his wrath within the chamber, a visiting Exaltednist, here under the protection of several of the Deshyrs.

It was almost too much for Justin to bear.

If only the dwarves not taken his weapons.

He slammed his fist into a pillar with an angry snarl. Bethany winced as she heard the bones crack.

"Brother," the Orlesian said calmly.

He regarded her for the first time; the markings on her armor marked her as a lieutenant commander in the order. He shook his injured fist, pain clear on his face.

Foolish man, Bethany thought.

She approached him, concern in her eyes as she regarded his hand. He tried to wave the mage away.

"It will be alright. I just…"

She ignored him taking the injure hand in hers. Blue light flowed into it healing the wound. Justin let out a relieved sigh.

"Now it will be alright," Bethany said releasing him.

The Orlesian cleared her throat, drawing both their attention.

"I am Leonie Caron, Warden of Orlais," she said with a respectful bow.

"Justin, Commander of the Grey of… well nowhere in particular," he said with an amused smile. Orlesian attention to protocol had always amused him.

"Nowhere, but how could that…" The Orlesian frowned confused, then she seemed to understand her eyes widened slightly.

"You…you are Lost Garrison, yes?"

Justin nodded.

Lost Garrison? Bethany had never heard the term before.

The Orlesian snapped to attention, "Commander my apologies. You are…you are not here to investigate us are you? I assure you the Orlesian Garrison are above reproach."

"At ease Lieutenant," Justin smirked, "it is a Templar that concerns us now, not the Wardens of Orlais."

The female warden breathed a sigh of relief.

Bethany was shocked; she had not realized that Justin had such power within the Order.

"Sadly there is nothing more we can do here today," Justin said glancing hatefully where the Exaltednist had departed, "We should return to our quarters. I am interested to hear why Orlais has wardens here," he said addressing the Lieutenant.

The woman nodded, falling in step next to Justin, Bethany, Faizyl, and the Mabari fell in behind them.

The mage found herself scowling at the woman's back. The familiarity that she and Justin talked…bothered her, and what was this about a Lost Garrison? Bethany had many questions for her childhood friend.

"Just friends huh," Faizyl asked her chuckling, "too bad."

Bethany glared at the dwarf; yes she had many questions for Justin.

She hoped he had answers.

IOI

Wren felt like a conquering hero as they returned from Dust Town. Much had been accomplished today. The carta had been properly educated, and now the mage collective would soon have a new source of lyrium.

He could not be more pleased.

They arrived to find the Warden Quarters bustling; over a dozen Orlesian Wardens regarded them coldly as they went about their business.

Lovely, Wren thought, we're being invaded by Orlais, again.

As a native Fereldan he still held his dislike for the painted fops. Plus, years of raiding their shipping had made him come to respect there prowess even less. Still these men were Warden and deserved his respect.

Mostly.

They regarded Merrill and Serene with a sense of disdain. Given the chauvinistic attitude within the Empire, being both women and elves would have made either unlikely for recruitment.

The Orlesians likely saw the two elves as just tits and ass, well …Serene at least… given Merrill's lack of a figure, Wren though with an amused sneer, he looked forward to either elf proving them wrong.

Nothing was better than seeing an arrogant Chevalier taken down a peg.

He spotted Justin in the middle of the throng conferring with an older man as well as a hard yet very attractive young blonde. Bethany stood behind Justin glaring at the woman.

Wren smiled.

He approached the four with his most winning smile on his face.

"Mission accomplished Captain," he said with great flourish.

Justin nodded; at least something had worked out today.

Wren smiled warmly at the Orlesian flower in the battle armor, "Andreas Wren at your service my lady," he bowed low, Serene rolled her eyes behind him. "And you are?"

"Not interested." The woman said sharply turning on her heel and walking away.

Wren flinched, oh well.

Everyone in the group behind him laughed.

Justin excused himself from the older warrior, pulling the others aside.

"They have come to attend the old man's calling," he informed his fellow Wardens, "You don't have to attend, but I would appreciate it. Unfortunately it is Wardens only for the end of the ceremony."

Wren shrugged, let the Wardens have their private party. He cared not. Besides he was eager to rest after today's excursion.

"There is a grand proving scheduled to honor our orders sacrifice tomorrow. We should attend that for the sake of appearance."

Bethany sighed she had no real interest in watching blood sports, but if Justin said they go, she would go.

Wren heard her ask Justin if they could talk later. The Commander agreed, and left to help the wardens prepare for the calling ceremony that was to take place this evening.

What is that about he wondered, oh well it would come out in the end.

For now he wanted food, drink, and rest; he felt he had earned it.

For more ways than one.

IOI

It was late when he finally knocked on her door.

The calling had been a bittersweet experience for the wardens. On one hand they were honoring one of their own. On the other, they were sending the man to his death. The Warden, a man named Renald, had seemed at peace with his fate. He had even joked with his brothers and sisters before proceeding towards the deep roads entrance. Leonie, the warden knight, had tears in her eyes as she embraced the old man; apparently he had been her mentor. Justin prayed that when his time came he would greet it with such grace as the old warden had. The old one had left with not a single word, just squared his shoulders, took up his shield and sword and walked into the darkness, the doors closing behind him.

After that the Wardens had journeyed to Tapsters to toast the old man's life. Justin had excused himself before things got too out of control, he had promised to speak with Bethany tonight.

Leonie had not wanted him to go; the female warden had done her best to convince him to stay. Justin had declined, respectfully.

You pass up a sure thing to attend to something you can never have, smart Oslin.

He knocked loudly on the stone door.

Milady glanced up sleepily, sniffing the air, sensing no danger the dog lay back down.

"Enter," Bethany said not bothering to look up from her book.

Justin entered, he was still a little nervous despite the dwarven ale he had consumed earlier as the wardens celebrated their departing brother's life. He probably should have waited for morning, but seeing light filtering under Bethany's door he realized he should take the chance.

"Anything good," he asked referring to the tome.

"Interesting," she replied closing the book, "King Bhelen Aeducan had an interesting path to power. Did you he was actually the youngest of three. His elder brother was murdered, by their middle brother, who was then exiled."

"Well…that sucks." Justin said glibly.

Bethany laughed, "Yes, it does."

Justin rubbed the back of his head nervously, after Harper's Ford he could not stop thinking about the night she had spent in his room. Nothing had happened, but…

Keep your grubby paws off my sister Oslin!

Carver's words were better than a cold shower it seemed.

Bethany sighed stretching and arching her back, Justin tried not to stare, but the airy circle robes made it very difficult.

"Any ideas on how best to deal with the dwarves?" he asked, diverting his gaze the best he could, "I seem not to be able to relate to them."

She paused… thinking, a finger tapping her chin lightly.

"I'm afraid we are going to have to play their games if we want to gain anything here. Honor, or at least the appearance of it, is very important. You want to sway them to your side you must be willing to play by those rules."

"When in dwarven lands, do as they do."

"Exactly." She said with a slight smile.

Justin had come to enjoy that smile, the way her face seemed to light up when it was there. He wished that she would smile at him like that forever.

Whoa boy, back up before you go to a place you don't want to be.

"Can I ask a question?"

He nodded, surprised by her formal tone.

"Justin," she asked, "What is the Lost Garrison?"

He pursed his lip; technically she should not have heard that. Leonie in her haste had spoken out of turn, still it did know harm to tell her what he knew. He knew she could keep a secret, and if he said nothing she would likely get the answer from Colo or Merrill later.

He sat down at the writing desk near the bed before he continued, gathering his thoughts.

"How familiar are you with the history of the Warden in Ferelden? He asked.

"Not very," she admitted with a shrug, "I know the wardens were banished some centuries ago."

"That is where the lost Garrison began," he said trying to remember all that Commander Torrik had told him, "Back then the wardens had tried to overthrow the King. It was a violation of everything the order stands for; most of the wardens in Ferelden flocked to the commander's banner eager to help."

"Most, but not all?" she asked.

"Yes," he admitted, "about forty Wardens fled Ferelden seeking shelter in Orlais, but after what had happened in Ferelden the Orlesians did not want them. The Ferelden wardens were seen as renegades, outlaws, too dangerous to continue serving. Officially they were recalled to Weishaupt, tried, convicted, and executed for treason."

"And unofficially?"

Justin smiled; Bethany always was the smart one.

"Unofficially they continued to serve, but at the First Warden's behest. The Ferelden Commander had created a dangerous precedent. The survivors were cast with the mission of ensuring that no Warden betrayed their oath like that again. If this occurred then the Lost Garrison would be sent to deal with it."

"So every time a warden has gone too far, or someone has sought to use powers the wardens feel are too dangerous. The Lost Garrison has been summoned."

Bethany remembered how the Orlesian had reacted when she heard about Justin being one of the Lost. Her reaction it seemed was more understandable.

"So you are like the Seekers of Truth then?"

"In a fashion," Justin shrugged, "We are given broad powers to deal with whatever threat we are tasked to deal with, almost as much as we are given in a time of Blight.

"This Delance situation, Templars playing with the darkspawn taint falls well within our mandate. We are to use any means necessary to end this threat. Unfortunately Delance is politically connected, the Divine herself has honored him before, so the rest of the order cannot be seen aiding us. No one wants the Grey Wardens to be seen as rebels again, if we are caught or killed. The other Wardens will declare us outlaws and say we acted totally on our own."

Bethany winced, their task seemed a little bit more impossible now.

"Don't worry, we only have to expose Delance for the treacherous bastard that he is, we find something we can offer to the Divine then the whole of the order will come down on his exaltedness like a storm." Justin sneered as he used the Templars title, "Personally though, I hope we can get to him before that. After losing most of our Garrison to the son of a bitch I would like to see him at the end of my sword, not on the Divine's gallows."

Bethany shifted nervously, the passion in which Justin performed his duty scared her sometimes, but also excited her a little as well.

"But I should not keep you further," he said with a tired smile, "I fear I'm going to have a wicked hangover tomorrow and I would like to have time to deal with it before the proving."

The mage giggled at that.

"Alright," she said an amused look on her face, "nighty-night Justin."

"Good night," he said closing her door.

He sighed, trying to push back the depression about their task. He needed to be seen in a better light with the dwarves, they needed to see he had the favor of their ancestors. Hopefully something would come to him before the proving to…

the proving. Hmmm.

A slight smile crept over the young warden's face. Tomorrow may be busier than he thought.

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