Chapter 28! I love the conversations that the companions have with each other - some are just hilarious! I also love the rose giving - it's just so cute and makes me so happy inside! :3


Chapter 28:

Heroes Bring Roses:

It was the most painful week of my life. My injuries were mostly healed, thanks to Wynne, but I was not allowed to walk or fight at all. I knew my companions were strong, and could handle whatever attacked us, but I seriously hated just watching them fight and not being able to do sodding anything. I sighed and lay down on my stomach, watching my companions as they walked. I spotted Morrigan and Sten walking together, taking. It was a bit odd. Zevran was trailing behind Leliana, his eyes not moving from her behind. Leliana was beside Alistair, giggling as they spoke. I felt angry for a moment and quickly shook it away, there was nothing wrong with those two getting alone. Why should I care?

Their conversation grew slightly louder, and I was able to hear what they were saying. "You know; I've heard about the Orlesian bards," said Alistair.

"Who hasn't?" she said. "They're quite famous, after all."

Alistair cleared his throat. He shifted on his feet a little uncomfortably. The stories I heard were a little... racier," he muttered, "It had to do with how a bard assassinated her target. How they were... lulled into complacency."

Leliana laughed. "If those stories were true, who would ever agree to entertain a bard in their court?"

"The same people that would entertain a crow in their court, yes?" interjected Zevran, tearing his eyes from Leliana's behind.

"We call them the… fools of the court," said Leliana.

Alistair laughed as well. "Oh, I don't know, there's a certain allure to danger, isn't there? And besides, you couldn't all be assassins, could you? I'd take my chances. If the stories were true, that is."

Leliana's smile dropped and she shook her head. "We had rules about that sort of thing. Strict rules."

"Such as?" questioned Alistair. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

Leliana shook her head again. "Let's just say I had plenty of reasons to join the Chantry, shall we? And leave it at that."

She looked over at me and smiled sadly. I remembered Marjolaine. She had a very good reason to join the Chantry. Bards weren't as glamorous as Alistair made them seem. I realized with a jolt that we were going to be in Denerim soon – which meant it was time to confront Marjolaine.

"Shoes!" exclaimed Leliana suddenly. "We can go buy shoes! Oh I am so excited for Denerim! So many beautiful stores to go into!"

"We're not there on a shopping trip," I muttered. Denerim sounded like the human version of a merchant's quarter.

She clasped her hands together and pouted. "But we simply must do some shopping! We cannot visit Denerim and not pick up a few beautiful dresses and shoes."

"And where would you store them?"

"Oh there are many places to store away fineries, my friend. They are such a necessity." Leliana started skipping her way down the road, humming a song under her breath. "We simply must find you a beautiful dress, Kaela," she called back at me. "You would look so ravishing in a tight-fitting, low cut dress. Don't you think, boys?" Leliana giggled and continued skipping along.

I looked over at the two walking beside the cart and immediately regretted it. Alistair has turned bright red, and was muttering to himself. Zevran, however, was shamelessly staring at me in awe. As if he was imagining it. He winked at me and I quickly turned away, still feeling his eyes boring into the back of me. What a perve.

oOo

We made camp just outside Denerim's walls as night started to fall. We'd decided it'd be best for a few of us to enter the city in the morning, rather than everyone making their way in and causing a scene.

"Hold still." Wynne glared at me as I lay on the floor in her tent. She was removing my bandages, making sure that my wounds were healing. But it was not a comfortable experience. Her bony fingers were prodding my skin, and my entire body tingled whenever her magic connected with me.

"I feel fine, Wynne," I said with a huff.

"I need to make sure you have healed," replied Wynne. "Maker knows what trouble you'll find yourself in within that city."

I pouted. "I don't get in that much trouble. I always bounce back."

Wynne paused for a moment and a smile flickered on her face. "You are reckless, but you are strong-willed and stubborn. You'll keep coming back, and I will just have to keep patching you up."

I winced as her hand gently brushed over my waist. The right side was still a deep reddy purple colour, and was incredibly tender. Her hand hovered over it for a moment, and the pain started to ease. "You will have some nasty scars," murmured Wynne. "But they are healing well. Just try not to do any crazy manoeuvres anytime soon."

I bit my lip as Wynne gently covered my waist again. Although it was mostly healed, she still wanted me to keep it dressed. The deeper parts were open wounds – much better than before but even her magic couldn't completely heal them.

"If they feel like they're tearing, do not push yourself," said Wynne gently, helping me put my tunic on. "You will only make the wounds worse."

"I'll be careful," I said, somewhat reluctantly. "But I can't promise anything."

Wynne sighed. "I know. And I'll be around to help patch you up." She paused for a moment and seemed to lose focus as she stared vacantly into her bag. "I want to come with you. I want to be there in Denerim in case you end up pushing yourself too far. I also wish to purchase some supplies… we're running a little low on lyrium potions."

I frowned. Honestly, I didn't feel like she was giving me a choice in this. "Okay," I finally said. "You can come with me."

She smiled gently at me and opened up her tent. "Thank you my dear."

I scurried out and smiled as I saw the warm fire in front of me. I was starting to get used to all the open spaces, and the warm fire in the open was something I now loved. I could still do without the open sky that looked like it would eat me alive, but I was making progress. I felt… odd, being on the surface. Topside was always a dream, but I knew it wasn't right for a dwarf. The longer I was away from the stone, the more I became a cloudgazer. I would lose my stone sense. I would be forgotten by the ancestors. I sighed and stared up at the stars. I always wanted to be topside, to escape the oppression, but the longer I was here, the more disconnected I felt. Orzammar, with all its troubles, was always my home. Even casteless would return to the stone, to the ancestors, one day. Now… now I felt lost.

"Are you okay?" murmured Alistair as he quietly approached me. "You're crying."

I shook my head in disbelief and quickly wiped the tears away. "Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"Anything you want to share?"

I smiled weakly and shook my head again. "I'll be okay. Thank you, salroka."

"Sal-what?"

It had slipped out of my mouth before I realised. Being casteless in Orzammar is worse than being trash, but Orzammar was still home. And my old tendencies had risen while I was thinking of my lost home. I called Leske salroka – he was the only friend I ever had. Now, I guess, I had more friends. More family. And even though it had slipped out my mouth, it was true. "Salroka," I said slowly. "It's a dwarven phrase. I called my… friends that in Orzammar."

"What's it mean?"

I smiled. "One at my side. Or, if you want to think of it more simply, it also means 'friend'."

Alistair smiled. "I like that," he said. "Can I try and cheer you up a bit? You look really… down."

"I'm open to some cheering up."

"Well, I, ah… well. Do you know what this is?"

Alistair thrust a flower towards me and I looked at it in confusion. I raised an eyebrow and dryly said, "Your new weapon of choice?"

Alistair flushed red. "Yes, that's right," he said with a laugh. "Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements! Feel my thorns, darkspawn! I will overpower you with my rosy scent!" I started giggling, he looked absolutely ridiculous as he over exaggerated himself. He laughed and shook his head. "Or, you know, it could just be a rose. I know that's pretty dull in comparison."

"I was quite liking the thought of you attacking the archdemon with a rose. It could be overpowered by the rosy scent!"

"Oh yes! We will be victorious through the power of the rose!"

I broke out into a fit of giggles and he gave me a lopsided grin. "I picked it in Lothering," he said, gently brushing the petals with his fingers. Lothering was months ago, how was this rose still alive? "I remember thinking, 'how could something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness? I probably should have left it alone, but I couldn't. The darkspawn would come and their taint would just destroy it. So I've had it ever since."

I stared at the rose as he stroked the petals. It was an odd sentiment that he had, but it sounded sweet. Flowers were still a rarity to me, roses didn't exist in Orzammar. I remember wanting to pick flowers on the way to Ostagar, and being told off by Duncan for wanting to pick a bouquet to carry around. Seemed childish to him, but flowers were so beautiful. "What are you going to do with it?" I asked.

Alistair flushed red again and I tilted my head as I waited for his response. He stuttered a bit before finally speaking. "I thought that I might… give it to you, actually. In a lot of ways, I think the same thing when I look at you."

I raised an eyebrow. "You think of me as a gentle flower?"

Alistair laughed and I was glad to see the slight awkwardness fade away. "A gentle flower? No… I don't know that I'd put it that way. I was just thinking… here I am doing all this complaining and you haven't exactly been having a good time of it yourself. You've had none of the good experiences of being a Grey Warden since your Joining, not a work of thanks or congratulations. It's all been death and fighting and tragedy. I thought maybe I could say something. Tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this… darkness."

I felt tears prick at the back of my eyes. Nothing had been easy my entire life, and I wasn't expecting any people to celebrate or anything. I only became a Warden because I was saved by Duncan, I was no hero. I was casteless and a criminal – I didn't deserve anything. But the way Alistair was speaking… it was like he saw me as more than my brand. Like Duncan did. I wonder if the other Grey Wardens would have seen beyond my brand as well? Not that there's much point wondering, since they're all gone. But, it felt… nice, to know that Alistair at least didn't even register the cruel brand on my cheek.

He shuffled awkwardly at my silence. "I guess it was…" he trailed off for a second a sighed. "It was just a stupid impulse. I don't know, was it the wrong one?"

I shook my head, trying to stop the tears from falling down my face. "No," I said quietly. I took the rose gently from his hand and stroked the petals. "Thank you, salroka."

He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. I'm really glad you like it," he said.

I grinned back at him. "I love it. I wanted a flower ever since I came topside and this is just so beautiful. It means so much to me. Thank you!"

His face flushed bright red again. "Y-you're welcome," he stuttered. "I'm… ah… I have to… ah… I need… I need to go wash in the river. I'll be back in a bit."

He scurried off and I tilted my head in confusion. He was acting a little strange around me for the last few days, and I didn't quite understand why. I shrugged and returned to my tent and carefully placed the rose inside – I didn't want any harm coming to it! I then returned to the campfire, eager for a feed and sleep before venturing into Denerim in the morning.