Chapter 35: Some New Clothes for Everyone!
A/N: Trying out a new way of spacing…. Does this make it more or less easy to read? (Suddenly I feel like an optometrist) Feedback please! xD I shall go and change all my other chapters if you prefer this format!
Leliana
Kiera had new armor made for all of us, and the new dragonscale leathers and dragonbone platemail were simply marvelous. Now I realized why we had taken on all those missions for the Crows, we needed the coin to pay for this exquisite equipment; and it was worth it, everyone looked gorgeous in them.
Daylen got into the new platemail, and the dark colour of the material contrasting the grey in his eyes. He had stopped whining about the added weight when he caught sight of himself in the mirror—he was astounded to see his own reflection.
"Wow. I do look dashing in this," he gasped, unable to take his eyes off the striking figure in the glass.
I agreed, it had added an extra something about him, a manliness that made him that much more—handsome. There was a matching set made for Alistair, although it seemed that he wasn't as happy as he should be, watching the other girl with worry in his eyes. However, this disappeared when she turned to face him, and a smiled curled on his lips when she spoke, marveling at the fit, running her hands over the fitted breastplate. Neither looked unhappy, but this semblance of normality wasn't very… authentic. I hoped that all was well, despite their distance.
Kiera had on Sophia Dryden's platemail, the white Warden emblem blazing on her chest—it had needed some refitting, and now it suited her just right. With her hair done up in a sensible ponytail, she definitely looked as if she meant business, all official and serious. Master Wade was most obliging with these; his ecstatic squeal when he laid eyes on the scales had said it all—we had gotten the armor as a steal.
All of this was just in time for the Landsmeet—a simply grand event when we would finally get to see the illustrious Teryn Loghain in the flesh. Daylen had thought of nothing else since the date was announced.
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Alistair
The night was certainly going to be the least unrestful; I had hoped that I could finally get a good night's sleep before the morrow, but Queen Anora appeared to have been captured, and it was up to us, her direct rivals for the throne— to run to her aid.
It was also a chance for me to meet her, this Anora; Eamon had mentioned her in less than glowing terms, but Bann Teagan seemed rather approving of her leadership abilities. I wondered if it was too late to give up my claim to the throne, and leave it in her capable hands.
Glancing at Kiera next to me, her hair a dead giveaway in the moonlight, I wondered what she was thinking. She hadn't been amused by the whole affair, and had grimly agreed to the rescue whereas Daylen had scoffed. He had his suspicions that it was a trap, but came along anyway—as did Zevran and Leliana, none of them were trusting Kiera and I to sneak around Howe's estate by ourselves.
When the elven servant had stopped to show us the way in, gesturing to the disguise that we were to put on, Kiera only rolled her eyes, casting illusions over everyone. We were now the spitting image of nondescript guards on patrol within Howe's grounds, and Daylen smirked as the elf stared in disbelief. We entered the estate with little trouble, our disguises were perfect.
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Daylen
"Doesn't anyone else find it kind of strange that the Queen's locked behind a door by magic?" I whispered as we tried to look inconspicuous. So far, no one gave us a second glance. These men that Howe had hired were a little lax.
Zevran and Leliana had split up, if only to explore the place on their own. Who knew what incriminating evidence one could find that might discredit the sycophant at the Landsmeet?
"Apparently Howe likes to do things the hard way." Alistair muttered back—at least, it was his voice; the spell that had been put up made everyone look so… different.
When we finally reached the dungeons, it was hard to remain undetected, and Kiera dropped the illusion completely when we began engaging the guards—their surprise when we did was priceless.
"Hey! Whatchu doing—" The cry came when we charged forward, taking them unawares, and Kiera disabled these with a upward thrust of her blades, catching two of the guards in the belly. That strike was exactly as she had taught me, and appeared most effective.
I however, preferred to stay out of the range of such close quarters combat—my spells were serving me well against these men, none of them were spell casters. Yet.
Zevran and Leliana had cleared another path by themselves, and were picking locks on some of the cell doors. These were some difficult locks, and they took a while.
Kiera had simply gotten impatient with one of the cells, melting through the metal bars with a swift, agitated gesture. Alistair hid a smile as she did so, and helped the frightened man out of the hole she had created—he must be very brave—Kiera got really scary when she was angry.
The man she had released was a templar, who begged us to give his sister a memento—he was reduced to shambles, shuddering and muttering—the result of some really nasty torture. Alistair was left holding the man up when we all heard a scream, and yells coming from the hallway—echoing off the stones.
Kiera
I dashed out and followed the sound, the screaming came from a figure the guards were dragging off into one of the side rooms, and I just acted, didn't even stop to think—whatever it was, I was sure it wasn't good.
The door burst inwards from the force of the fireball, and I saw the figure was feminine, she had managed to grab a sword in the confusion, squirming out of the guard's grasp, and sliced a couple of his fingers in the process. Not bad.
The girl's dark hair now hung in tendrils messily about her face, her robes almost torn into two in the struggle. She panted heavily, glancing sideways at me before fainting dead away, her words mouthing something that sounded like "Wardens". Curious.
She crumpled into Leliana's arms as I lopped off the guards' heads—they'd only spat and clammed up, refusing to give any information. And yet, I was certain that we were close to Howe's location, the smell of blood intensified in the area, and I was sure that the man would carry that damning aura with him—his ruthless interrogations had left so many crippled and plain dead in his wake.
Leliana tried to revive the girl in the room as Daylen, Zevran and I left— there was no time for this, the alarm would be raised at the next group of patrols, we needed to get to Howe and then the Queen before that happened. Meeting Alistair in the hall, we moved on ahead, coming across a familiar figure.
The man had snapped the neck of his guard when our intrusion distracted him, and Daylen fished out a key from the dead man's pockets, unlocking the door to his cell. The man made to move, but suddenly bent over in pain, and I realized that I knew him from Orlais—it was Riordan, a senior Warden who had tried to stop me from making my way to Ferelden.
I had hastily casted a sleep spell on the poor man as he made to close the gates on my horse, and he had hit the ground rather heavily. I hoped his nose was fine.
"I thank you for creating such a distraction stranger—" he began, straightening when Daylen soothed the aches with a sign. Riordan stopped abruptly when he recognized me, taking in my attire with a raised eyebrow. He was probably going to tell me to cut my hair again— I swear the man was just obsessed with making me look like a boy—the minute it grew past my shoulders…
Luckily, Alistair distracted him—so that I wasn't the sole focus of his attentions.
"Hey, I know you—you were at my Joining!" he had exclaimed, evidently happy to recognize someone from his past. Me, not so much—Riordan was my mentor at Jader, he had taught me to wield the two blades and had nagged me incessantly about my duties as a Warden more than I cared for. Even so, I was relieved that he was here—and safe; I didn't have to feel quite so responsible with an actual Senior Warden around.
My former instructor gave a small bow, appraising the two other men with a smile. "Alistair, it's good to see you again. And you, you must be Duncan's last recruit. Yes, you match his description." I noticed that he had avoided making any mention of me while he answered Daylen's numerous questions—he was probably still brooding over that last incident. Hmph.
Alistair
"So… you're from Orlais too?" Daylen eyes flicked to Kiera, evidently curious that she had made no sound at the man's appearance. Her petulant pout made it clear—Riordan's similar silence on her being there hinted at a relationship that was less than friendly.
"I was sent from Orlais when we received no word from King Cailan—" His hollow eyes stared at Kiera pointedly, and she coughed, before looking away.
The man continued, the pain evident in his eyes, "The King had invited all the Wardens of Orlais and their support troops to join him, then… nothing." I recalled the battle at Ostagar—it was a massacre that had been made possible by Loghain's betrayal—a debt that I would call upon to be repaid before the Landsmeet was over. In that one stupid grab for power, he had caused Ferelden to lose its King, for me to lose everything that I cherished. Duncan.
"Can we move on now?" Kiera's voice was quiet, her face unreadable. "We still have a Queen to save, and surely all of this can wait for later?" Daylen turned and gaped at her rudeness, while Riordan's manner stiffened slightly. She then walked on ahead with Zevran, both blades drawn, not even stopping to check if we were following.
"Are you coming with us, Riordan?" I asked, wishing that Kiera's footfalls weren't quite as fast—I barely heard them anymore.
The dark-haired man glanced over his shoulder, apparently also concerned for Kiera's safety. "I wouldn't be much use to you in my current condition. And, if you'll pardon me, I have a sudden desire to breathe some free air. I will seek you out later—after I find a good physician. And good luck… Brother."
Daylen nodded before sprinting after Kiera—we were both worried, especially when we heard the clanging of sword on metal; a fight had broken out again.
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P.S.: Can anyone guess who was the girl Kiera had rescued? xD Hope you like my take on Riordan!