Wintermarch 8th continued
I'm eating right now in my room alone. We got our next mission and that's to go to Denerim to find Brother Genitivi.
As soon as I was done writing my long entry, Eren came to my door.
"Nia are you awake?"
"I'm awake." I said coming up and opening the door. "Your eyes are really red."
"And so are yours. May I come in?"
"Sure." I went to sit down on my desk with my journal. It was almost to the end again. It's been a while since I got a new one.
"We have spoken with Bann Teagan on the situation of Arl Eamon. He still hasn't awoken and Teagan believes that the Urn of Sacred Ashes will wake him."
"Isn't the Urn a myth?" I asked.
"Yes it is but no amount of healing from Wynne or Talen wakes him. We need Eamon's word for our army. At this point there's nothing more we can do but search for a man called Genitivi. He should be in Denerim right now. He is a scholar who has been studying the Ashes for many years."
"You do know at this point Loghain probably has warrants for your arrest right? You and the others probably won't be able to go."
"Oh that much I know, I'm not a fool."
"Really? Could have fooled me." He shoved me and I almost fell to the floor.
"We are thinking of…well someone can take the wagon along with others to go to Denerim quickly. People who Loghain know nothing about." Eren said. I stared at him long and hard.
"You're thinking of sending me aren't you?"
"What gave it away?" Eren laughed. I groaned.
"So who else is going?"
"Leliana, Wynne, and Zevran. Teagan is offering Tomas to ride Lily with the wagon to Denerim. If you go at a brisk pace then you all should be there by 5 days at the least. I am thinking a week if the weather holds."
"So what are you guys going to do here while we go look for Brother Genitivi?"
"Help rebuild. It's the least we can do. Alistair wants to especially what happened to Isolde."
"Does Connor remember anything?"
"By the grace of the Maker, no. He had no memories about what has transpired and I'm glad for that. I would hate him to have the guilt of indirectly killing his mother." Eren said quietly.
"Like you?" Eren kept quiet and fiddled with his fingers.
"I am trying coming to terms about what happened to my family. I haven't properly grieved them and I will never have the change to even bury them. My parents stayed to buy us time and I will never forgive myself for leaving them." Eren said.
"It wasn't your fault Eren. I wish I could have done something too." After all I knew of the attacks but I knew I wouldn't have been able to say anything. Howe was a close family friend before all that happened. No one would believe me. Fergus was leaving so there was no way to convince Eleanor or Oriana to leave early enough so they could be saved. I had all the information in the world and was only able to save so little.
"We can't go back and change it. We must keep moving forward but if I ever see Howe again, I will make sure he pays for their deaths ten times over."
"And I'll be there with you." I said. "So are we leaving right now?"
"As soon as you are able. I just came here to deliver the news. We'll stock you with supplies. Brother Genitivi lives in front of the Gnawed Noble Tavern near The Wonders of Thedas. It'll be different without you around."
"Ah don't worry Eren. Just focus on helping the villagers ok? Oh and can you see if there's an empty journal somewhere? I'm almost done with filling this one and if you can get me something to eat?" Eren chuckled.
"Of course." Eren left and brought me my things. Now I'm on my last page of the journal and finished my food. I guess it's high time to get ready to leave for Denerim.
-/-
It's late at night and we're resting after leaving Redcliffe shortly after my last update. Oh and new journal!
The wagon was set up where we last left Lily at Redcliffe Village. Bodahn gave us a small discount on some of the supplies as well as Owen. He was extremely grateful that we found Valena after all that had happened.
"Are you ready to march off into the unknown mi niña?" Zevran said, putting his pack with the supplies.
"It's not really that unknown when I've been to Denerim before."
"You have?" Leliana asked.
"Yep. After Howe's attack we stayed in Denerim for a bit before going to Lothering. It's really filthy." Leliana laughed. "I'm wondering why we're not going with Sten or Oghren."
"Sten is much too conspicuous and Oghren…I don't think he's really the person for covert operation like this." Leliana said.
"Yeah you got that right. So we got everything and now we're only missing Wynne." I said.
"I am here and don't forget to wear your coats. It's still very chilly. We must bundle up or else we'll catch cold." Wynne said, coming up behind us.
"If you prefer we can join our bodies for more heat, my lovely Wynne."
"I do have the power to melt your brain Zevran and force it out of your nose."
"Ah progress!"
"Ah you haven't left yet!" Derek said coming up with the others right behind him.
"Stay safe Leliana." Talen said and she kissed him on the cheek. I looked away and cleared my throat.
"Take care of Schmooples for me."
"It's going to be quiet without you around Nia." Eren said.
"Don't worry about it. Once I come back I'll make some more of my soup."
"Everyone take care. We will be back as soon as we can."
"Take care Wynne, look after her for me." Alistair said.
"Oh don't fret Alistair, I'm sprightly for my age."
"Alright, off you go. The sooner you get the papers from that scholar, the sooner you can come back." Derek said.
"May Andraste guide your path." Eren said.
So off we went with our rider who was Tomas, the one who told us about the village in the first place.
"So you really think that they don't have bounties for our heads too? We've been traveling for a little over two months know. I'd be surprised if they didn't know what we looked like." I said, rubbing my hands together.
"I have already planned ahead and have brought disguises for us." Leliana said and took out some Chantry robes.
"Again with the Chantry robes?" I asked.
"It's the only thing that is readily available to us." Leliana said.
"You got a point there."
"Do I need to be an initiate or a brother? I would not mind being either for one would be forbidden fruit to some and the other is a wild fantasy." Zevran said.
"Only you would think that Zevran." Leliana said. I rolled my eyes and took out my ocarina. Leliana also took our her lute and we both started to play. We kept like that until it grew dark and we decided to make camp.
"So what are we going to do with our sleeping arrangements? It gets extremely cold during the night and we don't even know if it's going to snow later on." I said, eating a hard piece of bread.
"You ladies can share the wagon together. I don't think that Zevran would mind it if we shared sleeping quarters." I coughed awkwardly as Zevran leered at him.
"That is very kind of you Tomas." Wynne said. "Make sure to use plenty of blankets to warm you."
"That is not all we'll be using tonight." Zevran said.
So I moved to the wagon with the rest. The other two are sleeping while I took first watch. It's actually quite easy when you have a pair of two men grunting in the background. I can't wait until someone switches with me.
Wintermarch 9th
We're finally past the end of Lake Calenhad and we had to take a detour to avoid Lothering. Leliana got quiet when we went past it again. All I wondered if Flemeth's body was rotting or preserved. So far we haven't ran into anything besides a deer that Leliana expertly hunted. The good thing about the cold is that the meat will be preserved for a time while we head to Denerim. Nothing much happened throughout the day. There was a few times where Leliana and Wynne threatened Zevran. Luckily Tomas has been keeping him company in the meantime.
If nothing else happens I might as well skip the next couple of days. I'm not one for boring entries.
Wintermarch 11th
So I started Leliana's companion quest.
We came across a river that wasn't completely frozen and we decided to stop and refill our skins. It was ice cold and extremely clear. Wynne instantly boiled the water so it could be safe to drink. Then we were attacked. An arrow swished by Tomas and he reacted accordingly.
"We're under attack!" He shouted. He was the only one without a weapon.
"Get back to the wagon!" Leliana said, taking out her longbow. I heard a couple of barks. A mabari and a wolf came to attack us. I got my blades out. When they got close enough Zevran tossed an acid flask. They whined in pain and the snow got blotted with their blood. I came and bashed them in their heads. I heard two resounding cracks before I evaded a swing from a hammer. Behind the two animals were two Qunari's.
"Nia!" Leliana shouted behind me before her arrow found the throat of the one with the hammer. The other one sported double daggers. I evaded his attacks which was pretty hard since we were right next to the river. Zevran continued since there was also a mage summoning a fire spell. Wynne came from the wagon and started to trade spells with the mage. I had to focus on the Qunari though. He was quick with his two blades and was able to put in kicks here and there. I had to roll out of the way many times before he got me at the edge of the river. The water was rushing fast and I knew if I fell in I wouldn't be able to get out. I crouched and decided to enact a plan.
"Is that all you got you dathrasi!?" I shouted. The Qunari roared and ran toward me. The snow was slush underneath his feet. I timed it right and evaded his blades. He stopped short of the bank but I kicked him right into the water. I heard splashing going down further the river. I narrowly avoided another arrow when Tomas came from the wagon with his own crossbow. I ran across the ledge along the river and jumped over the trap across the bridge. The mage was already dead at my feet and Zevran was fighting the archer now. Wynne was behind us all, ready to heal us if we needed it. The main leader aimed at him when I came along and conked him on the head. The reverberating ring on his helmet caused him to fall unconscious. The archer's throat was slashed by Zevran and kicked into the river. Zevran came to the body of the leader when Leliana stopped him.
"Stop. Don't kill him." Leliana said.
"And why should I?" Zevran asked.
"These are no common bandits. Didn't you see their armor and weapons? They were of fine make and they were all well-trained. Nia, wake him up."
"Got it." I went over to the guy and took off his helmet. Then I smacked him around for a bit and he sputtered.
"W-What?"
"Tell me who you are." Leliana said.
"I'm surprised you didn't kill me." He groaned.
"I would answer her question." I said, my blade at his throat.
"Hah, I was told it would be an easy job. There was one objective: Kill the red-haired woman and deal with the others as we pleased."
"Kill the…you were sent to kill me?" Leliana asked.
"Who wants to kill her?" I said, my blade close to cutting his skin.
"I didn't ask since it doesn't get me anymore money. Someone pays me to see someone dead and then I go to the location to get my money. Heh, now I'll be lucky if I'm spared my life. I can work with you, if you would consider it."
"Speak quickly."
"I have no grudge against you. I was only paid by someone else who I know was already sent by another person, but I do know how you can find the one who put the hit on you. I have directions for a house in Denerim. That's all I can do and all I know." He said. I took the dagger from his throat and he rummaged in his pouch with a paper with the directions. He gave it to Leliana.
"Thank you. Leave. I hope to never see you again. I won't be so merciful the next time we cross paths." Leliana threatened.
"I know where my head is. You'll never hear of me." He said, picking his helmet up and started to walk away. Leliana let out a breath and rubbed her chin.
"Now why would someone send assassins to kill such a beautiful woman?"
"It's Marjolaine, it has to be."
"Marjolaine? Tomas go check on the wagon and Lily." I said and he went off. Leliana sighed.
"It seems that Talen hasn't told anyone which just made me realize how trustworthy he is. I lied to you all. I was not a simple sister of the Chantry. I was a bard in Orlais."
"This answers a lot of questions." Zevran said. I just punched his shoulder and shushed him.
"I came to Ferelden because I was framed, betrayed by the person who I thought was a friend. A person who I loved. My mentor and my friend. Marjolaine. She taught the way of the bardic acts. How to carry myself as a noble woman or disguise myself as a lowly servant and to enchant with tales, words, and songs. I served her, she was my bard-master because I loved her and because I enjoyed what I did."
"Something went wrong, didn't it Leliana?" Wynne said.
"I was sent to kill a man and to retrieve everything he carried to give to Marjolaine. I didn't know who this man was. I was given a set of instructions and a description. I hunted him down and found documents on his body. Sealed documents."
"And you as curious as you are opened them." Zevran said.
"Yes. I had a feeling that I needed to know what was in those documents. Marjolaine…she had been selling information about Orlais to other countries."
"She was committing treason and you thought it was wrong." Wynne said.
"Not at all uncommon in Antiva at least." Zevran said.
"You asked about it and you were worried that she would be caught and in danger. She changed her name from the documents and made you look like the one committing treason." I said. Leliana stayed quiet.
"It is as you say. I told Marjolaine that I feared for her life. She told me that these dealings were in the past and that is why they had to be destroyed. I believed her against my better judgment. I kept on believing until the Orlesian guards came and showed me the documents. They were altered by her hand to make me look like the one betraying Orlais." Leliana said, looking down and fidgeting with her fingers. I came to her and held on of her hands. There were tears in her eyes. She sighed.
"It's ok, go on." I said.
"The guards…tortured me in order to make me confess and reveal the conspirators. I had thought that all that awaited me was an eternity in an unmarked grave."
"But the skills you picked up is what ultimately saved you, no?" Zevran said.
"Yes. After escaping, I avoided Marjolaine and didn't seek her out. She would just have me captured again. I was furious! I was betrayed but what could I do against her? I wanted to confront her but decided against it. So I fled to Ferelden, to the Chantry and the Maker. My person was protected by her country and the Maker saved my soul. That is the real reason I'm here. No more lies between us."
"Don't worry my dear. You will always be safe with us."
"If you don't feel too safe in the night then I can-"
"Don't ruin the moment Zevran." I said.
"Thank you. Thank you all."
"So Talen knew about all of this?" I asked.
"We talked for a very long time in Orzammar. He accepted my secrets and promised that he would not talk to anyone about them if I was uncomfortable about them. He said to have faith in him and to not worry for he would stay at my side even when no one else will. It was what made me realize my growing feelings for him."
"But why now?" I asked. "Why would Marjolaine target you after so long?"
"I don't know. Maybe she finally found me and wants to finish what she started."
"Well we're going to Denerim. Maybe it's about time to confront her." I said.
"Yes. It's time to end this."
"Yep. Let's go. We shouldn't be making Tomas feel lonely." I held Leliana's hand until we came to the wagon and we continued to ride again. Leliana took a small nap on my shoulder as I wrote this entry. Looks like we're going to have an eventful trip in Denerim.
Wintermarch 13th
We had to stay at an inn when a freak blizzard came out of nowhere near Dragon's Peak. We are less than a day of travel to Denerim. Not much has happened after we were attacked. We did pass the Brecilian forest though.
It was a few days ago when I saw the beginning of the forest. Some of the trees were bare but I saw in the distance that a few held their leaves.
"The Brecilian forest is a bit of a mystery isn't it?" I said.
"The Brecilian forest has been there since before we founded the country. The land has seen many wars and there are tales that the forest hides numerous monsters." Leliana explained.
"The Dalish have said that if you didn't respect the forest, trees that can walk like man will steal you away in the night." Zevran said.
"You really think those are true? It might be that the veil is thin within the forest. Spirits and demons will possess anything in their vicinity." Wynne said.
"We're going to have to go in there to find the Dalish anyway because of the treaties. Too bad none of the Grey Wardens came with us so they can just slip in and ask them." I said. Though I know that we'll need all of them to tackle their problem with the werewolves.
"One man wouldn't be able to sway their group unless they are one of them." Zevran said.
"Well then it sucks that we didn't get a Dalish Warden." I said. After that the snow started and as we neared Dragon's Peak, the winds started to pick up. We were lucky that we found an inn with a barn for Lily. We paid for two rooms. We made sure that the room that had Tomas and Zevran got was not right next to us.
"Hopefully this blizzard will blow over once come morning." Leliana said, throwing another log onto the fire.
"We can only hope. Now is a time for rest." Wynne said, taking off her shoes. "Do any of you want a bath before we go on?"
"How many can it fit?" I asked.
"Two at once. I'll warm up the water." I smirked.
"Man if magic wasn't so feared we'd be using it for everyday things like warming up water. Too bad the Chantry skews the word of Andraste so they put leashes on everyone." I said.
"That leash is what keeps many people protected, Nia."
"You don't have magic in your world?"
"It depends on who you ask really. There is magic and various types of magic users. There is voodoo magic, wiccan magic, witchcraft and sorcery. In my religion there are even priests who can give exorcisms and banish demons from inside people. The thing is not a lot of people believe in it. Most don't believe in the supernatural and try to explain it away by using science. I believe in the science and it's what I go to the first thing something goes on but I also believe that not all the questions are answered so simply." I explained. "Not only that you can't actually 'see' this magic. Here mages can conjure up the natural elements in the palm of their hand. In my world you can't see anything. Only those with the gift of sight can see and those people are uncommon. They don't come out often into the woodwork because people would call them fakes. So in my world magic is present but people choose to ignore it or don't believe in it."
"You come from a very strange land." Wynne said.
"You don't know the half of it."
"Well the water is done. I suggest you two ladies wash yourselves up before the fire dies down."
Leliana and I relaxed in the bath even though we practically had to be in a crunched up position to do it. I was glad that I didn't take up much room.
"I have a question." Leliana said.
"Shoot."
"Why are you so short?" It was like a hammer to the throat. I groaned.
"I hate my height."
"Oh! I didn't mean to offend you."
"No it's ok. Well there are various heights where I come from. The average height in my country was 167 to 168 centimeters give or take. I was unfortunately born at 155 centimeters. Still I found people that were similar to my height. The men were also as tall as they are here. In my country it's a melting pot of various cultures and people so everything tended to vary."
"Oh your world sounds so fascinating. It's such a pity I would never be able to visit it." Leliana said.
"You definitely would have culture shock Leliana. Ok I'm good, pass me that towel please Wynne."
"Here you go dear. I set up your clothes by the bed." I got out, dried as much as I could, and got dressed. My socks were all nice and warm from being close to the fire. Leliana got out and we left Wynne with her nice soap.
"It's gonna be a tight squeeze but at least we're not going to be cold tonight." I said.
"Do you want some warm ale to help you sleep?" Leliana asked.
"Nope. Not even that roaring wind out there would keep me from my sleep." Leliana was reading while Wynne went to bed. I think I got everything down for now. Time for bed.
Where I live we sometimes get really really windy. I still sleep like a log. I sleep through thunderstorms so yeah. Wow we're almost at the 40th chapter! :D I might also be taking a few weeks to rewrite/edit the early chapters again, eventually.
Shout out to kenn4eyes, nelspruit1997, leafygreen16, and jakethecap for following/ favoriting this story.
EG: My bro was the one who got me into gaming, best thing ever. I got plans for the both of them, just some that people won't expect.
KrystylSky: But if they conscript Jowan they'll have 4 mages on the team, that's kinda overkill. If one comes then someone has to leave to balance the team but we'll see.
MEfan159: Yes I'm actually playing Eren right now in DA:O to transfer the save file to dragon age 2. I know there really isn't too many differences when you do but just to give me a background to work with once I start on my DA2 story.
We're almost halfway through the story! Are you feeling excited!? How about you tell me in a review? :D