I thought I'd never smell this again...
The dungeon reeked of death and faeces, making the others at her back gag as Lynn grimaced, more at old memories of her times spent in the dungeons of fort Drakon then at the smell itself. Pleasant memories...Howe had to be in the dungeon didn't he? Lynn shook her head, clearing it of the old memories. Strange, they feel like a lifetime away...someone else's.
"This is foul." Morrigan muttered, not for the first time either. "'Tis really necessary? How useful could this queen of yours be?"
"Royalty is always useful my dear." Zevran chirped, for some reason the assassin had been awfully chipper...Lynn found it somewhat relaxing considering the others were constantly exchanging worried glances. Really ought to have brought him along more often...though I bet Alistair wouldn't have liked that...Lynn smiled at the thought. Alistair, I'll be back soon... "As for the smell...don't tell me you've never been in a dark and smelly hole before? Oh I could tell you some stories..."
"Please don't...." Leliana made a gagging sound as they moved through Howe's dungeon, stepping over the latest guard they had killed in their search for the elusive little man and his pet mage. "I like stories more then most but yours-" A squishing sound. "Ewww...! I think I stepped on something..."
"How is it even possible not to step on something here?" Morrigan replied with a scoff. "I'll be washing my feet for hours after this..."
"As will I." Leliana muttered in agreement, then exploded: "Oh! We can make an evening of it!"
"That's a ridiculous notion, did you really think I would agree to that?" Morrigan snorted.
"Oh but I know where to find the most exquisite soaps and balms...."
"That's..."
"...not to mention this adorable little scrapper thing that massages your feet as it removes old skin!"
"Well..."
"Oh and this perfect little bowl which you can light a little fire under to keep the water nice and warm without it boiling!"
"'Tis a wonder...I think I must have gone mad..." Morrigan sighed even as Lynn moved towards what had to be the last door in the entire dungeon. Always the last one...it's like the Maker is playing a joke on me. "...but I will accept that offer." What?
Looking back she found Leliana looking pleasantly surprised, hands clasped together and teeth bared in a grin of delight wile Morrigan was rolling her eyes and shaking her head, obviously already regretting her decision. A small laugh escaped Lynn at the sight. Aww, Morrigan's getting soft. "Great, I'm in too." That ought to be funny...
"Great..." Morrigan groaned, hand coming to cover her face and conceal the grateful smile aimed Lynn's way. "...you've gone mad too."
Zevran chuckled, grinning at the three women. "Ohhhh! May I-"
Three flinches, three women in unison snapping: "No."
For a moment no one moved, then a chuckle escaped all four.
Shaking her head Lynn focused on the task at hand and led them towards the door. "Right, enough goofing around girls, and yes that includes you Zevran, we got a job to do."
They did as they always did, Zevran pressing his back against the right side of the doorway as Lynn closed her hand around the handle and stepped to its left side, Leliana and Morrigan with their weapons aimed at the door itself.
"One, two, three." Lynn wrenched the handle. "Go!"
With a crunch the door was slammed open by Zevran's kick, a bolt of lightning and an arrow instantly sailing through the opening as Lynn threw herself into the room, rolled under a bolt of arcane energy before coming up to her feet with enough time to make an assessment of the situation.
The room was somewhat large and rectangular in shape, two pillars of wood stained with blood and moisture holding the roof up. Other than that the room was largely empty a grill covered channel for washing away the filth accumulated during tortures running through the centre of the room. Remembered when I used one of those to escape Fort Drakon...hope I don't have to do that again.
To her right a mage stood, the man already moving his hands around to cast a spell. Won't reach him in time to stop him, dodge it is. Rolling towards the centre of the room Lynn dodged the blast of fire escaping the mage's staff even as she saw Howe and another mage stand at the other end of the room, the old man tending to the wound made in the chest of the gasping mage by Leliana's accurate arrow. Between Lynn and those two however was a pair of guards...large guards. Ah, brawlers.
Not at all surprised by the heavy swings of the two guards, lacking any finesse but with enough force to shear through nearly anything...Lynn simply ducked and jumped aside, a flickering axe catching one of the men in the chest and making him stumble back into view of the open doorway...where he instantly fell as an arrow thudded into his eye.
The second guard tried a low swing, aiming for her legs so she couldn't duck.
Jumping over the swing Lynn landed on the guard's shoulder, making him grunt as he was forced onto the filthy floor. She then noted that Howe was moving towards the doorway...and leapt off the guard with a flip forward. Mid-flip she noted that the mage who's blast she had dodged had a dagger in his chest and was meekly trying to fend away Zevran's other dagger as the grinning assassin went in for the kill...and then she landed next to the charging Howe, making his turn to face her.
Both her weapons moved in an overhand swing towards the head of the man who raised his own to block...only to cough as Lynn smashed a foot into his abdomen, sending him stumbling into the wall behind him. "You little bitch!" Another cough, the man lunging at her. "I'll kill you for this!"
"I have fought dragons and demons." Lynn calmly replied, parrying the lunge and shooting Howe a sweet smile. "So that's no way to speak to your betters." She followed it with meaningful wink and a quick riposte, drawing a jagged rip in the leather armour of her foe.
The man's eyes widened at the reminder of their previous encounter, then narrowed in anger. "Watch that tongue, elf." The man sneered at her. It's just a mask, you're afraid. Lynn ducked back from the sweeping blows of her foe, smiling. You should be.
To her right the mage finally managed to recover from the arrow-wound to raise his staff in attack...only to jerk and drop the weapon, his feet lifting off the ground as a strangle gasp escaped him. Good old Morrigan...a crack and blood started gushing from the man's mouth. Bet that took care of the ward on Anora's door.
"As I said, you've been killing my people." Lynn parried a sweeping axe with her own and kicked out, hitting Howe in the right knee with a crunch and drawing a loud yell from him as he stumbled back.
Advancing Lynn ignored the sound of two arrows thudding into the remaining guard as he moved towards her back, ignored the sound of the guard slumping to his knees even as Zevran with a crunching sound drove his daggers into the guard's back. She knew they would take care of him after all...instead she remained focused on the man now making another desperate lunge towards her.
The lunge was parried by her own weapons, pushed to her right side even as she drove her right knee into the chest of the panting man, drawing a pained grunt from him as something within him loudly snapped. "I remember your name."
She kicked out with her left foot, hitting Howe square in the chest and sending him stumbling back into the wall...only to bounce back towards her. "I remember your titles."
He didn't raise his weapons in time to parry her thrust, instead a small gasp escaped him as her sword suddenly slid in between his ribs, nailing him fast and making him drop his weapons from numb fingers. "I remember your face."
Smiling sweetly Lynn pulled back her axe over right shoulder for a backhand swing, watching the sudden panic in Howe's face as he realised he was doomed. "Your grace."
The mouth on the man's face opened to scream, but no sound had time to escape him as Lynn's axe swept around...and sliced it through his neck, neither flesh nor bone stopping it in its path.
A gurgling of air escaping a blood-filled throat, a thud of a body falling to the floor, a crunch of a head bouncing over the floor...and all became still.
That's the second noble I've killed, third if you count Connor, fourth if you count Harrowmont...strange how the first got me into a position where it was right to kill the others. "Right." Lynn shrugged, finding her thoughts far too reminiscing for her tastes. She sheathed her weapons and smiled at the others who were already doing the standard procedure of checking their armour and weapons for damages. "Shall we leave this place now? I'm getting bored."
"Sounds like you need-"
Three flinches, three women snapping: "Shut up Zevran."
Four chuckles.
*
*
*
Anora looked every bit as a queen as she came through the open door.
Her eyes were large and grey, giving the impression of her being innocent...which the rest of her expression was anything but. The woman's face would have been pleasant if it wasn't for a slight haughtiness in its features, with her chin held high the woman nearly looked ready to be receiving dignitaries, despite the situation. Her dress was a deep royal blue...and nearly looked like a uniform on her. Her tautly drawn hairstyle did nothing to to help the impression. The woman was the queen.
"Your highness." Lynn offered a short bow, not feeling any great urge to stand on formalities since she by now was covered in the blood of Howe's guards. With the alarm having been raised after the guards in the dungeon that had stopped Lynn and her companions had been found the guards around the estate had been on full alert. And they had quickly charged the group when they had left the dungeon, making Lynn wonder what the point of them having snuck in had been in the first place.
"Warden, it is good to see you." Anora bowed her head in turn, managing to look a bit grateful, despite her queen-like expression. "I was not sure how much longer Howe would have kept me there before he simply had me killed, no doubt he would have blamed such a killing on you, incensing my father even more."
Right, your father is Loghain. Lynn suddenly felt very aware that she was standing on thin ice. "But now that we've freed you-"
"I don't believe my father will believe it to be that..." There was a small twitch in Anora's eyes, her voice cold. "...he's..." Another twitch, mouth frowning in sudden anger. "...not himself." The queen shook her head. "Besides, I am not free yet, am I?"
"No." Lynn nodded, unsure since she couldn't quite read Anora's behaviour like she used to. Good that you tend to the moment, but your father...you speak so coldly of him...yet... "I suppose not. Shall we go? Discussing an alliance would be easier in some sort of safety."
"A good idea." Anora brushed past her and suddenly took the lead, inducing a frown on Lynn's face. Okay, you're the queen, not I, got it. Following Lynn gestured for the others to silently fall in line. Wait, are we heading for the front exit? Isn't that a bit... "I assume you have dealt with...oh." The queen came to a halt, the rest of the group swiftly fanning out as they'd learnt to do by now, giving Lynn a clear view of what blocked their exit.
Ah shemshit....
There were a lot of soldiers in the wide entrance hall...Lynn counted at least a dozen men wide formation, three lines deep...and far more waiting through the open doors, ready to pour in. Loghain sent the entire army or something? Lynn swallowed, forced herself to ignore the first rank of soldiers aiming their loaded crossbows at the group, forced herself to find...ah.
The woman was familiar, the sad but hard eyes, the determined stance...Loghain's lapdog. "Grey warden..." The voice was unflinching, hard, that of an officer that had spoken for the state for most of her life. "...you are hereby arrested for the wilful murder of Arl Howe, the murder of his guards and all other staff that may be found at the scene of the crime. Will you comply?" The soldiers at the woman's back shifted at the question, ready to charge at a moment's notice.
Shit, shit, shit...get out of this...think. "Murder? He was killed during a citizen arrest." Lynn gestured for Anora as she straightened her back, forcing herself to be the confident warden with right at her side. Am I? It's hard to tell with politics...noone seems to be right. "He held Anora, your queen, against her will, we have liberated her."
The guards shuffled once more, made uneasy by the words. The woman at the head shook her head though, not impressed. Is she in on this? Did she already know about Anora? Surely not if she's Loghain's ally, yet so was Howe... Lynn forced herself to look back, to remain outwardly calm. That's a lot of soldiers... "Is this true my queen?" The woman looked over at Anora, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
She won't believe the queen...Maker she won't believe her...Lynn tensed, knowing a fight was brewing. Maybe we should take cover behind Anora? Surely they won't dare to hurt her...
Then, to her utter shock, Anora suddenly sniffled.
"I...it was horrible..." Huh!? Eyes wide Lynn turned and found Anora lowering her face, concealing it with one hand as the other pinched her leg from behind, inducing the queen's tears. What in Thedas... "I-I have no words...p-please...s-so much blood..." Surely she doesn't... "P-please...I...I must leave this dr-dreadful place." The woman took a stumbling step forward, looking so helpless even Lynn would believe her fear. Except that Lynn had seen the queen making herself cry... "Y-you th-there..."
"M-me?" One of the soldiers in the second rank spoke as he pointed at his own chest, his voice trembling a little.
"Y-yes..." The queen stumbled towards the man, a true damsel in distress all of a sudden. You can't be... "T-take me away from here...p-please...I-I need air."
Frowning in irritation the woman leading the soldiers watched as the front ranks of the soldiers split, allowing the queen past to the soldier she had singled out. Lynn could only shake her head, wonder at the way the other soldiers reverently stepped aside as the one Anora had singled out held the trembling woman by the arm and led her outside...away from the conflict...to safety.
That was deviously clever... Lynn wasn't sure if she was supposed to be happy that the queen had managed to trick herself into freedom without Loghain's dog able to do anything...or angry that Anora had abandoned them to the mercy of a very hostile and now annoyed woman.
"Right. Now with that foolishness over with...." The woman turned to glare at Lynn. Okay, I go with angry, definitively angry. "...you are still under arrest, Loghain has no interest in your companions, but you...you're coming with us." The woman's eyes narrowed. "Now...will you comply?"
Lynn glared back. Damn Anora. She glanced at the many soldiers, practically itching for a fight. Damn politics. She glanced at her companions, equally ready to fight, to die against the virtual army standing before them. Damn my duty. She looked back at the woman and nodded. "Yes."
"What!?" The others looked at her, stunned.
"Go." Lynn waved at them to move even as she watched the woman before her smile with her victory. "Before she changes her mind." At least I got to save the others.
Morrigan snorted and shook her head. "Lynn I hardly think you realise what will happen once-"
"Go." Lynn repeated, shooting the witch a frown. I know, it can't be helped, go.
Morrigan looked at the many soldier arrayed before her, licked her lips, then looked back at Lynn. "Lynn please reconsider, I could-"
"No." Lynn shook her head, smiling, touched. Can't believe you are willing to risk certain death like this...for me. But you would fail, you can't win this fight. "Go."
"But-"
A small laugh escaped Lynn, cutting Morrigan off. "Go."
"I..." Morrigan hesitated, only to have Leliana's hand drop unto her shoulder and pull her away, the bard unable to meet Lynn's gaze. There's no shame, go...
"No."
Huh?
Looking over to her right she found Zevran crossing his arms in front of him, face set in stone, making Lynn sigh. "For goodness...Zevran not you too, just-"
"No." The assassin shook his head, glaring at the many soldiers before them, then looked at Lynn. "My warden...if they take you, you will die, I cannot allow that, my oath forbids it."
"Since when did you..." Lynn shook her head, irritated. Just let me go! I hate this damn caring! As if Alistair isn't enough, now you guys have to go on about it too! She eyed the many crossbows, now more then ever ready to shoot. "By the Maker! Fine! I release you of your oath! Just step down!" I'm surrounded by idiots!
"No." Zevran shook his head once more, all amusement, all charm...gone. "It's not yours to remove."
Lynn blinked, shocked. "Zevran...what are you..." She reached out...
"The warden is attacking! Kill her!" The shout jarred her into reality. No!
There was a volley of crossbow bolts loosed at her, making her turn her head and stare at the attackers with wide eyes, suddenly aware of what would happen. No!
Zevran was fast, an assassin to the fingertips he was faster than the wind, except this time he didn't dodge the missiles...he charged into them. No...
A dozen wet thuds...and the man stumbled backwards, into her...and Lynn found herself stumbling backwards as well, suddenly weak, unable to push aside the corpse as she had so many others as it rammed her into the wall. No...
Sliding down to a sitting position she pulled the man closer, hearing a raspy breath escape the assassin as he looked up at her, an amused smirk forming on his lips. "Not the best of exits...no?" He coughed, blood flecking his lips. No...
"Zevran I....why!?" It made no difference! I will still be thrown into a dungeon! You died for nothing! Lynn realised she was crying. "Why...?"
"An oath...is an oath..." The elf's eyes widened, not really seeing her as he begun to shake, the wounds from the many bolts stuck in his body pumping out an obscene amount of blood that clung to Lynn's hand as she held him close. "D-did I e-ever...t-tell....w-why I...c-came t-to....Fe-Ferelden?" Lynn shook her head, unable to grasp it. It's too unreal...it's not happening. "Ah...w-well..." His suddenly blue lips smiled. "...a s-story...f-for an-another la-lady..."
Why? You can't just...I don't...why!? "Zevran...you idiot..." She shook her head, looked away, shuddered...an old memory of another dead elf flickering before her eyes.
"So-sorry...y-you...co-couldn't...b-be...h...h..."
Silence.
"Zevran?" Lynn looked back down...and saw a familiar sight...yet not. She had seen it so many times yet...not... "Zevran?" The unseeing eyes merely stared back at her, uncaring of her tears. "Zevran!?"
I never treated you all that well, despite what you might have thought...and now...this... Lynn lowered her head even as she heard the soldiers march upon her, close in around her. ...this loyalty...
Guilt.
**
Thanks to Abydos Jackson for being happy with me.
