Chapter 24

I finish showing Nienna around the castle, and finally bring her to the barracks. I lead her to a bed near the door.

"This one is unoccupied at the moment. At the foot there is a chest to store your things and at the end of the room there is a bathhouse…"

"Thank you my lady." She said before looking around the room for her pack.

"There is no need. Call me Araya. What are you looking for?"

"My pack, one of the guards took it when Duncan and I arrived. It has all of my belongings in it, including clothing." She sighed quietly when she couldn't find it. "I should have kept it on me in retrospect."

"I will see that it makes in back to you… I can also ensure that your armor, and any jewelry are cleaned from any dirt… or blood."

"Oh….I appreciate the offer but I clean my armor and jewelry myself. But I suppose you mainly want to ask about my ring, yes?"

I rub the back of my neck, "I did not wish to be rude about it just... the timing of you hiding it and Iona asking about your wedding were too close to be coincidence."

She nodded. "It didn't seem appropriate to talk about with so many people around. But I am not opposed to sharing what happened if you would like to know."

"I don't want you to tell me if you don't want to share…"

"No….I need to talk to someone removed from the situation. For myself at least."

Nienna sat down on the trunk at the end of the bed before starting to talk and she told me everything about the day she was supposed to get married. As she tells me this I sit down on another trunk. I listen terrified… horrified that anyone thinks that they can act like this.

"Well… they deserved it, they were asses."

She laughed, quietly and it came out almost sad sounding. "They did deserve it, that I never questioned. I question leaving home the way I did. My family and everyone else will suffer the fallout. Not me."

I sigh, "Sadly, in Denerim they just might… I think. I really don't know how anything works within an alienage other than our own."

"The elves here are fortunate to have your family looking out for them. They don't have to live in fear of any purges."

"What do you mean when you say purge?"

"A purge is when a mob of shems, including the guards and some of the nobles, come into the alienage to...kill us, destroy our homes, take the women, some who we never see again."

As she explains this to me I feel my jaw tighten and my fist clench. In an instance I am on my feet, and almost yelling, "You can't treat people that way! We should be helping each other! Not tearing eachother down for things out of our control!"

"Only a few think like that. My mother thought that way, and told me to wait to make my judgments on humans until they showed me who they were."

I calmed down, realizing that my outburst was inappropriate. If any of the guards who lived here had come in, it would have been bad. "What do you think of me… if you don't mind me asking."

"You are...unlike any other noble I have met, which is a good thing. You treat me and everyone here with respect that most don't bother with after seeing the pointed ears."

I smile a little, "Thank you… Oh, if i could get that list you made I will see that what you need is gathered and your pack is brought to you."

She reached into her pocket, pulling out the piece of paper she was writing on before. "Here it is, it's mostly basic supplies that I need before we start the march to Ostagar again." She handed it to me. "It's separated and ordered from the things I do need right now at the top and low priority items on the bottom."

I looked over the list, "Honestly, most of these things we could get together tonight… Undergarments for an elf might be a little difficult… someone may come by to take your measurements to modify some garments we already have. I know it may not be the most comfortable, but it will be better than nothing."

"I don't mind, it's probably more comfortable then what I already own. I just need sturdier and warmer clothing."

"Alright, if you need anything I will probably be in my quarters for the rest of the night. Also you could ask one of the guards if they know where I am. There is no way for me to get around this castle undetected."

"Why not use the servants' paths and exits? They're built into the walls aren't they? And without heavy guard patrols either."

"While being inconspicuous, they still always have people around them… Believe me I tried. Well you have a good night Nienna. I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night Araya."

I give her a small nod and walk out of the barracks. I continue to walk to my barracks and I find one of the guards for my family. "Gather these items and bring them and the pack that was taken from the female Grey Warden named Nienna. She is staying in the female barracks." He takes the list and bows slightly to me. I continue on my way to my family's quarter's.