I startled awake.
It was still dark out and though I didn't know what had woken me, I felt the hair all over my body rise.
It was quiet. Far too quiet.
As stealthily as I could, I slipped out of bed and snuck to a window. I lowered myself down when I saw the backs of two burly men creeping towards the main house. I was thankful for my elven eyes which could see them as clear as day, but I would be nothing but shadow to them.
I turned to check for Cullen, but his bed was empty. I grabbed my armor, hurriedly putting it on and grabbed my dagger. I crept out of the cabin, sticking to the shadows. I checked for any additions to their party, but saw none.
They entered the house and I slipped in before the door closed. They pulled daggers from their belts as they headed for the stairs. I was thankful that the farmers had moved back to their houses. These men would wish they had never set foot in this house.
One began climbing the stairs, the other staying at the bottom. I waited for the first to ascend a few steps before I froze them both. I crept up the stairs and woke Dennet and Elaina, silently urging them to stay quiet but follow me. They woke Seanna before we crept out of the house.
I saw many enemies creeping around the farm now. No alarm had been raised, so they had either hidden themselves from the groups of watchmen or had killed them. We crept towards the camp near the stream.
I heard soft voices as we approached, all familiar. One in particular stood out and I breathed a sigh of relief. We stayed outside the light of the fire as I tried to get their attention. Cullen saw me and alarm colored his face. His hand went to his sword, but I shook my head and put a finger to my lips.
"They don't know we're aware," I whispered after I had explained the situation, "We need to take out all we can quietly. Keep at least one alive to question."
Cullen nodded. "You three, remain here and protect Dennet's family."
"Cul-Commander," I interrupted, "I think they should head back to the house. We should send all of them there to keep them safe. The house would be easier to guard than an exposed camp."
Cullen looked at me, the same look he'd had at the dinner table after I'd struck a deal with the Dennets. "I agree. Two of you remain here to keep up a ruse of our naivety. The rest, escort the Dennets back to the house. We'll send others along as we can."
Cullen and I crept across the farmlands, working out from the closest houses. We made quick work of them; downing each one until only one remained. Cullen knocked the final one unconscious, dragging the bandit to one of the abandoned houses. It kept them far from the main house, but Cullen posted a half dozen guards to be safe. We returned to the main house to find all the families alright, to our great relief. After removing the two I had frozen to death, Bron angrily charged at Cullen.
"Why didn't we see them comin', Commander? Were your soldiers sleeping?" Bron barked.
Two people stumbled into the house then; a Grey Warden who had the arm of a recruit slung over his shoulder, hoisting her by her belt as she clutched a gut wound. Blood seeped between her fingers. I rushed to her, doing my best to heal her, but she was too far gone.
"Co-Com-Commander," she stammered as the Grey Warden gently lowered her to the floor. Her breathing was ragged and wet, I noticed another knife wound between a pair of her ribs, just under her cuirass. Blood was filling her lungs. Cullen kneeled to her and offered a salute.
"We tried to...fight...them off. Signal...not ready yet," she coughed, blood splattering the floor, "Warden came to help…didn't arrive soon enough."
"Aye, I'm sorry I couldn't cut 'em down before they attacked," his gruff voice spoke, anger and pity in his blue eyes.
"Calm yourself, recruit," Cullen ordered, "We ended them before they could harm the farmers."
"Good," she smiled briefly and breathed her last.
"What did she mean the signal wasn't ready yet?" I asked after I'd closed her eyes and whispered the Chant.
Cullen's brow furrowed and his lips pursed into a thin line. "They were ready, I saw to it myself. They had lit braziers, bows and flammable arrows. Someone must have sabotaged the bows," he murmured, "I instructed them to send up a signal arrow if they encountered issues. The towers aren't complete to light the signal fires at the top, but we could've at least see an arrow."
The Warden handed Cullen the woman's bow, "The string snapped when she tried to fire. If I were to guess, all of their strings were nicked with a blade to keep them from being able to fire a shot."
I studied him. He was rugged, with streaks of grey through his dark beard. He had kind blue eyes as they met mine.
"Who would have sabotaged us?" I questioned aloud, studying the dead soldiers face.
Cullen looked to Bron, "Have you had any new workers? Any that would have come in contact with the watchmen?"
Bron pondered this and his face paled. His dark eyes filled with sorrow and anger. "Yes, a young woman recently came. It's been a couple weeks ago that she started working, but she's definitely been at the tower spots and among the watchmen. I had her running rations to them in place of Lady Meira."
Cullen nodded in dismissal. His eyes shifted to mine. "Were any of the bandits you eliminated women?"
"No, I don't think so. Too heavy, but they were wearing masks," I shook my head.
"Let's go question our captive," he growled. Cullen waved over a couple recruits, instructing them to ask Dennet about a spot for setting up pyres our dead soldiers and to collect the others. Cullen offered a hand to the Grey Warden, "Thank you for your help."
The Warden clasped Cullen's outstretched arm, "I didn't, but you're welcome all the same. Just wish I could've saved more. I'll stay with these people and keep watch. Name's Blackwall."
Cullen nodded. Together, we headed for our captive. We entered the abandoned farmhouse, the bandit was bound to a chair, their head covered. They didn't squirm or speak, but stayed eerily still. Cullen reached forward and yanked the hood off their face.
I gasped.
It was Elizabeth Trevelyan.
Her eyes flashed at me briefly and then turned cold, her face going blank and unreadable. She was just as beautiful as I remembered, despite a new scar over her left eye down to the top of her cheekbone. She had hair the color of flames, freckles like the night sky and brilliant sapphire eyes.
"Elizabeth?" I asked with surprise.
She flinched, but wouldn't look at me.
"You know this woman?" Cullen asked, incredulously.
"Is it really you?" I probed, ignoring Cullen.
Elizabeth flicked her eyes at me, but said nothing. I knelt down in front of her, trying to get her to make eye contact with me. She refused to look at me, but her eyes weren't as cold anymore.
"I guess maybe you don't remember me," I said softly, wondering if she perhaps had forgotten, "To you and Henry, helping me was most likely nothing but a fleeting moment in time. For me, that day - that hour - was an eternity. I thought I was going to die. I still remember the pain - taste the fear as they began throwing stones. You both so bravely stepped between the crowd and I -"
"Enough," Elizabeth hissed, her voice husky, "do you want to completely blow my cover? If you haven't already?"
I knit my brows and looked to Cullen who simply shrugged.
Elizabeth rolled her neck, squirming at her restraints a bit. She glanced at Cullen again, taking a bit longer to study him. He eyes dragged over his entire body and back up, a slight smirk on her lips. "Caught yourself a virgin did you, Neria?"
Cullen went slightly pink, but he didn't respond to Elizabeth's comment.
She threw her head back and cackled. "Andraste's knickers you'd be a fun one. Anyway, I suppose I should explain myself. Are all the other gits dead?"
"If you're referring to your comrades, yes," Cullen growled.
"Comrades?" Elizabeth looked aghast, "They are not my comrades. I'm a seeker and I was infiltrating their ranks. Something big is happening in the lyrium trade - spurred on by the chaos from the Breach. A hub is here in the Hinterlands and it involves those bandits and the Carta."
"That doesn't excuse you from being party to the massacre of my soldiers, the pillaging of these farm folk or any of the other heinous acts these bandits have committed," Cullen barked at her.
A smirk tugged on her lips as she looked at me."Like I said, virgin. Too much fancy talk, doesn't get right to the point."
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Cullen, however, seemed oblivious.
"For your information, Chantry boy," she threw him a wicked smile, "I only infiltrated their ranks about five days ago and this was my first raid. I tried to get ahead of them to warn you all, but they keep the exact details of their movements secret to only the innermost circle."
"Are you the woman that posed as a refugee to gain access to Dennet's land?" Cullen crossed his arms over his chest, his upper lip curling.
"No," Elizabeth shook her head, "The woman you're looking for is far more important than I am to these bandits. She infiltrates, does reconnaissance, and opens the door - so to speak - for the others to get in."
"So this is your first time here tonight?" Cullen probed.
"Yes, Maker, do I need to spell it out for you?" Elizabeth asked exasperatedly, "Neria, will you please tell this adorabletemplar that I am on the up and up?"
Elizabeth stared at me, a pleading look in her eyes. I glanced at Cullen, who seemed to be getting more perturbed by the second. I knew what needed to be done. I sighed deeply before beginning.
"Elizabeth, my name is not Neria. I took that name when you saved me and the templars took me so that I could let go of my past. My name is Meira Lavellan, I am a Dalish elf who was kicked out of my clan. The Commander aided in the rescue of my twin sister after the explosion at the Conclave, thus revealing my duplicity. I don't think I am considered trustworthy enough that vouching for you would clear you of any suspicion before the heads of the Inquisition."
Cullen looked at me, a bit taken aback, but pleased I could see. It was the right call, then, to be upfront with Elizabeth. She looked me over, digesting the news. I waited for anger, but she simply shrugged."I suspected you were hiding something from us, but it wasn't my business. I figured you'd tell us if you wanted."
I smiled, relieved.
"I doubt Henry will receive the news as well," Elizabeth chortled.
"Is Henry here? Why wouldn't he take it as well?" I quirked a brow.
"Oh please, Ner-Meira, my brother's been in love with you since the day we met you," Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
I couldn't stop the shock that crossed my features. "That's not true."
Elizabeth gave me a disbelieving look. "Still as naive as ever," she sighed, "but yes he's holed up in a cave nearby. He was with the templars here, but left them when they started going mad."
She shifted her eyes to Cullen. I noticed he was looking at me strangely before he collected himself. "Why weren't you at the Conclave?"
"I was briefly, but left when Henry told me he'd seen some suspicious activity when he passed through the Crossroads," she shrugged, "He wanted to stay to be a voice, but ended up being kept in Haven when his Knight-Captain disagreed with his views. So, handsome, is she trustworthy? Do I pass the test?" Elizabeth quirked a brow.
"Meira has proven herself in the past few weeks, therefore I trust you are what she says." Cullen glanced my way, a slight nod of his head.
"Can you get me out of these ropes then?" Elizabeth batted her eyelashes, "Unless...you like me tied up?" she flashed him a feline smile.
Cullen cleared his throat and turned a little pink as he hastily cut the ropes restraining Elizabeth. She stood and stretched, rolling her neck again. "So, how are we going to handle this?" she questioned, placing her hands on her hips.
"What do you mean?" Cullen asked, his brows furrowing.
"I mean, am I going to work my way back into their group? Are we going after them? What's the plan?" Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why are you asking me?" Cullen questioned, "You're a seeker, you're above me in rank as a templar. Though, I am a templar no longer."
"True," Elizabeth nodded, "but, I'd like to know what your plan is so I don't get caught in the crossfire; and so I can help you out. Plus, any extra time I can have with you, Chantry boy, will be pure pleasure."
Cullen rolled his eyes. I stifled a nervous laugh. Elizabeth had grown into an incessant flirt. She seemed to do it more for the enjoyment of making her victims uncomfortable. Which was working on Cullen, causing Elizabeth to dig her claws in even more. I'd have to tell her to back off, I didn't think Cullen was someone who would tolerate it for long.
"Will they move their hideout after this?" I asked.
"Like I said, I've only been amongst them for a short time, so I can't say for sure. However, they seemed pretty dug in and confident they wouldn't be discovered," Elizabeth explained.
"Will you be able to lead us to them?" Cullen questioned.
"Well sure, but if you're planning on going at them with the force you have here, you'll be slaughtered," Elizabeth cautioned.
Cullen frowned at that, "That many people?"
"Yes," she nodded, "And though I didn't visit it myself, they talked of two other locations where they had smaller setups."
Cullen looked at me then, "I guess we'll have to put this on hold until we return."
"Return where?" Elizabeth asked.
I looked to Cullen for a command, but he said nothing. I remained silent. He didn't feel threatened by Elizabeth, but he wasn't about to trust her with vital information.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "Very well, but can I at least have a hot meal and a bedroll?"
"Meira, can you see to that? I need to assess the damage," Cullen commanded.
"Yes, Commander," I nodded.
Cullen dipped his head and left.
"I like that one," Elizabeth purred.
"Me too," I whispered, but she didn't seem to hear.
...
Mother Giselle arrived mid-morning a few days later, bringing another large group of men and women from the Crossroads and several Chantry sisters. More refugees in need of work. A few of the farmhands and recruits returned as well. With them came additional supplies and livestock as they had traveled to Highever with some of the Inquisition's soldiers to avoid Redcliffe. The need for the farms too pressing to wait for the Inquisition to handle Redcliffe. Elaina and Bron separated the new arrivals into groups to help the farmhands, to help with repairs or for other tasks.
The Mother and the Dennets were discussing holding a service for the dead and a few regular Chantry services while she was at the farm. Cullen called for the soldiers attention along with the recruits from among the new arrivals to direct them in their duties - readjusting patrols, guard rotations and other duties. I watched as he spoke with authority and clear direction. He had been true to his word in training me whenever he had the time while we remained in the farmlands. He was an excellent teacher - patient, explaining things thoroughly and allowing me to run through exercises as many times as I needed until I got a move down.
Elizabeth was standing with him, explaining the movements and tactics of the bandits to prevent another attack from occurring. Whenever Cullen wasn't with me or attending to his duties, she was latched to him. Ignoring the twisting in my gut, I turned and headed to Ivan and Emily's to check on them. They had survived the attack, but I was concerned over the stress it might have placed on Emily. I racked my knuckles on the door and Ivan promptly opened it before scurrying back to his wife and child. I was relieved to see that Emily looked no worse for wear and the babe was sleeping peacefully. Gently scooping her from Emily's arms, I bathed her and to my surprise she didn't fuss.
"She fed right before you got here," Emily said quietly.
"Perfect timing then, her full belly is keeping her content," I smiled encouragement.
Emily smiled proudly. Men fight wars, rule countries, lead soldiers and communities, provide and care for their families and there's no doubt of the difficulties that come with those responsibilities; but motherhood is not given its due credit.The most difficult job a person could possess, but equally the most rewarding. To carry, birth, teach, train, shape and eventually let go of a person - for a brief moment, I felt a flutter in my heart - a longing. Would the Maker so bless me?
"Meira?" Emily questioned, a look of concern on her face.
"I'm sorry, just got lost in thought," I smiled, "You are doing a wonderful job, Emily. You both are."
They both smiled as I returned little Meira to Emily's arms. I excused myself and left the cabin. Wiping a tear from my cheek, knowing that the likelihood of my being a mother was remote. I'm a mage, I don't get the privilege of normalcy, besides what lasting damage did Alrik's torture inflict on me? I determined that I would ask Bethany what she knew when we returned to Haven.
"How fares the little one?" Cullen's voice called.
I jerked my head up, startled by his presence. A look of worry crossed his face. "They are doing wonderfully," I reassured him.
Relief flooded his face, "Thank the Maker, I could not bear..."
"Nor could I. The babe is perfect," I said a little wistfully.
Cullen smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What?" I quirked a brow.
"Nothing," he smiled, his eyes warm, "It's just...my sister would get the same look on her face whenever she was around a newborn. 'Baby fever' my mother called it."
I tried to laugh, but it sounded forced to my ears. "They are enchanting," I said instead.
Cullen nodded, but said nothing, instead studying my face.
"Is Mother Giselle settled?" I quirked a brow.
"She is planning on holding a service this evening." He gestured for me to follow alongside him as he began walking.
"I see," I stated, "Is there anything that needs to be done?"
"With all the new hands, everything is being seen to." Cullen surveyed the activity in front of us, "I suppose now we can come up with a plan to eliminate the rogue templars and mages. Elizabeth has contacted her brother asking for his help in tracking down his fellow templars. By the way, how did you meet them? Elizabeth says they are from Ostwick."
"Their father is a Knight-Commander," I began to explain, trying to ignore the pang of discomfort at Cullen speaking of Elizabeth, "He was seeing to business in Ferelden, but they had come along as they were starting to apprentice under him. He was at the Chantry, but had sent them on an errand when they noticed the people surrounding me. Henry pulled Elizabeth into the fray and together they blocked me from the people.
"Everyone knew the Trevelyan siblings and their father, immediately dropping their stones. They helped me to the Chantry, their father seeing that I was given to the templars and taken to the Circle once he'd found out what happened. I will never forget their kindness or bravery. I should see if Elaina needs any help," I finished, my voice going a little thick.
Cullen nodded and returned to Elizabeth. I studied them covertly as I made my way to the main house. It was more likely for them to marry and have children. They would be handsome together too; their children even more so. My heart ached, but I knew my fate was not in my hands.
"Meira, so glad you came, could you help me prepare some food?" Elaina asked as I entered the house.
I kneaded bread, chopped vegetables, trussed chickens and helped her cook it all. I listened as Elaina talked about recipes and cooking with her mother. Nothing could distract me from the heaviness in my heart, though. I felt a gentle hand on my arm and realized Elaina had stopped talking.
"Dear, what's wrong?" she asked, her sharp eyes full of concern.
"Nothing, I'm fine," I lied.
"Meira, you're not fine," the woman gave me a stern look, "Something is eating at you."
"I just...I envy what you have here," I admitted, "Normalcy, life, love...freedom. I don't think I'll ever get to experience those things."
"Meira, who knows what things will change in the coming months, years," Elaina squeezed my arm, "Don't lose hope. I think the Maker is going to bless you. In fact, you may find that he uses you to move mountains in order to make those blessings possible."
"Mountains? What do you mean?" I gave her a quizzical look.
"It's just a feeling," she smiled as if she knew something I did not, "I think you're going to get an adventure you never dreamed of; just be patient."
"I don't want an adventure," I huffed, "I just want to be normal."
"Well normal for you would have been a Dalish clan, right?" Elaina became stern again, "Cut off from humans, bride to a warrior or hunter, never knowing anything outside of your clan. Is that what you want?"
"No, that's -" I began.
"-Then I think your adventure has already begun and I think you need to hang on for the ride," Elaina cut me off, "Being thankful for each chapter as it comes, when it comes until the Maker closes your book."
I felt a little embarrassed at my whining and realized Elaina was right. "Thank you."
Elaina nodded and we went back to cooking.
My heart was lighter.
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