A/N: This chapter had been originally written and published on Ao3 in April 2018. If you want to see the up-to-date version of this story, come find me on Ao3 under the same nickname (Merilsell) and story name (Of Elves And Humans: Redux). Enjoy?
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Chapter 8: Little Talks
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To his surprise, his fellow Warden returned only a half hour later. So did Morrigan, much to his dismay.
Without an explanation on where she had been, Lenya helped them complete the various tasks and odd jobs Leliana found for them on the Chanter's board or from the villagers. Acting as mediator between the Wardens and the people in Lothering, her bright and easy-going nature made negotiations with them a lot easier. In the end, it even earned them some extra coin for supplies from these tasks.
After clearing out a group of bandits lurking at the fringes of the village, the companions split up once more. Alistair took over the task of using their money to buy the required equipment, while Lenya opted to stay back and finish off the remaining tasks. Leliana had decided to keep an eye on Morrigan, probably to protect the witch from the templars and the other way around in equal measure.
Leaving the merchant's shop, Alistair steered toward the separated farmsteads in the back of the village. While the taint in Lenya's blood was still subdued, he was still able to pinpoint her whereabouts. He only had to concentrate on it a little harder, to hear and feel her presence. The newly purchased hunting bow slung over his shoulder, he peered into the distance, hoping to see her. The farmstead's high-grown golden-yellow crops were tinted a faint red by the afternoon sun.
He found her sitting in the field of farmer Barlin. Around Lenya, a large circle of wheat was trampled down and colored crimson. Alistair found the cause for that and her own bloodied appearance in the massive animal carcass closeby. Approaching, he noted how Revas was gnawing on what looked like a large paw.
"You... killed a bear ?"
"It attacked me," she stated, not even looking up from grinding something to a paste in her mortar.
Of course. Alistair didn't even know why he was surprised about her being able to bring down a bear on her own. Lenya could probably force the archdemon into submission with a glare. The thought gave him a chuckle.
"What is so funny about that?" Stopping, she glanced up, her eyes sharp upon his. "I'm a trained hunter, shem."
Oh no, the bad 's' word. She probably thought he was ridiculing her, when it couldn't be any farther from the truth. He was impressed and terrified in equal amount. Damn, if he knew one thing about that woman, it was that she was scary, even without trying to be.
The smile vanished from his face. "It is not. You are just... terrifying."
"Good." Looking back down, Lenya continued her work, but he caught the upward quirk of her lip.
"May I?" Alistair pointed at a spot adjutant from her and only earned a shrug from her. He took it as permission to sit down. "Are these the healing salves for Elder Miriam you're preparing there?"
"Perhaps." Another shrug of her shoulders. "Or maybe it is poison I mix here. To sprinkle it onto your meal later on, if you continue to annoy me."
"Aww, no." Hugging his knees, the smile crept back into his expression. Unlike with Morrigan, with whom he had had the exact same conversation time and time again, Lenya's threat lacked the venomous edge. Her words were still biting, yes, but there was no disdain in her voice, like with the evil witch. "Then I would die and you would regret that."
Without looking at him, she huffed. "Are you sure about that, shem?"
"Yeeeees," he drawled, and an amused low rumble colored his voice. "Because then you would be alone with this mess of a Blight and...-" Gasping, his words halted as he realized what they were. I don't want that. No one deserved to feel as alone as he had in countless nights after Ostagar. Not even the scowling, taciturn Dalish, who happened to be his fellow Warden he knew nothing about and who disliked humans and... Even so, her sense for practicality must have momentarily superseded all her disdain for humans, or she wouldn't be sitting here finishing off a task that would help sick human villagers. After killing a bear.
Maker.
Lenya didn't reply, not verbally, at least. However, her shoulders tensed and the staccato of her pestle increased, growing frantic and angry. Uh oh. Alistair leaned back to create artificial distance between them. Just in case. Propped up on his hands, he leaned back a bit further and watched the tufts of clouds moving overhead. Like he did back in Redcliffe, as a kid. The moment would have been peaceful were it not for the steady clanking sound and the coppery smell of blood biting his nose. The ache in his muscles from days on the road didn't help either. Stretching briefly, Alistair sat up straight again with a sigh.
Lenya still did her best to ignore him. She sat cross-legged with a bundle of freshly plucked elfroot spread out before her and the vessel of mashed up herbs placed in her lap. A few sweat-damp strands clung to her face, which was streaked with dried remains of blood, but she didn't seem to mind. Her hair - bound with a cord to a long ponytail - had the same color as the wheat swaying in the mild breeze. Alistair huffed. What an odd detail to notice about this stranger, his fellow Warden. His gaze briefly fell on the large mabari lying close to her, who did his best to ignore his presence, too. Typical. And yet it reminded him of something. Words which had run through his mind the whole day, after that last night in the woods.
"You know, underneath all the glares and grump, I think there is a really nice person in there somewhere."
Her movements stopped completely, then she looked up and at him. Though this time, her eyes weren't bearing their usual scowl or hardened stare, but surprise. Maybe a hint of shock, too. Alistair held her gaze for a moment, waiting for her to speak. Lenya's mouth moved in an attempt to form words, yet she remained silent with a frown. He took it as chance to elaborate on how he came to this conclusion. "It was you who sent Revas to me last night, right? That was kind of you. Thank you."
Lenya's frown deepened, but she didn't scowl. Her gaze remained open, if a bit confused. She blinked faster before averting her eyes. Fixing on a point in the distance, her voice adopted a quiet, sad note. "I know how it is to lose everything, everyone."
The breath caught in his throat while his gloved fingers bunched in the trampled wheat stalks in an attempt to ground himself. He regretted not having removed his gauntlets as his fingers itched with the need to feel the earth beneath him. Exhaling at last, the air left his throat in a shaky sigh. Her words struck him and his regret didn't end at the mere loss of tactile sensation. Caught up in his problems and grief, he hadn't even noticed how much Lenya had lost, too. Uprooted from her people, she had been thrown into this, without any say in the matter. No wonder she tried to escape as often as she did.
Maker, he had been so stupid.
"I'm sorry."
Her eyes focused back on him. "For what?"
"For not being the best company or help the past days and week." For being me, the helpful part of his mind added. Thanks again, brain. "For you having to leave your clan and your people."
Her lower lip trembled while her gloved fingers tightened around the pestle. The hardness returned to her features, turning her gaze into a glare. "I don't need your pity, human."
Ah. This seemed to be another thing Lenya tended to do. Recoiling and lashing out as soon someone tried to coax words out of her. Always distant, she didn't share; her wounds and pain were her own. Alistair had to respect that and still he couldn't help but wonder why she did it.
Because she doesn't know or trust you. Right, but it was a bit hard to have these little talks to get to know each other when one party refused to engage in them. He let out a sigh, peering back upwards to the sky for a moment.
"Did it help?" Lenya asked so suddenly that her question didn't register with him at first. Even as it did and he looked back at her, he wasn't quite sure what she meant."Revas..." she added. Upon hearing his name, the mabari sprang to his feet. Whining, the dog wagged his stumpy tail and headbutted her side as he begged for attention. Lenya gave it to him, in form of a few scratches of his head. He made it look so easy.
"Ugh, you are all bloody, fen !" She wrinkled her nose, and the mabari let out an offended wuff . Probably because Lenya didn't look much cleaner herself. Alistair watched the two interacting for a bit and noticed one thing: She was at ease with the hound and spoke with and teased the animal like a friend. So Lenya wasn't as closed off or emotionally cold as she wanted people believe her to be. She just needed time, to be given the chance to open up at her own pace. Maybe she never would, but it wouldn't for lack of trying. He wanted to, needed to, even. Lenya was now the only other Grey Warden in Ferelden after all.
"Yes, it did help, at least a bit," he said after Revas had settled down again, and kept his eyes trained on the hound, for a bit.
"Good." Alistair could hear the smile in her voice, which was completely contrary to her prior harsh reaction. "Is that the hunting bow?" she asked after a small pause, pointing at his armored shoulder.
Oh, right. This had been the reason he had sought her out in the first place. Well, not the only one, if he was honest. Alistair shrugged the bow from his shoulder and handed it over to her. Lenya ran her fingers across the curved, simple wood, testing its flexibility with a frown. He knew nothing about bows, beyond that this one was much smaller in size than the one Leliana seemed to favor. Lenya sat upright, her posture rigid as she fully drew back the bowstring a couple times.
"It is garbage," Lenya stated, after relaxing the bowstring again. "The draw weight feels off. It is far too light."
"Why is that bad?" he asked.
"A bow is meant as a quick method to kill an animal on a hunt. Unless this is meant to slay hare only, it will cause larger game needless agony. If the impact is even enough to seriously wound the animal, so it cannot flee." She put the bow down with a scoff. "It feels like a toy of a da'len ."
"So, bow bad. Got it." Shaking his head, he reclaimed the bow and tested it himself. He had the needed strength to draw the string back with ease, but lacked the expertise and endurance to keep it drawn with the correct poise. He probably looked -
"You look stupid." Ah, yeah, that . She verbalized what he already thought.
"Well - fitting then, right?" Alistair relaxed his posture and put the bow down. He folded his arms across his chest, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "Since I am stupid."
"No, you are not," she immediately said, quietly but firmly. "Stupid, I mean. Just very, very annoying." It took him by surprise that she didn't lose a second to object his self-deprecating words. Given, only to add her own set of insults, but it was still... unexpected. Coming from her, it was almost praise.
For a moment he didn't know how to react to that - then the laughter bubbling up in his throat made the decision for him. "Look at me, moving up in the world. I feel honored."
"Ugh." Rolling her eyes, she made a face. He smiled to himself. Yep, that was more like it. Lenya reached beside her and handed him a small fabric bundle. It bore that faintly sweet elfroot smell. "I finished the salve bandages for this old shemlen. Can you take it to her?"
Slowly, he got up, aware of why she asked him. "It can be noisy, huh? Especially with all the refugees streaming in from the South."
Lenya glanced down at the bundle of elfroot in front of her and huffed. It sounded frustrated. For a moment, Alistair wondered what kind of person she had been before all this, back with her clan. He would never know, he supposed. Then again, he wasn't the same anymore, either. Not since jolting awake in Flemeth's hut, aware of Loghain's betrayal. They both had lost so much, albeit in different ways.
And now they were here, together, fumbling toward a goal that was far too large for them. But there was no turning back anymore. No one would come and teach them how to fight against the Blight. Any Warden who could was miles and miles away, either in Orlais or further still, in Weißhaupt. There was no one, only them. Without him and his fellow Warden, Ferelden would be lost.
Great, no pressure.
"We can leave today," Alistair offered as the pause between them stretched until it was uncomfortable. "And we should, once we've gathered all the equipment we bought. Further down the Highway we will surely find a place to camp."
"What then?" Grinding her jaw, Lenya stared up into his eyes, and challenged him. "What then, huh?" she repeated, louder now. "After we leave this stinking shemlen village? Where do we go?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice small. Alistair wanted to tell her about Redcliffe, and Arl Eamon, but he feared what it meant. With the king dead, he - no . He couldn't even think it. It was all too much. Thus, he remained silent, the non-answer unsatisfying for both of them.
She jumped to her feet in a quick motion and invaded his space as she glared up at him. "This is absolutely insane, all of it is. I thought that when we reach this place then -" Lenya bit her lip, her body so tense he could feel her trembling. His fingers caged within the gauntlets twitched again with the need to touch, now to make it better. He knew he couldn't. He couldn't do anything. When she looked at him again with her perpetual scowl, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I did not run, because of what Asha'belannar said, but now I believe that maybe I should have."
"Running away?" Anger twisted in his gut and quickly superseded his empathy for her. "Is that your answer to everything, Lenya?"
"Well..." Her eyes narrowed further, her lips held tight. "It is one more than you have, Alistair ." This was the first time she'd ever used his actual name, and she pronounced it with scorn. It ruined the moment, the wish of hearing it from her lips. Not like this. "We cannot do this on our own. We should... - " She gestured wildly in the air, as if plucking the words from there. " ...search for other Wardens. Let them handle this."
"There is no one else," Alistair snapped without meaning to, adding fuel where none was needed. "It is only us." His breathing became ragged and he pressed his eyes shut. Shit, not here, not now. It wasn't safe; he was not alone. He couldn't cry, shouldn't . Alistair swallowed, stifled, and yet it kept bubbling up. Not only fear but the remembrance of last night, the loneliness and desperation. "Don't leave me alone with this, please." He didn't recognize his own voice in these words, so tiny and frail. He hated its sound, the uphill battle against the grief constantly clawing at him.
When he clasped his mouth with one hand to hold back the outcry and felt hot, wet trails of tears across his cheeks, he knew he'd lost the struggle against it. Alistair lowered his head in shame, expecting mockery but earning only silence. He was aware of her presence, more than he even wanted to be. She still stood close, not having moved since his sudden words. Not daring to open his eyes and see her expression, Alistair listened to the uneven rhythm of her breath. She was so close he could smell the blood on her skin and the hint of herbs. Revas whined, sounding agitated and worried by the situation taking place.
"I am here, am I not?" she asked suddenly, making his head snap back up and his eyes open. Her figure remained blurred through the tears.
Alistair blinked to clear his sight, exhaling shakily. "Y-yes. Yes you are." Thank you.
Her sigh sounded defeated. "Even if I don't know why."
"That makes two of us, I guess," Alistair said, his smile brittle but there . Then it struck him. Of course, why hadn't he thought earlier of it? "The treaties... have you looked at them yet?"
Crossing her arms, Lenya's brows creased together. "No... should I?"
Yes , he thought but refrained from voicing it. He didn't want to cause new strife. "There are three main groups that we have treaties for: The Dalish Elves, the Dwarves of Orzammar and the Circle of Magi."
Arms falling to her sides again, her eyes grew wide. "My people?"
"Yes... that would be the obvious choice, since you are -"
"No. Absolutely not!" Lenya interrupted him in a tone that left no room for discussion.
."Okay..." Alistair couldn't comprehend her vehemence against seeking out her people first. Didn't she miss them? And... oh . That was exactly the problem, wasn't it. "We don't have to decide right now, Lenya," he amended, letting the topic slide for now. "I'm just saying that we have options and places to go to for help. We don't have to run like headless chicken across Ferelden. Unless... -"
" Venavis , human," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "No more of your stupid jokes or words."
"My jokes and words are stupid, but I'm not? Huh, funny, that."
"Don't make me reconsider," she warned, but her annoyance only fanned his amusement. However, the carcass of the bear further across the field told him not to push his luck.
"Right, I'll get out of your hair then and deliver the potions. Salves. Medicine thingies. You know what I mean. " Alistair pointed at the untouched bundle of elfroot at her feet. He had thought it was for Elder Miriam, but that seemed not to be the case. "What about these herbs there?"
"This is for our ration of medicine. I'll stay here and prepare them." With that, she settled back down on the ground and glanced up him. "Come back in an hour or two, but bring a large bag."
His brows wrinkled. "A bag? What for?"
"For the bear meat and fur, of course."
Of course. How stupid of him to dare to even ask. Given her incredulous look, Lenya thought the same.
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An hour later and with his fellow Warden and a lot of bear meat in tow, Alistair met up with the rest of the group. Leliana, the size of her backpack significantly increased, was chatting away with some villagers, while Morrigan stared off into the distance, as if trying to will herself away from the commotion and people around her by thought alone. Alistair wouldn't have minded if she actually were able to, as it would mean having to spend less time in her grating presence. However, there was still the issue of the money she had gotten from the bandits.
Turning to stare at him upon noticing his gaze, her eyes narrowed.. "Have a care where your eyes linger, Alistair."
"Yes, well, don't worry. It's not what you think." It really wasn't. He would never look at her in that way, as a woman to be desired. Objectively speaking, the witch was beautiful, yes... yet it was a cold beauty, devoid of warmth and depth. Like a wyvern was pleasant to look at from a distance with its colorful scales, but far too dangerous up close. He grinned. "I was looking at your nose."
Morrigan's scowl lessened to a small frown, and her tone gave away some curiosity. "And what is it about my nose that captivates you so?"
Oh, this was too easy. Either Morrigan was too focused on being uncomfortable among the people around her to recognize his real intent, or baited by talking about her looks. Given how out of place she appeared to be and her tense posture, Alistair thought the former more accurate. "I was just thinking that it looks exactly like your mother's," he said, enjoying how every single one of his words hit their mark.
With a scoff aimed more at the sensation of being caught out than toward him, her expression instantly warped into scorn. "I hate you so much." Next to him, he could feel the questioning gaze of his fellow Warden, though it did little to lessen his amusement.
The conversation Leliana was having with a couple of villagers died down, mainly because a blonde girl of maybe ten years broke away from the throng of people and ran toward Morrigan. "I like your feathers!" When the witch didn't react, the girl added, "On the shoulders of your robe, I mean. They are pretty!"
What happened next was unexpected, and going by the surprised outcry of the people behind him, not only for him. Morrigan looked at her, and smiled. "You think so, little one?"
"Yes." The girl got up on the balls of her feet and gasped. "Are they magic?"
"Perhaps." The witch shrugged, feigning indifference that did not reach her expression. "More important is, however, why you are still in Lothering, little one? Shouldn't you be on your way to safer parts?"
"Because of the darkspawn?" The girl pressed her lips together and nodded. "We will leave. My ma is still busy packing up our wagon for the journey to Denerim."
"Violet!" A middle-aged woman with the same long, blonde hair, braided around her head, pushed through the small throng of onlookers. "I'm sorry she's bothering you," she said to Morrigan, a bit breathless. With her simple clothes, the freckles on her face and tanned skin, she appeared to be one of Lothering's farmers.
"But Maaaa," the girl protested in a way that was typical of kids her age, including a pout. "You said I should go elsewhere until you finished packaging, and now this isn't correct, either?"
The woman gave Morrigan a telltale glance. "Not if you are bothering others that are surely glad to be on their way themselves, Violet!"
"Here." Plucking a long raven feather from her robe, the witch leaned down to hand it to the girl. "'Tis a long and dangerous journey that awaits you, little one. These lands grow dark and will become darker yet in the days to come. May you stay safe and keep your curiosity about the world."
"It is a good luck charm," Violet beamed, showing the feather to her mother. "Look!"
"Yes." The woman seemed less appreciative of the gift and practically shoved her daughter away from the witch. "Now go help your brother load his belongings, so we can leave soon."
Waiting until Violet was out of sight, she sighed. "I don't mean to appear rude, but -"
"For someone not wanting to appear so,you succeed at it marvelously," Lenya cut into her words and let out a scoff. "Humans, typical ."
"What my fellow Warden wanted to say -" Alistair started, but didn't get any further.
Whipping around, she fixed him with a glare. "Do not speak for me, human !"
"Oh right, sorry." He sounded more annoyed than intended, but Maker, he was just trying to help.
"Look, I know you people don't mean any harm..." the woman amended, ignoring their small quarrel. "...but with all that is going on; the lost battle in Ostagar, the approaching darkspawn horde, the Qunari in the cage, it would be better if you left our village. People are already scared enough, y'know? We don't need to draw the ire of the Teyrn on us for hosting Grey Wardens here."
"Wait..." Alistair said, frowning. As much he could sympathize with her fear, there was a particular part in her sentence that drew his attention. "What was that about a Qunari in a cage?"
She seemed taken aback by the question. "You haven't heard, Warden? The Revered Mother ordered he be put in a cage for his crimes, left behind for the darkspawn's arrival."
"Why am I not surprised?" Morrigan spoke up, disdain in her voice. "A man and capable warrior left to be torn by pieces by darkspawn. 'Tis a fine example of the Chantry's mercy, is it not?"
"Capable warrior?" Alistair could practically see the wheels turning in Lenya's head as she stepped toward the farmer. "Where do I find this... Qunari, human?"
"Past my farmland to the east," the woman pointed over her shoulder into the distance. "You can't miss the cage. But you aren't thinking of releasing a murderer, are you?"
Not listening any longer, his fellow Warden already moved into the appointed direction, leaving him no choice but to follow.
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Reaching his cage soon after, Lenya stared up at the giant man held within. He was ignoring her, his deep voice reciting what sounded like a prayer in a foreign tongue.
"Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit, aban aqun. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam Qun."
Repeating his prayer another time, the frown etched further into his bronze, weathered skin. Then, he turned and opened his eyes to look down to her. They had an odd and deep lilac color, contrasting starkly with the white of his long hair. Each of the strands were braided tightly against his skull and bound to a ponytail. "I have nothing to say that will amuse you, elf. Leave me in peace."
Lenya stepped closer still, until her upper body nearly touched the simple metal of his cage. It was barely large enough for his staggering height, not large enough for him to sit down. "What are you?"
Behind her the rattling sound of armor told her that her fellow Warden had finally managed to catch up with her, and with him, the rest of their group.
"A prisoner. I'm in a cage, am I not?" he said, his tone dry. "I've been placed here by the Chantry."
"The Revered Mother said he slaughtered an entire family," the red-headed shem spoke up. Lenya had already forgotten her name and didn't care enough to ask for it. "Even the children,"
"It is as the human tells you," the giant man agreed. "Now leave me in peace. I will not last much longer without food and water."
"Longer?" Lenya cocked her head. "How long have you been in here, then?"
"Twenty days now. It will only take another week, then I will die."
"Wow." Her eyes grew wide. Not only could he probably rip darkspawn to pieces with his massive hands alone, the Qunari also possessed an endurance unheard of for any other race in Thedas. "That is a damn long time without any kind of nourishment."
He scoffed. "Compared to your kind, maybe."
"Why are you so keen on dying, when I could set you free instead?" Crossing her arms, Lenya glared up to him. Sure, he murdered people,even felt guilty for the deed. Yet leaving him rotting to atone for what he'd done seemed such a... waste. "You look as if you have not only seen many battles, but would also prefer to die in one. I can offer you both, if you wish."
At that, Revas barked out and ran toward the distanced farmland past the hills, leaving Lenya to wonder what this was all about.
"Yes. I am Sten of the Beresaad -the vanguard- of the Qunari peoples." He shook his head. "And you are very confident for a person so tiny."
"I'll say," Alistair laughed out but quickly cleared his throat as the Dalish bestowed him with a sour look. "Not to put too fine a point on it, but it is indeed true that qunari are renowned warriors. If we can free him, perhaps he will be able to help us, Lenya."
"To be left here to starve or to be taken by the darkspawn," the chantry shem mused, her lilting voice grating at the headache blooming behind Lenya's skull. "No one deserves that, not even a murderer. We should ask the Revered Mother if she will release him into our custody."
"Yes, you do that, then," Lenya said, waving her off. "I will wait here with our supplies, so we can leave quickly afterwards."
"Aww, not keen on visiting the Chantry then?" The corner of Alistair's lips twitched upwards. As always the damn human was far too observant for his own good. "I can't imagine why you wouldn't spring at the chance to shake the Revered Mother's hand and thank her for all the good they have done for your people."
"What has the Revered Mother to do with her people, the Dalish?"
"History, Leliana. History." Her fellow Warden let out a sigh. "I studied it during my templar training, among way too many verses of the Chant." Alistair shuddered. "Have you any idea how many verses there are?" She gave him a look. "Right. Of course you would. As lay sister and all." He started to move, but stopped again to look over his shoulder when the chantry shem didn't follow him. "Shall we go, then?"
"You want to come with me?" she asked, somewhat amused.
"You know I would normally love to spend some more quality time here with Morrigan, but why not have a fun talk about releasing a giant murderer with the Revered Mother instead?" He shrugged with a snort. "Besides, I'm doing you a service, Leliana, because Revered Mothers' just love to yell at me. So while she is doing that, you can use the distraction to steal the key to Sten's cage."
The shem laughed out and patted him on his armored shoulder. "I am sure this won't be necessary, but I appreciate the thought. Come, then." With their departure, much sought silence returned, at last. While the witch remained standing, Lenya sat down on the grassy ground, in between the many packages and bags of their supplies. Peering into the distance, the Dalish savored the stillness for a bit and wondered where her mabari had wandered off to. It wouldn't surprise her if the animal had finally realized what a terrible idea it was to follow her, fighting darkspawn.
"Perhaps we should put Alistair in the cage then, as soon we have freed the Qunari from it," Morrigan said after a while, a scoff in her voice.
Lenya looked up at Morrigan and arched an eyebrow. "You would like that, huh?"
She crossed her arms and looked down at her. "Hm, and you would not?"
"Don't get me wrong, Morrigan. I'm terribly fascinated by the stupid rivalry you both have going on, ever since meeting each other." Lenya paused for effect. "However, leave me out of it. I have enough trouble on my own."
Huffing, she glanced away. "Obviously."
Both fell into a silence again, one that lingered and stretched without anyone interrupting it with useless words. It felt far easier and natural to do so in the company of the witch than with her fellow Warden. In fact, Alistair struggled to not speak for even five whole minutes, unfortunately.
"On the other hand, it would be much more quiet without the talkative, annoying human," Lenya said, the humor in her voice quickly traded in for a groan. "Alas, he is also the only other Grey Warden besides me, so I doubt it will be a feasible option."
"You are a Grey Warden then?" Sten spoke up from behind her, halting whatever Morrigan was about to say.
"Not by choice, mind you, giant friend." She turned around to him, frowning. "Why are you asking?"
"My people have heard legends of the Grey Wardens' strength and skill." He paused to look her up and down with a snort. "Though I suppose not every legend is true."
Before Lenya had time to feel offended upon his comment, Revas reappeared in the distance from behind the hills. The silvery object he carried was way too large for his muzzle, which didn't stop him from dragging it after him nonetheless. Seeing his mistress, the hound adapted a quicker trot, while stubbornly holding onto the item with his teeth. As he approached, Lenya saw that it was a weapon; a greatsword to be exact. Revas reached her soon after and spat it out at her feet. Panting, he looked up at her as he waited for her reaction, most likely praise. For a brief moment, Lenya was unable to give him either.
"I think... my Mabari has found a weapon for you, Qunari." Revas barked in agreement. "I hope you like using greatswords."
The Qunari only let out a noncommittal grunt, while eyeing the weapon like he had done with her before. "It has to suffice, small as it is."
Petting Revas for his deed done, Lenya observed the weapon in front of her. Its long blade was crusted in dried blood and it was easily as large in height as herself. Well, to be honest, if you were as large as the Qunari, everything would be appear small to yourself. She noticed how Revas tensed underneath her palm, heard him growling, while observing how the shadows of six figures grew larger on the ground. Lenya's head snapped up to see a group of men, all clad in simple clothes instead of armor, approaching her.
"We done heard what was said. You're a Warden," a shaggy human stated, while pointing an iron dagger at her. His hand was shaking a bit.
She jumped to her feet, alarmed. "What? Did you glean that from the griffon emblazoned on my armor? Wow, such an eye for details, amazing."
Morrigan gripped her staff and brought herself into position. "I don't think these fools are here to banter, Lenya," she sneered.
"No..." Her gaze wandered from one shemlen to another, noticing their mismatched weapons and stained clothes. These were no bandits, nor warriors but simple, untrained farmers. "It seems these shemlen are here for the bounty on my head."
The man nodded and held his chin up high as he glared down at her. "I don't know if you killed King Cailan, and Maker forgive me, I don't care. But that bounty on your head could feed a lot of hungry bellies."
The other men approached even closer, effectively cutting off any escape route for them. Revas reacted to the increased proximity by baring his large fangs, ready to attack any moment. Despite their advantage in number, fighting them would be a quick and gory affair Lenya would prefer to avoid. She wouldn't hinder these dimwitted lambs running headlong into their own slaughter if they were so keen on throwing their lives away, yet it all seemed so... pointless. "Look around you, shem'alas. Do you seriously think you fools have any chance of winning this fight?" She drew her blades and readied herself, just in case. The energy of Morrigan's magic crackled upon her skin, as the witch conjured up a small electric current and flung it at the feet of two farmer opposite, deliberately missing them. They jumped back and shrieked out in terror, causing her to chuckle.
"If you value your pathetic life, 'twould be better if you listen to her. I care not."
Lenya noticed a small shift in mood, a bit of hesitance that wasn't there before. Glaring at them, she huffed out. "So what is it going to be, assholes?"
The shaggy human stormed forward to attack her, replying to her question without words.
.
.
.
"Soooo," Leliana drawled out, turning to him. "Your fellow Warden?"
"Yeeees?" Alistair replied in the same drawn out way. Two could play the game. "What about her?"
"Is she always so..." She waved her hands as she searched for fitting and probably not insulting words. "...distant? Cold?"
"What?" He laughed out. "Are you disappointed that Lenya hasn't offered to braid your hair yet? Sorry to say, but I don't think... that will happen. Ever ."
They took another turn past the tavern and had almost reached the Chantry. "No. I rather think she hates me," Leliana said after a short pause.
"Don't take it personally, but she doesn't like anyone. Except for the dog, maybe."
She frowned at him. "Not even you?"
"Especially not me," he said, snorting. "You know... the human thing? Lenya isn't keen about that. At all. Besides she likes to keep to herself and since I like to be alive, I try to respect that." Alistair's mouth quirked up, into a lopsided grin. "She can be really scary, after all."
"Oh..." Looking at him with widened eyes, Leliana flashed him a smile. The kind that made him want to turn around, to run and hide.
The Chantry's entrance suddenly seemed miles away. "What?"
Her smile widened. "You... like her."
Alistair stopped a half pace ahead of her and turned back, to stare at her as if she'd lost her mind. She probably had. "No!" Maker, he could feel himself blushing, which wasn't exactly helping his case right now. " Why is everyone..." Halting his words he released his breath as a frustrated sigh. "I... hardly even know her! Same for you, I guess. So I don't know why we are even discussing this."
"Sorry..." She grimaced. "I didn't mean to pry or assume anything."
"Yes, well, a little late for that," he said, sounding more harsh than he meant to be. After all, it had been just light hearted banter, but for some reason it got under his skin. "Look, just because she is my fellow Warden doesn't mean we get along, let alone are destined to be together. As I told you before, she isn't, nor am I, here by choice." Frowning, he shook his head slightly . "This isn't one of your ballads or stories, Leliana. ... Whatever they are."
"You are right," she amended with a sigh."However I have my lute now, so I can perform one of my songs or tales for you the next time we make camp, if you like."
Alistair chuckled. "Alright. As long you don't expect me to pay for it, as the last of our money went into a better, Lenya-approved bow."
"Nah," Leliana said with a giggle, while gearing toward the Chantry's door. "See it as included service for taking me along, as long you don't expect -"
"The evil shall descend upon us!" a dark-skinned Chasind man started to scream, interrupting her words. Clad in crude leather armor, he had a giant axe strapped on his back and marched up and down in front of the scared on-looker. "The legions of evil are on your doorstep! They will feast upon our hearts!" His voice grew even louder, adapted a despaired, near crazed edge. The people around him gasped out in fear, a child began to cry. "There is nowhere to run! This evil will cover the world, like a plague of locusts!"
Then his dark eyes fixed Alistair and with his finger, he pointed at him. "There! One of their darkspawn's minions is already among us!" Alistair rolled his eyes. Great, he seemed to be attracting crazy today, even if Leliana turned out to be pretty okay.
"Go on without me." He motioned her to leave. "I'll handle this."
She hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Yup. I'm kind of interested in how that guy knows that I'm a Warden, armor aside." Alistair gave her a shrug. "And crazy or not, he seems easier to deal with than a Revered Mother, to be honest."
"Wait for me here, then?" Leliana asked, and he nodded to show her it was okay. He could handle Lenya-well, somewhat-so that guy would be nothing in comparison. "I'll be back as soon as possible." She turned to leave but stopped half a pace ahead again to look back over her shoulder. "And don't get hit by that axe."
"Generally always good advice, but thanks."
Using Alistair's moment of distraction, the Chasind closed in on him. "This man bears their evil stench. Can you not see the vile blackness that fills him?"
"Excuse me?" Alistair gasped out in fake shock as he stood his ground. He was half a head taller than the man, which made the last part a bit easier. "I bathe regularly, thank you very much!"
"I watched the black horde descend upon my people!" the man cried out and fell to his knees, forcing Alistair to step back from him. "Darkness swallowed the marshes whole and..." His voice cracking, he pointed at the Warden again. "This minion is but the first of those who will destroy us!"
The urge to knock the loony out cold was growing in him by the minute . However, the screaming of the man had attracted many onlookers, so punching him wouldn't be the best solution. Alistair didn't want to further worsen the reputation of the Grey Wardens, not with the bounty already placed on their heads. So he settled for another, much used weapon of his: Words. Folding his arms, he looked down at him. "Interesting party trick, screaming like that. Way too much doom and gloom for my taste, though. Can you not do, I don't know, literally anything else? How about using this big axe on the darkspawn you hate so much? That would help."
The Chasind sprang back to his feet and narrowed his eyes on the Warden. "Are you calling me a coward?"
"I'm calling you an idiot, more like," Alistair shook his head and huffed. "I mean just listen to yourself for a minute. I get that you are scared, but you are helping nobody here with your shouting. In fact, you are only making it worse."
"You...," He paused to stifle a sob, yet it broke through his words nonetheless. "I have shamed my ancestors. But the blackness will come!" Whipping around, the man gave chase into the opposite direction, toward Lothering's entrance. Good, everything would be better with him finally gone.
"He was right, wasn't he?" said a near-bald man, clad in a chantry robe. "There is no hope for us."
Or... not. "There is always hope, dear Brother," Alistair replied and tried to at least sound optimistic, even if he wasn't feeling it. "Muster your courage."
"You are right!" The Chantry Brother nodded. "We can't give up yet."
"Yes," another man agreed."We can't simply lie down and wait for our death here. We must go north, to Denerim."
"Thank you, Warden," the Brother said. "May the Maker be with you." After that, the group of onlookers slowly dispersed. And with them, some of the small wagons that previously had blocked the sight of the Chantry's humble flowerbed. It was largely overgrown with weeds; he spotted some elfroot among them, but approaching further toward it, Alistair also saw a rosebush.
Being left as untended as the flowerbed was, it didn't surprise him to find it dead. Its thorny branches were twisted; gray in color and gnarled. Yet at the side of it, there was a single white rose sticking out from the otherwise withered bush, and the odd contrast between life and death drew him in further. Leaning over the flower, Alistair observed its pearly-white petals for a brief moment. It was beautiful and strong, defying all the death around itself.
He should probably leave it alone, but the darkspawn would come and destroy it and... Before he knew it, his gloved hand reached out for the rose's green stem and plucked it from the gnarled bush. Now in his hands, Alistair was briefly unsure what to do with the rose. The belt bag of his armor wasn't exactly equipped to carry such a delicate floral item, but the voice calling out for him overrode any caution regarding it.
"Alistair?" It was Leliana, returned from her meeting with the Revered Mother. "Did you not hear me?"
Rushing to stow the flower away in his small bag, he turned around to her. "Sorry, I was lost in thoughts, I guess."
Leliana frowned, her teeth grazing her lower lip as if doubting his small lie. She held a large bundle of fabric in both of her hands. "I see you have managed to clear the air without bloodshed."
I'm not Lenya. Even if meant humorously, the thought was too cruel to articulate. So he settled for pointing at the object held within her arms instead. "So did you, I suppose. Unless that inside the bundle is-"
"Sten's armor, yes." Leliana pursed her lips, thankfully interrupting his ill-suited attempt at humor. "The Revered Mother has released him into my... our custody, and they still had his armor stored away. What did you think?"
"Nothing." Alistair averted his eyes and a faint blush spread across his brown cheeks. Where did these dark thoughts even came from? Maybe it was the rose which awoke the realization within how frail the peace here was and what would soon happen with this village and its people. The darkspawn would come razing, murdering, tearing everything apart like they did in-
"Alistair!" Her voice was brisk, cutting through the unbidden images assaulting him. "Are you spacing out again?"
"Sorry." He laughed out, its sound fake, too forced, while blinking rapidly. "What will happen to all those people we leave behind in here Lothering?" His need to talk it through superseded the one longing for ignorance, to close his eyes and plug his ears.
"Some of them will find their way to Denerim. Many will die. As the Maker wills." The large bundle hung low and heavy in her arms. Alistair gestured toward it, but Leliana negated his request to carry the armor with a shake of her head, and motioned him to follow. Slowly they moved away from the Chantry's entrance, back toward the east area of the village. "If the Blight isn't stopped, everyone will die. This is the greater good we're serving, both of us, and your fellow Warden."
His mouth snapped open as he stared at her. How could she talk so nonchalantly about it all, with so many lives on the line? "So it's all right to let some people die for the greater good?" Alistair shook his head. "I... I'm not so sure about that. I feel bad for leaving all those helpless people here behind to their impending slaughter."
Glancing up at him, Leliana sighed, but didn't slow her steps. "You're doing what you must, Alistair. There will be worse to come yet, and you will need to steel yourself for it."
Walking over the arcing stone bridge with the small stream purling underneath, they cut around the corner, past the windmills at each side. "I've never been very good at that. The steeling myself part, I mean." He paused to gather his thoughts, to find the right words. "I think it is better sometimes to just be a little weak. I'm alright with that, really."
"I don't believe you," she replied curtly, eyes straight ahead. "And either way-" Gasping out, the heavy bundle of armor landed with a dull thud on the ground. Frozen in place, Leliana stared past Sten's cage in the near distance.
Several villagers lay motionless on the ground, their blood tinting the grass underneath crimson. Alistair's stomach churned as he fell into a jog to approach them quickly, and the group standing in between them. Leliana followed close behind, as he made a beeline for his fellow Warden. Her blades still in hands and bloodied all over, there was no doubt that Lenya was responsible for this massacre. Rage rose like heatwave inside and burst out of him in sharp, loud words. "What have you done?" He gripped her arm to turn her around, to make her look at him. "I leave you alone for half an hour and you go about murdering innocent villagers?"
Her eyes grew hard, as she yanked her arm free from his grasp. She uttered something in a foreign tongue, but didn't reply to him.
"Innocent, pah." It was the witch, who scoffed. With her arms crossed, she stood nearby, leaning on the stone wall behind her. "'Tis typical that you, simpleton, would jump to this conclusion, instead of looking closer ."
"Oh really?" Alistair spat, head turning back to glare at Lenya. "What have these humans done to you then? Looked at you wrong?"
She didn't back down from his challenge but met his glare and ire with her own. The blades rattled in her hands as she shook, her whole body tense. Lenya pursed her lips to a sneer as she leaned in. "Fuck you, shem." A hint of hurt flashed across her expression before she whirled around and stomped away. Or maybe it had only been his imagination. Seeing her leave, Revas let go off the bloodied chunk of... meat he was chewing on and huffed as he passed Alistair.
Behind him, the Qunari groaned out. "Parshaara, they were attacked and just defended themselves. As they should."
Alistair turned around to the giant man. "Who attacked whom?"
"The humans attacked the elf. Are you dumb in addition to blind, Warden?"
Morrigan laughed. "Oh, I already like you, Sten."
"He is right," Leliana said, while hovering over one of the villager's corpses. She looked up at him and held up a simple dagger found next to the body. "They were armed. Badly so, but still armed."
Oh crap. Alistair's eyes flitted toward Lenya who had put some distance between herself and them, but did not completely vanish from sight. It was more than he deserved, really. His eyes fixed on Morrigan again. "What happened here?
"Oh, now you are asking?" A smirk played around her lips. "Bit late, 'tis it not?"
The sinking feeling spread within his guts, along with the certainty that he had made a mistake. "Just tell me!" he snapped at the witch, harsher than needed or intended.
"I think they were here for the bounty the Teyrn put on your heads," Leliana replied in her stead and wiped her bloodstained hands against her leather armor. "These people were desperate, needed the money, and saw a chance. Still..." She paused with a frown. "... I'm not sure if such excessive force was needed to fend them off. These were simple farmers, no bandits."
"She warned them," Morrigan huffed, meaning Lenya. "These fools did not listen and ran into their own slaughter, like sheeps." Gathering her own small bundle of belongings from the ground and shouldering her staff, the witch left, heading in Lenya's direction.
"Great," Alistair breathed out. In one single moment he'd destroyed every bit of progress made with his fellow Warden the past days, however small. "I'm an idiot."
"Yes. Finally we agree on something."
He threw Sten a look for the dry remark. "But I'm still an idiot with the key to your cage."
Or more like Leliana was. Having reclaimed the bundle with the Qunari's armor, she stepped in front of his cage. Fumbling with the she key a bit, she finally managed to turn the rusty lock. The cage's hinges creaked as she opened its large door, but the Qunari remained rooted on the spot. " Am I to follow you into battle?" he asked, his lilac eyes narrowing. "It seems more likely that you should follow me, whelp."
Alistair bit down a groan. Fantastic, he had just excelled in making a lasting impression on everyone today. Alas not in a good way. "Yes, well," he said all too quickly, shouldering two of the large bundles. "How about I start with following you out of this village then? I'm sure your redemption lies somewhere beyond it."
Alistair peered up the large stone bridge, toward the village's edge where Lenya lingered, and sighed. Regarding himself however, he wasn't quite so certain that redemption was an option.
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Change Notes:
Complete rewrite and deletion of the old version. Shifted the focus to the two Wardens and their interpersonal relationships (and their failing in them) Added and novelized the feather gift scene of Morrigan to find in WoT2. It is a much more personal chapter now for all characters, instead of a rehash of the events there.
Reviews are most appreciated. Let me know what you think :)