Last Minute Details & Departure

The trip to Levi Dryden's house turned out to be just in time. He and several members of his merchant family were packing up for a run through the north. He was very excited that the wardens wished to investigate the old ruins and help Levi and his family look for information about their ancestor, Sophia Dryden. They arranged to be ready the next morning when Elle, Midnight, Gorim, Anders and Varric would meet them at the city gate.

Once they were out of earshot of the the Dryden house, both Varric and Anders started laughing. "You know, Princess, you're almost as good as me in the bullshit department."

"Wait until I tell you some stories about traveling with her and Duncan, Varric," Anders said with a backhand slap on Varric's shoulder.

"Wait. Wait. Wait." Elle stopped them across the street from the Chantry. "First, why are you calling me 'Princess'?"

Varric shrugged. "You seem like one. I give nicknames to my friends. If you don't like it, I'll think of something else."

Elle smiled. "You already consider me a friend? That's wonderful! But … I'm certain you can come up with something better. Second, you mentioned bullshit … are you a storyteller?"

That made both Varric and Anders laugh again. "I should be insulted you got that from the word 'bullshit', but you are looking at the best storyteller in the Free Marches," he said with a flourish and bow.

Elle grinned back. She looked at Varric and then, she looked at Anders. "A storyteller and a healer! My wishes have been granted." She looked back to Varric. "I shall tell you all my stories and you shall repeat them over and over so I don't have to." She looked at Anders. "And, you will keep me alive … until you have to return to the Wardens."

Anders smiled and said, "That sounds like a plan, then, for the immediate future." Perhaps traveling with these two gentlemen would be just what Elle needed.

"Who knows, Anders? We may all be Grey Wardens one day." Elle shrugged. "Varric, how about you just call me Elle for now … or Cousland … or, you could call me Pup." Midnight barked and and had a stern look on his face. Everyone laughed. "All right, Midnight's taken that one off the table."

"There's a story there, I'm guessing." Varric grinned. "But, okay, I'll stick to Cousland for now … sounds just on the edge of disrespectful."

Elle laughed. "It does, doesn't it? Excellent! And, my family nickname came from the inordinate amount of time I would spend in the kennels as a small child. My mother called me 'Pup' first and it caught on." She leaned down and gave Midnight a hug. "Fortunately, Midnight came along and a team was born."

She looked around and said, "But, we have a destination awaiting! Come along, then, if you will, and meet some honorable and trustworthy Templars." She waved to Tavish standing outside the Chantry who frowned when he saw Anders with her. She told herself to remain calm.

"Lady Cousland, your choices of companions are eclectic to say the least," Tavish said with a small — very small — smile as they walked up.

"See!?" Anders crossed his arms and frowned like the little boy who had told his mother that his sibling hated him and his mother was having none of it. Elle had some personal experience in that regard, usually being the one with a pout on her face.

Then, she noticed Tavish's small twist of a had fallen into Tavish's trap. Elle adored the Templar even more. "I was referring to the dwarf with the oversized crossbow, Warden," Tavish said.

"Oh," Anders said so softly that is was practically unheard — another situation Elle was familiar with doing herself when corrected.

Elle laughed. "This is Varric Tethras from Kirkwall. He wants an audience with the Warden-Commander … and since the Warden-Commander is in Ostagar, he has graciously agreed to accompany my ever-expanding caravan to get there via the North Road, Highever, Circle Tower, Orzammar and Lothering."

Varric bowed. "I've also been retained as Cousland's historical recorder and performer."

That got a real smile out of the Templar. "If you have room for two more people, along with our own wagons and support staff in your caravan, Lady Cousland, Ser Aggilana needs to go to the Circle to research some of the blood magic paraphernalia we came across and deliver the books we could salvage. Brother Genitivi is traveling to some village in the Frostbacks and would appreciate a caravan to travel with en route."

Elle winked at Varric at Tavish's stress of her title, then turned to Tavish. "That would be wonderful, Knight-Commander. Ser Aggilana was very kind and understanding in that lair. I'm glad to hear that she's following up on the matter." Then, she paused. "Wait? The Brother Genitivi?"

Tavish chuckled. "Yes, that's the one."

Anders nodded, but only commented on part of the conversation. "All we have against blood magic is the Litany of Adralla right now and it just interrupts a blood magic spell. If some other defenses can be uncovered, it would be all to the better … for true maleficars." And, no one missed Anders' disclaimer. He smiled at Elle. "I know Ser Aggilana. She's one of the good ones. I've never met Genitivi."

"Tell Ser Tavish about Ser Rylock, Anders." Elle raised an eyebrow.

"I would rant about it, but I think Elle would be disappointed in me." Anders smiled at her. "I believe you have … what did Greagoir always call it? … an imbalance of humors with Ser Rylock."

Tavish's smile reverted back to a frown. "Say no more. Revered Mother Leanna sent us a notice that Ser Rylock was found in the throes of …imbalance. She is being sent to the clinic in Val Royeaux."

"Thank the Maker," Anders mumbled. "And, thank you for telling me, Ser Tavish."

"Duncan also sent word that he was very displeased about her treatment of one of his wardens." Tavish gave Anders a brief tip of his head. "Keep doing good work, Warden Anders, and you'll get no trouble from the Chantry." Then, he turned toward Elle. "Where shall I tell Ser Aggilana and Brother Genitivi to be and at what date and time?"

"Tomorrow morning, dawn, Highever House." Elle noticed Ser Friden and Revered Mother Dorothea step out of the Chantry and walk up. If the Maker hadn't truly abandoned them, Elle felt certain that lady would be a perfect Grand Cleric. "And, oh!" Elle reached into the small pack she was carrying. She got out a rather large sack with the clink of coins inside. "This is a memorial donation to the Chantry for Ser Alson. He bravely defended me and Senior Enchanter Wynne from a cowardly Orlesian assassination attempt. If there is a plaque somewhere for valorous Templars, perhaps this would serve to pay for an inscription."

Dorothea took the coins and handed them to Tavish. "Lady Cousland, this is most generous. Ser Tavish, please see to a proper recognition and memorial for Ser Alson." After Tavish nodded with a smile to Elle, Dorothea continued, "Also, if it meets with your approval, Ser Friden will be assuming the role of your contact here."

"I have absolutely no problem with that, Your Reverence. Ser Friden would be perfect," Elle said with a smile.

He handed her a small packet of what looked like letters. "These were in Ser Otto's room with your name on them." He grinned and nodded toward Mother Dorothea. "Her Reverence was a bit perturbed at how in depth they were, but I assure you no one edited anything. However, some of it is out-of-date due to what you witnessed firsthand."

Dorothea smiled sadly. "I have been recalled to Val Royeaux. The Divine has taken ill again. Maker aid in her recovery. If she is called to the Maker's Side, there may be a Grand Consensus soon and some of the Grand Clerics require my assistance."

"I am sorry to hear that on so many levels, Your Reverence. I must admit to harboring a wish that you might have become our Grand Cleric." Elle added a whisper, "Perhaps you'll become our next Divine, instead."

That got a nervous laugh from everyone, but Elle only laughed to participate. She had no doubt that if this woman wanted to be the next Divine, she would be.

As it turned out the next morning, not only were Varric, Anders, Gorim, Genitivi and Ser Aggilana going with Elle and the Drydens … her father, Highever soldiers and support camp staff, Matin, Soren, Zevran, Delilah, and Thomas were going as well. In addition, Voldrik and Dworkin Glavonak, a pair of dwarves who had been retained by Varel for Vigil's Keep, were also going.

Bags of messages and crates of supplies for Ostagar, the Circle and Lothering had also been dropped into Elle's lap.

Along with all the Highever wagons, two extra Chantry teams and their wagons rambled away from Highever House shortly after dawn the next day. They met up with the Dryden wagons outside the gates and the rather large caravan was shortly on its way up Pilgrim's Path toward Amaranthine.

This circuit of Ferelden was going to take a very long while!

Varel had gone back to Vigil's Keep immediately after Rendon's execution to begin to organize repairs and restructure. Surprisingly, Varel received a message from Captain Flewell ... no longer of the Flint Company ... stating that, due to the distasteful nature of their contract with Rendon, he and his men offered their services as interim guards at a reduced rate. After a few messages flew back and forth with Elle and her father, the mercenaries were hired. They were doing exemplary work, far superior to any of Rendon's guards, according to Varel.

The seneschal warned everyone they would be consigned to tents that had to be erected during the reconstruction. Much of the ground floor of the Vigil just needed cleaning, but the upper floors had been gutted by fire. Any combustible in the North Tower was completely consumed. That part of the letter almost undid Delilah, but she held firm. She took her new interim appointment seriously and planned to hold Court shortly after they returned there.

Shortly after dinner that first night on the road, Thomas sought Elle out. "How are you doing, Elle?" he asked quietly as he handed down a mug of juice to Elle.

"Oooo, redberry! My favorite!" Elle said before taking a long drink of the refreshing beverage. She took a deep breath as she thought about that. "I'm doing much better, obviously." With a concerned look, she turned toward Thomas and turned the question back on him. "How do you feel about it all?"

When his face clouded, she worried that she had pried too much. But, he said quietly, "To be completely honest with you … I'm more at peace than I've been in a long, long time … maybe ever." He smiled sadly at her. "I know you loved my brother, but he was different at home." He shrugged. "I see his suicide as predictable, Elle. There was no way he would ever admit he was wrong, so he took the coward's exit."

That surprised Elle! "I had no idea, Tom."

"You probably think worse of me for speaking of him that way, but it's true. Delilah can back me up." Thomas looked like he was afraid Elle was going to punch him.

Elle put her mug on the log next to her and looped her arm through his. "Mother taught me long ago that we cannot ever truly know what others are going through. Nathaniel's quick departure for Ostwick crushed me, Tom. The fact that he never wrote to me once hurt ... but, when he showed me that forged document and told me he was going to ransom me for Highever ..."

Thomas stood quickly, both mugs falling off the rocking log. "He said what?!"

Elle realized that she may have never mentioned that to anyone before now. "He was upset about Rendon's execution and became unduly influenced by Vaughan Kendells ..."

"Stop excusing him, Elle," Thomas said as he sat back down. "He never wrote to us, either. But, Father sent regular letters to Ostwick and received letters from Nathaniel. Adria told Delilah about seeing the unopened packets with Nathaniel's handwriting on them before Father ran her out. No one ever saw what they said, but I believe Father and Nathaniel are both guilty of treason. He may have courted you under orders from Father."

"I … I hadn't thought about that," Elle whispered. "But, for now, I'd like to look to the future, Thomas, and not dwell on the past."

"Uh oh," he chuckled, "you called me 'Thomas'. Did I go too far?"

Elle soundly hugged her childhood friend. "You gave me something to think about, Thomas. But, I'd like to return the favor while changing the subject: What role are you going to play in Amaranthine? Have you given that any thought?"

He broke the hug after a time and sighed. "It's all I've been thinking about lately. I don't want to step on her toes, but I want to help. I asked her what she wanted me to do and she said, 'Just be my little brother' ... as unhelpful as that was."

"Actually, that's pretty good advice," Elle replied. "The firm Delilah / charming Thomas thing you used to do with great success as children would be most helpful with the confused nobility in Amaranthine."

He laughed. "I'd forgotten about that. You're right ... but we need to work out what she wants me to charm them for."

"Only two days to do it!" She stood and swept her hand toward Delilah's tent. They could see through the silhouette that she was still awake with the lantern on, probably working at a make-shift desk of crates.

"I am in your debt, Lady Elethea," Thomas said with bow before he walked over to Delilah's tent. Elle could see his silhouette sit across from Delilah's.

"Do I need to have a conversation with the young Howe?" Gorim asked as he stepped up with a rather stern look on his face.

Elle smiled and shook her head. Then, she reached down and skritched Midnight. "I'm fine, Gorim. He was actually telling me things that I needed to know. However, I do appreciate how well you're looking out for me."

"You are paying me, Elle," he said with a chuckle. "Just let me know if I ever cross a line." He nodded and walked back to the Wicked Grace game Varric had going. Elle wondered if he ever would cross a line. He impressed her as someone who knew precisely how close to toe a line ... and she really did appreciate his concern. In a different future situation, she might just take him up on his offer of a "conversation" with some annoying person.

Elle sat on the ground next to Midnight. She had a lot to think about. What Thomas told her — while surprising, disappointing and disheartening — actually made her feel better. She had been questioning her intuition, her doubts. She still didn't agree with Thomas' opinion that Nathaniel had been lying to her all along. If it were a ruse to get her to marry his son, Rendon wouldn't have sent him away so abruptly. Since both men were dead, and any other evidence was burned by the mercenaries, no one would ever know for certain. She had been right to be suspicious recently, though. Especially, when Nathaniel just showed up in Denerim so shortly after Rendon's execution. Now, she just needed to decide if she should tell her father about what Thomas had shared or not.

Curiously, her mother had never been completely satisfied with the betrothal of her precious only daughter to a son of Rendon Howe. As much as Elle hated Rendon, Eleanor Cousland hated him twice as much! Elle decided she would confide Thomas' ideas to Mother and let her decide whether to tell Father.

It didn't make her feel happy, but it made her less confused. Thomas' words would allow Elle to return to ... herself in time: a daughter of the Cousland family, sister to Fergus Cousland, aunt to Oren. And, it freed her to open all of her heart once again. Nathaniel may have, in fact, been using her all along. She'd never know for certain now, but she still preferred to believe that he wasn't..

However, that part of her heart that she had given to Nathaniel was now renewed ... awaiting another to fill it ... hopefully.

...

Two days later, Elle looked around at the lush forests surrounding Pilgrim's Path as they neared the city of Amaranthine. "I've always loved this part of the journey home from Denerim. In fact, I had the chance to love it only a month or two ago."

Bryce smirked. "Do not tell me you don't see the potential for ambush behind every tree."

Elle laughed and replied, "We have Zev and Matin and Soren with us, Father. They will roust out any nefarious criminals who are stupid enough to try to attack a caravan this large with this many guards … no doubt, they would subdue the idiots before we even know something is up."

"I must say, Lady. You do know how to travel!" Varric leaned back on the pillowed seat in the back of one of the wagons. Bryce and Elle were riding next to it. Varric had been quite useful the night before at putting everyone's nerves to rest.

"So, it's 'Lady' now, is it?" she grinned at the storyteller.

"Yep! I think it's perfect for you." Varric smiled and then grumbled, "Not many 'Ladies' I would say that to."

Of course, Varric's story of Elle's last trip along this route was horribly blown all out of proportion, but he was able to steer toward the truth behind it all … mostly. Elle wanted to tell him that she had never pulled a door off its hinges in her life, but had a feeling he detested editors and critics. It allowed her father to assure Delilah that he would pay for the replacement of said door … all to the laughter of everyone around the large campfire. Maker knew that they all needed to laugh.

Levi's family decided to go on ahead to camp at the entrance to the tunnels to the warden's old keep. Ser Aggilana and Brother Genitivi stayed in the Chantry for the duration of the stop in the city of Amaranthine.

Elle was afraid that the stop in Amaranthine was going to take way too long. And, she was right. Elle, Bryce and the Howes were forced to stay with Bann Esmerelle, recently returned from her visit to the Free Marches. Elle would have preferred to join the guards and scouts, Zev, Gorim, Anders and Varric at the Crown and Lion every night.

Instead, the evening before they moved on, Esmerelle insisted on a formal dinner at her manor. Elle was forced to listen for what seemed like endless hours to Esmerelle going on about, "Maker knows how many times I would approach Rendon to …" or "… would tell Rendon he was mistaken" … on and on. Delilah and Thomas were brilliant and Elle's father was very pleased with how that last evening turned out. Delilah was adamant about how she planned to proceed during the upcoming months and Thomas charmed Esmerelle to believe most of the ideas were Esmerelle's. However, Elle's headache at the end of that dinner likely matched those who partied at the inn … but, at least, they could point to a good time gaining their headaches.

Several days later, they arrived at Vigil's Keep where many in the caravan were going to break away and stay. Varel's distressing letter didn't do justice to the truth of the devastation. Those mercenaries destroyed walls that had stood against Tevinter and Orlais, shredded tapestries of historical significance and antique value, slit paintings that had chronicled the Howes for generations. Delilah and Thomas never realized how much comfort they had gotten from those old things until they were gone. Fortunately, Varel had found Adria — the Howe children's old nanny — hiding in Amaranthine and engaged her once again. And, the Glavonak brothers already had ideas and plans in the works for the repairs.

Bryce declared that he was going to stay at the Vigil with Zevran, Matin and a retinue of Highever guards for a short while. He would catch up to the group bound for Soldier's Peak —it's official name — in a week or so. Or, back at Highever if his presence was needed longer.

Ser Aggilana decided she would help at the Vigil while Elle, Midnight, Anders, Varric, Gorim, Brother Genitivi, Soren and a second group of Highever's scouts and soldiers joined the Drydens to scout out Soldier's Peak. Brother Genitivi was most interested in seeing the old warden fortress. He had turned out to be a wonderful traveling companion. Even Varric sat rapt at some of Genitivi's stories.

Before the group left the Vigil for Soldier's Peak, Aggilana and Genitivi took Elle aside and warned her that the Grey Wardens did not always adhere to Chantry precepts. "Revered Mother Dorothea suggested that I not go along to that place," Aggilana said quietly. "In this time of Blight, it is judicious to remain vigilant, but not overly adamant about some details."

"Remaining oblivious of certain things in the realm of 'whatever it takes' would be prudent. I can see that." Elle smiled. "I wonder if I should even go along."

Aggilana patted Elle's upper arm. "Stay vigilant and trust your own conscience. Whatever you find there would be Grey Warden business. No one has any idea what is in that place after so long. There was a great deal of death. No doubt the Veil is thin, if not torn asunder." She smiled. "Warden Anders is tiring, but he is no maleficar. Be guided by his opinions."

Genitivi chuckled. "From what I've heard in Varric's tales, your adventurous spirit rivals my own, Elle. Imagine the things that could be found up there!"

Elle smiled at the scholar. "How perceptive! Yes, I would regret it if I didn't go, I'm sure." She winked at Genitivi. "Perhaps, there's a new book in the venture, eh?"

He looked oddly conflicted, but then smiled. "Perhaps … after the one I'm researching with this journey."

Elle was itching to get him to talk about this place in the Frostbacks, but he had been reticent to talk about it when Varric asked, so she let it drop … for the moment.

They arrived at the Dryden camp at sunset. It was decided to wait until morning to make the climb through the tunnels. Levi filled everyone in on what he knew, which wasn't much. His ancestor, Sophia Dryden, was labeled a traitor to Ferelden. Of course, her family did not believe that. She had tried to help the nobles who were being persecuted by King Arland Theirin. They thought her a hero.

Anders brought up that Wardens weren't supposed to meddle in the affairs of a country. He'd had time, recently, to read up about some things in the library of the Warden compound in Denerim. At least what he could find. Elle hoped she'd have time to do the same someday soon.

Of course, the historical account that Elle knew stated plainly that Sophia Dryden was completely in the wrong. Her actions got the Grey Wardens banned from Ferelden for over two hundred years until King Maric reinstated them about twenty years ago.

Of course, history was usually written by the victor.

...

AN: And so, the tour of Ferelden begins anew! This time, with new and old companions, to destinations also new and old. Starting with Soldier's Peak ... Soldier's creepy Peak. ;)

The Invisible Pretender, thank you so much for your continued reviews! They are very much appreciated. :) We'll have to see if Elle finds someone to fill that part of her heart ... now vacant ... but no longer closed off. And, nope … no Hawke … yet. ;)