9:30 Wintermarch 17th
After we all got together, we sat around near the highway in a clear spot. Everyone filled Leliana and I on the current situation. Oren and Eren were off in their own world by the river. It was as I knew it. They became Grey Wardens, the fighting started, the Tower of Ishal was taken over, and Loghain quit the field.
"And now we're wanted fugitives." Talen mumbled.
"It was bound to happen. Loghain wants nothing to do with us." Derek huffed.
"But you are the only ones to stop this Blight, does he think he can outrun it?" Leliana commented.
"Tis the actions of a foolish man. I still do not see why we do not march up to him and slay him." Morrigan offered.
"Yes and his leagues of soldiers will be on us like bears on honey." Alistair rolled his eyes.
"So then what are we going to do?" I asked. Derek grabbed some papers from his pack.
"These are treaties that we can use to gather up our forces and build an army. Mages, Dwarves, Elves, and anyone else that we can get." Derek explained.
"I still suggest we should go to Redcliffe and inform Arl Eamon. He would still have all of his soldiers and he's very respected." Alistair suggested.
"We need to go to the mages first! They were kept out of the fighting for the most part. I'm pretty sure that they will know of the danger first than everyone else. Besides, didn't that guy in the Chantry say that Arl Eamon was sick? Isn't it better to give him some time to get well before we go and ask him?" Talen described. Alistair huffed and pouted.
"We should decide on what to do next, soon. Lothering isn't going to be safe if the darkspawn are moving like you said they are." I crossed my arms.
"Missy is right. They'll hit here first before starting to spread." Derek said somberly. I stood up and left everyone to their decision while going and joining Eren. He looked up and nodded at me.
"Have they decided where to go yet?" Eren asked. I shook my head and sat next to him.
"No. Talen wants to go to the mage tower and Alistair wants to go to Arl Eamon." I explained. Eren sighed and rubbed his face. "You're a part of them too. You should talk to them too and decide where we're going." Eren looked at me.
"'We?'" Eren wondered and I nodded. "You are not accompanying us." He stated. I gaped until I chuckled.
"Ha, ha, very funny Eren." I said.
"It wasn't a joke. You are to take Oren to Arl Eamon and wait there." Eren said.
"Are you kidding me!?" I shouted and stood up. "What happened to your great speech of, you wouldn't have anyone at your side fighting against the Blight?"
"That was then and this is now." Eren stood up to his full height. He should know better than to try to use that against me. "The stakes have grown higher than before. I can't have your burdening our plans!" Eren shouted.
"So all that training I went through with you is completely moot at this point? I can't fight as well as you Eren but I can at least watch your back!" I replied.
"You don't have any idea what you're getting into!" Eren glared.
"I know well enough! Don't you dare send me away Eren! I fucking promised your mother that I would protect you!" I growled. "I am not about to let her down!"
"You haven't even never face a darkspawn before! You don't know how they fight, how they look, smell! You are a complete novice of what you're about to face!" Eren took a step toward me.
"And somehow you're the expert on darkspawn all because you were gone for a few days!? I'm coming along whether you like it or not!" I stomped my foot.
"We can't have Oren alongside us! He could get killed or worse! Will you listen to me for one moment instead of letting your pride blind you!?" Eren yelled.
"I could say the same goddamn thing to you back you overgrown brat!" I yelled. Eren growled before Derek came between us.
"Alright, you had your say. Missy, as much as you would like to join us, I'm with boss with this one. We can't have kids on this expedition." Derek crossed his arms.
"Or we can just leave Oren with Eamon or at the Circle. They can take care of them while she can come with us. We need everyone we can get right?" Talen came up as well. "I'm pretty sure that fancy armor and blades aren't just for show, right?" Talen glanced at Eren. His face grew red and he turned away.
"Of course not, I trained her." Eren grumbled.
"Then it's Eamon or the Circle. Which one should it be boss?" Derek wondered.
"I still say the Circle. I saw Wynne and Uldred at Ostagar. Eamon wasn't. If there was anyone who would be willing to join us, it would be them." Talen described.
"You don't know if they're still alive priss." Derek said.
"They're both Senior Enchanters. I'd be lying if I said they weren't going to be alive." Talen vouched for them. I looked at Eren expectantly. Eren let out a growl.
"Fine! We'll go to the Circle and have them watch Oren. I'd rather have Eamon but we need to gather as many allies as we can. The faster, the better." Eren huffed in defeat. Derek laughed.
"There we go! We have a set destination everyone!" Derek went back to the group.
"You've been here longer than everyone. What's with the Qunari in the cage?" Talen asked me.
"He's a Qunari that killed an entire family with his bare hands. They put him in there to starve." I said. Talen scowled.
"If he's that strong, why hasn't he broke out yet?" Talen wondered. I shrugged my shoulders.
"I tried talking to him but he didn't want anything to do with me. He was interested in the Grey Wardens and I told him that I had a friend in it that would talk to him." I explained.
"You told him that without consulting me?" Eren crossed his arms.
"I was only giving him his options." I said.
"A smart girl. Having a proud beast accompanying us would bolster our chances against our enemies. If not that, we should release him for mercy's sake." Morrigan quipped as she walked next to me.
"Mercy? That isn't something I expected from you." Alistair chuckled coming up to us. Morrigan glared.
"I also believe we should put Alistair in the cage." Morrigan replied.
"Yes, that's what I thought you would say." Alistair said.
"Perhaps but is it wise to release him?" Leliana wondered as she stood next to me.
"Everyone should have a chance of redemption right?" I said. That struck a cord with Leliana.
"Then how do we get him out is the question." Talen rubbed his chin.
"You guys go and deal with that. Me and the boss are going to try to get some supplies." Derek said as he, Oren, and Eren went out. I couldn't help but glare at Eren's back.
"We either get the key from the Chantry Mother or we break him out." I said.
"Anyone here knows how to break locks?" Talen wondered.
"I do." Leliana nodded.
"You, lead us to the Qunari." Talen pointed at me. My eyebrow twitched.
"I have a name you know." I scoffed.
"Whatever." Talen walked off to the side of the road. I growled before leading everyone.
"He's such a kid." I mumbled. Leliana giggled.
"It's not that. We've all suffered when Loghain quit the field." Alistair's voice grew deeper.
"Still not a reason to curl up into a ball and stare at your navel." Morrigan said.
"Have you never cried over someone in your life? What if your mother died?" Alistair rebutted.
"Before or after I start laughing?" Morrigan snapped back.
"Right, creepy. Forget I asked." Alistair mumbled. We got to the Qunari caged. Sten was standing up, leaning against the back of it. His eyes immediately rested on me.
"You have returned. I assume that one of these is the fabled Grey Warden you have told me about?" Sten asked.
"I'm right here and yeah, she told me. Open the cage." Talen said and Leliana whipped out some tools from beneath her robe.
"You have not gotten the permission from the ones who caged me?" Sten wondered.
"Why? Grey Warden treaties give us the power to recruit anyone we want without repercussions. She'll have to deal with it. You're coming with us to fight against the Blight." As Talen said that last part, Leliana was done with the lock. The cage swung open.
"So let it be. By following you, I will find my atonement." Sten pledged.
"If that's what you want, then by all means." Talen smirked. "Come, I'm sure you don't want to stay around that cage any longer." Sten nodded and then looked at me.
"You have my thanks." Sten said before following Talen.
"You have already made a friend." Alistair chuckled.
"Let us hope he will prove to be valuable." Morrigan followed them away. I sighed.
"God, it's been a long day." I mumbled.
"We'll have to regroup to ready our journey." Leliana said.
"Sure, making an army is the easy part. Didn't anyone tell you?" Alistair joked.
"I didn't get the memo but thanks for the reminder." I chuckled. "I really hope this is going to work out." I mumbled.
"Do not be so easily disheartened. There is always a way." Leliana explained.
"At this point all we need to do is get ready. We'll meet up at camp." Alistair said before heading out too.
"Leliana, are you sure you want to do this? What Eren said about the darkspawn…" I let linger before Leliana chuckled.
"I will be fine. My skills, although dull, will be put to use for something greater. You should also prepare yourself. I do not know your relationship with the other Grey Warden but you shouldn't let your emotions blind you. Do not let your heart fill with rage." Leliana gave her advice. I bit my lip.
"I made a promise to protect Eren right in front of his dying father and his mother. I won't let him go on alone but…I'll try not to let my anger get the better of me. Anyway, we need to get ready." I went on past Leliana, out the countryside, and tried to find a few herbs. Thomas never explained to me how to mix them but we would need elfroot for our travels. I found a few growing out of the ground near the wheat farms and took out a small pouch to gather elfroot.
I heard the wind through the crops and I took a deep breath. My emotions were in a rollercoaster and then put through a blender finally ending in a hope that was strained. I let out a frustrated growl and curse.
"Jesus frigging Christ, I need something to go right." I mumbled, yanking out the elfroot. "At least I'm on the right track. Next I need to get to Flemeth or Mythal or whoever that can get me home." The sooner the better. As much as I loved playing the games, reliving them was something I didn't want to go through again. I wanted to hold my son and my daughter in my arms. I wanted this to be over.
I never want to experience something like this again. The deaths, the killing, the loss was affecting me. I was a normal person damn it! I wasn't used to this shit! The closest I was to death was when I had to put my cat down. I wanted to rub my eyes but my hands were filled with dirt and elfroot sap.
"I just want to go home. Is that so much to ask for?" I whimpered, letting out my sobs while no one was around. I couldn't handle someone caring for me right now. It would bring everything up to the surface and that would only get in the way of everyone. I cleared my throat and breathed. I wished I had someone to talk to. Journal, you're the only one that cares about me.
After my pouch grew heavy with the elfroot, I backtracked to go back into Lothering. Unfortunately, as I passed by the windmill, I got stopped by a large group of people. They had nothing on them besides very shabby weapons. I was instantly on high alert.
"Hey, you were talking to those Grey Wardens right? The ones in the bar?" One came up to me.
"Is there a problem?" I asked.
"Look, there are plenty here who can't afford the trip to Denerim and a lot of hungry people. You help us, we help you." He offered.
"Do you want me to bring them to you?" I wondered.
"That would be a great help." He nodded.
"Hey, shouldn't we just take her instead and that way they'll come to us? What if she warns them?" Another guy came by, telling him. I turned my glare on them.
"Are you going to kill them?" I asked, my voice low.
"We need that bounty!" The other guy said, holding his mace. It was nearly 20 to 1. Even if they didn't know how to fight, if they ganged up on me, I wouldn't have a chance.
"For once in my goddamn life I would really like someone to not act stupid!" I yelled. I had enough. They all looked at me. "Do you think I want to be in this fucking position!? Running for my life against you types of people who, for one second, don't think straight!" I screamed. They all took a step back. "There is a BLIGHT FOR GOD'S SAKE! We'll need everyone to think! You have two legs!" I started stepping toward them and they all stepped back. "Use them and walk! Use those weapons to fight back! If you guys can gang up on one single woman, then you can stand up against bandits that might attack you! GET TO DENERIM! LEAVE! DON'T JUST WAIT AROUND FOR A GODDAMN SIGN! Now!" I shouted and they all slightly cowered. "If you'll excuse me." I said calmly while walking away from the group.
I didn't even look back. Screaming like that hurt my throat but for once it felt good. It also felt good to put the fear of the Maker in them. They had no reason to stop and stay here. Everyone needs to hightail it out of here before the horde marks this as their own. I found the small camp of ours near the river and the broken highway. Alfred woofed and was the first to greet me. I knelt down and gave him a doggy hug.
"Oh for once, someone that has sense." I sighed in relief while smooshing his face in my hands. His tongue lulled out in pleasure.
"I do not believe you should place faith in an overgrown wolf puppy." Morrigan said as she pitched her tent farther than everyone else were. Alfred's head cocked in confusion and I chuckled.
"After everything I've experienced, at least Alfred is honest in just wanting to relax and enjoy some mabari treats." I got up and rubbed my eyes.
"That is the once sense that animals have. They never want for more than what they need. Tis the opposite for everyone else." Morrigan explained. I nodded.
"Humans are the real monsters. I guess that's why when the Chantry explains where the darkspawn came from, it came from humans becoming twisted by their desires." I sat down near the river and rinsed off my dirty hands.
"Tis foolish to believe everything they repeat." Morrigan scoffed.
"Oh no, I know. I don't believe in Andraste or the Maker. The Chant of Light is pretty and maybe some of it has truth but overall it's a story." I shook my hands to get them dry.
"How odd to see an enlightened person such as yourself." Morrigan smirked.
"I'm not enlightened, I'm smart for the most part." I chuckled.
"Then we will need more like you. What is your part in this?" Morrigan crossed her arms.
"I want to get home but, in order to figure that out, I need to find someone. That's as much as you'll get from me. As much as I would like to play 20 questions with you, I've had a tiring day and I want to sleep." I sighed. Morrigan nodded and I went toward the fire that was started in our camp. The sky began to darken and I sat down. I let out a sigh of exhaustion.
"I have heard of a screaming mad woman urging survivors to stop fighting and start thinking of ways to go to Denerim. Sound familiar?" Leliana sat next to me. I looked at her then did a double take as she was wearing well fitted leather armor.
"You clean up well." I laughed.
"You should thank Derek. He was able to convince the merchant outside of the Chantry to lower his prices for us. Although he did anger a sister." Leliana's lips pursed at that. Derek laughed.
"Look, I don't care for human worship. The Ancestors are all I worship." Derek continued shining his new hammer.
"Well it seems everyone is gathered." Alistair said as Eren, Oren, Talen, and Sten all came. Talen looked the same with his robes and staff but now had better boots and gloves to go along. Sten was fitted in some loose heavy chainmail along with a double handed sword. Eren and Alistair sat down, Sten remained standing up, and Talen crossed his arms in front of the fire.
"So we finally got our packs full and we got supplies to get us to Kinloch Hold. It will take about 3 days of travel to get there. Make sure you don't forget anything. I doubt we'll be coming by this village again." Talen explain. Derek laughed.
"Look good and bossy there priss!" Derek smirked. Talen scowled.
"I'm only getting everyone ready." He sat down and got out a piece of jerky.
"He's right. Everyone knows. As soon as first light hits, we're heading out." Eren echoed. There were only two tents and, while everyone else had unfurled their cots, Oren grabbed my hand.
"There's room with Uncle." Oren smiled. I ruffled his hair.
"I don't think he'd like me moving in your spot." I mentioned. "I'll sleep outside."
"With me." Leliana tuned in. I raised in eyebrow but nodded.
"Yeah with her. So go with Eren ok? Keep warm." I tipped Oren's head and gave him a kiss on it. He went over to Eren and they both entered their tents. Sten came by and gave me a cot and a nod. I set it next to Leliana's. I took off my chest plate as well as my boots and socks but kept everything else on. I knew I was going to be uncomfortable but I didn't know if the men I confronted would be back again. Leliana laid next to me and passed me a piece of bread.
"I'm not sure if you had anything to eat. We will need to keep up our strength." Leliana said. I laughed while taking a bite.
"Thank you. Get some rest Leliana also…I appreciate your support." Leliana nodded while I sat up to eat something as well as write. I'll need to switch to charcoal pencils. I'm sure the enemy wouldn't like it if I was sitting down with an ink well writing everything. Well…the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Beta'd by FearaNightmare (Who gave me a lovely song for Nia) Hope of Morning - Icon for Hire if anyone wants to hear.
Yes we are getting there! The more I play inquisition the more I want to get there! Grr! Now that my kids are older, I don't have much time to write -_- Oh well.
Chimera Spyke: It's not a big spoiler but Leliana and Nia are actually in constant communication throughout the years so she isn't as cold as she is to others when she's with Nia.
Thank you Syutaku, Blooddoll1, and KoraKendalls for reviewing! Please Review!