"Well there it is. Lothering. Pretty as a painting," Alistair said as the party came upon the village.
"And where shall we head first?" Morrigan asked.
"I'm not quite sure. What do you have to say about it Alistair?"
"This should be good." Morrigan rolled her eyes.
"I think what Flemmeth suggested is a good idea. These treaties.. have you looked at them?" Alistair asked. Ezra nodded. "There are three main groups that we have treaties for: the Dalish elves, the dwarves of Orzammar, and the Circle of Magi. I also still think that Arl Eamon is our best bet for help. We might even want to go to him first."
"And your thoughts Morrigan?"
"Go after your enemy directly. Find this man, Loghain, and kill him. The rest of this business with the treaties can then be done in safety," she said.
"Yes he certainly wouldn't see that coming! It's not like he has the advantage of an army and experience and-"
"I was asked for my opinion and I gave it. If your wish is come up with reasons why something cannot be done, we will stand here until the darkspawn are upon us," Morrigan interrupted Alistair.
Ezra thought it over while the two bickered. The treaties were definitely their best bet overall but this Arl Eamon may also be helpful. It definitely would be too dangerous to go after Loghain now, that could end their quest before it had even started. He thought a moment longer and then made up his mind.
"Alright I've got it. Let's head into the village," Ezra said and began walking with Alador following at his heels once again.
Upon entering the city the party was given strange looks, mainly Ezra. He could hear the people whispering about the strange elf and his dog. Ezra blocked it all out until he heard a women yelling.
"You profit from their misfortune! I should have the templars give away everything in your carts!" she yelled at a man.
"You wouldn't dare! Any of you step too close to my goods and I'll-"
"Its so nice to see everyone working together in a crisis. Warms the heart," Alistair said startling the man. The man looked over the party before his eyes landed on Ezra.
"You there! You look able! Would you care to make a tiny profit helping a beleagured business man?"
"What are you talking about?"
The woman, a priest, explained that this merchant was charging outlandish prices for good the people desperately need. Morrigan said it was only survival of the fittest but Ezra disagreed.
"It's not right to prey on the misfortunes of others," Ezra said.
"Would it help if they could buy no goods at all?" The merchant was threatening to leave this people without anything in their most desperate times.
"I think you can lower your prices and still make a profit."
"Bah! Sometime's its truly not worth operating this far south," the merchant spat.
"Just charge what you would have before this disaster," the priest said. The merchant begrudgingly agreed saying all this was giving him a headache. The priest thanked the party and asked the Maker to watch over their path.
"So we have come to settle every squabble in the village personally? My, the darkspawn will be impressed," Morrigan said.
"It may seem small but if we let things continue like this is Ferreldan worth saving. I mean will there be anything left?" Ezra reasoned. Morrigan didn't have a comment for that and shut her mouth.
"Mama! Mama!" Ezra saw a little boy standing on a small bridge looking lost and scared.
"Have you seen my mother?" the boy asked Ezra.
Ezra asked what the boy's mother looked like. The boy said she was really tall with red hair. He also said that some mean men had attacked their home. His mother told him to run to the village and that she would be right behind him and that he's been waiting for her for a very long time.
"Why don't you come with me and we will go look for your mother?" Ezra suggested.
"Mother said I wasn't to go with anyone. I'm supposed to wait for her in the village," the boy said shaking his head.
"Go to the Chantry, someone kind will take care of you there," Alistair said.
"I will but only if I don't find mother first. So," he said turning to Ezra, " are you really an elf?"
"Yes, why?"
"Father says elves aren't very nice. But you're nicer than everybody here. Thank you for helping," the boy said before running off to the chantry.
The party solved more problems than Morrigan would have liked. But Ezra didn't care, he felt helping the people was just as important as anything to do with the darkspawn. Besides it didn't hurt to help people when they needed it.
Just outside of the village on the outskirts was a cage with a person inside.
"You aren't one of my captors. I have nothing to say that would amuse you elf. Leave me in peace," the man said when the party approached.
"You're a prisoner? But who put you here?" Ezra asked.
"I'm in a cage am I not? I was put here by the Chantry. I am Sten of the Beresadd- the vanguard- of the Qunari peoples," Sten said.
"And I am Ezra. Pleased to meet you," Ezra said with a slight bow, a common elf greeting practice.
"You mock me. Or you show manners I have not come to know in your lands." Sten let out a small sight. "Though it matter little, now. I will die soon enough."
"This is a proud and powerful creature, trapped as prey for the darkspawn. If you cannot see a use for him, I suggest releasing him for mercy's sake alone," Morrigan said surprising everyone with her kindness though Alistair was the only one to comment on it. " I would also suggest that Alistair take his place in the cage." That's what everyone would have expected.
"I suggest you leave me to my fate," Sten said as if he had accepted his fate and thought nothing could save him.
"Well I find myself in need of skilled help," Ezra said.
"No doubt. What help do you seek?"
"I and this other man are sworn to defend against the Blight."
"The Blight? Are you a Grey Warden then?" Sten asked and Ezra nodded in response. " Surprising. My people have heard legends of the Grey Warden's strength and skill...though I suppose not every legend is true."
"Would the revered mother let you free?" Ezra asked.
"Perhaps if you told her the Grey Warden's were in need of my assistance. It seems as likely to bring my death waiting here."
Ezra and the party left Sten for the moment in search of the revered mother.
Inside the Chantry Ezra and the party met with a familiar face. Well familiar to Alistair. Ser Donall told them of Arl Eamon's illness and how they haven't found a cure yet. This visibly worried Alistair. Ezra then remembered he had a note and locket belonging to Ser Donall's friend, Ser Henric. They bid the man farewell and went to speak to the revered mother.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"I want to talk about the Qunari outside- Sten."
"It might have been kinder to execute him, but I leave his fate to the Maker. Why does he interest you?"
"Is there any possibility you could free him?" Ezra asked.
"Then his next victims might count you and me as their murderers." This puzzled Ezra but he still was determined to set Sten free.
" I am a Grey Warden in need of his assistance against the darkspawn."
"A Grey Warden? Oh dear. I will have to ask you to leave before you bring trouble on our heads." She sounded worried and frightened.
"Let me take the Qunari with me to fight the darkspawn."
"To defend against the Blight?Perhaps this is a form of attonement. But are you sure you can control him?" she asked considering the idea.
"Yes," Ezra answered not sure why he would need to control anybody.
"No I cannot. It would cause too much trouble if we are seen co-operating with you," the revered mother said not persuaded by Ezra's words.
"But the darkspawn are the real enemy here-"
"The maker cares no less for that Qunari's victims than the thousands who fell in Ostagar. Now good day."
Now it was Alistairs turn to try and convince the woman.
"You reverence please let us take the Qunari off your hands." After a moment of consideration the revered mother said,
"I have more important matters to concern me. Here... take the key to the creature's cage and begone! Do not return."
Ezra bowed his head in a quiet thanks before the party left to release Sten. But before that they stopped and went inside the tavern to see if there was any food they could bring to him. Upon entering they learned coming there was a mistake.
"Well, look what we have here men. I think we've been blessed."
"Uh-oh. Loghain's men. This can't be good," Alistair said.
"Didn't we spend all morning asking about an elf by this very description? And everyone said they hadn't seen one?" one of the men asked.
"It seems we were lied to," said the other.
"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt more poor souls simply seeking refuge, " said a young woman with red hair trying to keep the peace.
"They're more than that. Now stay out of the way, Sister. You protect these traitors and you'll get the same as them." These men wanted a fight and were hoping to get one any way they could.
"What makes you think we are traitors?" Ezra asked the men. The woman answered him.
"Terryn Loghain claims the Grey Wardens betrayed the King, or haven't you heard?"
"Enough talk," the man ordered. "Take the Warden into custody. Kill the Sister and anyone else that gets in your way."
"Right lets make this quick then," Ezra said unsheathing his twin daggers.
The battle was over in the blink of eye and soon the remaining men surrendered. Ezra instructed the men to take a message to Loghain. One saying, "He'll pay for what he's done and to be ready for a fight."
"I apologize for interfering. But I couldn't sit by and not help."
"Who are you?" Ezra asked.
"Let me introduce myself," the woman began. "I am Leliana, one of the lay sisters of the chantry here in Lothering. Or I was..."
"I am Ezra, it's a pleasure."
"They said you were a Grey Warden. I'm surprised you're an elf, but elves must want the Blight defeated as much as humans, no? I know after what happened, you'll need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming along."
"We will need help, that much is true," Ezra thought aloud.
"That and the Maker wants me to go with you," Leliana added.
"The Maker is on my side? Well welcome aboard then."
"Then.. you believe me? I knew the Maker had sent a true dream! A vision, that by serving you, I serve His holy plan!" Leliana seemed excited and Ezra wasn't one to try and crush that excitement. But Morrigan was.
"Perhaps your skull was crushed worse than Mother thought." Leliana decided to ignore Morrigan's comment and thanked the party for letting her join saying she would not let them down.