Chapter 23: The Pass
Gherlen's Pass, the one and only road to Orzammar had turned very treacherous. Though winter was still a few weeks off, a cold icy rain fell heavily along the road, turning the ground into a mixture of mud and ice, it was treacherous, and not fit for man or beast.
Alim pushed them on; they needed to reach the city before things got any worse.
Zevran, who had been travelling behind their leader, with Alistair watching him closely for any sign of betrayal looked up to the gray angry sky and sighed.
"My dear warden," he shouted, trying to be heard over the pounding rain, "I don't suppose you would consider using your powers to get us out of this?"
Alim shivered, he would love to do just that, sadly it was not his call.
I did not create this storm," he reminded the assassin, "It is storming here because that is what the elements need at this time. Nature demands it, so that is what is happening. If I was to interfere, I would risk bringing something worse down on us."
Zevran frowned, it made sense he supposed, but that did not mean that he had to like it.
"I don't suppose you could get it to let up for a bit, just until we reach the city."
Alim had an angry retort ready, but Morrigan beat him to it.
"Were you not listening fool,' she snarled, "Alim's powers are not infinite, if he attempted what you ask, he might anger the very elements we would avoid. Would you risk us getting caught in a worse storm?"
Despite the harshness of the weather, and Morrigan's attitude, the assassin smiled.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you are beautiful when you are angry my dear?" he said.
The witch rolled her eyes; she tried to stay focused, to keep from falling down, or worse sliding back down the path.
Either would be bad at this point.
Parshara, it is only rain," Sten grumbled, picking up his pace, Alim was shocked, the large warrior moved like a mountain goat.
It must have been all the weight he was carrying around or perhaps the Qunari thrived on harsh conditions.
The elven mage suspected both were true.
Alim shook his head, part of him knew that they either needed to reach Orzammar tonight, or find shelter until this storm passed.
Either option would be good at this point.
IOI
Leliana was struggling, her boots spattered with mud, the road becoming slicker by the minute. She had been forced to use her bow as a walking stick.
A miserable sigh escaped her lips; it was not fit out here for man or beast!
Part of her wished that she had stayed with Bodahn and Sandal in the last inn they had passed, not that her visions would have allowed that.
The same one continued to haunt her, the darkness, the glowing object, the blood, and the mad laughter. She could not close her eyes anymore without seeing it.
Part of her was beginning to resent their occurrence, they left her tired, and tired people made mistakes. She knew the dangers of that in her line of work.
She was rubbing her eyes, and not paying attention when she took a step…
The road slid out from underneath her.
She squealed struggling to remain upright, but she began to slide off the mountain pass down a deep ravine.
"Help!" she shrieked, "Somebody help!"
She heard Alim shout something, but could not hear it clearly over the wind and sound of her own struggles. She feared that this would be the end that she would slide down the mountain and be dashed on the sharp rocks below.
A powerful hand seized her by the collar of her leather vest; it yanked her up into the air.
She stopped struggling, and found herself staring into Shale's glowing blue eyes.
Shale seemed to be smirking at her.
"The sister needs to be more careful," the golem said snidely, "It can't expect me to be there to save it all the time."
Leliana could not think of a single angry retort, the golem had just saved her life.
"I suppose not," she said with a sheepish grin, "Thank you Shale."
"The muddy sister is welcome," the golem said putting her back on the road.
Leliana frowned down at herself, her cloak, her leathers, and her bare legs were covered in mud.
She looked atrocious.
Marjolaine had showed her once the joy of mud packs, but she had never meant this!
"Are you okay!?" She heard Alim call back.
Leliana nodded.
"Good," she heard him reply, "Because we have made it."
He pointed above them.
A huge dwarven statue rose up, before them, a great maul gripped firmly with both hands over its head.
One of the guardian statues of the great city of Orzammar.
IOI
Everyone in the group, even Morrigan, breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone accept Shale perhaps, but she did not breathe so that was not surprising.
The group made its way carefully passed the statue; they could hear voices on the wind. Despite the weather, it seemed that there were people waiting outside the gates of Orzammar.
They sounded angry!
Alim sighed; it seemed that they were walking into yet more problems.
He sooo, loved his life now.
IOI
Despite the treacherous weather, the market that had been set up outside the gates of the dwarven city was packed.
None of the stalls were open of course, but that did not stop the traders from gathering. Dozens of tents kept the freezing rain off the people, and where the stone was not covered dwarves sprinkled hot ash to keep the ground ice free.
Alim took off his hat and wrung it out near the base of the tent city. A chance to get out of the weather at this point was Maker sent to be sure.
Not that everything was peaceful here. He could hear the angry conversations as the traders vented their woes and frustrations.
They can't do this to us! We have contracts!
How long do they expect us to wait out here?
We should all leave; teach those arrogant bastards a lesson!
Like they really need a king to decide if they want to buy nutmeg!
Alim was not sure what to make of all this, had all these merchants been barred from entering the city?
Gus came up alongside of him.
"Something must have happened in the Assembly," he said.
"What is the Assembly?" Alim asked.
"That is the congress of royal houses," Gus informed him, "It is similar to the landsmeet we have in Denerim, the noble vote on what is best for the city.
Alim had to admit, he did not know much about the dwarves. His studies had focused mainly on magic and chantry history.
"Are you familiar with these people?" he asked the knight.
Gus's eyes turned sad.
"When I was a boy, King Maric came here; he brought a small company of men with him, including my father. I…I was just a squire then, but I picked up few things, my Father liked me to know the kind of people we were dealing with."
"Sounds like a smart man," Alim said.
"He was," the knight replied.
Alim flinched, that was smart of him, let's piss off or depress the one guy that can help him understand what exactly is going on.
He needed to back up and start again.
"I'm sorry," he said putting a hand on Gus's shoulder; the larger man did not shrug it off. He seemed grateful for the elf's sympathy.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"I don't suppose you would help me deal with these dwarves," he asked, "I think I may be a bit out of my depth."
Gus smiled slightly.
"I will do what I can warden," He promised, "I'm no expert, but I will advise you the best I can."
Fair enough," the elf nodded, "Thanks Gus."
Again the knight nodded.
The wardens and their allies made for the great doors. The traders parted at the show of armor and steel that group had.
Either that or they did not want to be stepped on by Shale.
Either way, the route was clear to sealed city gates. A small company of city guard barred the entrance. A small group of humans was also trying to enter the city. They were having no luck.
The wardens paused, listening to what was being said.
"You have to let me in; I'm the King's appointed messenger!"
"Veata, this land is held in trust for the sovereign dwarven kings. We will have none but our own, until the ascension is settled.
"King Loghain demands the allegiance of the deshyr, or lords, or whatever you chose to call them in your assembly. I'm his appointed messenger!"
Alim's eyes narrowed at the mention of Loghain's name, both Alistair and Gus looked the same.
King Loghain was it!
Well, they would just see about that.
The overblown little toady, dressed in the colors of Gwaren and sporting a wyvern shield, was clearly not a soldier born. Likely some bootlicker looking to further his place in the royal court by carrying out a diplomatic mission.
He likely did not realize how dangerous his position was…
Alim intended to teach him.
Morrigan came to Alim's side; her amber eyes were hungry and cruel.
She glared at the Loghain messenger.
"Call down the lightning Alim," she purred, "fry the little newt."
Alim would be lying if he said he was not tempted, but the gates of Orzammar weren't the best place to flex his stormbreaker muscles. Besides, he had spellbinder now.
Sometimes one just needed to get his hands dirty.
He approached the man and his bodyguards. So far none had noticed him.
That was about to change.
"I do not care if you are the King's wiper," the city guard spat, "We will have none but our own until our throne has been settled."
"Greetings Master dwarf," Alim said with a bow, "We seek entrance into the great city of Orzammar."
The messenger glared at him.
"Go away knife ear," he spat, "If King Loghain's messenger can't enter, you certainly may not!"
"The human speaks to truth elf," the guard said regretfully. "The throne of Orzammar is currently under dispute. King Endrin Aeducan returned to the stone three weeks ago, sick over the loss of his son and daughter. The city is sealed until a new king can be chosen."
"How long will that take?" the elf asked.
"As long as it must," the guard sighed, "The assembly has gone through three votes in as many weeks with no success. If the matter is not settled soon…we…we face the possibility of a civil war.
Alim rolled his eyes, oh…that is just great! What is it that makes people think that a Blight is the perfect time to have a civil war!
Leliana stepped forward.
"You must let us into the city," she said coldly.
"And why is that human," the guard said, amused by her presumption.
Leliana gave him her best withering smile, even covered in mud, with soaking wet hair the sister was an intimidating sight, the guard flinched under her cold gaze.
"You stand before Alim, Warden Commander of the Grey for all of Ferelden," she informed him, "We come on a mission vital for the survival of not only Orzammar, but of the dwarven people themselves. We have a treaty that your leaders signed in good faith. LET US PASS!"
Alim's eyes widened.
Did she call him their commander? Where had this come from?
He…he had never heard the sister speak with such cold authority!
He hated to admit it, but it was a little scary…
Not to mention…a little hot!
Alistair handed the guard the treaty, he opened it up and read it.
Loghain's toady was livid.
"The wardens killed King Cailan and nearly doomed Ferelden! They are sworn enemies of King Loghain!"
"Silence fool," Morrigan grinned, "You are in the presence of your betters!"
The man stared…speechless, his Adam's apple bobbing with impotent fury.
Alistair chuckled, he couldn't have said it better himself.
The guard nodded as he finished reading, he handed the treaty back to Alistair.
"That is the royal seal, which means that only the Assembly can honor it. Grey Wardens you may pass."
The toady's face turned red.
"You…you are letting in a traitor, and a foreigner…a…knife-ear!"
Alim smiled sweetly at him.
"Go back to your fake king friend; the dwarves will not hear his lies today!"
The man glared at the elf.
"I will not be spoken to in this manner! I am King Loghain's MESSENGER! I will not be talked down to by an elf and his Orlesian whore!"
Alim lowered his staff, he had heard enough!
Leliana beat him to it.
She scratched the man's cheek with a small throwing knife.
He leapt back drawing his sword.
"You will pay for that whore," he spat, "I…I..."
The man began to gasp, he couldn't breathe!
He fell to his knees choking; blood ran from his nose and mouth. He began to convulse, in ten seconds he lay still.
His death had taken less than a minute, and the wound had not even been fatal.
Alim looked at Leliana, she held the small dagger in one hand, he could see the strange gold substance on it.
"Oops," the sister said with a shrug.
Alistair looked shocked.
Alim was speechless.
Morrigan giggled.
Zevran grinned.
"Leliana my dear, that was the most vicious thing I have ever seen," he chuckled, "Will you marry me."
Leliana returned his smile with one of her own, wolfish and cruel.
The toady's bodyguards began to draw their weapons.
Alim raised his hands, lightning crackled on his fingertips.
"Take him and go," the elf ordered, "Or join him at the Maker's side, it makes little difference to us."
The guards seemed to consider this; they took one look at the dead messenger and made their choice.
They collected him, and left.
Alim sighed, that had been close.
"You mean we don't get to squish the fools," Shale whined, "Awww!"
Alim laughed.
"Don't worry Shale, we will find someone for you to squish soon," he promised.
"It is too kind," the golem said dryly.
The dwarven guard shook his head; he called for the gates to be opened.
"As I said Grey Wardens you may pass," he repeated, "But I don't know what help you will find. May the Ancestors aid you in your quest."
Alim thanked the man, and led the others through the huge doors.
"These are certainly large doors," Morrigan cackled, "Do you think the little men are compensating for something."
"That is not nice Morrigan," Leliana said with an amused smirk.
"No," the witch agreed, "but tis fun, you must agree."
Alim did his best to suppress his own laughter.
They needed to be respectful here.
They had to gain the dwarves support.
One way, or another.