Chapter 30: Elves and Paragons
The wardens made their way back from Dust Town.
Alim could not help but look at Orzammar in a different way since coming from that place. How could the dwarves do that to their own kind? How could they simply write off a whole generation of people because of something their ancestors had done?
It seemed stupid to him, stupid and wasteful.
He glanced back at the others; everyone seemed to be dealing with things in their own way. Gus and Sten seemed proud of themselves, perhaps they saw what they did to the Carta as a good thing, freeing the city from the grip of a dangerous criminal element.
He they were right to a certain degree, he supposed.
Zevran was sorting through his coin purse, he had looted the dead carta for any coin or jewelry they were carrying, it was a bit ghoulish Alim thought, but it wasn't like they were all being paid to fight the Blight were they?
They needed coin; sometimes they did what they must to get it.
Morrigan was glaring at Alistair…again. The witch's hand kept going to her back; a small red mark now marred her pale skin. She did not seem angry with him though, her eyes were more confused than angry.
Alim rolled his eyes, the two really needed to sit down a talk sometime.
Shale seemed downright merry; the golem had enjoyed a chance for a little mindless violence. The elven mage was starting to wonder if the golem had suffered mental damage from its long sleep. It seemed to enjoy its work far too much.
Bandit padded along beside him, happy to be fighting at his master's side. Alim reached down to stroke the dog's course fur. Bandit panted happily, showing his big mabari grin.
Leliana had fallen silent. She walked at his side saying nothing, which was unusual for the usually chatty sister.
Her brow was furrowed, she seemed deep in thought.
Alim smiled slightly.
She was cute when she was so serious.
The thought stopped him dead in his tracks.
Cute?
He shook his head, trying to clear it of any other such thoughts. Leliana was not cute. She could not be cute in his eyes. They were facing a world of danger, the Blight, Loghain, and the Archdemon.
He did not have time to think of his red-haired companion as cute.
They had work to do.
IOI
Two arguing dwarves blocked the entrance to the Diamond Quarter, both clad in armor of the warrior caste, but only one was armed. The unarmed dwarf was growling fiercely at the other man, his heavy chainmail had seen better days; it was dirty and stank of cheap ale. His spikey red hair, and braided beard looked unkept, and his eyes were slightly bloodshot.
If the dwarf was not drunk, he was definitely hung over.
Alim was intrigued, since when did a warrior walk around with no weapons, much less let themselves fall into such a state?
IOI
"It will be two years…TWO YEARS TOMORROW!" the ginger dwarf growled, "By all the sodding Ancestors, how can you people just ignore that!"
The other man chuckled.
"Branka did not go alone Oghren," he reminded the other man, "She took her whole house, everyone but you. No one is going to aid you. So why don't you just crawl back to Tapsters and drink yourself blind. You know that is how this always ends."
Oghren growled in the back of his throat, he reached for a weapon that was not there.
The other warrior snorted.
Oghren's eyes narrowed in anger.
"Do you think I'm afraid of some cub warrior, who is barely off the teat. HA! I'll…"
"You lift a weapon, or attacking anyone in Orzammar, and you will be stripped of your caste and banished, remember that?"
Oghren backed down from his fighting stance, he shook his head, grumbling he retreated in the direction of Tapster's Tavern.
He needed a drink.
The other warrior laughed.
"That's it Oghren, crawl back to whatever hole you crawled out of!"
The ginger-haired dwarf growled.
Stupid Ivo, if he had not been…
Oghren's shoulders slumped in defeat.
Now was not the time to fight.
It was time to forget, Branka, Ivo, and everything else.
He needed a drink.
IOI
Alim and the others passed them both by, the group returned to the warden compound in the diamond quarter.
All, but Leliana, the sister remained behind, what they had heard had made her curious.
She wanted to know more about what was going.
She put on her most enchanting smile and approached young Lord Ivo.
She could be very charming when she wanted something, and when she was…few denied her.
She wanted something now.
She intended to have it.
IOI
Another night cycle began in Orzammar.
The dwarves settled in to their homes or in the taverns for the night.
News of Jarvia's fall had spread quickly. There was talk of another vote in the assembly tomorrow.
Many credited Harrowmont for the victory over the Carta, but others pointed out that evidence had been discovered linking him to the Carta in the first place.
It seemed that the Assembly of the Clans would remain deadlocked…again.
Alim could not care less, at least for tonight. He sat out on a terrace on the roof of the warden compound. He looked down over the mighty sight that was Orzammar.
He chuckled slightly, balconies in a city that was underground did not make sense to him. It was not like the people could sit out under the stars?
His eyes turned sad.
He found…he found that he missed the stars. It felt like they had been down here for months, even though it had only been a matter of weeks.
Bandit dosed at his feet, occasionally Alim would give the dog a gentle nudge in the side with his boot, just enough to let him know he had not been forgotten.
Bandit let out a sleepy groan.
"May I join you?"
Leliana stood behind him, the bard had changed out of her armor, she now wore a simple sleeveless silk shirt, and leggings. It was clear that she had bathed since her return, the sweet smell of scented bath oils tickled at Alim's nose.
It was soothing, just like the company that had joined him on the terrace.
He motioned for her to sit. She sat down just close enough so that they could speak without being overheard.
Part him wished that she would sit closer still, he pushed those thoughts away.
Stupid brain.
"I saw you speaking with that warrior today," he said conversationally.
She nodded, still keeping her own counsel.
He gave her a look, was she just going to keep him in suspense.
A playful smile tugged at her lips.
A bard always knew how to ensnare her audience.
Alim was properly ensnared, now.
She could begin.
"Learn anything good?" he asked.
"Interesting is a better word," she replied, "Tell me Alim, do you know what a dwarven paragon is?"
"I've heard the word mentioned several times, but no."
Leliana smiled.
"A paragon is a dwarf that has done something so great, that they are considered ancestors by the dwarves, a living god if you will. Regardless of caste, they are elevated to the nobility and a new house is founded in their name. Their family joins the ranks of the nobility that is how the noble caste began."
"Interesting for the dwarves," Alim shrugged, "But how is that interesting to us?"
She gave him a conspiratory look.
"They are interesting to us, because the vote of a paragon in the dwarven assembly is equal to the whole assembly. A paragon could quite literally name a king here in Orzammar tomorrow."
Alim considered this, a smile of his own began to show.
"That…is interesting," he said nodding.
She nodded in agreement.
He looked out over the city.
Just one person's vote, just one, it was an intriguing idea.
"Are there any paragons currently living here in Orzammar?" he asked.
That is the problem," Leliana frowned, "The only paragon of this generation is lost, she went into the deep roads two years ago, and has not been seen since."
"Wonderful," Alim cursed, "I should have realized, this shit would not have gone on this long if one person could have ended it with a single word."
Leliana agreed, she had debated not telling Alim what she had learned, but things were getting tense.
They needed a way to help break this deadlock in the assembly, and soon.
"I'm sure that this idea has not escaped either Harrowmont or Bhelen," she said, "Do not be surprised if they ask us about Branka soon."
Alim sighed heavily, Alistair had told him about the deep roads. Once a symbol of dwarven power, the roads had been the lifeline to the old dwarven empire, it was said a person could travel anywhere in Thedas by using the deep roads.
The first blight ended that.
Year by year, the deep roads had been lost, Darkspawn overwhelmed them, and the dwarven cities as well. Now only two dwarven cities remained, and they were weakening with each passing year.
One day the deeps would along belong to the darkspawn.
It was a tragic thing.
Alim frowned.
Would Harrowmont ask them to seek out this Branka? Would Bhelen?
Would the journey even be worth it?
Alim shook his head, he was grateful for Leliana sharing this information with him, it would give him time to weigh their options.
For a time, the two fell silent, simply enjoying the view.
Alim looked down at the grand city below them, he could not help but feel a sense of disgust.
"Did being in Dust Town bother you?" he asked.
She winced.
"Yes," she admitted, "being there, seeing how those poor casteless live, it was disturbing."
Alim snorted, that was an understatement right there.
"It made me think of my own people," He confessed, "Living trapped in the Alienages. Of course, after seeing the Dalish, I can't see if what they have is better, hiding and hoping for a miracle to give them a new home one day. It doesn't make sense to me."
Leliana could see his point, it was strange, she had never given the plight of the elves much though, until she had met Alim.
"Did you ever live in an Alienage?" she asked.
"I was born in one, the one in Denerim," he told her, "But my family left when I was a baby. I have no memory of that place. I grew up on the Bann's estate in Lothering, until I was sent to the tower."
"I have never been to the Denerim Alienage, or any of the ones in Orlais either," she said, "In the Empire, few humans venture there. Most of the elves I knew worked as servants in the noble houses where my patrons lived."
Alim's ears twitched in anger.
"Slaves," he spat.
"Indentured servants," she corrected him, "In Orlais, a well-trained elven servant is highly prized, a status symbol. They are well cared for, and some live richer lives than most human commoners."
"So they are like prize livestock," he growled, "Or pets?"
"Of course not," she sputtered, she realized that she had made a mistake.
Stupid Leliana, stupid… stupid… stupid!
"Perhaps I should sell myself to an Orlesian noble," he said indignantly, "Be well cared for like a good little elf?"
"No," she stammered, "I…I did not mean…"
She fell silent, she could see the hurt in his eyes, she had meant no offense, but…
She bowed her head in shame.
"I am sorry," she said, "My words…they were poorly chosen. I meant no disrespect."
Alim's features softened.
He liked to think that he was not overly sensitive about being born elven, but it was hard not to see human bigotry when you had seen it all your life.
Even in the tower, there had been people that did not like elves.
Leliana did not hate his people, but she…she still did not understand.
He was shocked to discover, that he wanted her to understand…he wanted to teach her to understand!
"You are not cruel," he said sadly, "But…you still see us…see me…as an elf, as a lesser. I doubt you ever even thought about it before now. I accept your apology, but try to see us…see me…as a person…not just as an elf."
Her shoulders sagged, she looked at him sheepishly.
"I am sorry," she repeated, "You…you are right…I never saw things in this way. Thank you, you have given me much to think about."
He nodded, suddenly he did not what to be out here anymore.
"Come Bandit," he said, the dog rose and followed after him.
He looked one last time at Leliana.
"Good night, sister," he said quietly, "I…I will see you in the morning."
"Good night," she whispered.
Alim left her then.
Leliana sat quietly for a moment, her blue eyes darkening in rage.
Wasted, she thought, all the progress she had made with Alim…wasted…
And all because of one stupid comment!
She rose with an angry hiss. She glared at one of those stupid griffon statues that dotted the halls of the compound.
She released her anger.
She threw a powerful thrust kick, it shattered the statue's head sending it crashing to the floor.
Marjolaine would have been pleased, she had shattered the stone with her bare foot.
She had not even felt any pain.
Thinking of her former master did not help.
She kicked the statue again, a wing snapped off.
She stood there, panting, her anger abated…somewhat.
I am a fool! I am stupid!
"I see the sister doesn't like the winged vermin either."
She turned to see Shale watching her, a look of amusement on the golem's face.
"Would the sister like to smash all the winged statues?" shale offered, "I would be happy to help."
Leliana growled, she stalked off to her room.
She had enough of company tonight.
In the morning, she would have to start all over with Alim.
She did not look forward to that.
She did not look forward to that at all!
IOI
Shale shook its head.
It would never understand humans.
The golem walked up to the damaged statue.
A single blow finished Leliana's work.
Shale grunted in satisfaction.
It turned to the other statues.
"Let that be a lesson to the rest of you," the golem said.
It went down the hall.
Perhaps it could find something else to squish.
That…would be fun!