Chapter 32: Those We Choose to Honor
"Tis a mistake Warden," Morrigan said sullenly.
Alim looked up from his packing, the witch stood in his doorway, her arms crossed her posture belligerent.
He should have expected this.
"What mistake might that be, Morrigan?" he asked, "Going into the deep roads to search for this Branka, or leaving you behind to assist Alistair?"
"Both," she grumbled, "Tis a suicide mission and you know it. Surely the dwarven woman is dead after two years in that dark place. Tis no reason to throw your life away on a fool's errand, if someone must go send Alistair, he is far more replaceable than you."
The elf chuckled.
"I'm surprised you think so," he answered her, "You two have gone back and forth saving each other's lives for months now. I figure you would want to stay together."
She glared at him, if looks could kill, he would probably have fallen dead, right then and there.
"I pay my debts," she said, "He has protected me, tis only fair that I return the favor."
"Exactly," Alim smiled, "If this does not work, if I don't return, I need to know he will have someone at his side with her eye on what needs to be done. What must be done…"
He stood before her, his brown eyes serious.
"I can think of no one more qualified for that than you."
Surprise shown in her amber eyes, he…he had faith in her, he was trusting her with this? Few would ever think her trust worthy. A witch of the wilds was not known for being dependable.
She sighed heavily.
"He is a fool," she mumbled.
"Sometimes, I don't doubt that," Alim shrugged, "But you are not, you know what is at stake. You will accompany Alistair if I fall, you will help him end this Blight. Everything we have fought for depends on it. He will still need to complete the circle treaty…"
The witch snorted.
"So, you expect me to walk at his side into the circle of oppression, wonderful."
A small grin played across his features.
He had always thought himself the snarky one.
"Alistair will need magical support. Plus you will not be standing alone, Gus is here, Zevran too, they will aid you in whatever you need."
She shook her head, it seemed that there was no reasoning with Alim.
Disappointing.
"So you, the Qunari, the golem, the drunk, the mongrel and the chantry twit will try to do what the dwarven army has not been able to do. Locate this woman and bring her home?"
"I suppose we will, I need her vote to break the deadlock in the assembly. I will have it, one way or the other."
Morrigan smiled slyly.
"And who will you choose if you succeed. If you bring back the woman's festering corpse, which fool will you present the crown to?"
Alim frowned, he had not decided on that part yet. Harrowmont at least pretended to be honorably. Bhelen was ambition personified.
Who would be best suited to aid them against the Archdemon?
He would have to decide soon.
Personally he hoped that Branka was still alive, he hoped he could convince her to see reason and help him. Oghren said that was not extremely likely, Branka could be very stubborn. Apparently, if she thought one and one made three, none would change her mind, that was the strength of her will.
Oghren still seemed a bit enamored with her, or at least the memory of what they once had.
Alim hoped that would not become a problem.
He did not want to have to kill Branka, but if she left them little choice, what else could he do, he needed the kingship decided.
He hated all this backstabbing bullshit, but he realized he had to be willing to play the game if they were to win in the end.
He hoped this whole foul business would be worth it.
"I will choose the strongest leader," he said, "The one most likely to aid us, and not stab us in the back when all was done."
"A wise attitude," she agreed, "By far your wisest decision to date."
"Thanks," he said dryly, "I think."
She gave him a curt nod, before turning to leave.
She paused…something had occurred to her.
"Alim," she whispered.
He looked up at her.
She turned, all of her usual arrogance was gone, the witch seemed pensive…nervous even.
She looked scared.
"My Mother told me stories of the deep roads warden, there are worse things in the deeps than darkspawn. You…you must be prepared to do what is necessary. The dwarf is not worth the nightmares you will face there.
He gave her a serious look, he had never heard that kind of concern from the witch.
He understood how serious she was, how important this had to be.
"I…I will keep that in mind, Morrigan," he promised, "Thank you, for your concern."
She nodded and left the room.
He paused, considering her words.
The deep roads.
He did not doubt that they were walking into darkness, but their mission was vital. If he could do this without making this journey, he would in a heartbeat.
He simply had no choice, they…had no choice.
He suddenly realized that he did not want to be alone right now. He grabbed Bandit and the two of them headed out into Orzammar.
He wanted a drink.
IOI
Morrigan cursed herself.
What was she thinking? Why did she say all those things?
Why did she even care?!
She grumbled as she made her way back to her room. Tomorrow, Alim would be gone into the deep roads to search for that fool dwarf woman, and she would be left behind…here…
Here with Alistair.
She hissed furiously.
If anyone but Alim had asked her to do this, she would have refused. She had come to trust the elven mage during their travels together. She knew him to be wise, most of the time.
How could she do this…?
And why…why did she feel so…nervous about it?
She tried to dissect what she was feeling, trying to figure out what had happened.
Alistair was a fool, but…he was a handsome fool, one who had saved her life several times over.
She was…she felt…stirrings.
She had started to grow curious.
A warmth that she did not recognize had found its way passed her many defenses, washing over her and inside her. Whenever they were not in battle, if they were alone, a nervous knot formed in her belly whenever she was close to the fool. A warmth that started in the pit of her stomach…
…and worked its way down.
She hated this, she hated everything about it!
She would will all these fool thoughts away if she could, but sadly…no matter how much she wanted to…
She could not.
IOI
Alim made his way to Tapsters, as always the tavern was busy. Word had started to spread about their mission tomorrow, many dwarves offered to buy him a drink.
He politely refused; he preferred to stick to surface ale.
He noticed Leliana sitting on the stage; she sat in a chair speaking to a group of listeners. A pitcher sat at her feet, it already continued a few coins.
It seemed their former minstrel was plying her old trade.
Alim sat near the back and pricked up his ears to listen, Bandit lay close near his feet.
Leliana continued her tale.
"The brave elven warrior did not fear the beasts," she said raising her hands like claws. "They tried to strike and batter her, but she did not yield. She stood before the wall of fangs and teeth, sword and shield in hand."
The dwarves mumbled approval; they knew what it was to fight enemies in the dark.
Tough lass," a dwarf near the front said.
"Indeed," the bard nodded, "She held the corridor and ordered her friends to run. They still had to reach the evil blood mage who had cursed so many. She…she would remain behind, for her ancestors, for her people, she would give the rest of her fellowship a chance to do what needed to be done."
Many of the dwarven soldiers nodded, they knew what that was like, many a friend had died in the deeps covering the escape of his unit.
Leliana's eyes turned sad.
The warrior fought until her wounds were too great, until loss of blood and flesh laid her low. She still struggled to hold the monsters. To give her allies more time, then, as all hope had faded. The spell was broken. The monsters were returned to their former selves.
"The bard swallowed hard, her audience was enrapt, there was not a dry eye in the place.
"The man who sought to win her heart, returned to her then. He held her close, tried to convince her to stay, but sadly some battles cannot be won. She left him then, gone to join her fathers and grandfathers in the afterlife. Knowing that one day, she would see her friends again, that they would remember her sacrifice, that the name of the brave warrior Bellethiel would never…be forgotten."
Leliana bowed her head, heralding the end of her tale.
Her audience went wild.
The bard rose, emotionally spent, she bowed to them one and all.
Coins were added to her pitcher, the profits of a good evenings work.
She noticed Alim sitting near the back of the bar, he…he had a strange look on his face.
Curiously she approached him, after gathering up her coins of course.
He gave her a smile that was part amused and sad.
"It is the Tale of Bellethiel," she informed him.
He gave her a strange look.
"It was not completely true," he said.
"All good stories need a little embellishment," she shrugged, "Belle deserved to be remembered, you told me that once. If not among her own people, then…perhaps among ours. I will pass this story along on our travels. Let history and time be the judge of our lost friend.
Now he did smile, a single tear ran down his cheek.
Leliana had honored Belle more fittingly than anything he could think of, her name would with luck belong to the ages now. It would one day eclipse the Dalish's opinion of Zathrian.
There was no more fitting monument for her.
To go down through the ages, known…as a hero.
And it was all because of Leliana.
A single act of kindness had wiped away her remark from the other day. What did what she once thought of him mattered now? She had honored him, and Belle's memory with this.
He wiped it away suddenly feeling self-conscious.
He stared into her blue eyes, the fire light glinting off her pale skin, and turning her red hair the color of flame. She was like a beautiful shining candle.
He never had wanted to kiss someone more in his entire life.
"Is something wrong, Alim?" she asked.
He shook his head no, and offered her a seat next to him. She accepted. Bandit nuzzled her leg to get her attention; she patted him on the head.
He finally saw the woman beneath the robes and armor, the truth about the minstrel and sister.
Leliana was simply a good woman, with a good and true heart.
She was…truly beautiful, inside and out.
He saw her value now.
But with it came a realization, and a heavy sigh.
He would never be worthy of such a person, such a person was not attracted to one such as him.
He had seen her true value; it was a shame that she would likely never see his.
His ears drooped slightly.
Such a woman required a hero, a brave warrior to make her happy. She…she would likely never see him in that way.
What could such a woman want with a too short elf, with two big ears?
He knew the answer to that question.
She never would want such a thing…
And she likely never would.