Chapter 35: A Fallen Lady
Sereda led them to the old vault room in the center of the Aeducan Thaig, the place where she and a small company of men had discovered the shield of Aeducan, it was a useful hideaway, it had kept the darkspawn out for decades, and now it served to keep her safe from their raiding parties.
It was no palace in diamond quarter, but it kept her safe.
It was here that the exiled noble had made her new home. For months now she had hidden in the place, waiting for…well…she was not sure what she had been waiting for, assassins, saviors, a chance to escape, nothing was clear anymore.
Survival had taken precedence; she needed that more than ever.
One thing was for certain, she had not expected someone like Alim, and his unusual entourage to come and find her.
What an odd group they were, a golem, a dark skinned warrior that she did not recognize, an elf, and this red haired girl. Oghren was known to her of course. Several times Ser Gorim, her lover and loyal second, had had to remove the drunken fool from the palace.
The fact that he had actually found someone to listen to his ranting surprised her. Oghren was a fool believing that he could find the paragon down in this dark place, and even a greater fool would actually try to help him.
Of course, the Grey Wardens had taken risks before; perhaps they thought it was worth the danger.
If so, the former princess was worried.
What threat could drive the Grey Wardens to trust Oghren of all people?
She was almost afraid to find out.
IOI
Alim was not sure what to make of the dwarf, though he could not deny his respect for her, to survive in the deep roads, on your own for any length of time.
Perhaps this quest for Branka was not so foolhardy after all.
Sereda activated the glow crystals in the room, the dwarf sighed as she removed her heavy gauntlets. The rusted mix and match armor she wore was clearly scavenged, but that did not mean that it did not serve its purpose. Her face was dirty and her blonde hair a tangled mess. Her armor was also smeared with some foul smelling substance; she said it helped keep the spiders and deep stalkers away.
Once again, he was impressed; most of the noble's in Orzammar did not seem like the type to survive on their own.
Sereda seemed to be made of sterner stuff.
All around them were treasures she had scavenged from the Thaig. Pots, tools, and even a few weapons sat carefully readied in the corner. Bits of wood, nails and wire sat on a small hastily built work table, despite her former station in life, the princess seemed to have a good understanding of traps. It was a respectable skill given the dangers she had faced down here.
Alim had done his best to hide his disappointment when this turned out not to be Branka. It would have been nice to find the paragon so quickly, but that was not meant to be.
Sereda herself did not seem to think much of their quest; she regarded the elf and his companions with her cold blue Aeducan eyes.
Why have you come here?" she asked him, "Few would brave the deep roads with no purpose."
"We're looking for Branka girl," Oghren volunteered.
The former princess laughed.
"She is dead," the girl said coldly, "either the spawn have had her for dinner, or they have claimed her as their own, either way…she is dead."
Oghren glared at her.
"You don't know that," he said hotly, "You…you don't know her."
She gave him a cold smirk.
"I know that this place kills the foolish," she replied, "And only a fool would dare enter as deep as Branka did. She should have stayed at home, but…that would mean spending time with you, hm," She gave him her most acidic smile, "that being the case, I understand why she would have preferred to seek out the deep roads after all."
Oghren growled, and started to draw his ax.
Sten stopped him.
Alim realized just how ugly this could turn, and how quickly.
He needed to put things back on track.
"Alive or dead, we must find her," the elf said, he hoped to enlist the girl's aid in this, she had been down here for months, her survival skills would be useful.
"To what end," she inquired, "Why would a surfacer care so much for finding a dwarven paragon."
"What business do you think," he said snidely, "why else would a grey warden brave the deep roads?"
Sereda considered this for a moment.
"Certainly not a simple scouting mission," she said thoughtfully, "And I doubt you would face such dangers for simple pay. No…something big has happened, hasn't it?"
"A Blight has begun," Leliana interrupted, "Alim leads the Grey Wardens against it, and we fight at his side, aiding him in gathering allies to oppose the Archdemon."
That got the dwarven woman's attention.
She frowned.
"My Father will send our army,' she said confidently, "Why do you need a paragon?"
Oghren snorted.
"Your Papa is with the Ancestors little girl," Oghren chortled, "he won't be raising anything now."
Sereda's face fell.
"My Father…he…he is dead?"
"Took ill after you offed ole' Trian," Oghren continued, "Guess he could not live with the fact that his favorite little girl removed his heir."
The arrogance faded from the former princess's face.
Father…her father…her beloved father.
Shale glared at the warrior. The golem turned to Alim.
"Would it like me to squish the drunken dwarf now?" the golem offered.
Alim found himself considering it.
Both Alim and Leliana glared at the ginger haired warrior.
"What?" he said.
"You are very sensitive you know that Oghren," she said coldly.
What?" he snorted, "she had to know that was coming. That is why we need a paragon girl," he added, "The assembly is deadlocked. They need a paragon to help choose our next king."
Sereda nodded, she…she still felt like she had been kicked by a bronto.
Father…dead.
Her eyes became as cold as stone.
"How did my father die?" she asked, "Who is trying to seize the throne?"
"Your Father died a bed," Leliana informed her, she placed a comforting hand on the dwarven girl's shoulder, "I am so sorry."
The girl pushed her hand away; she did not want some cloud gazer's false pity.
"Lord Harrowmont and your brother Bhelen are both trying to claim the throne," Alim added.
"Which of them sent you here?" she asked.
Alim fidgeted.
"Officially we are working for house Harrowmont," he told her, "Unofficially, we are neutral and aiding both parties. I…I have not decided who I will support for the throne yet."
Sereda did something then that surprised them all.
She smiled.
"Wise of you," she said, "By supporting both, you do not have to deal with eithers assassins, and they both would send assassins, mark my words."
"If I may milady," Leliana asked respectfully, "Who would you chose for the throne?"
The dwarven woman paused.
"I have no love for either," she responded, "Bhelen used his connections in the Assembly to get me banished here, and Harrowmont carried out the sentence. I have no love for either of them, but…in the interests of Orzammar. I…I would have to choose my brother, he has proven himself far more cunning then I ever gave him credit for."
"Did he kill your brother?" Leliana asked.
Sereda fell silent, not sure how best to respond.
"I held the blade," she confessed, "But it was Bhelen who set Trian and me on our course. He had convinced our brother that I intended to murder him and steal his place, just as he convinced me to strike at my brother. We…we fought…I…I was better."
She gave them all a sad look.
"Everything I did was for the good of Orzammar. Trian was cruel and arrogant. I…I would have made a fine queen, much better than…"
She snorted in anger, tossing one of her gauntlets across the room.
"WHAT does it matter," she spat, "Trian is dead, and I might as well be dead as well."
Her head fell into her hands, she sighed heavily, resisting the urge to cry.
"It was all for nothing," she snarled, "None of it mattered, my house is broken."
Leliana placed a hand on her shoulder anew, this time, Sereda did not shake it off.
Alim's eyes narrowed, he was not sure how far he could trust this woman, but she had been honest with them.
"You acted for the betterment of your people," Sten told the dwarf, "There is no shame in that."
She gave him a sad smile.
"I don't think anyone else would agree with you," she said.
Leliana gave Sten a surprised look; she never would have expected the Qunari to support anyone.
Perhaps she was wrong.
"What are your plans now Milady," Alim asked the former princess.
"I…I don't know," she said, "my food stores won't hold out forever, I'm running out of mushrooms to gather, and nugs to trap. I will have to move on eventually, try to avoid the spawn."
"Why not come with us?" the elf asked.
"Deeper into the darkness," she laughed.
"We know that Branka made it as far as Caridin's Cross," Alim told her, "She was on her way to Ortan Thaig."
"You will never make it that far," Sereda shrugged, "Even if you can get passed the darkspawn, they will be drawn to you," she looked right at Leliana, a cruel smile graced her features, "Even if a grey warden does not draw them, a woman's scent will."
"What…what do you mean?" Leliana asked.
The dwarf sighed.
"Tell me; don't you wonder why you never see female darkspawn?"
"I'm not that interested in lifting up their skirts," Alim replied dryly.
Oghren chuckled.
"You have never wondered why they take women." Sereda said, "Why they bring them down here?"
"I wasn't losing any sleep over it," Alim said.
"Why…why do they take women?" Leliana asked.
Sereda's eyes turned serious.
"Darkspawn are not that much different than any other male," the dwarf began, "They have the same…desires. They all wish to reproduce you see."
Leliana turned a little green.
"The hurlocks would find you a very tasty treat," the former princess added.
"You…you mean…the darkspawn," Leliana stammered, "They…they want to…to…"
"Yes," the dwarf said.
The bard shuddered.
Sweet Maker, never…she would never let them…
"I won't let them hurt you," Alim promised.
"There are more spawn down in the lower depths than you realize," Sereda said, "Are you going to protect her from twenty, thirty, a hundred darkspawn at a time?"
"What do you suggest Milady," Alim said hotly, "Do we just turn around and go back?!"
"Of course not," she replied, "I just want you to be prepared for what we will face in Ortan Thaig."
"We," Shale snorted, "Does the dwarf princess wish to accompany us now?"
"I thought you said it was hopeless?" Alim asked.
"It probably is," Sereda shrugged, "But…if I'm going to die, I want it on my feet, not on my knees. I can no longer afford to hide here. Besides, if we succeed, I might be allowed to return home. Some chance is better than no chance, yes?"
Alim looked at his companions.
"What say you all?" he asked.
"Another blade would be useful," Sten said thoughtfully.
"I could always squash the dwarf princess later," Shale shrugged.
"She is a tough one warden," Oghren said, "bit of a bitch, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Sereda grinned and gave him the finger.
"Leliana?" Alim asked.
The sister did not respond.
"Leliana?"
She fidgeted nervously. The dwarf's comments made her doubt the wisdom of coming down here.
"I…I say yes," she said finally, "Someone who can survive alone down here is too useful to leave behind. Her skills might be just what we need."
"Happy to hear it," Sereda said offering Alim her hand, "So…am I in?"
His ears twitched, he did not like the fact the girl had scared Leliana, but…perhaps a little fear was good down here.
He took Sereda's hand, the one unbound by a gauntlet.
He kissed her knuckle.
"Welcome aboard Milady," he said.
"Call me Seri," she said, "If we are going to march into death together, we might as well be friendly."
He shook his head.
He found himself remembering what Alistair said back in Lothering.
More crazy…I thought we were all full up.
It seemed that they weren't after all.
Maker save them all.