Chapter 47: The Other Warden
He knew the truth.
Not the whole truth of course, but enough to end the questions, and the nagging doubt that had been eating away at her for a few weeks now. She had not wanted to tell him about her past, what did it matter now anyway?
Leliana sighed heavily.
They continued on their way to Kinloch Hold. The shimmering waters of Lake Calenhad became clear in the distance. Alim grew more distant the closer they drew to the tower. He had spoken little with her since that night on watch.
She did not blame him for losing his trust in her. She had not lied about her past, but she had not been totally honest either. It would likely take time to regain the closeness that they had shared in the deep roads.
If he even allowed that, he may have decided not to trust her again.
It was frustrating, for every one step she took towards getting Alim to trust her, she seemed to take two steps back!
She had hoped that telling him the truth would allow her to rest easy, that her over active mind would finally allow her to rest.
She was wrong.
Another vision came to her last night; at this one had been the worst yet…
Blood, she had been covered in blood, screams echoing in her ears. All around her, her companions…her friends lay dead, their faces twisted into masks of horror. She had looked around trying to find Alim. She saw a figure in mage robes approaching her. She tried to run to him, thinking it was the elf.
The mage raised his hands.
Leliana plunged her own blade into her gut.
She had awoken with a start.
The bard rubbed her eyes. She had thought of going to Alim immediately, telling him what she had seen. He did not understand her visions, but he did not reject them outright.
In the end she thought better of it, she would wait, see what came as they drew closer to the tower. It was entirely possible that this vision was just another dream, brought on by her fear of telling Alim about her past.
She prayed that was all it was.
She walked along quietly beside Gus, Alim stayed up front as always, leading the down the road to the tower that he had once called home.
He was in her prayers as well. She hoped that his past stayed where it was, she would not desire her fate on anyone else.
Her past was always there, haunting her steps.
Alim did not deserve such a fate.
IOI
Alim looked up as they drew closer to the ruined bridge that had once led to the tower.
He could smell the familiar scent of lake water, the gulls screaming overhead.
The elf shook his head.
Home sweet home.
"So, this is the tower of magi," Morrigan scoffed, "Tis hilarious that the chantry's greatest symbol of power here in Ferelden looks like a giant phallus."
Some of their group snickered. Alistair blushed for some reason, and Sten merely stared at the water a strange look on his face.
Alim rolled his eyes; the witch's attempt at humor had not affected him. He was too concerned about what was to come in the next few hours.
Irving was reasonable; Alim could at least talk to his old mentor. The First Enchanter might have been disappointed in him for what had happened with Jowan, but the elf did not think he would hold a grudge.
Greagoir on the other hand…
Alim's eyes narrowed, the Knight-Commander had despised him since he had first entered the tower. The Templars did not understand his magic, and that made him a threat.
How many times had Irving blocked Alim's rite of tranquility?
He did not want to think about that.
"The view from the top must be spectacular."
He glanced over at Leliana, her blue eyes wide with innocent wonder. It was almost easy to forget who she had been…
Almost…
Dagna was almost bouncing with excitement, for so long she had dreamed of entering the tower. Alim advised her to be cautious, he would go to the tower first, once he had secured the treaty, he would speak with the First Enchanter about her taking a place within the circle.
It was getting fairly late. Kester, the ferryman, had likely gone to bed for the night. They would have to wait until morning if they wished to reach the tower.
Fortunately, there was an inn close by. Alim and Duncan had eaten at the Spoiled Princess before setting out for Ostagar, a journey that seemed to have taken place a lifetime ago.
It had only been…what…five months…six?
It seemed like an eternity.
The Princess typically catered to the Templars, but they had no qualms about serving strangers, and best of all, the owner did not ask questions.
That was a good thing.
They could rest there, and it would be much warmer than camp.
Alim led the way. A hot meal and a warm place to sleep would be nice.
Alim's musings were interrupted by the sound of screams and the clash of steel.
The elf's eyes widened.
The courtyard of the Spoiled Princess had become a battle ground.
Alim counted at least twelve men, their armor and weapons seemed…archaic somehow. They had managed to surround a single knight and a small hooded figure wielding a dagger and a small hand ax.
The knight was wounded, he held his sword awkwardly, the hooded figure stood ready, both weapons held firmly in hand.
"You will come with us lowlanders," the leader of the attackers growled.
It was the hooded figure who replied.
"Are all shems so touched," the figure said in a familiar lilting accent, "This man was just asking questions. There is no need for violence."
Alim's eyes widened, he recognized that accent.
It…it sounded…it sounded Dalish.
The leader ignored him.
"You will come with us…now!" he repeated.
"I do not think so," the hooded figure replied.
One of the men tried to grab the speaker from behind.
It was a fatal mistake.
The speaker dodged, spun and drove the dagger up to the hilt into the man's neck. He withdrew the blade and turned, and all before the attacker fell dead.
The kill had taken mere moments.
The attackers were shocked.
"You should not attack people from behind," the hooded figure chided, "It isn't nice."
The leader had heard enough.
"Slay them in Andraste's name!"
The men attacked.
IOI
Alistair rushed forward.
He heard Alim call his name, but he did not stop.
He recognized the heraldry on the injured knight's shield, it was Redcliffe. The knight was Arl Eamon's, but that was not the reason he rushed forward.
He felt it, a stirring in his blood, a warm familiarity that he had only sensed in Alim. He had failed to save the others at Ostagar, he would not fail here.
The hooded figure was a warden, he knew it, he sensed it.
He ran to his brother's aid.
He slammed into one of the attackers, knocking the man to the ground, his sword ending the man's life before he had a chance to rise. Two archers fired on him he brought up his shield, both sank deep into the wooden face.
A giant spider leapt at one of the archers, it chittered angry tearing out the man's throat. Alistair was shocked that Morrigan would follow him down so easily.
She continued to surprise him.
Alim and the others arrived seconds later. Now it was the men in the archaic armor who were outnumbered.
Alim blasted them with lightning, opening the door for the warriors and rogues to engage.
Leliana stayed back, covering them with her bow.
He and Alim stood back to back, the elf blocked with his staff while slashing with his sword.
"What were you thinking!" the elf growled, "I did not give the order to attack!"
"He is a warden Lim."
"What?"
"The hooded one, he is a warden, I felt it!"
The elf cursed, Bandit leapt at any archers trying to take aim at his master. Shale waded into the violence, the golem was laughing at these new enemies.
"Squish!" the golem cried merrily.
Alistair glanced over at their fellow warden, he was holding his own, but hobbled by having to protect the wounded knight. He moved quickly, his dagger and ax easily finding weak spots in their enemies' armor.
The hood fell away as he dodged.
Alistair was shocked.
It was an elf alright, but a young one, if the boy was more than eighteen summers Alistair would be surprised. His dark brown hair was short but unruly, bright silver eyes shown from under sandy colored bangs. Tattoos adorned the elf's forehead, marking him as one of the Dalish folk.
Alistair had not known any Dalish in the order? Was this boy from Orlais?
The battle ran down quickly, soon only a single attacker remained, these men were unlike any the wardens and their allies had faced before, they seemed to grow stronger from the wounds they had suffered.
Leliana's eyes narrowed.
"They are reavers," the bard said sagely, "I met a few or Orlais, dangerous types, mercenaries almost always."
Alim nodded, he approached the lone survivor.
"Who sent you?" he growled.
"Andraste," the man hissed, lost between pain and ecstasy.
Lightning crackled in Alim's hands.
"I will ask one… last… time," he repeated, "Who sent you?"
"Her children will feast on your heart; your blackened bones will adorn our walls."
The man pulled a small dagger from his gauntlet, before anyone could stop him he plunged it into his own throat.
He fell dead, taking his secrets with him.
"Shit," Alim spat.
He looked up at the Dalish, who was smiling boisterously.
"Mas serannas," the elf said grinning, "Thank you these shems were threatening the TAV-VURN owners family. They have killed many and…"
The boy's eyes widened. Only now that they were closer did Alim sense what Alistair did.
This Dalish was a warden!
"You…you are like me?" the boy stammered, "You are wardens aren't you?"
Alim lowered his weapon.
"I am Alim," he said bowing slightly, "this is Alistair," motioning to his companion.
The Dalish almost squealed with joy.
"Praise the creators; I thought I was the only one left. After I escaped the Denerim all I heard was how the order had been destroyed. I hoped that it wasn't but my luck has never been that good. I was hoping to…"
The boy was speaking so fast Alim almost did not understand him.
"Whoa there," Alistair chuckled, "Slow down, try and catch your breath."
"You're right, sorry," the young elf panted.
He is certainly excitable," Zev said from the back.
"You said you were from Denerim?" Alim asked.
The Dalish nodded.
"Are there any other wardens left there? Were any captured at Ostagar?"
"I wasn't at Ostagar," the boy replied, "I heard of it of course, but I was too sick to fight, I was taken to the compound in the Denerim where I took my joining. Duncan sent me on his way to…"
"You knew Duncan?" Alistair sounded surprised.
The boy gave an exaggerated nod.
"Yes, he found me in the woods on the way from Ostagar. I…I had gotten sick, the Blight sickness. I did not want to risk my clan so I fled. I could not bear it if they got sick because of me. I wandered for days; at least it felt like days. I was so feverish near the end I did not know where I was. Merrill always used to say I never watched where I was going. Tamlen and I were always…"
Alim rolled his eyes; the boy was starting to babble again.
"Sorry," the boy said again, his ears lowering in shame.
"So we have found another elf warden," Shale snorted, "and this one is noisy too, how charming."
The Dalish's eyes widened at the sight of Shale.
"Are you alive?" he asked.
The golem snorted.
"I can squish the noisy elf that might shut it up."
The boy began to back up, his weapons rising.
"Ignore her," Alim said glancing at the golem, "She is obsessed with squishing people."
"It is usually quite useful," Alistair said dryly.
The elf looked at Shale.
"That…is a she?"
Shale's eyes narrowed.
"No," Alim growled at her.
"It is no fun," the golem complained.
IOI
Leliana approached, hoping to stop this before the poor Dalish boy got himself killed.
Another warden, she thought with a smile, surely this was a good omen from the Maker.
"I am Leliana," she said with a little curtsey, "We bid you welcome to our little company warden."
The boy smiled.
"Andaran atish'an," The boy said bowing, "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Theron Mahariel of the Dalish, formerly of the Sabrae clan, now a Warden of Ferelden, at your service."
Leliana smiled at his manners.
IOI
Alim rolled his eyes. He…he did not like the way this…Theron was smiling. Surely Leliana would not think…
The warden mage snorted.
A Dalish…how wonderful!
IOI
Alistair could not stop grinning, they were not alone.
"Tis not an army," Morrigan said quietly behind him, "But at least we have another warden."
Alistair nodded, despite the witch's acidic tone, she was right.
Theron was another warden.
They were not alone.