A/N: WOW! MY first story to crack two hundred reviews! I would like to thank everyone who has enjoyed the journey of my too short an elf with two big ears "SMILES" Alim's life is not going to get any easier from here, but he does have Leliana now…so perhaps…it won't be too bad for him. Without any further ado, I present chapter 75 of Stormbreaker!
Chapter 75: A Challenge
"Shit!"
Alim's old exclamation punctuated just what kind of day he had been having. Dealing with the deep roads, fighting mercenaries, and then not being able to save that poor bastard Elric! Now on top of that the Maker had chosen to make his the butt if his jokes once again, either that or that trader in Orzammar had been selling substandard garbage for supplies.
Either way, it led to the same thing.
Shit!
The camp was up for the most part, the tents built, the fire concealed but roaring, the smell of cooking stew wafting through the air.
Alim had been trying to put up his new tent, emphasis on trying. The thing refused to bend right, one pole seemed too short, the other far too long, and the canvass did not seem to fit right over the frame either.
He might have asked Alistair or Theron for help, but the Dalish was currently occupied playing cards with Kally, Gus, Seri, and Zev.
Alistair was…well, no reason to honey coat it, Alistair had slipped into Morrigan's tent and was likely right now banging the witch like Tevinter war drum.
The elf shook his head, the Templar was not a big one for discretion when the witch was around it seemed, she enjoyed manipulating him.
Apparently Morrigan had cut him off from her bed for a few days, letting him stew without her, and only now allowed him back in.
Alim shook his head. Ali could be one dumb bastard every now and then.
The witch definitely knew how to play Alistair, and what was worse, Alim feared he was starting to enjoy being played.
Alim kind of felt sorry for him.
He went back to his work. Bandit lay nearby watching him intently, one of the poles sprang outward cutting Alim's arm.
"Damn it," the elf cursed, he raised his hand ready to fire lightning at the stupid piece of…
Bandit ducked his head; his paws went up to cover his eyes.
"Alim?"
The lightning died on his fingers.
Leliana was watching him with an amused look on her face. She was dressed just in her silk undershirt and leather skirt.
He took a moment to admire the view. Leliana was truly a beautiful woman, and considering what they had shared…he…he was not afraid to let his guard down around her.
She approached him, noticing the blood running down his arm.
"You're hurt," she murmured.
"It…it is nothing," he replied, a little healing magic flowed from his other hand, the wound closed as they watched.
Alim gave her a shy smile.
"See…all better," he said.
She responded by raising his arm and kissing it lightly.
The elf felt the warmth flow up from her lips and fill him from the tip of his toes to the points of his ears.
She leaned in close letting her head rest on his left shoulder.
The two of them regarded his rather stubborn tent.
"I don't think you're going to get a refund for that?" she said with a slight giggle.
He felt a smirk coming to his lips.
"Perhaps I will go back to Orzammar and cook the little bastard that sold it to me, or turn him over to the city guard. There has to be some law about not cheating a grey warden."
Leliana nuzzled against his neck, he felt his body responding to her warmth and closeness.
"Perhaps this is a sign from the Maker," she purred, "Perhaps you are meant to find another place to sleep this evening?"
"Like…um…like where," he asked, she…she was making very difficult to think, moving against his body, rubbing against him.
Her lips came up and gently kissed his ear, playfully she nipped at the edge of it.
He groaned softly.
All conscious thought was slipping away, all that mattered was her warmth, that…and the way she was rubbing against him.
Oh…oh Maker.
"I thought we agreed," he sighed, "To keep…to keep this quiet a little longer."
"This?" she said coyly.
"Us," he said turning to face her. He let his hand trail up her face; she leaned into his touch, welcoming it. His other hand fell to her side, rubbing up her rib cage, stopping over her left breast.
She gave him a wolfish smile.
"I'm not ashamed of us," she said, "Are you ashamed of us…of me?"
"Andraste save me, no," he replied.
He glanced over his shoulder at the others, so far they had not noticed the two of them, too busy with other camp things, and the fading light made it harder to see.
He gave Leliana a warm smile.
"Part of me wants to climb to the highest peak and Thedas and shout how I feel about you," he admitted, "But there is still much to be done. I…I did not want to give the rumor mill around us any more grist, and besides our companions natter on like old fish wives."
Leliana chuckled.
"Let them talk dearest," she said, "I do not care."
She leaned in kissing him lightly on the mouth, once, twice.
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply.
It was strange kissing her, he had to look up slightly to do it, but that did not bother him that much.
He wished all those girls back in tower could see him now. He wanted them to see that he had found a beautiful woman that she loved him and he loved her.
He wanted to rub it in all their faces!
Leliana groaned as he kissed her neck, her back arched deliciously.
"You are welcome in my tent," she moaned, "My bedroll…it is big enough for two."
She smiled wickedly.
"I can come with a few ideas to keep you occupied tonight."
Alim smirked.
He could imagine that she could she…
A huge shadow fell over them.
The two of them backed away as if they had been caught doing something wrong.
Sten stood before them; the Qunari gave them a cold and imperious look.
"Warden," he said flatly, "I have come to a decision."
"Really," Alim said with an amused twitch of his ears, "How lucky for you."
Leliana giggled.
Sten did not even crack a smile. He held his gaze evenly.
"It is apparent that you have become…distracted," the Qunari said, "You have delayed us in our mission to stop the Blight. You continue to have us running off on errands that have nothing to do with ending the life of the Archdemon."
"We need allies and supplies Sten," Alim said, "I've explained this before."
"Excuses after excuses," the Qunari said, "We can no longer afford to be running around blindly."
The large man crossed his arms.
"I shall assume command."
All joking went out of Alim's features.
"Really," he said, "You and what army?"
"Alim," Leliana whispered, "Be careful."
He heard her, and was trying to be, but seriously.
What was the Qunari thinking?
"You will be allowed to continue on with us," Sten said, "But it is time for us to have true leadership. I can give us that."
"How kind of you," Alim said, his ears lowering in anger.
He glared at the much larger man.
"This is mutiny Sten," he said, "We might not be a formal army, but…I thought you had more honor than this?"
"You are not leading us well," the Qunari repeated, "You have become…distracted little Saarebas. I will put us back on track. I am a Sten of the Beresaad that is my function."
Alim did not know what a 'saarebas' was…
But he did know what little meant.
His ears lay flat against his skull.
"I'm not just going to step aside Sten," he said with a lethal purr, "If you want to lead, you're just going to have to take the leadership from me."
Sten smiled.
"I would have it no other way warden," he said drawing his massive sword.
"Stop," Leliana growled, she pulled two small daggers from her boots, the look she gave the Qunari was downright murderous.
Alim put his hand on her shoulder.
"Leli," he murmured.
"Yes," she spat like an angry cat, her eyes never leaving the Qunari.
"Be a good lass and fetch my sword and staff please," he said eyeing the bigger man, "I think it is time to teach our…'friend' here a lesson."
The bard nodded.
"Yes Alim," she said.
"And get the others," he said, "They need to see this too."
She nodded and hurried off to get Alim's weapons.
The elf looked at the much larger man.
"I wish it had not come to this," the Qunari said, he sounded genuinely sorry.
Alim glared at him.
Oh he would be sorry…
He would be very, very sorry.
IOI
"Alistair!"
The former Templar snorted awake. Morrigan shifted in the bed roll beside him.
The witch groaned.
"Alistair please," Wynne repeated, "Get out here…NOW!"
"Go away old woman!" the witch snarled, "Can you see we are trying to sleep!"
Alistair groaned.
"Wynne…wha…what is going on?"
"Alim and Sten are about to kill each other," the mage responded, "Please…you have to stop this…this madness."
The former Templar was now fully awake, he pulled on his trousers.
Morrigan hissed and slipped on her robes.
Curse the old woman she thought, and curse the fool Qunari!
The two emerged from her tent.
Alim stood before Sten. The elf's eyes were cold and dangerous. Sten casually flipped his great sword back and forth in his grip.
Alistair rubbed his eyes.
Maker…this…this had to be some sort of joke, either that…or he was having a bad dream.
Leliana ran by.
Wynne stopped her.
"Leliana please," the elder mage begged, "talk some sense into Alim, this is madness."
"It must be done Wynne," the bard said coldly, gently removing the older woman's hands.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To get Alim's weapons," the bard replied, "He will need them."
Wynne just stared in horror.
Morrigan snorted as she stood barefooted outside her tent.
"What foolishness is this?" she demanded.
It was Zevran who answered.
"The Qunari does not like how Alim has been leading us," the assassin smirked, "He has challenged our dear warden to a duel."
"What?" the witch's amber eyes narrowed, she glared at the Qunari.
"I will not follow you fool!" she spat.
"We'll see," the Qunari said.
Wynne ran to the others trying to convince one of them to intervene in…in this madness.
"None heeded her pleas; Zev, Kally and Seri were actually making wagers on the fight…wagers!
The elder mage threw up her hands.
"Egad, I give up!" she exclaimed retreating to her tent.
She would have no part of this madness!
IOI
Gus and Alistair stood at Alim's side, neither of the warriors looked happy about this.
"You sure you have to do this Lim?" Alistair asked.
"Want to, no," Alim admitted, "Have to, yes."
"You could kill him with a single spell," Gus said, "You realize that yes?"
"I'm not going to kill him, he is still useful," Alim smirked, "But I am going to kick his ass."
Alistair and Gus looked at each other trying to decide if Alim had lost his mind.
Alim gave them a chagrinned look.
"Sten needs to see that what I do, do for a reason, even if he does not understand it. I tried to talk him down, but he refused to see reason. So…now we do…well…this."
Bandit growled. He walked up beside the fur on his hackles standing straight up.
"No Bandit," Alim cooed, "Be a good dog, I have to fight this one alone."
The dog looked at his master and gave a worried whimper.
Alim smiled and scratched his head.
"It won't be bad," he promised, "I won't hurt Sten too badly."
Still the dog seemed reluctant to leave his side.
"Gus," Alim whispered, "Will you please."
Of…of course," the knight said taking Bandit by the collar and leading him away.
Alim took a deep breath, hoping he wasn't making a big mistake.
A Qunari sized big mistake.
IOI
Shayle stood behind the others. She glanced at the two fighters curiously.
"It will squish the Qunari now?" the golem asked Kally.
The elf grinned savagely.
"Care to place a wager Shale?" she asked, "You could bet some of those pretty stones of yours."
The golem scoffed.
"The one eyed elf will not take any of my crystals," she said haughtily.
The golem shook her head.
"You creatures and your games, humph, there is no point in betting. It will squish the Qunari."
"I thought you liked Sten?" Gus asked.
"I like him just fine," the golem shrugged, "But that does not mean I'm not curious to hear what sound he makes when he gets squished."
She smiled.
"I am eager to hear that sound.
Gus shuddered.
Sometimes Shayle scared him.
"Another sovereign on Alim," Seri said.
Zev chuckled.
"Does anyone want to bet on Sten?" he asked.
"Sucker bet," Oghren replied.
"Tis a fool's errand you are on Sten," Morrigan sniffed, "You throw your life away needlessly."
Oghren laughed.
"Too the words right out of my mouth lass," he chuckled.
He smiled at Sten, smiled then belched.
"Nice knowing you Qunari!" he called out.
"Can I have your tent when you are dead?" Seri asked, "I could use the extra room."
The Qunari glared at the dwarves.
"I will not die!" he spat, "This needs to be done!"
The Qunari glared at Alim.
"You have become distracted warden; too busy trying to mate with the red-haired human female! We will settle this now."
Leliana blushed at some of the others questioning glances.
Alim sneered at him.
"As you wish," he said.
Leliana returned spellbinder and his staff in her hands.
The elf gestured.
The weapons leapt into his hands.
He drew his sword and spun his staff.
He held them menacingly before him.
Overhead thunder rumbled.
Sten charged.
Alim was gone.
The Qunari swung his massive sword in a wicked arc. Alim back pedaled using magic to enhance his speed and agility.
He leapt out of the reach of Sten's blows; where ever the large man struck he simply was not there.
"Vashadan!" the Qunari roared, "stand and fight damn you!"
Alim was smirking now.
"You wanted to duel, that is what we are doing,' he said conversationally, "I…SHIT!"
He ducked another powerful blow. He started to back pedal again, but Sten reversed his swing with a quickness that Alim had never seen in the large and often ponderous Qunari.
It opened a small wound in the elf's abdomen.
He looked at the blood running down his chest in horror…then…with fury!
His eyes blazed red with magic!
"Fuck it!" he snarled.
The elf darted inside Sten's guard.
He did not stab or slash at the larger man.
He pressed the flat of his blade to the Qunari's chest.
Electricity coursed out into the larger warrior.
Sten howled in pain and anger!
Alim did not let up.
"Is this what you wanted you overgrown bastard!" he spat, "Does this satisfy the demands of your precious Qun!"
Sten could not respond he was too busy screaming.
"DOES IT!?"
Alim pulled his blade away.
Sten coughed weakly and fell to his knees.
Alim kicked his sword out of his hand, then for good measure stomped on the Qunari's fingers, the gauntlet he was wearing likely saved a few of them from being broken…
…but only a few.
Alim brought his staff around and cracked the Qunari in the jaw, likely breaking bone with the strike.
The Qunari fell hard.
IOI
Sten slumped to the ground his world fading away in a haze of blood and black spots.
He saw Alim standing over him, holding his wounded chest.
He glared down at the fading Qunari.
"I win," he said coldly.
Despite slowly losing consciousness, the larger man nodded. He rolled onto his back, the last of his will fading away.
He heard Alim starting to walk away.
The world became a blissful darkness.
IOI
Alim shook his head that had…been more vicious than he intended he had intended to exhaust the Qunari and then knock him out.
That had not happened.
Sten had pissed him off.
He looked at his injuries, and then up at the others, his eyes finally falling on Leliana, giving her a nod, letting her know he was alright.
"I'll be back to heal him when I'm done healing myself," the elf promised, "We leave for Redcliffe tomorrow after we pick up Bodahn and Sandal. Everybody get some rest. We will all likely need it."
The elf stalked off to get some lyrium; he would need it when healing the Qunari's injuries. Given Wynne's reaction to this affair, he doubted she would be feeling very sympathetic to either of them right now.
He looked back at the beaten Qunari. It had been a costly example, but one he had had to make.
Don't cross the big dog, you will lose, or the short elf mage, in this case.
He gave the Qunari a tired sigh.
"Lesson learned," he said flatly.
"Lesson learned."