Chapter 79: The Defense

Alim was mentally kicking himself…hard.

The elf cursed a blue streak under his breath.

Leli…what had he done? It wasn't like he had openly declared his intentions to bed that blond girl back in the chantry. He had just been himself, maybe he had flirted with her a little, but he had simply been trying to cheer her up.

Things were pretty dark here, Maker save them…more undead, like they had not seen enough of the foul things in the Brecilian Forest and Circle Tower.

The warden shook his head.

When in Andraste's name had he done wrong?

He tried to push Leliana out of his mind for the moment and focus on what needed to be done. Night would fall soon enough and they needed to be ready.

Two men had been put in charge of the defense of the Redcliffe survivors Ser Perth and Murdoch, the village mayor. Alim would need to speak with them both. See what kind of defenses they could dream up.

Alim glanced up at the silent castle. The banners danced lightly in the wind, other than that, the place seemed to be abandoned.

The elf's sense for magic told him otherwise.

He could almost feel it from here, the veil straining. It was as bad as it had been in the circle tower, maybe worse.

Gus…Teyrn Cousland came up beside him, he also stared up at the castle.

"Any ideas?" the knight asked.

"Whatever is going on up there isn't pretty," the elf replied.

"Indeed," Fergus said dryly.

Alim turned to glare at him.

"There was no reason to hide who you really were from us you know?"

The knight sighed.

"I didn't want to think about it," the Teyrn admitted, "My family, my people, everything that has happened since I left Highever…"

The man shook his head.

"It was better to just try and forget. I should have realized that the world would catch up with me eventually."

"It always does," Alim sighed, he glanced at Leliana.

Fergus gave him a slight smile.

"What did I do wrong Gus?" he asked.

"On the surface nothing," he shrugged, "But to Leliana a great deal."

The elf's pointed ears lowered slightly.

"I was only trying to help to console that girl."

Fergus chuckled.

"When Oriana and I first got married I made the mistake of hugging Bann Alfstanna of Waking Sea in front of her, we…we had been friends since we were children…"

Fergus smiled at the memory.

"Oriana made me sleep on the floor for three days. She did not respect the closeness I shared with Alfie. She felt I held the hug for too long. Of course, we had been thick as thieves when we were younger, so perhaps she had a good reason to be concerned."

Fergus's expression turned sad. The pain that swam up when he thought about Oren and Oriana was still sharp, but not as intense as it once was. He hated to think that he was getting over losing them, but maybe…just maybe he was starting to deal with that loss.

Kally had helped with that too, he had enjoyed working with the elf. She was a fierce fighter and gave him something to focus on besides…well…everything. Plus…she shared his hatred for Rendon Howe.

One day they would do something about that hatred; quench it with the bastard's blood.

Alim must have realized what he was thinking. He must have seen the pain in Fergus's eyes.

"I'm sorry," he murmured," "I…it must be painful thinking about…"

Gus shook his head dismissively.

"I miss them," the knight said, "but there is nothing I can do about them right now. All I can do right now is focus on the next battle. It is what is expected of me."

Fergus straightened.

"It is what a Cousland would do."

Alim gave him a wicked smirk.

"Want to talk to Leliana for me?"

"No thanks," he said, "I like my head right where it is thank you."

The warden chuckled.

"Thanks so bloody much Your Lordship."

Fergus laughed. The knight put his arm over the elf's slender shoulders.

"Welcome to the world of relationships," he said.

Alim chuckled.

"I'm going to have to beg her forgiveness aren't I?"

"I suggest groveling to, perhaps flowers as well. Even a king must bow before his lover. If you don't want to sleep outside for the rest of our journey," the knight advised.

"I will take your suggestions under advisement," the elf said, "And try to avoid talking to any pretty girls, at least while Leli is around."

Fergus snorted with amusement.

"That would be for the best I think."

IOI

Leliana, Theron, Kally, and Zev left the Tavern, a morose looking elf named Berrick in tow. She had come here looking for a drink and to see if there was anyone in the village who was not fighting right now, someone they could turn to, she had come across the shifty elf.

The man had been here spying for Teyrn Loghain; the bard had sniffed him out.

Theron had glared at the man, he tensed when he heard that the Dalish was a Grey Warden, he likely had thought that Theron would take revenge on him for what had happened in Ostagar.

The Dalish had murmured 'flat ear' under his breath as the man had retreated from their sight.

Kally had looked equally murderous; the fact that the man had been hired by Arl Rendon Howe had set that off.

Leliana thanked the Maker that Gus…that Teyrn Cousland had not been there, Berrick might not have lived!

The bard's mouth was set in a grim line, she had debated turning the man over to Alim, but had decided against it, convincing the man to stand with them in defense of Redcliffe tonight.

Alim.

She took a deep breath and tried to center herself.

It was not easy.

The bard had never seen herself as a jealous woman, but seeing Alim…seeing him flirting with that girl, it had set off something she had thought long dead.

The last time she had felt like this was in the Arl of Denerim's estate three years ago, when she had spotted Marjolaine cozying up to that bastard Raleigh. Shock, hurt, and anger had come upon her like an inferno.

She had tried to convince herself at the time that her love and master had simply been playing the game, manipulating some Ferelden born fool.

It had turned out that she had been the fool.

Marjolaine had betrayed her that very night.

She felt a twinge of fear.

Perhaps Alim would betray her as well one day?

Stop it, Alim is not Marjolaine, he is not like that. You know damn well how he behaves. You have seen how he is around girls.

She felt shamed; perhaps she had gone a bit overboard?

It was not like he had asked the girl to share a bed with the two of them!

Leliana sighed.

The elf was charming; she had seen him speak that way to girls many times in the course of their journey.

Of course…this time…it had been different. He was sharing her tent now; she was sharing herself with him.

He was hers damn it!

Those factors had shifted her views on things quite drastically.

The bard hated to admit it, but she had taken her frustration out on Lloyd the Tavern Keeper. That barmaid Bella, the man had treated been treating her like dirt.

Leliana had threatened him into giving her partial ownership of the tavern, so that they had a stake in protecting it.

Zev had laughed at that.

"Now you own a one horse tavern in a one horse village my dear, marvelous!"

She had glared at the assassin.

He gave her a saucy smile.

She did not intend to keep it of course; she probably would gift it to Bella before she left.

A hint of an evil smile came to her lips.

Part of her wished that Alim had been there, she could have turned up the charm; let him know what it felt like to see his lover flirt with another.

Bella would not have been the first barmaid that Leliana had seduced. Several times in Orlais she had seen girl's that had caught her eye. They had been starstruck peasants captivated by her grace and seemingly noble charm.

Besides, Bella was quite attractive, she might provide an interesting distraction.

The thought horrified Leliana.

No…she…she was not that woman anymore!

She rejected the idea.

Besides, it might not even have the desired effect; some men she knew found the thought of two women together arousing.

She was not certain if Alim was one of those.

She did not intend to give him yet another fantasy to distract him from his duty.

She led her small group down to the windmill outside of the village, the knight Ser Perth waited there.

Alim had asked her to see what she could do to help him.

She had nodded coldly and went about her duty.

It was strange, her…her dalliance with Alim. Mixed messages, hot and cold feelings running rampant, what they had…it…it felt like it was turning into a true relationship.

How surprising was that…

…and then there would be the making up.

The thought of making up with her lover made her body warm.

Alim had learned quickly how to please her.

She would forgive him of course, she had overreacted.

Of course that did not mean that she would tell him that. Oh no, she would let him grovel a bit first.

It would remind him that she was his, that he did not need anyone else.

She sighed.

The bard side of her had reared its ugly head again…

…but in this she was content to play the game.

She cared for Alim, but she was not his toy.

Sometimes a man needed to be reminded of that.

It kept things honest.

IOI

Alim stepped out of the house of Dwyn, the dwarven merchant. He was pleased with the results of their meeting.

He had needed to dip into their gold supplies a bit, but he had gained three more fighters to help protect Redcliffe tonight, and that was not all.

Sten looked like an awe struck child; he held a long powerful looking long sword in his large hands. Recently purchased from the dwarven merchant, the blade was clearly of foreign make.

It was a Qunari sword.

It was Sten's sword.

The large man drew his blade from its sheath; he touched the steel of the blade with shaking hands.

"I…I had almost forgotten," the big man murmured, "Asala…completion…after so long!"

He grinned at the elf.

"Thank you Kadan."

"Your welcome," Alim replied, "Now when you leave us you can return to your people with honor, with your head held high."

Sten nodded.

"And I can answer the Arishok's question about the Blight more completely if it was ended before I return."

Alim smiled.

"I've seen you fight with Ferelden blades Sten, you were a terror. I can only imagine how dangerous you will be with that sword in hand."

"Let our enemies beware," the large man murmured.

"Indeed," the elf replied.

"Yes, yes," Morrigan said rolling her eyes, "The weapon is impressive, can we please find the fool girl's brattling sister now, tis getting late."

Wynne glared at the witch.

"Must you always be so hostile?" the old woman asked.

Morrigan smirked at her.

"You have not seen me be hostile yet old woman."

"Enough, enough," Alim said seeking to avoid a fight between the two.

Morrigan had been far more irritable since coming to Redcliffe, more than she had been in the past few months that were for certain; perhaps she was still angry at Alistair? Not surprising of course, but still annoying.

Perhaps he could convince her to forgive Alistair and get herself laid.

That had seemed to relax the witch in the past.

Alim made for Kaitlyn's home off the square. Morrigan wandered off to search the general store for supplies. The owner had been apparently killed in first attack, and no one had thought to take stock of his possessions.

The witch intended to remedy that.

They had found the boy hiding in a closet in his parents' room…his late parent's room.

Alim felt sorry for the boy, he could not be more than ten or twelve and now he was an orphan.

There were far too many orphans in Ferelden now, between Loghain and the Archdemon.

Alim intended to see both pay for that.

Wynne had coaxed the boy out of hiding with what Alim liked to call her 'Angry mom' voice.

Young man, come out here this instant.

Alim felt sorry for the boy, he had been on the receiving end of that voice before.

The boy pulled out a beautiful sword; it was too heavy for him to left but…

Alim asked if he could see it.

He drew the blade, elvish made of course. The slight green of the iron bark gave it away.

Bevin mentioned that it had belonged to his grandfather, a great dragon slayer.

Alim's brow furrowed.

The weapon had likely been stolen during the Exalted March on the Dales, when the humans forced them to submit.

The elf smiled slightly.

"Perhaps there was a way to reclaim the weapon and help the boy and his sister.

He offered to buy it, promising to use it to help defend the village with it tonight.

The boy asked if it was possible to save the village, everyone had seemed convinced that they would all die tonight.

Alim told the boy to muster his courage. He had come here to find a weapon to defend his sister. That had taken bravery.

It was bravery that would save them all tonight.

The boy accepted his offer and ran off towards the chantry, back to his sister.

Wynne smiled at him.

"That was a kind thing you did," she said.

Alim chuckled.

"I'm just tired of hearing these people wailing. Hope is better than despair."

The elder mage gave him a knowing look as they left the small house.

Morrigan met them at the door; the witch had a big smile on her face.

"I found something," she purred.

The witch held up her staff, a thick substance dripped from the edge.

The smell of lamp oil filled Alim's nostrils.

His smile turned predatory.

"How much did you find?"

"Eight barrels," the witch responded.

The elf smirked.

"Funeral pyres anyone?" he asked.

The witch smirked.

"If these creatures are like the others we have faced in the past fire will serve us best."

Alim nodded.

The village would have a nice little party tonight to welcome their undead guests.

It would feature the large bonfire in Ferelden history!

And the guests would provide the fuel.

They would need to scout out the castle path. They needed to know where to put the barrels for maximum effect, but once that was done.

The elf's expression was downright merry.

The undead had caused much fear here.

It was time to return the favor.

Alim's ears twitched.

Did these creatures even feel fear anymore?

Well…they would find out soon enough.