Chapter 90: A Matter of Leadership
Solitude.
Theron smiled as he stepped out of the warden camp and deeper into the arms of the woodland that surrounded them.
He took a deep breath, taking in the smell of pine, the scent of a skunk not far off, and the feel of the wind rustling through the trees.
Now that they were finally leaving the Korcari Wilds behind, the Dalish felt free, the humming in his tainted blood subsided. The sensation of nearby darkspawn faded to almost nothing, it was still there however, too many spawn were now on the surface for it to stop completely, not while the Blight raged.
Theron shook his head.
It was just something he would need to learn to deal with.
It was a nice stretch of greenwood, this place. It reminded him of the clearing where the clan had made its summer stop. A place rich in both wild plants and game, the small stream running nearby had also been a bountiful supply of fish, not to mention a good place for a young hunter to rest.
He blushed slightly at the memory.
It was along the banks of that stream that he had first spoken his heart to Merrill. To apologize for years of teasing, and ask if she consent to be his, she had played coy at first, but then she had almost leapt into his arms.
The two of them had made love for the first time along the bank of that stream, sealing their desire to be mated. It was a memory he would treasure forever.
He paused for a moment letting the blissful quiet of the woods wash over him. It was a sweet release after the tense atmosphere back in camp. Alim and Alistair weren't talking, and their…disagreement was starting to split the camp.
It was a troubling time for everyone, and the main reason he wanted to get away.
Not that that was the only reason however.
He had never considered himself anti-social, someone could not grow up in a Dalish clan as such, but…he still needed to get away from the others now and then. The humans, dwarves, and city elves of their little group were not like his clan, friends yes…but not like him.
The Dalish sighed.
He wondered where his clan was right now. Had they reached their destination? Were they all safe? Keeper Marethari was a strong woman; she would keep the clan safe.
Theron winced.
He tried not to think too much about his clan these days. He still feared that homesickness would cripple him, leave him unable to do what needed to be done.
He found his thought drifting to Merrill, his sweet little flower.
His ears drooped in sadness.
What was Merrill doing right now, continuing her studies obviously, but…what about her…personal life?
The young hunter's frown deepened.
The clan no doubt thought him long dead. The funeral songs sung, the tree honoring his life planted. Ashalle would have mourned him, much as she had for his Mother and Father. Merrill would have mourned for him, shed her tears, and sang of his life; at least…he thought she would…she…
Would…would she had chosen another by now? Had she chosen a new bond mate? Were they together? Had she…had he gotten her with child?
The thought of Merrill being with another was crushing, it…it scarred his soul, but he knew that that was how it would have to be.
Theron did not want Merrill to mourn him forever; he wanted her to be happy, to find a life, to have everything she had ever wanted. To be the Keeper he knew that she could be.
He smiled slightly.
Most of all…he wanted her to be happy. He wanted her to enjoy her life.
The life he could never again be a part of.
Thunder rumbled overhead, the Dalish's ears twitched; there were few clouds in the sky yet…
His elven ears caught the sound of raised voices nearby, slipping into the easy hunter's tread that had brought him success so many times while stalking boar and deer, he made for the sound.
He was not entirely sure what was going on, but he had suspicions.
Alistair and Alim had been avoiding each other for days since the fight with the woman of many years. The tension had been growing since that time.
Theron figured it had finally boiled over, like a stew pot left covered far too long.
It was not hard to track his fellow wardens; all he had to do was listen to the angry voices, and the thunder overhead.
The Dalish's ears twitched.
He hoped that he would arrive in time.
Before his brothers did something they would both regret.
…Them…or anyone else.
IOI
They had stepped away from camp, not wishing to hear any opinions from the others.
This was not about the group after all, not this time.
This was a personal matter.
When they were finally out of earshot, Alim turned to Alistair, his ears laying back like that of an angry cat.
Alistair crossed his arms and let out an irritated sigh.
"Okay Lim," he said quietly, "Let's hear it."
The warden mage's temper flared, he was in no mood for Alistair's flippancy today.
"You want to hear something Ali," he growled, "Fine let's start with what happened back at Flemeth's hut."
"It worked out well don't you think?"
Alim sputtered, he…he could not believe this!
"Worked out well,' he hissed, "Worked out well? What in Andraste's tits seemed to work out well for you, the fact that you jeopardized all of us, or the fact that we all could have died helping your girlfriend?"
Alistair glared at him.
"What was I supposed to do Lim?"
"Follow my lead for starters."
Alistair snorted.
"You were considering Flemeth's offer, to just…let her go."
"Yes I was."
The Templar glared at him.
"And what about Morrigan Alim, did you forget about her?"
"Of course not," he replied.
"It certainly sounds like you did. Morrigan has been with us almost since day one. She has fought beside us, bled beside us, and you ask like you don't even thing that has earned her our support."
"There are limits, Alistair."
"Really, and what might those be?"
"When helping her threatens the welfare of the group. Fergus was wounded, he could have been killed. Leliana was hurt to, that dragon-bitch could have…"
Alistair barked a haughty laugh.
It froze Alim in his place; he glared at the former Templar.
"So this is not about the group, this is about Leliana?"
"No it isn't!"
"I think it is," Alistair growled, "Why is Leliana more important that Morrigan?"
"I never said she was."
"Who died and made you, the arbiter of all our lives?"
Alim's expression darkened.
Thunder boomed overhead. Lightning crackled in the elf's eyes.
"Alistair," he said a cool brittle voice, "I did not ask to lead this group. You chose to follow back in Lothering, remember that?"
The larger man got right up in his face; Alim had never seen the former Templar so angry.
"Maybe it is time for new leadership," he whispered.
Alim gave him a predatory smile.
"So you need the Sten-treatment too, huh? Fine by me."
Alistair drew his sword.
"I didn't want this,' he hissed, "But you have given me no choice."
Alim snorted.
"Just go on telling yourself that you bastard," he spat, "The little prince finally has to have his way."
As far as taunts went, it hit Alistair right where he lived; he raised his shield, summoning his Templar abilities.
Bastard.
Prince.
Both would cut his fellow warden the most.
"You're being very petty over this Lm," he snarled, "Petty…and small…a very little man."
Color spread from the elf's face to his ears.
Clouds spun overhead.
The sky darkened as Alim prepared for…
An arrow whizzed out of the foliage, striking the elf in the shoulder, pinning him to a nearby try.
Alistair whirled, prepared to defend himself, but the shooter was no longer there.
A second shaft struck, also placed in the Templar's shoulder.
Had either of the wardens been thinking at that moment, they might have realized what an amazing shot it had been.
The arrow hit flawlessly, doing no damage to artery, or tendon, missing bone, and pinning the two would be combatants in place…
Of course, it also hurt like a bitch.
Both wardens were experiencing that.
IOI
Alim struggled to free himself to no avail. Alistair tried to pull the shaft out.
"FUCK!" Alim snarled.
"That is enough of that, brothers," A familiar lilting accent said crossly.
Theron stepped out of the bushes, his bow in hand, another arrow already nocked and ready. He had no desire to hurt either of them, but given the fact that they looked like they were ready to kill each other…
He was taking no more chances.
The Dalish glared at them with his silver eyes.
"That is quite enough indeed."
IOI
"What do you think you are doing Theron!?" Alim demanded.
"Breaking up a fight, before it hurts our entire camp, and endangers our entire mission," the elf replied.
He shook his head at his fellow wardens.
"It is time settled this problem you have been having," he said.
"Don't blame me," Alim growled, "Alistair…"
"Alistair was not about to call down the storm upon his brother," Theron reminded him.
"Thanks Theron," Alistair said, "I knew…"
The Dalish stopped him with an icy glare.
"And you," he said, "Alim is not wrong, "We might have avoided the fight with Asha'belannar, it was you that forced the issue."
He looked at the two of them, shaking his head sadly.
"Creators give me strength," he spat, "This is what it must have felt like for the Keeper dealing with Tamlen and me."
The memory of his old friend caused the Dalish to shudder. He…he had not spoken Tamlen's name in months, not since waking in the warden compound back in the Denerim.
He and Tamlen had been brothers, not in blood perhaps, but in dignity and love.
…Until they had found the cave…
…Until they had found that damned mirror.
The Dalish looked at his friends, his fellow wardens, his clan.
He felt…disappointed in them both.
"You both love your women," he said, "I can sympathize with that, but this goes beyond just our actions during a single battle.
He pointed off to the west.
"The Blight is still out there," he said, "It threatens all of us. Morrigan, Leliana, and everyone else, shem, elvhen, and durgen'len, all life is threatened…"
He glared at them.
"And in the middle of it all, you wish to engage in some…some…shem pissing contest?"
Alistair bowed his head. Alim might not have looked as ashamed, but given the twitching of his ears…
Theron hoped that he had gotten his point across.
The Dalish paced before them both.
"You have led us well until this moment Alim, but I will not let you harm Alistair, but at the same time, I will not allow Alistair to jeopardize us either.
He looked right into Alistair's eyes.
"I do not care who your father was Alistair. I won't follow out of some blood tie."
The former Templar winced.
"I…I never expected that Theron."
"Good," the Dalish said yanking the arrow, out of Alistair's shoulder.
The Templar fell with a gasp.
He walked to Alim.
"If your are going to fight over leadership then I have no choice to declare you both unfit and take the reins myself, not just for the sake of our mission, but Leliana, Morrigan, and…and my Merrill."
Theron stood eye to eye with Alim.
"Is that satisfactory Commander," he asked.
Alim grumbled something.
"What," Theron asked.
"It's…satisfactory," Alim grumbled, "There will be no more fighting."
Theron nodded, and pulled the arrow out of Alim's shoulder.
The elven mage hissed as he fell back against the tree.
"Damn it Theron," he hissed.
"Abelas, Alim," he said, "but I saw no other way to stop you both."
Grunting the mage summoned healing magic. The wound was not bad, but the lesson had been learned.
Alim turned to Alistair.
"Let me heal you," he said, "I don't want to hear Wynne bitching about how we were fighting."
Alistair nodded and accepted his help.
Theron smiled.
"There," he said clasping his hands "Isn't this better?"
Both of his fellow wardens glared at him.
The Dalish either did not notice, or pretended not to.
"I need to go check my snares," he said, "Hopefully; we will have a fat belt of rabbits for the stew tonight. I will see you both back at camp."
The Dalish melted back into the woods. Leaving Alistair and Alim staring at each other, both were rubbing their shoulders.
Alistair lowered his eyes.
"I…I'm sorry Lim," he said softly, "I won't step out of line again."
Alim nodded.
"And I won't ask you to choose between Morrigan and the plan," he said, "It was unfair of me."
The two wardens shook hands.
Alim glanced at where Theron disappeared.
He shook his head.
"Remind me never to piss him off," he said.
Alistair chuckled.
"Not if he has a bow in hand, anyway."
Alim shrugged.
That made sense.
The two walked back to camp.
Alistair rotated his arm; there was no lasting damage from Theron's arrow, no physical damage anyway.
Alim snorted.
"I would have beaten you, you know," he said.
The former Templar shot him a look.
The elven mage chuckled.
"Just kidding Ali."
His fellow warden shook his head.
"Fair enough Lim," he said.
"Fair enough."