Chapter Five, Freedom
I don't have a beta so this is bound to have several grammatical screw-ups, though Grammarly will hopefully rectify this.
Also, I occasionally swear like a drunk sailor.
"Ho there, Duncan" An elegant looking man in golden armor called to Duncan as he and Alim entered the ruins of Ostagar. The two men shook hands with a smile.
"I didn't expect-" Duncan started to say in grateful surprise, but was interrupted by the gilded man.
"A royal welcome?" The king finished Duncan's sentence, a smirk on his face, "I was beginning to worry you'll miss all the fun."
"Not if I can help it, your majesty." Duncan seemed to have been disappointed at the king's nonchalant way of referring to the coming blight.
"Then I'll have the mighty Duncan in battle at my side after all." The king moved to stand beside Duncan to emphasize the point, "Glorious."
The King stood there for a moment seeming to fantasize about the coming battle.
"The other Wardens told me you found a promising recruiter, I take it this is he?" Cailan asked turning to look at the young elf.
"Allow me to introduce you, your majesty-" Duncan said, attempting to keep formalities.
"There's no need to be so formal Duncan, We'll be shedding blood together after all." Cailan again interrupted the Grey Warden.
'Some of us more than others.' Alim grimly thought as he looked up at the foolish king.
"Ho there friend, Might I know your name." Cailan had to look down at the smaller elf, though he seemed to not be condescending about it.
"I am Alim Surana, Your Majesty." Alim introduced himself in a cordial tone with a slight bow of his head.
"Pleased to meet you." Cailan said in a light polite tone, "The Grey Wardens are desperate to bolster their numbers, and I for one am glad to help them."
"I understand you hail from the Circle of Magi, I trust you have some spells to help us in the coming battle?" Cailan inquired.
"I admit most of the spells I can use mainly affect my personal being, but I will do my best of course," Alim admitted with a smile, secretly dying inside, Cailan was absolutely too cheery of a person to be around.
"Excellent," The King said cheerily, causing Alim to groan internally, "We have too few mages here, another is always welcome."
The King gave a smile, "Allow me to be the first to welcome you to Ostagar," The king grew slightly more serious, "The Wardens will benefit with you in their ranks."
'You have no fucking idea man.' Alim thought, "You're too kind your majesty."
"I'm sorry to cut this short, but I should return to my tent. Loghain waits eagerly to bore me with his strategies." The king said with a roll of his eyes. Even with knowing Cailins fate and the causes of it, Alim could see the logic as to Loghain's betrayal. Cailin was an absolute fool, a nice man with a seemingly good heart, but not someone who should lead an army let alone a kingdom.
"Your Uncle sends his greetings and reminds you that Redcliffe forces could be here in a week." Duncan chimed in before the king had an opportunity to turn and leave.
Cailan scoffed, "Eamon just wants in on the glory." The king turned to start walking away, "We've already won three battle against these monsters and tomorrow should be no different."
"If I may your majesty, "There's no kill, like overkill," seems applicable when talking about a possible blight." Alim decided to throw his two cents into the conversation.
"I'm not even sure this is a true blight." Cailan continued to walk away, "There's plenty of darkspawn on the field, but alas, we've seen no sign of an archdemon."
"Disappointed, your majesty?" Duncan asked as the king stopped again.
"I'd hoped for a war like the ones in the tales. A king riding with the fabled Grey Wardens against a tainted god." Cailin turned around, "But I suppose this will have to do."
'A man who takes pleasure in war has no right to take part in it, let alone lead it.' Alim thought to himself in disappointment, 'In the end, what he wants will happen if I have any to say.'
"I must go before Loghain sends out a search party, farewell Grey Wardens." Cailan turned to leave for the final time. Alim crossed his arms and gave the king a full bow, Duncan only tilting his head in respect.
Once the man was certainly out of hearing range Duncan turned to Alim, "What the king says is true, they've won several battles against the Darkspawn here."
"Do you not share the king's confidence?"Alim asked Duncan remained silent as he gestured the young elf to follow the king's trail.
"Despite the victories so far, the darkspawn horde grows larger with each passing day, by now they look to outnumber us." Duncan started saying after a moment of silence, "I know there is an Archdemon behind this, but I cannot ask the king to act solely on my feelings."
"Then maybe we should move quickly," Alim suggested.
"Yes, we should proceed with the ritual." Duncan nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps a hot meal first." Alim joked.
"A good idea," Duncan said with a chuckle, "We have until nightfall to begin the ritual."
The knight was silent for a moment as the two walked across the ancient bridge. "Every recruiter must go through a secret ritual we call the Joining in order to become a Grey Warden."
Alim turned to better look at the man as he exposited the information, "The ritual is brief, but some preparation is required. We must begin soon." The darker man urged.
"Wonderful, let's get this done with." Alim cheerfully said clasping his hands together with a smile.
"Feel free to explore the camp here as you wish. All I ask is that you do not leave it for the time being." Duncan said as they approached the end of the bridge. "There is another Grey Warden in the camp by the name of Alisar."
'If I had a shot with him I'd be extremely giddy right now.' Alim thought at seem his soon to be fellow Grey Warden.
Duncan Continued on without knowing the strange thoughts of the young elfs mind, "When you are ready, seek him out and tell him it's time to summon the other recruits."
The two stopped at the entrance of the camp, "Until then, I have business I must attend to. You may find me at the Grey Wardens tent on the other side of this bridge, should you need to." Duncan excused himself, turning and leaving to go accomplish whatever errands he needed to.
'Time to loot the shit out of this soon to be crater.' Alim thought as he wandered deeper into the camp.
"Now, where the fuck can I find some food?"
An entirely too long walk later Alim found himself near the Kennel master's pen, ensuring the possibility of obtaining a dog was higher on his priorities than the majority of conversations he could be having or food he could be munching.
"Mhh. This isn't good," Alim heard the Kennel Master grumble under his breath as he looked into the makeshift kennel that had been set up, "I hate to waste such a promising member of the breed."
Alim coughed softly in an attempt to catch the dark-haired man's attention, "Are you the new Warden?" The man asked when he turned towards Alim, "I could use some help."
"Sure, what be the problemo," Alim asked in a mostly genuine concerned tone.
Relief spread across the Kennel Master's face. "This is a Mabari," He gestured towards the large dog in the pen, "A smart breed and strong, his owner died in the last battle and the poor hound swallowed darkspawn blood."
Alim forced himself to cringe, gotta make it seem like he actually gave a shit and like he didn't know this dog would soon be his. "I have medicine that might help but I need him muzzled first."
Alim nodded and held his hand out for the muzzle, The Kennel Master handing over with a quick "Thank you," before letting Alim into the pen.
Alim slowly approached the dog, muttering soft words of reassurance to keep the deadly dog quite, the dog whined softly and took a step back but kept mostly still. Alim gently put the leather muzzle onto the poor dog and gave a soft pat on the head as soon a the harness was secure on its face.
"Good boy." the elf said softly before rising and leaving the pen.
The Kennel Master gave Alim a thankful smile, "Well done, now I can treat the dog properly, poor fellow."
"Come to think of it, are you heading into the wilds anytime soon," The Kennel Master asked after as he remembered something
"I think I might be, what do you need out there?"
"There's a particular herb I could use to improve the dog's chances, its a flower that grows in the swamps here if I remember," The Kennel Master said while scratching the side of his head. "If you happen across it I could use it, It's very distinctive, all white, with a blood red center"
"Alright, If I go out there I'll look for it," Alim said turning away from the man to go to his next destination.
The Kennel master turned back the pen. "Good, in the meantime, I'll be treating our poor friend"
A significantly shorter walk later, Alim found himself before a caged man who was stripped of everything except the pitiful excuse of underwear that existed in Ferelden. The man looked up from his slouched position as Alim approached his cage.
"Heh, someone finally comes and talks to the lone prisoner, don't suppose you've come to sentence me." He weakly said pulling himself forward slightly to get a better look at the elf.
"Nope," Alim said simply.
The prisoner smiled weakly, "I don't suppose you have a bit of kindness in you, all I want is food and water. They haven't fed me since I was locked up and I'm starving."
Alim quirked an eyebrow, Tell me why I should and I'll consider it."
The Prisoner mimed for the elf to come closer before speaking in a lowered voice. "Because you might want something I don't need. Them Circle wizards got a chest they keep things in, magical things… and I stole the key."
Alim leaned back, mainly due to the man scent. "That's why I'm here." He spoke a bit louder. "I got one of them drunk, took his keys and tried to sneak to the chest. They assumed I was deserting."
He gave Alim a pleading look. "I can't use it from here, but I'd trade you for some food and water."
"Alright, you got yourself a deal," Alim said with a smirk.
The prisoner smiled and pointed to the guard who was rather shit with his job. "Just ask my guard for his. He's still got some dinner, I saw him put in his coat."
Alim swiftly approached the shit guard, letting some random stranger just approach his charge without so much a second glance.
"Lucky dog. You Grey Wardens get to ride with the king while I'm left with the drudgery of guarding this deserter." Was the first thing to fly from the man's lips when he saw Alim. "They should have just hanged him… Put his head on a pike as an example."
Alim didn't question how the man knew he was one of the newest Grey Warden recruits. "I Actually had a chit-chat with him," The mage said.
"Don't expect it was an enlightening conversation," The nameless guard grumbled.
"Poor bastards hungry said he hasn't been fed." Alim continued ignoring the man's foul attitude.
"Did he, now?" The Guard scoffed. "Since nobody sends me nothing to feed him with, the only way he'll get that is if I give him mine."
Alim gave a shocked look. "This man could be hanged soon and your complaining about missing one meal." Alim admonished the guard, hoping to play on the man's empathy.
"Alright," The guard grumbled, "I had nothing to do with it though. If anyone asks why he's burpin', I'm gonna say it was you just so you know." He said as he handed Alim half a small loaf of bread.
"Andaste bless you," Alim said with a tilt of his head, the guard ignored him.
"So…?" The prisoner said when Alim was close enough to talk to, "Brought me some food, have you? I'm so hungry I could faint dead away."
"Here ya go," Alim said, passing the piece of bread to the prisoner.
"Much obliged. May Andraste herself rain blessings upon you!" The prisoner said in between ravenous bites. "And as mentioned, here's the key. Use it in good health, heh."
Alim rolled the key between his fingers as he walked away.
'Wait, didn't he shit this out?' Alim froze mid-roll as the thought struck him.
'Well, that's disgusting.'
One swift journey for clean hands later, Alim found himself before the camps Quartermaster, the fat man shouting for a female elf.
"You there elf, Where's my Armor." The man demanded when Alim approached. "And why are you dressed so pompous."
"Excuse me, Are you mistaking me for a fucking servant?" Alim decided he was going to give this man shit while he could.
"What, oh." The man paled as the realization dawned on him, "Your the one who arrived with the Grey Warden."
"I… Forgive my rudeness! There are so many elves running about, and I've been waiting for… it's been simply so hectic, I never thought…" The man stuttered and stumbled over his words as he tried to recover, digging himself deeper into a hole. Alim just sat quietly trying not to laugh at the poor fool.
"Please pardon my terrible manners!" The man finally managed to spit out before stumbling into slightly more coherent sentences. "I… I am just the quartermaster, a simple man, no one special…"
"Dude, chill." Alim said, forgetting that both of those words probably wouldn't be used for another couple hundred years if ever, "I'm not going have you hanged, though I would recommend being nicer to elves, ya never know who might take offense and seek retribution."
Quartermaster- "Y-yes, of course. Your very right. Did you come for supplies, perhaps?"
"Show me what you got," Alim said. 'Backpack time.'
Now one backpack heavier, Alim decided to finally progress the main quest of his life and go talk to a strapping young blonde prince… no homo.
"What is it now," A pompous voice greeted Alims voice as he climbed the ancient stone steps.
"Haven't the Grey Wardens asked more than enough from the circle."
"I simply came to deliver a message from the revered mother, mage," Alistar's voice dripped with exasperation "she desires your presence."
Alim watched as the Mages face twisted as if he just smelled a rotting skunk. "What her reverence desires is of no concern to me, I am busy helping the Grey Wardens, by the king's orders I might add."
Alistars patience seemed to be visually running out. "Should I have asked her to write a note?" He asked in an irritated tone.
"Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner!" The mage all but shouted.
"Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message." Alistar cheekily responded.
The mage scowled. "Your glibness does you no credit here."
Alistar seemed unfazed if anything the mages comment fueled him. "Here I thought we were getting along so well, I was even going to name one of my children after you, the grumpy one."
The Mage seems to have enough of the blond. "Enough, I will speak to the woman if I must," he said turning away.
"Get out of my way fool," The agitated Mage demanded as he stormed past the soon to be Warden.
'Do I know him' Alim thought to himself, 'Eh. doesn't matter.'
Alistar approached the young elf. "You know one good thing about the blight is how it brings people together."
"I know exactly what you mean," Alim chuckled, "Really brings out the best in people."
"It's like a party." Alistar rolled on, "We could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about."
"Wait, we haven't met, have we?" Alistar said registering Alims appearance. "I don't suppose you happen to be another mage?"
Alim looked himself over, contorting to look at himself from multiple angles. "Last I checked, got an official wizards stick and everything." He said pointing to his nonstolen staff.
Alistar rolled his eyes. "And here I thought I'd been yelled at by every mage in camp."
A thought seemed to strike the man like a pebble to the head. "Wait, I do know who you are, You're Duncan's new recruit from the Circle of Magi, I should've recognized you right away, I apologize."
Alim smirked. "And you must be Alistar."
Alistars eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Did Duncan mention me, Nothing bad I hope."
Before Alim could answer the question Alistar continued, almost as if he had been rehearsing the line. "As the Junior member of the order, I'll be accompanying you when you prepare for the joining."
Alim nodded. "Alright, What can ya tell me about the joining."
Alistar shrugged. "Honestly nothing, try not to worry about it, It will just distract you." He tried to steer the conversation in another direction, "So I'm curious, have you ever actually encountered darkspawn before."
"Some soldiers were looking at a dead one on the other side of camp," Alim gestured to his right, "outside of that, no."
Alistar grimace. "When I fought my first one I wasn't prepared for how monstrous it was, I can't say I'm looking forward to encountering another."
The blond clasped his armored hands as he tried to raise his mood. "Anyhow, whenever you're ready let's get back to Duncan, I imagine he's eager to get things started."
"Alright, let's go." Alim shrugged.
"Have any questions let me know, otherwise, lead on." The blond pointed down the stair Alim had climbed not even ten minutes before.
'Soon the time will come to shed the cursed blood of those godforsaken beasts.' Alim thought to himself, 'God I'm edgy.'
So this took its time to get put together. On the upside, finally hit ten followers for this story, which has me pumped. Thanks to you lot who favorite and/or follow this story, Feel free to comment.