Chapter 47

Leliana decided that she did not like Anora. Though the first words out of her mouth when she met with Eamon was that the Wardens had been captured, she followed it up with how important it was for them to rescue him.

Him. Singular.

Eamon had to remind her that Alistair was also needed before she agreed. She had seemingly forgotten about one of the people who'd rescued her.

Leliana wasn't always given to petty cursing but, as far as she was concerned, Anora was what was best described as a pétasse. Of course, she was being liberal. Anyone else may not have been as kind.

Anora did, however, guess quite correctly that the Wardens would be held at Fort Drakon, an ancient fortress that predated the city of Denerim. It used to be an outpost of the Tevinter Imperium and held the honour of being the tallest as well as the oldest building in the city. Leliana had never been inside it, so she had no clue where within the fortress the Wardens were being held. Fortunately, Morrigan had a solution for that.

She'd given Aedan an enchanted ring, the twin of which she herself wore, and thus she could tell his location. And wherever Aedan was, she said, Alistair would be close by.

It was true. But that still didn't solve the problem of how they'd be getting inside in the first place.

Her bard talents weren't something she often found cause to call upon these days, but Leliana had been doing it an awful lot lately. Stealthily infiltrating the arl's estate, while something she'd done before, had proven to her once and for all that she had an aptitude for that sort of thing.

Some things just don't change, after all.

So she put her mind to work. It didn't take long to come up with a scheme that would work. Convincing Morrigan to join in took some cajoling. She nonetheless agreed, though she wasn't happy about it. She was vocal about it, too.

"You call these... clothes?" she whispered sharply, looking disgustedly at the Chantry robes they both wore. "'Tis both impractical and unflattering."

"Do you want to rescue Aedan or no?"

Morrigan said nothing.

"Thought so," Leliana hissed back as they approached the front gates of the fort. "Now, follow my lead."

"State your business," said one of the guards.

Leliana almost rolled her eyes. "We have come to perform last rites for a condemned prisoner."

"What for?" the guard asked with a tilt of his head. "Mother Augustine is already here."

Leliana exchanged a look with Morrigan. Improvisation was the name of the game, after all.

"Let us pray, sister," she said and got down on one knee, hands clasped before her. Morrigan followed suit, not without some reticence. Leliana only hoped she wouldn't lose her patience and burn everything down.

She needn't have worried.

"Maker," began Morrigan. "Forgive the souls of these godless scum, the poor imbeciles know not what they do. Spare them your wrath, and do not torment them with boils, festering rashes and lesions in their privates."

Though the words were forced, her sarcasm flowed as naturally as a river. It took Leliana a concentrated effort to not burst out laughing, but she was a professional.

"Although they call into question your wish to show compassion to the wicked, do not deprive them of compassion when they are in need..."

"All right, all right!" said the guard, stopping them. He sounded somewhat panicked. "Just... wait over there. I'll go and get the Captain."

"Fate truly has a sense of humour," muttered Morrigan as she rose to her feet. "That tale should have fooled no one."

"Everyone trusts priests. It's only natural."

"If you believe that, you are a bigger fool than those guards." She snapped her attention to the ring. "I... they're close. And getting closer."

Before Leliana could respond, the Captain appeared, hands on hips.

"All right, what's this about?" he asked.

"We have been sent to administer the Chant to the prisoners here," Leliana replied.

The guard captain sighed. "Maker's Breath, how many priests does it take to pray for a handful of wretched criminals?"

She opened her mouth to retort but was cut off.

"None, actually," said Alistair, all smiles as he, Aedan and another person walked out of the door, clad in the uniform of the guards. "Yeah, that prisoner you wanted to Chant? She died just a few moments ago. Choked on too much cheese."

"Ahh. That's unfortunate," said the captain as he rounded upon them. "But the Wardens are all right?"

"Oh, yes. Never better," Alistair replied.

"They were both sleeping soundly," Aedan added.

Leliana's heart palpitated as the captain looked them up and down.

"You're the new recruits, right?" he asked. "Out for your first patrol?"

"Yes, sir," Aedan replied.

"Though if I may, sir, 'Rabbit' is no good as a password," Alistair told the man. "Have you ever considered 'Pie'? Much easier to remember."

The captain chuckled and slapped Alistair's shoulder. "I'll keep that in mind. And since the prisoner is dead, just escort these two back to the Chantry while you're at it. Be careful out there, boys."

"Sir, yes, sir."

Leliana had never been happier to be escorted out of anywhere. When they were a safe distance away, she latched onto Alistair's arm giddily and asked, "How?"

Alistair smiled at her. "Tell you all about it after I get some cheese in my system, okay?"

A/N: That's all, folks. Next instalment, we end this journey. Or would you want DA2 and Inquisition, too? Let me know. Either way, see you next time!