Chapter 20) The Strategy

Cleon POV


"Cleon, stop squirming," Zaphikel scolded as he held me still. I tried to obey, but it was hard. I couldn't think of why this was important. A hunter just shot things, right? "We're not done with the lesson."

"All right," I muttered, pouting. The other dalen were learning how to run and shoot. Me? I was stuck with these 'strategy games' for some stupid reason.

"…This will help you, and it's best to learn it now."

"Why?"

"Because, Cleon, I don't think the Creators intend for you to be a simple hunter." My pout disappeared at the strange words, and turned into a frown when I noticed the far-off look in his eyes. What was he seeing? "So, I will prepare you for that, as best as I am able, for as long as I can."

"I don't want to be anything but a hunter, though?"

"The Creators will for the best of all, not the best of one. The needs of the few must be taken care of by mortals." That… made my head hurt a little. "Complete this game to satisfaction, and I will show you how to walk the trees."

"Yes, sir!"


When I woke up, I was startled by how… well I felt. I'd thought the whole 'becoming a Warden' thing would leave me feeling… something else? Not as bad as the Taint, but definitely some sort of weight. Instead, though, I felt free. Energized. Capable of practically anything. Like I was racing through the forest after some sort of prey. Was it simply the relief of being able to move and breath without struggling? Or something else? I honestly wasn't sure.

Nevertheless, the elation at being alive and well didn't hide my confusion for long. After all, I was in an unknown bed, in an unknown tent. I assumed I was still at Ostagar, but other than that? I had nothing. Pushing myself up didn't reveal much else. Just that the thing was huge, and that there were a couple of tables beside the cot I was on. Tables filled with books and framed sketches. Peculiar. Where was I?

I glanced around and found, to my relief, I wasn't the only one here. Layla was on a cot next to me, in fact. Nuada and Aiden were also here on their own cots, a little farther away. All asleep, I guessed, though Nuada's back was to me. But… but no one else. Had Ser Jory and Daveth died? …Honestly, I wasn't too surprised by Ser Jory's death. Felt bad about it, but he wasn't committed. Didn't know what he was getting into. But Daveth was a shock. It seemed like simple acceptance wasn't enough. Then what was? How did some people live through it, and other died? Simply the will of the Creators? Of course, if it was that, who was I to make a judgement.

Shaking my head, I picked up one of the books on the table. Art of War, it proclaimed, and, when I opened it, I saw numerous pages marked for ease of going back to re-read. Strategies, all of them, and the book looked like it had been read many, many times. Whose was this?

"That's one of Cailan's favorites." I nearly dropped the damn thing as Nuada rolled over and told me that. When had he woken up?! "Oh, yay, I'm alive," he continued, shakily pushing himself up and completely ignoring my glower. He slumped over for a split second before straightening like it had never happened. Weird shem. "How are you feeling, Cleon?"

"Fantastic," I answered, setting the book down next to a sketch of a pretty woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Who was that? Obviously, someone the sketcher had adored. It was almost as good as the sketch I received of my parents from Hahren Paivel. "Better than ever, actually." And I really couldn't help but grin at how amazing it was.

"That's good to hear." He stretched and pushed himself out of his makeshift bed, carefully stepping around the sleeping Layla to sit next to me. "Ah, so we're in Cailan's tent. That's good to know."

"How can you tell?"

"Cailan refuses to let his sketches out of his sight. He's a bit embarrassed by them, though the rest of us love them." …'His'? Then the one who made this was one…? "That's Anora, by the way." He pointed to the picture that had caught my attention in the first place. "She's his wife, and Uncle Loghain's daughter." Then, this was the queen? They must be quite in love. "The picture next to hers is of Fergus. I don't think you got to meet him, did you?" Only a brief glimpse, and he certainly didn't look as relaxed as he did in the picture then. It was easy, though, to see the family resemblance between the older and younger Cousland. They had similar profiles. "They're best friends, Fergus and Cailan."

"I see," I murmured before picking up another picture. I knew the two in it, but only just. Elspeth and Nuada looked happy in it, and not the strange… whatever they were now. "So, he did one of you two, too?"

"It seems so. That must be a recent one. I haven't seen it before." He smiled softly. "He draws us a lot. Cailan always wanted to be a big brother, and we're the closest he has." Another shem like that walking around? Creators have mercy. "Do you have any other questions?"

"I do." Aiden, having woken up without my noticing, moved to join us as he held out a very stiff looking picture. Strange, compared to the others. They had looked… lifelike. "Who is this, milord?" he asked, handing it to Nuada. "I don't recognize her."

"This is Queen Rowan," Nuada answered easily. He shifted to get more comfortable before continuing. "She died when he was too young to really remember her, so he only has the official portraits to go on." Ah. I could understand that.

"Mmm, wha' are you talkin' abou'?" I smiled as Layla sleepily asked us what was going on. Of course, I jumped to my feet when she rolled off her cot and crashed to the ground. "…Ow…"

"Careful," I scolded, helping her up. She blinked blearily at me, rubbing at her eyes and tugging at her hair. "You're in a tent."

"I see." She yawned widely before looking up at me and smiling brightly. "How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful."

"That is good." She turned her attention to the others. "So, we all…"

"I told you that you'd be fine," Nuada teased, smiling softly as he picked up another picture. I noticed that his eyes actually darkened with a dull pain, and wondered why he didn't try to hide this one. "We're discussing the sketches Cailan made, Layla, to answer your first question."

"Oh, he made these?" She made her way next to Nuada and sat down, looking over his arm. "Wait, who is this?"

"This is Uncle Maric, the previous king. He died five years ago." Oh, so he didn't deny things that happened long ago? Nice to know.

"I thought it was the current king."

"They look a lot alike, but Uncle Maric had more scars."

"I see."

"What about this one?" Aiden asked, pulling one at random. He winced when he caught sight of it, and I wondered why.

However, Nuada's suddenly stiff smile answered that for me before he opened his mouth. "Those are my parents, Aiden," he murmured. He made no move to take the picture, even as he set the other one down. "I distinctly remember you meeting them." Yeah. We did. "That was drawn on their anniversary last year. Those flowers Father is holding are his traditional gift." Oh, please don't tell us that. This was awkward enough. "Mother tells the story often of how Father confessed by giving her a flower, but not actually saying anything because he was too shy and she had to ask Uncle Bryland and Uncle Re-" He stopped suddenly, and his smile faltered, but then it returned twice as bright. The scariest part was that I'd probably had taken it as real, if I hadn't known him. "It's a funny story. Elspeth tells it better, though." Creators, if you could help me figure out why this shemlen was being such an idiot to keep denying what had happened, that would be great.

"What story do I tell better?" Ah, so Elspeth was here now. Carrying two trays, one filled with food, and the other with cups. Both were balanced precariously. "Which one is he going about now?" she asked, not really bothered by all the little movements she had to do to make sure nothing fell. At least she was smiling for once. Small, but there. "It had best not be the one about the boar. I hate that one."

"Yet it is one of Uncle Loghain's favorite stories. It was our first Fereldan hunt, I baited out the boar, you shot it, and neither of us had meant to do either!" He laughed and got up to help his sister, pushing down Aiden when he tried to do the same. "He still can't believe it." As he took the tray, Elspeth seemed to whisper something in his ear and he nodded. "But no, I was talking about how Father confessed to Mother."

And just like that Elspeth's smile disappeared and all that was left was a breathing statue. "I see. Well, perhaps I will tell that tale, later." She set down her tray and stepped away. "Nuada?"

"I'll tell him." Huh? "You go do what you need to do."

"Thank you." She turned and managed a small smile at us. "Please, take your time to recover. Cailan won't be using the tent for a bit, after all, and there is only the battle left for the day." Like it would be that easy. "I will see you all later."

"Farewell!" Layla called as Elspeth left, popping up to help Nuada pass out the drinks and plates. Aiden seemed to almost twitch as he was served, looking distinctly confused and uncomfortable. "Why would the king lend us his tent?"

"We won't be disturbed here," Nuada answered easily, happily tucking into the food as he sat down on the floor. "Wow, this is surprisingly good. Aiden, you should eat. Battle coming up and all. You'll need the energy."

"Ah, yes, milord," Aiden mumbled. He moved a bit stiffly, squirming slightly. What was up with him? "What did she mean by 'tell him'?"

"Cleon and I have been invited to a strategy meeting." What? "That's all."

"He asked an elf?"

"Why not? Cleon is a Dalish, and Cailan wants more opinions and options." Nuada sipped a glass of water, studying the top of the tent. "Uncle Loghain is used to fighting humans, but darkspawn aren't exactly human. I fear Uncle Loghain hasn't quite realized they're not exactly something you can fight off and scare with simple army tactics."

"Do you not have faith in him?"

"I have total faith in my uncle." Yeah, but look at what the last 'uncle' did. "He is a good man, a great soldier, and an even better strategist and tactician." What was the catch? "But Uncle Loghain never read much about the Wardens and darkspawn, or put faith in them. Cailan did." There it was.

"Fine," I sighed, biting into the food. It did taste pretty good, but I was more pleased that I could feed myself. That feeling of paralysis… I wasn't forgetting that anytime soon. "I'll go after we're done eating. But not before." Let them wait. We'd see if they were truly sincere about the help.


A messenger had waited outside the tent for Nuada and me to finish eating to lead us to the area where the last strategy meeting was being held. When we arrived, though, it looked like Shem-King Cailan and Teyrn Loghain were arguing and nothing substantial had happened. Other than making Duncan visibly exasperated, of course.

"Loghain, my decision is final," Shem-King Cailan growled, glaring at the older man. Neither of the arguers had noticed our arrival. "I will stand by the Wardens in this assault." Oh, what sort of stupid decision was that?

"You risk too much, Cailan," Teyrn Loghain sighed. He looked at the end of his patience, and incredibly tired. "The horde is too much for you to be playing hero on the frontlines." Now that was smart. Why not listen to the smart one?

"If that's the case, perhaps we should wait for the Orlesian forces to arrive?" Wait, we had reinforcements? Why weren't we waiting for them?

"I must repeat my protest to your fool notion that we need the Orlesians to help defend ourselves." Never mind about him being the smart one. What sort of idiot turned away help? …Okay, granted, I turned away help because… okay, Creators, you could stop laughing. I got the joke. Didn't change the fact that he was also being an idiot.

"It is not a fool notion." Good, smart one. Wait, no, he was also an… Creators, guide me. They were both smart and stupid, and they were leading this army. "Our arguments with the Orleisans are a thing of the past." I… I had no idea if that was admirable or naïve. "And you will remember who is king." A strange stupid-smart fool of a shem.

"How fortunate Maric did not live to see his own son so willingly hand Fereldan over to us who enslaved us!"

"Actually, Uncle Maric would probably be the first to insist that there be a Fereldan to save," Nuada interrupted. I snickered as the three men jumped and whirled at his voice. Nuada, for his part, looked as good-natured as always. "But if you're so insistent, Uncle Loghain, then our current forces must suffice, yes?"

"Ah, Nuada!" Shem-King Cailan greeted, annoyance disappearing instantly for a warm smile. "And Ser Cleon, a pleasure to see you again." I was pleasantly surprised he didn't ignore me, even if I had been asked for. "Looks like we can get the meeting underway." He waved us closer to the table set up, shifting to make sure everyone had enough room to look. I leaned over it, studied the map, and thought longingly of Zaphikel and his lessons. 'Not a simple hunter', he'd predicted. I wished he were alive for me to tell him he was right. Perhaps Falon'din would allow him to see it. "Duncan? Are your men ready?"

"Yes, they are," Duncan confirmed. He smiled proudly at Nuada and me, before continuing. "All that could make it, at least. Sadly, our forces were scattered to other countries for other duties." Making a small force even smaller. Damn.

"I am not certain trusting old legends will be of much help, Cailan," Teyrn Loghain grumbled. I caught Duncan's fist tighten behind his back, and wondered if this was an old argument. "We must attend to reality."

"One of which is that no Blight has ever been ended without the aid of Wardens," Nuada easily pointed out. His smile widened as Teyrn Loghain turned his glower on him, not the least bit unnerved. "I'd poke holes in Cailan's logic too, but we both know he won't listen." That got Teyrn Loghain to snort softly, and Shem-King Cailan to make a face.

"All right, all right," Shem-King Cailan sighed. "Let's get on with your strategy then." He leaned over the map and pointed at a section. "The Wardens, myself, and the frontline soldiers will draw the forces here." He drew a line at a slightly narrow part of the map. Good place for funneling.

"Yes," Teyrn Loghain agreed. He pointed at small rectangle on the map. "You will alert the Tower when it seems like the majority of the horde has left the forest." Ah. "Lighting it will signal my men to charge and-"

"And flank the darkspawn. Yes, I remember. Between the two forces, we should crush them."

I saw one flaw immediately. Timing. If timing wasn't precise, then the whole thing would fall apart. "You'll need a retreat plan," I noted bluntly, drumming my fingers on the table. "And a messaging system to let the people on the field know about it. Otherwise, everyone is going to die if this goes wrong." Too many. I didn't care how skilled Wardens were supposed to be.

"You'll also need something about making sure the message can reach whoever is in the Tower," Nuada added, frowning slightly. What caused that? My pointing out the flaw? "Really, we just need lots of messengers and redundancies, just in case." No, that wasn't it, then. Why? "Who's already stationed there?"

"A few of my men," Teyrn Loghain answered. "It's not dangerous, but it is vital."

"Your majesty?" A bald man wearing robes similar to Layla's walked up then. "Such things are unnecessary," he informed him. "Our spells-"

"We will not risk the men's lives on your spells, mage," an older woman wearing an elaborate gold and crimson dress. Who was she?

"Right, because you're totally not depending on them for healing and blowing stuff up," I deadpanned, not amused. "Shemlen. Never making sense."

"Don't you dare insult me, you knife-ear-!"

"Cailan, make sure her name gets to me," Nuada interrupted coolly, with a charming smile. A slight chill went down my spine at the sight. The woman's face paled to snow-white. "I intend on reporting her to the Grand Cleric for derogatory statements and interfering with proper strategy during a time of war."

"I see no quarrel in that," Shem-King Cailan agreed easily, not even bothering to acknowledge the woman. "All right, so a mage message. What would work best?" He frowned before turning to Duncan. "Duncan, can you spare Layla?" Huh? "She's obviously skilled." Yeah, but Layla had a small problem with fire.

"I see no reason to not," Duncan answered anyway. I almost balked, but Nuada tapped me on the shoulder and motioned to the map. Frowning, I tried to figure out what he was saying, but it soon clicked. This would get peaceful Layla off the battlefield. Okay, I could agree to that. Just had to let whoever was with her know that she had a fear. "But who should send the message to her?"

"Wynne," Mage Uldred answered easily, smirking at the glowering chantry woman. "It's a basic ability, so anyone can, but it works best with a strong connection. Wynne is well known for being like a mother to little Layla." …Why did I have a feeling he was mocking both 'Wynne' and Layla? "It should work well."

"You'll need someone to guard Layla, then, in case something happens in the ruins," I pointed out. I glanced at Nuada before adding dryly, "Maybe someone who can almost decapitate people with a blasted shield."

"Nuada, did you do that damned trick again?" Teyrn Loghain sighed. Wait, they knew just from… what did he mean 'again'? "Still, I rather like that idea." Wait, no, that was supposed to be a joke. "So, just him-"

"No, we should send Alistair too," Shem-King Cailan interrupted. He and Teyrn Loghain shared a look, but it was the latter looked away first. "Just in case. Those ruins are old. Even if darkspawn aren't going to make it in, the ceiling could give way or something. So, Nuada and Alistair both." Huh? Uh… okay…

"Your majesty, you should consider the possibility of the Archdemon or one of the Vanguard Generals appearing," Duncan spoke up then. He wasn't really paying attention to us, but the forest.

"There have been no signs of dragons in the wilds," Teyrn Loghain dismissed. I frowned at that. What would be a 'sign' of a dragon? "Or of anything stronger than a simple Hurlock alpha." A what?

"Besides, Duncan," Shem-King Cailan began with a cocky grin. "Isn't that what your men are here for?" Okay, too much faith. Too much faith!

"I…" Duncan sighed, bringing his attention back to us. "Yes, your majesty."

"Enough," Teyrn Loghain sighed, pushing himself up from the table. "This plan will suffice. The Wardens will light the beacon after receiving a mage message."

"Thank you, Loghain," Shem-King Cailan murmured. Something in the way he said it made me wonder just what all he was trying to thank the older man for. "Ah, I cannot wait for that glorious moment." Stop with the glorious stuff, you idiot!

"Yes, Cailan…" Teyrn Loghain turned away. "A glorious moment for us all." …Something was wrong. Something was wrong. My instincts were screaming at me, even louder than they did at the eluvian. But I couldn't say anything, because I could only tell something was wrong, not what. And the others were dispersing. The mage was trotting one way. The old woman another. Nuada went to the shem-king, laughing and clapping him over the shoulder as he teased him about something involving a bookshelf. Teyrn Loghain headed for the tower, likely to notify his men. And Duncan walked away, still watching the forest in the distance.

I raced to catch up with him, grateful for the fact I could run, and feel the familiar thump of the movement in my legs. I'd never take it for granted again. "Duncan?" I called. The older man paused and turned, waiting for me to slow to a stop before continuing to walk. "Um…" I debated telling him about the bad feeling, but decided against it. It was too vague. So… "Why did those two agree so easily to Nuada being out of danger? I'd meant it as a joke."

"King Cailan will be out on the frontlines, as is expected of Fereldan's king," Duncan answered slowly, focusing on me. I still thought that was absolutely idiotic and that Teyrn Loghain was right to be exasperated. But the Teyrn was also an idiot to refuse extra help. "Cailan, however, has no children. If something were to happen to the Theirin line, it is most likely the Couslands who will take over. As such, finding an excuse to keep both Nuada and Elspeth out of the fight is politically sound, even if Nuada can no longer inherit anything." Because he was a Warden? "It would've been wise for Fergus too, but I'm sure they'll figure something out for him when he returns from scouting." He sounded uncomfortable, though. Had I missed something?

"And Alistair?"

"I'm afraid I can't say."

Ah, so he didn't know either. Well, maybe it was because Alistair fought with a sword and shield, like Nuada. They could coordinate well. "I see." I sighed heavily, rolling my shoulders. "Well, I guess now we just wait."

"Indeed. Take it while you can. A storm is approaching." Right on cue, thunder rumbled in the distance. "Well, I didn't mean that so literally." I almost laughed, but I couldn't force the mirth. Because of how my instincts still kept screaming, like the minor magic in me had caught sight of something I couldn't see. Couldn't hear. Couldn't touch.

Creators, guide us through this, please. We needed it.


Author's note: So, a bit of a shortish chapter. Cailan sketching is something I thought of randomly, but it's hinted in game that he's very well read, due to his love of adventures and the like. It's also bluntly stated by Flemeth, later, that Loghain severely underestimates the darkspawn, and almost seems to see them as something like a human army (or, at least, that's how I interpreted her words). So, that's where that point of conflict comes from. Then you have Cailan's understandable, but still probably really stupid, decision to be on the frontlines, and for believing that people can so easily swallow past hatred. Basically, I think they're both at fault, and both being understandable idiots. Zaphikel is an OC mentioned in a previous chapter, as Cleon's first hunting teacher. I've mentioned it before, but Cleon has just enough magic to have very good instincts about situations. It showed up before with the eluvian and will be making some more appearances.

Next Chapter – The Calm with Layla (it takes place more or less simultaneously with this chapter)