Chapter 21) The Calm
Layla POV
Anders sighed next to me as our lessons turned to the weather. Because our magic often involved the natural world, every mage in the circle was required to have at least some basic knowledge in weather patterns. If we did not, we could accidentally trigger a natural disaster. "Boring…" he mumbled, doodling in his book. I peeked at it and stifled a giggle over the kitten he was drawing. It was something he'd dubbed 'ser-pounce-a-lot', and it looked adorable.
"Anders, pay attention!" Wynne scolded from up front. He made a face and I had to stifle another giggle. Wynne, as usual, let him get away with it. "Now then, today we're going to learn about hurricanes. They are a very interesting weather type. Jowan, do you know why?"
"Uh…" Jowan began. He hadn't been paying attention either, and that was probably why Wynne had called on him. "Um…"
"Thank you, Jowan. Please keep your attention on the board." There were snickers, but I reached over to squeeze his hand reassuringly. "Now, hurricanes have what's know as the 'eye of the storm'. A point where, after the chaos, everything is eerily calm. But it's not over. There's still the rest of the storm, and, sometimes, it's even more devastating than the last."
That… sounded terrifying. I was glad I would never see something like that, ever.
"I wonder what they will talk about," I murmured as Aiden and I exited the tent not long after Nuada and Cleon left. "Ah, no, that did not come out right…"
"You're wondering about what strategies," Aiden helpfully interpreted. I smiled as I nodded. "Who's to say? I'm still amazed they'll listen to an elf." I, unfortunately, remained confused as to why that was something astounding. Yes, there were the problems in the Alienage, but… Agh, I could not understand why many treated elves so poorly! Things were so confusing outside of the Tower. "Ah, Mistress Layla, watch out!" He picked me up as a messenger flew past us, carrying a sword. "There we go."
"My apologies, Aiden." Everyone in the camp was moving so quickly. It was… chaotic. I did not like it. A cold and horrible feeling crept down my spine and pooled in my stomach. "I… ah… was not paying attention."
"I noticed." I glanced up at him and saw him as… well… normal as always. It was as if he did not notice anything wrong at all. Was I over-thinking things? "Mistress Layla?"
"I am woolgathering again, am I not?"
"I suppose." He smiled at me, before noticing something in the distance. "Ah, Lady Elspeth!" He rushed to her side, taking a few of the boxes she had been trying ot carry. "Please, allow me."
"Ah, you have my thanks," Elspeth murmured, readily letting go of her burden. She rolled her shoulders with a sigh. But she still looked as calm as ever. "Oh, Layla, is something wrong?"
"I… No, there is not," I mumbled awkwardly, glancing at the ground. I had been staring, but mostly from surprise. Even though I had seen her a few times earlier, the armor she wore looked strange on her. I wondered, briefly, if she was an uncomfortable in it as I was in mine, but it did not seem so. "I am lost in my thoughts."
"Is there anything I can assist you with?"
"I…" Now I had to think of something. "I was wondering how we ended up in the tent." That was not a lie. It had been on my mind.
"Well, you were carried." …That was obvious. "I helped Uncle Duncan and Alistair, in a way."
"In a way, my lady?" Aiden repeated, shifting the boxes so that he could carry them better. I was startled at how easily he held them.
"I recruited two soldiers to help them," she explained. "They were a sister and a brother who Varel had asked to drop something off with the quartermaster. I did not get their names, sadly." Aw… I had hoped to thank them. "But that is a story for another time. Aiden, if you would not mind, those boxes need to head to the kennel at once."
"Of course, my lady."
"Thank you." She stepped away from us. "Well, I shall see you both later, I am sure. However, I must be going to further prepare for the battle."
"Are you going to be on the field, my lady?" He sounded startled. "I would have thought…"
She shook her head. "I will be with Uncle Loghain and his forces, helping to serve as his eyes." Wait, he was not going to be in the battle, then? "I have no doubt, though, that a last minute errand will bring me to the Warden fire before the fight."
"I see. Until then, my lady."
"Safe travel, Aiden."
Elspeth went one way. Aiden went the other. I stayed where I was for a moment, uncertain as to where to go. The bad feeling inside… it would not go away. "Elspeth?" I called, turning to her. I saw her pause and glance back at me. "Might I assist you?" She studied me for a moment, face like stone, before nodding. "My thanks. Now, at least, I would have something to do. I hoped.
Unfortunately, after a while of organizing supplies and weapons, Elspeth instructed me to go find the others and meet up with the Wardens. I truly wished to stay with her instead, as it distracted me of what was to come, but she insisted, so I had no choice. Lost in my nerves as I was, I did not notice the elderly man in silver armor until I almost ran into him.
"Careful there," he told me as I yelped and jumped back. "I imagine running into me would hurt a little." Surely, it would! "You're one of the new Wardens, aren't you?"
"Ah, yes, I am, sir," I mumbled, stepping back to curtsey at him. "My name is Layla Amell, a mage of the Circle."
"Ah, so you're Layla. Heard a little about you." He studied me a little. "Nervous?"
Ah… "Is… is it that obvious?"
"A little."
I sighed, and felt myself slump. "I had hoped I was hiding it well. I have felt out of sorts since arriving." It was as if I was out of place.
He was silent for a moment. "Now, listen to me. Some might claim you're too pretty for a Warden, or too fragile or some other nonsense like that, but don't let anyone tell you that you don't belong here. One of the first Wardens Maric and I met was a woman, and she was perhaps one of the finest warriors I'd ever seen. Still don't believe Duncan's story about how she died in the Deep Roads." I nodded, not really sure what to make of what he said. "And if they're scared just because you're a mage, that's their problem, not yours." He ruffled my hair, and I squeaked, smiling. That was… I rather liked that. It was kind of him to take time to reassure someone, especially a mage. "Well, Duncan has your orders. You're playing an important part, but the people who know you seem to have good faith in your ability to execute it."
"I hope nothing unexpected happens, then," I mumbled, mind racing. I had an important part? But I was… was I truly up for it? "I shall do my best."
"All anyone could ask for." He patted my head once more and walked off, likely to go deal with something for the army.
In a lovely mood, I began to walk around the chaotic camp. I found myself strangely fascinated by the smells. There was a sort of tang that reminded me of the metal work some mages did in the workshops. There was also a strange sharp smell of… well, it smelled like fertilizer for the plants. There was also the smell… well, Aiden had described it as 'wet dog', something prevalent in Fereldan.
Still trying to identify all the scents, I rounded the corner to the mages' encampment and found a smile forcing itself onto my face as I noticed Wynne leaning against one of the few trees in the area, looking like she was about to laugh. I was able to talk to her earlier, before the Joining, but I would welcome the chance to talk to her again. At least, that was my first thought before I noticed she was talking with Nuada… and that he was flirting with her! You… You have got to be kidding me! Why was he flirting with Wynne?! Yes, she was very beautiful, but this was a serious situation!
Huffing, I turned on my heel and stomped off, glowering at the ground and annoyed both at what I had just seen and at myself. It was not until I bumped into something hard and cold that I even thought to look where I was going. "Ow…" I mumbled as I stumbled back, rubbing my nose. I found no injury, but it still hurt.
"Layla, are you all right?" I jerked my head up to see I had run into Commander Duncan. That was… beyond embarrassing. "Layla?"
"I believe my self-esteem is hurt more than anything," I mumbled after a moment. "My apologies, sir."
"Well, this is good timing." Was it? "I was wondering if you'd seen Nuada. I thought him with King Cailan, but when I went to check, he'd already left."
Yeah, He's a little too busy flirting," I muttered. I still was not certain why it aggravated me so much, but it definitely seemed like something he should not be doing!
"I wonder what favor he's asking. Must be private, if he's disguising it like that." He sounded distracted, like he was not really paying attention to what he was saying. "Or maybe he's trying to deny what's going on with Fergus, providing he's heard."
Huh? "Sir?"
He started and shook his head. "Sorry, Layla, thinking aloud." Pardon? "Fergus, however, is over two hours overdue from his patrol." I… I could not think of who that was. "…Fergus is his older brother, Layla. Fergus Cousland. The current Teyrn, now that Bryce is dead."
"…Ah…" Then why was he flirting? His brother… he could be…! "How… how bad are we…?"
"…We lost quite a few soldiers who went with Fergus, so the army isn't anywhere near full strength." Ah… "None of this is helped, of course, by Teyrn Loghain's distrust of us." He sighed heavily. "I have tried explaining to both him and King Cailan some details about Blights and the Wardens, but while King Cailan will eagerly listen, Loghain will not. His distrust of us even has him cutting into what time I can spend with King Cailan, and written messages simply would not work in this scenario."
"Why is that?"
"It involves Warden secrets. I would gladly inform the two of them, but I cannot risk others finding it. Our position is too shaky. If they discover some things, like what we do in the Joining…" He sighed again, running a hand through his hair. He looked so old right now. "The chance of them turning on us is too high to risk during a Blight." He shook his head. "I'm getting too old, rambling like this. Fiona would've hit me in the head by now, knowing her."
"Fiona?" I had never heard of her?
"An old friend, Layla, and one I miss dearly." He smiled softly. "Ah, she'd probably be bullying everyone here. No matter, though. She's still in Weisshaupt, leading investigations on the Architect." I… Weisshaupt, I had read, was the headquarters of the Wardens, located in the Southern Anderfels, but I had no idea who or what 'The Architect' was. "I'm rambling again. Forgive me, Layla, but I have to go and inform my fellows of the strategy. I will give you your briefing by the fire later."
"I… yes, Commander Duncan." What else was there to say? He was already so distracted.
"Thank you." He patted me on the shoulder and smiled apologetically, like he knew I was uncertain, but he had to do this. "I'll make it up to you later, Layla."
"You promise, sir?"
"Yes." His smile was warm, and I managed to smile back. "Take care, Layla, and don't wander to far."
"Yes, sir." He walked off and I slowly meandered to another part of the camp, keeping one eye on the Warden campfire in the center. I wondered if Commander Duncan would organize a little welcoming party or something with the other Wardens after the battle today? We would do something like that in the Tower, when a new mage arrived. It was a way of welcoming them, and trying to make the place seem like home. That would be fun.
"Oh, I see you are up and about." I turned at the voice and came face to face with a… very strange woman. I had never seen a woman so broad and muscled before, nor had I seen a human woman with facial tattoos like her. She had light brown eyes, the color of honey, with ink-black hair tied back in a simple ponytail. Her tattoos, pale red, were two pairs of simple lines down the side of her face, like waves or wings, and they contrasted sharply with the scar running down the left side of her face, right over her eye. Combined with her worn armor and the giant sword on her back, she was strange, and intimidating. "Ah, my apologies. I seem to have startled you," she continued, smiling. It was soft and gentle, a stark contrast to the rest of her. "I am Minerva Hawke, miss. I am one of the people Lady Cousland recruited to help carry you four. Specifically, I am the one who carried you."
Ah! "M-my thanks," I yelped, curtseying in an attempt to hide my embarrassment. Being caught at staring was a horrid thing.
"You are quite welcome, Lady Warden. If I may say so, though, you are quite light for your size." I was? "Of course, most would take that as a compliment, I think. Though, it might have been the… other way around." I giggled. I could not help it. "My apologies, I am-"
"Sister, there you are." A boy walked up, scowling. Based on his features, I hazarded a guess he was related to Miss Hawke. "I've been looking all over for you," he grumbled. "Don't be like Diana and go wandering off."
"Di would cry if she heard that," Miss Hawke chided gently. Her soft smile turned stiff, and I wondered if the two had problems. "Warden Layla, this is my little brother, Carver. He carried the Dalish elf I didn't learn the name of."
I curtseyed to him, smiling in spite of his continued scowl. "It is an honor to meet you," I murmured. "I thank you for taking care of Cleon. He was most ill before the Joining."
"Oh, no problem," Mister Carver answered, looking a bit startled before settling on a grin. It was much nicer than the scowl. "And yeah, I'm the third oldest of the Hawke family. Bethany is younger, but Diana is older. Minerva is the oldest."
Th-that was so many…! "I have not heard of such a large family!"
"It was supposed to be three, but Carver and Bethany decided to be twins," Miss Hawke noted with gentle humor. It made Mister Carver scowl again, though. "So…"
"Well, Layla, when Uncle Duncan asked me to look for you, I wasn't expected you to be in the company of a two fierce warriors." I yelped at Nuada's voice and whirled to glare at him, trying to get my own thoughts straight. Commander Duncan had asked him to find me? How long had I been wandering? "Cleon is right," he noted with a grin, unperturbed. "We need to work on your glaring abilities." …I was sure they were fine. "I understand you two are the ones who helped my sister out?" It took me a second to realize he was addressing Miss Hawke and Mister Carver. "You have my deepest thanks for that."
"So, are you done flirting?" I grumbled as the other two hastily murmured that it was 'no problem.'
"What are you…? Oh, you mean my asking Lady Wynne to check in on Cailan after the fight?" …What? "Yeah, I'm done."
"No, you were flirting."
"Well, that's what it was meant to look like. Some things need to be kept quiet for morale, so please don't raise your voice more." I was keeping quiet. "Now then-"
"You two!" Almost everyone jumped at the commanding tone. I peered around Mister Carver to see the voice belonged to a woman even larger and more muscled than Miss Hawke. Her hair was a bright and beautiful orange color, and it held my attention far more than her face. "You're in General Varel's group, yeah?" she continued more quietly. Miss Hawke and Mister Carver nodded. "They're going to move soon."
"Ah, then it looks like we have to be off," Mistress Hawke murmured. She saluted us. "Luck be with you, Wardens."
"And you," Nuada replied. "I would love to talk once the battle is over."
"You are not flirting with her too!" I protested. Mistress Hawke colored and Mister Carver scowled.
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't flirt with every beautiful woman, Layla." Mistress Hawke's flush darkened. "I would love to simply talk more with the two people who helped carry us."
"Sure, you would."
"Alack, alay, the beauteous Layla doesn't believe me. Oh, woe is me!"
"Did he hit his head or something?" Mister Carver asked dryly. Mistress Hawke was hiding a smile behind her hand, blush cooling slowly.
"I honestly have no idea," I grumbled. "But… do you not have to hurry?"
"Oh, right." He glanced at his sister, who nodded. "Well, be seeing you."
"Farewell." I waved as they walked away, disappearing into the crowd. So, soldiers were moving. Did that mean…?
"If Varel's troops are moving, then we'd better get to the fire," Nuada murmured, crossing his arms and shifting his weight slightly. His words echoed my thoughts. "The battle is about to begin."
As the dread began to pool back in my stomach, I reached up to grab his arm. He started and jerked his head down to face me, but did not say anything. "I am scared," I whispered. Teyrn Loghain's words were a comfort, and Commander Duncan's promise made me hopeful, but with the battle right here… I felt like throwing up or just collapsing.
"…That's okay. Most people are." He gently rested a hand on mine. "I'll keep you and Alistair safe. We're grouped together."
We were? "…Do you promise?"
"Yes, I promise."
Strangely, that helped relieve the fear a little bit. "My thanks."
"It's certainly no trouble to ease a pretty girl's worries." I yelped and whacked him in the arm, flustered beyond belief. He laughed and I grumbled under my breath about idiotic men.
It was only much later, when we arrived at the Warden campfire where the others were waiting, that I realized I had been so busy being embarrassed that I could not even think about being afraid. Had that been his intention?
Author's Notes: All right, we're getting close to the big moment! In here, though, we see some cameos~ Fiona, for those who are curious, is a character who shows up in both The Calling and Asunder, and The Calling ends with her having to lead a party to hunt for the Architect. I have no clue how long that lasted, so I'm assuming it's still going on, despite it being twenty years. (This was written before Inquisition revealed she went to the Tower)
I also use this chapter to explain just why I think Duncan didn't tell Loghain and/or Cailan important details about the Blight. It seemed strange to me, but then I remembered Loghain's distrust and wondered if he'd have even listened, being convinced they're just trying to seize power like they did in the past. And before people ask, yes, Loghain says something like that to female Wardens. It seemed right for him to notice the nervous young girl on the field and try to reassure her.
Next Chapter – The Briefing with Aiden. (So, I might be delaying the inevitable heartbreak and terror for my poor Wardens, and giving some short chapters. Sorry?)
