Chapter 22) Goodbyes
Aiden POV
"Andraste's ass, I still remember back then!" I barely paid attention as I passed by the men drinking. Normally, someone would complain, but we all recognized them. They were some of the veterans of the rebellion, and often drank to escape their nightmares. "Sitting around a campfire, with mud and twigs as the map! Not to mention the cold and the pain!" One guzzled his ale and managed to drop his mug. His hands shook too much. "Ah…"
"Here." I picked it up and wiped off the mud before handing it back to him. "Maybe you should head inside," I suggested kindly. "Surely it'll be better?"
"Maybe." He waved his hand around my head. I moved towards it when I realized he was trying to figure out which image was actually me. "You a good boy, Aiden. Be careful. Good boys… they always the ones to die."
"I will." It was easy to agree when you knew you'd never leave the Alienage, after all.
As I listened to Master Duncan explain the strategy at the Warden campfire, using pictures drawn in the dirt to help elaborate, I couldn't help but remember the veterans back home. I never thought I'd see the same things as them, but it seemed someone had a sense of irony.
"So, basically, Aiden and I are on the front lines while Alistair, Nuada, and Layla are in the tower," Cleon summarized after Master Duncan gave a lengthy briefing over the plan of action. He smiled wryly. "Only now do I notice how we got split by race. Whoops." I was certain that if he hadn't been part of the planning, he'd be snarking about it. As it was, he simply looked amused.
Warden Alistair, to my surprise, frowned at the orders. "I expected to be in the battle, Duncan," he murmured. "I've six months of training with the Wardens, and more as a Templar." Certainly more than me. "Why…?"
"It was the King's orders, Alistair," Master Duncan answered. Instead of placating Warden Alistair, though, it seemed to darken his mood. "And if the beacon isn't lit, Teyrn Loghain's men will not charge."
"So, three Grey Wardens have to head up and hold the torch."
"Alistair." Alistair's jaw clenched, but he made no more attempts to reply. "It's important."
"Yeah. I get it. Signal is the usual?"
"There will be a normal signal in addition to Senior Enchanter Wynne contacting Layla." Mistress Layla smiled softly and nodded to confirm. "She's already agreed to it. With luck, this plan will work out with minimal complications. If not, I trust you all, but no heroics."
"Just not to the point where you'd argue with the King," Alistair grumbled. At Master Duncan's frown, though, he plastered a smile and shrugged. "I get it, Duncan. I get it. However, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I am drawing the line, darkspawn or no." The… the Remigold? That was a dance that involved quite a bit of kicking and staring… uh…
"I'd pay to see that!" Lord Nuada laughed, the first words out of his mouth since he and Mistress Layla joined us at the fire. "Maybe I'll join you!"
"Well, they'd have to be some pretty dresses."
"Shem'len have some strange ideas," Cleon muttered, just staring at the two jokers debating what sort of dress they'd wear. "Very strange."
"I'll have you know, Cleon, that I look quite fetching in a dress," Lord Nuada declared haughtily. "There are pictures somewhere in the castle that prove it, too!"
"Besides, I nearly went into a career where I'd basically have to walk around in a dress all day," Warden Alistair added with a broad grin. "I had to be able to pull that off."
"That is quite difficult to do," Mistress Layla commented solemnly. Her eyes, however, sparkled with humor. "I have seen many, many templars and mages who could not do so."
"Yeah, there were some guys kicked out of the classes because their legs weren't shapely enough!"
"You have got to be joking," Cleon growled, glowering at them. "That makes no sense, even for shem'len!"
"Weeeeeeeell…~"
Smiling slightly, I noticed Master Duncan shake his head with an exasperated sigh. He made no move, however, to stop their antics, instead watching over them like an indulgent father. Perhaps… "Master Duncan?" I began slowly. I clenched my fists to keep them from shaking. I shouldn't do this. Question an order. A plan set up by human lords. But… "You mentioned King Cailan fighting alongside the Wardens, yes? Is… is that wise?"
"No." Master Duncan's answer was blunt, but not rebuking. "I've tried to dissuade him numerous times. But he insists on it. We Wardens are leading the charge, and he will lead his soldiers, as he believes is expected." That was…
"Oh, relax, Aiden!" Lord Nuada teased, clapping me on the shoulder. I guessed their jokes about the Remigold and dresses were over. "All will go well, and we'll laugh at the injuries we all got. You'll see." One of these days, I would learn if he truly believed the optimistic things he said. It was hard to tell with that smile.
"Injuries are not something to laugh about!" Mistress Layla scolded, pouting up at Lord Nuada. "That is a horrid thing to say!"
"Oh, I can think of an incident that led to a very funny set of injuries."
"Nuada, what are you talking about?" I looked over my shoulder to see Lady Elspeth walk up. She looked as calm as her brother was cheerful. "You really shouldn't laugh at a time like this," she continued, frowning slightly.
"Well, I can't help but laugh at this memory!" Lord Nuada teased, grinning broadly. "Do you remember the hunting accident that resulted in four holes from one arrow?"
"The…!" To my surprise, Lady Elspeth immediately colored and looked away. "Nuada! You are not allowed to tell anyone of that!"
"Come on! It was hilarious!" She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him a short distance away, blush slowly cooling.
"How do you get four holes with one arrow?" I asked rhetorically, trying to figure it out. "That doesn't really make sense." It would, logically, be two entrance and two exit holes, but why would such a thing be amusing? Made no sense.
A snicker caught my attention and I glanced to see Cleon trying desperately to muffle some snickers. At my stare, he tried to explain, "Oh, I think I know. She must've gotten him…!" But Cleon dissolved into laughter too loud to let him continue. Wha…?
"I do not understand it either?" Mistress Layla mumbled with a frown. "No injury is amusing. Cleon, do stop laughing!" Shaking my head, I took a couple of steps closer to the nobles, only to freeze when I realized there was no laughter there. In fact, it looked almost like they were arguing over something. I moved a little closer, wondering what was going on, but then I saw what Lady Elspeth was trying to give Lord Nuada. The Cousland Sword and Shield.
"Those are Fergus's!" Lord Nuada hissed. I only barely heard him from where I was. I wondered what sort of face he wore now. I doubted even he would smile when yelling, but maybe he was. He kept himself angled away from the group, too much for me to tell. "They are not mine!"
"Fergus isn't here," Lady Elspeth retorted bluntly. The embarrassment from earlier was gone, replaced by hard stone and harder eyes. "I can't use them, and they should be in a Cousland's hands."
"You can hold them until the battle is over! Fergus might need a change when he returns."
"Nuada…!" Wait, not hard. Hard eyes didn't glisten. No, she was near tears. "Nuada, I… please?" She looked down at the ground. "Please, we've lost so much already. Uncle Duncan, Cailan, Uncle Loghain, Anora, and you are all that's left of our old lives now." She made no mention of potential survivors. I wondered if she'd written them off. Why? Why not hope a little? "Please, take them. They'll keep your safe until we can meet again."
There was a long moment of silence before Lord Nuada sighed and leaned forward, resting his forehead against his younger sister's. He whispered something, in a language I didn't understand. But she did, and she nodded before handing him the sword and shield. This time, he took them. "You're such a worrier," he teased lightly. She merely smiled slightly, so he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I won't leave you alone until the Calling. That's a promise."
"I promise to not die before you, then." I stepped back then, suddenly very aware of how much I was eavesdropping. Unfortunately, though, I stepped on a twig and it snapped. Both nobles whirled at the noise and I endeavored to look as unassuming and inattentive as possible. Watching the trees and the darkening skies. Rain?
"Aiden." I brought my gaze down at Lord Nuada's gentle call. I avoided looking him in the eye, despite the calm smile. "Do you mind not telling the others about that?" he asked me. I nodded. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, milord," I mumbled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"
"No, it's fine. Both of us… were about to breakdown anyway. We can't afford that." I glanced at his face, and saw his grin widen. "Thank you, Aiden."
"Yes, milord."
"Hey, Alistair!" Lord Nuada called, moving past me. I glanced back and saw Lady Elspeth studying the sky. I wondered if I should go check on her, but decided against it. Instead, I followed Lord Nuada back to the group. "Here!" He tossed the sword and shield he'd been holding over to Alistair, who caught it barely. "See how you like them."
"What about you?" Alistair asked as he carefully checked the new weapons over. He whistled softly at them. "Wow… better than lots of stuff I've seen in the market."
"They're from Uncle Loghain's private stores, so they'd better be good." Lord Nuada shrugged and picked up the Cousland Sword and the Shield of Highever. "I'll be making do with these."
"Making do?" Cleon repeated dryly, bending down to examine them. "I don't know my metals well, but these look like better than 'making do'."
"They're heavier than my normal." Despite the smile, I thought that might've been a lie. "But I've got light duty, so I'll be fine."
"Everyone." Everything froze as Master Duncan reminded us that he was still there. "I must go to the others now," he told us. A small sound at my right made me turn. Lady Elspeth had come up beside me. "Say your goodbyes and head to your positions."
"Duncan!" Warden Alistair called as Master Duncan turned away. "Maker watch over you."
"Maker watch over us all." He glanced over his shoulder to smile at us before walking away, leaving us alone for… for goodbyes.
"Blessed are those who stand before the corrupt and wicked, and do not falter," Layla whispered, clasping her hands together. Of course, she'd pray. "Maker, watch over us as we defend our lands from this scourge. Our enemies are abundant. Many are those who rise up against us. But our faith sustains us; we shall not fear the legion, should they set themselves against us. We shall embrace the light. We shall weather the storm. We shall endure. Blessed be Your name, and may You see us through this trial. So mote it be."
As she finished, though, Cleon whispered, "Mythal, all mothers, Protector of all, watch over us, for the path we tread is perilous. Save us from the darkness, as you did before, and we will sing your name to the heavens." I wouldn't have thought him to be the praying sort. Were all Dalish like that?
"Are you not going to say a prayer?" Lady Elspeth asked me softly as Cleon finished. Her face was stone again, with no traces of the tears from earlier.
I hesitated before shaking my head. "No, milady," I whispered. "I'm not sure if he'll hear me."
"You are like Nuada and me, then."
"I suppose so, milady."
"I thought so."
"Well, with two divine entities watching out for us, I dare say we'll get out of this in one piece!" Lord Nuada laughed. He clasp Cleon and mine's shoulders, and gripped them tightly. "So, we shall see you after the battle?"
"Yes, milord," I murmured. I tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace, so I dropped the action. "Until then."
"And you better not be jinxing us, noble," Cleon grumbled. Despite that, though, he grasped Lord Nuada's opposing shoulder. "Watch out for Layla and Alistair. You see a lot more than you pretend to." Lord Nuada's smile softened a bit as he nodded.
Layla bounded up to give me a hug, one that I returned. "Do try to not get badly injured?" she requested softly, looking up at me. She looked close to tears. "It is quite difficult to stitch wounds together."
"I will do my best," I reassured. She smiled shakily at my words. "You do as well."
"I will be fine. I have two protectors!" She sounded like she was trying to reassure herself more than me. "…Be careful."
"And you." She nodded, rubbed at her eyes, and went to hug Cleon. Likely whisper the same warnings to him. I looked up to Warden Alistair. I wondered how to say goodbye to him, but he smiled and saluted from where he was. I hesitantly copied his movements and he grinned. Yeah, that was probably a good way to say goodbye, for now.
"I will walk part of the way with you and Cleon, Aiden," Lady Elspeth told me. I glanced over and saw a bow and quiver hooked onto her back. Where had she stored them? "Are we ready?"
I looked over at the others, all hesitating at really letting go of each other. Regardless of the words, we all knew this would be rough. Still… "Yeah," I replied. My voice stayed steady, despite the fact that I wanted to shake. Battle, again? Red all over the place… "Cleon."
"On it." Cleon ruffled Mistress Layla's hair, saluted Lord Nuada, and Warden Alistair, and came to my side. "Ready to go," he declared with a grin. Right, he had experience fighting. "Let's do it."
To battle we go, then.
Author's Note: Yes, short chapter, and just basically one long scene at that. Layla's prayer was used previously in chapter 2, while Cleon's is derived from Merrill's prayer in her Act 3 quest. I read somewhere that Remigold was mentioned in the toolkit as being the can-can. While I don't know how 'canon' that information is, the image was too hilarious to pass up!
Next Chapter – The Tower of Ishal with Nuada.
