Chapter 54) To Redcliffe

Aiden POV


Whispers danced over the crowd as I pushed my way through the market to get back to the Alienage. Some were saying 'it's so cute~' while others muttered darkly about Orlesians. Arl Eamon and Arlessa Isolde must be walking through the city again. The gossips always whispered when they did.

I turned a corner and caught of glimpse of them walking arm in arm. Arl Eamon's smile was gentle as he pointed out something, while Arlessa Isolde looked up at him with adoring, sparkling eyes.

Whatever the gossips said, one thing was clear. Despite all the vicious words and glares, they were very much in love. And there was a certain strength in that.


I couldn't fight off my groan as I flopped to the ground, muscles keening. Sten went extra hard during our sparring session today and I was certain my bruises had bruises. And it might've continued if he hadn't decided a patrol should take priority to beating my ass into the ground.

Sighing, I let myself relax and looked around the camp. I immediately focused on Alistair and Cleon, simply because they were across the way. Their signing was rapid, with Cleon frowning and making sharp gestures to show annoyance. To my surprise, though, Alistair wasn't backing down. His gestures were shakier, more timid, but his eyes were determined.

I focused on the signs, trying to read them despite viewing them upside down. I caught the sign for 'Morrigan' and wondered if this was about Cleon's relationship. I had my suspicion confirmed when Cleon angrily signed out that he and Morrigan were just in a 'physical' relationship, a bit of fun and stress relief. I thought there were a little too many lingering looks for that, but whatever helped them sleep at night. Or have sex. Whatever. I just appreciated how they kept the noise to the minimum.

I focused again when I saw Alistair's signs suddenly sharpen. Not to an angry feel, but confident. It took me a minute to translate his signs, though, and it made me smile. 'Look, what you do is… what you do. That's fine. I'm just worried. She has her own agenda, and I'm scared someone will get hurt.'

Cleon blinked slowly before sighing, with a little smile. 'Worrywart', he signed, smile turned affectionate.

'I've lost a lot of friends and family.' Alistair's signs were hesitant again. 'That's all.' Alistair scowled as Cleon reached up and patted his head. 'I know I was raised by dogs, but there's no need to dismiss my thoughts with a pet.'

'Not dismissing. And I'm sure you'd prefer Elspeth petting you anyway.' Alistair turned red enough to make me worry for his health. 'Just trying to reassure. I'll do better next time.'

The conversation might've continued, but Lord Nuada and Zevran bounded up and dragged the two off. Zevran's signing mentioned training, so I wondered if that was what Lord Nuada and Alistair were going to do. But, hadn't Lord Nuada been teaching…?

"Everything hurts…" Mistress Layla whimpered as she plopped down next to me, sprawling out on her back too. "Oh, hey, that cloud looks like a bunny." Now that she mentioned it… "Ugh… why does it hurt?"

"Muscles breaking and reforming or something?" I answered with a little sigh. That was what Sten had said, at least. "I don't know. It just hurts." She sighed in agreement, and I went back to trying to look at the camp. I ended up just focusing on Zevran and Cleon. Zevran chatted with me so much; I actually felt a little out of sorts when he didn't. Weird.

"Yeah…" Mistress Layla sighed again. It was mournful and exasperated, so I made myself roll over to better see what she was looking at. Unless I was mistaken…

"Mad at Lord Nuada again?" She squeaked and, to my surprise, reddened. "Mistress Layla?"

"…" She sighed heavily, covering her face with her arms. "It is probably better to talk about it now. Once we get to Redcliffe, we will be so busy." Okay? "I asked Sten about this, and I like what he said, but I would like your opinion too. When I asked Wynne… well, she made me depressed." Wait, she did? Huh? "What's your take on relationships and romance?" …What.

"Wait, are you in love with Nuada?" She lifted her arms just enough to scowl at me, and I could only stare in shock. "When did that happen?"

"I have no idea." She rested her arms back on her face. "But it happened."

"And you're asking me, and not Cleon, who had a fiancé prior to all of this, because…?"

"Cleon will tease me silly." I couldn't refute that. "So, perhaps when I am a little more secure in the feeling, I will, but right now it is new and a little scary." Ah… "So, what is your opinion?" Hmm…

"Hate to say this, Layla, but I'm not the best person to ask." I sighed and rolled back onto my back. "I've always known I would be arranged to marry someone, a stranger. It's something all city elves do. It brings new blood to Alienages, and helps us keep our race alive."

"That is because the children of an elf and a human is a human." Mistress Layla sounded sad and conflicted. "…Remind me later to tell you something. It is much more secret." Okay?

"Well, yes, you're right." I'd let it go for now. "Now, I know some things. I know the urges and crushes. I figured out a few years ago I was bisexual, for instance. But I never got into a relationship, as I knew it couldn't last." So, what did I think now, when I was no longer bound by that? I hadn't even thought about it. "Are you asking because you used to have relationships and crushes and now don't know if it's proper or not?"

"No, that is not it, exactly." Mistress Layla sighed. "I have only had two crushes, ever." Huh? "One was on Cullen, a templar back at the Tower." That had to be complicated. "The other is Nuada." Right, we established that. "Neria and Anders were always out and about, having fun. Jowan was not nearly as free with his affections, but he would make comments. All three had those sorts of attractions growing up, but I did not. I just never thought of anyone that way." She sighed again. "It was confusing with Cullen, but I at least knew, for a fact, that I could not have a relationship with him." Not without a lot of problems. "But now, I am not so certain?" She growled a little in frustration. "I just do not know."

I didn't reply immediately. Instead, I observed the others in camp. Morrigan and Elspeth were mixing up something, for instance, while Leliana and Wynne were cooking dinner. It wouldn't be long before the watches would be allotted and everyone went to sleep.

"I… think you should wait until after we are done with Redcliffe before deciding," I finally answered. With a groan, I pushed myself up so I could look at her easier. She'd moved her arms enough to give me a curious look. "Maybe the reason why it's all confusing is simply because you're overwhelmed. We just saved Highever, after all, and that's related to a lot of old injuries." She nodded slowly. "So, wait. May the answer will be clearer after we've gone through bunches of chaos again." Undead attacking Redcliffe… likely demons to fight… yeah, chaos. "I think that's the best advice I can give you."

"…I like it better than Wynne's," she murmured with a little smile. She pushed herself up and whimpered. "Ow…"

"You two should make sure to drink water." Both of us looked up as Leliana came over, balancing two cups and a bowl, somehow. I quickly relieved her of the cups and passed one to Mistress Layla. "It'll help your bodies," she explained before crouching down. "Aiden, will you taste this for me?" Huh? "Wynne and I can't tell what's wrong with it." And she came to me? "Please?"

"All right," I answered, taking the bowl and spoon from her. A spoonful later, though, and I figured it out. "Where's the rosemary?"

"That's what it was!" She took back the bowl with a smile. "Ah, thank you so much, Aiden." You're welcome? "Um… there was something else… oh!" She snapped her fingers. "Wynne mentioned we weren't far from the Tower." Oh? …Oh.

"We should check in and make sure it's doing all right." Mistress Layla beamed at me and Leliana smiled. But it wasn't her normal smile. It was softer and warmer. It was… really pretty, actually. She should smile like that more often. "It'll be a good place to break, anyway." If for no other reason than to sit by the lake.

"Very true!" She laughed, and went back to her 'normal' smile. I felt a little put out at the change. "Back to cooking, then!" She darted off and, having nothing to do, I just decided to flop back to the ground.

Mistress Layla did the same. "I still say that cloud looks like a bunny," she declared, pointing this time.

"I agree," I murmured, before pointing to another one. "And that one looks like a mabari."

"Like Eoin!" So, until dinner was ready, Mistress Layla and I acted a little like choreless children and just watched the clouds. It was nice to breath, after so much madness. And we were only walking into more. Willingly.

We were insane. But I doubted I wanted it any other way.


Author's note: Nice little filler chapter, really. (Oh, just to inform, we're… basically at the halfway point of Saga now? A little over? If you're counting chapter numbers? Ahaha?)
For those curious, Layla is demiromantic-demisexual. You may either ask, or look up, what that means. ^^ (So, record-wise: Aiden is bisexual, Nuada is pansexual, Cleon is heterosexual, and Layla is demisexual)

Next chapter – Interlude, Sten