Chapter 85) Market
Layla POV
This was the Lowtown market? It looked so… vibrant. People were laughing and dancing. Many were hanging out at this strange place with a strange sign. I crept a little closer to look at it, and saw it was a man hanging upside down. Why?
"Whoa, Layla, what are you doing here?" Gentle hands plucked me up from the ground, and I looked up to see Uncle Gamlen. "You're too young for this place," he chided, easily carrying me back up to Hightown. "Revka is going to blame me for this. I just know it."
"It's really pretty here," I laughed, hugging him. "Can I come back?"
"When you're older, I'll take you, but for now, let's… come up with a story for Revka, okay?"
"Okay!"
The last time I was in the market, I was just listening to rumors. I had been nervous, and hurting over Jowan. This time, though, I was actually shopping. It was all Leliana's fault. She had decided that the girls in the group did not spend enough time with each other, and so dragged us out. She had even tried to bring Shale, who pointed out that she would stick out like a sore thumb. She asked for shiny gems and shoes, though. I had no idea how serious she was, but I was going for it anyway!
"Here, try this on," Elspeth whispered, slipping a bracelet onto my wrist. It was one of those pretty vial/locket ones I had been eyeing. "Yes, that fits."
"But is it not impractical?" I asked back. Though, it was so pretty. "I know we are shopping, but I am a Warden…"
"You are also the lover of a noble, which means his sister gets to spoil you." Hee~ "Besides, you can hide things inside, like a vial of poison."
"Ah, I could maybe fit in some lyrium too." A little burst of power could go a long way.
"See? It is completely practical." Elspeth gave me a warm smile. "Let me buy it for you, then."
"All right… wait, hold on!" But Elspeth had taken the necklace to a merchant, chatting happily with him in what I thought might be Antivan. I guessed she knew him?
"You can talk to my brother about it later, Ignacio," I heard her say as she passed some coin. She had switched back to common, but now I was just even more confused. "I fear the wrath of my friends if I completely switch to working while out." A rich and warm laugh was the only reply, but Elspeth did not seem to mind as she returned and put the bracelet back on my wrist. "There we go."
"There we go," I agreed. I hooked arms with her, just as I used to do with Neria, and we wandered about, looking for our friends. I suppose normally, I could figure out where they were due to some sort of arguing, but there was not any today.
It was difficult to call Morrigan and Wynne friendly, but it was probably the first time in a long while I had not seen them fighting. I think they came over some sort of understand about the Circles, which had been a huge sticking point. Though, Wynne did harp on Morrigan for being harsh. Then again, Morrigan had actually been a little softer lately. It was nice.
It was also hilarious to see Morrigan hide behind Wynne to escape Leliana.
"I found a lovely tailor here," Leliana was saying. Her laugh flitted over the market. "A bit of velvet, and gold embroidery…"
"I would sooner let Alistair dress me!" Morrigan snapped from behind Wynne. Wynne was laughing too, but she did make sure Morrigan was hidden. "I know I told you this."
"Oh, and shoes! We must get matching shoes. Come on, we're shopping together. Let's have fun!"
"I want books, not whatever you're going to foist on me!"
"What about a necklace?" Elspeth asked, easily diffusing the laughing… well, I suppose this was an argument, but it was too much fun. "Here, I picked this up, thinking you might like it." She hooked a gold amulet necklace around Morrigan's neck. "It's made by some smiths from Orzammar, so it will last quite some time." Morrigan looked rather touched by the necklace, and I made a note to tell Cleon. Maybe he would want to buy her things while we were here. "I also found some alcohol for Oghren, some paintings for Sten, some runestones for Alistair…"
"Plus some bones for Eoin!" I added, laughing. That had been a fun stop. "Oh, look! There are some gems for Shale!" We simply had to buy some. "Anyone have an idea of something Zevran might like?"
"Leather," Leliana immediately replied. "Good, Antivan leather." There were some leather shops not far away. "Wynne, do you want anything? I'll buy."
"Well, if you don't mind indulging an old woman…" Wynne began. She was still laughing. "I wouldn't mind a copy of The Rose of Orlais." Oh, that was one of Wynne's favorites. Did it get destroyed in the Circle?
"That… that is a very smutty romance novel." It was… it was what?
"Well, yes." Wynne smiled, completely unrepentant. "I think this may surprise you, but I was young once. I do not recommend trying what they did in Chapter twenty, by the way. It breaks hips."
"A mental image we certainly all needed," Morrigan deadpanned. It made us all laugh. "Regardless, there is a book stall. Layla?"
"Yes, let us go!" I agreed, giggling. "Leliana, maybe you can take Elspeth to that tailor?" Elspeth immediately made a face, but nodded when Leliana's eyes lit up. "Let us meet a bit later, okay?"
This was fun! I liked having fun.
When we returned from the Market, it was obvious something had happened in our absence. The whole mood of the estate was quiet and dark. The servants picked up our purchases and all but shoved us into a back room, where the others were. They were tense and silent, clearly waiting for us, and all eyes focused on us as we entered the room.
"Hope you all enjoyed your market trip, because things just got serious," Alistair deadpanned. Still, he spared a smile for us. "You all did have fun, right?"
"Yes, we did," I confirmed. I moved to stand between Nuada and Cleon, just automatically taking a place at the 'center' of attention. Leliana slipped into the shadows with Zevran, watching closely. Elspeth urged Wynne to sit by Alistair and stood behind her. Morrigan stood by Sten, perhaps recognizing that this was not a time to curl into Cleon. "But what happened?" I certainly was not having fun now.
"Erlina, one of Anora's handmaidens, showed up here, and asked for help," Nuada answered. Elspeth immediately got a skeptical look. "I know; Anora's trying to play us. But I think she is actually in a lot of danger. Howe has her." …Oh, that did not sound good.
"How did she even get captured?"
"According to Erlina, Anora visited Howe to demand answers about what was going on, and was promptly locked up." Nuada sighed, facepalming. I noticed he was careful to make sure only his blind eye was covered. "I don't know if she planned for that, to play on the damsel in distress cliché to gain sympathy, or if she expected Howe to be cowed, and now she's trying to spin things to her advantage." Belatedly, he signed for Cleon, who soon nodded. "Regardless…"
"…Is it possible she is simply asking for help?"
"It's Anora." I take it that is a 'no' then. "Anora would fit in well with Orlais."
"Regardless of the reasons why, we do have to do something," Elspeth murmured. I could see the wheels spinning in their heads. If there was ever a doubt that this is what they spent their whole lives doing… well, I think it was resolved now. "Truthfully, Anora is a greater asset to Loghain and Howe dead. Her death can be pinned on one of us, and that becomes one more obstacle that must be overcome in order to get the soldiers needed to combat the Blight."
"We Wardens might be able to get away with it, but Eamon and Alistair wouldn't," Aiden replied, catching the thread. My head was spinning a little. "Yes, it is not a risk we can afford. Not when the Archdemon is nipping at our heels."
"And why not call on these guards?" Sten asked. He looked exasperated, and I certainly did not blame him. "Is that not their job?"
"Howe is a coward who took Highever in ambush, and you attacks defenseless elves for fear of 'riots'. The first sign of trouble, Anora is killed, and he makes up whatever lie he wants. And no matter how stupid of one it is, it will have to be actively disproven." Sten nodded reluctantly. I had a feeling he would be asking about this later. "So, we need a small group to head in. I'll be going." The whole room froze. "I know the estate and, more importantly, I know a servants' entrance. I used it last time." That… was right… he had been in there before. Cleon and I had waited for him. It felt so long ago.
"I'll be heading in as well," Nuada added. The room froze again, somehow. "Out of all of us, Anora only knows Elspeth and me, meaning that she'll be more amiable if one of us goes. But Elspeth has work out here." Elspeth nodded to confirm it. Unlike the rest of us, she looked completely unsurprised. "Besides, no offense to anyone here, but after what Howe has done to Highever and the Alienage, you are not denying Aiden and me the chance to screw him over." I could see in his eyes, too, that he hoped to actually kill Howe. He just… Anora was the priority, and he was sane enough to recognize it. "Small group means two others."
"Then let me come along," Wynne volunteered. She laughed off the incredulous looks. "Oh, no one is going to expect a little old lady to be a threat, so I would be a good distraction. It is also possible Queen Anora is injured." Yes, but if that was the case- "It would be better for Layla to be a back-up. There are still threats outside the walls, and she is more useful in a direct fight." That… "So, let me take up one of the slots."
"And I'll take the last one," Leliana declared. Her eyes were fierce and certain. "I was held captive there once." She was? When was this?! "Though the priority is Anora, there is an extensive dungeon underneath. I know the way in. If he has the gall to hold a queen prisoner, then perhaps there are some other important guests in the cells. Guests you can win." A-ah… I did not like this. I did not like this at all. I had… so many bad feelings about this.
But none of that mattered. The four were certain, and though there was more debating, it was clear they would not be dissuaded. We had no choice but to let them go.
Leliana and Wynne were the first to leave, too fast for me to catch them. When Nuada tried to follow them, I caught him by the arm. I could not find the words to properly convey how, and why, I was worried, but I think he got it anyway. He kissed my forehead, and then my cheek. In those kisses, I heard the unsaid words: 'I will be fine. We will both be fine. Trust us.' Then he was gone.
Aiden ruffled my hair as he passed, and in his gentle eyes, I saw similar reassurances. 'It will be okay. Trust us.' But I also saw the words: 'You and Cleon are in charge', and they just made me want to vomit. It was a warning. If something went wrong, Cleon and I would have to continue, and we would have to leave them behind. But before I could protest, he was gone too.
I ran to a nearby window, one with a view of the courtyard, and I watched them all leave. But all too soon, they were out of my sight, and I could only wait and pray.
I hoped that this time, my prayers would be answered.
Author's Notes: So, I think the group has had a long enough break; let's get the plot rolling again. I did not have Erlina feature, mostly to save on conversation people. She's resting in a guest room during all of this. The market scene has some references to party conversations, and to the gifts you can give companions.
Next Chapter – Rescue the Queen with Aiden
