CHAPTER 4: Eyes of Mercy

"Well, here we are. Lothering. Pretty as a painting."

Kallian had to disagree with him. It was peaceful, yes. But not the village she was expecting.

The sky was overcast and Kallian had the feeling they didn't have much time before the downpour. She stepped off the stone bridge and eyed the outline of the chantry sombrely.

"Maker keep us, maker protect us…"

With difficulty, she shoved that memory away from her mind. She didn't want to see it again. But she knew those words would come back to haunt her in her dreams. Kallian dragged her leaden legs down the path toward the village.

The three of them were exhausted from the day's travel, wading through the murky swamps of the Korcari Wilds and arriving at Lothering to receive a bandit's welcome. Kallian's mouth stiffened as the dead face flashed in her head. More blood, more killing.

"Are you sure you can handle that?"

Alistair's voice snapped her back into reality. She frowned at him quizzically and looked down to see the blood seeping through the bandage on her arm.

"I said I'm fine," she said briskly.

For the Maker's sake…

He seemed to sense her exasperation. "Sorry," the other Warden said quickly. "It's just… we've never had a female Warden bef-"

"And I suppose you shems care about female elves?"

Kallian regretted it instantly, but she wasn't able to stop the bitterness lancing through her. She closed her eyes and tried to pull her thoughts away from Denerim.

Alistair looked as though he had been slapped. "I…"

"Forget it," said the elf hoarsely. "I didn't mean that. Let's just…" She took a deep breath. "Let's just get some supplies. Come on, Talon."

The Mabari hound wagged his tail in response, keeping close to her heels.

The four of them entered the village in silence, observing their surroundings absent mindedly. Kallian saw some men arguing with Chantry women on one side and villagers walking the paths grimly. Compared to the Alienage, the houses here were sturdy and clean. Moreover, the air wasn't saturated with the stench of urine or rotting food. But the people looked miserable.

Probably because of the news, she thought, looking around. Sooner or later, the villagers would have to leave the place.

She scanned around for a shop, or a tavern- somewhere that sold general goods. Kallian started at the hand placed on her arm. She frowned up at Alistair.

"Yes?"

"I… I don't know what you went through before all of this… crazy stuff. But we don't all mistreat elves, you know."

Kallian worked her jaw muscles. She knew what he was trying to say… but prejudice wasn't something that could be overcome in a matter of weeks, much less a day. She had spent her whole life hating sh-humans. What she needed was time.

All she could do was nod. "I know."

Thankfully, he left it at that and grew quiet again, knowing he wouldn't elicit anything more.

"So," she started, trying to dilute the hostility in her voice. "What did you want to talk about before the bandits?"

Alistair seemed to brighten a little, his face boyish again. He opened his mouth to speak but the witch forestalled him.

"His navel, I suspect. He certainly has been contemplating it for long enough."

"Oh, I get it. This is the part where we're shocked to discover how you've never had a friend your entire life."

"I can be friendly when I desire to," replied Morrigan in a falsely pleasant tone. "Alas, desiring to be more intelligent does not make it so."

"Anyway," said Alistair, ignoring her and turning to Kallian. "I thought we should talk about where to go, first."

"Alright…" said Kallian, thinking. "What about Arl Eamon? If he's as influential as you say, we need his loyalty first. You seem to know him well… and Redcliffe isn't far from here."

"I agree with you in this," said Morrigan.

"And after that?" asked Alistair.

"Well, I suppose we travel to Orzammar and then west to Denerim. Then finally the Dalish."

"Excellent, then we have a plan."

"One more question," said the elf. "Is there a way to contact the Grey Wardens?"

"Um…" started Alistair. "Unless we leave Ferelden to seek them out, we would have to send word to Weisshaupt fortress. And that's thousands of miles away."

"Well… that's convenient. What's your opinion in this?" Kallian asked, beginning to realize this plan was mostly conducted by her. Aren't you my senior?

"I- well, I don't know where we should go! I'll do whatever you decide."

The elf stared at him.

"Now that is unsurprising," quipped in Morrigan.

"Arl Eamon is a good man, but I don't know for sure he's where we should go. I'm not going to fight about it."

Kallian raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "I wasn't expecting you to fight about it. You're part of the team- we need to hear your opinion."

"Well…" Alistair's eyes suddenly turned shifty. "Alright, Arl Eamon it is then. I can give you directions if you like."

Kallian regarded him strangely but decided to drop it. She nodded. "That would be helpful. But let's stock up in Lothering first. It'll be rough travel for us."

"Then let us be off," said Morrigan, gesturing for her to lead.

Kallian continued down the path, still not understanding what had just occurred.

An elf leading the quest, she thought with a snort. But I suppose stranger things have happened…

She walked past the chantry to the left and scanned the signs. Her eyes locked onto a rickety looking building- an inn.

Better than nothing, she thought, striding over to it with her companions.

"Good thinking. We might find something here," said Alistair from behind.

"Hopefully something we need," the elf muttered as she pushed open the door.

The four of them stepped over the threshold into the dim tavern. It was hot and stuffy, with loud music played by a minstrel in the background. But it was a good deal cleaner than the one in the Alienage. Kallian stiffened as she remembered drinking with her cousins, sometimes falling so drunk they could barely move…

"Well, look what we have here men! I think we've just been blessed," boomed the voice of a dark skinned man.

Kallian's eyes narrowed at the armoured men approaching. Her hand instantly reached for the pommel of her sword.

"Uh-oh. Loghain's men," said Alistair worriedly. "This can't be good."

The other soldier narrowed his eyes. "Didn't we spend all morning looking for a woman by this very description? And everyone said they hadn't seen one."

The leader's eyes gleamed. "It seems we were lied to," he said, cracking his knuckles.

Air in the tavern suddenly seemed to thin out and people looked away- they knew better than to shove their noses into this. Music faded away as the minstrel sensed the tension between the two groups.

Kallian moved forward to meet them.

"Take one more step," she said slowly. "And I promise my blade will be slicing through your jaw to the base of your skull."

"What did you say?" growled the leader, eyes blazing.

Before Kallian could reply, a new voice echoed in the tavern.

"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble."

The trio and the guards turned to the source. It was a lilting, luxurious voice, coloured by an unmistakeable Orlesian accent.

The owner of that voice was equally striking, and Kallian's irritation at being interrupted faded. Instead, she stared. Flaming red hair framed a delicate face, cut short beneath the jaw. Back in the Alienage, long hair was considered the standard of beauty. But this woman pulled it off effortlessly.

Her skin was flawless- white like porcelain. She was garbed in plain chantry robes but carried herself with the poise of a noblewoman. Kallian suddenly felt filthy in her bloodstained armour.

The sister continued. "These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge."

"They're more than that!" the leader snarled. "Now stay out of our way, sister. You protect these traitors, you'll get the same as them," he said, wagging a finger.

His voice jerked her back to reality. Kallian turned murderous eyes on him and he faltered somewhat. "Traitors?" she said, drawing out the word in a low growl. "What are you talking about?"

The sister turned her attention to her. "Teyrn Loghain claims the Grey Wardens betrayed the king, or… haven't you heard?"

The ground beneath her seemed to tilt as the elf registered those words.

A harsh laugh exploded from her. She seemed to be doing this a lot these days. Even Morrigan jumped at the sound.

The raping at Denerim, Ostagar in chaos, Duncan's cold body lying on the earth, Loghain retreating, the whole blasted journey… and now this?

"Is this some kind of joke?" she said finally. "I'm sure your brains were spared at Ostagar," she sneered. "Say it again. That you saw us betray the king. Look at my eyes and say it."

The man's mouth twitched but he drew himself up straight. "We saw it for ourselves."

Kallian laughed disbelievingly. "Then tell me, shems; why are Alistair and I the only Grey Wardens left? Shouldn't we all be alive, basking in the glory of our victory over the king?"

There was a silence.

"Well?"

Loghain's soldiers recovered and glared at her. The leader shook his head. "Enough talk, elf," he spat. "Take the Warden into custody. Kill the sister or anyone-"

He howled as Kallian struck his jaw with the pommel of her sword. There was a sickening crunch and blood dripped from his mouth as he doubled over.

What happened next was a blur in her mind.

Blows were exchanged in the cramped space of the tavern and people screamed everywhere. Kallian took down the first man to her right, kicking him in the chest. He yelped as his helmet banged the table and he broke his neck. The elf sank her blade in his abdomen. He choked as blood welled up and aspirated.

She whirled around and was shocked to see the lay sister landing a flurry of blows on the last soldier, wielding her blades almost artistically. Talon was panting happily at her, his massive bottom sitting on the leader's chest. The man groaned. Kallian walked over to bend down, taking hold of the front of his armour.

"All'ight! Ye've won! I surrender!" he said, covering his bleeding mouth.

"Good. He's learned his lesson and we can all stop fighting now," said the sister, sheathing her daggers. Kallian eyed her weapons. The woman caught her looking and returned the gaze unflinchingly. After a pause, Kallian relented. Whatever her secrets, they were hers alone.

"Not so fast," she said to the man. She slowly wiped her blade on the hem of his cape and moved it to his neck. "Now. Do you still say we are traitors?"

His eyes flashed. "I was there! The Teyrn pulled us out of a trap."

Kallian pressed the sword deeper. Blood trickled down his neck. "The Teyrn killed your king," she hissed. "If you can't even see the truth, there's no point in giving you a merciful death, is there?"

She glared down at him in disgust. "Take a message to Loghain," she snarled.

"W-what do you want to tell'im?"

Kallian brought her blade up over her head dangerously.

"No!" the sister cried out.

The tip of her blade thudded an inch beside his head. He shuddered.

"That the Grey Wardens know exactly what happened at Ostagar."

"I'll tell'im. Right away. Now. Thank you!"

He rolled to his feet and limped quickly out of the tavern.

"That went… well," said Alistair as she stood there silently, sheathing her blade.

The sister approached hesitantly. "I… apologize for interfering…"

Kallian turned to face her, still feeling the drumming in her veins from the rush of combat. She felt numb and weary.

"But I couldn't just sit by and not help," finished the woman.

The sister stood there tall and graceful, waiting for a response. Kallian looked up at her, acutely aware of the differences in their height. Another sh- no, a human.

"No need for an apology," said the elf briskly. "There was trouble and you wanted to end it."

She grimaced inwardly and settled for a better tone. "We… were glad for your help. Forgive me, these are trying times for us," she said, adjusting her gauntlets.

"I am glad you found it in your heart to offer him mercy. Let me introduce myself. I am Leliana, one of the lay sisters of the chantry here in Lothering. Or…I was."

Manners, Kallian, she could hear her mother say.

The elf sighed, wiping the blood on the side of her mouth. "And I am Kallian Tabris."

Leliana nodded. "Those soldiers said you were a Grey Warden. And fighting Darkspawn is what Grey Wardens do, no?"

So what are you trying to say? Thought Kallian impatiently, eyes narrowed.

"Yes, I am a Warden."

"After all that has happened, you will need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming along."

Did she just announce that she's joining us?

Kallian raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You seem to have made the decision yourself. What makes you think we would agree?"

Leliana looked slightly uncomfortable but was utterly confident when she replied: "The Maker told me to."

Excuse me?

"Can you… elaborate?"

"I-I know this must sound absolutely insane- but it's true! I had a dream… a vision!"

"More crazy? I thought we were all full up," muttered Alistair.

Leliana didn't seem to hear him. She gestured at the humans sitting around in the tavern.

"Look at the people here, they are lost in their despair. And this darkness, this chaos will spread. The Maker doesn't want this. What you do, what you are meant to do, is the Maker's work. Let me help."

Kallian regarded her quietly, considering. Her first instinct was to laugh at her.

The Maker's work? A vision?

This woman had clearly been cooped up in the Chantry for too long. Kallian knew if one wanted something badly enough, you could convince yourself into believing a delusion. Back in the Alienage, her father had been Andrastian but Kallian was no devout follower. But as she studied the sister's face, she felt a strange twinge of… something. She couldn't quite put a finger on it but the word closest to describing it would be… destiny.

Moreover, this woman was clearly no damsel in distress- one look at her combat skills told her all she needed to know.

"You're right, sister. We need extra help. But if what you say is true, perhaps your place is here."

"I assure you, I will be of more use to you. There are other sisters in the chantry. I know that I must join you."

"And I can't convince you otherwise?"

"No."

The two stared at each other for a long moment, neither willing to back down. Finally, Kallian realized they were wasting precious time. There was no point in arguing.

She sighed. "Alright. You may join us."

Morrigan turned frosty eyes on her. "Perhaps your skull was cracked worse than mother thought."

Leliana brightened, smiling widely. "Thank you! I appreciate being given this chance. I will not let you down."

Kallian averted her gaze from those blue eyes. They were disturbingly clear- like a mirror that you could lose yourself in if you stared for too long.

"Let's go," she said to the group, already walking to the door.

Fenedhis, Kallian thought grimly. The Warden was already beginning to regret the decision.