CHAPTER 5

….

Renee watched from across the camp as Teagan brought Elizabeth a plate of food. This morning Leliana had found several nests filled with eggs and cooked them with left over boar fat drippings, wild onions and two slice of cheese.

"This is so good," Alistair set his plate down.

"It is and it should sustain us until supper," Renee picked up her cup and took a sip.

"It's been a fairly easy trip so far."

"Yes it has," Renee agreed as she watched Elizabeth and Teagan eat.

They had been on the road for nearly three weeks and aside from some Bereskarn, attacking the camp a week ago, the trek back to Redcliffe was going smoothly.

Elizabeth was handling the journey well and did not mind doing the most mundane of tasks when they made camp. She would fetch water, clean clothes, clean up after her dog and Wynne even taught her to sew.

There was only one instance where her noble upgrading had come to the surface. She had the misfortune of having to use their makeshift privy after Oghren had used it. The look on her face said it all. She grabbed a bucket, the shovel and started to dig an area around a secluded area of trees on the other side of camp. Alistair and Teagan eventually finished it and Elizabeth rigged up Wynne's old tent as a privacy screen. Wynne and Leliana both agreed it was nice for the women to have their own place.

Elizabeth got along with the group well and after the first week of eating alone would now join them for meals periodically. While occasionally making small talk, Renee and Wynne noticed she enjoyed listening to the tales people would share. Last night at supper, she had finally shared her own tale of how Duncan had saved her from some spiders and never revealed the incident to her parents. He gave her a lesson on how to deal with spider bites when escorting her back to the path and months later sent the book on wilderness survival to her.

There were times when Elizabeth kept to herself with her dog faithfully by her side and everyone would leave her alone.

"Look at them," Alistair said under his breath. "I'm telling you Teagan likes her."

"Shhh," Renee scolded but still managed a chuckle. "They might hear you."

"They're too busy eating and talking," Alistair laughed.

"You are sweet wanting Teagan to be happy," Renee reached over and caressed his cheek.

"I never told you this but whenever Teagan came to Redcliffe, he'd always check on me. He made sure I had enough food, clothes and even got me toys. A couple of weeks before I was sent away, I overheard him fighting with Eamon and Isolde. He wanted to take me back to Rainesfere. Eamon overruled him saying he needed to concentrate on his bannorn since he was the youngest bann in Ferelden. He is a good man and deserves to some happiness. I just keep thinking about what Zevran said about Elizabeth having a crush on him when she was younger. Fate works in mysterious ways you know. Look at us."

"You are such a romantic," Renee took his hand. "Teagan and Elizabeth both deserve happiness. It is still too soon to assume anything though. If it happens then it will be wonderful for them and if it doesn't, they will at least be friends."

"You are so practical," Alistair teased. "You know I love you but I am looking forward to proving you wrong."

"And I will gladly admit it if the time comes for me to do so," Renee laughed. "Let's finish eating and get cleaned up."

…

"That was delicious," Teagan set his plate on top of the other.

"It was," Elizabeth agreed. "Leliana put the right amount of onions that it was not overpowering."

"This should hold us over for a good awhile."

"In case we get hungry I have a few cookies left from that the farmer's wife gave us when her husband was fixing that horseshoe."

"They were good people. I wish we could have persuaded them to come with us."

"They didn't want to leave their home. It is where they feel safe. All we can do is hope the Blight or civil war does not reach them."

"You gave the woman money," Teagan smiled.

"She told me secretly they had a boat and would use it if they had to so I gave her five sovereign."

"That was very generous," Teagan smiled.

"That was my way of saying thank you for the use of the tub. This traveling has not really bothered me but I have to admit I do miss being able to have a bath."

"There is a lake and a hot spring about twenty five to thirty miles from here. Hopefully it will be safe to make camp there."

"And we will make it safe if it's not. I would love a cool dip in a lake followed by a nice soak in a spring."

"Hopefully it will not come to that. The trip has been remarkably trouble free so far."

"You've fought darkspawn haven't you? Are they as horrible as history describes them?"

"They are horrible beyond description," Teagan shook his head somberly. "We encountered a group of them when we were traveling to Highever. They come in all sizes, look like rotting corpses with fangs and they reek of death. I killed a couple of them and Alistair referred to them as hurlocks. That day stayed with me for a long time and even now it comes to the surface from time to time."

"I'm sorry. I know what it's like to have things… stay with you. I should not have brought it up."

"Beth, you do not have to apologize," Teagan said. "You have the right to know what you will be facing."

"You…called me Beth," Elizabeth looked at him.

"I'm sorry," Teagan apologized. "I just assumed people have referred to you by that name. I meant no offense by it."

"I'm not offended. Nobody has ever called me Beth before. I have always been Elizabeth, Liz….Lizzie…Pup… but never Beth. I like it."

"I'm glad," Teagan smiled.

"I guess we better clean up," Renee stood up and picked up the plates. "Renee will want us on the road soon."

"I'll take down the tents."

"I'm going to wash these plates and then bring back that shirt to Alistair that I sewed for him."

"Another rip?" Teagan chuckled.

"No. Two of the buttons were ready to fall off."

Laughing, he watched her walk over to Leliana as he began to take down the tents.

…..

"This was a wonderful breakfast," Elizabeth reached down and took the plates that were on the ground as Leliana was picking up the pan. "Where does a bard learn to cook?"

"Thank you," Leliana smiled. "I actually learned to cook when I was staying at the chantry in Lothering. Breakfast was the biggest meal of the day and we always had fresh eggs."

"Teagan and I enjoyed them very much and since you did the cooking, I will do the cleaning."
"Thank you," Her eyes widened. "That's very gracious of you."

"You cooked a delicious breakfast it's only fair I reciprocate by cleaning up."

"I appreciate it. There is plenty of hot water in the kettle to use and the pack where they are stored is by the fire too. I guess I will go pack my things."

Leliana lingered for a few moments and watched Elizabeth take all the plates and forks to the kettle before heading to her tent.

….

Alistair looked up just as Elizabeth was walking towards him.

"I finished mending your shirt."

"So you have taken over the sewing duties for Wynne," he grinned and took the shirt. "Thank you. You should know that this likely won't be the only time you will be doing this."

"Wynne told me as much. I took the liberty of reinforcing all the buttons. You must have strong hands. Two more buttons were loose. You must have been so tired and in a hurry to go to sleep that you accidentally pulled those last buttons."

"Um…yes," Alistair blushed slightly and looked around. "I was tired…very tired. Thank you again Liz."

"You're welcome."

Elizabeth turned around and headed back to where Teagan was waiting for her.

….

"I see you gave Alistair that shirt you mended for him," Teagan helped Elizabeth into the wagon.

"And I think I embarrassed him."

"What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything actually. I just mentioned two more buttons were loose and assumed he was in such a hurry to go to bed that he pulled them off and he got really nervous."

"You don't have to say anymore. Alistair was never good at hiding things," Teagan chuckled. "I also once caught them in the woods when we were camping one night."

"Did they see you?"

"No. Thankfully they were so focused on each other that I was able to turn back around."

"He really loves her," Elizabeth remarked as she watched Alistair and Renee share a laugh as he helped her into the wagon.

"Yes and as endearing as it is to witness, it worries me."

"You are concerned because Eamon wants Alistair to claim the throne." Elizabeth looked at him.

"And you know what that means."

"They can't be together."

"It's not my place to intervene. Alistair and Renee deserve to have some joy considering the burden that comes with being Wardens."

"I agree. Life…is too short to take anything for granted. I have to admit…it's comforting to watch them. Alistair reminds me of my brother when he was that age. Fergus loved Orianna so much. It was as if she completed him. Renee has the same effect on him."

"I just wish I could have done more for him when he was still living in Redcliffe. There is going to come a moment when a decision will be made. No matter the outcome, somebody is going to get hurt. I just worry that he has been too sheltered. "

"No wonder my father considered you an honorable man. Unlike most of the nobility you care about people."

"Some would consider that a weakness," Teagan chuckled.

"I don't," Elizabeth looked at him.

"Come on everybody," Renee called. "Let's get a move on."

Teagan looked at her then immediately turned to see Zevran helping Wynne into the wagon.

"Everyone get comfortable," Teagan grabbed the reigns and motioned for his men to ride off ahead.

…..

"You did a wonderful job on Alistair's shirt dear," Wynne smiled.

"Thank you, I actually learned to do embroidery when I was younger and I think that helped."

"Well you are quick learner and I don't remember the last time my sewing kit was so organized."

"Our lovely Warden has a habit of not letting Alistair unbutton his shirts," Zevran remarked.

"Zevran!" Wynne scolded.

"My dear Enchanter, you know I am speaking the truth."

Teagan glanced at Elizabeth and saw she was biting her lip. Unable to hold it in, she burst out laughing. He looked back at Wynne and Zevran and saw they were surprised but smiling nevertheless.

This was the first time Elizabeth really laughed and it was infectious. She caught him grinning at her and smiled.

"I'm sorry. I know it's rude but it is funny."

"It is," Teagan laughed.

"Of course it is," Zevran replied. "You were that age once Teagan. I'm sure you have lost many buttons."

"And thank you so much for calling me old Zevran," Teagan sighed.

He wanted to say more but saw Elizabeth look at him then start to laugh again and he couldn't help but do the same.

"I'm sorry Teagan," She said between chuckles. "The look on your face was priceless."

"It's alright. I'm used to it," He jokingly sighed.

"You are not old Teagan," Elizabeth smiled.

"Thank you Beth," Teagan grinned. "If we survive this Blight I fully intend to live as long as my favorite uncle who lived well until his late nineties."

"I'm sure you will," She grinned.

Elizabeth turned away and he watched gaze at the passing landscape. For those brief moments, she had broken through her sadness and it was wonderful to witness it.

Those moments quickly faded when he saw his men galloping towards them. Renee and Alistair went past him and slowed down for the men.

"What is it?" Teagan called as he reined the horses to stop.

"We found a group of Loghain's men by the road," Ser Perth jumped off his horse. "Some of them were wounded and they dropped their shields when they saw us. They mention another group were hunkered down a few miles away fighting Darkspawn."

"No wonder we were feeling….off," Renee remarked." Did they say how many?"

"They mentioned there were at least thirty and two wielded magic."

"Let's go," Alistair picked up the reins.

"If those men dropped their shields that means the others likely will as well." Renee reached for her staff.

"Ser Perth, you and your men lead the way," Teagan commanded.

"Yes, my lord," He got on his horse and then men went off.

"Zevran will you hand me by bow and quiver," Elizabeth looked at him.

"Of course," He handed each one to her.

"Beth, I know you do not want people coddling you but I really want you to stay as far back as you can," Teagan turned to her.

"Teagan is right Elizabeth," Wynne said gently. "These darkspawn are formidable and the additional background support you will provide will greatly help."

"I did not survive the massacre of my family only to be cut down by the darkspawn," Elizabeth declared. "My brother went to fight and my father never got the chance. It is up to me to fulfill their promise and that is what I intend to do. Now let's go!"

Teagan glanced at Zevran and Wynne, picked up the reins, and proceed to catch up to Alistair and Renee with the other wagons following closely behind.

…

TO BE CONTINUED