Lothering's Tears
Lothering:
Vorax, his Mabari; Maskron, Alistair and Morrigan made their way to Lothering after the battle at Ostagar. As they neared the bridge steps down, highwaymen stopped them.
"Good day, travelers! Before you proceed I ask that you pay the toll to enter Lothering." The leader seemed to just smile.
"They are fools to get in our way. I say, teach them a lesson." Morrigan had little patience for people like this. But so did Vorax. Thankfully these highwaymen couldn't see the look of anger Vorax's face was contorted in.
These...thieves were preying on the helpless. Vorax said nothing. The bandit leader tilted his head. "Well, come on now, pay up or we'll take the toll from your corpses." That was all that he needed. Vorax's hand went to his shield and caught the leader in the jaw, sending him to the ground.
"We will pay you nothing." Vorax growled. Seeing the other bandits grabbing their weapons, he bashed a second with his shield. The fight lasted only a few seconds before the bandit leader begged for them to stop.
"Alright! Alright! We surrender! Just let us go!" The highwaymen told the group of what was happening. The refugee's fleeing from the farmlands and a couple of Ash Warriors.
After, Vorax got very very close to the bandit leader. His voice low, but threatening. "Leave this place. Run and never return or your life will be forfeit." Hearing his voice, the bandits gladly ran like the dickens to just get away from the odd knight.
After a few minutes, the three stopped at the steps to Lothering and talked about the treaties. A decision was made to try and gather whatever news they could and then proceed with finding the different groups. Morrigan made a few quips to Alistair which, oddly enough, when Alistair replied caused Vorax to chuckle a bit. If anything listening to these two helped lighten the mood a little. Speaking to a few of the townsfolk, Vorax learned that Ser Bryant was here and in the Chantry. Vorax decided it was time to see his old mentor.
Bryant was talking to a few of his Templars. After, Vorax stepped up. "Ser Bryant. I'm glad to see you well, my old mentor."
Bryant's eyes fixed on the Dark Templar. He smiled. "Andraste's Blood, it's good to see you doing well, Vorax. When the Chantry banned you I grew concerned. What they did to you was wrong. I tried to make the Revered Mother see that you were no threat to anyone but those who followed through with injustice."
Vorax held up his hand. "Worry not, my friend. I did not go without. In fact, only a month after I was recruited by the Grey Wardens." He noticed the frown curling on Bryant's lips.
"You did not hear about what Loghaine said, did you?" The look on Bryant's face said a great deal to Vorax.
"I heard enough to know the Tyern is a liar. The Grey Wardens did not murder the King. Loghaine pulled out when the torch was lit at Ostagar. But it matters not right now. Can the Chantry help the Grey Wardens?" Vorax seemed determined, but he had already known the answer before Bryant could say anything.
Bryant rubbed his forehead. "The best I can do is to not reveal that you are Grey Wardens. It is enough that the Chantry knows you as the Dark Templar. Being a Grey Warden will only complicate things." Ser Bryant frowned in defeat.
"That will be enough, old friend. We will find a way. We always do. I will speak to the Revered Mother here." He placed a hand on his old mentor's shoulder.
Bryant snapped his focus on Vorax. "You do that and you might condemn..."
"For once the Chantry needs to stop seeing black and white on issues like this when the Blight is upon all of us. If she cannot see this, then all of us are doomed to perish. But I thank you for your concern for the others, Ser Bryant." Vorax turned to walk towards the Revered Mother's chambers but stopped and extended his hand. "Bryant, if something happens to us all, I want you to know...thank you...for everything you have done."
Bryant looked at the extended hand and embraced Vorax. "You be careful out there, my boy. You live to defeat these Darkspawn. Make me proud to have trained you. And never forget everything I've have taught you."
Vorax hugged Bryant back. Bryant was the closest thing he had to a father since his time in the Chantry. "I will not forget, ser. I promise. I will never forget."
Before deciding to meet with the Revered Mother, Vorax headed out of the Chantry and towards the tavern. The refugee's watched the dark armored knight move silently through Lothering, his companions talking far more than him. As they entered the tavern, a group of soldiers stepped forward. There was also a ley sister standing off to the side.
"Well look at this, men. It seems we have a Grey Warden here. And on top of that, the Dark Templar. It seems we were lied to." The soldier glared at Vorax.
Leliana stepped forward. "Come now, these are probably just poor souls weary from their travels and seeking a safe place to stay."
Vorax looked slightly at Leliana. For a moment, he...seemed to look at her differently under his helmet. "Thank you for your concern, Sister. But I do not wish for you to be harmed. Please stand back."
Leliana blinked for a moment hearing Vorax's voice, and then composed herself. "You may not need to be protected, but these men will follow their master blindly.
"I am not the blind one! Arrest the Dark Templar. Kill the Sister and any others who get in our way." The soldiers drew their swords. People scattered in the tavern to get away from the fighting.
Vorax equipped his shield but not his greatsword. He caught the leader in the jaw and punched another soldier. Alistair and Morrigan took down two others. The Mabari bit the leg of another. Leliana fought side by side with Vorax. Vorax caught sight of a soldier trying to attack Leliana from behind. He grabbed the soldier and with all his strength threw the soldier through a table. "ENOUGH!" Vorax roared. And enough was all the soldiers could take. The Captain put up his hands, defeated.
"Good. Now we can all stop fighting." Leliana said matter of factly. But Vorax was prepared to tear these guards apart. He was again fighting the essence of the demon in him. He told Leliana that he didn't want the soldiers reporting back to Loghaine. "No! They are no match for you! There is no need to kill them!"
Alistair put his hand on his friend's shoulder. Vorax growled, but lowering his hands, fought back the desire to strike them down. "Give Loghaine a message. Tell him that the Grey Wardens know what he did. That we know the truth and that we will find him." The soldier nodded emphatically and left as quickly. Vorax looked at Leliana, his demeanor now calming quickly. Morrigan noticed this and groaned a bit.
"Those soldiers said you were a Grey Warden, and the Dark Templar. You are battling the Blight and the Darkspawn, no?"
Leliana's forwardness caught him off guard. But he nodded and stated: "Yes, but that usually depends on who you ask. Of course I have never known a Ley Sister of the Chantry to fight as you do, madame."
It took a few minutes for Leliana to catch the words as at times they overlapped in Vorax's voice. But she nodded. "Oui, but I wasn't always a Ley Sister. That is why I'm coming with you."
Vorax blinked. "I am sorry? Why would you..."
"Because the Maker told me to." Her words were so innocent sounding. And she looked honest and innocent as she said it.
"The Maker...could you...elaborate?" This was the first time he ever even heard this kind of thing. The Chantry would not even say the word Maker in the same paragraph as Dark Templar. To the Chantry, he was nearly the same evil as the Darkspawn.
"I know it sounds completely insane. But the Maker gave me a vision, a dream. And I knew that this was the right thing to do, to help you against the Blight." She looked at Vorax. For some reason he couldn't deny her to come along.
"You do know that the Chantry reviles him, don't you? They would consider what you're saying as blasphemy." Alistair quipped to Leliana.
"Who am I to question the Maker's vision?" Leliana asked honestly.
"Very well, sister..." Vorax started to say.
"Leliana." She interrupted.
"Very well, Leliana. We will not turn away help when it is offered. But I am afraid we will need more than prayers." Vorax studied her a moment. Oddly enough, he found her…fascinating.
"Perhaps mother was right and your head was cracked worse than we thought." Morrigan piped in.
Vorax said nothing. But he motioned that they would go back to the Chantry. As they headed out, Vorax caught sight of a Qunari male in a cage. He walked over and looked at him.
"I have nothing more to say to you, human. And I will not entertain your notions further." Stenn said flatly.
"Why are you in there, Qunari?" Vorax's voice caught Stenn off guard. "And what is your name?"
"I am Stenn of the Barrisad. And by the sounds of it, you are the one called the Dark Templar. I am in this cage awaiting my fate."
"The Revered Mother says he was found among a family he murdered." Leliana replied.
"What she says is true." Stenn looked very indifferent.
"If nothing else, you should release him out of mercy alone." Morrigan said.
"Now there's something I never thought I'd hear you say." Alistair replied.
"And I suggest you put Alistair in his place." Morrigan grinned
"Yes, now that is what I expected." Alistair quipped back.
Vorax looked at Stenn, his gaze piercing Stenn's eyes. "Remain here while I speak to the Revered Mother. Perhaps there is a way to atone for what you have done."
The other three just looked at Vorax. They blinked and followed him. He moved steadily. Maybe purposefully...but then again one could never tell with Vorax.
In the Chantry, the Sisters and priests all stopped and watched at Vorax walked into the chambers of the Revered Mother. She turned and saw Vorax. Her expression going almost cold. "Why have you come here, Dark Templar? You know you are not welcome here."
"Yes, I am very aware of this being you and the others constantly remind me." Vorax thought he could go one day without hearing this. But even he knew that was a foolish hope. "But I am not here to cause you the supposed trouble you tell the others I bring with me. I am here as a Grey Warden. And I wish to speak about the Qunari you have locked up."
The Revered Mother paced a bit. "It may have been more merciful to just execute him. But I leave his fate in the hands of the Maker."
Vorax's eyes flashed a bit under his helmet. "I wish him released. He can aid us against the Blight."
The Revered Mother narrowed her eyes. This...reviled knight...was asking for assistance. It was unheard of. It was said he could destroy an army of men with just him and his Revenant alone. All fabrications of course, but could the Revered Mother from Denerim have been wrong? She looked at Leliana. "Sister Leliana, you know your friends more than I. Can his words be trusted?"
"The Qunari could atone for much fighting the Blight. The Maker forgives all his children." Leliana's words were earnest.
"They take the key and go with the Maker's Blessings, all of you." She even looked at Vorax. As they turned to leave, Vorax stopped. He turned and pulled out a pouch full of coins. He looked at it then at the Revered Mother. He tossed it to her. "Fifteen sovereign, Revered Mother. Were there more I could do, I would." He looked down a moment. "For once in my life...I feel helpless to do anything to help these poor souls."
She walked over to him, removing his helmet and touching his cheek. "Bryant was right about you, child. But the Maker will see us to safety. You must go and carry on his will as you know how. We will not forget all that you have done here, even if it was too late for some of us to see. Maker bless you on your path, Vorax."
Vorax smiled and bowed slightly. But his smile was a sad smile. And his eyes showed what he felt. He took his helmet and turned. For one split second, Leliana caught the sadness in his eyes. He put on his helmet and headed towards the door. They moved to where Stenn was and released him. Stenn agreed to help and they all moved towards the outskirts of Lothering. As they did, a Darkspawn patrol ambushed a merchant and his son. But before they could hurt the Dwarves, Vorax moved into action, cutting down on Hurloc while trying to draw the attention of the others away from them. Leliana, Alistair, Morrigan and Stenn attacked. The fight didn't last long and after Bodan thanked their timely rescuers.
Later that day, Vorax looked up and decided it was time to make camp. After dinner...and not a good one at that...Vorax walked off to the side of camp where a tree was. He looked back at the group and moved further out to get a little privacy. His Mabari saw him walking off and followed him. Vorax removed his helmet and lowered his head. Seeing the Darkspawn outside of Lothering only meant one thing. They were advancing and would overtake Lothering very soon. The thought itself haunted his mind and he closed his eyes, trying so hard to fight back tears. Maskron looked up at his master and whined. Seeing his master so sad tore him apart as well. He lay down and whimpered. Unbeknownst to either, Leliana had followed them. She stayed hidden as she watched Vorax. He dropped his helmet and finally broke down. "Maker forgive me. Please forgive me...I want to save them...Why did you curse me? Why?" His dark voice faltering a bit. At times the second dark voice would fade. Leliana covered her mouth as she watched him. Whoever the Chantry made him out to be, the Dark Templar was far from evil. He was compassionate. And right now, he was a broken man. Being strong for his group and the refugees had taken its toll on him. And seeing the Darkspawn only made it worse. He wiped his eyes and looked up towards the heavens. "Father...I am trying...Andraste save me I am trying..." Leliana lowered her head and walked back to the camp quietly. As she got back to the camp, she looked back towards where he was. She looked back and closed her eyes, returning to her tent.
A/N: Ok, so, I decided to give you maybe a few chapters to whet your whistles. I hope you are enjoying the story so far.