'Lothering, pretty as a picture, a village full of bandits, refuges, and oh yes, one remarkable woman by the name of Alexandra.' Alistair found himself thinking as his fellow Grey Warden lead them into the village. Right from the beginning, Alexandra seemed to be so sure in her convictions on doing the right thing that she didn't even hesitate in suggesting the bandits have to be taken into custody, even after learning templars were ones in charge of the village. Alistair was surprised as he knew it was no secret that Circle mages often did harbor resentment and animosity to those watching over them.
Yet, she didn't seem to fit into that mold, or any mold he tried to put her in. She was forever doing things that surprised him, like killing the ogre to save him without even thinking. She seemed to so naturally to take everything in stride, even when the bandits refused to be taken in and attacked. It was an honor to fight at her side almost as much as...Alistair paused. He couldn't even bring himself to say his former mentor's name. He had been silent the whole way up here for just that reason. It was just too painful when he remembered him especially because he would have given his life to have been by his side in Ostagar. Maybe then things would have happened differently.
'Yes, you would be dead and Alexandra would have been left alone to defend against the Blight.' A thought crept up in his mind to make him regret even thinking of such a thing. He was alive and Alexandra needed him as much as he needed her. She didn't know anything about the Grey Wardens or anything beyond what she learned of other lands at the Circle. He would be at least helpful to her in respect. That thought cleared away his previous sadness as they walked down the ramp into Lothering.
Ignoring Morrigan's comments and her major lack of empathy to what he was going through, Alistair finally took the time to speak up about deciding where they should go next. As he spoke, he watched Alexandra's gaze, which never left him, as she listened and asked questions of her own. He offered up all the information he could and he could almost see the wheels turning in her mind, thinking. Scarcely a minute pasted since he finished before he heard Alexandra say, "I'm ready to get going." He didn't know why those five little words gave him such a boost of confidence but they did. He knew from the determined look in her eye, she already had a plan and if she had a plan, then he and Ferelden would be in hands.
Alistair watched amazed as she lead them further into the village, apparently not being content enough to just figure out what they were going next...No, not Alexandra. She still had to go out of her way to help those they met along the way to the Chantry: A robbed elven family, a little lost boy, unknown requests taken down from the board to do later. No one and nothing seemed out of the realm of escaping her notice and her innate desire to help those less fortunate then her.
As they came upon the Chasind man yelling in front of Chantry, Alistair knew she was going to try to figure out the situation and try to calm everything down. He was right as the man spotted them and he began to include Alexandra in his rant about the darkspawn. Alexandra stayed calm and even showed some pity for the man letting him explain what happened. Alistair crossed his arms, not sure that this time that would be the best choice of words especially after being compared to darkspawn's evil. It surprisingly worked in Alexandra's favor as she even went the extra mile to be convincing enough to soothe the other men's fears that the Chasind man had stirred up.
He couldn't believe he had doubted her ways as they entered the Chantry. The Chasind was dead wrong when said she was filled with darkness, all Alistair could see was that she was filled with light being so warm, gentle, and beautiful. Even in the mist of terrible blight that threaten to consume all of Ferelden and the more bad news fell on them from Ser Bryant, Ser Donall, and the Revered Mother in the Chantry, she remained steadfast that someway, somehow, they were going to make this work.
Alexandra had noticed Alistair had stayed quiet for quite a while even after they left the Chantry and crossed the bridge to the other side of the village. She wondered if his silence had to do with him, still dealing with Duncan's death or maybe the new news of Arl Eamon's strange illness that scattered the Redcliff Knights looking for a lost healing relic. Alistair did seem to more familiar with the Arl and the Knights of Redcliff, much more than what she would expect from someone raised in the Chantry before being recruiting straight into the Grey Wardens. The more she seemed to learn about him the more questions she begun to bring about a certain templar and she would have to ask when she got a chance. She added those to the one question that he had still not answered her.
That all went out of her mind as they entered Dane's Refuge and right into a confrontation with two of Loghain's men. Loghain, just knowing that they were attached to that traitorous man was more than enough to summon a small ball of flame in Alexandra's hand, unconsciously. She quickly extinguished by closing her hand as she saw a Chantry Sister approach them. She blinked and suddenly Alexandra wasn't seeing the red-haired woman, but a blonde-haired woman looking at her so crushed. She had looked that way right before the templar dragged her away to Agozar, the mage's prison. It was her former friend's girlfriend, Lily.
She felt the familiar anger bubbling up inside her, as burning hot as drinking the blood at the Joining all over again. How could Jowan do that to them? Lily was problem dead or dying in prison, while Alexandra was still alive, but her fate wasn't any less grim being one of the only two who could stand between the Blight and Ferelden. And where was he? He was probably living on that farm away from everyone just like he wanted, only without Lily. The templars would have an impossible time in catching him since Alexandra had helped destroy his phylactery, a decision she regretted more then anything.
That anger at Jowan suddenly turned onto those men in front of her. They were here, he was not, and it was as simple as that. They were within her range and could easily be wiped out with one fire spell. Her thoughts were egging her on, wanting for her to lash out and take on the unfortunate souls that had no idea she was not in the mood to be threaten. She was going to do it too, until she caught Alistair worried look out of the corner her eye. She had taken too long to say anything and that was unlike her, he had picked up on it.
"What makes you think we're traitor?" She practically had force her lips to say to keep her overwhelming anger from spilling out. She knew the answer to question she asked anyway and the sister just confirmed that. At least the men didn't seem swayed from their attention and Alexandra did get the fight she wanted. It was just over so soon because as the commander got closer to grave injury, he surrendered. A cold thought flashed through her mind knowing how easily she could kill them and it would all be justified since they attack her first.
'Justification doesn't always mean justice, little one.' A deep voice spoke in her mind stopping her train of thoughts faster then hitting the emergency break. It was a voice she hadn't heard in a long time, one belonging to her father. All previous thoughts vanished from her head as she became more aware of the situation around her. These men didn't do anything but choose to be loyal to the wrong man. She gained nothing in killing them other then more blood on her hands.
She settled for allowing the commander to take a message to Loghain and letting him know that the surviving Wardens knew the truth about Ostagar. Everyone seemed please with her decision especially the commander who fled the tavern immediately. The Sister, who introduced herself as Leliana eventually, was clearly devoted to the Maker and offered to join the party to fight the Blight once Alexandra didn't deny the fact that she was a Grey Warden, of course.
Alexandra accepted the offer and allowed her to join. So Leliana was a bit...different in her ideals and maybe her sanity as well. Alexandra, herself, almost set fire to the whole tavern just because of anger to someone who wasn't even present at the area. She knew that is not a particular sane thing that people do when they get angry. Weren't they all a little insane trying to stop the Blight with such a small group anyway? Leliana would fit right in among the cast of a sarcastic apostate, a mourning templar, a protective mabari, and a sometimes thoughtless mage; she so happened to call a party.
Morrigan was only one that seemed to be against the idea of including the rogue into the party even before they exited Dane's Refuge. Alexandra assumed the reason behind the disapproval was because Leliana once belonged to the Chantry, a place that abhorred apostates just as much as apostates despised them. Rather then risk Morrigan doing or saying something that would immediately cause Leliana to leave, Alexandra suggested that Morrigan wait for them by imperial highway exit. They had to still finish up side quests that still needed to be done before the left for their next destination, which Alexandra already decided was Denerim.
Morrigan agreed, just not happily as she made a quick quip. She took only a small jab at all of them before she stormed away, out of the village. "Is it me? Or does everyone think the Maker added too much spice when he created that mage, and not enough of the sugar and everything nice?" Leliana asked as she watched Morrigan walk away. Alistair and Alexandra exchange a knowing glance trying to hold their laughter. "Surely you jest as I have no idea what you're talking about, pretty lady. That is Morrigan being nice." Alistair answered. "Yes, Morrigan can get a lot worse if she wanted to." Alexandra said after him to which Argus barked as if in agreement.
Leliana looked confused as the two Wardens could not hold in the laughter any longer. These two Grey Wardens were not anything like she expected them to be. She pictured the Wardens to be more strict and stern like the Revered Mother or the Templar commanders. However, these two were making jokes and having fun even amiss all the suffering and tragedy happening because of the Blight. She didn't know how she felt about that yet. The Wardens at least seemed to be in agreement with each other, Alexandra being more serious and Alistair being more light-hearted of the pair.
They complimented each other well, a little too well. It made Leliana wonder if there was something more going on between the Wardens other then being concerned with ending the Blight. She would have asked but Alexandra was back to being serious again as their laughter died down. She suggested that they head out of the village and find the bandits mention on the Chantry board. When Alexandra commanded something, everyone seemed to listen without question Leliana noticed right away, and she didn't even have to be forceful for her to get them to follow willingly.
No matter what Leliana might or might not have questioned about Alexandra's attitude or commitment to the cause, she knew unquestioning loyalty without fear meant that she was a good leader. As Alistair and Argus fell back into their place behind their leader, Leliana did as well. This time more pleased that she had been taken along by this capable, and cute, woman. Leliana watched as Alexandra lead them out of the village, but then stopped suddenly which made all those behind her stop as well.
Alistair, Argus, and Leliana followed her gaze and much to all their surprise found a rather tall man in the cage. As the group approached the cage, Leliana could not help but feel sorry for him being left out there to die. The Revered Mother said he was a murderer, but leaving him out there did not seem as merciful or be any indication that's what the Maker would have called to be his punishment. She always thought it was not man who should decide what punishment is fitting for a person but the Maker's.
Alexandra seemed to agree with her on some level as Leliana heard her offer to try to release him in exchange for helping defeat the Blight. This mage had more sense in her head then the apostate mage. Leliana could safely assume that was because of Alexandra's manners and overall demeanor meant she was raised in the strict rules of the Tower unlike Morrigan, who apparent lack of social graces usually came with a life lived outside of society and its restrictions. So, Leliana was more than happy to help free the Qunari prisoner by convincing the Revered Mother on Alexandra's behalf and also asked for the Revered Mother's approval in allowing Leliana to travel with the Grey Wardens. After a bit of convincing on all their parts, both requests were granted.
The Qunari man waited in the cage and assumed by the long time the Wardens were taking that he was stuck there for more days on end. The woman...Warden, he even hesitated to use that word for her, had showed him manners he had not expected from this land of Ferelden. He introduced himself with his title, Sten, rather then his name as it was custom to do at all times, being a rule of the Qunari people. He had worked hard to get his title. He took pride in having it. Had the Warden worked hard to get hers? He thought not.
'A Warden and a woman, hmph, impossible.' Sten thought taking up his familiar pastime of playing I-spy. He had heard tales of the legendary Grey Wardens and their great skill in battle. The magic woman barely looked like she could hold a sword, let alone swing it to do any damaged at all. So she could use a staff. Staves were useless to the Qunari, who lived by the sword they carried and would die valiantly beside it. What good would a staff do when an army of enemies charged toward her? She would do better waving a small stick at them and be more thought more threatening.
What of the ones that allow her to lead? The other woman with the religious robes on, she seemed more able to fight, but he did not put much confidence in her skill either on the battlefield. She at least carried a sword, yet she was still a woman which muted its and her usefulness. Then there was the man who also followed behind the mage when he could be leading. He seemed strong and capable but he willingly handed over the reigns to a woman to command him. It was shameful among the group of four only the mabari hound seemed to be the best fighter and most worthy of his respect.
Sten's thoughts stopped as he heard people approaching them. It was the mage Warden and her companions. She freed him and as he said, he stuck to his word by agreeing to help put an end to the Blight. He stepped out from the cage, more then happy to be free of his confines only to find three faces and a dog's mug looking at him expectantly. "What is that you want? You have set me free, so let us be on with this." Sten stated gruffly with a vague hope that they would not pursue any of their questions about him and his confinement.
"What we want is some answers. You are really not going to tell us why you killed those people?" The mage Warden asked, not backing down. "No." Sten replied flatly. He heard her sigh before deciding she might as well introduce him to the others that followed her, "I am Alexandra. That is Alistair, jokester of our group and a fellow Grey Warden. That is Leliana, who also new to party and a Chantry sister. This is Argus, my fateful mabari hound." As she spoke she gestured to each of her following companions before petting Argus on his head.
"And don't forget Morrigan, even though I would surely like to." Alistair chided in before grinning. Alexandra threw an amused, but disproving look his direction before looking back at Sten. "Morrigan is another mage that's with us. She's...well, I think you better just meet her yourself and find out." Alexandra answered before suggesting that he really should go meet Morrigan while they finished what they had to do. Sten scoffed gruffly and walked off to where this other mage was.
He knew the mage they were talking about when he saw her. Magic wielders were easy to spot even without the staff usually strapped to their back. This one seemed to relish the fact that she was a mage rather then the mage Warden who seemed to be trying to subdue her ability for everyone else's sake. He stopped right next to her without a word of greeting or anything of the sort. "So, she got even a qunari to join her. I suppose even your people have a price..." He heard her mutter, looking up at him with sideways glance.
"A price even you, an unrestrictive mage, seem to willingly paid as well consider you stand beside her." Sten replied looking off into the distance. "'Tis is true, but one never said that it would not eventually put a price on her head as well." Morrigan mused more to herself then to be a response to the qunari who stood beside her. Sten didn't even pretend to feign interest in what she was saying lost in his thoughts. Everyone in Alexandra's party seemed to be so different and yet somehow still willingly to follow her. Why did one human, let alone a mage command attention as if highly regarded by those following her after such a short time? Did she deserved to be worthy of being an equal to what he called a Kadan in his language? He didn't know but he was going to watch Alexandra and see.