The first thing that I'd like to do is apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. I was running into some timing issues that I wanted to take care of before posting. I want to thank everyone that has read, lurked, set favorites and alerts for this: Eva Galana, Rhiannaskye, Kazzyb59, Violet Theirin, and Sarah1281!
I also wanted to send a special thank you to Violet Theirin for taking time out of her busy schedule to deal with a bunch of silly questions and for helping me along when I had issues with bringing this chapter forward! Thank you, M'lady, advice from a master is always appreciated! Also, if you're looking for some primo story-telling please check out and review her Bannhammer tale "The Tangled Web We Weave." You won't regret it!
As always, bioware owns all...thank you for letting me build miniature wardens and mage towers right in the middle of your sandbox.
The sky was already as black as pitch and spun through with stars when they finally emerged from Kinloch Hold. She was bone-tired and the gentle rocking of the small boat that she shared with Sten was threatening to put her straight to sleep. A tendril of fear snaked it's way through her body at the thought and her muscles tensed ready for battle once more.
"Why do you show fear now, human," Sten questioned without looking at her, "the battle is past. Is this the way of your pathetic kind, to show fear after a battle is won?"
She imagined that his features held the same look of contempt for her that they had since she released him from his cage in Lothering, and that thought alone was enough to erase the wicked fingers of fear and have it replaced by her irritation with the qunari. Giant ass, she thought, grimacing at the back of his head. She squared her shoulders off and refused to answer his question. She was beginning to think that she should have left him to rot in the cage they had found him in, but knew that her conscience would never have allowed it. They spent the next fifteen minutes in silence and when the small boat finally docked she scrambled out of it wanting to put as much distance between them as possible.
After putting a little bit of distance between them and Lake Calenhad she led them back to the camp that they had set up the previous night. Her mabari, Arno, greeted them with a happy bark as they entered the small clearing, nearly knocking his master over as he barreled into her legs. She gave him an affectionate pat on the head before retrieving her pack from her tent and heading toward the fire. Stripping her cloak off she placed it on the ground before the crackling flames and took a seat on it. She stared into the dancing fire nibbling the dried fruit and meat she had fished from her pack when Alistair approached and settled down on the ground beside her.
"So, today was different," he began, running his hands through his hair, "but we have secured the support of the magi, that's what is important, I suppose. It's hard to believe that Uldred nearly succeeded in destroying the circle."
She nodded absently, mind going back to the chaos that they had found the tower in that morning. "I know little of blood magic, but had no idea it could be that devastating," Evie replied quietly, "It's not something that my fa – that we ever really talked about." Alistair caught the hitch in her voice and the rephrase in her sentence but did not comment. They had a brief yet strained conversation about the loss of her family in Lothering when she had asked him if he needed to talk about Duncan. He wasn't able to get much from her, but it was enough to discern that it had been a treacherous event brought on by anothers jealousy and that she was in no way ready to face what had happened, much less talk about it with a man she hardly knew. He watched her delicate features contort as her already grey mood turned darker. She moved to take her leave of him but before she could rise he grabbed her wrist.
"Look," he said quietly, "I know this hasn't been easy for you. You've only seen death, destruction and pain since your joining. You haven't gotten a chance to experience the good parts of being a warden. I – I just wanted you to know that it won't always be like this...once this blight is defeated..."
She gently twisted her arm from his grip and gathered up her cloak and pack. Before turning away she met his eyes and her face softened. "Thank you Alistair," she said, offering him a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "You should get some rest, we will begin our journey to Redcliffe in the morning."
Without another word she turned away from him and left him sitting by the fire. She felt his eyes on her back as she silently made her way to her tent and disappeared inside. "It's for the best," she thought as she laid back on her bedroll and stared at the top of the tent, "for every time I end up being close to anyone they end up dying in some horrible way."
Alright...breathing in, breathing out, you're good at this, remember? No need to panic. This will be easy...like plowing through a crowd of hurlocks naked screaming and flailing my hands. The urge to turn and run back the direction they had come from filled her limbs as they crested the hill that looked down on the small village of Redcliffe. The last thing she wanted or needed was yet another reminder of what she had lost over the span of a few months. Yet here that nasty reminder was, rearing it's ugly head in the form of the small wooden cottages that stood in the shadow of Redcliffe Castle.
Wynne, Alistair and Sten started down the grade toward the town but she just couldn't get her feet to cooperate and follow them. How could she when only a year ago she had been in this same place with her now murdered parents feeling pressured to carry out an evening of stuffy noble protocol. That's just it isn't it? You aren't a noble anymore...and this isn't some asinine reception. You are a grey warden now and you are here to ask for aid against the coming blight. Suck it up, Evie and do your damn duty.
Eyes on the ground, she sucked in a deep breath and began her first tentative steps down the hill. See, that was easy...now you just have to keep walking, she thought as she ran headlong into Alistair. Her fellow warden caught her as she stumbled, clutching her small frame to his wide chest with a surprised gasp. She quickly gained her feet again and pushed away from the former templar, embarrassed that she had been so clumsy. Without even looking up at him she mumbled out an apology as she shook her head in disgust.
"I guess I'm not the only one with something on my mind," he chuckled as she glared at his comment. She was not ready to breach the subject on her mind with him. "As it is, I—I have something that I want to talk to you about," he stuttered as he observed her irritated expression.
Relief poured through her, at least he was going to spill his guts instead of asking her to do the same. "What's on your mind, Alistair?" she queried tiredly, cocking her eyebrow up at the templar who now sported a fierce blush.
He shuffled nervously and peered down at his feet as if they had suddenly become intensely interesting. "You know how I told you that my mother was a serving girl at Redcliffe castle that died during my birth and that Arl Eamon raised me? Well...he raised me because my father was King Maric," he blurted out as his face turned an even darker shade of red.
Evelyn shifted uneasily as the news slammed into her like a ton of bricks, she wanted to slap him in the back of the head and call him an idiot for keeping that little detail from her but she figured he had his reasons. It was human nature wasn't it, everyone had their secrets...even her. "So, what you're telling me is that you're not just a bastard, but a royal bastard?" she asked cheekily.
He must have decided that it was safe to take a peek at her then, his whiskey colored eyes finally pried off his shoes to see her hand resting on her hip and a wicked smirk on her face. He sheepishly grinned and started nervously picking at a grommet on his splint mail. "Huh, I should use that line. Look, I wanted to tell you before, but the timing just never seemed right. I mean, how does someone just come out and say that?" he queried, not quite meeting her eyes.
Evelyn nodded, she was all too familiar with trying to avoid all of the complications that came from being of noble birth. "I think I understand," she said quietly.
"You...you do? Ah...yes...well great! Now that's out of the way I can just go back to being some nobody who wasn't lucky enough to die with the rest of the grey wardens!" he declared as he turned to start walking down the hill again. She was still standing there rooted in place as he looked back over his shoulder at her. "Let's get moving."
"As you command...my Prince." she said with a smirk as she hurried to catch up with him. The back of his neck and ears turned scarlet as soon as the snarky comment left her mouth and she laughed aloud once she saw the look of horror that crossed his face.
"Greaaat. I can see that I'm going to regret this," he groaned as she continued to giggle at him.
The group had just reached the bridge that would take them back up the hillside to Redcliffe Castle when a young man in tattered armor approached them from the village path. He hurried up to them and launched himself into an introduction then explained to them that the village was coming under attack nightly. The news appalled everyone in the group except for the ever-stoic Sten and they agreed to be taken to the town's Chantry to meet with the person that was organizing the defense of the village. Thomas, as he said his name was, seemed relieved that the small group was willing to assist them.
"Bann Teagan will want to see you all right away," he said as he rushed them down the narrow path.
Evelyn stopped dead in her tracks. "W-wait...who?" she stammered as her legs refused to move again.
Alistair had stopped as well. "Bann Teagan Guerrin," he questioned the man, "brother to the Arl?"
Thomas confirmed this with a quick nod of his head and set off at a quick pace again. Seeing that Evie had no intention of moving Alistair grabbed her upper arm and began to drag her with him down the hillside in pursuit of the man. Her mind still screaming, she jerked from his grasp and glared at him but kept up the pace. Her heart had been in her throat since Thomas had mentioned Teagan's name, and now as they neared the Redcliffe Chantry she was fairly certain that it might choke her. She broke out into a clammy sweat as Alistair looked back at her with a look that showed he was equal parts concerned and confused by her reaction. She didn't even seem to notice. Her thoughts were scattered wildly, she probably couldn't even remember left from right, but her body kept gravitating toward him, knowing that each step forward would bring him closer.
She wanted to scream his name and run to him as soon as she saw him at the front of the chantry...her life had changed so much since they had last seen each other. That night of talking and dancing that they shared seemed like it had been over a decade ago instead of a scant year. The sight of his familiar shape begged her feet to move faster, she needed to be closer, to touch him...to make sure he was real. Then it hit her, she would have to tell him about her family...she would have to see the sorrow in his eyes and hear his condolences. No! I can't...I'm not ready for this. As her panic rose she stepped cautiously behind Sten and pulled the hood on her cloak up. Not yet.
Their party came to a standstill as their guide called out to the Bann. "My Lord?"
Teagan's eyes drifted over the group without really seeing them and settled on the younger man.
"Thomas, wasn't it," he queried in an overly tired voice, "Thank you for showing our guests here. Would you be so kind as to check in with Murdoc?" Thomas gave the Bann a quick nod and bow before hurrying back out of the heavy chantry door.
Teagan's brows furrowed as he spoke to the group before him, eyes resting solely on the bronze giant that nearly blocked the rest of the visitors from view.
"I am Teagan Guerrin, Bann of Rainesfere, and brother to the Arl of Redcliffe. I am coordinating the effort to secure the village from the monsters that have been attacking nightly. Judging by your armor and weaponry I will assume that you are not ordinary travelers – what brings you to Redcliffe?" His eyes still lingered on the qunari as he finished his greeting.
The former templar was the first to speak up. "Bann Teagan, I believe the last time you saw me I was very young...and covered in mud," he said, stepping around Sten so the man could see him better. Teagan seemed to mill this statement around in his head for a moment, but then his eyes lit up and surprise and delight filled his tired features.
"Alistair," he exclaimed in disbelief, "but I thought that you were..."
The warrior cut him off and grabbed his arm, giving it a firm grasp. "Dead? Yes, well...I might have been if Teryn Loghain had his way," Alistair stated simply, "If not for some rather strange outside help WE would be dead with the rest of the Ferelden wardens."
The Bann grimaced at the mention of the Teryn. "Yes, he would have the Bannorn believe that it was the grey wardens who betrayed the King, but I know better than that. Loghain has gone mad and seeks power for himself," he replied, running his hand hastily through his hair, "You said WE, were there more wardens that survived the treachery at Ostagar?"
Her head screamed her her not to speak, but she knew that she was about to be called out. It's not like I have a choice in the matter now. You can do this, just don't mention them and everything will be fine. "Just one other, My Lord," Evelyn said as she stepped into view from behind the giant and dropped her hood. She swallowed hard in an attempt to keep her emotions in check as his eyes landed on her. His sapphire depths clouded over and a myriad of emotions passed over his handsome face. The roulette wheel of emotion finally stopped somewhere between pain and disbelief.
"Evie?" he quietly breathed, but he couldn't move. Alistair seemed even more confused than usual as he observed the meeting of his leader and the Bann, or was it a reunion? He took a step back as the tension and high emotion seemed to have it's own quiet battle in the space between their bodies. Teagan was the first to speak.
"But I..." he started, taking a step toward her and laying his hand on her dark leather shoulder guard. "How did you...? I don't understand." She stared up at his face knowing that the flood gates were about to burst.
"I got away, Duncan helped me escape...but my parents, Oren...the Cousland house has fallen," she said as tears began stinging her eyes. Damn it all to the Black City. "I was recruited by the wardens shortly before the battle at Ostagar...I never found Fergus." Teagan's hand shook as he slowly brought it to her face. As soon as it caressed the warm soft curve of her cheek he lost all composure and quickly drew her into his embrace. His hands tangled into her hair as her small frame shook against him and she wept bitterly into his chest.
Alistair's jaw dropped as he spun to look at Wynne. Her hand was covering her mouth and she had a look of pure torment. "She's the last of the Couslands, I had no idea." she whispered watching as their leader grieved for her lost family in the Bann's arms. Suddenly Alistair understood why Evie had taken his earlier admission so well...she carried a secret that was much like his. She had told him once before that her family was murdered and that was why Duncan recruited her, but she seemed to have left off that little detail. Apparently, he wasn't the only one that was trying to escape his noble bloodline.