Chapter 2
"Yes, but she seems more... 'Ooh, pretty colors!' than 'Muahaha! I am Princess Stabbity! Stab, kill, kill!' "
"So you've never really left the Wilds? What do you do for fun out there?" Alistair asked, egging Morrigan on yet again.
"Well, sometimes, I find stray men, not unlike yourself, string them and use them as target practice." Morrigan said. "Then, if they survive, I undress them and give them this particular useful herb and have my way with them for as long as I want, before I either kill them or set them free. Whichever takes my fancy, really."
"Wow, death should really be the only option. After torturing them all night long, they really would just want to die." Alistair said.
"Oh, says the ladykiller, hmm? At least I've popped my cherry, little boy." Morrigan said to the man.
"Yeah, well-"
"Would you two knock it off!" Lariel yelled at them impeding their way. "It has been only two days traveling this road, and you've already driven me mad, just stop already!"
Suddenly a dog started barking. It was a Mabari and it came dashing around the road. It stopped in front of the three and faced the opposite way, barking at the road. A group of Darkspawn bounded up following him.
"Hold right here!" Morrigan called to the others, "Let them come to us."
They did as she commanded as the Darkspawn charged. Just as Lariel made to guard charging Hurlock, Morrigan thrust up her staff sending out a pulse of energy. The Darkspawn stood motionless, too dizzied to even move. Lariel, the Mabari, and Alistair immediately went to slicing their opponents, simple and quick now that they weren't consious. Morrigan simply put away her staff and watched the gore. As Alistair shred the last in half before we sheathed our weapons.
"Did you have fun lazing about while we did all the work?" Alistair said.
"You did all the work did you? Last I checked you wouldn't have been able to do anything lest I used my magic." Lariel ignored them and went to the Mabari.
"Hey there! You're not hurt, are you?" He said to the animal. It barked and wagged its tail. Lariel laughed at the hound.
"Well I see you're feeling much better than when I last saw you! Do you have a name?" The dog cocked its head.
"Then I shall call you Alium. It means 'fierce' in elven. Does that sound okay to you?" The Mabari barked happily and jumped. I stood up chuckling and rubbed its head affectionately.
"You aren't actually keeping that mangy thing, are you?" Morrigan said. Apparently they had finished their scuttle.
"Awwww, he's not mangy!" Alistair said petting the dog's side, "But I do have one question. How do you know that is the hound from Ostagar?"
"It is simply really. I am an elf." Lariel said jokingly. Alium barked in response.
"Haha, racism. Funny. Really though, how did you know?" Alistair insisted.
"It's the truth. We elves can hear, smell, and see much better than Shems, no offense of course." Lariel explained, trying his best not to offend. He liked the humans very much, something that could not be said for the rest of his clan. "For instance, the tone of his bark, or the shade of his fur, or his scent. Elves, especially when trained, can pick up on individual scents rather quickly."
"Hmm...When you put it that way it kinda makes me want to be an elf..." Alistair said.
"I wish you were an elf too!" Morrigan said energetically. "That way you'd be a slave in some household and not around me!" Lariel shook his head as they continued to fight. He looked down at Alium who was panting happily.
"Anelium." He looked up at Lariel, "Let's just go." The mabari barked cheerfully as Lariel walked down the road. The dog followed him, staying by his side.
"Hey! Hey where are you going?" Alistair said as Morrigan walked off following Lariel and Alium. Lariel simply ignored them and continued on his way. 'Flemeth was right, though I'm not sure which one I regret more.'
"And here we are. Tis known as Lothering." Morrigan said. An old Tevinter bridge led the way to a small farm town. It had taken only a few days after they found Alium to arrive here. Morrigan and Alistair still bickered back and forth, but much less than before, mainly because Lariel threatened to kill them in their sleep.
They made their way across the bridge heading for the town. As they came along the road, they found a few men sifting through random piles of refuse left on the bridge. As they started walking past them, however, one of the men stopped Lariel.
"Lookie gents! Another group of travelers, led by an elf of all things!" He was an older man and nasty looking, with a crooked nose and the smell of cheap ale and blood.
"I don't know about them boss...they don't look like normal travelers..." One of them said standing up. He was bigger than the man he called 'boss' but much less intelligent.
"Highwaymen. Stealing from families running from the Blight, no doubt." Alistair said in a hushed voice to Lariel.
"Good afternoon fine people! A new tax has been placed for highway maintenence. You must pay ten silvers if you want to cross into Lothering." The 'Boss' said.
"Oh? Who implemented the tax?" Lariel said.
"Why the king of course!" said 'Boss.'
"Did he really?" said Lariel, "Last I heard the king died in a battle with the Darkspawn."
"Uh oh, Boss. Theys know the king be dead." The bigger man said.
"Indeed they do! And you know what that means." Said 'Boss', "We have some Grey Wardens with us here Gents! So how about we collect that reward?"
The three other men still looting stood up and came forward unsheathing knives and swords. Lariel was the first to respond, unsheathing his knives and running head first at 'Boss.' Boss almost didn't block in time, but at the last second brought up his blade to block Lariel.
The fight was over quickly. Alium lived up to his Mabari name and felled the giant man with a bite to his Lifetouch-vein. Alistair fought off two men at once, while Morrigan toyed with the last. Lariel scissored his own knives to cut the fingers of his opponent, who dropped his weapon with a curse. He put up his hands in surrender and got on his knees, while Lariel held his blade at the man's throat. The two men Alistair was fighting threw down their swords and ran off. The man Morrigan was battling had gone insane and now smiled happily as he skipped to the field to pick daisies.
"Please, please! I give up! Just-just don't kill me!" The man was on his knees begging for his life.
"You were robbing these people, weren't you?" Lariel said Leaning into his knives a little.
"Yes, yes! Robbing them blind!" 'Boss' said. "We-we were just-"
"Taking advantage of others misfortune!" Lariel bellowed at him. He flinched and screamed a little bit. Morrigan laughed.
"Haha, when you're done with him, may I play with him a bit? He makes the most delightful noises!" Morrigan said. Lariel actually had half a mind to let her, too.
"Give me everything you've stolen." spat Lariel.
"H-here! We collected just over two sovereigns!" 'Boss' shoved a coin pouch into Lariel's hands. Lariel had to lower one of his knives to accept it.
"Now take off all your clothes." Lariel told the man.
"Wh-what?" 'Boss' looked up at him questioningly.
"Just do it!" Lariel yelled. The man flinched again before shakingly taking off his armor and underclothing. He covered his privates with his hands and was visibly shaking all over.
"Now I have one question of you." Lariel leaned in close to the man, barely hairs-breath apart. "What was this about a bounty on Grey Wardens?"
"W-well, Teryn Loghain put a bounty on the heads of all Grey Wardens...he said they betrayed the king at Ostagar..."
"What?" said Alistair, "Loghain was the one who left the King to die! How could anyone believe some stupid shit like that!"
"Alistair, it doesn't matter. These are hard times; there will always be people who value money over protection for all." Lariel said glaring at 'Boss.'
"Ar-are you going to let me go...?" He asked still covering himself up.
"Actually I was going to give you to the townsfolk to do with you as they wished," Lariel said, "But there are children there. Run, and don't even think about looking back."
"Oh bless you, bless you!" said 'Boss' as he bolted the way the group had come.
"He looked like he'd be so much fun, too..." said Morrigan in pretend disappointment.
"Come on. I have a feeling things are going to look pretty horrid."
They made their way down the bridge and into the small town. It was just as terrible as any refugee camp. The first thing Lariel noticed was the feel of things. The air hung still and there was a hopeless tension in the air. The smell of feces and rotting food and flesh hung rancid around them, making it difficult not to gag. People made temporary camps out of line and cloth hanging from sticks. Children walked around aimlessly, while parents wept, failing to keep their children from noticing. It was, generally, heart wrenching.
"Hello." Said a Templar, "If you've come here looking for shelter, there is none to be had. If you have the money, go to Denerim. Andraste bless you." He said everything rather quickly before moving on to some other task.
Lariel stared around at the people. There were too many people here not to know something of what was going on.
"Let's split up." He told the others. "Go around and see what information you can find. Let's meet outside the chantry when were done."
"What exactly do you want us to find?" Morrigan said, obviously not liking the task.
"Anything that could be useful." said Lariel patiently. "Current politics in Denerim, how close the horde is, how many people support Logahn, any new from, Redcliffe, of the Circle of Magi, or Orzammar, anything that could be useful. Okay?"
"Sure. Sounds easy enough." Alistair said.
"I don't see the point of having to talk to other people." Morrigan said.
"Oh, and this is the part where not surprised you haven't had a friend your whole life?" said Alistair.
"Alistair please!" Lariel looked at him intently. "There is already enough misery to go around. And Morrigan, you too, please try not to add to it too much, okay?"
"Fine, fine t'will be done!" She said stalking off. Lariel sighed and Alistair left as well in the opposite direction of Morrigan, heading over a bridge to the second part of the town.
"Come on Aneluim, let's see if we can find someone who knows anything." He barked happily and wagged his tail. Lariel smiled walk along petting his head. Seeing an elven couple and their child, he walked up to them thinking they would be the best to corporate.
"Anderan ati'shan." He said to them bowing his head. The man and woman both responded back similarly while the child stared off blankly. "I have some questions for you, if you don't mind me asking them."
"No, no, go ahead." The man said, "It's good to see a fellow elf here. Most people treat us like dirt..."
"How do you mean?" asked Lariel, forgetting the objective temporarily.
"Well...Sydnea, darling could you go play for a minute?" The elven woman asked their daughter.
"But I don't have anyone to play with..." She whined a little. Lariel squatted down to her height.
"Would you like to play with my dog?" He said to the girl. "His name is Aneluim and he is a lot of fun." She shyly looked up at her parents who nodded. Smiling a little she nodded to Lariel who smiled back. She took a ball out of her pocket walking away from her parents, and threw it for the Mabari. Seeming to know more than it should about the situation, it grabbed the ball and ran with it leading the girl away.
"Thank you for that..." The woman said. "She's been miserable for days now."
"It was no trouble at all. So you were telling me..."
"Yes, about the trouble we've been having." The man said, "We've been here four days and it has been a struggle every one of them. The first day, no one would sell us food even though we had the money for it. Then, that night, someone stole all our things. The second day Sydnea and my wife, Sandra, were almost raped. If the Templars hadn't seen what was going on..."
"What!" Lariel was horrified, "By who?"
"I don't know." said Chandra weakly. She was crying. "It was dark and they snuck up on us after we washed in the stream."
"Here." said Lariel, fishing out some money from his purse, "Here's 50 silvers. The road is clear of the bandits. Get yourselves to Denerim before anything worse happens, okay?" The couple stared at him and the money for a moment, before the man shakily took the coins from Lariel's hand.
"T-thank you, sir! May the gods bless and watch over you! I'll go find Sydnea, honey, wait here till I come back!" The man took off in the direction Aneluim went calling for his daughter.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! We don't have anything to give you-" The woman said grasping Lariel's hand and crying harder than before.
"It's fine. Just be safe, that's all I ask." He said, completely overwhelmed by the woman. A few moments later she had composed herself and her husband had returned with their daughter and Aneluim.
"But Papa, I only just started playing!" She said in his arms.
"I know, sweetie, I know, but we're going to Denerim to visit Uncle Tabris, okay? We really can't thank you enough, Warden. Please, can I get your name?" The man said.
"Wait, how did you know-?"
"Loghain sent word of an elf of your description and a man as Wardens. But your name?"
"Oh, um, my name is Lariel. What is yours good sir?" Lariel said.
"I am Sarin. Gods bless you, Warden Lariel. May we cross paths again one day." And they left then, quickly, heading north on the Tevinter highway.
Lariel sighed. He had known things were going to be bad, but not nearly as bad as they were. Everyone knew who he was. That was not good, though most people seemed not to care too much.
Lariel walked around just outside the town to the refugees there. They all knew him as soon as he came up to talk to him and most blew him off either for being a Warden, being an elf, or both. He had been cursed at, spit at, threaten with death twice, been called unrepeatable names, had lude gestures made to, and one time was given money being mistaken for a prostitute. What that man was thinking about, Lariel had no idea, especially since Aneluim was still at his side. The only thing he had accomplished was convincing a merchant to lower his prices so the refugees could afford to buy food and drink and even then the shems spit and cursed at him.
Lariel understood with finality what the elven couple had meant. He sighed making his way through the log post fence ad back into town. A boy standing at the bridge Alistair crossed. Lariel walked over to him hoping he wouldn't spit on him.
"Have you seen my mother?" The little boy asked as Lariel approached. He had flaming red hair and rich brown eyes and a face full of freckles. It reminded Lariel why he loved shem children so much.
"Well, what does she look like?" Lariel asked him.
"Well she is really tall and has really red hair and lives on a farm hold with all of us." said the boy, "Some bad men attacked us and she said to get to town and wait there till she came but I can't find her anywhere." Lariel didn't like the sound of that.
"Well, how about you come with me and look for her." Lariel said.
"No, she said I wasn't supposed to go with anyone." The little boy said.
"Can you tell me your name?" Lariel asked the boy.
"I guess so...my name's Aeden." He said.
"Really?" said Lariel, "That sounds like the name of a great noble hero! Well, Aeden, I'm Lariel. I was wondering, have you had anything to eat today?"
"No. My mother has all the money..." Aeden said.
"Take this silver than and go to that man over there." Lariel gave the boy a silver and pointed at the merchant. The woman from the chantry that had been arguing with him stood nearby watching his exchanges with the refugees. "He can sell you some food."
"Wow, a whole silver!" The boy said in awe of the coin in his hands, "Thank you very much mister!" Lariel smiled at him.
"So, um...are you really an elf...?" He asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"It's just...papa says elves are mean and nasty, but you're nicer than anyone else here!"
"That's because you're being nice too! Elves are nice to sh-humans if humans are nice to we elves. Do you understand?" Lariel realized what he said sounded a little confusing.
"So...I just have to be nice to elves then? And then they'll be nice to me? Papa's never nice to the elves..."
"Yes, that's all you have to do."
"Okay mister! I'll be nicer to the elves than anyone else from now on!" He said excitedly. Lariel laughed and patted him on the head.
"Good! Now go get yourself some food!" And the boy ran off to do just that. Lariel sighed suddenly filled with sadness. That boy had no idea the Blight was coming. And he would wait here for his mother until they arrived.
"May Mythal protect you and Falon' Din guide your feet and calm your soul." He whispered after the boy. Aneluim whined and flattened his ears.
"Did you hear anything useful?" Lariel said. He had joined Alistair at the Chantry only a few moments before Morrigan showed up. It seemed they all were getting the same treatment, except Morrigan who, after she froze the first man who grabbed her breasts, was feared by the entire refugee camp.
"I think I'll ignore that question and instead say something insulting to Alistair; we now have a dog in our midst and Alistair remains the stupidest member of the party."
"So that's a no, I take it." said Alistair, "It seems nobody is really in the mood to talk to wanted men. Even the chantry said they couldn't be seen talking with us."
"What about drunken shems? Did either of you try the tavern?" Lariel asked.
"No, I decided having normal people raving mad at me was plenty enough." Alistair commented.
"For once, I agree with the buffoon." Morrigan said.
"It's the last place we have to go. Let's just try it and see how it turns out." Lariel said.
"Must we?" said Morrigan following along behind Lariel and Alistair. They made their way to a small building a little ways north of the chantry just over the bridge and to the right. It was not built for the extreme mass of people currently in the village, and it showed. Even the bards group was crammed up in the loft.
They walked into the rom crowded with people, most sitting, but some standing against walls wherever they could find space. Most of them were extremely dirty.
"Well, gentlemen look at this lovely surprise."
"Uh-oh. Logahn's men." Alistair said.
"Didn't we spend all morning asking about an elf of this very description, and everyone said they hadn't seen one? It seems we were lied to." The man talking was a thick, war hardened soldier with scruff lining his face. Lariel's ears flicked back and forth as he heard several men get up quietly from chairs all around the room. It seemed there were about six in all.
"Now, now gentlemen, there is no need to be fighting. These men are nothing but refugees." A woman with an accent Lariel didn't recognize came up to them. She wore the robes of the Chantry, had red hair, blue eyes, and a freckled face.
"They're more than that!" said the soldier, "Now stay out of our way, sister You protect these traitors you get the same as them."
"Wow, threatening members of the chantry now? First betraying the king now this. My, but Loghain does get around fast." Alistair said. Lariel turned and gaped at him.
"I was at the battle of Ostagar!" The soldier yelled. "I witnessed how the Teryn saved us from the Grey Wardens treachery! Enough of talk! Take these Grey Wardens into custody and if they resist, kill them!"
Two men notched arrows suddenly and Lariel drew his knives and dived in time to hit them away from the Chantry woman. She went straight for the head man, raging against his claymore. Lariel attacked with her, trying to overwhelm him. Alistair attacked the two men by the main soldier's side and knocked one down with his shield whilst slashing at the other. Aneluim ran and jumped onto one of the archers, ravaging the man and distracting the other, who failed to get the Mabari off his comrade.
The chantry woman and Lariel swarmed the commander each taking a turn to stab at the man and block is attacks. He was cut over and over unmercifully until his arm gave out on him. Lariel kicked him full force in the chest and he went tumbling to the ground his sword flying off away from him.
"Enough, enough! We surrender!" He called. His men stopped fighting then laying down their weapons.
"Good." The Chantry woman said, "Then we can all stop fighting now."
"Take a message to Logahn." Lariel said. The commander got on his feet and stood up straight.
"W-what do you want me to tell him...?"
"He will pay for what he has done. The Grey Wardens are coming for him." Alistair said.
"I will tell him right away. Thank you." He said and ran out of the tavern. Aneluim growled as the bowmen took his fellow soldier and dragged him out of the building. After they left the Chantry woman came up to Lariel.
"I apologize for interfering, but I couldn't just stand by and not help." She said.
"I appreciate what you tried to do. Thank you for your help." said Lariel.
"I'm glad you found it in your heart to show those men mercy. It is not something people offer each other nowadays." She said, warmth radiating from her voice. Lariel liked her. "Let me introduce myself. I am Leliana. I am a lay sister for the Chantry here in Lothering. Or I was."
"I am Lariel. It is a pleasure to meet you, Leliana." Lariel said to her.
"They said you were a Grey Warden. I was surprised you were an elf, but I assume elves must want to be rid of the Blight as much as humans, eh?" she said. "I know after what happened you'll need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming with you." Lariel gave her a curious look.
"Why so eager to come?" He asked Leliana.
"The Maker told me to." She answered simply. Lariel was a bit taken aback. She was obviously very kind and he didn't want to put her out right away.
"Can you...elaborate?" asked Lariel.
"I know that sounds- well, completely insane, but it's true! I had a dream; a vision!"
"More crazy?" Alistair said, "I thought we were all full up."
"Look at the people here." She said, "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!" Lariel battled in his own mind for a moment. 'She can't be worse than Morrigan' was the thought that stuck out more than the rest.
"Alright. We do need all the help we can get." said Lariel.
"Perhaps your skull was cracked more than mother thought." Morrigan said. Leliana didn't pay attention to her.
"Thank you. I appreciate you giving me this chance to do the Maker's work." If Lariel were to be truthful, it was getting annoying how much Leliana brought up the Maker, especially because he didn't believe in the human's false god.
They left the tavern, then, having caused enough trouble and wanting to make a quick escape. They didn't leave the area, however, and remained just outside to plan what they were going to do next.
"I say we leave now before anything else tries to kill us." Morrigan said.
"But there are so many people here that need our help!" said Leliana.
"Oh yes, lets help them all. My, how the Darkspawn will be impressed!" She countered.
"Wha-? How can you not want to help these people? Have you no sympathy?" Leliana said.
"More like no heart or soul." Alistair chimed in.
"This arguing isn't getting us anywhere." Lariel said. "Leliana, I'm sorry, and as much as I hate to say it, Morrigan is right. We can't help everyone. We have a more important mission and that is to end the Blight. We've cleared the road for those who can go to Denerim, for the rest..." He trailed off.
"So that's it then, we just let all these people die?"
"Can you force everyone of these people to follow the road to Denerim?" questioned Lariel.
"...No...No, you're right..." She finally admitted.
"There is one last thing I want to take care of, though..." Lariel said.
"And what is that?" asked Morrigan.
"I found this little boy and he-"
"Oh, Lord's above, here we go." Morrigan said.
"He was waiting for his mother who I'm quite sure, is lying dead somewhere in the surrounding farmlands. I just want to go search for her to see if that's true." Lariel finished with a glare at Morrigan.
"And if she is dead?" Leliana asked. Lariel paused for a moment.
"I'd like to take him to Denerim."
"What? You can't be serious!" It was Alistair who said this, "I appreciate that you're trying to help, Lariel, but we can't take a kid with us! He'll be all noisy, and smelly, and I will not be changing any drawers thank you!"
"Alistair? What?" Lariel looked at him, "He's- okay, nevermind. It's only if she's dead and if it bothers you that much I'll make sure to be the soul care taker, okay?"
"And what if we get into battle?" Alistair asked.
"He got here by himself from the farmlands, didn't he? He can obviously run if it comes to that." Lariel responded.
"I think it's a marvelous idea." Leliana said, "And I would love to help take care of the poor lad."
"Okay. Let's just go and see what we can find. If we don't have indisputable proof she is dead I'll forget about the whole thing and we'll leave."
They went north, then, to search for Aeden's mother, dead or alive. They started by the windmill, then the farming fields, then the fields by Tevinter highway that headed to Denerim. Then they started by the eastern edge of the stream where they encountered a group of enormous spiders who were easily put to death. They followed the river and still, no sight of her was found.
"Can we stop now and move on?" Alistair said, "We've been at this for at least an hour. She's not here! Odds are she probably abandoned the boy and ran to Denerim." They were coming back from the most western edge of the stream, when Lariel stopped.
"She's here." He said.
"Oh really? Where?"
"Right there..." He pointed at the tree on the hill. Hanging from its upper most branches was the decapitated remains of a person. Their torso was cut open and their intestines were wrapped around various branches. It was covered with vines and leaves and other branches, obviously whoever put the corpse there had tried to hide it. As they got closer to it, Leliana ran off, throwing up. Lariel went to comfort her while Alistair and Morrigan went up to the tree. Sure enough, a mass of red hair could be seen under a pile of vines.
"I'll be fine." Leliana said to Lariel bent over from puking. "Go see if you can find anything on the woman's body, for the boy." Lariel rubbed her back a little as she spit up the rest of the acid in her mouth and throat. When he was sure she was indeed fine, he walked over to the tree where Alistair looked at the sight horrified.
"I'm going up to see if I can find anything of hers." Lariel said. He took off his swords and went over to the tree.
"Are you sure you want to? It looks a little...organy." said Alistair. Lariel grabbed one of the branches and scurried up the tree quickly. He was careful not to disturb the remains of the woman too much not wanting to get bloody and, well, organy. He carefully went to her bloody, cut up torso where her neck stuck out like a log from a river of red.
"How do you know they didn't rob her?" Alistair called up. Lariel grabbed the pendant still around her neck and lifted it out of her innards and dropped it down to the grass.
"Tis truly disgusting, my dear Lariel." Morrigan said picking up the pendant with two fingers. Leliana stood away from them facing the water. Aneluim was sitting beside her, keeping her company.
"Yeah, I'm just going to wait over...not around the corpse." Alistair said. Lariel rolled his eyes and checked the rest of her body. She didn't have any other objects on her, not rings, weapons, or anything else. His hands now bloody, Lariel descended from the tree. He took the pendant from Morrigan and washed both his hands and the trinket in the stream before putting his daggers back on.
"So. To Denerim we go, then." Lariel said morbidly.
They were headed back into town when Lariel saw a man locked in a cage. He walked up to the man curious about why he was there.
"Hello." Lariel greeted the man.
"I have nothing to say that would amuse you, elf. Leave me in peace." The man responded.
"You're a prisoner? Who put you here?" Lariel asked, ignoring the man's statement.
"I am in a cage, am I not? The Chantry put me here."
"The revered mother says he killed an entire family. Even the children..." said Leliana.
"It is as she says. I am Sten of the Beresaad-the vanguard- of the Quinari people." He was a hulking man, at least half a foot taller than any man Lariel had seen and at least a foot and a half than any elf. He had more muscle than any three men together at any given moment in time. His skin was oddly toned, seemingly pale and his eyes were a shade of grey that looked almost white from a distance. His face wore a permanent scowl. His hair was pure white and was braided back in rows and tied. He smelled oddly; of mushrooms, herbs and a strange floral scent that instinctively made Lariel like the man.
"Pleased to meet you Sten. I am Lariel." said Lariel inclining his head towards the prisoner.
"You mock me. Or you show manners I haven't come to expect in your lands." Sten said with the same monotone voice. "Though it matters little now. The Darkspawn will come and I will die with them. I suggest you leave me to my fate."
"Sten, I find myself in need of skilled help." Lariel said, "Would you want to come with us?"
"No doubt. What help do you seek?"
"I am sworn to protect the land against the Blight."
"The Blight? Are you a Grey Warden then?" Sten asked, seemingly mildly interested at the mention of the Blight.
"Yes, I am." Lariel said, hoping Sten wouldn't comment on his race again.
"Surprising. I have heard tales of the Grey Warden's skill and strength- though I suppose not every legend is true." Sten said.
"Why don't you come with us and find out for yourself?" Lariel suggested, "Will the revered mother set you free?"
"If you tell her the Grey Wardens need my assistance, then perhaps. It seems a better way to die than staying here." said Sten.
"Then I will see you soon. Until then." Lariel said.
"Farewell." Sten returned. The group made their way to the Chantry as Alistair came up to talk to Lariel.
"Listen, can we talk about this?"
"Okay. What do you have in mind?" Lariel said.
"Um, how about the part where you let a crazy murderer into the party."
"Alistair, the man will either starve or be taken by the Darkspawn." Leliana said, "Murderer or not, nobody deserves to die like that."
"Try telling that to the men, women, and children he slew." Alistair countered.
"And what if it was a mistake?" Lariel said, "What if he was possessed by a blood mage? Or frenzied by one of the men and, naturally, couldn't return to full consciousness? I've heard tales of similar things happening to Qunari warriors."
"All the more reason not to have him come with us." Alistair said.
"I will free him at the least. If he chooses to come with us, I will not stop him. If he goes elsewhere I, again, will not stop him." Lariel said, "How does that sound?" Alistair sighed.
"I guess I can't really argue. You would do it anyway, wouldn't you?"
"Of course." Lariel said.
"Alright. But if he kills us all I'm going to say I told you so."
Inside the Chantry was just as terrible a sight as outside. People were packed into every corner they could find. Chantry priests and priestesses were running around giving out supplies, packing things, healing the injured, or directing people to and fro. Children's cries echoed around as did the general clamor of the people. A few Templars were here, not only keeping guard, but also helping the priests in the effort to leave for Denerim.
"The revered mother is in the back to the right." Leliana said. Lariel thanked her and made led the group in that direction, weaving in and out of people. The woman they were looking for was in the back sitting on a rocking chair and reading a picture book. A dozen or so children had formed a misshapen circle around her, listening to the story and looking at the pictures in awe. Everyone of them had a piece of some sweet pastry. Lariel saw Aeden among them, who was sitting all the way to the right and had to bend over to look at the pictures.
"And when Havard touched the ashes he wept Andraste. She appeared to him then, in a ghostly form and told him, 'The Maker will never forget you so long as I remember.'"
"This the story of the Urn of Sacred Ashes." Alistair told Lariel, "It was always my favorite." Lariel turned to see him smiling ad looking at the book. Lariel didn't want to interrupt but they had to be going.
"Excuse me, Revered mother?" Lariel said stepping forward. She looked up at him from her seat, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a few things I must discuss with you."
"Oh, very well then. Please excuse me just a moment, children." She got up from her seat. "Would one of your friends mind finishing the story?"
"I will do it!" Alistair said eagerly, practically jumping into the chair. The Revered Mother laughed a little.
"He does have spirit, doesn't he? So, shall we leave the room for a moment?" She led them just out into the main hall into a corner where there were few people around. "It's good to see you Leliana. I'm surprised to see you're still here in Lothering."
"It's good to see you too your Reverence.
"I don't recognize your companion however. Wait...You're the Grey Warden, aren't you? Well, that doesn't matter much anymore since you drove out Logahn's men. So, how may I be of service to you?"
"Well, two things actually. Firstly, I wanted to ask you about Sten." She paled a little when Lariel asked this.
"It might have been kinder to execute him, but I leave his fate to the Maker. Why do you bring him up?"
"Is there anyway I convince you to release him?" Lariel asked.
"Then his next victims might count you and me as their murderers." She said.
"I was thinking you might release him into my custody." said Lariel.
"And what do you say of this Leliana? You know your friend better than I." She turned to the young woman.
"These are unusual times, your Reverence. With us, he might be able to do some good. I know it in fact."
"Oh, if things weren't so desperate...very well. I release him into your custody and may the Maker watch over you." She gave the key to Leliana.
"Thank you your Reverence. Your trust is not misplaced." Leliana bowed her head in respect.
"Now what else did you want to talk about?" She asked turning back to Lariel.
"Yes, I found this on the remains of a woman in the northern farmlands." He said taking out the pendant. "It belongs to the mother of the small boy, Aeden, I believe."
"Oh, that poor woman...yes I recognize it. Sarha was her name. And I take it you were the nice elf who gave Aeden the silver for food? He told everyone here how kind you were to him." Lariel blushed a little which made the Mother laugh. "And modest too, I see. Well I thank you for returning her amulet. It will be nice for the boy in the future when all this sorrowness has ended."
"Actually, I wondered if I could take the boy to Denerim." said Lariel, "We are going there anyway, and thought one boy wouldn't hold us up too much."
"...Yes." She answered after a few moments of thinking, "Yes, I will agree to it. It will be much better than it is here, anyway. You are a good person with a pure heart. I can tell you will take good care of him. Come. Let us return to them."
Back in the room Alistair was excitedly talking with the telling the last part of the tale to the children, completely swept up in the story.
"...a hundred years after her death. The ballads end less than certain on that point." And showing the last picture, he closed the book dramatically. All the children clapped their hands and Alistair swelled with pride.
"Very well then children, run along for now and we'll read another story later." They all got up from the floor and went scrambling back into the other room, shouting who they were in the story and slashing with pretend swords.
"Oh Aeden!" the Revered Mother called, "Can you come here a moment?" He came running up, to her recognizing Lariel.
"Oh I remember you! You gave me money!" He said, "I told everyone about how nice you were!"
"Yes dear, but I'm afraid we have some news for you. You see your mother had to leave very suddenly and very fast to somewhere very faraway." The Revered Mother said, "But she gave the elf her pendent so you would know she wasn't going to be able to come for you." She handed the boy his mother's necklace.
"But..." He said his eyes tearing up, "She said she was going to come...why isn't she?"
"You see Aeden." Lariel squatted down to face the boy eye to eye, "Remember those bad men who came into your home?" He nodded, "Well your mother chased them away! She knew more bad men were coming so she sent you here and she was going to come get you when all your things were packed. But then the new bad men came really early so she had to run away without coming to get you." Aeden looked down at his feet eyes still full of unshed tears. He sniffed loudly.
"So...she ran away so the bad men would follow her...?"
"Yes, and so you could get away." Lariel told him gently. He continued to look down at the ground.
"...Okay...I'll go with you..." He said reluctantly. Lariel shook his hair a little.
"Good. Do you have anything that needs packing? We are going to leave immediately."
"No...all my stuff is over there. I'll go get it." He ran off leaving Lariel still crouching. He stood up.
"Thank you so much for all the kindness you've shown us." The Revered Mother said.
"It was my pleasure. I wish you the best for you coming journey to safety." said Lariel.
"And though I know you don't believe, may the Maker watch over you as well Warden." It was her turn to bow her head in respect. "So long to you Leliana. May Andraste shine upon you on your journeys."
"And may she smile at your always, your Reverence." Leliana said. Aeden returned with a small, half empty knapsack.
"All ready to go?" Lariel asked him. He nodded his head. "Well then we have one thing left to do before we go to Denerim." Going back through the Chantry Lariel held Aeden's hand. The group made their way back through the town to Sten's cage.
"Do you wish something more of me?" He said as Lariel came up to him.
"I have the key to open your cage." He told Sten.
"I confess. I did not think the priestess would part with it."
"Does it matter? You are free."
"Perhaps we have different ideas of freedom." said Sten.
"Then come with me. Help me to atone for your crimes." said Lariel.
"So be it. Set me free and I will follow you against the Blight."
"Alright then." Lariel unlocked his cage. Sten walked out stretching his neck.
"It is done. I will follow you into battle. In doing so I will find my atonement." Sten said. He crack his knuckles and neck once more before taking a place by Lariel's side. Aeden, who was still holding Lariel's hand, clung on to his arm clearly afraid on the man.
"Thank you, Sten. Glad to have you with us." said Lariel. They left, then, heading for the Tevinter highway that went north to Denerim. Approaching the ramp someone yelled for help.
"Aeden, stay here!" Lariel told the boy. He immediately ran to a bush and hid from sight. A top the ramp, two dwarves faced a group of six or so Darkspawn. As the dwarves saw the coming reinforcements, they rushed the Darkspawn. The party followed suit, running headlong into the group and easily overwhelming them. They were felled quickly and cleanly and Lariel soon called for Aeden who came bounding up. He latched onto Lariel's leg when he saw the Darkspawn corpses.
"Mighty timely arrival, my friends, I am much obliged." One of the dwarves, the elder with a full beard, said up to Lariel.
"It was our pleasure." Lariel said. He soothingly rubbed his thumb through Aeden's hair.
"Name's Bodahn Feddic. This is my son Sandal. Say hello Sandal."
"Hello." Said the dwarf named Sandal. Unlike his father he was completely beardless and had blond hair.
"Road's been mighty dangerous these days. Might I ask where you are going? Maybe we can travel with you for some time." Bodahn asked Lariel.
"We are headed to Denerim at the moment. We'd be more than happy to defend you along the way." said Lariel.
"Right! Very good then! Let's go Sandal! We're off to the capitol!"
"I do have one favor to ask." Lariel said.
"Yes, of course, what is it?"
"If we run into any trouble along the way, would you mind taking Aeden here and hiding him amongst your cargo?" Lariel asked.
"Oh why certainly! Can never be too careful these days, eh?" Bodahn laughed merrily as he and Sandal got their remaining possessions together. They whole group left for Denerim following the highway north, knowing eventually it would turn into solid ground.
None of them ever saw Lothering again.