Chapter 19:
After speaking with Duncan, Sylina was informed that he would be going to a meeting with the king that evening and that her presence was requested. She internally groaned, but agreed to meet him there. Then, metaphorically grabbing Alistair by the scruff of the neck, she told him to fix her tent. He stuttered and stammered, but agreed. While she waited for the meeting and for her tent to be fixed she sat in front of the fire. She was still trying to process everything that had happened that day.
That morning she had woken up, one of three Grey Warden recruits, and as evening fell she was the only one who still lived. Sylina shivered and moved herself closer to the fire. She had eventually found food and ate what she was sure was the biggest meal of her life. She wrapped her arms around her legs and sighed, staring into the flames. They had both died. Ser Jory and Daveth. They had been warriors, men with skill, and yet they were dead; and she, the mage, the girl who knew nothing about this world she was cast into, she had survived.
"Come. It is time." Sylina looked up and saw Duncan. He nodded to her and she got up and followed him to the meeting with the king.
During the meeting Sylina stayed quiet and tried to melt into the shadows. The king barely glanced at her, but she felt the Teyrn's gaze fall on her several times. When the king announced that Grey Warden's would light the torch signaling the Teyrn's men to attack Sylina had nodded and said it would be an honor. The king had smiled and said the battle would be glorious.
However, Alistair was less than thrilled with this. "Why don't I get to be in the battle? Sylina can light the signal fire herself surely?" he asked after Duncan had explained the plan.
"This is a personal request of the king, it is an important task and needs to be done," Duncan said, looking over Alistair. "The battle will begin tomorrow, so I suggest you both get some rest. I will go join the others in the valley." Duncan looked from Alistair to Sylina. "From here on, you two are on your own. Remember, you are both Grey Wardens. I expect you to be worthy of that title. Should we have need of you, we will send word." Duncan nodded to them and turned to leave.
"D...Duncan," Alistair started, taking a step forward. Sylina saw that he was worried. Duncan paused and looked back at Alistair. "Maker watch over you."
Duncan nodded. "Maker watch over all of us," he said, taking his leave.
That night, Sylina stayed up and watched the fire with Alistair. He was still bitter over not being allowed in the battle, but Sylina tried to make him see reason. "Come now, we have an easy task to do, but it is an important one. You heard Duncan. That, and the king asked for us personally. You should feel honored," she said, smiling at him.
Alistair huffed. "Well if the king asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, that's it, I'm drawing the line."
Sylina giggled. "That might be interesting to see," she said, eyeing Alistair.
He blushed and smiled shyly. "Well, perhaps I would do it for you...but it would have to be...you know...a really pretty dress." Sylina descended into giggles again and Alistair laughed, watching her. They stayed up a bit longer before they both retired to their tents. Sylina to her now patched tent and Alistair to his, which he had pitched next to hers since they would be leaving for the tower shortly after waking.
"Ah, I see you are finally awake. Mother will be pleased." Sylina bolted upright and screamed. The pain in her shoulder was overwhelming. She fell back onto the bed, clutching her shoulder. "Well that was stupid," she heard. Her eyes blinked and she thought she heard a banging on the door. A hand moved her back to a lying position.
Lying back in the bed she let her eyes open and took in her surroundings. She saw a dark haired woman – Morrigan, she realized. Morrigan bent down and put something cool on her shoulder. "There. Perhaps now you will stay conscious for more than a minute." Sylina blinked and, gritting her teeth, she tried to sit up again. Morrigan placed a hand on her elbow and helped her. When Sylina was in a sitting position, she saw that she was in a room – or a hut, more like - with a fireplace and two beds. She was also wearing nothing but her breastband, underclothes and a few bandages. She looked at Morrigan who was watching her with inquisitive eyes. "W-what happened?" she managed to whisper.
She remembered waking up and heading to the Tower of Ishal with Alistair in tow. Then, she remembered watching the battle begin, and Alistair reminding her that they had a job to do. By the time they got to the tower it had been overrun by darkspawn. She remembered fighting them, she remembered other guards helping them, she remembered people dying, Alistair never leaving her side. She remembered countless times when his shield had been the only thing stopping a darkspawn from taking her head off. They had climbed the tower inch by inch and when they got to the top, an ogre had been there. She remembered Alistair's shout and how she had almost fainted. The thing had been ten times the size of her and when it had advanced the very ground shook. Alistair had led the charge and she had cast all the spells she knew at it. Finally, Alistair had run his sword through its chest and the great beast had died. They had run to the signal and, calling on the last of her mana, she had lit it. She remembered being hit after that. She remembered the sharp pain of an arrow hitting her shoulder. The last thing she could recall was being shrouded in darkness.
"The darkspawn won your battle and Mother rescued you and your friend from the top of the tower," Morrigan said, gazing at her. Sylina nodded. "The man who was to respond to your signal...quit the field." Sylina snapped her head up at her and winced from the pain. She heard another bang on the door and a shout. She turned to look at it. Morrigan huffed and went to the door. She cracked it open and shouted, "She is alive you oaf. Stop your ranting. She will be out in a moment." She then shut the door with a bang and turned back to Sylina. "Your moronic friend is not taking the news well," she said angrily, walking over to Sylina. She went to the end of the bed and grabbed a small bag.
"My things!" Sylina said, reaching for the bag. "How did you...my friend?" she suddenly asked, turning back to the door.
"Yes, the one who was with you earlier, suspicious and dim-witted."
"Alistair?" Sylina gasped, her mouth falling open.
"Yes, that is his name."
"He is alive!" Sylina went to move off the bed, but was stopped by the pain in her shoulder. Morrigan sighed and moved to aid her. She helped her put on one of her robes, Sylina crying out in pain when she put her arm into the sleeve. Then, she walked outside. She saw Alistair staring out over the small lake next to the hut. She called his name as she got nearer to him. He turned, and his face broke when he saw her. She saw relief, grief, and unshed tears in his eyes as he took two steps towards her and wrapped her in his arms.
"I...I thought you were dead," he whispered, his head buried in her shoulder.
Sylina winced and Alistair, realizing that he was hurting her, jumped back. "Oh Maker, I'm sorry. I...you are hurt." Alistair blushed crimson and Sylina was still breathing fast as the pain subsided. She nodded.
"Ah, there you are." Morrigan's mother walked up to her. "See," she said, turning to Alistair, who was decidedly looking at the ground. "I told you she would live." Morrigan's mother turned back to her, but Alistair spoke, his eyes coming to meet hers. Sylina saw the pain he was trying to suppress.
"D-Duncan...he's dead. The other Grey Wardens...the king...they're all dead." Alistair took a breath, his hands raking through his hair. "How can this be real?" he whispered, looking back out at the lake.
"I am sorry for your Duncan," Morrigan's mother told him, "but you must grieve later. Duty must come first."
Alistair stayed quiet and Sylina turned to the old woman. "Thank you...uh...Morrigan's mother?" The old woman laughed and Sylina hurried on. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name."
"Pah. Names are useless. But I suppose you can call me Flemeth if you wish," Flemeth said. Sylina stared at her with her mouth hanging open and Alistair tore his gaze from the lake and turned to the old woman.
"Wait...the Flemeth. From the legends?" he asked.
Flemeth waved off his question with her hand. "It does not matter what you think I am. It only matters what the two of you are going to do now."
"N-now?" Sylina asked, looking at Alistair and seeing confusion in his eyes as well.
"The last time I checked, it was the Grey Warden's responsibility to unite the lands against the Blight," Flemeth said, looking from Sylina to Alistair.
The truth of what the old woman said hit Sylina. She and Alistair were the last Grey Wardens left. Then she remembered what Duncan had said when they entered Ostagar: that if the Blight was not stopped, it would destroy Ferelden. She turned to Alistair. "Then we have to stop it. We have to stop this Blight." Alistair just looked at her. "Alistair, there must be a way to contact the other Grey Wardens. The ones in other nations. If they could get here..."
Alistair was shaking his head. "Cailan already summoned them...and I'm sure by now Loghain has made some attempt to stop them. Even if they are on their way, they will never get here in time." He growled. "Why would Loghain do this?!"
Flemeth spoke. "Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted beast."
"Arl Eamon would never stand for this!" Alistair shouted, throwing his hands up. "IF HE..." Sylina walked up to him and put her hand on his arm. He turned to look at her, stopping mid-sentence, shock on his face.
She smiled up at him. She saw that he was hurting, that he was in pain and was furious, but she also knew that anger would get them nowhere. "Alistair," she started and he lowered his arms and visibly calmed. "Loghain will pay for what he has done - but right now, we must remember the Blight. Duncan would want that to be our first priority." Alistair nodded and blushed. Sylina took her hand off his arm and turned back to Flemeth.
"I believe you have more at your disposal than you think," Flemeth said.
Sylina blinked at her, not quite, understanding when suddenly Alistair yelled: "The treaties!" Sylina jumped. "Sylina, remember! The treaties. Grey Wardens can demand aid from dwarves, elves, mages, and others. They are obligated to help during a Blight!" He was smiling.
Sylina nodded. "But we don't have the treaties Alistair. We gave them back to Duncan. Remember?"
"I believe I can help you." Flemeth pulled the treaties out of her pocket and handed them to Alistair. He took them, bewildered.
"How..."
"Do not question good fortune, young man," Flemeth said. "Now, it sounds like you know what to do. Go to these places, build an army. There is one more thing I can do for you..."
At these words Morrigan appeared. "Mother, dinner is almost ready. Will the Grey Wardens be staying...or going?" she said, leering at Sylina and Alistair.
"They are leaving, and you are going with them," Flemeth said, turning to her daughter.
"Oh how sad...What!?" Morrigan looked at her mother with wide eyes.
"If Morrigan doesn't wish to go with us..." Sylina began.
"She will be useful. She can continue to heal your shoulder and she can get you both out of the Wilds and past the horde," Flemeth said matter-of-factly.
"Mother...I...this is not how I imagined this. I-I am not ready," Morrigan began.
Flemeth nodded. "Come girl, we will put together your things and get you ready. Wait here, Grey Wardens." Flemeth immediately headed into the hut. Morrigan looked despairingly after her before sighing and following.
Alistair turned to Sylina, his eyes wide. "Um...won't she only add to our problems? Out of the Wilds she's an apostate."
Sylina looked up at Alistair and bit her lip. "I am not sure we have a choice in this, and..." Sylina paused and looked at the ground, "some might think that of me too now." He blinked in surprise, his mouth opening then closing. Sylina hadn't thought of herself as an apostate, but if people didn't know she was a Grey Warden, there was no doubt what they would think upon meeting her. She wondered if they would run into trouble, if templars would try to take her back to the tower. No doubt the Knight-Commander would if he had the chance. Perhaps it was best to avoid templars for the time being.
Morrigan returned without her mother. "Come, Grey Wardens. I shall take you to a village just outside the Wilds. We can purchase supplies over there and hear the news."
Sylina nodded and motioned to the path. "Lead on." She saw Alistair fidget and she cast him a look that begged him to stay quiet. He frowned, but didn't say anything.
"Good," Morrigan said. She began to lead.