Chapter 24:
They made it back to Matthias and he gave them the phrase. As they were walking outside, Alistair managed to catch up to Sylina. She turned to look at him, concern still in her eyes. "Are you sure about this? I mean the golem killed its former master," Alistair said, looking at her. Sylina bit her lip and her hand fiddled with the chain around her neck.
"I-I don't know. I mean...we came all the way here. We might as well try." She glanced up at him. "How are you feeling?"
Alistair smiled. "Oh, I've been through worse. It actually feels a lot better." He stretched his arm and winced. Sylina smiled and they reached the golem. She pulled out the control rod and stood in front of the golem.
"Dulen harn," Sylina said, and Alistair watched as the golem came to life. It stretched its arms up and then down to its side. Then, the golem sighed.
"It is another mage...just my luck," the golem said, turning its white eyes on Sylina.
"Er...hello golem," Sylina said taking a step back. "How do you know I am a mage?"
"Ha, does the mage think these crystals are for show?" the golem snorted. "I can sense the energies it commands. I have stood here and watched these wretched little villagers for...many, many years."
"That sounds incredibly boring," Leliana said from Sylina's side.
"But they didn't know? That's creepy," Alistair said, frowning at the large golem.
"But then the darkspawn came and it was much quieter, though I would never have thought there was something less interesting than villagers, but there are those things. So...what is its command then? Out with it." The golem was looking at Sylina.
"Um...is something wrong?" Sylina asked, looking down at the control rod.
"I see the control rod, yet I feel...Order me to do something."
Sylina bit her lip. "O-okay. Um, walk over there." She pointed to the other side of the village.
The golem stared at her for a moment. "I feel nothing. No compulsion to carry out its command. Perhaps the rod is...broken?"
Sylina took another step back. "So...are you going to kill me then?" Alistair stiffened and felt the rest of the group do the same. Could they take down the golem if it came to that?
The golem then laughed. "Oh, don't be ridiculous. I suppose if it cannot command me, that means I have free will, yes? Hmm...I simply...what should I do?" The golem looked around the partly burned village, then turned back to Sylina. "What about it? It must have awoken me for some purpose, no?"
Sylina smiled. "I was hoping you would help me defeat the Blight actually."
"The Blight? This refers to the darkspawn, the creatures that destroyed this village. Hmm yes...the darkspawn must be destroyed. I suppose I have two options. I could go with it...or go elsewhere?" The golem frowned. "I do not know what lies beyond this village."
Sylina looked around the village and then back at the golem. "I would be happy to have you come with us, golem."
"Are you sure?" Alistair whispered. Sylina looked up at him and gave him a brief nod.
"Then I will follow it about...for now. I am called Shale."
Sylina smiled. "I am Sylina."
Shale sighed. "This should be interesting."
They left Honnleath and upon reaching the bottom of the hill, they set up camp for the night. Alistair was pretty sure it was because Sylina had seen him lagging behind. "I'm sorry about your armor," Sylina said that night as she came up and sat beside him at the fire. He was looking at the hole in his breastplate. He had taken it after the demon attack hoping he could fix it, but he saw that was not likely to happen. The hole in the shoulder plate where the demon had ripped through with her claws was the size of his fist, and was most probably going to be an easy target for enemies.
He put it down on the ground and sighed. "I can keep it for the time being, but...we may need to find new armor soon." He turned to look at her. "And, you know, I don't think it would hurt if you wore something a little more...protective," he said, lifting his eyebrow. "Then perhaps I wouldn't be running to save you every time an enemy gets close." Sylina blushed and turned to the fire.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I thought I could slow her down."
Alistair smiled. "Not that I mind...you know...it would just make things easier."
"I know, and you're right. Robes aren't going to cut it." She fidgeted with her robe and he saw there was blood on it. He wondered if it was his. "I am glad you are alright." She got up and stretched. "Now I gave Leliana the first watch, so you should get some rest. And don't forget to give your shoulder a break." She smiled down at him and walked to her tent. He watched her leave, a small smile on his lips.
Sylina looked over Alistair's shoulder the next morning and re-bandaged it. Afterward they made their way to Orzammar. Leliana told them that it would take a week or two to travel on foot. Sylina stayed back and walked next to Morrigan that morning. "Um...hi." She smiled up at the dark haired witch.
Morrigan frowned at her. "What do you want?"
"I...uh just wanted to thank you for your help yesterday...with the little girl." Sylina bit her lip and looked at the ground where she walked. Morrigan shot her a curious glance before scowling.
"You...wanted to thank me? Why?" she asked, hostile.
Sylina blinked. "Well, because you saved the girl. I mean if you hadn't...you know...the demon would have kept her hold on the girl and we wouldn't have been able to get out of there without killing her."
"If I hadn't slapped her?" Morrigan sneered at Sylina and then laughed. "Do not thank me for reacting. I am not some blundering idiot who does not know how to handle demon possessions." She glared at Alistair's back and Sylina hid a smile.
"Well, thank you anyway." Sylina glanced quickly at the witch before continuing. "And I am glad to have someone here who understands." Morrigan opened her mouth to speak but Sylina trudged on. "I know you don't like the Circle, I get it, but that's where I got my training and I am about as keen as you to go back there." Her hand fidgeted with the chain around her neck. "I am just grateful for your presence, even if you are not grateful for mine." She didn't look up at the witch as she hurried her steps and left the woman behind. Morrigan looked after her, and couldn't stop the corner of one lip curling up.
That day, Sylina tried to walk with everyone else, but eventually she had to realize her limit and they stopped to rest. She felt sickened by her lack of strength, but Alistair told her that it would be pointless to push herself as she wouldn't be doing anyone any good if she wasn't in fighting condition the next day. Sylina let this comfort herself over the next few days. Each night she healed her blisters and the next day walked further. Alistair's shoulder healed nicely and soon they were in the routine of waking up at sunrise and walking until a few hours before dark.
Finally, they made it to the Frostback Mountains. Sylina sighed when she saw the path leading up. They started up and had to stop early. She was glad to see she wasn't the only one exhausted that night when they stopped. She sat next to Alistair at the fire and ate rabbit stew. She looked up at him and saw he was staring into the flames, grief in his eyes.
"Alistair." He turned to her. "D-do you want to talk about Duncan?" She put down her bowl and Hesper appeared immediately to slurp down the rest of her meal.
He sighed and closed his eyes. "You don't have to do that."
Sylina put her hand out and touched his forearm. "I want to, I know he was like a...father to you." She thought back to First Enchanter Irving and how he had always looked out for her. "I can understand that."
Alistair opened his eyes and looked at her hand. His other hand moved up and rested on hers. She felt the warmth of his calloused fingers. "Duncan warned me right from the start that this could happen...any of us could die. I-I should have handled it better. I shouldn't have lost it, not with so much riding on us." He looked at her. "I'm sorry."
Sylina gave him a sad smile. "You do not need to apologize for grieving, Alistair - that is allowed, no matter what Duncan said." She squeezed his arm.
Alistair nodded and stared back into the flames. They sat there for a while before he spoke again. "I...think I'd like to give him a proper funeral, once all this is over. Assuming we still live." He gave a hollow laugh and Sylina squeezed his arm again. He looked at her. "Have you ever had someone close to you...die? I-I don't mean to pry, you don't have to answer that, I'm sorry." He quickly looked back at the flames.
Sylina shook her head. "I didn't..." she bit her lip and looked into the flames. She focused on the warmth of Alistair's hand. "In the tower, there were not many people I was close to." She thought of Jowan and the look of betrayal on his face. Then of Cullen and the sadness in his eyes before turning away from her. "But I know of loss. Perhaps not the same kind, but..." Alistair's hand squeezed hers and they fell silent. They sat there until finally Sylina got up to go to bed. "I will forever be grateful to Duncan for saving me from the tower. He was a good man." Alistair's eyes became watery and he nodded, but didn't say anything. Sylina walked to her tent.