Ok I am very very sorry for the incredibly long time between updates. I have been really busy with school and such and with finals coming up this chapter finally got edited. Anyway, I hope nobody was too angry, I know I get frustrated with stories that get abandoned. I don't plan on doing that. Sylina's story will be told. Also, (I know this is a long note) I will be writing a lot over spring break and possibly post some of my short stories. Thank you all for reading!
Chapter 33:
This was getting ridiculous. Alistair knew that and yet he hadn't done anything about it. Maker, how he wanted to. Each day he would tell himself that he was going to tell Sylina what had happened, just to clear the air. And every day when he thought he had the chance she would run off to do something. It had been weeks now and they were almost to the Circle. She spent most of her time with Morrigan or Oghren. But what gritted him the most was when he caught her speaking to the assassin. He would make her giggle and blush and recently he had even begun to show her how to use a dagger. Alistair would see them 'practicing' away from camp. The elf's hands all over her, instructing her how to hold the blade and move with it. He ground his teeth as this was happening again that night at camp. There they were the elf's hand on her waist, whispering in her ear. He saw her blush and turn ever so slightly toward him. Alistair growled and turned back to the fire. Maker he wanted to hit that laughing elf, somewhere where it would hurt.
He heard a sigh and looked over. Leliana had plopped herself down next to him. "I don't get it. What did we do? She won't even look at me, let alone talk to me." Leliana looked up at him, frowning. She scratched her nug's head affectionately.
Alistair sighed. Sometimes he wished he could just let his feelings for Sylina go. Leliana had been close to him since Orzammar. But he couldn't see her that way. He liked the laysister, sure. But he knew he would never have feelings for her the way he did for Sylina. And that part made it worse. Because he hadn't told Leliana about what had happened. And, by all accounts, Leliana didn't remember a thing. He looked back into the fire and ran a hand through his hair. "She...well...I mean I'm not sure because she has that amulet on and everything...but..." That is what made the least sense to him. Here she had gone to great lengths to show off the amulet, the one her templar gave to her. Alistair felt his jaw twitch at the thought. And yet she still was obviously angry about the idea of him and Leliana together. The woman was stubborn if she didn't realize that meant something.
"The amulet?" Leliana asked. "I noticed her wearing it. It is a templar amulet, no? I assumed you gave it to her since I only saw her wearing it after Orzammar...and you two had become so close...I just assumed..."
Alistair gave a dry laugh and shook his head. "No. I didn't give her the amulet. Only templars who have undergone their vows get an amulet. So I never received one. She's been wearing it since I first met her." His eyes glanced up. Sylina was flushed and bending down to hug Hesper, the elf admiring her as she bent down. Alistair quickly looked back toward the fire, his anger rising. "Another templar gave it to her. From the tower. She told me after we...I mean after you..." He blushed and saw Leliana blink at him.
"After I what? What did I do...Oh no!" Leliana gasp and put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, Alistair. What did I do? Was it that night...Bhelen's coronation...Oh, Maker, I knew I drank too much!" Alistair saw that the laysister looked ashamed and was blushing. She wouldn't bring herself to look at him.
"It's...it's nothing. I mean, yes, you were drunk. And you came to my...room. But nothing happened I swear! I mean I wish Sylina hadn't seen...but she did and she thought...but nothing happened!" Alistair saw the laysister's face go white and her mouth fell open. He felt himself turn crimson.
"I...oh, Alistair. I'm so sorry. I knew. I mean...at least...I think I knew...that you...had feelings for her, yes? I can't believe I...Oh Alistair I'm so sorry." Leliana was shaking her head. "I'll...I'll go tell her, yes? That's what I will do. Then she won't be mad at us...or you...she may still be mad at me." Leliana stood up and before Alistair could stutter a response or to tell her no she was walking toward Sylina.
He watched in horror as the laysister approached Sylina and Zevran. His fellow Warden looked up at the red haired woman and her mouth clenched shut. She stood and he saw Leliana speaking and gesturing. He saw Sylina blush fervently and Zevran laugh and Leliana was pointing at him and shaking her head. He wanted the ground to swallow him up. Even the dog was looking at him. He was blushing furiously and he stood up and stormed away from the fire, hoping the night air would cool his face.
He had been walking into the trees when he heard rustling. He stopped dead. It wasn't darkspawn, but there were other worries beside darkspawn in this world.
"Ow," he heard a small voice say and couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face. Sylina appeared in front of him massaging her head. "Damn branch," she growled, blinking up at him.
He chuckled, but knew he was blushing. "Did it offend you, my lady?" he asked sarcastically.
Sylina sighed and put her hand down. "Alistair," she started, her voice serious. His grin vanished. "I-I'm sorry. I've been acting like a child." She looked down at her feet and he blinked at her. This was the first time in a week she had spoken to him. She was biting her lip and he felt his head get light.
"Um...I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? I think I'm hearing things," he said, his grin returning to his face.
She gave him a sharp look and batted his arm, but a small smile tugged at her mouth. "You will not hear it again you insufferable man!" she growled, her smile getting larger. He chuckled and feigned being hurt.
"Ow. You are so mean. You know that?"
She laughed and then looked at him and cast her eyes to the ground. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked in a small voice.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I tried to...but I got distracted. And then..." He shrugged.
She shook her head and then looked up at him smiling shyly. "Friends?" she asked uncertainly.
He laughed and, despite himself, hugged her. He heard her squeak. She pulled back, but she was smiling, "Always," he said, grinning at her.
"So they lock their mages up in the middle of a lake and make it look like a giant phallus?" Morrigan asked, walking up beside Sylina. She looked across the lake at her old home. The tower. Has it always been so tall? she wondered. Then she looked towards Morrigan, who had raised her eyebrow.
"So...you're saying I was raised in a giant phallus...I can think of worse things," Sylina said, a slight smirk working its way onto her face. Zevran roared with laughter and Oghren guffawed. Sylina blushed and shook her head. Maker, it was time to get this visit over with. She headed down to the docks. Morrigan was still at her side.
"I would prefer to stay ashore. I am sure you can understand," the witch said, glancing at Sylina.
She nodded. "Yes, I understand." She turned to her group. "In fact, the boat is small. I think it would be better if I just take a few people over with me. It shouldn't take too long." She looked over her group and contemplated. She needed people who would help her convince the mages to join with the Wardens. She doubted it would take much convincing. Irving would be more than happy to help. The problem would likely be Greagoir. She groaned at the thought of the old templar. "Alistair, Leliana, and Sten," she decided. The qunari frowned at her.
"I do not trust mages," he stated.
She shook her head. "Well, you are following one, and you're big and scary so hopefully that will help." She nodded to the rest of them. "Stay here. Set up camp. If something happens I will send word." She bent down and hugged Hesper. "Stay here too, okay? Pets are not allowed in the tower." He whined and sat down. She smiled and hugged him again.
The four of them made their way down to the boat and Sylina saw that a templar stood on the dock. She frowned. She could have sworn that when she left with Duncan only one oarsman had steered the boat. She walked up to the templar and he turned to look at her. He looked young and she wasn't sure she knew who he was.
"I have strict orders not to let anyone pass!" the templar standing next to the dock said in a whiny voice. Sylina frowned at him and looked past to the small boat docked close by. Her eyes trailed to the tower across the lake – the tower she once called home. Now it looked cold and uninviting. She looked back at the templar. Clearly Greagoir had entrusted him with keeping people away because he likely didn't have any other skills. The man was young and acting rather childish for a templar tasked with killing mages at the drop of a hat.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. It is going to be a long day. "I am a Grey Warden. And in case you haven't noticed, there is a Blight. I need to get to the tower to speak to First Enchanter Irving about mage support." She looked up at the templar, expecting him to move, maybe even apologize for being rude. Not that templars ever apologized. Except Cullen, a small voice in her head said. She found her hands reaching for the amulet. She wanted to see Cullen.
"Prove it," the man said smirking down at her. "Come on. Let's see some righteous Grey Wardening."
"Oh Maker," she heard Alistair say behind her as he smacked his forehead with his hand.
"Are all templars so..." Leliana began timidly.
"Dense?" Alistair asked, smirking at the laysister.
Sylina shook her head. "Listen. I am not here to entertain you. I need to get across to the tower."
"Well...how about we make a deal? You scratch my back, I scratch yours." He looked over Sylina's shoulder at Leliana. "How about you leave your pretty red haired friend with me? Gets mighty boring out here...I could...uh use the company."
"Me?" Leliana asked, eyes going round.
"Not a chance," Sylina growled, taking a step toward the man. She would never let a templar touch her companions. Never.
Sensing her anger, the templar stepped back and looked around worriedly. "Uh...well, I am feeling a bit peckish..."
Sylina put up her hand intending to intimidate the man with fire when Sten stepped up. "Parasharra. Here." He handed the templar a cloth with food wrapped inside.
"Oh...Cookies!" The annoying templar said, grabbing one and stuffing it in his mouth.
Sylina blinked and looked from the templar to Sten. "Cookies?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"I am content to part with them if it will save us from this fool," Sten stated, frowning at the gorging templar.
"Okay, I'll take you now," the templar said, leading the way to the boat. She saw Alistair chuckling and she couldn't suppress the smile on her own face.