They found Morgan waiting for them leaning against a fence smiling at a Templar who was standing guard at the town entrance. "There you two are," Morgan sighed.
Lucky barked not liking to be forgotten. Morgan just glared at him then turned her nose up at him. Alistair patted the dog on the back. "It's okay boy I like you better."
Elissa shook her head, "So learn anything or did you just stand here to lure in your prey?"
"I found out people are saying the Grey Warden's killed the king," Morrigan smiled.
Elissa froze and looked at Alistair his face had gone pale. "We did what?" Elissa choked out.
"It appears the man who left your king to die is placing the blame on your order," Morrigan added. "Tis best not to linger here as he has placed a reward on any remaining Grey Warden's head."
"Well then I guess we won't be going around introducing ourselves as Grey Wardens," Elissa said.
"But we didn't do what he said," Alistair started to raise his voice.
Elissa put her hand on his arm as she saw some curious refugees listening in. "Alistair now is not the time to play whom did what. We know the truth. By the end of this Blight we will have justice for Duncan, for the rest of the Grey Wardens, and for King Cailan."
Elissa didn't add her parents to the list but now it fell to her to see Howe paid. She wouldn't rest until he was dead.
"You're right," Alistair sighed and noticed people staring at them whispering amongst themselves. "We weren't that loud were we?"
Elissa shook her head. "No," she frowned and didn't know why everyone was staring and whispering. She did notice that the pointing was mostly directed at her. She felt a shiver go up her spine. Was Howe looking for her? She didn't think they were pointing her out because she was pretty.
"Let's go to the inn shall we?" Morrigan said.
"Aye," Elissa said. She pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. Alistair looked at her.
"They aren't pointing at you," Elissa whispered.
He saw the pointing then and nodded. "Well they'll have to go through me to get to you."
Elissa's cheeks flamed at that comment. She didn't want to admit that it had an affect on her but his words did. At one time she would have said something back but now was not the time for flirting. She moved on past the Templar who was still watching Morrigan. Elissa thought it was more of a lustful look over a 'she's a mage!' look.
She led the way past the refugees looking lost. Some people were yelling at each other. "It's just a guess but I'm going to bet the people are aware of the approaching darkspawn horde," Alistair said.
Elissa moved towards the inn. There they could find supplies but she didn't know what they would find in this town. Elissa saw children crying even a little redheaded boy huddled by the bridge shivering and wiping the tears from his face. She bit her lip as they passed him. He reminded her of Oren. She could even see a little of Roland in the boy especially the red-hair. She took a deep breath and swallowed the forming lump.
In the town square there was a triage center where Elissa saw an older woman helping wounded and sick. She'd stop by there before they left to offer help.
Outside the inn Elissa looked at Lucky. "Stay."
He tilted his and whined.
"No stay Lucky, you know how some people get when we bring in a dog," Elissa smiled down at him.
He let out a bark then a growl. Elissa laughed and went down on one knee in front of him. "I'll bring you a treat if I can."
He whined again but lay down by the door with a huff. Elissa patted him on the head then turned going inside while Alistair held the door open for her. "You have good manners."
"What can I say growing up in the Chantry made me chivalrous," Alistair smiled.
Elissa smiled back then looked around inside as the door closed behind them. She felt Alistair step closer to her. It was crowded and there were bards trying to keep the mood above desperation. "Like that will work," Elissa found herself saying out loud.
"What?" Alistair asked beside her.
"Oh nothing," Elissa said she didn't like the negative attitude she was adapting.
She went to move to the bar where a man stood watching them from behind with worry in his eyes. She removed her hood and smiled at him. But a clang of chairs stopped her from moving forward. She turned around and froze. Five men stood up all in uniform. They were royal military armor.
"Uh oh Loghain's men," Alistair whispered. "This can't be good."
The leader of the group staggered towards them. Elissa could smell the alcohol in the air. "You two attract more trouble than I would have thought," Morrigan said. "This will be interesting."
Elissa kept her eyes on the men. She felt unarmed with only one dagger and a bow as her weapons. She looked at Alistair and saw his jaw clenched. "No matter what do not kill them."
"I won't unless they try to kill us," Alistair grumbled.
"Even then Alistair, no," Elissa whispered.
"Well look what we have here," the man said.
Elissa studied him, he reminded her of many of the men in Highever's troops. He had captain marks on his uniform. She recognized the look in their eyes. They believed what they were doing. Believers were dangerous especially if they were given orders. And even worse when they were drunk.
"Weren't we asking about a woman by this exact description and everyone said they hadn't seen her?" a younger soldier asked.
"It seems we were lied to," the captain of the men said.
"I'm afraid no one lied to you," Elissa said her voice stronger than she thought it would be. She even found herself smiling. "I just got into Lothering the good people here didn't lie to you."
Alistair looked at her with wide eyes. "What are you doing?" he whispered.
She shook her head at him. "Now what can I do for you gentlemen?" Elissa asked.
"Don't skirt around it we both know who you are! You are a Grey Warden!" the drunken captain roared and was followed by cheers of his men. "We're here to take you traitors in."
"Now gentlemen, there's no need for trouble" a foreign voice said. Elissa looked over and saw a woman in a priest robe walking towards them. She had an Orlesian accent. Her hair was short and red with a braid down the side. She looked peaceful but Elissa knew looks were deceiving. "Surely these poor folk are simply refugees."
"They are no refugees!" the captain yelled. "They are traitors. And if you protect them you will share their fate."
"Please miss stand back," Elissa said to the priest. "I can handle them."
"You may be able to but these men will follow their master's orders blind!" the priest said.
"I am not the blind one here!" the captain slurred.
"How exactly am I a traitor?" Elissa asked. She had given up her life for Ferelden. She was just a little bit miffed that she was being accused as such.
"Don't play coy with me," the captain grabbed Elissa's arm and dragged her toward him.
Alistair grabbed Elissa's other arm but she shook her head at him. He let out a growl upset she kept shutting him out.
"I fought at Ostagar, I know what you did," the captain said.
"Oh and what did I do?" Elissa asked. She knew she was provoking him but he was on her last nerve and right now she was really itching for a fight. That shocked her because she was not a violent person.
"The Grey Warden's killed the king!" the man said. "We're taking you to Loghain."
"I don't think so," Elissa smiled and brought her knee up. The captain doubled over then it was crazy as his men charged her. She grabbed a bottle off the counter and hit another soldier over the head. Alistair knocked one unconscious with his shield and Morrigan put one to sleep with a spell without leaving her relaxed position leaning against the bar. The last one the priest knocked out.
The captain looked up at her with fear and pain in his eyes, "I surrender."
"Good, now we can all stop fighting," the priest smiled.
Elissa bent down and looked at the captain in the eyes. "I want you to take a message to Loghain for me."
"What?" Alistair asked. Was she crazy he'd just send more men after them when these one's failed.
Elissa smiled at him, "It's all right."
"Anything," the captain pleaded.
"You tell him we know the truth and I will not rest until he's paid for what he has done," Elissa reached into her belt and grabbed one of her throwing knives that had Highever's emblem on it. "Show him this. He'll know what it means. Oh and if he happens to have Arl Howe anywhere near him tell him that message falls to him as well."
Elissa knew she was probably making it worse but she had things to do before she could face them. And if she knew Howe he'd align himself with Loghain especially when he learned a Cousland still lived.
"I'll do it right away," the captain took the knife from her and roused his men. They took off. Elissa turned to the man behind the bar and tossed him a sovereign for the mess. He nodded his thanks at her then handed her a glass filled with amber. She raised her eyebrow at him.
"You did us a favor clearing that lot out," he nodded.
She took the drink and downed it. It was whiskey, which helped calm her nerves. At the same time making her cough at the burn in her throat. "Elissa what was that about?" Alistair whispered grabbing her arm and turning her towards him.
She looked up at him wondering if she should just blurt out whom she was but couldn't find the words. He was searching her eyes and her face for some clue as to what was going on. The priest saved her by clearing her throat. Alistair and Elissa turned to the little red head. "Thank you for offering them mercy."
Elissa nodded, "And you are?"
"I am Leliana until recently I was a lay sister in the chantry here," she smiled.
Morrigan let out an unlady like snort. Elissa ignored her. "I am Elissa, this is Alistair and that is Morrigan."
"A pleasure," Leliana smiled. "Those men said you were Grey Wardens no? You will be battling the darkspawn that is what Grey Wardens do is it not?"
Elissa looked at Alistair who muttered, "So much for keeping a low profile."
"I am coming with you," Leliana smiled.
Elissa looked back at her, "Um, what?"
"I wish to come with you, you will need all the help you can get," she smiled.
"So are you going to recite the Chant of Light at the darkspawn? I don't see how a lay sister could be helpful with what we have to do," Elissa frowned.
Alistair started laughing, "I wonder if that would work. The Chant of Light against evil. Maker knows it has put me to sleep plenty of times."
Leliana glared at Elissa and Alistair. "I can fight! I can do more than fight, I wasn't always a lay sister you know."
"Why exactly do you want to come with us?" Elissa asked.
"The Maker told me to," Leliana smiled.
"Right," Elissa nodded slowly. Everyone who believed in the Maker knew that he talked to no one but Andraste and when she was murdered he left mankind. "This is where we back up."
"I know that makes me sound crazy! But I'm not! It's true. I had a dream! A vision!" Leliana urged. Elissa looked around and saw the people turning away as if not wanting to be apart of the crazy lay sister's vision.
"More crazy? I thought we were all full up?" Alistair whispered. Elissa softly kicked Alistair's shin. "What?"
"I don't know Leliana," Elissa said. "If you want to help the people here look like they need more help than us."
"Then what? What happens when the horde comes? It will follow anywhere we flee until all we know is destroyed," Leliana said.
Elissa felt uncomfortable. They needed help that was sure. "She seems wholehearted. And she did knock out a soldier without breaking a sweat. I vote she comes," Alistair urged.
Elissa looked up at him and frowned but Alistair was staring at the priest. She felt jealousy stirring in her and clamped down on it. "Alistair she's one archdemon short of a Blight," Elissa whispered.
"Yeah but she seems more oh pretty colors! Than muhaha I am Princess Stabbity! Stab kill kill!" Alistair whispered back.
Elissa chuckled and shook her head, "All right Leliana if you want to come with be my guest we do need help."
"Oh thank you! You will not regret this!" Leliana clapped her hands together.
"Perhaps your skulls were cracked worse than Mother thought," Morrigan sighed.
Elissa and Alistair ignored her. "I will go get my things and meet you out front?" Leliana said. She dashed off to some part of the inn.
Elissa went over to another man who introduced himself as Barlin and asked about jobs. He informed her to check the chanter's board and then he slyly asked if she knew about poisons.
She traded some poisons for some of his supplies that he showed her in the storeroom of the inn. She found another dagger that she bought to replace the one that broke. She purchased some bedrolls and two tents the innkeeper was hesitant to part with but she added two sovereigns to the deal. She bought a piece of pork for Lucky then left before she wore out her welcome.
When she hauled out the stash she had come away with Alistair raised an eyebrow. He was outside by Lucky leaning against the building. "Did you buy them out?"
Elissa looked up at him, "We need tents and things. I don't relish sleeping under the stars on the hard ground."
"Neither do I," Alistair stepped towards her and smiled. "Thanks Elissa I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here."
Elissa looked away at his words, "You'd be doing what I am doing now. Be useful and carry some of this."
Lucky barked at her.
"I didn't forget about you boy," Elissa unwrapped the pork and tossed it to him.
Alistair laughed and shook his head. Elissa had gone from mess with armed soldiers to provider in less than ten minutes. She had scared him when she told the soldier to deliver the message. Her voice had gone cold and he heard the promise in them even if the captain who was delivering her message had not.
She had closed herself off to him at the moment so now was not the time to ask her what the message and the knife had meant. He did as she asked and helped carry the gear she had obtained and they went and found Morrigan and Leliana. Any other time Alistair would have laughed he went from being around mostly men in the Wardens to a little group of women with him and the dog being the only males.
He looked around Lothering and sighed. He knew Elissa wasn't the only one keeping a secret. He was keeping something from her. He studied her as she split the supplies up for each of them to carry. She looked as if she was always trying to find something to keep her busy and he didn't want to burden her with his problems. It would wait until Redcliffe at least. There he would have to tell her. He wasn't looking forward to that.