Elissa leaned against the small shed in the corner of Lothering. She slid down the wooden wall until she sat with her knees drawn up to her chest. She was exhausted. They spent the day running around helping the people left in Lothering. "Selfish bastard, coward, fat lazy ass" Elissa muttered.
"That was a long stream of cussing," Leliana said.
"I'm swearing at their bann! Had that bastard been more responsible for his people I wouldn't feel like I was leaving these people to die tomorrow," Elissa said. "I swear when I see their bann I will kick him so hard he'll wish he was facing the darkspawn instead of me."
Alistair walked up hearing that last part. "I know I'd rather face the darkspawn," he sighed
"Of course you would," Leliana said cheerfully. "Our Elissa is a force to be reckoned with."
Elissa smiled slightly the sister was slowly growing on her. Morrigan didn't like the righteous little sister as she put it though. Elissa was beginning to wonder if there was a person Morrigan did like. She noticed Morrigan watching the Qunari in the cage from her perch up by the mill. There was enough light left in the day to see the expression on the witch's face.
"What is the story behind the Qunari?" Elissa asked as she stroked Lucky's belly.
Alistair was making a fire and looked up and studied Elissa trying to see what she was thinking.
"He murdered an entire family," Leliana said quietly. "The Revered Mother said even the children."
"Why?" Elissa asked staring at Leliana her mouth hanging open in shock.
Leliana shrugged, "He will not say. He did not fight when he was taken into custody and he accepts his punishment. But that is no way to die. He has not had water or food for who knows how long. He will starve or be left for the darkspawn. No one deserves that not even a murderer."
The air was thick as the three sat silent thinking about that. While Elissa wondered why the Qunari murdered a family, Leliana thought about second chances.
"You know Qunari are said to be renowned warriors," Alistair cleared his throat.
Elissa looked at him, "You want us to take him with us?"
"I've seen you pick a lock or two tomorrow before we leave for Redcliffe we can take him with," Alistair shrugged. "And he could be useful."
"And if he tries to kill us?" Elissa asked.
"We'll make sure he doesn't get the chance," Alistair looked at her. "But I believe he will help us."
"Talk to him did you?" Elissa studied Alistair.
"After talking to Ser Donall about Eamon I needed air and found myself walking by his cage. I asked him why he was there and he told me," Alistair shrugged.
Elissa winced Alistair was having a rough time. From Duncan dying to learning Eamon was sick. She wanted to tell him it would be all right but that thought always brought a sour taste to her mouth. She didn't like hearing Eamon was sick and fell ill before Cailan died. She felt goose bumps raise on her arms and had a feeling everything was connected. Loghain had turned on his men, on his king. Her father the only other teryn in Ferelden had been murdered and now Eamon had fallen sick. It felt too planned. Eamon and Bryce had both been advisers to Cailan and now they were indisposed or dead. Bryce had been Cailan's eyes and ears in Orlais on numerous occasions. And it was no secret Eamon married an Orlesian. Elissa had a feeling all of this was because of one man's fear. She wasn't ready to voice her concerns to Alistair though. He had enough on his plate. She hated politics and avoided it at all costs, but Elissa knew how to play the game. Her father had taught her well and if she had been in Loghain's place getting rid of the major players would be the first item on her to do list.
"We'll talk to him before we leave if he wants to join us I'll break him out of the cage," Elissa sighed.
"Good, I won't lie being the only guy was getting tiresome," Alistair sighed.
Lucky let out a growl.
"Okay, okay I take it back two of us guys against three women," Alistair smiled at Lucky and rubbed the dogs head.
"So Elissa where do you come from?" Leliana studied the little blonde Warden.
"Highever," Elissa crossed her arms trying to close herself off from the prying eyes of her companions.
"I have heard what happened up there," Leliana sounded mournful. "A whole family murdered in the castle along with servants and guests."
"Aye," Elissa shivered. "Good people died at the hands of that bastard."
"You knew many of them?" Leliana asked.
"Aye I did," Elissa stood up and walked away from the fire away from Alistair and Leliana.
Alistair watched her walk into the darkness. "She has so much sorrow around her," Leliana sighed.
"She won't talk about it," Alistair whispered.
"She will in time," Leliana said. "She does not know who to trust."
"She can trust me," Alistair growled not realizing why the thought of Elissa not trusting him hurt more than he thought it should.
"You have your own burdens at the moment Alistair," Leliana said quietly. "She has shielded the worst of what she has seen here from you today while you mourn. I watched her with a little boy outside of the chantry."
"What did she do?" Alistair asked looking at Leliana from across the fire.
"The little boy has lost his parents," Leliana looked into the fire. "She took him to get food then took the boy to the chantry. She was crying when she left him there but went north of the village and found the mother's body. I trailed her to make sure she stayed out of trouble."
"I should have been with her," Alistair whispered.
"It was something she had to do," Leliana said. "She told the boy he reminded her of her nephew. A nephew only five years old who went to the Maker's side is what she told the little boy."
"Oh Maker," Alistair whispered knowing full well that the man who killed everyone in Highever was responsible for that little boy's death. He looked into the shadows where Elissa had disappeared.
"I know you want to go to her Alistair," Leliana smiled sadly. "But don't, give her time."
"How do you know that?" Alistair looked at her with shock.
"Your interest and concern for her is written all over your face," Leliana giggled. "Am I that obvious?" Alistair asked.
"No," Leliana smiled. "It is only something a person who has studied people can pick up."
"What exactly did you do before you were a lay sister?" Alistair raised an eyebrow studying her.
"We all have secrets we keep Alistair," Leliana yawned. "And that one is mine to share for a later date."
Elissa kept walking and realized she was walking up the hill to the mill where Morrigan had made her camp.
"Come to check on me have you?" Morrigan asked in a boring tone.
"Not really," Elissa shrugged. "Just needed to get away."
"Ah the little lay sister and Alistair getting on your nerves are they? Tis about time you saw some sense," Morrigan chuckled.
Elissa studied the woman and frowned, "Did you never leave the Wilds?"
"On occasion I did. I came here when I could. I traded with the people and studied them," Morrigan admitted. "Although I always went back."
"Was there no one in the Wilds you talked to besides your mother?" Elissa asked sitting down against the mill's door.
"I needed no one else to talk to," Morrigan scoffed. "If I wanted company I would change into a wolf and run with them."
Elissa frowned staring at the fires below them in Lothering that refugees were gathered around. "Sounds lonely to me," Elissa whispered.
"It was not your life," Morrigan snapped.
"I meant no offense Morrigan," Elissa sighed weary of the bickering and the insults. "Can we at least try to get along while we work together?"
Elissa felt Morrigan's eyes upon her studying her and reading her, "I suppose there would be no harm in that."
"Would it be too much to ask if I asked you to lay off Alistair at least for a little while?" Elissa sighed heavily.
"I cannot promise that," Morrigan laughed. "The fool is an easy target."
"He's the only other Warden I know Morrigan," Elissa sighed. "I need him. I also sadly need help so that means I need you as well. We need to at least try to get a long. I don't mean never to pick on him but just for now. He is mourning the loss of a man who was like his father and from what I gather he has not known death before now."
"You haven't known death until very recently have you Lady Elissa Cousland?" Morrigan snapped.
Elissa gasped and looked over at Morrigan who looked smug. "How did you know?"
"I saw the crest upon your weapons and I heard the rumors in town about Teryn Cousland and his family. It appears that they believe the whole family dead," Morrigan looked up at Elissa.
Elissa frowned she didn't want to know what other rumors Howe had spread about the sudden demise of her whole family. She looked down at her hands and didn't know how she felt that someone finally knew whom she was.
"Do not worry I have nothing to gain by telling the fool who you are. Although why you insist on keeping who you really are a secret is beyond me," Morrigan sighed. "You are nobility and that could open doors for more help against your enemy."
"If you heard rumors about my family then you surely know I cannot reveal who I am," Elissa sighed. "Howe will send people after me."
"I think you can handle a few pesky assassins. Anyway you sent the message to him, you will whether you like it or not have to deal with assassins," Morrigan added another log to her fire. "Now are you going to stay here all night?"
Elissa knew the hint Morrigan was getting at. Morrigan didn't want company anymore. Elissa stood up and looked down at Lothering. "I don't know exactly what you get out of helping us Morrigan," Elissa whispered. "I know it's more than the threat of the Blight. But for now thank you for coming with us."
Morrigan sat shocked as she watched Elissa disappear back into the darkness. She didn't know what to make of the woman.
"I am not here to amuse you human," the giant Qunari growled at Elissa.
"I am not asking to be amused," Elissa smiled at the giant. She had told Alistair she would talk to the giant before they left and here she was.
"Then why are you here?" he growled at her.
Elissa studied the giant man, his purple eyes were unnerving and everything about him was huge.
"I would like to know more about you. Why are you are?" Elissa asked mostly to see if he would tell her.
"My name is Sten of the Beresaad of the Qunari people. I am here because I killed a family of farmers including their children," Sten said.
"I am Elissa it is nice to meet you," Elissa skipped over the murder part.
"Manners? That is unexpected," Sten looked taken back.
"Sten, I find myself in need of help to defend the land against the Blight," Elissa said.
"You are a Grey Warden then?" Sten's eyebrow rose.
"Yes," Elissa nodded.
"Surprising," Sten almost smiled. "What do you need of me?"
"If you could seek atonement for the murders you committed by helping me would you do it?" Elissa asked.
"Help fight the Blight?" Sten looked thoughtful.
Elissa nodded, "Yes."
"I suppose my fate with you would be the same as in the cage so I will help," Sten nodded.
Elissa moved forward taking her lock picking tools out of her belt and picked the lock. She let the man out and stepped back. She felt a moment of panic when the man stepped forward. He was huge and she was very small. "Thank you Sten," Elissa forced herself to smile.
Alistair walked up and handed Sten a great sword and some armor. "Here you go," Alistair smiled at Sten. "We met yesterday."
"You are a Grey Warden too?" Sten asked.
Alistair nodded with a smile on his face.
"Surprising," Sten judged Alistair in one look then he started to put the armor on. It was a little tight Elissa noticed but they could do nothing about it now. They'd fix it in Redcliffe.
Alistair's smile was gone and it was replaced with a scowl. Elissa smiled at him, "It's okay Alistair I think you're a great Grey Warden."
"Thanks Elissa," Alistair's smile returned and Elissa realized she liked it a little too much.
She looked at her makeshift army of five and a dog. She shook her head and hoped it was just a start because there was no way in all of Thedas they'd win with this group they barely tolerated each other. Elissa felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier as they left Lothering skirting around a group of refugees who were waiting for them to pass by to collect the bounty on their heads. Alistair and Elissa wanted to avoid as much bloodshed as possible and killing a bunch of refugees would have soured their moods even more.