Fergus burst into the section of the Teyrns tent that had been for his father but now housed his sister, "Lana!" he beamed broadly and was rewarded with a yelp and a boot to the face.
"You could at least have the decency to wait until I'm out of the bath and dressed brother!" Kaylana sniped, covering herself with blazing red cheeks.
Fergus chuckled, he had no idea why she was here instead of father but that could wait. "Then hurry up, I'm eager to hear why you're here and how you managed to sweet talk father."
Kaylana's face fell, "Oh Fergus." she moaned, getting over her embarrassment at him being here. She got out of the tub and quickly wrapped the towel around her.
Fergus frowned, "I'm not sure I like that tone sister."
"Howe's troops... were not delayed Fergus." She tightened the towel around her and flicked her wet hair out of her face, not looking at her brother. Fearing what she'd see, that he'd blame her for abandoning their family, his wife and son.
"Pup." His voice was low as he closed the distance between them. His heart froze in his chest at the anguish in her eyes as she looked up at him.
"We never stood a chance. Oriana's scream woke me but by the time I realized what was happening it was too late." she didn't have to be strong for her brother and she'd kept her tears in for so long that now she just couldn't stop them. "Fergus it was awful. Howe's men were everywhere. I only just got to mother in time. We fought our way to the servants access in the larder and found...f-father dying. Mother..." she broke down.
Fergus caught her as her legs gave way, simply unable to process what she was saying.
"she refused to leave him. I- Fergus I tried to drag her out and she damn near pulled her blade on me. She ordered me to go, gave me their rings and made me promise to avenge them." she managed to choke it out as she sobbed in her brothers strong arms. "I-I couldn't, I couldn't save them Fergus they're all gone." she cried brokenly.
Fergus held her tight. No words able to break through the lump in his throat. He buried his face in her wet hair and cried. Finally he felt her shivering and took a deep breath, "I know you Lana, you fought tooth and nail for them. You would have done everything you possibly could but it was not your fault. It was Howe's." he growled. "Have you spoken with Cailan?"
Kaylana nodded, "He vowed as soon as the darkspawn are dealt with he'll turn all his forces to Highever and bring Howe to justice." she glared, "I made him promise I'd be the one to slit his filthy throat."
Fergus couldn't help but smile at his little sister who even through the tears definitely looked ready to murder that man. "You won't be alone."
"I spoke to the troops earlier, I knew that word would spread and some of them might get it in mind to go back for their families on their own. They're needed here and we'll have better odds with everyone together. I... I hope I didn't overstep." She apologized, eyes downcast.
"Not at all, it was good thinking Lana. I'm proud of you. Now I'll leave you to dress, you're freezing." Fergus cleared his throat and released her, quickly exiting her space.
When she did emerge she was wearing some of his clothes that had been altered to her figure. He pushed over a mug of ale, "They look better on you Pup." he murmured.
Kaylana ignored the mug and sat down on her brothers lap, holding him close and not looking into his brown eyes that expressed his broken heart.
"If you're up to it, I need to hear all that happened." Fergus murmured into her ear, holding her close, his baby sister.
Kaylana nodded and pulled back to sit on her own stool. Quietly she told him everything, barely aware of the servants quietly hovering in the background. She told him of those first moments, Oriana's scream may have woken her but even then she'd been so nearly raped. If it hadn't been for her Mabari who'd given his life for her...
They talked long into the night.
Alistair almost dropped his plate of food at the excited squeal that emanated from Ashana, the little mage rushing towards someone.
"Lana! Lana you'll never believe it, I'm a real Gray Warden!" she threw herself into the human's arms in glee.
Kaylana chuckled and returned the exuberant hug, "I heard you lot went off into the Wilds for something. I take it it was rather exciting."
Lucia rolled her eyes and looked at Alistair, "You'll get used to it, then it'll get old real fast." she warned as the handsome former templar initiate watched the pair.
"Who is that?" Alistair asked curiously, the woman was wearing very fine leather armour and even wearing armour she looked utterly divine.
"Lady Cousland of Highever. She travelled with us for some of the way here." Lucia smiled, nodding in greeting as Kaylana brought the excited elf over to join them.
"Morning Lucia." Kaylana greeted the mage with a smile and nod.
"Good morning my lady." Lucia bowed her head respectfully. She received a small rock to her shoulder and yelped.
"I told you, Lana. I'm a noble woman, I'm very good at two things, tantrums and throwing things when I don't get my way." she winked, her grin and tone playful.
Alistair chuckled.
Kaylana looked down at the man and was momentarily surprised at his likeness to Cailan, "Alistair right?" she asked curiously.
He nodded, "Yes that's me, can I call you Lana to? I don't want rocks thrown at me, I bruise easily." he grinned up at her.
"Certainly and I'll keep that in mind, I might want to make pretty patterns on that rippling chest of yours." she winked.
Alistair blushed bright red and grunted as all speech evaded him.
All three women burst out laughing at him.
Cullen finally rolled out of his tent looking pale and bleary eyed, "What's all the noise about?" he groaned.
"Ah he's finally awakened! Here, food, we need another man, I'm feeling far too outnumbered here and they're making fun of me." Alistair held out a bowl of porridge for the man.
"Hate to break it to you Alistair, you're still outnumbered and will continue to be so when Kallian joins us." Kaylana grinned.
"But not as outnumbered Lana." He grinned, his cheeks still coloured.
Lana was about to respond when she felt the strange sensation of someone watching her. Of course she was used to being watched but this was different. Glancing around the camp she saw no one out of the ordinary paying attention to her. Frowning slightly she widened her search. Surprisingly her eyes came to rest on an unusually still raven. Narrowing her eyes slightly she noticed it was not the usual raven, it had golden eyes and was somewhat... familiar.
Morrigan began to preen herself. There was no way the human woman could possibly know what she was, she was no mage.
"So have you had a chance to get an idea of what we're up against?" Lana changed the subject and looked back to her new friends.
"Not really." Lucia sighed.
"One big scary dragon." Ashana shuddered fearfully.
Lana was intrigued as she was instantly assaulted by stern eyes from Alistair.
"You had that dream to?" Cullen rubbed the back of his neck anxiously.
"I think we all did." Lucia sighed, "I think the worst part was when it looked at me and said 'Warden'." she paled just at the memory.
Alistair had been about to scold them that they weren't to talk of these things in front of people who weren't wardens but the last bit she said caught his attention, "Wait, you understood it?"
"I wasn't supposed to?" Lucia frowned, her heart starting to beat a little faster anxiously.
"Oh it's just that few people can and most have been wardens for a long time first." Alistair cleared his throat, "And we don't talk about stuff like this in front of people who aren't wardens." he warned.
"Oh sorry." Lucia mumbled as did the others.
Lana smiled, "My lips are sealed." she assured them amiably and went back to her original subject, "I had breakfast in the Kings camp and all the people I talked to seemed to think we're going to win some glorious victory and beat the darkspawn in a single glorious stand." she shook her head, "I'm no general but it's foolish to think this fight will be over in one stand." she looked to the wardens and waved her finger at them, "So don't even think about dying or doing something noble and getting yourself killed for no good reason, you hear me." she growled at them.
Lucia smirked, "Is that an order my lady?"
Lana scooped up a small stone and piffed it at her, "You bet it is warden, I'll find a mage who can send me into the Beyond to hunt you down if you do. Leave the heroics up to the old fools and Cailan. I happen to like you lot." she smirked, "Yes you too Kallian." she called to the glaring elf who'd silently emerged from her tent.
"Aren't we supposed to go to the Maker's side when we die?" Ashana naively spoke up.
Lucia groaned but before she could scold the elf Lana spoke up.
"Have you ever studied the chant beyond 'Magic exists to serve and never to rule over man'?" Lana's tone wasn't scolding but more curious.
Ashana's cheeks flushed, "Of course I know a bit more than that." she stammered a little.
"Well then you know it's full of illogical hypocrisies. How does one go to the Makers side in death if the Maker has abandoned us again and refuses anything to do with this creation until the Chant of Light is spread to all the world, in fact how could he possibly know that if he's not even around?" Lana pointed out wryly.
Morrigan's interest was indeed sparked by this woman and she flew a little closer.
"I uh- I uh." Ashana stammered.
"It's impossible. Then you get the whole magic issue about it serving man. How in the world does magic serve anyone locked up in a tower?" she waited with a smirk for Cullen to rise to the bait.
He didn't let her down, "Magic is dangerous. Any mage is susceptible to possession at any time and the power they wield..." he paused as three women were instantly glaring at him, "needs to be carefully controlled." he quickly amended.
"And yet here we are with two mages, all outside the circle walls, none of whom are demonic abominations and none have burst out in flames uncontrollably. At least judging by your quite perfect skin I assume you haven't." she grinned at Ashana.
Ashana blushed bright red, "Of course not!"
Cullen flushed, "The Circle exists to protect mages..." he started to argue.
"Subjugate them. De-personify them. Brainwash them. Torture them. Take your pick." Lana shrugged, quite enjoying the young man's frustration and a tiny voice in her mind told her to leave the poor boy alone.
Cullen's face flushed in anger, "That's not true!" he bellowed.
"Yes it is." Lucia asserted softly. "You weren't there long enough and were only a junior member Cullen. There's hardly a female mage who hasn't been raped or beaten by templars at some point."
The colour from Cullen's face drained as he whipped around to her in horror.
"The chant says that all are equal in the Makers sight. Where is the equality for Mages? It doesn't exist." Lana's voice became a little kinder, "I agree that all mages need to be taught to control their magic, but the methods of the Chantry shame the Chant of Light in how opposed to the teachings of Andraste they really are. Which brings me back to my original point. It's all a load of illogical, hypocritical hogwash." she smirked at the shocked faces.
"And you wonder why your family was destroyed." Cullen muttered.
The smile vanished from her face and she became thunderous, "I'll have you know, ser, that until my family was massacred I actually did believe in the Chant of light. I went to every service like a good little girl, I prayed all the prayers, did all the right things in the eyes of the Chantry. And what the hell did the Maker do when Howe attacked my home? Jack shit. So it got me thinking on the journey here. What in Andraste's name does it all mean and if it's so true and noble and right why the fuck does it have so many inconsistencies?" she stepped forward menacingly, "And if it's so true and noble and right why they fuck did the exalted march against the elves who supported Andraste even happen in the first place? Because if it were true and noble and right then it would be accepted by all without the need to force it down people's throats through bloodshed."
Cullen swallowed and stepped back so quickly from her advancing form that he actually tripped and fell on his arse.
"And if you ever say anything so disrespectful about the massacre of my family again Warden or no I will rip your heart out. Am I clear?" she snarled viciously.
Cullen nodded quickly, staring up at her fearfully and not daring to get up.
Ashana was by her side in a flash, gently taking hold of her hand, "Lana, peace." she murmured.
Lana calmed instantly and looked down at the pretty elf who was looking up at her with big concerned blue eyes. She sighed and let it go.
Morrigan had watched it all with an amused spirit. This Lana was clearly strong willed and intelligent, she wondered just what her connection was to the Wardens.
"Well looks like your day is about to begin." Lana noted as Duncan and another warden approached, "I'll leave you to your warden business." she bowed her head politely and left them to quickly scoff down their breakfast.