Chapter 6
~Lothering~
Morriana
The smokes from houses caught our eyes as we finally neared the village. Walking along the Imperial Highway we were about a half hour from the village. Orrick walked happily beside me while Morrigan had fallen behind once she saw we no longer needed to be lead. Alistair still followed behind and kept his head down. No ne of us wanted to talk, especially Alistair. I knew now was not a time to talk to him, so I kept my mouth shut. And Morrigan wasn't the most "social", as I should say.
As we came closer to the village I noticed a few men in leather armor standing around. One began walking up to us.
"Wake up, gentlemen we have travelers to attend to. Lead by… a knife ear?" he questioned as we came in front of him. My shoulder square at the insult.
"Er, they don't look like them other travelers." Another said. "Maybe we should let these ones pass."
"Nonsense. Greetings travelers," the bandits said with a smile.
"Highwayman. Praying on those fleeing the darkspawn, no doubt." Alistair whispered to me.
"They are fools to get in our way. I say teach them a lesson." Morrigan said, not even caring if the others heard her. Not a bad idea.
"Is that any way to treat a friend? A simply ten silvers and your good to go." I glanced down at Orrick as he growled at the bandits. A couple of them flinched, but a couple others didn't notice.
"I don't have that kind of money." I replied, folding my arms.
"Ah! And if I don't believe you. What shall we do about this predicament?" Predicament?
"Right," the other said. "We get to ransack you corpse." I glanced at the dead Templar on the floor and knew that they weren't really lying.
"Well then," I replied pulling out my weapons. "Try." Morrigan shot lightning at the second Bandit that had been talking and the leader pulled out his weapons, realizing we meant a fight. Alistair and Orrick handled his friends and Morrigan and I fought the leader. My dagger slit across his chest and he jumped back with a cry. Morrigan froze his legs to keep her from moving anywhere. Alistair then came up beside me with Orrick, not even panting. Looking back I saw he had killed the other bandits so I turned to the leader.
"Wait," he pleaded, falling to his knees. "P-please don't kill me."
"Then hand over everything you have stolen." I demand.
"Here," he reached into his pocket and hands me a coin purse. "Just over a hundred silvers in there. Everything else is back there," he pointed to the crates behind his, his hands shaking like crazy.
"Start running," I demand, "and don't come back."
"Bless you," he cried, Morrigan unfroze his feet, almost seeming resentful to do so. "The darkspawn can have this place." He then runs away like a prey from the predator. I shake my head and walk on down the highway that lead to the village.
"Ah, Lothering," Alistair sighed. "Pretty as a painting."
"And so you have finally decided to rejoin us, have you?" Morrigan comments, folding her arms. "Falling on your blade in grief seemed like too much trouble, I take it?" Alistair turned to her, his face red with anger.
"Is my being upset such a bother to you? Just what would you do if your mother died?"
"Before or after I stopped laughing?"
"Right very creepy, forget I asked." Agreed.
"Is there something you wanted to talk about, Alistair?" I ask before Morrigan can make another comment. She opened her mouth but I gave her my "speak-and-I-will-stab-you-to-death" look.
"The treaties, have you looked at them?" I bit my lip, deciding on what to say.
"No, I haven yet. Why?"
"Well, I think that gaining the aid of the elves, mages and dwarves, as well as Arl Eamon is our best bet." I thought for a moment then turned to Morrigan.
"What you think, Morrigan?"
"What I think is that you should go after you enemy directly. Find this man 'Loghain' and kill him."
"Yes," Alistair starts, sarcastically, "It's not like he has an army, and experience and—"
"I was asked for my opinion and I gave it." She snapped back at him.
"Okay. Why don't we go into the village and get some supplies and information. See what Loghain has done and maybe move on from there. Like I said, 'one step at a time'." Alistair nods and Morrigan looks away with an annoyed sigh.
"I can give directions on where everything is, if you like." He suggests. I shake my head.
"Perhaps later. For now let's just go into the village." We walk on into the village and meet a Templar, who informs us that there isn't much room left in Lothering. And I can see why. People hang around in tents near the chantry, and they all look scared. Something tells me they're all aware that there's an approaching hoard coming straight this way, right? Because they seem to just want to get the sod out of the way.
"Why don't we go to the tavern?" Morrigan suggests. "Perhaps there are things there we may get." I nod and head into the tavern. The moment we walk in and the door shuts behind us soldiers stand up and walk to us.
"Well, it seems we got lucky." The first says.
"Loghain's men." Alistair whispers to me.
"Didn't we just ask around for an elf by this very description? And everyone said they hadn't seen her?" the other asks.
"It seems we were lied to." And I thought today was going to be boring.
"Gentlemen," a woman in chantry robes and a sword at her belt said coming up. Her hair was red with just a hint of an orangey ting to it and her eyes showed kindness as she walked up. Even as nice as she looked, I noticed a blade that was safely tucked in her robes. Odd. "These are no doubt more poor souls seeking refuge. There is no need for any problems." It's obvious to tell that her accent is Orlesian.
"They are more than that," the first says.
"Well, if it's a fight they want I say let them have it." Morrigan says, pulling out her stave, her hands glowing in a blue light.
"Happy to oblige." I agree, pulling out my blades.
"Right, let's make this quick." Another fight commences but they seem easier to fight than the darkspawn. The chantry girl also assists in the fight and she knows how to handle a blade. We aren't fighting long until the leader surrenders.
"Good," the woman says, putting her blade back onto her belt. "They've learned their lesson and we can all stop fighting now."
"I don't want them telling Loghain about us," Alistair steps forward with his sword.
"Please wait!" The soldier begs. Even though we all fought no one died. But while looking around at all the people in the tavern I don't think this is best.
"Alistair," I whisper to him. "Don't do this. Not with all these people here." He hesitates, but lowers his arms. "Start running." I tell the soldier and his men. "And don't tell Loghain about us."
"T-thank you!" he rushes out with the others behind him. I shake my head and turn to the girl.
"Nice fighting." I compliment. She smiles.
"Thank you, and I apologize for interfering. I could not just stand by and watch."
"Your help was appreciated. What is your name, anyway?"
"I am Leliana, one of the lay chantry sisters. Or, at least I was."
"I'm Morriana. This is Alistair, Morrigan, and Orrick." Leliana nods in greeting.
"So where does a chantry sister learn how to fight?" Alistair ask as we sit at an empty table. Leliana merely smiles.
"I was not always a sister. I learned how to fight long before I joined the chantry. But I left that life behind when I joined."
"I see." I nodded in understanding.
"If you do not mind, I would like to join you." She utters confidently.
"Why, if I might ask."
"The Maker told me to." It takes me a moment to finally take in what she said.
"More crazy? I thought we were all full up." Alistair mumbles beside me. I resist the urge to smile.
"I know it might sound… utterly insane," Leliana blushes, "but I had a dream. A vision. The Maker wants me to help you." I look at Alistair, who shrugs, and Morrigan simply shakes her head.
"Well, since you seem to do more than just pray, I suppose you could join." Leliana smiles like a child who has gained a new toy, but Morrigan scoffs.
"Perhaps your skull was cracked worse than mother thought."
While Alistair and Morrigan order food I take Leliana outside to a merchant, after persuading him to lower his prices for the revered mother, and bought Leliana some leather armor. I gave her my dagger from my belt for her to use with hers and she took it gladly. While talking with her I got to hear her vision. And, to be honest, it didn't completely sound that insane.
So we then headed back to the tavern, though stopped when we met a little boy. He told us about losing his mother, and I offered to help him, but he refused. I gave him a silver so he could eat. He asked me if I was really an elf, which I was sure my ears gave me away, And he told me that I was a very nice elf, then walked away to find his mother. I almost smiled as he walked off, but stopped as when I stood and went to the tavern. As the food was coming and we pretty much ate in silence. I gave Orrick some pieces of my food, which made him happy.
Paying for the food we all then left the tavern. I saw the sun once we were outside and saw it was about noon. I ordered out everyone to tasks. Morrigan, Leliana, and I went to do the chanter board requests to get rid of some bandits while Alistair and Orrick went to buy supplies we might need. He didn't agree completely at first but went anyway.
On our way out near the mill where the groups of Bandits were, but I was stopped when I saw a man in a cage. Then man stood tall with strong muscle, and I was almost afraid to approach him, but did.
"What do you need, elf? I will not entertain you as all the others hoped." Well, he's pretty strait forward.
"Who—or what—are you?" I asked
"I am Sten of the Beressad. A Qunari." He replied.
"Then why are you caged?"
"I can tell you that," Leliana pipes up. "This man murdered an entire family. Including the children." Her look turns sad as she talks.
"It is as she says." Sten replies.
"So you are to just stay here and die of hunger or the darkspawn?" he nods. "Well, you seem skilled. How 'bout you come with us. We need skilled help. "
"'Skilled help'? You are a Gray Warden?" I nod. "Surprising. Very well. I will join you, Warden. And in doing so I shall find my atonement." I open my mouth to reply, but close it. Well, it's better than waiting for the darkspawn to kill you. Or starving…or both. I then look at Leliana.
"Can you unlock the cage?" she nods and walks up to the cage, unlocking it without much trouble. "You have to teach me to do that," I mutter to her. She smiles proudly. "Well then, Sten, take this armor," I took out the armor from my pack and gave it to him. He threw it on over his clothes and adjusted them to fit him. I gave him my sword to use until he found another weapon suitable for him. "Well, then, how about killing some bandits with us." He merely nods. I cock my head and lead them on.
Alistair
I still wasn't sure why I had to be the one to get the supplies, but I did anyway. So when I was done selling what needed to be and bought what we needed I walked around Lothering and stopped at the chantry when I heard shouting.
"There is no hope! The evil is upon us! We will suffer in darkspawn hands!" I walk over to the man shouting, surrounded by only a couple of people who looked scared. Well, other than the Templar who looked utterly board and annoyed. "There!" the man points to me, causing me to jump. "This minion will be the first to destroy us! Can you not see the destruction he will bring upon us?" It is easy to tell he is traumatized.
"What happened to you?" I ask, walking up to him.
"I… I watched the black horde descend among my people. I ran as I heard my wife's screams…" he breaks off and looks away, tears shinning in his eyes.
"Well, shouting isn't going to help." I state. Obviously. He turned back to me, anger now filling his eyes.
"Are you… calling me a coward?" he demands. Orrick growls beside me.
"I'm calling you an idiot, man! Just listen to yourself." His eyes lose the anger and it is now a mix of fear, agony, and shame.
"I… I am ashamed. But the monsters will take you all! The darkness will come!" He runs off so quickly he is a blur. I turn to the other people who had listened.
"He was right, wasn't he?" a chantry man asks. "There is no hope for us."
"Yes there is," I answer. "Just keep up your courage."
"But we can't fight." Another man says.
"Why not go to Denerim?" I ask. They look at each other.
"Yes. Perhaps that is best." The walk away, no doubt to tell their families they are moving north.
"Thank the Maker," the Templar says once they leave. "Maybe now that the Chasind is gone my headache will go too." I shake my head, but a glimpse of red catches me. I see near the Chantry there is a rose bush, dead as it would be, but it had a single rose on it. Walking to it, I kneel down beside it as contemplate it. It is a beautiful red color and full of life.
How can something so beautiful exists in a world of such despair and ugliness?
Suddenly, an image of Morriana pops in my mind. The way her hair blew around in the wind as she sat in the wilds, lost in thought. How she looked peaceful as she slept. It wasn't long until I realized I was smiling. I found a cloth in my pack and picked the rose, wrapping it in the cloth. I stood up, brushed the dirt off my armor and headed into the chantry. Immediately when I entered people stood around or were kneeling down praying. I felt sorry for all these poor souls. I jumped as someone called my name.
"Alistair?" I turned to seem a tall man in armor walking to me.
"Ser Donal?" I say in surprise. I had not expected one of the knights from Redcliff to be here.
"It's good to see you," he smiles and claps my shoulder.
"Same here. But, what are you doing here in Lothering?" he sighs and his face falls.
"The Arl has fallen ill. We are in search of the Urn of Sacred Ashes in hope of it curing him."
"Ill?" I repeat. "You think this legend will help?" he shrugs.
"I haven't any idea. The Arlessa has us searching all over Ferelden."
"Maker's breath," I swear, shaking my head. "We were going to Redcliff soon. Perhaps we could help." I suggest.
"We?"
"You heard I was a Gray Warden, right?"
"Yes, and I heard they all died at Ostagar."
"Well, another and I are the last ones in Ferelden. We are using the Warden treaties to unit Ferelden against the Blight." His eyes cast down.
"Thank the Maker. I didn't believe Loghain's word for a second. You just proved me right."
"Loghain's word? What has he said about us?" He looks up, his eyes sad.
"He has said that the Gray Wardens are traitors. That they lead the king to their death and that he 'saw' what they were doing in time and pulled his men out from the 'trap'." I gasp and shake my head.
"I can't believe this."
"Nor could I. Alistair, I do not believe him. For now I must return to Redcliff, even though I have nothing." I put a hand to his shoulder.
"Then I will see you when we get there." He nods once and puts his other hand on my shoulder.
"Maker keep you safe." He said to me with a small smile.
"And you, Donal." Ser Donal leaves without another word and I am left in the chantry. Suddenly my shoulders feel heavy and I have the need to be out of here. I walk a fast pace out of the chantry.
"Alistair." I look to see Morriana with the others, and now a very tall man with a two handed sword at his back. I walk over and look at him, then look at Morriana.
"His name is Sten and he's coming with us." I simply nod, knowing she probably recruited him on a good judgment.
"Well, there is still the fact that he murdered and entire family." Morrigan throws in. I look in shock at Morriana, but she seems content with this 'Sten'.
"We'll talk about it later," Morriana promises me. "For now, I want to get out of Lothering before we need to do something. I have the money from the chanter's board, so we should move on."
"Right," I agree. "We might as well set up camp outside of Lothering." She nods and cocks her had to move on.
As we came to the other side where the highway was again we started up but noticed some darkspawn tormenting two dwarves.
"Someone help us!" One shouts as a darkspawn advances closer to him. Leliana strings an arrow to a bow, which Morriana must have recently given her, and shoots an arrow through its neck. It fell with a thud and we take care of the rest. There are only four remaining, so it doesn't take long for the fight to end. My heart is barely even pounding hard when it ends. Morriana turns to the cowering dwarves. They walk up to her once they know we mean them no harm. The first appears to be older than the second, and his messy light brown hair hung in his face. The boy next to him doesn't look much like him. His eyes were lighter and his hair blonde. A wagon lay behind them, along with broken crates.
"Finely timely arrival there, my friend. I'm much obliged." Morriana nods in greeting.
"Agreed. These darkspawn have been a pest," she agrees.
"My name is Bodahn Feddic, merchant and this is my boy, Sandle. Say hello, my boy." Sandle smiles up at us.
"Hello." He says.
"So what brings you all here?"
"I don't exactly believe that we may be going the same way. Gray Warden business." Morriana replied with a shrug.
"Truly? Well, okay then. Stay safe, my friend. Come, Sandal, lets clean up. Say good bye to the kind lady."
"Good bye, kind lady." They turn on their heels and begin to clean up. So we turn also and head off along the road.