DISCLAIMER: BioWare owns everything you recognize, names, objects, places, etc. I'm just borrowing them to show my eternal love for the game and its characters. Sinniralin is mine however. :)
A.N:
Hey all! First off I want to thank everyone who has faved, subscribed and review and read. Thank you all so much, it makes writing a whole lot more fun. ^^
Secondly I want to thank you all for your patience. I know I haven't updated for a couple of weeks due to a personal crisis, but I'm back on my feet now.
Reviews are more than welcome – whether it's to say you hate it or love it.
And hopefully next update won't take as long! ;)
Enjoy and till next time!
~Elm
THE GUILDER
SINNIRALIN STARED INTO THE DANCING flames licking the firewood as she fiddled her charm, a bad habit she had picked up somewhere along the way. Her mind was still going through the night's event, analyzing every little detail. The game had suddenly changed. She had gone from having the upper hand to swinging with her hands back bound. She chewed her lip. What really had happened to her earlier? And what was Deanna doing with the Grey Wardens? Lately it seemed a lot of things were puzzling and surprising her although this latest instalment must be the one which had surprised her the most. This was not at all according to plan...
She was tired and her body ached with such intensity she thought she might pass out. Steadying her back against a fallen trunk she looked at her hands. They were as milky-white as always, calloused from years of training and working as a rogue in the underworld, but earlier that night they had been grey as the shadowcloak she had been wearing, black blood turning her veins eerily dark, every single vein criss-crossing in black patterns across her hands spreading up towards her arms and neck. It had frightened her where she lay paralyzed by the pain pinning her to the ground. She didn't even have strength enough to lift the vial of lyrium to her mouth, but it lay frozen on the ground in front of her eyes. Tears of pain flooded her eyes and every breath she took seemed to leave her even more breathless and when the rogue leaned over to brush the shrubbery aside her vision had blurred and blackened. The shadowcloak was writhed like angry snakes, sensing their intruder, the magic working fiercely to keep her undetected where she lay pinned helpless to the mossy ground.
Somewhere behind them there was another rustling noise, small feet running across soft grass. The rogue spun around dashing towards the sound closely followed by the others.
"Leliana wait!" Deanna had called out rushing after the swift rogue, grabbing her sword as she went.
Her strength had surged back into her body the same second the rogue had dashed away. Her mind still hazy she downed the vial with lyrium. The shadowcloak imploded with a loud crack drawing all the companions' attention back to her, but she didn't care, she would be long gone by the time they reached the place she was lying at.
She landed with an ungraceful thud on her back in her camp, groaning in discomfort. As she rolled over to her stomach she saw the Harpia come swooping down, landing softly next to her.
"Show off." She muttered as she noticed that the grand bird was wearing her extra pair of boots. She threw her head back clutching her stomach as she burst out with a roaring laughter. So that's what the rustling had been at the wardens' camp. She kept laughing until her cheeks and stomach hurt and she rolled into a ball as tears from laughing streamed down her face. She glanced up at the bird that tilted its head and she burst out in yet another shrieking laughter. It took her several moments to stop laughing and when she eventually sat up again, drying her tears still chuckling a little, the bird wore an indignant look.
"It was very smart." She cooed softly as she stroke it underneath its wide chin. "But you must have been quite the sight scurrying about with those boots on."
Sinniralin snorted at the memory where she sat, still thinking it was the most hilarious thing that had happened so far. Her thoughts returned to her dilemma. She was to kill the wardens in order to regain her freedom, but one of the wardens was her former lover. Could she really kill her for the sake of her own freedom? On the other hand, could she give up her daughter for Deanna? She hadn't seen Nimue for months and neither Nimue nor Glub knew she was alive. It was safer that way. She couldn't go back, not with the new bounty on her head. She would lead the inquisitors straight to the Guild's lair. She couldn't do that. But if she killed the wardens her freedom would be granted and she could go back. She gritted her teeth rubbing her temples in frustration. Even if she let the wardens live, she would be forced to keep running. Even if she took out Loghain – which would be a near impossible chore and not worth the risk, she would still have to run. The documents would be void if he was to be found dead, she turning up with them. No one would believe the documents were real. No, that wouldn't do...
Maybe she could kill all the wardens except Deanna, make her come with her or return to her family. She shook her head. Deanna would never allow it. She would never betray her friends like that. A Grey Warden, huh? What in all the worlds could have made Deanna join the Grey Wardens? She frowned. What on earth could have made her mother agree to it? The teryna was known to be very protective of her children and it did not seem a thing she would do easily. Sinniralin thought even harder. Could she really, honestly kill Deanna? She may be cold-hearted and a great assassin, but this was different, this was something she had never done before. Surely she had established different kinds of relationships with her victims, but that was after she had been given the chore to kill them. Being asked to kill someone after she had held them as a lover was different somehow. Perhaps it was hypocritical of her, were she to be asked to kill one of her guilders out of necessity, she would do it, if they were a threat to the Guild, to her family she would not hesitate, but with Deanna it felt different. She had loved her.
Her mind brushed briefly at another idea before she shrugged. Why did Loghain want the wardens dead so badly? What was the true agenda of this chore she had been given? She knew Deanna, she knew the teryn and teryna, they would never agree to let their daughter join some renegade group of bandits. The whole story about them collecting a rebel army did not add up. The teryn would never allow his daughter to betray their king. The Couslands were known for their fairness and nobility. Something was amiss and there was only one way to find out what, but for now she needed rest. This day had been far too long.
.
.
Sometimes at night when no one was awake or around Deanna Cousland would crawl into a small ball in her bedroll and weep helplessly into her soft hands. And sometimes when no one noticed she would glance up into the sky, shifting clouds and blue skies with her eyes so they resembled the loving faces of her parents. But when the rest of the companions watched her she would mask her uncertainty and grief with her uncanny sarcasm and wit.
She stared into the broken bit of a mirror that she managed to salvage during their flight from Highever, one last reminder of her home, a small piece of whatever remained of her heritage. Seeing her reflection she silently wondered who the girl with the dark circles around her eyes was. Who was that girl with those dead eyes? Where had all her happiness and joy gone? She studied the weary and tired face. Was it she or the mirror that was crying? The brown eyes which had been so full of life looked hollow and empty. To think that the matter of a few hours could have robbed her of a whole life was causing her to tremble in frustration. If only she could go back and tell her father not to send his troops ahead, warn him of the danger, or if only she could have reached him faster, but no... She was busy tumbling around the sheets with Lady Landra's girl in waiting. If she hadn't she probably would have been out on one of her night escapades and detected Howe's army before it was too late. Then they could have fled together, but instead the image of her mother cradling her dying father in Nan's larder haunted her memories. She shook her head. This was weak. She should be stronger. Her parents were gone, murdered by that treacherous Howe, but the memories of a better life still resided in her heart. Someone once told her that the memories of a better life were enough to keep her getting up from bed every morning.
Deanna smiled as she thought about the unusually tall, milky-skinned elf. Sin. She was a lively, colourful person she had met during her first and last brush with the underworld. She chuckled at the thought of how mesmerized she had been by that stunning elf circling her predatorily, eyeing her as if she was a prey. Much to her surprise she found she had liked how the elf's eyes travelled the length of her body hungrily. Their romance had started off quite... steamy, and then the elf had just walked out the room as if it had meant nothing! Oh, how enraged she had been! She had fumed over the arrogant elf, huffing and snorting whenever the thought of her wondrous hands and lips came into her thoughts. The next time they had met had been at Arl Belenus estate where her mother had arranged for a meeting with the arl's son and herself. The enigmatic elf was serving as a sentinel at the arl's estate. Deanna had felt her heart skip when the sentinel had turned around and the elf's distinct features stared back at her. The elf had not seemed to recognize her at first, but then she saw a flicker of recognition in the elf's eyes and a seductive smile crept on to her luscious lips. By nightfall Deanna found her back pressed hard against the castle's cold stone walls, legs wrapped around the sentinel's waist, hips bucking passionately as the elf stroke her inner walls with her cunning fingers.
It was hard not to fall for the charismatic elf and Deanna – much like everyone else, had fallen helplessly. Sin on the other hand was not the one to be easily wooed, rather the opposite, so Deanna was much surprised to find out that the elf had fallen just as headlong for her. They had spent that year making love, venturing the undiscovered tunnels running higgledy-piggledy underneath Highever, taking night swims in the estates large pond where anyone was strictly forbidden to set one's foot in. Then came the day when her father announced she was to be betrothed to Arl Belenus' son Garth. She had cried and cursed her father promising never to stop loving Sinniralin.
"But what could I do?" Deanna had asked the elf after agreeing to the union.
Sinniralin had turned cold before whispering silently for her to go, who was Deanna, a noble to run away with a seductress from the underworld, what kind of life could Sinniralin possibly provide for her? Deanna had refused to listen. Refused to give up, saying she would stall the wedding, refuse or even tell them the truth about Sinniralin and herself. Sinniralin had shaken her head when the young teryness wouldn't listen and screamed at her to leave, yelled at her that she was nothing more than a stupid girl, nothing more than physical pleasure, pastime.
Deanna remembered that night as clearly as if it had been yesterday. She thought she would never heal again and she spent the coming months crying herself to sleep. The plan had been for her to wed the arl's soon within two months. She laughed a little defiantly as she remembered how hostile she had been towards the arl's son who, after a month of trying to court her, announced he did not wish to marry such belligerent woman. Much to Deanna's relief her parents had been forced to accept defeat. She had rushed to the battlegrounds expecting to find Sinniralin. Though the elvish seductress was nowhere to be seen, but her giant-like friend had been there. The elf had left the same day Deanna's betrothal had been announced to the citizens of Highever and he didn't know where she had taken to.
She put the mirror aside. Sin had taught her a lot of things during their time together. It was Sin who had taught her to be humble and to understand the elves and their discontent about their situation in the alienages. Sin had taught her how to laugh amidst the most difficult situations. Sin always said having emotions was good, you just shouldn't let them run your life. Sighing slightly she wiped her face and brushed her hair back into a sloppy ponytail before taking a deep breath as she stepped out from the tent to inspect the newest addition to their strange band of misfits.
.
.
The night was a nippy one, the brisk summer wind rustling the trees' leaves melodically and the companions swatted at the annoying mosquitoes buzzing in their ears.
"Ouch! The little sucker got me!" The ash-blonde warden moaned rubbing his neck.
"Well, you weren't the only one." The bard complained scratching her arm.
The warden glared over at the suave antivan assassin, rubbing his neck, secretly enjoying the sight of the assassin scratching a mosquito bite of his own. "I can't believe she let him come with us."
The bard followed his gaze, smiling at the blatant jealousy the warden displayed. "You know, you should at least give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure Deanna has some great plan for what to do with him." She mused, giggling at the warden who screwed up his face at the words 'to do with him'.
"I just don't think he is to be trusted... he tried to murder us and just because he fails he gets to come with us?" He argued.
"Don't be such a baby Alistair." Deanna said as she sat down next to him. "Zevran won't try to kill you, and especially not any of the companions with breast, not until he's tried to bed us all at least a hundred times..." She muttered earning herself a giggle from the bard who sat opposite them strumming her lute lazily.
"Well, I still don't trust him, as if we didn't have enough to worry about with that thing stalking us." Alistair sulked where he sat.
"It's not a thing." The witch scoffed impatiently. "Was it just a thing, it would not have been able to stay hidden from us for so long." She added.
The young warden lifted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I have been thinking. Unlike our slow friend over here..." Her gaze fell on the male warden who glared angrily back at her. "...and whoever is stalking us wants us to know about their presence."
"That's ridiculous, why would they want us to know? Surely we would be ready for them to attack." Alistair protested.
"No, actually... I think she's right." Deanna said remembering something Sin had taught her that year they spent together. "It wants to tire us out, and then attack."
"A Guilder?" The bard whispered seemingly to herself.
"What?" Deanna felt her heart skip at the mention of a Guilder. Many spoke of bards and minstrels, but Guilders were rarely heard of.
"A Guilder." The bard repeated, this time louder so everyone could hear.
"Did I hear the mention of a Guilder?" The blonde assassin asked as he walked up to the campfire.
"A Guild rogue is the deadliest, most dangerous assassin in all of Thedas. They do everything from light chores to real chores." The bard explained.
"So Zevran is a Guild rogue?" Alistair asked in confusion.
"No, no." The blonde elf laughed. "I am an a-s-s-a-s-s-i-n."
"'Tis not making any sense." The witch shrugged her head disapprovingly.
"Zevran is just an assassin. And I'm a minstrel, a bard. We're just 'normal' rogues. We do... Light chores. The nobles and such order different chores from us such as, spying or manipulating. The Guild rogue on the other hand..." The bard's voice took on the mysterious tone which she used when telling them stories of great adventures.
"A guilder does so much more. The nobles hire bards and minstrels, it has happened that a king has hired a bard, but guilders, guilders kill kings. They are true con artists, their plotting and scheming is as advanced as an army's battle strategies. Whole kingdoms have fallen at the hands of guilders."
"So rogues are guilders?" the ash-blonde warden scratched his head.
"Argh!" Scoffed the witch. "No, all rogues aren't guilders! It's like wondering if all warriors are Grey Wardens!"
"I could happen..." Alistair muttered under his breath.
Deanna didn't hear much of what else the companions said, her thoughts spinning through her head. If it was a guilder that had been sent to hunt them down and kill them they were in a lot of trouble. Sin had told her about how the guilder would work relentlessly until its target had been disposed of. It would not rest until the chore was done.
It had been three days since they had nearly caught the stalker, or had it just wanted them to think that they nearly caught it? She shook her head and stood up. There was something unnerving about the whole situation. Leliana might have described the guilder well, but she wasn't sure if they had realized the danger they were now in. Not only did they have to worry about darkspawns and the Maker knew what other assassins had been sent their way, now they had a guilder on their tail as well.
"You know, you're going to create yourself a mote if you keep pacing anymore." The bard's soft hand stopped her pacing and she looked in to her steel grey eyes.
"Who's on watch?" She inquired tiredly. Why was she doing this again? Why wasn't she trying to avenge her parent's death? Why wasn't she hunting down Howe like an animal?
"Zevran, Alistair and Sten. We've added a third watch. The stalker feels... closer." The bard said searching the warden's tired eyes. "You should get some rest." She added gently nudging Deanna towards her tent.
Too tired and too weary to object she let herself be led towards her tent giving the bard a slight nod before disappearing into her tent.
.
.
Sinniralin heard the young woman jump startled and nearly yelp at the sight of her cloaked form where she was standing with her back turned towards her. Quickly regaining her senses the warden drew her sword.
"Come now love, surely there is no need for that." Sinniralin said sultry as she turned around to face her former lover. Sinniralin's white hair cascaded across her shoulders as she pulled down her hood grinning at the young warden who stared dumbfounded at her. It was an amusing thing to see. At first she stood like frozen looking as if she'd seen a ghost then she squealed a high-pitched squeal and laughed as she threw arms around the elf. Sinniralin chuckled as she pulled the younger woman into her arms, feeling the familiar scent of whiteflower petals and honey, revelling at the human closeness she had been deprived of lately. It took her a while to notice Deanna had fallen silent, her shoulders shaking violently as she clung onto her shoulders wet tears dampening Sinniralin's neck.
"Hey, hey... what's wrong?" She asked with concern as she stroke the teryness hair gently, soothing her best she could.
"It's Highever." Deanna whispered.
"What of it?" Sinniralin asked feeling an uneasy feeling creep into the pit of her stomach.
"It's gone." The teryness whispered almost inaudibly.
"What do you mean it's gone?" Sinniralin demanded fear freezing her blood to ice. Nimue and Glub!
"Howe! He betrayed my father and attacked the castle while all our troops were gone." Deanna shook her head bitterly at the fresh memory in her mind, shutting the images of a burning Highever out.
"Little weasely Howe!" Sinniralin hissed clenching her fists. "What of your family and the rest of Highever, what has become of them?" By the look on her friend's face Sinniralin feared she would not like the answer.
"They're gone. They're all gone. Rendon Howe butchered them all. I... managed to flee, but Highever must be burnt to the ground..."
Sinniralin felt her heart stop. Nimue! Her daughter! She released the teryness and took a step backwards before regaining her senses. Glub would never have let anything happened to them. They would have used the escape route that ran along one of the underground tunnels of Highever. Taking a deep breath exhaling slowly she walked up to the teryn, lifting her face towards her own. "Dee... I'm so very sorry, are you sure Highever was completely destroyed."
The teryness shook her head. "No, but I saw... the smoke..."
"You know things are rarely what they seem." Sinniralin said feeling a tingle of hope rise in her chest. "But what are you doing the Grey Wardens? How did you escape?"
"There was a Grey Warden there... he saved me." The blonde woman said.
"Wait a minute... Howe attacks the arl of Highever when his armies are gone, next we find him by Loghain's side..." Sinniralin had been scheming and plotting in the underworld for far too long and she saw their little web of lies untangle before her.
"Loghain? That treacherous bastard abandoned the king! He got everyone at Ostagar killed." Deanna fumed heatedly.
Sinniralin chuckled and shook her head. "So that's why he wants you dead."
"Of course, what did you... wait." Deanna interrupted herself and took a step away from the elf eyeing her. "You're here to... kill me."
"Why else would someone like me be here?" Sinniralin asked quietly.
"Loghain gave you the chore to kill me and you took it?" The female warden's eyes shone with hurt.
"I didn't know you were the Grey Wardens." Sinniralin argued.
"Well now you know, so what is it to be? Kill me or let me live? I know you're the perfect guilder for the job."
"You know if I wanted you dead you wouldn't still be talking to me..." The elf muttered and tossed a small vial towards the warden who caught it in her left hand.
"You have a plan." Deanna stated looking at the vial.
Sinniralin shook her head. "I don't, but I cannot kill you, so I'm just going to join you. Now drink. It's an antidote."
"Antidote?"
"Yes well, I thought if I decided that Loghain's offer was better than yours, at least you wouldn't suffer."
"You poisoned me?" Deanna asked furiously before downing the vial's content.
"And gave you the antidote mind you, now introduce me to your new playmates."
"You... why... I...!" Lost for words the warden opened and shut her mouth before throwing her hands in the air. "Fine, just... don't do it again!"
"You have my word. Rogue's honour." Sinniralin smiled cheekily.
"You have no honour." Deanna huffed before leaving the tent the snickering seductress trailing after he like a little kitten.
.
.
Leliana was the first to notice something strange going on in the warden's tent. Was the warden talking to herself? No, she was sure she heard another voice coming from inside the tent. She rubbed her temples. Her mind was growing foggy feeling as if cobwebs filled her head. Maybe it was something she ate? She was feeling a strange wave of nausea and weariness sweep over her as she saw Deanna stride out from her tent closely followed by... who was that?
"All of you, you better drink this." Deanna said opening her palm. It contained five vials with yellow coloured liquid in it.
Alistair looked up from where he sat. "Who is that?"
"I'll explain it all when you all have drunk this." She said sternly.
"What is it?" The antivan asked looking suspicious.
"An antidote, now drink it!" The warden was growing impatient and they all did as they were told.
Leliana studied the elvish woman who stood hovering behind the Deanna like a dark shadow. The elf was unusually tall for an elf and Leliana had no doubt that was she to stand next to her the elf would probably be just an inch taller than herself. As she walked up to the warden she saw the elf edge away from her into the shadows not returning to the warden's side until Leliana had placed herself on the opposite side of the campfire. The elf's eyes were the most peculiar shade of blue she had ever seen. They were blue as the ocean from one angle, but turn your head slightly and the blue was so faint and icy it mixed and mingled with the white in her eyes making them look as milky white as the snow covering the high rising mountains at Dragon's Peak. The elf's eyes locked with hers and for a slight second she felt a slight tingle in her chest. Frowning she put the cap back on the vial.
"Would you mind telling us what is going on?" The bard finally asked, both curious and slightly weary of the new companion.
"This is Sin and she's come to help us fight the blight." Deanna explained gesturing towards the tall elf.
"What do you mean 'she's come', where did she come from?" Alistair said eyeing her suspiciously.
"You just simply invite whoever wishes to come along on this little adventure?" The witch sniped as she downed the vial's content grimacing at the foul taste.
"She is more than welcome to stay, was it up to me to decide." The antivan said studying the elf appreciatively, smiling broadly.
"Where did she come from? I never saw her enter camp." Alistair insisted growing alarmed at the elf's sudden appearance.
"It's funny you should mentioned that." Deanna laughed nervously. "Because you see..."
"I snuck in while you were too busy speculating about who the guilder might be." The white-skinned elf spoke.
"So much for being a good watch dog..." The ash-blonde warden muttered towards the big mabari hound who whined, hanging her head in shame.
"There's nothing wrong with Ceridwen's guarding skills." Sinniralin said meeting the man's gaze.
"Wait... how does she know that filthy furbag's name?" Morrigan asked narrowing her eyes.
Before either Sinniralin or Deanna had time to explain the bard gasped loudly, all heads turning as the bard flew to her feet, drawing her daggers. "She's not...! She is the guilder stalking us!" The rest of the companions quickly got to their feet, drawing their weapons, Morrigan preparing one of her powerful spells.
"Get away from her!" Alistair snarled to Sinniralin who still stood next to Deanna.
Sinniralin chuckled throatily. "How endearing you all are, but really now, if I wanted you dead you would be so by now."
Deanna took a step forward. "It's true you had all been poisoned. That's what the antidote was for. Now, we need all the help we can get and Sin is here to help."
Morrigan frowned. "Poisoned?"
"Yes well, haven't you noticed how there aren't actually any mosquitoes here? Also I wasn't sure whether to keep you all alive or not. Loghain did make me quite the deal." Sin explained matter-of-factly.
"Ok, no need to tell them that." Deanna mumbled through the corner of her mouth, groaning as her fellow warden's face turned red with anger.
"LOGHAIN! You work for Loghain?" Alistair shouted angrily before turning to Deanna. "And you would actually let her join us? What is this? Some new tradition where you ask everyone who's trying to kill us to join us instead?"
"Well... it's better than to have them still trying to kill us..." Deanna muttered.
"She does have a point." Leliana said, eyeing the elf. There was something peculiar about her she mused to herself. Wondering what it was she decided she would find out later.
The rest of the companions grumbled a little before deciding it was better to drop the subject.
"No. I refuse. I'm not having her jeopardize this whole mission." Alistair said stubbornly.
Deanna turned to him placing her soft hand on his shoulder. "I know how you feel about Loghain, but Sin is here to help us. I know her. You have to trust me. Please?" She spoke softly to him.
Leliana saw the warden relax under Deanna's touch before taking a step back. "Fine." Then he turned around and stalked off.
Looking over she saw the witch's eyes gleam as she circled the elf.
"There is something about you..." She said with that curious voice she rarely used.
"That is what they always say." The elf answered a sultry smile growing on her lips.
Much do Leliana's surprise the witch seemed to flush slightly before regaining her posture. "Don't get any foolish notions elf." She sniped before disappearing into her tent.
"So you're the one stalking us?" The bard said walking up towards the elf that spun on her heels to face her. The elf's expression puzzled the bard. It looked... terrified.
"Keep away from me orlesian." The elf snarled, baring her teeth at her before she edged away into the shadows until she was nowhere to be seen. Leliana stared after her slightly hurt that she would regard the rest of the companions somewhat politely, and Morrigan even... well, friendly, but she neither looked nor spoke to the bard.
Snorting she crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. The elf would not get away that easily. Something was amiss with her, the ominous feeling the bard had had earlier had grown stronger now that the elf was within their camp and Leliana was going to find out what it was sooner or later.
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TO BE CONTINUED...