A New Road: The Thief and the Warrior
It was just before dawn when the sound of battle woke Lyna from her troubled sleep.
As always the darkspawn reached out for her sleeping mind, their claws and fangs ripping at her night time world, and as always the echo that was once the will of the Archdemon slithered through her soul, making any true rest impossible.
The clash of steel and raised voices brought her back to the waking world, her ax and dagger in hand she sprang to her feet, grateful that she had spent the night wearing her armor.
Arrow who had been watching since she had woke him from his nap a few hours ago sprang after his mistress. His lips pulled back in a harsh snarl, ready to face whatever this threat might hold.
Lyna slowed as they drew closer to the sound, if the numbers were too great she could likely be able to slip away before she was noticed.
She was no fool when it came to battle, even with Arrow at her side, she would not bumble blindly into a fight she could not win.
Her ears twitched as she finally drew close enough to make out the voices.
"You would prey on innocents, thief?!"
"I'm not a fan of prayer, friend. Though if you are interested in prayer, I'm sure some chantry wench could help you."
"Do not play the fool with me. You were stalking the Arlessa! I will see that you answer for that!"
Lyna's ears twitched.
Stalking the Arlessa?
She adapted her hunter's tread, trading her blades for her bow.
Arrow slowed as well, awaiting his mistress' command.
The warden's eyes narrowed.
She would see what all this ruckus was about.
IOI
Royce stood with his blade at the ready. His eyes narrowed as he regarded the sodding miscreant that had been tracking the Arlessa.
The warrior sneered grimly.
One more step and he would remove the thieving dwarf's head.
The world would be a better place with it off.
His quarry was hardly symbolic of his noble race. All the dwarves that Royce had met during his life were respectful, businessmen or smiths. This one was none of these things.
Twice had this one been brought before the Magistrate in Amaranthine. The first time he had been sentenced to a work gang near the Hinterlands. He had apparently escaped a week later. The second time, he had been sent to the city dungeon. He had escaped three days after that.
The warrior frowned.
He would be damned if there was a third time that this outlaw escaped.
The dwarf beardless with short curly red hair with a scarred and beardless face smiled at him, his teeth unusually white for a common lowlife.
"Listen here guardsman," he said, "I'm certain we can come to some kind of understanding here."
His smile widened.
"After all, I have done nothing..."
Royce glared at him.
"Lately," he added quickly.
The warrior was hearing none of it.
"I may no longer be a city guardsman," he snarled, "But I still recognize a troublemaker when I see one."
He began to advance on his quarry. The dwarf raised his small ax and dagger.
"You are done here," the warrior spat.
Then he charged.
The dwarf back pedaled raising his weapons.
He hadn't needed to.
IOI
An arrow struck the blade of Royce's sword spoiling his aim.
The dwarf lunged, seeking to take advantage.
Another arrow knocked the ax from his hand.
Both men spun.
A third arrow landed between the two of them, making them both jump back.
"ENOUGH!" a cold commanding voice ordered.
They both froze.
Lyna stood before them, another arrow nocked and ready.
Arrow stood at her side growling ready to leap on either of the foes if they chose to move towards his mistress.
The Dalish warden glared at the two men, different as night and day they were.
"The warrior with his long hair and beard was every bit the Ferelden soldier. His armor dented, but well cared for. The dwarf with the scared face and hands wore pieced together leathers. The mismatched dagger and ax suggested that he was no soldier.
Still Lyna did not relax her aim.
She had been in Dust town; Orzammar's fringes were as dangerous as their warrior caste if provoked.
She had no desire to get a blade in the back.
"Andaran atish'an gentlemen," she called out with a smirk, "Now that I have your attention, maybe you can tell me what is going on out here!"
The dwarf watched her wearily, her and arrow both, he glanced down at his dagger, weighing his options.
Arrow bared his fangs at the man.
The warrior surprised her.
He lowered his weapon and dropped to one knee.
"Arlessa," he said bowing his head, "Praise the Maker I reached you in time!"
Lyna's elven ears twitched with surprise, but she did not lower her weapon.
Her bright blue eyes narrowed.
"Are you from the Vigil soldier?" she demanded.
"No Arlessa, but I was on my way there when I spotted you on the road, Your Grace," he replied.
He glanced up at her.
"My name is Royce, formerly of the Amaranthine guard."
He glanced over at the dwarf, a look of distaste on his face.
"I spotted this waste of space trailing you," he said.
The dwarf stood a little straighter.
"I resent that description, ser!"
"Silence thief," the warrior spat."
Lyna rolled her eyes.
"Both of you be silent," she ordered.
The two men fell silent.
She once again turned to the warrior.
"Why were you on your way to the Vigil?"
The man sighed.
"I wished to join the garrison there," he confessed, "We have met before, though you likely don't remember me. When…when I saw you leaving, seeing you leave with no guards, I…I thought that I could offer my blade for your safety, Arlessa."
She snorted.
"I am no longer the Arlessa," she said, "I am merely a warden gone travelling."
She turned to the dwarf.
"So," she said, "What is your story?"
The dwarf smirked.
"My name is Bok, Milady," he said with a courtly bow, "Businessman and gentleman of the road."
The warrior sniffed.
"He is a common highwayman, Arlessa."
Bok sniffed at that.
"A highwayman I may be," he admitted, "But I'm hardly common."
She turned to the warrior.
"Is that true, Ser Royce?"
"It is true, Arlessa," he said, "This man has passed through the Magistrate's court several times in the past. For trying to attack a warden, he will be beheaded this time."
"I was not trying to attack anyone," he responded, "Did I notice the young lady, yes. Was I planning to rob her, no?"
Lyna frowned.
"Then why were you following me?"
He gave her a sly smile.
"You are well armed and armored," he said, "I assumed you some mercenary. I was following in a hope that you might lead you to a gathering of such people."
"You insult the Arlessa churl!" Royce snarled.
"I'm not insulted," Lyna said, "Stay your anger, Ser Royce."
The warrior sighed and said nothing more.
She returned her attention to the dwarf.
"Finish your story Messere Bok."
The dwarf shrugged.
"I've worn out my welcome here in Amaranthine," he said, "I'm looking for new places to apply my trade."
"I was hoping you might lead me to someone who might need my services."
Lyna paused, thinking.
"What skills do you possess?" she inquired.
The dwarf smiled.
"I'm skilled at the noble art of lock picking," he replied, "I also know my way around a poison vial. "I'm not bad with an ax and a dagger in a fight either."
He started to edge toward his fallen weapon.
Arrow growled.
He stopped.
The dwarf laughed nervously.
"Your dog is not going to eat me, is he?"
Lyna smirked.
"He might," she replied, he hasn't had his breakfast yet."
Arrow licked his chops.
Bok swallowed hard.
She turned back to Royce.
"Why were you seeking to join the garrison at the Vigil?"
The warrior sighed.
"I spent my whole life in Amaranthine Arlessa," he said, "My father was a guard, as was his father before him."
The man sighed.
"I lost my son and daughter when the darkspawn raided our city."
Lyna winced.
More lives I failed to save, she thought.
"I'm sorry," she cooed.
The man shrugged.
"It was not you," he said, "You saved our city. It was the darkspawn that killed my babes, and you killed them."
He shook his head.
"My wife died of the fever a week ago. I have nothing holding me in Amaranthine now."
He gave her a determined look.
"I can't stay here anymore. Too many memories haunt me."
He gave her a hopeful look.
"I hoped to find a new life in the Vigil. In your service, my Arlessa."
Lyna nodded.
She considered her options.
The Vigil was only two days away. She and Royce could take Bok back there. She could introduce Royce to Nathaniel. She had no desire to see him subject himself to the joining, but the Vigil always needed good soldiers.
Bok could be offered the warden life she supposed. If he survived the joining he could be…
She paused.
Then she would be delivering Bok to the taint, sentencing him to die of the Calling.
She shook her head.
No, she would not do that.
Of course, there was more than one path in this world.
Perhaps the Creators had smiled on her this morning.
She lowered her bow.
She turned to Royce.
"I'm no longer your Arlessa," she said, "But I do find myself in need of skilled help."
She glanced at the distant horizon.
"I'm leaving Ferelden," she confessed, "On a mission of great importance."
"What is it you seek?" Royce asked.
She smiled enigmatically.
"The future, I hope."
She put her weapons away.
"I only ask for people to travel with me as far as they are willing. This is not a matter of conscription, but if I succeed, the wardens…perhaps all of the Thedas will be a better place because of it."
Royce nodded; she could already see the man considering what she was saying.
"What is the pay?"
They both glanced at Bok."
He raised his hands in submission.
"I'm just asking; going on a quest like this, there is sure to be rewards to be claimed, no?"
Lyna sighed.
She had not expected allies to work for free, but having a few true believers along would have been nice.
Elven ears twitched.
"A full share of any treasure we find," she promised, "That and you may trade any armor and weapons you scavenge yourself."
The dwarf's smile brightened.
"Deal," he said, "I'm in."
Royce's eyes widened in shock.
"Arlessa," he gasped.
"Ser Royce," she said silencing, "As I have said, I'm not your Arlessa, or your commander."
She shook her head.
"I'm just Lyna now."
The warrior rose, still shaking his head, but he did sheath his sword.
The Dalish took that as a good sign.
He glared down at the grinning dwarf.
"If you think I'm going to let you go off this noble woman all alone you are sadly mistaken dwarf!"
Bok chuckled.
"I don't make a habit of betraying the people who offer to watch my back," he said scooping up his ax, but only after Arrow relaxed his battle stance.
Royce shook his head.
He glanced up at that warden.
"If you will have me, Milady," he said, "I'm with you."
Lyna's smile widened.
"I suspected that I might need help on this journey," she said, "I just did not think that I would find it so soon."
She lowered her weapons and motioned for the two men to follow her.
"My camp is this way," she said, "You can both warm yourselves by the fire."
She led them out of the clearing. Bok and Royce followed her, walking side by side.
The dwarf sneered up at the warrior.
"I'm sure it will be interesting working with you Ser knight," he said.
Royce sneered.
"I'll be watching you dwarf," he said, "At the first hint of treachery…"
Bok laughed dismissively.
"I know. I know. Cut off my head, put it on a pike, all that fun stuff."
He took a deep cleansing breath.
"Fear not human," he said, "Living is too much fun to be tossed away so recklessly. I mean just look up there, the sky is blue, and the sun is shining.
He smirked.
"I like living."
Royce sighed and shook his head.
"Maker help us all," he murmured.
"Andraste guide us."