Heading Out

It was a dismal morning. A heavy fog enveloped the keep, making the crisp morning temperature bone chilling.

Juliette met up with Anders and Oghren outside the keeps main gate. All three had packs slung over their shoulders, Oghren's almost sweeping the ground.

"Good morning! Ready to begin?" she asked as cheerily as she could.

"By the stone, I forget how blasted cold it gets on the surface!" Oghren said slapping his arms.

"I suppose growing up playing by the beautiful river of LAVA would spoil one a bit," Anders said. Taking an exaggerated sniff through his nose, he said, "Ahhh, quite nothing like the smell of brimstone, and sulfur, to get the blood pumping!"

"Sorry Anders, but even you have to admit its cold this morning," said Juliette, smiling at them both. "Least it's only fog, and not snow. I expect they shall see the first snows before we return."

"I think you are correct," Juliette turned to see Nathaniel approaching, holding the halters of two chestnut quarter horses. "I took the liberty of preparing your horse, Commander," he said, holding out the reins of the mare.

"Good morning, and thank you," she said, as accepted the reins of the horse she knew as Jasmine. She pulled Jasmine's muzzle down to her, and stroked her large cheek. "Hello sweet lady, ready for some exercise?"

"Commander, do we have to ride to Denerim?" asked Oghren. "I mean, it's a bit of like asking you to ride on the back of a drake, you know?"

"Oghren, I realize it's not easy for you and I am sorry" Juliette replied. "But the King was rather clear that he means to see me sooner, rather than later, and walking would add at least 10 more days to our trip." Juliette absently patted Jasmine's flank, then began tying her pack over the back of the saddle, "However, the stable master is aware of your size concerns," she continued, from over her shoulder, "and has promised me a solution."

"Come on dwarf, let's go saddle up then," Anders said, and he and Oghren headed down the hill.

Nathaniel and Juliette were left standing together in awkward silence, Juliette broke it first. "Anders said he saw you in Amaranthine yesterday, I hope that all is well?"

Nathaniel's eye went large, and his cheeks flushed pink, but he made no response.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I just was.." Juliette fumbled with her words, and she kicked absently at a clod of dirt to cover her embarrassment.

"Everything is fine, thank you," Nathaniel answered crisply.

Juliette shifted uncomfortably. She walked around her horse again, and checked her pack. She checked her saddle and the halter, fidgeted with straps.

Nathaniel knew that she was unsure of herself around him and he was only making this worse for her with his tone. It would be easier for him if he used that to keep his distance, but seeing her so uncomfortable was making it harder than he thought.

"Perhaps we should go down?" he asked, and she nodded her agreement. Nathaniel cupped his hands together at her horses' side, and she deftly placed the toe of her boot in, rising up to swing her leg over. He handed her the reins.

"Thank you, Nathaniel," Juliette said, though she did not meeting his eyes completely.

"Commander," he replied and he walked over to his own mount, gracefully settling himself into the saddle.

Juliette led her horse in a turn, and headed down the hill.

Nathaniel gathered the reins, watching her go, "I'm sorry Jules. Damn it, it's for your own good." he muttered before tapping the flanks of his horse lightly. He arrived at the stables and found an odd scene unfolding before him.

"I'm telling you, I'm not sitting on that damn horse!" Oghren bellowed, clearly worked up.

"Oghren, we have little choice here," answered Juliette. She turned back to face the stable master and laced her fingers together, pleading, "Horace, is there NOTHING else available? Oghren is uh, unsure of your selection."

"I'm not unsure!" Oghren snapped. "I'm sodding positive that I ain't getting onto that monster animal!"

Juliette turned to Oghren. "Oh will you stop it? We will figure this out!"

"Maybe they have a goat you could ride instead?" said Anders snickering.

"Anders, by the Maker, you will both WALK if you don't stop egging him on!" said Juliette, her voice become louder. "The two of you are about as adult as a 3 year old! Shut UP!" she scolded. "Horace, if you please, are there any more options?" Juliette asked the stable master again.

"Actually, Anders goat comment gave me an idea," the stable master said, but did not elaborate.

"Which would be…"Nathaniel prompted.

"Well, I do have a half breed," the older man said sheepishly. "It's a whole lot smaller than a horse, which I think he'd like, but she's stupid as a stone, and not near as fast."

"A donkey? An ass on an ass! Perfect!" Anders roared with laughter. Oghren walked towards Anders with the clear intent to knock him flat.

Nathaniel stepped in his path, "Oghren, not the time."

"Man skirt wearing sissy!" Oghren yelled at Anders from around Nathaniel. "I oughta put your teeth down your throat!

Juliette sighed loudly, "Are you boys through?" she snapped, pinning each man with a scathing glare.

Oghren and Anders both looked sullen, Anders kicked a rock.

"Boys?" she asked again.

"Yes Commander." said Oghren, looking down, properly contrite.

"Fine, I'm done."Anders said. Nathaniel pinned him with a look. "Sorry, Commander."

Juliette turned to the stable master. "Horace, please get the animal so Oghren may see it."

"Yes ma'am," Horace replied, and he hurried away from the group. In a few minutes, he returned leading the donkey through the corral. "This is Honeydew," he said.

Even Juliette was having a hard time with this one. Anders lost all control, and Nathaniel even began to laugh, but Oghren was nodding his head.

"Now that's something I can handle," the dwarf said, nodding his head. "Not as tall, and spindly legs either," Oghren said in admiration. "We weren't plannin' on galloping to Denerim, uh, were we Commander?"

"No, I think that we can avoid that," Juliette replied. "Are you sure? A donkey is a bit more ornery than a horse," Juliette advised.

"I'm a bit ornery too, so I think we'll understand each other."Oghren said, taking the bridle from Horace. "Ah, can I call her Branka? I always liked riding her a"

Juliette quickly interrupted, "Call her whatever you like!" she said. "Are we set then?"

Oghren agreed and they all mounted their steeds. Juliette took point and they all headed down the mountain. A few miles later, they reached the main road, and Oghren and Anders began arguing about some mundane thing. The group fell into a moderate pace, and Juliette began to enjoy her surroundings.

When she had arrived at the Vigil, it had been after nightfall, and then she had been busy fighting darkspawn. Juliette had been escorted from Highever by Mhairi, a warden recruit that ultimately did not survive her joining. Because of this, she hadn't traveled the main road between Amaranthine and Denerim before, and the beautiful landscape captured her attention.

The steep hills would break, revealing smooth farmland. The last harvests had recently been brought in, and the landscape was a mix of tilled soil and tall grasses, stiff from the morning frost. Soaring trees edged the road, and fields, were vibrant in oranges and reds. Juliette was warmed by the sun, just reaching the middle of the sky, as it burned off the last of the foggy mist.

Juliette looked back over her shoulder. Oghren and Anders were riding next to each other, swapping dirty limericks. Left to their own devices, Juliette believed that they liked one another, perhaps enough to call it a friendship. She knew that if this was ever pointed out, though, that they would spend the rest of their time convincing you that the other was an oaf, or a pansy. Smiling, she laughed quietly at the unlikely pair.

Trailing behind them was Nathaniel. He was a skilled horseman and looked at ease. In the sunlight, his hair managed to look even darker, which Juliette found fascinating. Even when he had been very young, he had the blackest hair. Delilah's hair was a rich brown color, Thomas's had been too, but Nathaniel's hair was so black it was almost blue sometimes. When he was upset his eyes could look almost as dark. Nathaniel had become a very handsome man, more so, Juliette thought, because of his nature.

Juliette considered the night on the battlement. She had to admit, it had felt good to be in his arms. She had felt safe, and she had enjoyed the brief embrace, and her response was more than just nostalgia. For a moment she had wanted him to kiss her, perhaps wanted even more. Juliette was beginning to realize that her feelings for Nathaniel were more complicated than she had understood.

She missed having his confidence. It troubled her deeply that after so much time, the events of little over a year ago still seemed to fully occupy his mind. Nathaniel seemed to have the weight of shame around him, unfounded, she would have said, but she didn't know how to tell him that. Right now, as far as she knew, Nathaniel wanted as little to do with her as possible.

The thing that she feared most, was that the man, who had been an important part of her life as long as she could recall, the one friend who had survived the civil war, and Blight, still blamed her for his situation. They had never actually spoken of what she had done, of her part in what had happened to the Howe family. They had talked about what Rendon Howe had done to her family, and he had apologized for being so harsh with her, but nothing more. It ate at her, the idea that her Nate, whom she had loved as a friend since she could walk, would not understand what had happened.

Stopping Rendon Howe had been a promise made to her father, as his blood poured onto their larder floor. It had pooled at Juliette's feet, seeping into her leather boots when she had sobbed and begged him to come with her, as she had pleaded with her mother to go. And then Duncan had dragged Juliette out the hidden passage, leaving her parents to their deaths, her father's blood still smeared across her. In those six days of blindly following Duncan to Ostagar, her father's blood had dried and caked into the soles of her boots.

Juliette did not regret killing Arl Howe. In the end it had been self defense, a terrible battle in his depraved private dungeon. Defeated, he had lain on the floor, and railed at her, cursing her family, spewing hate, and screaming he wanted to cut her down with his last ragged breath.

There was no force on Thedas that could make her tell Nathaniel about those moments.

All things considered, perhaps she was being silly to hope that things would be remotely normal between them. What had happened to their families was horrible by anyone's measure, but the fact that it had happened, that they had each lost so very much, made her cling even more to the idea that she and Nathaniel could fix it.

Fergus had been beyond furious with her, when he had discovered she had conscripted Nathaniel. He had yelled, and then bossed, and finally pleaded with her to be rid of Nathaniel, but she had refused. He had called her a fool, told her that Nathaniel Howe was his fathers' son; he just hadn't proven it to anyone yet. Juliette had argued just as passionately that Fergus was wrong about Nathaniel, that she knew he was nothing like the Arl.

Fergus had stared at her until he finally said, "I hope you're right, baby sister, for you may wake to find him cutting your throat."

They had never spoken of it since. The one time that Fergus had been to Vigil's Keep, he had very blatantly ignored Nathaniel. Nathaniel had taken the hint, and had spent the rest of the visit away from the keep, and Juliette had been very angry with Fergus. The fight that followed, ended with Fergus's early return to Highever.

"Commander! My ass hurts!" yelled Oghren.

"Loosen the reins!" she yelled over her shoulder. Anders laughed.

"Real cute!" replied Oghren."Hardy har har!" he sneered. "I meant my derrière! My buns, my back door, my poop shoot, you know my ASS!"

This time it was Juliette that fell into laughter and she stopped her horse while the others grouped together. They all agreed that a rest was necessary, having been on their horses (and asses) for over five hours. Nathaniel said he knew of a clearing a bit further ahead that was vacant land.

Shortly, they found the area that he had mentioned.

"It's got a fire pit now, that's a new addition," he noted as they rode in. "There's a stream over at the tree line," Nathaniel pointed to a cluster of saplings about one hundred feet away.

The group stopped and began to dismount. Nathaniel made it to the side of Juliette's mount before she could swing her leg over, and he lifted her down but moved quickly away. Juliette offered her thanks and he merely inclined his head.

"Here," Juliette said, needing a distraction. "Let me lead them to the creek," and she took the reins from Nathaniel and Anders. She returned after a few minutes, and took the donkey, noting the men had been successful in starting a fire. When she came back, she staked the animals in the greener grass, and approached the circle around the pit. Nathaniel had begun unloading the food pack and withdrew his dagger, parceling out chunks of cheese and dried jerky. Each having a small amount to eat, they all settled onto the ground, Nathaniel sitting away from Juliette.

"How much further until we stop for the night?" asked Oghren, breaking the silence.

"There should be another four hours or so, of daylight," answered Nathaniel. "We should stop shortly before then to set up camp. Oghren we will need to increase our pace a bit due to the shorter days, I think that your beast can handle it."

Everyone looked up at the jolting whiney of Nathaniel's horse, who was stamping his feet and jerking on his stake, clearly wanting to be closer to his mate, Jasmine.

"Oh! I'm sorry boy!" Juliette jumped up and began to go over to him.

"No, stop!"Nathaniel ordered, coming to his feet and taking her arm, as his eyes searched their surroundings. "He's afraid, see?" the horse's nostrils flared, and he tossed his head. "He smells something." He pulled against him, drawing his dirk, as he warned, "Prepare yourselves!"

Instantly, several large wolves broke through the tree line, charging them in a group. Juliette drew her long sword from her pack that lay at her feet, and moved forward, Nathaniel on her left, and Oghren on her right.

The leader of the pack was monstrous.

Oghren advanced, arcing his battleaxe, clipping a wolf, and stopped its advance. From the corner of her eye, she saw the gathering of colored light as Anders channeled his magic. Two of the wolves were blasted, and thrown back by his spell, allowing Juliette and Nathaniel to separate, and attack each animal with ease. Oghren bellowed a war cry, and swung his axe again, severing the head of another one.

Juliette heard a wolf from behind her and spun in time, the animal impaling itself upon her sword. She sliced its throat with her dagger, before yanking her sword from its body. More colored light and chants, and Anders' efforts left her feeling renewed, and she lunged at another creature.

Nathaniel threw off the feral attack of a wolf he had cornered, plunging both of his daggers in its back as it went past. The sounds of fighting seemed to be slowing and Nathaniel rapidly assessed the scene. Cold spread through his belly as he saw the pack leader had circled around the group, and was charging.

Juliette pulled her sword from the shoulder of a wolf, as the enormous beast leapt for her, but she couldn't turn in time to prepare for his lunge. She was knocked back, and slammed into the ground, hitting her head with such force that Juliette couldn't focus, but she knew he would tear her to pieces. Juliette screwed her eyes, desperate to see, waiting to feel the animals teeth tear into her. Suddenly, it was over, the snarling ceased with a horrible whine, and her men were yelling.

As her vision cleared, what she saw had her terrified. The horrendous weight on her had not been the wolf at all, but Nathaniel. He had leapt on top of her, covering her with his large body, taking the bites and shredding tears to his own shoulders, back, and arms.

Blood was streaming down the collar of his leathers, dripping steadily all over her face. He was still braced above her, his elbows on either side of her head, but clearly in intense pain. She strained to get her arms pulled from under his weight, and he shifted slightly to allow her movement, his breath shuddering as he did. Juliette pushed his hair away from his face, and caressed his face, stroking his cheek.

"Nate, hold on," his eyes opened slowly and focused on hers. "ANDERS!" she screamed, her eyes never leaving his.

"Are you hurt?" he managed.

"The blood is yours, Nate," she whispered. "ANDERS!" Juliette yelled again. Frantically, she searched Nate's neck with her fingers as his eyes fluttered shut. "Nate?" he didn't answer. "No, no, no! Maker, please be alright" she begged, petting his face.

"ANDERS PLEASE HELP HIM!" she screamed, her voice cracking in utter despair.

She heard Anders and Oghren reach them, "I'm here Juliette!" 'Anders answered, as he slid across the grass and dirt.

"Let me lift him off of her!" she heard Oghren say.

"NO!" she and Anders cried in unison. "I need to see his wounds on his back first; the beast may have hurt his spine," Anders continued.

Juliette's chin began to quiver at that thought, tears stinging her eyes. She felt his throat again, and then heard him whisper, "Don't cry, Jules." He was still awake. Light began glowing bright above them, Anders already at his work.

"Nate, I'm so sorry," Juliette whispered desperately. "I should have seen the wolf. I should have been ready," she said as the tears spilled over. "It's my fault!"

He lowered his head down, grimacing, and he rested his forehead against hers. "I would never let you be hurt," he said so softly she almost couldn't hear him.

"Nate, you think I would have you hurt instead of me?" she answered, as her hand stroked his hair. "Nate?" she said, as his full weight sank against her. "Nate!"

"I cast sleep on him Commander," Anders informed her, sensing her panic. "He's alright, really. I believe it is safe to move him off of you now, but it would have been too painful without the spell," he explained.

"Don't move him," Juliette ordered. "Oghren, just grab an arm, or a leg, or something, and drag me out from under him, okay?" Oghren did just that.

Juliette sat up as soon as she was free. The huge wolf that had tried to kill her lay a few feet away, sliced almost in half by Oghren's battleaxe. She looked at Nate's back; his leathers punctured and shredded, the skin under it nearly as bad, and shivered. Nathaniel had saved her, but his wounds looked nearly fatal.

Anders finished his work on Nathaniel's back, and was ready to work on his shoulder wounds, so she held his head in her lap, stroking his face while Anders staff glowed, and Nathaniel's skin pulled together. Soon, he was no longer bleeding.

"The danger is over now," Anders told her. "I think we can carry him over to the fire." Oghren and Anders lifted him with extreme care and Juliette ran ahead to unroll his bed roll. They laid Nathaniel down gently, "We will need to camp here tonight, Commander. He lost a lot of blood and will need to rest."

Juliette nodded, still worried. "Whatever you think best, Anders."

"Come on mage. Let's see if we can't find some more wood, and make ready for dusk," Oghren said, before turning to Juliette. "Don't worry Commander, the boy will be just fine, he's made of stern stuff."

The two men left the clearing in search of supplies, Anders complaining about the state of his robes. Juliette prepared the camp area for nightfall, and hovered over Nathaniel while they were gone. Anders sleep spell had been a strong one.

"I don't think he will wake for hours yet, perhaps not until morning." Anders said, when he returned.

She made sure that he was comfortable and then they prepared to settle for the night.

Anders and Oghren both put up their tents, Oghren offering to help Juliette with her own.

"No, thank you," she politely declined. "I'm going to sit with Nathaniel tonight. I will put my bedroll on the other side of the fire."

"I'll sit up with the boy, Commander, you don't need to," the dwarf had offered.

"He's injured because of my mistake," she shook her head. "No, I will look after him," Juliette said, closing the matter.

A few hours later, after dark had fallen, and a meager supper, Nathaniel was still sleeping heavily. Anders and Oghren went to their tents, bidding her good night. Juliette checked the horses, and donkey, moved their stakes to fresher grass, and then raked the coals of the fire for morning.

Juliette paced the camp a bit, and finally stripped off her armor and boots, and took down her hair. She washed her face, and laid her sword where her roll was, before she checked Nathaniel again, and finally settled down to sleep.