Getting right on it today. Don't know why, I usually wait for feedback, but I don't know I'm kinda on a roll today and well I want to see how far I can take it. Hell I've seen people get it done twice as fast as I usually... you know something that just turned really REALLY dirty... Sorry about that! Heheheheh... Erm well without further ado I give you the third chapter... To the story... Yeah... MOVING ON...
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I really wish I did, but I don't. I know I'm crying about it too. If you hear sobbing later that's me crying myself to sleep. I don't own that line either... CRAP! Ah that is funny though... anywho! The point I'm trying to make here is that I would very much like to not be sued so just know I'm not making money off this story.
The Newest Stray...
Alistair and Sparrow spent most of the day walking around Oakfield, she explained most of the history she had learned from Theresa and their advancements in weapons. At the mention of weapons, Alistair suddenly realized he was unarmed. When asked, Sparrow explained that she hadn't seen anything as far as weapons go, just his armor. No rifles or swords."I can see if we can find you something as far as weapons go," Sparrow practically dragged him to the weapon stall. "What do you usually arm yourself with?"
"A sword and sheild," Alistair observed the stall for a moment. "Which doesn't seem to appear anywhere."
"Well... No," Sparrow scratched the back of her head. "They haven't made shields in years. We use swords and block with them."
"What about my shield," asked Alistair suddenly panicked. Something bad settled into his stomach at the thought that it would be gone. "It didn't sink with me did it?"
"The only thing that came out with me that night was you," answer Sparrow sympathetically. "I didn't know it meant so much to you." If Alistair could have felt like he was could sink any lower, he just did. Duncan's shield was lost forever and once more did he feel like he had nothing of a man that he looked to as a father. "Did it belong to someone special?"
He nodded. "Duncan," he replied. When Sparrow silently pressed him on he continued. "He was like a father to me until he died." His head felt like a rock far too heavy for him to carry and so shamefully he let it hang. He thought that a year ago he had burried Duncan in his heart, allowed himself to walk away from the battle of Ostagar and finally quit looking back. Maybe it was the shield, his last symbol of Ferelden, Grey Wardens, and Duncan that kept him moving forward. Trying so hard to do them proud, and now he lost that last remnant of his home and his family. He just sighed and gave in, it always seemed like a safe thing to do.
Sparrow, on the other hand, felt guilty when she realized what that shield might have meant to him. 'Nice job Lily,' she chided herself. 'Not only do you nearly kill the man, you take something of his fatherly figure and lose it in the stream.' She scratched her chin as though she had a beard, out of a habit of watching gypsy men who actually did have beard do the same, and began calculating again. How far could it honestly have gotten to? There was the chance that it could be stuck on a rock, the current wasn't going very fast, the mill could have caught it. There was even a chance that a fisherman could have caught it. It was a long shot that she'd find it, but it was a chance she had to take. "One moment," she excused herself from the stall and pulled Alistair aside. Roughly she grabbed his arm and pulled him down to Roofus. "Smell him boy." She ordered. Roofus did as he was told. "Do you smell that anywhere?"
Roofus, apparently in a good mood, barked happily and jumped in front Alistair. "Oh ha ha," Sparrow folded her arms. "I meant anywhere else." Roofus stuck his golden snout in the air and sniffed, with a whine he hid his snout from her. "It's okay," she pet him right behind his ears in that spot he did enjoy most. Alistair, who she did not let go of, watched her questioningly. "No dog in all of Albion is a better tracker than Roofus. Isn't that right?" Roofus barked happily once more. "I figured if he got your scent there was a chance that some of your effects might be recovered."
Alistair gave a weak smile, it was a futile effort, but nice all the same. "I apprieciate your effort, I really do. But you don't have to-," she walked away from him. Her face rested on her chin thoughtfully again as she looked in the stream. The water was clear enough to see straight to the bottom, but the glare of the sun made things a little more difficult. Finally, with the glare being no help at all, she just sighed and dove in. Alistair couldn't help but feel a small shred of hope reach in and tug on his heart. 'Please be there,' he silently prayed.
"AHA!" She declared as she broke the surface again! She dove under once more, longer than the first time. When she came back up she looked sheepishly at Alistair. "I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I did find your shield! The bad news, is that it's stuck! It got wedged in a rock and now it's really heavy, really stuck, and I can't pull against the current." Alistair's hope was quickly dashed and Sparrow didn't miss it. "Now now now," she waved her hand dismissively. "Don't be such a defeatist, we'll get this thing out of here if it kills me! But we just need to get that current..." Her eyes glued to the mill. 'Oh they'll run me out of this town if I break that thing,' she groaned. 'But I lost his shield and he looks like a kicked puppy. I've got to get that back to him.' "Help me out would you." Alistair reached down and with one firm tug Sparrow was on both feet on the ledge.
She marched with her rifle in hand, much to the citizen's fear of what exactly she was going to do with it, straight for the mill. If she could stop the wheel from turning, she'd be up to her eyes in dept, but she was pretty good in a smithy they pay her well for her quality. Still, it was the fact that all of Oakfield was going to be at her doorstep with torches and pitchforks ready for some damage. Then again, the thought occured to her, she lived in the Manure Manor. If she remembered correctly, the deed stated that she owned that mill. That thought occuring, she aimed her weapon for a second and opened fire. The gears chipped until she stopped to reload. Alistair, having never seen a rifle before, just watched curiously and flinched every time she shot. Sparrow, getting frustrated at the lack of progress she was making, threw the rifle at her back once more. Instead, she lifted her hands into the air before concentrating the energy between them. There started a spark, then a small flame, soon a large firey orb was in her hand and she let it fly at the gears until they blew into little pieces. She hooted victoriously before throwing her hands to her hips and giving a hearty laugh. When Alistair stood speachless she cleared her throat. "Yes well," she dusted herself off. "That's enough of that. I think I can pull your shield now."
Alistair pointed at the bits of metal. "You're a mage," he pointed out in shock.
"I'm a Hero," she explained. She stopped for a moment shook her head. "Well, I'm a decendant of a Hero. But am I specifically a Will User? Or do I specifically look to improve my Will? No. I'm more of a Skill type of girl. Saves a lot of wounds when I can stand twenty feet back and blow their damn heads off. Don't you think?" Alistair didn't say anything, instead he seemed uncomfortable. Unused to free running mages, or Will Users as she called it. "I also know that back in F-... Your home they locked up people like me. But around here, well it's so rare to find Hero's or decendants, and if we're Hero's, it generally means that we're hear to protect these people, not hurt them. The citizens usually trust me."
"Usually?"
"Well when I blow up working mills and the likes," she smiled a guilty grin. "They usually don't take too well to that. But it's my mill I'll burn the whole thing down if I feel like it. Now, let's get that shield before it gets any further." She dove in once more, breaking to the surface twice for air. Alistair could watch her from the surface as she struggled for it. "This thing does not want to come loose!" She cried frustratedly. She thought carefully for a moment, if there was a way in, there had to be a way out. She had originally thought to blow out the rock, but there was too high a chance that the shield would be damaged by the force. She ran her fingers through her short hair and moaned. There had to be a way Sparrow just wasn't thinking hard enough. She swam back and forth like she was pacing, perhaps if she had a wedge that could break the rock. An idea occured to her! She reached for her sword behind her and diving once more shoved her sword as best as she could between the shield and the top of the rock. She swam back about a foot or so, and like before concentrated energy between her hands. Instead of a spark, she was blown backwards by the force of her push, the sword cracked the rock holding the shield. With one more throw, the sword broke in half, but not before it sliced the rock as well.
Duncan's shield was free.
She quickly snatched up the heavy metal and broke the surface one last time. Alistair was practically giddy when she tried to lift the blue shield to him. "You got it!" He quickly reached down and yanked her by her arm. "Maker's breath you really got it!" He grinned from ear to ear to find he had been reunited with his friends shield.
Sparrow shook off the water and nodded. "I told you not to be a defeatist," she reminded him. She couldn't help but smile with him though, it was contagious. "I made a promise and I'll be damned if I've ever went back on my word."
"Thank you," he said almost breathlessly. "You have no idea what this means to me." He traced the griffon with his fingers and sighed contently.
"A word of caution if you will," suggested Sparrow almost sorry to have dragged Alistair from his revery. "I wouldn't take it with you. It's a strong metal, I have no doubt but the lead of a bullet would damage that thing beyond repair." She pointed at the manor by the produce stand. "If I may, I say you keep it stored at my house until you get one of your own."
"What makes you think I'm staying?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Countered Sparrow. "You may think I'm so blind that I cannot see that you're running from something. More than likely from Ferelden. I can understand that much. But what I cannot understand is what makes you think you must keep running? How far away can you run before you are right back to where you started from?"
"I-," Alistair trailed off. He didn't have an answer because he truthfully didn't know what he was running from. Everyone in Ferelden was dead due to the darkspawn. He was no longer a wanted man. He was free to go anywhere he wanted. Just as long as that place wasn't Ferelden but then again, Alistair didn't think he'd ever want to go back victory or not.
"I see," said Sparrow sternly. "Well then, leave whenever you feel like it. I have other issues to attend to." She stormed away leaving Roofus and Alistair to watch her walk away.
Roofus lifted his paw and waved it at Alistair whining. Alistair knew this trick from Audrea's mabari, Barkspawn. The dog would always work on his guilty conscience since their owner figured killing him was out of the question. Roofus, like Barkspawn, was too smart for his own good. He saw quickly that his methods were not working and took to nudging the human's legs toward his mistress.
Sparrow having noticed that her faithful companion had not walked away when she did, whistled one sharp sounding whistle and pointed at the space next to her where he should have been. Roofus whined once more and walked away with his head bowed sadly. Alistair had to admit, that was a method the mabari never tried before. Really milking the situation, Roofus glanced behind him with giant begging puppy eyes before sadly continuing onwards. He seemed to be limping, before he fell down at Sparrow's feet weakly. "Roofus," she asked with great concern. Roofus looked up at his mistress with big eyes helplessly. "Roofus, boy, what's wrong?" He whined before letting his head fall down, eyes closed. "ROOFUS," she cried.
Alistair, hearing the commotion, was running to her side instinctively. He knelt down beside her to examine the dog, only knowing the little bit he had learned from Barkspawn, but not seeing anything wrong with Roofus. "Was he injured at any point?"
"No," Sparrow shook her head. "No, he was fine when we arrived." She reached for her elixir. "Roofus, don't leave me." She nearly wept. Fearfully, she scratched his tummy as her opposite hand kept searching. "Damnit, where's that elixir?"
"Is there somewhere you can get more around here?" Asked Alistair. Sparrow shook his head. "Is there anywhere you can get more at all?"
"I don't know," shrugged Sparrow still searching in the hopes that she could save her best friend. "It was a going away gift for Roofus when we left the gypsy camp."
"How far is the gypsy camp?"
"About a days journey from here."
"Do you think he can make it that long?"
"He might," Sparrow thought out loud. Suddenly she nodded. "He's a tough dog, I think if I leave now he should be able to hang on."
"I'll come with you," Alistair stood up quickly. "I'll leave my shield in your manor and we'll leave immediately."
"No," sternly spoke Sparrow. Roofus howled in protest. "Roofus?" He rolled on his side and howled again. The citizens of Oakfield gathered around at the sight of the fallen dog. Some whispered how the poor thing was going to die, children asked their mothers what was wrong with the animal, mothers had to explain that at some point the dog was going to face it's end. Sparrow couldn't help but let a few tears falls for her companion of ten years. "My poor Roofus."
"Let's leave now," urged Alistair. "We can't do anything just sitting around here."
"You're sure you want to come with me," asked Sparrow whiping her eyes furiously. "What happened to running?" Her words were bitter and she didn't mean for them to be. She was scared that her only friend would die and there was nothing she could have done about it.
"How much longer do I need to run?" Countered Alistair as he pulled her to her feet once more. "I'll stay around as long as you need me. You have my word on that, so far I've been good with that." The dog's front paw twitched, making Alistair feel worse watching the poor creature die, and what it was doing to Sparrow. He didn't think even Audrea loved Barkspawn that much."Do you want my help or not?"
"Alright," she held out a hand. "Around here, if you make a deal, you shake on it." Alistair took and shook her hand. "Come on, we don't have much-"
She was interrupted by Roofus jumping to his feet and lunged at Alistair knocking him to the ground. Roofus licked Alistair's face with his tail swishing happily in the air. Alistair tried to push the dog off him but Roofus just kept dodging his hands and continued. "Roofus?" Asked Sparrow. Confused if anything else. Roofus barked a healthy happy bark before rushing his owner, doing much the same. He jumped up on her leg and began licking her hands. "You- YOU TRICKED US!" Whether or not she felt bad about being tricked by a dog, Sparrow was angry. "Bad dog," she growled. "BAD DOG! I was so worried you were going to die! How could you do something like that? That wasn't funny!"
Roofus looked up at Sparrow with apologetic eyes. He quickly fell back onto all fours before hiding behind Alistair. "Don't think you're getting away that easily," Alistair stepped out of the way. "You had us worried." He whined and hung his head shamefully as if to say 'I'm sorry Lily. I just wanted our new friend to stay.' He ran to the spot near the stream they had been arguing and came back with a vial in his mouth, the elixir she was looking for. He knocked it out of her pack and made her believe she lost it. 'That dog is brilliant,' admitted Alistair. Though he wouldn't say it out loud. "Oh look," Alistair cheerfully took the vial from the sad dog and handed it to Sparrow. "Looks like you still have your medicine. You wont need me after all."
"Hey now wait a minute," Sparrow wagged her finger. "You said as long as I needed you. Right now I need all the help I can get."
"What from me? I'm practically a stranger!"
"Why not," she pointed to Roofus. "I seem to have a knack for picking up the strays of Albion. And as long as you're here, you're an Albion stray."
Alstair couldn't argue with that. He was a stray and he did give an oath. "Alright," he sighed. "Where to next?"
"To the Hero's Guild," she lead the way. "I'll explain as we travel."
Three strays together walked out of Oakfield. A dog who had no owner, an orphan Hero, and a bastard prince.
(A/N: YAY chapter three. I got it done. Woot. So that's the chapter, if you have any concerns about anything please don't hesitate to hit the little review button down at the bottom of this screen that says Review. So you all know what's up! Read, review, and remember: I love you)
