Chapter 4: Undesired Attention
Tea time arrived and Delia and Dairren went back to the galley. Nehairel was sitting alone in the corner, but stood and walked toward them when he noticed their arrival.
"Lady Delia, your ankle seems to be much better than earlier. I trust it is no longer troubling you?" he said in a tone that sounded genuinely concerned.
"Thank you, Ser Nehairel. It does feel better, although it is a bit sore. I would like to take that stroll with you, but my brother is insisting that he follow us, just to be sure that it doesn't trouble me."
Nehairel scowled. "My good ser, I am more than capable of assisting Lady Delia if her ankle causes her any grief. I am sure that she will be fine under my protection for the short time we will be on deck."
"While I am certain that is true, Ser Nehairel, I know that if there should be a problem I would never hear the end of it from my mother. I'm sure you understand how protective she is of her only daughter, and I was told in no uncertain terms that I was to bring her home safe and sound. If her ankle is not sound, I will never stop hearing the sound of my mother's voice berating me!" He laughed with a smile on his face, and Delia used her play-acting skills to scowl in his direction.
"There is nothing more over protective than our mother, and it is true that Dairren will suffer for my own lack of grace. Let us go to the deck, I really would like some fresh air."
The three walked up the stairs to the main deck of the ship. Dairren stayed a step behind the two and allowed them to converse without his own comment. Nehairel told Delia tales of his travels and of the many cities he had visited. The deck was unusually vacant, as the lack of wind allowed the sailors to pursue other duties below deck. As they neared the bow of the ship, Nehairel offered a seat to Delia and turned to Dairren.
"Lord Dairren, I was just realizing how hot it is here on the deck. Would you be so kind as to go back to the galley and bring some water for the three of us? I'm sure that your sister would appreciate the chance to sit, but I wouldn't want her to become thirsty."
Dairren looked at his sister, wordlessly conveying his concern. She returned his look, then said to him, "I will be fine, Dairren. I am a bit parched. Thank you so much."
"Very well, I will be right back." He turned on his heel, and looked back to see Nehairel take a seat next to Delia. "She should be alright for a few minutes," he thought to himself, and he quickly made his way to the galley.
Delia felt uncomfortable under the gaze of Nehairel. He seemed to be looking her over as if she were a prize racehorse. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
"You are a very beautiful woman, Delia," he said, almost purring her name. "Your hair is radiant, and the color, how can I best describe it? It is the color of the autumn leaves in my native land, a beautiful russet. And your eyes are more blue than the sea itself. You have captured my heart, and I wish to have the opportunity to capture yours. Would you be willing to allow me to get to know you better?"
He moved closer to her and placed his hand on top of hers. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
"Ser Nehairel, you are a very interesting man. Unfortunately, my father is very strict and I doubt he would approve of a knight pursuing his daughter. He is very conscious of the social structure of our land, and he would certainly lose strength in the Landsmeet if his daughter were to marry someone deemed less worthy than someone of at least the level of a Bann."
"We do not need to marry. I think that you and I could simply enjoy the pleasures that we could share. I believe that I could show you things that you would never experience with any Fereldan man."
He ran his finger down the side of her face and past her neck to her shoulder. Delia felt a shiver go down her spine.
"Ser, I must ask you to stop. You are making me very uncomfortable with this kind of… attention." She stood up from her chair and faced him. "Thank you for the stroll, but I will be heading back to my cabin now."
She started to walk toward the stairs as Dairren appeared at the top. He hurried over to her.
"Dear sister, allow me to assist you." He handed glasses of water to both Nehairel and Delia, and then offered his arm which she gladly took in her hand.
"We will see you at dinner, Ser Nehairel." She tugged at Dairren and the walked away from the seething Nehairel.
Once at their cabin, Delia told Dairren what had happened, and she begged him to not leave her alone with Nehairel. He was shocked at Nehairel's inappropriate behavior, and promised to stay by her side. She curled up under her brother's arm as they sat on the cot and they sat in silence until dinner.
When they went to dinner, Delia was visibly unhappy. Chloe seized upon her discomfort and put her arm around the girl, fussing over what she felt was still Delia's injured ankle. When Nehairel arrived at the table, Delia couldn't bring herself to look at him, and when he noticed his eyes went dark. He concentrated on eating his food in silence, and Delia allowed Chloe to monopolize her attention. After they finished their meal, Delia and Dairren returned to their cabin.
They were quietly reading when there was a knock on the door. Dairren opened the door to find Gibbet standing there.
"Sorry to disturb you, m'lord, but the cap'n asked me to have you come to the deck."
"What is this about?"
"I don't know, ser, I'm just doing like I was told."
Dairren ran his hand through his hair. "Alright, I will come with you. Delia, I will be right back."
Dairren walked out and closed the door behind him. He followed Gibbet into a darkened hallway toward the stairs to the main deck, but as they neared the stairs someone jumped out and struck Dairren, knocking him unconscious. After the assailant pulled Dairren under the stairs, he handed a small purse to Gibbet.
"You know nothing, my friend. Remember that and you will receive more when we arrive at the port."
"Aye, I know nothing." Gibbet smiled a toothless smile and scurried up the stairs.
Nehairel walked toward the door of Delia and Dairren's cabin. He smoothed back his hair and knocked on the door.
"Who is there?"
"Your brother asked me to deliver the captain's brandy while he has his conversation on deck. May I come in?"
"Ser Nehairel, it would not be appropriate for you to enter my cabin. Please leave the brandy outside the door and Dairren will bring it in when he returns."
"Nonsense, my dear lady. No one will think any less of you, especially because your brother will be along shortly to act as a proper chaperone."
"Perhaps we should find my brother on deck." Delia opened the door and tried to pass Nehairel, but was blocked. "Please allow me to pass, ser."
"Now, now, Delia. We really need to spend some time together so that you can appreciate all that I have to offer you." He took a step forward, and Delia stepped back.
"Allow me to pass, or I shall scream."
"There is no one below deck to hear you. Can't you hear how the wind has picked up?" He leered at her, his eyes passing all along her body, savoring the view.
Delia shuddered inwardly. Thinking fast, she smiled at Nehairel. "Why don't you sit here, Ser Nehairel? This chair is most comfortable."
"No, I shall sit next to you, my dear. That would be far more to my liking."
"Then please sit and I will pour some brandy for us."
Nehairel sat on the cot and watched her as she took the brandy to the small desk. She smiled as she poured two glasses of the amber liquid, turned, and handed one to Nehairel. "A toast then, to new beginnings?"
Nehairel smiled. This seemed to be going better than he had hoped. As he looked at her, she suddenly threw her brandy right into his eyes. The alcohol burned, and while he tried to clean it out of his eyes, Delia ran.
The hallway was dark, and Delia seemed to bump into everything possible. She ran as fast as she could toward the galley and the stairs to the deck. Nehairel was close behind. He was angry, and telling her to get back to her cabin. She screamed out for help, and then she heard a thump. Someone had come to her assistance!
Nehairel and her unknown hero fought in the dark. She could hear the clash of metal and smell the blood. The fight was short, and she collapsed against the wall, shaking.
"My dear lady, are you alright?" said a voice with a distinct Antivan accent.
"I… I think so… who are you?"
"My name is not important. All that is important is that you are quite fine. I have been keeping an eye on you to ensure your safety. Unfortunately, your brother was rendered unconscious, so we should get you to your cabin and then I shall carry him there."
The stranger lit a few of the candle lanterns, allowing enough light for Delia to see that her savior was the elf she had noticed across the room in the galley. He walked her to her cabin and opened the door for her.
"Now, my dear lady, do not open this door until I return. I will only be a minute."
Good to his word, he returned only a few minutes later, carrying Dairren. Delia opened the door for them and the elf carefully placed Dairren on the nearest cot.
"He shall need healing poultices, but tomorrow he should be as good as new."
"Ser, why are you watching over us?"
"Your good friend, Salvatore, asked that my friends and I take care of your safety. He said that you were quite special friends and he believes that you shall be very important people. You are under my personal protection until you are safe in your mother's arms."
"Thank you so much. How can I repay you?" Delia placed her hand on his shoulder and the visions came immediately. A childhood among many dirty, poorly fed children… torture and training from brutal men who never showed any love… assigned murders… a woman who smiled at him, then lay dead in a pool of blood… the elf, crying in anguish to the four winds… but a clear heart. A true and honest heart. Delia felt a great sadness for this man, but knew that his words were true and she could trust him.
He shrugged his shoulders. "There is nothing to repay. We have been paid quite handsomely already. Now, I must leave to take care of removing Nehairel. I suggest that you remember nothing from this evening should anyone ask."
"I hope that we shall meet again, my friend."
The elf smiled sadly. "Alas, my dear, I must hope for your sake that we do not. Now, I must take care of the rest of this evening's business. Take care of your brother." He walked out of the cabin and shut the door, leaving Delia to tend to her brother's injuries.