Chapter 7: A Taste of Freedom
After lunch was finished, Jofrey led the way to the smithy, with young Maric holding Delia's hand. The smithy was across the dirt road from the tavern, and the heat from the forge made its way into the middle of the road. Inside the shop, Duncan looked over the array of armor and weapons. He noticed a nice set of leather armor that looked like a better fit for Delia than the mismatched pieces grabbed from the Cousland armory. There were also some nice daggers that he felt would be better suited for Delia as well. They were nicely balanced and had fine leather grips whereas the daggers from the armory were poorly matched and needed to have the grips reworked. Jofrey had Delia put the armor on and marked where he would need to make adjustments, and then set the pieces aside to work on later. After settling on a price for the armor and daggers, Jofrey brought them into the stockroom, where Duncan selected the other supplies that they would need. Bedrolls, tents, and traveling packs were placed alongside smaller items such as whetstones, flints and dried rations. While Duncan selected what they would need for their travels, Maric asked if Delia would like to see the town. Duncan nodded his approval with a small smile, and Maric gleefully grabbed her hand and led her outside.
The young boy skipped down the road, talking to Delia nonstop about who lived in which house, where he had seen the robin's nest that previous spring, where he and his father would go fishing, and everything and anything he could think of. Delia found herself smiling. The child was so happy and his energy contagious. He seemed to be sunshine incarnate, and she enjoyed the chance of seeing his village through his innocent eyes.
The villagers were going about their normal daily routine. Women were washing clothes, the baker walked down the street with a basket full of bread headed for the tavern, and Delia could see farmers in the fields on the outskirts of town. It was peaceful and restful watching all that seemed to be normal. Delia found herself thinking of West Hill. The area was also beautiful and walking through its town you would see many of the same sights. The difference was that the people would not be smiling at her. Everyone would look at her and then avert their eyes. The people feared her father, and would not chance any sort of connection with his family. Delia found herself enjoying the freedom of being an unknown stranger who wasn't prejudged by her father's behaviors.
As they started walking back toward the tavern, Delia saw the party emerge from the smithy. Duncan saw her and gestured her to come, so Delia told Maric they had to go back. They entered the tavern shortly after Duncan, Aeden and Jofrey and joined them in the center of the room.
"Delia, Nattie has kindly readied rooms for us. You will have the room at the top of the stairs on the left, and Aeden and I will share the room next to yours. Would you like water for a bath?"
"Oh, yes, I would like that."
Duncan nodded. "I will have Nattie bring water to your room. In the meantime, we've arranged for some clothing for you which you will find in your room. Please make sure that it will fit you, and if there is anything else that you need feel free to ask Nattie."
"Thank you, Duncan. I will go look at the clothes now." She turned toward Maric. "Thank you, kind ser, for the tour of the town. I had a very nice time." She gave the boy a warm smile.
Maric blushed slightly. "My pleasure, miss. Now I have to do my chores for Ma." He rushed out of the room, leaving the adults chuckling.
Delia excused herself and went to her room. On the bed were breeches and tunics as well as some smallclothes and chest bands. "I would assume that Duncan didn't choose those for me himself," Delia thought to herself, "although the thought of a seasoned warrior trying to select women's underclothes is quite amusing!"
Within a few minutes Nattie arrived with a kettle of hot water which she poured into the tub. Before long, there was a nice warm bath prepared.
"Here, dear, all young ladies need some nice scented soap. I'm sorry I don't have anything fancier for you, but consider this a gift from me." Nattie smiled at the girl.
"Thank you so much, Nattie. I really appreciate having you here to look out for me." Delia gave her a quick hug.
Nattie left the room, and Delia prepared for the bath. Settling into the warm water felt wonderful and the soap smelled like roses. Delia began to relax, and she stayed in the tub until the water had cooled. She dried off and put on a new set of breeches and a tunic. For a girl who had spent her life wearing dresses, pants felt strange. "Oh well, this is my new way of life," she thought to herself. At least the breeches were soft and the tunic was comfortable.
She left her room and went downstairs. Aeden and Duncan were sitting at a table near the fireplace.
Aeden whistled. "Well, look at you! I never thought you could look so good wearing breeches!"
As Duncan gave him an angry look, Delia laughed. "Don't worry, Duncan. Aeden used to tease me all the time about wearing dresses even when we would ride out for a picnic. He, Fergus and Dairren could never understand how I could possibly sit in a saddle with all that extra material around my legs."
She sat next to Aeden. He leaned toward her and sniffed. "You smell nice, Delia. How did you manage that?"
"Thanks to Nattie. It's nice to have someone here who understands that women need to be pampered a bit."
"Well, anything is better than the smell of that dog of yours, Aeden. I would suggest giving him a bath while we are here." Duncan threw back his head with a laugh. Dusty looked at Aeden and whined.
"Ah, Dusty, they simply don't appreciate your Eau du Mabari," Aeden replied with a grin.
Nattie seemed to appear out of nowhere and served them dinner. It was some sort of greyish stew, served with large hunks of fresh baked bread. The stew tasted about as bland as it looked, and Delia had a difficult time eating it. She never realized just how lucky she had been at her school, where the meals were prepared by the students learning the culinary arts. While the two men ate quickly, she picked at her food. Aeden finished his meal and excused himself to take Dusty for a walk. Duncan decided to take the opportunity to talk to Delia alone.
"Delia, we have to decide how best to get you home to West Hill." Delia looked at Duncan with alarm, and he found her fear startling. "What's the matter? I thought you would want to get home as soon as possible, given everything you have been through."
Delia took a deep breath, and decided that she needed to speak her mind. "Duncan, I do not want to go back to West Hill. It is no more of a home to me than Amaranthine, and if I were to be there without my mother I do not know if I could survive."
Duncan looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Your father is there. Surely he will want you to be safe in his care."
"My father neither cares for me nor would make me safe. You have no idea…" She looked away, and her eyes teared. "My father has a… temper. There is no way of knowing when it will erupt. My brother and I lived in fear of him. He is the reason why my grandfather sent us to Antiva. When Grandfather discovered the scars Dairren and I wore, he immediately took us away. The only time I have spent in West Hill during the last ten years has been during the summer when our school was not in session. My school is where I consider my home to be, and alas, I cannot go back there now that Father is in control of my grandfather's fortune. I beg you, Duncan, please allow me to stay with you and the Grey Wardens. I would rather become a member of the wardens than ever set foot in my father's manor again."
Duncan pondered what she said. Knowing her father as he did, he could easily imagine the man being a tyrant to his own children. "There is a major problem with your becoming a Grey Warden, Delia. You do not even know how to fight. How could you become a defender against the darkspawn?"
She looked straight at him. "I could learn. Teach me! I have always done well in my classes, and I am certain that I could learn fighting techniques."
"There are techniques that I could teach you, but it would take you many years before you could master them. Being a Grey Warden is not a life meant for young ladies."
"I understand, but I would be willing to work hard." Delia swallowed hard and continued. "I also have a… skill… that you might find useful."
"My dear, what kind of skill could you have that would be useful as a warden?" He looked at her worriedly, leery of what she might say."
"First of all, you have to promise me that you will not tell anyone else what I am about to tell you, unless you ask for my permission first. I have been told that, for political reasons, my skill could put me in danger."
"Of course, you have my word, as a warden and a gentleman."
"I am what am known as a seer. I am able to discern whether people are trustworthy or not by simply touching them."
Duncan was surprised. This was unexpected. "I once knew another warden who was a seer. According to what he told me, seers are often mages, but not always. Are you a mage?"
"No, I have been tested many times, and show no signs of any other magic ability."
"You understand that I need some proof of this." Delia nodded at him and reached over the table, placing her hand on top of his. Immediately the visions started.
"You were an only child… your father was a merchant… your parents died when soldiers attacked their store. You lived on the street as a cutpurse until you preyed on the wrong man and killed him by accident." Duncan's eyes were growing wider and wider as she spoke. "A tall woman warden conscripted you. I see you now in a very dark place. You are fighting horrible monsters with… is that King Maric?"
Duncan looked at her in amazement. "So tell me, am I trustworthy?"
She smiled at him. "Most trustworthy. I would trust you with my life."
Duncan thought for a moment. Her gift, if known by nobles of the Landsmeet, could cause her many problems. She could be a great advisor, but if others knew about her abilities she could be the target for assassination by her ally's enemies.
"Delia, this is what I propose. From now until we arrive at Ostagar we will train each day as soon as we wake. You and I will work on proper dagger fighting forms, and then you will spar, not only with me but with Aeden as well. You need to learn how to use your daggers as well as how to move quickly and effortlessly. Having both of us to work with will give you experience against dual handed fighters as well as shielded warriors. I expect that you will work hard and not complain about the difficulty you will face. As soon as we arrive at Ostagar you will also spar against other wardens with other fighting styles. We will evaluate your progress then, and if I feel that you have progressed far enough I will give you a chance to join the Grey Wardens. You must know, however, that the tasks that you must perform in order to participate in the Joining Ritual could kill you. It is not an easy process."
Delia smiled sadly and nodded. "I would rather die attempting to join the Grey Wardens than to return to my father. The wardens are my only chance at freedom. I will not disappoint you."
Duncan sighed. "Very well, Delia. You are now an official Grey Warden recruit. Maker watch over you."
"Maker watch over us all, Duncan," she replied with a grin.