We're all busted up from the battle with the werewolves, but none of us go down or get too injured. A few grumbles and a single healing pollute are all it takes before everyone's back to their 'normal'. I begin leading us deeper into the forest, but someone comes up beside me and gets my attention. I turn my head and see Leliana smiling at me. I smile back and turn away from her, but a 'tsk' from the human gets my attention again. Morrign and Duncan have fallen back for some reason unknown to me. However, Leliana quickly tells me why.
"I need to tell you something.". I eye her a little, but nod as we go downwards into the woods.
"I need to tell you why I left Orlais.". We reach a fork in the road and I briefly stop to make a decision. I can hear some werewolves moving around to the path to our left, but the road is level. The right path goes even farther downwards. The only upside of the right path is that I don't hear anything moving around. I begin heading downwards and Leliana keeps talking to me about her past. I'm interested in the woman; it's just that I'm also interested in saving the Dalish from the werewolves. I'm 'talented' enough to hear her story and walk at the same time.
"I know I haven't told you, but I didn't want to talk about it before. What happened to me... maybe it'll affect us, maybe not, but you need to know.". We reach the bottom of the slope and we're forced into a small gully with thick trees growing on either side. Suddenly, Leliana moves in front of me and blocks my path. I stop and allow it for the second. It's clear her conversation means a lot to her, so I might as well take a few minutes to hear what the woman has to say.
Besides, she's finally following me wishes. She isn't touching me without my permission anymore. Leliana seems pleased that I've stopped because she smiles and falls into a more relaxed position. Morrigan and Duncan begin following us downwards, but I motion for them to go back up. Both of them seem to sigh as they climb upwards to wait for us. Finally, I can turn all of my attention to Leliana and what she has to say.
"I came to Ferelden and the Chantry because I was being hunted, in Orlais.". Huh, that doesn't sound good. Being 'hunted' for something generally means you've done something wrong or you're a criminal. I might as well ask Leliana and see what she did to get people chasing her so far away from her home.
"Hunter? For what?". Leliana avoids my eyes as she answers.
"I was framed, betrayed by someone I thought I knew and could trust. Marjolaine- she was my master... and friend.". The woman briefly stops to take a deep breath, but I don't interrupt her. Thankfully, I was right not to do so because she quickly keeps talking and looks me in the eyes.
"She taught me the bardic arts- how to enchant with words and song, to carry myself like a high-born lady, to blend in as a servant...". Another sigh as she briefly breaks eye contact to look at the floor.
"The skills I learned I used to serve her, my bard-master, because I loved her, and because I enjoyed what I did.". Leliana stops talking and looks at me. I can practically see the trust and hopefulness in her posture and eyes. She wants me to be accepting and forgiving of her, but so far she's done nothing that needs to be forgiven. That bodes poorly for me because it means she's done something she's ashamed of. I just need to keep talking to her and see what's going on.
"How did she betray you?". Leliana briefly flinches before explaining the situation to me even more.
"You can say it was my fault. There was a man I was sent to kill. I was to bring Marjolaine everything he carried. I don't know who this man was. She gave me a name and a description, and I hunted him down. I found documents on his body- sealed documents.". I can already tell this isn't going to go well. Sealed documents are hardly anything as mundane as a shopping list. Well, I might as well ask and see how important the sealed documents were.
"I take it these sealed documents were important?". Leliana nods in confirmation.
"It turns out they were. My curiosity got the better of me. Something told me I needed to know what was inside those letters.". Even more hurt seems to cross the bard's face before she continues speaking.
"Marjolaine... had been selling all kinds of information about Orlais to other countries- Nevarra and Antiva, among others. It was treason.". Okay, now I'm confused. I thought bards were meant to go and steal information. I voice my opinion to Leliana.
"Isn't that what bards are suppose to do?". Leliana shakes her head.
"Some. But I had always assumed Marjolaine only operated within Orlais. This was an unhappy surprise for me. My life as a bard taught me my loyalties should be fluid. My concern was not that she was a traitor, but that her life would be in danger if she was found out. Orlais has been to war with so many countries. It takes a harsh view of such things... as I later discovered.". I cock my head to the side and step closer to the woman.
Turns out the innocent Chantry sister has a rather interesting background. One I want to know more about. Not because of my small attraction to her, but because it's always good to know who you're traveling with. Yes, that's it. Just because it's good to know who you're traveling with. I finally question Leliana.
"What do you mean 'later discovered'?". A small break of eye contact from Leliana before she continues looking at me and talking to me.
"I should have left well alone, but I didn't. I had to tell Marjolaine I feared for her life. She brushed aside my concerns. She admitted her guilt, but said it was in the past. This is why the documents had to be destroyed, she said.". A deep sigh and a shake of the head.
"I believe her. I kept believing, up until the moment they showed me the documents, altered by her hand to make me look the traitor.". That sounds like an awful thing to go through, even if the woman is a shem. To be betrayed by someone you love. And, to be betrayed so deeply that your own country believes you to be a traitor to the crown. Losing love and country in one fell swoop. That must have been a nightmare for her. I can't imagine losing my family (the people I love the most) and being banished from Ferelden all in one day. Maybe Leliana wasn't betrayed by Marjolaine. Maybe someone else betrayed them both and Leliana's master just went along with it to save her own skin. It's still terrible and doesn't sound possible, but it'd be a small consolation. Maybe I can ask just to make sure. I'd hate to assume the worst of Marjolaine before knowing the full story.
"She betrayed you?". Leliana's been avoiding my eyes for a while, but now she dips her head. It takes her a few seconds, but eventually she raises her head back up and keeps speaking with me about her past and what's made her who she is.
"Yes. The Orlesion guards. They captured me... did terrible things to make me confess and reveal my conspirators. It was a traitor's punishment I endured, and at the end of it, all that awaited me was eternity in an unmarked grave.". I try to imagine someone doing that to me, but the closest experience I've had to that is the day of my wedding. I tore through the entire palace and didn't come home until I was soaked in blood. Leliana might not have had that option, but she eventually got free. If I'd been in her place, then I'd have hunted Marjolaine down and ripped her to shreds.
"You never sought revenge on Marjolaine?". Leliana shakes her head.
"No. Survival was my only concern at the time. The skills Marjolaine taught me were good for something, at least. I broke free when I saw the opportunity. I did not seek Marjolaine out. If she thought I was coming for her, she would have me captured again.". I manage to fill in the blanks and decide to tell the next part for her.
"So you came to Ferelden. To Lothering.". A nod from Leliana as she keeps telling me her story.
"I was tempted to confront her, I was furious, betrayed, but what could I do against her?". Yet another small sigh and break from conversation. I consider talking, but Leliana beats me to it by continuing.
"And so I fled, to Ferelden, to the Chantry and the Maker. Ferelden protected my person, and the Maker saved my soul.". I'm not religious in the slightest and I don't want to even talk about the Maker, but I remain silent. It's clear religion plays a big part of Leliana's life and I don't want to offend her. Just because I don't agree with someone doesn't mean I have to be an asshole about it every single time someone says a word about the topic. My silence is rewarded by Leliana finishing up her tale.
"And that is the reason I am here. The real reason. No more lies between us, at least in this.". For a few seconds silence goes between us. I like learning about Leliana. I'm upset she lied to me, but the anger inside of me is cowed because of the fact Leiana is a woman; she's an attractive woman that I like; and that she's proven herself a true friend in a fight and in conversation. I suppose I can overlook her mistakes since she's been honest in so many areas, and now her lies are gone and she's forced to be an honest person fully. So, I might as well be kind to her in the hopes of getting some 'friendship points' in between us.
"Thank you for trusting me with all of this. It means a lot to me.". Leliana smiles and goes to hug me, but she freezes quickly before she can touch me. Leliana goes back into a normal position and says some final words.
"It feels good to have this off of my chest. Thank you for listening, and understanding.". I nod, turn around, and begin walking up the path. Leliana clearing her throat stops me. I turn back around and look at the human. She smiles sheepishly and motions for me to come back to her. I internally sigh at how much time we're wasting, then go back down.
"I was just wondering... Where are you from? What makes you who you are? What brought you to the Grey Wardens?". I close my eyes as I remember my life before. Long nights spent stalking the streets for shem to rid the world of; clutching my dying mother in my arms as I watch the life leave her eyes; and a burning hatred for humans that is smoldering even now and manifests itself in not being able to withstand shem talking down to me.
"I think that's a story for another time. For camp.". Leliana's face seems to fall, but she nods and doesn't push it. Good. Now we can get back to work.