In no time at all, the Vigil was abuzz with a new activity. What had previously been rebuilding and recovering was now nobles making appearances again to meet and judge their new, symbolic Arl. Paien, for his part, managed to put on some semblance of charm, and Elissa made a show of support for him before the doubting aristocracy.
She was very good at adapting, Nathaniel couldn't help but notice.
She'd met with Lady Ebel, who was still the shrill harpy he'd remembered from his youth. The lady had been very vocal in her displeasure at leaving the arling in the hands of an elf for the next few months. Nathaniel had to give Cruso credit. He didn't leap up and tear the woman's throat out, much as it looked like he desperately wanted to.
Elissa had been calm, and feigned empathy as she put each and every one of Lady Ebel's irrational fears to rest. No, the elf wouldn't steal all the silver in the Keep. No, he was not interested in stealing away your daughter. No, the elf wouldn't enslave all humans as part of some petty revenge. No, the elf, who had a name, was not secretly building an army of alienage elves to rise up and overtake the city.
When Lady Ebel had finally left, Elissa excused herself and disappeared from the hall. Nathaniel fought the temptation to follow. Instead, he let out a long, slow breath and closed his eyes. Trying very hard not to imagine that she ran off to be with that royal bastard man-child who didn't have two thoughts to rub together in his massive meat head.
He grimaced at himself and shook his head to clear himself of the thoughts. Jealousy doesn't suit you, Nathaniel. Yes, she could do so much better. But she has clearly made her choice.
Not that she isn't worth fighting for.
"Nathaniel?"
The voice nearly made him flinch. He opened his eyes and looked for the source. Just behind him stood Sigrun.
"Sorry," she gave him a sheepish smile. "Didn't mean to sneak up on you. Don't know how to not sneak."
"No," he said with an exhale, "it's fine. Just lost in thought."
She nodded a little, looking towards the other end of the great hall. Paien still stood there, speaking in low tones with Cruso and not paying either of them the slightest amount of attention. "You're… leaving soon, right?"
He dipped his head to her, "The ship for Cumberland leaves day after tomorrow. Why?"
At the far end of the room, Anders appeared from a doorway, paused at the sight of Paien, and stepped back to make a quick retreat. Too late. The elder Grey Warden spotted him and flagged him down.
"I just… I don't know what to do. I mean, I know what I want to do, I just don't know the best way to go about it," Sigrun said, shifting from foot to foot while Nathaniel's eyes remained on the elder Warden and mage.
"You are still dead set against joining us," Paien said to Anders.
Anders sighed, rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. "Yes."
"You are leaving us without a healer." Paien leveled a look at him, voice dropping. "We are facing down a blood mage, someone who may rip open wounds in us with a thought. And you are staying behind on principle. You don't see that as selfish?"
"Blood magic doesn't work that way. I made you plenty of healing poultices. You should be all right."
"You do not know Sabinia," Paien said gravely.
"Nathaniel?"
Nathaniel blinked and looked back down at Sigrun. "Sorry. You were saying?"
The dwarf's lips made a thin line. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Better than you know."
She stared up at him, picking at the skin on her calloused knuckles, and then said slowly, "I won't be here when you get back."
He was hardly surprised. The dwarf had been distant for some time now, ever since the final defeat of the darkspawn. "You're going back to the Deep Roads."
"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it," she said quickly. "But… I don't want anyone to worry when I'm gone, either."
"I understand."
She gave him a little smile, "My vows… I died to honor the Legion, I have to go back."
"You joined the Wardens to slay darkspawn, and now…" He shrugged a little, "now we are apparently done. We have peace on the surface, and we wait and prepare for the next Blight while your people carry on the fight."
"By the Paragons, yes, that's it exactly!" Sigrun sighed, "I knew you would understand. I thought that I might leave a note, but. My handwriting leaves much to be desired…"
Nathaniel wondered if the dwarf even knew how to read or write. "I will tell everyone what's happened when you're gone."
"Can I bring my cat?" he heard Anders ask Paien.
"Your what?"
"My cat. Sir Pounce-a-lot."
Paien stared at Anders a long moment, unable to determine if the man was being serious or not. "No. You may not bring your cat."
"Ah, see..." Anders shook his head, "if you really wanted me to come, you would have said I could bring my cat."
Nathaniel could hear Paien's teeth gritting even from across the large room. "You are being ridiculous. There are lives in the balance. Should your dear friends die on this mission, it will be on your head."
Anders studied Paien quietly a few moments, "Wouldn't it be on yours, fearless leader?"
"And part of my leadership is bringing you along," Paien snapped, stepping closer to the man. Anders simply narrowed his eyes and stood his ground. "I will not lose good men because you decided that you are better than the Wardens. Now," Paien went on, "you are coming with us to Nevarra. No more selfish games. That is an order, do you understand me?"
The lean mage remained poker-faced, watching the larger Warden closely. "I understand," he said at last, voice very low.
"Get rid of your stupid cat, pack your things, and be ready to board that ship in forty eight hours." Paien stepped back again, expression hard even with his triumph.
Anders' shoulders sagged slightly, and his gaze dropped to focus on the fireplace. "Yes, sir," he said in a soft voice.
Even Sigrun had gone quiet now, staring over at the two men in silent shock.
Paien nodded once, motioned to Cruso, and the two of them briskly left the great hall. Anders remained where he stood, head down.
"Anders?" Nathaniel called out.
The mage blinked, lifting his head to look over at the pair of them. He sucked in a deep breath, standing tall once more, and murmured, "Well then. That's decided." He strode past the both of them and out the large doors that led to the courtyard.
Sigrun's mouth pursed. "I suppose that means he's going with you then?"
"Apparently," Nathaniel said, puzzled. Anders could be impulsive and resistant to reason. It appeared that Paien had finally worn him down. Honestly, he was thankful. Having a mage well versed in healing magic was the only proper way to charge into an unknown situation. He'd gotten a bit spoiled by Anders' presence. He was willing to gamble a bit more in combat, and with constant healing spells, those risks usually paid off.
"Should we... go after him?"
Nathaniel frowned, lifting his chin a bit, "He's probably run off to complain to Justice." He arched a brow at the dwarf, "and I have no desire to go down there, do you?"
She shook her head slowly. "Is... is it bad that I'm kind of eager to get away from all this weirdness and drama?"
"No," Nathaniel answered with a little smile. "But do take care. We'll worry about you, whether or not we know where you are and what you're doing."
Sigrun smiled back at him, then chuckled. "No one ever taught me how to be careful," she replied in a light voice. "And you. You continue to do the Wardens proud, all right?"
"I'll try my best."