Oh my God she was beautiful. Pixels did no justice to the sexy red head who now stood to our defence. Stunning. Shit. Whoa. The shapeless but colourful robes slash sack that marked her a Chantry sister did nothing to detract from her beauty. Her accent was blatant French, no make that Orleisian if I'm here for a long time gotta start thinking like a local. I'll give it a shot. See how far it takes me. I felt like a gnome next to her. I bet she probably smelt nice too. I smelt like probably BO and dark spawn blood and mud and other stuff from the wilds. I sighed, plucking at the wet singlet trying not to draw attention to myself. Which as the only elf in the joint and dressed like I was, was pretty much impossible.
"He said what."
Not really a question. It was said terrifyingly low, a breath away from being followed up by a sword. I didn't blame Finn. This guy was a dick. He had been there. Whatever. He saw exactly what a deathly frightened man wanted too. Faced by the living terrors of the spawn and 'pulled out' by a man who wanted to see Cailan and by default the wardens' dead. Saved them my arse. I phased out for a few seconds musing on the fact that if Leiliana looked like she did, what Cailan would have looked like. Damn near blinding I'd say. I came back to myself as Leiliana stepped between Finn and the leader of Loghain's men. Not a smart place to be. So instead I moved into sight from behind the wall that was Finn and became the focus instead. Going against my plan of being a wallflower. Damn it, what was I thinking.
"I'm sorry. I thought you just said that the Wardens were to blame for your King's death and that there is a bounty on their heads?"
"That's exactly what I said."
His words sounded like, who the fuck are you? Leiliana was now looking at me like I was crazy, I wasn't too sure that I wasn't. Somewhere along the line I had found bravado and eerie calmness of purpose, I think it probably had something to do with natural Zen of the elf rather than the human adolescent crouching in her head.
"Oh. So he has sent you to look for any survivors then?"
"Yeah, found them too."
"Wouldn't it be more prudent to say that we found you?"
"What?"
That is the key to any magic trick, misdirection. Keep 'em busy over here, they won't see where the real magic happens. Until the tip of the purloined knife was now pressed against their Adam's apple. No one dared move. I was a crazy woman. Scratch that a crazy elf, no dalish elf. And those mothers are crazy.
"If you don't further the issue, take the message to Loghain that we know what really happened at Ostagar. If you wish to continue this conversation you won't be making it out of the tavern, let alone Lothering. Yeah?"
The stuttering nod was enough. I was impressed at myself. Perhaps I was scarier than I thought. It could have something to do with the two pissed off Wardens behind me. And the apostate. And the mabari whose growl was nonstop. But apart from that, I must have something. They did as I said, his men peeling off to leave the tavern, finally their captain sidled away, leaving his knife in my hand.
"I am glad that you could show them mercy."
Yeah, right. In your bra, if you have them here missy.
"That wasn't mercy. That was me thinking of the people in here who don't need to see any more bloodshed. There's gonna be a shit load without adding to it."
Crass. But nonetheless got my point across. Whatever had possessed me to do what I had just done slid away and I just felt awkward still holding the knife. I looked at it before sliding it into my belt loops – without slicing the belt too might add. I sent a thought to the stunning balls of the elf I inhabited; at least her sense of bravado and basic bollocks was still intact. I know Alistair was stuttering, I ignored everything, including the sister who was waiting to announce her announcement, and sat at an empty seat, just looking into the fire. I could eat a horse, literally, and it seems that is probably what is on the menu. Do they have menu's here? No one is eating, is the tavern even open for food? The panic this question raised in me sustained me a while. Until Alistair slid the drink below me, pulling out a chair for himself. I peered into the cup, full near to the brim with what I assumed was beer. I looked at him, he was already sculling his down. I lifted it, gingerly, and sipped. It was wet. I'd give it that. There wasn't much taste, but at least there wasn't anything floating in it and didn't seem to be poisonous.
"That was interesting."
He offered. I think that it was something to say to break the silence that for him was intolerable and for me was well, peaceful.
"What was?"
He looked at me as if I was the slow one of the group.
"You were just here right?"
"Alistair…Out of the fact surprise, surprise, Loghain has named all Wardens traitors, that you lot killed the King in murderous pique or the fact that I felt enough to want to give the man another nose…through his throat, which is the interesting one?"
"Oh, well when you put it in such a fashion, I guess all of it. But, the one thing…ha one! That I find interesting that you care at all and that how you spoke meant that you were part of the group."
Hmmm. I presumed that with my unceremonious arrival here in Ferelden, that I was locked into a contract with these folk. What was it that Flemeth said?
"Well, you are the only Wardens in Ferelden, yeah?"
He nodded.
"Basically it would seem then that the only means of ending the Blight would be the two of you. Taking a closer look at this: Two versus the rest of the world, basically, means that you need all the help you can get. I mean, Morrigan? I would rest my case there, apart from the fact that the Sister is attaching herself to our motley crew (ha!) as I speak."
Alistair turned to see Morrigan sneering, Finn shrugging and Leiliana looking more than a little earnestly at the tall Cousland. I heard him exhale out his nose, can't imagine what was going through his head at this time. But I suddenly found the whole thing hilarious. So I laughed. It was the dog, who approached me, sliding his nose onto my lap. Perhaps he thought the laughter akin or a prelude to tears. It wasn't. I smothered my chuckles into my drink, doing an Alistair and sculling the rest of the mug. The tavern hadn't really quietened at my laughter, that awful noise emanating from the mezzanine floor, what apparently some would call a bard, just grated. I seriously felt like gouging her eyes out, no doubt others not so au fait with music noise, felt a little of the same. I hunched my shoulders and turned to see Cousland trying to talk to the mercenary guy by the fire, Alistair at his side. Obviously my laughter had frightened even the tough Templar. Finn shook his head and the man tried again. I snapped…yeah again. I stood, aimed and threw my clay mug. It shattered just catching the railing below the woman as she took a deep breath to release it in spine curdling sound. Now everything stopped, apart from her scream.
"Thank Christ! Leave that poor instrument alone, it's like you're torturing a puppy. If you want to sing so badly, go to the Chantry, you can't shut them up over there."
She started to cry and ran to a door and disappeared. I grinned, happy with myself. I turned to see Finn looking at me, but not with anger, I think it was relief but I could be something else. I just looked at him before a flurry of colour topped with red sat beside me.
"Hello, couldn't stand it either. Though I think your manner of stopping her may have been a bit excessive."
I looked at the ridiculously good looking woman who spoke in yes dammit, an enchanting fashion.
"People already have frayed nerves, she wasn't really helping. I am Ana Maharial."
"Leiliana."
She offered her hand, I looked at it, not really sure as a dalish elf whether I should shake it or not, but she smiled and placed it back in her lap.
"So you'll be joining us?"
"Yes, Finn has been rather nice in letting me tag along."
"Ladies…erm, Lady, are you ready?"
I did the only thing I could do and poked my tongue out at the pile of tin and stood. Leiliana laughed, it was like a bell. I sound like an idiot.
"I'm assuming that you have a plan?"
"This time you assume correctly. If you can restrain your throwing arm, I'll tell you what I propose."
It was a good plan, breaking down our very brief stay in this progressively miserable town. Cousland, le dog and Morrigan, to the latter's disgust, would check out the Chanter's Board for quickly made coinage, Leiliana, Alistair and I would sell everything not of immediate use, using the cash to pay for armour for the Sister and I. Finn adding, quite pointlessly, that I had been of no use so far and it was only for his sense of honour that he didn't want to see me skewered. I gave him the finger. I think they thought it was some sort of Dalish thing, they can think whatever they want, it gave me a little sense of satisfaction. This feeling soon crashed and burned like a mofo. I hated clothes shopping at the best of times, now it was armour shopping. Made worse, by a thousand, because I was an elf, by passing the prejudice (which I hadn't really come across even back home) I was small. The armour not really so much. I was thankful to Leiliana, Alistair kind of stepped back, as she dug into bartering with the asshole that had the stuff, and helping me get it on. Then it happened. I kind of fell in love with Alistair. A bit, just a little. There was a little bit more skin on show then perhaps even the bard had planned, and the guy moved to check 'me' out a little. Alistair grabbed him, slapped him! Yes with those metal gloves on. I couldn't hear what he said, even with the massive ears of mine, but I think it was pretty juicy. Leiliana looked at the one sided exchange then looked at me.
"Chivalry is not dead then Ana."
"Oh, erm, no, yes. I guess not."
Yeah, smooth. She pulled me more around the side of the wagon, tsking and mumbling to herself.
"When I have time, I think that I can fix the leggings a bit, and perhaps shape the leather around your bust."
I flamed red. Leiliana did me a favour and pretended not to notice. Son of a bitch.
Though I had liked Sten quite a bit, when I wasn't physically beside the freaking giant, now I wasn't so sure. Compared to my new height, he literally towered over me; a solid brick shit house of what seemed like that scary held in check anger that only needed a tiny comment to set it off. But even for the solid realness of the Qunari who walked at the rear of the group I was walking on egg shells though he had yet to address me. Finn and Morrigan had met us by the bridge, blood speckled (not their own) ready to score some of the coinage promised by the Chantry. I had been hoping to bypass the Chantry and had lagged at the rear of the party. It seems that there had been a conversation about the Chantry that I had not been privy too. The hound, Morrigan and I were dumped at the entrance to the Chantry courtyard, the others disappearing into the massive doors. I waved and called out,
"Don't forget to ask if they have anything useful hiding in locked cabinets!"
Only Leiliana deigned to turn, but Finn physically turned her back shaking his head at me. I poked my tongue out at his back again it being the only thing I could think of to do. Now there was little to do but wait, and listen to the Chasind freak spouting on about the doom that faced us and how we were pretty much fucked. Morrigan was staring at him, I wanted to put a wager on how long it would take before he 'spontaneously combusted' but there wasn't even the shimmer of smoke.
"Forgotten how to set someone alight with your eyes huh."
I said to her. I got a grin. A fucken grin. From Morrigan. I hadn't even been trying. Then I realised if there hadn't been two Templars in close proximity to us then the man would be nothing but a pile of smouldering ashes by now. So I did the next best thing, I wandered over, hands clasped oh so nonchalantly behind my back. It would be interesting what he would have to say, not having the taint inside that he could spout on about. He spun as he was making a belaboured point and looked directly into my eyes and lost where he had been going. I gave him a hand,
"Darkness, destruction and inevitable death at the hands of the dark spawn?"
"Are you trying to egg him on or something? Does it look like he needs help?"
This from the Templar who I had the sneaking suspicion had a massive migraine.
"He doesn't really need it does he. No I was trying to speed him up so he would get to the root of the issue."
"I know I'm going to regret it…what is it?"
"The death of someone close to him. Am I right?"
The doomsayer drooped and I knew he was seeing his wife.
"My wife, she had hair like yours. The dark spawn dragged her off while I did nothing."
"There is nothing you could have done. Know that your wife is glad you are safe, would she want you to act in this fashion?"
He didn't react well to my logic. He roared and got into my face. I didn't appreciate it but I took a breath (which I shouldn't have done, I don't think tooth hygiene was high on the list of stuff to do at this point).
"How would you know what she wanted? I will never forget her screams."
"Because if I knew someone I loved was safe then that would be enough for me. No one is asking you to forget her, but remember the goodness of your wife and the love you had. Here you are doing nothing but frightening those who still have their loved ones."
Tears just leapt from his eyes and he hung his head. He started to walk away, who knows where he was heading.
"I have shamed her memory, forgive me. But there is nothing left for any of us."
I watched him go before looking at those who had taken his black words to heart.
"He is right. The dark spawn will kill all of us. There is nothing we can do."
Idiots.
"Are all of you so depressing? As long as you are alive there is hope. You will listen to one idiot and give up but aren't willing to dismiss his words as those born of grief. There is hope, as long as someone draws breath there is hope."
Mouths fell open as I guess they were surprised an elf, even a dalish, would speak to them. Let alone in that fashion. I have no idea what Morrigan was doing behind me. No she was probably rolling her eyes at me. Violently. Still their faces were dumbfounded and I was saved from their ineptitude and perhaps their eventual reply by the reappearance of Finn, Leiliana and Alistair. I just got a glare from the Cousland, I refrained from poking my tongue out again, it would lose its potency if I just kept reused the same trick. It was the mabari who walked with me, as if showing his approval for what I had said. I knew where we were headed, but did want to know if they had asked…Maron was it? The head Templar about that locked cabinet by the altar.
Again I was surprised by the real look of Bodahn and Sandal. The older dwarf was protecting his cowering 'son' as the Darkspawn destroyed everything in their path. Until Finn and Alistair led the charge, with Sten not far behind. I did the only thing I could with that single tiny knife dagger thing. I stood in front of the two dwarves, not that I would be much of an obstacle. I found watching the battle the natural observing skills of the elf came into play. I will say she but she slash I could focus on movement, capturing each sweep and swing of both my team and the spawn. My ears felt like they should be swivelling as each sound I seemed to be able to feel like a spark of electricity down my spine. I don't really know if it was a dalish thing or even city elves had this ability I guess I'd call it. A genlock decided that getting close to Leiliana as she fired arrow after arrow was a bit tricky and to go instead for the elf and dwarves. Its wide split mouth with sharp teeth opened even more and it rushed at me, no shield just a serrated looking blade it lifted above its head. It left itself wide open with that, the logical thing to do was step inside it's non-existent guard, yes the pointed end of my weapon first. It entered the genlock's mouth and erupted out the back of its head. With my free hand I caught its arm as it fell now nerveless before it struck me. A quick thanks to Leiliana that she had taken the time to help me with the armour I wore. I kept hold of my knife letting the weight of the yay dead spawn pull it free. I transferred its tainted weapon to my left hand and got ready for more.
But that was the end. The last going down still sparking from an electricity strike as an arrow jutted from its neck. It was awesome to see the surprise on Finn's face; I was more gracious than I could have been.
"What? Never seen a dead genlock before?"
See, gracious.