Chapter two. Enjoy.
"Well, how did it go?" Alistair asks from his seat at the small, wooden table.
Neira walks over and kisses his cheek, before taking her own seat next to him. "It did not go as great as I had hoped. You and Leliana were correct. She is not so easy to talk too." Neira lets her head hang over the back of the chair. Her wet hair still clung to the sides of her face. She closes her eyes and tries to focus. Trying to tune out the music. She loved the melody. It had never terrified her like it did others but it's increase volume had caused her more stress. Hearing was getting harder.
Neira gasps at the new weight on her shoulders. Opening her eyes she sees Alistair standing behind her. Rubbing her shoulders. "You know you've traveled a great distance recently. You should rest."
Neira laughs and relaxes under his hands. "How can I rest when I have someone attacking my shoulders?" She was surprised since her armor was still soaked from the rain. She hadn't had the chance to change yet.
"Attacking? Hardly. I'm massaging your knots out."
"If that's what you call it. Who taught you to do so, so roughly?" Neira teasingly asks.
"If you don't like it I can stop."
"That may be more helpful." Neira continues.
"Okay then." Alistair says raising his hand up and backing away from her with a grin on his face.
Neira pouts. "I was only joking. Though it wasn't necessarily wrong." She mutters the last part.
"I heard that."
"So?"
Alistair shakes his head trying not to laugh. A small chuckle escapes anyways. Then he raised his face with a serious expression over it. Neira's face fell as well in response. "They're getting stronger." Alistair says interrupting the silence.
"I know."
"We can go back. Back to the wardens and get help."
Neira remains quiet. Thinking about their entire situation. Soon Alistair would have to return. They had left Stroud with the wardens of Orlais until their return, but in all honesty it was only Alistair who had to go back. It would be unnecessary for her to go to them. She could stay and help. She could finish what she came to do.
"No." Alistair declares.
"What?" Neira asks surprised by the sudden interruption of her thoughts.
"Neira I know that look on your face. It was the same look when we started on this quest. When we were called to Orlais and separated. You were going to suggest doing so again. I can tell."
Neira looks away. She had been planning on it, but now she knew no such suggestion would be heard or listened too. Of all the times she had talked herself out of situations her silver tongue had run dry.
"Neira we said we would not,"
"I know." Neira interrupts. "I know what we said Alistair but I can not give up yet. We're close. We have to be." Neira says as she places her elbow on the table. She rubs her head before letting it fall back again. "Tell me what it is I should do Alistair. The song is getting louder, louder than it had ever been even during the blight. I know you're hearing it as well. You wear a spaced expression whenever we are not talking nowadays or when you are not ordering the men about. The cure is out there and I will find it."
"No. We will find it." Alistair states calmly as he grabs Neira's free hand. "But we're staying together."
Neira smiles. "You're so stubborn."
"With a silver tongue like yours I have to be. It's my only defense."
Neira rolls her eyes and pulls him close into a tight hug, only letting him go when the front door opens. That was when she realized that she hadn't seen Hark or Jowan since she had been back. There was loud barking met with the quiet order of another. "Quiet now Hark. The neighbors will start complaining again."
Neira pats her knee as Alistair steps back. Narrowly avoiding being rammed into by the large war dog, with Neira. Neira was quick to catch him as he jumped into her arms. His head fell into the crook of her neck as his body's full weight hits her. Her, Hark, and the chair all fell to the ground.
Neira laughs as Hark begins licking her face with fever. "Hark, you have made a mess." Jowan says in his usual monotone voice. It always made Neira sad to hear it. She tries not to cringe and instead stuffs her face into Hark's fur.
"He missed you." Alistair says in his usual cheerful demeanor.
"He always does when you do not take him with you." Jowan adds as he walks over and unhooks the leather leash he had been using to walk Hark. His hair had grown a little longer over the last few months. Neira made a mental note to cut it for him again. His robes were no longer those of the chantry but a pair of grey warden mage robes she had lying around. That way no one would ever bother him whenever she or Alistair weren't with him. Jowan wraps the leather around his hand before setting it on a shelf by the corner fireplace.
Harks whines as Neira tries to sit up. He shoves himself further onto her and she pushes him down into her lap. "Sit boy. Heel." She orders, her voice still gentle and sweet. Hark sits on top of her lap and stops moving. He whines a little and Neira pats his head. "You're not in trouble. You just need to calm down." Hark's mouth forms what appears to be a smile. He pants happily and Neira squeezes her arms around his neck. "You silly Mabari." She lets him go and pats his head affectionately.
"Last time you left without him, he was stuck without you for several months."
"That was years ago Alistair. Back when I was in charge of Amaranthine. He was in service to the crown then anyways. I had to fight Anora's kennel master tooth and nail in order to even get him back when I did." Neira says as she growls at the memory. "I haven't left him alone for that long ever again. Though I guess I can see how he would get worried."
"We both do." Alistair whispers. He was sitting down again, his elbow resting on the table. His chin was rested in his hand. When Neira looked back at him he turns away and looks over at the tranquil Jowan. He shouldn't have said that. It hurt her and it would start another fight. It always did. Neira hated to feel as if she had done something wrong when she was trying to do what was right.
Neira's face becomes downcasted. "Alistair. How many times have we-" She stops. "I'm suddenly really tired. It turns out you were right Alistair. I think I may have become faint from my long, long trip. I'll be in the bedroom." She says and stands up. She ignores the Hark's whining as she stalks off.
Hark started to follow but stops and turns back to Alistair. The large mabari growls a threat at the grey warden before he turned his back to him and went to keep Neira warm company.
"I suddenly think I know how Zevran feels." Alistair says with a great big sigh.
"I think you will be sleeping on the couch tonight." Jowan says as he walks away from Alistair and steps into the kitchen.
"Yeah, I think that's clear as day buddy." Alistair shouts after him.
He sighs and scratches the back of his head. Sitting there in silence was weighing, but things weren't really silent for Alistair. Not yet. He remains, trying to tune out the song, but of course it remained, and his eyes become glazed as he uses his nails to scratch marks into the table. There were no darkspawn nearby so that was a relief. So there were no voices that accompanied the tune. Just the music. It wasn't as loud as it was while Corypheus was still around but it was still louder than it had ever been before him. If he wasn't careful he could get lost in it.
"Alistair." Jowan calls out and the warden turns his focus towards the tranquil mage. "You are doing it again." He states before walking up the stairs, carrying a tray with a glass of water, a few berries, a plate with cookies and a small slice of fennec meat. There was also a dog treat for Hark.
Alistair looks down to see he had scratched three deep marks into the side of the table. Lifting up his hand he saw small bits of the chipped wood pieces stuck under his nails. He had even noticed that he was doing it. Quick to recover from his surprise he fakes a cough and was quick to cover his mouth his his splintered hand.
"Ah well, thank you Jowan. I think I will be heading to bed now." Alistair calls after him before the tranquil was completely out of sight. He rests his other hand upon his forehead and sighs before moving over to the couch. Tonight was going to be a long night, and he could only hope he would tear open the linen on the bottom of the couch again.
When it was morning there was a knock on the door. That was what had woken Alistair up. The sudden, loud, clear as the sun he had been blocking out with the couch pillow, knock. He groans as he pushes himself up off of the couch. Running a hand through his messy bed hair he hears the door knock again. Looking up at the windows, the sun was barely getting through the curtains. That meant it wasn't anytime before noon. There was another knock as Alistair tries to narrow down the possibilities in his head.
"I'm coming. Give a man a moment to get up." He hollers as he stumbles over to the door. As he opens it a familiar accent greets him.
"Honestly, if you are having such troubles I'm sure I could help you with that Alistair."
Alistair considered slamming the door shut in the Antivan's face, but thought better of it. Or he had until Zevran gave him a wink. The door was instantly shut and the elf was left outside.
"Come now my friend. Let me in. Was it something I said?" He asks innocently from the other side. Alistair ignores him and lays back down on the couch. The former crow was persistent and would not stop knocking. It came to a point where Alistair just wondered why he didn't sneak in through one of the windows by now. Then he remembers Hark's personal opinion over the elf and that he would tear him apart. The thought brought a small smile to the experienced grey warden's face.
"Alistair, I was asked to come."
Alistair rolls his eyes, then he remembers that Neira was in the other room asleep. He sits up again and walks over to the door. He was not going to let some loud mouth wake her up when he was already stuck on the couch. The last thing he needed was a grouchy mage and her even grouchier mabari to be angry with him.
"Who told you to come here Zevran?" Alistair asks, opening the door and closing it behind him as he steps outside. There was a small breeze that went nicely with the warm rays from the sun this morning. He felt great in his undershirt and sleeping shorts.
"I see you have only recently awoken. I did not mean to disturb your sleep, but I was told it was important that I hurried."
"Uh-huh." Alistair was only half listening as he enjoyed the weather. "You still haven't said by who." He opens one eye and watches Zevran with it as the other stays closed and enjoying the weather.
"Why who else would send for me to come here if not for you? Neira of course." Zevran answers.
"Why?" Alistair questions wondering why he wasn't told to expect Zevran.
"I don't know my friend. The letter said to hurry so I did. If you wish to know then we should go ask Neira. Unless she is still asleep. Then I can always come in and wait for her to wake up." Zevran says with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Alistair looks him up and down for a few moments before he smiles back at Zevran. Alistair agrees to let Zevran in. He opens the door and lets Zevran enter before himself. "Are you hungry?" Alistair asks as he walks past Zevran and into the kitchen.
"Yes I am. Travel has gotten harder from what I last remember it too be in Thedas."
Alistair looks through the cupboard for something even he could cook as Zevran talks. "Well after the inquisition got the mages and templars under control things were good for awhile. That was until the inquisition was dismantled. Now the rogues and bandits have taken back to the roads that the templar and mage left behind. Here, we can drink this." Alistair sets a glass of aged ale on the table. "Grey warden ale. If you think your stomach can take it."
"I am sure it will be once I get some actual food to hold it down with."
"Alistair I did not know you were up already. I was coming down to make breakfast. Allow me sir." Jowan states as he walk over to the cupboard and pulls out some meat as well as a few herbs. Alistair didn't always like having a tranquil around but he did help with the cooking and chores a lot.
"Who is he?" Zevran asks frowning at Jowan. Alistair remembers how he felt about slaves and indentured servants. That must've been what he thought Jowan was by his manner.
"He is a friend of Neira's. She rescued him from the tower long before any of the rebellions of the circles took place. He helps out with the chores since he's not very skilled at fighting."
Zevran nods, his expression slowly changing. "He's a tranquil. Half of them were abandoned by the mages and templars. the rest had been known to be mistreated. It's better that he's with her." Alistair states defensively.
Jowan turns to look over his shoulder at the other two men. "Neira was a friend of mine before I was made tranquil. It has not been bad travelling with her and Alistair. I have been comfortable and kept safe."
Zevran crosses his arms, and turns his head away. He no longer wanted to discuss this. "And I suppose they would just let you leave if you wanted?" He mutters under his breath. He sits at the table and looks down at it. Looking it over out of boredom. Alistair sits down across from him. He no longer wanted to continue this conversation either. The creaking above their heads caught their attention. Zevran and Alistair both look up as Jowan continues to cook. There was a large thud that hits the ground before silence for a few golden moments. Then there it was, exactly what Alistair had been waiting for. There was a large bark of warning then the floors creak again as Hark runs through the room upstairs and eventually he makes his way to the stairs and down into the living room. Alistair watches as Hark stops sniffing the ground and instead he stares are Zevran. With a snarl on his face the large mabari growls at Zevran and was preparing to knock him right out of his chair. Alistair tries to calm him down before he attacks.
"Now, now Hark. I know you don't like him but Neira invited him over. We don't attack our friends Hark." Alistair says with his best soothing voice as he stands up and begins approaching Hark slowly, with his hands out.
Hark ignores Alistair and steps closer to the elf. He growls a little louder, but doesn't bark. He knew Neira was still asleep upstairs and he didn't want to wake her up. Zevran was now smiling down at Hark and he offers a nervous laugh to the mabari. "Aren't we friends by now Hark?" Zevran asks nervously. Despite his master always being friendly to the elf, Hark didn't like him. He didn't trust him. He always smells of foreign lands, and death. Hark was use to these smells of course but on the elf he always smelt something else as well. It was the satisfaction the elf always felt from killing that made Hark untrust him. Not even the qunari took pleasures in his kills he did it because it was his job.
Alistair grabs Hark as the mabari jumps up to attack Zevran. Zevran falls backwards with the chair he had tried to jump out of his chair. Harks slips right out of Alistair's fingers as he flies over towards the elf. "Someone stop him!" Alistair shouts forgetting that Neira was sleeping right above them.
Jowan smacks Hark on the nose with a wooden ladle. "Stop that." Jowan commands Hark who glares at him, displeased by being struck with the ladle.
Alistair grabs Hark again and holds the mabari down without hurting him. Hark begins whining and Alistair looks at him sympathetically. "I know boy. He is annoying but we just have to put up with him until he leaves.
"You know that is not quite the kind of warm welcome I was expecting from you Alistair." Zevran pushes himself back onto his feet. Alistair ignores him and continues to pet the whining mabari as they both sat on the floor and sulk. "You know this isn't very funny anymore." Zevran mutters as he picks up the chair that had fallen back with him. He sit down as Jowan sets a plate in front of the chair.
"Breakfast is finished." Jowan sets another plate down on the other side of the table. Then he walks away and comes back with a two doggie treats and a bowl of cooked meat for Hark to eat. "These are for desert." Jowan informs Hark before he sets the treat a few inches away form the meat, but Hark did not seem to hear him for he was already chewing on the food in the bowl.
Alistair sits down in the other chair and he looks down at the plate full of food. There was scrambled eggs, cooked fennec meat, a bowl of soup, and a cup of ale. "Jowan we're so lucky to have you." Alistair says through a mouth full of eggs. He had gotten better at cooking since he had to learn while traveling in the wilderness by himself when he was on the run. The whole time he missed Neira's cooking and the meals he use to order at inns. His cooking was still barely edible and while Neira's was much better, Jowan's cooking skills put even hers or the chefs at the inquisition's kitchens to shame.
Zevran gently moves the food around with a fork. He overlooks all of it before finally taking a bite. Alistair wonders if it is because he has been on the run from the crows for so long or if it was because Jowan had made the food.
"What is going on Alistair?" Neira asks with a sleepy voice as she steps down the stairs. She was dressed in her light grey nightgown because she had not been expecting a guest to be sitting at the table with Alistair. "Zevran! What are you doing here?" She asks happily, but with some shock.
"He said you told him to come." Alistair states before Zevran could swallow the food in his mouth. "Did you not?"
Neira looks between Zevran and Alistair with a confused expression.
"Neira I have the letter right here. It is in your handwriting." Zevran says as he pulls a letter from inside his shirt.
Neira takes the letter and looks it over. "It's my handwriting but I never wrote this Zevran." Then the words on the letter began to change as Neira's hands begin to shake with it. "Zevran who gave you this letter?" Neira asks the anger and concern in her voice melting together.
"An elf with her hair in braids. She said that one of the chantry girls had asked her to give it to me because of where I was."
"Where were you?" Alistair asks but when he saw Zevran's smirk he changes his mind. "Nevermind."
"I was simply otherwise engaged in business." He answers anyways.
Jowan intercedes at this point. "What does the letter say Neira?"
The boys look back at a grim faced mage as the letter that was clenched in her hands began to fade away. The letter was glowing but it was disappearing fast in the hands of Neira. Soon there was nothing left and Neira was simply glaring at her hands by that point. She had the words memorized by then anyways and someone was going to pay.
"Neira are you okay?" Alistair asks as he walks over to his wife.
"It's time to move again. Let's go Hark!" Neira orders and the mabari comes bounding after her as she walks back upstairs.
"Neira," Alistair follows her up the stairs and towards their bedroom. She slams the door shut and Alistair opens it carefully before he shuts it again behind him. Neira was now undressing herself before she slips on the cold metal of her armor that was sitting in the corner besides their bed. They never did sleep far from their weapons and armor, for many reasons. They were also both use to having to get dress fast to deal with threats. "Where are we going?" Alistair asks as he changes into his armor as well.
"I'm going to visit the former inquisitor. You're going back to the wardens." This causes Alistair to pause as he was putting on his mail.
"Wait, what?"
"Alistair I need to go to speak with the inquisitor. Her "friend" is getting out of hand." She explains. Alistair could practically see the steam coming off of her. Whatever she had read had made her angry. Beyond how made he had ever seen her before. He was trying to stay out of her way as she began
"Neira I don't know what was on that letter or what it has to do with the crazy mage, Solas, but we are not with the wardens right now. You don't outrank me when it's just us. I'm not just going to leave because you don't want me to come with." Alistair argues. Man he really wished Zevran wasn't right below them. He could probably hear everything. The elf was barely tolerable when he didn't know they were having spats. Alistair could already hear his voice in his head. 'Trouble in paradise?' He would ask with a stupid glint in his conniving eyes.
"Alistair you don't understand. He knows where we're staying."
"We have other houses and hideouts."
"He has a list. He even listed off three of them on that letter to prove a point."
"Well, then, we'll find other places." Alistair counters. Neria stops packing and she freezes. Her face was covered by her hands and she was shaking. Not crying, but definitely shaking. She only ever did this if she could not possibly see any solution that would make the situation any better. She had been like this on the night of the final battle, before Morrigan had ever approached them with her plan. Alistair wraps his hands around the small elven figure of Neira's as she goes through the motions. When she was done, and the shaking stops she uncovers her face and had a new expression on. One he rarely ever saw. She leans her head into his shoulder. "Fine. The inquisitor might listen to me better if you are there." She conceded.
Alistair smiles still she had not answered his question. So he decided to ask it a different way. "Neira, what are we going up against this time?" He asks, not releasing her from his arms yet.
"A madman who thinks he's a god, an army of his elven followers, and Andraste knows what else. He sent a letter to show that he knows who some of our friends are and how to reach them. His instructions were clear. Stay out of his way, don't try to interfere, and live out what remains of our lives in one of our hiding places or else he would start taking preemptive measures." She clenches her hand closed, grabbing a fist full of Alistair's shirt. "No one threatens my family." She states and looks up. Alistair could see the anger that was wrapping itself around her right then and it filled her with determination. The expression on her face and in her eyes made Alistair feel bad for whoever it would be that she would take her wrath out on. Yet it also made him very serious.
"We both will." He says with a nod. She relaxes somewhat and lets go of the bits of his shirt she had been holding onto. "I told you. We aren't splitting up again my love. I'm with you on this." He says softly, in his always sweet voice, as he rests her chin on top her head.
Enter Zevran because I love him and need him in more Dragon age things. Haha.
I hope you have enjoyed so far. Any advice on how to improve is always welcomed.