Sunny weather accompanied them on their journey across open grass fields and lush forests. It was one of the better things with their journey. Lea's hips were stiff from sleeping on the ground and his head felt heavy from their three hours sleeping shifts. They could not be careful enough out in the wilds. Darkspawn could show anywhere at any time. Wildlife was unpredictable, too, and they could not rely on Lea's healing magic alone. Some wounds were beyond repair even for the most experienced of healers.
The village Isa had spoken of should be right beyond the hills in the horizon. They would be there by the end of the day, the Maker willing. Lea glanced at Isa, eyelids heavy with sleep. Isa was making a flower crown of the flowers he came across as they went.
"What are those for?" Lea asked, remembering the first flower crown Isa had made for him.
"These are blessings. Usually made from one lover to another or to someone you would like to be your lover."
Lea laughed. "Were you courting me?"
"Of course I was. I'm not a barbarian."
"What were the blessings?"
"Good health, strength of body and heart, and an open mind."
"And this one?" Lea walked closely to Isa to better see Isa's handiwork.
"Love, courage and strength," Isa smiled. "When two elves marry in my clan, the two will make a flower crown for the other. Before the ceremony they are sent on a quest to find a flower; Mythal's Grace. It is said to grow only where the shattered lay."
"Is it for luck? Why would you want something created out of someone else's misery on your wedding day of all days?"
"It's humbling. It's uncertain what tradition means by 'the shattered'. Some believe that it refers to elves fallen in battle, but that wouldn't make the flower as rare as it is. I have heard that the old elven temples are full of Mythal's Grace. My mother used to say that the flowers grew where broken hearts lay. Soulmates are not for everyone. To use them in wedding ceremonies is paying tribute to those who have not found their soulmates on the day you form union with yours"
"That's beautiful, and saddening." Lea looked at the flower crown again. "We'll have to upkeep that tradition. You will teach me how to make a flower crown and we'll go look for that flower. The shattered shall not be forgotten!"
"I will definitely teach you how to make one, but I think our first priority should be getting you proper shoes. The search for Mythal's Grace is challenging as it is, you see." Isa laughed at Lea's playful shove. In Lea's attempt to improve his shoes, he had failed to match the colors of the material he used. The end results were a complete mismatch of stripes and spots, uneven stitchwork and thick soles of different colors.
As they approached the hills they were struck by a foul stench and occasional black winds. They could not have imagined the devastation until they stood on top of the hill and saw the burnt houses, the corpses on the streets and the survivors taking what they could carry and leave the village in a defeated gait. Lea turned his back on the scene and held one hand over his mouth and nose. The Darkspawn had marched through this small village and levelled it to the ground.
"Should we follow them?" Lea asked and gave a nod at the villagers.
"No," Isa said easily. "They are going to the harbors up north. Their only hope is the Free Marches."
"We could go there, too. The Darkspawn can't have made it that far."
"It's too dangerous, Lea. There are slave traders on those harbors. The only boat I would make it into is one heading straight for Tevinter. We go west."
The former empire Tevinter, ruled by mages, despised all over Thedas. Lea had heard enough of their evil deeds to last him a lifetime. The Blight was the works of Tevinter mages overtaken by greed, who thought nothing of the world. Elves were the Tevinter mages' preferred slaves and they cared nothing for the abolition of slavery throughout Thedas. The reminder of the dangers that lay outside the clan had Isa on edge. He fell silent. Lea took off his flower crown and put it on Isa instead. He placed a chaste kiss on Isa's cheek and held his hand. Isa would not be made a slave.
"I'll make you a flower crown for protection. No evil mages will get to you, Isa. You will always be in a good mage zone. And within that zone there will be a Lea Only Zone. Enemies won't stand a chance."
Isa laughed.
They played games as they walked down the road, taught each other songs that lay close to their hearts. Lea could scarce make sense of Isa's songs in Elvish, and Isa wrinkled his nose at the Chantry psalms Lea sang. They were in the midst of speaking of their favorite dishes when a scream for help had them both look ahead. A young man limped as fast as he could away from a cloud of dust. The rotting stench gave away the Darkspawn before they could be seen.
"Run!" screamed the young man. "Run! They are coming!" He fell to the ground and failed to get up without wailing in pain.
Isa motioned for Lea to get behind him as he readied his bow. Each shot hit Darkspawn in the head and they fell like rag dolls, but they were plentiful and Isa's arrows few. Lea cast a fire spell, a hexagram burned through the ground and burst into flames as the herd of Darkspawn stepped into it. The few that stumbled on ahead, Isa shot.
"Are they gone?" the young man asked past a hysterical laugh. "They are gone? They are gone!"
"You're hurt," Isa said as they approached the man. "Were you stained?"
"No. Those fishmongers did not get to me. I fell and I think I might have broken a rib. I could never thank you enough for saving me. I thought I was to meet the Maker."
"We are glad we could assist," Lea said and held out his hand. "I'm Lea. This is Isa."
"Myde," said the young man and shook their hands. "Please, let me offer you something to eat. I was on my way to my sister's farm to escape the destruction of my own village. There are no inns for miles. So, please."
"Is the village free from harm?" Isa asked.
"Mostly. The Darkspawn tried to take over, but the villagers were prepared and fought them off. I received word from my sister last week, telling me she was to leave for Val Rayeaux to 'make something out of herself'. Farming was not her calling, she said. I have plenty of room."
Isa and Lea looked at each other with renewed hope and accepted Myde's offer.