Without templars nearby, no one in the village could tell Lea was an apostate. The robes that would have given him away had become a blanket for Myde's beloved horse. Lea could move freely in the village. Travelers were not uncommon now that the Blight had settled. Everyone was going home to rebuild and claim their lands before others did. Isa did not have the privilege of wandering unnoticed, however. The attention unnerved him and he prefered to stay on the farm rather than venture out amongst more humans than he could handle.
Myde had brought Lea along to fetch his temporary workers by the small village Chantry. His sister had asked for workforce before she left, but the Blight had delayed all that wandered from the south.
"New workers make me anxious," Myde had said as they set off into the village in Myde's carriage.
"Isa and I were new workers once," Lea said to ease Myde's mind.
"Yes, but you saved my life. There is a different kind of trust between us. What if I pick up a serial killer without even knowing it?"
"We hope we remain unknowing until he leaves," Lea said as jest and waited for a laugh, but Myde was in no such mood.
The villagers greeted them as they went by. The Chantry rose above the other buildings, simple yet surpassing in elegancy. Lea had wanted to come for mass and thank the Maker for his opportunities in life, but the fear of being caught was greater than his need for voicing his gratitude. Isa had told him that gods do not reside in temples. If a prayer is honest, they will hear it from wherever their faithful might be. It could be true for elven gods. They might travel the Heavens like the Dalish. Lea did not question whether the Maker could hear him, but Scripture left no doubts in regards to the holiness of the Maker's house. Sometimes a faithful's presence must be made known in the house of the Maker.
Myde and Lea left the carriage to seek out the workers in the Chantry courtyard. Lea's eyes fell on the flowers growing around the wooden pillars first. The garden could entice Isa to come here.
"There they are," said Myde and hurried ahead.
Lea froze. In the group of three young men stood one he had thought lost forever. Roxas scratched the back of his head as Myde greeted them and began introduction. He was faintly bruised. His hair was turned to hay and his clothes had been torn and repaired repeatedly. In a sweeping glance, Roxas saw him, too. The hardened glaze over his eyes dissolved and became tears. Lea ran to him. Myde stopped mid-sentence when Roxas said Lea's name. The two embraced, gripped at each other as though they never intended to let go.
The greatest gift the Maker could have given Lea had stood outside His home. Lea vowed to return within the week to give thanks and swear eternal loyalty to the Maker. On their way back, Lea sat in the carriage with Roxas, full of queries, but knew he could only ask a few.
"How did you end up here?" Roxas asked, thinking Lea's story safer to ask about.
"I was found by a clan of Dalish elves," Lea said with a laugh.
"Elves?" Roxas repeated, eyes wide. "Pointy ears and all?"
"Yeah. I spent some months with them. They were going to Denerim to help the Grey Wardens fight the Archdemon."
"You survived the Archdemon?!" Roxas held his hands over his ears and gripped at his hair in utter disbelief. The others turned to look at them curiously.
"No. No, no, I didn't - the elves weren't fond of me because I'm human and, well, there's a lot of history. So, I left before we got to Denerim. And I met Myde and he gave me work at his farm."
"Not all elves hated you," Myde reminded him with a laugh. "He's got one joined at his hip now."
"You're friends with an elf?" Roxas questioned.
"Why is that hard to believe?" Lea crossed his arms.
"Because you lie, Lea. All the time. It's pathological."
"When have I ever?" Lea questioned, nose in the air at the offensive accusation.
Roxas laughed and the world was suddenly right again.