Hours went by as we sat in the filth of the kennels. The busy noise outside was soon replaced by anxious silence that seemed to stretch on forever. And then, violence. Roaring, screaming, sounds that you just knew weren't made by anything human. It seemed to go on and on when suddenly there was a great cheering from the humans fighting outside. I looked at Caden who looked back at me excitedly.
"The tower!" I whispered as I hoped against hope, wanting desperately to be wrong. We held our breath and waited, listening, straining to hear the slightest sound of the flanking soldiers joining the battle, to no avail. Another few hours passed and I looked at Caden whose ear was pressed to the stone door. Touching his shoulder he looked at me expectantly and I shook my head sadly, looking down to stare at my feet.
I was right, Loghain quit the field. The bastard cut and ran, leaving countless men and women to their deaths. I felt sick as I started thinking about what was going on outside that door. All we could hope for now was for Duncan to keep the wardens in one small area so I could use the grenade to bring them back. If the damned thing worked at all. I sighed and fell back against the stone wall, not daring to sit on the floor. I may have been screwed but I would not be covered in crap AND be screwed.
Many hours later it was silent outside. Caden had drifted off to sleep against the wall standing up so I nudged him gently, covering his mouth as I did so to keep him from making too much noise. He slowly opened his eyes and inhaled sharply as he took in his surroundings. Focusing on my face he got his bearings and I removed my hand.
"Anything going on out there?" I asked softly as I motioned towards the door. He closed his eyes to feel if there were any darkspawn. A moment later he opened his eyes and shook his head, slowly opening the wooden door.
Bright sunlight met our dilated eyes as fresh air flooded into the kennel. I practically ran out and heaved deep breaths to try and clear out my lungs. Caden laughed loudly as I shot him a dirty look.
"Sh! We don't know who else is still here!" I hissed as I looked around. Seeing no one, I motioned for him to follow me down to the battlefield. He grabbed my arm to stop me.
"Do you know where you're going?" he asked sarcastically as if he knew something I didn't. I smirked back.
"Well, if there's any sense to Duncan's plan he'll have us use the grenade to bring him and other wardens back to life after this battle," I took a small breath and continued, "which means we need to go down to the valley. Am I right?" I batted my eye lashes at him innocently. He rolled his eyes and grunted.
"Some things never change, do they sister?" he asked as he waved towards the path to signal me to keep going. I smiled and shook my head.
"Nope, I'm still always one step ahead and always right!" Caden laughed lightly.
"You'll never let me forget this, will you? Never mind, I know the answer. Let's just keep moving," he said as we slowly made our way down to the field of battle.
My stomach did a flip as the first bodies came into view. How people could become "battle hardened" was beyond me as I looked at the faces of the fallen. Most I didn't recognize but some I did and my heart mourned their passing. I got down on my knees, almost involuntarily, and closed my eyes as I felt words tumble from my mouth.
"Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just. Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow. In their blood the Maker's will is written." I spoke softly but earnestly as I bowed my head in prayer. Taking a deep breath afterwards, I looked up to see my brother staring at me with a small proud smile on his handsome face. I smiled back, confused but pleased at the same time.
"Some things, indeed, never change," he said as he motioned for me to follow. I stood and walked behind him, unsure of what had just happened but certain of one thing.
He found Duncan.
We went through the bodies surrounding him and pulled away the darkspawn. Satisfied there were none in the radius of the grenade I looked around again for other Wardens. Unfortunately I realized many of them had been dismembered or decapitated. Sighing, I continued to search, turning over body after body. That's when I caught a glimpse of something gold reflecting sunlight at my face. I shook my head and was ready to just keep digging until Caden cleared his throat. Motioning to the body in the golden armor he walked towards it and started dragging it to the radius. I sighed and helped, reluctantly.
"Cailan's an ass," I said under my breath as if to avoid being over heard. Caden laughed.
"Yes, but it's all a part of Duncan's plan," he said with feigned delight as we got him fully into the 'blast radius'. Taking one last look around and looking to Caden for confirmation, I placed the grenade on Duncan's chest and pulled the pin, running away quickly and crossing my fingers as it went off. Afraid to look, I turned around slowly to see our handy work and smiled.
Caden put out a hand to Duncan who took it gratefully, smiling like a schoolboy on the first day of summer. The others were all slowly getting to their feet as the dust from the grenade settled, some slower than others but all within the radius were rising, eight wardens including Duncan. Even King Cailan.
"What in the Maker's name happened?" Cailan asked as he rubbed his head. Duncan went to him and patted him firmly on the back, smiling at me and giving me a wink.
"I think that is best discussed with our savior, your majesty," he said as he waved his free hand toward me. As Cailan raised his head to look at me I could tell he was confused. I smiled and shook my head.
"We can discuss everything later, your majesty, but for now let's just be happy to be alive." I grinned widely at everyone as they all smiled or simply nodded in my direction in acknowledgement. I can't believe it, I thought, I helped save the Grey Wardens of Ferelden. Nice try Loghain, you bastard! I smiled to myself as I hugged Duncan tightly, giggling mercilessly. Nice try, but guess what… WE WIN!
We looted the camp at Ostagar and took off northward for Lothering, so by dusk we were exhausted and hungry. While the others set up camp, Duncan put a hand on my shoulder and motioned for me to follow. Caden saw the exchange and offered to set up my tent in my absence. I smiled my thanks and followed Duncan to a stream nearby, spotting Cailan waiting for us. I sighed, knowing this was coming but not looking forward to it.
"I think you have a few things to discuss," Duncan said to me, bowed to the king then left us. I smiled and curtsied. Cailan laughed and sat down at the edge of the stream. I followed suit.
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, my Lady," Cailan said as he picked up a pebble and threw it in the water. Then, looking toward me, he said "And PLEASE, call me Cailan? I'm tired of all the formality, honestly. Makes me feel separate, different…" he trailed off into his own thoughts, looking out over the water at something only he could see. I smiled, relieved he was being casual, and touched his armored arm.
"Hello Cailan, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please call me Kora," I said and smiled warmly as his blue eyes finally met mine. He returned my smile and looked down, almost bashful. "I think I should start at the beginning," I said thoughtfully as I crossed my legs and readied myself for a long session of 20 questions.
I went over who he was, who he was married to, the circumstances around their marriage, then the down and dirty. The letters, the Empress, putting Anora aside, and then Loghain's betrayal. By the end I know Cailan's head was spinning as he grasped at questions to ask me. I finally patted his arm and smiled.
"Let it all sink in then tomorrow ask me your questions," I said as I started to get up. He reached for my hand and I stopped, crouching instead by his side as he looked up at me. I couldn't help but feel pity for him. The man was just murdered by someone he looked up to his whole life, a man who was his Father's best friend and trusted general. Shit, Loghain probably helped raise Cailan, I thought as I watched the tortured emotions wash over his face. Maker's breath Loghain, you really are a monster.
"I knew," he started slowly, taking a deep breath then continuing, "I knew he knew about the communication. I knew he was angry and would try to protect Anora but I never thought he would do this." He sighed deeply then looked out over the water again. "So many people, dying because of me. Me and my childish fantasy that my father's best friend would never betray me. How foolish can one be?" he asked as he threw a large rock into the water with some aggression. I watched the ripples dissipate then looked at the King.
"Do you want to be alone, Cailan?" I asked as I grasped his hand. I couldn't help it. I wanted to dislike this man, this childish idiot that with a few letters got one quarter of Ferelden killed in a single night. I wanted to but I couldn't. I couldn't because he was simply a young man who put his faith in the wrong person. He wouldn't be the first and probably not the last. He smiled up at me and squeezed gently back.
"Please, tell Duncan I'll be along soon. And, my Lady?" he looked at me with a question and then a decision in his eyes. "Thank you, Kora." He then kissed my hand gently, held my hand to his lips for a lingering moment, and then released it. Standing, he helped me to my feet and walked me up the small hill towards the camp.
As I was walking towards the fire I swore I felt someone's eyes on me. Stopping, I listened and waited. Realizing they were not going to show themselves I decided to speak.
"If you're hungry, we have food. If you're thirsty, there's a stream back there. There's no reason to be afraid of me, that I can promise you." I held my breath and waited, wishing silently that someone from the camp was a bit closer, but I didn't want to spook whoever it was just in case. Then I heard someone from my left make their way out of the bushes so I turned. When I saw them I smiled.
Standing before me was a slight young girl with long dark hair and violet eyes. Shaking from the cold, she was wearing only a mage's robes and slippers. She made her way toward me slowly and I quickly took off my coat to wrap it around her, leading her toward the fire. She smiled at me gratefully as she sat down on the log closest to the flames. One of the wardens caught sight of her and gently pulled me aside.
"D'ya know what that is?" he asked, wide eyed in fear. I patted his arm and smiled warmly up at him, nodding. He looked dumbfounded from myself to her and back to me. "You sure about this Lady Kora?"
"What's your name, ser?" I asked.
"Rafe, my Lady," he said bowing his head slightly. I couldn't help but smile and brush a lock of his shoulder length brown hair away from his eyes.
"Ser Rafe. I know that over there sits a cold, scared and probably hungry young girl who has been alone out here most likely since the defeat at Ostagar. If she were my child, my sister, YOUR sister, wouldn't you want someone to help her, to take care of her?" I looked up at him and waited. He finally nodded eagerly and walked towards the mage slowly. Leaning down to grab a bowl he ladled some soup into it and handed it gently to her. Turning away, knowing she was safe with Rafe there, I couldn't help but smile. As I went in search of Duncan to tell him of our new passenger and discuss plans for tomorrow, I realized what tomorrow meant. Tomorrow, we would arrive at Lothering.
Lothering… and Alistair.