Fair warning... LONG CHAPTER!
I woke to the afternoon sun beaming through my window. Slowly opening my eyes and stretching my arms I could feel and see that I was not alone in my bed. His dark hair was splayed out across the pillow as he lay on his back, one arm around me and the other behind his head. He looked so peaceful I couldn't help myself, I smiled devilishly and tickled underneath his bare arm. The arm jerked downward and a rumble of protest came from his chest.
"You are a mean and terrible woman," he growled, pulling me closer with both arms. "Do I have to keep you confined?" I smiled.
"Hmmm… sounds enticing," I whispered as I moved inside the circle of his arms to straddle him. "Or maybe I should confine you." He smiled with a sleepy look on his face but I could feel that other areas were waking up. Leaning down, I started kissing a trail across his collar bone. Another rumble from his chest and I felt him flip us over, giving him the upper hand.
"You are playing a very dangerous game, my love," he whispered, staring into my eyes. I shrugged.
"I'm relatively sure I can handle myself," I said. With that said I grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head down, passionately taking his lips with mine. I devoured every inch he would give me, savoring his taste and his touch as his hands dug underneath me to pull us closer together. Breathless, he pulled away, smiling with his eyes shining.
"I love you," he groaned then bent down to take another deep kiss. Then there was a knock on the door. I groaned against his lips as he brought the kiss to an end and pulled back to look at me.
"Are you expecting company?" I asked. "Otherwise I'll murder whoever that is." He smiled, taking my lips again then jumping off the bed to grab his breeches. I wrapped the blanket around me and pouted. "This is bull shit."
"You will be spoiled soon enough, my love," he whispered as he tied the breeches and threw a shirt over his head with a wink. "I promise." He opened the door to Trudy.
"Well now," she exclaimed, "twasn't you I expected to open the door Wulff! Where is my girl, what have you done with her?" she asked, pushing her way past Garrett and stopping dead when she saw me. "Maker have mercy, are you truly doing this in my establishment? Unwed even!" She put her hand on her hip and tried her best to pretend she was angry. I saw right through it and smiled.
"You're just mad because it wasn't you in my bed Trudy," I winked at Garrett and heard her gasp. Her laughter quickly followed.
"Alright, I deserved that one," she said as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Not trying to interrupt, but you wanted to know when those mages set up shop in the Alienage. They're here." My heart skipped a beat.
"Alright, thank you Trudy," I said as my plan formed in my head. "Is Leliana aware?"
"She's been downstairs some time now, was here when the messenger came." I nodded then looked at Garrett. He nodded as well.
"I'll go get Riordan and Bela," he said as he pulled on his boots and rushed out. I smiled at Trudy.
"Unless you want an eye full of me in my birthday suit I suggest you give me some privacy." I winked at her and she jumped off the bed.
"I'll assume birthday suit means naked as your name day AND I'll be going," she smiled as she walked out, closing the door behind her. I laughed as I got up to get dressed.
Armed to the teeth, I went downstairs to the bar area with a helm on. It was lunch time and Trudy had a full house. I looked around and found Leliana talking to a guard with Howe's sigil on his shield. Deciding to keep my distance I went over to the bar to wait for Garrett and the others to arrive. Leliana finished her conversation and made her way over to me.
"That was one of Garrett's men I was speaking to," she explained. "Quite a lovely fellow, he said if we need another hand he's available. Do you think we would need one more? He seems capable." She glanced back over at him, smiling. I grinned.
"Leliana," I gasped, "you just want some eye candy!" She raised an eyebrow at me.
"What is this 'eye candy'?" she asked. I laughed.
"Something sweet to look at," I whispered. She laughed.
"I like that saying," she looked back over at the young man standing awkwardly at the bar, taking him in from head to toe. "Perhaps, but I thought another sword would be helpful. Three rogues and one of you may not be a balanced enough group." I thought about it then nodded.
"Agreed, please tell him we would appreciate his assistance. Four should be a suitable group, so maybe another rogue could go with Isabela to free any elves on the ship?" Leliana thought for a moment then nodded.
"Good idea, just in case there is opposition," she smiled at me proudly. "You are quite the strategist, My Lady." I laughed.
"I've played this game before," I said, "and my mother was quite good as well. Must run in the blood." I felt someone touch my arm and turned to see Garrett, Isabela and Riordan who was also wearing a helm. "Good, let's get going."
"Isabela, you and Garrett will head around the back end of the docks to check the vessel," I said as we approached the Alienage from the south end. Garrett took my arm.
"Sorry, but I thought you just said you were going in there without me," he smiled, shaking his head. "Not happening, love." I sighed.
"Garrett, you and Isabela know each others' fighting styles," I said, "that makes you the most logical choice. Besides, what if there is resistance on that ship? You'd send her in alone?" I glanced at Isabela as she rolled her eyes then looked back at Garrett. He shook his head.
"Of course not, but why not send Leliana? She's the shadow rogue." I could tell he was looking for any excuse to stay with me but I had to make the lines clear. No matter what had happened the night before, distraction is not an option.
"Garrett," I said, keeping my tone even, "those are my instructions. I have my reasons, please do as I ask." He looked me in the eye, clearly not happy with my decision, but finally relenting.
"Yes, My Lady," he bowed and went to join Isabela as she entered one of the abandoned buildings that led to the dock. His tone told me I was going to hear about the interaction later but I shrugged it off and looked at my companions.
"Ready to kick some Tevinter ass?" I asked, pulling out my shield and sword. The newbie piped up.
"The elves seem to be congregating over there, My Lady," he said, pointing toward the Vhenadhal. I nodded and headed toward the crowd.
Everyone was panicked as they shouted, trying to get in to be seen and treated first. Women holding small children that appeared to have no more than a cold or flu were trying to keep their young ones calm amongst the crowd to no avail. I watched as more elves entered the building and shook my head.
"What's the matter, shem?" I heard an arrogant voice blurt next to me. "Get bored in your castle? Come to watch?" I shook my head and turned to face a small red headed elf. I softened, knowing who it was I was speaking to.
The elf my brother Vaughan had accosted.
"Who told these people their sickness is the blight?" I asked. She seemed taken aback by the question then regrouped.
"What do you care? Go home, shem." She stood her ground as if she expected me to comply. Not likely.
"Who told them?" I asked again, keeping my tone even. She laughed.
"As if it matters," she responded, "the Arl's men." I sighed, shaking my head and motioning to Leliana and the others to head toward the alley alongside the building. As they left I raised my helm, looking Shianni in the eye.
"I do care, Shianni," I said, "I am not my brother and I intend to prove it." I pulled it back down over my head and followed the others.
"Maker," I heard Shianni say as I walked away, "was that who I think it was?" I smiled.
Yep, back from the dead.
The guard at the back entrance to the 'clinic' was easy to buy off, the poor man was starving. Then after gutting the two guards that were left to keep watch we entered the locked back room. My heart felt as if it was being ripped from my chest.
Men, women and children were penned up like animals, left to rot in their own filth. The smell alone was enough to make me swoon but I went to each cage and opened it, freeing them all.
"Go out the back but make your way to the crowd quietly," I said, "tell everyone out there to return to their homes and lock their doors. Tell them what happened to you and not to trust the Arl's men, city guard or the Tevinters. We will deal with the mages." The healthier young elf of the group shook my hand, smiling.
"Thank you, My Lady," he said as he picked up a feeble young girl. He walked out with the last of them through the back door. As I watched them leave I couldn't help but smile, feeling good about our decision to stop this. I looked back at the others.
"I'm ready to rip someone's head off," I growled as I stalked over to the front door to take care of the mages out front before heading toward the back.
We made our way through the boarding house without incident until we reached the manager's office. I remembered there may be some thugs in there so I kicked the door in, surprising them and shield bashed the closest one into another as Leliana and Aedan (the noob) pushed the others back. Riordan snuck past me and slashed three throats before I could even finish off my first. After I took out the second I looked around and the rest were dead.
"I really did pick up the wrong fighting style," I said, shaking my head. Leliana and Riordan searched them, taking what valuables they could find and we moved on.
Outside there were four guards which seemed odd to me but I shrugged it off as I stabbed one in the throat. It was earlier in the time line and a few extras wouldn't hamper our chances so we pushed on, entering the last warehouse.
There were 12 of them in there, three archers, four rogues and five with swords.
"Unexpected," I whispered as we walked in, being confronted by the leader. The elven archer looked confused.
"We were told there would be no resistance," she said authoritatively. I smiled beneath my helm.
"Loghain lies to his own people," I replied, "what makes you special?" She glared at me then glanced behind her.
"They do," she said as they all laughed. I shrugged.
"Well then," I said, rolling my shoulders and cracking my neck, "let's see just HOW special."
One of Leliana's throwing daggers flew past my head and took her out just as I finished my sentence. Another then another and all of the archers were down. I was swarmed by swordsmen so I crouched down, waited for them to all be on top of me then yelled as loud as I could, pushing up and away to throw them all back. Aedan took out three from behind as I finished off the other two. I looked up to see two rogues on Riordan, one in his face and the other behind him ready to strike so I ran across the room and shield bashed the sneaky one. He landed against the wall with a loud crack so I knew he wasn't getting up. Riordan finished off his man and Leliana sauntered over, smiling.
"Well," she said, looking around at the carnage, "that was fun. A good warm up to be sure." I nodded.
"Search the bodies and I'll see if any still live." I walked around checking each one for a pulse but all 12 were dead. I nodded to Riordan.
"There are far more here than I anticipated," I said. "I'm afraid there may be more ahead as well." He nodded.
"We will proceed slowly," he said as he walked over to the door, opening it to find another hallway. He motioned for us to follow.
I tapped his arm and motioned to a door off the hallway he had walked past. He nodded so I motioned for Leliana. She understood, her purple smoke filling the space where she was as we positioned ourselves behind the door. She opened it and snuck behind the guards in there as we pounced on them.
Then there was the hallway to the guards' quarters. I pointed to the floor and Leliana spotted the traps, easily disarming them as we proceeded. When we got to the door it burst open, four archers readying their arrows and firing. I took an arrow in the right shoulder so I sprinted down the hall and burst through them, scattering the group. I looked up to see 6 more men in the large room, all covering the doors to the area where I knew the magister would be waiting.
I yanked the arrow out with a scream and then held up my shield as I approached the far door. The two men were coming at me so I crouched down to toss one over my head and the other I bashed in the face. As they both lay unconscious I turned to see the other three of my group standing over yet more corpses. I sighed.
"Why must there always be so much blood," I said as I took a step toward them. I felt my legs weaken as the ground came up to meet me. Catching myself with my left hand, I dropped my shield, gasping for breath. Leliana raced over to me and reached into her bag.
"Take this," she said as she pushed a vial of red liquid into my hand. I sat back on my heels, took out the stopper and downed it. "Give it a moment."
I slowed my breathing, focusing on the potion and letting it do its work. I felt the pain dissipate so I gave the shoulder a tentative roll. It was a bit stiff but less painful and relatively healed so I nodded and stood.
"The Magister may be in the next room. Caution is critical. He may try to talk his way out of this, let me do the talking." I went to the door and opened it.
"The men will hold them, master," I heard a voice say as we walked through the doorway and to the railing. I looked down into the room and the Magister looked up at us, his bald head gleaming.
"Apparently not," the man in the mage robes said as he back handed the other man across the face. "Look there you imbecile!" He walked toward us, staying on the lower level and smiled. "Well, visitors I see. And who might you be?"
"Visitors who are going to ruin your day, I'm afraid," I said as I made my way to the stairs at the far end of the platform. "Release these people." He held up his hands.
"Perhaps we can have a chat," he suggested, "If for no other reason than to avoid any unpleasantness. You've made it past my guards so you are obviously skilled, I'd rather not allow this to become a confrontation if possible. Would you be agreeable to that?" His eyes were a watery blue and his skin pale. This man did not see much sun or physical labor. I smiled beneath my helm.
"Make it quick," I said. He seemed jumpy but I could sense there were other mages nearby so I kept my guard up. Riordan was behind the magister now and Leliana was still up on the platform. Aedan had yet to leave my side.
"Perhaps I can offer you some compensation for your trouble," he said as he presented a piece of paper. "I assume you would like to know the identity of the person who authorized this transaction." I smiled and snatched the paper from his hand.
"I already know you are working with Loghain," I said bluntly, shoving it onto my chest plate. "Give me something better." He smiled nervously.
"Perhaps an offering of magic," he said as he glanced at the cages full of elves. "I could offer you unlimited long life, just using the life force from these slaves. It would be a priceless gift and all you have to do is turn your head and walk away." I stayed still and quiet, letting him think I was contemplating the offer.
"I have a better idea. You will release the CITIZENS of Denerim you have taken prisoner and walk out that door, leaving on your ships with only your hides," I barked, making him jump then sigh. I started powering up my smite and his eyes widened. "And be GRATEFUL."
"Who ARE you?" he asked, backing away. I stayed in step with him.
"I'll take that as a no," I sighed as the smite hit him square in the chest. It knocked him backward into Riordan then branched out, a surge of electricity flying through the air and taking out the other two mages. I swung my sword around and took off his head. Aedan had engaged three guards, Leliana was showering the others with arrows and Riordan was running from one opponent to another, dealing back stabs and slashes to those not paying attention. I started hacking away at the guards around the cages, clearing the way so I could free the prisoners and get them to safety.
I was fumbling with the lock when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Leliana smiling at me so I backed away and bowed, motioning to the lock. She giggled and got to work. I looked around and saw one of the mages still lived, lying on his back in a pool of his own blood and slowly inching his way toward his staff. I walked over to him and stepped on his hand, crunching some bones and getting a scream from him.
"Well well," I said, "what to do with you?" I shook my head as he whimpered, glancing up at me but not making eye contact.
"I-I'm sorry, mistress," he stammered as he lowered his head to the ground. "I was just doing what I was t-told." I shook my head.
"As an apprentice, I know you have far more power than that," I hissed, angry that he was trying to manipulate me. "You stand to inherit all that belonged to your master and I won't have it." I ran him through the heart then yanked it out, watching as the blood flowed from the wound and onto the ground. I stepped back to avoid the puddle and turned toward the exterior door.
"Shouldn't Garrett and Isabela have come to meet us?" Leliana asked as she approached the door. Panic rose up into my chest as I grabbed her arm.
"Wait," I said, stretching out to feel what was on the other side of the door. "no one is on the dock. Leliana, Riordan, get the elves back to their homes. Aedan, with me." Leliana grabbed my arm then looked at one of the elders of the group.
"Can you see your people home?" she asked. He nodded and started rushing his people out. Just then another older elf burst into the room, followed by a group of them that were armed. He put up a hand to halt them and walked quickly over to Leliana.
"Who are you child?" he asked. I recognized the voice immediately.
"Valendrian?" I asked. He gave me a curious look.
"Yes, that is my name," he said, "but who are you?" I removed my helm and smiled at him. His look went from questioning to shock. "Lady Kora!" He rushed over to take my shoulders in his hands, holding me at arms' length. "How? I thought you were…"
"Dead?" I asked. "Yeah, I get that a lot. It's a very long story, but please be sure everyone gets to their homes and tell them to lock their doors. No one from the city can be trusted right now and I want to be sure these mages are truly gone. And Valendrian," I put a hand on his shoulder, "My appearance cannot be reported, nor that of my companions. Can I ask that of you?" He nodded.
"We owe you at LEAST that much," he said as he squeezed my hand. "Your secret is safe, My Lady." He bowed and followed the last of the elves back into the warehouse. I looked at Leliana who smiled.
"Please do not think I do not respect your decision," she said, "but going out there alone is not a good idea." She pulled out her bow. "Time to finish what we started." I nodded and, putting my helm back on, walked toward the door leading to the dock and the ships.
I kicked the door open and charged out onto the dock shield first. No one was in sight so I moved my shield aside to look up at the ship. Suddenly there was a sharp pain in my right shoulder, like someone stabbed me with fire. I looked over to see an arrow sticking out of my chest, just above my chest plat. My legs weakened and I found myself kneeling on the ground.
"Kora!" I heard a man's voice yell. I thought it was Garrett but things had started to get a little fuzzy.
"Lel," I whispered, "the arrow. It's poison." My head hit the dock with a thud. I felt someone roll me over onto my back and yank off my helm, touching my face.
There were voices but they were garbled. I tried to keep my eyes open to show them I was still alive but my vision was swimming so I couldn't focus on anything. Then a man appeared in front of me and I felt someone smoothing my hair away from my face. I smiled, knowing it was Garrett because of the long dark hair tickling my cheeks. I reached up and touched his lips. He grabbed my hand and kissed my palm roughly. I knew I was running out of time and I had to tell him what I needed him to do.
"Garrett," I whispered, "take care of my Arling, my people." I took a ragged breath. "Everything that was mine is now yours."
And then the world went black.
I could feel the tingle of magic around me but all I could see was the darkness.
This place I was in was neither the fade nor Thedas. It seemed a purgatory of sorts that held me like a babe swaddled in a blanket just after birth. Not able to speak or move I just remained; waiting and hoping for the tingle to either bring me back or release me to the Maker.
I thought about Caden. My big, strong brother. He was my rock, my protector, my other half in so many more ways than birth. We shared everything; secrets, dreams, we trusted each other with absolutely every aspect of our lives. That was why it was so devastating when he disappeared that day. He never told me he was leaving to join the Wardens.
A few weeks of wandering the halls of the estate had confirmed my gut feeling that he wasn't coming back. I felt incomplete, as if someone had ripped a part of my soul out of me and it must have shown. Even Vaughan would try to talk to me, as busy as he was integrating himself into father's role as Arl. Eventually he gave up when I wouldn't even look him in the eye. It was probably father's motivation for allowing Garrett to start visiting more often, being betrothed since we were children he was one of the few who knew how to snap me out of my moods.
I thought about Garrett. His face, his eyes, that devilish grin he flashed when he got his way, his bravery, his loyalty, his love. His love was amazing to me, that it would stand strong for so many years, not even death could quell it. After what my father had done it still gave him the faith to act as he did, coming to Denerim based on the hope that it was truly me in Lothering. I knew how much he had meant to me all those years ago. And then I learned how much I meant to him still, but where did my heart truly lie?
I thought about Alistair. His eyes and his smile entered my mind and the rush of emotion hit me but just as suddenly I felt guilty. The night I left Redcliffe I told him I would never love another the way I loved him. And then Garrett crossed my path again… Were my father's wishes going to rule my life? Was he reaching out from the grave to enforce his will? True, Alistair and I could never be together but to give my heart to him then put him aside so easily, was that who I had become?
I thought about the things I loved about Alistair and how strongly I felt about him and realization slowly came to me. He is who I want to be with. I will always love him, and not being able to be with him will never stop it. It was a cold hard fact, like my heart beating in my chest that I would have to live with the rest of my life, pain and all, and nothing in my past, present or future was going to change it.
My love for him was born of innocence. It began having nothing to do with sex or wanting him, nor with the pressure of an arranged marriage hanging over our heads. It began with his strength and compassion, his character and his steadfastness to his oath as a Warden. That and he always wanted to be sure I was happy, like the day he brought me lunch on the dock at Redcliffe. That was a large part of why I loved him.
And then came the want, every fiber of my being screaming out for his touch, his eyes upon me, his smile, his lips... Would I die without ever laying my eyes upon him again, my hands, MY lips? My emotions started to overwhelm me as I struggled to think of something else, someone else, anything else...
Cailan. His presence had become a constant source of comfort to me over those first few weeks at Redcliffe, especially when the rest of them went off to deal with Loghain's men. Being left behind was difficult enough but then Teagan questioning everything I said was maddening. Cailan jumped to my defense, calmly but sternly, and he did so with all the grace of a high born noble. Not the man I remembered from court.
His impatience and selfishness were replaced by a serenity and commitment to others that I had no idea he was capable of. In just those few days we were alone I came to care about him in a way that I thought was only reserved for Caden. He held me, protected me and comforted me like no other man had, yet he asked for nothing in return. I decided then that he truly was a brother to me and I loved him just as much.
My mind wandered to where they were, what they may be doing. Maker, are they even still alive? I asked myself. I had no idea and no way of finding out so I remained in the darkness, still trapped by Maker-knew-what. Then I felt another tingle but this time it was INSIDE my body.
A swirl of colors flashed before my eyes as a blinding pain jolted through me. My heart was beating so hard and fast inside my chest I thought it would burst out. Then I could feel my jaw move, my fingers twitch and my toes curl. The tingle became an electrical shock, pumping into my heart and jolting outward to my extremities. The more I moved the more intensely I felt it so I kept moving more and more parts until I realized my eyes were closed. I opened them.
"She's awake!" I heard Garrett shout. As my vision cleared my eyes found his and he cupped my cheek, smiling tearfully down at me. I smiled back and tried to reach out to him, failing to move my arm but a few inches. He sat down on the bed next to me and glided his hand up and down my arm. "Don't move, love. Help is coming."
"Who?" I asked.
"Long story, just relax my love," he whispered as he stroked my hair. He was practically beaming as he looked at me, making me giggle. "What's so funny?"
"You," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "fussing over me. Was it that bad?" His face grew serious.
"Kora," he said as he took a deep breath, "you were…" He shook his head and looked away. Finally able to move I put my hand on his.
"I'm here, Garrett," I said. "I'm here and I'm alive and I'm safe." He looked back at me and smiled, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"You so nearly were not," he whispered as he leaned over and kissed my forehead. The door opened and Leliana rushed in with a small red headed elven girl. She wore circle robes and carried a staff with a lightening rune on it.
"About time," the elf huffed as she looked at me from the foot of the bed. "You not waking up was making me look bad." I shrugged.
"Sorry about that," I said. "I am quite stubborn sometimes." She nodded agreement and raised her arms, pulling healing magic from her and funneling it into me. I could feel the cold electricity spreading from my heart out to the rest of my body, just as I had in the darkness. I smiled. "Your magic feels like electricity." She stopped, dropping her arms to her sides and smiling.
"I'm a tempest mage so that would make sense," she said as she looked to Garrett and Leliana. "She's all good, some sleep and she should be up and around by tomorrow." I laughed as I started to sit up.
"Yeah, tomorrow is now," I said as I pushed my legs over the side of the bed. Garrett stood up, grabbing my arms to stop me.
"Oh no," he insisted, "you ran into that warehouse without me but this is where I draw the line." He scooped me up and laid me back in the bed, sitting me up against the back board and covering me with the blanket. "You will rest, you will stay in this bed and that is final." I was shocked into silence for a moment.
"Um," I hummed, considering my options, "can I ask some questions?" Garrett paused, probably trying to comprehend that I wasn't resisting, then nodded. "How long have I been out?" They all looked at each other. "Hello? Did I speak Ancient Tevene? How long?" Leliana looked at me.
"Five days," she said. My jaw dropped.
"Maker," I whispered. "What's happened in those five days? I need details." I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Sit, everyone sit and tell me everything." Garrett sat beside me as Leliana and the mage sat cross legged at the foot of the bed.
"Well, we succeeded in clearing the slavers out," Garrett said as he took my hand. "Everyone was saved and they remain so."
"Oh! And you have your own personal guard now!" Leliana chimed in, smiling. "The guards that were still on the ship found out you killed their masters and have sworn allegiance to you." I shook my head.
"Oh no," I said, "I am no slave owner." Garrett laughed.
"Somehow I knew you would say that," he said, "so I have advised them that they are officially employed. They are being paid a wage and work as free men."
"How are we paying them? I'm not Arlessa yet, Garrett." He laughed.
"We've taken down all of their names and issued them IOU's," he said. "As long as the plan the Wardens have comes to fruition they will be paid after the Landsmeet."
"That could be weeks from now," I replied, looking down at the blanket and worrying one of the edges. "Hopefully Howe hasn't completely decimated my treasury by then." I looked up at Leliana. "What is the situation in the back alleys, getting any worse?"
"It was for a time," she admitted, "but we have been busy keeping the crime to a minimum. Sergeant Kylon has been very generous in handing out 'missions' to us. Good coin too." She smiled as she twirled a lock of her hair. I smiled.
"Thank you, all of you, for helping out. It brings me comfort to know someone is looking out for Denerim." I looked to the mage, holding my smile. "And where do you fit into all this… Neria is it?"
"You remembered my name?" she asked, shock on her face. I nodded and smiled, after all I remembered all of my charges. She blinked a few times and got back on subject. "You can thank Alistair. He was the one who insisted I come here ahead of the Wardens. He was worried and rightfully so. You have a death wish, My Lady." She laughed. It was my turn to be in shock, still trying to absorb the name she spoke.
"Alistair?" I whispered. Garrett's hold tightened slightly, breaking the spell. I shook my head a bit, trying to clear it then cleared my throat. "You'd be surprised," I finally said. "Alistair is far more reckless in combat than I am. Shit, he almost got himself killed in every battle." I shook my head and looked to Leliana who nodded, knowing I was trying to change the subject.
"And then Caden," Leliana said, "he was just as bad. He ran into the group we intercepted outside of Redcliffe like a berserker! I thought he was going to die within the first minute of the battle." She shook her head and I nodded.
"That's my brother," I smiled then turned to look at Neria. "So I assume you escaped the circle during the uprising?" I looked at Neria who nodded.
"I was just outside Orzammar when I ran into your friends," she smiled. "Alistair picked up on my presence. Definitely not your average templar." I nodded.
"He's not a templar if you ask him," I said, "but Morrigan brings it out in him more than he'd like to admit. I always told him 'your templar is showing'. He'd get all defensive, 'No it's not! Alright, maybe it is but she's a BITCH.'" Leliana, Neria and I laughed and Garrett just looked at us and shook his head.
"So this is what it's like at a girl's sleep over party," he said. "Glad I never crashed yours." I winked.
"Your loss," I smirked. "There were pillow fights." His mouth dropped open as he stared at me but I raised my eyebrows innocently and looked at Neria. "You seem to have a high opinion of Alistair, Neria." The sentence hung in the air, the question waiting to be answered and I could tell that Neria knew what I was asking. Even still I felt my heart tighten. She looked down at her hands.
"Um, no My Lady," she said, averting her eyes, "Nothing going on there." Her elven ears turned rosy, answering my question as my heart made its way up into my throat. I looked at Leliana who gave me a sheepish look.
"Why is she afraid of me?" Leliana glanced at Neria compassionately.
"She fears you will be upset," she finally said. Neria gave her a dirty look but Leliana wagged a finger at her. "I have told you many times that Kora is someone you can trust. You should know this from your time with her in the circle. Why not trust her now?"
"Because he still loves her!" Neria blurted out. She clapped a hand over her mouth, looking at me with fear then trying to bolt from the room. Leliana stopped her, taking her by the arms and guiding her back to sit on the bed. When she finally found the nerve to look at me I smiled, swallowing down the lump in my throat.
"I think we need to have a discussion," I said. I looked from Garrett to Leliana. "A moment?" Leliana nodded and left the room but Garrett glanced back at me before he shut the door behind him. I could have sworn I saw a look of pain in his eyes but I brushed it off. Looking back at Neria I noticed she appeared to be shaking. "I will guarantee you have no reason to fear me, especially the state I am currently in." She laughed.
"If I had a copper for every time I heard THAT from a templar," she huffed. I sighed and shook my head.
"The sad thing is I believe you." I gave her a moment to calm down then continued. "I am aware of Alistair's feelings for me and you should also know that I love him as well." I watched her face drop in disappointment so I quickly continued. "However we cannot be together and we are trying to accept that, trying to move on." Letting that thought settle in the air between us I continued. "But I will always love him, and I will always want him to be happy. If you make him happy then that is all I could ever ask of you." I waited for that statement to sink in.
"So you're ok with it?" she asked as she looked into my eyes, pleading.
"Yes Neria. When you love someone you only want the best for them, right?" I asked. She nodded. I looked her in the eye and smiled. "I am grateful that he has found someone who cares for him." She looked shocked, then thoughtful.
"So that's why he did it," she said to herself. When I gave her a questioning look she continued. "When he accepted your situation he decided to put some distance between you. Except you had already done it the night before, good thing Duncan caught him." My jaw dropped. I was completely taken off guard by that statement and it must have shown on my face, panic streaking across hers. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"It…It's alright," I murmured. Getting a hold of myself I smiled. "It would figure that we'd have the same idea." I looked down at my hands, pretending to look at my nails when I saw an unfamiliar gold ring on my right hand. Neria crawled across the bed to sit next to me, taking my hand in hers.
"He asked me to give it to you. He said you would need it more than he did." She chewed her lower lip. I squeezed her hand.
"Always thinking of others," I shook my head. She smiled and nodded.
"I'd swear he thinks he's made out of iron or something," she giggled. She then shook her head, getting serious. "I believe he would give his life for you."
"Unconditional love and unconditional trust. If you can give that to him, he will return it to you." I smiled, hoping she couldn't hear the crack in my voice or see my heart breaking behind my eyes. If Alistair was trying to find love, trying to move on with her, I wanted it to work. After all, I'd found a way to look forward, he deserved one too.
"Yes My Lady," she whispered and tapped the ring. "It's a 'ring of resistance'," she said, clearing her throat. "It increases your physical resistance and stamina. I saw First Enchanter Irving wearing one just like it. Alistair said he bought it from Lloyd in Redcliffe before they left for Orzammar." She gazed at the ring and I swore it started to shine. She smiled. "Yes, you saw it shimmer. It does that when the wearer is ready for battle." She looked at me. "I guess you are officially released, My Lady." I smiled and hugged her tight, getting a little squeal from her.
"Thank you," I said, "thank you so much. You saved my life and I am grateful." Glad to have that conversation over with I threw the blanket off me and dropped my legs over the side of the bed, letting my toes touch the floor. I carefully flattened my feet to the wooden boards as I put my weight on them. Standing tall I giggled. "Thank the Maker! I'm free!" Neria laughed.
"You find joy in the strangest places." I gave her a playful shove and stuck out my tongue.
"Watch it little girl," I said as I breezed past her, grabbing my breeches and pulling them on. "I fancy a meal, I am STARVING! Join me?" She smiled and nodded as I grabbed my boots and sat down on the bed, pulling them on.
We walked down the stairs and into the bar, grabbing the table in the corner away from the door. I kept my back to the room to hide my face as Trudy made her way over.
"And just what do you think you are doing?" she asked, whispering hoarsely into my ear. I smiled up at her.
"You seriously think you can keep me in that CELL you call a room?" I winked at her. "You are mad. Can I get some food? I am so hungry I could eat an entire horse." She huffed her disapproval and stalked off as Garrett plopped into the chair next to me.
"You are pushing your luck, My Lady," he whispered sternly. I gave him a nasty glare that said DON'T and turned to Neria.
"A tempest, huh?" She smiled and nodded. I smiled back. "Excellent, can you do me a favor and give him a little zap to make his hair stand on end?" She smirked, turning to Garrett and reaching for him. He jumped out of his seat and backed away from the table.
"Point taken! I'm going to go check with the guards at the front gate, see if there have been any 'sightings' yet," he said, bowing to us and walking out the door. Neria and I giggled profusely as Leliana sat down, slapping my arm in the process.
"Shall we try to stay inconspicuous?" She asked. I nodded as Trudy dropped plates in front of us all and I picked up my fork, forgoing the napkin.
It was the best meal of my life.