Chapter 7 – Night Moves
After the feast had finally wound down, Serena headed back towards her room with Dairren.
"You know, I doubt anyone would even notice if you just came back with me now," she said, giving him a secret smile.
"Oh, I'm sure my mother would wonder what I got up to eventually... depending on how much she drank at the feast," Dairren replied. They walked past a set of guards who both nodded at Serena with a mumbled "Good evening, my lady."
Dairren lowered his voice. "You said they change at eleven?" Serena glanced around before pulling him into a side room. "Around eleven, usually. I haven't a clue what time it is now, maybe between 8 and 9?" She paused, looking around the room to see if there was a functioning clock within.
Many of the rooms throughout the castle had clocks within with the sole purpose of ringing the canonical hours in the morning and evening for prayers at the small chapel inside the castle.
Serena had a small mechanical clock of her own, given to her by her father after a trip abroad, that sat on the vanity in her room that she wound every morning. It had a small metal figure that came out and rang a tiny bell every hour during the daytime, and then at night until 9, and would essentially 'sleep' until six the next morning, when she would have to wind it again.
As a result, Serena was an early riser, often heading down to the chapel to pray silently to the Maker and his Prophet, Andraste, for a safe and productive day. This morning she had prayed for great prowess in battle, in preparation for her practice session with Ser Samuell, along with safety for the knights who would be riding out.
As luck would have it, there wasn't a clock in the room. Of course, Serena thought, of course when I need one... She turned to Dairren again, shrugging. "Well, anyway. I'm sure there's one in your mother's rooms. They set up dinner early because Fergus is supposed to ride out soon-" She stopped, covering her mouth with a hand, eyes wide. "Fergus! Oh, I completely forgot!"
"You forgot what exac-" Dairren began.
Serena flapped a hand at him impatiently. "Oh, Father's message... Ah, nevermind. I have to go find Fergus." She gave Dairren a quick kiss, popping up on her toes to reach his lips. "Eleven o'clock, alright? Just knock once." She glanced out into the hallway. "Okay, I have to go." She gently pushed him out in front of her, shutting the door behind them. "See you later."
Dairren watched Serena disappear down the hallway at a run. Her dress hem bounced gently with the movement, and he felt his mouth quirk into a smile, appreciating the view. "See you," he said softly, heading off in the opposite direction.
Serena raced through the halls, her boots pounding the stones rhythmically. She hoped Fergus was still in the castle, although she doubted he would have taken off without saying goodbye to her. They were too close for him to just leave, possibly forever, and not say anything to her. "I'm his only sister, after all," she muttered.
Oren had said he would be in their rooms after dinner, so she turned suddenly into the atrium, taking a detour that was actually a secret passage that cut between the armory and her room. Serena had used it many times to sneak past her parents rooms and the guards that usually patroled nearby to sneak into the kitchens undetected.
Pushing a tapestry to the side, she slipped into the narrow passageway. It was an easy squeeze for her, even though she had to duck slightly at some sections as part of the ceiling dipped low. She put out her hands just case any spiders had taken up in the corners of the passageway.
Serena knew of four other passageways that ran throughout different parts of the castle and the surrounding grounds. She assumed there were probably at least two or three others that she hadn't had occasion to find, and the one she was in now was definitely the most used one, at least by her. The other passageways were mostly used by the servants, as they needed to get from one place to another quickly, or be able to prepare a section of the castle for guests without being seen wandering the halls with dirty linens or chamberpots.
Slipping out from behind another tapestry, she turned and straightened it, frowning as she took in the scene again. The Battle of White River. Serena couldn't help but think the red river of blood running next to the figure of her father and Arl Howe was a bad omen. She turned away quickly.
"Is there really going to be a war, Father?" Oren's excited voice carried into the hallway. "Will you bring me back a big sword?"
Serena tiptoed up to Fergus' door, not wanting to interrupt. She leaned in, watching her brother and his family with a small smile. Despite his nosy nature, she really did have the cutest nephew in the world.
"I"ll get you the mightest sword I can find, I promise," Fergus said, grinning broadly at his son. "I'll be back before you know it." Beside him, his wife Oriana sighed heavily.
"I wish victory was indeed so certain." She clutched her heart dramatically and Serena couldn't help rolling her eyes. "My heart is disquiet."
Fergus wrapped her in a side hug, which seemed to calm her. "Don't frighten the boy, love. I've had reports from the south, and really I think we'll just be a glorified clean up crew." He looked up and noticed Serena leaning in the doorway and waved. "And here is my darling little sister to see me off."
"Shall I wait outside?" Serena asked, taking a tentative step back into the hall.
"Nonsense," her brother called. "I can't very well leave without saying farewell to my favorite sibling."
"Your only sibling," Serena corrected, sticking out her tongue.
"Exactly! My very favorite in the whole world." Fergus wrapped her in a hug, clapping her on the back gently. "Oh, how I wish you could come with me, sister dear. It'll be so tiring, killing all those darkspawn myself."
"As if Mother would ever let me set foot in the Kocari Wilds."
"Father said there's great beasts in the wilds, Sena!" Oren grabbed her hand, tugging gently. "Giant wolves that can eat a man whole! Didn't you say that, papa?"
"Shhh, Oren, you'll get me in trouble with your mother," Fergus said, glancing sidelong at Oriana. "And maybe your grandmother, too."
"I wish I could go with you, Brother," Serena said glumly.
"In Antiva, a woman fighting in battle would be... unthinkable." Oriana eyed Serena's belt where her two blades hung, the look of distaste reading clearly on her face.
"Is that so? I'd always heard Antivan women were quite dangerous," Fergus replied.
"With kindness and poison only, my dear husband," Oriana said with a laugh.
"And this from the woman who serves me my tea!" He turned to Serena again, grinning broadly. "If it's any consolation, sister, I'm sure I'll freeze in those southern rains and be completely jealous of you lot up here, warm and safe and dry."
"I am positively thrilled you will be so miserable, Fergus," Oriana replied dryly. "Color me grateful."
"Fergus, have you heard about the Grey Warden?" Serena asked her brother. "He's here in the castle."
"Was he riding a griffon?" Oren interrupted.
"No, he was riding a giant spider!" Serena scooped up Oren, swinging him around in a circle.
"I'd heard that," Fergus said. "Not the giant spider bit, but that he was in the castle. Did he say why he's come?"
Serena spun Oren around once again, before depositing him on the chair. "He's recruiting Wardens. He's going to test Ser Gilmore."
"Good for him! I hope he makes it," Fergus said with an approving nod. "Although if I were a Grey Warden, I'd have my eye on you, dear sister, not that Father would ever allow it. But Ser Samuell was telling me in the stables earlier how you bested him with some sort of flip over his head..?"
"Oh, that-" Serena blushed. "We were just sparring... I got a running start and, well, anyway. Do you really think the war will be over quickly, Fergus?"
Serena's brother shrugged his broad shoulders, unconcerned. "Word from the south is that the battles have all gone well. There's no evidence, other than the Grey Warden I suppose, that this is actually a true Blight- I imagine it's just a large raid, but I'll see for myself soon enough." He pulled Oriana to him, kissing her softly on the cheek. "Pray for me, love, and I'll be back within a month or two."
"Oh, that reminds me, I have a message from Father. He wants you to leave without him tonight," Serena said. "Arl Howe's men have been delayed, so they will be leaving when they arrive tomorrow."
"You'd think his men were all walking backwards, as long as they've taken to get here from Amaranthine..." Fergus mumbled. "Well, I better get underway, then." He ruffled Oren's hair, and again Serena was struck by how alike her brother and nephew were. "So many darkspawn to behead, so little time."
"I would hope," came a new voice, "that you planned to wait for us before taking your leave, my dear boy?" Serena turned and watched her parents stroll into the room, arm in arm.
"Father? You could have delivered that message yourself," Serena grumbled.
"And miss having both my children in one place before I leave?" Bryce Cousland laughed, clapping a hand on his son's back. "Not likely."
Eleanor Cousland gently touched her son's face, smiling. "Be well, my son. I will pray for your safe return every day you are gone."
"Maker sustain and preserve us all," Oriana intoned. "Watch over our sons, husbands, and fathers and bring them safely back to us." She touched her husband's face fondly as Serena whispered "Amen."
"And bring us some ale and wenches while you're at it! Err, for the men, of course," Fergus added, glancing at Oriana sheepishly.
"Fergus! You would say this in front of your mother?" Oriana gasped.
"What's a wench?" Oren tugged on his mother's skirt. "Is that what you pull on to get the bucket out of the well?"
"A wench is a woman who pours the ale in a tavern, Oren," Bryce explained. He paused, considering. "Or a woman who drinks a lot of ale..."
"Bryce!" Eleanor reached over, clasping her hands lightly over Oren's ears. "Maker's breath, it's like living with a pair of small boys!" She narrowed her eyes at her husband. "And before you say it, I don't mean my grandson." She sighed. "Thankfully, I have a daughter."
"I'll miss you, Mother dear," Fergus said, smiling brilliantly. He turned to Serena. "You'll take care of her, Sister, won't you?"
"Of course," Serena replied. "But you know Mother can handle herself just fine."
Fergus laughed. "Too true! Father, you ought to send her to command the men, not me! Mother could simply scold these darkspawn right back down into the Deep Roads..."
"Enough, enough," Bryce said, waving a hand. He addressed Serena. "Pup, you'll want to get an early night, you have much to do tomorrow. I want you to ride to the city wall with the Arl and myself, so I'll need you to be sure to lay out a pack of essentials tonight, just in case."
"Yes, Father, of course," Serena replied, giddy she would at least get to do something fun tomorrow. She had been prepared to simply watch at the castle gates, waving piteously, as her father and the rest of the men left for the south. She wondred briefly if her favorite pony would be available, or if the men had already commissioned the fat gray horse to be a mount for one of the Arl's men. Serena silently added it to her list of things to check in the morning after praying at the chapel.
"Are you going to teach me how to use a bow before Father returns, Sena?" Oren pleaded. "Then I can fight evil, too." He pulled an invisible arrow from his back, nocking it into his invisible bow. "Take that, dire bunny! And that, demon! All darkspawn shall fear my arrows of truthiness!"
Serena laughed. "Of course, Oren." She pulled out invisible daggers, not daring to pull her real ones in front of her sister-in-law, and jumped behind Oren, slashing at the air. "Let's go get them!"
"Fergus," Oriana began, her eyes on the ceiling. "There are times when your family causes me great pains."
"We're your family, too, Oriana," Serena teased her sister-in-law. Sobering, she turned to Fergus and regarded him seriously. "You will be missed greatly, dear Brother. Make the Maker watch over you always." Leaning forward, she hugged her brother tightly.
Turning, she waved to the rest of her family. "I need to pack and get some sleep. I'll see the rest of you in the morning. Goodnight." Her family repeated a chorus of goodnights, and Serena smiled to herself, heading back to her room.
Peanut sat up as his mistress entered the room. "Hey, lazy, have a good nap?" she asked, leaning down and scratching behind his ears. She turned towards her closet, still speaking to her hound. "Father said we're to ride with him and the Arl's men to the wall tomorrow." For what it was worth, the mabari appeared to be paying attention, following Serena with his eyes as she moved about the room, packing things into a knapsack.
Serena added a waterskin and a small leather pouch filled with hard dog biscuits. Peanut perked an ear up and Serena shook the pouch enticingly. As much as Nan complained about the hound, there were always fresh mabari crunch baked for him in the kitchen.
Serens stood, thinking hard about what to put in the pack. It was just a day trip, really, especially if they were riding, but who knew? The weather in Highever, especially on the coast, could change quickly. She added a bedroll and a change of clothes, just in case.
Grabbing a few more things, Serena packed them carefully, finally content and putting it near the door. "Well, now what?" she asked the dog. Peanut nosed her pocket in response, pushing at the book. Serena pulled out The Dragons of Tevinter from her belt pouch, sitting down at her writing desk. She had completely forgotten she'd taken it from the library. Peanut padded over and laid his head on her lap, begging for another ear scratch.
"You're a good boy," Serena cooed at the hound. She turned to the desk and opened her journal to a new page.
A few hours later, Serena looked up at her clock. It was nearly eleven, already? A moment later, a soft knock sounded at her door. Serena paused, straightening her braid nervously. She noticed Peanut slink into her small bathroom out of the corner of her eye.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened swiftly and suddenly Dairren stood in front of her, clad in loose fitting pajamas.
"You ran about the castle in those?" Serena asked, staring openly at his striped ensemble.
Dairren looked down at his pants, then shrugged sheepishly. "I figured if I ran into any guards, I would just look like I was heading to the kitchens for a snack."
"Did you run into anyone?"
"No, actually." Dairren frowned. "Not a single soul. I saw a group of guards playing cards in one of the rooms, but otherwise... nobody. But your brother did leave with most of the men, the castle is bound to be rather empty."
"I'm glad the guards left take our safety and protection so seriously," Serena quipped. She looked down at her dress. "I.. I must confess, I did not know what to wear."
"Why wear anything at all?" Dairren replied, pulling his shirt up over his head and tossing it aside. He moved forward, running a hand down Serena's neck. He kissed her softly and she couldn't help the shiver that ran down her body.
His hands moved again, and Serena felt her clothes quickly slip away until she was standing only in her small clothes. Dairren smiled, taking her in. "You are beautiful," he breathed.
"I am practically naked."
"Yes, that, too." Dairren grinned, picking Serena up and plunking her down on the bed. He turned to the door, and Serena heard the click of the lock. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She could feel her heartbeat in her neck, pounding steadily against her skin. Any louder, and surely Dairren would be able to hear it, too.
"I've only..." Serena paused, blushing. "I've only done this one before."
Dairren crawled up onto the bed next to her, taking her hand in his. "Well, I'm no expert, of course," he said quietly. He kissed her neck again, trailing kisses down her body. "We'll... just... go... slowly..."
Serena could only sigh in response. She hoped tonight would last.