Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing and commenting! It's always fun for me to see people coming along in the story and discovering bits that they enjoy. One of my favorite things to write is banter, especially Alistair, so to see that some of you all are enjoying it too is fantastic.
As a side note, I found out there are names for the months/seasons of the year within the DA universe (courtesy of the DA Player's Guide.) So I'll be using those going forward. Yay.
Chapter 45 - Seeking the Scholar
Lanaya, Zathrian's First, and now the Keeper for the Dalish clan Serena and the others were staying with, ended up being a wonderful replacement for the centuries-old Zathrian. Where his misfortunes had turned him bitter, hateful, and mistrusting, Lanaya saw the world with fresh eyes. After they had returned, Lanaya had immediately sworn the clan's allegiance to the Grey Wardens in helping take down the archdemon. She even sent out a messenger to look for other clans to spread word of the Blight. Serena had been overcome with relief at her words, and had a very good feeling about the clan going forward.
They stayed with the Dalish for another night and day, Alistair recouping quickly along with the elves who had been bitten. When not with Elora, the clan's herder, practicing and learning more about her new abilities, Serena spent time in the hut that had been set-aside for Alistair to heal.
"So, tell me again what Elora had you do?" Alistair asked. Peanut sat beside him as he stroked the dog's fur fondly. "That spirit didn't possess you or anything, right?"
"No, no, nothing like that." Serena paused, pushing out with her mind and felt the presence of a small squirrel. Calling to it, she watched as the little puff of fur hopped into the bungalow and crawled into her open palm. "It's just mediation, more than anything really... I can sense so much more now..." She shrugged, trying to find the words to explain the sensations she felt in the forest now.
"I can just... it's like the wolf, back in the Wilds, you remember? How he just trusted me? I can do that with so many more animals now. It's easiest with smaller ones, like this little guy. The halla seemed to take to me quickly, too. Elora says if I keep doing the meditation techniques, I could learn to summon them to me, wherever I am." The squirrel ran up Serena's arm and perched on her head, staring at her mabari curiously. Peanut stared back plaintively, his large brown eyes openly longing to sniff the little ball of fur.
"Well, I suppose one good thing came out of helping the Dalish, at least," Alistair said. He glanced down at his still-bandaged shoulder. "And since I'm not going to become a werewolf, that's... also good. Granted, I wouldn't have been bitten in the first place if Zathrian hadn't been such a total-"
"Pfft. I know. Lanaya is a jewel compared to that man." Serena sighed, plucking the squirrel off her head and placing him back on the ground. She stood up, scooting Peanut out of the way, and sat down beside Alistair on the cot, snuggling close to him. "You know, I wish this whole 'stopping the Blight' thing came with a handbook or something. I mean, werewolves? Demons? How are we supposed to know how to deal with this stuff?"
"Don't forget the sick little dragon," Alistair added. "Although, we did get new armor out of that..." He ran his hands over Serena's black leathers, fitted especially for her by the clan's armorer, Varathorn. Alistair's own splintmail had been destroyed by the werewolf attack, so the elven craftsman had altered a set they had found in the dragon's nest to fit him, since he was a bit broader in the shoulder than most elven men. "Yours is so much prettier than mine."
"Oh, you don't know that. You've barely been able to wear it yet because of that shoulder. Wynne said later today we can remove the bandages, and then we'll be back on the road by tonight, and you'll be back in fighting shape before you know it." Serena ran her hands through his sandy hair, kissing his cheek softly. "I know it killed you to be cooped up here all day and most of yesterday."
"It's better when you visit me," Alistair whispered, pulling her close. His kissed along her neckline and Serena felt a shiver run through her. "I can't wait until I get these things off."
"Are they really that bad?" she asked, lightly fingering the white wrappings. Her head was tipping back to allow him better access to her skin, a sigh escaping contentedly, as his hands moved to support her neck.
"Mmm… I wasn't talking about the bandages..." He flicked at the straps of her armor, pushing the breastplate down off her and dropping it on the floor. His mouth found hers and they fell back onto the cot, kissing passionately. "You can't believe how good this feels, Serena."
Serena shifted on top of him, her lips moving down his neck. "How good this feels?"
"No, just... being human... with you…" Alistair whispered, holding her close. Serena pulled back, staring deep into his hazel eyes. He looked so vulnerable in that moment, his soul shining out through his eyes at her. She could feel her chest swell with her love for him just then.
"...I'd still love you, even if you were all... what did you call it? Mad and hairy?" Serena kissed his chest lightly. "I'd miss your handsome face terribly, though. You'd look awful covered in fur."
"Ha, I'm not far from it now," Alistair replied, rubbing his stubbly chin thoughtfully. "So, I wonder... a beautiful lady's birthday is coming up very soon, or so a certain redheaded bard let slip to me last night, and I'm curious if you know what she'd like?"
"I wouldn't think you'd care if it were Morrigan's birthday," Serena said slyly.
"I'm pretty sure I said a beautiful lady, not a vile fiend, and regardless, if it were her birthday, I'd already know what to get her." Alistair grinned triumphantly. "Did I mention to you how I overheard a conversation of theirs on the road? They were discussing... err, having relations, and Sten said she would... need a helmet for it. And armor."
Serena felt her jaw drop in surprise. "No…!"
"Yes! He said qunari teeth could bite through leather, even metal, so she should take precautions." Alistair laughed merrily. "Is it bad I kind of hope she has the raw nerve to go through with it? Can you imagine her having bite marks every which way? I bet she'd have to actually wear a shirt once in a while to cover them all up..."
"You two will never get on, will you?" Serena said with a sigh.
"Not when she refers to me as the fool templar... or even better. Yesterday she called me a hapless virgin!" Alistair rolled his eyes, stroking Serena's hair gently. "So, no. We won't ever be sitting down to a cup of tea and having a few scones together."
"Hapless virgin? Oh, see, now that's just insulting to both of us..." Serena snuggled down on top of him, careful not to push on his healing shoulder. "To answer your earlier question, I'm not sure what she wants for her birthday." Serena pressed a kiss to his skin. "I think she has everything she wants already."
Despite the chill in the air as they headed to Denerim, Serena found herself marveling at the foliage as it turned from the Summerday greens to autumn reds and oranges as she rode along in the back of the Feddic's wagon.
The beginning of Funalis had always been Serena's favorite time of year, not only because of her birthday occurring midway in Kingsway, but the many harvest festivals that occurred around Ferelden began around this time as well, continuing all the way into the tenth month, Harvestmere. She wondered if they would have anything like the fair that settled in Highever for the three weeks of harvesting.
"Do you realize you've been smiling for hours now?"
"Hmm?" Serena turned to see Morrigan's golden eyes on her, her own small smile twisting her lips. "Oh, ah. Sorry? Is that... a problem?"
"Not at all, I merely mention it because you seem so... rapturous. Since the last time you and that fool shot glances at each other, in fact." Morrigan's eyes flicked forward and Serena saw her peer at Alistair as he rode along behind the wagon, talking to Zevran and gesturing with his hands. "He must be pleasant enough in bed, for surely I cannot imagine anyone enduring his conversation."
"You don't really want to hear about my bedroom antics with Alistair, do you, Morrigan? I could tell you about this one time…"
"No, no, that's quite alright. I wish to keep my meal down, thank you," the witch replied, her mouth now pursed in distaste.
"Suit yourself. As for his conversation, Zevran appears to be enduring it just fine," Serena said, arching an eyebrow at the witch.
"Oh, if there could be anything worse in this world than Alistair, it would be that elf." Morrigan made a noise in the back of her throat that sounded a bit like a snort. "So, I am curious, did you have a plan for when we reached the capital? By my estimate, we should arrive in a few hours at most."
"We need to find Brother Genitivi first," Serena said, reaching for her pack. She pulled out her journal and flipped it open to a page with a few scraps of paper tucked in the fold. "We found these on that dead templar back in Lothering, you remember? At the time I didn't put two-and-two together, but they talk about the Urn, and where we can find Genitivi in the capital. He has a house there."
"'Tis as sound a plan as we could have, I suppose," the witch replied, gazing at Serena's journal. "You may need a new one of those soon, although when you find the time to fill it is beyond me."
"Oh, you know, a few days at Redcliffe, a day at the Dalish camp... sometimes at night I have some time when we're not cleaning the weapons or mending clothing..." Serena shrugged, flipping the pages to one of the maps she'd copied back in the arl's study. "Leliana and I were thinking of going to the Market District too, maybe stay the night in Denerim tonight. We'll need heavier clothes, cloaks and such, for when it gets colder."
"You seem to have really grown into this position, Serena," Morrigan said quietly. "'Tis refreshing, really."
Serena felt herself taken aback by the sudden compliment and grinned. "Thanks... I figured, you know, I couldn't just bumble around forever... Too many things are riding us now. I've been looking over the map a lot, and I think I have a plan figured out, more or less. If this brother can help us find the Ashes, I'd like to head south again... to deal with your mother, and Ostagar." Serena glanced up out of the wagon at her fellow Grey Warden. "We have some unfinished business there."
Denerim was much larger than Serena remembered. The city's streets looked dirtier, however, as if they were now less loved, and less kept up than they had been in the past. Indeed, the capital could have once been called glorious even, and now it was but a sad reflection of its former majesty. She wondered if Cailan had cared about such things as keeping the streets swept, and with him gone... Serena shook her head. Remembering the former king's exuberance was saddening.
Like Lothering, the capital had taken in its fair share of refugees from the south as well, although Denerim was much better equipped to handle the influx of poor people. As Serena and her companions passed, the refugees were huddled in the streets, many wearing black bands on their arms that matched the flags and banners still hanging from the porches above, in mourning for beloved King Cailan and the army lost at Ostagar.
"So, where do we go to find this Genitivi fellow?" Alistair asked, his eyes lingering on the black banners. Serena gripped his hand, squeezing it gently. She knew he was thinking, like she was, of their late king... his half-brother.
Leliana put a hand up to shield her eyes from the sun. "He's a Chantry scholar, isn't he? Surely one of the sisters would know where we could find him."
"If you are going to the Chantry, Sten and I will find lodgings for the evening," Morrigan replied, gazing around the market. Serena pulled some coins from their group purse, pocketing them, and handed the bag to the dark haired witch.
"Just grab a few rooms, we can double up or something. Send Peanut to find me if we're not back in, say, two hours or so?" Serena leaned down and scratched her mabari's head. "You just come get me, okay, boy?" The hound barked happily, following the huge qunari and Morrigan across the market, his little tail wiggling.
Luckily for Serena, two of the Sisters standing outside the Chantry knew Brother Genitivi, and readily pointed it out on Alistair's map where his house was.
"Right across from the Gnawed Noble Tavern, actually," the older of the two women said, tapping a spot on the piece of printed parchment. "Mind you, he might be out. I haven't seen him at mass in... oh, a good while. That man, old as he is... He's still always out on adventures. It's madness, really."
"Oh, don't say that," the younger sister replied. "Brother Genitivi has written so many books for the Chantry based off those mad adventures..."
"Well, I wasn't saying that the knowledge was mad!" The gray haired woman exclaimed. "Just that he's so old-"
"Uh... Thank you so much, both of you," Serena interrupted quickly, backing away from the two bickering Sisters. Serena had a feeling they could bicker about anything for hours if given half the chance. She led her fellows across the market, happy to finally not have to murder anyone, travel halfway across the country, or solve any ancient mysteries to get some information out of someone. Maybe this would be easier than she thought.
Serena knocked on the door to the brother's house, and a young man answered, looking mildly confused.
"Yes? What are you doing here?"
Serena arched an eyebrow at him. "I'm looking for Brother Genitivi. He... this is his house. Who are you?"
"I'm... uh, Weylon." The young man looked nervously at Serena and the others before waving them in quickly. "I am the assistant of the scholar Brother Genitivi."
"I wasn't aware he had an assistant," Serena said, frowning slightly. The scholar Brother Genitivi? Did the man insist on being called a scholar when addressed? She peered around the house, taking in the scattered books across the long table in the middle of the room. "Anyway, do you know where he is? We're looking for him."
"That makes two of us," Weylon replied, shrugging. "I haven't seen Brother Genitivi in weeks. He's sent no word; it's so unlike him..." The assistant sat down at the long table, his eyes nervously flicking from Serena to each of her companions. "I am... afraid something has happened. Genitivi's research into the Urn may have led him into danger."
"Why would searching for the Urn lead him into danger?" Wynne asked. "Is it not really a... a fable then? The Urn exists?"
"I... I d-didn't say that!" Weylon exclaimed. "I just meant... perhaps the Urn has been lost for a reason. I... I pray for Genitivi's safety, but my hope dwindles with each passing day. I tried to send help, but some knights came from Redcliffe looking for him not long ago. I sent them after Genitivi and they too have d-disappeared."
Alistair exchanged quick glances with Serena. "How do you know they disappeared?"
"Well, they... haven't returned, and they sent no word, either," replied the assistant, biting his lip.
"Why would they send you word?" Serena asked, narrowing her eyes at the man. Something was off here. She caught Zevran's eye and surreptitiously signaled for him to move towards the back of the house. She could see the elf nod, his eyes taking in the rest of the objects in the room, looking for something amiss.
"Look, I... I don't know, all right? After what happened to Genitivi, can you blame me for thinking the same thing could happen to the knights?" The assistant shook his head. "Perhaps I am just a pessimist. I hope I am wrong."
"I hope you are wrong, too," Serena replied. She noticed the man wanted to turn so she stepped forward, catching his attention again. "So, where did you send the knights? Where did Genitivi last contact you from?"
"No, no, don't ask me where they went. You'll go after them, and what if ill-luck should befall you, too?" Weylon sighed heavily, twirling his hand in the air as if they were crazy for asking. "This search is a curse, on all of us. Some things are… simply not meant to be found. I know that now."
"Honestly, ill-luck will probably befall me whether you tell me anything or not... it seems to be a running theme in my life, so let's just split the difference here." Serena put a hand on her dagger belt, and smirked as the assistant's eyes followed her hand to the blade. "You tell me what I want to know, and we'll all leave you to your moping pessimism, sound good?"
"All he said before he left was that he would be... staying at an inn near Lake Calenhad, investigating something in that area," Weylon replied, his dark eyes still locked on Serena's dagger.
"Investigating what?" Alistair asked. "We were just near there a few weeks ago."
"I don't know! All I discovered from going through his research was that he was staying at the inn!"
"But you just said he spoke to you and told you that." Serena put a hand down on the table, her eyes staring into the assistants. "Did he tell you that, or did you read it? I want you to be honest."
"Y-yes, of course he told me, but I also went through his things... to see if I could find other... clues... to his whereabouts." The man blushed, ducking his head, as if he knew he was messing up some prearranged report.
"Weylon... are you lying to me?" Serena sang softly into the man's ear. She glanced over at Zevran, and noticed he was jerking his head towards the back room and shaking his head quickly. "What's in your back room?"
"I... what? Wait!" The assistant bolted to his feet, nearly knocking into Serena, and pointed at Zevran. "You! Stay out of there!" He turned back to Serena, pulling a knife from his belt. "I gave you a chance to turn aside and forget you ever heard of the Urn! But you persisted! I... I didn't want to do this!" Weylon grimaced, cutting his own wrist in a long line. "Andraste, forgive me! I do this in Your Name!"
"What? Whoa!" Serena grappled with the man as he moved surprisingly fast, cutting her across the pauldron of her armor. With a swift kick, she knocked his knife aside as he started chanting strange words she didn't understand.
"He is a blood mage!" Wynne shouted, swinging her own staff around as a bolt of lightning erupted from the end and shot into the man. He convulsed, falling back against the wall as Alistair pulled his sword and cut him through the chest. With a gurgle of blood, he slumped to the ground dead.
"Sweet Maker, what is wrong with this man?" Serena kneeled down to the man, searching his pockets. "What would a blood mage be doing in a Chantry scholar's house?"
"Andraste, forgive me, I do this in your name." Leliana came to stand beside Serena, her brows knitted in concentration. "That's what he shouted before he went... all crazy and stabby." To illustrate her point, she pulled a face and made a few stabbing motions in the air.
Serena looked down at the scraps of paper she'd recovered from the man. "Well, whoever he is, he's not Weylon. So, who knows if what he told us about Genitivi is even right?"
"I think I found the real Weylon," Zevran called. He peeked in the back room and scowled. "Also one of the missing knights."
"There's a bunch of maps here, and... Oh, look... A book on dragon cults." Alistair picked up the book and flipped through it, sighing. "Yes, of course. A dragon cult. Because it's never a puppy cult."
"Would you really want them sacrificing puppies, Alistair?" Leliana asked.
"No, I'd prefer if nobody sacrificed anything, but how often do people listen to me?"
"Well, if Genitivi isn't here, then he won't be needing his maps..." Serena started rolling up the maps and papers from the table. "We can go through this back at the inn, see if there's any hint as to where he went looking for the Urn."
Zevran came out of the back room, his face screwed up in disgust. "Found a journal, with Genitivi's research... near the bodies. They must have been dead for at least 2 weeks. Although, why that man simply left them there where anyone could find them..." The elf coughed, gagging. "Are we ready to go? I would like to go soak in a hot bath for the rest of my life, please."
"Agreed," Serena replied, casting a look at the fake Weylon. His body was already turning a disgusting gray color. "Should we do something about...?"
"Ah, I think that would just bring more attention to our presence in Denerim than we need, Serena," Alistair said gently. He exchanged looks with Leliana. "There were posters up, all over the city... that bounty is still on our heads."
"The Crown is hunting Grey Wardens," Wynne added, her eyebrows knit. "At least they do not have your likenesses. Yet."
"Well, that's comforting," Serena said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I suppose you're right, though..." Serena sighed. "So much for shoe shopping."
"No, no, that is where I draw the line," Leliana replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "We did not come all this way to not get new shoes!"
Despite the bounty on their heads, they finished their shopping in the Market District without any major incidents. Leliana got her shoe fix satisfied, with Serena purchasing some new insoles for her boots, for the winter. Alistair and Zevran had politely excused themselves early on in Madam Lorendin's to stare longingly at the wares of a nearby weapons merchant.
Wynne had then taken them inside an enormous magic store called the Wonders of Thedas, which had a Tranquil proprietor, to Serena's surprise. She hadn't been aware the Tranquil possessed the capabilities to manage a store on their own, but perhaps their lack of emotions actually made them better businessmen.
Wynne had restocked on some potion ingredients for herself and Morrigan while Serena picked up an interesting looking book on the Qunari philosophy called Following the Qun. Alistair had his own package, she noticed, and when prodded, showed her it was a miniature golem doll.
"The arl bought me one, when I was young, really young, and… I just thought..." Alistair blushed, putting the doll away in his pack. "I didn't know if they would have one, but they did, and… I'm... babbling."
"You're cute when you babble," Serena said, intertwining her fingers with his briefly. "So, I was wondering... are you busy tonight? I thought maybe we could... go out or something. I know there's the bounty, but if we aren't in armor or anything then..." Serena shrugged. "Besides, it's been ages since I've been in Denerim and-"
"Ah, um..." Alistair glanced around nervously. "I thought maybe we'd just stay in tonight? Look over Genitivi's research and all that. Plus, we've been on the road and everything... It might be good to... just... relax."
"Oh, yeah... of course. I should of..." Serena ducked her head, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She hadn't thought she'd be spending her birthday going over old maps. She sighed. Maybe Alistair had forgotten? Ah, well. At least she'd gone shopping... "Yes, we should definitely look into his papers and… whatever."
As Serena wandered away from him looking nothing short of dejected, Alistair couldn't help but feel his chest tighten. He saw Leliana shoot him an exasperated look and walk over to him as he shrugged helplessly, not knowing what to do.
"You are such a... male... sometimes," the red head hissed, shoving one of bags from the shoe store into his flustered hands. "Why are you telling her off? It's her birthday."
"I know it's her bloody birthday! I didn't want her to-" Alistair dropped her voice. "She wanted to go out. Tonight. I was afraid I'd... you know, botch it all up."
"If you didn't already," Leliana replied, rolling her eyes at him. "Did you see her face? Anyway, those should be right." Leliana nodded to the bag Alistair now held. "Zevran and I will go on ahead of you."
"Right, right. I..." He caught Leliana's eyes, smiling crookedly. "Thank you, both of you, for helping me with this."
The bard grinned, waving him away. "No thank you necessary. I am a sucker for this type of thing." She glanced around the magic store, searching for Serena's brunette head, most likely. "Oh, good, Zevran is distracting her. Well, let's get going."
Beside her, Alistair sighed, praying silently he hadn't already ruined the evening before it even began.