It seemed like a normal enough village to look at from the outside. Guards were stationed at the gate and they patrolled the walls, I wondered if Leliana's strange reports were in fact true. I relaxed a bit, which is always a mistake because any time you become remotely relaxed, something bad happens.
"State your business, knife ear." Charming. It was one of the guards at the gate, a tall broad and bearded man, so utterly Ferelden that he may as well have a Mabari sitting beside him.
"Just passing through." I said, nonchalantly, might I add. Aside from my vallaslin and pointed ears, I was the picture of inconsequence. Still, the bastard held fast to my reigns.
"Not many folk pass through here these days, particularly your kind. This is mage territory now, soon to be Magister Alexius'" my brow furrowed at that. Magister? Were we starting our own bloody magisterium now?
"Who is magister Alexius?" I asked, genuinely curious. This was bad, maybe this was what Leliana was talking about.
"None of you bloody concern, rabbit, now on your way." He said with his gruff manly voice. Still I stood fast, well my horse did anyhow, I needed into the village and no pig headed dog lord was going to stop me.
"Lethallin, you will relinquish my horse." I said darkly, letting my magic crawl to my finger tips. He shook his head and began to lead my horse away from the gates.
"Oh no, not on my watch you don't!" He said, loudly. Too loudly that it almost sounded false.
"Look I don't know what you think you're doing-" I began as my temper flared.
"Makers sake girl, be quiet, I'm trying to help." He hissed. "That's right, knife ear! No visitors for Magister Alexius!" He called out again. I caught on then, and allowed myself to be lead around the corner. Eventually, when we were out of view of the walls but still able to see them he let out a long sigh.
"What's going on here?" I said, dismounting my horse.
He looked at me then and smirked."I recognised you, well, really I'm just going by what I was told. The elf at the cross roads. The one with the Inquisition, the one who helped the refugees. To be honest I think my brother took a shine to you, he's the one who told me, you see. Hair as black as midnight and eyes like golden pools. A direct quote miss, you'll forgive his romanticism, he fancies himself a poet."
Gods, he could fairly talk. I could barely keep up with him!
"Anyway, I knew you'd be here to help, thing is they're not allowing anyone else in until the Magister organises a deal with grand enchanter Fiona. Bad business, I don't like those Tevinters in my home town. It's wrong as wrong could be."
"Wait," I had to stop him, "A Tevinter Magister is making a deal with the leader of the rebel mages?" I said, not even trying to hide my gobsmacked expression. This was very bad. If they were the cause of all the sudden and strange rifts around here too, then it was indeed bad business.
"I need to get in there and talk to someone, I've been sent here to neutralise the situation... Somewhat." I said, but the man shook his head and shrugged.
"I can't miss, maker knows what they'd do if they found out I let you in. Sacrifice me to their gods or something, no thank you."
I sighed and rubbed my eyes, a headache actually forming from conversing with this man."So I can't get in is that it?"
"Afraid so, but fear not, miss. I have a cunning plan."
"Really." I said unenthusiastically.
He winked, "It's good."
"Pray tell me your plan then." I sighed. He suddenly became very excited then, leaning in like a school boy telling a secret.
"Right here's what it is; I know for a fact that by sundown there's a shipment of salmon coming into the village by the river. See the barge man stops up at the lake to check his stock before coming here. My thinking is, you tell the barge man your predicament and he'll smuggle you in no problem. Trust me, I know Gord, he's a good man."
Truth be told, the plan wasn't bad. I could easily smuggle my way into the village without causing an uproar. Only problem was it was almost sundown so I had to ride like the bloody wind up to the lake before the barge man took off again. The sun was barely peaking over the mountains in the North by the time my horse climbed the hill. Unfortunately, there went the barge man, pushing his boat along the river.
"Shit." I hissed and urged my horse to follow along the bank. I caught up to him as best I could, jumping over rocks and fallen trees.
"Hey!" I called out over the rush of water and pounding of hooves. The man gave no sign of hearing me, simply stood at the end of his boat, steering the rear, smiling serenely at the sunset.
"Bargeman!" I called out again, but still no reaction. I cursed every name I could think of and urged my horse to go faster. If he couldn't here me then he would see me. I took over the boat then, my horse riding hard and began frantically waving my arms. He took notice then alright, gods the look on his face was a picture.
"Can I come aboard!?" I yelled over the noise and wind. Still the frail old man looked bewildered, his floppy hat falling over his eyes as he shrugged. When he fixed it I called out again. "Can I come aboard!" I pointed to the boat for extra emphasis.
"What?! I can't hear you! I'm deaf!" I heard him shout, his voice shrill and old.
Deaf. Yes, I heard him correctly. Deaf. How the hell was I meant to explain my predicament to him when I didn't know the first thing about sign language?! Bloody dog lord, bloody barge man! Bloody fucking Inquisition for making me do this! I lost my temper then and with almost a roar, I stopped my horse, leapt into the water and swam until I dragged myself unto the boat my the loose piece of rope dangling from the bow.
"What in Andraste's name are you doing, ya crazy elf!? Get off! Go on! Get off!" The old man cried out, flapping his arms about like a wild bird, yet still holding firm to the rudder.
"Can I hide on your boat!" I shouted in hope that he could lip read.
"Hide? What in the name of- What are you hiding on?" He shouted, eyes wide and indignant.
"I need to be smuggled into Red Cliff!"
"Smuggle? Oh no girl, I'm no smuggler!"
"Please! It's very important that I get to Redcliff!" He looked as if he might argue further, but he sighed and shrugged, and though he looked immensely agitated at the whole situation he nodded.
"Fine, hold the rudder." He said, and I did without question, though I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know the first thing about boats. What was it with Fereldens? Were they all insane? I was torn from my thoughts (and slight nervousness at the upcoming bend in the river) by the barge man lifting one of his barrels of salmon and tipping it on its side. The fish went everywhere and I was hit with the almighty stench.
"Get in there and keep your head down." He groused.
"In the fish barrel?" I said, my mouth curling in disgust.
"You can complain all you want, girl, I'm deaf, can't hear a bloody thing your sayin." Nevertheless and regardless of his foul attitude and equally foul smelling boat, I got into the rotten barrel. However just as I was settled something wet, slimy and foul smelling fell onto my lap. It was a horrid looking, cloudy eyed fish. I yelped and made to escape the barrel when only more were piled onto my head. I heard the wretched little man laughing at my expense.
"Consider this payment for boarding my ship without permission." He cackled and I could only accept my fate. I couldn't even move and the smell was enough to knock out a dragon but what could I do? Well I could leap and push that bastard over board but he was, in kind, doing me a favour and as I said, I don't know the first thing about boats. So there I sat, feeling down right nauseated due to the smell and swaying boat. But the creaking of the wood and the gentle sighing of the water as we glided through it was somewhat comforting. Still, I couldn't help but feel the many glares of dead eyes as I sat there in my barrel, and that unnerved me more than I know it should.