Chapter 48: Reunited by the Stone (Sereda)
Having reached Denerim with the others, Sereda was surprised. She had left Orzammar long enough, but she had not expected to see a city of its size on the surface.
- I know where Marjolaine is, - Leliana said. - When we worked in Denerim, we had a safe house here.
- I'll go with you, - Aedan told her. - You need help. Sereda, Zevran, how can you manage here without us?
- Oh yes, I've been to Denerim many, many times, - Zevran replied. - Sereda, if you want, we'll go to The Pearl. I'm paying for the first two hours.
- No, thank you, I'm not interested, - the dwarf said. - I'm looking for a dwarf. Where do dwarves live in this city?
- Forgive me for generalizing, but on the surface, dwarves are most often engaged in trade or blacksmithing, - Aedan replied. - Look into the market district, there may be a lot of dwarves.
The group split up and Sereda went with Zevran to the market district.
- Who are you looking for so intensely? - the elf asked.
- The one I love, - Sereda answered, peering into the crowds of onlookers. - He was the only one who was truly loyal to me.
- Dwarven crafts! Fine dwarven crafts, direct from Orzammar. You won't find better. All items bear the personal stamp of the best blacksmith in Denerim.
Sereda recognized that ringing voice.
- Wait, where are you? - Zevran shouted.
The dwarf pushed aside the people standing near the shop and went straight to the seller. It really was him. The one who protected her since she was a teenager. One who swore allegiance to her and to House Aeducan. The one she missed after her exile.
- Lady Aeducan? Sereda? Gorim asked, not believing his eyes.
Sereda immediately embraced him.
- I... I was already afraid that I would not see you. We need to talk in private.
Zevran approached the couple.
- Oh, it's so cute! - he exclaimed. - You are so perfect for each other. Both are so… short and strong.
- That lanky elf with a boneless tongue is Zevran, - Sereda introduced her companion. - I can't say that he can be trusted, but he's not a bad guy. Zevran, this is Gorim.
- Let's go to my house, we'll talk there, - Gorim said and turned to another dwarf at the counter. - Urik, you are in charge.
Sereda and Gorim, hand in hand, walked out of the shopping district and went into the house, and Zevran followed them. The dwarf experienced an unusual feeling. Here, on the surface, they could hide nothing. No one cared about the two surface dwarves going about their business together.
In the house, when all three sat down at the table, Gorim began to speak:
- So how did you survive? Duncan told me about his plan, but I wasn't sure it would work.
- Faren and I reached the Wardens, and Duncan saved us by accepting us into his order.
- And what happened next?
- You must have heard about the battle of Ostagar. I was there too. Faren and I and a few other Wardens barely survived. But Duncan is dead, may the Stone accept him. How are you here?
- I got to Denerim without any problems, except I almost got crippled once. There is a dwarven diaspora here, and they helped me rent a house and get a job as a merchant at a forge. But I... I'm ready to give it all up if you want me to join you.
- Gorim, I came to Denerim only for you. And now that we're back together, I want you back with me and we'll fight the Blight together.
- Great! Then I'm going.
Gorim went to another room.
- Zevran, I need to clarify something, - Sereda said. - You've just heard more than you should have. Back home in Orzammar, I was once considered a princess, second in line to the throne. But everything went wrong. I didn't tell anyone about my origin, for everyone except Elissa and Faren, I'm just a dwarf from the warrior caste. And you should think so too. And if you reveal this secret, then I'll tell Aedan that you tried to desert. Am I making myself clear?
- How evil you are. I would say that you haven't relaxed in a very long time. Apparently, that's why you hurried to your Gorim?
The dwarf got up from the table and hit the elf in the stomach.
- Don't make jokes. I am serious. So, do you understand me?
- Certainly. Last time I got into other people's business, I got punched in the face and nearly died. I will be silent.
Gorim emerged from another room wearing black armor with blue details. In his hands were a sheet of paper and a large shield. Sereda recognized it - it was the same Aeducan shield that she had once found in the thaig.
- Before I was exiled from Orzammar, your father summoned me. He was very weak, he couldn't even get out of bed. The king asked me to give you a shield and a letter from him. Somehow he believed that you would save yourself. I improved the shield as best I could, and it can be used. The ancient blacksmiths still knew their business.
Sereda took the shield and waved it. It became bigger and heavier than before. Such a shield would be just right for her. Then she took the letter and read it.
"Perhaps you will burn this letter without reading it. If that happens, I won't blame you. But I would not return to the Stone without telling you about it: I saw that it was Bhelen. And when I realized that, I also realized that I was a fool. After all, only a fool is capable of tearing his heart out of his chest and burning it for the sake of decency. I never believed in your guilt. I allowed you to be exiled because I was afraid that an investigation into the assassination of Trian would lower our house in the eyes of the deshyrs and deprive our family of the throne.
But I saved nothing with this sacrifice: I sent my only daughter into eternal exile. Know that whatever you do now, you carry all the honor and pride of House Aeducan."
Sereda put the letter on the table.
- So my father didn't believe that I was guilty. Damn him! - she said, picking up the letter and throwing it into the fireplace.
- Well, it wasn't just my dad who was bad, apparently, - Zevran commented.
- But... why are you talking about your father like that? - Gorim asked. - He was chosen by the Stone.
- You're on the surface, Gorim. Forget about the Stone, - Sereda answered displeasedly. - All my life I tried to please him, but at the crucial moment he chose to save his own skin! I swear to you, I will do something to change Orzammar. Not for father, not for Trian, and not for House Aeducan, but for you and me. So any two dwarves from different castes loving each other could have a future. When we're ready, we'll do it. And now it's time for us to leave. Aedan and Leliana will also finish their business soon.
The two dwarves and the elf left the house and headed towards the Gnawed Noble Tavern, where they were supposed to meet the others.