Chapter 62: Planning the Siege (Sereda)
For Sereda Aeducan, the journey from Denerim to Highever was very difficult. Aedan said that it was not scary at all, but this did not help Sereda. All night there was a storm in the sea, a couple of times it seemed to the dwarf that the Siren's Call would turn over and they would all drown. Sometimes she went out on deck and felt sick. Gorim tried to help her, but he couldn't do anything.
By the morning, Sereda was walking along the deck, asking the sailors how far it was still to sail. No one knew the answer, everyone suggested asking the captain. But Isabela had locked herself in her cabin with Zevran and hadn't come out since the very beginning of the journey. The White Falcons were drinking and playing cards throughout the journey, and the dwarf tried to avoid them.
The dwarf saw Leliana sitting at the stern and sat down beside her.
- Good morning, Sereda! How do you feel? - the girl asked.
- Not good. Why didn't you warn me about this?
- Sorry, it is too individual, we couldn't know that you are seasick. Did you see how many stars were in the sky at night?
- Leliana, I was vomitting. I didn't bother looking at the stars.
- Sorry. I thought that since you used to live in an underground city, you would be interested in talking about the stars.
Sereda decided to play along with Leliana so she could have something to do.
- Yeah, let's talk about them. What are stars? Where did they come from?
- Oh, there is a legend about it. I will tell it to you. Long ago, there lived a beautiful girl named Alindra. She had many admirers, but she rejected everyone because she did not love them. One day Alindra was sitting by the window in her father's castle, singing and dreaming. And her beautiful voice reached the ears of a young soldier. Fascinated by her singing, the soldier went to the window. When their eyes met, he fell in love with her, and she with him. When Alindra told her father about her lover, he was furious: Alindra was an noble, and her beloved was just a simple soldier. To separate them, he imprisoned Alindra in the highest tower of the castle, and sent her soldier to war. Alas, less than a month later, Alindra found out that the soldier had died. Alindra mourned alone in her tower and prayed to the gods to take her away from this cruel world. So sincere was her prayer that even the gods were touched. They stretched out their hands and carried her high into the heavens, where she became a star. The gods took the soul of the soldier to heaven, but placed it on the far side of the sky. The line of stars between them is a river of tears that Alindra sheds, mourning her lost love. It is said that when Alindra has cried enough, she will be able to cross the river and be reunited with her soldier.
Hearing this story, Sereda started thinking. In Orzammar, she was Alindra and Gorim was the soldier. But their story has a chance for a happy ending. They are alive, they are together, and there are no more barriers between them. No father, no older and younger brothers, no caste system. They are free.
- Interesting story. Tell me, Leliana. How... how do you make weddings?
- Weddings? It depends on wealth. Some weddings are lavish, some are modest. But at the wedding there must always be a Chantry sister.
- You were a Chantry sister, right?
- Oh, I understand what you're getting at. Has Gorim proposed to you?
- Not yet. But I want to marry him. That's why I'm asking.
- Don't worry. We can have a wedding ceremony at any moment. Now, after the siege, or even after the Blight.
Soon the ship reached its destination and stopped at the shore. Sereda and Leliana went to the middle of the deck, where Aedan, Zevran, Isabela and the White Falcons were lined up.
- You should have joined us, - Zevran told Aedan. - You'd have seen what Isabella can do with daggers.
The pirate giggled.
- Daggers? Is that some kind of Antivan euphemism? - Aedan asked.
- No, my serious friend, - Isabela replied. - We were throwing daggers in my cabin… among other things that we were doing.
- I'm not saying goodbye to you, Isabela, - Zevran said. - Something tells me we'll see each other again. Don't be bored in Kirkwall.
- You'll never be bored in Kirkwall, Zev. Good luck to you and your friends.
Sereda landed on the shore with the others. Everyone followed Aedan, crossed the field and ended up in the forest, where Roger found them. The mabari happily wagged his tail, leading the squad to his owner. At the edge of the forest they met Elissa, Daveth, Roderick, an unfamiliar elderly woman and fifteen warriors, whose shields had a crest with rudder. Sereda felt uneasy at another reminder of the sea.
Aedan immediately hugged his sister and the grey-haired woman. Roger barked happily.
- Thank the Maker that you have arrived, pup, - said the woman. - And you're not alone. Can you introduce us to your new friends?
- Of course, mom. Next to me is Sereda Rumold, she is also a Grey Warden. This is Gorim Saelac, Sereda vouched for him. Also with us are Leliana, a former sister of the Chantry of Lothering, and Zevran Arainai of the Antivan Crows. And last but not least, Cristof and his elite squad, the White Falcons.
- Greetings to you all. I am Eleanor Cousland, regent to my grandson, the rightful Teyrn of Highever, Oren Cousland. With me are my daughter Elissa, the Grey Warden Daveth Hatter, Ser Roderick Gilmore and a group of volunteers from the Waking Sea Bannorn. I believe you know why we are here.
- I don't know about all of you, but the boys and I are here for gold, - Cristof answered.
All the White Falcons except Soris cheered him loudly.
- You will receive the reward Aedan promised you, - the Teyrna assured them and turned to Sereda. - Lady Sereda, my daughter said you are Warden-Commander and Duncan's successor. What can you advise us?
Sereda was surprised by the attention. The White Falcons, having heard the phrase "Warden-Commander", began to whisper to each other.
- Excuse me, but where I come from, there is only one city, - the dwarf answered. - That's why I don't know how to besiege cities and I can't help. Do you have any plan?
The woman took out a map of the castle and the surrounding city.
- Roderick and Daveth have managed to find out who heads the garrison of the castle. This man is Captain Lowan, the left hand of Rendon Howe.
- Is it possible to negotiate with him? Or can I seduce him? - Zevran asked.
- It is unlikely. He made his way into Howe's inner circle from the common folk and loves cruelty no less than Howe himself. He keeps a tight rein on all of Highever and tortures dissenters in the castle's dungeon. But there is someone more important than Lowan. Thomas Howe, Rendon's son, arrived at the castle yesterday.
- Rendon has three children, - Aedan explained to everyone. - The oldest one, Nathaniel, is a good guy, but he's in exile in Kirkwall. The middle one, Delilah, could have been my wife under different circumstances, she is probably in Amaranthine now. The youngest, Thomas, is almost a boy. I'm surprised his father sent him here.
- Howe is Howe. So what's the difference? - Elissa asked her brother.
- Sister, there is the difference. Thomas did not take part in the attack on our castle. If we kill him, we'll be no better than Howe, and we'll lose leverage over his father. So I'm telling everyone. I give permission to kill everyone with a bear crest on their shield, but not to touch Thomas Howe. We need him alive.
- So we split up, - Eleanor continued. - Roderick, Roger, and I will walk through the peasant houses and the city. After finding out that I am alive, the villagers will be ready to help us. I can't imagine how much they suffered from Howe. Elissa and three other warriors will enter the castle through a secret passage, pass by Howe's thugs and open the gate for the rest, who will begin the siege in the meantime. How many of you are stealthy enough?
- I'll go, - said Daveth. - Stealth is my middle name.
- I doubt it, - Zevran replied. - You don't look like a stealthy guy.
- You'll find I'm full of surprises. Will you come with us and show us a few tricks?
- Fine, I agree.
- I'll keep you three company, - Leliana said. - The four of us can handle this task.
- Pup, will you lead the siege? - Eleanor asked her son.
- Yes, of course, mother, - Aedan answered.
- Then it's decided. May the Maker protect us!
Everyone dispersed in different directions. Sereda and Gorim walked towards the castle at the end of the column, trying to keep up with Aedan, mercenaries and volunteers.
- We need to stay close to Aedan, - Gorim whispered.
- Why? - Sereda asked.
- On the ship, I overheard a conversation between Cristof and Walter. They are up to something. Plus, there's a bounty on the Grey Wardens. I don't trust them.
- Thanks for the warning, love. And... we need to have a serious talk.
- We'd better talk after the siege. Now there is no time for this.
Gorim quickened his pace, hoping to catch up with Aedan. Sereda followed him, deciding that her proposal could wait.