Chapter 74: In Memory of Ser Elf and Ser Knight (Daveth)
By morning, Sereda, the twins, Daveth and their companions reached Redcliffe. At the castle wall they saw a cemetery. At one of the graves Theron, Adela, Kallian, a large golem and two unfamiliar elves were standing. Theron stood in front of everyone over the grave, reciting the funeral verse:
- Swiftly do stars burn a path across the sky,
Hast'ning to place one last kiss upon your eye.
Tenderly land enfolds you in slumber,
Softening the rolling thunder.
Dagger now sheathed, bow no longer tense.
During this, your last hour, only silence.
After these words, everyone turned and saw the ones who arrived. Soris immediately hugged his cousin.
- You're back. And I see that there are more of you, - said Adela. - What happened in Highever?
- The castle was taken, mother and Roderick stayed there, - Aedan said. - Howe wasn't there, but Elissa and I killed his captain and took his son hostage.
- I see new faces among you. Please introduce them to us.
- The one next to me is Gorim Saelac, my... my husband, - said Sereda. - I still haven't gotten used to calling him that, you know. This tanned elf is Zevran. He tried to kill us, but after a healing punch from Aedan, he changed his mind.
- My nose still hurts, - Zevran added and looked at Adela and Kallian. - By the way, I didn't know that such beauties get recruited into the Grey Wardens.
- Had I known such handsome men would attack us, I'd have joined the Grey Wardens earlier, - Kallian answered, winking at Zevran and letting her cousin go. - By the way, this is my cousin Soris. I didn't expect to see him here.
- It's a long story, - said Soris. - I've been looking for you.
- Who are you burying? - Elissa asked.
- Tamlen, - Theron answered. - We cured him, but... but he did not survive the Joining ritual. Now he is in Uthenera, and I am here, without him. Next to me are my clanmates, Merrill and Fenarel. Tamlen was Fenarel's brother.
- I'm really sorry. I was hoping you could save him.
- How did the golem end up here? - Gorim asked, examining the golem. - Is it from Orzammar itself?
- Shale is my name, - said the golem, scaring everyone who arrived. - It is a very curious dwarf.
- It speaks? - Sereda asked. - I've never seen a talking golem before.
Leliana took a step forward.
- Sorry to interrupt you, but Tamlen's death... it reminded me of a song I heard many years ago. My mother died then, and one wise elf reassured me and explained that there was no need to be afraid of death or even hate it. Death is just the beginning of something new. One day everyone must shed their earthly shell and release their soul.
- I don't know about you, but I don't want to release my soul anytime soon, - Daveth said, but no one paid attention to him.
Leliana turned to the grave and began to sing a song in Elvish. She sang for about two minutes, looking at the cloudless sky. All those present were touched by the singing of the former Chantry sister. At that moment Daveth thought about his parents, whom he had lost long ago. If he had heard such a song after their deaths, it would have been easier for him to accept what happened.
After singing, Merrill walked up to Leliana and silently hugged her, not holding back her tears.
- Thank you, human, - Fenarel told her. - This song is called In Utenera, and our people perform it at funerals.
After Theron, Gorim and Shale filled the grave, everyone except Daveth, the twins and Kallian went to the castle.
- Tamlen is not the only one from our group who died here, - Kallian said.
- Who else have we lost? Alistair? Faren? - Aedan asked.
- Ser Jory.
- That deserter? Didn't he perish in the Wilds?
- I don't know how, but he somehow returned to Redcliffe and began to lie to everyone that he was a Grey Warden. If it were up to me, I would have killed him, but Daylen insisted on giving him a second chance. And that actually helped. Jory gave his life while defending the village, taking almost all of the undead with him. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be standing here now.
Kallian pointed her finger at the knight's grave. Daveth bowed before it.
- It seems I was wrong, ser knight, - he said. - You weren't a coward after all. We will continue your fight. Sleep well, brother.
Elissa put her hand on Daveth's shoulder.
- He did not finish the Joining, but he was a Grey Warden in spirit, - she said.
- Sometimes people can surprise you, - Aedan added. - You never know from whom to expect courage.
Kallian walked up to the cliff and looked intently at the lake.
- Come here, everyone!
Three people stood next to her and saw several boats in the distance.
- It looks like the mages have come to our aid, - Kallian said.
- Why are they here? - Aedan asked.
- Connor, the son of the shem Arl, is possessed by a demon. It was he who commanded the undead. Neria, Daylen and Alistair went to the Circle tower to get the mages. They were absent for a long time...
- Then we need to hurry.
All four ran to the shore, hoping to accompany their comrades and the Circle mages to the castle as fast as possible.