Olorin tossed and turned in his room next to William's. The reason was not the obvious one. Most would expect him to toss and turn about his fate as a Grey Warden. No ,it was not that. It was because his room was next to William's. A William who seemed to have found comfort in his fate in the arms of Leliana. Rather loudly in fact. Olorin was tempted to ask him to keep it down but knew if that was what William needed to do to come to terms with his potential fate, he was better left to it.
He was soon interrupted by a knock at his door. At his command Morrigan came in.
"Have they been at that all night?" Morrigan asked.
"For the last hour at least. I would tell them to shut up but as Warden-Commander William must relieve stress somehow. And they have been eyeing each other since the Temple anyway."
"True enough. Though I think we both know it is his fate as a Grey Warden that William seeks comfort from, not his duties as Warden Commander."
"What do you mean?" Olorin asked, not knowing how Morrigan could possibly know about the fate of the warden who killed the Archdemon.
"You think I am naive to some of your secrets? My mother told me of the fate of the warden who strikes the killing blow."
Olorins mouth dropped open at this. "How did your mother know? Why didn't you tell us?"
"I did not tell you for fear of not being believed. As for how my mother knows, I truly do not know. She knows many such secrets about many groups." Morrigan replied, coming to sit on Olorin's bed.
"If she truly is the Flemeth of legend I guess I should not be surprised." Olorin reasoned. "Anyway, is that you're here? To make sure Avernus had told us?"
"Partially. Also partially to speak to you. I had noticed you watching Leliana earlier on in our joining and suspected you harboured feelings for her, so I was much surprised to see her go to William's bedroom."
"Really? She is a beautiful woman, but not for me. I could never be with a Chantry sister. I am not devout enough." Olorin laughed. "Although I understand why she would go to William. He's tall and a great warrior. I'm sure many women would choose him over me."
"Many would, but not all." Morrigan said, inching closer. It was here Olorin realised her true purpose here. He wondered if she had chosen this moment to take advantage of him being in a vulnerable state. It was the type of thing she would do, Olorin reasoned. But then again, she also would not do something she did not want to do, and Olorin had been watching her for some time.
He was drawn to her beauty and her intelligence. And truth be told he realised behind that cold exterior, Morrigan was not as uncaring as many would first think. Deciding that even if Morrigan was taking advantage of him, he wouldn't care, Olorin decided to go ahead with what Morrigan clearly wanted.
"Really?" He asked, bringing his head up nearer to her.
"Really." Morrigan said as she kissed him. It was not long after that that Leliana's screams of pleasure were drowned out of Olorin's ears by Morrigan's groans of ecstasy.
O-0-o
The next day saw a red faced Alistair (who was the other side of William's room to Olorin) at the breakfast table, as Leliana and William sat next to each other holding hands as Morrigan and Olorin arrived for breakfast, almost the polar opposite of William and Leliana. If it was obvious Leliana William had slept together and embarked on a relationship with each other, it was not obvious to anyone else about Olorin and Morrigan's tryst last night, though they figured that William and Leliana must know. Morrigan was hardly quiet after all.
They had talked in the morning, after another round, and had decided there was no need to flaunt their relationship. Both were private people, and though at Olorin's insistence, they wouldn't hide it, nor would they flaunt it. Anyway, Morrigan was insistent it was only sex, though Olorin was sure she at least had the beginning of feelings for him.
Wynne seemed to disapprove of William and Leliana holding hands, which surprised Olorin as she had never disapproved of dalliances at the tower, acknowledging that you could hardly lock young men and women in a building together and not expect some to either fall in love or seek comfort with each other. But Zevran seemed happy for the pair, joking about how he had missed his shot and if they wanted a third to join them they should just let him know. Sten, as usual, did not care.
Soon the conversation steered away from Williams love life and towards his suspected brother and how to lure him out of hiding. Apparently, the bandit only attacked carts that seemed to be on the business of Arl Howe. As they lacked heraldry of Arl Howe, they could not disguise themselves as Arls men. Eventually it was Olorin who came up with the idea. The group would travel towards Highever, though not go into the city for fear of WIlliam being recognised. However himself and Morrigan would circle overhead and investigate clearings for camps along the highway, with William knowing they were lots of clearings used by both merchants resting their caravans and bandits ready to strike.
Before they could set off, Levi managed to tell them that Bodhan had made his way up to the keep and was going to stay there to use it as a base, as was his blacksmith brother, Mikhael. William asked Levi to pass on his regards to Bodhan, who they hadn't seen since leaving Redcliffe, and asked about Mikhale's work. Satisfied at Levi's reference, he asked him to give Mikhael a trial as the Warden Blacksmith at Soldiers Peak. Finally reay, the group set off down the mountain.
A week later they were debating heading back. Their plan wasn't full proof, but they did not expect Morrigan and Olorin to have no luck. William was feeling rather disheartened. Every bandit camp they came across had been true bandits, not Fergus. Though at least they were making the roads safer for innocent travellers. These bandits would not have attacked armed soldiers of the type Arl Howe would use.
Just as the group, minus Morrigan who was scouting, were debating setting off after a break, they heard combat nearby and the Grey Wardens stiffened. They sensed Darkspawn. Heading north they came across a group of bandits being attacked by Darkspawn. However William soon realised they weren't bandits. They carried the laurels of House Cousland on their shield. If this wasn't Fergus, it was certainly his men.
Giving orders, it did not take long for the Grey Wardens and their companions to kill the Darkspawn. At which point they were at an impasse with the 'bandits'. That was until William took off his armoured helmet, causing gasps amongst the men who immediately recognised him and got down on one knee in reverence.
"My Lord Cousland!" one of them gasped. "We had no idea you were still alive!"
"Derick, was it? I remember you, you served under Ser Gilmore no? Tell me, did he make it?"
"Yes my Lord, I did. And I'm afraid he didn't. We evacuated the castle and came across your mother and father, Maker take them to his side. Ser Gilmore refused your fathers order to leave them. We think he died protecting them."
William looked down in anguish at this, but soon looked up and spoke again.
"And am I right in assuming this Black Wolf is Fergus?"
"You are my Lord! We few who survived the attack on the castle came across Fergus and his force coming back from Ostagar and warned him what had happened. This insurgency against the traitor Howe was his idea. But we must know my Lord, what happened to you?"
"I will tell you all when I tell Fergus. Where is he?"
It was not a long way to the camp where Fergus was. Though Fergus had left Castle Highever after Olorin had arrived, he had not actually met Fergus. However it was immediately obvious who he was for he was an almost identical image of William, just with a beard and a few inches shorter. A William who let out a great cry of "Ferus!" and rushed towards his rather shocked brother, embracing him in a huge bear hug.
"But William? We thought you were dead!?"
"No brother! Duncan rescued me at the instance of Father. I joined the Grey Wardens in return for my life."
Fergus let out the most joyful laugh. "My little brother, a Grey Warden! And during a Blight no less. Who could believe it? And are all your companions Grey Wardens as well?"
Olorin and Alistair stepped forward at Williams' behest.
"Just these two. Meet Warden-Constable Olorin Amell and Senior Warden Alistar Therin."
Fergus's, and his retinues, mouths dropped open at this. "Did you, did you just say Therin?"
"Yes. He's a bastard of Maric's. And Alistair don't look so shy, we can't keep your identity secret forever now Arl Eamon is recovered."
"Yes true I guess." Alistair acknowledged as he shook Fergus's hand.
It took two hours for them all to swap stories. William, with Olorin's assistance described how the battle at Ostagar had gone from their viewpoint, how they had the aid of the Circle of Magi and Arl Eamon and how they had gained Soldier's Peak as a base. Fergus, for his part, described how the scouting party he led had been ambushed by a much larger force of Darkspawn and had to flee. They were taken in by some Chasined who found a common enemy with the Darkspawn. As soon as his men had recovered, they headed up north, to find out the news about the battle and the taking of Highever. Knowing he lacked the forces to retake Highever, he set up an insurgency campaign to try and weaken Arl Howe, a campaign that had met with decent success.
"What will you do now, Your Grace?" Olorin asked Fergus.
"I fear this insurgency campaign cannot go on much longer. We are low on supplies and Arl Howe is hitting us harder and harder each week. But with you here there is now hope! We may lose the battle, but yet win the war!"
"For what it's worth brother, I suggest linking up with Arl Eamon. He lost a lot of his troops so could no doubt garrison yours."
"Excellent idea William. I think we shall do precisely that."
"How many men do you have with you anyway?" Alistair asked.
"About five hundred in this main camp. I will send messengers out to my other camps to march for Redcliffe. There are about another two hundred dotted around."
William had a look of sorrow on his face. He knew how many men his brother had marched with. He had left with all the knights bar Ser GIlmore and the knights in his fathers retinue, a total force of around fifty and around three thousand levied men. To only have seven hundred left was a sombre thought.
It was soon decided Fergus and his retinue would head to Soldier's Keep with the Wardens group, while his men, apart from the messengers, would split up into smaller groups of around fifty and march to Redcliffe, with each group having a letter with Fergus's seal on explaining who they were to Arl Eamon.
A week later the group hit Soldier's Peak to find the Drydens had moved in fully. Williams first order of business was meeting with Levi to find out what was happening. It turned out the Dryden's were rather wealthy from their trade, and Levi offered to loan the Warden's One Thousand Sovereigns to clean the place up and get it fully habitable again, interest free. William gladly took him up on the offeras they walked to the forge, where they met Mihkael, Levi's brother.
They had found several Warden uniforms in the store that Mihakel had repaired. He could not repair the ceremonial ones as they were mostly cloth. Although his wife was a seamstress, she did not have the supplies to repair the ceremonial clothes. But he had repaired the armour. And William was so impressed with his work he hired him on the spot.
The armour was made of Silverite and featured the Grey Warden Heraldry on the front. The warriors armour was full plate armour, with the signature winged helmets and mail covering unplated sections. The lighter armour that could be designated as 'rogue' armour featured a chest plate, gloves and greaves. Some leather armour protected the legs and arms. Finally the mage armour consisted of robes and a breastplate, and like the rogue armour had a hood rather than helmet.
If William was impressed with the standard armour, he was blown away by what he was shown next. They had found some plate armour of the Warden Commander that it appeared Sophia Dryden was a bit too small for. This had the two back to back griffons on that signified the Warden Commander and the matching winged helmet. Olorin confirmed Williams' suspicions that his set had been enchanted, and Bodhan, who was nearby revealed it was his son, Sandal who had enchanted it with runes to decrease its weight and give the wearer extra stamina. Olorins robes had just a single griffon on his breastplate, signifying he was Constable of the Grey and was enchanted to be stronger against blades penetrating it and increase his magic. All were impressed by their armour, Alistair noting it was higher quality than his original warden armour.
It was decided now they had political support from both Arl Eamon and Teryn Fergus there was no need for the Wardens to hide their identity and they soon got dressed in their new armour. They exited the keep too many cheers from the staff and Fergus's retinue. It was clear the Grey Wardens of Ferelden were truly back in business.
They stayed at Soldiers Peak for a day before moving off to Redcliffe. It was a rather straightforward journey. With Fergus and his retinue, alongside three Warden's in armour and the rest of their party it would only have been Teryn Loghain's forces that would bother them, for a common bandit group would be no match for them. They met up with some of Arl Eamon's men a day out of Redcliffe who informed them most of Fergus's forces had arrived at Redcliffe, with the odd casualty from a minor scuffle with bandits but nothing more serious.
Arl Eamon was waiting as the group arrived and soon called for another feast at the revelation that Fergus was alive. Bann Teagan had left to gather more allies from nobles sympathetic to their cause in the bannorn. So Fergus had place of honour at the high table and was soon swapping stories with Arl Eamon before the Warden's joined in to talk strategy.
Alistiar was in favour of getting the dwarves on board, and Olorin wanted to get the elves on board first. Eventually William decided to go after the elves as they could take longer to find. Arl Eamon and Teryn Fergus would focus on getting support out amongst the Landsmeet. It would be much easier with Fergus here as he was a popular figure amongst the nobility.
Plan decided Arl Eamon offered them rooms in the castle for the night. Olorin could not say he was disappointed when Morrigan slipped into his bed not long after he retired into it.