AUTHOR'S NOTE: HELLLLLLOOOOOO! Sorry it took so long to finish this chapter. I got REALLY busy with my teaching career and THEN Red Dead Redemption 2 came out AND THEN it was Halloween AND THEN I couldn't figure out where to go with a part of this so... yeah. That sentence was a MAJOR run-on. I'm not going to fix it because I am lazy and you've guys have waited long enough for Chapter 3. Currently, as you're reading this, I am working on Chapter 4 because MAN! I AM ON A ROLL! I AM SO EXCITED! !
Chapter 3
Elena woke the next morning with gentle care. Her body came slowly and comfortably awake. She stretched in her cot luxuriating in the simple pleasure a warm bed supplied. The hearth fire, which had burned low, gave a couple half-hearted crackles. Erik snored gently. He had gotten in late the previous night, back from the Storm Coast at last. He had brought with him a mercenary band called the Bull's Chargers. They had stayed up late going over his adventures. Erik was excited to bring the Chargers onto the Inquisition, even if he felt they were too expensive. Their leader, Iron Bull, was a giant, battle axe wielding Qunari who was going to be one of Erik's personal guards for future missions. She envied her brother his adventurous role in the Inquisition. What she wouldn't give to go and see the places he told her about, to do the things he spoke of! She sighed and rolled over, pulling her pillow against her body and found her mind wandering to her dinner with Cullen.
They had a lovely conversation about sword play and battle tactics. They even spoke about the plans for the future of the Inquisition's growing army. Cullen wanted to build a proper barracks where the practice courts were now and move the courts to somewhere else. He hadn't figured that part out yet, so plans for the barracks had been stalled until such time as he could finalize the logistics. They had both been equally pleased with the mounts Erik had brought back from Redcliffe Farms, not to mention the accomplished horse master that came with them. Master Dennett, they agreed, surely knew a thing or two about horseflesh. Cullen was also impressed at how much her brother and his fellow advisors had managed to get accomplished in such a small amount of time. He had seen plenty of armies raised, but none had ever been raised with such speed and efficiency before. Elena thought this was due to the skill of the heads of the Inquisition, whereas Cullen had felt it was more due to immediacy of the threat of the Breach. They had bickered about this for a while until finally agreeing that perhaps it was a bit of both and really, they should just enjoy their ale and the fire. They had not spoken of anything personal, yet she felt like she knew him better for their time together. Perhaps she would suggest he try a meal with all of his soldiers at some point. Getting to know your Commander couldn't possibly be a negative thing, could it?
She yawned and sat up, stretching with a comfortable groan. She scratched her stomach as she stood and cast about for her training clothes. They were where she had left them the previous day, draped neatly over the back of a chair. She slid into the comfortable gear happy to be headed to work with her weapons and comrades. She laced up her boots, tightening the leather around her calves and ankles for extra support beneath her hardened-leather greaves. She ran a brush through her hair and reset the braid that ran behind her left ear, keeping her bangs from her face. Next, she blessed her teeth with a cleaning and gathered her weapons. A set of flat daggers went into their sheaths at the small of her back, against the insides of her forearms, and the insides of her ankles. Next she buckled on her sword belt. From her left hip hung her sword and, from her right, her long knife. She picked up her shield and slung it across her back. Finally ready she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
She set out at a gentle jog to get down to the practice court in good time. She waved at Varric as she passed him starting his fire and getting ready to watch the sunrise. Elena had taken to meeting Recruit Reeves, Marston, and Porteur for breakfast. They were good company in the mornings and she felt she may become more than just comrades with them. She had recently learned their first names and felt closer to them almost immediately. However, during training and other such times, they all still preferred to be referred to by their surnames in order to keep things simpler. Arriving at the group of huts used to house the recruits in training Elena leaned one shoulder against a wall and looked at the sky, trying to predict the weather for the day. It looked like it would be another cold, but sunny, day, as was usual for Haven this time of the year. She felt it odd that such a terrible tragedy had happened not too far from this peaceful little town. Even with an army amassing behind its wooden walls Haven had a certain charm that, if a person allowed themselves to, would cause a body to forget the strange and frightening things going on in the greater world beyond.
Elena was jolted from her reverie by a smack on the shoulder, sending her forward a couple of steps, "My lady Elena!" Porteur called out jovially as Reeves helped her steady herself, "What're you doing just standing here? There's fasts to break!"
"Shut up, Porteur. Nobody feels like listening to you this morning." Marston grumbled as he rubbed his rugged face groggily and gave Elena a polite nod, "Trevelyan."
"Marston. Sleep well, gentlemen?" Elena inquired of her two male comrades as she and Reeves began walking away.
"You know the men don't go to bed until it's so late they might as well say 'Good morning' to each other." Reeves teased them. "Thank goodness the Inquisition lets women join its ranks or the whole army wouldn't be worth its salt."
"Hey! We all go to bed at the same time every night. That's an order from Commander Cullen." Porteur turned to Elena, "But since you asked, I did sleep well, thank you. Marston, though, had a rough night. He had mid-watch. To hear him tell it he couldn't sleep before or after for worrying."
"It was my first time. They're turning us all into watch men now that we can handle swords like proper soldiers. You'll start your watch duty soon enough, Porteur, then you'll know what it's like to have the weight of everyone in Haven's lives depending on your eyes and ears being alert." Marston protested, sticking his hands in his belt loops, "I'm just glad I got switched to first watch for tonight. I should sleep like a baby after all of this." Marston ducked under the flap for the mess tent. The sight and smell of food closed all of their mouths.
The next several hours went by quickly. Elena's comrades had moved up into her training group a couple of days prior and she was having fun putting them through their paces. They all had a good time training together. It was interesting to see how the same training she received was put to use differently by each member of their little group. Porteur, usually loud and rather boisterous, became stoic and calculated with a sword in his hand. Marston, usually level-headed, if a bit grumpy, turned into a fierce fighter, unafraid to take an extra risk to get the upper hand. Reeves, slight and quiet, was able to quickly assess a situation and turn it to her advantage with very minimal effort. Elena couldn't tell if her fighting style was representative of her personality or at odds with it. She just knew she could defend herself with grace in a fight. She just wasn't sure if she would be able to outside of these familiar opponents.
After combat training, they all went to back to the mess tent to enjoy a hard-earned lunch. They were to begin riding their horses today. Cullen had asked her to help teach the less-experienced recruits in basic horsemanship. Today, she had been assigned the task of teaching them how to groom, tack, and ride their horses at a walk and trot. The recruits would have to learn quickly if they wanted to be a part of the Inquisition. Battles of varying sizes were happening all across Thedas every day, and they were becoming more frequent as the tensions between the mages and Templars grew in Ferelden. She didn't even want to think about what was going on in Orelais with the civil war. All she knew was that a breaking point was coming and soon. The thought loomed over everyone in Haven like an unseen shadow.
Shaking herself of these thoughts, she turned in her now empty plate, and headed for the stables. Her comrades had already saddled their horses and were walking them past her. They waved at her, too tired for words, as they passed. She gave them her own tired wave and went into the corrals. A small gathering of recruits loitered around the fence nearest the horses, obviously unsure of what to do with the tethered animals.
"Recruits!" She called out, "Come with me briefly for your lesson." She waved them over to a horse that was tethered a bit farther from the others. She swiftly demonstrated the proper grooming techniques, explaining about brushes and horse care as she went. The recruits watched her silently, occasionally stopping her to ask a question or two. When she was finished she dropped her brush back into a bucket hanging from a fence post and motioned at the other horses, "Pick a horse and get to work. I'll come around and inspect them as you go. Once they're all groomed to my satisfaction we can put saddles on them and get to riding. Dismissed."
The gathered people scurried over to their horses and got to work. They had few problems. After all, brushing a horse isn't a difficult thing to master. Elena thought with a slight chuckle. She helped a couple of them with picking up hooves and then gave them a quick lesson in saddling up. They were dismissed back to their mounts and managed to saddle them rather quickly for a first attempt. Next, Elena demonstrated basic riding posture, commands, and movements. It wouldn't do to have them bouncing about like sacks of potatoes and tiring out their mounts unnecessarily. In this manner, the afternoon passed even faster than the morning had. By the end of it, she was completely drained. Her body ached, she was covered in a fine layer of sweat and grime, and her patience was entirely used up. After making sure the horses had been properly taken care of she wanted nothing more than to return to the Chantry and take a nice, warm bath. However, this was not meant to be because she, like her comrades had watch duty that night. Luckily, she was given the last watch so she could take a rest after dinner.
On her way out of the corral she heard Cullen's familiar voice call out to her, "How was training, my lady?"
Elena rolled her eyes and snapped, "Perfect sir. I just love getting up at the crack of dawn every day and slaving away to teach idiots how to tell their left from their right when on a horse." Cullen blinked at her in surprise. She sighed and pushed loose hairs away from her face, "I'm sorry. I'm just tired. It really wasn't bad at all. Was there something you needed from me?" He shook his head, "Well, then, I'm off to eat." She turned to go, giving him a farewell wave.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" He said, causing her to turn back to face him, "Your brother wishes to see you. He's waiting for you in the command tent."
"I see. Thank you for delivering the message." She waved again and headed for the command tent. When she got there, Erik gave her a hug and then held her at arm's length, examining her face critically.
"Lane, you look awful." He told her bluntly.
"Please, Erik, do tell me something I don't know. What do you need? I've got a hot meal with my name on it waiting for me."
"Ah yes." He began, putting on a business-like air, "I've noticed that you're becoming a rather adept soldier. I may have an assignment for you outside of Haven if you want to leave for a little and test your mettle." He gave her a wink, "That is, if you're not too scared?"
Elena stepped away from him, excitement flooding through her and waking her up. "What? Really?"
"Really. I've got some scouting that needs doing in the Fallow Mire, but I need to keep securing our foothold in the Hinterlands. Since I can't be two places at once, I figured the second Trevelyan could go and see about the Fallow Mire before we send in a regiment to hold it." He grinned at her, "I hear there are some pretty spooky things in that bog."
She rolled her eyes, "Oh please. You can't honestly think I'd balk at some ghost story about a swamp. Who am I bringing with me?"
"I take it that you accept this mission then." Erik said with a knowing smile, "Have you made any friends among the recruits?"
Elena shrugged, "Not so much as of yet, but we're getting there."
"Who are they?"
"Carrina Reeves, Mathias Porteur, and William Marston," she ticked them off on her fingers as she went, "All good with their weapons and dependable folk."
Erik nodded, "Sounds like you've got a crew then. You may take them along with you and I'll send some more seasoned soldiers along as well. You'll take a joint-lead position with Corporal Smythe until he feels you are ready to lead on your own. You could be gone for a couple of weeks, pack accordingly."
Elena blinked; she couldn't believe her luck at this sudden turn of events in her life. "When do we leave?"
"At first light, I'll let everyone in your party know as well." He reached out and placed a broad hand on her shoulder, searching her face, his business-like manner dropping away entirely, "You're absolutely sure you're ready for this? Once you leave Haven there is no turning back."
She nodded, smiling broadly, "Of course I am! This is all I've ever wanted, Erik!" She reached up and covered his hand with hers, "I finally get to do something for once. I'd never get this opportunity anywhere else; I don't intend to waste it."
Erik pulled her into a rough hug, pressing her hard against his chest, "Lane, when did you grow up and become a woman?" He breathed, "A couple of years ago you wouldn't have dared set foot in a place like the Fallow Mire and now… I don't think wild horses could stop you."
"An arch demon couldn't stop me." She said with conviction, "I want to be useful, Erik. If this is how I can be useful then, by the Maker's will, I'm going to do it." She brushed his arms off feeling strangely calm, "I better be off. I've got packing and a watch to manage before dawn."
He blinked at her, obviously confused, "You have a watch tonight?"
She nodded, "Last watch. I'll make sure to go to sleep soon so I can be rested for my journey. It's only four hours."
"Are you sure you want to take it? I can have someone else assigned to it…" He trailed off seeing the mulish expression on her face, "Or not. That's fine, too." He held up his hands in surrender, "I know that look all too well to push this any further."
Elena relaxed, "Good. Then we've reached an agreement at last. Will you see me off tomorrow?"
"Of course I will. I'd be a terrible big brother if I didn't at least say goodbye properly before sending you off into dangerous swamps."
"Then I will see you tomorrow morning." With that she left the tent and bumped into Cullen, "I'm sorry, Commander! I didn't see you there!" She apologized straightening herself as she backed away.
"Did I just hear that correctly? You're going to the Fallow Mire tomorrow on a scouting mission?" He inquired, something akin to worry but closer to concern creasing his forehead.
Elena nodded and proudly puffed herself up, "Erik wants me to go and represent the Inquisition. We're trying to set up a regiment there to hold it."
Cullen blustered, "Yes, yes, I know that. I'm just confused as to why he would send you of all people to a gods-forsaken place like that." He pushed a hand through his hair, shook his head, and added in a barely audible whisper, "Surely he has gone mad..." He trailed off, looking more through her than at her.
Elena felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle as her entire body became tight with anger, "What's that supposed to mean?" She gritted out in the least-upset voice she could manage. "Am I not good enough to send on missions?" She crossed her arms, scowling at him.
"I'm sorry, my lady, if I offend you. I just… Well, I wouldn't have sent you."
She noticeably bristled at him and then her anger settled over her like an icy blanket. She felt her voice harden as it softened into a deadly whisper, "Listen here, Commander Rutherford. I don't intend to sit here all day everyday taking lessons from Templars who've nothing left to teach me and just throw me into endless practice duels and then baby sit a bunch of know-nothing half-wits while you and your officers go off and actually do things worthwhile. I've paid my dues, I'm still paying my dues, and I fully intend to keep paying them in whatever manner my brother sees fit so long as I am with the Inquisition. You may command the army, but I am not just a regular soldier. I am the sister of the Herald of Andraste, without whom you wouldn't have a half of a snowflake's chance in hell of closing the Breach. So when he decides that I am ready for a mission, I fully intend to follow through with his wishes and I won't allow you or anyone to stop me from doing so."
She spun on her heel and left him there, looking as if she had just slapped him smartly across the face. About half-way into her packing it hit her exactly what had happened. The words she had said. The way she had said them, here was the one man in the world that she shouldn't upset if she wanted to stay in Haven and she had just… Shit. Elena sank her head into hands. What a fool I am! She shook her head slowly from side to side. There must be a way to salvage this situation. Though, she could think of none. Presently, there was a tap on the door.
"Trevelyan? You in there?" Marston's voice came through the door clearly.
Elena went to open it, "What do you need, Marston?"
He greeted her with a smile and scratched his beard-covered chin awkwardly, "So you're sending us into the Mire."
It was a statement rather than a question. Elena stepped away from the door, permitting him to enter, "Yes. I see Erik spoke to you."
"That he did. That he did." Marston took a seat on Erik's bed and gave it an experiemental bounce, "Cushy… Anyway, I'll cut to the chase. I saw your name on the watch list for tonight. I just wanted to come here and double-check with you."
"Double check what?"
"Oh, that you're actually still sane and certain you want to travel into that horror-ridden swamp."
Elena rolled her eyes, this again, "Just because you've heard ghost stories about plagues and undead and the like, doesn't mean they're true. For all we know, none of it is. It could actually be sunny and filled with nothing but rainbows and butterflies!"
Marston openly laughed, "I can tell you're not from Ferelden! That place has constant rain. The entire place was so horrible of a place to live in that it cost entire families their lives. We know this is true because some of the residents from that failed attempt to colonize the Mire made it back alive. They told us what awaits people there. It's not my idea of a good time."
"So? Some crazy swamp people come back telling you crazy swamp stories and you're just going to believe them without having seen it for yourself?"
Marston rubbed the back of his neck and got up from the bed. "Listen, Elena, you've got to take that place seriously."
"It's just a swamp!"
"Technically, it's a bog." Marston held up a finger stopping her mid-retort, "And it's not just any bog—or swamp! It's haunted. It's riddled with undead. Plus, there's rumors of Avaar lurking around it lately."
"Where are you going with this? If you're trying to convince me to back us all out of the mission, then you're wasting your breath."
"Where I'm going is the Fallow Mire. What I'm trying to say is be careful. You don't know what you're getting us into. Reeves and Porteur don't even really know. Porteur is from Orlais; Reeves is an elf from Maker knows where." He paused and seemed to steel himself, "I just wouldn't want to see you getting hurt. I… couldn't bear it." His eyes met hers steadily, but something in them seemed a bit desperate. "Do you… know what I mean?"
She nodded, "Yes, yes. You want me to take the mission more seriously so nobody gets hurt. Of course, that's what I'm doing. I just don't take you seriously when you come in here trying to lecture me on basic knowledge of the Mire. It's all in my official orders."
Marston shook his head, "If you say so." He walked away and out of the door, still shaking his head and mumbling to himself about how women are hopeless in a leadership position.
"Well, that was rude of him." She glanced through the window and noticed the angle of the shadows, "Oh no! Got to finish packing!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, so once again, THANK YOU! For waiting! ALSO! Thanks to all my lovely followers! I really appreciate you! PLUS! THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS! I love reading reviews. It's probably my favorite thing besides writing the story. The story is definitely my favorite and BOY! Does Elena feel bad about being rude to Cullen. She has got a temper on her and absolutely no control over it. Bless her. And what's with Marston (see, Red Dead? YEP SHAMELESS SURNAME STEALING) being all "Oh Well. Dont' take us to the spooky bog and get us all hurt because that would mean you get hurt and that would make me sadddddd." Elena doesn't get that he thinks she's kind of dreamy. I mean, she is, but dude's got nothing on Cullen. AND OH MAN AM I EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS TO READ NEXT CHAPTER! It's got romance, danger, daring, and a battle! YES! We get to see our dear girl actually use these skills she talks about all the time. However, I will warn you now, I am still working on combat writing, so bear with me. This story is really going to see me develop in it as we go along... that's the goal anyway.
ANYWAY! Enough blathering on. Let me get back to writing. I hope you guys really enjoyed the latest chapter and I'll see you again soon!
PS: Thanks for putting up with my rambling. Loooove yooou! -Danbamina