Struggles and Triuphs pt. 8
“What about the dwarves?” asked Elissa.
“We would need to speak to their king at Orzammar. That means heading west into the Frostback Mountains, which won't be easy.” said Alistair.
Elissa sighed, just about the only part of this trip that sounded remotely easy was the Circle of Magi. And even then she was unsure of what would happen given that the Chantry seemed to hold the mage's on a tight leash no matter all of this talk of the Circle being independent. Maker they wouldn't even be in this mess if it wasn't for the fact that the Grey Wardens had been utterly decimated. Along with the royal army and the king himself to boot. This was going to be a long, long process.
“I don't need any more directions.” said Elissa running a hand through her short dark red hair.
“Then you have a plan?” asked Alistair.
Elissa nodded. “I'm ready to get going.”
“Fair enough. Let's head into the village whenever your ready.” said Alistair.
***
Alistair was starting to come back to himself somewhat. The time for moping and mourning was over. Even though Elissa would never say anything he knew that his silence had started to weigh heavily on her. The way she seemed to visibly relax when he had offered directions also told him that she too found the prospect of dealing with this Blight alone a rather impossible one. He was truly sorry to be putting her in the position of leader-especially when she knew virtually nothing of being a Grey Warden-but she would probably do better than he would.
One of his short comings had always been his indecisiveness when given these big circumstances. He would not make a decision lightly, not when it came to protecting Freleden from the Bight. That and Morrigan would never listen to him anyhow. No the person they needed to lead was someone that would easily be respected, and someone who could weigh all the options and make the quick decisions. Someone who wouldn't be so scared of their own short comings that they let it effect everything they did.
In short they needed someone like her. After everything they had been through in this almost unending week one thing was clear, Elissa was a natural leader. She asked the right questions and could generally be counted on to make the right choices. Even if one of those choices had been Morrigan. Though he supposed that he should be grateful that this apostate was willing to help them at all, there was just something about the woman that gave him the creeps. He couldn't really trust her or her mother for that matter. That was hardly Elissa's fault though, she had seen an opportunity to get a very powerful ally and she had taken it. That in essence was what a Grey Warden did. Especially when there was a Blight.
As they ventured into Lothering proper they almost immediately ran smack into a templar. Alistair tensed ready to grab his weapon in case he sensed Morrigan and started to ask too many questions. Elissa nodded to him in greeting and acted for all the world like nothing was wrong.
“You there,” said the templar, “if you're looking for safe shelter I'll warn you, there's none to be found.”
Elissa nodded to him again and said that they would be on their way shortly. The templar did not even so much as glance in Morrigan's direction and Elissa was quickly out of sight of him anyway. Alistair relaxed a little bit, he was just thankful that Morrigan hadn't done something foolish like reach for her magic in that moment. The templar had merely thought her part of the party of Grey Wardens and hadn't given her a second look.
“It's just a guess, but I'm thinking that everyone's aware of the approaching darkspawn hoard.” said Alistair dryly.
That elicited a sort of half giggle from their leader. Though she quickly suppressed that and went back to exploring the town. Alistair still couldn't wrap his brain around the fact that this woman actually found anything he said funny. He was far more accustomed to the eye rolling Morrigan did whenever he spoke. Though really the only person who had ever seemed to listen to him at all in his life had been Duncan, and he'd only known the man for six months.
An aching loneliness steeled inside of him when he thought of his mentor and father figure. He had deserved a better death than the one he had gotten. Almost as if she had been watching him Elissa chose that moment to look over at Alistair. She seemed to have an odd look on her face. One of genuine concern mixed with something he couldn't quite put his finger on. That would also take some getting used to.
The random conversations amongst the refugees and towns folk alike was of the Battle of Ostagar. Most people expressed shock that Loghain and his men could make it out alive when even the Grey Wardens hadn't been able to do that much. Alistair bit his tongue so as not to reply with something glib. It would be the truth, but he did not wish to start any sort of riot in this town. Elissa seemed to be struggling with the same impulse. Not for the first time since she had awoken in Flemeth's hut Alistair thanked the Maker that she had survived that battle. He didn't know what he would have done if she hadn't.
As much as Alistair wished that they could avoid trouble all together it seemed that fate came back and bit them on the ass. Hard. Who should they run into in this tiny town but two of Loghain's men. Just their luck. Elissa seemed to tense at the sight of them. It was clear that she had no love in her heart for the man who had betrayed their order, not to mention the king. They had been standing in the tavern when he and Elissa had walked in.
“Well. Look what we have here men. I think we've just been blessed.” said the dark haired one.
“Uh-oh. Loghain's men. This can't be good.” said Alistair.
“Didn't we spend all morning asking about a girl matching this description? And everyone had said they hadn't seen her?” asked the helmeted one.
This was certainly shaping up for not good things ahead. Of course Loghain would be looking for them. He would need to hurry and tidy them up if his coup were to ever be complete. Alistair readied himself mentally to battle these two. The only small mercy he could find was that they hadn't recognized Elissa outright.
“It seems we were lied to.” said the dark haired one.
“Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge.” said a sister with a rather thick Orlesian accent.
“They are more than that. Now stay out of our way, Sister. You protect these traitors, you'll get the same as them.” said the dark haired one.
***
Elissa felt the already tenuous control on her temper start to slip at the sound of these men, these men, calling her a traitor. Her hands had clenched so hard that her knuckles had started to show white and boney beneath her pale skin. Her gray-green eyes flashed with fury. She was alive due to luck and circumstance. These men, these despicable cowards were only alive because their leader had been too chicken-shit to fight for their country. The famed hero Loghain had not wished to give his life to save the many form the Blight. Because of his traitorous cowardice the country found themselves without a king. And without experienced Grey Wardens to fight the Blight.
And they had the nerve to call her and Alistair traitors. She was shaking with the effort to to draw her swords down on them this very moment and give them the death that only cowards and traitors deserved. Elissa took a deep steadying breath and finally spoke.
“Let's talk about this before things get out of hand.” said Elissa.
The cold fury in her voice could not be helped. Though she hoped that they could avoid bloodshed this day. There were to be no more deaths for the time being if she could help it.
“I doubt he would listen.” said the sister who had come to their defense, “He blindly follows his master's commands.”
“I am not the blind one! I served at Ostagar, where the teyrn saved us from the Grey Warden treachery! I serve him gladly!” said the belligerent black haired one.
To her right-where Alistair was content to always stand it seemed-she heard a low growl. It echoed Elissa's own sentiments on the matter. Did the depths of Loghain's cowardice know no bounds? To lie to the people was one thing, but lying to your own men as well. She and Alistair might have missed the signal-due in a large part to the faulty assumption that there would be no opposition whatsoever there-but it couldn't have been by that much. Elissa clasped and unclasped her hands, contemplating giving the dark haired one a taste of her blade after all. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Alistair's grim expression and knew that he was fighting the same impulse.
“Enough talk!” said the dark haired one to his fellow, “Take the Warden into custody. Kill the sister and anyone else who gets in our way.”
“Right let's make this quick.” said the helmeted one.
With that Elissa released the cold fury that she had been barely suppressing. She would welcome a fight with these men. Elissa drew her father's blade-the one he had bade her to take while he lay bleeding to death in their larder-and the short dagger that rested at her hip. Dimly she heard the sound of Alistair unsheathing his sword and shield. As one they began their fight. Elissa squared off against the dark haired one and Alistair moving to intercept the one with the helmet. Somewhere beyond her perception Elissa knew that Morrigan and Ja'el her faithful mabari were readying themselves for a fight as well.
It did not matter. All she could think of was this fight. The Dark Haired man slashed at her, but she deftly deflected the blow with her off hand. She slashed for his midsection searching for a weakness in his defenses. Memories of sparring with her father's knights came to her unbidden. Stubbornly she pushed those thoughts aside and let sweet muscle memory take over. He had defended with his shield as assuredly as a soldier under the command of a teyrn should. The only problem was that her father had been a far better general that Loghain could ever dream of.
Elissa was just a little bit faster than her opponent. She flitted and darted around the solider so that he could not touch her. Every once in awhile his guard would drop imperceptibly, in that moment Elissa's sword would dart out and cut him. Not too deeply, she wanted to savor the kill. The Dark Haired man had gotten a few lucky blows on her as well. Knocking her over with his shield once. He was not trying to toy with her and had gone for a killing stroke. She had again blocked his sword and darted in with her dagger deftly hamstringing him. Rolling back to her feet Elissa grew tired of playing games. While the Dark Haired one was down she moved to slice off his head.
“All right, you've won! We surrender!” said the Dark Haired one.
The battles had ceased for now. Elissa still felt the urge to deliver the death blow this man so richly deserved. However she stayed her hand, somewhere in the Fade she was certain her parents were watching. She would not besmirch their memory by killing a man who had clearly surrendered. No matter how much satisfaction she would have gotten form the act. Her eyes found Alistair's for a brief moment and he flashed her a tentative smile. The set of his jaw told that he would very much like to finish these men off as well.
Before Elissa could say anything the Orlesian sister spoke up. Elissa had nearly forgotten she was there. “Good. They've learned their lesson and we can stop all fighting, now.”
“Take a message to Loghain.” Elissa growled sheathing her sword and dagger.
“W-what do you want to tell him?” asked the Dark Haired one.
“He'll pay for what he's done. We're coming for him.” said Elissa with cold certainty.
“I'll tell him. Right way. Now. Thank you!” said the Dark Haired one obviously relieved to be leaving with his life.
“I apologize for interfering, but I couldn't sit by and not fight.” said the Orlesian sister.