Just plain ol&#x27; Octavian

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couslcndpup:

Ellaria came to mind first, despite her being a Dalish elf, they had taken to each other. Leliana came to mind next. Then Mathias. People she had began the weave the tapestry of friendship with. She hadn’t thought of it much, but when he mentioned the word trust, she realized there were people.

“You don’t need to be a good marksman to do this, aim a little higher,” Elvira sniffed a bit, moving to bring Octavian’s arm higher. “Like that, pull your arm back, like you’re throwing your sword.” She stepped back and nodded to him, giving him space before listening to the sound of the rock hitting other rocks rather than water. The man before her turned with a bright smile, very different from the expression he had been wearing earlier. She was grateful for the dim lighting as heat filled her features… he was handsome when he smiled… very… handsome. “Sometimes you just need a little help… I’m sure Duncan would want you to remember that. You’ve been upset for as long as I have been, but the people we care about would want there to be more for us than just wallowing the way we have. I’m sure I convinced you that I was mute for a time there.” She chuckled lightly, trying to make light of her words. She didn’t want to dampen the mood. “I had forgotten what it meant to be around others. Calen doesn’t need me to tell him anything. Smarter than some humans I’ve met to be honest.”

His success of reaching the rocks across the water surprised him. It was such and absentminded thing he had done that they had created a moment for. She guided him in the right direction and showed him how to get it right. Such a minor thing, but at the time his grin was more from her help. He couldn’t help but grin. It seemed Elvira was a source of many answers. He felt better talking with her. No one had wanted to talk to him about Duncan, mostly cause the one other person who knew him, didn’t care too much about him. His smile was gone quickly, having recalled the reason for the rock throwing. Elvira seemed wiser than he expected her to be, but maybe she had experienced more than him. “I thought perhaps you had been mute, or worse. So disgusted with the sounds of everyone’s voice that you hated the idea of talking to anyone. One Morrigan is quite enough, but two would have ruined the whole trip. I probably would have abandoned the quest and become a traveling bard. I’m a wretched singer. “

Octavian felt another smile pull at his lips from her words. Calen was a smart hound.Which made Octavian think, how did she even get the hound? He made to ask the woman, but decided that the timing of the question was ill placed. He let silence fall over them for a few moments. “Thank you... for talking to me about this. Even a little bit. It helps.”

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couslcndpup:

The rock managed to get closer to the other side of the bank than before. She watched as even after he had finished talking he picked another rock up, seemingly set on reaching the other side of the bank. “Getting along with people isn’t the same as having someone you can trust. I…” Elvira stopped herself. Her whole family had been betrayed by the one person she never thought would betray them. But being nobility wasn’t the same as being a commoner. Or being a Knight or… a Grey Warden. Something in her wanted to find friends in their group. Something in her longed to make a family with the people that surrounded her. Despite her betrayal, her heart ached for something to fill the void. She didn’t feel the strands of anger and hurt and betrayal close her heart in a cage of iron.

“I plan on giving them a funeral as soon as I possibly can. They deserve better than the death they received. Much better.” Elvira paused at the mention of her home. Highever. She wondered what the Cousland castle looked like… burned and torn apart. She bit her lip, tears welling up at the idea that something worse could be happening there. “I am sure that they would be more than willing to help. Duncan was a Grey Warden. Once we’ve cleared your names, I doubt anyone would tell you no.” She wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her tunic, chuckling gently at his numerous failed attempts “You’re tossin’ em wrong. You need to aim higher, to give the rock more time to arc and reach the other side. Like an arrow.”

“Well maybe you’ll find someone you feel that you can trust,” he said automatically. His arm cocked back and tossing another rock, this one not even reaching halfway. Octavian always had a hard time with making friends himself. People normally didn’t enjoy his sense of humor and once they found out who he really was, everything always became different. Not that many people knew he was the bastard son of King Maric. He hoped to keep the subject a secret for as long as he possibly could, the last thing he wanted to hear was Morrigan’s constant remarks on the subject.

Octavian nodded, her words didn’t sound like a guess, but more that she knew whoever the lord of Highever was, was going to help him. Thinking on it now, he didn’t know much about Elvira. He knew she was pretty. Thinking on it now, all the ladies that traveled with them were pretty. He knew she was human. He knew that should could fight well and that she had a Mabari War Hound. Nothing else beyond that however. The Grey Warden opened his mouth to speak, but paused once she spoke up. She bent down, tossing another rock that landed across the river with ease, showcasing what she meant. “Not... a very good marksman. I’ll be honest.”

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couslcndpup:

At the very least she could appreciate his honesty and sincerity in his words, a small smile pulled at her lips. She nodded as he spoke, watching as the rock he threw landed short of crossing the river. “There’s always a chance someday that we’ll lose people we care about. I never thought I’d lose… the people I did. I never once imagined what it would be like to have them taken from me. Now all I can think about is all the things I never did. All the things I never said. All the things they’ll never see… and how I’m going to find myself in this great big world that suddenly just grew 100 times larger… I’ve seen Thedas and Ferelden on more maps than you could imagine, but now we walk all those roads I’ve studied, all those cities I’ve only ever seen on paper. Now there’s… no one’s advice or guidance or even their nagging to tell you to do the right thing… I don’t think there’s a single thing that I can do, that no one else here wouldn’t be able to do. Everything is so big, and there’s just so much and worst of all, I’m all that I’ve got.”

Elvira paused, tears already streaming down her face. She sniffed, picking up a rock and tossing it her best distance.

Octavian watched as her rock landed the distance across the water. He picked up another rock tossing it with greater might to try and reach across the distance before speaking. “I think what’s bothering me the most is that the one person who acted like they cared about me is gone and when I could use some advice right about now... He’s gone. But Elvira,” he paused waiting for the woman to look at him. “I don’t think you’re alone here. You get on well with everyone... and Morrigan doesn’t count. Do... Do you think you’ll be able to have a funeral for the people you lost? I’d like to have a funeral for Duncan. He mentioned he was from Highever. After all this is over I’d like to go there and meet with the Lord there to see if he’d be willing to let me do that for him. I don’t think he had any other family.”

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couslcndpup:

He seemed confused by the comment, she nodded a bit, her hands starting to wring before her. “I lost someone important to me. I lost… a lot of people who were important to me recently. It’s difficult to deal with. “

And suddenly it made sense. Octavian knew she had lost someone at Ostagar. She had lost her brother there, and who was to say she didn’t have friends or other members of her family there herself. Duncan was not family to Octavian, but he sometimes felt like he was. Knowing Duncan died had hurt more than almost anything he had heard in his life. She had said that she had lost her brother to all of them, but he had been too preoccupied within himself to consider that others, maybe even Mathias, had lost someone at Ostagar.

However, judging from the response he got from Mathias, the man had never seen a single person he cared about die or even suffer in the slightest. Surprising considering he grew up in the worst place in all of Fereldan. Kinloch Hold.

“I’m sorry... I was too caught up in my own grief, I forgot that you had lost someone too.” Octavian rubbed at the back of his neck nervously. Suddenly very aware that the two were alone. “Duncan... saved me from becoming a real templar. I knew there was a chance that someday... I just didn’t think it’d be... so soon.” He stepped closer to the river, bending down to grab at a rock absently and toss it as hard as he could.

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couslcndpup:

“No,” she replied. “But you knew him, and he was important to you.” Elvira returned her eyes to him, catching his gaze in the dim lighting. “That should be enough. If you’d like, I can start instead?”

The Grey Warden felt his mouth open to speak, then was stopped as she spoke once more. He wasn’t sure if anyone had ever been that nice to him before. “You start instead?”

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couslcndpup:

She couldn’t help it. That was not the response she was expecting from him. A smile twisted onto her lips and her gaze turned to him. Wasn’t he just upset some moments ago? He was gazing back at her she realized.

“Hello,” she muttered back eventually. Thinking about it now, she hadn’t thought of how she would start the conversation up… other than with the hello. I have people who are important to me that are dead as well. She took a deep breath. “The man, Duncan was it? Did you know him for a long time?”She glanced to him, his silence making her realize that she had probably overstepped a line with someone she barely knew.

He glanced to her, he wasn’t sure he wanted to talk to a stranger about it, but then again... everyone was kind of a stranger to him. Even Mathias. It was difficult to make out her facial expression, but the fire from Morrigan’s camp reflected off the waters just well enough for him to make out a somewhat nervous expression. He found that his anger had calmed tremendously. “You don’t have to do that... I know you didn’t even know the man.”

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couslcndpup:

Travel East had not been the best idea, in Elvira’s opinion. However, she could understand that Mathias wanted to get Ellaria to her people as soon as possible. Lelianna had shown herself to be a capable cook, giving Morrigan a chance to spend more time alone, as she wished. Ellaria had been assigned to hunt, she had mentioned herself as a capable hunter for her people.

It was when it was time to set up camp that Elvira realized she had very little that she could help with. Mathias, had the luxury of magic to contribute fire and healing after a long day of fighting. Octavian had been with the Grey Wardens long enough to know how to set up a campfire and tents. Lelianna worked with whatever ingredients Morrigan could locate that showed themselves to not be poisonous. Even Calen made it possible for them to find water sources to camp close to… it helped that the West Road followed the Drakon River. Elvira… had nothing. She couldn’t cook. She could only point out and name plants that were for healing potions and for poisonous potions. Nothing edible. She couldn’t build tents or cook.

Elvira sat on top of a log, her hands fiddling as Mathias lit the fire before her. He smiled gently, before turning his attention to Octavian, who stood to talk with him. The brunette watched for several moments before deciding to mind her own business elsewhere. Just as she stood, Octavian’s voice rose vehemently. Elvira’s head snapped to them as the taller man stormed towards the river. She blinked in surprise at his reaction, before returning her gaze to Mathias who seemed at a loss for words.

She wanted to ask, Octavian had been nothing but quiet and agreeable since they met, she didn’t understand what could set him off the way Mathias just did.

“Elvira,” said Mathias. Blue eyes snapped to hazel in surprise, before the mage continued. “Could I ask you for something?”

An odd feeling filled Elvira at the question, the feeling of having purpose. Elvira nodded a bit, allowing him to continue. “Talk to Octavian… he… has lost someone dear to him and it seems I don’t have the words he wants to hear. You lost people too.”

Elvira swallowed thickly at the blunt way the man had said the words. Her throat tightened, “Yeah, course,” she choked out. Before the mage could continue she nodded some more and made off after the other Grey Warden. She had a feeling she knew why he had stormed off now.

The bustle of a long day was enough to keep Octavian’s mind afloat. Distracted long enough to make it dinner and sleep afterwards. Occasionally Mathias liked to talk, not that he had ever had the issue before. Ellaria didn’t seem much like a talker and Elvira... talked to everyone but him it seemed. And Morrigan, but the woman was a literal witch and he didn't think that counted for much. Leliana could talk to anyone and... Calen was a dog. Pleased to have company where possible.

He supposed he hadn’t pegged Mathias for who he was as a person yet, but normally when one brings up someone who’s died there was a little more... something to it. Octavian couldn’t think of the word, but he knew there was one. The man grumbled words to himself, mostly about how he was considering giving Mathias a right good kick to the skin and maybe waste some of his time with a spare that could knock him on his ass.

What surprised the Grey Warden most was that it was Elvira... he took that back. Morrigan would have been worse... but ultimately a waste of time. Maybe Leliana instead...? No, he heard the footsteps, he expected someone to be sent after him, just maybe not Elvira. He stared her, outright. Wondering why on earth she followed him, or was even sent. He had always planned on how he’d say hello to a pretty woman, but none of those plans came to fruition as she stopped beside him, her eyes on the river.

“Er,” he began. “Hello.”

ellcria:

Sworn to his cause? Brows knit in confusion, she had considered them nothing short of a band of mercenaries, but for elves to be sworn to a humans cause, that required status, or an unpayable debt. “What are you, a Lord of some place that once promised safety and then drove elves out of your kingdom? How convenient that you should remember their oath to you when you’re the one in need.” Her eyes moved to the Qunari standing in the back, his looming presence made her more uncomfortable than she would like to admit.

Lips pursed at how flippantly the mage spoke about her debt to them. Ellaria could feel the weight of it on her, or perhaps that was just her body finally adjusting to a position that was upright, and not constantly being jostled around her makeshift prison. As strange as the group was, it was probably safer for her to travel with numbers on her side. Pushing herself to her feet, she winced as her bones adjusted to the pressure on them.

“Don’t sleep in the forest, don’t take anything that belongs to the forest, you might just survive it. There is no reason for a delay, I wouldn’t want to get in the way of whatever you have gotten yourself into. If we can make for the forest as soon as possible, I can speak in your favour with the Keeper, hopefully, that can be of some help.” It was the least she could do, whatever they might be up to, the girl and the mage had saved her life, so had their friends. “ Give me a few moments to collect everything that was taken from me, and we can be on our way.” Bowing her head, she moved around the humans, to open find the sack with the rest of her weapons in the back. Roads were full of bandits these days, and she would be damned if she wasn’t prepared this time.

#p: 001;#end;

ellcria:

“All quests lead to death, it’s just a matter of whose death. You or your enemies.” She did not like how much it bothered her to know that she had little to lose at this point. Ellaria was sure the clan had ruled her as missing in action, which was simply a kinder way to imply that the dark spawn had gotten her. She could hardly begrudge them for it, their fight was for survival, and her disappearance would have been enough to prove that it was time to move on.

She felt the tension ease out of her body, as the Mage knelt in front of her, his magic easing her pain. Ellaria wanted nothing to do with this man, but a debt was owed. To the woman that had freed her, and the man that had healed her. “I will accompany you to the Brecilian forest, no farther than that. You have done me a kindness, so I must warn you, whatever you seek to find in that forest will not be worth it. The spirits in that forest know nothing of forgiveness, and you will be led astray. Not by someone, but the forest itself. You would be wise to change your course.”

The story of Abelas was well known amongst their kind, even that was only a small hint at what the forest could do. It was said that the Veil is so thin, that a wanderer would not be able to make out the difference between being awake and dreaming. “If the clan are moving north, what are your chances of finding a clan in the Brecilian forest? But, if you will not change your mind about it, I will go with you, and so my debt will be paid. I have no desire to play the hero, I have my own to protect.”

“Oh yes, sunshine and death,” Octavian muttered to himself, in the corner of his eye, he glanced down to the woman and her dog, her eyes on him. Her lips were twisting slightly, the closest thing to a smile he had seen from their newest companion. Her eyebrow rose at him and he gave her a small harmless shrug. The Dalish elf spoke again, prompting the woman to stand before her and step a little further away, Mathias magic spreading with ease.

Before him, Mathias shrugged, standing to his full height before the elf. “I must go. The elves of Ferelden have sworn to my cause centuries ago. Nothing can stop this quest.” Mathias made it a point to avoid outright telling people Octavian and him were grey wardens. Ostagar was so recent, that the news had spread slightly of the betrayal of the king in the hands of the grey wardens. Oddly enough, it was a smart move. Behind him, Sten growled lowly, “Is it not time to move on?” Truthfully, Octavian thought he was the only one to hear the Qunari.

Eyes returned to the Dalish elf, Ellaria, she had mentioned. Doubt. Everyone had their doubts about their quest, especially Octavian. Duncan’s death was still on his mind, as Morrigan had unfortunately pointed out continuously. “You’ll have plenty of chances to repay a life debt with us. It’s all about stabby stabby in the nighty with the people we know,” he pointed out. Besides him, Lelianna laughed brightly, a sight to see from a lay sister covered in blood.

Mathias shook his head, a smile of his own playing on his lips. At least some people appreciated his humor. “If you can walk, then come, let’s go. We need to move away from this town darkspawn will be crawling all over it in a matter of days. We will continue to head north towards Kinloch Hold, they will be the easiest to recruit due to my history. Then we will make way for the Brecilian forest.”

It was a sound plan, go north to Kinloch Hold, avoid the brunt of the darkspawn behind them, then head east to the forest once things had died down. The part that Octavian did not like was the route they would take for that. It would mean days north to come back down, fight darkspawn and travel for weeks to the east. Considering he had relinquished his hand in being the leader, he couldn’t say much.

“If you’re pressed for time, you would be better off either heading east first or last. We could head north in a few days to Kinloch hold, circle round, head for the mountains before heading south along the Imperial Highway to Red cliffe. From there, head east along the West Road into the forest before continuing onto Denerim.” All eyes had turned to Elvira, it had been the most she had said since joining their party. She was familiar with maps and roads it seemed.

Mathias considered her words, “ We can head east first to the forest for our new friend here? What would be the best route then?” Mathias’s Hazel eyes turned Elvira, who thought for a moment, her hand reaching for her mabari absently.

“We head east along the West road, make for the forest. With any luck, we can continue on when our business is finished along the west road. To Denerim. It would be wise to stock up even at the chance we may be seen. From there return west along the imperial Highway. Not the best, but at least we’d move along the Bannorn. We’d have places to rest and stock up on supplies if we need.” Mathias nodded, accepting the answer.

“Brilliant, kick these thugs out of our way and hope the forest spirits don’t possess us in our sleep,”Octavian chirped before turning away and kicking a thug for good measure.

wardenmathias

ellcria:

“Where is my clan?” She couldn’t hold back the laugh that escaped her, lips pursing into a grim smile. “From the looks of it, not anywhere near me. Likely —” Cutting herself off, she kept her bow at the ready. “Likely they have moved on, somewhere safer. Why are you so curious?” She could feel her legs beginning to tremble, Ellaria would only be able to stay on her feet so long, before collapsing. The flesh at her ankles felt like it was on fire, she had not expected her freedom to burn her skin worse than it had in captivity. “ Mathias, what are five humans and a Qunari doing together? You don’t exactly look like an ordinary band of travellers. Where are you headed?”

She clenched her jaw, as she caught her ankle buckling. Ellaria hated the way they were looking at her as if she were a creature, an anomaly. Her kind had suffered a decline in their numbers because of them, what right did they have to stare at someone they practically forced close to extinction. “Ellaria, of the clan Levellan. I would appreciate it if you all would leave me to go my way, I will find my people sooner or later.” Hobbling back to the wagon, she perched herself at the foot of it, legs slumping in front of her. She would leave, but once her body was done feeling like it was going to fall apart at the slightest touch.

Elvira felt her eyes move to Octavian, his shoulders tensing, the man was more precarious than Mathias was, there was a confidence to the way Mathias worked, one that clearly Octavian lacked. Her eyes continued to Mathias, Octavian’s already on him as well. He had taken the job of being in charge and would have to be the one to respond to the woman, but as she wobbled slightly, only Elvira and Lelianna moved forward to help her. Mathias watched the woman, curious if she would try to kill them after rescuing her. His little group could always use more. She was certainly pretty enough to join.

“My task is a daunting one, myself and my friend here,” he gestured to Octavian, “have a quest ahead of us, that will surely lead to death. The more people I can have who will fight for me the better, not many have so little to lose.” Elvira moved forward slowly as the elven woman sat on the wagon. Mathias move forward himself, the others turning to each other. “Ellaria, of clan Levellan. I’d wager if your clan was wise, they would be long gone from this place. You fight well, you could come with us. We’re in search of Dalish clan in the Brecilian forest, perhaps that is your clan? Or perhaps like everyone else, they moved north and quickly?”

As Mathias spoke, Elvira moved forward to examine the leg that seemed to bother her. Nothing a salve, potion or some magic couldn’t fix. “I hope being Dalish, Magic doesn’t make you too squeamish,” he joked. His finger tips glowed, wispy colors of green pulling to them until they covered his hands, healing magic. Mathias, for all his ability to kill, was an above average healer as well. He had said to Elvira, that it had been from his own foolish he learned the craft.

The mage knelt in front of the elf, his hands pressing to her limbs, the green wisps flowing, creating a gentle heat as the flesh and muscles mended under his touch. “Surely, you could consider my proposal? I could use another archer.”

wardenmathias

ellcria:

Ellaria flinched as the woman drew closer, only stopping once she realized that she meant to release her. Even if she meant to kill her afterwards, there was nothing she could do, the woman had enough people standing behind her to overpower Ellaria. Not that she planned to go down without a fight, or leaving a scar of her own on the other. Tentatively moving closer, allowing the strange woman to untie the cloth gagging her before she moved to cut open her ties.

The clean air hit her in a way she hadn’t expected. She fell back, slumping against the side of the wagon, allowing her body to feel at ease, after days of captivity. Shaking hands rubbed at the raw indents left from the rope. “Thank you.” Her voice cracked as the words left her mouth, as she struggled to straighten herself up. “Have they sent you to finish the job?” She wearily eyed the other, and the man standing behind her. The days in captivity had left her exhausted, she couldn’t rely on her instincts when it came to them.

She pushed herself up, stumbling to the edge of the wagon, landing shakily on her feet. Her hand grabbed onto the side, keeping herself upright. She needed her weapons back. Feeling her way to the front, her hands swept across the floor, gripping onto the first thing she felt. Pulling the sack towards herself, she let out a sigh of relief, as she pulled out her bow, and the quiver still full of arrows. Locking an arrow into place, she walked to the pile of bodies strewn in the field, letting it loose into the one man that she could make out as one of her captors. She could remember the sick smile that had been plastered across his face, as he had tied her up. “Shame, I was hoping to get that one alive.” Her attention now back to the group behind her, as she locked in another arrow. “Who are you? Why did you attack them?”

Understandably, the woman was wary of Elvira as she approached, but she was quick to ungag her and cut her ropes, not planning on making any sudden moves. Elvira said nothing as the woman moved an spoke, instead allowing her to have the moment of peace, until she mentioned the Cousland finishing the job. Mathias did not move, surprising even Elvira with that choice. The Dalish woman moved along the wagon, grabbing her items as though she hadn’t been tied up for several hours at the least.

Mathias wondered about her, a Dalish elf, now more than like abandoned by her clan considering the darkspawn. Alone as well. Strong enough to fight even after the kinds of wounds she would have from this incident. “I am Mathias, and no one needs a reason to kill thugs nowadays, do they? Certainly as I’m sure they had no reason to keep you in a wagon.”

Elvira had left the wagon, jumping to the ground and sheathing her dagger. She knelt down to whisper sweet words to Calen, who had done a good job. Morrigan, clicked her tongue in disgust at the gesture. The group spread out a little, each getting a look at the Dalish woman. The only Elf among them. Behind Mathias was Octavian, Elvira, Calen, Morrigan, Lelianna, and Sten. Five humans, a Qunari, and a dog. “Where is your clan?”

ellcria:

Her hands and feet raw from the rope digging into her skin, Ellaria had been tossed all around the back of the waggon they had stashed her in. The road had not been forgiving, nor had her captors. She could still feel the cold metal that had scraped the side of her cheek, drawing blood, before they decided it would be safer to simply silence her with a gag her. She hadn’t given them the satisfaction of screaming, she had felt worse pain than what the shemlen had tried to inflict. Although for the past little while she had managed to curl into herself, to avoid being tossed around, she found herself flying across the waggon, crushing her side against whatever else had been stashed back there. Bracing herself for a bumpier ride, her ears perked in anticipation of more movement, but nothing happened.

Scrambling to get closer to the front of the waggon, she hoped to catch some snippet of information, whether it was where they were taking her, or what they planned to do with her. Pressing her ear against the division that separated her from the driver in the front, she could barely make out the words, but whatever it was, did not sound pleasant. Whatever was going on, it had made her captors, or whomever they were talking to angry enough to yell. Managing to plaster herself against the divide, the hands bound behind her back trying to grab at something for balance. She managed to push away the filthy cloth that covered the small window in the divide, that the driver used to bark commands at her, trying to get some sort of visual. It was impossible to make out anything in the darkness, but she couldn’t miss the glint of silver in the air. Swords were being drawn. Fenedhis lasa. She quickly drew herself into the darkest corner of the waggon, hoping that no one came looking in the back. She was too far from her weapon to defend herself.

It hadn’t been more than a few days since she had joined Mathias on his Journey. She hadn’t said very much and the others within the group did not press her for any details. It was a blessing from the Maker that they had even run into each other after their incident. Elvira had taken the extra step to find a cloak for herself, if anyone noticed her within the Bannorn, there would be questions to answer.

Bohdahn was a nice fellow, it seemed a shame that he did not see fit to come on their journey. It had yet to set in for Elvira that the scope of their journey ahead would be beyond words. At her side Calen panted as they made their way north. The Grey Warden Mathias didn’t seem confident in where he should head, but somewhere was better than Lothering. The closer south they were the more likely the horde of Darkspawn would catch up with them. It was as they made their final way from the small town that they found a group of men. Their arm similiar to the men from before who had bother Bodahn.

In passing, Elvira noticed their wagon, at her side Calen did the same, except the dog froze. Elvira jolted to a stop as her Mabari began to growl angrily, deep in his belly. “He smells something,” Mathias stated from a little ways away. She nodded, surprised that he could tell. The man pulled the staff from his back, twirling it for good measure as he walked up to the men. It took moments for the talking to turn into fighting. Swords, daggers, bows and staves were out. Calen stuck close to Elvira’s side as they tore through the men.

Once they were dead, their corpses pooling, Mathias began to push through their clothing searching for anything useful. Ocatavian seemed a little less inclined to follow suit, however, Lelianna began perusing to what seemed to be her delight. At her side, Calen nudged at a shield. Howe’s symbol painted on the front. Elvira scowled, disappointed she did not kill more. Once more, Calen, nudged her, his nose smelling at the wagon with them. Elvira expected their to ber servants from her castle within or maybe treasures stolen from her home.

She did not expect to open the door to a Dalish woman, gagged and bleeding. Her brown was furrowed deeply and her skin tanned from the days in the sun.

“Mathias,” she said to the mage. She sheathed her sword and the man glanced to her as she climbed in slowly, reaching for the elf in attempt to free the gag and cut her ropes.