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Blood Song	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 1631 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 10
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The Wending Woods

When they got back to the Vigil, everyone split off. Lisha stood in the courtyard, looking around at the excellent construction. It was going a lot faster than she originally thought it would. Dwarves apparently wasted no time.
She was also happy to find she wasn't needed. Varel had been in the throne room, taking care of some matters. Nothing of which needed her immediate attention. He filled her in on everything going on and she was free to relax if she wished. Lisha thought as she stared up at the Vigil, that while they were in a down time, now would be good to get to know her Wardens better. She especially wanted to know about Anders. Having escaped from the tower seven times, and been in solitary confinement for a year made her want to know more about him. She also wanted to make sure Nathaniel was all right. He seemed better after talking to his sister, but she still wanted to make sure. Then there was also Sigrun. The newest member to her recruits, Sigrun was the one she knew least about, and after the incident in the market area, Lisha wanted to know more about what happened.
Something fuzzy and small brushed up against Lisha's leg, breaking her chain of thought. She looked down to see an orange cat at her feet. It stared at her with large, yellow eyes and meowed. “Oh, hello there,” she said. “You're a cute little kitty. Do you belong to anyone?” The cat rubbed his head against Lisha's leg, arching his back and flicking his tail. She bent down and began scratching behind his ears, causing him to start rubbing her hand and purring.
“Hmm, no collar, but you're too friendly to be feral. Did you lose your home to the darkspawn? Yes, it seems everyone is being affected by them. Even you.” Lisha picked the cat up, holding him close to her chest while he sniffed her face. “Are you hungry? There might be something in the kitchen for you to eat. In fact, I don't think the staff in there would mind having you around. You could keep the rats away. Right?”
Merow, the cat replied.
“Of course.” Lisha stroked the cat's head as she made her way into the Vigil and straight toward the kitchen. When she got there, it didn't surprise her to find both Anders and Sigrun chowing away on their food while talking with their mouths full. “Still hungry?” she asked Anders while passing by their table.
“Mm hm,” he hummed with a full mouth. “Oh! What do you have there?” Anders popped up from the table and was immediately intrigued by the orange tabby in her arms.
“You mean this little thing? It's a cat I just found... or he found me. I was out in the courtyard when he just came up to me. I don't think he has a home anymore.”
“Ah, the poor thing.” Anders began scratching behind the cat's ears, making it purr and arch. Soon it leaped from Lisha's arms to Anders's. “Look at the cute little kitty!”
“Apparently he likes you.”
“No surprise there. I've always been a cat person. I used to have a cat when I was in the tower. Well... he technically wasn't mine. He was the tower's mouser, but took a liking to me. There were days when that stupid cat was the only person I saw. Expect for it not being a person. Still, I liked him. Poor Mr. Wiggums.”
“'Poor Mr. Wiggums'?” Sigrun giggled. “Well with a name like that...”
“Hey, I thought that was a great name for a cat. He was a tabby, just like this one only darker and with less fur. He wasn't in the best of shape either. Probably from the templars kicking him all the time. He did get back at them though, quite nicely too! A rage demon possessed him and he took out three templars. The very three who were always mean to him. I was never more proud. Though, he eventually was taken down and killed. Which is why I said, poor Mr. Wiggums.”
“Well, Anders,” said Lisha. “If you want, you can have this one.”
“What? R-Really? Are you sure?”
“He very much likes you, and he'll need a good home.”
“Yes, but we fight darkspawn. I don't think he'd be safe.”
“Then just keep him here in the keep. I'm sure it could use a mouser. He'll be safe, and his litter box will be in your room.”
“I suppose,” Anders said as the tabby rubbed his face to his, meowing in the process. “Oh, who am I kidding! I do want you, cute kitty. Now you just need a name. Ow, I got one! How about Ser Pounce-a-lot?”
Merow...
“That settles it, then.”
“Ser Pounce-a-lot?” Sigrun said as she went up to pet the cat. “You come up with the weirdest names, Anders.”
“They're not weird, they're excellent names! I'm sure what you named your pets was weird.”
“Actually, I never had a pet. Well, I did have a nug once, but only for an hour. Not really enough time to name it before my uncle slaughtered it.”
“Well that's certainly not going to happen to you, Ser Pounce-a-lot! Are you hungry? Maybe they have something for you, I'm sure.” Anders continued talking to his cat as he walked into the kitchen, leaving Lisha alone with Sigrun in the mess hall.
“So how are you feeling?” Lisha asked.
“Eh... I don't know,” Sigrun said scratching her head. “It's very weird being a Grey Warden. I mean, the dreams alone are enough to drive someone crazy. Dwarves don't have dreams, so I don't know how to handle them.”
“It's hard, but eventually they do pass with time. Just try to get through the nights the best you can.”
“I am. Actually, last night I started reading a book after the nightmares woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep.” She went over to the table and picked up a book that was lying there. “I didn't realize there were so many books on the surface.”
“And they're all at your disposal, Sigrun.”
“Thanks, Lisha. I've... really only read one. I just learned how to read not too long ago, while I was in the Legion. My friend Varlan taught me, but... he's dead now.”
Lisha saw Sigrun's face fall, becoming saddened by mentioning her dead friend. “Tell me about him.”
“Oh, he was a noble, once. From House Vollney. I don't know why he ended up in the Legion. He wouldn't say, but I think I have an idea. We actually met before he was sent to the Deep Roads. It was an interesting occurrence. My mother was forcing me to become a noble hunter. It was something I didn't want to do, but... I had to do it. For my family.
“The first day I went to the Diamond Quarter was when we met. I was way out of place, uncomfortable, and wishing I was somewhere else. Varlan noticed that, and he wanted to help me. He's the one that got me that job with Mischa. It was a debt she owed him. But I'm thinking now, she wished she had never paid it back.”
“Do you want to talk about what happened in Amaranthine?” Lisha asked. She didn't want to prod, but she could tell Sigrun needed to get it off her chest.
“I... well, it is my fault what happened,” Sigrun sighed. “Beraht came to me, wanting to get rid of the statuette. If I didn't do what he wanted, he said he would kill me. He was also going to kill Mischa if I told her. I didn't want that to happen. I thought I was keeping her safe.”
Lisha looked on at the dwarf as she hung her head low. Sigrun seemed distraught, the book in her hand hanging to the side while her other hand fingered a tiny little trinket.
“You did the right thing, Sigrun,” Lisha said. “Even if Mischa hates you for it.”
“I know what you mean, Lisha, but it's hard to feel that way. I think... I know I want to do something, but I don't know what. Do you think, if we get a chance to go back to Amaranthine, we could find her? I want to do something, or at least say how sorry I am.”
“Sure, Sigrun. We'll make time to do that.”
Sigrun looked away from the floor and smiled at Lisha. “Thanks, Commander. That would make me feel better. But, until then... I think I might want to get started reading. I have a lot of books to go through before the darkspawn get me.”
***
The next morning, Lisha stood out in the courtyard, all her Wardens lined up as they prepared to travel to the Wending Woods. Lisha still needed to check on the missing caravans and find out what was destroying everything. Everyone was there, Anders playing with Ser Pounce-A-Lot, while Sigrun and Nathaniel were in a conversation about a doll she found under her bed.
“Why is Miss Maggie missing her arms?” Sigrun asked as she looked at the doll.
“That would be me being a bit of a jerk,” said Nathaniel. “Delilah and I had a fight. Can't remember what it was about, but afterwards, I ripped them off and hid them in places where Delilah would find them later.”
“What a sweetheart you were.”
Oghren was the only one not with them, the reason why they hadn't departed yet. Lisha knew the reason why. He was probably still passed out after indulging himself way too much last night. It was typical Oghren, but last night seemed special.
“Oh, there you are, Oghren,” Lisha said once she saw him coming out of the keep. “I see you got your pants on. Not scared of the schleets anymore?”
“Schleets?” Anders said curious. “Did I miss something?”
“Only Oghren being Oghren.”
“What are you talking about, Commander?” Oghren said scratching his head. “What in the world are schleets?”
“Well, according to you they're 'ordinary pairs of pants that eat your eyeballs'! Or something like that,” Lisha smirked at him.
“Seriously? Did I say that?” Oghren asked confused. “Pff, you should know better to ignore me when I'm stinkin' drunk.”
“I know. Are you ready to go? We've been waiting for you.”
“Well, uh... that's the thing I wanted to ask you about, Commander. I was wondering if I could stay and, you know, help Voldrik and Dworkin out with that tablet we got from Kal'Hirol.”
“You think they'll need your help?” Lisha asked raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe.”
“Hmm. Does this have something to do with that... rash?”
“Uh... it could.”
“I thought Anders made a poultice for you?”
“It's not going to work overnight! Although, I would have to say it's getting better.”
“Okay, okay, I don't really want too many details, so if you want to stay, then stay. The four of us can handle the Wending Woods just fine. Right, you three?”
“No problem, Commander!” Sigrun saluted.
They headed out, going south down the path to the Wending Woods. Lisha and Nathaniel's quivers full, Anders supplied with a decent amount of poultices, and Sigrun's two daggers sharpened and cleaned. Lisha liked that Amaranthine was small, many of its places not taking long to get to. The Woods were only a few miles away from the Vigil. Lisha figured it was an area she and Mhairi had passed on their way. This was something that actually excited Lisha more than she thought, and it proved more and more as they began entering the woods. Trees began to surround them on all sides. Lisha could smell it in the air, feel the forest around her. It was much different and much better than being surrounded by stone and brick. She was feeling at home.
As they walked, Anders and Sigrun were in the back, talking and laughing away. Lisha mostly ignored them as she took in nature. Loving the feel of it again, even if the day wasn't as sunny or bright.
“I don't think I ever thanked you.” Nathaniel had been slowly making his way to her side, having finally gotten in step.
“You don't need to thank me, Nate,” Lisha said as she stared at the sky.
“But I feel like I do. You allowed me and even helped me to find my sister and learn the truth about my father. I was able to see I still had family. I wasn't even sure Grey Wardens could do that.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I've always heard that once you become a Grey Warden you are suppose to leave your life behind. That includes any family you may have. I just wanted to thank you, not only for giving me the opportunity to find my sister, but also saying I can go back and visit.”
“Do you seriously think once you're a Grey Warden your life before is gone?” Lisha smiled. “In some cases, yes, but in most cases, no. Many of the Wardens in Orlais had families they visited. Some of them even had wives, husbands and children living with them in the hold. It might be different during a Blight, as Zelda and Arawin were forced to leave their families. But afterwards, they were able to return.”
Nathaniel nodded. “I suppose that's true. You know, I also found out that I'm not the only Howe to join the Wardens. I had completely forgotten. Delilah reminded me that our grandfather had gone to join them as well. Padric Howe was his name. He went to join the Wardens in Orlais. My father said he was a fool to join a worthless cause. We never heard from him again, and now that I know what it takes to join the Wardens, I think I know why. I don't think my grandfather survived his Joining.”
Lisha looked over at him, seeing his despair. “Many good men and women have died during their Joinings. My own had three die while four lived. The warden-commander there said it was a good Joining that so many of us lived. The fact that all of you have lived through your Joinings is nothing short of a miracle. I'm glad of it, though.”
“I guess so, which would explain a lot, then,” said Nathaniel. “If he did die, then at least that means he didn't abandon his family. But wouldn't we have been informed about his death, at least?”
“You would've, yes. And perhaps you were, but only your father got that letter.”
Nathaniel looked forward, obviously taking in something he hadn't considered. “At least I know now,” he whispered. “And it's still good to have family.”
“It is.” Lisha looked off into the distance. The talk of family brought her mind to Dayno and Zevran. Both of them were still out there, somewhere, and she still hadn't heard from any of them. She also thought of Arawin, wondering if she was behaving herself, and how she was doing in her condition. It made her wishful to be with them again. Their little family, discovered in the ashes of her previous one.
“Lisha, are you all right?” Nathaniel asked, seeing her mood change.
“Just... thinking,” she said. “I'm... wondering how my husband is doing.”
“Oh, right. Your... husband.” Nathaniel looked downcast. “Have you not heard from him?”
“No, but I know he's not dead. That is for sure. I just hope he and my nephew are on their way home. They should be, at least. I would hate... It would be disastrous if Zevran didn't make it in time. If he wasn't already dead, Arawin would kill him.”
Nathaniel kept his eyes on her. “It would be disastrous for you too, I'm sure.”
“Of course it would, but... it's almost like... I'm expecting it. I've... lost so much, it's like I'm waiting to lose both of them as well.” Lisha had to look away, not sure why she had just told him that.
“It's okay,” Nathaniel said calmly. “You don't have to say anything more.”
“No, maybe I do need to say something,” Lisha said looking back at him. “Maybe then you will understand me better, and it's never good to keep something that hurts inside you. But yes, I have lost a lot in my life. First was my parents, who I never knew. My father, who was the Keeper to my clan, was killed by humans before I was born. My mother then died giving birth to me. Keeper Marethari said she had basically become sick from the death of my father, and was really only staying alive for me. I was then raised by my older sister, Azrielya, and another woman named Ashalle. She had lost her own baby recently and became my wet-nurse. Azya taught me everything I know when it came to being a hunter. She was the clan's greatest at the time, but eventually, I lost her as well.
“It was to some small matter, really, that caused my sister to leave our clan with a city elf and move to Antiva where she died. I would only find out when I turned sixteen, when me and my best friend at the time, Tamlen, went to Antiva City to look for her. It wouldn't be until many years later that I would find my nephew and realize he was alive, at least.
“Tamlen was my next loss. It was before we became true hunters. We were searching the woods together when we came across an ancient elven ruin that caught our attention. Inside, we found a corrupted mirror, that when Tamlen touched it, tainted both of us with blight. Our clan found us and Marethari worked hard to heal us. She was able to cure me, or at least work a spell that made the taint be dormant within me. She was unable to save Tamlen, however, and he died from the taint.”
“Hold on a second,” Anders interrupted. “You were tainted and it never bothered you?”
Lisha stared back at both Anders and Sigrun who she had noticed had gotten very quiet. “Yes, I was tainted, but I wouldn't say it didn't bother me. Marethari's spell kept it dormant, but it didn't last. When I helped to defeat the archdemon, it started growing and broke the spell. Arawin noticed this, and thought it best I go through the Joining to become a Grey Warden. It was the only way I could live. So I did, Dayno along side me.” Lisha turned back around. “I thought I was going to lose him there, but he survived as well. It was good to know I didn't lose him for a second time.”
“A second time?” asked Sigrun. “What happened the first time?”
Lisha smirked. “That's when I first met Arawin. She had come to the clan to ask Keeper Zathrian about upholding the treaty signed by the Dalish long ago. Zathrian was unable to however, do to the fact the clan had been recently attacked by werewolves. Dayno was one who had been cursed and suffering. I helped Arawin by leading her into the Brecilian Forest and obtaining the cure. It was... bitter sweet.”
“Something tells me you lost someone else that day, didn't you?” Nathaniel asked.
Lisha stopped. “Yes. To the werewolves. Ariel.”
It became quiet, even the forest didn't seem to make a noise. No one seemed to know what to say, seeming to understand who Ariel was without even asking.
After a few moments, Lisha stared up at the tree tops, noticing something up ahead. It was smoke climbing to the sky, black and close. “Come on,” she said beginning to move forward again. “I think we're close.”
They followed her down the path as they came across several wagons. They were all overturned and burning. Lisha stopped and looked around, feeling something wasn't right. She had suspected darkspawn to be the culprits disturbing the trade route, even if Mervis had said they weren't. But the way the wagons were destroyed, it didn't look like the work of darkspawn. She also couldn't feel their presence.
“What could have done this?” Sigrun asked as she examined one of the wagons.
“Whatever it was, it had to have been big,” said Anders.
Lisha walked around one of the wagons, only to be hit in the side, knocking her down.
“I don't think so!” the man yelled. “This is my wagon! I found it—Huh? Wait! You're the warden-commander. Shit!” Before Lisha could stand and grab him, the man ran from her, yelling to others down the path.
“Stop them!” she yelled. Nathaniel helped her up as Anders and Sigrun ran after them. The man had joined with the others, bandits scavenging the wagons. Anders stood his ground and fired an ice spell, which froze several of the men to the ground. Sigrun took out both her daggers and leaped at one of the bandits who had not been frozen. He clashed with her, swinging his greatsword over her head and bringing it down. Sigrun jumped out of the way, planting one dagger in his side and sweeping the other around to stick in his back. The bandit fell and she moved on to the next.
Lisha and Nathaniel joined Anders and the two archers started firing arrows at the remaining bandits. It wasn't long before they were all dead except for one. Sigrun had him pinned to the ground, allowing Lisha to hover over as she questioned him.
“What are you doing here? Do you know what happened?”
“No, no,” he said scared. “We just heard about the wagons, thought we could get a profit from the goods. We didn't burn them. They were like that when we got here!”
“So you don't know what happened, then?”
“No, I—Ah!” He began screaming, jerking around as Sigrun let him go and backed away.
“Sigrun?” Lisha asked.
“It's not me!”
A branch shot out of his chest, splattering blood and ceasing his struggle.
“Maker's breath!” Anders proclaimed. “What is that?”
Lisha looked up the path to the tree line, and saw what she thought she'd see. It was a sylvan, one of it's branch-hands stuck down in the dirt. The roots sticking out of the bandits body began to grow rapidly, reaching straight for them.
“Move fast!” Lisha said as she cut one of the roots that reached for her.
Sigrun rolled out of reach of the roots as she saw the sylvan in the distance. She grabbed her daggers and went after it, the others right behind her. The sylvan, seeing them coming for it, retracted its roots and brought its branch-hand out of the ground. It left the tree line, arms stretched and a low billow ringing from its trunk. As it came, Lisha soon noticed that this sylvan was different. It was charred black, burning inside from the red smolder in its trunk. She stopped dead and fired an arrow, knowing it wouldn't do much, but hoping it would be a distraction for Sigrun. Nathaniel stood next to her, doing the same thing.
Sigrun flew, again rolling to avoid the sylvan's branches. She made it to the tree's back, sticking her daggers in the wood. They went deep as the wood gave way from rot and char. Sigrun ripped her daggers out, taking a huge chunk of wood with her. The sylvan bellowed, turning around to swipe at her, but hitting nothing as the dwarf slide out of its grip. She then went to dig her daggers in its trunk again, but this time the sylvan kicked out with its trunk-leg, knocking her back.
“Suck on a fireball!” Anders yelled as he hurled one at the sylvan. It exploded on the tree, but did nothing to it.
“Anders, I don't think fire's going to help!” Lisha said. “And watch out for Sigrun!”
“Right, got it, Commander.” Anders left her and Nathaniel's side, going straight to the sylvan and stopping before it. With his staff raised, ice started shooting out, coating the tree and slowing it down.
Sigrun picked herself up and ran at it, jumping on the back of its trunk and piercing her daggers through the ice. It cracked, going straight up and down the trunk. Anders then threw a stone fist, finishing the job and splitting the tree in two.
“What in the world was that?” Nathaniel asked as the four of them came together. “I don't remember trees coming to life in the Wending Woods before.”
“I can sense there is unrest in these woods,” said Lisha. “But nothing like the Brecilian Forest. Trees do not just come alive unless something provokes them.”
“Spirits, you mean?” said Anders.
“Or something else.” Lisha looked down the path. “I have a feeling whatever destroyed those wagons is what brought the trees to life. We need to keep going and find it.”
She began running down the path, the others following. They went past more overturned wagons, more burning caravans. It wasn't until they reached a part she hadn't been to before, a part that lead off into the forest over a bridge did they run into another bandit. He was running across the bridge, frantic, not really noticing them blocking his path.
“Ah! Get out of my way!” he screamed. “I need to get out of here!”
“Whoa, hang on there,” said Lisha. “What are you running from?”
“That damn, bloody elf!” he shrieked. “She's mad, I tell you! Making the trees come alive, accusing us of something we didn't do. We just wanted easy money, that's all! Now please, let me-” He stopped when there was a loud rustle behind him. He turned to look, fear all over his body. “Maker help me,” he whimpered. “She's here. I've got to get away!” He pushed his way past, nearly knocking Anders over the bridge.
Lisha walked over to the other side and looked up at the top of the cliff. There she saw vines start sprouting out of the ground, collecting before dispersing and standing in there place an elf. Dalish, by her looks. “Aneth ara, lethallan,” Lisha said to her.
The elf looked down at her confused, but soon a smile crossed her face. “Andaran atish'an, falon. Man eneth lín?”
“Lisha eneth nîn. And you, lethallan? What is your name? And why are you here?”
The elf smirked. “You may be Dalish, but you're traveling with humans. Why should I trust you?”
“Because we are Grey Wardens and I am their commander.”
“Really?” The elf looked surprised. “Well then, if that's the case then you must be here to investigate the darkspawn roaming around this forest. What business would you want with me?”
“If there are darkspawn in these parts, then I will tend to them, but I'm also here to investigate the destroyed caravans. Are you reasonable for that?” Lisha eyed her, seeing she had a staff at her back and seemed to be wearing robes that only a First would wear.
“I did destroy the caravans,” the elf proclaimed. “And I will continue to do it until I get my sister back! You can go tell that to the humans, if you wish. Now, if you don't mind, I have a mission to complete. Because you are Dalish and a Grey Warden, I will leave you alone as long as you do the same for me. Take care of the darkspawn then be gone. I will not warn you a second time.” With a flick of her wrist, the vines reappeared and she departed. Lisha continued to stare at the spot where she had been.
“So what now?” Sigrun asked.
“If she's destroying the caravans, we need to stop her,” said Nathaniel.
“We do, but there's something strange going on here,” Lisha whispered. “She talked of a sister missing, and darkspawn. But I don't sense darkspawn nearby. I think we need to investigate some more.”
***
“I... don't understand.”
After talking with the elf, they had made their way up the path, going up hill and finding tucked way at the top a small Dalish camp. Lisha stood, staring at the empty aravels and the shallow graves behind them. There was blood staining the ground, and death was thick in the air.
“This doesn't make any sense at all,” she whispered. “Why would they be buried like that?”
“I'll tell you what doesn't make sense,” said Sigrun as she looked at all the weapons on the ground. “Why are these weapons here? They look human.”
“Is this what that weird elf was talking about?” Anders asked. “This is Dalish, right? Maybe the humans killed her clan and stole her sister and that's what she's getting revenge for.”
“Perhaps,” said Lisha. “But this camp is way too small. I don't know any clan that is this size. They wouldn't survive for very long. And the way the graves are made, it was either done by humans or by haste.”
“Why would humans bury elves they've killed?” said Nathaniel.
“Maybe it wasn't the humans who killed them. Maybe it was some humans who happened to come across the camp and wanted to be helpful. But that wouldn't make sense, either. I really want to know about the graves, but also why these weapons are here. They're coated in blood, but that's not a logical reason for one to just discard his weapon.”
“What do you want us to do, Lisha?”
Lisha looked around the camp, counting the graves. There were at least twenty. “First, we're going to bury these elves properly. I'm not leaving my own people like this. Afterwards, we'll investigate this further. I want to know what that Dalish is doing and why she said there were darkspawn here I can't sense. Anders, start creating some holes. Nathaniel and Sigrun, remove the rocks from the graves. I'll go and find some trees.”

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening.
All Sindarin belongs to JRR Tolkien.
Sindarin Translation:
Man eneth lín (Mahn eh-nehth leen): What is your name?
Lisha eneth nîn (Lee-sha eh-nehth neen): My name is Lisha.
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Blood Song