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Blood Bond	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Decisions

After packing everything up, they found a place to reset their camp right outside of Lothering, next to the main road. Next to their fire, Zelda leaned over a map of Ferelden. Arawin stood on the other side, studying the layout of the land. She had never seen a full map of Ferelden before, and it amazed her how big it was. All of their destinations were many miles apart. Arawin wondered if they would be able to gather the army they needed in a timely manner.
“So,” said Zelda. “We are here, just north of Lothering. Redcliffe is west of us and where we should go first. I think if we--”
“Why do you get to decide where we go first?” asked Arawin.
Zelda looked up at her with content. “I was only suggesting Redcliffe. Alistair already said we should go there first, but please, what do you think we should do?” Zelda stood straight and crossed her arms. The annoyance on her face was plain. Despite the fact that only about an hour ago they had connected, now it seemed they were coming apart again. They had just taken the potion Morrigan had given them.
Arawin pointed on the map to the Brecilian Forest. “We are closer to the Brecilian Forest, so I think we should head east and look for a Dalish clan. Every other place we need to go to is on the west side of Ferelden, so it just makes more sense to start here.”
“But we need to go to Redcliffe first because of the arl. We need his help.”
“We need everyone’s help, Zelda, and what do we need his help specifically for anyway?”
“Arl Eamon is well respected and will be able to see through Loghain’s treachery. There’s no reason why he wouldn’t help us.”
Arawin squinted her eyes. “You don’t know that! He could be just like Loghain and betray us. There’s nothing stopping him since he wasn’t at Ostagar. Maybe he’s in with Loghain.” She mirrored Zelda’s stance and the two women stood, locked on to one another, neither of them budging.
“Oh, no,” moaned Alistair. “Here they go again.”
“It may take weeks to find a Dalish clan,” said Zelda. “They don’t stay in one place for very long and are experts at covering their tracks. Plus, we don’t even know if a clan is in the Brecilian Forest!”
“But we need to find one, nonetheless,” said Arawin.
“Ferelden could be swallowed up by the Blight by the time we found one!”
“The Blight could come down on us now while we’re here talking, for all we know! The Brecilian Forest is closer!”
“You only want to find the Dalish first because they’re elves and you don’t want to travel with us humans anymore!”
“That is not true! I just don’t want to travel with you!”
“Ladies, ladies, please!” Leliana got in between Zelda and Arawin, who were getting closer to each other, to keep them at bay. “There is no need to fight. We need to stick together on this. I’m sure there is a compromise.”
“Compromise?” Zelda and Arawin said at the same time.
“Yes,” said Leliana. “Alistair, you are the other Grey Warden, maybe you could determine what we do first.”
“I don’t really want to have to choose,” he said. “They both have good points... and I don’t want either one of them to hurt me.”
“Of course that would be your excuse,” said Morrigan. “To think Alistair would actually make a decision. The dogs could settle this better than he could.”
“Thanks,” Alistair grumbled.
Kunjo and Rupee lifted up their heads and barked. They then laid back down and continued to ignore what was going on.
“See?” said Alistair. “They don’t want to get involved either. I’m not the only one.”
“But something has to be done,” said Leliana. She thought for a moment. “How about we split up?”
“Split up?” Zelda questioned. “I don’t know...”
“I think it might work,” said Arawin.
“Of course you’d think so.”
“What’s wrong with splitting up?”
“It’s dangerous and we can’t afford to be separated.”
“But it might be the only way,” said Leliana. “I know it doesn’t sound good, but it’s a compromise that will give both of you what you want. Arawin and a few of us go to the Brecilian Forest to look for the Dalish. And Zelda and the rest go to Redcliffe.”
“It will save time,” Morrigan added.
“And smaller groups travel quicker.” Everyone had almost forgotten about Sten, and was surprised when he spoke up. The Qunari had been quiet the whole time.
Zelda contemplated the idea. She didn’t like the thought, but what everyone was saying was true. “Alright, we can split up. Arawin and I will each take two. Arawin will go to the Brecilian Forest and Alistair and I will go to Redcliffe.”
“Why do you get to take Alistair?” said Arawin.
Zelda sighed.
“Ladies, there is no need to fight over me,” said Alistair. “There’s plenty of me to go around.”
“We’re not fighting over you,” Arawin huffed.
“Oh.” Alistair sounded disappointed.
“She only wants to know why I got to pick first,” said Zelda. “The reason why Alistair should go with me to Redcliffe is because he knows the arl and the area.”
“Alright,” said Arawin. “Then I get Morrigan.”
“That’s fine with me.”
“Do I not have a say in this?” asked Morrigan. “Must I always go where others tell me too?”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to go,” said Arawin. “I just thought your skills would be useful tracking down the Dalish.”
“I’m not a tracker by any means, but, yes. I do know my way around wilderness if need be.”
Zelda turned toward Leliana and Sten. “We’ll let you two choose.”
“I would like to go with Arawin,” said Sten.
“That’s fine, but is there a reason why?” asked Zelda.
“Do I need to give a reason?”
“No, I’m just curious.”
“She is the one that released me. I must follow her.”
“Fair enough. Leliana, I guess that leaves you with Alistair and I. Is that fine?”
“Yes,” Leliana nodded. “I'm actually glad I didn’t have to choose. For a moment there, I knew what Alistair was feeling.”
“Then it’s settled,” said Arawin. “I, along with Morrigan, Sten, and Kunjo will go to the Brecilian Forest to look for a Dalish clan.”
“And Alistair, Leliana, Rupee, and I will head off to Redcliffe,” Zelda finished.
It was agreed, and they left it at that.
***
Despite the fact they wanted to leave immediately, it had taken a few days before the two groups could depart. They wanted to gather more supplies for the long journeys ahead of them, because neither of them knew when they would be able to barter again since the bounty on their heads would keep them from entering very many settlements. They tried to trade with the people in Lothering some more, but it was no use. Every time Arawin, Zelda, and Alistair went into the village, they were always chased out due to the fact that no one wanted them there. They had been attacked several times already by refugees hungry enough to dare such a thing. Always, they never killed the refugees, only left them sore and wishing they hadn’t even tried. It had gotten so bad, that only Leliana, along with some canine escorts, was able to go into Lothering without harassment. Eventually they gave up and decided that it was finally time to part, but there was one thing that was plaguing both Zelda and Arawin’s minds.
“How are we going to know if you find the Dalish or not?” Zelda finally asked as they packed up the last remnants of their camp. “We’re going to be separated for a long time, and what if you never find the Dalish? Or what if you do? Then what?”
“That’s something I’ve been wondering myself,” said Arawin. “We never really discussed what would happen afterwards.”
“Maybe it is a bad idea to separate after all.”
“No, no! No, no!” Alistair said as he made his way in between the two even though neither of them made a move. “We are not getting in this again.”
“Getting into what, Alistair?” said Zelda. “Arawin and I were just talking.”
“He thinks we’re going to argue again because of this new problem.” Arawin crossed her arms and glared at him.
“I’m only taking precautions,” he said. “The last thing we need to do is leave on bad terms.”
“Anyway,” Zelda continued. “Getting back to what we were talking about, I think maybe sticking together is best.”
Arawin shifted, showing her irritation. “No, we are not going back on what we planned. This is what we’re doing. If anything, we’ll send a message to Redcliffe when we find the Dalish.”
Zelda sighed, shaking her head. “What if we’re not at Redcliffe? What if we don’t hear from you in months? For us, at least, getting the arl’s help won’t take very long. We might decide to go to the Circle right after if we are able.”
“Then tell the arl that he might be hearing from me, and if you are at the Circle, then he can send a message.”
“This will take forever, then.”
“If you two are done discussing fool hardy ways of communication, then might I suggest something?” Morrigan stood before them, her pack slung over her shoulder. Zelda and Arawin peered at her, wondering what it was she was going to say.
“Go ahead,” said Zelda.
“As you may have guessed,” she began. “While we are apart, neither of you will need to take the potion to block your bond. This is because you will both be too far apart for you to feel one another. This will not always be so, however, but that won’t be for a long time.”
“What is your point?” Arawin asked.
“My point is, is that while the bond is not being blocked, you can use it to communicate over long distances with the help of your pendents. I assume you still have them, yes?”
Both the women pulled out their pendents. Zelda was still wearing hers around her neck, but Arawin had moved hers to her pouch. They could feel the warmth of the blood as it swirled within the glass. It was still as black as the day they received them.
“We can use these to talk to one another?” said Arawin with raised eyebrows. “How?”
“Don’t tell me,” Zelda said placing her hands on her hips. “Magic, right?”
“Yes, but only a magic that you two possess.” Morrigan’s smile was hard, but reassuring.
Zelda didn’t like the sound of it, but if it was the only way, then she wasn’t going to argue. “If it’ll work just as you say, then I guess that will do.” She turned to Arawin. “I say we try and contact each other as often as we can so that we know what is going on.”
“Agreed,” Arawin nodded. “Do you think we should test it now? I mean, so we know how to do it.”
Zelda hesitated. “No... We should be fine. If anything, you have Morrigan to help you, and I’ll probably be heading to the Circle anyway, so the mages there can help me if I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“That’s fair enough.” Arawin seemed to be relieved as well that they weren’t going to test it. They both wondered if it was a bad idea, but neither of them spoke up.
With everything packed and settled, it didn’t take long before the two groups said their good-byes and parted. Zelda and her companions headed west, towards Lake Calenhad, where Redcliffe was settled on it’s shores. Arawin and her group went east, following the Drakon River towards South Reach, where they could possibly stop for things they needed if Arawin’s presence didn’t cause a commotion. Arawin had also given the treaties for both the Circle and the dwarves to Zelda. It was already decided that Zelda would recruit the mages along with asking Arl Eamon for help, but the dwarves were still something they were uncertain about. They decided it would be best for Zelda to have their treaty since she would be closer to Orzammar.
Despite the fact that they had only known each other for a short time, everyone was reluctant to leave. Neither of them not knowing when they would see each other again, if at all.
***
Loghain stood next to the fire, the drink in his hands forgotten. He stared into the flames, contemplating. He couldn’t remember who had given him the drink or if he had even ordered one. He smelled the contents. It had a strong but sweet smell to it. Had he ordered something strong to drink? He didn’t doubt it. There was a lot going through his mind right now.
Had letting Cailan die at Ostagar been the right decision? Yes, of course it had. Cailan was a fool. He was a fool to believe he could defeat the darkspawn in one giant battle. He was a fool to believe that the Grey Wardens could win that battle for him. And he was a fool to think the Orlesians would help them without something else on their minds. Ferelden was weak right now, and it would have been even more so after Ostagar. There would be nothing to stop the Orlesians from trying to reclaim what they probably thought was rightfully theirs. And there was no way Loghain was going to let that happen. He had fought too hard to drive them out to just let them back in again because of a fool king. A fool that was the son of his best friend.
Loghain winced as he thought of Maric. What would Maric say if he learned of what Loghain had done? Perhaps he was turning in his grave right now. Yet Loghain believed that Maric would agree with him about the Orlesians, if nothing else. They had fought together, side by side to pull Meghren off the throne and allow Maric to reclaim it.
Loghain thought back to when he and Maric had first met. The blonde boy had stumbled out of the forest, covered in blood. He looked nothing like a prince, let alone a king at that point. To this day Loghain still wasn’t sure why he had not killed the boy then and there. It might have saved him a whole lot of trouble and grief. But instead, Loghain had taken the boy back to his father’s camp, where they had found out he was the prince and he was on the run from men who had betrayed his mother, the Rebel Queen, and killed her.
At first Loghain had wanted to kill Maric, to keep the soldiers away from the camp. The camp he and his father were in charge of was already hiding from the Orlesians as it was made up of people fleeing from them for several reasons. Loghain and his father, themselves, used to be farmers. They had lost their lands to the Orlesians because his father refused to serve the false king. Now, if they did have the prince in their camp, it wouldn’t take long before the soldiers chasing him would be at their doorstep. But his father wouldn’t allow it. Instead, he had made Loghain promise to take Maric and run. Loghain had done so reluctantly, and from there, a friendship grew between them, and once Maric took back the throne, had then granted the teyrn of Gwaren to him.
And now here he was, the regent of Ferelden, the killer of Maric’s son, and probably the most hated man in the entire country. Loghain wouldn’t doubt that at all.
Foot steps sounded behind him. They fell softly, as if the person coming up was trying not to disturb. Loghain didn’t turn to see who it was, he already knew. He also didn’t want to look into those snake-like eyes. To see that horrid gleam that showed whenever Howe had come up with some wicked idea. Loghain tried to think of why he had decided to side with Howe. They had never been friends, and it had been Howe who had went to Loghain first. He had told him about Bryce, and how the teryn of Highever was working with the Orlesians on some deal. This was the reason why he had let the arl kill the Couslands, why he then granted Howe the teyrn Highever. But now Loghain was questioning those claims. He didn’t know Bryce very well either, but he knew the other teyrn more than he did Howe. Bryce might have been married to a woman with Orlesian descendents, but he didn’t seem like a man that would betray his country like that. Loghain would never know now.
He heard Howe clear his throat. Apparently Howe had something important to say, otherwise, he would have probably left already. Loghain had hoped he would. He wanted to be alone right now. That was why he hadn’t acknowledged Howe’s presence. It obviously wasn’t working.
“Sire,” Howe said in his snake-like voice.
“What is it?” Loghain said in as cold a voice as he possibly could. He wanted Howe to know that he was not in the mood, but Howe still stood firm. He really must have had something important to say.
“I bring word, Sire,” Howe continued, unabated. “There are demands from the Bannorn that you step down from the regency. They are said to be gathering their forces. As are your allies. It appears it will be civil war after all, despite the darkspawn. Pity.” Howe almost sounded as if he liked the idea.
But why was he telling him this? Loghain already knew that the Bannorn did not approve of him being regent. That damn Teagan had made sure of that. If Loghain could, he would have Teagan dealt with as well, but that wouldn’t be possible. There was already too much against Loghain, and he didn’t need more.
“I already know this,” Loghain spat, still staring at the fire. “I hope this is not all you have come to tell me.”
He heard Howe smirk. “I also bring other news. An interesting report from Lothering. There seems to be Grey Wardens who survived Ostagar. How I don’t know, but they will act against you.”
This made Loghain look up from the fire. Grey Wardens had survived? Was that even possible? Of course it was. Loghain knew this. If there would be any survivors from that gruesome battle, it would be Grey Wardens.
“I thought you put out a bounty for any survivors?” he asked.
“I did,” said Howe. “But you know how Grey Wardens are. They are a stubborn order that refuses to die. That is why I have arranged for a... solution, with your leave.”
This time Loghain had no choice but to look at Howe. He slowly turned to the teyrn and noticed something that made a cold chill run up his spine.
Loghain had not noticed the elf standing beside Howe enter the room. He was clad in leather armor with twin daggers on his back. His skin bronzed, and his eyes a warm yellow that glowed in the light of the fire. The elf looked at Loghain with a half wicked smile and a gleam in his eye that meant only one thing.
“The Crows send their regards,” said the elf in a thick accent that Loghain knew could only be Antivan.
A hard lump formed in his stomach. He knew this elf was dangerous, and he couldn’t believe Howe would do such a thing as to hire the Crows. “An assassin?” he said, but he did not let his fear show in his voice. Instead, Loghain faced back to the fire and leaned against the warm stone. This was probably a bad idea to have his back to such a killer, but he didn’t want to have to look in those eyes again.
“Against Grey Wardens we will need the very best, sire,” said Howe in his snaky voice.
The elf chuckled low. “And the most expensive.”
Loghain didn’t like it at all. The Crows may be the best, but the Grey Wardens were formidable and legendary in their skills. He had seen them fight first hand, and knew what a single Grey Warden was capable of. Howe hadn’t actually said how many survivors there were, but Loghain had an inkling there were at least three. Yes, after he had thought about it, he knew there could only be three Grey Wardens who survived. The ones Cailan had sent to the tower to light the beacon. How they had survived, he couldn’t even begin to guess, but he knew that if they were not dealt with then they would ruin everything for him. Perhaps Howe was right. Perhaps the only ones who could deal with the Grey Wardens were the Crows. They were legendary in their own rights.
Still, Loghain didn’t like the idea, but there was nothing he could do about it. Howe would do what he needed to do in order to keep things from going off track. Taking care of the Grey Wardens, as well as anyone else who might know the truth about Ostagar was his job.
Loghain stared into the cup at the contents. It was wine. He drank it down in one gulp before throwing the cup into the fire. It shattered and the fire popped and crackled as it greedily licked at the pieces. “Just get it done,” was all Loghain could say, and it was all he needed to say.
This time he did hear two pairs of feet leave the room. He wasn’t sure if the elf bowed to him, and truthfully he didn’t care, but he knew that Howe hadn’t bowed. Howe never bowed, which made Loghain wonder if Howe believed himself to be Loghain’s equal, or maybe even his superior. Either way, Loghain knew just from that little lack of respect that he needed to watch Howe, especially now that he knew he had connections with the Crows.
He heard the door close. Loghain’s eyes never left the fire as he stared into it again. He allowed the flames to hypnotize him once more as he went back into his mind. He sighed deep and heavy.
Oh, Maric. How much I wish you were here.
***
Howe stared at Loghain before he finally turned to leave. If that’s all the regent was going to say, then that would be enough for him. He followed the elven assassin out of the room. Howe shut the door, knowing Loghian would want it shut and to be left alone. He would do that, it wasn’t like Loghian was doing anything anyway. He was basically allowing Howe to do whatever he wished. If it wasn’t for the fact that Howe needed to tell the regent what was going on, then he would leave Loghain in the dark. In a way, it almost seemed like maybe that’s what Loghain wanted.
Once out in the hall, Howe faced the elf. The elf looked at him with deep set eyes and waited patiently for instructions. Howe reached into his pocket and pulled out several slips of paper and handed them to the elf. “These are the descriptions of the three Grey Wardens: one male and two females. It also says where they were last spotted and where they might be heading.” He then reached into his pocket again and pulled out a small pouch that jingled. “I want you to pay special attention to the female human,” he said as he handed the pouch to the elf.
The elf gladly accepted it with a wide smile and slipped the pouch into his own pocket. “As you wish, my lord.”
Howe smiled back, knowing that soon the only thorn in his side would be removed.
He turned, leaving the elf in the hall as he looked over the papers. A concentrated look was on his face as he studied the descriptions. Probably trying to picture what the three looked like in his head.
Howe walked down the hall, happy with himself. Now all that was needed was for those three to be gone and then he could continue on with his plan without further interruption.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins
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Blood Bond