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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
- 21
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Making Amends

“Do any of us know where these people are?” Dayno asked as they made their way into the Amaranthine market.
Lisha raised a questioning eyebrow at her three Wardens. “Well, do any of you at least have a clue where to look?”
“Nida would be at an inn,” said Damien. “And ze only one I know of in Amaranthine is ze Crown and Lion.”
“I'm not sure about Mischa,” Sigrun said looking down. “She said something about a tanner's shop. Maybe we could look around there?”
“We'll ask around. See if anyone knows her,” Lisha added.
“I know Aura is here.” Justice stood at the front, gazing about the market. He seemed to be both looking and investigating the area. The market being a new place for him to explore. “I can almost sense it.”
“Okay, but do you know where she might be?”
“Kristoff was to meet her here, but where is unknown to me. But I don't think she's at an inn. Where is there a place that mortals mourn? That is where I believe she would be.”
“Ze chantry,” Damien answered. “I'm almost positive zat's where you'll find her. I know I'd go zere if I was her.”
“If that is the case,” Justice said turning around. “Then we must go there now, Commander.”
“Hold on there, Justice,” said Lisha. “Finding Aura is not our only objective. Although I believe she may be at the chantry, I think going to the Crown and Lion should be our first stop.”
Justice went to protest, an angry glint flashing in his eyes. “Commander, I implore you--”
“No need to get angry, Justice,” Dayno said. “We'll head to the chantry.” He turned to Lisha. “How about you take Damien and Sigrun to the inn, and Justice and I will go to the chantry.”
Lisha nodded. “That sounds good. When we're done, we'll meet you two in front of the chantry.”
“Right. Come along, Justice. Let's find Aura for you.”
They split, Justice and Dayno going one way, while Lisha, Damien, and Sigrun went another. Lisha stopped first at several bazaars while Sigrun asked around. Neither Damien nor Sigrun seemed to be in too much of a hurry to get anywhere, so she used the opportunity to purchase the things she knew they would need. As she investigated the weaponry of a particular blacksmith, she finally came across what she was looking for. Bowstrings hung from the gutter and Lisha went to examine them. They were fine strings for being human made, but not really anything she would have preferred for her own bow. Halla hair was what the Dalish used, sometimes dragon heartstring if they could get their hands on it. Humans tended to go for sinew and rawhide, which was what the strings she was looking at composed of. When Lisha finally found one to her liking, she took it and tied it to the broken bow she had brought with her. She tested the bow, pulling back on the string and seeing that the crack in the wood was having no effect. She would still probably have it fixed later, but at the moment, the bow was actually very decent. She could feel the power behind it and knew it would be perfect for Nathaniel.
When Lisha was done, she paid the merchant for the string and went to go find the others. She found Sigrun looking over more books while Damien was at a stall heavy with Orlesian silks. Before she could say anything to them to get their attention, something caught in the corner of her eye. She wasn't sure why it caught her attention, but the toy horse sitting at the end of a table made her stop and stare. Immediately an idea came to her and she went straight over and bought it without thinking or caring about the price.
“Who's that for?” Sigrun asked when Lisha finally made her way over to her.
“Oghren. Well... his son, actually. I thought he might send this to him. I don't know.”
“Okay...”
“Did you find out anything more about where Mischa might be?”
“Uh, not really. But... it's okay if we don't find her.”
“Sigrun.” Lisha looked at the dwarf concerned. “I know you're scared about talking to her, but it's something that needs to be done, right? You'll feel better afterwards, I promise.”
“Even if she yells at me again and says she'll never forgive me no matter what I do?”
“I highly doubt that, but even if she does say that, at least you'll have still said you're sorry. How she takes it is up to her. You'll have done all you can.”
“Right, Commander. But let's... deal with Damien's mission first. We were going to the Crown and Lion?”
“Yes. Damien, are you ready?”
“What? Oh, yes.” Damien put down the silk he was feeling and followed the two women through the market and to the inn that was on the other side. As they entered, they found the tavern to be fairly busy with patrons talking amongst themselves and even a few men in a far corner clinking their glasses together and singing.
“Ah, welcome to the Crown and Lion!” said a fairly fat man behind the counter. He smiled broadly at them. “Can I get you anything?”
“We're actually here looking for a woman named Nida,” said Lisha. “She's a wife to a Grey Warden. Does she have a room here by chance?”
“A wife to a Grey Warden, really?” the man said looking puzzled. “That's strange. The only Nida that has a room here is sharing it with another man, and they act more than just room mates.”
Damien stared at the man peculiar. “What room is zis?”
“Just up the stairs, room 14. Now I don't want any trouble...”
“There won't be any trouble, my good ser,” said Lisha holding Damien back from racing up the stairs. “I am the warden-commander and I'm only here to tell Nida the news about her husband.”
“Oh, not good news I suspect. Do what you must.”
“Thank you.” Lisha let Damien go and all three of them headed up the stairs together, Damien leading. They went all the way to the back where room 14 was, finding the door closed. Damien went to knock, but stopped short. Instead, he grabbed the knob and forced the door open. The suddenness of the door slamming open startled the two occupants inside. They had been standing on the other side of the room, holding each other, but quickly detached.
“I knew it,” Damien growled.
“Excuse me, but who are you?” the man demanded. “How dare you burst in here!”
Damien marched his way in, looking as if he was about ready to murder the man. The man in turn stepped forward as well, both of them looking ready to attack each other.
“Bran, stop!” the woman said as she grabbed the man's arm and kept him from going any further. “Damien, you too.” This caused both men to stop and stare at her. Damien still kept his angry glare, but Bran seemed confused.
“Nida, do you know this man?” he asked.
“Yes. He's my husband's best friend.”
“Really? And he just comes barging into people's rooms without warning?”
Nida looked from Bran to Damien, then to Lisha and Sigrun who stood silently in the doorway. “Um, sweetheart,” she said to Bran. “Do you think you could give us a moment alone?”
“If you think I'm leaving you alone with him--”
“I'll be fine. Please.”
Lisha could tell he didn't like it, but Bran went to leave anyway. He walked past Damien, giving him an evil glare before making his way out the door and down the hall to the stairs. Lisha and Sigrun watched him descend before focusing back on Damien and Nida.
Nida stood where she was, not looking Damien in the eyes. “Is Keenan... dead?”
“Wouldn't you just love zat,” Damien said crossing his arms.
“You really think I'm that cruel?” Nida finally looked at him, her face hard. “I loved Keenan, and would hate to see him dead.”
“Are you sure? How long 'ave you been here? Where's your letter asking where Keenan is or what might be happening with 'im? You haven't even been to ze keep.”
“I haven't been here as long as you might think, and yes, I have been wondering why he hasn't responded to my first letter. I figured I'd be seeing you here eventually. You and Keenan were always inseparable.”
“Someone 'ad to bring his spirits up every time you shot zem done.”
“You think I don't know about you and him? He did tell me. Said he was sorry, but I could tell, even if he was, he was no longer happy with me. You ruined him, Damien. He only became a Grey Warden because of you.”
“I ruined 'im?” Damien laughed. “And what did you do? What are you doing now! Keenan's not dead, Nida. He's alive, as if you'd care.”
Nida looked down. “Good. Then you can have him to yourself, just as you always wanted.”
“You don't want to even see your husband?” Lisha asked.
“No, he's better off. I'm better off.”
“But... he's your husband.”
“He was my husband. That stopped the moment he became a Grey Warden. Keenan was never able to take on that role again. He would leave me for months, all alone and wondering if I would ever see him again. How long was I suppose to wait, wondering if we'd ever have a family? Wondering if we could ever have the life we dreamt about. No, he forgot about me. And I forgot about him. Love can only take you so far.”
“Zen you might as well take this,” Damien heaved. He threw the ring at her feet. It hit the ground with a clink, spun for a few seconds before finally settling. Damien then turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, not daring to look back at Nida.
Lisha let him pass in a rush. She watched him go down the stairs before looking back at Nida who had picked up the ring and was now examining it with one hand. “Just because he became a Grey Warden does not mean he stopped loving you,” she said.
“No, I know he loved me even after. He stopped when he laid with Damien.”
“You should still visit him. He wants to see you.”
Nida shook her head. “No. It's better this way.”
Lisha couldn't believe what she was hearing, what Nida was saying. Love can only take you so far? She thought of Aura, and of herself. She thought of Zevran and Alistair and Zelda. Apparently Nida's love wasn't as strong.
“Come on, Sigrun. We'll leave her alone now.” The dwarf looked up at Lisha sad, but didn't say a word. They walked back to the first floor, finding Damien leaning against the wall, pounding it lightly with his fist. The man who they had found with Nida was sitting at the bar. Once he saw them come down the stairs, he drank the last of his ale and marched past them without a word.
“Damian, are you okay?” Sigrun asked.
“I can't believe she did zis to him,” Damien whispered to the wall. “I had my suspicions, but to actually see it... She's lucky I didn't slit 'er throat.”
“Did you tell Keenan what you were doing?” said Lisha.
“No. I only told him I was going to ze city because you asked me to come with you. I... I didn't want to get his hopes up... just in case.”
“Are you going to tell him when we get back?”
Damien turned to her and sighed. “I don't know.”
“You should. He's going to ask about her at some point.”
“He already 'as. I told 'im I hadn't heard from 'er yet. But I guess I will tell him ze truth when we get back.”
“I'm sorry, Damien, but at least he still has you.”
“Right. And zat's not about to change here anytime soon.”
***
Lisha gave Damien more time before she decided they should leave. The barkeep had been eying them, their little scene upstairs not having gone unnoticed. She had told him who she was, but that didn't seem to matter. It was better they left anyway. As she gestured for Sigrun and Damien to follow her outside, the door to the inn swung open. Sigrun froze when she saw who was standing in the doorway. She went to hide behind Lisha, but it was already too late. Mischa had spotted her.
“You?” the dwarf said irritated. “By the Stone's Mercy! Going to get me kicked out of Amaranthine, too?” She placed down the heavy sack she was carrying and glared at Sigrun.
Lisha moved aside. “Go ahead, Sigrun.”
Sigrun took a deep breath, composing herself. “Mischa, we've actually been looking for you.”
“Really? Cause last time I checked, I wasn't in some elf's ass!”
This made Sigrun flinch. “I know that nothing I say will make things better. Saying I'm sorry isn't enough, so here... I want you to have this.” Sigrun handed Mischa something, Lisha noticing as Mischa examined it that it was a ring.
“A ring?” Mischa said confused. “What is this, a proposal? You're not my type.”
“It... it'll fetch a fair price, even on the surface,” Sigrun stammered. “T-To help you rebuild your life.”
Mischa examined the ring some more. “Hang on, this looks like the crest of House Vollney. What, stole this off a noble, did you?” Mischa's glare was intense and she lifted the ring high as if she was about ready to throw it at Sigrun. “You want to blacken my name more than it already is!”
“Hold on! Stop!” Lisha cried as she got in between the two dwarves. “Sigrun did not steal that, it was given to her.”
“I highly doubt that,” Mischa grumbled.
“Sigrun, is that the ring Varlan gave to you?”
“Yes.” Sigrun looked downcast, not wanting to look anyone in the eyes. “I thought it would help.”
Lisha turned back to Mischa and crossed her arms. “Give me back the ring. You can't have it.”
“Why? She gave it to me.” Mischa clenched the ring in her fist tightly.
“So when you thought she stole it, you weren't going to take it? Fine, how much would that ring get you here on the surface?”
“You're serious? Well, let me see. It's old, with some of the gems chipped, and the seals a little worn, but it still could fetch a decent price. How about fifteen sovereigns?”
“I'll give you twenty, just as long as you promise never to be rude to Sigrun again.”
“Fair enough. Here, Sigrun, take your ring back. You've got a true friend here. Make sure you don't mess that up.”
“Thanks, Mischa,” Sigrun said as she took her ring. She hugged it close to her heart. “And thank you, Commander.”
“Of course.” Lisha gave Mischa her twenty sovereigns before leading everyone out of the inn.
“You didn't have to do that, Commander,” Sigrun said once they were outside.
“No, I believe I did. You were going to give something to her that meant more to you than anything in the world, and she didn't see it as such. I hope she chokes on those sovereigns.”
This made Sigrun laugh. “You know, this ring isn't worth as much as you gave her. In fact, it's only worth about half that.”
“No, it was worth it, and more.” Lisha smiled down at her. “One thing you should learn from this: don't be ashamed of your past. It's what makes you who you are. If you've done bad, then you acknowledge it, forgive yourself, hope others forgive you, and move on. That's really all you can do.”
“I agree. I know I'm doing good now, and with you, I'll do even more. Whatever you need, Commander, I'm here for you.”
“Good to hear. Now... Sigrun, Damien. Let's go collect Justice and my husband. Hopefully they're done with what they needed to do.”
***
“I find it very curious,” Justice mused as he stared up at the statue of Andraste that stood in front of the chantry. It looked over the city, high on a stone dais that made the chantry the highest building in Amaranthine.
“What exactly do you mean?” Dayno asked as he stood by the spirit, staring up at the statue as well.
“What it is that mortals worship. Kristoff worshiped this woman, along with a deity you call the Maker. Can you explain it to me?”
“Not really. I don't worship what humans do. We Dalish have our own gods.”
Justice turned away from the statue to study the elf. “Does it have anything to do with the tattoos on your face?”
“Actually, yes. The tree I have represents the All-Father, Elgar'nan, god of fatherhood and vengeance. Hmm, you might like him. Vengeance is a form of justice, right?”
“A more direct form, but yes. But that just makes it more confusing. Why do the elves and the humans have a different religion? Do the dwarves as well, or do they worship as one of the others?”
“They have their own.”
“Interesting.” Justice looked back at the statue. “We spirits have no such ideals. Some spirits do, however, believe a creator gave us life and separated us from this world. But do they believe that only because they see the Maker in the dreams of mortals? So much of the Fade is created by spirits desperate to emulate your kind.”
Dayno looked on at Justice puzzled. “I'm no expert on the subject, but I thought if anyone would know about a creator, it would be you spirits. Are you really saying you don't know either?”
“Yes and no. There is belief but there are also those who don't care. Demons live in the moment, but those of us who seek something greater... we wonder. It is an odd thing. Your world stays constant, while the Fade doesn't. You mortals can be certain that what is has always been. Is that not comforting?”
“I...” Dayno wasn't sure how he had gotten into such a conversation. Religion was a subject he knew very little about, even his own. The Fade and spirits even less so. “But things do change here,” he finally said. “The change just isn't always physical.”
“Maybe, but the change at least occurs within context.” Justice sighed and looked away from the statue. “You take the structure of your world for granted. Faith requires structure and belief. In the Fade, we have neither. I see why the demons are so eager to pass through the Veil. It is something to consider.”
Dayno wasn't sure he liked hearing Justice talk like he was. Spirits were not humans or elves, and the strange glint in his eyes made Dayno wary. “Do you think it is time we moved on? The chantry is right there and if Aura is within, we should go inside.”
“Yes, I am being distracted.” Justice shook his head. “This world is full of them. I must keep to my goal, least I become distracted again. Come.” The spirit moved away from the statue and made his way into the chantry with Dayno close behind him.
Dayno had only been in one chantry before, the one in Denerim that Zelda and Alistair had married in. This chantry was much smaller but its structure was still the same. Pillars lined the walls with two rows of pews going down the middle of the room. A dais was at the end of the room with a counter that was full of lit candles. On the wall behind the counter was a large tapestry hanging from the ceiling. It depicted the symbol of the chantry: a sun burst that glittered orange and yellow.
Dayno stopped and marveled at all the artwork around him. The paintings and carvings on the walls. The glistening chandeliers dangling from the rafters. It was all beautiful and strange to him. It made him a little envious that humans could have all this, while his people had to dig in the dirt for theirs. Justice did not stop to marvel, however. Instead, he kept going, apparently not letting himself get distracted again.
The spirit made his way down the center of the pews. He stopped at the dais and looked on either side of the room. On one side was a room that looked to be a type of living quarters, more than likely where the priests and grand cleric slept. The other side showed a smaller room that had burning candles and more paintings. It was empty, aside from one woman kneeling on the ground and praying. Justice took a deep breath and made his way into the room, recognizing it was Aura. Dayno followed him in. They quietly approached her, but she still startled, standing and turning to see them with disdain as they stopped in the middle of the room.
“Aura, please,” Justice pleaded. “Do not be alarmed. I do not wish to frighten you.”
“Frighten me?” she said taking a step back. “Do you not think seeing the body of my husband walking towards me and knowing it's not him frightens me?”
“I... I came here because I wanted to make things right. I did a horrible thing to you, whether it was intentional or not. Please. I would ease your distress, had I the power.”
Aura appeared to relax a little, but still kept her distance. “I knew this would happen,” she said with remorse. “Kristoff told me one day he may never come back. His father died a Grey Warden, too. I just hoped... it hadn't been so soon.”
“Tell me,” Justice said taking a step closer. “Is there anything I can do for you? Tell me and I will do it.”
Aura straightened herself, her face becoming more hard. “What I want is for you to avenge him, spirit. I will wait for his ashes a little longer, if it means that whoever did this to him will pay.”
“The darkspawn. Yes, I understand. You have my word. Your husband will be avenged.” Justice bowed to her deeply. Aura made her way over to him. She reached up, wanting to rest her hand on his face, but stopped before she could touch his flesh. There was a longing in her eyes, a grievance that kept her at a distance. Justice stared into her face, his mouth moving slightly up and down but no words came out.
When Aura finally released her gaze, her hand came down and she closed her eyes. “I will be here waiting.” She then left, walking out of the room briskly, but with her head still high.
Justice stayed where he was for a moment, frozen. Before long, he finally regained himself and looked to Dayno. “Did I... do the right thing?” he asked as if he wasn't at all certain.
Dayno was just as confused. “I don't think there is a right thing here.”
“That is... wise.” The spirit took in a deep breath. “Aura loved Kristoff a great deal, and he loved her. I... envy what they have. Should I be? Envy is something... a demon feels. A desire for something it cannot have.”
“Well...” Dayno stumbled as he tried to come up with the right words to say. “Love is something beautiful. I don't know how you spirits perceive love, or how it might affect you, but I don't see the harm in wanting something beautiful such as that.”
“Maybe. Ah, this is difficult.” Justice went and stared out the door. “Mortal emotions are overwhelming at times.”
“And you're getting them from a corpse.”
“Yes, but I think I understand what you are saying. You co-exist with both great darkness and great beauty. It must be confusing. Yet now I find myself wishing to be more. It is... enlightening.” Justice smiled as he stared up at the sun burst tapestry. Dayno wasn't' exactly sure what to think. Did he really understand? And if he did, was it a good thing? The more time he thought about it, and the more time he spent with Justice, the more he began to realize that the mortal realm really wasn't for spirits. It changed them, and he couldn't be sure if it was a good change or a bad one.
***
It was getting late, but Zelda wasn't exactly ready to leave the training field just yet. She was letting off some steam, getting rid of all the negativity that had been building within her for the past several weeks. It was everything; the hardships of being queen, the Landsmeet, Lady Dina, the recent event with Arawin. It felt good to have Silverbrand back in her hands, swinging the longsword and hacking away at the wooden training doll carved in the likeness of a hurlock.
Sweat beaded down her face, causing her hair to cling to her skin as it came loose from its hold. Silverbrand glistened in the dying light, the ice encasing it making it more potent as it chopped away. Zelda held her Theirin shield on her left arm. Even though it was the same shape and weight as her Highever shield was, it still felt awkward on her arm, like it was a different limp. This practice was not only to let out her frustrations, but to also reacquaint her with her weapons.
As she stared at the wooden doll, breathing heavy and letting her arms rest for a moment, there was still one thing on her mind that she couldn't let go no matter how hard she hit. She still wasn't sure how the Landsmeet had ended. She already knew how it should have gone, but no messengers had come up from Denerim to report the outcome. It was strange, as something that big should have arrived here already. It should have traveled through all of Ferelden by now. The only thing she could think of was that Amaranthine was still cut off. The darkspawn still keeping travelers from getting through. If that was the case, then it was going to drive her mad until she knew whether she was still queen or not.
“Is this a bad time?”
The voice caused Zelda to strike the side of the doll with a loud whack. It stuck in the side, ice beginning to crack the wood. With an angry sigh, she pulled Silverbrand free but didn't turn to the new arrival. “What do you want, Nathaniel?”
“If this is a bad time, I can go.”
She shifted her head to look at him. He was closer than she had originally thought, but still far away enough she couldn't reach him. He stood looking at her, calmly, being very brave. She wondered how long he had been watching her. “And why would you think this is a bad time?” she asked.
“You've been hacking away at that wooden darkspawn for quite some time now. I thought to wait before coming out here. Let you get all your anger out.”
“Cute, Nathaniel.” Zelda turned fully around. She placed her shield on the ground at her feet and jammed Silverbrand into the dirt. “Now what did you want?”
“I want to talk. Nothing more.”
“Talk about what?”
“What was unsaid in the beginning.”
Zelda rolled her eyes. Was he really doing this? Lisha had already forbid them from fighting, did he think she was going to start something? In truth, she wasn't. She had no reason unless he provoked her. Was that what he was doing now? He didn't look it. She studied him a little, seeing he wasn't acting provocative. In fact, he hadn't even come to her with his bow and quiver. He was defenseless, or at least that's how it looked. He could have always had a dagger hidden on him. But Zelda decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Even though she still didn't understand why Lisha had chosen to make him a Grey Warden, she realized as she thought about it, that if she had been the one to be the warden-commander, killing him probably wouldn't have been her immediate decision. She'd be lying to herself if she said she wouldn't have put him through the Joining. Maybe secretly wishing he would die that way, however, although she couldn't even be sure of that.
“Okay, although I'm still not sure what you mean.”
Nathaniel took a step closer, but stopped when he saw the flash in her eyes to stay where he was. “I just want to make sure that we really are all right. You didn't just say that you forgave me because you wanted to get away.”
Zelda laughed at this. “You really think I would just say something like that? If anything, I should be asking you that! Maybe you were just saying you forgave me to appease the commander.”
“You think I don't?”
“I killed your father. Why would you forgive me for that?”
“Because,” Nathaniel sighed. “I believe I should. True, that you killing my father basically gives me the right to kill you for revenge. But then that gives Fergus the right to kill me for the same purpose. Where then does it end? Does it keep going until all the Howes and Couslands are dead? Should it start a war between the teyrn and the arling? How many lives will be lost just because I didn't do something as simple as forgiving you?”
Zelda considered his words, knowing he was speaking the truth. Revenge was a cruel and unending cycle. If it was to be broken, breaking it early was the best. “Alright, so you do. Then... thank you. That's very big of you.”
“I learned the truth about my father,” Nathaniel said crossing his arms. “Delilah told me. Lisha tried to tell me the same, but she didn't know as much. When Delilah told me what my father had done... I nearly couldn't believe it. But it did explain many things. I don't know if it means anything coming from me, but... I'm sorry about your family. My father had no right to do such a horrible thing.”
Zelda wasn't exactly sure what to say. Nathaniel looked so sad to her at that moment. She tried to think back, tried to remember what it was that caused them to no longer be friends. Maybe it wasn't what one of them had done. Maybe it was what his father had done. She couldn't be for sure, but something told her that was the answer.
“So are we good now?” he asked. “Are we going to be able to work together without being forced? I would like to be able to call you 'friend' again.”
Zelda stayed silent for a moment. “So your sister is alive and well?”
“Yes. She's living in Amaranthine, married to a merchant and with child. She's very happy.”
“That's good. Delilah deserves to be happy. You know, it's been awhile since I've seen her.”
“I'm sure she'd be happy to see you. Maybe next time I visit her you could come with me.”
“I'd like that.” Zelda smiled for the first time since arriving. It felt good, and it made it even better knowing she had gotten back a long lost friend.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening
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Blood Song