107 réponses à ce sujet

[PickledGear]

A new amazing drawing done by SweetCandyRain (SweetFoxy7) of Cogdale and Leliana after a special moment .

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 23 décembre 2010 - 07:53 .

[jakeru01]

I just recently stumbled upon this story, and i have to say it is spectacular, the emotion, the passion, the drama, it's all brilliantly written. Keep up the good work, and I can't wait for the next edition.

[PickledGear]

jakeru01 wrote...

I just recently stumbled upon this story, and i have to say it is spectacular, the emotion, the passion, the drama, it's all brilliantly written. Keep up the good work, and I can't wait for the next edition.

Will do, I'm working on the chapters, comics and pictures all at the same time I plan for a big release of everything pretty soon. With college taking up my time and a job at gamestop starting in March it might take time but it will be released. Especially after I beat Dragon Age 2.

[PickledGear]

Finally a character profile pic for Cogdale been needing to do one. So I made 2 versions-

- Helmet

- Helmetless

Oh and I also made a random comic page based on Leliana's story of waking up to "The Warden" watchful so TADAH!

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 12 février 2011 - 08:51 .

[PickledGear]

 

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter HE4

The new day brought in heavy rain. Though it seemed there were no clouds in sight. The soaked stones and rock glistened into Cogdale's eyes as he left his bedroom. Highever castle had the oddest design. Indoors was outdoors and outdoors was indoors. One would have to look up to make sure a pigeon wouldn't give you a gift. The morning was warm from the blazing sunlight that did find its way on Cogdale. The heat gave him a newfound energy he hadn't felt in a long time. Yet another sign that the blight was finally lifting off the land.
But Cogdale wasn't the only one up. Several men were rushing back and forth from their mess hall and where ever they were going. Repairs on Highever were still underway. Howe was such an idiotic man to destroy a castle he wished to rule himself. The downpour was warm itself too. Making many children who were residing in the castle come out and throw handfuls of rain at each other. 

Cogdale tried joining in with them but as soon as he lobbed his first cup of water at them, he jumped out of the way from incoming tosses as he realized he was wearing his nobility adornments. Only to be chased around the corridors as water jumped at him. The water seemed to giggle as it flew by him. The children maneuvered their way around the path to cut him off as they cornered him and as a group all chucked another palmful of rain splashing on Cogdale's clothes.
Their laughter was contagious as Cogdale was soon dripping wet. They scattered when one of the carpenters approached Cogdale. Wiping the water from his eyes Cogdale's stomach dropped for a second as he recognized the man who stood before him. It was the drunk from the day before who was trying to hurt Leliana in the tavern. He was one of the hired workers who were repairing the castle. Now he had Cogdale in a corner without his armor on wielding a hammer.

"Knew I would find you," the man said cracking his wrists. Cogdale couldn't put his finger on it but he was terrified of this man. Cogdale had faced the onslaught of the darkspawn and didn't flinch. But this gargantuan of a man put a painful knot in his stomach. Staggering backwards into the corner the giant only chuckled as he slowly savored cornering Cogdale. Fear didn't devour the entirety of Cogdale. He put up his fists to show he wasn't going to back down. The man laughed again only to lunge at Cogdale. 
Cogdale dashed under the lumbering fist as it collided into the brick. His knuckles breaking from the force of the swing. He wailed unintelligible words waving his hand back and forth. Cogdale took the moment and landed his foot into the man's chin. The screaming ceased as he was knocked out cold. Taking a few breaths, Cogdale tried catching up with himself. He then realized the rain had stopped and a small crowd had gathered. The people whispered and kept their topic secret from him. He brushed their glances off and continued on his path to the main hall. He ran the fight over and over in his head; surprised he had done all of that within seconds of each other. 
Feeling his beard, Cogdale knew he had to shave soon. He loathed it but he also loathed having the Caenolyn beard on his face. His Nevarran blood was a bane on his skin to him. His father had a strong beard. His brother had a strong beard. He himself had a strong beard but because of the blight it had only slowed down a bit.

It was still awkward he was living a normal life. The Blight might have dissipated from the outside world but it still had a strong grip on Cogdale's senses. But the fact he wasn't on any quest. The fact he was actually relaxing didn't settle in well. He felt like he was going to be jumped again at any moment. 2 years of fighting the darkspawn and always on his toes will do that to anyone. The main hall was near as guards entered and exited a large door that appeared. Entering the doorway a burst of heat blew past Cogdale. The fireplace in the main hall was at full blast, with 3 guards throwing in logs every 10 seconds to increase the intensity.
"Ah there you are, I was wondering when you'd pop out of your blanket." Elle Cousland said as she greeted him with a kiss to both cheeks. As is customary with nobility of Thedas. "Well I still get lost in the castle, I never really knew much of Highever castle." Cogdale blushed embarrassed that all he knew was the library.

"I remember!" Elle shouted her finger pointing to the ceiling. "You were the Caenolyn kid who would spend all of his time in the library, right?" She asked finally directing the finger to Cogdale. Cogdale only nodded ashamed of his bookworm past. "Knew it!" Elle snapped her fingers. "So care to tell me of your adventures?" She asked walking by Cogdale's side. Cogdale shrugged "Promise me, you don't want to hear it." Elle nudged Cogdale "Awh come on! Tell me of your exploits of the Dalish elves. Or or or! How bout your tales of battle down in the Deep Roads." 

"If you want… here have one of my journals that I kept on combat that I experienced. I don't want it anymore." Cogdale said handing a small journal he had in the back of his trousers. "Ooooh goody! I'll go read now!" Elle shouted running off. Cogdale sighed in relief. He kept himself near the fireplace to dry himself off from the drenching of rain he had been dealt earlier. He ran his hands through his thick of hair to shake off all the water that wouldn't dry on its own. The quietness of the main hall became very odd.
He looked behind him to see there was no one around. Eerie, the feeling crept into Cogdale's spine. But the sense that someone familiar was near. Who could it be? The only people he knew were Leliana, Bodahn, Sandal and Garrden. They were all still resting in their beds inside the castle. As he returned his gaze to the fire a figure blocked his line of sight. The shock made him stumble and topple over a chair. 
Trying to see his company his soul felt as if it was being torn into the fade. There stood his brother. Torn apart, his left arm lobbed off. His skull dented inside but still the remaining amount was recognizable. A puddle of blood at the feet of his brother.
"Victor?" Cogdale spat out in disbelief. The figure instantly turned its eye upon Cogdale. This thing that appeared to be his brother reached out with remaining right arm. Sorrow burned upon his face. His brother never spoke only continued to reach out for Cogdale with sadness. "Where are you Victor?" Cogdale asked. If this was his brother's way of contacting him it must be about something.
"Don't ignore us, Heed us." Victor said ghostly. 

"What?!" Cogdale was confused. But his focus was cut short when he found himself lifted off his feet. Suddenly sound rushed back into the room, as did the guards and servants. Like he had been dreaming. "What happened?" Cogdale asked clenching his head in pain. "You passed out and knocked over a chair." A familiar voice said. It was Garrden dressed in noble attire with concern on his face. 
"I saw my…" A distraught Leliana who was still wearing only her sleepwear interrupted Cogdale. "Cogdale are you alright? I heard people saying that you had passed out." She said massaging his head. "I'm fine I…. I think I just saw my brother." He said. "So where is he?" Garrden asked scanning the main hall. "He died here 2 years ago Garrden." Garrden's face dropped. "I apologize." He said palming his chest.

"It is alright you didn't know." Leliana said. "I don't know what could've caused it." Cogdale paused. "It could be him calling out from the fade asking for help. But what he said to me didn't make sense at all." Cogdale said. 
"What did he say?" Leliana asked as Cogdale looked around the hall. The guards didn't take notice and continued their way around the castle as the 3 of them conversed. "He said…." Cogdale tried to remember what Victor was trying to tell him. "He said "Don't ignore us, Heed us."  Cogdale clenched his head again as a wave of pain hit him again. 
"That is odd…" Garrden said pacing around the room stretching his clothing to entertain his hands. 

"I'm not ignoring my family if that is what he meant." Cogdale said walking over to where he last saw Victor's corpse. He felt the ground. There was no change in temperature on the floor. Perhaps the fireplace masked it. Cogdale couldn't understand this vision, what was his brother trying to convey? 
"Enough we'll talk of it later." Cogdale said escorting Leliana back to her room while kicking Garrden in the shin for looking at her butt. Leliana was staring at Cogdale with worry painted on her face. "Don't worry Lily… I'll figure this out." Cogdale said kissing her on the forehead and patting her butt, pushing her into her room. "Now get dressed we have to get ready for breakfast. It will be a good breakfast too and not one of Alistair's dull stews." Cogdale laughed at his own joke. What an odd thing to do after being visited by a mangled husk of what was once your brother.
Cogdale went back to his room to grab a few things from his bags. As he rummaged through his bag he found his journal and wrote down what had just happened. Time flew by as he soon found himself being taken from his room by Leliana to the dinner hall. His old bookworm ways hadn't died yet.

The dinner hall was massive. With pillars that were taller then the walls of Denerim. The table was as long as the room with over 60 seated members of the new Teyrna Cousland's order. Arls and Arlessas all sat in their respective seats. Cogdale and Leliana found themselves across the entire table away from Elle. Cogdale relaxed himself after what Leliana accused him of yesterday. Elle was a beautiful woman yes but she was more like a sister to him then anything.  
Breakfast was a wonderful array of foods from all over Thedas. How nobility anywhere could acquire these exotic foods was beyond anyone's understanding. But a Teyrna such as Elle probably has her ways. There were too many conversations going on at once that no one could hear himself or herself think. Heck Cogdale could've yelled any of Ohgren's many "sodding" remarks and no one would've heard it. So Cogdale kept to himself and the only conversation he had was one between him and Leliana with their feet. A couple times getting tangled with each other and accidentally kicking the bottom of the table hard enough that cutlery and dishes jumped a few inches.
Causing a few nobles to frown at the two of them several times. Which Leliana gave them a proper raspberry. The only food Garrden ate was the bread and pastries that Cogdale snuck behind his seat. Seeing as Garrden could only stand behind them with his hands behind his back.

Eating in the dining hall again brought back memories of the night Howe's men attacked Highever Castle. Cogdale excused himself from the table. Leliana and Garrden soon followed him. "What's wrong?" Leliana asked catching up with him. "Memories, tis all." Cogdale smirked knowing he just used Morrigan's way of speaking. His attempt at changing the subject failed. "We're here to help you forgive yourself Cogdale." Leliana said. "If there is anything we can do for you Cogdale. Please, Please PLEAAASE! Just let me know and I'll do my best to help you my warden." She finished it with a kiss to his cheek.
"I think that's one thing I wish to do." Cogdale whispered. Leliana leaned in closer "what?" she asked. " I don't want to be a warden anymore… I want to live again." Cogdale answered. Leliana brushed her fingers across his cheek. He could feel her well-filed nails brush across his face. Soothing his anxiety.

"I'll be fine. Just still traumatized. The Caenolyns and Couslands didn't die in vein. But the memories still haunt me." He said snatching Leliana's hand and looked her in the eyes. "The memories are my war scars. If there was a way to forget everything I would take it." He said with a subtle tone. "You'd even forget about me Cogdale?" Leliana gasped under her breath. Cogdale stumbled over his words. "No! No no no no! No no! Never Leliana I didn't mean that. But I'm an injured man Leliana I may not seem to be…. But I am." Cogdale said finally releasing his grasp of her hand.
He could remove the images of his family laying on the floor… his brother still twitching in a pool of blood. His father impaled on a spear left in the ground. His mother and sister bonded and throats slit. They will forever haunt Highever. Until the day he could forgive himself for letting his family be slaughtered by Howe's lackeys. 

He and Leliana reached the courtyard and a pedestal for a chantry lay sister to recite the Chant of Light stood there. "Perhaps it might help if I could say something from the chant?" Leliana asked. Cogdale nodded. They both knelt and lowered their heads as Leliana began speaking the Chant of Light.
The Maker did give Cogdale a sense of forgiveness as he felt the sunlight warm him up. Cogdale felt a presence near the left of him. Opening his eyes… His father stood over him. The shadow of the spear split Cogdale's face in half. The forgiveness Cogdale had felt was murdered as a terrible fear rushed into Cogdale's eyes once again.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 01:05 .

[Mactire Wolfkin]

i'm only at ch 13 but i just had to post this. dude, ur story is EPIC! theres no other words to describe it. its just simply UBER EPIC AWESOME!

[PickledGear]

Once again finished with some more art! This time with the same premise as Cogdale's armored drawings I give you Leliana! The star of the story... so to speak. I'm planning to do this with everyone from Origins and also my continuation of Orlesian, Tevinter and Fade sagas

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 20 février 2011 - 06:29 .

[MassShep93]

Excellent story and I'm anxious to see the next part

[PickledGear]

It might have taken 2 days but your wish is my command!



Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter HE5

Warmth soaked his right arm. He painted the large boulder with his blood. He slid down to one knee his blood giving no room for friction between his armor and the rock. His arm was good as gone. He knew it was broken into a million pieces, he could feel every newly shattered piece rattle around as his muscles tried to clasp onto them. The surge of pain was so bad that he fell numb to it.
But he couldn't devote all of his attention to the useless limb. He limped over to his blade and picked it up with the only arm he had left. He was very clumsy with his left arm in swordsmanship. Oddly enough his attacker had let him compose himself instead of brutally beating him to death as he had expected. Well enough he stood back up, blood shedding off his arm in many streams leaving small and numerous puddles. The figure knocked the air out of him within a blink of an eye. Rushing him and choking him to the point of blacking out. 

His frustration only made the scene even more humiliating; squirming in the foe's grasp. Choking on his own spit and blood. His vision blurred. Feeling his enemy's nails dig into his neck was unnerving. As his world darkened around him his vision slowly corrected itself. He soon saw who his attacker was. It had changed from the silhouette he saw from before. This time the figure had a feminine figure, which explained the nails in his throat. But previously the creature was in the form of an ogre. He vaguely remembered it crushing his bones while it pounded him into the dirt. 
"You're mine silly warden." The woman said he noticed an orlesian accent with it. 

A gasp for air woke Cogdale up out of his nightmare.
"Oh! You're finally awake! I was getting worried you were squirming around for quite a while" a woman said out of Cogdale's line of sight. He turned to see Elle sitting next to his bed. "I read the journal from front to back. Amazing journey you had here." Elle said poking the journal with her finger repetitively. "What happened?" Cogdale asked sitting up. "You screamed and then passed out when you were at the altar." Elle said transferring herself from the chair to the bedside. 
"What?" Cogdale said rubbing his brow furiously. "You passed out a while ago out at the altar. Leliana and I carried you to your bed to rest. She is quite worried about you." She said as she itching her nose with 2 fingers. She sighed in relief when the itch went away. "Where is Leliana?" Cogdale asked trying to get out of bed. He noticed he was still in his clothing that he was wearing however long ago. The pillows he laid upon were drenched in his sweat. 
"Leliana was asked to appear at Highever's Chantry. She won't be returning for about another day." Elle said playfully drawing the path from Highever Castle down to the city in the air. Why would Leliana be asked to the chantry? Cogdale could only ponder the thought for a second as it was interrupted by a young mage entering the room. "I was asked to come see if I can heal this man?" she said looking at Elle for confirmation. The mage appeared to be young. Her oddly white colored hair was shaggy and some locks were braided together but not many. She also had a very bitter look on her face. As though she was forced to make her presence known to the Cousland.
"Yes mage see if you can get my friend here out of bed could you?" Elle said patting Cogdale's legs. Elle got off the bed, to Cogdale's relief and left the room. The mage walked to Cogdale's side of the bed and knelt down. "Where are you hurt?" she asked gazing at Cogdale's body to see if she could identify the problem herself. "No where, I'm a grey warden I just had a nightmare is all." Cogdale said reassuring the mage. 
"A warden! I don't mean to intrude ser but are you by chance the Hero of Ferelden?" She asked her greenish brown eyes wide and at attention. 

Cogdale sighed he couldn't deny it; the only wardens that were in Denerim were him and Alistair who just so happens to be the new king. "Yes I am." Cogdale shifted himself to sit up on the side of his bed. " Can I ask you another question?" she waited as a puppy face appeared. Cogdale couldn't deny such a pretty girl her answer. "Okay ask away, I have nothing better to do. Not to mean that this truth or dare spat between us is nothing." Cogdale mumbled. 
"Truth or dare?! Oh I love playing that!" She squealed clapping her hands politely. 

"Ahem, The question… ummm… umm" Cogdale stumbled not knowing the mage's name. "Oh I apologize Warden my name is Helena." She said. "Helena aye?" Cogdale snickered. "Enough enough, anyways my question is … did you ever meet a mage in the circle by the name of Anders?" She looked away from Cogdale embarrassed by her question. "No I didn't the circle was nearly destroyed by the abominations. He either wasn't there or… he was an abomination." Cogdale cleared his throat knowing this Anders she spoke of was someone dear to her.
"I'm sorry if it wasn't what you expected." Cogdale apologized. "No no that's a good thing." She smiled and left the room with a skip to her step. Something Cogdale wasn't expecting that at all. As he got out of bed, he realized that he was covered in his own sweat. He hadn't felt this filthy since leaving the deep roads. Luckily he knew that Highever Castle had a bath although it wasn't regularly cleaned out. It didn't matter; any water would help him remove the feeling of greasiness off of his back. He shuttered when he felt his clothing was soggy. Without hesitation Cogdale threw his shirt off and sped walk to the baths.

Leaving his room for the 2nd time today, instead of the light from a sunrise beating his face. He was given the scolding red of the dusk. It hadn't been raining for hours now and the smell of the soggy moss could be counted for being nauseating or relaxing. Lucky for him the baths were very close to where his room was. Guards were guarding the baths oddly enough. 
"Hold ser, The Teyrna is taking a bath, you'll have to wait." Cogdale rolled his eyes and began to walk back to his room so he could wait the Teyrna away. But the guard's cold gauntlets stopped his advancement to the room. "Hold on ser, it seems the Teyrna would like for you to join her. Any funny business though and I'll end you myself." The guard sneered. Cogdale shrugged the guard's hand and entered. The baths had been renovated to have large red carpets drape from every wall with the Cousland Heraldry on them. He had no problems with the simple design of the 2 branches with leafs on them. Definitely better then the Howes' Bear symbol. But nothing could beat his family's heraldry. 2 snakes twisting together with a shield in the middle a redundant design as the image would be placed on shields of the knights of the Caenolyn's but it was definitely more pleasing to the eye then the Couslands' or Howes' 

He searched for the Teyrna while covering his eyes with his hands, not wanting to accidentally catch a glimpse of her naked. For several seconds there was no sound, not even a swish of the water. "Hello Cogdale" a giggle jumped behind him. He turned around to see the Teyrna fully clothed only moving her hand through the water. 
"My Teyrna! I apologize for barging in but I think I need to wash myself clean, I haven't had a good bath in months." He said with a fake laugh to try to bring the awkwardness down. Elle only smiled looking at Cogdale's physique. Cogdale frowned at odds on why she hadn't responded. He gasped when he realized she was staring at his body. He tore down one of the carpets and covered himself.
"Oh don't fret Cogdale I'm not that kinda woman, I have my eyes on men higher then you." She said as she exited the baths. Cogdale could only smirk knowing whom she was talking about. How she knew Alistair at all was a mystery. For all she knew Alistair was as ugly as an ogre's behind. But maybe that didn't matter. Elle Cousland and Anora Mac Tir seem to have a mean and ugly past with each other. Could be only for status he could only assume. Alistair wouldn't object with a woman with her beauty though.

"I'll leave you to your bath." She said with a smile. The guards followed when she left as they always do. Cogdale jumped into the baths without hesitation something he regretted. The bottom of the baths seemed deeper back when he was younger but he was smaller then. Waves of pain jetted up his legs as they slammed against the hard rock at the bottom. He clenched his teeth holding a scream. When the pain subsided the relaxing water took over. It gave him the opportunity to think why the apparitions of his family were haunting him. Why were they… upset with him? He avenged them by tearing out Rendon Howe's beating heart with his blade. Was that not enough? 
Cogdale sighed and rubbed his forehead to clear his thoughts. He needn't to think of such things when this was his time to relax. Time to be quiet and not have anxiety over life. He deserved some quiet time. He wanted it to be with Leliana but the Chantry had her busy at the moment. He didn't want to contest the Chantry either. Cogdale had been a devout Andrastian all of his life. It was the glue to everything in his life. Why question that what keeps your life sane and not polluted by demons and maleficar right? Leliana more faithful to her relationship with him then the Chantry right? If Cogdale were in her shoes he would deny any request the chantry would ask.

Submerging himself under the water he drowned out the sound of the birds and whispers of passer bys. Closing his eyes to the warm water images of his adventures flashed before him. Duncan, The wilds, The Joining, Lothering, Leliana, Redcliffe and the dead, The Circle of Magi, The Dalish and the Lycans, Haven and the Ashes, Orzammar and the Anvil, and the events leading up to the Final battle of Denerim. How those events affected him and how they made him who he is now. Would it be wrong to say he missed that? Having so many friends together at camp in the night. How they had the campfire get togethers and told stories whether they be scary ones of the fade or Oghren's gas, or even the love stories that Leliana nearly sang to them. He missed it; he felt a little empty without his friends. 

As he rose out of the water he was greeted by the mage he met earlier; Helena. She was sitting sideways on the ledge of the bath twiddling with her fingers. Something Leliana would constantly do when she was nervous. "Helena what is it?" Cogdale said spitting the bath water that was in his mouth. 
"Warden…" she hesitated with the question she brought. "Please call me Cogdale, I hate being referred to as "The Warden" it drives me nuts." She jumped when he asked her that. "I'm sorry Cogdale I just haven't met one before and the stories they tell…" "Say we are 12 feet tall and ride in on Griffons?" Cogdale asked interrupting her. 
"Yes…" she looked away embarrassed believing those children tales. "You seem like the type of person who can keep a secret right?" She asked biting her lip. Cogdale nodded he wasn't a loud mouth if that was what she was worrying about. Leliana on the other hand. 

"I'm an apostate, I've been working here in Highever Castle for the past 2 months helping the people of Highever and rebuilding in some cases." She took a breath as she spoke quick and precise. "I do this to hide from the Templars, but from what I've been hearing from rumors is that they are planning to send a group of them up to Highever to great the new Teyrna." Cogdale got out of the bath and sat next to her. She covered her eyes noticing Cogdale's body was completely naked.
He did his best to cover up what would be considered inappropriate of the moment. "And?" Cogdale said after covering up. 
"And they have my phylactery, they'll find me and make me a tranquil, something far worse than death for any mage." Cogdale was starting to get what she was asking him. "They're coming soon, perhaps even tomorrow I have no idea when so I ask you…. Would you please take me on your travels where ever you are going?" Helena asked with disparity in her breath. Cogdale could only think back to several minutes ago on missing all of his friends. Perhaps it was time to bring the numbers back up? But what he had originally planned was to be with Leliana, alone for the rest of their travels. But… they would need a mage to help them in case something might ever happen to them.
"Tell you what Helena, if you promise that you won't go spewing out that we are who we are." He said signifying with quotation movements of his fingers. "Then I'll gladly save you from your own tranquility, odd as that sounds." He said laughing. She smiled and went to hug him but stopped realizing he was wet and… strong. "I'll take a thank you." Cogdale said drying himself off with the rag that was resting on the edge of the bath. "Thank you Cogdale. I'll get all my things." She squealed jumping off the edge and running out of the room. Cogdale smiled and finished drying himself off. He rushed to his room to put on some clothes. He searched the room for some clothes; something dry but he couldn't find anything. Not even in the closets. Until he noticed some clothes on a chair with a piece of torn paper on top of them. 

He picked the piece of paper up "Enjoy this I helped" was all that read on the note. He viewed the clothing. It was dark blue and violet made of silk and something so soft it put feathers to shame. Something only an orlesian could do. Cogdale gleefully put the clothing on and jumped on the bed with a great big sigh. The sun had disappeared it was night outside. Everyone had gone quiet and so Cogdale fell asleep awkwardly on his bed away from the sweat he left before. He never figured out why he had such horrible visions but they didn't happen after he fell asleep. So it must have been not having enough rest perhaps he would never know.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 01:07 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love
Accidental Fugitives
Chapter O1

Only the light from his eyes lit up the pillow he had his face shoved in. It must be still night as that was his only light source he could see. The candles that he had forgotten to put out had melted the wick away and went dark. But as he became more aware of the room and his eyes settled to the darkness he realized something was on top of him. A soft warm breath tickled his left ear. He really couldn't move without waking up the person so he did his best to see if he could recognize whoever it was by any other means.
The scent was a dead give away; it was Leliana. She must have gotten back early. A lot earlier then he had expected her to. In fact he had planned to leave Highever and pick her up on the way out of the city. But this was better. The warmth from her body already was causing his eyes to go heavy. Her aroma was smooth like that of strawberries but a hint of cinnamon to arouse anyone. Of course Cogdale could control his urges. He definitely wasn't having any difficulty keeping himself down. No problems at all. Well…

He closed his eyes to try and fall asleep again so he could cherish this moment without her ever knowing. Suddenly she began to hum. She was singing in her sleep. It wasn't any notable song he had heard her sing before. No, it was more a mixture of several songs. Oddly enough they did go well together. Every so often she would begin again usually mixing them up even more but with her voice anything she sang was pure gold. If Leliana were a performer Cogdale would definitely pay many sovereigns to hear her sing.
Her singing stopped with her shifting around on his back, her face pressing against the back of his neck. Her lips were warm but that relaxing feeling soon was taken over by an odd one. Her saliva drooled down his neck causing his spine to shiver and him to jump.

"Huh…" Leliana groaned as she sat up groggily. Cogdale scolded himself for waking her up. He should've fallen asleep instead of the opposite. "Sorry Leliana I didn't know you were there." Cogdale whispered. His eyes were the only visible things to her to focus her sight on. "Oh..." she paused. "So how was the chantry?" Cogdale tried to make conversation with her.
"It was… sleepy…" she fell asleep again this time collapsing right onto Cogdale's lap. He smiled and lifted her up and placed her on top of him while he rested himself on the bed again. He wondered how awkward the scene must be if a guard were to walk in on them asleep diagonally across the bed. The thought didn't last long as he to fell asleep to the calming rhythm of her chest expanding and then retracting while she lay on him. The fade quickly found him once he drifted off.

Picking himself off the ground, Cogdale found himself in a barren land. No vegetation was visible; the dirt was dry and cracked like the skin of a pride demon. He felt the ground to see if it was real. He was so accustomed to being the fade now that he regularly even pinched himself whenever he thought the location he set foot on was odd. When he looked back up the once dead land was now full of structures and plants. His mind almost didn't remember that it was just empty several seconds ago.
He travelled down the road of this ghost town, guard at the ready. He had no weaponry or armor. Only the clothes on his back, he knew he was in the fade after realizing so several moments before. Suddenly the silence of the ghost town ended. A baby's cry found its way to Cogdale's ear. Rushing into the nearest cottage he thought the baby was in. He found 3 dark figures standing inside their eyes brighter then his. Telling from just their silhouettes they were mages in tevinter magister robes. 2 women and 1 man in figure stood there holding the child. The child wasn't dark like the 3 mages. The child was bawling so much his face was red.

"Let go of the child shades." Cogdale rightfully demanded as he held his ground. The shades did nothing but lay still like statues. After a minute of having a staring contest with the mage who was holding the child Cogdale reached for the child. But the shade's reflexes were super human like and within a blink of an eye a dagger found its point to the child's chubby neck. Cogdale pulled his reach back and gasped. Again the shades only showed fortitude by not moving. Cogdale looked around to see if this environment could lend him a weapon of some form to save the child. But suddenly right when his eyes were searching for a tool the walls disappeared just as fast.
"Let me have the child." Cogdale said with monotone voice. If these shades were a form of some demon he wouldn't take the chance in showing the emotion that related to it; whether it be Rage, desire, sloth or pride. No emotion was the best tactic on besting this beast. The shade kept the cold blade on the baby's neck. The soothing cold calmed the child down however; no tears defined the child's face anymore. Cogdale reached for the child again but he soon regretted stretching his arm out again. The blade plunged into the child. The sound of the metal breaking the baby's brittle cartilage went off like a fire spell. Cogdale winced and looked away as the shade chucked the child away and laughed unanimously with his fellow dark folk.

Cogdale woke up again this time to Leliana licking the back of his neck; an odd moment if they're ever was one. The sensation removed his thoughts of the nightmare instantly. Rolling over fast enough for Leliana to land on his chest the shock on Leliana's face from the swiftness of the maneuver made both of them laugh their lungs out.
"Good morning" Leliana smiled. Nothing was more heart warming then her voice and accent greeting him when he awoke. The ends of her red hair tickled his chest with her moving closer to his face and giving him a peck to the lips. "Today we begin our new life." Cogdale smiled. Leliana took a few moments to let those words seep into her and then smiled. "How true you are love." She said getting up. She was naked. Something Cogdale didn't notice earlier when it was still dark out. He still blushed at the sight of her breasts. Still childish to the core it seemed for Cogdale. "Aww your face is so red!" Leliana giggled going back down to his face pressing her chest against his. "If you want we can stay like this aaallll day." She laughed.
"A very very tempting offer Leliana" Cogdale chuckled. "But I want to get out of here and see Orlais with you. See if those flower gardens are as breathtaking as you say they are." He said jumping off the bed. "Oh… it seems you may have answered the question already but… are you okay Cog?" Leliana asked. Cogdale nodded as he put on his dried out clothing. Leliana took the time to look out the window. Cogdale had hardly noticed it the day before. "Aren't you afraid of someone seeing you through that window?" Cogdale asked walking up behind her cupping her breasts with his hands. Once again his face blistered red from embarrassment but he was proud of himself that he actually did it. Leliana giggled and spun around into his arms.

"Cogdale…" she said with disappointment. "I'm not just Fereldan. I'm Orlesian and we aren't afraid to show our beauty to the world. You should've known that by now." She said giving him a soft slap to the face. Cogdale was a little upset with her but those feelings calmed down when he saw her dancing over to her armor. "You are extremely cheerful today Leliana." Cogdale said. "Hello Commander of the Obvious." Leliana smirked as she put piece by piece of her polished and cleaned armor on. "You got your armor already?" Cogdale asked scratching his head. "Yeah after I left the chantry I went back to that armorer, Saren and he had it all finished and cleaned. I love what he did with it to, after so many battles the straps became very loose but now they fit very snug again." She said putting on the chest piece over her brassiere.
"Do you mind tying some of these for me Cogdale?" Cogdale walked over and sat down on the bed. "Here sit on my lap and I'll do them for you." He said patting his right leg. She did as he asked and they began the straining procedure of getting all the straps around on her.

"So why do you want to leave today?" Leliana asked knowing something was up. Cogdale kept his lips shut. "Cogdale?" Leliana asked again trying to catch him out of the corner of her eye. "Well… I might have promised a mage we'd help her escape the coming Templar regiment that suppose to greet Teyrna Cousland today." Cogdale said under his breath. Leliana shifted herself to look at him with only her right eye with a stern look as sharp as any blade peering into his soul.
"I know I know, I promised it only be me and you during our travels but I can't help but miss our days with everyone during the blight." Cogdale said sinking his head down in shame. "Thank the maker I thought I was the only one!" Leliana sighed in relief. "W..what?" Cogdale gasped. "I didn't want to sadden you or make you upset but I was going to say that I missed everyone… even Morrigan." Leliana smiled. Cogdale finished all the knots for the right side of the cuirass.
"So what do you think, should we make new friends?" Leliana asked looking for an answer from him. "Absolutely" Cogdale said. Leliana returned to letting Cogdale focus on her armor as she did her best to put the smaller pieces on.

"So what's her name?" Leliana asked. "Huh?" Cogdale didn't hear her properly being focused on tying knots. "What is her name?" Leliana asked again slowly saying every word with proper enunciation. "Oh sorry… she says her name is Helena." Cogdale said as he finished up on the last knot. "Thanks" Leliana said as she got up to put on her boots. Cogdale then suddenly realized that he didn't know where his armor was. He remembered that it was in his room the other night but now it was missing.
"By all that is holy!" Cogdale cursed. "What!? What is it?" she asked startled by the sudden outburst. "Where is my armor?" Cogdale asked with a shrug. Leliana smiled and sat down on the floor. She scooted to the bed and reached under the bed and dragged the armor out from under. "Cousland had your armor reinforced." Leliana said lifting the armor up to him. His armor was definitely changed from what he had. It seemed slimmed down from the old model. But it was still the same armor. He put it on faster with the new belts and notches.
"Wow… This armor is so light!" Cogdale said jumping up and down. He tested the flexibility of the armor. "I'm glad you like it." Leliana said finally buttoning down her last pauldron on her shoulder. "So where is Helena?" Leliana asked grabbing her bag full of her clothing.

"I'm not sure, she didn't tell me." Cogdale answered. "Well... how are we suppose to find her?" Leliana asked with a frown. "Trust me I think we'll find her pretty quickly if we see her." He said with a laugh. Cogdale grabbed his bag and found his sword and sheathed it on his left hip. They both left the room with each other. All the workers were out again. Even the drunkard that had plagued Cogdale since he got into Highever was back to work. But he didn't even stare at Cogdale this time as he sunk his head below his shoulders as he worked.
"I'm glad we're getting out of here." Cogdale said as he excavated the hallways for the mage. Perhaps she was in the main hall or with the Teyrna. "Lets see if we can find the Teyrna then." Cogdale suggested walking to where most of the guards were culminated. "Is Teyrna Elle Cousland around here?" Cogdale said approaching the guards.

"I'm afraid not messere." The guard said fixing his helmet. "The Teyrna left for the city a while ago, said it was an important mission or something I dunno I wasn't paying attention." Cogdale moaned in annoyance. "Well that means Helena is somewhere in the castle still." Leliana said patting his head. "Helena? The Teyrna's healer?" one guard asked approaching them. "Yes… do you know where she is?" Cogdale asked the guard. "Turns out she was an apostate. The Templars took her; she fought back and disabled a few Templars. But in the end they silenced her and now are taking her back to the circle for her to be made tranquil." The guard reported, "That's all I know."

"The Templars already arrived!" "****!" Cogdale said sprinting through the castle with Leliana holding hands. "I promised her I would get her out and I failed her we need to stop them!" he shouted as they reached the main hall.
"Cogdale wait! WAIT!" Leliana struggled against Cogdale pulling against him. "What is it Leliana? We don't have to time chat!" he said turning to see what she wanted. "Are you suggesting we attack the Templars for an APOSTATE?" Leliana was bewildered by what had just happened the past few moments. "N..no but we have to save her she is just looking for man she loves." Cogdale said gasping for air. "But she's an apostate Cogdale, The Chantry dictates that all apostates must be stripped of their magic by becoming tranquil." She said. Her chantry up bringing had spread its wings. "But she is innocent, she did it for love. I would've done the same for you if I was a mage."

Leliana didn't say anything and only looked at him. He did his best express that he was desperate in saving her. "Is she beautiful?" Leliana asked with a frown. "WHAT!?" "Leliana! Now is not the time for this!!" Cogdale screamed at the top of his lungs. The two were oblivious to everyone in the main hall eavesdropping into their conversation. "Just answer the question Warden." Leliana commanded. Cogdale sighed "I guess… yes she is very beautiful what does this have anything to do with what is happening?" He asked calming himself. "Nothing.. I… I apologize." Leliana stuttered realizing where she went wrong. Cogdale was dumbfounded that Leliana would even jest that he was attracted to Helena and that was the reason why he was trying to save her.

"Come on they aren't to far down the road." Cogdale said running down the road to find the Templar patrol. Cogdale looked through his bag and found his helmet and shoved it onto his head. Leliana wasn't that far behind she struggled to find her blades in her bag. "I think they'll just be around this bend in the road!" Cogdale shouted reaching the turn in the road. "What are you planning to do?" Leliana asked right on his tail. "I don't know I'll conjure up something." He said finally turning the curve on the road. About 100 meters away was the group of Templars with the red adorned mage Helena being carried away.
"HOOOOOLLLLD! HOOOOOLLLD!" Cogdale ordered at the top of his lungs. The Templars heard him and stopped for the Warden. Cogdale and Leliana finally caught up with the Templars. "Yes? What do you want Warden?" said the Templar who seemed to be in charge.

"I apologize on this intrusion Templar." Cogdale took in a few gasps of air as he was out of breath. "Knight-Captain Stein messere." The Templar corrected. "My apologies again Knight-Captain." Cogdale stood up. "But that mage you have there isn't to be in your custody." Cogdale said pointing to Helena who was bruised up and tired. "Excuse me warden?!" Stein said seeming appalled. "Yes… ummm it was agreed between me and the Teyrna of Highever that Healer Amell here was to be given to my custody." Cogdale toughed out his chest to appear like the stories told of his heroics.
"To do what with this apostate may I ask?" Stein chuckled not intimidated by the young man. Cogdale took a step back not knowing what to say. "He is putting her to The Right of Conscription Knight-Captain." Leliana intervened. "Oiy whos dis?" Stein walked forward into Leliana's face. "Ooh is you?" He spat in her face showing his true colors as scum. "I am Lay Sister Leliana of the Chantry in Lothering." She said accepting his challenge. "A lay sister uh?" He said his underbite extruding even more so when he lifted his chin. "Den why is it dat I've heard word that you'd been screwing this our beloved EEro of Ferelden?" Stein asked with a scowl to his eyes.
"Andraste have mercy on you Knight-Captain you are a disgrace to the Templar order what would happen if the Seekers learned about you." Leliana sneered at him. "Why you little ****!" Stein yelled punching Leliana in the face.

"NOOO!!!" Cogdale roared as he unsheathed his blade and ran it through the Knight-Captain. The other Templars gasped and drew their swords out at Cogdale. "Leliana are you fine?" Cogdale said picking Leliana back up to her feet. "Yes I'm fine just a fat lip." She said wiping her mouth of blood. "You initiates best stand down." Leliana ordered as she twirled her dual blades in her hands with skill and precision. "Why should we? You are aiding an apostate that is punishable by death by our standards." The ****iest of the group said approaching them. "Are you boys that foolish into taking us on?" Cogdale said cleaning the blood from his blade with his gauntlet. "Henry I think they're serious." A Templar whispered at his compatriot. "Bollocks!" Henry said charging at Leliana but he soon collapsed with a throwing knife embedded in his spine. Neither Cogdale nor Leliana had actually done anything. "By the maker!" The Templar holding Helena shouted and dropped her and ran away. "YOU COWARD! THE ORDER WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD!" The largest Templar out of the group ordered.
Another Templar suddenly dropped to the ground with yet another knife. This knife had lodged itself in his neck. The last of the Templars rushed Cogdale and Leliana. He had no choice but to defend himself and Leliana. As the Templar tried to thrust his blade into Cogdale, he juked the sword and elbowed the Templar's helmet off only to see the Templar was a young boy not older then 17. But he couldn't hesitate. Cogdale punched the Templar and then slashed his blade across the young man as the blade lodged into the boy's neck. Blood sprayed everywhere soaking a fellow Templar, temporarily stunning the Templar. Leliana turned her back to the Templar and jammed the blades into the Templar's gizzard.
The corpse fell to the ground with a thud. Silence emanated the road. Cogdale and Leliana looked at each other in horror at what they had done. Templar blood ran down their armor. Both of them shook in terror for what they had just done.

"Cogdale…" Leliana whispered her voice trembling. She ran to Cogdale and he hid her from the sight. "We had no choice… We had no… choice." Cogdale whispered in her ear petting her head. His comforting words had little effect to himself though. He had murdered a group of Templars for an apostate. An apostate. His gullibility, His kindness had lead him to committing an atrocity. Lead him and his love to committing it. If the Chantry found out about this… Leliana would be killed or perhaps sent to The Aeonar for defying The Chantry. He wouldn't allow this.
"Can anyone h..help?" Helena spat at the ground her face imprinted on the dirt road. Leliana looked at Cogdale with her frightened eyes. "Come on Leliana. There's nothing we can do right now but I'll protect you for whatever may come." Cogdale reassured her gesturing for the both of them to help Helena. The white haired mage was picked up off her belly. Leliana cut her shackles off. Helena wiped off the dirt from her red robes. "Thank you so much Cogdale… I just… thank you sooo much." She said hugging both of them. She looked at the dead templar bodies and turned back to the two of them. "These Templars are a stain on their order." She spat in disgust. "I don't even think The Chantry knew they went up to the castle." She said backing away to give the 2 of them space.

"That would explain why they came so early." Cogdale rubbed his chin as he pondered the thought. "The Teyrna's guards weren't expecting their arrival until tomorrow from what I heard." Helena added.

"Excuse me!" a voice shouted from the bushes. "What about me?" Garrden appeared his arms wide open as if expecting a hug from his actions. "Don't I get a thank you or something of gratitude?" He asked with a smirk knowing he would receive nothing at all. The 3 of them said nothing, watching him pry his daggers out of the Templars' bodies.
"Right then I apologize for transgressing." He said bowing in civility. The "noble" elf had acquired new armor so to speak. The elf used his thieving skills to steal parts of different armors from stands across Highever and now had a set of armor; discolored. "What do you guys think? Should I take a helmet? I think it really highlights my eyes so well." He poked and laughed dropping the Templar helmet.
"Show some respect Garrden." Leliana said angered at the young elf's empathy of the scene. Garrden just scoffed at her and pushed himself into the conversation. "So who is this lovely mage?" He asked kissing Helena's hand before she could pull it away irked by his over zealous posture and manners.
"I am Helena… elf." Answered her. He only bowed in appeasement. Cogdale knew they couldn't just leave the bodies on the road. The Templars who were actually due for the castle would find their rotting hides and know something was up or even worse knew about Helena and would mark her as blood mage or abomination, even without any true evidence the bodies would be suffice enough to convince anyone.
"We need to hide the bodies…" Cogdale blurted out covering his lips with his fingers after suggesting the idea. Garrden had no quarrel with it and shrugged and tried to remove the bodies the best he could with his elven physique. Cogdale broke out of his thoughts and helped the elf with the task. Leliana and Helena stood and watched. Still shocked with the event that had occurred.

"If we hide these men, and if they truly were coming up to the castle without the Knight Commander of Highever knowing then they will be thought as deserters. They'll be falsely pursued across Thedas when they are here." Cogdale explained to the other 3.
"Not even here." Helena interrupted. She approached Cogdale and Garrden with the bodies in front of them. "I'll burn them away." She whispered ashamed of the idea. Cogdale raised an eyebrow impressed with her idea and didn't object. They would receive cremation just as most Fereldans do. Perhaps the remaining Templars would think they abandoned their armor and escaped?

"Do it Helena." Leliana said behind Helena. She nodded and ignited the corpse pile as fire engulfed her hands. The smell was pungent. Cogdale and Leliana were quick to cover their nose and mouth. "Come on. We need to find Bodahn and Sandal and get out of here." Cogdale said signaling them to continue down the road to Highever to find the dwarven merchant and his special boy.
Cogdale held Leliana close to his chest. Sheltering her from the deed that had been done. He hoped his embrace would comfort her in some way but he couldn't deny that what he did was a crime and he should be punished. But he couldn't. He couldn't allow Leliana to face the same fate. Not after all that he promised her. No he wouldn't allow it. Even if The Maker himself faced him.
Cogdale would face him to keep Leliana safe and innocent. Though Leliana was a bard and had murdered several orlesian nobles this wasn't the same. She didn't want any part of it. She had let herself change for the love she had for him. And now he accidentally pushed her to commit murder again.

The trip down to Highever would be a long one on foot. Out of paranoia they hid off to the side of the road in the flora. It reminded him a bit of the Brecillian forest traversing through the thick roots and vines of the forest. Thankfully there were no werewolves left. How he and the rest of the group didn't catch the curse of lycanthropy? Only the Maker knows. His attempts at ridding his mind of what happened failed constantly. He tried of thinking of a lullaby his mother used to sing to him but it didn't help. Nothing helped. Leliana's worried face only stressed him even more. Only Garrden seemed content and worry free. If the elf was raised as a noble child, Cogdale thought that he to should be traumatized. But perhaps the elf had acclimated himself to the life of a loner, a thief in just a short while.
"I'm sorry was your name Leliana?" Helena asked her. Cogdale was glad Helena was trying to get Leliana's mind off of her anxiety. "Yes." Leliana answered continuing the conversation. Helena sped up her walk to get herself next to Leliana.

"My name is Helena if you didn't know." She said twiddling with the black fur on the rim of her hood. Leliana smiled and left Cogdale's arms to talk.
"Yes, Cogdale told me. If you don't mind my rudeness in asking… But why did you escape the Circle of Magi?" Leliana said now fully committed to the conversation. Cogdale looked over to Garrden who was oddly comparing the tip of his nose to the bridge of his nose with a finger. "Feels like my face changed or something… how peculiar." He whispered loudly to himself. Cogdale chuckled a bit and then returned his ears to the ladies' conversation.

"The Circle was in the most kindest words… Pathetic." Helena said. "First Enchanter Irving gave way to every demand Knight Commander Greagoir threw at him. I was a loyal mage since I was sent to the Circle when I was 5 years old. But I couldn't take it anymore after my final test. I couldn't stand the corruption, the hatred, and the injustice that we mages faced. Even in our own sanctuary." Helena palmed her fist in frustration over thinking of it.
"When Cogdale and I went to The Circle we didn't see you there with the surviving mages." Leliana asked. Cogdale could see she didn't enjoy the topic of the indecencies the Templars inflicted upon The Circle.

"That's because I escaped when the Blight had actually begun. Right after Ostagar fell I escaped the Tower. You really don't want to know how either." Helena said faintly laughing to her recommendation. Cogdale sighed knowing that Helena peaked Leliana's interest by just saying that.
"Do tell Helena" Leliana smiled. "W.. What? No! I thought I said I didn't want to…" Helena saw Cogdale's expression of regret he felt for her. "Well after one of my friends I care dearly for escaped for the 6th or 7th time, I found an old note he wrote." Helena said clearing her throat. "I had to stock up on 2 months of ration mana potions the Circle gave out every week. I had to drink all of them in a matter of minutes to enhance myself long enough for the trick to work." She said.

"Once my stomach felt like it was about to burst I positioned my back to a window near one of the top floors of the tower. I casted a very powerful fire spell that recoiled me out the window so far into Lake Calenhad that no Templar had noticed. I would've looked like a lake bird to any Templars out around the Circle." She laughed.
"That's how I got this scar on my shoulder." She said pulling back her clothing to show a giant scar scaling across her right shoulder. "When I hit the water, it felt like I had hit solid ground. Not what I was expecting." She added on covering up her shoulder. "I broke my shoulder in several places… but it was worth it." Helena concluded.

"Wow.. What a story, you have to remind me to make a song, NO! A lullaby for mages based on it!" She gleefully sang out. Helena smiled and nodded in delight. It was somewhat easing to see Leliana lose her stress. He was definitely glad Helena was with them. Leliana needed a friend of the same gender to talk to. All Cogdale had was Garrden, the arrogant, thieving, "noble" elf from Denerim. But it would have to do for now. It was only inevitable others would join them, even if it were only for a little while.

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O2
Blood and Loss

"I have to ask something Cogdale." Helena asserted moving in front of him to walk backwards at the same pace as him. Cogdale raised an eyebrow to her inquiry. "Of what?" Cogdale asked. "Are you actually invoking The Right of Conscription on me?" She said tilting her head. Her hair swaying to her shoulder her head leaned towards. Cogdale only shook his head with a grin. "No but it was a nice idea by Leliana huh?" Cogdale said. Helena smugly nodded her head in agreement and then returned to the left of Leliana.
They would be reaching the city soon. The smoke stacks from the buildings were visible now wind blew it over their heads sometimes blocking the sunlight from their line of sight. Cogdale kept on returning back to the Templars in his mind. Each time becoming more and more diluted from the truth. He lied to himself to ease his worries and what repercussions would be dealt on him and Leliana. He wondered if Leliana was doing the same thing.

Another thought dawned on him though. A pleasant thought to say the least. For the past 2 or 3 weeks he hadn't heard the word "Darkspawn" uttered by anyone. He realized how much that eased his worry. How his old life was in some way returning. Life back when the thought of another blight was ridiculous seeing as the 4th had happened 400 years before. The Grey Wardens were right to try and prepare but Ferelden didn't listen. Thousands of lives lost when they could've been saved.
He didn't tread on the thought long though returning to the Templars yet again. Stein was definitely a criminal in disguise but did that give them the permission to kill the rest of the initiates? It was in self-defense. It was in protecting Leliana; He had every right to shove his sword into the poor excuse for The Maker's right hand. The fact Knight-Captain Stein spoke poor King's Tongue annoyed him even more. As if they snatched him off of Denerim's alleyways and shoved a Templar's platemail on him. If that were the case The Order would have to answer for its actions.

"Bodahn is shacked up at the tavern we were at before." Garrden said walking oddly to entertain his short attention span. Cogdale watched his feet twist and turn around each other. The movements made him dizzy and lose his balance while walking.
"Woah! Cogdale you okay?" Leliana asked catching him before he found his face against the road. Cogdale could only laugh at his clumsiness. "Yeah I'm perfectly fine I just lost my feet." Leliana laughed with him lifting him back up onto his feet. "I forgot how light this armor was." Cogdale said playing around with it again.

"Don't fiddle with it you!" Leliana said smacking his hand that was grabbing one of the belts keeping his cuirass on his chest. Cogdale shook his hand in surprise and for a comedy effect. "Ow woman!" Cogdale said with a smile. Leliana raspberried him, getting closer for a kiss. "You humans." Garrden sighed speeding up his walk to get ahead of them. All 3 of them shrugged to his disapproval of the kiss.
"How long have you two been together?" Helena boldly asked; showing signs she wasn't as shy with them like she used to be. Cogdale and Leliana looked at her puzzled. Both of them didn't really know when it actually started. One could say it started in Lothering and the other could say the night inside the Brecilian forest. Then Leliana looked at Cogdale with a clueless face.

"Um… we're really not sure." Cogdale answered scratching the back of his head. "We've been friends for nearly 2 years." Leliana continued. Helena seemed confused by their confusion. "You guys don't know when you guys fell in love with each other?"
"Well I fell in love Leliana the first night we talked… how the stars were paintings of stories the Maker found dear to him." Cogdale said blushing. "I know it sounds fishy but I'd never truly kissed a girl, courted a girl or even been in a relationship with one until Leliana." Cogdale blurted out. Leliana blushed as well.
"How sweet awww." Helena exclaimed putting her hands on her cheeks. She then looked at Leliana waiting for her answer. Leliana scrambled to compose herself to answer the question. "Um… I think I fell in love with Cogdale when he gave me his family signet pendant." She said pulling the necklace out of her armor to let Helena look at it. "My word that is beautiful." Helena said her jaw dropped.
"Or I could've fallen in love with him back when he first kissed me by surprise." Nudging Cogdale for the act. "I like to think it's the latter but you decide." Leliana said. Helena smiled deciding in her thoughts.

"Cogdale told me you escaped The Circle because the one you loved did before you? If you would care to enlighten me about your story Helena." Leliana said while leaning against Cogdale while they continued to walk to Highever. Garrden was several meters up ahead of them at this point. Trying to block out their conversation by humming to himself and kicking small rocks off the road with force. Cogdale didn't like the arrogant elf but he was well off with that blade. His swordsmanship matched Cogdale's from what Cogdale could tell. Having him on their side in a fight would be and is helpful.
"Well it is a long story. I'd rather tell you it when we have time to rest and sit down." Helena said looking down at her feet. "Alright, but make that a promise Helena." Leliana said pointing at her. "Alright." Helena said with embarrassment.
"HAY! Highever is right here!!" Garrden shouted pointing down the hill he was on top of. They sprinted up the hill to see if Garrden wasn't yanking their chain. Garrden wasn't joking. Cogdale noticed some landmarks he saw when they went up to the castle the couple days ago.

There was Highever; the city lost most of the snow that buried it earlier. The cobbled roads that twist and turned through the city looked brand new from being polished by the rain. Some of the rooftops had melting snow on top of them. Made the vista of taller structures seem like mountaintops. The fog and snow several days ago had blinded Cogdale and Leliana from the ocean that was very near Highever before. There were no beaches but a cliff leading off into vicious waters. But the sound of waves smashing against the cliffs was loud and apart of Highever's mystique to visitors. Cogdale was accustomed to it, being near it since childhood. But Leliana had her eyes closed and was taking in the sounds of nature.
Helena had her staff out and was twirling it. Seemed she had practiced for several years, as she never fumbled it once. "So how did the Teyrna find you?" Cogdale asked her. Helena then threw the staff in the air and caught it to stop her little play. "She was escaping north, heading towards Denerim when our paths intertwined." Helena said pointing north from where they were standing. The hills to the north rolled like waves of the ocean it was so close to.

" It was about three or four days travelling randomly with a road after I got out of the lake with my broken shoulder." She said poking her right shoulder. " I had little mana left to heal my shoulder. Whenever I had enough and the time to I would sit down and spend it healing my ruined shoulder." Helena said her hands glowing with a healing spell to show an example. "Well.. One day I was healing as usual when her group found me. It was her, a dwarf, and remaining guard she had. She offered to help me if I would follow her." Helena paused to look at Cogdale for a second. "Well and here I am now." She said abruptly ending the story.
"So you followed her?" Cogdale asked her a little annoyed by her hazy account of how she ended up where she was.

"Well… I wouldn't be here if I didn't now would I?" She said frustrated. "Cogdale she doesn't want to talk about it, please just understand her and what she's gone through." Leliana said trying to wade him off of the topic. Cogdale calmed his nerves and breathed in a big breath of cold air. "If you wouldn't mind lets go find Bodahn and Sandal please!" Garrden said descending down the hill to the entrance of Highever. They followed the sand haired elf. The city guard only tightened their stance in salute to Cogdale recognizing him as a vassal. Cogdale ignored them.
Still following Garrden through the crowds of people through the market street the group became a little bewildered bumping into people. It was easier for Garrden being smaller then most as well most humans in Highever ignored the elves in the first place. He glided through the crowds with ease while the 3 of them were being held up in economic traffic. Cogdale made sure they didn't get lost though and held Leliana's hand as a link. Cogdale could only assume Leliana did the same for Helena. After the struggle of navigating the sea of Highever's citizens they finally escaped exhausted from not being trampled on. Garrden waited for them on the other end laughing on how clumsy they were trying to get through.

"You humans hah!" he laughed holding his stomach from bursting. "Very funny elf now come on let's get to the tavern. "We already are here." He said pointing to his left. There was the Tavern entrance from before. There were several new vomit stains that had made it home. Along with 1 complete drunk lying in a pile of barrels. "Lets hope Bodahn is at the entrance I don't want to smell this place for too long." Cogdale said putting his helmet on so no one would at least recognize his face.
The Tavern was empty. No soul in Cogdale's line of sight. He saw the dancing table he got up on to vow his vassalage several days ago. How abnormal it was to see a tavern empty. Taverns always had residents even on holy days for Andraste and the Maker. "Bodahn!?" Cogdale called out for the old energetic dwarf, no response. Something definitely wasn't right at all. Unsheathing his blade Cogdale readied himself for an ambush. He had been too gullible too many times to let it slide now. "Get ready for anything." Cogdale said looking back at the girls and Garrden. They did as he said and readied their weapons.

"Where the hell is everybody. It's not like some mabari let one in here or something." Garrden whispered. Helena and Leliana held their breath from laughing. Cogdale noticed the dry blood of the Templars still coated his blade. It felt like ages slowly encroaching into the middle of the tavern. The eeriness of the tavern ran parallel with when Cogdale had to traverse the fade when the sloth demon subdued him and his friends.
"Perhaps it isn't an attack or ambush?" Helena softly said under her breath. "Never can be too careful mage." Garrden said trying to twirl his blades just like Helena did with her staff. Still nothing came after the silence. Perhaps the tavern was closed? But that would be a first for a tavern in Highever. "Leliana." Cogdale said trying to get her attention. She was making her way to the back of the tavern but stopped. "Yes?" she murmured.

"What do you think?" Cogdale asked. "I think there is no one here. Probably the tavern is closed." She answered back placing her blades on their holsters on her back. Everyone mellowed out and did the same and met up in the middle. "So where would Bodahn be then Garrden?" Cogdale said forcefully walking up to Garrden to intimidate the foolish elf. Garrden looked around slowly and shrugged. " I have no idea." He said making his way to the tavern exit. Cogdale rolled his eyes and signaled everyone to follow.
"Wait!" Helena confidently ordered. All of them stopped and looked back at her. "What?" Leliana asked turning around. "I thought I had sensed something when we entered here." She said talking to herself. "What are you talking about mage?" Garrden asked bothered by her sudden and inept way of telling them to stop.

"I sense blood magic. Or at least it has been used here." Helena said her eyes bled from her reaction. "You're a blood mage!" Leliana took several steps back in shock. "No! no! I'm not! I admit I dipped my fingers in it a bit but that's all." Helena said desperately tried to defend herself. "I've read that even the most novice of blood magic may sense it being used." Garrden said including himself into the moment.
"As have I" Cogdale said not taking sides on the fence of the age old prejudice struggle. "I knew we should've let her be taken by the Templars!" Garrden suddenly shouted. "Garrden you didn't even know why we stopped them in the first place don't go picking sides on a fight you don't even know about." Leliana shouted at the elf scaring him half to death. Helena at this point was in tears from the sudden admittance to the forbidden art.
"Helena it's alright, you are a good person! I know in the long run love can't be an excuse for using blood magic but lets use it for right now." Cogdale said trying to comfort her. His approach to her was interrupted suddenly as he was hit by a blood spell cracking him against the tavern's walls. "There! Over by the back of the room!" Helena pointed her staff sending bolts into the darkness. Leliana jumped up on a table and ripped her bow off her back and rapidly started firing arrows in the same direction. More blood magic returned fire back at them forcing them to kick some of the tables in the way of the spells even though they did little to stop the violent spells.

Helena began to conjure up a fire spell behind her table "Leliana keep them down for me!" Helena yelled as she continued to flow her mana into the ball of fire. Cogdale watched as Leliana front flipped over her overturned table on top of another and fired off more from her quiver not knowing if they were reaching their target. "Helena do you know how many there are?" Leliana ask jump back behind her previous table. Helena only shook her head. Cogdale had gotten back onto his feet and swung his sword to his side and rushed the darkness. "Cogdale!" Leliana exclaimed noticing him rush blindly into the dark.

"I'm pushing us forward!" Cogdale shouted grabbing a table by its post and using it as a shield. The force of him sprinting down the row of tables with a table in hand caused all the others to be knocked over. Looking back he saw Helena, Leliana and Garrden right behind him. Helena was still building up the fire spell as they entered the darkness. This time Cogdale was in the shins by another wave of sharp blood. It knocked him to his knees but the blood mage was close as he dropped the table when he fell and it had hit him.
"He is close! Get him!" Cogdale shouted holding his bruised shins in pain. They didn't pause to see if he was alright as Helena released the inferno upon the doorway that had been plaguing them with blood. The explosion lit up the area instantly. Now they could see clearly who the culprit of this horrible ambush was. It was an abomination. There was little to recognize of who it once was. The masses of flesh protruding from its shoulders were seeping down its skin and flowing into its eyes. The mage had given into a demon.

"Leliana just as we practiced!" Cogdale said getting back up no matter how painful it was to put weight on his legs. Leliana began to jump and flip her way towards the abomination, distracted by Garrden who was throwing his knives into its flesh. The creature roared in anger by the pain it was being dealt. Leliana with one last backflip off a table landed on the enormous shoulders of the abomination. It struggled to get her off but to no avail. Leliana forked her twin daggers into 2 bulbous pustules and then pulled back on them making the possessed mage fall backwards into the wall behind it. Taking the time that it was immobile Cogdale readied his blade at the abomination to his stomach and sprinted towards the monster and jousted the nevarran sword into the creature's bowels and then yanked it up and out its head.

Tainted blood burst from the abomination's skull as all 4 of them took cover. Several seconds later the corpse exploded. Its blood putting out any fires that had been started by Helena's spell. "Maker's trousers." Helena panted. Cogdale flicked his blade to wipe all of the blood of it onto the floor.
"Now how in Andraste's might did this happen? Where are all the patrons?" Cogdale asked universally to everyone taking off his helmet. "It had nothing to do with us." Helena said spitting out some of the blood that spilled into her mouth onto the floor. "How do you know?" Leliana asked wiping off blood from her face. "He was just an apostate who fell to a demon that is all." Helena insisted.

"I'll take your word on it" Cogdale said. Some Highever guard finally entered the tavern realizing they were conveniently to late for combat. "Just in time gentlemen." Garrden jokingly said. "What happened here? Where is everybody?" a guard asked. "An abomination, it appears that everyone is… dead or they escaped." Cogdale said patting the guard's shoulder as he walked by.
"Hey! Stop!" the guard ordered pulling his sword out. "Seriously ser, please don't test my patience." Cogdale said aggravated. The guard slowly sheathed his blade back and saluted Cogdale, letting them go. "Lets go we'll have to find another way out of Highever…" Cogdale said exiting the tavern. A crowd had formed around the entrance of the tavern. Guards holding them off. The crowd got louder when the group left the doorway.
"Messere!" a familiar posh voice shouted out as they entered the street. It was Bodahn with Sandal waving them over. Bodahn had a half eaten apple in his hand as they converged with each other. "Bodahn! We thought you were in the tavern…" Leliana said looking at Garrden.
"Oh no I would never let ma boy enter one of those foul establishments." Bodahn said throwing his apple into a pocket of snow left over. "Well should we be knocking off then?" Bodahn said his arms held out wide open to any answer. "Yes" they all said in unison. "Aye, the caravan is just around the corner here." Bodahn pointed walking around said corner. They rushed the wagons and jumped on. All of them wanting to get the hell out of Highever as soon as possible for their own reasons. Garrden, more obvious then others.
It took a few moments but Bodahn and Sandal saddled up and shoved the oxen off. Cogdale couldn't believe how much he missed sitting on the wagon now. Leliana found herself in her natural place next to Cogdale. Helena lay on top of the wagon where Alistair used to sit. Garrden sat near Bodahn and Sandal trying to talk to them.

"Orlais?" Cogdale asked with a sigh. Leliana didn't answer only touching his bottom lip with her fingers. Cogdale only could take that as a "shhh" from her. He didn't mind though a little peace and quiet would be nice. The past couple of hours had been unwanted. But at least he finished what he promised. He saved Helena from being turned tranquil even though Templar blood was on their hands. It was childish of him to think that slaying that abomination equaled things out between him and the Maker, or Leliana.
When he got the time, he would have to apologize to her for everything he had gotten her into. How he broke his promises to her. But for now he could rest his head on a couple of supplies with his girl on his lap.

[PickledGear]

A sneak peek at Orlesian chapter 23-30

[PickledGear]

OOC: A little warning its a little steamy in this one just like in Chapter 8.





Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O3
Just Our 2nd Time

Leliana breathed deep in the cold air of the road heading north to Orlais. Looking up at the red sky of the winter sunset. The following 4 days on the road were gradually getting colder. By their luck though it would never reach the fierce frostbitten cold of the Frostback Mountains. Climbing up the mountains in just their tent blankets as cloaks. Morrigan the only means of heat with her fire spells. The witch was very greedy though and kept the heat for herself most of the time. How Cogdale gave Leliana his blanket and how Alistair complained that he was freezing to. Her stomach fluttered at Cogdale's gesture. But during that time Cogdale was stoic and nearly mute. Fighting the corrupted people of Haven. The end result however was a moment Leliana would remember for the rest of her life. Andraste's Sacred Ashes, the only physical remnant of The Love of The Maker himself.
How Cogdale stood there looking at the urn and carefully took a pinch of the ashes and put it into 2 bags. Smart at the time, Cogdale did that so that if the first bag were to be damaged and lost all the ashes they would've still had a second. But that accident never occurred. Leliana realized he still had the 2nd bag with him last time she remembered.

She wouldn't bring it up right then and there. Cogdale was asleep his head slouched over her. The wagon's wheels bouncing on the road didn't bother him at all. The 2 years of enduring it, it was simple to see that he adapted to it. The sun had finally set behind the chilled pine trees. The only source of light they had soon was the night sky. The bright stars which presented their stories to her every night. A calming before the storm that was the next day.
The wagon slowed down to a stop. Waking Cogdale from his nap.
"It is getting dark." Leliana said to Cogdale who was gradually waking his eyes up. They all knew the drill by now. She lifted herself off of Cogdale's lap and jumped off to help with the camp's set up. Helena and Garrden were still beginners with setting the tents up. Leliana and Cogdale on the other hand could pitch their tents up in 30 seconds flat. The ground was frozen so they used the back up tent hides as a blanket to put under them.

Helena had been using what used to be Leliana's tent for her own. The mage had been quiet compared to how vocal she was 4 days ago. From Leliana's observations of their new friend. Helena didn't like being barraged with multiple questions, Personal ones at that. Maybe Leliana could ask these questions. Now that Helena had time to cool down and grab her senses from being aloft. But Leliana knew better then to just blurt out the questions again.
The tents were all set up. Cogdale, Sandal and Garrden were out gathering some firewood to burn. Leliana took that moment to strike, as it were. "Helena?" Leliana said making her known to the red robed, white hair and mystically tan skinned mage. Helena waved her over to sit down next to her. "So how do you like the… travelling so far?" Leliana asked putting her arm around Helena's shoulder. Feeling the feather pauldrons Helena had gave Leliana another conversation she could use to navigate her way to the real questions she wanted to ask the mage.
"It reminds me of the days I followed Teyrna Cousland during the blight." Helena said. "We were escaping north to Denerim to take a boat to the Free Marches." She added. "Unexpectedly though we ended up… staying in Denerim for a while. Under Loghain and Arl Howe's noses." Leliana was surprised that Elle had been so successful at disguises while in Denerim.
"One weird question if you don't mind Helena…" Leliana said shifting herself around on the log that the men had rolled near the soon to be campfire. Helena only nodded softly unsure of the question but did so anyways. "Where did you get this lovely outfit of yours? I absolutely love it." Leliana said smiling. Helena seemed shocked at the question. Perhaps she was expecting a more personal question. "I… I made it myself. Anders…" Helena stopped herself from finishing the sentence. "Anders? Who's this Anders?" Leliana prodded. Helena stuttered, failing at trying to change the subject. Helena sighed in submission.

"Anders is the love of my life." Helena said. Leliana was giddy that she was successful at goading Helena into what she wanted to know. "Please go on Helena." Leliana pushed. Helena hesitated for a moment on explaining her story. "Okay, I guess I promised before, didn't I?" Helena bashfully asked. Leliana only nodded her head.
"Well… Anders is… amazing, handsome, smart, charming and funny. He taught me about how The Circle wasn't the right way for mages like me and him." She paused to wipe her braided hair out of her face. "You have to understand, he isn't a blood mage like you make me out to be. He is still a devout Andrastian just like you. But he taught me that, if The Maker created us mages. Why are we oppressed?" Helena was a very social girl, while she talked she gestured every word in a new way with her hands.
"Our magic is a gift, not a curse." Helena palmed her fist stating what she believed in. "Of course we have to extremely watch ourselves with The Fade and failing against the will of demons. But that fear of abominations, the fear of our power, our gift is extremely prejudice to the majority of us. Everyone takes the actions of the few and then judges the majority with those actions. That is pure prejudice and I'm insulted by the world that this is allowed. It should be those who judge others who should be imprisoned. But then I'd become the monster that I fight. Anders and I are better then that though. Anders inspired other mages by non-violent actions. He touts the record of escaping The Circle six times his entire time there. I've helped with his last escape in my own way." She proudly smiled.

"So what is the story of you and him?" Leliana said trying not to be caught in a tangent of the conversation. Helena threw her left leg over the log to face herself towards Leliana. "Before I met Anders I was loyal to the circle. I passed my big test at the end of my apprenticeship. I was planning to perhaps become First Enchanter when I was older." She said taking a breath. "One night a group of Templars dragged in this apostate. He was to become tranquil. But they oddly enough didn't have the runed symbol to make him tranquil. So they had me guard him while they went to Denerim to get a new symbol." She said wiping her finger in the dirt and drawing the symbol of the Chantry on her forehead then wiping it off.
"Over the week that I guarded him. We talked and later on flirted. He is extremely charming. I fell for him on the last day he was in The Circle safe. I was taught… no… not taught. I was told that we mages never find love. We may have our little spats with other mages. But never fall in love. But Anders changed that. If what The Circle I knew was lying then they could've lied about everything. So on the last night, I admitted my feelings for the apostate and let him go. He gave me the tips to one of his previous escapes and to cut things short, here I am!"

"Wow that… story… is very endearing." Leliana said. She knew Helena wasn't telling the whole story but the fact that she was just telling the story meant something. That she trusted Leliana with her story. That perhaps, they were friends now.

The men finally returned, their arms stacked with firewood they had chopped out in the woods. Cogdale's face was flustered, seemingly out of breath from chopping the trees. Leliana smiled at him to help cheer his spirit up. It seemed to work returning a small smile back to her. "So what have you lovely ladies been up to?" Garrden asked throwing all of his wood into the fire. Cogdale looked annoyed by his lazy gesture. Leliana shook her head. "Nothing just talking about Cogdale's amazing body." Leliana said jokingly with a wink towards Cogdale.
Helena blushed and went along with Leliana's little fib. "What about it?" Garrden asked with a conniving grin on his face. Leliana knew she had gotten her and Helena in a trap.

"Really? I love his entire body… but my favorite part would have to be his arms." Leliana proudly said with her arms open reaching for Cogdale's embrace. But he was to busy taking off his cuirass, unstrapping belts and buttons keeping the enchanted silverlite armor on his torso.
"That's great that the one part on my body you love are these." Cogdale joked flexing his arms finally exposed. Arms still defined as ever, covered with scars from the numerous battles. His forearms were covered by the right amount of body hair. Enough that it didn't sidetrack you when looking at his forearms. Leliana remembered when she first really met Cogdale. When they talked the day after leaving Lothering. He wasn't that muscular then. But his slimness added to his innocent and adorable demeanor he had.
"And you Helena?" Garrden said shooting his eyes over at the young apostate. Helena looked clueless; looking up into the adolescent night sky hoping the invasively rude elf would just give up on her. Leliana waved Helena in and whispered in her ear. "Just say his eyes, and how they give light in the darkness." She hinted to the helpless girl. Helena repeated what Leliana told her to say. Garrden didn't argue that Leliana had whispered in her ear. Cogdale smiled at Helena. Gullibility could be read off his face. Leliana rubbed Helena's back, which received a smile, and Leliana read Helena's lips "Thank you."

Cogdale made his way and sat in between Helena and Leliana. Which bothered Leliana a little, usually he wouldn't sit in between 2 people but instead would sit next to her and let the other acquaintance sit on the other side of her. But Leliana needed to cool herself down. If Cogdale did something that seemed advancing, it was probably on accident and hadn't realized it. Cogdale was running his fingers through Leliana's hair, looking over it like it was some precious book or scroll of some sort.
"Your hair is getting long again Leliana. Do you want me to try and cut your hair?" Cogdale said. Leliana shook her head. "I think I'll try growing my hair out again." She answered. Cogdale raised an eyebrow but didn't object to her decision. By then Leliana's hair was resting her on shoulders and sliding down her neck. She hadn't let it grow out this much since Marjolaine betrayed her nearly 4 years ago. She didn't have the luxury of making herself beautiful like she used to when she travelled Orlais.
Perhaps now that they were visiting Val Royeaux she should ready herself again. Allowing her hair flow down her back, curly and soft. She loved when she had the tools to do this. It may have taken her nearly 3 to 5 hours to make her hair permed and glowing but it didn't really matter. It would be the dark nights of Orlais which required her to look beautiful for her soon to be dead suitors.
"I think you should cut it short again. But that's just me." Cogdale said shrugging. Leliana ignored him looking back at Helena. Helena's hair was an odd white. She also had several locks of her hair braided. It brought out her gold and blue eye color. But with the campfire they looked almost purely gold and her hair seemed a near blonde or orange. "Speaking of hair… Helena would you mind telling us how your hair is such a wonderful white?" Leliana asked. Helena gave a blank stare and didn't answer. Leliana could only forget that she asked. Maybe it was something to do with Anders.

For several awkward seconds they said nothing. Only the crackling of the fire chatted up the night. Garrden ended it by belching. "Wo… flashback." Cogdale said after the belch. "What?" Leliana asked confused by the suddenness. "Oghren…" Cogdale said with a smile. Leliana realized the relation and began to laugh with Cogdale over the simple belch Garrden had given out.
"What are you two lunatics laughing about? The taint finally find your heads?" Garrden said angrily. "Oh don't worry, we traveled with a drunken dwarf back during the blight." Leliana assured him. "He just seemed to let his bodily functions out more then most people. Well… more then most drunks to." Cogdale added holding in another laughing spurt. Cogdale looked back at Leliana with a content smile. Something she hadn't seen from him in a very long time. "What's the occasion?" Leliana questioned the smile. "Oh I've been keeping track of the days." Cogdale whispered swirling his hand in the air to gesture that he casually did this.

"Guess what TODAY is?" Cogdale grinned. Leliana tilted her head even more confused then ever. "I don't… know I'm sorry Cogdale." Leliana said embarrassed that she didn't know. "Today is when we met in Lothering 2 years ago." He said grabbing her and going to town on her neck with his lips. The barrage of kisses on her exposed neck was tickling her making her laugh. Cogdale remembering the day they met had Leliana ecstatic and oddly enough turned on. Leliana returned fire with a large tongue lick up his neck into his ear.
"Oh you two go get a room!" Garrden said throwing a rock at the 2. Leliana raised her eyebrows at Cogdale to see if he was thinking what she was thinking. Her love only needed to smile and he did just that. Helena could only give Leliana a begging puppy look before her orlesian bard kicked into overtime. Grabbing Cogdale by the collar and yanking him into the tent that had been properly marked with the letters C and L with a heart shape surrounding them. A cute emblem Leliana had accurately burned into the hide of the tent with a piece of shattered glass. It took her around 3 hours to complete it but the end result was worth it; the symbol and the feeling of accomplishment. Something that would be a fraction of her finishing off a target in Orlais but still it was that high of accomplishing her goal that made it all the worthwhile.
But that didn't matter; Leliana initiated the moment by ripping his shirt in half, exhaling heavily from her attraction to his exposed body; still blush red from his cutting of the firewood. "Hey! My shirt… I only had one of those." Cogdale said trying to grab the 2 ends of the tear and fix them like a child. Leliana denied him the right to try by grabbing his hands and directing them to her butt. Cogdale was caught off guard by this sudden "take charge" attitude, she could tell this by Cogdale's boyish innocent look on his face. He didn't object though as his hands went from a calm palm on her butt to a strong and forcing cupping. He was following her orders this time.
"Taking charge? I don't mind a break for once." Cogdale whispered through his teeth only for them to be covered by her lips. It was fun to let go of all the worries and "rules" of love and give into one of the many splendors of being a bard; lust. Desire demons would be watching in envy of her tonight. "Just like before Cogdale. Okay?" Leliana said pushing him onto his back while he struggled to remove his pants with the armor still attached to them. She made it even more difficult for him; climbing on top of him and ravaging his upper half with her lips.
His sweat-laden body tasted of maple sap. Maybe it was just her imagination. Comparing what he had done recently with cutting down trees. It almost seemed like an aphrodisiac to her. It demanded her to tear her armor off and slide her skin against his. Create heat from friction. Her tongue glided over his scars, tickling him into more submission. Now that her prey was loose and ready for the feast. She gave way to the deep ancient yearning she had had the past couple days for Cogdale's flesh.
"You don't know how much I've wanted to do this since the last time Cogdale." Leliana gasped planting another kiss on his lips. "All you needed was to ask Lily." Cogdale said finally relieving his lower extremities of his armor throwing it into the hide of the tent. Leliana instantly went down to pleasure him. But Cogdale stopped her from performing it. "No… don't do that." He said half breathed. Leliana frowned at him. "Why not? I'm doing it for you." She said laying on top of his legs.

"I don't want you to do anything that lowers your worth Leliana." Cogdale said caressing her face. Leliana was surprised but she found it cute and gallant. She nodded "Alright Cogdale, you win." She said shuffling herself over him to press herself against his body. "How would you like it?" Leliana asked. Cogdale grabbed her thighs and benched her over his head and dropped her down. Instantly she felt as if The Maker had touched her very soul and let her meet Andraste all at the same time. Cogdale had been studying. The only author who had written about the female gender and their needs was an Antivan elf named Zevran. Cogdale had Zevran draw him diagrams it seemed. Leliana collapsed from the burst of ecstasy when she reached her limit.
" Don't go flaunting that skill to everyone." Leliana said flicking his nose as she climbed down, a grin chattered on his face. The two of them lost the track of time as they made love. So much that during a position change the camp's fire was put out. Signifying that Garrden and Helena were going to sleep. Leliana felt guilty she left her new friend out there with the boorish elf. But the thought disappeared when Cogdale yanked her hair.
She was delighted Cogdale was falling into the category of a man who loved rough sex. She loved it to, from time to time. "Get ready things are going to get bloody." Leliana said as she dug her nails into his back and bit down on his shoulder. She drew blood at her bite. Cogdale grunted from the sting of pain but continued his maneuvers.

It had been an hour or two after the campfire had gone out. Both exhausted and ready to burst when Leliana brought Cogdale's face to hers. "Let it go." She said with sincerity in her eyes. Cogdale didn't understand at first, his face stretching to every direction a human face to could go. "What?" he asked not understanding what she wanted. "Let it go… in me." She politely said sweat dripping off the tip of her nose. From that Cogdale understood. "Are you sure?" He asked. Leliana nodded and moved faster on him, the speed made him release nearly instantly.

"I love you Cogdale, I always… Always will… I want this." She said kissing him one last time before falling asleep. Leliana may not want a child at the very moment. But Cogdale is a Grey Warden. He wouldn't live as long as she. She loved him with her entirety and the day he would leave for his calling would be too much. So she must have some form of him to be with her when he is gone. Cogdale would be the only man she would ever have a child with.
By her thoughts Cogdale would have to leave for the Deep Roads when he was in his 40s. She would be in her mid 40s herself when that happened, by then she would lose The Maker's gift of fertility.

It wasn't that though. Cogdale was the first and only man she had fallen in deep love with. That bond she has with him was sacred. Even if there were other men she could only trust him as a father, as a husband. Which sparked the questions of marriage. Back in Highever he promised he would but now. He goes around as if he had forgotten the promise. That he isn't ready. Leliana could understand that. More with herself though with her previous life was one full of many lovers and she was taught that love and marriage was a pathetic and silly thing that the weak indulged in.
She could admit she already has cold feet with just the thought. But another thought or vision pops in her mind. One with her and Cogdale married, happy and still in love. A place they could call home. Preferably in Orlais with friends and she hoped… children. She wanted a daughter and a son. But some how with all that to take care of, Cogdale and her would still travel and help people.
She also didn't deny that she might enjoy becoming a noble. Joining Cogdale back in his old life. Something she tended to end with many folk in Orlais. She was thinking too much. Her active thoughts were keeping her awake. She opened her eyes again to see her surroundings for a brief moment. Cogdale had childishly dug his face into her bosom. She found his breath ticklish as it flew over her breasts and down into her bell button. She prayed to The Maker that this first time would bless her with child. But she could only hope The Maker had the best laid plans for her and Cogdale's future. Especially since The Chantry had been asking for her services again.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 17 mai 2011 - 03:10 .

[PickledGear]

4 comic pages for NightinGale series.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 19 mai 2011 - 12:40 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O4
Living is an Oxy Moron

They weren't all gone. Stragglers were still roaming Ferelden and into Orlais. It would only be a matter of time before the inevitable would occur. They were at Halamshiral; a city west of the Frostback Mountains known for being what used to be The Capital city of The Dalish. Cogdale had never gone west past the Frostbacks the area felt alien to him, The fact they were appearing from the loins of the Frostback was no surprise and in a sad and odd way they made the west seem like home.
Cogdale withdrew his blade from the Hurlock's broken ribcage. After 3 months of not hearing or seeing of the Darkspawn, the minute they officially left Ferelden they step in a swarm of the abominations. His pull of the Nevarran blade found itself lodged into another Hurlock's eye socket. Cogdale had no sympathies for these monsters and he slaughtered them as if they were insects on the bottom of his boot.

It was only Cogdale and Leliana fighting the group of 40 darkspawn. A reasonable fight for them seeing as the Darkspawn were without coordination. His sword yearned for the tainted blood to shower its cold silverlite mesh once more. The new improved armor he wore made him move more flexibly and thus in turn his cuts and slashes were deeper and more brutal compared to his movements during the Blight.
The Darkspawn were acting afraid with their body language. Taking a few steps back when they confronted Cogdale face to face. Only to force them to charge headlong into Cogdale's might. They were behaving like a drunken coward who got in a growling competition with a Mabari warhound. Wind cracked as Leliana's arrows flew by Cogdale's head into a hurlock's chest; rupturing his twisted lungs.

Helena and Garrden watched in awe, as Cogdale and Leliana took on the horde of darkspawn single handedly. Perhaps more in awe of Leliana for not being affected by the taint and holding her own against the Grey Warden's kill count. Several more Hurlocks rushed at Cogdale. Thrusting his blade into the center one he pulled with intense strength enough to rip the darkspawn in half and amputating the others' arms with ease. But of course the darkspawn won't go down via flesh wound. They began to chatter their teeth to show intent of biting Cogdale.
Cogdale chuckled and opened his arms wide let them have a go at chewing on him. When they approached him Cogdale was as solid as Shale. The closer and closer they got the larger his smile under his helmet grew. One reached with its neck to clamp down on Cogdale's forearm only to have all its grotesque teeth shattered by a flick of Cogdale's wrist. A Hurlock has no nose so Cogdale's original maneuver of shoving the cartilage in the nose into its brain wouldn't work. While the Hurlock was dazed Cogdale clasped the darkspawn's head in his palms and snapped it with so much force it tore the Hurlock's neck muscles open exposing the now useless jugular veins. The remaining Hurlock stumbled back in fear of Cogdale's terrible kill. The Darkspawn didn't live to calm itself though as a serrated arrow ripped itself through the skull. The corpse collapsing into the cold dirt with a loud thud was no comfort to Helena and Garrden. They had seen Cogdale and Leliana fight but that was with restraint.

What they saw was horrifying and would give qunari nightmares. Cogdale strangled a genlock against a tree. After several minutes of squeezing the short darkspawn's life away but without profit, Cogdale started to slam his head into the genlock's head. After 4 crushing blows the genlock's face was a bloody pulp, almost like a grapes squeezed for wine.
Cogdale shook off the vertigo from the immense attack he had preformed and aided Leliana to fend off some bulkier hurlocks who had peculiar face paint that was never present on the darkspawn during the blight. Cogdale surprising it with his hidden dagger to its face, ripping the lower jaw off, took out the first of the two. The larger one left flexed to try and frighten him but Cogdale didn't flinch. Leliana's arrows barely penetrated the flesh of the hurlock.

Chopping the hurlock with his blade, Cogdale stumbled back from the fortitude of this darkspawn. Of course the blade did leave a mark that bled but the hurlock ignored it and continued its advance towards the 2. The beast knocked Cogdale over with its forearm as wide as Cogdale's torso. Cogdale flew into a nearby tree losing his sword on the flight to the tree. But Cogdale didn't have time to comedically shake his face and blink a few times to get a handle on the situation again.

Cogdale quickly noticed Leliana was trying her best to distract the hurlock and even kicked him with all her might to no avail. Cogdale jumped up and sprinted at the darkspawn with enough speed he tackled it off its feet down a steep cliff of about 15 feet down onto a green bluff with a small ray of sunlight making itself between the clouds and leaves. Finally the hurlock was incapacitated. Cogdale called out for his blade, moments later his sword came falling down the cliff for him to catch. Catching this enormous darkspawn off guard was the key to its demise.
Several swift and inelegant chops to the hurlock's face put it to rest. Regaining his posture Cogdale looked back up to Leliana who had watched him kill the darkspawn. The sunlight on his face exposed his eye mist to him. He watched as the mist flew up to the sunlight only to disappear. Cogdale could hear magic exploded behind Leliana. Helena and Garrden must have finally decided to help them. With magic the rest of the darkspawn would be easy pickings. If Helena knew some blood magic she could possibly take out 10 darkspawn. If she had the knowledge Morrigan had. Which would be very unlikely.

Cogdale didn't have the time to do his typical pondering he needed to get back up to help them. The steep climb up was easy enough. It only covered his armor in dry dirt and sand. Leliana caught his hand and helped pull him up. "Wow that armor really is light." Leliana exclaimed once he reached the ledge. "No kidding." Cogdale said running off to aid Helena and Garrden. Branches snapped and rocks were kicked as Cogdale charged through the forest to the combat. Leliana followed behind him using the new path he created to her own advantage. Their arrival was greeted by more darkspawn and more sporadic their attack became. All 4 of them found themselves back to back as the tribal like mentality of these darkspawn surrounded them all.
"How in the fade did this happen?" Garrden said spinning his dual daggers in his hands. Cogdale had no idea moments earlier the darkspawn were routing from the battle. Now the war painted blight now surrounded them. Yet the darkspawn did not attack them. As if darkspawn held hostages, the thought could only merit a scoff.
"Sod it all" Cogdale spat rushing the closest hurlock. Wrenching his sword through tainted intestines, yanking them all out. The other 3 took that sign as attack. Cogdale cut through the closest hurlocks and genlocks that had no armor like butter. Their cold dark blood splattering across the trunks of trees. Cogdale knew he nailed the trees' fate when tainted blood infested their roots, but he had no way to stop it from occurring. While he rushed another group of darkspawn Cogdale could see Leliana and Helena were holding their own. Any darkspawn making a glance at them were erased from the equation by Leliana's keen eyes while the darkspawn who were in their faces were burnt to sinders by Helena's magic and agility.

Their skill and luck guided them to survival for this battle. The remainder of the darkspawn horde retreated back east into the Frostback Mountains. Blood trails drew their fleeting paths. "Garrden go tell Bodahn and Sandal that the path is safe again." Cogdale ordered taking his helmet off to get a fresh breath of cold air. Cogdale's face was bruised and in a sweat. His nose was in a full bleed. Probably from his headbutting spree he had dealt on the genlock earlier. The blood soaked his light beard and soul patch to a darkened crimson.
"Cogdale you're bleeding!" Leliana gasped running over to him and pushed his head back. "Lean your head back to stop the bleeding. Trust me I've had one too many of these." Leliana giggled pinching the bridge of Cogdale's nose. Warranting a grimace from the spike of pain of a broken nose.

"Here I can help stop the bleeding." Helena said approaching the two. Her long fingers drifted over Cogdale's face. Leliana retracted her hand so that it didn't get the majority of the healing. The healing spell did its job and stopped his nose from leaking but it was still broken. "When Bodahn gets here I'll get some bandages Cogdale." Leliana said patting him on the neck. "Right… ouch… it hurts just to talk with a broken nose." Cogdale cringed from the sharp sting. Leliana only smiled, blood scattered across her face. It felt good to vent frustration on sentients who were more or less definitely not beneficial to Thedas.
Leliana sighed, plucking a leaf off a small twig and sniffing it. Something about seeing that seemed a bit morbid to Cogdale. After slaughtering countless tainted souls and flooding the frozen forest's floor with blood. Leliana sniffs a leaf from a plant and smiles. Both Leliana and him were desensitized from murdering darkspawn.

Something he was unsure if he was okay or not okay with. Perhaps it was okay since they were true abominations. A punishment The Maker wanted them to redeem themselves for. But then there is the fact even though evil it was still life being ended. His mind became a swirling mess after thinking too much of something. It didn't help that his nose was broken from his ignorant anger for the darkspawn. Bodahn and his son appeared with the caravan now. They tried their best not to seem afraid of their surroundings. Well… Bodahn anyways. Sandal was always one to not have any emotion about anything except for enchantments. Leliana climbed up the 1st wagon and retrieved small bandages and placed them on Cogdale's nose they would keep his nose from snapping into any other position.
"There we go! And how bout a kiss to make it all better?" Leliana said pecking his nose quickly. The small sting of pain was worth the affection from her. "So we're still heading west to Orlais yes?" Bodahn said holding the reigns of the oxen.

"Yes when we hit Lydes we'll use that to plot the rest of the trip. It is a shame the Imperial Highway's bridge from Lydes to Val Royeaux is destroyed the trip would be 3 or 4 times faster then what we have to take." Cogdale said showing a crude drawing of Ferelden and Orlais map. Bodahn looked at it with such passion you'd think he was a devout Andrastian reading the chant of light.
"We'll basically be in Orlais when we hit Lydes, Leliana… do you want to go anywhere before we finally hit Val Royeaux?" Cogdale asked her, catching her wiping the blood off of her face.

"It is winter but Lake Celestine is magnificent frozen over. We can actually walk across it if it's the right time of winter." Leliana said still wiping off the darkspawn blood from her skin. "Another beautiful city is Montsimmard. It is not much less a city as it is an abandon base of the Orlesian chevaliers ages ago. The fort is covered in flora that you've never seen before. It is now a city and Orlais' Circle of Magi." Helena became worried when The Circle was mentioned. Leliana tried to reassure Helena of the Orlesian Templars. "Don't worry about The Circle Helena. Orlesians are still very prejudiced against you Fereldans I highly doubt they'd want a Fereldan mage in their Circle. No offense." Leliana said.

The ancient city that was Halamshiral opened their ruined gates to the caravan as they neared the city. The forests around Halamshiral were still thick and green. Further proving the city was once a Dalish city. Most of the infrastructure was replaced by Orlesian architecture but there were still remnants of the Elvenhan make around the city. It was still early morning so the group wasn't staying the night in the city.
Guards in unique armor Cogdale could only guess was Orlesian make stopped the caravan. Leliana readied herself to respond to them. The first guard approached the caravan and began talking.
"Halte-là, ce que les entreprises avez-vous ici?" He asked his voice reverberating inside his elongated helmet's mask. Cogdale looked at Leliana wondering what he was saying. She didn't translate for him. She just conversed with the man.
"Nous sommes juste des marchands" Leliana replied to the guard. The man took a few seconds and looked at everyone in the group. Cogdale could tell whatever Leliana was telling the orlesian, he wasn't buying it.

"Vous quatre ne ressemblent pas à des marchands. Vous semblez être des mercenaires." Cogdale could only make out 1 word that seemed relatively similar in King's Tongue. "Mercenaires" must have been "Mercenaries" the orlesian must of thought of them as mercenaries from Ferelden heading into Orlais to cause trouble. Even though the man had no business in protecting Val Royeaux. He was not of Chevalier status his purpose was for Halamshiral.
"Eh bien, ce n'est pas grave vous Numbskull, nous sommes simplement de passage!" Leliana said raising her voice at the man. He readied his hand on the hilt of his rapier sword.
"Je n'ose vous d'essayer!!" Leliana said revealing her massive blades she had stored in her pack. The guard released his grip and walked away. Leliana smiled with boasting grin and nodded at the guard and waved Bodahn through.

"What was that?" Cogdale asked scratching the back of his head. "Une mauvaise excuse pour une confrontation." Leliana answered in Orlesian. "Oh! I apologize. I haven't had to speak my native tongue in for so long." She said giggling. "They wanted to know what we were doing in Halamshiral. I told them we were merchants. Which in a way we are." Leliana said clearing her throat. "He didn't buy my lie so he called us mercenaries going to cause trouble. I accused him of being an imbecile and he challenged me." Leliana leaned back on Cogdale's shoulder.
"Orlesians always settle things man to man so to speak. But most Orlesians can use their tongue but not their fists so to speak." Leliana said looking up at Cogdale. "So I take it you got us through?" Cogdale asked. Leliana nodded and tried closing her eyes. The past 2 weeks from Highever to Jader through the Frostback Mountains can take the toll out of anyone. Especially a woman who was trying her best every night to start a family.

"Leliana…" Cogdale whispered to her. "Hmm?" she raised her eyebrow. "You're gonna have to teach me how to speak fluent Orlesian." He said poking her head. "Alright, then you're going to have to teach me a secret of your own." She said poking him back. "Deal, I'll just put that in the pile of other deals we have with each other." Cogdale jokingly said pretending to put an invisible note into an invisible pocket. "Yeah like you proposing to me." Leliana said. Cogdale's stomach dropped from being reminded that. Even after been given time to think about it he was still unsure if he was worthy enough to have Leliana be his wife.

"Yeah…" He wandered his mind to viewing the overgrowth of the structures of Halamshiral. Vines of ivy and moss appeared like wildfire from every orifice in the buildings. The forest was reclaiming Halamshiral from the Orlesians. Perhaps one day to give back to the wandering Dalish when The Dales is theirs again. For now Orlesians occupied the city. The city had life in it but not what the forest wanted. Plants were growing too fast for the Orlesians to keep from spreading. Within another decade or so they would have to abandon the city. But knowing Orlesians they could possibly burn it down.
"What a beautiful marvel" Helena said looking at the city. "I would've loved to see in its prime. When The Dalish called this home." She sighed resting her face in her hands. The mage would have to be more careful with revealing herself a mage to people in Orlais seeing as the kingdom is the home of The Chantry. Although more lenient then The Imperial Chantry.

Cogdale had heard rumors that most of the Imperial Templars of Tevinter were mages themselves. Seeing as blood magic is allowed in the Imperium a Templar who knows blood magic almost seemed unstoppable to Cogdale. A blood templar could possibly take out blood mages a lot more efficiently then a Templar of The Chantry.

Cogdale only shivered at the thought of the evils that resided inside The Tevinter Imperium. What abominations roam their lands freely and how demons had ties within the politics of the Imperium. The paranoids believe the entire Imperium is actually entirely made up of demons. Using the land as a beachhead for the full invasion of Thedas from The Fade. Some call for an exalted march against the Imperial Chantry. Chantry versus Chantry would only prove more to the Qunari in Seheron that we can't decide for ourselves. Only involving another combined Exalted March against the Qunari.
The loss of life would put any Blight to shame, even the first war with The Qunari. But if The Chantry called for an Exalted March against The Qunari. Cogdale would fight. He had studied his best in libraries about The Qun. It was the removal of individuality, freedom as it were. Something that threatened his love of life and the love of his life.

They were but only halfway through the city. The only noticeably visible building in the city not touched by nature was the Chantry. Not surprising was the several Templars who were on duty to keep the forest's growth at bay from the Chantry. Cogdale frowned that only the religious building would get the satisfaction of keeping the forest from growing on it while apartments and homes were being overrun by the green.

Cogdale's angered thoughts were halted by a singing Leliana. "Oh comment je manque l'odeur de la floraison des lys et la façon dont ils ont apporté la chaleur pour moi." Once again Leliana spoke in Orlesian.
Cogdale had no thought of what she was singing but her voice was enough to keep his thoughts at peace and prefixed on her for the remaining trip to Lydes .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O5
Stranded

"Wait… what?!" Cogdale shouted at the portly dwarf. "I'm sorry my friend but my boy and I must leave you." Bodahn said quivering in the corner of the tavern they resided in for the night. The entire group had surrounded the old dwarf. Leliana kept her patience and sat at the counter, nearly drunk.
She could barely hear or care what the bullying of poor old Bodahn was about. She was happier that she was back in Orlais. That she could have fun and relax on Orlesian wine. That she always loved to indulge on during her bard life. She took another sip of her mug and struggled to keep herself up on her stool, all the while giggling to herself. She did spot that several men had taken notice of her and were eyeing her all night. A part of her knew she mustn't flirt with them but the alcohol made her very rowdy.

She gave the most attractive man out of the group across the tavern a wink. Realizing she had done something wrong she quickly twisted her attention back to the beatdown of Bodahn who was still backed into a corner.
"Listen here dwarf! You are our only way of transportation through Orlais." Garrden said with slurred lips. The young elf was completely inebriated and at any moment could take a swing at Bodahn.
"I understand that Garrden. I do but I have pressing matters elsewhere which lead away from Orlais back into Ferelden. You'll have to find someone else." Bodahn said with a wrinkled nose. Cogdale stumbled back and tripped over an empty chair, landing on his butt. A stubborn look appeared on his face only to transform into a drunken chuckle. Cogdale's spill took everyone's attention away from Bodahn who quickly made his way out of the tavern. Leliana had the mind to go after him but her body yawned her away from doing so. She grabbed her mug again and gulped down more of her wine and made her way over to the fallen Cogdale.

"Oh I knew him well, my lover and hero! M..Maker watch over him in the world beyond the fffade." Leliana jokingly said holding his head in her arms and stroking it. Garrden bursted out laughing to the poor joke and continued to dig his face into his beverage. Helena returned to a table and shyfully just watched her friends have fun. Her face red from being drunk herself. Leliana kissed Cogdale on his broken nose helping him back up only to fall over herself into Cogdale, knocking him over once more.
"This is so much fun" Leliana said laughing at herself. "Yep" Cogdale said finding it hard to breath from all the laughter. Breathing in and out slowly Leliana tried to compose herself so she could stop laughing. Only to start imitating Orlesian nobility's snobbiness that they had by trying to stand on her toes and pose like orlesian dancers.
"Madame s'il vous plaît votre boisson devient chaud." The Tender said to her. Which of course he was warning her that her wine was getting warm. She stumbled over to her mug and finished the rest off. "I've had enough." She said to the barkeep. Leliana being drunk didn't realize the man didn't speak King's Tongue.

"Excusez-moi?" he asked her. Leliana giggled she struggled to remember what she said in orlesian. "J'ai eu assez à manger" she responded awkwardly patting him on the face and slowly by the last pat glided her palm down his face. "S'il vous plaît simplement accéder à votre chambre pour que je puisse reposer." He said with a loud sigh. Leliana understood that and wobbled her way over to an area that her friends may notice her. The man she winked at earlier halted her.

He was shorter then her, his skin tanner then most complimented his long dark brown hair. His facial features didn't seem Orlesian though. "So I heard you have a problem." He said his accent was very strong, it was a rich Antivan accent. Even more then Zevran's from what Leliana could remember. His words came in and out of her hearing, the last drink of her wine was finally kicking in and it would knock her out very soon.
"I guess.. pfffff" Leliana murmured leaning on a table for balance. The Antivan man only let a smirk appear on his lips. "It seems I should've confronted you when you were less… drunk." He regretfully said looking at her then the rest of her friends. "I guess you should've thought of that huh?" Leliana spat out with a rude tone.
"Well enough you can still understand what I'm saying, so here is my proposition." He said adjusting the collar of his clothing. "You are in need of new transportation through Orlais yes?" He asked putting his finger on Leliana's chin lifting it up to keep her attention on him instead of the floor. She only nodded as her eyes were becoming very heavy.

"It just so happens that I have a caravan of my own. And I am offering a trade of sorts. But I need you and your friends here to do something for me." The Antivan said. "Here I'll be in La tasse en état d'ébriété down the street if you're interested tomorrow." He said handing a piece of torn paper with the other tavern's name on it. Leliana put it in her cleavage for safekeeping as she finally fell asleep face planting into the table she was leaning on.

Waking up with a severe headache Leliana found herself in bed with a wet cloth on her forehead. She realized while removing the cloth she had a pretty good-sized knot on her forehead from hitting the table the other night. She looked around the room but Cogdale was nowhere to be seen. Only Helena was in the room with her resting on the wall adjacent to the door. Her robes lay awkwardly across her left shoulder. Leliana for a brief moment smiled only to stop when it brought in a small migraine. She now had some pathetic form of sympathy for Cogdale's broken nose even though her pain paled in comparison to what he had to deal with.

She could smell the wine on her breath when she sighed. She wouldn't ever do that again. But she knew that this tavern had the best ale and wine in Lydes perhaps even all of southern Orlais. At the very least all of her friends had a blast. She tried sitting up on the bed feeling something fall into her breasts. She grabbed the small paper and looked at it. She vaguely could remember the strange man offering something to her. The note had where he was and offering help.
"Helena." Leliana called out to the mage. How odd that she awoke the first time she called to her. "Huh? What is it?" Helena whined rubbing her eyes smearing her make up on her hands. "Do you know how long we've been asleep?" Leliana asked flipping the wet cloth to feel the cold again. "That's a silly question to ask someone who has been out the same as you." Helena said getting up on her feet and grimacing from the small hangover that followed.

"Eugh alcohol does wonders with my magic." Helena sarcastically said holding her head. "I think you would've gotten along very well with my friend Oghren then." Leliana grinned. "You are so cute when your quiet and he'd break your silence pretty quickly I'm assuming." Helena only raised a brow and shook her head. "Too bad you were so drunk you didn't see Cogdale drunk." Helena said continuing their conversation.
"Right riiight what did my warden do?" Leliana said slowly patting the spot next to her in bed, signaling Helena to come lay with her. Helena did so but with the carefulness of a rock falling down a cliff. As she took a step to lift herself onto the bed her toes slipped and she found her face in the soft fabric of the bed. "Ahhh that feels nice." Helena moaned in relief. Leliana giggled.
"So what is that piece of paper in your hands there?" Helena asked trying to reach for it, to no avail. Leliana took a moment to read the note again and tried to remember the man. She couldn't remember his name, if he told her or not wasn't the case.
"All I remember was…" Leliana tried her best to remember anything about him. "That a man said he could help us." Leliana said scratching her head. "With what?" Helena asked. Leliana couldn't remember, only one thing came back to her. That he was Antivan. "I can't remember." Leliana grunted in frustration. "Don't worry it will come back to you." Helena said touching Leliana's arm. "It really is up to the Maker if that's the case." Leliana jokingly said.

"So do you know if the men are still out getting drunk out of their gourd?" Leliana asked Helena. "Nope, they left me here with you and from what I could recall is that they're going after Bodahn for some reason." Helena answered fiddling with Leliana's clothing between her fingers. For a moment the 2 of them didn't talk and only looked at each other in silence. It finally took this moment for Leliana to guess Helena's age. She must've been around 20 or 22 years old. And what Leliana knew of The Circle of Magi was that most mages didn't pass their Harrowing usually around 25 or 30 years of age. Helena must've excelled at The Circle. Her turquoise eyes swirled with gold and green. Very rare eye color for a human of her age. But Leliana had no right on "rare" eye colors seeing as so many people she met the past 2 or 3 years had odd eyes, including Cogdale.
"Where did you get your eyes?" Leliana said brushing a couple of bangs out of Helena's face. "No one." Helena blurted out. "No one? What do you mean by that?" Leliana frowned. There was no way she didn't inherit those eyes. "I didn't get them from my parents if you were thinking that." Helena said. She grabbed Leliana's forearm and pulled herself up to Leliana's eye level. "Some in The Circle say that was a dead giveaway that I was to have magic when I got older. Perhaps they are right. Both my parents had dark brown eyes." Helena said still holding Leliana's arm. "That is very interesting. To think eye color might hint at if a child is gifted with magic." Leliana said. "So you think magic is a gift?" Helena angled. Leliana nodded, "If you were born with magic, I think it was given to you by The Maker. Why would he randomly curse you with magic? He loves all of us." Leliana said.

Leliana raised the note again to her line of sight. "Guess we should go looking for the boys?" Helena said. "Yeah, see if this compatriot here can help us with what ever dilemma we have, that I can't seem to remember." Both got out of bed their small headaches not strong enough to push them back into bed. The hallway was dimly lit as the fires in the torches began to die out. But they wouldn't need light. The windows in the tavern showed that morning was showing herself outside. They would be lucky enough to catch the legendary Orlesian sunrise.
They rushed to the door to run out in the streets of Lydes. Because of the buildings blocking the sunrise the cold, wet streets were still dark as night. One of those moments when the sky was brighter then the earth below it.

The street was empty except for the occasional pigeons and hopping crows that always infested Orlesian street life. "Where do you think they went?" Helena asked huddling next to Leliana for warmth. They could see their breath in the cold winter air as Leliana chose a direction. "Lets go down this way to the stalls." Leliana suggested pointing down the road. Leliana wasn't randomly choosing a direction. The path would get her to the tavern the Antivan was staying at.
"Watch out for guards Helena, Orlesians tend to take any opportunity they get with "fragile" women such as us." Leliana warned her friend. Helena kept herself to the back of Leliana as they fastwalked down the snaking streets of Lydes. A few dark eyes peered at them through the alleyways of the city but Leliana didn't worry nor care for the disgusting hermits. The fact she had her large dagger exposed on her leg was enough deterrent for them not to mess with her and her friend.

Only a couple more structures and they would reach La tasse en état d'ébriété. Perhaps the Antivan would be asleep? Perhaps all that hassle of travelling through Lydes was for nothing? Leliana couldn't stop pondering such odd thoughts as they reached the tavern. The door was locked and the sign outside said they were closed until the following night. Leliana's gut feeling gloated in her face. "Damn." Leliana said disgruntled. "What?" Helena said. "Oh… this is that place that guy wanted to meet you at right?" Helena walked up to the door and tried looking through the small opening to see if anyone was inside.
"I think I'm tired of taverns. I've been more taverns in the past month and a half then I ever have my entire life. But that's not saying much since I've been a Circle lackey for most of it." Helena laughed. Leliana gestured to Helena if she wanted to head back to their room. Helena nodded only to stop mid nod as she was looking at someone behind Leliana. "What is it Helena?" Leliana said slowly reaching for her dagger on her leg.

"Wo wo wo ladies!" A familiar voice shouted as a hand stopped Leliana from gripping her dagger. "No need to be so jumpy." The man said. It was the Antivan from earlier. "I knew you'd come to see me about your travelling troubles." He chuckled. Leliana spun around to see the man fully clad in his armor. Something that wasn't of Orlesian or Antivan make. "Don't go thinking you're going to get anything from us with this." Leliana said surprising the Antivan with her speed of snatching her dagger and putting it to his throat. "No! no no I'm not looking for any sexual favors. Trust me that's the last thing I want… ever" He said with an odd and unexpected sadness.
"An Antivan who doesn't like bodily pleasure? Really? Your joking right?" Leliana said hand on hip. He shook his head. "No I'm not."

"Well mind telling us your name?" Helena said stepping in front of Leliana for the first time this morning. "Oh! My apologies ladies, you may call me by name Leone." He said bowing in front of them. His demeanor reminded Leliana so much of Zevran. "So Leone it is then." Leliana said shaking his hand, the cold chainmail that hugged his fingers sent shivers up her arm.
The sunlight was reaching them now; Her long hair seemed to want to get in the way of her face. Leone offered something to put her hair in a ponytail like his but she denied. "Why do you want to meet with us? Why not the men?" Leliana asked him. "Well I didn't know if they'd be hostile or not, so I was hoping you would introduce me to them." Leone said randomly prancing around the surrounding area while he talked.
"You seem capable enough to do anything by yourself Antivan." Leliana said taking a breath. "Why would you need the help of some poor helpless Fereldans." She finally asked using air quotations. Leone laughed and sat down on a barrel. "Please, please don't make me laugh my dear red headed orlesian." He said. "You think I didn't recognize you and your friend as the "Hero of Ferelden! And his Orlesian LOVER!"" He snidely mocked.

"That easy to recognize us?" Leliana asked with worry. "Actually no, To tell you the truth I once was a Crow myself. I am a friend with the elf you know as Zevran Arainai. He said you and Cogdale could help me with my problem." He said randomly lifting himself off the barrel by a handstand.
"I knew you were too similar to him to be just a coincidence." Leliana jested. Leone threw himself off the barrel and landed on his boots. "Anyways, enough dilly dallying shall we go find the Warden and that elf?" Leone yowled. Leliana shrugged and followed Leone back to their tavern where out front Cogdale seemed to be searching for Leliana and Helena in odd places such as crates and on top of gutters.
"So you must be The legendary Warden I presume?" Leone pounced on Cogdale by surprise. Cogdale fidgeted in response to the random visitor. "Zevran?" Cogdale queried not knowing who this small Antivan who seemed to be on his back was. "No my dear friend. My name is Leone!" He said front flipped over Cogdale's shoulders into his view.

"Excuse my rudeness but what is a random Antivan doing in a city like Lydes out in Orlais?" Cogdale asked then suddenly stopped himself. "Wait… forget I asked." Cogdale said realizing the man was a Crow. "So you come to assassinate me?" Cogdale asked still unaware of Leliana right behind him. "Why would I even try, if Zevran Arainai can't kill you who can?" Leone joked shaking Cogdale's hand. "You may call me Leone Dahnay."
"So Leone Dahnay… why are you, no offense, talking to me?" Cogdale folded his arms as he started to use his size to try and intimidate Leone. Leliana held her laughter in from Cogdale's cute display of muscles. "Well ser, I know you have a certain, lets say getting around Orlais problem." Leone said mimicking Cogdale now. "How do you know of that?"

"I'm a Crow what do you expect me to do? Not eavesdrop?" Leone chuckled. Cogdale embarrassed only shook his head in disbelief for being so thick skulled on par with Oghren. "So what can you do?" Cogdale asked. Leliana was shocked how long it was taking him to notice her and Helena behind him. Leone knew it, giving the 2 of them quick glances every so often.
"Well for one, I have a caravan of my own that I'm willing to lend to you." Leone said pretending to clean his fingers. "Really? You'd do that… wait what is an Antivan Crow doing with a trading caravan?" Leone looked around like he didn't hear Cogdale's answer.
"Fine, I guess I don't want to know either." Cogdale said correcting his fault in asking an assassin on how he acquired such a costly thing. "I'm sensing that this is a barter however." Cogdale could read anyone like a book. "Right you are Warden, I need your help finding someone with me."

"This morning is just filled with things I just didn't expect." Cogdale said shrugging. It was at that moment, A red headed Bard and a Mage made their "Unexpected" jump on Cogdale.

[PickledGear]

A large update to NightinGale?

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 26 juillet 2011 - 02:39 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O6
Things Have Changed

Cold and hard rocks made their imprint on Cogdale's face. Red marks across his forehead and cheeks. For a second Cogdale had thought he was dead. The Antivan Crow Leone had fellow crows with him and they had pounced on him. A rather pathetic way to die compared to the trap that Zevran had set up 2 years ago during the Blight. But once he opened his hard clenched eyes he realized it was only Leliana and Helena, not knowing the combined force of 2 women could knock him over onto the street. Leone was laughing away at the scene as both women tried to sooth the scratches on his face.
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I am so sorry dear!" Leliana said licking her dress and using it to calm the wounds. Helena did her best with what little magic she wanted to use. "I expected you to be rock solid and not flinch." Helena said the hum from the magic in her palms making her voice sound awkward.

"Yeah I'm the exaaact opposite of what the stories make me out to be there mage." Cogdale said getting back up on his feet. Leone's laugh had diminished into random spurts of chuckles.
"Warden, I would add that to the list of things you didn't expect." Leone continued. "If I were to return to the Crows I would recommend both of you to them." Leone snickered. "I've been offered it before by a friend of yours." Leliana said, still keeping her unbinding attention on her loved one. Cogdale waved her off; all he had was a black eye. Nothing he couldn't handle with a few nights with some cold sheltered meat to the eye.
Cogdale kept the eye closed however, the cold wind brushing against it caused the eye to uncontrollably blink. Returning back to his conversation with Leone, Cogdale gave the 2 women a thumbs up so they didn't have to worry about him. "Leliana, Helena? Please go back to the tavern and find Garrden. I think he'll want to be apart of our decision." Cogdale suggested. Leliana nodded and grabbed Helena as they went to fetch the young elf.

"Well now that event has settled, Lets barter Crow." Cogdale said crossing his arms. Whenever he crossed his arms he made him more comfortable when he felt vulnerable. "Oh? Are now just calling each other by our "previous" Titles Warden?" Leone prodded at Cogdale. Cogdale only shrugged trying his best to seem more confident then he actually was with another Crow. Last time he tried to converse with a Crow he was naïve enough to think Zevran was just going to relieve tension on his shoulders with an "Antivan Massage" How awkward it was for him to rush out of the elf's tent half naked.

"Don't worry Cogdale, I'm definitely an anomaly within the Antivan Crows. I only love women." Leone said, somehow reading Cogdale's thoughts. Cogdale was a little freaked out about how he could've known about what he was thinking but fixed himself back into a self-confident stance. One that would rival any senior warden's.
"Relax Warden… relax." Leone said gesturing with his hands for Cogdale to calm down. "Wow the blight really makes people uptight." Leone said with a pout face. Cogdale stubbornly let go of his stoic attitude. "Alright my proposition of our trade, and hear me out before interrupting." Leone threw his hand out and strangely spoke with his hands as he read out his offer.
"I will offer my caravan for travel to wherever your heart desires, if you help me find and possibly save this person." Finishing his strange show of hands he quickly placed his hands behind his back. "Sounds simple enough. But things are never as easy as they sound." Cogdale said. "Ah good to see you have some intelligence up in that tainted head of yours." Leone snarked with quick response.
"You are right, it won't be easy. As you see the person I'm after isn't a target from a dead drop or something. It someone I care about with all my heart." Leone stopped. "But the catch is? She is dead and you want to save her from the fade, or wait better yet! The Void! Lets add some spin to that! The Infamous Black City!" Cogdale's rude response even shocked himself. "My apologies, It must be the drama of not having a ticket out of this city."
Leone nodded and let Cogdale know it was alright. "The catch you are waiting for is that she is a mage. She is locked up in The Circle of Magi in Montsimmard. She is declared an apostate because she escaped The Circle nearly 3 years ago." Cogdale took a step back; surprised the man had spilled his gall to him. Especially when the man was an Antivan Crow. "Wow, now that is definitely a big catch to this trade." Cogdale said itching his chin. Leliana and the other 2 finally returned, slightly out of breath from running in a leg tight dress. "Alright everyone is here and accounted for cept for Bodahn." Leliana said patting both Helena and Garrden on the head.

"Alright, Leone tell them what you told me." Cogdale said taking a step back. "May I say something first." Garrden interjected. "I have to say this but both you! And Leliana have never looked as bad as you do right now." Garrden laugh pointing at Cogdale, "You have a black eye from who knows where and a broken nose." Garrden then turned his finger and pointed it to Leliana. "And you have a massive welt on your forehead. I've known you only 2 or 3 months but still that is pretty bad." Garrden finished with a faux kick of dirt on the wet street.
"Thank you… Garrden… for that extremely inappropriate and random interruption." Cogdale said annoyed and now self-conscious of his broken nose once more. "Please Leone, don't let the annoying Elf distract you, continue." Leliana said helping him get back on topic. "Okay, I'm offering the three of you my Caravan for travel to anywhere, free of charge if you help me find a girl that I care deeply for who is locked away in Montsimmard." Leone repeated.
"The Circle of Magi?" Leliana asked. "Yes The Circle." Leone answered. "She is an apostate mage of three years just recently a "mouse" of mine told me the Templars had caught her and are sentencing her to death." Leone finished, now waiting for the trio to answer his proposition. "I can't…" Helena suddenly stuttered. "I can't go back to The Circle, any Circle. I am an apostate. White Templars are not so forgiving to Apostates." Helena said with fear trembling in every syllable she let ride off her tongue. "If you don't want to come Helena we are not forcing you to. But I'm in agreement." Cogdale said shaking Leone's hand. "Glad to have you on aboard." Leone said ecstatically.
"I need a little bit excitement." Leliana walked over and shook Leone's hand as well. "I'll protect you Helena if you come." Leliana said trying to coach Helena into coming. "You bet your ass I'm in!" Garrden said jumping up and slapping Leone's hand, which left a stinging sensation in the Antivan's hand. "Alright."

"Come on Helena, we need you with us." "It just won't be the same without you." "Please! If you do I'll totally let you feel my abs!" So much peer pressure made Helena cave in. "Oh alright! I'll go but I won't let myself be exposed! I won't be using any magic when we get there…. Garrden give me one of your blades." Helena demanded, almost ripping it from its sheath.
"Wo! Okay, I like this part of you, so…. Feisty!" Garrden said jumping up and down. "With the recent attacks by straggling Darkspawn around Orlais the trip won't be as easy as it should." Leone said. "I'm guessing it could take us a week and a half to get there. But I'll tell you right now, we won't be strolling into The Circle." The Crow added.
"Of course, of course." Garrden spat out rolling his eyes. "He is quite the runt isn't he?" Leone asked about Garrden. "Yep." The rest said. "Hey! I'm right here." Garrden blurted out showing he was offended by the lack of respect he was shown.

"We'll suit up and gather our gear and meet you… where exactly?" Cogdale asked. Leone snapped his fingers after thinking to himself for a few seconds. "How bout outside the western gate of Lydes? It will take me a good hour or so to gather my caravan up and plant myself at the door for you. Enough time for you to suit up as it were." Leone suggested. Cogdale nodded. The group parted ways with Leone and made their way back to the tavern to gather everything.
"I have a gut feeling something awful is going to happen at Montsimmard." Cogdale said patting his stomach. "Oh boy, you and your gut feelings always seem to be right." Garrden said patting Cogdale's stomach in response. Cogdale took a step back so Garrden would get the hint to stop acting stupid. Garrden raised his hands getting the picture loud and clear. A few street urchins who had been taking notice of Leliana and Helena taking laps between the tavern and the conversation earlier had followed them.

"S'il vous plaît, vous avez l'argent à épargner?" one of the decrepit men asked their fingers cracked and popped whenever they moved. Their movement was also very sudden and rapid. Almost as if they were the ghouls of Lothering. Cogdale shook his head, although his consciousness told him to give them 1 or 2 sovereign, he knew the group would need every last bit they had to make it through the "Extravagant Orlais."
Cogdale decided to speed past the 3 urchins, and waved for the others to do the same. But the men followed at the same pace. "Cogdale, please just give them something." Leliana tugged on his arm as she seemed strangely disturbed by these men.
"Why? If we ignore them long enough they'll get bored or something and leave us alone." Cogdale said. "They won't…" Leliana whispered in his left ear. Cogdale suddenly knew these poor men weren't just poor men. "These urchins are Du Rats des Dents, The Rat's Teeth. Marjolaine and other bards used them on lower targets that we didn't have our divided attention to." Leliana continued. "Thing is, they are extremely well trained fighters. Normally bards wouldn't pay lowly assassins for said jobs. But in a way we were afraid of these men. If we didn't pay them their 50 bits they had the skill and fervor to hurt us." She said grabbing Cogdale's hand and making it into a fist. "They recognized me, we're going to have to fight sooner or later, they'll follow us until we are all alone." She said to the 3 of them.

Although obvious the 4 of them were conversing to deal with the Rats, the men did nothing but continue to beg for coin. "We can take them right here! Right now!" Garrden said popping his knuckles and neck to prove he was ready. Leliana shook her head. "I'm in no condition to be fighting, Helena doesn't have her stave and Cogdale only has his fists." Leliana argued with the elf until Cogdale broke the 2 of them up. "Enough, let us get to our room and ready up, these men seem to want to be extremely patient and inconspicuous to us and common Orlesian folk."
"Exactly let us ready for a fight." Leliana said slapping Garrden lightly on the face. The walk back to the tavern was the most tense and nerve wracking walk Cogdale has ever had except for the adventure into the deep roads with his senses to darkspawn always sparking at every second he breathed.
The 4 of them stayed quite, only communicating via their eyes between each other. Still the urchins known as The Rat's Teeth were at their heels pretending to be lowly beggars. "Pourquoi pensez-vous ignorer les pauvres âmes nous?" whispered behind them. After what seemed to be an hour itself they reached the tavern they were staying at. They opened the door to see the tavern's workers cleaning up after the previous night's expected mess.

Cogdale looked back to see if the Rats had followed them, luckily all taverns have a universal law to not allow people without coin. "Alright lets get ready." Cogdale said unlocking the room's door. The room was just as he left it when he carried the unconscious Leliana to the bed. "I hope Leone doesn't mind us being late." Leliana said reaching for her bag that held all of her fighting items. "You actually think this fight will be that difficult?" Helena asked grabbing her stave and putting it in her baldric's hold.

"Trust me beautiful, these men are scary good. Like I said before, even the most skilled bards are afraid of them." Leliana explained removing her dress. "Would they give Crows a run for their money?" Garrden asked curiously. Leliana shook her head. "They aren't that good."
"So why are you afraid of them? If Zevran failed at killing me why so serious about The Rats?" Cogdale asked snapping his cuirass over the clothing he had on.

"Nothing… I don't know." Leliana said. But Cogdale knew better, Leliana was hiding something about these men. Something she didn't want to put worry on the 3 of them. He accepted it for now but once they had time to talk he would definitely confront her about it. It has to do with something about Marjolaine. He could feel it in his bones. Even his broken nose tingled in agreement.
Garrden was already armored up in his mix gallery of armor taken from Templars, Darkspawn and random armored men so he just waited for the rest of them to finish getting ready by leaning against the door. Helena was the next to finish up keeping her most needed potions right where her hands would rest on her belt. She tested this strategy while she too waited for Cogdale and Leliana to finish with their armor. Cogdale had finish putting both pauldrons on and his cuirass. He began putting his thigh and knee guards on when Helena came over to help him with his armor.
"Thanks for the help, still with this improved armor of mine it is still a pain in my ass to put back on every time." Cogdale grunted shoving his foot into a boot. "I can see that." Helena said giggling as she finished putting his belt through the final loop of its faulds. The last part he had to throw on was his chausses for his thighs but with the faulds put on first it was extremely hard to bend his arm with his gauntlets on.
"Sometimes I envy you mages on wearing just… robes." Cogdale said hitting his armor after finishing putting it on. "And visa versa Cogdale" Helena said. "You don't know how many times I've had some nasty wounds for not wearing any strong and brawny armor compared to these several leather pieces I wear." She argued.

Cogdale laughed, still nervous after catching Leliana's nervous bug. He pulled his Nevarran blade out of the crude sheath Bodahn had made for it when he unloaded the group's items the other night. He then shoved into his sheath that was still mistakenly on the belt of his waist.
"This has been itching at the nape of my neck for weeks Cogdale but I have to ask, Why do you fight without a shield." Helena asked keeping her eyes on Cogdale but helping Leliana put on all of her armor starting with her spaulders.
"It is the way my Father taught my brother and I." Cogdale said. "My Father learned the technique when he traveled the Anderfels, he says its an Anders' technique. More specifically it is named The Anders' Longsword Fighting Skill. Or, in Anderfels tongue "Anders 'Langschwert kämpfen und Verteidigungstechnik." A mouthful I know."

"You speak Anderfels?" Leliana asked astonished. "A little bit, only a few things I read and taught myself." Cogdale said. "So how does a Nevarran longsword that resembles a Tevinter Saw Blade work with the technique?" Helena asked finishing on Leliana's Vambrace of her left arm.
"It is rather effective if you haven't seen already, I did demonstrate it on the darkspawn a couple weeks ago remember?" Cogdale said warming up Helena's memory. "Oh yeah, amazing. You are just a melting pot of Thedas aren't you Cogdale?" Helena said with a smile. "I guess so." Cogdale smiled back somewhat comforted by Helena's positive attitude for the coming fight.
"One of these times you will have to tell me about your family Cogdale." Helena said as she continued to add each layer of Leliana's rerebrace on her right arm. "Not until he tells me Helena." Leliana pouted with a frown. "Oh! I didn't know he… I apologize. Please forgive me friend." Helena said embarrassed. Cogdale could only feel guilty for not telling Leliana about his family. Even after 2 years of knowing her and the 5 months of being romantically involved with her.
After another 10 minutes of planning and stretching they finally exited their room. The Tavern reeked of new alcohol that must've been delivered recently as the aroma traveled its way into the hallway where all the rooms were aligned. Cogdale covered his nose to stop the scent from distracting him. As they reached the front door he slammed his helmet on his head and clamped a brace for his chin inside the helmet.

Outside the tavern the deadly urchins were nowhere to be seen. Confusing everyone. "Be alert Cogdale, they are assassins, and they always have a plan of some sort." Leliana reassured him. All 4 of them had their weapons at the ready. Slowly walking out the door and scanning their horizon. "You've watched them before Leliana." Garrden said "Do they have some sort of ambush set up for us?" He asked twirling his daggers in both hands as a nervous tick.
"No these men are honorable assassins, they confront. They don't hide in the shadows. They should be out here." She answered. "Well they aren't and I don't like it one bit." Garrden replied stamping his feet. By that time the wet street was now dry, but snow had caught up with them from the Frostback mountains and Halamshiral as it was falling on their heads. "Perhaps that's a hint from Andraste?" Helena said with the most wisdom out of all of them that day. "Perhaps…. You're right." Leliana said turning back around and looking up above the skyline of the tavern.

There they were, but it wasn't 3 urchins but a dozen of them standing more still then any golem. They exposed their dual blades and slashed them against each other making a loud but short screeching sound that caused the group to wince from the collective of the sound. "I thought you said they confront, not sneak!" Garrden said raising his daggers into a defense stance.
"I guess things have changed!" Leliana said as all Rats dove upon them, Blades raised high as griffon wings.

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O7
Misfit Journeymen

Not even a single breath was allowed by The Rats as Cogdale and his friends stalled their attackers the best they could. The surrounding citizens of Lydes scrambled away from this fight. Cogdale prayed to Andraste some of them had the right mind to get city watchmen to come help or stop the Urchins' attack. But knowing Orlesian politics the watchmen were paid off before the ambush.
The urchin who Cogdale began fighting with looked as though he was conflicted by the taint. His skin was dry and pale as his eyes, making his face appear as if it was a mask. The man jittered shook violently as he stabbed and thrusted his daggers at Cogdale. These attacks gave no room for Cogdale to parry or to use them to break the urchin's attack spree. His broken nose and swelling black eye didn't help the fight either. He could barely see out of his eyes while making the slightest expression on his face brought pain to slap across his face.
Yet somehow he was able to feel and anticipate the fast dagger each time. And when the dagger did hit him, his armor was strong enough so that all it left was scratch marks upon the silverlite.

With his broken vision he couldn't see how well his friends were faring against the 11 other assassins. Only able to hear blade meet blade, Cogdale could only assume they were standing their ground very well. Defense was key when it fighting these men. Luckily his father's lessons were being put to good use. The longsword technique was designed for defense and counter attacks. While the Nevarran blade was designed for brutal attacks up close and medium range. Combining the 2 worked well against most other styles of combat. Cogdale felt his blade grind against the dagger. He allowed his feeling of the blade; the vibrations of each hit and defense to guide his next moves ahead of time.
When he knew he had the urchin at his throat his stance was suddenly wrecked by a strong elbow to the back of his helmet. Making him stagger forward into his opponent's blade. His chainmail caught the blade luckily as it was short. The urchin was now defenseless. Cogdale threw his gauntlet into the man's face ripping it apart; his cheek was cut apart, his hooknose was torn completely off. Another punch crushed the man's brow and blood filled his eye socket from the trauma. Cogdale raised his foot to end the orlesian's useless life. But once again another elbow made Cogdale falter.
When he rushed his focus to the elbowing foe a blur of colors were swirling in front of him. Cogdale could only guess this was his friends fighting for their lives. The dull brown cloaks of the Rats outnumbered the bright colors of his friends.

They appeared like fish in a small lake swimming around each other fast and vicious. Only sounds of metal hitting metal made music that went with what he could barely see in front of him.
Tumbling over, Cogdale was kicked to the street by the wounded Rat, His armor echoing sounds off the cobbled street into the sky. "This is getting tiresome!" Cogdale grunted in his helmet flipping over and kicking the blurry figure that was in front of him. Throwing himself back on to his boots, Cogdale lost sight of his enemy once again. Looking around the urchin had escaped the entire battle that was happening. Another urchin approached Cogdale and flaunted and twirled his blades to try and intimidate Cogdale. But the most it did was make Cogdale wonder how Orlesians had dominated Ferelden for over 100 years. Seeing what he could, Cogdale gave the cloaked lunatic 1 big kick to the chest knocking him into another urchin.
The Urchins were at odds ends with the other 3. Leliana was holding off 3 of them at once. Leliana was using her bow to help defend against the blunt swings from them while her golden dagger did its best to get a few stabs here and there but it was more occupied by holding off other attacks. Garrden's training was surprisingly holding off the urchins. Cogdale had thought his elven friend would've fallen in the fight but he was now proud to be proven wrong. Garrden was the only one out the group who was bringing the fight to the urchins. Flying through the sky with his daggers and slamming his knuckled fists and solid feet into the orlesian assassin's But Cogdale only had 1 urchin. It confused him why he out of all the group would get a single opponent if they were trying to assassinate a Warden.
"Cogdale above you!" Helena shouted as the dark shadow that pouncing onto him was hit by a burst of fire. The Urchin was lit ablaze, allowing Cogdale to see his combatant clearly. The Urchin who was too busy trying to throw his burning robe off lost his entire left shoulder to Cogdale's sword's clean cut.
The man collapsed and screamed profanities in Orlesian, his blood spraying out of his agape shoulder. The 11 other men stopped fighting and leaped and saved their comrade and escaped. Cogdale sighed in relief. These men were extremely fast with their hands, if he hadn't put his chainmail on, Cogdale could be bleeding out on ground right now. Cogdale removed his helmet and put it on his black eye. The armor was still cold and it would at least be a substitute before he could put something more comfortable over it.

"Is everyone okay?" Cogdale asked in sincerity. Helena was panting hard, with her magic she must've taken on nearly half of the men. Leliana nodded and Garrden gave thumbs up, his hands dripping blood. "Garrden you're hurt! Helena stop the bleeding." Cogdale said awkwardly pointing to the elf. Helena accepted his mission and ran over to Garrden and did her best to coagulate the blood that was oozing from Garrden's hand. His blood dripped from each of his fingers rapidly. Helena's healing dried up the blood quickly as she dried out the blood.
"Thanks mage" Garrden said slapping Helena on the back spooking her from the sudden stinging pain.
"They'll be back," Leliana said sheathing her blade. "They'll follow us everywhere until they get the job done. If one of them is killed another will take his place. The Rats are relentless." She walked towards Cogdale and looked at his eye. "Wow that is getting rather sore." She said inspecting his bruised eye. "Is it that bad?" Cogdale asked trying to touch it only for his hand to be smacked away by Leliana. "Don't touch it, you'll only make it worse by doing that." Leliana said. Cogdale laughed. "Is there something wrong with us? We just got away with our lives and now we're talking about my black eye as if it's any concern to my health." He said. Garrden laughed along with Cogdale. Leliana only grinned and weakly slapped Cogdale's face.
"There I did it for you love." Leliana giggled and Helena followed. "How long did that waste?" Garrden asked looking around for some sort of way to tell. "By the sun? The fight had us going for twenty minutes." Leliana said pointing at the sun in the sky.
"Well we better grab our things and head out for the western gate." Cogdale gestured to the tavern. They re-entered the tavern and took their belongings from their room and headed out. Ever the paranoid as they watched every alleyway and threatened every homeless man on the streets. One would think they were the shelterless urchins with how they reacted towards everyone.

Every shadow was the Rats to them. Leliana kept her bow in her hands for a rapid retaliation if they were ambushed again. If what Leliana said about The Rats was true, then they had changed. There were rumors of unrest with the nobles of Orlais. Some rumors spawning the idea of the reclamation of Amaranthine from Ferelden. The time was right for it after all. Ferelden is weak; A Blight had stricken its lands. Their new king is a dunce to all who know him. They even locked up the one ruler that could've kept Ferelden safe from outside forces.
Perhaps theses "Rats" were ordered to change their tactics on assassinations. Perhaps even adopting the Antivan Crows' book of ideas instead. If these men were men of honor and confrontation but now resorted to ambush and dirty tricks then either the nobles were changing everything. Or a very specific Orlesian woman had gained more power then both Leliana and Cogdale feared she would somehow gain. If Marjolaine killed her way up to be a Noble woman she would have all the weapons in her arsenal to end both their lives.
Plus only bards know of these men and their ranks. Which means that Marjolaine had hired them. There was no doubt it was her trying to once again kill Leliana. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea that they were headed straight for the wasp nest in Val Royeaux then. Cogdale could feel in his gut something horrible and terrifying would happen in that city.
Luckily rumors didn't spread as fast as they do in Ferelden. Normal Orlesians went on their merry way while the 4 of them tried to leave the city incognito. As much as 4 strangers in full armor and gear could be "incognito" especially around Orlesians who were aware of the nobility's day-to-day attempts at assassinations with bards and other odd means of killing their neighbors.
The guards of Lydes were on edge over them with their weapons still drawn out and ready. The awkwardness of the moment was placed on an even higher step of the term when Orlesian folk music began to play through out the veins of Lydes. The Rats were following them with music. A domestic way of… giving them a warning that they would follow Cogdale and Leliana just like a tune can become stuck in your head. No matter hard you try the song returns again even stronger then before. Leliana began to approach each alleyway; crossing the street diagonally over and over only to see alley cats who were going about their business.
"It's sad we don't get to see more of Lydes like you wanted Leliana." Cogdale said removing his helmet so he could do his best to see her his eye throbbing from the cold wind. "No worries." She smiled. "We'll be back sooner or later, probably better in the summer then this dull and drab winter." She shivered thinking about the cold.

"That's my Leliana, shivering at the idea of the cold but not the actual cold itself," Cogdale laughed, the pain ending his laugh abruptly. By now the sun was above the city, the white frozen clouds blocking it from blinding anyone who would dare to stare into it long enough. Cogdale remembered when he watched Shale look into the sun for nearly half a day. Shale never flinched while gawking into the light. He wondered what she saw that would be so wonderful to look into for half a day. He laughed at himself knowing he would do that exact same thing with Leliana.
"They're right behind us…" Helena said walking backwards watching for anyone who would sneak behind them. They stopped in the middle of the street and looked where Helena was pointing with her stave. There were no cloaked urchins behind them though. "I don't see anyone." Garrden stated his daggers ready to taste more blood on the sharp edges. "They are there, they changed clothing I recognized one of them as a commoner." Helena said backing her statement up.
"That could be true" Leliana said quickly skipping herself in front of Helena bow being drawn. The guards took notice; probably thinking Leliana was about to hurt a poor bystander. "Leliana lessen your grip." Cogdale said clasping the arm that was keeping the arrow from flying straight into someone in front of her. "Some unhappy orlesian men wearing armor don't like a drawn bow in public." Cogdale whispered in her ear. She took notice and did as she was told. "We'll set up an ambush of our own." She said continuing to walk to the west gate and the rest followed her once she passed them all.

Garrden was smiling, anxious to finally be the ambusher instead of the ambushed. Cogdale couldn't deny it. He too was anxious to finally attack rather then the pain that defending always ended up being. "What are we planning to do?" Garrden asked with a hop to his step. Leliana shushed him. She probably didn't want any Rats hearing the ambush plan, smart. Garrden understood and back down and returned to his place he walked at. "No more talking till we leave with Leone" Leliana told everyone. She wanted obedience and she got it. Cogdale finally felt relieved someone took the helm of the group. He hadn't felt such a thing since Duncan back at Ostagar, nearly 3 years ago.

They were getting close to the east gate of Lydes. Cogdale could tell because a gust of wind would once and a while hit them. Signaling the east gate was opening and closing. Another obvious sign was more and more people were prevalent as they journeyed further. Along with the occasional small caravan of an ass carrying a small wagon. He even saw a kossith trader. Most likely what Sten would've called a Tal-Vashoth. Most stayed away from his stall of exotic foods he stole from Seheron's beaches. Cogdale had only one moment of trying what most qunari on the north islands ate regularly.
He had yellow fruit that the merchant called bananas. Which was oddly enough tasted well. Enough that Cogdale's father ordered several crates full of them and kept in their family's food cellar to keep them preserved. The Caenolyn family for the next 3 months would have "banana" based foods. Cogdale's favorite was pudding. His least favorite was a mixture of vegetables his family grew out in the courtyard garden and bananas which left a very strange bitter taste on his tongue. Passing the Tal-Vashoth merchant they could see the gate in sight. But crowds and crowds of people were in their path. A perfect environment for fatal and unknown stabbing. Cogdale grabbed his 3 friends and held them close. He looked at them each and gave them a stern look informing them of the possible dangers.
Leliana already knew it and continued looking straightforward. It took Garrden a few seconds to get the picture as a printed face of confusion almost seemed permanent. Helena for a short moment was blushing but she ended her shyness looking into Cogdale's glowing, certain eyes.
"Helena can you keep a constant and concealed healing spell going while we reach the gate?" He whispered into her ear. She nodded scouting the crowd as they slid through any open crack in the hundreds of people. Helena did her best, but they were somewhat noticeable as they glowed. But Cogdale believed that them broadcasting that they knew the Rats' tactics kept the Rats away from trying anything stupid.
They reached the gate and shimmied their way through the door. They looked around for a few seconds until Garrden spotted Leone and his caravan. They ran over to the caravan and threw their gear and bags onto the caravan. Cogdale noticed 2 other passengers on Leone's crew.
1 was a young dwarf, his caste tattoos made him out to be of the noble families of Orzammar. He was blonde and his eyes were a very welcomed sage green. He looked self-reliant. He never gave Cogdale a single glance. His armor was a unique dark ash and green. Something that looked like the Legion of the Dead's armor had an accident with green paint. He played with his beard as they climbed their way onto the wagon.
The other passenger was a female elf who seemed to be more fixated on Leone then meeting their new guests. "Ah! Warden! You made it, I was starting to think you doubted me and you weren't going to show. I'm glad you did." Leone said jumping down shaking Cogdale's hand.
"Damn your eye is even more bruised then the last time I saw you." Leone said about to touch Cogdale's eye. Leliana slapped Leone's hand from its destination. "No" Leliana said frowning. Leone raised his hands in innocence and retreated back to the front of the wagon. "Mind introducing us to your two friends here Leone?" Cogdale said pointing. His finger off a few inches as he had double vision from his damaged eye.

"Of course, this handsome dwarf over by the potions and lotions is Ehmric. He hasn't told me his last name for some reason. But I'll find out sooner or later, mark my words." Leone said wagging his index and middle finger at the blonde dwarf. He only received rolling eyes while Cogdale gained a wave of the hand.
Leone climbed over crates and clothing to get closer to the young elf. "This fine piece of Rivaini elf is Aeronwy. Something unique about her you ask? She is qunari." Leone said patting her back. Cogdale could only shrug, his only experience of The Qun was Sten. After getting to know the giant he was easy to understand. Also he was very witty when other companions harassed him, including Cogdale.

They all said their hellos and shook hands. "Shall we shove off?" Leone said with a smile. Aeronwy giggled in response to the smile. Not something Cogdale would've expected from a follower of The Qun. Cogdale laid back on the wagon and looked at the grey sky. He imagined griffons flying over them as the wagons began to move across the rocks. Some of the clouds were broken apart and a blue sky could be seen. The drowning sounds of the crowds of Lydes soon disappeared and were replaced by birds and wind. Cogdale could hear Garrden trying to converse with Helena but he didn't listen in. He lifted his helmet into his sight and turned the helmet to face him. Picturing his father under this helmet. His father putting the helmet on his head for the first time when he was only 10 years old. How the helmet was so heavy he couldn't keep balance and rammed his knee into a statue. His father picking him up and sang the pain away.
The innocence of a child he missed. He missed the boring days of hiding in the library and reading hero stories and not being the hero of the story instead. His train of thought was cut short when Leliana shoved her head into his helmet. Her eyes smiling at him, her laugh muffled by his helmet. Cogdale couldn't help but laugh along with her. She collapsed on his chest, Her head still in the helmet pressed against his cheek.
"I hate helmets." Leliana said. "How can you stand wearing one on your head?" She asked. "Simple… I have really short hair." He answered. "Well you should grow it out longer one of these times. Just for me." She suggested taking the helmet off and securing it in his bag. "Trust me… I had long hair when I was a child… I was not a pretty sight." Cogdale said. Leliana poked on his forehead. "Do it! And I'll cut my hair short again." Cogdale laughed and agreed with a firm handshake and then a kiss.

"Hmmm… what should we talk about?" Leliana asked scratching Cogdale's stubble with her fingers. Cogdale just said a word off the top of his head. "Legs." Leliana was silent for a second and then responded. "I hate my legs." Cogdale looked at her the best he could from laying down. "Wow vanity much love?" Cogdale asked, not surprised. "What I hate my thighs it's a fact." Cogdale pushed himself to sit up. Leliana lay across his lap still scratching his face. "I know it's a fact. But doesn't the fact I love your thighs." Cogdale growled. "Mean anything?" He said brushing her bangs away from her face so he could look at her more clearly.

"Nope, Your opinion is biased."

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O8
Tranquility's Antonyms


2 days travelling to Montsimmard and Leliana had never been so bored in her life. Even more then the first days of her being a lay sister in the Chantry inside Lothering. No one spoke a word the past 48 hours. Not even Cogdale who kept his attention towards the front of the caravan. A day earlier Garrden tried his best to "woo" Aeronwy, the female elf who follows the Qun. But the only words to spring from her lips were brief, subtle and to the point that it gouged Garrden's libido. Besides, Leliana could tell Aeronwy was very much attracted to Leone. How tragic that Leone already loved someone else, adding insult to injury, she was helping him save his love. 
Ehmric was as stoic as Cogdale. The only time Ehmric would make a sound was to cough or sneeze even though his beard muffled them to begin with. Leliana spent her past days laying on her back and watching the large winter clouds chase after them, always on their heels. She didn't want to be the one to break the silence. She had gained that from Cogdale. He had always remained quiet until it was necessary for him to speak.

Thankfully Montsimmard was barely 2 hours away now. Templars were seen more frequently on the road. Hiding in the back of Leliana's conscious was the guilt of murdering the young Templars outside of Highever months ago. But she continued to force to the back of her mind. Just like she did all the other innocents and bastards she sent to the void. She lost count past 30 or so and just did her job from then on, until Marjolaine betrayed her to Harwen Raleigh. Her thoughts wandered, almost to a mumbling while she continued to look at the clouds and fiddle with her longer hair. She could feel splits, many, many splits. She had let her hair grow out past her shoulder blades now. The last time it was this long was before heading to Denerim to face the darkspawn.
She stopped playing with her split ends and went on to tap her lips to a slow tempo. She tried to match the rhythm of the taps to the clopping of the oxen's hooves on the road. She smiled realizing how silly she probably looked tapping her lips. She turned her head to see what was ahead; her hair pulling from being pinned between her back and the supplies in the wagon. She gritted her teeth and sighed when she finally could see what was in their path. A group of Templars in formation were marching towards Montsimmard following another who was in charge of said group. As they marched they were reciting lines from the chant along with the Templar oath. 

Some of the Templars turned their notice away from their Knight-Lieutenant and to her crotch that was wide open. She squeaked and covered herself with her hands and blushed. She forgot that there were eyes now nearly everywhere since they were nearing The Circle. She crossed her legs and leaned against Cogdale for support. An arm came swinging around her collar and held her tight. A familiar smile was the only thing she could see turning her sight in the direction of Cogdale's face. The smile that always warmed her heart, even the beginning of her adventure with the Warden. 
Leliana put her grip on Cogdale's arm and kissed the only exposed skin that she could find under the leather and silverlite. It was perfect. The only skin on his arm that was visible, she saw the large and only mole on his left arm. She giggled at the sight. Cogdale only shook his head, a smile still painted across it. Leliana noticed Helena out of the corner of her eye. The mage was in the fetal position. She was obviously paranoid around all these Templars and going inside another Circle.
"Helena…" Leliana called out. Helena looked at her with wide eyes her vision twitching off to the side just to make sure no Templar snuck up on her. Leliana held out her hand to the apostate. Helena snatched it and squeezed hard. Leliana began to sing a calming song she knew in orlesian. Her soothing voice seemed to work for the mean while as Helena began to breath deeply again.
"Helena… Don't worry" Cogdale said. "If they ask, I'll say that you are a Grey Warden. They won't touch you, even with an ogre's dead arm." He said trying to give her confidence with his blazing eyes. It seemed to work as she uncoiled herself and gave off a big sigh and gave an unconfident smile. "Just be careful, be stoic and strong with a stern look and we can get through this." Leone said trying to lean backwards to look at her. A bump in the road jolted him out his stare and to keep his eye on the path. 

A giggle was heard from Aeronwy after his blunder. Leliana was surprised that a qunari laughed. Sten never did, although she did see him with the kittens and flowers. So perhaps he was smiling on the inside, which means much more. Montsimmard wasn't just Orlais' Circle of Magi. It was also a fairly large city although the occupants of the city were mostly homely for a very odd reason. Leliana never could pinpoint on why so many in the city were fatter then most. Perhaps it was the wheat grown around the city, just for that thought through out her years as a bard Leliana never ate anything given to her in Montsimmard. She hated her legs already. She couldn't and wouldn't live with herself if she ever let herself go.

Leliana shook her head trying to rid her thoughts of such of no great concern. They were inside the city now. The architecture was very much like that of Lydes. Orlesian structures; even a hovel could outmatch any royal building in Ferelden. Orlesians took visuals more important then other subjects. Even if a city burnt down because the homes were built with straw, at least it went out with style.
Last time she was in Montsimmard the head aristocrat all the others were aiming to take down was "unofficially" The Baron of the Deauvin Flats. Although there were several nobles who called themselves that. The man though was very uppity most of the time whenever he hired Marjolaine for anything. His moustache was long and twisted at both ends. He wore a golden chest piece that although gorgeous had no defensive capability for him. His clothing was nearly all the colors of the rainbow, including nearly 20 different shades and hues of greens. Leliana wondered if The Baron was still in power. If he were, he'd be one of the longer lasting nobles in power over a city. Hopefully he isn't, as he owes Marjolaine several favors. He also did business with Du Rats des Dents and could order the city's chevalier guards to assist The Rats. 
Leliana did her best to explain Orlais and its labyrinth of nobility, rankings and titles to Cogdale so he may understand how a fraction of it would work against them if word spread a Fereldan noble who's family lineage fought against Orlais and their nobility was traveling in their lands and fiefs. 

"So where would The Circle be exactly?" Cogdale asked. Before Leliana could say a word Leone interrupted. "The Circle resides in a complex just on the southwest side of the city, it also has a tower similar to that of the one on Lake Calenhad but several times shorter as the complex is more spread out and also goes underground." He said. The Antivan knew more about the Circle more then Leliana did, surprising her. "Oh and isn't called The Circle here, it's called…" Leliana butted in. "Le Vignoble or in King's Tongue; The Vineyard." She said wiping her lips with her thumb in ****iness.  
"Why is it called a Vineyard if it's a structure for your saarebas?" Aeronwy asked. "Just because it was once a major winemaking for Orlais waaay before Kordillus Drakon took total control as the first Emperor. They built the Circle there but the grape vines continued to flourish over the assembly of buildings. Many mages here can get drunk easily without sneaking in any beverages for themselves." Leone said with a smile.
Cogdale nodded his head while listening and turned and looked at Leliana. Leliana shrugged, as all of this was new to her as well. When she was a bard she didn't give a damn about the mages and their problems. She only cared for her compensation and Marjolaine.

"So are you going to fill us in on all the details on how we're going to break her out?" Leliana asked climbing over some of the merchandise the caravan carried and sat next to the Antivan man. "Okay… I will give you my plan." He said pulling the wagon onto the side of the road. "We need to get off anyways from here on in we'll be on foot." He locked the reigns of the wagon on the hook next to him and jumped off. Everyone else took what he or she needed and lined up against the stonewall he was leaning against while waiting. 
"Alright I have six of you here to help me and add me and that's seven. Good a lucky number." He sighed rubbing his hands together and tapped his feet showing he was nervous. Leliana quickly found herself anxious as well. An Antivan Crow nervous? Was that even possible? Especially when this man knew Zevran, an elf who never was nervous or afraid even when fighting the Archdemon.

"The whole story is that the woman I love is a mage inside this Circle. She recently told me via letter that was smuggled out of the complex that they suspect her of blood magic and are going to make her tranquil. More specifically… today. I'm not going to do this quiet when things break apart. There will be dead, there will be words being spread all across Thedas."
He said sheathing his blade onto his back and grabbing several extra throwing knives on his waste. Leliana was a bit dazed by the task they were about to do. If… when things got messy they were going to get "MESSY." She could find herself killing young apprentice mages that are innocent in this odd exotic affair. She knew she would have to kill more Templars again. Cogdale touched her shoulder to harden her resolve over this. They needed this caravan, otherwise they could call their permanent home Montsimmard.  Ehmric was still gathering his items on the wagon, taking his precious time. 
"Cogdale, I need you to do something for me." Leliana said turning around to him. "Anything for you." Cogdale said with a smile while slapping his helmet on his head and popping his neck with the aid of the heavy helmet. "I need you to tie my hair up in a pony tail." She said handing him some extra cloth from her bag. Cogdale nodded with an annoyed sigh. She knew he was thinking it would be easier if she just cut her hair short once more. She loved it when Cogdale was frustrated with her. It made him give off a very alluring musk. 

"We're still approaching this covert at the beginning right?" Cogdale asked. Leone tilted his head. "You've got a plan?" He asked the Warden. "Well yes, it isn't fool proof but it is better then nothing and just going in swords swinging." Cogdale proposed. Leone nodded and let him take front stage. "Alright." Cogdale cleared his throat. "We'll be heading into The Vineyard as Grey Wardens from Ferelden looking for recruits for Amaranthine and rebuilding Ferelden." He said showing his vial of blood he still had on him. 
"I'll do all the talking with Leliana helping if it comes to translating. But I just need you all to act… like Grey Wardens. Just look strong, resolute and please… be mute." Cogdale said. "We can't just enter and grab your girl right then and there though." He said focusing on Leone. Leone listened intensely. "We'll need to make it seem we're looking for the best recruit. But still grab her for the rigged "test" though." Cogdale finished. 

"I like it." Leone smiled pounding his fist into an open palm. "I have no qualms with your plan." Aeronwy said almost immediately after Leone. Leliana nodded and held her bow in affirmation. Garrden gave his standard thumbs up and stood behind Leliana. Ehmric grunted. "That is his way of saying yes." Leone said laughing. Everyone looked at the young mage Helena who gave no sign or answer. 
"Helena?" Leliana said approaching her friend slowly. Helena looked at Leliana. "Don't worry about your phylactery Helena. If they think you're a Warden… well like I said if they think you're a warden they can't do anything about you." Leliana said caressing Helena's face and bringing the golden green eyes to look into her own. It took several seconds to pass by before Helena finally nodded, although still hesitant. 
"Alright, its unanimous we'll go with my plan, just remember… Let me do the talking." Cogdale said pointing to himself. His eyes glowing; outlining his head inside his helmet. 

Everyone followed Leone as he guided everyone through a secret pathway he learned of years ago. The group probably looked rather strange trying to sneak through tall grass and old brick pathway laid millennia ago. "You haven't told us her name Leone." Leliana said being curious. "Leone laughed. "Oh yes! Silly of me, her name is Nelisa Maus." He whispered loudly. "We met in the strangest of ways. I led an Antivan assignment here in Montsimmard." He said pushing some horsetails out of his face. 
"She just so happened to be a mage consort's apprentice to the Empress'." He said. "While facing down some bards who were guarding our target… no offense Leliana." He chuckled. "I was kicked into her sleeping quarters, my opponent thought I had been mortally wounded so he left me be." They were reaching the complex as the tower could be seen piercing the sky as they made their way up the hill. Leliana could see the storm cloud had finally caught them as small droplets of rain were beginning to patter on the ground.
"She… took care of me for several days, hiding me in her room." Leliana sighed in adoration of this story. Cogdale grunted at Leliana for not thinking about their love story. She only smiled and bit her lip, which sent a chill up his spine.

"Over the days I found the impossible happening… I was falling for this young, naïve mage who was teaching me things that I never even believed exist, Of course she was absolutely gorgeous. She put all the Antivan ****s and women to shame. And she isn't Orlesian." He said. "She isn't? what kingdom or empire is she from?" Garrden asked. Leone raised his hands. "I don't know, she doesn't know. She definitely isn't of any nationality I've ever seen. She isn't Rivaini and she isn't Kossith. She is something completely… different." 
"Intriguing." Leliana muttered. They finally reached the secret entrance that had overgrowth surrounding it. Cogdale helped cut it away while Leone pushed some of it back so the 3 women could get through. The entrance didn't sneak them behind the Templars' noses it helped them get passed the large gate that is nearly never opened for anyone not even a Knight Commander.
They then could approach the front doors to the Vineyard and be impostor Grey Wardens. No Templar would question them once they entered. Seeing as Ferelden was rebuilding after the blight they would understand that Grey wardens would be more prevalent in their lands. Especially when the remnants of the darkspawn were raiding the Orlesian countryside. Cogdale knew where to go from where they were so he took the lead while Leliana stuck to his right side as his translator if need be.
They all did their best to seem regal and stern like Grey Wardens such as Duncan was. When they approached the large doors Cogdale slammed his fists into the door to notify whoever opens the door to let them in. A voice shouted from behind it.

"Qui est là?" The voice asked. "He asked who is there." Leliana whispered to Cogdale. Cogdale only nodded to Leliana to let her know she knew what to say. 
"Nous sommes Gardes des ombres, nous sommes ici de Férelden à regarder pour ceux qui veulent se joindre à notre commande." Leliana shouted telling the man they were Grey Wardens from Ferelden looking for those willing to join the order.
"Férelden?" "Les chiens mouillés?" The voice laughed. Cogdale looked at Leliana for a translation. Leliana shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Would you prefer I speak in King's Tongue, Warden?" He asked his accent extremely pungent on every word he spoke.
"Yes, I would like that ser." Cogdale said. A moment of silence followed until the door opened. A Knight-Corporal stood at the door and looked all 7 of them over with a piercing stare. "So you all are wardens?" The Corporal asked, not believing Cogdale's word.

"Well no, not all of us are Grey Wardens." Cogdale answered making Leliana flinch, shocked Cogdale would give up so fast. "I knnnnneww iiiit!" The Orlesian Templar sneered. Cogdale laughed. "No no it's not what you think." Cogdale wagged his finger at the Templar. "It isn't? Then what it is it Ferelden dog!" The man demanded. "Some of these people who follow me are recruits we have picked up on our travels through Orlais." Cogdale said giving Leliana a sense of relief. 
"Oh! My apologies Wardens. I will let the Knight Commander know you are here. Please wait in the entrance hall" The Knight-Corporal scooted his way to wherever the Knight-Commander for the Circle was. All 7 of them slowly wandered their way to the center of the entrance hall. The inside of this Circle was much more decorative and beautiful then Ferelden's, before and of course after the blood magic incident. The entrance was littered with Templars from wall to wall. The only non-Templar in the room was the quartermaster near the door that led to the rest of the compound.

As Leliana and the rest waited for the Knight-Commander to appear Leliana and Cogdale communicated to each other via their eyes. Cogdale was unsure but at attention at the moment and Leliana was still confused on how they even got here. Cogdale shrugged and laughed with his eyes, which made Leliana laugh as well. She quickly fixed the rag that held her hair in a ponytail as it was beginning to loosen. Helena was having an anxiety attack. Leliana could tell she had experienced many before in her life. 
Leliana could only comfort the white haired maiden by massaging her neck and shoulders and sing that song again. It helped but it didn't give her much reassurance like last time. Helena froze her face into a determined and courageous face though so her anxiety did cause suspicion. 

Finally the Knight-Commander appeared with the Corporal not far behind. The Knight-Commander's armor was extremely extravagant and the whitest silverlite Cogdale had ever seen. 
"Hello, Wardens." The Commander said. Leliana could tell he wasn't fluent in King's Tongue as he sounded as though he was deaf. "Thank you for letting us in Knight-Commander." Cogdale said extending his hand out. The Knight-Commander accepted the handshake and did his best to speak. "My name is Knight-Commander Bandeige." Bandeige struggled to get the next few words out. "So you are here to recruit new… members?" Leliana jumped in to talk "Oui" She nodded with a smile. He was delighted to see one of them knew Orlesian.
"Strange, one of you wardens appeared just last month." He said with a raised eyebrow. Cogdale took a step forward and gripped his sword. Leliana grimaced for what was to happen next.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 22 septembre 2011 - 01:31 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O9
Atropos Unbeaten

"Of course, The Wardens who visited before gave some good words about Montsimmard. About how perfect their Templars and how well disciplined and orderly the mages are. It saddened them that they couldn't recruit more from this city." Cogdale said giving a small half expressed bow to the Knight-Commander. Cogdale felt the sweat carve its way down his cheeks to the cleft of his chin. He held in the best he could from falling to his nervous ticks that he always relied upon to relieve him of his anxiety. He firmly kept his hand on the handle of his sheathed blade. The Knight-Commander with his near feminine demeanor looked Cogdale up and down again with an aura of disgust.
Cogdale took this opportunity to bring up Nelisa to the Knight-Commander by taking off his helmet to ease of some tension for the uptight Orlesian man.
"One mage in particular who we took interest Knight-Commander was young woman Nelisa." Cogdale suggested with even softer tone to his voice. But once her name was mentioned Bandeige's cautious look turn to anger. The intense frown from him let Cogdale know that the Knight-Commander was the one who ordered for Nelisa's tranquility. But Cogdale must play with this man.

"Excuse me? Why are you giving me such a ugly look?" Cogdale said frowning and flaring his eyes. The smoke from Cogdale's eyes shocked the Knight-Commander, which intimidated him. "Please answer me, We Grey Wardens have connections with the Divine." Cogdale leaned in letting his eyes nearly put Bandeige into a trance. Bandeige let his guard down and unsuspectingly gave in to Cogdale's demand. "I am, how do you say?... Sorry for my prudeness." The Commander bowed and guided the 7 of them further into The Circle. "I shall have Templars go find Nelisa." He said, his frightened Orlesian accent sounding like his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Cogdale looked back at his friends. Leone was thoroughly impressed with a raised eyebrow and that Antivan smirk of his. Leliana gave Cogdale a congratulatory wink.
The halls that Bandeige lead them through were polished a pearl like shimmer and the columns that supported the halls were twined by large bushes that seem to have never been barbered to look perfect but that the fact they just were. The storm that had earlier caught up with them had now swallowed all of Montsimmard. Thunder and the strong pattering of rain could be heard outside the walls of The Circle. The occasional weed like grape vine had moused its way through the walls and ceilings of the hallway. A scent of mead and embers boomed through the hallway and was getting stronger the further they entered The Vineyard. Cogdale half expected to see a bonfire and naked mages prancing around it when they turned the corner. This wasn't the case as it was a open courtyard like surrounding with a strange cage like bars high above the ground, as if to hold in someone who could fly. The bars didn't protect the tiled floor from being soaked in the cold rain. The tiles' creases were used for irrigation into the plants and bushes that bordered the walls of the yard. 
"Rain! Bagh such annoying weatha!" Bandeige complained as he grabbed an apprentice's robes and ripped off a cloth to cover such a small part of his head. Once again mages were treated like objects rather then living and breathing individuals. The apprentice was frightened but then gave an ugly face when the Knight-Commander walked by. Cogdale placed his helmet back on to deter the rain from pelting his face. Holding back the urge to look behind him to see what the others were doing to keep themselves from getting wet, Cogdale lost grip to his sword because of the hilt becoming wet. It didn't help that the chainmail that layered his hands as gloves was also slippery. 
"We are near." Bandeige said as he pointed to some shelter from the rain that several mages were using to socialize. Cogdale didn't know if he meant they were near their overall goal in The Circle or if he meant they were near shelter from the rain because his inability to speak King's Tongue. A sneeze startled Cogdale from behind when they arrived inside. It was Leliana rubbing her nose. He could tell the sneeze had annoyed her. Cogdale didn't want to think about it but the winter was becoming a harsh one and no one was safe from becoming ill. He to was feeling a bit flakey since they left Lydes. All of the mages were fixated on the pseudo grey warden group. 

"If you don't mind Knight-Commander but may I ask where you are taking us?" Cogdale asked the man. Bandeige looked back at Cogdale and smiled rounding another corner. The structure of the Vineyard was still perfect as it was at the entrance. How these Orlesians could keep it up over more then 8 ages is astonishing. "So tell me Warden." The Knight-Commander prodded. "Have you encountered any of your darkspawn?" he asked. "Around Orlais?" Cogdale asked, the question was so vague it made the Knight-Commander seem like he didn't believe the tainted beings didn't exist. 
"Oui" he said nodding. Thinking back to Halamshiral Cogdale nodded giving off a burst of flame from his eyes for added effect. "We here in Montsimmard haven't seen them." Cogdale didn't want to start idling of into pointless conversation. "That's the way we want to keep it Ser." Cogdale said rubbing his fingers together listening to the gauntlet clatter around like someone was dancing. Sure enough in the background to his fingers was Bandeige's feet skipping like that of a peasant girl. Eyebrows did rise from the entire group, only in resulting to Leone spinning his fingers around his ear implying that this Templar had gone off the lyrium pool.
They had reached a dead stop in what seemed to be the library of The Circle. It was somewhat identical to the library of Lake Calenhad. Which meant they were in the Student quarters. Nelisa could be near by if he knew anything about the circle. "Wait here" Bandeige signaled pointing to the ground where they stood. He then walked off behind a shelving. Giving the group sometime to talk to one another.
"Are we anywhere near Nelisa?" Leliana asked walking to Leone. Leone looked around for a few seconds, trying to gain a grounding to see if he could remember where exactly she was when he fell into the room she was in so many years ago. Cogdale took his helmet off again as the library was oddly warm. A puddle of rainwater was settling under his feet as the droplets glided down his armor to the floor. Leliana wringed her hair out and added to the puddle. He could hear orlesian whispers behind the books and walls he could only recognize the word Leliana used to describe Grey Wardens in orlesian. So he knew the mages were curious or scared of them, not knowing their true intentions were to free one of their fellow colleagues from The Circle.
Leone nodded and leaned his head towards to his right to imply the path they needed to take just in case Nelisa wasn't one of the fake recruits that the Knight-Commander brought them. "Did you remember our steps?" Leliana whispered into Cogdale's ear with the Warden's stoic stare he said yes with his eyes. That was only if they were so lucky that the Templars would let them step out the way they came in. The city guard could also come aid the Knight-Commander being a puppet force for the corrupt Orlesian ways. Some of the apprentices were now brave enough to go back to finding books they needed to study but still keeping a steady eye on the group.

"How lost you are…" Helena whispered in her feathers. Helena also noticed something Cogdale did when looking in the eyes of these mages. They seemed to be lead to believe that the outside world is somehow more dangerous then what they were dealing with inside this place. They were like test mice that only knew their walls as comfort. They were on the side of the Templars. Cogdale waved Helena over and talked into her ear so only she may hear him. "See how free you are… cherish it. But don't fear your oppressors… Fight them." Helena gave a true smile for once and nodded to him.
"Here they are, the ones that Warden named… Jauffre looked over." A Templar said guiding some mages and another Templar out as if they were sheep that needed to be sheparding. Leone shoved his way to the front of their group. He gasped just for a brief second. Cogdale looked at the 5 standing before him and spotted the woman who must've been Nelisa. She was as tall as an average elf, Her jet-black hair tickled her collarbone her skin almost as golden as the Kossith. But she was definitely human; she had that shine of humanity in her eyes. Her robes were oddly more unique then the rest of the apprentices being an ocean blue and highlighted by oranges and yellows. Something that seemed to be Orlesian in design. It must've been her robes she wore when she was just a consort for the empress. 

"Like I said, these are the individuals Jauffre looked over… except the blood mage here." The Templar said dropping his dull edged sword on her shoulder. She gritted her teeth as her shoulder gave way to the weight and pain from it. Leone held himself from doing something stupid though.
"We'd like some alone with the blood mage and this young templar please." Cogdale asked pointing to the 2 of them. The Orlesian Templar his oddly made helmet with a melded face on it bowed to him and left them to their supposed questioning of the recruits. The other 3 were dismissed and walked off. Cogdale gestured them to follow him out into the rain; away from tattling eyes. While they wandered to somewhere secluded Nelisa recognized Leone and her saddened gaze transformed into joy. The instant they were out of sight Nelisa leaped onto Leone like a cat to a ball of yarn.
"Leone! You.. You're here! You're really here!" Nelisa paraded kisses and rubbing her face with his for several minutes. Leliana held hands with Cogdale while watching it. Cogdale smiled but realized they didn't have time to let these 2 court each other. They had to sneak her out of the Circle.

"Excuse me… but what the ****?" a voice hidden behind the group exclaimed. It was the Templar recruit that Cogdale chose to not make them seem more suspicious then what they already were. Cogdale would have to do something about the templar though. "What is it?" Ehmric grunted. Cogdale was speechless when the dwarf spoke; almost losing what he had thought to say to the young lad. "But why is this apprentice… accused of being a maleficarum now indulging in kissing this knife-eared Grey Warden of yours?" The young man asked with anger shaking out of each syllable to leave his teeth.
Cogdale approached the boy and went to him face to face, trying to intimidate him. "I won't lie to you ser." Cogdale said patting his sword to let the Templar what situation he was in. Everyone began to touch his or her weapons following his attempt at scaring the orlesian templar. "We're here to help this mage escape your Circle. Because she loves this man." Cogdale took a breath placing his helmet on. "Now… you have two choices. Make the fool choice of trying to alert your fellow men and be murdered by ME." His implying of himself let everyone know they weren't to be involved if something were to happen so they let go of their weapons. 

"Or come with us. Start a new life away from your corrupters." Cogdale extended his other hand, which wasn't occupied on his sword to the Templar. The Templar looked at Cogdale's hands. The Templar quickly took Cogdale's open hand and with shame lowered his head. "Comment ai-je me retrouver dans tout cela?" he asked himself. "Keep your mouth shut and all will be good and dandy." Cogdale said to him. "You yap that thing called a mouth to anyone and I will personally rip your eyes out and shove lyrium in your sockets." Cogdale threatened the kid as he motioned the whole ordeal to give the image to the templar.
Cogdale frightened Nelisa, she kept close to Leone. The 2 of them kept their conversations to a whisper. To make sure the could be snitch didn't, Ehmric quickened his steps and pulled out a dagger pressed it against his back. A hair muffled chuckle came from the often-mute dwarf.

Cogdale constantly stared back at his problem every once and a while. He felt uneasy with this tag along he brought to his fault. They walked back to the student quarters where the Knight-Commander was waiting for them with a brisk smile. Realizing he still had the shred of apprentice robe in his hand he quickly tried to throw it away into a small candle to burn it away.
"They appease you? Yes?" He asked in poor King's Tongue. Cogdale said "yes" and pushed the 2 of them forward. Placing his hands on both of their shoulders. "Nelisa here is an amazing healer and overall mage, we hear the rumors of her being a blood mage but she bares no sign of it. This Templar here is what we truly need for a pure hearted and husky Grey Warden. And who knows he may become a Commander of the Grey as he matures with the Order." Cogdale said with delight in his voice. Bandeige returned with his own delightful smile and continually nodded.
"Let them get their possessions then." Bandeige insisted. Cogdale's throat felt like it would collapse in on itself. Letting the Templar go would be a horrible mistake. But they had to comply, as it was custom and more so with Orlesians. Nelisa faintly walked to where her bed must've been. Cogdale held the Templar's shoulder with a vice like grip until he ripped away. The Templar gave a large sneering smile as he walked away backwards from them. Cogdale felt defeated. He knew the Templar would tell with a single gesture of his hands behind his back he let everyone know they should be at arms. Leone growled at Cogdale knowing it was his fault.
The Knight-Commander stayed with the group in silence as he awaited the 2 recruits to come back so they could leave with the Wardens. Cogdale had plans randomly swirling around in his head on what would happen, especially in such a populated area full of apprentices. Helena twisted her grip extremely tight on her stave which Bandeige noticed giving concern to with his eyes with a frown.
"Why is she… tense?" The Commander asked leering at Helena. "She came from the Circle at Calenhad, she is just very… jumpy after what happened there several years ago." Leliana said progressing to Cogdale's side. Bandeige nodded but kept his eyes on her. "My sorry, but I forgot your names." Bandeige asked while his eyes were still glued to Helena. "Oh I don't think we introduced ourselves." Cogdale said, suddenly the entire moment fell silent. Even the storm outside seemed to have paused from all the growing tension. After being welcomed in as guests, Cogdale now felt as if he was an intruder just caught. Aeronwy who had been completely void of sound began to breathe heavily further increasing Bandeige's uneasiness. 
Mages began to quickly disperse from the library as if told a demon had taken residence inside of every page of every book. Not a good sign. Knight-Commander Bandeige suddenly gave the most fake smile Cogdale had ever seen. From that moment Cogdale knew they were set up. "****!" Cogdale unsheathed his blade, everyone followed suit as Templars exposed themselves from every corner of the room.
"I knewwww! That you weren't who you said you were the instant I met you Cogdale." Bandeige snickered. "How do you know my name if I never told you." Cogdale asked baffled. Bandeige said only 2 words. "The Wardens…" He said his crooked teeth seem to become more gangly every second.

"What?!" Leliana now spoke out. "What about The Wardens?" She pulled the arrow back on her bow aiming at the Knight-Commander's head. "They want you dead Warden." Bandeige said a faint snort popped out of his laughing. Cogdale fell a few steps back. "Why?" Cogdale asked. Bandeige only turned around beginning to walk away while the Templars began to approach them. 
"We also know of your apostate you already have in your possession." A Templar spoke out. "When we're done gutting the lot of you. We'll enjoy making her a tranquil like that sodding blood mage." Another said. 
"You ****ing lie!" Leone shouted his teeth clattering. "Oh ho ho! But we're not! We're already done with her." Bandeige said turning back to them beginning to laugh hysterically. Leone sprinted off in the direction Nelisa had gone. The Templars letting him go while they closed in on Cogdale and the others. The Templars now encircled the group who were dead center of the library. Cogdale couldn't see all of them but he had to guess they were outnumbered nearly 5 to 1. What Cogdale feared was coming true along with the realization now that the Grey Wardens wanted him dead for no reason. To them he was still a Grey Warden. A guardian of all life against the Darkspawn; the symbol of the sin of mortal pride. The Templars rushed the group quickly with their shields and rangers who fired arrows at them. Cogdale's swordsmanship exceeded that of any of these Templars who fell quickly to every parry and counter. Their bodies starting to pile up on one another. Leliana had leaped up on the chandelier that was residing high above the library firing her arrows, which she had a day earlier tipped in poison at the archers.
Aeronwy was physically fighting the Templars hand to hand. She had obviously broken her knuckles previously but continued to bash her gored hands against Templar armor. After what felt like 5 to 10 minutes of fighting Cogdale personally had ended 12 templars' lives. Helena was throwing massive waves of ice on them freezing them in place then dead stop kicking them to pieces. Rage was in her eyes while she shoved her bladed stave through the stomach of another Templar.
Realizing their power of numbers wasn't working the Templars backed off some mortally wounded. Checking on his friends Cogdale looked each one of them over while the Templars cursed and cried. The one who was wounded badly was Aeronwy who had been stabbed in her left shoulder and breast. She was unflinching though and stood her ground. Garrden had lost a few pieces of his armor in the fight but was ripping replacements off from the dead bodies. 
Helena hardly had a scratch other then what seemed to be freezer burn on her face from all the ice oriented spells she used. Leliana wasn't touched so Cogdale sighed a breath of relief. Ehmric's Dwarven armor held up well he only had a slight limp after he yanked his axe from a corpse and returned to formation. Cogdale himself didn't let any Templar touch him except for 2 cuts on his exposed forearm and upper arm.
This time around stealth oriented combatants for the Templars ambushed the group. One of them knocking Cogdale's helmet off his head. The pain from his previously broken nose and bruised eyes reappeared but he held his ground and anticipated when the Templar would jump out at him from the darkness. First, The Templar kneed his face and disappeared again. Second, A jab to Cogdale's throat made him gag a few seconds. Third, a severed leather strap on his back slingshotted back and slapped his cuirass. Finally, Cogdale predicted the next move and dug his sword into the exposed jugular nearly severing the Templar's head. Leliana had picked off several who were hidden in the dark.
Bandeige was severely frightened and tried to run away but 2 simultaneous arrows to his ankles ended his fleeing. The group approached the wounded Knight-Commander who still tried to pull himself away. "You're an idiot." Cogdale said as he caught Leliana who jumped off the chandelier. The Knight-Commander could only cry and snivel as he lowered his head. "The Divine will hear of this." Bandeige exclaimed spitting at Cogdale's face.

"No she! Will! Not! you decrepit hermit." A random voice said as Bandeige was decapitated. There stood behind the corpse of the Knight-Commander another Templar hidden by his helmet. "My apologies Warden." The Templar said. "I am Knight-Captain Artiere." He explained. "The Knight-Commander to my sadness had been lost to lyrium madness several months ago. We were too afraid to do anything though. This is all my fault." Artiere shamefully said. 
"If you leave now we will not even mention you were even here." Artiere. "I suspect I will become the new Knight-Commander and in a selfish way I must thank you for this." He said bowing to Cogdale.

"Cogdale!" Leliana exclaimed. "Nelisa! And LEONE!" Cogdale gasped and ran the direction both had gone. The others followed suit, bursting down every door looking for the 2 of them. One door they knocked down led to the First Enchanter's quarters… He was dead crucified on the large window on the wall to the back of his large desk. They couldn't do anything but continued looking for Leone and Nelisa. After searching nearly 30 or more rooms they finally found the room.
In it lay a dead Leone. His sword still in his grasp and his throat slit. He was facing the right wall and in his remaining hand was a note. When Leliana approached his body and grabbed the note she turned to see what he was looking at before he died. She gasped falling on the floor. "What! What is it!?" Cogdale said sliding over to Leliana. He looked at what she was looking at… There stood Nelisa… the symbol of the chantry burned upon her forehead. Her eyes were lifeless as she stared at Leone's body. A single residual tear was falling down her cheek. She whispered out one last emotional word… "Leone."

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 09 novembre 2011 - 10:04 .

[PickledGear]

Sorry for being away for so long, I blame Skyrim. But I am back and with a follow up to SweetCandyRain's wedding drawing she did for me.



I think I've got Leliana's face down pat now

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 18 février 2012 - 01:08 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter O10
Regretful Inheritance

“Leone…” Nelisa gave a weak reach for her love’s corpse; her muscles gave way and her arms dropped to her side. The life in her eyes dissipated and she was left as a husk of her former self. Leliana, still holding the bloody note that she found in his grasp; her hands were trembling, nearly dropping the note in the puddle of blood near Leone’s neck.
“Those… bastards…” Cogdale hissed through his clenched teeth. His clutched fist shaking with ferocity and anger. The Tranquil who stood before them looked at them with a dull stare. Uncaring of what had just transpired because of and for her. She silently walked out of the room while Leliana lay on the ground, Cogdale kneeling on the ground beside her. They watched as she stepped in the blood of Leone, only to shake it off as if it were just dirt. Leliana held in her tears the best she could.

Cogdale stood up and with woe coating his face helped Leliana back up. Leliana was quick to seek comfort from her warden; wrapping her arms around him and hiding her face in his chest the best she could. She felt his arms surround her. His hands cupping her head to his heart. Even beneath all the armor and chainmail she could hear Cogdale’s heartbeat. It gave her relief to hear it still at a calming beat. “Calm my love, be calm.” Cogdale whispered into her hair. Leliana didn’t know if those words were sincere but she accepted them. Squeezing him even tighter as her struggle to keep her tears in became increasingly difficult.
“It isn’t our fault Lily.” He said. “It is mine…” he explained with regret. Leliana, shocked let go of Cogdale and looked at him with confusion. “What?!” Leliana didn’t understand his logic. “I made the mistake of letting that Templar know why we were here.” He said with a depressing sigh. “If I hadn’t been so careless and thought it out. Nelisa wouldn’t be tranquil and Leone would still be alive.” Hanging his head low.
“No it isn’t!” Leliana exclaimed. “You had made a clever choice on not to fool them. It would’ve turned out this way no matter what. We were foolish to think we could get out of this unscathed.” She said to him, Cogdale didn’t pay her eye contact while she argued her point. She could try to convince him but his conscience had already won that battle. She gave up her opinion and returned to hug him again.

“What does the note say?” Cogdale asked. Leliana took in a big breath and unfolded the slightly bloody piece of paper. She stared at it for a few seconds; none of the words did make sense. It must’ve been of Antivan tongue. She could recognize a few words that she remembered when she was trying to learn the Crows’ language. Words such as “remorse”, “sorry” and “end.” She knew by those terms what Leone had decided to do. His love for the woman drove him to the edge of sanity it seemed. For an Antivan Crow that really meant something. While Leliana still held the note between her trembling fingers, out the corner of her eye she saw Cogdale lift Leone out of the pool of blood and over his shoulder. This made him become drenched in Leone’s blood, which poured down the back of the armor in several strands.
Leliana followed him asking, “What are you doing?” Cogdale took the moment and turned his head the farthest he could to see her. The hallway they had just sprinted down before now rightfully seemed several times longer then their arrival. “Even though we barely knew this man.” Cogdale paused to take in a breath. “I still plan to give him some form of memorial.”
The Vineyard began to give a sense of heaviness to Leliana as the dark, torch lit halls seem to only get darker and Cogdale slowly becoming father and farther away from her. Almost like when she succumbed to the sloth demon’s motivations.
This time however it was just the aura of death surrounding them and the circle.
Knight-Captain Artiere waited for them as they approached the doorway to another hallway. He was silent. They didn’t hesitate and continued past him. The Templar had just moments ago ended the life of his insane superior. Leliana finally noticed that the Knight-Captain had killed several other Templars before hand. His sword was entirely crimson along with the hilt and his gauntlet and bracers.
Artiere most certainly was a renegade now. If words spread to the White Spire Circle and the Knight Commander there he would most certainly be executed… the Orlesian way. Still the man stood in his place, either deep in thought or no thought at all. Leone’s body still oozed blood from its neck and left a slithering trail behind them. Coincidentally, Leliana had stepped in it the entire time as bloody footprints also patterned the floor. She tore a sheet off a banner and did her best while walking to stop the leaking with it.
Cogdale’s entire back was coated in it making it seem like he had bathed in blood. Leliana could only hold herself from gagging. Some apprentices were now appearing. Their eyes stuck to the limp body over Cogdale’s grip. Whispers of prayers followed suit as others shut the doors in front of them so they didn’t see such a sight. A strange horn called out over the entire Vineyard as they finally reached the scene of their battle.

Helena, who was sitting on top of shelving, was quick to cover her gasp. All of their friends had the all to familiar look of shock on their face as they approached Leliana and Cogdale. For several eerie seconds there were no words said. No condolences expressed. Only that staring gaze remained apparent. Cogdale lowered Leone down onto a chair that was missing a leg but was held up by a stack of thick books. The rag that Leliana had wrapped around his neck was now wet to. Aeronwy was the most disturbed as she knelt by his lifeless shell and recited a phrase from the Qun with tears running her cheeks.
Helena leaped off the bookshelf and approached them, her stave giving a click everytime she landed it on the tile floor.

“What… happened? Dare I ask?” she muttered putting her hand on Cogdale’s maroon pauldron. Leliana only shook her head. “We were too late.” Cogdale said, his eyebrows so sharp they nearly made it seem he had no eyelids to blink with. “Nelisa was made tranquil.” Leliana completed his answer. Helena growled and stabbed her stave deep into the shelving. “Blasted Templars!” She rolled. Leliana couldn’t argue with her. The Chantry’s men were failing at every turn that she had witnessed these past 6 months. These men were hypocrites to their own oaths and watchful eye. Letting greed, lust, power and cruelty cloud their soul and corrupt their minds. Only to dish it out on the very people they were meant to protect and guard from society.
Before anymore of them could say another word the Knight-Captain appeared before them with shame written on his emotions. Helena was approaching him before Leliana slapped her hand on her advancing torso giving a stern stare to the mage. Helena relented and sighed. As they waited for whatever the Templar had to say many mages entered the library and began to gather the bodies of the Templars to the outside court they had walked through with Bandeige.

“I… don’t know what to say.” Artiere proclaimed. His arms limp from his dishonor. Cogdale threw his helmet back on and approached the Knight-Captain with the poise of a Commander of an army. “So what are you going to do?” Cogdale asked. “The question is Warden.” Artiere interrupted “What you need to do.” He said pointing at all of them. “What?” Leliana asked, confused. She wasn’t the only one however. The rest of them included were puzzled.
“No doubt, word has already spread across Orlais of this attack on a Circle and its Templar watchmen.” The Knight-Captain explained. “Soon it will reach to the nobility of Val Royeaux. And no where will be safe for the Warden and his companions.” He said finally sheathing his blade into his scabbard attached to his back. The blade made a slightly muffled thud when he let go of the grip on it. She understood what Artiere was stating to them.
Soon enough they’d be wanted fugitives with a high price on their necks. Nobility would hire anyone to track them down and end them. Du Rats des Dents would be free to openly attack them anywhere, along with orlesian chevalier help. The sudden realization that their Orlais rendezvous could be ended so quickly disheartened her. “I’d advise you all to leave Orlais for now. Keep your heads down until the nobles grow tired and you aren’t hunted anymore.”

“We’ll take our chances and hide away from the Empire. Perhaps there is safe haven here in Montsimmard. Hide under their noses if you will.” Cogdale suggested but the Knight-Captain shook his head. “The Empire will find you quickly, these mages have loud mouths. And I can’t be certain that my Templars will be tight lipped.” Artiere replied.
“Why would they listen to you? They watched you murder your Knight-Commander in cold blood.” Helena jabbed. Leliana slapped Helena on the back of her head and gave her an angry look. “You are right mage.” Artiere pinched his nose bridge in frustration after given notice of his situation. “merde, je suis un tel imbecile” He said in Orlesian. He placed his templar helmet upon his head. The helmet had the design of a bare-chested woman on the beak of the facemask. Along with strangely carved eyes right above where his eyes peered out.
“I must settle things about here.” Artiere said bowing to them. “Please, messeres take my words and take heed of Val Royeaux and Empire. They will be searching in two weeks time.”
“What a disaster.” Ehmric stated, breaking his silence. Leliana really couldn’t agree more. “I know a safe place for us to stay for perhaps a month. It resides in the Deauvin Flats.” Leliana said. Leliana was unsure of herself though. The place was an estate for bards, especially for Marjolaine. If they were lucky Marjolaine would be in Val Royeaux and not her Deauvin Estate. “We will talk about it when we leave this place.” Cogdale said retrieving Leone’s corpse.
“Let us find an honorable resting spot for him.” Helena added. “What about Nelisa?” Garrden asked outraged, his hands in the air. “What about her? She is a Tranquil now.” Cogdale said with a stone cold stare in his eyes. “Shouldn’t we at least end her… numbing misery?” Garrden finally explained grabbing his dagger to imply he would be the one to do so. “It would be up to Leone on what he thinks she would want.” Leliana replied handing the note to Garrden. “He had this in his hand when he died but none of us understand Antivan.
“What do you mean? I do.” Garrden said his eyes scanning the words of the note. Leliana took a slow step forward, interested in knowing what Leone’s dying scribed words were.

“He wrote down that his heart is broken, that he has no remorse for what he is about to do. That he isn’t sorry that he would end Nelisa’s life for her. To bring her an end that she would’ve wanted if she was given the Right of Tranquility.” Garrden read, his fingers over each word he read. “Wait… what?” Cogdale said setting Leone down once again in the gimp chair. “He was going to kill her?”
“Then who killed him?” Cogdale asked his eyes widening in absolute disgust. “Don’t ask me he had written down half a word and then it abruptly ends there.” Garrden replied poking the note to prove he was right.
Leliana zoned out Cogdale and Garrden’s conversation and wandered over to Leone. She removed the rag and looked at the dried out cut. The blade he had clenched in his other hand was smooth and clean. The wound in his neck was serrated and unprofessional. Leone had been murdered. An inexperienced killer had murdered an Antivan Crow. How ironic his end had been.

“What are you doing to him? Ehmric asked shuffling away from the group and over to Leliana. “He was murdered.” Leliana said as she rubbed coagulated grains of blood between her fingers. Ehmric just gave the wound a stare and tugged on his blonde beard.
“I could’ve told you that. The sodding gash isn’t self inflicted.” He said prodding at it. “That’s what I noticed, as well it wasn’t a clean and professional kill either.” Leliana said pointing to the chips in the wound.
Leliana felt it morbid to continue to look at their friend as if it was a fresh game kill from a hunt and reapplied the rag onto Leone’s neck. Leliana returned to Cogdale, Helena and Garrden arguing on whether they should end Nelisa’s life. Just by seeing Cogdale’s demeanor he was against it and wouldn’t have it, even cursing a few words here and there. While Garrden and Helena were double-teaming him and supported the idea.

“Death is preferable to all mages rather then being made Tranquil.” Helena spat slamming her stave into the marble floor scratching it. “The man wanted her to be eased out!” Garrden screamed his arms flailing as if they were made of fabric swaying in the wind. “It is still a life, it may be what Leone wanted but perhaps Nelisa was against it?” Cogdale retorted back only to receive a loud “HA!” by Helena.
“Guys, Guys!” Leliana tried her best to settle the dispute but they didn’t hear her over their own voices. “FRIENDS!” Leliana shouted in Cogdale’s ear while she lifted his helmet to do so nearly knocking him over as he stumbled.
They became mute and looked at her as she caught her temper. “What you don’t realize is that the Templars are going to label her a liability. She will be sent to a different circle. Most likely Calenhad or Kirkwall. We don’t need to have another murder marked on our heads right now as it is.” She settled her voice down to nearly a whisper. “If push comes to shove, and believe me it will.” She sighed. “We can follow her to whatever Circle and Garrden you can have the honors of finishing Leone’s wishes.” She said waving her hand at Garrden as if he was slow in thought.
“Right now, let us leave Montsimmard before the Empire’s soldiers find out and arrest us.” She suggested. They all looked at one another and nodded and or shrugged in agreement. They silently jogged through the Circle’s commons and courtyards. Some Templars watched and groaned knowing they were letting their attackers escape free and clear. Leliana would reassure the Templars they were sorry “regrette” she would say with her head down and her hair off to one side thanks to her ponytail.
Some of the mages even had the gall to start clapping as the group sped by them through the premises. Harsh punishments followed their choice though as the Templars were swift to engage and snag mages left and right by their necks as if they were kittens. Leliana couldn’t see it but she could bet Helena was clenching her jaw at them. She was proud of her that she didn’t act on her feelings though. They had plenty of acting on feeling recently and they didn’t need more mistakes following them.

The Vineyard seemed longer then usual while they tried to leave it. More large ironclad doors then there were before. The doors were embroidered with designs of Templars holding up their shields with the oxymoron of a sword design on it. Leliana quickened her step so she may reside next to Cogdale. His face once again had an unwavering stare with a serious tone to his brows as he carried the body of Leone. She wondered how he was punishing himself on the inside. Her try at convincing him otherwise had failed and with that the repercussions of him being critical of himself were definitely chopping down his confidence on the inside.
She had seen it before. How he acted the first days of their adventure after Lothering, after the lives lost in battles between Loghain’s loyalists and Ferelden’s freedom fighters. Along with being as stoic as Shale some days he’d become unresponsive to her talks, constantly looking into the sky with hate for himself because of his failure. It was always him hitting himself on the inside. She may know how to stop him from doing it some times but other times were impossible to get through to him, this was one of them.

Finally something familiar was in view. The grand hall they had entered at the beginning with the Knight-Commander greeting them so queerly. The Templars still at post there, including the one who had spoke to them first. He approached Cogdale drawing his sword. “What!? What is this mess?!” he shouted. His sword pricked Cogdale’s chestplate only to have Leliana’s arrow press against his well-designed helmet.
“Vous pensez même pas de l'attaquer lui je vais lâcher ma flèche dans votre cerveau.” She hissed at him. The Templar dropped his sword and backed away and released the door’s lock. Easing the tension of her arrow, Leliana was relieved they were finally out of the Circle so quickly. But they still had to deal with the soldiers and city guard stationed at Montsimmard. All the while trying to do that with a unmistakable caravan on their possession. Their jog became a full-blown sprint following their path they had traversed before to get into The Vineyard. The rain was still pouring down on their heads making the ground slick as it gave way under their feet. Her ponytail had been soaked and it stuck to the back of her neck and behind her armor making her pull it if she decided to try and look down.
She undid her ponytail and threw her hair over her left shoulder. Cogdale seem to change his pace and started to slide down the hill instead. Almost impressive with a heavy weight over his shoulder, which would naturally make him unbalanced. Leliana was the first to reach the caravan. Several children were dancing around it trying their best to do a dance called the Tourdion although they had the wrong amount of participants to do it correctly. Their noble family masks hiding their identities as they sung an old orlesian folk tale about Lady Aveline. Cogdale shooed them away and gently as they laughed and screamed back to their warm homes. He climbed one of the wagons and lowered Leone on the back of it while crossing his arms in respect. He gently kissed both cheeks of Leone and whispered what seemed to be a prayer.

“Let us leave Montsimmard.” Cogdale said, helping the others onto the caravan one at a time. Leliana was last to be lifted up as Cogdale took off his helmet and hooked it onto his knee guard.
The rain slowly came to an end. The sun shined through the clouds conveniently on the caravan. Almost giving everyone a new breath of life to them. Leliana gave one last glance at their group. Helena was drying her hair the best she could with heat from her hands. Only to have it frizz out in any direction frustrating the apostate. She gave up with as she dumped a palm full of water on her hair to reverse the effects. Leliana giggled and hid her stare when Helena took notice of her smiling look.
Garrden was deep in arguing thought within him. He had sat closest to Leone’s body and was fiddling with his daggers over the wooden wagon. This being the first time Leliana had seen the elf deeply disturbed. It was rather unsettling, as Garrden had fixed himself as the group’s jester in some cases. Ehmric the dwarf had made himself a small seat out of bags on the back of the caravan as he sat still with no movement.

Aeronwy had also been silent and a familiar face had found itself to hers. The same stare that Sten had always had. The Qunari elf had reached her breaking point. The one thing keeping her from being true qunari was Leone as she had deep feelings for the crow. Leliana finally made her way to Cogdale who had grabbed the reins of the oxen and was getting them to start to move. While the caravan started to slowly crawl the Chantry inside Montsimmard’s walls began its daily chant of light.
Small and nearly mute compared to what Val Royeaux’s Grand Cathedral was like. There were Orlesian empire soldiers at the gate where the city guard used to be. Perhaps in response to the attack in the Vineyard but it could be a wide array of things. Now that the sun had broken out onto the roofs and streets of Montsimmard people began to wander the streets again. Most people didn’t have masks but the easily noticeable nobles did. Such an odd custom but Leliana had played “the game” most of her life. She even wore the majority of most noble family masks to blend in with her targets.

“Lets not take the same way we entered.” Leliana said pointing out the already poignant soldiers. Cogdale nodded and turned the wagon into the crowds of people. The smell of wine had been replaced with the smell of strong herbs and other smells that nearly reminded Leliana of home. Although she felt guilty of what had just happened at the circle she smiled at the surplus of goods that traveled around Montsimmard’s streets from building to building.
“Leliana, please rest you’ll need it. I’ll wake you up when we leave Montsimmard and are nearing the flats.” Cogdale said putting his free hand on her neck. He gave a very painful fake smile to her and she shook her head. “We’re in this together, remember love.”

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 23 février 2012 - 03:07 .

[PickledGear]

OOC: 2 Year Anniversary since I wrote the first chapter of A Bard's Love so I made an "HD" version if you will. Almost double the words from the original version!



Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 1
Anniversary Edition

The sound of crunching leaves led a path through the Brecillian forest. The natural maze that the group was now once again lost in. They had, in terms only Morrigan could only say “foolishly” decoded to enter because of a herb they were asked to find. Unfortunately it only grew in areas not even the Dalish clans have trekked for centuries. So they had to go by gut alone, along with finding they’re way back out.

“Ughh what I wouldn’t give for a wonderful bath!” Leliana moaned swiveling her head from side to side to try and fix her lengthening hair. “You and me both.” Alistair said rubbed his scruffy chin with his hand. His beard beginning to annoy him whenever he even twitched his face. He was only making his problem worse though.
“There has to be some source of water nearby.” Wynne said looking at their surroundings. She was right, how so much plant life could thrive without any form of water other then rainfall would be nearly impossible without magic interference. Wynne however seemed to be not afflicted by the increasing murkiness of the forest. Her red robes still pristine ever since they left the imperial highway.

Everyone’s nerves seemed twisted. If they hadn’t been ever since the arduous task the Deep Roads were. Who could blame them they hadn’t seen the sky for over 4 months. One wonders how the dwarves could live underground. Oghren would probably say, “By getting so hammered that we think up is down and down is up HAHA!!” But it wasn’t just that. They had witnessed how the darkspawn bred. The Broodmothers were the most disgusting abomination they’d had encountered even more then Zevran.
Cogdale was silent; he had been since leaving the Dalish camp several days ago. The one so many referred to as “The Warden” was always so cold, so calculated and silent when on missions. But Leliana knew him better then most. Cogdale always put on a façade of being unflinching, unwavering and impenetrable. But so many nights of talking to one another near a campfire looking up at the night sky had given her volumes on him. He was exhausted. It was hard to catch at first; he did have his helmet masking his face. But his eyes fought themselves to stay open.
He always worried that if he showed any signs of weakness of faltering the group he considered friends would doubt him. Doubting him would lead to some how failing on defeating the Blight. He took in everything into consideration. That every variable that he exuded was a game changer. He worried so much and his conflict with himself showed more and more each day.

“I swear you’re more of a golem then Shale sometimes Cogdale.” Alistair said brushing off some detritus that had found its place on his pauldrons. The jab at Cogdale was ignored however; no snotty comeback came from Cogdale. Focused on finding the herb was all that mattered. Leliana failed at trying to kick Alistair in the back of his knee for that unneeded remark. Cogdale held a piece of dirtied paper that had a drawing of what the herb looked like for reference. It came from the Dalish clan’s keeper who used their large books to find a reference for them. Though the group only had to worry about their ability to find their way around the massive forest. Months before Cogdale helped cure the lycanthropy that plagued the forest that Zathrian had started thousands of years before.
So no constant threat of werewolves ambushing them or biting them. All they had to keep a vigil for was the rabid wild life and any lost darkspawn hordes.

The rays of light that had been dancing through the trees were beginning to turn crimson from the sunset that the trees were hiding from the 4 of them. Which gave off an almost surreal glint from Cogdale’s pure silverlite made armor. It also showed the grime and muck that had built up on the surface of it. No doubt Leliana had the same muck on her pieces of dragonskin leather. She shook her head to stop her from getting sidetracked. Her legs were killing her from climbing over so many fallen trees and gigantic roots. Not even a heat salve could relieve her of the tension and pain from the nonstop trek.
She caught Alistair looking back at her as he expressed his exhaustion by gesturing putting a noose around his neck and hanging himself. Wynne hit him on the head with her stave and continued following right behind Cogdale. Alistair sped up his walk to meet Cogdale side by side in his stride.

“Hey, Cogdale? Mind if we rest for the night? My feet are kicking my poor butt a new one!” He said with pout to his lip. Cogdale was still for what seemed like a minute before removing his helmet and nodding in agreement. “Alright, we’ll set camp here for tonight. I’ll go out for look out.” He said. Alistair gave off an over zealous sigh of relief and took his pack off his back and made his way over to wear Wynne was sitting.
Leliana just sat there and watched Cogdale wander off in a different direction from the camp that was in the making, leaning his weight into a small ruined wall expressing his fatigue. Leliana understood and could relate to his pain. Her nights of escaping Orlais as she crossed over into Ferelden were the most horrible nights of her life from what she could remember. Rain, mud, the feeling of being watched and stalked by people she couldn’t fend off while she was injured and the smell of wet dog just all stacked up on her during those times.
She didn’t want to intrude on Cogdale so she decided she would help get the camp all set up. Wynne had found an opening in the trees that shined in the moonlight of the night sky and brought in some fresh, cold and reviving air. Alistair was pushing and pulling logs out of the way for the campfire. Leliana looked at Wynne with doubt across her brow. “What is it Leliana?” Wynne asked stopping what she was doing and sitting down on the nearest log.

“It’s Cogdale… I… I feel like I need to say or do something.” Leliana explained frustrated with herself on why she hesitated to do so in the first place. Wynne only gave her motherly look towards Leliana. “Do you? Do you need to do something?” Wynne asked. Leliana frowned at her pointless question. “Why do you feel the need to do something dear?” Wynne added. Leliana felt that she knew the answer but she was afraid of it. “I…” Leliana could only say. Wynne smiled and nodded almost in a mystic way letting her know that she knew.
“Go child, there are some wounds magic cannot heal.” Wynne smiled and pointed her towards the path Cogdale limped through. Leliana nodded and at a fast pace went the way Cogdale had gone. She still fought herself though on whether it was right to bring it up with him. He was already troubled as is with single handedly trying to defeat The 5th Blight of Thedas.

The ancient and collapsed wall that traced Cogdale’s path was longer then she expected. Leading another 40 meters down hill to another small opening in the treetops. The sunset was no longer around and the violet night sky was settling in. Giving home to the constellations in the sky she and Cogdale conversed so much about. She tried her best to spot the wearied warden in the decaying rubble. But he must be on the other side. She thought still making her way down the small hill. Her steps were slow and weak to not give off any sounds. She held so much doubt if he felt the same way about her she’d rather not say it to him in fear of jeopardizing the fight against the archdemon. Or was it rejection?
Leliana finally spotted Cogdale sitting down on thick ledge of stone, huddled over and wincing. Her anxiety was becoming palpable getting closer and closer to him. “Cogdale!” She blurted out surprised that was launched from her lips. Cogdale turned see her walking towards him, twiddling her fingers in her nervousness.

“L…Leliana?” quietly said. She didn’t say anything until she finally sat right next to him, her stomach becoming upset when she knew his eyes were upon her. “Are you okay?” She asked. He smiled while still grimacing from what truly seemed of pain. “Yeah I’m fine.” He chuckled taking his palm off from his side and looking at it. She caught a glimpse and saw blood. She shot her stare at where he had been holding. More of his blood was slowly oozing out of his chainmail.

“You’re hurt! Maker’s Breath!!” Leliana gasped holding her mouth in shock. Without any of the hesitation that she had, had she ripped open one of her bags and grabbed some of her torn chantry robes out. “Here take these bandages!” She said wrapping the cloth around his sternum. He held his breath whenever she pressed against the wounded area. “Thank you, Leliana.” He said taking a deep breath as she continued to apply her bandages on him. “I was beginning to think nobody would notice and I could drift away into the fade while you all slept.” He joked with an untruthful grin of pain.
Leliana frowned. “Why would you say that?” She growled, “After what we’ve gone through? You’d just up and leave?”

“That isn’t the Cogdale I know!” She said finishing her amateur bandaging. “We all think of as our leader… and as our friend.” Leliana said patting the bandage a few times to see it would hold. Cogdale’s face showed signs of grief after her words. Cogdale carefully leaned himself against the wall and stared up into the branches of the trees.
“Because, ever since I escaped Castle Cousland where my entire family died, ever since I joined the Grey Wardens I’ve been having these dreams.” He said. Leliana tried to imagine what it must’ve been like to actually know her parents. Such a thought seemed… impossible for her to understand. She joined him on leaning against the wall. Looking into his mesmerizing hypnotic glowing eyes. He said they were once hazel and that they became that after the joining with the Grey Wardens but Alistair was a Warden himself but didn’t have them.
“Not the ones that all Grey Wardens have mind you.” He stated. “But of my own life, like I needed a history lesson of what I went through.” He said annoyed with himself. “Sometimes though I have dreams of events that seem to be implied in the future.” Shifting himself to fix and unpleasant strain on his wounds.

“One that has been repeating is of a grand hall, something gargantuan in size.” He said. “Weisshaupt?” Leliana asked. “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “But there are hundreds of people, accompanied by what I suspect is the person they love at their side.” He continued to explain. “But I’m left alone, then my brother opens a door in front of me. But it leads me no where but a white abyss.” Cogdale finished his head hanging in shame.
“I don’t know Cogdale.” Leliana said. Hating herself that she couldn’t ease his thoughts this time around with a story or a small song. “If you don’t mind I’d like to share something personal with you.” He said. The words brought a strange mix of hope and dread into her thoughts. “Sure Cogdale, please do.”
“Out of all the fears in this dark world Leliana, the only fear I truly have is to be alone.” He sighed. Before she could say anything he continued. “To never experience the one thing that brings life and good into this world.” He finished turning his head to Leliana. “What is that? May I ask?” Leliana said knowing in the back of her mind what he already meant but she couldn’t believe it.
The area of his armor that had been covered by his blood had washed away the grime of the forest. A small stream had found its way from his wound to the small plants below their feet. He took a moment to take in his surroundings his eyes to her seemed so passionate at everything he gazed at. Almost as if he saw more then the average person when staring at even a pebble on the side of a road, he saw more then just a pebble.

“Love…” He said turning to the stars. The little place they had resided in was almost too conveniently lit by the forest and moonlight. It was so bright if she hadn’t paid attention to her surrounding she could’ve swore it was still daylight out.
“L…Love? Cogdale?” When she finally heard him say it out loud she thought her hopes had played tricks with her. “I always had thought… you had a girl back at Highever you worried over, that kept you up at night.” She asked for him to repeat himself just so she was sure she heard right.

“No, I was too much of a bookworm in my youth.” He said with a long sigh of disappointment. “I can only wonder if reading story after story of romance that I began to perceive it the wrong way.” He said contemplating his life. “None of the noble daughters liked me. I mean I was meant to be a vassal after all but I never lived up to those expectations I suppose.” Leliana had just noticed that she had shifted her body entirely towards him with her arms cradled around her knees while listening to him.
“My brother, Vincent, had told me what love felt like but he was more of a promiscuous youth then anything else. Even with his reputation though. His explanation of it; made me want it that much more.” He said reaching up in the air to nothing clenching his hand in disappointment.
Leliana’s upset stomach turned into butterflies after he was done explaining his secret to her. She had grown to really care for Cogdale over their adventure together. He was a kindred spirit. One who she could belt out her worries and troubles and he would understand entirely and try his best to help her. But her fears of feeling such things again were getting the whole of her. She was afraid to be betrayed again. Left to die in a prison without a care in the world.

Cogdale wasn’t like any other man she had met, seduced or down right killed when she lived the life of a bard for the Orlesian nobility. He was just a boy in some sense who willingly gave up his entire future and life to save Ferelden. Every man or woman she had begun to feel for before were greedy, selfish and only thought of themselves. Of course where were the occasional nice guy or girl who she would trick into buying new shoes for her but still they did it to possess her. To own her like a slave to use.
While he only saw her as a friend, someone to talk to when things were down and someone to tell her feelings to without getting a single negative thing back from. Their conversations were some of the most interesting ones she has had in her life. Her heart ached whenever she saw Cogdale enter a room or when he just gave her a smile. She couldn’t breath until he asked her a question, his eyes staring into hers. Wynne had definitely noticed the feelings she gave Cogdale and hinted that it was the same with Cogdale towards Leliana.
He had kept his burning ice eyes on her the whole time she was in her own world. When she snapped out of it she caught him admiring her. She only blushed and looked away for a few brief moments. “What was it that you came to see me for Leliana before my blood ruined the conversation?” Cogdale laughed wincing from the sharp pain of his laughter. Leliana laughed in return. But her heart truly felt like it could almost burst from her throat because of her anxiety of telling she had feelings for her. She needed to try and tell him covertly.

“I just wanted to tell you, I feel safe at night, the darkspawn never really sleep but I feel so much safer when I awake to see you still watchful.” She stuttered gracelessly trying to mend her words. “What I’m trying to say is I trust you…” Leliana tried her best to swallow her heart back down. “I trust you, I’m comfortable around you, and I know you’re there when I need you.” Cogdale’s distant gaze he had in her eyes transformed into a confused almost frustrated look. She felt her heart go from her throat down to her stomach in a heartbeat.
“What are you saying Leliana?” Cogdale asked confused. “I’m… I’m trying to say is you… you are m…my friend” her face bursted into a flush of red nearly the same color of her hair trying to finish her sentence. “And…” She gave one last look up at the sky wondering if The Maker was there to help her. “Sometimes I think m…maybe we could be more then that.”
There it was, she had dropped it in front of him. Now all she could do was watch in horror as he did with it what he will. Trying to find some semblance of control she instantly tried changing the subject.

“Maker look at me stumbling over my words like an ill educated peasant girl, some bard I am.” She joked about herself an untruthful smile across her lips. Cogdale’s confused stare returned to his softened gaze who sobered her dread an ounce. Her thoughts were racing so fast; her heart couldn’t keep up with it. She felt as though she might pass out from it all. Cogdale slowly glided himself off from his throne he had made himself during their talk.
“Come with me Leliana I want to tell you something too.” He whispered to her, his hand outstretched to help her off the stones. She took his hand and leaped off the seat she had. He guided her up the steep hill they had taken down several minutes ago. She followed him like a duckling follows its parent overwhelmed by her emotions. The night had taken over the sky, as the surroundings were pitch black. Their only means of light was the campfire that Wynne and Alistair must have started while they were away.
His eyes too were glowing though ominous they seemed at the moment she was still caught up in her own thoughts. The incline finally straightened out and the light from the fire tickled their faces with warmth. She only took a moment’s glance to see the poorly made beds that Wynne and Alistair had for themselves. Both were fast asleep in their blankets most likely dreaming something pleasant in the fade.

Cogdale turned around and took both of Leliana’s hands and kept them in his grasp. A surge of life and ecstasy began at their touch. She looked up at him to see his eyes at peace with what seemed like everything. She was still so confused by what was to happen however as she held her breath. He took a full breath in anxiety of the moment. Leliana tried to do the same but found herself pausing her breath again.
“The thing is Leliana, I’ve always wanted us to be more then just friends.” His voice more peaceful than any tranquil and his smile as soft as the most elegant blankets of Orlais. Leliana was exhilarated hearing him say that but was too afraid to show it.
“R…Really?” She murmured. “N…No one told me, you’ve felt the same way and didn’t do me the courtesy of informing me?” She got tangled up in her emotions. Beginning to believe her own lie while blurting out her feelings. “You made me say those things! Oh… you! How very awkward!” She was stunned at the entire moment that played out, feeling rushed through her. All that culmination of her feelings growing for him over an entire year had just been released within just a sentence. Nothing she’d ever expected.

She had never confessed her affection towards another person in her entire life. Let alone to a person she first called her friend. “I can’t say how..” before she cold finish her shout Cogdale took a step forward, placing his hands around her soft face and kissed her. Her gasp seemed loud enough that any darkspawn could hear it.
Her lips felt like they were melting under the heat of his. She had kissed men before, but this kiss… was life-changing, mind altering. Every memory of her previous kisses instantly vanished from her mind. She would proudly state this kiss was her first and she wanted it to be. To her, The Maker was applauding and Andraste was singing to them. She didn’t know how long their lips stayed caressing each other, but she didn’t care. Wishing for the moment to last forever. She wanted to just stay with him in his arms and forget her troubles and worries. Forget her vision that the Maker gave her, Forget the Blight, and forget her past life. When he finally pulled away from her, she loathed the moment. Her lips going cold from the wind of the forest after his kept her warm.

Feeling his breath shape her face was oddly satisfying as well. Both of them stood quiet for a few seconds taking in what had just happened. She opened her eyes to him looking at her with the warmest smile she’d ever seen him have. He embraced her, his body; warm while still hidden under cold armor gave off more heat then the camp’s fire. “That settles it then…” Leliana said nuzzling her head into his neck. Even though they’d been travelling nonstop for almost a week he still smelled of warm spices. Cogdale stroked her hair and whispered “Thank you, I thought I would never feel this, that I would never meet a woman like you.”
She kissed him on the cheek and said good night. They stretched their arms to the limit, trying to hold each other as long as possible before turning for their beds. Before Leliana laid in her layers of blankets that resided next to Wynne, she looked over to Cogdale one last time to see him gleefully skipping over to his own bed. She giggled seeing this side of him.

She lay down, throwing the thin blankets over her as she tried to rest with the excitement still keeping her awake. Slowly closing her eyes she was startled to see Wynne wide-awake looking at her with a long smile. “You heard everything didn’t you Wynne?” Leliana asked with a smirk. “No, no dear my poor old ears aren’t what they used to be I thought I heard you kissing our dear Warden which can’t be true.” Wynne snickered.
Leliana didn’t care she sighed at the mage and got lost in her ocean of thoughts until she drifted off to sleep.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 23 mars 2012 - 11:56 .

[Benk724]

just wanted to say really enjoyed reading this kinda started my own story but im a bit rubbish when it comes to punctuation but you gave me a few ideas thanks!