Abandoned Sanctuary

Title: Abandoned Sanctuary
Chapter Three: Things Hidden

I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to be happy again
I just want to feel deep in my own world

-Honestly Ok
~Dido


Laurena woke up the next morning to the sounds of an awakened camp. Today was to be a day of rest and recuperation. They could make a push back to Redcliffe and rest there but it would have defeated the initial purpose, especially when their newest member had looked a bit worse for wear. Laurena threw on a loose shirt and a pair of linen slacks. The mid-morning sun made her blink when she slipped out of her tent.

“Morning sleepyhead,” Alistair called over to her, a pile of split wood surround him. He was currently shirtless and slick with sweat. Laurena mumbled out a response without really thinking, her mind more on the paths of sweat trailing down Alistair’s body and less on what she was saying.. Alistair stared at her a moment before shrugging and going back to cutting firewood. She sat next to Leliana, who smiled all too knowingly at her friend, before taking the bowl of porridge she offered. “Don’t even start.”

Leliana grinned widely, picked up her lute and began to tune it. She hummed each tune as she plucked the string, turning the peg until it sounded right. Aslinn came and sat next to Laurena, looking refreshed and recently washed—her steel blue head wrap still smelling freshly of soap.

“Do you know how to play, Aslinn?” Leliana asked looking up from her lute.

“Some, I’da prefer the fiddle meself,” Aslinn brought her knees up slightly and swung her legs absently in front of her. “Most of what me knows is Gaelic and Elvish, but some me mates back home taught me a tune or two in common.”

“Mates, so you are a pirate then after all! You have your wrap, now all you need is an eye patch, my dear, and the ensemble will be complete," Zevran’s voice came from a nearby tree’s shadow. Aslinn rolled her eyes and ignored him.

“You know Elvish? Can you speak it as well as sing it?” Leliana’s voice quivered with excitement.

“Aye, Ida be hard not to when me home had been among them since me was a wee one,” Aslinn said absently.

Leliana almost squealed in joy. “You have to sing something for us.”

“So,” Zevran’s stepped away from the tree. “You grew up among the elves?”

“Since me tenth summer.”

“Interesting,” Zevran came out from the shade. “Do you fancy elves then?”

Aslinn smirked. “Aye me boyo, I’da fancy an Elzen or two, maybe even a short Elf.”

“Oh short am I?” Zevran clicked her tongue at her.

“Compared to the Elzen of me homeland, Aye you’da be short.”

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Laurena groaned when Eric whined and pawed at her tent flap the next morning. She wished she could have slept longer. Their day of rest, though uneventful, was not nearly long enough.

She put on her armor and strapped her long sword to her back before slipping out of the tent, patting the mabari on his large head. Sten was up early, as usual, taking his post at the edge of the camp. Zevran was awake early also—it seemed he was always the last one to bed before shifts began and the first up in the morning. Zevran was adding a greenish substance to his blades, he nodded in acknowledgment of her presence but did not take his eyes off his flow of the liquid he was pouring on his daggers. Laurena smiled at him and took a seat by the fire.

She stared into the fire and let her mind wonder over the events of the past few months, replaying the events over in her mind. Aslinn was defiantly an interesting addition to their group, she was friendly enough—keeping a personal distance but still willing to joke around. (Not to mention her mind was almost always in the gutter and made practically anything you said sound dirty) Alistair had even gone so far as to call her a female version of Zevran—to which Zevran announced he was much prettier.

Her face became flushed and warm when her thoughts wondered to Alistair and their growing relationship. They had become very close over the past few weeks, even with his witty dodging of her questions. He made her feel cherished and wanted for being herself, not the daughter of a teryn. Something none of her other suitors, the ones her mother were constantly introduce her to, made her feel. The way he looked yesterday morning made her have butterflies in her stomach. She found herself remembering the way the ridges of his muscles grew taught when he swung the axe and how his sweat seemed to trickle down…

“Dunna yah look happy this mornin.”

Laurena jerked her gaze from the fire to Aslinn, who had a smug look on her face. “You’re up early.”

“I'd be a light sleeper,” Aslinn sat next to Laurena. “Yah look like somefin is on your mind.”

Laurena smiled. “Actually I've got a few questions, do you mind?” Aslinn motioned for her to continue. “You were Gridania, correct? What had you traveling so far from home?”

Aslinn's jaw tightened for a moment before her face became a mask. “In order to answer dat question, I hav'ta explain some things. As I'd told'a yah before, I'm a Seeker of the Sun, that'd be me clan. We worship, Azeyma—keeper of the sun and goddess of inquiry,” she hesitated. “Azeyma is...ah you'll think I'm bloody mad when I tell yah this.”

Laurena smiled warmly and put her hand on Aslinn's shoulder. “I will not think you mad, but if you feel uncomfortable telling me...”

“Ah…yah pull at me heart strings, but dunna say I'da didna warn yah.” Aslinn's face grew serious. “Azeyma is known as the Warden...she'd be depicted as a noble lady holding a golden fan and this is her symbol.” She took a stick and drew a symbol in the dirt.

“That looks remarkably like...” Laurena looked in the direction of Alistair's tent, where his armor and her family shield were kept. “So you think I'm your goddess?”

Aslinn laughed. “By the Twelve no,” She smiled and shook her head. “Azeyma guided me to you—I guess she figured you’da be needin me help.”

“Honestly, that is not a crazy as you think. Leliana told me the Maker spoke to her in a dream a vision, so your goddess nudging you in our direction seems—plausible.” At least in this group.

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“Are you sure we can't interest you in some armor, miss? If you are to be traveling with the Wardens, I can give you a discount.” Bodahn handed Aslinn her purchase.

“No need for your worries, I can handle meself,” Aslinn stored away the metal and leather pieces in her knapsack. “Thank yah though.”

“Aslinn! Come on let’s get going!” Laurena called from the edge of the camp.

“Aye!” Laurena jogged to catch up with the rest of the departing camp. Laurena had decided they needed to move camp in order to throw off any of their pursuers. Once a suitable place was to be found, they would set camp and Laurena would lead a small group to a city called Denerim. The Warden decided to take a small group as they would be less likely to be recognized that way.

“I do not see how she can take so long—she does not even have a tent,” Morrigan sneered.

Aslinn rolled her eyes as she passed Morrigan and kept walking. Leliana started singing once the silence has stretched out too long for her tastes. Laurena hummed along, not knowing the words but familiar with the tune.

Sten, Aslinn and Zevran stopped walking, their attention to the woods beyond the road.

“You heard it too then?” Zevran stood with his daggers out. Aslinn put her back against Zevran's and took a defensive stance.

“What's going on?” Alistair yelled.

“The woods be watching us,” Aslinn said flatly.

“The woods are wh...” Alistair did not have time to finish, Laurena pulled Alistair back in time to have an arrow strike his shield and not his unguarded side.

Zevran surged forward, jabbing at the heavily armed mercenary, which came bounding from the trees, with his left hand as he swung the sword in his right in a backhanded arc. He stabbed the man with both weapons, and then looked up, taking a second to assess the situation.

Zervan had seen a wolf jump at Aslinn's jugular, she moved back at the last moment and the wolf’s jaws caught the end of her hood and ripped it. The wolf lunged at her again, she blocked the snapping jaws with her leather bracers, and with a terrible crunch she compressed the beast's windpipe. It slumped to the ground and Zevran caught her eyes, he stared in clear shock, Aslinn reached up and realizes the wolf and torn the left side of her hood and one of her feline ears stood out clearly atop her head. She silently cursed herself for not putting on her wrap under the hood.

Laurena heard the clangs of metal on metal coming from behind her. She knew she could trust Alistair to protect her back, just as he trusted her with his. Laurena cut down the first man quickly, her sword easily slicing through the leather and sinking into the flesh of his shoulder. She glanced over and saw Aslinn and Zevran starring at one another, on further inspections she saw why Zevran had initially stopped fighting—Aslinn.

“Zev, Linn!” They both turned to their leader's voice. “Help Sten stop the archers on top of the hill!” Laurena pointed west, they both nodded sharply then turned to sprint up the hill. She watched them round the bend and make a leap across the ravine, instead of going further down to the make-shift bridge. Once they were over the brush and to the top Laurena lost sight of them. Sten had taken out one archer and was working on the last one when Aslinn and Zevran reached him.

“The leader!” the quanri yelled, cutting down an archer.

“Got him!” Aslinn crouched low to gain leverage she would need, leaped into the air, swinging off a tree branch and landed square on the leader’s back, and causing the man to fall to the ground. Zevran kicked the sword out of the leader’s hand, he held up his sword to strike and sever the man’s neck.

“Hold Zevran!” Laurena called to them, making her way up the hill. “Do not kill him.” Zevran sheathed his blade.

Aslinn held the man face down with her foot placed square on his back. “Why not, he tried to kill us…”

Laurena place a leather helm on Aslinn’s head in order to cover her one exposed ear. “Let him up.”

“He is no common bandit, none of them were,” Leliana observed. Aslinn stepped off the man and took a position behind Laurena. “Their weapons and armor are of a fine make and they are well trained,” Leliana spoke direct to the bandit on the ground. “You know what I’m talking about don’t you?”

“Who are you?” Laurena questioned.

The man groaned loudly as he got up from his location on the ground. “Someone who regrets taking you on,” he looked rather stunned at the number of companion’s staring him down. “I was told it would be an easy job, kill the lil’ red haired girl—deal with the others as we pleased.”

“Kill the…y-you came to kill me?” Leliana looked truly shocked. Zevran put a hand his sword hilt and took a step towards the man.

“Wait one moment,” Laurena put a hand on his arm, she was angry as well, but they needed to know who sent armed men to kill Leliana. She withdrew her arm from Zevran and stared down at the captured man, arms crossed over her chest. “Who sent you to kill Leliana?”

“Yes and why am I wanted dead?” Leliana stood beside Laurena.

“I don’t pay to ask why someone wants someone else dead. I just ask where to go and where do I pick up my money….money..ha…I’ll be lucky to get out of this with my life it seems,” the man looked nervous when no one responded. “M-maybe we can work something out. You like the idea?”

“Speak quickly,” Leliana crossed her arms.

“I’ve not real quarrel with you. Wasn’t me that wanted you dead, but I know how you can find the one who does.”

Laurena stepped forward and looked at the man directly in his face. “What’s his name?”

The man shook his head and took a step back. “Never found out. Got the feeling the man I spoke with was doing someone else’s bidding too. I have some directions written down on how to get to the house, it in Denerim,” Laurena and Leliana exchanged looks and Laurena motioned for the man to give her the directions. “Here, it’s the best I could do.”

“Thank you, now leave I never want to see you again,” Leliana scowled at the man.

Laurena jerked her chin towards the trail leading back to the main road. “Go—be grateful for your life.” She turned to Leliana “Any idea who could be after you?”

“It’s Marjolaine it has to be.”

“Why has she come for you after all this time?” Laurena put a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder. Leliana had confided in her on their way back from Andraste’s temple about her former mentor and lover, Marjolaine, and what she did to Leliana back in Orlais.

“Maybe someone saw me, maybe she has finally found me and wants to finish what she started,” Leliana’s eyebrows furrowed in worry.
Laurena turned to look at Alistair then back to Leliana. “Denerim is close by—we need to go there anyway. We could go and confront her while we were there.” Leliana nodding looking determined

“Since the cat be out of the bag,” Aslinn stated stepping forward. “I be havin’ something I need tah show yah.”Laurena nodded in acknowledgement and Aslinn stepped away from the group, she took off the leather helm—tossing it to the ground. She reached up to pull the hood from her face and then undid the tie of her cloak, tossing it to the ground atop the helm.

Aslinn stood there as the group stared at her, there had been a scattered gasps throughout when she took off the tattered hood. Her tail now swished freely behind and she rubbed the stiffness out of one ear, just waiting for a reaction other than shock. The reaction she dreaded came at the sound of a sword being unsheathed and Alistair taking a step towards her, maneuvering himself so that he was standing between Laurena and Aslinn with naked blade unsheathed at his side.

A/N: Agian special thanks to my Beta Janac Shannon. Check out her story “Stars” http:// www. fanfiction. Net /s /5655515 /1 /Stars.
Thank you to my viewers and Thank you to my wonderful husband for making the “Mini Alistair” as by Beta calls it as a spacer.
Also much love to Bio Ware and EA for making an awesome game. For those of you that haven’t heard the news Bio Ware is coming out with Dragon Age II.