Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 37: A Dispute

The crowded tavern was overflowing its own front doors. People of all kinds and races flooded the dirt street. Dust was kicked up into small dust storms, causing many elderly, children, and adults alike to cough. Solana looked about for perhaps an edge where she could wiggle into the building, but so far the outlook of entering is dimming by the minute. At this rate, they are better off journeying onward towards Redcliffe.

"By this rate the Blight will consume us all," Morrigan complains sourly. Her yellow eyes narrowed. "Why not just push these simple, dumb people aside with brute force? Much easier."

"Does everything involve others getting hurt, or is that just your style of showing that you are better than everyone else," Alistair spat. "The tavern is obviously too crowded at the moment. Why don't we just go back to market and see what we can purchase for the road?"

Morrigan groaned at the prospect. Solana held her own against the growing swarm of people pushing and shoving.

She stuck out both arms in an attempt to push the large men crowding the door way, but to no avail. To drink the sorrow, and chaos happening around them was far more important than letting others come in to rest out of the heat. Most of them were already drunk; there was just too many people to muscle one's way through them. The thought of heading back to the Chantry was getting better by the second. "Maybe Alistair is right..."

Andaran barked next to her. He gave a soft whine before nuzzling her left leg. "I know boy," she patted his head. "We will get in soon enough."

"Says you..." Morrigan didn't understand the elf. She was stubborn, and powerful, yet she wanted to be gentle and kind to these drunk cretins. It did not make any sense to the young mage. She had been watching the woman ever since that night by the campfire. Morrigan had never had a friend before, no human anyway, and it alarmed her that she was so open with this little elf. 'Tis true her mother sent her with them to leave the Wilds, amongst other things, but Morrigan had not planned to make friends. She didn't know what to think about Solana, much so how to act around her. She was so thoughtful it was disgusting, but so tough that it was frightening, all at the same time.

As they journeyed back through the crowd towards the market, Morrigan needed to get her mind off of these nonsensible thoughts in her head. So, her attention turned to her newest play toy. "Alistair, I have a thought, if you will indulge me?"

"Do I have a choice," he mumbled.

"Of the two of you that remain, are you not the senior Grey Warden here? I find it curious that you would allow another to lead while you follow."

Solana, who was listening into the conversation had been thinking the same thing, though she dares not bring the subject up to Alistair right now... Not after Duncan. She had been content to just lead while he regained his happiness.

"You find that curious, do you?" came Alistair's dead-pan question.

Morrigan continued as if nothing had been said, "In fact, you defer to a new recruit; is this policy of the Grey Wardens or simply a personal one?"

Alistair stopped in his walk, turned and rubbed his golden head. "What do you want to hear, Morrigan? That I prefer to follow? I do."

"You sound so very defensive," Morrigan couldn't help the smile on her voice. Looking, she saw the tips of Solana's ears turn a shade of dark red.

Following Morrigan's eyes, Alistair began reddening as well. Suddenly, her secret meaning had clicked. Alistair gritted his teeth, and turned so Morrigan couldn't have the satisfaction of seeing his inner turmoil of feelings bubble... He wasn't sure what they were.