Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 39: Sten the Qunari

"I cannot believe this!" Morrigan stormed out of the tavern. "I will not sit by and just let you take this frilly... hypocrite with us! She will get us all killed by the darkspawn."

"It was my decision, Morrigan," Solana ended flatly. "And I think any help we can receive is a blessing, considering we don't exactly have the best allies at the moment!"

Alistair and Leliana stayed mute during the dispute, hoping that it would solve itself out. Morrigan turned and sneered. How dare this little elf think that she knew what was best for the group—for her! "I am going for some air. I'll meet you back up at the Highway. If you are smart, you will have left that woman here to die with the other peasants."

She lifted her arms, and in a purple plume of smoke Morrigan transformed into a raven and soared away. The people around them shuddered and shouted in fear that a mage could transform like that. Solana, unaware that Morrigan could do such a thing, proceeded to stammer backwards. She called after Morrigan, running only into the street, and then called after her again.

Just like that, Solana had lost her friend.

"She'll be back," Alistair encouraged, a bit frazzled by his half human-half bird counterpart. "If we have learned anything about Morrigan in the past few days, it is that her sass does have a tiny glimmer of friendship."

"You really think so?" Solana pondered.

Alistair hadn't really meant it. In fact, he hoped that the broad stayed at least a thousand feet away from him and Solana, but his little elven friend seemed to have an attachment to her. So, to cheer up those sad, blue eyes, he smiled big. "I can almost guarantee it."

"Sorry to cause so much trouble," Leliana apologized, a bit breathless from Morrigan. She had seen a lot of strange things back in Orlais, but that was by far the most bizarre thing she has witnessed.

Solana shrugged. "Morrigan will be okay. As for us, I say we go try and find her. How do we get out of this town? The Imperial Highway looks to be cut into two sections."

"I'll show you the way," Leliana proudly announces. She pets Andaran's head, enjoying that at least one of the new friends was enjoying her company. "Follow me."

As they passed on through town, the four of them bump into a fight in the street. Three wilder looking folks wearing outfits like Morrigan's stood in the street looking perplexed and annoyed as a farmer was red in the face.

"How dare you consider we'd steal your food!"

"I saw you take supplies from my cart!"

The Chasind folk all groaned. The leader, a well-tanned man with a strong build and considerable height, crossed his arms, "Your grassland eyes are inept! A Chasind would never steal food to feed their belly!"

"You marsh folk are all thieves and liars," the farmer cried as his fellows behind him all back up his sayings. The Warden gang all watched from a distance, as a Templar joined the picture.

"Enough!" The Templar put one armoured hand to the Chasind's shirt, and the farmers, gripping them tight. "People are already desperate and frightened—They don't need you two coming to blows!"

Solana and her group went around the crowd. It seemed the situation at Lothering was slowly getting worse. Music began to play in her head, harps and lutes... The voices wanted to say something, but they weren't sure how to voice their opinions.