Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 40: Revered Mother

"What was that back there?" Alistair asked. He wasn't sure what exactly had been wrong with the man in the courtyard, but he was tainted and dying. The things he said, the things he felt, were all real.

Solana shook her head, the voice that had filled her mind, singled itself out from the rest of the choir echoing there, was gone. She had felt the pain, the distress of the man as if it was her very own. The level of love he had felt for his wife, the amount of love she had felt for him, it just had come crashing down on Solana like a boulder falling from a high mountain top.

"I don't know what exactly happened," she turned to Alistair, "but the voices are getting louder. I think... I think the darkspawn will be here soon, and there is a lot more now than there was at Ostagar. I want to leave here as soon as we can."

"We will," Alistair brought the short woman into his embrace, and then lead her towards the Chantry doors.

Leliana, who had watched the whole ordeal unfold, followed close behind in puzzlement. She had never pondered what it meant to be a Grey Warden, but after listening to that crazed man just a few moments ago, she wondered what the road ahead of her was going to be like... Did she truly want to go through with this? She understood the Maker's reasoning, but did she need to follow this couple to death's very doorstep? She just wasn't sure anymore.

The three of them stepped inside, leaving Andaran outside to sulk, and was greeted by stressed priests and worried families. It was a crowded home, bursting at the seams... And all Solana could think about was all the darkspawn on their way here.

A group of Templar men stood in a circle ahead of the crowded room. The main man, clearly the captain, was pinching the bridge of his nose as if the news he had just heard was giving him a headache.

"There is new word of darkspawn stragglers, but no sign of the main horde," came his tired, low voice. "We are the only hope of protection for this village now, and I will not abandon them."

"We understand, Captain," said the Templar to his left, a Ser Wesley. The young man looked ready to fight, and defend. His armored hand dropped down on his commander's shoulder with a clank. "We are with you to the end."

"Thank you, my Templar brothers. That is all I wished to tell you. Maker have mercy on us."

As his charges scattered to help the wounded or helpless, Solana's group approached the Templar captain. His eyes, though tired, shinned with a new interest. Solana had never truly spoken to Templars before coming to this village, and she wasn't sure how to greet them properly. Luckily, she didn't really need to do the talking first.

"Yes, my lady? Who might you be?" The Templar captain asked in a light tone. It was almost as if he already knew the answer wouldn't be a good one; of course, he was used to bad news at this point.

"I am the Grey Warden, Solana. And, before you get too cautious, we are not here to cause trouble." Solana looked down, then back up to meet the man's eyes.

"I see..." The Templar looked unaffected, yet his tone gave a hint of surprise. Even he wasn't expecting Grey Warden's to walk in, let alone announce their presence. "I am Ser Bryant, commander of the Lothering Templars. Teryn Loghain declared all the Grey Wardens traitors," his dark eyebrows furrowed together. "He said you all are responsible for the king's death. You know this, I hope?"

Solana looked down, "I've heard the rumors."

Ser Bryant looked one way and then the other, "I don't believe the Grey Wardens would be as careless or malicious as the teryn claims, but either way, there it is. It is best you not linger, though. Just... In case."