Lavellen's Tale

Ostagar

Dawn came too soon, and with it, Cullen snuck back to the barracks, a swift and tender goodbye to be our last interaction for maker knows how long. Gathering the last of what I needed and dressed for travel, I made my way to the entry hall of the tower. Wynne and my father were already there and I bid them good morning. 

"Senior Enchanter Wynne, Enchanter Inari, are you all set for your travels?" the gravely voice of Knight-Commander Gregior filled the room as did his commanding presence. Following him was Captain Beauregard, whom I assumed would be our Templar escort. 

"Indeed we are," Wynne replied, "Aren't we dear?" she turned to me as she asked this. 

"Yes, all ready!" I hurriedly replied. Nerves crept up on me, as exciting as leaving was, it was also terrifying. 

"I trust the two of you will represent the circle well to the King's men and the Grey Wardens alike," my father spoke with authority, "and do be careful ladies, I'd like to see the two of you again." And with a wry smile, he and the Knight-Commander saw us to the boat where Kester the ferryman was waiting. 

"Hello little one," Kester smiled, "Are they finally letting the princess out of her tower?" he asked jokingly as we pushed away from the tower's boat cave. 

"I'm hardly a princess Kester, but yes, I'm leaving for a bit." I chuckled.

"No matter what you say, you'll always be the Lake Calenhad Princess to me." the old man laughed. With that we were now out on the main water, deep enough that you couldn't see the bottom, even on the clearest days. The lake had always fascinated me, I would ask Kester all sorts of questions every time he got to the tower. He said to me one afternoon when I was small that I reminded him of a princess from an old folk tale, she lived in her tower, never leaving and learning of the world from her books and things her caretaker would bring her. I didn't believe such a story existed because I had never read it, and so the next time he came to the tower, he brought me that very story. I thought of bringing it with me, but I couldn't bare the thought of losing my precious book, so I left it in my chambers, sure I would return to read it again someday. 

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The journey to Ostagar took approximately a fortnight. If the destination hadn't been so important, I would have liked to stay and explore each new thing I came across, the world was so beautiful, all sorts of plants, everywhere, and so much mud and dirt. Each night when we stopped to camp, Captain Beauregard would let Wynne and I search for herbs and other useful healing implements in the surrounding area. The Captain hadn't been in Fereldan long, hailing originally from Antiva, his accent was so interesting to me, yet I had no opportunity to chat with him before now. He humored my curiosities and the conversation seemed to make the long trek more palatable. 

Finally reaching the army camp, my eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, just hoping to capture all the architecture of the ruins, and the people bustling about. 

"Inari dear, do close your mouth." Wynne remarked, amused. I closed my mouth and sheepishly smiled at her. 

"Sorry Wynne, everything is just so new!" She laughed and directed me to where we would be staying. While she went around greeting the others who had arrived before us, I set our tent up near the other mages. When I finished I set out to look around the camp, with Wynne's permission of course. 

I was walking while looking up at a statue of Andraste when I suddenly bumped right into someone, knocking both of us over.

"Oh maker, I am so sorry!" I shrieked while standing back up and brushing my robes off. The person I had knocked over was a woman with piercing blue eyes and long black hair tied back in a braid. I offered her my hand and she took it, chuckling.