The Sun Will Come Out...
Posted on 22 Jan 2022 @ 1:48am by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Katya Charbonnet (Shar-bon-ay)
2,046 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Once Upon a Codex
Location: Jader
Timeline: Timeline: 9:30 Dragon, mid-Blight in Ferelden (about 3.5 years in the past)
Jader, 9:30 Dragon:
In the town of Jader, it started with Orlesian Gray Wardens claiming to hear the Arch Demon's song and attempting to cross the overland border on the Imperial Highway into Ferelden. They were turned back by Ferelden soldiers on the standing orders of Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir, advisor to King Cailan.
Rumors circulated. A darkspawn force had defeated Cailan's army, the King of Ferelden was dead, Loghain had claimed the throne, and a civil war was brewing. Loghain denied the existence of a new Blight, and the border remained closed to help of any kind from Orlais.
Displaced merchants, farmers, and laborers from southwestern Ferelden began to arrive at the border, a handful at a time, begging to be allowed entry, most with family or other connections in Orlais. More refugees crossed over, and as the closest Orlesian city to the border, most of them funneled through Jader. Those that arrive healthy with marketable skills and business contacts dispersed via ships. Those who were not so lucky, the destitute, the sick, the old and young, went to the workhouse. The influx of refugees became a steady stream, and soon the workhouse was full to overflowing and surrounded by tents.
Meanwhile, Gray Wardens gathered in Jader, ready to defend the rest of Thedas from the darkspawn horde as soon as the border opened. Veteran Gray Wardens stood guard at the border, identifying anyone infected with the darkspawn taint and killing them on the spot to prevent the spread. Even so, with Jader's resources stretched thin, and so many extra people crammed into Jader, disease was rampant, food stores low, and the tolerance of Jader citizens for outsiders was thin indeed.
Kalian carried the elderly healer's heavy bag and matched his pace to her frustratingly slow gate. Maleta insisted on walking with no other assistance than her staff, waving off his offer of a hand or arm to steady her. He didn't mind. That ordinary wood cane of hers attracted the suspicious attention of the Chantry sisters and especially the templars standing guard outside the workhouse, and kept their scrutiny away from him.
As they walked along the waterfront from Maleta's home, Kalian took deep breaths of the breeze flowing in from the bay, appreciating the fresh air that would last until they reached the refugee camp, or until the wind shifted. The two of them crossed over the walking bridge and walked past the alienage to the workhouse, now surrounded by a tent camp. A horse-drawn wagon approached the workhouse just ahead them, full of more refugees.
A tall blonde woman in armor was shouting directions. "Please, any orphans or children separated from their parents, get them on the wagon and we will take them to the orphanage where Miss Caroline can take care of them. They will be fed and given a place to sleep. She approached the wagon headed to the workhouse. "You, in the wagon. Any children without parents? If so, let me take them to the orphanage. They will be taken good care of there?" Katya said. She arranged to get the few children they had off their wagon and on to the wagon containing other children. "Easy little ones. We are going to take good care of you. My name is Katya and I'm taking you to the lady who raised me, Miss Caroline. She is very nice and will help you."
The man in the wagon's driver seat regarded Katya with grim impassivity. He knew the human orphans would be turned over to Miss Caroline's orphanage, but his responsibility was simply to see that the people loaded onto the wagon at the border were delivered to the workhouse. He stopped the wagon at the workhouse, then got down and began helping his passengers out. Many of them were exhausted and weak.
Unfortunately her words didn't do much. Most of them had lost their parents to the darkspawn or other factors. A few might have been separated from their parents but a very few. Most were in shock. It was the harsh reality and she would do what she could. Miss Caroline would be a big help but she would need Katya's help with all the new kids and she knew many of the current kids could help as well. They were good kids caught in a bad situation. Their lives turned upside down because of this blight.
She looked over at Kalian, "You, if you are not doing anything, these kids can use all the help they can get! I need to get them to the orphanage so Miss Caroline can take care of them."
Kalian stared open-mouthed at the pretty blonde warrior, longer that strictly necessary for her words to sink in. "I'm assisting Maleta, the healer," he said, gesturing to the old woman. He began helping people out of the wagon. Most of them looked awful. Sure enough, there were three children huddled together in a corner, two humans and an elf, who sniffled and clung to one another, reluctant to leave the wagon.
"Easy you three. You will be safe." She said to the children. She looked over Kalian, "If you really think she needs help then fine. Healers are one of the many things needed right now. However I need all the help I can get with the kids. They are scared, terrified even."
"Those kids," said a young woman who swayed on her feet with exhaustion. "They were traveling with an old man. He was sick, we could all see it. Sores on his skin, gray hair falling out in clumps. But he made sure these three made it to the border. Then a Gray Warden killed him, said he had the taint. Warden said the kids were clean, though."
"Thank the maker. Poor man. I can only hope his soul is in a better place now. Easy now dear lady. Rest and get some food. I will take care of the kids. Miss Caroline will welcome them into the orphanage and take good care of them. I promise you that! No one could take better care of them!" Katya said.
Kalian wanted to help with the children, but he was reluctant to leave his current responsibility. Maleta gripped Kalian's arm that held her bag. "None of these people is wounded or injured, my boy. What they need is food and rest. I'll look in on my other patients at the workhouse, while you help that pretty young woman with the children." She took her heavy bag from Kalian.
Two Chantry sisters emerged from the workhouse to greet the newcomers. "Thank you, Maleta," said Kalian. The old woman was skilled with herbs and potions, and helping her with her patients afforded Kalian the opportunity to use healing magic without getting caught.
The newly arrived refugees were led inside the workhouse by the Chantry sisters, one who took Meleta's bag, but the three children were still huddled in the wagon. The wagon driver was beginning to look impatient.
"I'm Kalian. Did you say your name is Katya? Good to meet you, serah." He gave her his best, charming smile, then climbed into the wagon. Using a gentle, calming voice, he spoke to the children. "Hello there, my name is Kalian, and Katya and I are here to help. We want to take you to a warm safe place, where you can rest and eat a good meal."
"Thank you Kalian! These poor kids need a lot of love and comforting! We can help and Miss Caroline will help and the other kids already at the orphanage can help! So many orphans! I feel for them. I grew up in the orphanage. Miss Caroline was my mother and father! They will be in good hands."
Kalian had expected Katya to climb into the wagon with him and help reassure the three frightened children. He turned to look at her, eyes narrowed. Katya stood there, repeating for the fourth time the same message – that she was taking the kids to Miss Caroline at the orphanage where they would get help. Her loud declarations about why she was here and what would happen to the children in her care were starting to sound suspicious to his ears. Very suspicious.
"Katya, why don't you tell the children what the orphanage was serving for supper yesterday, and what is being served today?" said Kalian soothingly, for the kid's sakes.
"Oh yeah! Guess I have been repeating myself here. Ok kids. Let's get going and on the way I will tell you about dinner last night and what Miss Caroline has planned for tonight's dinner." She climbed aboard the wagon. "C'mon Kalian. let's get going."
The youngest of the three children, a girl no older than five with two long, dark braids, smiled at Katya, and in a very small voice said, "I'm so very hungry." She moved toward Katya, and held out her arms. The oldest child, a boy with similar features who appeared to be about ten, nodded emphatically and followed his sister.
Katya held out her arms and embraced the two. "I know! You both most be so very hungry! Soon, I promise! Miss Caroline is waiting and has a big dinner waiting for all of you! That and warm beds! What's your names kids?"
"She's Lydia, and I'm Edmund," said the boy.
Lydia wrapped her arms around Katya's neck, and held on tight. "Will Poppi find us there, when he's well?"
"Who's Poppi?" asked Kalian. Maybe these children did have a parental guardian.
"Our grandfather," said Edmund. "We were on the road forever, he made us keep going, even though he was sick. Then, the soldiers… the Gray Warden said Poppi had the darkspawn taint." Tears ran down the boy's face, but he wiped them away. "I made sure Lydia didn't watch."
"You're a good brother Edmund! Lydia, Poppi is with the maker now. Edmund will take care of you and so will Miss Caroline. I will come by when I can and check on you too! Edmund, never be ashamed of crying. Sometimes you just have to let it out!" Katya said.
Watching Katya with the two human children, witnessing her compassion, reassured Kalian that Katya was who she said she was.
The last child, an elven girl of about eight summers with short pale hair shrank into a corner of the wagon and hissed, "It could be a trick. Separating us from the others."
"Da'len," said Kalian gently, something his mother had called him. "My name is Kalian, and I promise, I won't let anything bad happen to you. I'll go with you to Miss Caroline's orphanage. If you don't like it there, I can take you to Hahren Liriel, in the alienage, and she will arrange for an elven family to help you. What's your name?"
The elf girl stared at Kalian for a long moment before seeming to come to a decision. She answered, "Briava." Then she got out of the wagon and though she waved off his help, she walked alongside Kalian to Katya's wagon and climbed in.
Kalian got in the back of the wagon with the children, curious to see Miss Caroline's orphanage for himself.
After he was aboard she got the wagon moving. "Well last night Miss Caroline served her beef stew! Oh that was always one of my favorites when In liver there. She puts all sorts of vegetables in it and puts here special spice. It tastes so wonderful! Now tonight she has a pork roast cooking with mashed potatoes and some vegetables. Her pork roast is always good to eat! it tastes so good! I think it's the onions she cooks it with! Trust me kids you will love it!"
The kids were all still in shock. More than likely their parents were dead. A few might have been separated, but for the most part these kids have had their lives changed in a very terrible way. There was nothing she could do to change that but at least Miss Caroline would take care of them but still, after going through what these kids have gone through, it would not be something they would ever forget.
-----
RSS Feed