Since Coan and the others of the scouting band left a deep feeling of unease had taken residence in Vienne's stomach. It plagued her the whole of the day and had driven her to check and recheck the defenses, the state of the men on guard, the provisions and the stock of weapons. Several of those she had spoken to repeatedly had expressed concern at her constant checking, to which she could only give assurances that she did not entirely believe herself and feign joviality. She even went as far as to make a playful joke or two about doubting them solely because they were not Orlesian, but deep down worry and self-doubt still consumed her.
The darkspawn would certainly come to Redcliffe and they would likely have the advantage of numbers, which she was prepared for, but what had surprised her and gave her the greatest cause for concern was the placement of Redcliffe itself. If she were correct about where the enemy would be coming from it would mean they would have the high-ground with little difficulty and the whole of the defenders would be stuck with their backs to the lake. She didn't like the idea of being trapped there, knowing all too well what happened when one combatant forced another into a position they could not move from, it was a tactic in battle she had used many times and was usually frighteningly successful. The idea of a traditional sort of battle also made her uncomfortable, no element of surprise, no control in the choice of terrain, her normal tactics of battle would have to be thrown out the window. It would have been easier to deal with were it only her life she were risking, but the whole village was depending on her and the other wardens to save them. The weight of so many lives seemed to make every step more difficult.
She was beginning to regret leaving Orlais in the first place.
Seeing her so worried likely did nothing to raise the morale of those around her. Perhaps speaking to those she was traveling with my have calmed her nerves, but there was only one other Warden about to speak to and she certainly wasn't about to let herself appear vulnerable to Savio. Speaking with her other companions about her concerns was certainly out of the question as well since she felt they needed to see a Warden like in the old tales, fearless and ever confident. But keeping to herself did her no good either, so after the evening meal she went to the chantry, hoping to hide her fears behind a mask of religious devotion. Along with the relative solitude of the place there was something calming about the priests, one of them coming to pray over her as she knelt at the statue of Andraste.
"Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just." The priest was reciting the Canticle of Benedictions, hand out-stretched over Vienne's head as she followed along in Orlesian. It was truly the most peaceful and calm she had felt all day, it only followed that it should be shattered. A cold feeling suddenly raced up the back of her neck and she was sure that every hair on her body was standing straight up, her head jerked to the side and her eyes snapped open as she forced out a breath. "Sister," in the next moment she was on her feet, interrupting the priest who looked alarmed at her sudden change. "Have the warning bells rung, I want everyone not able to wield a sword in here as quickly as possible."
She didn't wait for a response from the sister, already turning her heels and racing for the door, throwing them open when she reached them. Hopefully the others had not already bedded down for the night, she wasn't willing to be caught unready when their enemies fully showed themselves.