The Rogue Apostate Warden
Chapter 1: On the way to Ostagar Part 1.
Duncan sighed as he settled into his meal of dried meat and cheese. He had hoped to be in Ostagar by now but the occasional group of bandits and wild animals has forced him and his new recruit Theron to camp at a small village called Lothering. Now sitting in Dane's Refuge with Theron, who hadn't uttered a single word to him since they left his Dalish clan back in the Brecillian Forest; he becomes aware that they are being watched. He looked up and across and saw a group of no less than 10 men sitting in the far right hand corner on the upper landing in the tiny tavern; all looking at Theron with disgust as they drink their ales.
"We will spend the night here then leave at first light, with all hopes we will arrive at Ostagar in the afternoon," Duncan murmured more to himself than to Theron, who was glaring into the fire barely touching his food. That itself hadn't gone unnoticed by the men either.
"I think it would be most wise if we finish off our meal and find a place to sleep for the night." Duncan murmured again though this time Theron bowed his head in acknowledgement and started eating his meal, but every now and then he would look at the side of the stairs where there was nothing but darkness.
After they had finished off their meal they set off to a nearby farm close to the imperial highway to sleep.
"I'll take the first watch Theron, try and get some rest you will need your strength tomorrow."
Theron just grumbled, "Len'alas lath'din" as he rolled out his bedroll and went to sleep.
'The night is far too quiet for a village swamped with refugees', Duncan thought as he struggled to see past his own little campfire. It was almost time to wake Theron up, even though he felt tired he knew he wouldn't be going to sleep any time soon. As he started to drift off into his own thoughts he heard the sharp crack of a twig being stepped on. He kicked Theron awake as he drew his longsword and dagger. Theron jerked awake but with years of warrior training among the Dalish he didn't make a sound as he stood up and drew his own Greatsword, he used his sensitive hearing to try to make out there enemy in the darkness.
"I hear about 10 men nearby trying to surround us," Theron whispered as he moved to cover Duncan's back.
Duncan was just about to whisper a strategy to Theron when the giant oak tree they were camping by suddenly caught fire; making Duncan and Theron see that it was the men from the tavern and their friends all armed and lingering in the background. Seeing that their cover was blown the leader yelled out a battle cry and charged. Having no sleep Duncan relied on Theron more than he liked, but with the taint flowing through his veins he was tiring more quickly.
After being on the receiving end of too many superficial wounds Duncan's hope of defeating them was fading; there was simply too many of them to subdue as the men kept on attacking with vigor.
His guard dropped and he fell onto his knees and looked into the eyes of his killer, who was smiling a toothless evil grin. That was until he found the tip of a dagger protruding from his chest. His eyes suddenly rolled back into his head as the dagger was removed and he fell lifelessly to the ground. Then as if a dark cloud of death swept upon them the men were being slayed mercilessly. Those who were left tried to hurry and kill either Duncan or Theron and found themselves either dead or dying or else they dropped their swords and ran off screaming bloody murder. It wasn't until there was only one of the men left on his knees begging for his life in front of a black hooded stranger, whose twin daggers were crisscrossed in front of the man's neck, Duncan breathed out a sigh of relief as he watched on.
"Please Maker have mercy, please I am just a poor man," The man begged, his brown eyes wide and pleading.
"Mercy. Would you have granted mercy on your victims then? Ha I think not," The stranger snarled making the man tremble. "But I will think about letting you go if you answer my question. Why did you attack these two men?"
The man's face hardened and he spat towards Theron.
"We knew that a couple of Grey Wardens were passing through, but when we saw that knife-ear was sittin' in our tavern, drinkin' our ale, turnin' his nose up at our food like he was the king of Ferelden, we were beyond mad. We had grown up on stories you see, 'bout them Grey Wardens being hero's, so we came out here to teach this bloody knife-ear a lesson in respectin' his betters-."
The man's rant was suddenly cut short when the stranger cut off his head, then spat on his body and used his clothes to wipe the blood off the blades.
"I thank you for your timely rescue friend. May I trouble you for some healing poultices?" Duncan asked breathlessly, he could feel his strength fading fast and Theron didn't look any better.
The hooded stranger sheathed their weapons and walked up to them, Duncan tried to get a good look but the hood covered their face.
"Rest Grey Wardens, I will heal and protect you for the night." The stranger said.
Duncan couldn't argue with the stranger. As he slipped off into the fade he saw the blue light of healing magic come out of the stranger's hands.
"Hush now, rest, you are safe now I will not harm you, you have my word." The stranger said as the darkness embraced him.