The Tevinter Imperium built long ago to prevent the Wilders from invading the Northlands. It's fitting that we make are stand here, even if we face a different foe within that forest.
The sun was rising on the ruins just as five travellers started to make their way across the bridge. A Mabari Warhound named Digby took the lead, his tongue lolling as he panted in the heat and excitement. His nose led him to a small crack in the bridge wherein he found a pair of soiled pantaloons wedged in. On look from his owner told him to put it back where he found it. The owner of the Mabari was a stern looking young woman in full plate armour. Her armour bore the crest of the Cousland family, who ruled the Arldom of Highever. Rhiannon Cousland was the youngest child of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, the 'Pup'. Her blue eyes peered across to the soldiers milling in and out of the ruins, praying for one of them to be her brother Fergus. She had news for him. Terrible news.
Following behind her were two elves. One was garbed in the dark leathers of a ranger, her hair almost the same shade of black. Tied tightly in a bun, it made her seem sterner and older than she was. Her eyes were dark and piercing yet nearly as gaunt as a corpse. She leaned wearily upon her fellow elf, whose manner of dress stood in stark contrast. Though she wore leathers, they were coloured white, with white fabrics that swished in the wind that could also conceal her movements. She had a hood pulled over her head that concealed her blondish hair. From a distance she could have been mistaken for a bride…
Lastly, a man of advanced years with a greying beard and a receding hairline followed behind them. He was dressed in full armour of an older design. His eyes were down and he appeared deep in thought. He couldn't decide whether to tell the King of what had happened at Highever; perhaps after the conflict, like the news of the Arl of Denerim's son.
As they grew closer to the ruins the elf in white, Atarah Tabris, lowered her hood grey eyes looking over the place. Ahead she saw a man in golden armour accompanied by a couple of men in grey armour. The man carried himself with the same confidence and poise she saw in Rhiannon, so clearly a man of high standing. When the man spotted their group he walked up to meet them an enthusiastic smile on his face.
"Ho there Duncan!" The man greeted cheerfully "I was beginning to think you were going to miss out on all the fun"
"Greetings King Cailen I apologise for the delay" Duncan said in a respectful manner bowing his head
"No need for apologises. I take it these are the other new recruits you found?" the man asked gesturing the group.
"Others?" Atarah asked, she didn't recall Duncan mentioning any other recruits. Though perhaps she had been too preoccupied with making sure Mahalath was coping fine, the taint had started affecting her the past few days.
"Yes before meeting you three I encountered two dwarves Sigurd Brosca and Brynja Aeducan of Orzammar along with Cadfael Amell and Dinah Surana, mages from the circle." Duncan informed them "My king allow me to introduce you"
"There's no need for formalities here, we'll be shedding blood together soon" Cailen said cheerfully, he turned towards Rhiannon "I recognise you; you aren't by chance Teryn Bryce's daughter?"
"I am, my lord" she said running a hand nervously through her short hair
"We've been waiting for your father and his men to arrive, do you know what the cause of the delay is?" silence fell over the group contemplating who would be the one to break the news.
"My family was betrayed by Rendon Howe, I was the only member of the house who escaped and that was only thanks to the aid of Duncan and Atarah." Rhiannon informed the king sullenly, must be hard knowing you had no family to go back to, Atarah thought at least she knew her father remained in the alienage.
"That is indeed horrible news, I had no idea Rendon Howe was capable of such a thing" the king said looking completely appalled "I promise you Howe will not get away with this, once this battle is done I will make sure he is brought to justice. I assume you would want to see your brother, but I'm afraid that won't be possible Fergus was sent out on a scouting mission yesterday and we have no way of contacting him until his return" Rhiannon briefly looked like she was going to say something but decided against it, Cailen turned his attention to Atarah and her elven companion looking at them curiously. "And what may your names be friends?"
"I'm no friend of yours human lord" the elf in black spat out sharply turning her back to the king, whose cheerful façade faded momentarily to Atarah's amusement.
"I am Atarah Tabris of the Denerim alienage, and this is Mahalath Mahariel of the Dalish" she told the king in a tightened tone.
"Oh? I stayed in Denerim for a time but my guards forbade me to go to the alienage, what is it like?"
"I was nearly arrested for killing an Arl's son who kidnapped me and a number of elves and raped one of my friends" Atarah felt no compulsion to gloss over what happened.
"WH-what?!" the king sputtered
"I wouldn't have put it so bluntly my lord, but there are some things happening in the alienage that you should be made aware of" Duncan added in
"Of course, I promise I will do whatever I can to help the elves situation" he paused noticing both Atarah and Mahalath's sceptical looks. "Yes I understand that only with action can I gain your trust" one of the men with king Cailen stepped towards him and muttered something in his ear. "Ah I'm sorry to cut this very enlightening discussion I'm afraid I need to go talk strategies with Loghain. Though honestly I don't see the need, we've defeated three waves of darkspawn already I'm not even sure this is a really blight" Cailen said with a laugh
"You seem very confident" Rhiannon commented, her Mabari barking in agreement.
"Don't I have reason to be?" Cailen asked rhetorically "Well, I will see you before the battle" and with that he and his entourage turned and marched towards the camp.
"I feel this shemlen lord should be taking this more seriously than he is" Mahalath said monotonously tired eyes following the king.
"I agree though there is little we can do to make him believe this is a true Blight. Let us move on, please feel free to wander the camp to get your bearings. If you wish to find the other recruits Brynja and are usually in the training area and Cadfael and Dinah would most likely be near the rest of the mages. When you're ready you should find Alistair and he'll prepare you all for the joining, though until then I should request that Rhiannon your Mabari should stay with me. I will see you all later" Duncan gave a small nod as he two made his way towards the camp, Digby treading behind and his master's reassurance.
The three walked silently talking in their surroundings, the enormity of it all finally setting on Atarah who had taken the lead. Looking around Atarah saw soldiers some training some praying some resting, mages who seemed to be in a trance of sorts as well as one or two blacksmiths building weapons and armour. Near one of the groups of training soldiers Atarah spotted two dwarfs, a male and female, sparing. She hadn't seen any other dwarfs in the area and assumed these were Brynja and Sigurd. Sigurd had thick black shaggy hair and beard and well-toned arms, his armour had a battered down bronzed look which lacked grieves or arm guard he also wielded a double edged battle axe that was the same size as he was. The woman Brynja had long blazing red hair which matched her red armour; she was using a great sword. Though that was all Atarah could pick up from this distance, but she could make out laughter and light hearted taunts between the pair.
"If you could stop watching those dwarfs, may I make a request?" Rhiannon asked snapping Atarah out of her daze, "If we can, can we go into the woods to see if we can find any trace of my brother? You'd be able to do that couldn't you?" the second question was directed towards Mahalath. Who looked like she was fighting off bad memories, from what Atarah had gathered from their time at the Dalish camp Mahalath had lost a friend and failed to find him, the fact she could empathise with Rhiannon about losing someone was one of the few reasons Mahalath was more tolerable of Rhiannon then she was with other humans they had encountered.
"I could. But do we have time for such things? From what you have said your brother sounds like he could fend for himself." Rhiannon looked to the ground clearly upset about the whole situation. "A compromise perhaps? It is likely whatever preparations needed for the joining will lead us into the woods and while we are there we can look for your brother" Atarah felt herself smile at the grin that spread across Rhiannon's face. The sound of clinking metal alerted them to someone approaching, turning they saw the dwarfs.
"We heard you mention the joining, are you also recruits? I'm Brynja, this is Sigurd" from here Atarah could see the evenly proportioned face, the bright clear blue eyes and full red lips, the woman also had an almost sultry aura about her. Dwarf or no she would turn heads.
"Well met" the man said in a gruff but surprisingly social sounding voice, he had deep brown eyes that looked as though they had witnessed many things the dwarf also had the odd scar along his arms but most notably he had a small tattoo on his left cheek.
"Oh yes we are recruits, we arrived this morning. It is good to meet you. Name's Atarah" Atarah greeted them. "This is Rhiannon and Mahalath"
"Ah! Wonderful we've been waiting for you, come let us get our magical companions then we'll see that Alistair boy" Brynja said enthusiastically as she started jogging towards the courtyard where the mages had been in their trance. Getting slightly caught up in her enthusiasm the group ran after her.
They slowed to a near stop as they drew nearer to two mages, a male human facing away from them and elven female, that weren't entranced like the other mages Atarah had seen. The man was tall with strong arms, if not for the fact he was quite obviously teaching the elf a spell Atarah would have thought him a warrior, he had jet black hair cut just below the ear along with a light stubble. He wore simple black leather armour covered with a black leather duster with purple patterning, great sword attached firmly to his back. The elf he was with was a contrast; she was small and slight with short white hair with longer braids down one side. She had a young face, with bright big green eyes and pale skin. She wore a pale blue dress which was cut off at the shoulders and went down mid-thigh, black leggings went down to her ankles and a dark blue cuirass covered her mid-section. She was first to spot Atarah's group and she waved, this caused the human to turn, piercing black eyes that Atarah felt digging into her soul landed on her.
"Cadfael, Dinah these are the recruits we've been waiting on" Brynja told them
"'Bout time a?" Sigurd added. The man, Cadfael simply nodded.
"Shall we go then?" he asked curtly,
"Don't be rude" Dinah exclaimed, elbowing the man. She had by this point picked up a light brown teddy bear, Atarah thought better of asking at that moment. "One of the soldiers said Alistair was in the great hall talking with one of the circle representatives, if we hurry he should still be there" she said almost shyly.
"Let us make haste then" Atarah said, taking lead towards the hall.
So first time i've tried writing fanfiction reviews would be helpful :)
