The heat of the burning arrows soaring overhead is not cancelled out by the sharp, falling drops of rain that pierce the little bits of skin that are not protected by Carver's armor. His face is blood red due to the exertion caused by a battle that has been going on for hours. The Grey Wardens should have reached the top of that tower by now. Loghain and his men should already have been signaled!
That is when Caver looks up at the Tower of Ishal, with impatience, only to see that the beacon has already been lit. Where are Loghain and his men? Then Carver realizes the despicable truth. Loghain has abandoned them!
"That bastard left us all to die," Carver shouts angrily to his older brother, Leven.
Leven slices through a Genlock's throat with his axe before turning his head to look at Carver with a glint of confusion in his eyes. Then he looks up at the Tower of Ishal and, he sees that his brother is right. He arches his eyebrows in indignation.
He looks back at Carver who is coming down on a group of Darkspawn with his greatsword, and he yells his response. "Unblievable,"
Leven's face burns hot with anger.
"You don't say," Carver replies in harsh saracasm as his enemies fall and he turns to face his brother.
Leven decides not to berate Carver for misdirecting his anger because he can understand how difficult it is for him not to under such atrocious circumstances. Besides, they don't have time to argue.
"We need to go," he says softly. He does not want anyone to overhear him voicing his plans of desertion.
Carver nods in agreement as he gestures towards the trees, leading into the wilds, with his head.
Leven enters the trees first with Carver close behind him but then Carver stops to look back at the gruesome scene once more.
"Come on," Leven calls to his brother, but Carver doesn't seem to hear him.
The dreadful cries of dying soldiers block out the sound of Leven's calls, the sickening scent of drying blood from soldiers and Darkspawn alike fills the air along with the thick smell of smoke that makes it strenuous to breath, and the sight of all of Carver's comrades who are wounded, dead, or dying is almost too much to bare.
Carver is reminded of the task at hand when Leven places a hand on his shoulder.
"We have to go, now!" he demands as he grabs Carver's arm and tries to drag him off into the wilds.
"No, Leven, stop. I can't leave them!" Carver protests desperately as he forcibly snatches his arm away.
"You have too," Leven responds with concern and frustration.
"No, I don't. I won't," Carver replies sternly.
Leven looks disapprovingly at his brother, but there is a hint of concern evident in his eyes. He doesn't know what to say. Carver knows Leven is terrfied for his little brother. Carver wants Leven to get to safety just as badly as Leven wants to keep Carver safe.
"Go without me. You need to warn Bethany and mother," Carver says.
"I can't leave you. You know that," Leven shouts furiously.
Carver knew Leven wouldn't listen but he still had to try. It looks like this will take some convincing.
"You can stay here with me, your brother who has years of combat training, or you can warn Bethany and mother and get them to safety!" he argues.
Leven still doesn't know what to say but he doesn't budge.
"It may not seem like I have a chance here, but I might survive. That's more than we can say for Bethany and mother if someone doesn't go warn them and take them somewhere safe," he says lowering his voice. Yelling at Leven doesn't seem to be getting him anywhere.
Then Carver takes a moment to look back in the direction of the battle. The king has just been lifted off the ground by a giant ogre but before Carver has time to react the ogre snaps the king's spine in half and tosses him aside.
Carver cringes as an aching sense of failure washes over him. It is the same sense of failure that Leven feels after what he says next.
"Okay," by agreeing to Carver's plan, Leven feels he has failed in his responsibility as a brother but what else could he do? Carver is determined to get his way in this and Leven knows he can't save all three members of his family, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't try to save two.
"Goodbye," Leven whispers with a sense of grief. He could barely get the word out. In his mind, Carver is already dead. No one could survive this battle.