See, I don't know if you get notifications for an updated chapter if one is replaced but oh well.
I know the story didn't get far at all, but this chapter is a replacement for the old first chapter. I'm restarting, and the old intro was so bland. I tried with this one all night, excuse me if there are any errors as I was sleep deprived when typing this and I will fix the problems when I finally get some sleep.
This is gonna be a long story.
"Bull! Flank him! Flank him!" Sera screeched across the battlefield, bangs damp with sweat and clinging to her forehead; sweat burned as it dripped into her eyes.
Iron Bull charged from behind, swinging his broadsword out and cleanly slicing through a bandits legs. Blood spurted across the wet rocks, the bandit screaming and writhing on the ground. He grasped at the rocks, trying to drag himself away, but heavy hooves stomped through his helmet, flattening his head.
The Hart snorted and shook its head, antlers rattling as it did so; arrows flew and missed, splintering against an unseen force around the majestic animal. Its ears flicked backwards and it hauled its heavy body around, charging through mud and bodies to reach the feet of a giant. It swung its heavy axe down, the ground trembling as it left a crater behind; the Hart sprung off of the ground, flying over the heads of bandits. It snorted as it hit the ground, still huffing it across the beach where the battle took place.
"We're gonna drown before we win!" Sera snarled, pulling the dagger from her boot and shoving it through the eye of a charging low-life.
Bull growled in agreement, his muscles sore and the fur of his armor matted with blood and bits, even in this torrential down pour. He cleaved a man in two and took the moment to rest, covering his eyes with his hand as he tried to search through the mess. Bandits charged at the giant, being swept away, Draugr had come out of the woodwork and were slowly mingling into the chaos. The rain made the battlefield a hazard to all sides, save for the Draugr that thrived in this despair.
They needed help, and where the fuck was it?
Bull turned to Sera, watching her hastily throwing together arrows, her eyes darting around, watching to see when they would be noticed again, and there sweet breather would be halted.
"We fight until we can't," Bull shouted, heaving his sword from the ground.
Sera groaned, shoving her arrows into her quiver and joining the massive idiot in another round. She looked over the heads once more, her heart stuttering when she saw the antlers plowing through the scene.
Solas thrust his hand out in front of him, fire bursting in an arch in front of him and melting armor to skin; the screams, how they echoed into the gray sky. His enemies screaming and fell to the rocks, one horse cried and thrashed its head as it ran through the crowd, its saddle on fire.
Solas looked up into the sky, his shield a green shelter around him; not even the rain could touch him for the moment. He could see Iron Bull and Sera from where he was, Sera climbing up the back of the giant. Her bow was thrown into the trees as she clung to the fur, an excited gleam in her eye as she used twin daggers to anchor herself. Iron Bull swung in massive circles, easily cutting enemies in half.
Solas looked around him, smiling when he saw the trusty steed coming towards him. Solas gripped his staff and dispersed the shield; rain hit him like a heavy blanket, the bandits ,realizing he was vulnerable to physical harm again, came charging. Solas smirked at them, waving his arm up and over, his free hand grasping onto one of the Harts antlers and he swung himself onto it's back in an easy motion. Crouched on it's back, Solas treated soft wounds the Hart had received - her spell was wearing off.
But there was nothing Solas could do about that, and he leapt down before they passed Sera and Iron Bull. He cast a shield and Bull retreated, breathing heavy and leaning onto his sword.
"We're getting massacred." It was a labored sentence.
Solas frowned and rose frozen Crystal's into the throng of enemies, watching bandits go flying through the air. "I have never seen such a gathering, without a camp near by."
Iron Bull groaned and fell back onto the ground. "I can't go anymore." He panted and closed his eyes. "I . . .I can . . ."
Solas sighed as Iron Bull passed out, not the least bit surprised. What was surprised, however, was that Sera was still able to go with such vigor as she was. They had traveled well through the night to get here, and it had not been a smooth trip, they were all tired when they arrived on the Storm Coast.
Solas had no time to react when the giant got his hand around Sera from her spot on his back. Sera thrashes and stabbed at the giants hand; just a little bit of pressure and she would be gone. Solas sent a spike of ice flying at the giant and it roared, waving Sera around violently as it turned to Solas. He braced himself in front of Bulls unconscious form, pouring as much mana as he could into the shield.
Sera reared her head back and bit into the giants hand, tearing out a chunk of flesh that the giant ignored.
"Elgara Din'an!"
A ball of intense flames struck the side of the giants face, causing it to let out a fierce roar and stumble back, dropping Sera into the mass of bandits; he could hear her screaming, until she went silent beyond sight.
Solas felt the wind rush around him as the Hart went barrelling past him, towards Sera, as the flame spewing elf stood on it's back. She held the antlers with a sure grip in one hand, the other wielding her staff and sending flames across the battlefield. A giddy laugh came from her lips, maniacal almost, as sue roasted the clueless bandits.
Solas turned his attention to Bull for the moment, pulling potions from his satchel and lifting Bulls head onto his lap. "Come now, Iron Bull, she is here. Please, you must take this now that we have a moment."
Bull groaned, his eye rolling around in its socket. Things weren't looking good, Bull had more injuries than Solas first realized; he thought the blood was mostly his enemies considering how brutal his fighting style was.
Solas was shocked back into awareness, eyes wheeling up in horror as the giants heavy fists came down on the shield again. It roared into the sky, arms ready to reel back and strike again. Solas thrust his hand out, fortifying the shield, but it would only take a free hits.
"Na din'an sahlin!"
She launched herself off of the back of her Hart, needing no knives to get a hold onto the giant. She climbed her way to the beasts' head, even as it bellows and shook, she refused to let go. She didn't have her staff, just her hands and a grin, which showed all of those pretty, sharp teeth.
"You will die!" She snarled and grasped the sides of the giants head, her fingertips digging into skin.
The giant wailed as little stripes of red, glowing power arched across its skull like lighting in the sky. Its eye swirled around and around, it's big, meaty paws trying to grab her. But she waved a hand at them, flames dancing from her fingertips and his fur caught fire.
It really began to panic then, garbled language lost in cries of fear. It trampled bandits as it panicked, arms swinging and feet leaving indents in the earth.
Solas watched her spring from bacit's back, a graceful backflip through the air, an arch that ended with her landing gracefully on her toes. She watched with unbridled glee as the giant wailed and burned, clearly in agony, the red magic slowly taking over his body.
Her hair was wet, sticking to her bare shoulders, even with the fierce wind coming from the open ocean. Her breastplate was chipped and scratched, the sleeves that were once white, now a dull red from blood; the fabric was burnt at the edges from her own recklessness. Her fists were clenched at her sides and she smirked, a soft sigh coming through her lips as the giant crashed to the ground and the land was silent again.
The Hart snickered as it approached her from behind, nipping softly at her shoulder. Her smile softened and she reached up to pet her beloved companions cheek. She looked over to Solas, rain making her look to worn out; she turned away when he nodded at her, calling for Sera as Solas let down his barrier.
He heaved a heavy sigh as he sunk down to a flat boulder, his hands shaking as he held his head in them. He was so tired. . .he hadn't been so exhausted in years. He looked up at the sky, letting the rain clean blood from his cheek, cool his flared temper.
After a moment had passed, he heard her clumsy steps coming towards him; her staff clattering against the stone like claws. He opened his eyes as her shadow fell over him, her face blank and measured.
"Malary, Iron Bull needs medical attention immediately," Solas stood, dwarfing his Inquisitor by a foot and a half.
She nodded. "Yes, and so does Sera." She gestured to where Sers was, the other elf wincing as she tried to find a comfortable way to lay her leg. "She at least fractured her left ankle, can you tend to her while I handle Iron Bull?"
Solas nodded and Malary swiftly spun around, hurrying to Bulls side and whispering ancient enchantments as she ran her hands over his left arm; her hands began to glow a soft blue light.
Solas crouched down beside Sera, eyes darting around her face as he rolled her pants leg up. The look they shared lingered, his eyes a sea of worry, and Seras full of terror for something she didn't want to be knowing. Solas was right, she knew she had the instincts of the old Elvhen, she got those feelings, the blaring of instincts telling her to run.
They both looked over at Malary, catching her watching them just as intensely.
"Yes, Inquisitor," Solas murmured as he returned his attention to Sera's leg.
"Just seemed like something was on both of your minds," Malary said calmly.
Solas didn't miss a beat. "Do you not hear the ocean?"
Malary cocked her head, seemingly confused by what he meant, but Solas knew it would draw her attention even if he had not said anything.
What sounded like angry ocean waves, grew louder by the second, until the heavy body of a dragon flew overhead, Malary transfixed as it roared, as lightning crackled up its throat and across its tongue. Its wings brought in winds that knocked Solas back a few steps, but Malary was sturdy, her head snapping to follow its path over the mountains.
It was like she wanted to fly beside it.
Sera chortled in amusement at the dragon, babbling about its power while Malary watched the skies. Solas watched her instead of the dragon, the way she clenched her fists at the sky, the way she lifted onto her tip toes, her lips moving with old language.
Solas knew, Solas understood. . .
Their Inquisitor was no mere elf.