I was running as fast I could across the bridge from the camp at Ostagar to the tower, Victor, my Mabari war dog ahead of me and an annoyingly handsome Grey Warden named Alistair ahead of him. I was dodging flying debris left and right when suddenly an explosion knocked me off me feet. Before I could even register the hard fall, I saw Alistair's face above me, hand reaching out to help me up. I took it quickly, ignoring the throbbing of my ass and elbow, the places hit hardest in the fall.
"Careful, Drovana, the last thing I need is you falling off the bridge before we can even reach the tower," He winked, "Come on, it's just up here," He continued, his deep voice barely audible over the sounds of battle around us. We took off again, running even faster. By the time we reached the end of the bridge and our destination came into view it became plainly obvious that the tower was overrun. A mage came sprinting down toward us yelling, "The tower is taken! They came up through the tunnels!" Alistair, Victor, and I halted in front of the mage and I used the opportunity to catch my breath.
"We have to light that beacon." Alistair insisted to the mage and then we were off again. The wind was whipping my chestnut hair around my face and before we knew it we were running into a group of Darkspawn. My instincts kicked in. I began slashing my swords into them like butter. I was kicking and slashing because my life depended on it. My life. Maker, what was my life now? My parent's were dead, and for all I knew so was my brother, Fergus. My home had been taken and I was a Grey Warden. Me! A Grey Warden! This is not how I expected my life to turn out. I could hardly believe that I was far from home, killing Darkspawn with my dog and a man I barely knew, but was supposed to trust with my life. The only option I had at this point was to keep killing, to keep slashing away Darkspawn until we reached that beacon. Duncan had given us this task for a reason and we had to succeed.
The four of us, Victor, Alistair, the mage, and I fought our way to the steps, a path of dead bodies behind us. When we reached the door, Alistair looked at me seriously, "Be on your guard."
I nodded and took a deep breath just as he opened the door. There were barriers in the main hall and I suddenly had a flash back of running through my own home, fighting for my life, for my family's lives. I began walking trying to shake the terrible feelings that were boiling inside me. Before I got too far though, I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist and pull me back with a great force. I let out a startled yelp and before I could say anything I heard Alistair say in my ear, "There's a trap." I tried to ignore the feel of his breath on my neck and the way he held me close against him. This was not the time or place for such thoughts. The fact that I missed a trap goes to show that if I don't stay focused, I will die here tonight. I pulled out of Alistair's grasp and disabled the trap. But just then about six Darkspawn appeared behind the barriers. I heard the mage's bursts of power echo in the hall as he began shooting at them. Alistair and Victor bolted past me, ready to kill. I followed, my dual swords swinging and stabbing toward the next door. I noticed a rather nasty creature appear behind the mage, crossbow pointed at him. Before he could shoot, I reached in my boot and pulled out my dagger, throwing it with all the force I could right into the creature's head. The mage looked at me, wide eyed for a moment and then nodded in thanks. We continued on.
Each floor of the tower was just like the last, full of scabby, oozing creatures. I had heard tales of the Darkspawn but never had I ever thought I would see them up close. I would never have believed anyone who were to tell me that someday I would be killing them myself. I was a Lady of Highever. And while I have always longed to go to battle, to prove my skill and strength, I never thought that my chance to do so would be like this, under these circumstances. I didn't even know what my life was anymore. Who was I without a title? Without the luxuries of home? Who was I?
"Drovana!" Alistair shouted, looking behind me. I turned swiftly, coming face to face with a tall demon creature who was attempting to thrust a sword into me. But I shifted quickly and I felt the blade brush my bicep. It stung instantly but I used my other arm to swing low across the belly of the Darkspawn. It fell to the ground and before it could get up again, I thrust my sword into it's head. I turned and ran toward the door with the rest of my group.
"Are you okay?" Alistair asked, reaching for my arm but I pulled away.
"It's just a scratch," I lied.
"Let me help with that." The mage said, pointing his staff in the air. I suddenly felt a strange itch on the wound and it took everything I had in me not to touch it. But then suddenly the pain was gone.
"Better?" The mage asked and I nodded, giving him a quick thank you.
"The beacon is beyond this door," Alistair said, his tone hinting at the dangers we could find on the other side. Victor let out a loud, aggressive howl, obviously sensing something we couldn't yet see. The sound made both Alistair and I exchange nervous glances. But rather than address it, we all nodded at each other and continued forward through the tall, heavy doors.
I wouldn't say that I was a sheltered woman. I read stories, listened to the tales the guards told while they rested in the courtyard of my home in between their shifts. Both of my parent's made sure I was well trained in combat. I grew up sparring with my brother Fergus or off duty guards in between my academic lessons and after dinner when the sun was still out. I knew things. And I was talented. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for what I was looking at in the top floor of this tower. It was a creature so large, I wondered how it even fit through the door to get up here. It was hunched over, back facing us and by the sounds of it, it chewing on something. It only took me a second to realize the sound was it's teeth grinding against bones. The bones of the guards were sent here to protect this tower. The creature turned around and I recognized it immediately from the bestiary my father kept in his study. When we were little, Fergus and I would lay on the floor of his room, flipping through it while making up stories about each creature. I remember this one in particular because Fergus used to joke that I looked like an ogre. Never did I think that I would get to see up close in personal that I did not, in fact, at all resemble an ogre. The beast growled loudly, shaking me back to reality and we all charged at it.
"Light the beacon!" The mage shouted, "We will hold it off!" And so I ran toward the large fireplace. Before I could reach it though, I was swapped to the side, hitting a pillar hard. I heard something inside me crack and the splitting pain in my side was instant. But I pressed on, turning toward the ogre, slashing at it's thighs, hoping to bring it down to the ground. Victor was biting at the creature's ankles and I caught Alistair in the corner of my eye, lunging forward, thrusting his sword wildly trying to pierce the ogre's hide deep enough to do serious damage. But it was clear we were doing little to it. The mage was trying too hard to keep us healed to add to the damage.
"Piss it." I said I under my breath, inhaling deeply and leaping onto the huge ogre. I could hear Alistair protesting, "What are you doing!?" And I could hear Victor's worried barks. But I knew this was the only way. I climbed up further on to the creature, stabbing as I went. It was too busy trying fend off my companions to try and get at me as well. I found myself straddling the ogre's shoulders and with one swift thrust, my dagger was lodged in it's head and I used my sword to cut into it's back. The ogre let out a terrible howl and began to teeter. I leapt down just as it fell to the floor with a hard thud. I didn't even hesitate or celebrate the small victory. I went straight for the beacon and lit it. I turned around and Alistair was giving me a relieved and exhausted smile, he bent over, hands on his knees trying to catch his breath but then suddenly, we were swarmed. Alistair shot up, his sword swinging and I suddenly felt a terrible and sharp pain in the my shoulder. I fell to the ground and I could feel tears in my eyes. And then everything went blank.