The wind was biting cold for one who was not accustomed to weather of the Frostback mountains. Luckily for the guards who were stationed outside of Orzammar's gates they were.
They were dwarva, or dwarves in human tongue, they lived outside and inside the mountains. Strong and hardy folk who fought the dreaded darkspawn for generations.
Their king, King Pyral Harrowmont, ruled the throne for nearly ten years now after the massive efforts of the Grey Warden Hadgar Aeducan, whom still lived in the city if he was not away.
The guards looked up alert as they heard the sound of plate armor on frozen rock.
'Human convoy...' the elder of the two said.' They bring supplies and weapons from Denerim.'
'What we need are soldiers...we have more then enough able weapons, not the warriors to use them.' The younger exclaimed.
'I know lad...' the elder sighed.' But you know what the King is like, no non dwarva warriors may enter the city, save with his permission or Lord Aeducan's.'
The elder stepped forward as the carts escorted by human soldiers stopped.
'Ah Ser Gilmore.' The elder smirked as he looked up and clasped the human's hand.' Good to see you again lad, how fare things in Denerim?'
'Same old, same old Harol.' Gilmore replied.' Prince Duncan's birthday seemed to be on most people's mind when I left.'
'Your Prince Duncan or ours?' Harol chuckled and walked with the larger man to the carts. Both princes were named after the same Grey Warden Duncan who was the mentor of Lord Aeducan and the human King Alistair, who were in turn Grey Warden's themselves.
The dwarf inspected the carts and it's supplies.
'These seem in order...' Harol tugged his graying beard.
'As usual.' Gilmore replied.' Also there is a letter for Lord Aeducan from Orlais, can I ask you to pass it along?'
The dwarf blinked.' What kind of stupid question is that, ofcourse I will. I wonder that darkspawn who hit you on the head with that mace didn't scramble your brains to hard.'
'Was that before or after I saved you from that Ogre?'
'Before...I saved your arse from that mob of genlocks while dragging you from that plaza.'
The human turned around to see his friend.
'True, but then who saved you from that Shriek which was about to backstab you when I came to?'
The dwarf waved his hand as if to brush away the question.' That isn't the point.'
'You brought it on yourself there friend.'
'Bah...anyways how long are you staying for?'
'About a week give or take, we'll head back to Redcliffe by then.'
The dwarf nodded before he whistled loudly as a group of dwarven soldiers took the supplies of the carts.
'How fares the fighting?' the human soldier asked.
'Good enough I guess.' Harol shrugged.' Those Golems keep te line and those Legion of the Dead are claiming more and more of the Deep Roads every day, heard the Aeducan Thaig is getting colonized again soon.'
'That is good to hear.'
The human passed the travel stained letter to Harol.
'Wonder who Lord Aeducan knows from Orlais...?' the dwarf asked himself.
Hadgar Aeducan was the second son of Orzammar's former king Endrin Aeducan.
Due to the actions of his brother Bhelen, he was exiled and his elder brother Trian slain.
When the Blight came and Hadgar became a Grey Warden he returned to Orzammar and took his revenge.
He was a dwarf of average height, his fire red beard had begun to gray, fitting his Grey Warden title, and brandished a large amount of battle scars. He was the last of the Aeducan's as his only son, known to him anyway, was taken in by Harrowmont's family.
With a sigh Hadgar laid down another report in the 'done' pile. This was his life now, writing and filling in reports. He yearned to go back outside again, to slay darkspawn, go on adventures, meet new people, anything but waste away in this villa.
He glanced to his sword and battered shield on the mantelpiece. With a wry smile he recalled a battle where he and his friends were in. He could already hear the noises, smell the scents...hear her voice.
Hadgar was barely warmed up as he severed the head of a darkspawn from it's shoulder. Despite the chaos around him he kept his voice calm and controlled.
'Morrigan, Leliana I want you two up that hill, provide covering fire, Sten make sure no darkspawn get near them. Alistair, Cousland, Oghren, Dog with me!'
His orders were followed to the letter. The sorceress and the bard both ran up the hill as they were followed by the Qunari. The other two Grey Wardens, and one drunken dwarf, ran toward the oncoming tide of darkspawn that surged toward them.
'Yaaaargh, keep 'em coming!' Oghren shouted between belches.' We'll show them dusters who's boss!'
'How can he keep his ax up while he's looked so deep in his pint...?' Aedan Cousland asked.
'Mysteries of life I assume...' Alistair shrugged.
Hadgar rushed to the other two Grey Wardens and raised his shield with them. Above them arrows and spells flew toward the tide of evil, felling many, but not enough.
'Brace yerselves!' Hadgar shouted.
The wave hit them hard, but could not pierce their ranks.
'Shield bash!' Hadgar shouted again.
As one the three Grey Wardens stepped back and bashed their shields on their opponents, sending them flying.
They stabbed and hacked them to bits as Ogren leaped over the Warden's and began to wreck havoc whilst singing a drunken dwarva song. The Mobari warhound followed sound and began shredding the darkspawn to pieces
'What is he singing now?' Alistair thrusted his sword deep in a Genlock's neck.
'You don't want ta know lad...' Hadgar replied between skirmishes.
Aedan swiftly dismembered a henlock's arm as he heard something big heading their way. As he looked around the tunnel they fought in, he blinked.
'OGRE!'
Hadgar ran over and indeed saw the massive creature as well.
'Morrigan!' Hadgar began.
'Always with the drama...' she tisked and murmured her spell.
She raised her staff in the air as a rune appeared below the charging creature.
Shortly after she again murmured a other spell as a steam of lightning hit the creature in the chest. Leliana fired arrow after arrow at the creature along with Morrigan's spells, but it only seemed to anger the creature even more as it's roars travelled down the tunnel.
'Jump aside!' Cousland shouted as both he and Hadgar jumped aside the charging creature lest them became squashed.
Alistair finished with the last of the minor darkspawn as he sliced the Ogre's leg.
The ogre growled and smacked the human against the wall.
Sten growled and leaped down the hill while he shouted his war cry.
'ANAAAAAAAAN!'
The Qunari slammed his two handed sword deep in the Ogre's chest.
The three Gray Wardens drove their swords deep behind the ogre's legs making it buckle as Oghren charged in and embedded his ax deep in it's back.
The creature cried out in pain as his movements became more sluggish.
'I'll finish this...' Leliana spoke as she drew one last arrow.' Maker have mercy on your black soul...'
She nocked it on her bow and let it fly between the Ogre's eyes. The creature fell limb as the arrow penetrated halfway through it's skull and remained there on his knees as it's black blood began to pour on the rocky soil.
Hadgar panted as he withdrew his sword and shield.' Call in everyone..'
'Still here.' Alistair bandaged his wounded arm.
'Here.' Aedan said.
'Hm...' Sten grunted.
A loud belch followed by a equally loud fart alerted them of Oghren's survival.
'Here.' Leliana began collecting her arrows.
'Still here as usual.' Morrigan replied in her seductive voice.
'Right.' Hadgar caught his breath.'That's all of-'
'What about Barkspawn?' Aedan asked.' Where are you boy?'
'Oh please, spare me..' Morrigan placed her palm on her forehead.'Do we honestly have to concern ourselves with that mutt?'
'He is not a mutt!' Aedan glared.' He is a pureblood Mabari warhound whose line has been in my family for generations.'
'He keeps dropping dead rabbits in my tent!' the sorceress countered.
'Awwww, I think he just likes you Morrigan.' Alistair threw more oil on the fire.' Poor thing doesn't know all efforts of kindness are lost on you.'
'Does that mean I should start dropping corpses in your tent to get your kindness, Alistair?'
The sarcastic Grey Warden sighed.' You do have a talent for turning a good natured conversation into a grim one, don't you?'
'Tis a gift.' She smirked.
With a sudden bark the hound appeared from a pile of dead darkspawn and ran over to his master.
'Good boy.' Aedan patted the dog.'Good Barkspawn.'
'I still think you should've given him another name.' Leliana placed the last arrow in her quiver.' Aren't there more heroic names you could've used? I know many a hero from tales whose name is appropriate.'
'That is what the darkspawn want you to do.' Cousland said.' You have to think two steps ahead you know.'
'You already named him Barkspawn before you became a Grey Warden.' Hadgar said.' So that theory is sort of flimsy at best.'
'Works for me.' Alistair shrugged.
Hadgar grabbed for his flask on his belt, but found it empty as he tried to have a swag of it. Morrigan walked over and offered hers.
'Thanks love..' he said and had a mouthful.' I'll pay yer back for that.'
'I know you will.' She smirked and kissed him deeply.
'Oh super.' Alistair rolled his eyes as he turned around.' Excuse me while I begin projectile vomiting.'
'What is that Alistair?' Morrigan asked.' We were not listening.'
'Don't mind me, resume fornicating at your leasure.' He countered.
'I suggest we keep moving.' Sten spoke up.' These Darkspawn are probably just the scouts of the Horde.'
Hadgar nodded and slipped his arms away from Morrigan's hips.' Right then, move out everyone.'
The party took what they could off the corpses before they left the area. Morrigan casted one more spell to burn the corpse of the ogre as it could regenerate if it wasn't killed properly.
As the smoke began to fill the tunnel...
They left the Deep Roads shortly after they found a clearing in the open. The party set up camp as the stars began to shine. Hadgar went out in the forest to gather some firewood while the rest began building their tents.
As he gathered the twigs and dead wood, he heard movement around him. His senses didn't say there were darkspawn around, so that only left three options. Good case scenario was that this was a animal frightened of him, worst case were bandits or predators.
As his hand slipped to his sword slowly a large brown..thing charged toward him. It all happened so fast as the brown thing moved in a blur, a second later he found himself pinned against a large tree in the clutches of a...bear?
There were no bears around here, Hadgar knew, so that only meant-
'Yer got me Morrigan, yer win.'
The bear loosened it's hold, but kept it's paws on his chest on the dwarva and slowly turned into the form of the sorceress.
'You should be more careful.' She purred.' You never know what wild things there are in these parts.' She slipped her hand to his belt as she undid it.
'I think I should be able to tame those things you speak off.' The dwarf replied as his hands slid to her sides and pulled at the loose fabric that served as her shirt and tugged it upward, which revealed her pair of well formed breasts.
The two kissed deeply as the dwarf began rubbing her left breast, which made her moan. He turned her around as her back was now pressed against the tree.
'We shouldn't tarry.' She smirked as she lifted her robe up a little.' What would the rest think of we're both gone to long?'
'Your absolutely right, as always.' Hadgar agreed and lowered his trousers. Without warning his member was already deep inside her which made her yellow eyes spring open.
'Oh my..' she chuckled and kissed him deeply as she hooked her leg around his waist.
With every trust he made, every muffled moan she made, made it all seem worthwhile.
He felt his own climax coming as he broke the kiss.
'I have ta...' she kissed him again. 'It's fine...do it.'
The dwarf nodded and kept going as they both started to groan.
As he climaxed he felt his seed flowing inside her, which was exactly what she wanted.
Both panted as Hadgar gave a few final trusts, which made a satisfying yelp each, before both pulled their clothes back on. Without any words they both gave each other one last kiss as the dwarf took his firewood and headed back to camp while the sorceress took some more herbs.
'Ah, there you are.' Aedan smiled as Hadgar entered the camp.' Leliana was waiting for you to sing our tonight's tale.'
'Does it have a dwarf in it?' Hadgar asked as he placed the wood down.
'One of the most heroic.' The bard replied.' Should I wait for Morrigan?'
'Nah, she isn't interested in stuff like that anyway.' Oghren took a swig from his flask.' Tell the story.'
The bard nodded and began to sing. As Hadgar looked around he felt a close kinship with these people, with this camp.
He felt closer to them then any of his brothers and 'friends', save Gorim, in all his life. Here he felt home, here he could wish time would just stop.
He sighed as he remembered the good old days.
'DADA!'
The dwarf blinked as he saw a small child running towards him. With a smile he picked up his son.' Hello yer little nug.'
Despite yearning to be back in the past, the present had it's good sides as well. He loved his son, even if he did not bear his last name.
He looked up as he saw a dwarven female ener the room with a baby girl in her arms.
'There you are Duncan, I've been looking all over for you, leave your father alone!'
'It's fine Mardy...' Hadgar said as he placed his son on his lap who began tugging his beard.' How's Martine doing?'
Mardy looked at their daughter.
'She's fine.' She said with a small smile. Martine, like her brother, was named after one of Hadgar's friend, in this case being his former lover Martine, a Grey Warden he died a long time ago.
'Shouldn't you be working?' Mardy asked.
'I had my fill of it today.' Hadgar replied.
'You think it's enough though, I don't want the King to throw us out because you haven't been doing your job properly.'
Hadgar groaned.
'Woman, yer getting on my nerves.'
'I am getting on YOUR nerves?' she placed her free hand on her hip.' You try worrying for three children all day, that get's on your nerves!'
'We only have two.'
'I count you as one to.'
Hadgar sighed as he placed his palm on his forehead like Morrigan did so long ago.
He opened his eyes and saw the ring he wore on his finger. It was no wedding ring, or a ring of his family, but a twisted loop of rosewood, the grain of which seems to shift and change from one moment to the next, taking on shapes reminiscent of animals and people.
'Especially when you keep thinking of HER.'
Hadgar glared as his concubine crossed the line.' You keep her out of this woman, or Stone help me I'll slap you across Orzammar.'
'You need to get over her, it's been ten years!'
Hadgar looked down as he saw Duncan already fell asleep in his red-gray ish beard.
'Ten years of no letters, no sings, no word, no nothing!' Mardy continued.' If she really loved you she would've send you something by now!'
Hadgar placed his finger before his mouth and made a 'shhh' sound before he pointed at Duncan. Mardy rolled her eyes before she left with a sleeping Martine.
Hadgar knew deep in his heart it was true though.
Ten years have passed since the Blight ended. He tried to track her down in the first Three years and actually let Aedan become the Warden-Commander of Amaranthine so the Grey Warden order could be restored.
In those three years he followed every clue, every trace he could find...but found none.
One night near the fireplace he held the ring she gave him, as a present, he took a deep glance in it...and knew he had to go home.
Morrigan didn't like to call it 'love' but the connection they shared was...is very strong.
He wanted to be with here, help her raise their child, make sure she did not become a second Flemeth. But after three years he just knew she wouldn't have wanted him to waste the rest of his life searching for a un-findable prey.
So he returned home where he became the Liason of the Kingdom of Ferelden to Orzammar.
As he picked Duncan up gently and placed him down on his bed there was a knock on the door.
He walked over cautiously, after all this was Orzammar, and opened it.
'Lord Aeducan.' Harol saluted and offered the letter.' Letter from Orlais sir!'
Hadgar nodded and took it.' Thank you, dismissed.'
The soldier saluted him once more and left as the last of the Aeducan's closed the door.
He opened the letter and smiled as he recognized the name from it's author.
'Leliana...' he smiled and opened the letter.
As his eyes darted over the letter his smile turned into a neutral position...then a frown. He dropped the letter and ran over to the guards.
'I want yer to prepare a cart ta Denerim in past haste, I wish ta leave by next week!'
'Yes milord.' The guards saluted and ran off.
'Where are you off to then?'
Hadgar turned around and saw Mardy was stood behind him.
'Not another trace of your precious sorceress I hope?'
'Not quite...' Hadgar said.' Orlais is preparing fer war with Ferelden, a good friend of mine may or may not be dead for delivering this information.'
Mardy blinked.
'Why you, why not that human king of yours?'
'He also received a letter by now, and no doubting him he would be on his way 'ere.'
'Still doesn't-'
'It's her Mardy, Morrigan is in Orlais...and she's tellin' the Empress ta invade Ferelden.'
TBC
