I don't own Dragon age, only some of the characters and story in this fic, and any side plot not within the game.

Chapter One

Cabbages and Caterpillars

"Like Caterpillars covering a tree, they'll swallow us whole!"

The voice of the dying solider cried out in Daylen's head. Daylen, a brown haired warrior with storm blue eyes, stubbled noble jaw and thin pale pink lips, donned in old and bloodied armour, wielding his family's long sword and a broken shield, crest supporting the mark of a dead family. It mattered not what he looked like at that moment though. The horror before him drew the eye more than his looks.

It was night, it was raining, the scent of decay had mixed with the scents of wet hay and fern trees. The sound of shuffling armour and worried Mabari dogs had scrapped Daylen's ears. The cold stabbing wind was like claws to his naked face. But it was not the weather, the worry or the scents that had stilled him on that bridge leading to The Tower of Ishal. No. It was what emerged from the woodlands below, Darkspawn. Their bodies resembled the four races, only twisted and turned. Their skin rotting and black, hanging from their faces raw. No insects dared to near them, no virus dared to strike for even the small micros knew not to linger on such soiled and dark bodies. Mirth attacked their faces, twisted insanely with bloated wide eyes and black, bloodied fangs. Armour was tied to their figures, their grey skin wet with rain that rolled down the torn flesh carrying the dirty blood to their leathers.

This had been minutes ago, merer minutes before he had came face to face with the beasts himself. He ran to support the men at the Tower and to light the beacon. The sound of that dying solider still gnawing at his mind like a maggot. He knew, he knew they were going to die. He knew as his blade cut rotting flesh, slaying every Darkspawn in his way. He knew as he walked up each and every step drawing him closer to the inevitable but the necessary.

He looked to Alistair a blonde short haired Warrior and the senior Grey warden in the group, with a strong jaw, puppy dog eyes that had taken a bear like quality due to battle, and donned in Grey Iron Splinter-mail., he wielded a Warden's grey iron longsword and Templar's shield. Battering and slaughtering at Daylen's side and the side of another warrior and mage. Neither knew their names. Daylen wondered as he slammed his sword down for the killing blow if Alistair knew. If he yet realised they would not make it back down from the tower. He had to know.

There was one door left, one door that once opened would have their task come to an end. The door, Daylen noted, was heavy, wooden with iron gracing it's panels to form the brackets. The wood was smooth despite the age, the handle lightly rusted and rough enough to claw at his leather palm cover.

It swung open to reveal a beast like no other. A Tainted thing, with horns and blood and a face of a demon. It's skin was grey with a green tint, the height of a small cottage and width of an Oxen. It's roar was deafening and sent Daylen's heart in a panic, saliva splashed out onto the ground as the beast lumbered from it's spot towards them. Those two black beady eyes clouded with the hot breath meeting the cooler air. It's clawed hand reached out- with a startled gulp of breath and silent scream Daylen shot awake.

The sun had crawled over the tree tops and Morrigan was cooking breakfast with a depressed Alistair sitting nearby. Morrigan had been forced to accompany them by her mother, Flemeth. She was a beauty with her raven hair, sweet lips just rightly sized and feral golden eyes. Her fashion sense also helped being as she was scantly clad in nothing more than a red scrap of fabric that showed off her bosoms and a leather armoured skirt. Pushing himself up he winced and gripped his brow. Barkspawn, a Mabari dog with tawny coat and a gluttonous stomach hungry for meat, was by his side looking at him with his soft puppy dog eyes. The Mabari had been another's at the camp but had taken ill after his owner had died from the Darkspawn, the dog had tracked him down in the Korcari wilds after the fight at Ostagar and had seen the terror of his pack's death. Scratching Barkspawn in his favourite place, at the base of the tail on his back, Daylen smiled softly and took a breath. He had been right when he thought they would die- well almost right. They had taken several blows after killing the Ogre and lighting the beacon. An arrow had hit his chest and something had cracked his skull. Alistair had received a similar treatment. The mage and warrior that had been with them in the tower had not made it. Flemeth had turned into a giant bird and he presumed she only had two claws. The old witch had went straight for them as she sensed their tainted blood. Now here they were about to head out on their journey to unite all of Fereldan against the blight. Save them all. Yet all he wanted was to feel clean air in his lungs, sunshine on his skin, and lies to flow from his lips like honey to be spooned and accepted with a nod of the head. He loathed himself for it.

"You are awake and just in time for breakfast it would seem. Strange how you sleep like a log when there was work to be done." Morrigan mused in her sensual yet harsh voice.

Daylen cleared his throat, "You were doing such a good job I just didn't wish to get in your way."

"Well Let's hope I used the correct herbs and they don't kill you violently," Morrigan murmured as though she was saying it would rain later in the day by the look of the clouds.

Daylen looked warily at the food but soon his stomach caved in. Alistair was still silent and offered no banter. It was unnerving, nothing like the sarcastic warrior Daylen had met at Ostagar that sassed the mages and even the King. Despite this they all ate, prepared and packed the tents Flemeth had offered. Heading for the closest village for news.

They found themselves on the Imperial highway, the bridge overlooked Lothering and the vast fields that surrounded the area north. The Wilds laying south and a beautifully wild contrast to the domesticated land. Alistair peered over the stone, "Well there it is. Lothering. Pretty as a painting." Lothering, a quaint little farm hold outside of the Korcari wilds. A peaceful place, or it would have once been. Now mad men screamed of the taint, dark eyes watched from the shadows and bandits held up in house holds they had taken.

"Ah. So you have finally decide to rejoin us, have you? Falling on your blade in grief seemed like too much trouble, I take it?" Morrigan snarked as they walked.

"Is my being upset so hard to understand? Have you never lost someone important to you? Just what would you do if your mother died?" Alistair griped back through his teeth. Seething.

"Before or after I stopped laughing?" Morrigan snickered just thinking of her mother lying in her own blood.

"Right. Very creepy. Forget I asked."

Daylen was about to break up any remaining argument when he had been stopped in his tracks with his companions by his side. Bandits had stopped him and his companions they all glowered at the dark haired man in front of him. Smouldering blue, deep browns, and sun gold eyes boring into the male. The Bandit was relatively alright looking, his chin a little too long and eyes a little too squinty and small. But his features were sharp and roguish. It reminded Daylen a slither of Devith and the chubby one next to the dual wielder of Ser Jorey.

The bandit leader grinned wide, "Hello there, just here collecting the toll for this here path."

Daylen raised his dark eyebrow, "I did not know ancient public pathways suddenly became owned by imbeciles. I won't pay anything to you."

"Now listen here-" The Leader began only to be interrupted by one of his men.

A large rather chubby sort, with a pushed forward jaw and stubby nose. He could have been Jorey's brother, really. "Uh... these ones don't look much like them others, maybe we should let these ones pass..."

"Oh no we have been found out! Whatever shall we do!? Morrigan we must inform the Queen!" Daylen sarcastically snapped in a playfully high tone, eyes widening as he looked around. Morrigan smirked with amusement that the blonde was taunting others. Daylen grabbed the hilt of his sword preparing for trouble.

"See Boss that one is armed and insane!" Jorey's long lost brother boy observed.

"How clever." Daylen sighed wondering how long this would take.

Alistair snickered beside him, "Highwaymen. Praying on those fleeing the Darkspawn, I suppose. We could just kill them, you know, I mean they are fiends."

While the thugs conversed Daylen shook his head at Alistair, "We could," he agreed but curiosity was both a flaw and a talent to him, "But I want to see how much I can get out of these idiots first. Besides look at that cute little lamb over there. We wouldn't want it to get caught up in the fight, it would be tragic." There was an actual lamb trapped in a crate screaming in fright. Daylen had never seen a lamb up close before.

"Ah-hum!" The Bandit Boss cleared his throat for attention, "so you will be handing over your gold now." He informed the group sliding out his swords with his men.

Daylen perked, flicking his head cockily to one side and grinning wide, "No, I really won't. Let me tell you what is going to happen. You are going to hand over all your gold and cough up every scrap of information I ask for. Then I won't geld you." Daylen smiled serenely, Morrigan summoned her magics and Alistair changed his stance with his sword and shield.

The Boss looked at the sparking hands containing powerful magics, paling, his eyes then flicked to Alistair and then to the tower that was the deadly looking commander with a snarling, thick set Mabari baring it's teeth by his side. "Er, sure we'd be happy to. Hand over your gold men..." He whimpered and emptied his pockets into waiting gauntlet. "What information did you need?"

Daylen still gripped his family's sword, "Has anyone returned from Ostagar?"

"There was some Ash warriors but we avoided them..."

Alistair looked heart broken at the news that no wardens had passed by he had not fully believed that they were the only two left, "At least someone made it..." He whispered pained at the thoughts of Duncan.

Daylen threw Alistair a sympathetic look before his eyes turned to ice on the Bandits, "Who is in charge here?"

"No-one. It's been evacuated due to the Darkspawn in the south. Only a few remain. The Bann took his men north with Teyrn Loghain, so there is no one looking out for it except a few Templars at the Chantry. Can I go now?" The bandit leader questioned pleadingly.

"No. How do you feel about joining me?" Daylen hummed, Alistair paled and neck almost snapped with how fast he turned towards the other blonde, "I could use some soldiers."

"What? Me? I can't be that. Orders don't suit me."

"I could kill you if you don't."

"I-I- You won't take me alive!" The bandit hollared and attacked, his men following suit.

Blade crashed against blade, dark iron meeting refined Steel, Daylen pressed the Bandit leader. His footing awkward as he followed the other man using his size. Ice chilled his cheek but did not freeze his flesh like his foes. Morrigan had sent an ice ball flying past his head and into the face of one of the bandits, sending the thug flying back onto his back with muffled screams of pain. Barkspawn ran in to deliver the deathblow. Thick powerful teeth and jaws ripped into flesh. Tearing open vital arteries and spilling fresh hot blood over the crumbling stone wall. Alistair kept the others at bay his sword meeting gut before he slammed his shield up into another man's nose, breaking it. The bandit wailed and stumbled back against a cart. Alistair waisted no time in ending the thug's pain just as Daylen had gained the advantage on the leader. His sword sinking into tender flesh and hacking off a shocked head with several heavy, frantic blows. Wide eyes and hanging mouth stayed that way, frozen as the skull rolled. Fleshy flaps were left and blood spilt out."I said could. I could also marry a frog it doesn't mean I am going to you sodding idiot." Daylen coldly kicked the head off the walk and continued on his path. The lamb bleating as he passed, he cooed in sympathy and scooped the creature up. "We will find a farmer further away from the blight that will take it."

"Have you thought about where we are headed first?" Alistair asked suddenly as they headed down into the village.

"Not particularly, I thought we would wander around aimlessly until something happened." Daylen droned, raising a brow as he spotted a farmer rolling in the mud with his pigs. To master the ham beast you must become the ham beast? Shaking the thought from his mind he eyed Alistair, "Why are you asking me? You are the Senior Warden you should lead." I'm too lazy to be leader, useless warrior in training here."

"Me? Lead? No, no, no... no. I'm not good at leading we will all die if I lead." Alistair quickly rejected such ideas, "I don't know where we should go. I'll do whatever you decide."

"Now that is unsurprising," Morrigan observed stroking back some of her black bangs.

Alistair grit his teeth and brushed the remark off, "There are three main groups that we have treaties for: the Dalish elves, the Dwarves of Orzammar, and the circle of Magi." He adjusted his sword and rested his hand on it's hilt, looking anxious, "I also still think Arl Eamon is our best bet for help. We might even want to go to him first. He is a good man, but I don't know for sure he's where we should go. I'm not going to argue about this."

Daylen thought on it, he wanted to be far away from nobles for a good while. The wilds best place to start. However the southern land was suicide. Morrigan may have something to add about such lands but he doubted they were good, "What do you think about our next course of action, Morrigan?" He asked hoping it involved some information he could use.

"Go after your enemy directly." Well that killed that plan of information. Of cause a woman like Morrigan wanted to swoop in and kill her foe in one fowl swoop. Alistair was right swooping was bad. "Find this man, Loghain, and kill him. The rest of this business with the treaties can then be done in safety."

Alistair scoffed. "Yes, he certainly wouldn't see that coming! And it's not like he has the advantage of an army and experience and-"

"I was asked for my opinion and I gave it. If you wish to come up with reasons why something cannot be done then we will stand here until the Darkspawn are upon us." Morrigan snappily shot Alistair down.

"Enough! Do either of you know where or how to find the Dalish elves? I have heard they are in the Brecilian forest but their whereabouts in the forest is another matter." Daylen rose his arm's one wrapped around his waist the other rested on his wrist, his hand by his face as he thought.

Alistair looked to Morrigan who rolled her eyes, "Their is a pass I know of that often leads to their camp sites. However it will still take luck, 'tis rather an off chance that they will still even be in the region with the darkspawn."

"We should head for the Bricilian forest first then." Daylen decided, he did not fancy dealing with lords after being betrayed and loosing his family, twice. Why had that foolish friend of his deemed it sane to start spilling blood and waving around staves? Casting his thoughts away from such matters he tried to focus. Alistair looked unsure but would not argue with him. Morrigan was still adamant that barging into a castle and running Loghain through was the best idea. He was tempted by this idea greatly, still Denerim was in the north the forest lay closest and to the east.

"I suggest we pick up supplies, Warden." Morrigan droned in that mysterious intelligent accent she owned with pride. "We are running low after your mutt and Mabari raided the backpacks."

"Hey!" Alistair indignity whined at the jab.

Daylen snorted with amusement as Barkspawn whined at Morgan with Alistair, "We need to stay here for a while anyway. We need information, everything could not have gone so smoothly for Loghain he had too many men. Too many mouths to silence."

"We should be talking politics in a pub, Daylen." Alistair hinted looking around wearily to see if anyone had heard them. Loghain was still a hero in the war against the Orlesians.

Daylen frowned in confusion at Alistair, "Alright we will find a pub but we will be discussing your drinking problem."

"I don't have a drinking problem! I just believe it is safer to discuss such things in a pub, with loud sounds so people can't over hear and form a mob. Loghain was a hero." Alistair explained.

"The fool actually has a brain? Amazing, miracles do happen." Morrigan belittled.

Daylen tried to hide his smirk, he headed towards the bridge. Spotting a begging Elvhen family. The child was sniffling while the parents were pleading with anyone that would listen. He turned to them, "Excuse me, has something happened?"

"Bandits took everything we had, our savings, clothes even my daughter's pet lamb. All we ask is for a few coppers to buy some bread." The father of the weeping Elvhen child said defeated.

"Here, take this. I also believe I killed the bandits that had robbed you. Your possessions may still be there have a look?" Daylen suggested while handing over two silvers. Not having much on him.

"Oh, Maker bless you!" The two parents thanked him, the mother taking her daughter to look over the carts.

"Do you happen to know where the pub is located?" Daylen asked the greying father. His hand shielding his eyes from the sun on his forehead as he squinted looking around, ready to follow directions.

"The Inn serves as a pub. Just over the bridge as soon as you reach the other side turn east." The elf helpfully pointed the building out. Daylen thanking him and giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading into the direction given.