Note: I don't own any of the characters in the story other than the Warden herself. This contains plot references (such as the Dalish Elf Orgion, and the treaties quests, along with some personal quests from companions) and dialog from the game. Be warned there is some profanities, a LOT of suggestive content from Zevran himself and some from Karasu (the warden), and some nudity and the 'Romance Scene' but not quite like in the game. I don't know if I will go so far as to go into the plot of Awakening, but reviews and critizism are welcome, though crossing my fingers hoping for good feedback.
Pointing out my earlier *SPOILER* type warning, Chapter one will consist of mostly plot in game, while later chapters I hope to focus more on the party in camp or in between major events of quests, with notable antics and some what 'normal' issues you might encounter with traveling, than the 'must save Ferelden'.
Stuff in Bold is fast forwarding in time, Italics is thoughts or foreign words that Leliana, the warden, or Zevran would say, and underline is accenting a word.
All of it was in her mind, more than she could absorb. She should have killed the shemlen and then everything wouldn't have turned out this way. Tamlen would still be here with her, gods where was he? The last thing she remembered was his screams and a hazy barely conscious wander through their forest. She could have looked harder, but now she was going into the shem's camp to meet with their leader. It was with the help of her Keeper and the one called Duncan that she was spared and now she had to join the Grey Wardens to keep from succumbing to the taint.
"The other Wardens said you found a promising recruit, I take it this is she?," as a man introduced as King Cailan, "Might I know your name?"
"Karasu Mahariel, your majesty," said a voice with an icy undertone that got a quick glare of be polite by Duncan.
After exchanging pleasantries, which probably would not have been the best of terms, her job was to hunt down a fellow Warden named Alistair. Returning they were greeted by the new recruits and given a simple task of fetching darkspawn blood and treaties uniting the races of Ferelden to unite under the Wardens. While passing by she offered her services to find a plant to heal a sick Mabari. It did not take her long to find the flower and the blood, but the treaties were proving much more a headache than a task. Her companions were getting on her nerves if it wasn't for her 'meat shield' as she so humbly called Alistair, she probably would be better off alone. After the treaties were found due to a interesting 'apostate' and her mother keeping them safe from being stolen, she had what she needed and headed back under guide of Morrigain.
The ritual would begin but only one would survive.
She would waken on her back with a pounding headache, making it seem it was Halla mating season in her head. Alistair would look at her with a hopeful sigh and Duncan would smile with his eyes. Both were glad she survived but witnessing what happened to the others was, in a word, disturbing. Next task she would be given would be from the King himself, to light a fire in a high tower, in bad weather, and have it signal Loghain. She agreed but crossing the wall with large fireballs aimed in her general direction with lightning bolts taunting to strike her down, she thought to herself, no this isn't ominous. It is a bad dream because I do hope I am not stuck with that, eying Alistair out of the corner of her eye.
The tower climbed, fate had it in for them.
Wiping the ogre blood off her twin daggers and finding where she had dropped her bow from earlier, Alistair looked around for something to light the fire. With sufficient supplies found the bonfire would be lit and they would both turn to meet arrows flying in their direction, piercing the flesh, and a dark embrace that may not let go. What seemed like moments she awoke in an unfamiliar place with a shadow in the corner of this room.
"Ah your eyes finally open, mother shall be pleased," this voice she new belonged to Morrigain and after questions that got their answers she learned that Alistair lived and she was one of the last two living Wardens in Ferelden.
Gods you have a sense of humor, you place me with a shem, who other than the obvious teasing pleasantries I revive from the faces and shades that man can make and turn, what good is he? Kara thought to herself while donning on her Dalish armor. She stepped outside to find a mostly freaked out Alistair and a whole lot of trouble on her plate. With figuring out which path she should take, she persuaded Flemmeth to allow Morrigan to travel with them, with much vocal displeasure from Alistair. They head off to a nearby town named Lothering, which proved only useful in procuring her two new companions, plus the Mabari war dog she met earlier on the road, opting to name him Abraxies. With party in hand, and business closing she headed towards the rear gates, if it were, of Lothering discovering two dwarves and a handful of darkspawn trying to kill them. After killing them they thanked Kara and her companions before they ventured off into the unknown before choosing a camping spot.
"Warden,' called Leliana in her thick and rich Orlesian accent, "come we are filthy, let us make off and find a river, so we can wash ourselves. I am sick of this darkspawn blood all over my robes!"
After seeing the state of her fire haired companion Karasu found a spare set of armor she had been carrying around and gave it to Leliana. Then seizing the moment of opportunity that had flared, she couldn't resist saying a remark that she know would get Alistair flustered.
"Sure I am always up for a bath, especially when it involves together..."she said adding a sudden purr to the word together that made Alistair's head twist in Karasu's direction, "We can both scrub one another down! Then we will both be all we-"
Her sentence cut short by a reddening and gasping Leliana, along with some Orlesian words such as Chers maker!Quelle honte, and poor Alistair looked like he was fixing to have a nose bleed if he thought too hard. Karasu just laughed at the looks of her companions, mostly out of shock of her being playful. She did have her brief moments in past events but the sharp tongued, sarcastic elf was who everyone was expecting. She wandered off to a decent looking stream in depth and took off her armor, gliding her body into the cold waters. It wasn't pleasant but it would wash off some of the stench of darkspawn.
As Karasu came out of the water cold but clean. She came back with a nightgown on that was a parting gift from her Keeper. As she cleared the last bushes towards her encampment she could hear Morrigan and Alistair bickering back and forth over what Morrigain called "Not fit for a darkspawn to digest", probably hinting to his stew he had made while they proposed to bathing shifts, with Abraxies keeping watch over them nearby. She smiled to herself with Abraxies padding behind her before she entered the edges of the tents.
"This is fine Ferelden cooking! A witch like you wouldn't understand," said Alistair said, his voice nearing a squeak out of frustration.
"Alistair," said Leliana, pausing to try and come up with a diplomatic answer,"it is...a texture I would associate with veal, but it is eatable."
"What now you too? Is this gang up on Alistiar day?" he said beggining to pace around the campfire, then he eyed Karasu, "Look let's have another woman's opinion. See if she appreciates fine cooking."
Alistair handed Karasu a bowl of a grayish thick liquid in a bowl. She hesitantly took it and sat down by Sten on a log. He glanced at her as if he were studding her intently, then he eyed the stew. A low grunt came from him, either warning her or out of disapproval. She slowly stirred it and licked her lips, then she brought up the spoon and took a bite. When the stew entered her mouth a taste she could not describe hit her, and she fought with all her will to not wretch up what was in her stomach. After she managed to swallow, with much strength and willpower, she flashed a feint smile at Alistair to calm him down.
"See I knew it! She likes it!" beamed Alistair.
"Like 'tis not what I would say is on her face," mused Morrigan.
"It, is...," said Karasu not wanting to directly embarrass Alistair, " It is quite...good."
Alistair beamed and began to point and laugh at Morrigan and she in turn shot Karasu an icy glare that spoke liar before returning to her tent. When Alistair turned his back Karasu dropped the bowl down for Abraxies so he half it. Unfortunately for her he only sniffed it and whined before returning to guard the outskirts of the camp. Karasu wandered back to her tent, saying she would finish the bowl before going to sleep, once she knew Alistair wasn't watching she poured the foul concoction on the ground. She crawled into her tent looking forward to sleep, but the nightmares that accompanied her woke her with a jolt. Alistair shared sympathy with her and then explained in light detail of how that was how the Wardens were, and it would get better and worse at the same time.