((Firstly, disclaimer in that Bioware owns all things Dragon Age, Awakenings, and the characters therein, with the exception of Cassian and his personality, who is all me, not to mention I'm not making any money off of this. Or winning anything, apparently. This was originally written as a contest entry, but had to be cut down to fit the word count restriction. Now that the contest is over, I decided to post the uncut version here. Also, as a side note, this first chapter was originally intended to be told from Nate's POV, but I went all Sigrun for the sake of consistency. I may yet do an aside with his thoughts on this, but for now, you get the mostly original version.))
Finally managing to get a solid kick on the hurlock that was dragging her, Sigrun pulled herself free, twisting and scrambling back to the axe that had come loose from her belt. Regaining her feet, she turned to face the darkspawn that were rushing to capture her again. Let them try. She'd either take the bastards down or make sure they weren't going to take her alive again.
The first clue she had that she wasn't fighting alone was when her opponent froze, mid-swing, and started twitching in pain. Not missing the opportunity, she buried her axe into the hurlock's chest. As she pulled it free, the creature collapsed. Turning to look for another target, she found that the rest of the pack of darkspawn has been dispatched. Standing amid the bodies was a group of surfacers, armed too well to be here on a whim. While their attention seemed to be on each other, she decided it was probably best to slip away before she was noticed. The pain in her chest, however, wouldn't let her move without at least stifling a whimper, which was, of course, what the three men heard.
"Are you all right?" The shorter of the three stepped away from the others, hands held up and away from his weapons. Given he was closer, she could see the point of his ears, there looking to be genuine concern on his face. "If you're injured, our mage can-"
She shook her head, backing away and keeping her axe still at the ready. She had no reason to trust them yet, despite the offer. "What are the group of you doing here in the Deep Roads?"
The elf glanced to the men behind him and then back to her. "We're Grey Wardens. We're investigating rumors of darkspawn activity in the area."
"Well, you've found it. But you're going to have to delve a lot deeper if you want to get to the heart of the matter. My squad..." The sight of the battle came rushing back, too fresh to even be called memories. The cackling of the darkspawn over the roar that accompanied the gouts of flame. Screams and curses and the wet squelch of blades sinking into flesh. Sobs and shrieks that couldn't be muffled by the sound of armor grating over the stone. The pain in her chest told her she shouldn't cry. At least that was the excuse she was giving herself.
"What happened?" The elf's question came out gently, concern, not judgment, in his eyes.
She swallowed, taking a breath and setting her jaw. "When the darkspawn attacked, I-" Her mouth bunched up, souring around the words. "I ran, all right? I ran." She reached up, pulling off her helmet to scrub at her eyes with the heel of her hand. "I know I broke the vow of the Legion but something inside of me just..." She shook her head. "I watched the rest of my squad get cut down and then I saw them dragging off some of the other women and I wasn't going to let them take me too." Her chest shook and she grimaced, unable to hold back her whimper.
"Here, it's all right." The blonde mage brushed past the other human and knelt down beside her. "Let's see what we can do about that, hmm?" Holding up his hand, she watched as light played around his fingers, illuminating the crooked smile that played on his lips. Laying his hand over top of hers, the glow spread along her skin, gleaming out through the seams of her armor. She had to fight the urge to wriggle as an itch spread through her chest, but when it faded, breathing became a lot easier. "What's your name, love? We'll worry about the rest of the details later."
"Sigrun." She adjusted her helmet and pulled it back over her scalp. "Thank you. That'll make getting back easier."
"You're going back?" He knelt there, a stunned look on his face. "But you just-"
"The Legion," a gruff voice stated, belonging to a red-headed dwarf that marched up to stand next to the elf, "is supposed to fight the darkspawn until they're claimed by the Stone. It's what they do in exchange for being pardoned." He crossed his arms and she didn't miss the arch of his brow as he eyed her up.
He might not see it, but Sigrun glared at him, choosing to answer the mage instead. "I'm heading back to Kal'Hirol. The darkspawn there have been acting strangely and we were heading in to investigate when they ambushed us."
The elf took in the information with a nod. "Well, at least we know where we're headed now. Oghren, I want you to head back to the Keep. Appraise Varel on what we've found and give us-"
"Yer making me stay behind?" the dwarf exploded. "We're headed into the blasted Deep Roads and-"
"Oghren! That's an order!"
"Fine, fine. But if I have to come save yer pointy-eared ass from some ogre, I want a pay raise!" Still grumbling, the dwarf gave him a rather rude salute and began trudging back the way they'd come from.
"You don't have to come with me." Sigrun glanced between the remaining men. "It's my duty to fulfill."
"And ours. We're all Wardens. Something tells me working together is going to benefit us both. That is, if you don't mind leading?" She shook her head and he smiled. "You've our thanks, Sigrun. I'm Cassian, Warden-Commander." The way he said it, he thought the title unnecessary. "You've met Anders and this is Nate."
She received a polite nod from the last man, who'd remained quiet the entire time. The way his eyes had been flicking about, he seemed to expect something to leap out from the shadows at them. A good practice down here, to be honest, and if the nearby corpses were any indication, she needn't question his skill with the bow she saw slung at his back.
Given they were ready to proceed, she hefted the weight of the axe in her hand and began leading them further into the depths. She could hear them talking quietly among one another, but paid their conversation little mind, more intent on watching for the darkspawn patrols that tended to prowl the trail they were on.
Along the path to Kal'Hirol, they came across another of the Legion, Jukka, who looked as though he managed to escape the fortress. Rebuffing any offers of healing, he managed to pass along a final warning about "children" before he succumbed to his injuries.
Kneeling beside his body, she leaned over to whisper a blessing to him before she began to carefully position his body, aiming to leave him presented rather than simply as he fell.
"Do you want some help?" It was the first time she'd heard Nate speak, the question hesitant, but, she could tell, sincere.
She shook her head. "It's all right. Not much to do, really. I just...want to make sure he returns to the Stone with some dignity." She carefully slipped his sword beneath his folded hands.
"It looks like a fine job. If...there's more that needs done, perhaps when our business in Kal'Hirol is over, we-"
"No. No, it's all right." She pushed herself to her feet, forcing a smile. "We Legionnaires have already had our funeral. Some of us aren't so lucky as to even have a proper grave." Just something small to be remembered by. Absently, she turned the gold band that sat snug on her finger. Her one treasure. Her one memory.
"Maybe we could see about fixing that."
Something prickled in the back of her mind at that and she couldn't decide if the feeling was good or bad. Shaking her head to clear away the dust, she snorted softly. "If we don't figure out what's going on, it won't matter, will it? Let's...just go." Removing her axe from her belt again, she continued along the path, cautioning them as they approached the gates of the fortress. "Rumor has it that there's a secret entrance, but we'd gotten complacent. Stormed the main hall and were cut down by the darkspawn using the very same defenses that were meant for them."
"We'll search around and see if we can't discover anything. I don't know dwarven architecture terribly well, but I've got an eye for things like that," Cassian stated with a chuckle.
While she and Cassian searched the walls, Nate and Anders stood guard. The elf was in the middle of a remark about the carvings in the stone when he suddenly stopped, sharing a glance with the other two.
Something about their demeanor worried her. "What is it?"
"Darkspawn." Cassian's blades came out and he rushed toward the opposite end of the courtyard, Anders and Nate both ready to cover him. Mid-stride, though, the elf skidded to a stop, backing up several paces. "Holy Maker!"
Skittering along the ground were...were...her mind couldn't fathom what these creatures were. Moving like grubs, they let out high shrieks as they seemed to pour from the rock. Even Cassian was retreating further away from the things. A ball of flame surged from Anders' outstretched hands, landing between them and the creatures. A few of them shrieked in rage, bodies curling up against the fire, but some skirted around it, rearing up to attack and presenting rather large targets for the rest of them.
Still, they were swarming up faster than flame and blade could put them down. One seemed to bunch its body up and then spring at Cassian, plowing the slight man to the ground with a startled yell. Before it could rend its teeth into him, she sprang onto the creature's back, causing it to scream in pain as she sank her dagger into its flesh, twisting it deep to give her purchase, enabling her to drive the head of her axe into what passed for its skull over and over again. And just like any other darkspawn, that did well to put the thing down.
As it collapsed, Sigrun rolled free, adding final tears into its flesh as she pulled her weapons loose. Hurrying over, she held out a hand, backing up to haul Cassian to his feet, immediately spinning around to block another leaping creature with her blade. Icy wind from Anders' fingers helped slow the things considerably, making them easier targets. It was a relief to know the four of them could fight this well together, even having just met. Nate and Anders did a fine job of covering her and Cassian as they moved about the fray, finishing off the creatures the other two wounded. When the courtyard once again fell silent, they gathered together, assessing damage and catching their breath.
"What in the Maker's name are these?" Anders prodded one of the corpses with the end of his staff, wrinkling up his nose in disgust.
"Do you think they might be the children Jukka mentioned? I've never seen darkspawn that look like this." And Ancestors willing, she wouldn't ever again.
"They're new to me, too." This from Cassian. "But then again, I've never seen a baby darkspawn, either." He started to grin and then stopped, his face actually going pale. "Oh, Maker. If these are baby darkspawn, then that means-"
"The broodmothers are starting to churn out their army," Sigrun concluded.
Cassian's expression turned grim. "Now we need to get in. Over here. I think I found something."
They had, indeed, discovered the hidden entrance, managing to ambush the darkspawn that were waiting to spring on anyone unwary enough to enter through the front. Fighting their way further in, the group suddenly stopped as apparitions faded into view at the bottom of the staircase they were on. Cassian held his blades at the ready but the dwarf and genlock seemed more intent on beating on each other-until the dwarf cut the darkspawn down-than the group of them.
"I've heard that the memories of the Stone are forever," Sigrun whispered, her voice touched with awe, "but I had no idea that's what it meant."
Cassian nodded. "There was something similar in the Deep Roads near Orzammar, but the ghosts here seem a little friendlier toward intruders." He chuckled.
As the group passed, the scene began to repeat, continuing until they'd rounded a nearby corner. Continuing through the halls, they came across other spirits pantomiming battles, played out just as viciously as they'd originally been fought. When they reached what looked to be a central hall, a different scene awaited them.
A crowd of dwarven spirits stood beneath the dais, listening to another giving an impassioned speech, urging them to take up arms in defense of the city. Hearing his words, Sigrun stood rooted among the audience, staring up at the speaker before letting out a soft noise and starting to pace among them, trying to peer at faces that had no substance.
"Sigrun? Is something the matter?" Nate had a habit of noticing things, even when it seemed he wasn't paying attention.
"All these dwarves..." She was squinting, trying to get a look at their faces, frowning given that the spirits only held the most basic outline of their bodies. "They were casteless. Left behind by the nobles and he," she turned her head to the now-vanished apparition, letting out a frustrated sound as the audience began to fade as well. "He wanted them to fight. He trusted them. Without oath or trying to buy them with coin. He didn't just abandon them to the darkspawn like all the others."
"Yes, well, there's always some noble out there that does his best to show that they aren't all bad. Sometimes they even mean it." Anders chuckled. "Like Nathaniel for example."
She glanced over at the archer, startled by that revelation. Now that it had been brought out, she did see something of it in the way he carried himself. Even Cassian, who was in charge of them, seemed to have a more relaxed demeanor.
"Anders." He shot the blonde a glare. "My joining the Wardens was hardly the same thing as this."
"Oh, I don't know," the mage continued. "Siding with what seems a hopeless cause. Putting others before yourself. Knowing status does you little good when your enemy only cares about how juicy you are."
"That's enough, Mage," Nate snapped. "None of that matters now, anyway. I'm a Warden. That's all there is to it."
"Fine, fine. I'm just saying." There was a lilt in Anders' voice that hinted he might not be done teasing but for now, he was going to drop it.
"If we're through?" Cassian was leaning against one of the collapsed pillars. "Darkspawn don't kill themselves, you know."
Of course, he wound up eating those words. As they progressed further through the city, they came upon what could only be described as a darkspawn civil war. Two distinct bands that seemed intent on cutting each other to pieces, not even bothering to stop when faced with the common threat of the Wardens.
They'd just dispatched another pack and regrouped at the top of a small flight of stairs. Between battles, they'd continued to bear witness to what appeared to be the final days, possibly even hours, of the city. Dwarves of varying stations could be seen debating between fight or flight and once again they'd come across a speech by the noble, Dailan, his name learned from a brittle journal that Cassian had discovered. Never once did the elf hurry her along, always waiting patiently as the visions played out. During some of them, she'd sometimes sneak a look at Nate, wondering what a man of his station though of this. Through most of them, his expression remained passive, almost wary at times. It seemed even the most altruistic of nobles were still nobles at heart.
"Come quick! It's another one!"
Anders' voice brought them scurrying down the steps to the mage's side. Before him knelt another spirit, looking to be working furiously with a hammer and chisel at a stone tablet that lay there still, adding a touch of realism to the vision.
"I have to finish," the dwarf muttered. "They have to be remembered." The sound of the tools in the stone echoed around them, suddenly muffled by a savage roar. "What? No!"
Each of them jumped as the massive bulk of an ogre charged through them and barreled into the dwarf, sending him flying. The creature growled and pounced on the helpless dwarf, the scene fading before it became too gruesome.
Cassian, of course, took an interest in what the dwarf had been working on, running his fingers lightly over the carved rock. "Sigrun? Do you know what this is?"
She approached and pushed her helmet away from her eyes to get a better look, eyes flicking over the lines of runes. Drawing in a breath, her eyes went wide, fingers brushing reverently over the stone.
"Sigrun?" he asked again, quieter this time.
Fingertips trailing over the words, she read them softly aloud. "'May the Stone remember the defenders of Kal'Hirol, who were born casteless and died warriors.' " Her fingers curled back and she continued to stare at the tablet. "He...wanted them to be remembered as warriors. Warrior caste. And the names. I think..." She turned to look up at Cassian, blinking the shine from her eyes. "They're here. They're all here."
The elf knelt down beside her and she started, finding Nate suddenly at her other side. Their fingers ticked quickly over the carving, tallying the lines, summing them together when they met.
"They are. All two hundred that stayed. And this is his name, isn't it?" Cassian brushed a mark at the very end.
"It is. He...he must have spent the siege working on this so they would have their memorial. But no one in Orzammar knows this is here. No one knows what he did for them."
"They will. Nate, lend me a hand, would you?" Cassian shifted to the side, giving the slab a slight heft to test its weight.
"We're not taking that with us, are we?" Anders asked. "We're fighting darkspawn. I don't think they'll be considerate enough to wait while we set it down and get our weapons out."
"We're not," Cassian said through grit teeth, shifting his hands to properly balance the thing, "taking it further in. We're taking it out."
"What?" The question came from the three of them at the same time.
Cassian didn't seem to want to wait, urging Nate to walk with him, the two carefully balancing the stone as they went. "I'm not going to risk losing this on the off-chance we need to make a hasty retreat. I'd much rather take the time now and cart it as close to the surface as we can get and then come back and see if the darkspawn are done killing each other."
"At least we know the way out is clear," Anders quipped.
"You're really willing to...do all that?" Sigrun walked beside them, doing what she could to help ease the weight. Her gaze moved between the two of them, still a bit amazed. "But what about Orzammar?"
"If King Bhelen can send me masons, the least I can do is send him back a bit of his people's history." Cassian grinned.
"Especially if it means giving them a chance to claim their honor?" Nate arched a brow at him.
The elf merely grinned and urged them on in silence. They did have one bit of luck as they discovered a pathway not far from where they found the tablet that actually seemed to slope upward again, leading them to the spot where they'd first met, which they deemed safe enough to leave it. It took a little clearing away of some rubble to fully open the path, but to not have to trek all the way back through the city was a blessing, especially when they discovered what was waiting for them as they continued to cut their way to the broodmothers.
Cassian and Anders had their hands full with the massive, fire-spewing golem that was lumbering around in the chamber, leaving the darkspawn mage-the creature far too sentient to be a mere emissary-to her and Nate. Using his arrows to keep it's attention fixed on him, Nate offered her plenty of opportunities to attack it from behind, her axe digging deep into its back.
A surge of magical energy sent her tumbling backward, after which she rolled a few feet and lay still. The darkspawn let out a satisfied grunt and turned on Nate, raising its staff to coalesce more power. Distracted by both the archer and its task, it never noticed her get up again. Hurrying up behind it again, she swiped her axe across the back of its knees, making it buckle. It's roar of pain was cut short as she sliced her dagger across its throat.
Booting it away, she spat down on it. "Never put your back to a duster unless you know they're dead," she snarled, spinning and pitching her axe toward the golem, pulling another blade as she sprinted to help the others finish the construct off as well.
"The Legion trains its people well." Nate walked over and returned her axe to her.
She accepted the weapon with a chuckle. "Oh, they taught me a few tricks, but I was fighting long before then." Checking the head for flaws, she stuck it back into her belt, all threats having been dealt with.
"You fought in Orzammar's army, then?"
"More like I was fighting for scraps of food or a place to sleep. For the right to live some days." She pushed her helmet up, brushing the mark below her eye. "Casteless like me fight our own war, each and every day."
He had the decency to look mortified at the mistake. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to-"
She gave him a crooked smile. "It's all right. You're human. Not to mention a noble." Her attention turned to Cassian's call. Now that he and Anders were done examining the darkspawn, he felt it time to press on to deal with the broodmothers.
One lyrium-fueled explosion later, all was quiet in the chamber that had housed the pit where the grotesque things had been held. Task done, she would have been content to return to the Deep Roads alone, but Cassian offered another alternative: a place among the Wardens. She wasn't sure that there wouldn't be repercussions for doing so, but his argument was a good one. And the first option was always still open to her.
Of course, taking him up on the offer meant leaving for the surface. It was probably too much to hope that he'd just leave her here, fitting, given that this is where they'd found her. Rough stone began to turn into carved pathways, ones that slanted upward as the ceiling seemed to give way to nothing but an endless bright blue. She tried to dismiss all the stories she'd heard as a child, about those who flew away with nothing surrounding them. Still, the thought of being somewhere so open froze her legs and she found herself backing up until she felt the familiar press of stone at her back, slipping into a fissure that framed her on three sides.
She'd just gotten her breathing under control when a shadow fell across her face. She looked up to see Nate standing before her.
"Sigrun? What's wrong?" His brow was pinched, genuine worry showing in his expression.
The thought of appearing this scared in front of him made her cheeks burn and she was glad her helmet hid most of her face. Still, there was little point in lying. The answer was painfully clear. "I've..." she hesitated. "I've never been topside before. It's a little...intimidating."
"This from a woman who took down a raging darkspawn without batting an eye?" He offered her a crooked grin. "Now that was intimidating. This," he glanced about, "is a pretty pleasant day, actually." Sinking down to a knee, he held out a hand to her. "I promise you, Sigrun, it'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to you. Anything non-darkspawn related, that is," he added with a chuckle.
She managed to smile at that, finding something in his tone that told her she could believe him. "Thanks. It helps to have something to hold on to." She slid her fingers into his, which curled gently around them.
Giving her hand a squeeze, he pushed himself up and began slowly walking toward the slope that would take them further upward and eventually put them on the road back to the Vigil.