Chapter 1

I stood with my arms crossed, watching the scene unfold before me. Standing atop the main gatehouse of Ostagar, the last stronghold for the Grey Wardens, I had a large view of the uncomfortable sight. Marching out of the Korcari Wilds was a horde of what Alistair had claimed was the Darkspawn; ravenous monsters that fed on animals and men alike. Alistair had claimed that when he first fought, he hadn't quite been ready. I had to agree with him. My first fight with the creatures was no more than a week ago, and I still hadn't quite gotten over the experience. Sharp teeth, grotesque skin, bulging eye, they were abominations, rightly deserving the title monsters.

Duke growled angrily at the black mass that seeped out of the forest like a plague. I could hear the dull beat of war drums. A tingle of fear crawled down my spine, but I did my best to calm myself. I fingered the hilt of the family sword hanging at my belt. Arl Howe had betrayed my family, killing all in the castle and sparing no one. The memory of my parent's face, laying in the larder in a last stand to buy Duncan and I enough time to escape through the servant's entrance, burned my heart to know that anyone could do such a thing to people like that. It ached to think that I would never see my family again. It felt as though my heart didn't beat as much as throb, painfully throbbing in my chest.

Arl Howe, the traitor. Oh, how that name seared through my mind! Sudden thoughts of sliding the Cousland sword through his chest, watching the light leave his betraying, murderous eyes...I shook my head, remembering my father's last words. "We have always done our duty. Vengeance will have to wait until our duty is finished." The sound of his voice reverberated in my ears, and seemed to linger.

I bent down to one knee, the suit of chainmail I now wore jingling as I moved, I wrapped my mailed hands around Duke's face, looking him in the eyes.

"After this Blight, after we kill this army of darkspawn, after my duty if finished, I will kill Arl Howe. This I swear, by my word as a Cousland," I told him. I was returned by an empathetic lick and the intelligent light that shined in his eyes told me that he understood my every word.

"And you're going to help, aren't ya boy," I told him, and ruffled his ears playfully. He barked happily, and it seemed as if enough, for that brief moment, that everything was alright.

"At least your dog is friendly to you," I heard Alistair say from behind me. "I'm surprised he hasn't bitten your nose off already."

"I told you not to try to pet him so soon," I reminded him with a playful smile. "He's a bit...distrustful around strangers."

"I'll say," he exclaimed. "Your dog nearly took off my hand!" He raised his hand up to me to make his point. It was, of course, completely unharmed.

"Ya know, I think you're just trying to come up with a way to get Duke in trouble," I said suspiciously.

"Of course not," Alistair said. "I just want him to apologize."

I rolled my eyes at him and looked down at Duke, who was pointedly looking away from Alistair. After a moment, I gently nudged him with my foot. "Go on," I prodded. Duke gave a reluctant growl and looked at Alistair with clear resentment. Yet, he swallowed his pride and gave a dramatic sigh, walked over to Alistair, and reached out with the tip of his nose.

Alistair glanced at me nervously, but I gave him a nod of encouragement. I hoped my smile wouldn't tip him off to what I could guess Duke might do. Alistair looked back down to Duke and cautiously extended his hand to the war hound. When his fingers were mere inches away from Duke's nose, the dog leaped up and covered Alistair's hand with his jaws. It was only a little nip, but Alistair had leaped back hard enough to fall on his rump with a yelp.

I burst out laughing, doubling over while Duke was hopping about happily, barking his joy at the success of his joke. "Hey, that's not funny, you big twit," Alistair protested. "You almost took my bloody arm off!"

Duke responded by burying Alistair underneath his 250 pound body, covering his face with licks. Alistair tried to wriggle free, but couldn't push clear of Duke's stocky body. After a few moments of it, Alistair finally cried out, "Aedan! Get Duke off of me!"

I let myself have another chuckle before I whistled for Duke. He looked to me with his ears folded downward and a low whine. "Come on, boy. You can smother him with kisses later tonight," I said as I walked over to them.

Alistair's blue eyes widened at the thought of that and his protest was muffled as Duke gave one final lick before he stepped off of Alistair. I gave Alistair a hand to help him stand up, and he dusted his scale armor off as he noticed the barely contained bursts of laughter from the other wall guards. "What are you twits looking at," he yelled at them, then he turned around and walked off, more embarrassed than outraged.

I gave Duke one last chuckle as I started jogging after our frustrated friend. Duke fell into step beside me, panting happily as he trotted. When we caught up to Alistair, he was still wiping dog drool off of his face. "Ya know," he said when we was close enough to him. "You could take a mint every now and then, you big lug. It wouldn't be so bad if you had clean breath."
Duke barked his acknowledgement, and I looked back to Alistair. "So where's this tower?"
Alistair pointed behind him, to the tallest part of Ostagar. "We've got to get up there, but from what I've heard of the battle plans, we have at least an hour, probably more," he explained.

I looked up at the massive tower, which seemed to touch the darkening evening sky. "Maybe we should get started," I said, still looking at the tip of the tower.

I heard the jingling of armor and looked down to see a guard running for us. A tingle crawled through me, part of it fear, part of it anticipation. From the looks of his worried expression and the splatter of blood across his armor, it looks like some of the fight had already begun.

"Alistair," the guard cried, getting the templar to spin around. The guard ran all the way up to us, leaning on his knees to catch his breath. "Darkspawn...in the...tower," he said in between breaths. Sweat glistened on his brow and trickled down his face as he stood up.

"Darkspawn," Alistair cried. "No, they couldn't be!"

"What's wrong, Alistair," I asked him. "I thought you wanted to be in the fight?"

"Er, I, uh," he stammered. "This is just unexpected, is all."

"Well, I can tell you what I'm expecting," I said as I unshouldered my shield, the shield of Highever, another family heirloom. "Darkspawn blood spilling the ground," I growled as I strapped the shield to my arm.

I looked to the guard and said, "Lead us back to the tower." The guard saluted and turned around, hurrying off with us right behind him. We passed by some of the castle's tents, but more ruins than anything else. Ostagar was practically falling apart, the main gate and forward walls virtually the only things left intact in the once proud fortress. That, and the tower that held the beacon. Our mission was to light the beacon, although with darkspawn already within the tower, it probably wouldn't be easy. I felt my jaw tighten; it shouldn't be easy.

It wasn't long before we could hear the sound of a battle ahead; metal striking metal, grunts and yells, warcries and feral screams, the chants of a mage and the blast of lightning. I slid my family's sword from its sheath. The sword itself was marvelous, a straight edged, two sided sword with a cross guard that gently curved, facing the tip of the blade. The pommel was set with a sapphire, the Cousland crest of twin olive branches growing up from a rose. The sword would soon be covered with red, performing its grisly work.

We came around a fallen column to look upon a few of Cailan's soldiers that he had posted guard near the tower fighting at least a dozen darkspawn. The mage was doing his best to keep the monsters at bay, using his lightning spells and other combat spells. I wasn't too familiar with the intricacies of magic, but knew that it was dangerous to even think about it.

"Go, Duke," I cried, speeding up to a run at the sight of the creatures.

Duke gave a howl and sprinted ahead, easily making the distance in a few moments. He leapt and buried one of the shorter gemlocks underneath his body, tearing away at its throat was his jaws.

I gave a roar as I charged into the fray, paying no heed to what Alistair was trying to tell me. One of the larger darkspawn turned to faced me. Hurlocks, I think they were called. No matter what they were called, I lowered my shoulder behind my shield and bowled over the massive creature. Rolling back up to my feet, I stood swinging my shield, slamming it into one of the beast's jaws. Blood rolled out of its mouth as my sword slid into its chest. I kicked it off my blade and threw up my shield to block an incoming sword. Spinning with the blow, I sliced around with my sword, nicking one of the genlocks on the cheek. Finishing my spin, I slammed the pommel onto the top of one of the hurlock's heads. There was a loud crack and it stood there for a moment, as if unsure of what to do. I ended its confusion with a slash to the neck.

The genlock whose cheek I had cut had come to return the favor, slashing its rusty short sword across my sword arm. It was a fierce strike, though thanked the Maker I had traded my splintmail for the sturdier chainmail. Now, the mail ensured it would be a bad bruise, and nothing more. I returned it by punching with my shield catching its nose with the rim. It fell to the ground, but managed to keep enough of its mind to try to scramble away. It managed to roll to its stomach and almost got to its feet. When it was on its hands and knees, I drove the tip of my sword through its back, revelling in the sickly sweet sound of metal sliding through skin, scraping against bone.

I turned to survey the rest of the battle. It was nearing its end, Alistair and one of the guards facing the last Hurlock, whom, I had to admit, was holding its own against two swords with its shield, attacking whenever it could find the opening. One of the guards lay dying, trying to hold in his intestines, for his stomach had been torn open by a darkspawn sword. The mage was hard at work, casting a spell to end the life of a genlock that was charging it. He outstretched his hand, a jagged bolt of lightning bursting from his hand, scorching the genlock. It fell face first onto the ground without another breath. I started to move, but felt searing pain in my left leg. I couldn't suppress the cry of pain, and turned to see one of the genlocks lying on its belly, the fierce determination in its eyes keeping it alive long enough for one final blow. Its determination couldn't hold out against the rim of my shield as I slammed it down on its head as hard as I could.

With a grunt, I jerked its knife out of my leg and limped over to help Alistair and the guard. However, before I had closed the distance, Duke flew into view, slamming into the hurlock's back with a howl. It had no chance against Duke's powerful jaws as they closed around the back of the darkspawn's neck, Duke breaking its neck with several vicious jerks.

It was then that I noticed my labored breath, the warm, sticky blood that was splattered on my face. However, there was no fear. Only thrilled exhiliration at the battle, the spilling of evil blood. How much have I lost myself over the past month, I thought. One of the Ash warriors I had spoke to while in the camp said it was like that for them, that there was no fear, no pain, only the joy of ending darkspawn lives. Surely that wouldn't have happened so soon.

Alistair walked up to me, seeming just as exhausted as I was. He glanced down at my limp, worry creasing his brow. "You're hurt," he said simply.

I waved my shield at the notion, dismissing his worry with, "It's just a scratch. I'm fine."

He set his sword down and started digging into his belt. "If that's a scratch, then I'm a hairless gopher." Finding what he was looking for, he handed me a small vial full of a bright red liquid. "Here, drink this potion. It should help," he explained.

I accepted the vial and downed it in a single gulp. The sweet liquid was thick, like ale, although as soon as I swallowed it, I felt my leg itching. Soon, there was a blessed cessation of pain, and I turned to see that my leg had stitched itself back together in moments. I bounced on my leg to be certain that it was fine, and felt no pain.

I nodded and said, "Much better. We need to keep a few of those handy."

The mage walked up to us and said, "We'll need more than a few, I fear. There were screams closer to the tower before these monsters rushed us. I'm afraid darkspawn have already infiltrated the tower."

Alistair met my worried glance with his own concern; that wasn't good. "We should be quick then," I said. "We may miss the signal if we have to battle through a horde of darkspawn to get to the top of the tower."

Alistair nodded grimly and turned to the mage and guard, ordering them to follow us. I turned to Duke, who was already by my side, panting lightly with what looked like a silly grin on his face. Well, it would've been silly had it not been covered in black blood. "You ready, boy," I asked him, and gave a bark in reply, eager to continue on the mission.

I nodded and jogged towards the entrance of the tower. There were indeed more yells, more screeches of metal striking metal. We came upon a short patch of grass maybe thirty yards long, rubble strewn across the ground. To the left was the stairs leading up to the tower, two pillars on either side of the staircase. An arrow streaked by me, whistling next to my ear before I could bring my shield up. A genlock stood atop the closest pillar, already nocking another arrow.

"Take out that archer," I ordered the mage, the only one of us capable of ranged combat. He nodded and his face firmed into concentration, his hands already in the throes of another spell. "Guard the mage," I barked, placing myself, and my shield, in between the archer and mage, Alistair and the guard doing the same, trying to cover up as much of the mage as they could. Duke barked angrily, awaiting the order to charge.

I barely heard the twang of the darkspawn's bow before an arrow slammed into my shield. I heard a cry behind me as the mage yelled, "Down!"

I dropped to my knee just as a white ball shot ahead, slamming into the genlock's chest and toppling from its perch.

"Go," I screamed to everyone, Duke immediately rushing into a charge. He practically flew up the steps, catching a running darkspawn unawares as he clamped down onto its leg and dragged it to the ground. The rest of us were at the bottom of the stairs as another arrow whistled by, slamming into the guard's shoulder. He grunted, ignoring the pain, and continued his flight up the stairs.

We were met by half a dozen darkspawn, screeching their unholy battle cries. I charged a hurlock, eager to end its life. When only a few feet from it, I ducked underneath my shield, holding it above my head. I felt its axe slide off my shield, and I sent my sword forth, stabbing the creature underneath its armpit. The tip of my sword came through the other side, a wave of blood splashing forth. It gurgled as I slid my sword out of its side, bringing my shield to bear just as another darkspawn swung its wicked sword at me.

I slashed at its chest, but it managed to block my sword. I managed to ignore the jolt long enough to sweep its legs out from under it, stabbing my sword into its chest. It grappled with my sword, pain and fear creased across its ugly face. I twisted my sword viciously, ending its pain. Pulling it out with a jerk, I parried another sword with no time to spare.

Huddling underneath my shield, I bowled it over like before, stomping down on its throat as I passed. Stumbling from the tangle of its arms and legs, I felt something slam into my shield, throwing me to the ground. A genlock clung to the shield, viciously trying to stab over the shield with a small knife. I bucked my hips, throwing its small body to the side. I rared back, and slammed the rim of my shield into its chest. Hauling myself up to my feet, I finished it with a quick slash the throat.

I spun around, surveying the battlefield with a quick glance. There were six more guards from the tower, battling desperately with darkspawn, dodging and blocking blows as fast as they could. Alistair slew the hurlock he was fighting with a thrust the chest, and the mage was in the motions of a spell. The on guard that was with us before was lying on the ground, his chest torn open. His eyes watched me with dead stare.

From the center of the battle, a mighty roar vibrated through the air, and a darkspawn, larger than the other hurlocks, stepped into view, a massive axe held in its muscular hands. A strangely wrought horned helm sat on its head, and red eyes gleaned forth from the shadows within its helm. They fell on me, and it issued another roar, this one of challenge. I charged forth without another thought, yelling out, "Highever!"

The darkspawn closed the distance as well, hefting its wicked axe high above its head. When we were only feet away, it swung its axe downwards. I dove to the side, desperately swinging for its chest. My sword bounced off of its armor with a clang, the half hearted strike not even making a dent. The darkspawn stumbled a bit from the strength of the swipe, giving me time to pull myself to my feet.

We eyed each other as we slowly circled the other, searching for any weakness in our stances. The darkspawn charged, a fierce cry erupting from its throat. I stood my ground for a moment, but bent backwards as the axe sliced through air where my head was, a small gust of wind kissing my face.

I threw myself forward, leading with the tip of my sword. The creature managed to squeeze by the thrust, sucking its stomach in enough to narrowly avoid the strike. It brought its axe high over its head again, much quicker than I could expect. I barely stepped the side as the axe planted itself into the . ground. I could feel the vibrations of the strike in the bottom of my feet.

With another roar, the beast threw itself at me, tackling me to the ground. I landed on my back with a jerk, the darkspawn's weight slamming the wind out of my lungs. I felt my arm pinned against my chest, the weight of the creature crushing my chest. It's muscled hands wrapped around my neck, trying to throttle the life out of me. I struggled underneath its weight, trying to throw it off, but couldn't. Black creased around the edges of my vision, my limbs feeling weightless as I choked on the air.

I shoved my blade downwards, hoping to strike its stomach. It cried out with pain, the weight immediately receding as it threw itself off of me. I rolled to the side, ignoring the lack of air in my lungs as I stood to my feet. I felt dizzy as I stabbed my sword forward, catching it under the chin. The sword slid easily into its head, cracking through its skull, and erupting from the top of its head, covered in bits of gray gore.

I jerked my sword out of its skull, suddenly feeling very old and weary. I looked up, seeing that two of the guards had fallen, one trying to hold his blood inside his body as it groped for his throat, his mouth open in a bone chilling gurgle. The other was still, his back turned to my, his head a few feet away from his body.

Two of the guards finished off the last genlock, each stabbing it with their swords. Duke was tearing at the throat of an already dead hurlock. Alistair walked up to my side, a shallow cut along his forehead. "It's going to be a long night," he said. "Too bad we can't have a few women and ale, huh?"

"Last I saw, you weren't too good with the ladies," I teased, surprising myself by how lightly I could speak the joke after killing so many. Alistair allowed me a light chuckle of his own, allowing himself the slight respite from the carnage.

We waited for the small band to regroup, and in all, we had four of the tower guards, the mage, Duke, Alistair, and myself. I had my eyes closed, trying to steel myself for the battles that would surely follow. I felt someone nudge me, and glanced to see Alistair. He barely tossed his head towards the group, and I turned to see every pair of eyes staring intently at me. Some were nervous, some scared, some angry, but all were looking to me, searching for leadership.

I felt squeamish under the stares of so many, and barely suppressed the shiver that crawled up my spine. I glanced to Duke, who was watching me with cooly. He was also waiting for orders, but there was patience in his intelligent eyes. He leaned forward to lick my sword hand, the knuckles of my hands bone white from gripping the hilt tightly in my anxiety. I took a deep breath to steady myself, gaining confidence from my hound, my wonderful hound.

I faced the stares with renewed determination. I will not fail you, Father, I thought to myself. "This is our duty," I said, feeling the steely determination in my voice. "We are Grey Wardens, and this is our mission. We will not fail." I received assuring nods from everyone of them, each of them willing to fight, and die, for the Grey Wardens, for the fate of Ferelden. I turned for the tower entrance, no more weariness in my step, consoled by the strength of my new family.