Back for more Arianne Skye Cousland-Theirin shenanigans?
If you missed the first installment, Forgotten Verses, I highly suggest checking it out as I reference many of my AU occurances :) You can find it through my profile page and thank you for reading!
After the end of the Fifth Blight the Hero of Ferelden settled in to be Queen beside her husband Alistair. She gave birth to their son, Duncan, 6 months later. Not 2 months after that she was called away on Grey Warden business to Amaranthine. Her 'guide', Mhairi, had come to collect her at Denerim and soon they were almost at Vigil's Keep. As they made their way down the path the Keep slowly came into view and Arianne held a hand in front of Mhairi.
"Wait. Something's not right... There are darkspawn nearby." she said, eyes scanning the immediate area. The warrior instantly became alert.
"I thought it was strange that no one had come out to greet us... But darkspawn? The Blight is over, why...?" Suddenly the pair heard snarls to either side. A genlock leapt at the queen and she neatly drew her short sword and cleaved open its neck. The creature's warm blood spattered her and more appeared.
They fought their way to the gates of the Keep and found a grungy soldier battling a few hurlocks. He smashed the last of them down and turned, jumping at the sight of the queen and her guide.
"I-it's you! The Hero of Ferelden!"
"What's the situation?" she asked, immediately serious.
"I don't r-rightly know, I- the darkspawn have taken the Keep! The Wardens... couldn't stand against them..."
"Good man. I'm retaking the Keep, you stay out here and I will send survivors to you." The man nodded shakily. Arianne and Mhairi broke into the Keep and swept through, killing all the darkspawn they could find.
They ran into a prison block to check for any survivors that may have fled there. Arianne, in the lead, recoiled as she felt the immense heat of magefire. A very young man was standing amidst a pile of darkspawn and a few Templar bodies. Flame sprouted from his fingertips at the last darkspawn in the small room. It screeched and fell with a loud thud. The boy turned around, he couldn't have been more than 19, shaking his hands as if to cool them down.
"Er... I didn't do it." he said, shrugging, "Don't get me wrong though, I'm not torn up about them dying. Biff there made the funniest gurgle when he went down." He motioned to one of the Templar corpses. Arianne stared at him for a moment then chuckled.
"Who are you?"
"You may call me Anders, dear lady. I am a mage and sadly a wanted apostate."
"An apostate? At Vigil's Keep?" Mhairi chimed in.
"We were stopping here on our way back to the tower. Just a short rest, they said, and now they're dead. Such a shame."
"We need to check the rest of the Keep for survivors. From what I saw you are quite a competent mage, we could use your help." Arianne said.
"Then you have it. I can't say I'm fond of these darkspawn but safety in numbers right?" Anders chuckled.
"Are you sure, Commander? He is an apostate..." Mhairi stated, unsurely.
"Mages are the best of friends and the worst of enemies. Plus, I've had my fair share of dealings with mages, we need the help." the queen said.
"As you say, Commander."
Suddenly the group heard loud shouts from down the hall. Arianne paused for a moment, recognizing the voice, then darted off to see if she heard right. Anders and Mhairi followed close behind. The queen entered the room and grinned broadly. Inside stood Ferelden's favorite dwarf fending off a few hurlocks and even an alpha. He turned to see Arianne and waved, momentarily ignoring the darkspawn. Anders fired a few fireballs and the spawn were quickly downed. The red-bearded dwarf sauntered over to Arianne and leaned on the wall.
"Been wondering when you would show up. When these darkspawn appeared I was thinking, 'You just wait till the new Commander gets here, you'll all be spitting yer teeth out yer arses!' Heh, followed the fighting and sure enough, here ya are."
"Oghren?" the rogue asked incredulously.
"He was here when I left; I thought the Wardens would have kicked him out by now." Mhairi said.
"Ah, the recruit with the great rack." Oghren chuckled.
"Yes, a prize for the Wardens, to be sure." Mhairi snarked.
"I know, I know. Too good to be true, right? Hey, who's the mage? Yer boyfriend? Should I leave you two alone?" Mhairi easily ignored the comment and Anders quipped back.
"Wow, a dwarf that smells like a brewery. You don't see that anywhere."
"Hah, a mage comedian. Thought those normally died young." the dwarf hiccupped. Arianne laughed.
"It's good to see you again, Oghren."
"I find that hard to believe." Anders said.
"As do I." Mhairi agreed.
"Come on, let's go introduce some darkspawn arses to my foot. Only polite thing to do." Oghren said.
The now 4 person group went deeper into the Keep until the only place they had left was the catwalks. Arianne paused the group before the door. The taint in her blood warned her there was a particularly nasty darkspawn up ahead. They readied themselves for a fight. A voice snarled as they opened the door.
"...be taking this one gently. We are wishing no more death than is necessary."
Before the creature was a man being held by another darkspawn, "Necessary? As if your kind has ever done anything else!" he spat.
"You are thinking you know of our kind, human? It is understandable. But that will soon be changed."
"Others will come, creature! They will stop you!"
"There it is!" Mhairi called, as the group approached.
The talking darkspawn turned to face them and laughed, "It seems your words be true, more than you are guessing."
"It's talking!" Anders exclaimed. Oghren brandished his axe.
"Well, let's shut it up already!"
"Commander!" the captive identified.
"Capture the Grey Warden, the others, they may be killed." the talking darkspawn ordered. Arianne's group dealt with the other darkspawn on the roof quickly and Arianne took off the leader's head with a spinning flourish.
The captive, now freed, stood shakily, "Commander, I owe you my life." Anders gave the man a quick check over and they began to hear the sound of marching. The man moved to the parapet and glanced down at the gates, "Hmm... soldiers on the road. It seems we have more company. Hopefully they're more hospitable than our previous guests."
The queen gave a nod to her companions and they went back down to the gates to greet the newcomers. A unit of ten soldiers led by, of all people, Alistair, decked out in his 'King' armor. Arianne bowed in front of him and he chuckled, "It looks like I arrived a bit late. Too bad. I rather miss the whole darkspawn-killing thing."
"King Alistair!" Mhairi breathed, kneeling as fast as she could.
"I'd wanted to come and give the Wardens a formal welcome. I certainly wasn't expecting this. What's the situation?"
The man Arianne had saved stood and spoke, "What darkspawn remained have fled, your Majesty. The Grey Wardens who had arrived from Orlais appear to be either dead or... missing."
"Missing? As in taken by the darkspawn? Do they even do that?" Alistair asked.
"I do not know, your Majesty. I know only that we cannot account for all the Wardens"
"I see. And how about you, dear wife? You weren't badly hurt I see?" The king turned back to Ari. She smiled and shook her head.
"Something like this won't bring me down, Alistair."
"See? This is why I married you. You kick ass better than I do!" he laughed, "You have quite the task ahead of you. Really, I'd like to help you fight darkspawn, but you're on your own for the moment."
Oghren burped suddenly, "Hey, what am I? Chopped nug liver?
"From the smell, that's not a bad guess." Anders sniped.
"I came here to join the Grey Wardens, and from the looks of it you could use the extra hands! Where's the giant cup I'll gargle and spit!"
"Of course, Ohgren, you'll be welcome amongst us." Arianne smirked.
"Ha! Well smack my ass and call me Sally. I'm in!" Mhairi grimaced.
"I... suppose all are welcome, in this dire time."
"Joining the Wardens, hey? Well, good luck with that." Anders snorted. A woman behind Alistair stepped up, dressed in full Templar regalia.
"King Alistair! Your Majesty, beware. This man is a dangerous criminal." she said angrily.
Alistair just glanced at her in half-hearted amusement, "Oh, the dwarf is a bit of an arse, but I wouldn't go that-"
"She means me." Anders put in.
"This is an apostate who we were in the process of bringing back to the Circle to face justice!" the knight explained.
"Oh please, the things you people know about justice would fit into a thimble. I'll just escape again, anyhow." he sighed.
"Never! I will see you hanged for what you've done here, murderer!" she shouted. Anders drew back, confused for a moment.
"Murderer? But those Templars were... oh, what's the use? You won't believe me anyhow."
"Was there something you didn't tell me, Anders? Or is she referring to the Templars who were guarding you from before?" the queen asked.
"The guards he killed!" The woman persisted.
"Quiet." Ari ordered, "It seems there has been a misunderstanding. The two Templars set to guard Anders were killed by the darkspawn that attacked Vigils Keep. I arrived too late to help them, finding Anders fighting for his own life. He joined with me to restore order to the Keep. He is no murderer, in fact, he is a hero." This stunned the knight into silence, "I also credit him as an exceptional mage and hereby invoke the Right of Conscription as Commander of the Grey. Anders is to be a Grey Warden."
Finally the Templar found her voice, "What? Never!"
"I remind you of to whom you speak." Arianne said icily. The woman bit down on her anger and bowed slightly.
"If... if your Majesty feels that is best."
"Ha! Way to go, kid! Welcome aboard!" Oghren bellowed.
"Me? A Grey Warden? I guess that will work..." Anders smiled incredulously. Mhairi just sighed again, utterly defeated.
"Congratulations, ser mage. I look forward to fighting at your side."
"Then, if you have everything under control, I will need to take my leave." Alistair interrupted. Arianne turned back to him and placed her hand on his arm.
"Alistair, wait... How is... how is Duncan?" The man smiled down at her warmly.
"Morrigan and Wynne are taking the best possible care of him, but... he misses you, love. As do I." He leaned forward and kissed her lightly, "Finish up this business quickly so you can come home."
"I will."
