A Rogue's Tale
Prologue:
The Calm Before the Storm
Ferelden, Lothering, 1 month before the fall of Ostagar
"We should leave for Denerim, Marian. We must think of the children. We could join your Aunt and Uncle's family in Denerim. They are always asking when we intend to visit. The word is that the Darkspawn are too numerous to count, that a Battle at Ostagar will only result in the defeat of King Cailan's army. Messengers arrive every day with dire news. We cannot wait any longer. Perhaps we should go as far as the Free Marches. I have family there in Ostwick and didn't you say you had a wealthy uncle with an estate in Kirkwall."
"We can't just leave, Kane. What about my family here? As we speak Garrett goes to Ostagar in the hope of joining the Grey Wardens. I would feel like I'm abandoning him if we fled to Denerim or Kirkwall. And what about mother and the twins, you know Bethany can't risk travelling to a city full of Templars."
"We can all go. Garrett is a fool with his head in the clouds. He has romantic notions of a great battle and victory with him and the Grey Wardens leading the fight. It is beyond foolish and just a little selfish. What of Francesca and the children? What will become of them if Garrett is slain? He should be here preparing to leave with his family, just like we will have to do. I will not allow our children to be murdered by these disgusting creatures just because my wife doesn't know what's best for her. I'm the head of this household and I say we go to Denerim, and if that's not safe we go to Ostwick or Kirkwall. As for Bethany, she will have to take her chances with the Templars. This family has made too many sacrifices to keep her out of harms way."
"Perhaps you should go to Denerim with the children, take Francesca and her children with you."
"If I leave, Marian, you will be leaving with me."
"I'm sorry, Kane, I can't go. Mother won't leave until she knows if Garrett is safe, and the twins won't leave without mother."
"As my wife, Marian, I demand you come with us."
"Since when did I ever let you boss me around, Kane? I think you're right though. The children do need to be out of harms way. You should load up the wagons in the morning, and head straight for Denerim. Take as many of our possessions as you can fit on the wagons and leave before we are crawling with Darkspawn."
"Don't be ridiculous, Marian. I can't just leave you here."
"It's for the best, Kane."
"The best for who? The best for you maybe. Perhaps you want rid of your husband and five children. What of little Emilia, she is only a year old. She needs her mother with her. We don't want to have to worry for weeks about whether you will ever show up or not. What if the Darkspawn overrun Lothering? This seems very likely if the reports are correct."
"Stop being difficult, Kane. Take the children and go, we'll follow as soon as we have word of Garrett. You know mother won't leave without him. He's her eldest child and definitely her favourite. I can't see the problem. Leave tomorrow and you should reach Denerim in a few weeks time. You'll have Francesca for company, if she agrees to go, which she most definitely will because she's always hated living in a small country town like Lothering. Go to my Uncle Uther's estate, he'll be glad to see you and will be delighted to see the children. I doubt you'll be alone on the roads. More people are abandoning Lothering every day. There should be a steady stream of wagons leaving for Denerim. It's probably best to travel in a group. You'll be less likely to be seen as easy prey by bandits and highwaymen."
"I won't try and force you to come with us, Marian, I know from experience it would prove futile. But I expect you to join us as soon as you have word of Garrett. That damn fool had better not be the death of my wife and her family, I would never forgive him."
"Garrett is an headstrong man, sure of himself and confident he can make a difference. He's a capable warrior and will surely be a great Grey Warden, if given the chance."
"I think it must run in your family, Marian. Selfishness I mean, you should both put your family first."
"I'm getting tired of this argument, Kane. Just go to bed and get some sleep before setting off in the morning. I'm going to visit mother and tell her what is going on. I'll also call in on Francesca and ask her if she wants to travel with you. You'll see, Kane, it will all turn out fine."
Kane didn't answer. He merely looked at me with those sad blue eyes and walked slowly upstairs to the bedroom, and he knew he had lost the argument, just as he always did. Don't get me wrong, Kane is a good man, and many women would count their blessings having him as their husband. He's kind and considerate. He adores the children and makes time for all of us. But that doesn't mean I'm happy with my life. I was married by the age of sixteen and had Shalandra, my eldest child soon after the marriage. I've had four more children since then in the past ten years. I'll be twenty five next week, and I'm seriously considering what I have missed in life.
Don't get me wrong, I love my children and my husband, but it's getting so it's not quite enough. I long for excitement, I want to travel and see the world. I want to dress in exquisite clothes and be pampered by countless maids at my beck and call. I want many things, but I'm certain of one thing, while ever I'm stuck in this situation, I'll never do anything even remotely exciting. And now my family will be moving to Denerim. I'll miss them terribly. But who knows, perhaps I'll have a brief taste of the freedom I seek. The question is though, will I be able to let go of this freedom when it's time to go back to Kane.
"Hello, mother. I thought I should let you know, Kane's leaving for Denerim with the children early in the morning. I've spoke to Francesca and she's agreed to take her children and go with him. They're going to stay at Uncle Uther's Estate."
"You aren't going with them, Marian?"
"I know you won't leave until you have word of Garrett and I won't leave without you and the twins."
"I bet Kane was angry."
"He was. But it's my decision. The children will be out of harms way and we can make preparations to follow them."
"Do you really think Ostagar and then Lothering will fall so easily to the Darkspawn?"
"They say the king underestimates the Darkspawn, and that he is overconfident. We can't afford to be here if the king is defeated. We can wait until we have word of Garrett, but then we must leave. Besides you're always saying how much you would love to visit Uncle Uther and the family, he is father's brother afterall and he always did have a soft spot for you, much to Aunt Mordrina's displeasure." Mother laughed at the mention of our dour Aunt, and the often cross-words they had shared over the years.
Mother looked tired. She had since father had died. I couldn't help but admire her courage and dedication to her family. Garrett was the one she doted on endlessly, but she loved all her children.
"I think maybe, I should send Morgana with Kane, she's only fourteen and I couldn't see her get caught up in this terrible mess."
"What about the twins, you could send them as well?"
"They're eighteen now, Marian, it's no longer my decision. I would see all my family safe and away from what may soon be bearing down on our little town of Lothering. But I can't force them to go, and they won't leave without me and I won't leave without knowing my firstborn is safe and well."
Poor mother, so utterly dedicated to her family, she was probably just as terrified as everyone else of what may happen if Ostagar fell to the Darkspawn. But she wouldn't show it and she wouldn't want us to know she was scared. She would suffer in silence, praying that all of us were safe.
The following day, there seemed to be an urgency about the people of Lothering. Word had gotten out that Kane, Francesca, Morgana and the children were heading for Denerim. I helped load up the three wagons, they were taking with them. Much of our property and all our worldly wealth, such as it was, would go with Kane. By the time Kane had finished, all that remained were some essentials for myself. Such as clothes, and a bag of silver for food and other such things. The farmhouse and the farm animals I would try and sell before I joined them in Denerim. I didn't hold out much hope of selling the farm, but someone might by the animals. It had taken ten years to build the farm up to its present state, and we were quite wealthy for Lothering residents, but now it would all go, all those years wasted. I'd never even seen a Darkspawn but already I hated and despised them passionately.
I stood with mother and the twins as a dozen wagons joined Kane on the road out of Lothering. I had said my goodbyes to Kane and the children, to Francesca and my nieces and nephews and my youngest sister Morgana. I wasn't really one for public shows of emotion but tears streamed down my face as they disappeared around the first bend in the road. The children had all cried when I told them I wouldn't be coming until their Uncle Garrett returned. Mother held my left hand tightly, Bethany held my right and rested her head on my shoulder, and she too was weeping uncontrollably. She loved playing with the children and would often perform harmless magic tricks for them which they all loved. Carver stood a few feet from us chatting to one of the local farm girls, before long they had wandered off into the fields, but no one but me really noticed. Let them have their fun while they can get it, who knows what awaits us in the future.
Ferelden, Lothering, 1 day before the fall of Ostagar
The past month had been surprisingly hectic. I had kept myself busy on the farm during the day, tending to the animals, Bethany helped, and even Carver when he could be pulled away from his seemingly growing army of admirers. During the evening I practised my blade skills. Two daggers were my chosen weapons in a fight, presents from my father just before he died. I had practised with them ever since. It all brought back to me the early days of my youth. I had been something of a tomboy and mischievous rogue. I was always in trouble with the town guard and often with mother and father. I never let my dubious but undoubted talents go unused. In a different life I would have been a dashing rogue, the scourge of Denerim and other cities across Thedas as I sought to make my fortune at the expense of those with too much wealth. I often daydreamed about it, making my fortune, but it simply wasn't to be. I had responsibilities.
I had luckily managed to sell off all the animals over the course of the past month. They fetched a good price surprisingly and left me with enough sovereigns to manage until I reached Denerim. The farm remained unsold. Nobody wanted to take the risk. Animals they could move easily enough, but who would want to buy a farm that was likely to be overrun with Darkspawn at any moment. Word reached us by letter that Kane and the children had been offered a place at Uncle Uther's Estate. This was a great relief to know they had escaped and reached Denerim safely.
For all those that had left Lothering for the safety of Denerim or other cities, the arrival in Lothering of refugees from small villages and farms around Ostagar seemed relentless. Lothering was full with refugees, either seeking shelter and protection or preparing for the long journey to one of Ferelden's cities. There had been a message from Garrett a week ago. He had passed the joining ritual and been accepted into the Grey Wardens. He expressed concern that there were far too few Wardens present to make much of a difference, but he was determined to fight the Darkspawn horde. Garrett also mentioned being excited about meeting King Cailan, and seemed a little awe struck.
The letter at least cheered up mother and Bethany, who wouldn't admit it, but hero worshipped her eldest brother. Carver as ever remained silent, they had never really gotten on that well and it showed whenever they met. Garrett was Bethany's protector, and Carver was most definitely her tormentor. I was always the one in the middle and refused to take sides.
I visited mother late that evening, only to find her hurriedly loading up the two wagons she had with all her worldly goods.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
"I'm getting ready to leave, Marian. Quickly now, help me get everything packed on the wagons."
"Mother, calm down, mother, you need to calm down and relax for a moment. What is suddenly so urgent?"
"A messenger has just arrived in town. They say the Darkspawn horde is on the move, the battle for Ostagar is beginning."
"What about Garrett?"
"I don't know what to do about Garrett, Marian. But I can do something for the three children I still have with me here in Lothering."
"Why the sudden change of heart, mother?"
"Because I have been foolish, putting the three of you in harms way. I wish you had all gone with Kane, I could rest easy then."
"Just stop a minute, mother. We can't leave tonight, its dangerous travelling at night, and the roads are packed with refugees."
"We'll have to head into the hills if there is no other way. Others are leaving with us, five families so far, there may be more by morning."
"I think we should at least wait until word of the battle reaches us, perhaps the king will defeat the Darkspawn, and then all this will be for nothing."
We spent the next four hours loading everything onto the wagons, by the time we had finished we were all ready for a much needed rest. I managed to persuade mother to lock the wagons in one of the barns and wait for word from Ostagar.
Ferelden, Lothering, 1 week after the fall of Ostagar
It was as we all feared, a messenger arrived several days ago with the news that King Cailan had fallen in battle and the army was defeated. This was swiftly followed by the arrival of Garrett and two of his companions. He introduced them as Belana and Varrell, like him they were both Grey Wardens and according to them perhaps the only Grey Wardens to survive the Battle of Ostagar.
We spoke only briefly before Garrett said we needed to get out of town immediately. Lothering was in uproar. Every road out of Lothering was packed with wagons and refugees, not to mention soldiers fleeing the battle, the lucky ones. Mother gathered up her friends from around the town and arranged for them to join her wagons in a trek into the hills. Garrett warned it could already be too late to escape, but agreed they needed to flee before the main horde arrived in town.
After loading what little remained onto the wagons, we set out for the hills. Mother and Carver took one of the wagons, while Bethany rode with me on the other. Garrett and his companions rode their horses at the head of the wagon train that now numbered fifteen wagons and fifty people.
We travelled for half a day without incident, until finally we saw them, hundreds of Darkspawn that had advanced forward beyond the main army. The pursuit began.
