Part One- Dragon Age Origins; My Version
Ostagar still flamed. Darkspawn lay wrecked amongst the mass of soldiers' bodies. The smell of putrid taint still lingered in the air staining the Kocari Wilds. A writhing mass of bloodied genlocks, hurlocks and ogres rallied preparing their blight once more. Although both King Cailan and Teyrn Loghain thought that it wasn't a true blight, due to the suspicious lack of the arch demon at the head of the horde, Duncan had known better. His instincts alone could determine the danger they faced but perhaps he knew of the monumental task ahead for the two Grey Wardens. He knew his time had come; the Joining had sustained that. He'd told very few of this- that he planned to travel to Orzammar in the Frostback Mountains to fight with the dwarves, as all dying Grey Wardens did, ready and prepared to die in the thick of battle amongst their formidable foes in the Deep Roads; the Darkspawn But that wouldn't happen. Maybe it was for the best though; he'd honoured the whole of Ferelden by fighting at King Cailan's side. Their roars and cries were thick and heathen spreading blackness across the land. The Kocari Wilds was no safe haven. Although it harboured many good hiding spots and great amount of cover it offered little in the way of protection and reliability, especially considering that this was where most of the Darkspawn had come pouring in from. But, for now, there was time. Time to run. To flee. So they did but not without the thought implanted deep in their minds. A plan…
The wind rattled the shutters of the little cottage. She awoke with a yawn and, once her eyes had opened, saw the bed in which she lay. The cotton rag of a blanket was curled up around her but she was basically stripped down. She let out a long, low groan as she tried to stretch but a bandage across her chest made it increasingly difficult. Images flashed through her head of the last thing she'd remembered; her and Tamlen finding the three shemlen in the forest and them telling her about the ruins; the journey into the cavernous depths in search of relics or adventure; the mirror and the demon; being cast out of the clan to the Grey Warden after Tamlen's funeral rites, as the Darkspawn were said to have devoured his remains, due to the 'Right of Conscription'; meeting Alistair and venturing into the wilds with two others before the attack and finding Morrigan; the witch; the joining before the siege where it came down to just Alistair and herself; the battle at Ostigar where they ventured up the tower to light the signal fire for Loghain's men; then nothing. "Loghain? What had happened?" she thought sitting up and looking around. In the corner of the room was a fire and she found herself staring deep into the pouring embers, feeling herself get drawn in, her eyes swirling. A shuffle to her side distracted her and she began to return. In her peripheral view was a figure and, during her momentary absence, she'd curled up with her knees tucked up to her sharp, prominent chin with the blanket wrapped warmly around her whole body. Her misty blue eyes glanced to her left and she saw the woman stood before her in a scarlet red robe and feathered collar. An artificial pearl necklace dangled from her neck and her up-done, jet black hair framed her blazing brown eyes beautifully.
"Ah, good! You're awake," her voice was pompous and slightly arrogant but in a whimsical sense, "Mother will want to see you, then"
"What exactly happened? I-I don't remember"
"Well, you're tower was attacked and you were caught up in the onslaught. It seems your 'trusted general' was a traitor to you all. Loghain pulled his men out of the battlefield leaving your King and your mentor to die alongside the rest of your little organisation" she explained.
"And Alistair?"
"Your little friend? Oh, yes. He's fine but he didn't take the news well I'm afraid. He's waiting- or should I say sulking? - outside," she stared blankly but smiled gently, "What was your name again?"
"Just call me Carian. You are Morrigan, yes?" she asked in return. Morrigan nodded slowly looking the elf up and down carefully taking her in fully, "Is it true? About you being a witch or apostate or mage or whatever you are labelled as". She laughed slightly and smiled.
"I am able to light a fire at the flick of my hands, to freeze a hunk of meat with a swipe of my staff and kill an intruding monster with a sheer thought but I am none of those things. I am but a whisper of magic in a long chain of spoken stories in history spread across the whole of Thedas. I will not be a pawn in the games of other people's imaginations but shall simply continue on my own path" Morrigan riddled. Carian looked at her perceptively and grinned.
"Perhaps we are more alike than you care to think," Carian replied biting her bottom lip, "Where is Alistair?" Morrigan turned and opened the door behind her gesturing Carian through. They walked outside into the open air of the outside world. The wilds were a misty place now with the smell of Darkspawn quick on the breeze. Carian's eyes darted around and she saw her clothes strewn along a washing line and then saw Alistair. Before he turned around she pulled her under-shirt and greaves off the line of string stretching from one wooden post to another frantically pulling them on and reaching out for her rough leather boots, which sat on a wooden tree stump next to a bucket of grimy, misty water. Her mind raced with a million thoughts as she hobbled along still tugging at her right boot. The Dalish armour she's been given years ago was sat off to her left being polished down by an old woman. Flemeth, was her name. Jangling around in her pocket was the Keeper's ring she'd been given and her parents' amulet. Delving deep into the pocket, Carian retrieved them and put them on smoothing the shiny surface of the wooden amulet. It had intricate carvings of animals; hares, wolves, birds and the like but, best of all, were immaculate figures of the beautiful halla with their ornately carved horns. She cupped it in her hands and closed her eyes tightly trying not to cry, even though she had every right to.
"See, I told you she'd be fine!" Flemeth cackled. Carian opened her eyes slowly and saw Alistair turn around and smile letting out a long, exasperated sigh.
"You're ok? I thought you were… gone. Like the others. Like…" he drifted with glazed over, teary looking eyes, "Duncan. I-I can't believe Loghain would do something like this, least of all to King Cailan. After all, his daughter is- I mean, was - married to him"
"Look, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I know I didn't really know Duncan but I do know he was very fond of you. I-I can't really get too choked up about it; I mean, I didn't really have any connection to him, except the fact that he saved my life which, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for, but…" she replied calmly thinking back to the day in the ruins when Tamlen disappeared, "Well, all I mean to say is, I'm so sorry". Alistair looked at her gratefully and nodded. His deep eyes were captivating and, whilst she looked in his, she noticed the single, crystal-coloured tear running down his cheek. Carian stretched a hand and Alistair took it whilst she pulled him in and wrapped her arms around him. They stood for a while as Alistair cried and Carian comforted him. Morrigan and Flemeth looked on and grew impatient.
"Enough," Morrigan growled shaking her head in disgust, "Is it me or does anyone feel the need to vomit? No? 'Tis just me, then"
"Oh, Morrigan! Such a prude" Flemeth cackled loudly standing up from the log stump on which she sat.
"Will we be having two or no guests for supper?" Morrigan asked grimly. Flemeth sighed deeply and shook her head.
"None, I hope. After I rescued you from that tower I- decided- on my repayment; you take Morrigan" Flemeth said deeply.
"Good, I'll get- wait, what?!" Morrigan shouted, "Do I get a say in this, Mother?!"
"No, you do not," Flemeth replied before turning to Alistair and Carian, "You have the papers of the Grey Wardens. The 'Right of Conscription'?"
"No, we won't use the 'Right of Conscription'. Ever, ever again" Carian retorted shaking her head rapidly.
"It does not matter what you want. You shall recruit people and defeat this Blight. It is, after all, your duty" Flemeth continued, "Now, gather your things and leave for Lothering immediately there is no time to waste".
Within a few minutes everyone was set and about to leave.
"Very well, Mother. Mind the stew on the fire, I don't want to come back to a burnt down hut" Morrigan sighed heavily heaving the bag over her shoulder.
"It's more likely that the Darkspawn will have gotten to me," Flemeth replied solemly.
"No, I just meant-"
"I know what you meant," Flemeth nodded calmly folding her arms, "Do try to have fun, dear". They walked off the path and into the wilds towards Lothering in silence except for Morrigan's heavy sigh and Alistair's occasional sob.