Kindred Spirit In The Darkness By Megan Crockett
It's a cold and dreary night in the land of Amaranthine as two mages, a male human named Armand and an elven woman named Selene, make their way through the Arling to get to the Knotwood Hills. The two mages had originally come from the Tower of Magi at Lake Calenhad but they did not escape from their prison life in the tower like so many other mages who have tried. In fact they had been conscripted by the Warden Commander to join the ranks of the Grey Wardens. From the tower, they traveled to Denerim where they were greeted by King Alistair and the Warden Commander herself as she was just returning from her duties at Vigils Keep and to return to her life at court. While there the two mages endured the Joining ritual to which they passed completely. As a reward for passing the Joining, the Warden Commander allowed the newly recruited mages to be stationed at the Knotwood Hills to observe any remaining Darkspawn activity that may occur. Especially after the events at Vigils Keep and rebuilding the City of Amaranthine, the Warden Commander didn't want to loose more land to the Darkspawn.
Upon entering the baron hillside, they came across a fierce battle raging between a dwarven woman and a small handful of blighted werewolves. "Shouldn't we help her master?" Selene asked Armand worriedly. "No she can handle this herself. This does not concern us," Armand replied while folding his arms across his chest and continuing to watch the battle. Selene did not think that it was wise to go against her master but also thought better of it and defied her master anyway. She took one look at her master then dashed off to help the dwarven woman with her battle. Armand said nothing to Selene as he looked onward.
The dwarf turned her attention to the mage suddenly appearing at her side as Selene began to mumble a few archaic words under her breath then from out of no where a sudden chill filled the air. The werewolves began to shiver at the cold and quiver in fear as Selene rushed out of the blizzard air and sent bolts of electricity towards each of them. Just as quickly as the battle had begun, it ended with the last of the blighted werewolves corpses hitting the ground with a 'thud'. "Boy am I ever lucky to have you on my side," the dwarf woman said proudly to Selene. "You were helping me right?" she asked Selene, hoping that she was right about the mage.
"Yes I was helping you, but I must ask. What is a dwarf like you doing up here on the surface? And so far away from Orzammar?" Selene asked the woman as she called off her blizzard storm. Armand joined them quietly as the dwarf responded, "Thank the stone that you helped me then! And I'm casteless, deemed worthy by the King of Orzammar himself for a crime I did not commit." "And what, prey tell was that crime my dear?" Armand asked as Selene took notice with his tone of voice. 'He normally uses 'dear' when he's interested in something…or someone…like he did with me. But I'm his! Aren't I?' Selene thought to herself as she folded her arms across her voluptuous chest, exposing a bit of her faded grey skin on her shoulders. The dwarf woman took notice of Selene's skin colour and just as she was about to make a mention of it, Selene noticed the look the dwarf woman gave her. She then retreated her arms back into her cloak and the dwarf woman kept quiet about it.
"My name is Terra. I'm casteless because the King of Orzammar accused me of murdering my sister and brother when it was a Darkspawn raid that occurred while we were exploring the Deep Roads. You know, just for kicks. But we were ambushed as we were heading back to Orzammar and only I emerged alive. No one believed me when I told them of what happened. And so they cast me out and I've been roaming the lands ever since," Terra said while holstering her battle axe onto her back. "And you now wish to have your revenge on those creatures correct?" Armand asked her while stroking his beard lightly. "Well I do wish that yes. But how do you know that?" Terra said while looking at the two mages quizzically.
"We're Grey Wardens and we're on a mission to find any other Darkspawn resistance, if any," Selene replied simply. "Ahh so that's how it is then is it? Well I'm glad to have run into you guys then," Terra said happily. "Terra, my dear, would you like to accompany us? You see we got a tip from our Commander that there was once a Darkspawn resistance that came out of a giant chasm here in the hills and we're on our way there. We were told that there is a secret road that leads to the Deep Roads from there. If you would like to come with us, I assure you that you would get your revenge on those creatures for your brother and sister," Armand said still stroking his beard. Terra took some time to think before she responded, "Yes I think I will join you. You seem to be powerful mages but it doesn't hurt to have an extra axe handy does it?" "Then it is decided. Come Terra, Selene, lets find those bastards and give them what for!" Armand said with a small smile on his face and placing his left hand on Terra's shoulder affectionately. Selene took notice of his affectionate touch on Terra, and looked at him sadly. She was not only jealous of his sudden affection for the dwarf woman but Selene knew that he had something else in mind for Terra if the time called for it.
Some Time Later………
Selene, Armand and Terra had made their way into the Deep Roads without much trouble. After the battles at Vigil's Keep and the City of Amaranthine, most of the Darkspawn activity had stopped thanks to the Warden Commander. "This seems to be a good place to make camp as long as no Darkspawn break out of the ground any time soon," Terra said looking at the mages in turn. "Yes, this will do. Selene you will set up all of our tents. Terra I wish to speak to you for a moment if you please," Armand said to the two girls as he gestured to a rock nearby him to Terra. Terra looked at Selene and smiled weakly at her as she walked over to the rock Armand gestured to. Selene stood staring at Armand and Terra and hoped that she knew what he was thinking.
As Selene set up the camp, she looked around at the other two who were still talking to each other. Selene then decided that she did not want to be the dog for Armand at that time so she decided to take a walk around the Deep Road. 'He won't care that I left for a while. He doesn't seem to care that much about me these days anyway,' Selene thought to herself as she felt a small tear run down her face. She and Armand have been together for many years and have seen many things in the Circle Tower. He was her mentor and always taught her what was right from wrong after she had been brought to the Tower by the Templars at a very young age. And through that friendship sparked a relationship to which most of the Tower was against as she was too young for him and he too old. But that judgement was ruled out as they were both very well skilled fighters. But Armand had a terrible secret, one that only Selene was privy to know.
Just then, while on her walk Selene happened to come upon a small Darkspawn camp. She fell back behind a stone pillar, trying to keep herself out of sight. The Darkspawn in the camp did not seem to be an invading force but either way they were a threat to her master's plan. She slipped away from the pillar and into the Darkspawn's line of sight. As soon as they spotted her they began their attack. Selene prepared herself for the fight ahead by casting an arcane shield over herself.
With her magic she killed most of the camp's inhabitants as she casts her most prized spells; the blizzard spell and the chain lighting spells. She had spent most of her time in the Tower to perfect those spells as well as the draining of life spells too. But in the heat of the battle at hand a Genlock Rogue broke through her defences and sliced at the back of her leg. She screamed in pain as the same Genlock Rogue took another slice at the back of her leg, completely cutting it off at the knee. She screamed again as she dropped her staff and groped at her wound. The rest of the Darkspawn eased away from the wounded mage as she held onto the stump of leg left on her and cried in agony. Then a Hurlock Alpha raised its large battle axe above it's head.
At that moment Selene looked at the remaining Darkspawn around her and began to laugh. The Hurlock Alpha looked down at her quizzically as it was about to bring his axe down on her head. She then grabbed her staff again and blocked the blow of the axe then spoke a few archaic words under her breath. The sky erupted in a bright light then a loud clap of thunder shook the cave. The remaining Darkspawn, including the Hurlock Alpha, fell to the ground still hot with electricity. She stood up on her uninjured left leg and with the remaining half of her right leg, made it seem like she could walk on it as if it were still there. She let out a guttural groan as her right leg began to grow back of its own accord. As it grew back, in the nearby shadows, stood an elf woman named Seranni who witnessed the whole attack as it had happened.
Selene took a few moments to heal the rest of her injuries as the rest of her leg including her foot, grew back completely. Selene then reached down for her boot that once held her original leg in it and shook it out. A cloud of dust spilled out onto the ground then she slipped her boot onto her newly regrown leg. Seranni kept watching Selene and took notice of Selene's greying skin, thinking, 'I need to tell my master The Architect of this as soon as I can get away. I hope this mage doesn't see me.' And, luckily for Seranni, Selene never noticed Seranni as Selene scavenged around the fallen camp for random trinkets that she can use to sell later. She then put out the fire that the Darkspawn had made up then headed back for her own camp.
After Selene left the ruined camp, Seranni took her leave as well. She quickly ran off to report what she saw at the Darkspawn camp with The Architect. 'My master will be pleased with what I have to report. Even though some of his kind had to fall, he may find this piece of information interesting,' Seranni thought as she continued on her path to where her master and her ally Utha stayed within the Deep Roads.
"MASTER! MASTER!" Seranni shouted out as she neared her Master's chambers. The Architect sat within at his desk hunched over many pieces of parchment strewn upon it. As he continued writing his notes on his various experiments, Seranni burst through the doors of his room. The scratching of his quill ceased as he slowly turned to face Seranni, a mild hint of annoyance drew itself across his face for a brief moment. Utha then quickly emerged at the door way with her weapons drawn ready for battle. When she noticed that it was just Seranni who had barged into her master's chambers, she lowered her weapons slightly. Utha gave Seranni a look as if Seranni had acted out of line and she should know better.
"What is it my child Seranni?" The Architect asked calmly while standing to face Seranni and Utha. Utha looked at Seranni and waited for Seranni to speak. "I just witnessed a mage elf woman fighting some of your brethren just a moment ago," Seranni began while trying to catch her breath.
"She must have been a Grey Warden down here on her calling," The Architect said matter-of-factly turning to face his desk again. "No, it did not look that way. You told me that when a Grey Warden is fulfilling their calling, their skin should be black and blotchy all over right? Well this woman's skin wasn't black or blotchy all over. In fact it was perfectly pearly white in her face and chest but not on the rest of her. It looked like your skin colour a faded grey. But here's the real strange part," Seranni continued onward with her report. Utha and The Architect looked at Seranni in disbelief. "One of your brethren cut off her right leg and when a Hurlock Alpha was about to finish her off, she…laughed at it," Seranni continued, fully regained her breath and looked at The Architect hopefully.
The Architect took a moment to think about what Seranni was telling him then said, "This is interesting. Yes…quite interesting. What happened to this mage?" "She said something. Archaic I think because after she said it, the cavern that this battle took place in, erupted with white light and your brethren fell to the ground. All dead. She then stood up on her uninjured left leg and…you won't believe this…neither of you will trust me. Her right leg grew back of its own accord. I'm not sure what kind of blood magic it was but I saw it and it actually happened, I swear to you Master. It happened," Seranni finished searching The Architect's face hopefully.
Again The Architect took a moment to process everything Seranni said then he walked over to her. He placed a withered hand on her face and asked, "Where is this mage now?" "I'm not sure. After she looted the camp, she seemed to go south east of here," Seranni replied as Utha made some quick motions with her hands. "No Utha, you stay here. I shall return in due time. Thank you Seranni for the information, go back to your post," The Architect said as he used some of his magic to see where the fallen Darkspawn camp lie dormant from Seranni's memories. He then lowered his hand off of her face and without another word to Utha or Seranni, he teleported to the fallen camp.
Upon arriving at the camp, he used the memories from Seranni and travelled down the path that Selene took just a moment ago. Selene on the other hand was almost back at camp when she decided to take a rest against a nearby wall. As she sat down on the hardened ground, The Architect came upon her. The crunching noise of his foot steps were enough to rouse her from her seat as she held up her staff at the ready. The Architect held up his withered hands to show her no harm. She kept her staff pointed at his face, lit with a small magical source, not willing to listen to him.
"I mean you no harm child. I merely wish to speak with you privately if you don't mind," he said still with his hands up. She took a moment to search his face, but when she saw that he wasn't lying she lowered her staff to her side then took a step back. "What is it you want from me Darkspawn?" Selene asked with a note of hostility to her voice. "I only wish to have a chat with you. An informant of mine, an elf like yourself, mentioned that she witnessed you attacking some of my brethren at the camp back over there. She said that you have a talent with blood magic. As you had grown back one of your legs to which one of my people had cut off," he replied simply. Selene looked at The Architect for a moment, taking in all of his features.
She found it odd that she's talking so freely to a Darkspawn who seemed much more civil than others of his kind. She also noted that his skin is the same colour as hers from when Armand experimented on her recently. For a brief moment she hoped that she wasn't going to become a Darkspawn like this one. But at the same time she sound herself oddly attracted to him. 'What the hell is wrong with me? Am I falling in love with a Darkspawn when I'm Armand's? This Darkspawn is different though. It does not look as grotesque as the others of it's kind. It looks like an Emissary too. Perhaps a kindred spirit in the darkness? NO! There is something DEFINITELY wrong with me! No doubt about it!' Selene thought while trying to reason with herself, as she kept her staff firmly clutched in her right hand and to her side.
"So this informant saw me did it? What did it see exactly?" Selene asked still with that bit of hostility. "All my informant told me was that you know of some strange blood magic to which you were able to regrow your leg after some of my kind had cut it off," The Architect replied simply as he too took notice of her beauty. A moment of silence fell between them as The Architect looked down at the ground and he felt his face redden for the first time in his ancient life. Selene looked around to make sure that they were alone then said, "Yes I know blood magic but only because my master taught it to me while we were still in the Tower of Magi," Selene replied while finding herself moving closer to him. He raised his head slightly and forced himself to look proper again.
"Why are you and your master here then?" The Architect asked while fighting off the urge to put a hand on her face affectionately. 'This is fascinating. I've encountered other creatures before but this time its just…fascinating,' he thought as Selene moved away slightly again and resumed her own proper guarding stance again too. "My master and I are Grey Wardens, who were sent to watch over Knotwood Hills and protect it from your kind. But…my master, a traveling companion and I are down here because…well…my master has a devious plot to which I am his pawn to set into motion with," Selene replied but then added, "But I do not agree with my master, even though I loved him." "You loved him? What is this plot that he has?" The Architect asked calmly. "He wishes to use me as a sacrifice to bring about another Blight. He said that if I love him then I would do what he wishes to make him happy. But I think its wrong. Its wrong to start a Blight and its wrong to love him," Selene replied while turning her face away from The Architect and raising her left hand to her face.
"Was that his doing as well child?" The Architect asked pointing to her skin colour in her exposed hand. "Yes this is his doing. After we became Grey Wardens, he said that he had to accelerate the taint in my blood to make me more like a Darkspawn in order for the process to work fully. I told him that he didn't need to but he still insisted that if I love him then I'd better do it. I just want so badly tell him off and to report him to the Commander but I can't. If I do he'll just use his own blood magic and kill me on the spot. I know I don't really matter to him any more. I did once before but not any more," she replied looking to The Architect as tears welled up in her eyes. The Architect felt a sudden sadness for her, something he's never felt for another creature then said, "I am in need of assistance with stopping the call of the Old Gods which cause my brethren to seek out the Old Gods and create a Blight. And I need all the aid I can get," he said this time giving into his compulsion to hold her face affectionately.
She shivered at his touch then found herself lean into it properly. She noticed a small smile creep up on his face and she too smiled at the creature. "I would love to help you but I don't know. May I think on it for now? And once I've made my choice, may I seek you out again?" she said moving closer to The Architect and lightly touching his face with her free hand. No other creature had touched his face before and he enjoyed the feeling of her touch on his cool skin. He leaned into her touch and replied, "Yes that will be wise. And I shall send a messenger for you if you wish my dear." "Yes that will be alright. It was a pleasure meeting you Darkspawn? Or do you have a name?" Selene asked quizzically. "You may call me The Architect," he replied then added, "And your name?" "My name is Selene," she said as she took back her hand and wiped the tears from her face. He removed his hand from her face as well then said, "We shall meet again my dear Selene." And with that he disappeared into the shadows. Selene held her staff close to her body, almost hugging it before she grudgingly walked back into camp. She turned to look at the shadows of where The Architect disappeared into then tried her best to make her face look as neutral as she could get it to be.
"Find anything interesting my dear?" Armand asked Selene as she returned to camp and noticed that everything was set up properly. "I found a small camp of Darkspawn and slaughtered them. They didn't have much on them so I took a moment to meditate and heal," she replied while shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "Aww damn I missed the fun then eh?" Terra said in a disappointed tone. "I'm sorry Terra. I would've taken you with me but I just needed some time alone you know?" Selene replied. "Yeah its ok. No hard feelings," Terra said smiling kindly to her.
As Selene took a seat on a rock as far away from Armand as she could, refusing to look at him, Terra joined her. Terra leaned close to Selene and said, "Armand wasn't being fair to you so I understand that you had to take a moment to get away from him. That's why I finished setting up camp so that he wouldn't be too mad at you for shirking your duties." "Thanks Terra. What did Armand talk to you about anyway?" Selene asked curiously. "Oh he told me about your plan to eradicate the Darkspawn for good by killing the Old Gods while they slumber before another Blight is created," Terra replied simply, while stoking the fire Armand made while Selene was gone.
Selene looked at Terra with disbelief etched across her face. Terra didn't take notice to Selene's staring and continued to stoke the fire with a look of bloodlust in her eyes. 'So he's found himself a new pawn then,' she thought then suddenly rose from her seat, startling Terra. "I'm going to sleep now! After that fight earlier I need a good night's rest for what tomorrow will bring," Selene said as she marched over to her tent and climbed in huffily. "Good night?" Terra said looking the exterior of Selene's tent. Armand said nothing and continued to read his text books.