She lived. I realize I should be more upset about the loss of Daveth and Jory, but all I can think about is that she lived. It's fairly obvious I'm interested. At least, I think it is. To be honest, I don't have much experience with women. And by much, I mean none at all. Being raised in the Chantry will do that to you. And it's not like the last six month with the all male Grey Wardens has helped any.
Tomorrow, after the battle, I'll ask her to... dinner? Women like dinner, right? Strike that. I'll ask one of the other Wardens what I should ask her to do. Then I'll ask her to do that. I stop stirring the fire and stand to greet Angel and Duncan returning from the meeting with the king. Angel has an annoyed look on her face. I don't think I'm going to like this.
"You heard the plan, same as I," Duncan is telling her. "You and Alistair will go to the Tower of Ishal and light the beacon."
"What? I won't be in the battle?" I say. I was right. I don't like this.
"This is by the king's personal request," responds Duncan, with a look I'm sure he hopes shuts me up. Not a chance.
"So he needs two Grey Wardens standing up there holding the torch. Just in case, right?" I know I'm not being fair, I know it's not Duncan's fault, but I'm still mad. No matter what Duncan or the king say there is no reason for two skilled Grey Wardens to light a damned signal fire. I know what this is really about. I'm being kept out of battle because I'm the bastard prince, a fact which has caused me nothing but trouble and shouldn't matter here. I'm a Grey Warden, I'm a warrior, let me do what I'm here to do!
"I agree with Alistair, we should be in the battle." Looks like I'm not the only one who hates being left behind.
"That's not up to you," responds Duncan sternly. "If King Cailan wishes Grey Wardens to ensure the beacon is lit, Grey Wardens it will be. We do whatever is necessary to end the blight, exciting or no." I know when I've been beat, and arguing about it would just make me look childish.
"I get it, I get it. Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no." I hear a smothered laugh beside me, but when I turn Angel has a perfectly straight face.
"I think I'd like to see that."
"For you, maybe. But it has to be a pretty dress." She sighs.
"And I've left all mine in Highever. Duncan, do you think we could swing by the castle and pick something up for Alistair?"
"Maker help me, there's two of them," Duncan mutters. "The tower is over the bridge that spans the gorge. From the top you'll be able to see the entire valley."
"Where will you be?" she asks.
"Fighting beside the king with the rest of the Grey Wardens." He cuts her off with a look. "Again, at the king's request."
"Can we join the battle afterwards?" Good question! I look at Duncan eagerly, but any hope I have is quickly crushed.
"Stay with the Teyrn's men and guard the tower. We will send word if you are needed. The battle will begin shortly, if there is nothing else I must join the others."
"Will we at least be in any danger?" My, this girl has a violent streak.
"Of course. Even the best laid plans go awry, so do what you must. I trust you both."
"Just not enough to actually fight with you," I say drolly. Duncan laughs.
"There will be plenty of battles Alistair. Be patient."
"My Nan always told me patience is a virtue," says Angel. Duncan nods at her approvingly. I know better. Even by firelight I can see the wicked gleam in her eye. "I always told her 'Perhaps for a princess in a tower, but I prefer to do my own rescuing.' Matika, here!" She calls over her Mabari and starts to give him detailed instructions. Duncan rolls his eyes, but with a smile on his face.
"Duncan..." I start. I'm not sure how to finish the sentence. Good luck? Take me with you? For the love of the Maker, please stay safe? "Maker watch over you."
"May He watch over us all," he says, then disappears into the night.
"You ready?" asks Angel, coming up behind me with her Mabari following closely.
"Yep," I say. "Let's go."
"First things first; Alistair, this is Matika. Matika, Alistair." I believe I see the hound incline it's head.
"I'm, um, pleased to meet you?" I turn back to Angel. "Sorry, I'm not up to date on the niceties of being introduced to a dog." Matika barks at me.
"Is it just me, or did that bark sound... insulted?" She laughs at me.
"You've never met a Mabari before, have you?"
"Of course I have, they're everywhere."
"No, you've seen them, maybe even been to their kennels and interacted with a group?"
"Sounds about right."
"A group of Mabari socialize among themselves and with their kennel master. A single Mabari, however, is a different story. He can understand everything you say, can carry out complex orders, and fights as a warrior, not a beast. This is Matika." She makes a gesture and he moves up to stand by her side. "He is strong, smart, fast, and mine. He will obey only me, though he might take what you say under advisement." He gives a playful bark. "So, yes, if you think you hear communication in his barks, you probably did." I'm starting to feel a bit intimidated. By a dog. Not a good sign.
"If he's so smart then why doesn't he speak?" I ask.
"You just answered your own question, Alistair," she says with amusement. "He's smart enough not to speak."
The camp seems deserted as we head for the bridge and the hounds start to bay as we reach it. Matika's ears perk up, but he stays otherwise focused on his mistress. The catapults are loaded, and, for a single instant, time stands still. Then Angel takes a step onto the bridge and everything speeds up again. The war cries of men come up from below us, mingled with the sound of clashing steel.
It begins to rain as we start to cross the gorge, never good for a battle. It makes the ground slippery, loosens your grip on your sword, and obstructs your vision. Matika gives a warning bark and I look up just in time to see a flaming stone coming our way.
"Run for it!" I yell. We manage to dodge the stone, but not the impact. We're knocked off our feet and left scrambling for purchase on the wet cobblestones. We take the rest of the bridge at a dead run, managing to avoid any further issues. We're approaching the tower when I realize something is wrong. The Teyrn's men are fleeing in droves. A mage spots us and pauses, waving us over.
"You! You're Grey Wardens, aren't you? The tower... it's been taken!"
"What are you talking about man? Taken how?" I demand.
"The darkspawn came up from the lower chambers, they're everywhere! Most of our men are dead." I look around us at the fleeing, terrified men and the warrior in me comes to the forefront.
"Then we must climb the tower and light the beacon ourselves." I draw my sword and shield as Angel unsheathes her daggers.
"What is your name, good man?" she asks the mage.
"E-Erik, ser."
"Erik, I want you to listen to me. We're a bit understaffed here and could really use an extra man. Will you help us?" He takes a deep breath.
"Yes. Yes, of course. What do you want me to do?"
"Just follow my lead," she says. She nods at me, I return it, and together we enter the courtyard. Which is swarming with darkspawn. By the time we reach the tower's doors I'm covered in blood, and have more than doubled my prior darkspawn kill count. We enter through the tower and fight through one floor and then another before pausing for a quick rest.
"Maker's breath! What are these darkspawn doing ahead of the horde? There wasn't supposed to be any resistance here!" She shoots me a sideways glance.
"You could try telling them they're in the wrong place." If she keeps this up I might just fall in love with her. Witty one liners get me every time. Speaking of which...
"Right. Because this is obviously just a big misunderstanding, we'll laugh about it later."
"Um... I was led to believe yours was a more serious order," chimes in Erik. Angel looks at him dismissively before turning back to me.
"Besides, weren't you complaining that you wouldn't get to fight?"
"Hey, you're right. I guess there is a silver lining here, if you think about it. At any rate, we need to hurry to the top and light the signal. Teyrn Loghain will be waiting."
"Is that so? And here I thought we might stop for tea and biscuits," she throws over her shoulder as she continues forward. Okay, maybe her sarcasm isn't quite as fun when it's directed at me. Is that Mabari smirking at me?
We battle on against what seems like a never ending stream of darkspawn until we finally reach the top of the tower. And there we find a type of darkspawn I've never seen before, only heard about from the other Grey Wardens in stories they use to scare recruits. An Ogre.
"Alistair, do you trust me?" asks Angel out of the side of her mouth.
"Um, yes, I suppose I do, why?"
"I need you to distract it."
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
"Bash it with your shield and make a swipe at it's right leg."
"Are you insane?" I ask incredulously.
"Just trust me!" So I do. And while I'm bashing it with my shield, she's using Matika as a springboard. And when it stumbles to the right from my swipe at it's leg, she launches herself at it's face, sticking her dagger in it's eye, then swinging to it's back and slitting it's throat. She rides it to the ground before jumping off and turning to me.
"Thanks," she says. I, of course, am still staring in slack jawed amazement. Not even Al has anything to add. "Right then, let's light the signal."
I strike the flint in my pocket and set the beacon ablaze. Only there's no sound of horns or rushing of men to the battle. The sounds coming from the field haven't changed at all.
"Something's wrong-" she starts, but the darkspawn have found us. They rush into the room and before I can even raise my shield Angel is struck in the chest with an arrow, going down.
"Angel!" I yell, trying to get to her, but I'm quickly overwhelmed and brought to the ground. The last sight I see before my vision fades is that of a dragon.