Chapter Three
"And as the black clouds came upon them,
They look on what Pride had wrought,
And despaired."
-Canticle of Threnodies 7:10
When I stepped into the forest, I was felt a breeze of frigid air. It chilled me to the bone. The forest was eerily quiet and it smelled like rotting flesh. A thin drizzle was falling, making me even colder. I felt uncomfortable being here. I hoped that we wouldn't have to stay in here for long. I felt as if we were being watched by malevolent eyes already.
Just moments after we started walking, we were ambushed by a pack of wolves. I unsheathed my twin short blades and stabbed the nearest one in the shoulder. It howled in agony and rage, and turned on me. It tried to leap on me but I impaled it with my swords. I pushed it off my blade and kept fighting.
The fight was over rather quickly. There had been seven wolves and four of us, but the wolves were no match for our blades. Alistair, Daveth, and Ser Jory were still intact, so we continued to venture deeper into the forest.
"Help…over here!" A voice called. It sounded weak and hoarse.
I halted and looked around. Just up ahead I saw what wrecked wagons and dead bodies strewn about. There was one man still alive. He was covered in blood and dragging himself towards me.
"Maker's breath!" Ser Jory exclaimed.
"Who are you?" The wounded man asked. "Grey Wardens?"
"Well, he's not half as dead as he looks." Alistair said.
"My scouting band was attacked by darkspawn…they came out of the ground," The man said. He grunted in pain. "Please…help me. I've got to…return to camp."
"Was there a man named Fergus in your scouting band?" I asked.
I held my breath and as I waited for him to answer. All around us, there was carnage. The dead men were so badly mauled that I couldn't tell who they were. I feared the worst.
"He was leading a band that went further in the Wilds." The wounded man replied. "My patrol was sent in a couple days after his."
Maker preserve him…he's the only family I have left. I thought.
"We can take you back to camp." Ser Jory said.
"If you just…bandage me up…I can get back myself." The wounded man said.
Alistair knelt down beside the man and began to bandage his wounds. Once he was finished bandaging up the wounded soldier, he helped the man to his feet.
"Thank you. I've…I've got to get out of here now." The wounded man said.
I moved aside and he staggered by. I wanted to help him find his way back to Ostagar, but I couldn't. I had to hurry up and complete the tasks that Duncan assigned me. Sunset would arrive before I knew it. I seriously didn't want to be in a forest full of darkspawn, witches, barbarians, and such at nighttime.
"Did you hear that? An entire patrol of seasoned men were killed by darkspawn!" Ser Jory exclaimed. His eyes were wild with fear.
"Calm down, man. We will be fine if we're careful." Alistair said.
"Those soldiers were careful and they were still overwhelmed," Ser Jory said. "How many darkspawn can the four of us slay? A dozen? A hundred? There's an entire army in these forests!"
"There are darkspawn about but we're in no danger of walking into the bulk of the horde." Alistair replied.
"How do you know? I'm not a coward but this is foolish and reckless. We should go back." Ser Jory said.
"Overwhelming these dangers is part of our test, Ser Jory. I'm sure that Duncan isn't trying to send us to our deaths out here." I said.
Ser Jory seemed to relax slightly. "That's true, I suppose."
"Know this: all Grey Wardens can sense darkspawn. So whatever their cunning, I guarantee they won't take us by surprise. That's why I'm here." Alistair said.
"You see, sir knight, we might die but we will be warned about it first." Daveth remarked.
Upon hearing that, Ser Jory was sent right back into his fearful frenzy.
"That's supposed to be reassuring?" Ser Jory said.
"This isn't supposed to be easy and I'm not here to make it so. Now let's get a move on. The longer we fool around out here the longer it will take." Alistair said.
We then continued to venture deeper into the forest. The further we went, the more uneasy I became. The smell and the frigidness were enough to deter me from the start, but this was an important mission, so I had to get over myself and complete my mission. Being a Grey Warden wouldn't be easy, so it would only make sense for the initiation process to be difficult as well.
"Tread carefully," Alistair said. "There are darkspawn ahead."
No sooner had he said that, darkspawn appeared. Ser Jory let out a yelp of alarm. For a moment, I was so horrified by their grotesque appearance and fetid stench, I wasn't able to move. They were the most hideous things I'd ever seen in my life. Some were short in stature, like dwarves. Others were the size of humans. Their skin was rotten and wizened, and they had milky white eyes. They wore weapons and armor, just like we did, but were obviously of poorer quality. Even their equipment carried the same foul corruption that their bodies did.
"Move!" Alistair barked in my ear.
I was instantly snapped out of my trance. I quickly unsheathed my swords and managed to parry the blow of an approaching darkspawn. It seemed to know that I was frightened of it and it used that to its advantage. It attacked me relentlessly. I was so busy trying to defend myself that I couldn't get a blow in.
This is it. I'm going to get murdered by a darkspawn. I'm not going to be able to avenge my family or bring Arl Howe to justice. I thought, feeling despair creep over me.
I looked at the darkspawn before me. It was a sick, twisted creature bent on killing. Could it even feel anything? Could it even think? This demented thing and its brethren had been responsible for the deaths of countless other people, and now it seemed that I was going to be its next victim.
No. I thought. Not today. I will not let a single darkspawn end my life. I can't give up now.
I swallowed my fear and threw myself at my monstrous foe. The darkspawn frantically tried to block my blows and strike me. In its haste it became clumsy and it tripped on a gnarly tree root. When it fell, I plunged my blades into its chest. Darkspawn ichor gushed onto the ground, staining the ground black and killing the plants it touched instantly.
I looked around for the others in my group. They had slain the other darkspawn that had attacked us. Ser Jory looked incredibly pale and Daveth seemed somewhat shaken. Alistair was the only one who didn't seem fazed.
"Now would be a good time to start listening to me, now wouldn't it," Alistair said sharply. "I'm not as stupid as you seem to think I am."
"Why don't you take the lead then?" I asked breathlessly.
"This is your mission not mine. I'm merely here to assist you, not lead you." He replied.
"Right…let's move along, shall we? The longer we stay here the more likely we are to meet darkspawn." Daveth said.
I filled the little vial Duncan had given me with the blood of the darkspawn I had just slain. I slipped the vial into my pocket and proceeded to head deeper into the forest.
As we walked in the forest, I noticed that there were a lot of ruins that had been overgrown. Crumbled columns and remains of once imposing towers lied strewn about. The ancient outpost had been abandoned long ago and left to deteriorate in the wilderness. Nature had begun to reclaim it centuries ago, it seemed.
The more we walked, the more darkspawn and wolves we encountered. A few times we came across darkspawns and wolves fighting each other. For the most part, the groups of wolves and darkspawns were small, and we were able to dispatch them fairly easily. I didn't enjoy killing the wolves, but when I did, I skinned them of their pelts and meat, so that they didn't go to waste.
We passed by two large hills that were connected by a fallen tree. When I looked up, I noticed that the dead bodies of three men hung down from the tree-bridge. Nausea seized me. Blood was still dripping from their corpses and their faces were twisted in fear. I had to swallow hard to prevent myself from heaving.
"Poor slobs," Alistair murmured. "That just seems excessive."
By one of the hills, there was a small pond. A single white flower with a red center grew at the edge of the pond. It seemed odd for a little white flower to be growing among the filth.
My small moment of happiness was cut short when Daveth plucked the flower and stuffed it in his pocket.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
Daveth turned and looked at me. "The kennel master at Ostagar asked me to bring him one of these." He said.
"Why does he want it?" I inquired.
"He says he helps the dogs that get sick from biting darkspawn," Daveth replied. "It could help your hound, supposing that he gets sick during the battle."
"You can discuss flowers later. More darkspawn are approaching!" Alistair snapped.
I turned away from Daveth and quickly unsheathed my swords, running into combat alongside the men. This time, there were more darkspawn in the group. There were at least ten of them.
As I charged into the fray, slashing and stabbing at any darkspawn within reach. Their howls of agony and anger fueled me onwards.
I shoved one of my blades into the throat of a darkspawn and twisted it. Black blood gushed profusely from the creature's throat. I jerked my blade out and the darkspawn collapsed to the ground. It convulsed a few times and blood gurgled from its mouth.
I turned to confront another darkspawn. When I raised my swords in preparation to strike it, another blade severed the darkspawn's head. It plopped into the grass and rolled past my feet. Its headless body crumbled onto the ground. Behind the darkspawn was Alistair. His face was streaked with blood and sweat.
"How many of these things are there out here?" Ser Jory asked.
"They're just stragglers from the horde is all," Alistair said. "I told you that earlier."
"There shouldn't be this many stragglers!" Ser Jory exclaimed.
"This is the Korcari Wilds after all, Jory. At least we haven't encountered any of the witches. Those are the ones you really need to worry about. They capture straggling people and drag them into the forests to devour them!" Daveth replied.
"Stop pestering Ser Jory. He doesn't need to be scared any more than he already is." Alistair said.
Daveth laughed and clapped Ser Jory on the back. By the look on Ser Jory's face, I could see that he was still ill at ease. I felt sorry for him.
"Light up, man. I don't know how you could possibly be scared of anything with that massive sword of yours. The way you wield that thing you could send any adversary straight to hell!" Daveth said.
"Have any of you acquired any darkspawn blood yet? That's the most important part of this whole quest." Alistair said.
"I already have." Daveth took his vial out of his pocket and held it up for us to see.
"What about you, Ser Jory?" Alistair asked.
"I just did." Ser Jory said.
"And you, Aveline?" Alistair turned towards me.
"Yes," I said. I presented my little vial of darkspawn blood to him.
"Good," Alistair said. "Now we just need to find the scrolls and leave."
We resumed our journey through the forest. While we walked, I was beginning to wonder how we were going to get out of here. Unless Alistair, Daveth, or Ser Jory knew how to get back out, it would take us forever to find our way back to Ostagar. We had come pretty far already.
Up ahead, I started to see a small bridge. On the other side I saw what appeared to be traps. They were cleverly hidden among the tall weeds. If I hadn't been trained to spot traps and disarm them, I most likely would've walked right into one.
My heart leapt in my mouth when I saw Alistair approaching one. I quickly grasped his arm and pulled him backwards right before he stepped on one.
"What in the—" He growled.
"Traps," I said, indicating towards the concealed traps. "You just about walked into this one."
I knelt down and disarmed the trap, while Alistair stared wide-eyed at it. It was a leg-hold trap, meant to clamp the leg of a large animal, such as a wolf or even a bear. If Alistair had walked into it, he most likely would've lost his leg.
"Maker's breath! I didn't even see it there." He exclaimed.
"Good thing we have this woman here to prevent us from getting our legs snapped off," Daveth said. "We can't fight darkspawn by crawling around in the mud. They would drag us underground and eat us alive."
"Do they really do that?" Ser Jory asked.
"Of course! They eat the men and rape the women. Haven't you heard the stories before, ser knight?" Daveth said.
Daveth burst out laughing when he saw the look on Ser Jory's face. I struggled not to laugh; not because of Ser Jory's expression but because the sound of Daveth's laughter. Laughter was contagious, after all.
"Enough of your wild tales, Daveth. I believe Ser Jory has had enough for one day." Alistair sighed.
"Remember: you will get your warning before it happens though. At least you won't be surprised." Daveth said.
"Shut up!" Alistair snapped.
Ser Jory became pale as a ghost, while Daveth was howling with laughter.
While they had been squawking amongst themselves, I pressed ahead without them. In a small clearing just a few yards east of the bridge, I came across what appeared to be an abandoned campsite. There was bedroll and a still-burning fire. There were a couple logs laid near the fire to serve as seats.
I had my hands on my blades as I approached the abandoned campsite. Beside one of the logs I saw an odd place in the ground. It seemed as if someone had tried to bury something. I crept over to it and started digging into the ground. I uncovered a heavy chest. It was locked, but I knew how to pick a lock, so I wasn't deterred.
I went to work on the lock. Obviously this chest had been buried for a while because the lock was rusty and had dirt caked in it. The chest itself was tarnished but still sturdy, to my surprise. It seemed it was made out of durable metal.
After a couple more minutes of messing with the lock, it finally opened. I smiled to myself as I took the contents out of the chest. There was a maul, a mace, a bow, robes, and a helmet. I was amazed to see that all of these items were still in good condition. Perhaps they had some magical spell on them to protect them from deteriorating?
When I stood up and turned around, I found myself face-to-face with a darkspawn. Involuntarily, I let out a screech of terror. Being surprised by a person was bad enough, but being surprised by a darkspawn was absolutely terrifying. It looked like something straight out of a horror tale.
The darkspawn let out a fearsome snarl and swung its blade at me. I tried to leap out of the way, but I tripped over one of the logs around the fire. I yelped as I hit the ground. The only good thing about me tripping was that the darkspawn's blow missed, allowing me to keep my head. However, I had smacked into the ground rather hard, so the breath had been driven from my lungs.
"Aveline?" Alistair's voice called out from somewhere. "Aveline!"
I tried to reply, but nothing came out. Alistair kept calling me. It sounded like he was starting to panic. Ser Jory and Daveth were calling me as well.
The darkspawn certainly didn't feel any pity for me. It tried to impale me with its blade while I was still lying on the ground. I managed to roll out of the way just in time. Fortunately for me, the mindless brute's blade had struck into the ground and got caught. While it was struggling to pry its blade out of the ground, I kicked the fiendish cretin as hard as I could. It staggered backwards into the fire, screeching in agony. Its screams were utterly bloodcurdling. I had to cover my ears so I wouldn't be deafened.
A couple minutes after the darkspawn met its untimely demise, Alistair, Daveth and Ser Jory appeared. By now, I had gotten up and was sitting down on the same log I had tripped over moments earlier. My heart was still pounding furiously and I was shaken from my encounter with the darkspawn. I kept it to myself; I didn't want to look like a coward in front of the men.
"Dear Maker," Alistair exclaimed breathlessly. "I thought for sure you were dead."
"Ah, what have we here? Uncovered some buried treasure, eh?" Daveth asked. I saw him eyeing the chest I had found.
I picked up the helmet that was in the chest. All the other items didn't appeal to me.
"Might as well take what you want." I said, nodding towards the chest.
Daveth knelt down by the chest and began examining its contents. Alistair and Ser Jory remained where they were, staring at me with huge eyes.
"You wandered off to find some blasted buried treasure? Are you mad?" Ser Jory asked.
"You men were squawking at each other, so yes, I meandered off." I said.
"If you're so interested in treasure, why not become a pirate?" Alistair muttered.
Daveth and I burst out laughing. Alistair looked confused.
"You actually think that was funny?" Alistair asked.
"Alistair here hasn't had much luck with the ladies, I'm afraid," Daveth said. "Perhaps you will have a little luck with this one, eh? You made her laugh after all. There are some women who are interested in funny men."
Alistair's face turned red. "Shut up!" He snapped.
Daveth took the bow and mace, and gave Ser Jory the maul.
"Take these Chasind robes, Alistair," Daveth said as he took the robes out of the chest and held them up. They were made of wolf skins and the sleeves had wolf's teeth on them. "I think you ought to wear them Alistair. Perhaps you will be able to attract some wild women!"
Alistair's face reddened even more. "Would it kill you to stop pestering me?"
"Some women like wild men. Or are you not that adventurous?" Daveth said.
"If I'm not mistaken, we came out here to complete a mission assigned to us by Duncan. I don't believe we came out here to discuss my personal business or make fun of me." Alistair growled.
"We ought to get going. It's getting late." Ser Jory said.
"Of course. It's best not to get caught out in these woods after dark, especially. That's when the darkspawn really come out." Daveth said.
"Let's go. I'm eager for this mission to be over." Alistair muttered.
I stuffed the robes and helmet into my pack, and followed the men deeper into the forest.
We walked for about an hour before we came across more ruins. This time, it appeared as if we found an important tower. It was nothing but ruins now, barely recognizable. I tried to imagine how magnificent it once was.
I wonder how long it's been since these ruins had occupants in them. I wondered as I gazed at the ruins. It seems to be Tevinter architecture.
"Now we look for the scrolls. Once we find them, we can get out of here." Alistair said.
We spread out a little to look among the rubble for the scrolls. At first, I was certain that we weren't going to find anything. The tower itself was inaccessible and nothing more than a crumbled ruins. After sifting through the broken stones and bricks, I found a strange-looking chest. It was broken and worn-out. Whatever was inside wasn't there anymore. The chest was empty.
"I think someone else beat us to them." I said.
Alistair, Daveth, and Ser Jory looked at me. When I beckoned them, they came over to me.
"Why? What makes you say that?" Daveth inquired as he approached me.
"Oh dear…Duncan will not be pleased to hear this." Alistair sighed as he looked into the empty chest.
"Well, well. What have we here?"
The four of us tensed and turned to the direction of the voice. I saw a stunning yet feral looking woman on the broken stairs of the tower. She approached us slowly, but not warily. Her eyes were an odd yellow color and she regarded us with contempt. The robes she wore were rather revealing. However, my male companions weren't excited by this dark temptress. Rather, she terrified them.
"Are you a vulture, I wonder? A scavenger poking amidst bones that have been long since cleaned? Or merely an intruder who has come into these darkspawn filled Wilds of mine, in search of easy prey?" She said as she came up to us. "What say you, hmm? Scavenger or intruder?"
"I am neither. The Grey Wardens once owned this tower and we are simply returning for something we left behind." I replied.
"'Tis a tower no longer. The Wilds have obviously claimed this desiccated corpse," She said. "I've been watching your progress for quite some time. Where do they go, I wondered. Why are they here? And now you have disturbed ashes that have been here for so long? Why is that?"
"Don't answer her. She looks Chasind. There may be others nearby." Alistair murmured.
"Do you fear that the barbarians will swoop down upon you?" She asked.
"Yes…swooping is bad." Alistair said.
"She's the Witch of the Wilds, she is! She'll turn us into toads!" Daveth exclaimed.
"Witch of the Wilds? Such idle fantasies. Have you no minds of your own?" She remarked.
When none of us answered, she looked at me. Her yellow eyes were unnatural and menacing. This woman was what the Chantry called an apostate; a dangerous and powerful mage outside of the Circle of Magi. It wasn't her magic or her supposed illegality that I was wary of, it was her dark demeanor. It was difficult to tell if she was friendly or hostile.
"You there, women don't frighten like little boys. Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine." She said.
I was pretty certain this woman was native to these Wilds. She probably could help us find our scrolls and maybe even help us get back to Ostagar. Perhaps this woman wasn't actually as evil as my male companions thought. Perhaps she could be reasoned with.
"I am Aveline. It's a pleasure to meet you." I said.
She seemed surprised by my polite response.
"Now that is a proper, civil greeting, even out here in the Wilds. You may call me Morrigan," She said, crossing her arms. "Shall I guess why you have come here? You sought something in that chest that's here no longer?"
"Here no longer? You stole them, did you? You're some kind of…sneaky witch thief!" Alistair said.
"How very eloquent! How does one steal from dead men?" She asked.
"Quite easily, it seems," Alistair remarked. "Those documents are Grey Warden property and I suggest you return them!"
If Alistair had been trying to intimidate Morrigan, it didn't work at all. She merely laughed.
"I will not, for it was not I who removed them! Invoke a name that means nothing here any longer if you wish, I am not threatened." She said.
"Who removed them?" I inquired.
"'Twas my mother, in fact." She replied.
"Can you take us to her?" I asked.
"Hmm, there is a sensible request. I like you." She said.
"Aveline, I'd be careful. First it's 'I like you' then it's zap! Frog time!" Alistair whispered.
"She'll put us in a pot she will! Just you watch!" Daveth said.
"If the pot is warmer than this forest, it will be a nice change." Ser Jory mumbled.
"Follow me then, if it pleases you." She said, completely ignoring the mutters of my companions.
I started to follow Morrigan, but Alistair grabbed my arm. When I turned and looked at him, I saw that his eyes were burning with a frightening intensity.
"I really don't think we should go with her." Alistair said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"She's a witch! She's just luring us into some sort of trap." Alistair replied.
"We have to find those scrolls, Alistair," I said. "Now come with me please."
I didn't wait to see if he and the others were following me. I raced off to catch up with Morrigan. I followed her some ways through the forest until she reached a large opening. There was one small hut, surrounded by a large swamp.
Apparently the men decided to join me after all. When we arrived at the hut, they became even more anxious. We followed her as she went over to the hut. Just as we arrived, an older woman appeared. She didn't seem to be startled when she saw us. It was almost as if she were expecting us.
"Greetings Mother," Morrigan said as she walked up to the older woman. "I bring before you four Grey Wardens —"
"I see them girl." The older woman said.
The old woman looked at us with keen eyes. She had the same menacing yellow eyes as her daughter did. She probably was a mage as well.
"Hmm, much as I expected." The old woman said.
"Are we supposed to believe that you were expecting us?" Alistair asked.
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shut one's eyes tight or open one's arms wide, either way, one is a fool." The old woman replied.
"She's a witch I tell you! We shouldn't be talking to her!" Daveth whispered fiercely.
"Quiet Daveth! If she's really a witch, do you truly want to make her mad?" Ser Jory hissed.
Either they did a poor job of whispering or the old woman had sharp hearing, because she heard them. She seemed amused by their mutterings, rather than offended.
"There is a smart lad," The old woman said. "Sadly irrelevant to the larger scheme of things…but, it's not I who decides that. So believe what you will."
I tensed when the old woman came closer to me. Her eyes bore into my very soul.
"And what about you? Does your woman's mind give you a different viewpoint? Or do you believe as these boys do?" The old woman inquired.
I shifted my weight. I didn't want to say something stupid and make her contemptuous of me. I also didn't want to provoke her either. These two women weren't average people. That much was obvious. If my hunch was correct, both of them were formidable mages; especially the older one.
"I'm no fool, if that's what you're asking." I said.
The old woman laughed, which made me jump a little.
"Perhaps I need not ask then," She chuckled. Her expression then became serious again. "So much about you is uncertain. And yet I believe…do I? Why it seems I do!"
"So…this is the dreaded Witch of the Wilds?" Alistair murmured in my ear.
"Witch of the Wilds, hmm? Morrigan must have told you that. She fancies such tales, though she would never admit it. Oh how she dances under the moon!" The old woman said.
By this point, Morrigan looked like she had run out of patience. I heard her let out a loud sigh of annoyance.
"They did not come to listen to your wild tales Mother." She growled.
"True. They came for their treaties, yes? Now before you begin barking at me, I'll have you know that your precious seals wore off long ago. I have protected these." The old woman said.
She pulled the scrolls out from her pouch and handed them to me.
"You— oh…you protected them?" Alistair said.
"And why not? Go take these to your Grey Wardens and tell them that this Blight is far greater than they realize." She said.
"Thank you for returning these." I replied.
The old woman smiled. "Such manners! They're always in the last place you look…like stockings!" She laughed.
"It's time for you to go now. You have what you came for." Morrigan said.
"Don't be ridiculous girl. These are your guests." The old woman responded.
"Very well then. I will show you out of the woods," Morrigan muttered. "Follow me."
My companions and I followed Morrigan out of the Korcari Wilds. Apparently she knew a shortcut back to Ostagar, because the way she took us only took a fraction of the time it had taken us to get here in the first place.
We encountered no darkspawn or wolves on our return trip, thankfully. I imagine it was because we moved hurriedly and unobtrusively, for the most part. Or perhaps it was because we had already killed the stragglers on the way in.
When we arrived at Ostagar's gates, I wanted to thank Morrigan for helping us get through the woods. However, she disappeared as soon as she brought us to our destination. No one seemed to care but me.
"Thank the Maker," Ser Jory sighed. "We all survived in one piece."
"Let's hope we all survive the Joining in once piece." Daveth said.
"You will do best not to worry about it. It's something we all go through and can't be avoided. You might as well not fret over it." Alistair responded.
"Why don't get back inside camp? I'm starving and cold." I said.
"Unfortunately you will have to wait for food and rest. I'm certain that Duncan will expect you all to complete the Joining as soon as we get inside." Alistair said.
The four of us entered Ostagar's gates and walked into camp.