Chapter 3: Deception
Hadgar let out a harsh warcry as he held out his sword and family shield in the air. Though he was not one of the largest combatants, he was one of the fiercest.
As a wolf set on fire the dwarva warden charged once more into the fray.
He slammed his shield into a Orlesian' soldier, which send him flying, as his sword gutted another. Lord Aeducan felt home in the battlefields, a home he missed for many years. A dangerous homecoming which could be his last if he was not to careful.
'There he is, slay that dwarf!' he heard one of the enemy shout. Ah, somebody tried to kill him, good! Oddly enough it made him feel more alive. He was special, a threat, important, something he hasn't been in years.
'Yer know who I am?' the last of the Aeducans taunted his enemies.' I am Hadgar Aeducan, son of Endrin, former prince of Orzammar and a member of the Grey Wardens, you soddin' bastards were dead ta moment yer set foot on yer ships!'
His armour was already covered in Orlesian blood as his blade was drenched in their blood, the same blade then Lord Harrowmont bestowed upon Hadgar shortly before his exile. It had slain many darkspawn since then, many men as well...and it planned to add many more to it's score that night.
Lord Aeducan was no fool though, he knew to stay within the Grey Warden lines lest he would be surrounded by the Orlesians. He took a glance to his left to check on his manservant Gorim.
Gorim thankfully was still able to fight despite the years of living as a merchant before he took his lord's side once more after the Fifth blight was stopped...and after Hadgar returned from his futile search of Morrigan.
Gorim dismembered a foe as he suddenly looked up. His eyes widened as he pointed upward.' Milord, arrows!'
Hadgar looked up as he saw dozens of lit arrow rapidly descending toward them. It were as if the stars rushed toward them.
'Take cover, shields!' Hadgar shouted as he kicked a orlesian away and took shelter behind his family shield.
Most Grey Wardens were able to hide behind their shields as the arrows plummeted in both Orlesian and Grey Warden lines.
Sadly quite a few of the Wardens were not quick enough or their shields were set ablaze.
On cue a group of men, who carried a barrel on their back each, jumped of their ships and ran towards the Grey Warden lines. Hadgar peered as he saw a thick black liquid drops spilled on the ground as they ran. It took no genius to know they were carrying-
'Tar, everyone get back, douse the flames, kill the batter bearers!'
The magi Wardens heard and quickly cast their spells to douse the flames while the archers knocked their arrows and unleashed it at the nearest target.
'Cheeky little bastards...' Hadgar admitted as Gorim ran to his side.
'My lord, I suggest we fall back to the gate, more ships are coming and I fear they bear mages of their own.'
Hadgar nodded, but as he turned to give the order he saw a mage of his own began to cast a lightning spell, he heard the words of the spell dozens of times before as they were utterd by his lover Morrigan all those years ago.
Hadgar estimated the mage was to target one of the few barrel bearers left.
His mouth felt like clay as he tried to stop the mage from completing the spell.
'Don't do-'
The mage threw the bolt of lightning toward the bearer. When the lightning connected with the body, the barrel on his back began to spark...before it exploded in a sea of fire. The fire spread as it consumed every trace of the tar, which consumed a large part of the Grey Warden lines.
Hadgar growled. He took his manservant by his side.' Call the retreat, and find out who that mage was, I wish ta chop 'is head off ere tha sun rises.'
'Yes my lord.' Gorim nodded.' Everyone fall back to the keep!'
The fire were a mixed blessing as it gave the Warden's a temporary shield to retreat from the oncoming orlesian hordes. However their morale suffered as they had to turn away from their screaming, burning peers.
Two wardens closed the gate as a group of others barricaded the gate. Their tired faces turned to Hadgar once more.
'We stand ere ground 'ere, there's no way dem Orlesian's 'ave-'
He was once more interrupted as the wall itself shattered as a large boulder flew through the wall. A large piece of the debris head the dwarva on the head. As darkness claimed him he could faintly hear Gorim shout his name.
The Grey Warden carefully examined a herb. With caution he slowly drew his herbalism knife and cut the herb's root from the ground.
'Dere we go...' he grinned as he put it away in his pouch.
He walked toward the north where he saw his lover who also searched for herbs there.
'Oi Morrigan!' Hadgar shouted as he showed his latest catch.' Found some more Elfroot fer ya!'
The amber eyed sorceress sighed.
'You dwarves honestly have no clue what the differences are between herbs do you?'
'As long it's green, it's a herb.' The dwarf grinned.
'Well, I fear what you have there is Deathroot, not something you wish to make a potion off to drink I'm sure.' She explained.' You might want to give it to the girl or that elven assassin of Aedan's, they'll no doubt be able to find something useful with those.'
The dwarf blinked. 'Yer serious?'
'My mother was quite adamant in showing me what herbs are edible, and which one's are poisonous.'
'How?'
'I had to make and drink a potion with two herbs of her choosing. One of them was the deathroot, the other elfroot. I nearly died for my mistake, luckily I did not put to much deathroot in that potion or I wouldn't be standing here today and make proper good potions.'
The dwarf blinked.
'Yer...mother would let yer die fer a mistake?'
'Witches of the wild can not afford to make mistakes.'
'Ah...well...thanks fer pointing out my mistake then.'
'Your welcome, after all who would save us from the Blight and me from the lone cold nights at camp if you would suddenly fall ill?'
'Well fer the world savin' we still got Aedan an' Alistair, as fer keepin' yer warm...Barkspawn maybe?'
Morrigan glared.' You imply I should seek my company with Aedan's hound?'
'What? Course not love, Barkspawn can find his own bitch, yer mine remember?'
The witch rolled her eyes.' That is a compliment then, calling me your bitch.'
'From a animal point a view, aye.' The dwarf said without any reservation as he slid down the hill.' Yer a fine bitch though.'
'Say that one more time and I will turn you into a newt.'
'Dwarva, spells like that wont work.'
'Wish to test that theory?'
The witch grinned as she held her index finger and her thumb close to each other, as they neared a small purple orb came into being.
''Urghm...I believe I'll stop callin' yer...yer know what fer that time bein'...the time bein' now until forever.'
'Good boy.' Morrigan could not help but giggle.' You are fortunate I am in a good mood.'
'Burned a orphanage when I wasn't looking?'
'Oh please, what do I have possibly to gain from the slaughter of children...other then using their innocent souls to cast my more powerful spells of course.'
The dwarf once more blinked.' Yer serious?'
'Oh yes, magic always needs a source doesn't it?' she neared the dwarf and strayed his beard.' I heard dwarva hearts are excellent for taming a high dragon...'
Hadgar knew his lover well enough to know she enjoyed teasing him cruelly. It was a thing they did, both when the others were around and when they weren't. They both knew they could make small jokes and remarks on each other's expense, others would find it weird and unromantic...Hadgar didn't.
He kissed his lover for a moment.
'What does a dwarva need ta tame a Witch of the wolds den?' he asked.
'You tell me.' Morrigan smiled.' I haven't figured that one out yet myself.'
'I'll let you know den.' Hadgar replied as the two moved back to camp.
'Still I have to wonder...' Morrigan asked.' Why did you ask me to teach you about leanring how to pick herbs?'
'Well as a lover tis my duty to indulge meself in the interests of yours. And other then makin' fun outa Alistair, this hobby of yers interests me as well.'
'How so?'
'Other den mushrooms yer don't 'ave herbs like these back home. I soddin' hate those damn mushrooms...'
'I heard you had to eat those for days until your master Duncan found you in the deep roads.'
'Tis true, hence my...reaction ta Alistair's cookin' tha other night.'
'You broke his nose.'
'That wasn't tha only thing I would break if Oghren an' Sten didn't stop me.'
The sorceress could not help but smile. This dwarf was indeed charming. She met other charming men before in Lothering when she went there to...sate her yearnings. But he was different, unlike those others his interest in her didn't stop after one night. He began to enjoy her hobbies, and she liked reading the books he read. Which began to frighten her.
They were growing to close, became more then simply just 'friends with privileges'. It would become a weakness if left unchecked.
'Morrigan, yer alright lass?'
But it didn't need to happen today.
'Yes I'm fine.' She lied.' Come on, let us head back to camp, I'm sure Leliana has more Chantry propaganda ready for us when we return.'
'Oi...' Hadgar agreed.' I swear next time one o' dem chantry nuns call me godless an' doomed again fer not followin' their prophet I'll let their faces interact with the Stone.'
'With interacting you mean smashing their heads on the pavement you mean.'
'Aye.' He chuckled.
'You. Are a bad man Hadgar Aeducan.' She smiled at him.
'That's why yer love me.'
'My Lord?'
Hadgar slowly opened his eyes. The dark figure in front of him slowly came into focus. With a smile he recognised his friend.
'Hey Gorim...how did we fare?'
The man servant helped to sit the dwarven warden up.
'None to well I'm afraid...they burned down the port and many Wardens died.'
Hadgar looked to the east where he saw the port of Amaranthine burn. With a terrifying thought his mind went back to Ostagar where he very nearly died. Luckily when he looked around he saw many of the Wardens made it out, as did many of Amaranthine's citizens.
'Hadgar?'
The dwarf lord turned his attention to the figure of a female dwarf that ran toward him. She was still covered in blood and still wore a well protected leather armour emblazoned with the symbol of the Grey Wardens, the gryphon, but he could still recognise her.
'Glad ta hear yer still alive sigrun.' Hadgar was helped on his feet by Gorim.' What is tha news?'
'We are heading North, to Soldier's peak to regroup while the citizens flee to Denerim.' She replied.' But right now King Alistair and the Commander wish to speak with you.'
'No rest fer the wicked, eh?' The dwarva lord took his shield and sword and followed Sigrun to the two humans.
After a moment she broke the silence.' I am glad you are still alive.'
'Same...ta you I mean.' Hadgar replied.
Sigrun gave a faint smile and extended her arm up ahead. 'They are in there.'
Hadgar nodded.' I'll talk ta ya later.'
The Warden and his manservant went to the small clearing. They could recognise both the king and the warden commander...but there were three more forms there.
One of them was a Orlesian warrior who was tied up by a tree while the two others were a tanned elf who wore leather armor and carried two daggers on his back which marked him as a assassin and a female, also a elf, who bore the symbol of the Grey Wardens;.
'Ah, it seems our friend has finally awoken.' The elf grinned.' How fare you Warden?'
'Zevran?' Hadgar looked up.' Oh fer the love of the stone...haven't yer had enough yet of teasin' me?'
'It seems you were lying about you two sharing found memories.' The woman said to the assassin.
'Well I think the relationship me and Lord Aeudcan share is more complicated then I first let on.'
'Yer elven git tried to kill me and then he hit on me!'
'You should feel flattered Warden, I only flirt with the most handsome men of Thedas.'
Hadgar had to be held back by Gorim and the King himself.
'Lemme at him, lemme at him!'
'Hadgar, enough!' Alistair cut the dwarf off.' We have more urgent matters to attend to then your masculinity.'
He let him go as Aedan Cousland introduced Hadgar to the female Warden.
'This is Sidona Andras, a Grey Warden from Orlais, she was the ambassador who was to meet us in two days. Zevran and his crows managed to save them just in time for these 'Orlesians'.'
'I merely do what the king paid me to do.' Zevran once again gave his signature grin.
'Wait...' the dwarf asked.' These aren't Orlesians?'
'No.' Sidona replied.' Nor were the Fereldans who attacked Orlais recently Fereldans at all it seems.'
'So, who did attack you then?' Alistair asked.
'I observed the fighting style both the Fereldan imposters used and these Orlesians, and so far I can conclude one thing...both groups are one and the same.'
'Any idea what this group is called?'
The elf shook her head.
'All we know is that they serve a woman called 'Flemeth.'
The three Grey Wardens's faces paled when they heard the name drop.
'Flemeth...?'
'I know.' Zevran spoke.' That was my reaction to...one of my Crows told me she saw her herself...along with the man you call Hawke.'
TBC
