Last time on Dragon Age: Edrigins…
Our three favorite Eds mysteriously got sucked into the video game of Dragon Age: Origins. Now as their characters from the game, they are separated throughout Ferelden! They currently have more questions than answers: WHY are they here? HOW did they get here? WILL they find each other? Will their questions be answered?
We shall see as we finish up Ed's origin…
This chapter has been revised! Some lines from the game are still in there, but not as much as before.
Chapter 4: Ed Meets Duncan
"Ugh…" Ed groaned, opening his eyes. His head hurt like someone just bashed a frying pan on it. But he suddenly realized he was laying on a bed somewhere. Where am I? He asked himself. Slowly and carefully Ed stood up from the bed and walked out of the opening he saw in the room. He walked out and saw he was… at the Dalish Camp! Ed still couldn't believe that he was actually here, even though he remembered all the stuff that happened before from the game.
He shook the thought off again when he saw a blonde haired elf in front of him. He walked over to him and the elf turned to face him.
"Oh Elgar! You're all right!" The elf said. "The entire camp is worried for you. How do you feel?"
"Head hurts..." Ed groaned slightly.
"You were lucky to be found by the shem who brought you back. Tamlen however was nowhere to be found." The elf said.
Ed tried to think about what just happened. This was really weird, this was just like his character in the game. He remembered he was in a cave and… he did not remember what happened afterwards. "I don't remember anything..."
"The shem claimed he was a Grey Warden." The elf said. "He said he found you unconscious outside a cave in the forest, so he brought you back here. I think he went back to look for Tamlen, but no luck. Anyway, the keeper wants to see you now that you're awake. I'll go get her.
A few minutes later, an older elf woman with white hair approached Ed. She was the keeper of the camp, Keeper Marithari.
"I see you are awake, da'len. It is fortunate Duncan found you when he did…" She greeted Ed.
"Duncan?!" Ed's eyes widened at the mention of that name. Outside Ed was acting normal, but on the inside he was jumping like a little kid. He was about to meet Duncan! The guy who would make him become a Grey Warden! "Duncan's coming! Duncan's coming!"
"It was difficult for me to keep you alive. What did you get into?" The keeper asked.
"We went into a cave, we saw this mirror thingy, Tamlen went towards it, and then… and then..." Ed said fast, but the keeper interrupted him.
"A mirror? What else did you find in that cave?" She asked.
"Walking corpses, a bear demon, and big spiders!" Ed answered.
"Walking corpses? Dark magic, but not darkspawn. I know not what the other creatures might have been." The keeper said. "But this mirror..." She turned from Ed and sighed. "We need to go back to that cave and find Tamlen, he could be sick like you… maybe even worse. Can you lead the way, da'len?"
Ed nodded, "Yes, ma'am!"
"You were always adventurous, but also so determined." The keeper said. "Go find Merrill and take her with you, she can help you. Now go quick, please."
"You can count on me, yep! Goodbye, Keeper!" Ed waved before running off to Master Ilen over at supplies. After buying a few potions and new gloves for his armor, he now had to go look for Merrill, the keeper's apprentice. He found her on the outside of the camp standing there. "Merrill!"
Merrill turned to face Ed, "The keeper told me I'm to accompany you back to those caves. As her apprentice, I shall follow you and help you find Tamlen. You ready to go now?"
"Let's go, we need to find Tamlen" Ed said.
"Then let us make haste." Merrill said and the two headed on out.
Ed and Merrill went back into the forest clearing where Ed started in. Just as they were starting to go, they spotted a few darkspawn called Genlocks. "More bad guys to fight!" Ed shouted determined and the two worked together to defeat them and take them down. Ed sliced the last one down with his sword to end the small fight. "Down! Evil ugly darkspawn!"
"What were those things? Were those darkspawn?" Merrill asked. "Something is wrong here, why are they here?" Merrill sighed. "Well, we'll find out soon enough. Let's hope we don't find anymore of these monsters. Before we go, are you all right? Were you hurt during the fight?"
"Head hurts, but Elgar is okey-dokey." Ed smiled.
"Are you sure? You look pale and very feverish." Merrill asked concerned.
"I feel fine." Ed nodded.
"Well, I'll keep an eye on you. You've only just recovered from your illness. But let's not think of that now. We should move on." Merrill said.
They went further into the forest when they stopped in an area that looked like a camp was used. Ed suggested that Duncan was the one that used it. As Merrill suggested to keep going, she asked Ed something.
"Wait… do you hear that?" Merrill asked.
Ed stopped and he didn't hear anything, "I can't hear anything…" He used his finger to clean out his ear, thinking she heard something he didn't.
"It's too quiet… something is not right..." Merrill said looking around, "We need to find this cave soon and get bak to camp."
Ed immediately started to lead the way again before more Genlocks approached them. They took those monsters down and Ed felt the jolt in his body again, signaling he leveled up again. They made it back to the cave entrance and went inside and began searching. Ed slowly went into the cave with his sword handy in case of giant spiders, skeletons, or even Bereskarms. Both he and Merrill stopped at a pile of bones with Merrill looking at the ruins.
"Hmm… these are the ruins? But… they look human, with elven artifacts all around." Merrill said.
"We need to find Tamlen and get out of here." Ed said.
"You're right, let's continue." Merrill agreed.
Ed nodded and they continued on through the cave. They fought more Genlocks on the way and set off a few traps before they reached the mirror room. A man, familiar to Ed, was in the room when they walked in. There were dead darkspawn around and the man was looking at the mirror.
"Oh boy! Oh boy! It's Duncan!Ed was cheering on the inside.
Duncan turned around and saw the two, "So you were the one fighting darkspawn. I thought I heard combat. You're the elf I found wandering in the forest, aren't you? I'm surprised you have recovered."
"Duncan! I can't believe it's you!" Ed cheered out loud, causing Merrill and Duncan to give him a strange look.
"You know my name?" Duncan asked.
Ed's face blushed red slightly in embarrassment, "Oh… the keeper said what your name was and I can't believe you're a Grey Warden!'
"Ah, that makes sense. It is a pleasure to meet you, young Elgar." Duncan said. "You were unconscious when I found you in the forest."
"Andaran atish'an, Duncan of the Grey Wardens. I am Merrill, the keeper's apprentice." Merrill introduced herself.
"Your keeper did not send you after me, did she? I told her I would be in no danger." Duncan asked.
"We're looking for Tamlen." Ed answered.
"So you and your friend Tamlen both entered this cave? And you saw this mirror?" Duncan asked.
Ed nodded, "Yes. Tamlen touched it. I told him not to!"
"I see." Duncan said. "The Grey Wardens have seen artifacts like this mirror before; it is Tevinter in origin, used for communication. Over time some of them simply… break. They become filled with the same taint as the darkspawn. Tamlen's touch must have released it. It's what made you sick- and Tamlen too, I presume."
"Can we fix it?" Ed asked.
Duncan shook his head, "Unfortunately, no. It will taint all those who will come near it now."
"I do not fear this sickness. The keeper knows how to cure it." Merrill said.
"She may have weakened it, but she cannot cure it." Duncan said. He looked back at Ed, "The sickness is spreading in you, you are still tainted with it."
"What do I do?" Ed asked.
Duncan turned around to face the mirror holding one of his blades. "We deal with this mirror first." He said. Lightning bolts were seen in the mirror as he approached it. He hit his blade against the mirror, causing it to break and a bright light shined from it, nearly blinding Ed. When the light was gone, the mirror was in pieces and Duncan walked back down to Ed and Merrill.
"It is done." Duncan spoke. "Now let's leave this cursed place. I must speak with the keeper immediately regarding your cure."
"It is scary! Ed- er, Elgar is out of here!" Ed said, getting a little freaked out by this place. He grabbed both Merrill and Duncan by the arms and sped out of the cave as fast as he could back to the camp. The keeper approached him when he arrived.
"I'm relieved you have returned. And I did not expect to see you again so soon, Duncan." The keeper said.
"I was not expecting to return so soon either, Keeper." Duncan said.
"Did you find any sign of Tamlen?" The keeper asked.
"Not a sign of him, Keeper." Ed responded sadly.
"I see." The keeper turned to Merrill. "Merrill, what about the mirror? Did you bring anything back?"
Duncan answered the question instead, "I can answer that question, Keeper. I destroyed the mirror."
"I intended to use it to find a cure for this mysterious illness. I trust you had good reasons for your actions?" The keeper asked.
"There is much to discuss, Keeper. I have learned a great deal since I was last here." Duncan said.
"Let us speak privately within my aravel then, Duncan." She turned back to Merrill. "Merrill, warn the hunters. If darkspawn are about, I want the clan prepared."
"Ma nuvenin, Keeper. Right away." Merrill walked away.
The keeper turned back to Ed, "Da'len, allow me some time to speak with Duncan. Seek us out in my aravel later, and we can discuss your cure. Tell Hahren Paivel about Tamlen. He has to prepare a service for him. Follow me, Duncan. I am eager to hear what you have to say."
The keeper left with Duncan while Ed went off to the other side of the camp to talk to Paivel. After telling Paivel to prepare the service and also helping him tell the tale of the fall of the Dales to the clan children, Ed went back to find the keeper and Duncan at the aravel.
"Your keeper and I have spoken, and we've come to an arrangement that concerns you." Duncan said. "My order is in need of help. You are in need of a cure. When I leave, I hope you will join me. You would make an excellent Grey Warden."
"A Grey Warden! Yay!"The lovable oaf cheered out loud, making Duncan look at him surprised.
"It seems you are up for this idea." Duncan said. "But the taint could eventually kill you. If you can join us, we can prevent you from it killing you."
"Yes! Yes I'll join you!"Ed cheerfully answered, jumping up and down.
Duncan bowed slightly, "Welcome to the Grey Warden order. It is rare to have a Dalish in the order, but you seem to be the best fit."
"I know you'll do your clan proud, da'len." The keeper handed Ed a ring. "Take this ring. It is your heritage and will protect you against the darkness to come.
"A valuable gift." Duncan agreed. "So… are you ready to go?"
"I think Elgar should stay to pay his respects to Tamlen." The keeper said.
"Then I shall allow him to do so. When they are finished, we shall be off." Duncan said.
The keeper walked over to Ed, "Come then, da'len. Before the Creators guide you from us, let your clan embrace you one last time."
Moments later after the events of the funeral, the Dalish clan watched as Ed looked at them one last time. He walked up to Duncan and the two made their way out of the camp, with Ed looking back at the clan as he went.
"This is so cool! I am in the game and now I'm a Grey Warden!"Ed thought to himself. But what he didn't know was before his adventure began, Duncan had two more places to stop.
Ed's origin is complete, but the adventure hasn't started yet. We still got two more origins to finish. Will the Eds meet up with one another eventually? We'll find out soon!
The end of Edd's origin is next!
