The Dragon and the Griffon
A/N: Draco Cousland is a Warrior whom Duncan recruited from Highever. Irasabeth Tabris is a rouge Duncan found in the Elven Alienage. This is going to be the story about how these two very different people become close friends and took on the Blight with their small band of misfit allies.
A big old thanks to my beta Lisa! You are a lifesaver!
Chapter 4: Ties that Bind.
Draco awoke with a yell dying on his lips, he jolted up and hissed as white hot searing pain ripped through him. "Sonofabitch," he growled as he held his shoulder.
"Ah, you're awake. Mother shall be pleased," a hard female voice mused. Use a comma, not a period.
Draco looked up and narrowed his eyes, "I know you, he said. You're…Morrigan? The girl from the Wilds."
She nodded, "I am she."
"What happened?" He asked, "where are the others?"
You mean the elf and the suspiciously dim-witted one? They are here, just outside. Their wounds have been tended to,and so have yours.
He touched the bandage over his shoulder and around the upper part of his chest. "I…I don't really remember what happened, I remember that we had lit the signal and then...Darkspawn. They came up out of nowhere!" He looked around, "how did we get here?"
"Mother rescued you from the tower," Morrigan replied, "and brought you back here to tend to your wounds. She is outside at the moment with your friends."
"Did anyone else make it? Did the King?" He asked, feeling that he already knew the answer.
"The man who was to save your King quit the field, no one but you three survived, so mother claims. I think she did not bother to save anyone else." The young woman shrugged, "but who am I to question my mother?"
Draco gave a ghost of a smile, "one never should question their mother, lest they find out what it is like to be without." He shook his head as he stood up and swayed on his feet, making Morrigan take his arm.
"You are still a little unstable, much like a new born calf," she chuckled darkly.
"I'll be fine. I need to see my friends," he looked at her. "Thank you for your help," Morrigan.
She shook her head. "Twas not I who healed you, but you…are welcome," she said, "your armour is right there if you wish to put it on. I will stay and make something to eat."
Draco quickly put on his armour and walked out of the hut. He was immediately tackled with a hug from Irasabeth. "DRACO! You're alive! Thank the Maker!" She cried, hugging him tightly, "I thought we had lost you! Don't you ever scare me like that again, do you hear me?" She asked, punching his good shoulder.
He laughed. "I'm sorry Irasabeth. I'm glad to see that the two of you are well." He looked past her to Alistair who was looking at him with no expression. "Are you alright Alistair?" he asked.
"You're alive?" the other man walked over and embraced him, "thank the Maker."
Draco felt warmth spread through him as he returned Alistair s embrace, "I am, thanks to Morrigan and her mother."
Alistair pulled back. "I'm just glad you and Irasabeth are alright, I was so worried I was going to be alone."
"Hey Alistair, c'mon this is me and Draco you're talking about. We're stubborn and resilient," Irasabeth said.
Draco nodded. "Yeah! It will take more than a few pesky Darkspawn to kill us." He smiled, "besides, with everything that's going on I definitely don't want to depart from this world just yet," he said with a wink causing slight color to come to Alistair's cheeks.
"Ahem? If you are quite finished, we have a lot to discuss and not a lot of time. I suggest we make do with what time we have," the old woman mused.
"Forgive me ma'am, but who are you?" Draco asked.
The woman scoffed, "names are pretty, but useless. If you must call me something, call me Flemeth."
"Wait wait wait& Flemeth? The Flemeth of legend?" Alistair asked.
"And if I am?" the old woman challenged him.
"Then you must be very powerful," Draco interjected smoothly. "Could your magic help us?" He asked.
She let out a bark of laughter. "I am but an old woman who lives in the Wilds. But you… you three are Grey Wardens."
"Alistair is the true Grey Warden. Draco and I are new to the order." Irasabeth said.
Alistair looked at them with pleading eyes. "Please, don't abandon me now, I need you both," he said softly, his voice trembling.
Draco smiled at him. "Don't worry Ali, we won't. Irasabeth is just saying you have more prowess as a Grey Warden, we're in this together."
"Ah the ties that bind us are strong indeed. Now that you have decided that you are Grey Wardens what do you plan on doing about it?" Flemeth asked.
The three Wardens were drawn into silence before Irasabeth snapped her fingers. "The treaties!" She cried, "we still have them, right? Well, what about we get those people together and we take this Blight down." She grinned at her triumphant idea.
"Have you looked at them?" Alistair asked them, "we have treaties for the Elves, Dwarves, and Magi. If we can gather these people then we can build an army."
Draco nodded, "then that's what we have to do."
"You make it sound so easy…"Irasabeth said, "but we're gonna have to be careful, because if what we have been told is true, and Loghain quit the field…then he's probably telling some story that we set up the King's death and he will want to silence any and all Grey Wardens who made it out of Ostagar."
Alistair paled, "good…good point."
Draco shot her a glare, "good job Irasy, scare the guy before we even get started."
"HEY! I'm not scared; I just don't feel like being jailbait…or dead. Dead would be bad." Alistair said.
Draco rolled his eyes and turned back to Flemeth, "do you have anything else that can help us?" He asked her.
The old woman tapped her chin, "well I hope you aren't expecting me to come traipsing across the land with you. But I do have something that will be of use to you."
At that moment Morrigan walked out, "the stew is bubbling mother, shall we have three guests for the eve, or none?" she asked.
"They will be leaving, and you will be going with them," Flemeth stated.
"That's too…what?" Morrigan yelped looking at her mother with wide eyes.
"Hush girl, you're always saying you want to get out of the Wilds, this is your chance."
"But mother I…"
"That is very kind of you," Draco interjected, "but if Morrigan does not wish to come with us I'm sure we can make do without her."
Flemeth rolled her eyes. "Her magic is useful and she will provide a great help to all of you in the coming journey."
"Allow me to pack my things if you will," Morrigan said with a glare at her mother, "and turned to go back into the hut to gather her things."
Flemeth looked at Draco with hard eyes, "you will keep my daughter safe, right?" she asked.
Draco nodded, "of course, she will be safe with us and we will return her to you whole and well."
Flemeth nodded, her eyes getting a glassy look, "good…that's good." She nodded.
Morrigan walked back out with a pack slung over her shoulder. "I am ready," she stated, "now I suggest we stop by a small town to the north called Lothering, there we will be able to restock our supplies and gather some kind of information on what is going on." She looked between all three Wardens, "or if you prefer I can remain your silent guide."
"I don't have a problem with you if Alistair doesn't," Irasabeth said with a shrug.
"From the way he glares I believe I have my answer."
Draco laughed and whistled for his dog, "well, we may wanna hurry so we don't get stuck out in the Wilds in the dark."
Morrigan nodded as she turned to her mother, "do not forget to take the stew off the fire. I'd hate to come back to a charred hut."
Flemeth let out a bark of laughter, "I'd be more worried about this part of the Wilds being taken over by the Blight than a burned down hut."
"I merely meant…"
"I know," Flemeth interrupted, "do try to have fun dear," she said, waving them off before walking back into the hut.
Morrigan sighed before she began to walk forward. Draco nodded for Irasabeth and Alistair to follow her and they left the Wilds behind.
A/N: Ah a filler chapter that seems to be more of a pain in the ass than a real chapter. But its done and I needed to get them out of the wilds. Now they have to get through Lothering and this will start getting to the more sexy times. Also I'm going to continue with Draco being more forward with Alistair so things might go a little more quickly than they usually would with the game but it will be a lot of sexy good times.
