The sky filled with clouds of ash and flame, dancing higher hiding the sun in the sky. Denerim was devastated, buildings crumbled to the ground as the horde of Darkspawn continue their assault. The leader of this army atop the tallest building; Fort Drakon.
Heavy feet fall thunderously onto the stoned floors, fighting the burning sensation of lack of oxygen from her lungs. The drenching sweat playing with her hair, plastering it to her face, continuously threatens to continue the fight. A large Quanari, with his soul Asala sheathed but prepared, his stoic face unchanging. Two mages soon follow them closely, the elder mage struggling but still matching each of the foot steps leading them towards the top of the tower. The other, an unexpected guest, her raven hair roughly tied in a bun, her ripped clothes attempting to hold onto her form.
As the four reach the top of the tower, greeting the newcomers the Archdemon screeches at the small group, one of it wings struggling to stand tall with it's counterpart. The massive dragon form of the darkspawn glares hatefully into the eyes of the young warden, she in return glares back heatedly. Loud obnoxious trumpets soon break the Archdemon's hold on the warden, and soon the top of Fort Drakon is filled with armies of dwarves, mages, humans and elves.
Elissa soon spots the ballista and makes her way towards the closest one. Bolts continuously firing into the Archdemon, soon the dragon looks to weakened to continue its onslaught. Armies of darkspawn being fought off by the armies atop the Fort. Zoning in on the dragon, Elissa runs through the fights happening around her, her companions begin to watch as she grabs the closest sword she could find. After losing hers in the heat of the battle.
Sliding and slicing under the neck of the dragon, blood showering her as she makes her way, the Archdemon flails it's head in agony, and then it falls to the ground in a thud. Drawing the sword up over her head, Elissa makes a last prayer to the maker, hoping Alistair would understand.
Gasping, and drenched in sweat akin to her dream. Elissa looks around, Anders worried face slowly fading into her vision.
"Elissa?"
He softly whispers to her, afraid she'd freak out.
"Darkspawn"
She softly replies, tears fighting their way into her eyes. Anders begin to stroke her hair, looking into her green eyes. Not pushing further knowing she was holding something back.
"Hungry?"
She nods softly, moving out of her makeshift bed. Basic linens and a pillow, pulled back and folded to be put away, until the next time she would dream. Anders soon follow suit then leaves the room as Elissa prepares for the day ahead of them.
After washing her face and hair, she changes to a white shirt, slightly to big for her, and brown cloth pants, with her favourite black leather boots donning her feet. She leaves the room, and Anders re-enters it, dressing into his mage robes. It's not like the templars couldn't tell he was a mage anyway.
Anders leaves the room, grabbing Elissa's hand leading her out of the clinic. They make their way to Lowtown, hopefully it would have something edible for the two. Opening the door, and allowing Elissa entrance first, Anders follows closely behind, spotting Varric telling the tale of the Deep Roads expedition, with what sounded like exaggeration.
"At least Hawke isn't 10 foot tall with lightning shooting out of his eyes."
Elissa mutters to Anders in amusement.
The pair make their way to Varric, the dwarf looking up to the two a mischievous glint appears in his eyes, and the patrons make room for the newcomers to join in on listening to the tale.
"...And as we entered the chamber before the exit, Hawke and his handsome friend, myself. Stumbled upon ancient dwarven ruins, guarded by a giant rock wraith the size of an Archdemon. The battle was long and arduous, eventually as we'd worn it down, Hawke leaped 8 feet into the air and drives his trusted sword in the centre of the wraith killing it off."
The audience ooo'd at this turn of events in the story, with Elissa and Anders nodding softly with Varric, eating up his plateful of charismatic story telling.
The blonde dwarf looks to Elissa and gestures to her, coercing a story out of her. The audience look slightly dejected at Varric's abrupt ending to his story and the crowd dies away to the three. Smiling Elissa obliges.
"Hmmm... let me see, I hail from Highever, and served in Amaranthine, along with Anders."
Varric nods, curiously.
"Did you serve under the Hero of Fereldan?"
They both nod in response. Looking to Varric, hoping to persuade him to stop the line of questioning, Varric quietly agrees hoping she'd continue a more in depth story of the Hero of Fereldan. Continuing, they begin to describe the first mission they went on in Amaranthine, The Blackmarsh.
Varric feeds the two as they proceed with their story, it's shortly interrupted with Hawke and an elf with strange markings across his body, the elf's face slightly taken back by Varric's company. The three stand up, greeting Hawke and introducing the two to Hawke's ally.
"Fenris"
The unusual elf replies coldly, glaring at Anders. In a protective way Elissa stands in between the two, preventing an issue, with tension rising from both elf and mage.
"I am Warden Elissa, and this is Warden Anders."
Still watching the elf. Hawke slowly pushes Fenris back, and smiles happily at Elissa. She turns down her eyes, looking disquieted. Arthur looks to Anders, an eyebrow raised at this reply.
"She had a restless sleep last night it seems." placing a hand on her shoulder, letting her know he was there for her.
"Anything you want to talk about dear Elissa?"
she shakes her head in response.
"Would you like to help us, we're going to the mountains to search for some ingredients it seems and it's fairly dangerous."
Arthur states, hoping she would join him. Just with him. Anders speaks up first;
"I can tend to the clinic if you wish, Elissa?"
she nods in agreement and smiles at Arthur, provoking a blush from him.
"May I join you Hawke? I feel I am in need of exercise"
Arthur turns to Fenris, glaring at him and looking back to find Elissa smiling sweetly at the prospect. Dejectedly Arthur agrees, Varric volunteers to join them. She grasps her hand in Arthur's and begins to walk him back out of the tavern he had just entered. Anders watching the scene play out smiles shaking his head. He'd have to have words with young Hawke.
As the four make their journey out to the Sundermount, mages and mercenaries bare down upon the small group. Fenris recognised them as Tevinter slavers.
"Hunters..."
Fenris mutters glaring at the large group of slavers.