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"I cannot embrace the touch that you give, I cannot find solace in your words, I cannot deliver you your love or caress your soul..." I hummed the words from that old song Papa sang in the tavern all those years ago. I remembered it used to bring tears to my eyes everytime I would hear it.
Now, I can only look at the passing days and feel wistful at the memory of it.
He was always so grim, people would say, such an insufferable prick to deal with. Yet with me, they were always happy times. I'd dare to even say that I saw him smile on several occasions. Papa wasn't a bad man, he just had bad luck. The latest streak of which took him away from me and set off a spark that ignited the fires of the Mage Rebellion. I was off of it during the first few hours, but it must've been a sight to see with father cutting a bloody swath through the Templars in the Gallows just to wrest me from the arms of my captors. I often wondered if there was anything in the whole world that can stop my dear Papa if his little Riven was ever in trouble.
Apparently, an evil deity can.
Now that I think about it, I wondered what chance I have at accomplishing my quest of rescuing my father from the Dark One. I am the Scion of Andraste, but my full potential had not yet been realized. This wasn't me being modest, it was the truth. No amount of training on my own could prepare me, I realized this as well. I needed someone to continue teaching me, not in the rules of this world but by those beyond.
It's a nigh impossible wish to fulfill, to pray for something or someone adept at the same things father was in to come teach me. But stranger things happened before. Who knows? I might get lucky and stumble on someone from his world.
"Oh Papa, wherever you are, I hope you still remember me." I thought out loud.
A strong tremor suddenly shook the earth beneath our feet, frightening Alfsigr out of her wits. The mare bucked and whinnied, nearly throwing me off the saddle had I not held on tight to the reins! "Whoa there, girl! Easy!" I calmed my mount, stroking her neck as the tremor died down as quickly as it begun. I decided to investigate the source of that little quake, knowing from experience that it wasn't the natural sort.
Nearing the glen off road, I heard the sound of a battle being fought, and one fought quite fiercely by the horrific screams of men and women drawn to the slaughter. I nudged Alfsigr to a quick trot forward, keeping my eyes front and ever-watchful should my investigation prove too dangerous to continue. Soon, I ascended the hill and got the view I was looking for.
The fields were soaked crimson with the blood of the slain, where horses and soldiers lay strewn like discarded splinters from chopped lumber. In the middle, leading a small band of fighters, stood a towering monster made entirely out of ice!
"Wow, that's not something you see everyday." I remarked. Alfsigr neighed her reply, showing her eagerness to depart from this mess. I agreed with her and drew the reins to the side, guiding my mount to make way for the road again.
But before we could even resume our journey, I heard a woman scream for help, halting me in my tracks and prompting me to turn about to face the battlefield. She carried a standard bearing the coat-of-arms of House Everborn, a Fereldan clan known very well in the underground for sheltering and harboring mages since the days of the Templar Order's infancy. The shattered symbol of the circle in the middle of those three phoenixes could be recognized anywhere.
Today, the men of House Everborn faced against the small but powerful band bearing House Marlin's standard. I haven't heard much about them, but from the looks of it they picked a fight against Everborn under the influence of the Templar Order, whose power had grown with the swelling hatred against all magic-users. They were a little stretched thin in Fereldan soil, but that did not stop them from employing the local lords from having at those they deemed treacherous.
The Mage-Templar War does this to people. It splits brother from brother, forcing them to pick sides. The mountains pale in comparison to the amount of bodies laid into the earth day by day.
The woman had the look of a commander, with that brown bear pelt hanging about her shoulders like a cape. She took an arrow to the knee as she began to sound the retreat. She never finished, and her men were slaughtered. The commander screamed in agony as the horse she rode on soon had its legs torn from under it by the heavy blade of a Marlinner axeman, the animal had fallen atop her wounded leg and soundly broke the bone in two places. She didn't let the pain keep her from the fight, and she managed to yank her sword free from under her. Though pinned in place by her fallen mount, the woman fended off the Marlinner and stuck him through the gut with her blade, buying herself some time to get free from the suffering stallion.
"Come on, girl." I told Alfsigr, spurring her forward into a gallop. "We can't let this one fall to the Templars."
I drew father's sword and leaned out low on my saddle to the right, catching several Marlinners by surprise as I joined the battle. Geisteel cuts so cleanly, better than mortal steel ever could, the momentum only served to empower my strikes as I rode straight into the frey. Instinct screamed at me that I was not the Knight of Heide, I was still mortal- and that a single stray arrow or lucky thrust of a spear would end my life here and now! I ignored it, letting the rush of blood to my head drown out all doubts as I cleaved through the Marlinner ranks.
I had but a little oaken buckler the size of my arm to protect me, but my quick actions served me better, so well that I had little need for it at all.
The massive iceborn monstrosity soon reverted to its original form- a woman clad in the most curious looking frost-encrusted armor. She bore a greatsword that was easily her own size, which I would say was quite the stature! She towered above most of the Marlinners, prompting me to question whether or not she was truly one of them.
Or perhaps someone who happened on the same battle and chose a side...like me? If so, she chose poorly.
I dismounted with a quick sweep of my legs over the saddle, letting Alfsigr ride to a safe distance as I went to the fallen commander's side. "Worry not, I'm here!" I reassured her, helping the woman out of the burdensome beast and onto the soft grass. With a rub of my hands, I set the healing spell over her injured leg, restoring the torn flesh and shattered bone back to its original state.
"Thank you, lass!" The woman said gratefully, "But I fear your involvement in this battle changes nothing. This one is lost."
"What?" I answered, "A stranger with a new form of magic comes and you'd just give up? No, milady, this is far from over." Some might call me crazy, but I call that undying determination. It was Papa's attitude, I guess I got a little of him in me. He'd disapprove of my involvement in this battle, but I'm not one to stand aside while so many good people die to keep the spirit of freedom alive. These were noble warriors who deserved my help, and I would give it to them. "Stand by me, I will shift the tide in your favor!"
"I am Lorana, Sentinel-Captain of House Everborn!" The commander stood up, "If you see there is a chance, then we shall rally to you!"
Papa has taught me much, but this was the first time I've ever called on a large band to my command. It was difficult at first, but I swallowed the bitterness of self-doubt and trusted in the Knight of Heide's teachings. "Call on your hounds." I said to the Sentinel-Captain. "They will disrupt the pikemen formations better than your mage-brethren could."
"What? But the mabari are used as messengers! They cannot-
"Trust me, they're looking forward to this." I assured Lorana.
The Sentinel-Captain reached for her whistle and blew three shrill blasts that echoed above the din of the battle. A few minutes later, the hounds came dashing across the field with the speed of a stampeding bronto herd. Like the warhounds of old, the mabari swept over the assembled Marlinners and overwhelmed them completely! I knew that would happen, but was astonished to see it myself.
"Would you look at that?" I chuckled, watching the pikemen stumble around with the hounds having at their necks and shattering their knees from below. Why on earth would the Everborn use mabari as messenger-hounds in the first place? They're far more useful out on the field than delivering parchments all day. Driving in that point to the Everborn was quite satisfying.
"Archers!" Lorana called to what was left of her marksmen, "Pick your targets and fire at will!"
The archers did not disappoint, they picked off the axemen first and then concentrated on the pikemen struggling to get back in formation. The Marlinners' champion, the frost-flecked lady, did not take kindly to this turn of events and rushed headlong into the fray. "You!" She thundered, taunting me into a duel. Her armor was strong, too thick for the arrows of the Everborn to pierce. She ignored the missiles that rattled against the surface of her breastplate, and she swung her sword about her head that shot out a powerful magical arc that swept all who stood before her.
My lips grew taut with determination as I prepared myself for battle. Inwardly, I hoped Papa's sword was strong enough to pierce even that frost-flecked armor. Her greatsword whistled as it missed my neck, a narrow escape for me as I instinctively leaned back. "Whoa!" I dove forward and let her strike at the bloodsoaked grass, striking at her left thigh as I passed through.
The armor held, but the blow forced her to bend the knee.
In quick response, the knight struck out, nearly impaling me upon her weapon as the blade glances off the surface of my cuirass! "You don't mess around, do you?" I exclaimed, padding back to a safe distance as she regained her stance. "A skilled warrior like you should not ally yourself with those Templar sympathizers!"
"I have made my choice." She answered, "This is not my battle, but I won't let you slaughter these noble soldiers!"
Clearly, she's new around here. "You've made the wrong choice, then."
"I won't let your words dissuade me from taking action!" The knight roared, throwing an ice shard that shattered when it struck my raised buckler. "Enough talk! Raise your weapon and fight!"
"As you wish." I said with a shrug.
Soon, the Marlinners were all driven out of the fields, leaving the wayward knight alone to face the wrath of the Everborn army. She was a brave one too, willing to go against those that numbered a hundred strong. She swatted and slashed at the spear tips that pressed against her like the walls of a cage, slowly driven back into the edge of a steep cliff that overlooked the gushing river below.
She was exhausted, I could tell by the way her movements had slowed over time. "I'll...I'll take you all on!" The knight shouted desperately. At this, Lorana gave the order for the archers to let loose their wrathful hail. Her armor was still so unnaturally strong! No amount of arrows could pierce her, although they did manage to knock her back. One in particular sent her off the edge of the cliff and into the river below.
"Hold fire!" Lorana commanded, taking pause to look over the ledge.
The knight had fallen and struck her head against a rock. She remained still, even after we had made the slow descent into the riverbank where she lay. The Everborn commander kicked the fallen warrior's weapon aside and removed her helm, preparing to drive her dirk into her eye as retaliation for the many losses she had suffered today.
I grabbed her arm before the blade could take the downed knight's life, "No, stop!"
Lorana glared at me and snarled, "Why should I? A lot of my friends, good loyal men to House Everborn, died because of her! This is justice!"
"I don't blame you for being angry, Captain, but don't sully your honor by slaying this woman outside of battle." I told her, "Take her to Lord and Lady Everborn to await judgement. This is the only righteous path."
Lorana looked down upon the knight and then back at me. She wrestled with her anger for a moment, and succeeded. "Very well..." She took a deep breath and sheathed her dagger, "I am the hand of His Lordship. Her execution shall be decided by him and him alone." Lorana stood up and motioned for her men to bring the ropes that they may bind the prisoner. "You have done well, stranger. Without your intervention, our resolve would've broken. Many more would've died had Andraste not sent you to us."
My ancestor had nothing to do with it. "Glad to be of assistance. I am called Riven." I shook the Sentinel-Captain's hand in greeting, "You'd best make for the fortress, Lorana. The Marlinners would undoubtedly return in force."
"Come with us." She beckoned as the men prepared to make the march back home. "Some food and a soft bed is the least we can do in return for your help today."
"Actually, yeah." I said with a smile, "That's a good idea, thank you!" I whistled for Alfsigr to trot back, then hoisted myself up the saddle. After stripping the field clean of what could be salvaged, the army moved on South in the direction of Castle Everborn, one of the many powers vying for control of the Hinterlands.
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