It's after midnight and I just reached the final battle on another save file…and I was inspired to write another chapter! Yays!
DISCLAIMER: You know the drill. That is all.
Chapter 6
"This is it Warden. When from the blood of battle the Stone has fed, let the heroes prevail and the Blighters lie dead. As one of the blighters, I sodding salute you." Aiden clasped Oghren on his shoulder and smiled.
"You are more than a hero than you know, stout friend," he remarked and Oghren gave his usual sly chuckle before pacing off, placing that overly large warhammer on his shoulder.
"So we head into the city together, as it should be. Once this is done, no matter how it turns out, I will be gone. You are aware of this, yes?"
Aiden nodded, looking down somewhat before looking up to the woman's Amber eyes. "Then let me thank you, Morrigan, for all that you've done."
"There is far more I might have done for you, had this been different times and we…different people." A heavy sigh escaped her lips. "Allow me to say one thing before we go. I was foolish. This could have been so much easier, yet I…cannot regret what was between us. I will always remember you…my love."
Aiden shot up, slamming his head onto the bunk ahead of him, and giving a loud shout. Whether it was from the dream, or the sudden pain in his forehead, he didn't know. He turned to see Alistair sitting on a chair across the room, arms folded as he looked at him.
"Bad dream," Alistair asked. "Perhaps dreams of…slaying the Archdemon?"
"…Morrigan," Aiden said, rubbing his head.
"Close enough," Alistair shot back, unfolding his arms as he stood.
"Must you always watch me when I sleep? You have an uncanny knack for being there when I wake up," Aiden replied, swinging his legs off the bed and standing, letting out a long stretch. They had been at sea for weeks, however 'the sten' as he was called said that they would be arriving in Ferelden today.
"What can I say? You're such a cutie pie when you sleep. All…peaceful—and silent. Yes, silent," Alistair said. "Did I mention you weren't talking?"
"Afraid I can't say the same for you," Aiden replied as he grabbed the sheathes that held his daggers. He pulled one from the sheath and saw the frosty aura come to life. He had then re-enchanted recently and was happy to know that the Qunari were so talented in such things. The one from his mother bore frost, the magic of significance to him at least. The dagger that Zevran had given him was adorned with electricity crackling around the blade when drawn. He figured the element closely served the fellow elf and his…eccentric personality.
"Oh? So I'm even charming in my sleep? I shall use that as a pick up line next time we find ourselves in a run down Tavern," Alistair said with a small bow.
"In a Tavern the last thing you need is a pick up line. Just a jingle of the coin pouch," Aiden said, crapping a quiver of arrows and pulling one from the object. The tips were of qunari make, exploding on contact and rupturing even the thickest armor. The bow itself that laid next to the quiver was of dragon bone make, the string used to knock back the arrows was made from the leather of the dragon wings and incredibly resilient—especially if Sten could pull it bare handed and it not snap. Aiden placed the quiver on his back and shouldered the bow. "Let's go. Sten said we should be there soon."
Alistair nodded in agreement and followed his friend.
Still nothing. Morrigan let out a sigh and shook her head. How could she have been so foolish to give that man her ring! If she had not she could have went about her life and if he had gotten himself killed well then…so be it! She wouldn't have had to even know. But now, here she was, wrought with worry over some….elf who decided to be reckless! What was worse was that she felt guilty for the whole ordeal. No doubt the Warden had stumbled upon her former home and found the remains. If he had that dimwitted Templar with him, then surely he wasn't stupid enough to sense the anti-magic barrier his brethren made. And Aiden was certainly no fool, thus his presence in the Mage Tower. And those…those fools don't like people asking questions and killed him. This could easily be rectified, however. She COULD go into the Fade and drag him back…but that required lyrium that she did not have. No. Another course of action would be taken. She would track down that blood mage. He had offered his services once at Redcliffe. A blood ritual could be performed…however that would cost a life. Wait. Why was she even considering this?! It was that stupid Warden's fault for getting killed. No doubt that incapable Templar friend of his didn't make things any better.
Selene sat on the floor, watching her mother in her chair for some time. The girls dark hair hung over an eye, exposing only a single green eye as she surveyed the woman. She had been sitting, wringing her hands, twirling strands of her hair, and all with her amber eyes narrowed in…well, from what the child could tell, anger. Had she done something wrong? She had thought not. Her mother had not scolded her all day, and she had even did her studies without her mother having to say so—or even guide her. She finally spoke, lowering her gaze from the woman as she did so.
"Mother…have I done something to upset you," the girl asked, wringing her own hands at this point.
Morrigan seemed to snap out of her thoughts and blinked before looking down at the girl. Of course….she could also use the girl and exact revenge on the Circle! Bah..no. It was too soon. If that wretched Warden had just followed her guidance and allowed the Templar to purge the circle…
"Mother?"
"No, child, you have not. It is…nothing Merely thinking of the past. Go to bed, child. Your studies will increase tomorrow and I do not wanting you failing from lack of sleep."
Selene looked up at her mother, shocked for a moment before the woman tilted her head towards the back of the hut and Selene nodded, scurrying across the floor and moving to her feet mid movement before disappearing to the shadows.
Morrigan sighed and wrung her hands for the millionth time. Damned Warden.
"What is your plan, kadan," Sten asked, shouldering Asala and looking to the lithe elf who had led them to victory many times before.
Aiden placed a hand on his hip, the other still holding the bow that rested on his shoulder. "…Sten, do you remember your Templar training," Aiden asked, looking to the tower that loomed in the distance.
"Yes."
"….alright. I would like for you and Alistair and the rest of your men to charge the gates. They have many mages and Templar in the Tower, but we have no mages to worry about with us, so in a sense, it would just be our warriors facing theirs. You and Alistair should focus on the mages while letting your warriors deal with the Templar."
"….and you," Alistair asked, folding his arms and shifting his balance. "I find it hard to believe you're just going to sit at the ship and wait for the all clear."
"I, am going to swim around the back of the tower and scale it. With all of the commotion it will be rather easy to get in since all of the fighting will draw the commotion," Aiden said, giving a small smirk. "Besides…I'm not a front lines fighter. The last time I tried that we wound up on the northern islands!"
Alistair grinned and nodded. "Right, right. And how are you going to scale the tower. Oh, wait, let me guess! Morrigan taught you how she summons her demon wings and you're just going to fly up there!"
Aiden sighed, and shook his head grinning. "Don't worry about it. I'll get up there. Sten, would you mind if I placed Alistair in charge?"
"Yes," Sten replied, his face grim.
"Fair enough. Alistair, be a good boy and do as they say," Aiden replied, walking to the edge of the ship.
"Why, yes ser! Anything else you need ser," Alistair asked, bowing repeadily.
"Yeah, you not to be killed would be a nice start. I'd hate to have to develop a conscience."
"Right, right…well, I'll try and not have to make you shoulder such a heavy burden," Alistair said with a boyish grin before he grew serious. "Good luck, old friend. Same goes to you, you know. About the none corpse thing."
Aiden nodded and took the bow from his shoulder before diving into the water.
Sten raised his hands and the sails of the ship unfurled, the same happening for the ten identical ships behind this one. "Let us show them their faith in magics is ill placed."
"You know...Sten…sometimes you scare me," Alistair said, folding his arms. Why oh why did he ever agree to go through with this?!
And that's it! I must apologize that this Chapter doesn't have very much action for those that crave it, but I decided to expand a little on some of the characters before getting to the mindless ass kicking. Anyways, it's bed time for meh. Night people!