A/N: By the time this comes out I will be in classes fretting over color theory. So yeah expect a bi-monthly update schedule. Bioware owns said yadda, I don't own yadda. Today's muse was Skrillex -Cat Rats.
The fire could be smelled from the hilltops as they ran. What was once a beautiful village slowly became a stain on the map of what the blight afforded Thedas. Malcolm was running at full speed trying to keep up with Durga and her wolf with the darkspawn close behind them. They made good time getting near the outskirts of the wilds in one day, but Malcolm was no longer a young man with energy to burn. He could feel his lungs burning as he knelt over to catch his breathe. He didn't notice the hurlocks behind him until Durga froze them with an ice cone. He barely dodged the spell before the wolf bounded into the statues shattering them on impact. Just to be safe he erected a wall of fire that discouraged any more to attack from behind them. Malcolm watched as the wolf padded over to Durga nuzzling her hand as she tried to control her breathing.
"I have to say girl, for someone with no magical training you nearly turned me into an icicle with those bastards. You never used a spell in battle before?" He asked walking forward. Durga joined in as they continued down the path. "No...not like a proper mage. I'm more used to using them on contact with my hands or with my hands you can say."
"Well, you could of fooled me with all that running. Must have enough stamina to go from here to Amaranthine if you could."
"If I also didn't have to fight monsters that could kill me."
Malcolm glanced at her noticing how she wasn't breathing as hard now. It gave him some doubts about the girl since she became drained just using elemental spells, however, when he witnessed her healing the fevered child he could see her potential as a healer. Maybe having her physical attributes were in her favor to hide in plain sight, but he had to gain her trust before he tested the waters on their destination.
"I'm not so sure we can stay in Ferelden anymore...the darkspawn will not make countryside living a proper choice by now." Durga sighed as she noticed a corpse slashed beyond recognition. Malcolm simply bent over the form looting its pockets. "What the blighted hell are you doing?"
"Surviving. What else does it look like?"
"But still at least see how dead he..she...blast. Anything useful?"
"Well some injury kits, dried jerky, leather boots and elfroot potions. Hmmm and 15 gold."
"A merchant?" Durga looked over the jerky passed to her checking if it was still sanitary as Malcolm took the coin purse and boots. "Can't tell but if he had this much on him, he was planning to go somewhere that gave him passage to safety."
Walking a bit further out, they took in their surroundings as they came across a bluff over looking the landscape. Both met a silent agreement to take a break and get both their bearings and stamina back. They sat apart from each other taking sips of their water casks. Durga shared hers with the wolf who was sitting in an alert pose waiting for the first signs of danger.
"You know," Malcolm muttered swallowing. "I was thinking of where the hell that merchant would be heading towards if Lothering is pretty much done for." Durga looked at him with neutral expression as she gauged his eyes. "I take it your suggesting we flee?"
"Damn straight girl."
"That seems like a wonderful idea...but I still have family I can stay with.."
"Whom will only be arrested for hiding a dangerous apostate." Malcolm interrupted. "Plus, whatever reasons they had for sticking you in that cage, aside from being drained of mana, gives you a perfect alibi to let them think your dead. Think about it girl. Once this is over it will be a long while before anyone wants to look up casualties caught up in these attacks...not to mention the idiocy most nobles will do for political reasons. No, if anything this is the right time to leave while we can where you are considered nothing but a refugee."
Durga shuffled her feet as she stood over looking the once proud village. The fires now smelt of burnt flesh making her convulse a little. "Where can we go then that ensures safety away from..." she swept her hand towards the carnage. "This?"
"Kirkwall." Durga looked at him with confusion. "No other place I can think of. Granted it has a circle there with Templars teeming to the brim." Malcolm shoved himself upright signaling Durga to follow him on the path. "However, I have old contacts there that could give us lodgings and perhaps a job to keep afloat. But we can't stay there too long. The Free Marches aren't very kind to mages ...especially if you used to live there."
"I don't think your doing this out of some sort of Samaritan deed." This caused Malcolm to emit a deep chuckle.
"Girl, if I wanted to rob you, I would have left ya dead in that cage. No, you can say I'm only helping out due to some troubled past and want to earn some good points before I go meet the Maker." Durga shook her head at the odd behavior this man was showcasing. "Besides you...remind me of my daughter if she lived to your age." She eyed him with skepticism.
"Would you like a condolence for that or simply let you stay alive to live out this self sacrifice?"
"Self sacrifice will do just fine. Gave up crying ages ago and learned to move on. Anyway, little bit of advice." The sounds of swords clanging and shouts were heard up ahead. "I'll attack and you learn how to cast while fighting. Gonna get your first lesson on healing girly!"
The hurlocks were in great numbers against the Templar and a red headed swordswoman that were desperately fighting a losing battle. Being pushed back towards the cliff they alternated their attacks with his shield and her mace leaving an opening. The templar received a deep gash across his back earning a cry from his counter part.
"You will not have him!" she punched the darkspawn in a show of unbridled fury. "Not while I live!"
The sight of this woman in battle was a thing of beauty and Durga was glad that she was coming to her aide. The fight seemed easier now that two mages, and a curious mabari breed, were on the scene helping the swordswoman with fire and ice raining down on the darkspawn. As the battle waned to a standstill the swordswoman pulled the templar to his feet.
"Now, now Wesley stop squirming." He ignored her as she stared intently at Malcolm and Durga.
"Apostates! Keep your distance."
"Really?" Malcolm chuckled at some secret joke. "Your going to try that bullshit after we just saved you?"
"The Blight is clear in its intent to swallow us all, but an apostate..." He struggled over to them only to be stopped by the red headed woman. "Honey, please. I apologize for my husband, we are grateful for your help. My name is Aveline Vallen and this is my husband Wesley."
Malcolm scratched his chin in thought. "Before I make an introduction...can we work on an agreement on no smiting until we all get to safety?"
Wesley only grimaced before the pain in his back shot up. He ground his teeth sucking in air. "Yes...I will stay my hand."
Malcolm walked over to grab him by the arm so all his weight was shifted off Aveline. "Just gonna check your wounds...names Malcolm Hawke and this here," he nodded over to Durga. "Is my daughter. She just likes being called Hawke for professional reasons, so you won't know her name unless she thinks your worth it."
Durga could only eye Malcolm with scrutiny that played off as a daughter annoyed at her dad. Aveline shook her head at a private memory. Surveying the area she rested against the cliff. "Well, if your traveling together that means your heading to safety?"
"Aye me and girly were thinking about heading to Kirkwall. Left some stuff in Gwaren. We need to pick up some items we left in storage thus killin' two birds with one stone."
"That's going to be a little harder to reach..." Aveline sighed pinching her nose. "We came running from Ostagar. The eastern path is blocked to hell with Darkspawn."
"So, that leaves us to trek through the wilds." Durga soon joined Aveline in pinching her nose. Malcolm felt the urge to do so as well but was more concerned with Wesley subtle change in skin color. "Either way more walking less yapping."
The trek became somewhat tiring with more people traveling together, yet was oddly less tiring on their numbers in battle. During their breaks Malcolm would check on Wesley talking with him quietly. This piqued Aveline's curiosity a little but it would be smothered by another look at the strange mabari that followed Hawke. Aveline knew from the types of mabari she had seen in Ostagar that having one imprint on you was a testament to their handlers and rank. Even the various breeds of coat colors had her slightly interested, but not as much as this one present. She was tempted to learn about this certain mystery breed until they reached another clearing.
Silence greeted them as they walked across, only to suddenly feel vibrations through the ground. A roar that stretched for miles echoed over the valley as the shaking earth grew in strength until an Ogre came bounding into view followed by a pack of hurlocks. They stood in fear for a brief moment, knowing this battle would end badly. Malcolm took no chances as he dived toward the ogre holding it in place with an ice blast. The giant slowed to a stand still in mid punch before he threw down a paralyzing sigil underneath himself.
"I can hold off the big guy and capture the others who are student enough to get near me! Hawke, you take care of the archers! Aveline, pick these bastards off me!"
They didn't need to be told twice as they bounded for their targets. The archers gave Durga some problems due to her inexperience to running towards archers instead of dodging them. She was thankful at the moment for the wolfdog helping her. Aveline on the other hand was picking off all the melee that were like flies in a spiders nest of Malcolm's magic. It was a miracle he wasn't passed out from sheer exhaustion but the sweat on his forehead said otherwise. In truth Malcolm could feel his heart hammering away in his chest as the strain took effect. He tried to hold on as Aveline took out the last hurlock. Durga rushed towards them only to notice the ogre break out of its encasing in small cracks. Before she was near, it burst forth grabbing Malcolm in one hand. It tried to squeeze him like a fruit as it pounding him into the ground. By the third time an explosion of fire ripped apart the ogre's arm down to the socket sending Malcolm flying into a boulder.
Durga rushed towards him and Aveline made the killing blow sinking steel into its brain matter. He was burnt all over severely with no blood loss. But he was convulsing from the earlier pounding as he gasped for air. Durga didn't know if she had it in her to heal these wounds that were beyond her skill yet she tried out of false hope. Sadly, all she managed to salvage was his vocal chords as the rest of him had to be bandaged and treated. It was impossible to save him without delving into a mercy kill, but she would have to ask instead of delaying the inevitable.
"I'm right fucked aren't I girl?" Durga could only look away at the sight of him.
"Heh don't worry if anything I'll die after I make sure you get to Kirkwall safe and.." a sudden coughing fit hit him as blood flew out of his mouth. "Heh let's stick with safe before I tempt fate."
Durga went about trying to roll him in bandages until Aveline screamed out more darkspawn. They looked on as a platoon of them came onto the plateau surrounding them. It seemed bleak until a roar came behind them. At a glance atop of them was a giant dragon that rained fire and death only on the darkspawn. Aveline was skeptical about this until the dragon shifted into an old witch that a few raised alarms. Especially mentioning Wesley's ailment at how he acquired the taint.
"She's right. I can feel the taint wash through me."
"No, I will not be apart of this!"
"Aveline," Malcolm sputtered in Durga's arms. "It takes only one drop to become infected. I noticed it when I checked him."
"Then why didn't you say anything!"
"Actually, there is nothing we can do except give him mercy." Durga murmured. "The remaining Grey Wardens are already near the Circle at Lake Calenhad."
Aveline could not bear what she was hearing but what she was more scared of the one thing they didn't press her for. "Please love," She couldn't do it. "Make the pain stop." She couldn't kill her husband no matter what she thought.
Malcolm could sense Aveline's trepidation at seeing her husband in such a state, so he did what he could do. He cast a crushing prison on Wesley simultaneously bursting a blood vessel in his brain and his heart. Wesley jerked before his eyes turned grey and lifeless not being to see his wife wail in surprise.
"If anything this proves you have to move on. You can hate me as long as you want, since I won't last a year if I'm lucky." Aveline didn't bother listening as she held Wesley for the last time.
The trip to Kirkwall was uneventful as there was a surge of others Fereldens trying to escape. Boats were filled to the brim with people who sold everything off their backs or on their backs. Luckily, Malcolm had enough coin on him to pay for all four that didn't break the bank. If anything he knew in a few weeks he wouldn't be worried about spare change. He was right on the mark as they were a week away from Kirkwall. A fever that was running through the ship finally took him during a storm. He thrashed and moaned as Durga secretly cooled her hand against his head as hysteria set in.
"Your gonna be okay Mal..dad. Just bear with it a little while."
"Not...gonna make...oh maker don't take her." Tears formed in his. "Please, don't take my baby girl. Please, let her be with her mother. Please please please please please..." He sniffled blurring those words he kept repeating. Durga listened to his chatter knowing it was best to ease his ramblings by responding. If she didn't play along it would uncover her earlier alibi with Aveline.
"Shh. I'm here...no one is taking me away."
"No, no, no, no nonononono. They'll take you away again, just like they took Mara from Gamlen."
"Gamlen, Mara?" Durga was beginning to question his grip on reality.
"Gamlen, good. He's the one who can help. Find him, get help."
Aveline looked on at the two with cold eyes knowing in some way she was getting karmic pay back, but knew it would feel hallow. All she knew was that this man was jumping through hurdles to protect this woman. She didn't want to know their connection nor cared. However, it didn't feel right nor did it sit well with her thoughts, but Aveline knew she and Hawke had to look out for each other as the only family they had.
Of course the third member padding over to Durga nuzzling her as she closed Malcolm's eyes as he exhaled for the last time. In his hands were the pendant he threw at Durga which lead her to now. Not knowing what else to do, she took the pendent and wore it along with Flemeth's amulet for safekeeping. Now she had two promises to fill out.
The Gallows were packed to capacity with refugees trying to gain citizenship. This made getting in even harder for Aveline and Durga since pricing for getting in had doubled. Luckily, Durga remembered trying to contact to Gamlen from Malcolm's last words. Guard captain Ewald was their best bet and after helping him fight Ostagar deserters it cemented his trust in them but was still wary. Durga decided it was best to give Malcolm's pendant as part of the message. He sent out a lower ranking solider to deliver the item, but stayed in the gallows himself until the refugee problem was finished.
Four days passed leaving the two women bored with no reading materials. This left them to train in their small designated area to clear the boredom and ration off what was left of their money to buy themselves food. Apparently also feeding a giant wolfdog didn't help matters in rations, but helped in warding off trouble as they slept.
Right as the high noon sun set in place a man shambled up next to Durga. "Excuse me, lass. Are you by chance Hawke?"
Durga looked up from her resting spot at the man. He was a bit scraggly looking in his old age dressed in common clothes and greased back hair. His skin looked withered and fairly tanned from either hard work...or judging from the bruised eye other means of 'savory' work.
"I am. Who are you?" The man scratched his head before he replied. "I heard you were looking for me."
"I need a name before you keep talking to her." Aveline came from behind scaring the poor man. "Uh yes, right. Names Gamlen friend of Malcolm's. I got the pendant...so was it true he died on the way here?"
Durga stood up dusting off her pants as she watched Gamlen out the corner of her eye. "Yes...father didn't last long a week before we arrived. He asked in his last moments that you help us inside." She watched Gamlen who seemed more nervous than stricken with sadness. Guess they weren't such close friends after all.
"Actually I'm afraid I might be able to help you two...but it comes with a price."
"We do unsavory work for smuggling a bunch of new material?"
"Hawke that isn't remotely funny."
"Well she's right on the smuggling part..."
Gamlen proceeded to chat about how certain palms needed to be greased to allow them citizenship and their best bet was being hired by Athenril. The woman was an elf and a small time runner in the smuggled good business going against the bigger teams that worked the city. She had no qualms about doing business her way to insure she had a piece of power. She looked over Durga, Aveline and her 'pet' sizing them up before she would hear them out. This garnered some respect from Durga, but it unnerved Aveline's moral obligation to do such a thing, but was moved by Durga's assertion.
"I'll work to pay off both of us. My friend here is a trained military solider who won't be of need to me...however I might be able to help in any 'acquiring' of goods."
Athenril smirked at the overconfidence of the woman that border on gullibility. "Sorry hun but I have enough workers in that department. Unless..."
"I also used to prize fight in illegal brawl knuckle boxing back in Denerim."
This caught the elf's attention with a wry smile. Going in for the kill Durga rolled up her sleeves and the hem of her shirt. There was several scars, from her first bout of failed healing that were etched along her muscles.
"I earned winnings in twenty-four matches and one title match from their ranked number one up in Highever...all in the men division and consecutively in the last 4 years."
Athenril looked at the girl with a foxy grin. "So you give as good as you can take. What about your opponents? Did they go easy on you because of your endowments?"
"Actually, they never pulled back their punches..or their kicks. Or their submission holds."
"I take it they weren't fickler for rules in terms of a good clean fight."
"It wouldn't be considered illegal if they did. Drew in some heavy purses on the nights I fought cause I didn't hold back as well."
Athenril rubbed her chin as she thought it over in her head the costing for such fights and how much winnings she could garner from each bout. Her smile grew wider by the second as Durga visualized money bags for her eyes.
"Lemme talk to Gamlen and I can get you girls inside. We'll talk over the finer details for such a job and living arrangements, but I think a year is good enough if your as good as you say."
"I wouldn't be boasting if I wasn't remotely good."
"Then we have a deal. Name?"
"...It's Hawke."
Athenril didn't question the woman's name choice but found it suitable as she shook hands. Walking over to find Gamlen she left Aveline and Hawke to chatting. Gamlen was near the entrance looking around nervously before Athenril stopped to him.
"Look I did as you ask," He grumbled. "I'm sure this will get me out of your debt."
"Far more than what you owe."
"Doesn't matter a deal's a deal. Hand me the information." She gave him a slip of paper procured from her belt before grabbing his hand and placing a knife in his throat. "Remember none of this gets out...not to your bitch of sister and her hound dog Meeran...is that clear?" She nipped along his larynx. "Crystal!"
"Good...now run along." Gamlen took not a second longer as he briskly walked to the ferry that was about to leave. He wished things had turn out for the better reaching Leandra first but Athenril beat him, literally, to the punch. He didn't know which was worse. Finding out Malcolm was dead or her supposed first born was just sold to work with a notorious smuggler and brothel owner.
A/N: Remember when I said I would focus on Hawke from here on end...I lied. I I decided to finish Tabris' story and pick up where I left off here. I just thrive on closures and I plan to work with some themes on her warden journeys I thought you might also like. Also also, wolfdog is based off Malamutes since they are the preferred wolfdogs for strength and endurance. I might pull up a poll for wacky dog names for em but till then...*sigh* classes.
