Dragon Age Origins:
Last of the Couslands
Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Dragon Age, its script or characters. Also I make no money from this Fan-fiction.
Previously:
Walking away from the tent I wonder why he thinks things will go so badly. All evidence from the previous battles successes suggests we at least stand a fighting chance. It's as if he's already decided we have lost.
I was nervous before about the battle. Of course I was, it being my first Blight and hopefully my only one. But now… once again I'm getting that nagging feeling that something just isn't right. I guess some people would say that because of what has happened to my family I fear being betrayed. That's true but I can't help overthinking this.
Loghain makes me feel uneasy, like Howe does… I hope I'm wrong, that I'm just paranoid. Because if I'm right… Ferelden will have more to deal with than even The Blight.
Chapter Ten: Painful Memories and Secrets
I'm meeting Alistair over by a building that I'm told is called the Tower of Ishal. Ancient Tevinter Architecture by the looks of it, mostly crumbling ruins like the rest of this place.
Looking up towards it as I wait it seems to almost groan with age. Seems like the only things that survive war are the buildings. Remnants of a forgotten time. Hopefully we'll be able to stop the Blight before anymore of Ferelden is reduced to ruins like this.
Alistair, I should mention has gone to collect the other recruits. Ser Jory and Daveth. Then we'll meet Duncan and start the joining ritual of the Grey Wardens.
When I asked how dangerous this ritual is. He went suspiciously quiet, mumbling something about asking Duncan before dashing off.
'That makes me feel so much better' I think sarcastically. I doubt Duncan will tell me much, if anything at all until I complete the ritual. So I'm still none the wiser.
"Lana!"
I look over to see Alistair approaching with the other recruits so I wave in acknowledgement.
"Lana this is Ser Jory and Daveth. This is Eliana Cousland" he says nodding in my direction.
"Charmed" say Daveth, grinning and winking at me.
"Cousland? My Lady" bows Ser Jory.
"Please don't… Wardens have no titles"
"Even so. I want to show my respect for your family. Highever is a beautiful place. In fact I met my wife Helena there"
He has family there… I have to tell him, he deserves to know.
"Thank you. I'm sorry to say that Highever has been taken" I say slowly, rubbing my arm nervously.
How can I explain this?
"Taken?"
"Yes… Arl Howe betrayed my family"
Subconsciously I rub the ring of House Cousland on my finger. It's not the one used to seal letters but one that's given to members of my house once they come of age. A flat band with no stones, made of Silverite. Engraved on the inside is my full name 'Eliana Owena Cousland' and on the outside the Cousland crest.
I'm surprise I haven't lost it yet to be honest. Seeing it helps remind me why I must survive this Blight, not that I could forget…
"You have my deepest sympathies My Lady. This is not something I would have thought a nobleman such as Arl Howe capable of. If I may ask… I left my wife at Highever… was it just the Castle that was attacked?"
"From what I know, yes. Although if any other areas of Highever rebel against him… I'm sorry Ser Jory he has no mercy, not even for children. I watched it happen. There is every chance I am the last Cousland"
"I… appreciate you honesty My Lady"
"I'm so sorry, I had to say what I know to be the truth. Though there is still a chance she is alive. Howe wants to rule Highever, he cannot do that if he kills all its people"
"Yes, you're right. There is still hope"
"So that's what happened" says Alistair
"Some of it yes…. everything I saw… I'd prefer not to go into any more detail right now"
"Of course" he replies.
"Let's go then" I say leading them over to the Grey Wardens camp.
The quicker we find out what this Joining ritual involves, the faster with can get it done. I think starting to get a little anxious.
"Hey we barely got to talk" Daveth says, jogging to catch up with me just as I reach the camp.
"Something you need to discuss?"
"Well you're not what I'd thought you'd be" he states bluntly.
"What!?" I respond, narrowing my eyes slightly at the comment. Here we go again.
"Not a woman yet here you are"
Resisting the urge to glare at him I carry on walking.
"Hey, not that it's a problem. Just didn't think a Lady such as yourself would want to join the Wardens"
"I didn't. Duncan recruited me whilst saving me from the attack on my home."
"So you didn't come voluntarily then?"
"No. I had no intention to leave my home. My father wanted me to join, so I could survive and deny Howe his victory"
"Because as long as you survive he'll never truly have control over Highever" Alistair speaks up from behind us.
"Yes… now the King is aware of Howe's treachery Highever can be saved. I'm hopeful my brother survived so he will be able to reclaim it. We have both lost so much all ready, I couldn't bear to leave Highever under Howe's rule"
That's if Fergus can live there after all that has happened. Our parents and both his wife and child died there… and Iona… I don't think I could stay there anymore, even though it's my home. The thought hits me so hard I stop walking, causing Alistair to crash into me.
"Ouch. Everything okay? Sorry, of course it's not." He says shaking his head.
"Come on, let's get this done" I say walking over to the fire Duncan's standing by.
"I see you have found Alistair, good I'll assume you're ready to begin preparations. Assuming of course that you're quite finished riling up mages Alistair" he states.
"What can I say the Revered Mother ambushed me. The way she wields guilt they should stick her in the army" Alistair replies.
"She forced you to sass the mage did she? We cannot afford to antagonize anyone Alistair. We don't need to give anyone more ammunition against us."
Seems like The Wardens aren't wanted here by many more than the King then.
"You're right Duncan, I apologize"
"Now then since you're all here we can begin. You four will be heading into the Korcari wilds to perform two tasks. The first is to obtain three vials of Darkspawn blood, one for each recruit"
"Wait, we need Darkspawn blood for the ritual? I'm guessing that us heading into the wilds to collect it is part of some sort of test?" I ask
"Yes I'll explain more once you've returned"
Great, cryptic as ever.
"And the second task?"
"There was once a Grey Warden archive in the wilds abandoned long ago when we could no longer afford to maintain such remote outposts. It has recently come to our attention that some scrolls have been left behind, magically sealed to protect them." Turning to face Alistair he continues "Alistair I want you to retrieve these scrolls if you can"
"What kind of scrolls?" I ask
"Old treaties if you're curious, promises of support made to the Grey Wardens long ago. They were once considered early formalities, with so many having forgotten their commitments to us I suspect it may be a good idea to have something to remind them with"
Duncan must think this will be a much longer battle than the King anticipates.
I can't believe they just left them there. Why not take them from the outpost when they left if they're so important.
"What if they're no longer there? Even if they're sealed they still might've been stolen"
"I suppose it is possible. They may even have been destroyed. However if they are still there only a Grey Warden will be able to break the seal"
"I don't understand, why leave such things in a ruin if they're so valuable?" Alistair speaks up, voicing my earlier thoughts.
"It was assumed that we would someday return. A great many things were assumed that have not held true"
"Okay. Do we know where the archive is located?" I question
"It will be an overgrown ruin by now but the sealed chest should still be intact. Alistair will guide you to the area you need to search"
"Right search a Darkspawn infested Wilds for blood and some scrolls that might not even be there" I mumble causing Duncan to raise an eyebrow at me.
"Look after your charges Alistair, see them quickly and safely through the wilds" he says turning back to face the fire.
"I will Duncan"
So many things just aren't adding up. If I survive this battle I'm going to get some answers. Because between The Blight, The Wardens, Howe and Loghain, I don't know who I can trust right now.
'The Wilds really are vast' I think as we head out from the camp on our way to complete Duncan's task.
"Be wary. I can sense any Darkspawn that approach us but we'll need to be careful out here" states Alistair
"Let me guess, it's a Grey Warden ability?"
"Yes, you'll have it to i-once you complete the Joining" he stammers.
Was he about to say if… looking at the others they don't seem to have noticed his slip up. Surely he means if we survive getting the Darkspawn blood, right? Although judging from the downcast look he has on his face there's more to it than that.
"Right enough doom and gloom" says Daveth "Since we're going to be fighting together how about we carry on getting to know each other?"
"In the middle of the Wilds?" I ask frowning.
"If you like" he respond's grinning.
Alistair chokes out a cough behind us.
"Sorry not interested" I reply, then turn to look over my shoulder "You alright Alistair?"
"Fine" he squeaks
"Oh well worth a try. Anyway I grew up in a small village not too far away from here. Been in Denerim for six years now, never liked it much but there's more purses there than anywhere else"
"So you're a cutpurse. I'm guessing that's how Duncan ended up recruiting you then?
"And a pickpocket thank you very much or was anyhow. Yeah I cut Duncan's purse whilst he was standing in a crowd. He caught me, managed to get away but then the garrison arrested me. Duncan stopped them from killing me, invoked the right of conscription. I gave the garrison the finger as I was walking away" he grins
"Looks like your skills saved you then"
"Yep, Duncan says finesse is important"
"I suppose and you Ser Jory?"
"I hail from Redcliffe, where I trained as a knight under Arl Eamon. After I won the grand melee at the tournament Duncan recruited me."
"We'll need to find some Darkspawn soon" Alistair reminds us.
"Right let's go"
We barely mange a few more steps before I hear howling.
"Wolves!" Alistair shouts drawing his sword.
Raising my shield I draw my own sword and wait, listening as the howling of the approaching wolves gets louder.
There are several of them and they move fast, snarling and baring their fangs. One bashes itself against my shield trying to knock me down but I smash it on the snout. It backs up allowing Alistair to stab it from behind. Nodding in thanks I quickly turn to face another wolf, hitting it in the face with the pommel of my sword as it lunges at me; before rolling to the side and slashing at its flank.
A few of the other wolves have already been downed by arrows from Daveth. The rest get dispatched by Alistair and Ser Jory.
Laying on the ground I lament the fact I tried to roll in full chain mail and plate. Well almost roll the plates too heavy for that. What I really mean is I lunged to the side, crashing to the ground. Which meant narrowly avoiding getting up close and personal with the Wolves' mouth. Luckily I landed in the right position to take it by surprise. I'm going to pay for that later though and have the bruises to prove it. Still I get up and pull my sword free from the wolves' body, wiping the blood from it on a rag I had stuffed up my gauntlet.
"Great Wolves and Darkspawn" I sigh
"Well it is a forest what were you expecting" says Daveth
"I know, just figured the Darkspawn were more than enough to deal with"
"This way" Alistair says, pointing over to an area with more Tevinter architecture.
Heading in that direction we come across an injured scout. He must have been involved in the previous battle.
"Who… is that? Grey Wardens…? He murmurs
"Well, he's not half as dead as he looks, is he?" Jokes Alistair
Stifling a snigger I turn back to reply but think better of it when the scout starts speaking again.
"My scouting band was attacked by Darkspawn! They came out of the ground… please, help me! I've got to… return to camp…"
"Alistair you have bandages?"
"Yes, I have some in my pack" he replies, knelling to bandage the scout up as best he can.
"Thank you! I… I've got to get out of here!" he groans staggering off in the direction of camp.
"Did you hear? An entire patrol of seasoned men killed by Darkspawn!" exclaims Ser Jory
"Calm down, Ser Jory. We'll be fine if we're careful" Alistair responds
"Those soldiers were careful, and they were still overwhelmed. How many Darkspawn can the four of us slay? A dozen? A hundred? There's an entire army in these forests!"
"There are Darkspawn about, but we're in no danger of walking into the bulk of the horde" Alistair explains
"How do you know? I'm not a coward, but this is foolish and reckless. We should go back"
"I know Ser Jory but overcoming these dangers is part of our test" I say
"I still do not relish the thought of encountering an army" he replies
"As I've said before, all Grey Wardens can sense Darkspawn. Whatever their cunning. I guarantee they won't take us by surprise. That's why I'm here" says Alistair
"You see, Ser knight? We might die, but we'll be warned about it first" Jokes Daveth
"Just be careful like Alistair said and we'll have a much better chance at getting out of this alive"
"True enough" replies Ser Jory
Sorry it's a little late, been reading way to many Supergirl fanfics ^^
Next chapter we meet Morrigan.
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