A/N - Alright the groups have split up and we're starting with the Orzammar group first, but we aren't reaching the city in this chapter. we'll reach it in the next one.

Kami47 funny thing you should mention DLC this chapter is already one that I'm sure you're familiar with but I don't want to spoil for those who've never played DA:O

Enjoy!

Kaldur was shivering as the group headed further north. Normally in the real world cold weather didn't seem to bother him, but in Ferelden it was pretty much always cold and cloudy. Morrigan was wearing little to no clothes and she was constantly complaining about the weather, as well as being the only female in the group. Sten spoke only when he was spoken to and sometimes even then he didn't say anything. The first day of separation was the hardest, but Broly remained at his heels at all times; making him like his dog more and more. According to their map they were already within the Frostback Mountains, but three days away from the city of Orzammar. Kaldur looked at the sky as it was getting to be about noon.

"Alright everyone," Dick called out. "Let's take twenty, and then we'll keep going."

"Parshara," growled Sten leaning against a tree. "You humans are so weak."

"We can't all be 8 foot giants with incredible stamina big guy."

You have no at all stamina Warden. A Qunari can go a month without food or water, and a week without sleep."

"Well can your kind go without warmth," grumbled Morrigan. "I'm certain ours can't."

"Says the woman who basically has a scarf covering her rack," teased Dick. "Considering where you live, this isn't that much worse."

Kaldur sat down on the ground, and Broly sat at his feet. He opened the map and looked to see where they were. They still had a far distance from Orzammar, however there was a town called Honnleath nearby. Perhaps there they could find some warmer clothing. He relayed his thoughts to the others.

"At the rate we're going," said Sten angrily. "We're never going to get to Orzammar. Let the witch freeze, it'll teach her to dress better next time."

"One stop wont kill us Sten," said Dick. "It's freezing in these mountains. Last night I was freezing during my watch. We'll stop in Honnleath to get some warmer clothes, cloaks, and blankets. And then we'll head to Orzammar only stopping for sleep. Fair enough?"

"Qunari don't need sleep."

"We are not Qunari," Kaldur reminded him.

"Evidently not."

Sten remained silent, and Dick took that as a yes to stop in the village of Honnleath briefly. He looked at Broly, and decided that while in the town; if they had Kaddis he was going to buy him some. As they got up they heard a rustle in the bushes. Broly growled and Kaldur drew his sword.

"Whoever you are," he warned. "Come out, you're outnumbered technically 5 to 1."

A man stepped out with his hands in the air.

"Sorry," he said quickly. "I'm just looking for my damn mule but it's gone apparently."

"We do not have it," said Sten. "Be on your way."

"Don't worry I'm going but could I ask a small favor?"

"Depends on what it is," replied Dick. "We're on a tight schedule."

"Would you mind taking this golem rod off of me? I don't want anything to do with it. It was sold to me a long time ago, but I have no use for a golem at all."

"Golems are incredibly rare," said Morrigan standing up dusting her pants off. "Not to mention very powerful; why would you not want power over such a creature?"

"I have my reasons, now do you want the rod or not?"

"Where would we even find this golem," asked Kaldur.

"Within the village of Honnleath."

"What luck," said Dick slapping Sten on the arm. "That's exactly where we're headed. We can get warmer clothes and potentially a dangerous ally."

Sten glared at him as Kaldur placed the rod within his pack and they continued. It was about an hour more before they reached Honnleath, in which no one said a word. As they were approaching Sten put a hand out.

"I smell something," he warned drawing his sword. "It smells putrid… almost like-"

"Dead bodies," sighed Kaldur drawing his weapons as well.

The group rushed into the village and saw a disaster. They doors had been busted off most of the homes within the village. All over the ground dead bodies were scattered everywhere. Men, women, and children, no one had been spared.

"Fan out for survivors," ordered Dick rushing ahead.

Kaldur walked into the nearest house and his heart dropped. A man was sprawled out as if he had been trying to protect his wife but in the end they had been impaled together. Next to them was the body of a little boy whose neck had been snapped. Kaldur removed the sword from their bodies to give the dead some dignity. He searched throughout the house to see if he could find anything of use. He found a blue sheet of paper that was strangely cold to the touch, and a bag with about fifty pieces of silver within it. When he returned outside he spotted Sten walking out of a home with some cloaks, obviously knowing the dead would require them no longer. Dick and Morrigan returned shortly after; Dick holding was holding Kaddis for Broly and Morrigan with a small blanket.

"Twould seem everyone here has been killed," said Morrigan.

"Indeed," agreed the Qunari.

"Let's go," sighed Dick. "I've had enough of this place."

"Wait where's Broly," asked Kaldur looking around.

Suddenly he heard a an aggravated snarl and charged blindly. If anyone had put their hand on his dogs he was going to kill them and slowly. Broly's barks were coming out of a cellar. When he got inside, he saw that there were some people alive behind a purple wall of energy cowering in fear, and trying to break the wall down was the darkspawn. Broly had pounced on a genlock mage and ripped it's throat out. Just as the dog was about to be cleaved by an axe, Kaldur raced in and blocked the attack with his shield. The others raced in a second later and they battle was on. Kaldur raised his shield up and threw his enemy off balance allowing him to slash the darkspawn Hurlock across the chest. Dick was striking like lightning with his daggers backstabbing anything that got in his way. Sten was a whirlwind of power: slashing, cleaving, and impaling anything on his greatsword. Finally Morrigan raised her staff in the air and lightning came down and ended the darkspawn.

"Is everyone alright," asked Kaldur wiping blood off his shield.

"We're fine now," explained Dick. "I can't sense anymore darkspawn."

"It would seem there's another problem to attend to now," growled Sten. "I hate this village."

They all turned around to the purple wall of energy and saw a man with blond hair step forward.

"Who are you all," he asked

"We saved you therefore the first question is ours," said Morrigan. "Who are you?"

"My name is Matthias; I'm the mayor of what's left of Honnleath. On behalf of everyone who's still alive, thank you. I thought that we were going to die in here."

"You are welcome," replied Dick.

"If I might ask though, why are you here? Did the Bannorn send men to help us?"

"We came here for warm cloth and a golem," said Sten bluntly. "Saving you was not part of our plan."

Kaldur noticed that as soon as Sten said the word golem that John's face turned to a dark scowl.

"You came here for Shale then," he snarled. He shook his head and waved his hand; they all watched as the barrier around began to slowly vanish before their eyes. The people scrambled out from behind and left the cellar. Most likely to get what possessions they could recover and flee the village. Matthias waved them towards him and they followed.

"That damnable golem did nothing but cause my family trouble," he continued. "My mother sold the rod years ago, after it killed my father, and good riddance to it."

"So the golem is defective to it's master," asked Kaldur.

"Most likely, though it's deactivated I think, I don't know. It's hasn't moved an inch since the day my father died. My father's name was Wilhelm, a mage advisor to the Arl of Redcliffe. He was a hero in the war against Orlais when they enslaved Ferelden. One day mother went outside to milk the cows and found his dead body. He had so many broken bones that I didn't even recognize him when I saw him. Shale was just standing over him. If you want to wake Shale up go right ahead, it's your funeral."

"Then we are finished here," said Sten turning to walk away.

"Wait please," begged Matthias dropping to his knees. "I need your help. I know that you already saved my life and I'm truly grateful. But I need your help to rescue my daughter Amalia; she went further into my father's lab within the cellar. She got scared when the darkspawn attacked and I had to stay here to keep the barrier up."

"You are mage are you not," barked Morrigan. "Save her yourself."

"I'm not a mage; my father placed a spell here years ago and gave me the key to activate it. Please help me."

"Of course we'll help," said Dick with a smile. Morrigan sighed and rubbed her eyes, while Sten simply shook his head.

"Don't worry Matthias," said Kaldur patting his back as the group began descending. "We'll find her, just stay here."

"Don't make that fool promises we may not keep," Morrigan growled at him.

"You know you two could stand to be a little nicer," said Dick playfully. "It's good for the soul."

Kaldur reached in his pack as it began to get colder and colder. It was that blue piece of paper except that it was more colder and it was glowing bright blue.

"What's that," asked Dick.

"I found it within the homes of one of the deceased," said the Atlantean.

"You are a rune smith Kaldur," asked Morrigan. "I did not know that."

"What are you talking about?"

"A rune smith is able to enchant weapons with runes of different types. Fire, ice, lightning, nature, and so forth."

"But I just found this piece of paper?"

"That is a rune Kaldur and you must be one because no one but a rune smith can touch an enchanted rune without feeling the sting of its power."

Kaldur simply looked at the rune he was holding and then pressed it up against his blade. There was a bright flash of white light and then when it faded his sword had a blue tinge and small flakes of ice were falling off it.

"Wow," shouted Dick touching the sword and immediately taking his hand back since it was freezing. "Can you do my daggers too Kal?"

"He can only enchant something when he has adequate runes Grey Warden," said Morrigan rapping his forehead with her knuckles.

"Parshara, can we continue please," barked Sten.

Broly suddenly and ran up ahead before anyone could stop him. He lead them to a room where there was a tabby cat and a small girl with long blonde pigtails.

"Are you Amalia," asked Kaldur.

Yes," she replied. "Did daddy send you?"

"He did come with us and we shall take you to him."

"But I can't leave without Kitty."

"Bring the furball with you child," shouted Morrigan. "Just come on."

"But I can't go back to my father without Kitty. She would be so lonely."

"You are so kind Amalia. I would miss you dearly if you left."

Everyone drew their weapons as they heard the unknown voice. The tabby cat's eyes glowed bright purple and it stretched. It stepped forward and Broly began growling.

"I'm going to guess that that's not really a cat," said Dick lifting his daggers.

"Of course Kitty's a cat," said Amalia cheerfully. "She just talks silly, that's all."

"Tis a demon," said Morrigan. "Judging by the methods of control being used, I would say tis a demon of desire."

"You are correct witch," purred the cat. "Nothing you say will convince Amalia to go with you. She loves only me now. I am her friend, while you are a stranger."

"She clearly possessed," concluded Sten. "Shall we put the girl out her misery?"

"NO," shouted Kaldur and Dick together.

"What have you done with her demon," asked Morrigan in almost a bored voice.

"I have done nothing," teased the cat. "I am all but powerless thanks to that mage Wilhelm. I'm not allowed to leave this chamber, and I've been trapped down here for nearly three decades. Amalia's company is welcome."

Amalia sighed and put the cat within her arms and began to pet her.

"How about we make a compromise humans? One that would benefit us both. Release me from my chamber so I can fully possess the girl, and then let us return to her father."

"You don't think he'll notice something," asked Dick.

"Mortals are often blinded by hope. They wish what they wish to see."

"Very well," said Kaldur. "If we free you, you can go."

"What," said Dick in shock. "You can't be serious; we're not giving the girl to a demon."

Kaldur raised his hands as if he was going to hit Dick and the Warden flinched before hanging his head in defeat.

"Striking deals with demons," said Morrigan in shock. "And here I thought you all were smart; oh well."

"How do we release you," asked Kaldur.

"The puzzle on the ground," the cat informed them. "I cannot touch it's piece, but align them up and I shall be free."

Kaldur walked up to the pieces and investigated them. There were only about 10 pieces and it was a fairly easy puzzle. He quickly placed the puzzle together and there was a small poof. The cat fell to the ground and from it sprung a naked woman with a tail like a Komodo Dragon and small horns.

"Kitty," said Amalia grabbing her head. "What's happening?"

"A wonderful thing for both of us my dear," said the demon with such glee. "Just give me one moment."The demon walked up to Kaldur with a slow sexy walk and pressed her hands up against his chest. "I truly didn't think that you would set me free, but I was proven wrong. Is there anything that I might do for you before I take my place within the girl? What is it you desire?"

Kaldur grabbed the demon's neck gently and began to caress and kiss it up and down. He licked her from her collarbone all the way up to her ear lobe.

"Die," he whispered.

The demon let out a small moan as Dick threw one of his daggers at the bag of her head.

"Traitor," she cried.

"Not at all," said Kaldur drawing his sword. "I said I'd set you free, there was nothing in our bargain about letting you live and possessing the girl." And with that he swung his sword cutting off the desire demon's head. "Nice job on catching onto my sign Dick."

"What's happening," said Amalia as Sten picked her up.

"Sleep human," he said closing her eyes.

The exited the chamber and walked back until they found Matthias.

"Thank the Maker you found he," he wept holding his daughter in his arms.

"I'm sorry daddy," croaked Amalia.

"It's okay buttercup you're safe now."

"Can we free the golem and get the hell out of here," asked Sten his patience finally at an end.

"Of course. You'll find Shale in the middle of the town square the words to wake it up are Dulen Harn."

"Glad you told us that because we didn't know about that word," said Dick. "Take care."

The foursome and the dog all walked out of Wilhelm's lab and into the sunlight. In the middle of the town just like Matthias said was the golem. It was a few feet inches shorter than Sten. It had designs on it's forehead, and twelve inch crystals rising all over it's body. Spread all around it's feet was bird seed.

"Be ready," said Kaldur. "This thing might be dangerous."

"We've come this far let's see it through," growled Sten.

Dick cleared his throat, waved the control rod and said," Dulen Harn."

The golem began to shake and slowly move it's limbs. It raised both arms up and let loose a small deep growl, which caused Broly to run behind Kaldur in fear. It's eyes were glowing white. Finally the golem sighed.

"I knew that the day would come when someone would find my control rod," it said with a deep voice. "Well at least you're not a mage this time."

"Hello to you too," said Dick.

"I've stood here in this spot and watched those wretched little villagers scurry around me for oh, I have no idea how long. Many, many years."

"Then one wonders that you wouldn't be grateful to the one who allowed you to stretch your legs golem," said Morrigan.

"Another mage I see," growled the golem. "Just wonderful. And I was just getting used to the quiet. So, are the villagers all dead?"

"Some managed to escape," said Kaldur.

Ha how unfortunate."

"You're not very nice are you," asked Dick.

"It states the obvious though something doesn't feel right. It does have the control rod doesn't it? I am awake, so it… must…

"Is something wrong?"

I see the control rod, yet I feel… fine. Go on order me to do something?"

"Um okay, go and pet Broly."

Broly whined and moved away from Kaldur, and further away from the golem.

"Strange," said the golem. "I don't feel anything. So the rod is broken then?"

"I take it your about to go on a murdering spree," asked Morrigan.

"Don't be ridiculous. Well I wouldn't mind killing the birds…those evil flapping bastards and their foul droppings! I could crush them all!"

"So now what," asked Kaldur.

"I suppose if I can't be commanded then I have… free will. How strange it sounds to say that. And yet what should I do? I have no memories beyond this village. I find myself at a loss."

"Then come with us," said Sten.

"What for Qunari?"

"You know of the Qunari?"

"I know of much."

"Sten's right," said Dick. "You could come with us."

"Why should I go with it? Give me one good reason."

"I'm a Grey Warden, and I'm trying to stop the Blight."

"The darkspawn are pure evil and they must be stopped that's true. Though not as evil as the birds, DAMNABLE FEATHERED FIENDS!"

"Are you going to keep calling me it if you come with us," asked Dick.

"Very likely, yes."

"Well, if you're coming, then we're going."

"Then I shall follow it about then… for now. I am called Shale by the way."

"I'm Dick, that's Sten, Kaldur, Morrigan, and Broly. Pleased to have you with us."

Shale remained silent and just followed the group out of town. Every step it took was a large rocky stomp. The group came upon a chicken and Shale rushed ahead and with one foot crushed it causing it to squawk as it died. Everyone simply stared in horror as they saw blood dripping from beneath the golem's foot. The golem simply let out a thunderous laugh of success.

A/N - That's for various reasons Shale is going to Orzammar with Dick and the others, next up is our Dalish Warden group.