Be warned: this is sad. It is dark. It is pretty heavy, not a fun read. Also , those of you who have read the Calling will get a lot more out of this piece.

Killing Darkspawn

Kell

Hafter bounded at my side, clearly having forgiven me for trying to send him away. Behind us the sounds of Fiona, Duncan and Maric had already faded. Ahead, the darkspawn were forming a swarm.

"Ready for this, boy?" I asked the hound.

We turned a corner in the tunnels and met the group. Hafter leaped onto the first one as I drew my bow. I fired the arrow into a monster. I didn't even check to see if it connected. I backpedalled until I felt the rocky wall against my back.

Already I had a new arrow nocked. "After me," I shouted, unsure if I was calling to Hafter or challenging the darkspawn. My hound's head swiveled and we locked eyes.

I spun away and raced to a fork in the Depths we passed.

Shuffling feet of the darkspawn followed quickly. Their humming matched the Call pounding in my ears.

Hafter reached me again. I spared a quick look at him. Black ichor and blood streamed through his thick coat. One ear was shredded and a patch of pelt was missing from his haunch. But his eyes gleamed in the low light from the fighting.

The darkspawn were beginning to lose us. Though every fiber of my being screamed to hide now, I yelled. The sound bounced back loudly in the cramped space. I allowed my boots to slap the tunnel floor and Hafter let out a bark.

Another group of monsters was just up ahead. They sound soon be upon us.

Not long after I sensed them, we barreled into their midst. I reached for a new arrow, but my hand closed on empty air. My quiver was finally empty. I drew my flail instead, tossing my now useless bow aside. I swung in wide passes at the creatures.

Time passed. Sweat ran down my face. My arm was burning and I was covered in stabs and slices when too many darkspawn rushed at me. Hafter was injured badly. He was slowing rapidly and reduced to cowering at my feet and snapping at darkspawn that came too close.

"Sorry… boy," I ground out harshly. He whined in response.

An ogre joined the throng. I felt my arms fall limp at my sides, flail barely clutched between numb fingers. Suddenly my vision was only a flash of deep grey-brown. Hafter had launched himself in from of me. I heard a crunch as my loyal hound crumpled.

"Hafter!" I screamed. I glanced down at his motionless body and willed him to rise. To shake his head and throw himself back into the fray.

A darkspawn shuffled forward. My arm whipped around and the flail slammed into its ugly face. I redoubled my efforts against the endless tide of hurlocks and genlocks. I was thankful the ogre was having a hard time wading through the throng to me.

The adrenaline slowed and my breath dragged painfully, as though my lungs were filled with broken glass. Arrows pinged off the stone behind me, each one closer than the last. I moved sluggishly. Spasms made my legs tremble and shake. Ache crept from my chest out, filling my limbs like rock.

An arrow pierced my armour at the shoulder. That was it. My flail slipped through my fingers, leaving slivers embedded in the tender skin like a burning trail. I dropped to my knees, every breath suddenly filling my left side with fire. I reached for Hafter.

"Thank you boy. I'll be along soon." The words fell from my mouth is harsh gasps. "This was how we were meant to die. Killing darkspawn. But you always knew that." Tears, hot and wet, trickled down my face. They mingled with the grime.

The ogre, having finally made its way to the crevice I crouched in, brought its fists down around us and a wave of black crashed over me. It was over.

~ Kell