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:
"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
Chapter Eleven: I meet a Witch of The Wilds
When we reach the crumbling pillars of an old ruin Alistair stops immediately drawing his sword.
"Darkspawn!" he yells
It's then I spot them up on a small hill not far from us. Grotesque creatures… and the smell, like rotting flesh…
Daveth takes out the archers using his bow whilst I, Alistair and Ser Jory rush the rest of them. Once the battles over we all find a corpse to take some blood from.
Kneeling over one of the dead creatures I reach into my pack, finding my vial and carefully filling it up with blood. Barley managing to keep myself from retching I put the stopper in the vial, returning it to my pack.
"Everyone has their vial full now, right?" asks Alistair
"Yes" responds Ser Jory
"Yeah, lovely stuff this Darkspawn blood" Daveth says grimacing
He's right these creatures were disgusting enough to see from a distance that now I'm regretting not using my bow instead. Especially considering I'm pretty much covered in their blood. Wiping as much from my face as I can, I wipe my sword off as well and turn to walk back down the hill.
"Which way now?" I ask Alistair
"Under that archway I think"
We're attacked by a few groups of darkspawn, although Alistair assures us these are just smaller scouting groups and not part of the true horde.
The little Darkspawn, Genlock's Alistair tells me they're called, keep pelting my shield with arrows. One time I'm not quite quick enough, nearly getting impaled in the foot.
"Damn it!" I shout after the last of them have been defeated. Luckily the arrow's only just nicked the side of my boot.
"You okay?" asks Alistair
"I'm fine, the arrow missed"
"Only just" he says concerned
"I know I promise I'll be more careful"
Whilst exploring I find an unusual looking flower, white with a red centre. Daveth chimes in saying the kennel master was looking for the flower to cure some of the hounds back at camp. Looking down at Max I know I have to take the flower back with us, so I pluck in from the ground and place in inside my pack.
"Can't let anything happen to them can we Max"
"Woof" He barks looking up at me. Leaning down I pat his head.
"Come on boy we've got some scrolls to find"
We walk under a large fallen tree that's bridging a gap between two small hills. Dead soldiers hang down from it, a grim reminder of how monstrous the creatures we face are.
Not long after both Darkspawn and Wolves ambush us. I'm beginning to tire now, not used to wearing plate mail for quite this long. I've trained in it often enough but never for this length of time. Guess I can't risk wearing just leather, not if I want to use my sword at close range anyway.
"It shouldn't be far now" Comments Alistair
"Good" I nod
"Look that bridge" He points "that's the way to the Archive"
"Right, come one" I say leading us over the bridge to a bigger open area surrounded by crumbling pillars. At the end is a larger ruin, by far the biggest one we've seen and inside is the chest we're supposed to be looking for.
"It's empty" I sigh dusting off my hands from all the dirt on the chest.
"Well, well, what have we here?"
Standing quickly I turn around to face the source of the mysterious voice. The others have drawn their weapons pointing them at the scantily clad woman approaching us. She has a staff strapped to her back. 'A mage then' I think.
"Are you a vulture, I wonder? A scavenger poking amidst a corpse whose bones were long since cleaned? Or merely an intruder, come into these Darkspawn-filled wilds of mine in search of easy prey? What say you, hmm? Scavenger or intruder? She demands.
Now that's she's closer I can see she's no ordinary mage her attire looks, Chasind perhaps.
She's beautiful, dark hair pulled back from her pale face, some strands left framing her jawline. Amber eyes watching our every move. Seeing me looking she arches an eyebrow. Right, I should speak…
"Neither" I manage to say
"Hmm. I have watched your progress for some time. 'Where do they go I wonder', 'Why are they here?' And now you disturb ashes none have touched for so long. Why is that?"
Watched our progress? How? I didn't notice anyone following us. Although she is a Mage… and we'd be less likely to notice a creature following us than a human. A shape shifter?
"Don't answer her" Alistair advises "She looks Chasind, and that means others may be nearby"
"You fear barbarians will swoop down upon you?" she asks smirking
"Yes, swooping is bad" he says uneasily
"She's a Witch of the Wilds, she is! She'll turn us into toads!" Exclaims Daveth
"Witch of the wilds? Such idle fancies, those legends. Have you no minds of your own? You there, Women do not frighten like little boys. Tell me you name and I shall tell you mine"
"Eliana Cousland, pleased to meet you" I say, slightly nervous whilst holding out my hand
She doesn't take it, just stands there eyeing me curiously… lowering my hand I'm about to carry on speaking when she replies.
"Now that is a proper civil greeting, even here in the Wilds. You may call me Morrigan. Shall I guess your purpose? You sought something in that chest, something that is here no longer?"
"Here no longer? You stole them, didn't you? You're... some kind of sneaky… witch thief!"
"Really Alistair?" I ask raising an eyebrow "I don't think it's a good idea to throw accusations around right now"
"Your friend here certainly has better manners than you. How does one steal from dead men?" she sneers sarcastically
"Quite easily, it seems. Those documents are Grey Warden property, and I suggest you return them"
"What my friend here means is do you happen to know where the documents are? If so would you mind taking us to them?"
I can tell she's antagonising him on purpose and as humorous as that is we really need to get back to camp soon.
"There is a sensible request. I like you" she chuckles
I turn my head slightly to face Alistair, a small grin on my face.
"I'd be careful. First it's, 'I like you…' but then 'zap!' frog time"
I roll my eyes, shaking my head at the serious look on his face.
"She'll put us all in the pot, she will. Just you watch" Daveth warns
"If the pots warmer than this forest, it'd be a nice change" adds Ser Jory
Turning back to face Morrigan, we both share a look and I know we're thinking the same thing 'Men'
Shaking her head she continues speaking "Follow me, then, if it pleases you" she turns walking through the bushes behind her.
I walk ahead a few steps before realising the other aren't following me.
"We can't trust her" Alistair warns
"She's trying to annoy you, in fact your lucky she seems to enjoy it otherwise she might've set you on fire already"
"That's not helping" he says annoyed
"We need those scrolls so I'm going to follow her" I say continuing to walk ahead. After a moment I hear footsteps running up behind me.
"You're crazy, you know that?"
It's not long before we reach Morrigan's house. A small wooden structure amidst the marsh.
An older woman, her mother I presume is standing outside watching us as we approach. She has the same calculating eyes as Morrigan, analysing us each. When her eyes land on me I shiver, whoever she is she's powerful. Much more than the old woman she appears to be.
"Greetings Mother, I bring before you four Grey Wardens who—"Morrigan says introducing us before being cut off by her mother.
"I see them, girl. Mmm. Much as I expected"
She still hasn't moved her gaze from me. It's unnerving so I shift slightly on my feet. Why is she staring at me?
"Are we supposed to believe you were expecting us?" Alistair asks disbelievingly.
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shuts one's eyes tight or open one's arms wide… either way, one's a fool!" she states, moving her gaze to him.
She's right, either ignore the danger or be unaware that you are welcoming it. Both can get you killed.
"She's a witch, I tell you! We shouldn't be talking to her!" Daveth exclaims.
"Why bother luring us here to kill us?" I ask Daveth "Morrigan could have easily caught us off guard earlier instead of introducing herself"
"Indeed, your woman's mind gives you a different viewpoint. You do not believe as these boys do then?" Morrigan's mother asks, stepping closer.
Crossing my arms uneasily I reply "I'm no fool, if that's what you're asking. Not really sure what to believe"
"A statement that possesses more wisdom than it implies be always aware… or is it oblivious? I can never remember. So much about you is uncertain… and yet I believe. Do I? Why, is seems I do!"
She seems to know something, though I'm not sure what. This whole conversation is strange to say the least…
"So this is the dreaded Witch of the Wilds" Alistair says mockingly.
Why does he think it's a good ideas to antagonise her? Can't he tell there's more to her than meets the eye?
"Witch of the Wilds, eh? Morrigan must have told you that. She fancies such tales, though she would never admit it! Oh, how she dances under the moon!" she laughs.
I'm pretty sure she gives the impression she's crazy to make people uneasy. It's a good tactic really, either it scares people or they assume she's too mad to be a threat. Something tells me that would be a dangerous assumption to make.
"They did not come to listen to your wild tales, Mother" Morrigan sighs, briefly running her hand over her face in embarrassment.
"True, they came for their treaties yes?" she says turning to enter her house, quickly returning with the scrolls. "And before you begin barking, your precious seal wore off long ago. I have protected these"
She must have read them, knows what they're for. She's helping us, why though? There's got to be a motive.
"You…oh. You protected them?" Alistair starts angrily before realising.
"And why not?" she says, handing the scrolls to me. "Take them to your Grey Wardens and tell them this Blight's threat is greater than they realize"
"What do you mean?"
"Either the threat is more or they realize less. Or perhaps the threat is nothing! Or perhaps they realise nothing!" she laughs
So… she means the threat is more than we realise and we shouldn't ignore it… right? This has got to be the most confusing conversation I've ever had.
"Oh, do not mind me. You have what you came for!"
"Time for you to go, then" states Morrigan.
"Don't be ridiculous, girl. These are your guests"
"Oh, very well. I will show you out of the woods. Follow me." She responds somewhat reluctantly.
Next chapter the Joining ritual.
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