Chapter 11: This is War
The people of Kirkwall's worst fears had been realized.
The Qunari invasion had begun.
Citizens were hunted like dogs through the streets, either killed outright, or dragged off to be given the choice to submit or die.
It had been centuries since the treaty bringing peace between the Qun and the rest of Thedas had been signed.
A treaty, that now, the Qunari had abandoned!
The people of Kirkwall…would suffer!
IOI
"Basra! Vinek kathas!"
The horned gray-skinned warrior threw himself at Carver, his slay-spear barely missing the young warden's head. Their swords came together with a resounding clang!
Carver braced himself against the Qunari's strength, all around him battle raged, Kirkwall had turned into a warzone. City Guards battled Qunari, but were forced to give ground to the much stronger gray warriors.
Carver altered his tactics, he back pedaled suddenly, forcing the soldier to fall back, or be impaled on the warden's great sword. The two men's weapons collided anew.
Madness, Carver thought, totally and utterly madness!
IOI
Entry into the city had been surprisingly easy, no guards held the gates and no Templar patrols were seen anywhere. It seemed that the city had been completely overwhelmed. Qunari forces were everywhere.
Stroud had hoped to find Loki and flee before they were forced to engage either side. They had decided to check the Alienage first, if an elf was looking for a place to hide, that would likely be a good starting point.
Normally, the Qunari respected Grey Warden sovereignty; they understood that the wardens were neutral in such matters.
The wardens came across a single Qunari battle group as they moved through Lowtown.
Stroud held out his weapon in a non-threatening manner.
"We are Grey Wardens simply passing through," he informed their leader, "We have no stake in your issues with Kirkwall, let us pass by, and we will be on our way."
The Qunari leader hissed in his foreign tongue, and urged his warriors forward.
These Basra would be confined or killed.
Lin put an arrow through his eye.
Siobhan traded magical blows with a Qunari mage, while the rest of the party engaged the warriors.
Arin lunged into the battle like a demon, his blade finding weak spots in armor and severing limbs.
Any wounds the Qunari inflicted on the reaver just added to their problems.
The male reaver frenzied, tearing into the pride of the Qun.
He had heard stories about the Qunari, it was said their skill as warriors was without equal.
Perhaps here, he would find the death he had been seeking, that he had craved all this time.
Perhaps here, he would find his honor again!
IOI
Carver was having little luck with his opponent; the warrior was good, skilled even for one with warden training.
He might have killed Carver before he had joined the order, but he would not kill him now.
Now, he not only had his own skill, but the skills of his allies as well.
Grey, the Qunari grey warden, ended the duel, his blade removing the warriors head.
The large man snorted.
"They are fanatics," he spat, "To think I may have become one of them."
Carver regarded his fellow warden curiously.
"You don't feel bad about killing them?" he asked, "You are Qunari to after all?"
Grey glared at him.
"No, I am not Qunari, I…am a Grey Warden," Grey responded, "I was raised around humans, cared for by human parents, the people back home knew what I was, but they eventually came to realize that I did not serve the Qun. They taught me the value of free choice, I know who I am, I have purpose without surrendering myself to the Qun. I am Grey. I am a warrior that is all I need to know."
Carver nodded, he was grateful the big man was on their side.
Alistair and Nigel finally managed to bring down the Qunari mage, but the battle had been costly, two of Nug's men had fallen, leaving his scouting group down to only five, including himself and Grey. Stroud's people had been lucky; Veryan had lost the tip of his right ear to a Qunari blade. Arthian teased him about it, but beyond that the elf seemed unharmed.
Siobhan healed all the minor cuts and burns before they proceeded.
Arin looked enraged; the reaver was thirsty for more blood, still hunting his just death.
The senior warden thought that he just might find it, if he was not careful.
Stroud ordered the rest of them forward.
They still needed to search the Alienage, and hopefully find Loki.
Stroud did not think that they were that lucky to have the Qunari have killed the little bastard.
IOI
The Alienage was empty by the time they arrived, the elves either in hiding in darktown, or rounded up by the gray-skinned attackers.
Stroud shook his head.
Had Loki even entered the city?
Was there anywhere else nearby where he might flee?
He spoke with Carver, being from Kirkwall, he might have some idea.
Carver suspected that the Dalish, who lived at the foot of Sundermount, might be the best place to check.
Stroud considered this.
Would these Dalish shelter Loki? If they did, how far would they go to protect him?
In the end, it did not matter, Loki was a warden, and would be held accountable for his actions according to the warden code.
They left the Alienage, hoping to slip out of Kirkwall before anymore Qunari noticed.
Three Qunari battle groups ambushed them.
Carver and Arika fought back to back. The two wardens' blades sang as they engaged the enemy. Sadly, they were outnumbered this time. Nug and Arthian both suffered deep wounds, the Qunari brought up another of their bound mages.
It seemed that the battle was over.
Fire rained down from the sky!
It blasted the Qunari!
The Sten engaging Stroud, straightened, he gasped as a glowing hand phased through his chest, crushing his heart.
Great black roots sprang from the ground, crushing Qunari warriors where they stood.
Carver laughed.
He should have known.
From across the street they emerged. He saw Merrill and Anders directing their magic at the attackers. Varric and Sebastian, who Carver had only met briefly, fired bolts and arrows at the ox-men scattering them. Fenris and Aveline cut a bloody path through the Qunari troops, giving the wardens a breather, allowing Siobhan to heal their wounded.
That is when Carver saw him…
That is when he saw his brother.
That…is when he saw Garrett.
IOI
Garrett Hawke was a man transformed.
Once he had been a man who loved to joke, he was snarky, but there was never any cruelty in his jibes. He had been a man who loved his family, who defended his friends and the principles that his Father had taught him.
That man…was gone.
Garrett stood apart from the others, his eyes cold and empty. Rabbit snarled at his side, keeping the Qunari back, while swirls of blood magic and fel fire danced at the mage's fingertips. Red flame blazed in his eyes, he gestured at one of the Qunari mages…
The flesh melted from its bones!
Carver shuddered, was…was this what losing mother had done to Garrett?
Then he realized something, someone who should have been at Garrett's side, but was not.
Isabela was nowhere in sight.
A Qunari soldier managed to get past Rabbit, he dove into the blood shield that Hawke had surrounded himself with.
The ox-man turned to ash.
Carver shook his head.
This was not his brother anymore!
The few remaining Qunari retreated, Garrett let them go, he had sated his bloodlust for today.
He finally noticed Carver.
"Why am I not surprised," the young warden said, he should have known that Garrett would likely find himself in the thick of things here.
The magic faded, Garrett looked so sad, beaten, shock was reflected in his eyes.
"Carver?" he said.
"Hello brother," Carver replied, "I thought you said you only used blood magic as a last resort."
Hawke glared at him.
"Things have changed," Garrett replied.
"Well, this is all horrible," Alistair said shrugging, his foot kicking an empty Qunari helmet, "I suppose it is too late to try and bribe these Qunari with cookies?"
Grey gave him a strange look.
"Why would cookies work?" he asked.
The former Templar grinned.
"I have it on good authority that Qunari suffer from cookie withdraw, they have none in their lands."
"Alistair, not now," Lin sighed.
He wisely shut up.
Stroud shook his head.
"The Qunari are fools," he said coldly, "This act will surely lead to war between them and the Free Marches."
"To say the least," Aveline said, cleaning off her sword.
She turned to Stroud.
"Can we count on you to aid us wardens," she asked, "This attack must be opposed."
Carver wanted to offer his help, so did Alistair and Lin, but in the end Stroud had the final say.
They still needed to find Loki.
Stroud shook his head.
"I am sorry, but our duties must take us from this place, and our neutrality forbids such actions."
The guard captain deflated slightly, she had been hoping to find allies.
"I am sorry," Carver mouthed to her.
"Our business is elsewhere," Stroud said, "Hopefully it will not mean more harm to your city. We cannot aid you, but we will carry news of this attack elsewhere. Kirkwall will not stand alone for long."
"Thank you," Garrett said, though it was clear from the angry look on his face that he did not mean it totally.
"Farewell, brother," Carver said turning to follow his fellows.
"Carver wait!"
Garrett's words stopped him. He sounded…he sounded like he was almost ready to burst into tears.
"Mother…she…she is gone…I…"
"I know Rett," Carver said, "Gamlen wrote me.
The elder Hawke lowered his head in shame.
Surprisingly it was Arika who stepped forward.
She embraced the mage.
"You have my sympathies for your loss," she whispered.
Garrett was surprised.
"I…I thank you Arika. I…I don't know what to say?"
She gave him a sad look.
"Your Mother was kind to me, she deserved a better end," the reaver replied.
Hawke nodded weakly.
"May your enemies fall before your blade, Garrett Hawke," she said holding up her sword in salute, "May they know fear before your shadow…the shadow of a dragon's wings."
"May the Maker go with you," Garrett responded, "And watch over you in your business."
She thanked him and returned to the others.
The way to the docks is clear," Garrett told them, "We have cut a path for you, but watch out, a few Qunari converts may remain there, lying in wait."
Stroud nodded good to know.
The wardens moved quickly, hoping to avoid anymore Qunari surprise.
One remained behind, at least for a few moments.
There was someone she needed to speak with.
IOI
"Fenris."
The elven warrior paused, Lin stood before him, she seemed troubled.
He gave her a sympathetic look.
He knew the archer's heart, if she could have stayed to aid them, she would have.
That was not meant to be, sadly.
"You should not linger," he warned her, "Your allies move quickly."
"This will not take long," she promised.
The two elves regarded each other nervously, feelings that neither liked to acknowledge warred on their faces.
"Be careful," she said, it was not the words that she wished to say, but she hoped that he would understand.
"You should be careful as well," he replied, "I take it this 'business' of yours is dangerous?"
"Probably," she admitted.
They started to move apart, his hand, went out, the back of their hands touched briefly.
She leapt forward into his arms; she kissed him, a kiss full of fire and lust.
It lasted for only a moment, but that was enough, enough to say all the words that needed to be said.
They slipped from each other's grasp.
"Goodbye," she whispered as she slipped into the burning night.
Sighing, he watched her go, she…she was a strange woman…strange, but wonderful at the same time.
He hurried after Hawke and the others.
Kirkwall was still in danger.
They still had a job to do.
IOI
Carver had waited for her to catch up.
He had suspected that she might want to talk to Fenris.
Lin gave him a sad smile as she passed by him.
Carver glanced over his shoulder, at the spot where his brother had left.
Why was Isabela not here? She should have been fighting at his side? If she had been killed…
No, Carver did not think the pirate queen had been killed, Garrett would likely have been more angry if she had.
No…he feared that Isabela had reverted, that she had chosen to save herself, rather than help her friends.
He shook his head.
He knew he should not have been surprised, but he did feel…
Disappointed.
IOI
Arika moved quickly as they made their way out of the city, her senses on full alert, looking for any sign of enemies.
The twins were at her side.
"Who was that elf with the silver hair," Arthian asked, "The one with Lin?"
"Her potential mate," the reaver informed him.
Both twins looked shocked.
"You mean…Lin does like men?" Veryan asked, his hand touching his damaged ear.
"Why…well why did she choose him?" Arthian asked defensively, "What does he have that we don't?"
"Shall I make a list," Arika said dryly.
"Heeeeey," the two said in unison.
Chuckling the reaver picked up the pace, eager to be out of this place.
Both twins shook their heads.
"We should go back and kill him," Arthian offered.
"No," Veryan said, "Lin would have our guts for garters."
"So what do we do? We can't simply do nothing."
The brothers considered this.
"Let's kill Loki," Arthian offered, "We can pretend it is mister silver hair."
"That could work," Veryan agreed, "It might even be fun."
Pleased that they had a plan the elves continued on.
They followed after their fellows.
IOI
The sound of battle retreating as the moved away, the wardens were battered, bloody, and tired, but they pushed on towards Sundermount.
To where they would face Loki…to where they would face the Avatar…
…To the place where their world would change.
Above them on the cliffs of Kirkwall, Garrett Hawke rained down fire and death on the Qunari, moving closer and closer to the Viscount's Keep.
Closer and closer to finding his destiny…
A Champion was about to rise.
