Chapter 21
Nate sat back in his chair, "Wow, Delilah. You've gotten to be a great cook!" He rubbed his stomach, "I'm so full."
Delilah smiled at the three men at her table, "It's great that you had time to visit."
"Well, I had to be sure you had recovered from the attack," he said.
"We were some of the lucky ones, there was only minimal damage." Albert said, leaning back in his own chair.
"I miss the old donkey though," Travis put in, "This new one doesn't like me."
Nate laughed, "Give him time."
"How's everything at the Keep?" Albert asked.
"We were lucky there, too. Apparently, a dwarf with explosives saved the day," Nate said.
"The guest room is all made up, Nate. Will you stay the night?" Delilah asked.
"Yes. Beth doesn't want anyone traveling alone at night," Nate said. "We haven't found where the darkspawn launched their attack from yet. This is the first real rest I've had since the battle."
"But that was almost a week ago!" Delilah exclaimed. "What has Beth been making you do?"
"We've been searching for the darkspawn, but I think we're not going to find them until the next attack," he said, frowning. He then stood and stretched, "I think I hear that bed in your spare room calling me. G'night all."
"Sleep well, my brother," Delilah said, giving him a brief hug.
"Goodnight," Albert and Travis said at the same time.
Nate went into the spare room, undressed and slid under the covers. He wasn't joking about being tired, he was sound asleep as his head settled into the pillow.
...
Justice stood at attention in Beth's study. Beth leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "So you're telling me that these darkspawn attacked from the old Temple off the Wending Road?"
Justice nodded. "It appears that there is an entrance into the Deep Roads through the substructure of the Temple."
Beth closed her eyes. She had not slept well since the attacks occurred. Her nightmares had gotten worse, giving her vivid dreams of both the Mother and the Architect. She wasn't looking forward to having a battle with either of them. "Thank you, Justice. You can go rest now."
Justice bowed and left the study. Beth watched him go sadly. Kristoff's body was decomposing rapidly and she didn't know what to do. She had done her best to give him missions that wouldn't tax the body, but still make him feel he was contributing. He had been gone for weeks searching for any more signs of darkspawn. She got up and went in search of Varel.
Varel looked up as she knocked on his study door. "Hello, Commander. Come in. I'm just doing the dreaded paperwork." He smiled at her, then frowned at her serious expression. "What's wrong?"
"Justice found an entrance to the Deep Roads in an abandoned Temple that stands in the forest off the Wending Road," she said, sitting down.
Varel watched her with growing concern. "I know it is not my place, but...you need to rest. You don't look able to go into battle."
Beth glared at him, "No. It is not your place. I'm fine. I'm just not looking forward to going into the Deep Roads again."
Varel looked down at his desk, he knew that she wouldn't talk to him, no matter how hard he pushed. "When will you be leaving?"
"I'll announce the mission to everyone at our morning meeting. I expect to leave shortly afterward." Beth stood up. "I'm going to ask for a volunteer from my Wardens to stay here and help protect the Keep in case these new 'thinking' darkspawn take advantage."
Varel nodded, stood and bowed. He watched her leave and couldn't help thinking that he might not see her again. Shuddering at the thought he sat back down, trying to distract himself with his paperwork.
...
Beth woke with a start, sitting up she rubbed her face and found herself drenched in sweat. The last thing she remembered from the dream was a warning about the Blights. She got out of bed and went to her window. The full moon shone so brightly that she could see the water of the nearby lake twinkling. Knowing she wasn't going back to sleep, she donned her armor and quietly made her way out of the Keep and into the forest. She headed for the lake and, thinking of nothing but a soothing dip, undressed to her small clothes and dove into the cool water.
She swam vigorously for a while then turned onto her back and floated looking at the stars. She felt the presence of another Warden and swam toward the bank. Seeing no one, she called out, "You forget that I know you're there."
Nate stepped out from behind a tree. Looking at the ground, he said, "Sorry, I didn't want to scare you."
"Come in, Nate," Beth said to him, "the water is wonderful."
Nate looked around a moment and Beth called, teasingly, "Coward!"
"I am not!" Nate said and quickly stripped down to his small clothes. He dove in and when he came up for air he exclaimed, "Andraste's tits! It's cold!"
Beth laughed and the reverberation off the water made her voice sound ethereal. Nate swam up to her. "You look so beautiful in the moonlight," he said, huskily.
Beth sighed as Nate wrapped his arms around her. "Let everything go. Be with me tonight." Nate whispered and began kissing her neck.
"Oh, Nate," Beth sighed as he pulled her toward the bank. Picking her up, he laid her gently on the grassy bank. "Nate...I..." but Nate kissed her lips, cutting off any protests. Beth gave in and relaxed, letting the problems go and responded to Nate's loving kisses.
"I love you, Beth." Nate whispered into her ear.
Beth looked deeply into Nate's eyes, "I love you, too," and kissed him deeply.
...
The darkness was only held back by the lanterns they had brought. Sigrun was in the lead. She had recognized the Thaig they entered after descending the stone stairs in the lowest level of the Temple. The narrow path they were on allowed only single file and the oppressive, musty atmosphere of the Thaig weighed heavily on the group.
Beth felt relieved when the narrow passageway emptied into a vast cavern. The fronts of the buildings were mostly intact and there were signs of recent activity. Beth ordered everyone to scout the area so they could establish a safe zone to rest in.
They sat around the small fire and ate. Beth could sense darkspawn, but they weren't approaching.
"So, where's the darkspawn?" Ohgren asked, raising an eyebrow to Justice. "I know they're here."
"Obviously, they aren't in this particular Thaig," Justice stated.
Beth didn't say anything, but she recognized the area from her dreams.
"We should just collapse that narrow passageway and be done with it." Margaret said.
"Not yet. I haven't pummeled anything today." Ohgren glared at her.
Beth stood up and said, "We should investigate this area a little more before we close off that passageway." She headed for a building that had caught her eye. There was something familiar about it.
The rest of the group had grudgingly gotten up and separated, looking into the surrounding buildings. Anders and Nate followed Beth.
As Beth approached the building, a door opened and the Architect stepped out. "Greetings, Commander of the Grey," he said bowing. "Please, talk with me."
The appearance of the Architect startled everyone but Beth. She looked at him suspiciously and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
"The Mother," the Architect replied.
The rest of the group had gathered behind Beth, who said, "Thank you for warning us about the attack on the Keep."
"I don't want the Wardens to all be killed. The Mother is very angry at you for killing her breeders and then her army. I am certain she is plotting her revenge." The Architect hesitated and stepped toward Beth. The group behind her drew their weapons, but Beth put her arms out.
"I am listening." She said, encouraging the Architect to continue.
"The Mother has become my enemy as well. She is plotting to gain control of all darkspawn," he said.
"I thought only an old God could control the darkspawn," Beth said, confused.
"Yes. When an old God awakens and comes back into power, the darkspawn hear the calling. It is a terribly beautiful sound and you cannot ignore it. The darkspawn must find the source of the sound, for it promises perfection. However, darkspawn cannot have perfection. Everything becomes corrupted around the darkspawn." The Architect paused and looked at the group. "That is why I search for a cure. I must free the darkspawn of this never-ending cycle. In doing so, they will achieve a peace and the Blights will truly end."
"The darkspawn would then serve you? You would be their ruler?" Nate asked.
"No. I do not seek to rule my brethren. I only seek to free them from their chains," the Architect said, passionately.
"You aren't offering them freedom. Just a different prison," Anders mumbled.
"That is true. Until there are is no more taint, none of my brethren will be truly free." The Architect had been pacing. He now stopped and looked at Beth. "Help me end these Blights."
"How?" Beth asked.
"Just as you take in the tainted blood of the darkspawn to become a Warden, a Warden's blood can be used to sever the link to the old Gods," the Architect said.
"No thank you! I like my blood where it is!" Anders said, backing away.
"That's just not right," Ohgren growled and Sigrun was nodding as she tightened her grip on her blade.
"How is drinking darkspawn blood different than drinking warden blood?" the Architect asked them.
Justice cocked his head to one side, "The truth is, a Warden is already tainted, correct?"
The Architect's deformed face turned to look at the spirit. "You are not alive, and yet you live?"
Justice said, "That is none of your concern."
Beth said, "It is true that we drink darkspawn blood. But, how can Warden blood make such a difference to darkspawn?"
The Architect sighed, "I have done a great deal of research and after a Warden drinks the darkspawn blood, they become tainted without actually becoming sick. The taint goes through a transformation within the Warden that suppresses the old God's hold. However, as the Warden ages, the suppression fades and eventually, the Warden begins to hear the calling..."
"Yes, and that is when Wardens descend into the Deep Roads, choosing to end their lives in battle instead of becoming fully tainted." Beth interrupted.
"But think, Warden. If I can find the correct potion mixture to severe the ties to the old Gods..." the Architect started.
"No Warden would have to die in the Deep Roads," Sigrun finished.
"No more Wardens would be needed, for there would be no more Blights." The Architect stated triumphantly.
"What sort of help do you want?" Beth asked, tired of the discussion.
"Kill the Mother," the Architect stated.
"That's it?" Nate asked, suspiciously.
"And some fresh Warden blood." the Architect said, nonchalantly.
"Oh, and who's going to give you this blood?" Anders said, snidely.
"I will alert the First Warden and I'm sure we can get some volunteers to give you small vials of their blood," Beth said, ignoring the others' looks of shock. "I need to know where the Mother is, in order to kill her."
"I will go with you. I can offer aid," the Architect said and proceeded out of the Thaig.
...
Nate sat on the steps of a crumbled building watching as Beth tossed and turned in her sleep. He knew she had been having trouble sleeping and insisted on her resting while he and the others took turns at watch. Anders sat up and looked around, seeing Nate, he got up and joined him.
"Couldn't sleep?" Nate asked.
Anders pointed toward the two dwarves who were snoring loudly. "How anyone can sleep with that racket?" He looked at Beth, watching her moving around in her sleep. "She's not getting any rest that way."
"No, but that's more than if she didn't lay down at all," Nate said. "I'm worried about her."
Anders smiled, "She'll bounce back. She always does."
Nate frowned. "I don't know. How can she trust that darkspawn?" He asked motioning to the Architect standing a bit away from the campsite.
"Oh, I don't know," Anders said musing, "Probably the same way she trusted an Apostate and the son of a murderer."
Nate punched Anders in the arm. "Owww." Anders whined, "Don't hit. I didn't mean anything by it."
"We may forgive her for trusting an enemy, but I don't know how the First Warden will feel," Nate said.
Anders suddenly looked alarmed, "You don't think they'd take her away, do you?"
"I don't know." Nate said.
Anders looked thoughtfully back at Beth. "When she first conscripted me, I felt I was going from one prison to another, but now..." He sighed deeply, "I actually enjoy being a Warden. Sure it's not all wine and girls. But, I feel I have a purpose, something to stand for."
Nate nodded, "I know what you mean. My grandfather became a Warden and I heard nothing good about it from my father. Now, I understand why my grandfather wanted to join."
Justice had been standing off to one side and overheard their conversation. He moved closer and said, "This Kristoff was very proud to be a Warden. That was why I chose to stay with the Commander. She is a remarkable person and seems to always put others' needs ahead of her own."
Anders looked at Nate, "Well, my friend. I'm up. You see if you can't get some sleep before our beloved Commander wakes up."
Nate glared at Anders, who only smirked back, but he got up and laid on an empty bedroll. He fell asleep thinking about the moonlight on Beth's hair.