A/N: Chapter 21 is ready and we are closing in the Anvil of the Void.
I wish to thank everyone who has read this far. Special thanks to those who fav/alerted and extra special thanks to those who reviewed. And my eternal gratitude goes to Faelan, your support and encouragement is invaluable to me as I write this.
Huge thanks to Killa1934 for beta reading.
Dragon Age and all you recognize belongs to Bioware. Everything you don't recognize belongs to me. Lenya belongs to herself.
Update, March 2014: Fixed grammatical and other errors.
The Deep Roads, approaching the Anvil of the Void
Everyone had been really quiet after the meeting with the broodmother. No one was eager to talk about what had happened in there. Everyone was thinking about it though. Lenya had noticed more than one wondering look thrown at her. They all were wondering what she would do to Branka.
Another effect the broodmother had on their group was that Morrigan was now staying closer to Alistair for protection. Lenya was sure Morrigan would have rather be close to her, but Leliana had already taken that place. Leliana was never far from her and Lenya didn't mind that at all. Leliana's presence had a calming effect on her and it made the taint less threatening to her.
"We are getting close, Warden," Oghren said to her, bringing Lenya back to the present from her thoughts.
"You sure?" Lenya asked, "Everything looks same to me."
Oghren rolled his eyes and dug a flask from his armor. He took a big gulp from it and then put it back, "Are you sodding blind Warden?" He asked then.
"Nope, I just don't give a damn about the tunnels and I really don't want to be here in the first place," Lenya replied, "I don't even know if I could find my way back out from here, but I can tell you that there's many darkspawn in that direction."
"That's sodding great," Oghren said, "Branka seems to be keeping very bad company," He murmured to himself. That obviously was not meant for anyone else.
"Take us there," Lenya said and nodded at the direction where they were going.
It took another hour before Oghren said they were approaching a larger cavern and that he saw Branka's markings in the walls.
The feeling of darkspawn was still strong ahead of them so they stepped in the larger cavern weapons in hand. Nothing attacked them though so they walked further in. When Shale, who had been holding the rear, stepped inside the cavern, something dropped down and blocked the way out.
"Now that's just great," Lenya cursed.
"What was that?" Oghren asked from her. Then they heard someone moving nearby and turned to look at the direction where the sound was coming. A dwarf woman walked in view at the nearby ledge, "Shave my back and call me an elf! Branka? By the stone, I barely recognize you," Oghren yelped happily.
Lenya studied the woman and a shiver ran through her. There was something so wrong with that woman. Her eyes had that mad gleam, Lenya had seen in the eyes of the possessed men in the circle tower.
"Oghren. It figures you'd eventually find your way here. Hopefully you can find your way back more easily," Branka said and there was a contempt in her voice. Then Branka turned to look at Lenya as she quietly studied her, "And how shall I address you? Hired sword of the latest lordling to come looking for me? Or just the only one who didn't mind Oghren's ale-breath?" Branka asked.
Lenya heard how Alistair started to move. He was obviously going to come to her defense, but Oghren was faster, "Be respectful, woman! You're talking to a Grey Warden!" He snapped at Branka.
"Ah, so important errand girl, then. I suppose something serious has happened. Is Endrin dead? That seems most likely. He was on the old and wheezy side," Branka said and started to pace back and forth.
"He is dead, yes, and the assembly is deadlocked," Lenya said, her eyes never leaving from Branka's. That mad gleam never left Branka's eyes.
"Then what is your involvement in this? Why would surfacer be interested in dwarven politics?" Branka asked, but before Lenya had time to say anything Branka continued, "You must have a patron. A highly-placed patron. And they must want something in particular. Now, what might that be?" And again Lenya couldn't get a word through because Branka just continued to talk to herself, "I don't care if they put a drunken monkey on the throne."
"Me neither," Lenya said, but Branka wasn't listening anyone else, but herself.
"Because our protector, our great invention, the thing that once made our armies the envy of the world, is lost to the very darkspawn it should be fighting," Branka preached. It was debatable if she even knew she wasn't alone anymore, "The Anvil of the Void. The means by which the ancients forged their army of golems and held of the first archdemon ever to rise. It's here. So close I can taste it."
"But of course there is a catch," Lenya said and studied the area. There was no way up, where Branka was and she would be able to dodge or block thrown dagger and if she would try to get a bow she would just go out of sight.
"The Anvil lies on the other side of the gauntlet of traps designed by Caridin himself. My people have given body and soul to unlocking its secret," Branka said. Her people had given more than that. Bloody bastard – Lenya thought, "This is what's important. This has lasting meaning. If I succeed, the dwarven people benefit. Kings, politics... all that is transitory," Branka continued, "I've given up everything and would sacrifice anything to get the Anvil of the Void," She said and that made Lenya's field of vision get engulfed by a blue glow. She had sacrificed? Did Branka really say she had sacrificed? - Lenya thought and tried to fight the urge to throw a dagger to the damn dwarf regardless of how futile it would be.
"Does that include Hespith and the others of your house?" Alistair asked. He probably sensed that she was not capable of speaking at the moment.
"Enough questions!" Was the only thing Branka said. That was as good as confessing. Branka was so bloody dead when Lenya could get her hands on her, "If you wish me to get involved with this imbecilic election, I must first have the Anvil," Branka continued, "There is only one way out, Warden. Forward. Through Caridin's maze and out to where the Anvil waits," She added.
"What has this place done to you?!" Oghren asked, his voice puzzled and angry, "I remember marrying a girl you could talk to a one minute and see the brilliance."
"I am your Paragon," Branka said and left.
"Ok, we've been locked in this damn death trap by insane dwarf," Lenya said, "At the moment it looks like the only way out would be through this damn place so we better get started. The sooner we are through the sooner we can settle things with Branka. Move out," She ordered.
As they started to clear the maze from traps and from darkspawn, they heard Branka speaking. How she had known her people were getting tainted and how they wanted to leave. She'd known what would happen to the women and as Hespith had said, Branka had allowed it to happen and even made it happen.
"I wonder if she knows, that she is digging her own grave there," Zevran said to Leliana and nodded towards the place where Branka was standing. Lenya had ordered Zevran to defend her and the mages.
"I don't know," Leliana said and released an arrow to the hurlock that was trying to attack Lenya, "There is no way Lenya will let her live. Not after what she's done and no matter how important Paragon would be to her."
"Luckily for us, Bhelen did say, that if Branka is not all there, it's better that she won't return to Orzammar," Zerran said and turned to look at Lenya who was again fighting like she was possessed. Her arms were only a blur and it was near impossible to see the blades of her swords, "Is it just me or is our gorgeous leader a bit pissed?" Zevran asked then.
"Where did you get the bit part?" Leliana asked and looked at Lenya who just brought down the last darkspawn in sight, another ogre. This time she just sliced the legs under the huge creature and when it fell down she impaled its head with her sword. After that Lenya lifted her head and seemed to listen. Leliana noticed that Alistair was doing the same.
Then Lenya motioned them to come closer, "There is no more darkspawn ahead," She said when they got to her, "So only thing to worry about is the traps Caridin has set up to protect the Anvil."
"I should walk with you then," Leliana said and Lenya nodded, "Everyone keep your eyes open for anything that seems out of the ordinary," Leliana told them.
"Ordinary compared to what?" Lenya asked, studying their surroundings, "This whole damn place looks out of the ordinary to me."
"Tiles that seem to stick out of the ground and stuff like that," Leliana replied, hiding her smile, "You know, the usual stuff you don't notice," She added. It was not true, but she couldn't resist saying it. Even though Lenya was a warrior, she noticed things like traps and things that were hidden. It had to be a dalish thing, since Alistair, who didn't notice most of the things, was pretty much what Leliana had learned to expect from the warriors. Sten was a bit better at noticing things than Alistair, but not much and Oghren did not notice anything if it wasn't drinkable or a woman. She was amazed of how Oghren could guide them with his stone sense when he didn't notice a trap if he stepped on it. Only because of Lenya, he didn't have an arrow in his backside.
"Oh, you mean the normal out of the ordinary stuff," Lenya said, "Not the glowing stuff in the walls or the caverns, that could house my whole clan with room to spare?"
"No, not those things," Leliana smiled at Lenya.
"Okay then, I know what to look for," Lenya said and motioned others to follow them before she turned to lead them further in the maze.
Few hours and dozens of traps and obstacles later they seemed to be clear of the maze protecting the Anvil. Last obstacle with the rotating head had been grueling. Not to mention the room with the poison gas. Without Shale, who had gone in and shut the gas flow, they would have most likely died in that one or at least got stuck there, until Lenya would have gone back and tried to find a way to kill Branka.
What had not changed was the fact that Lenya was furious. She had been muttering curses towards the dwarf Paragon every time they had been stopped by traps, golems or other deadly obstructions. She was not the only one, but she was the one who eventually would determine the fate of the woman and Branka's chances to live through this had already been less than minimal.
Leliana glanced at Lenya who walked beside her. Her armor was full of dents and scrapes, but it was intact. True testament to the skill of the smith who had originally made the set centuries ago. Other warriors had not fared quite as well and their armors were a bit poorer condition than Lenya's armor was.
"There is very large cavern ahead," Oghren said behind them, "No other ways out of there than this."
"So your wife lied that the way out went through here," Morrigan said sarcastically, "What a surprise," She leaned heavily on her staff. Both she and Wynne were exhausted from all the magic they have had to use. They would need to rest soon.
"Let's go see what this Anvil really is," Lenya said, "We'll deal Branka when the time comes," She added and there was coldness in her voice when she said that.
When they started to move again she heard Oghren mutter something that sounded like, "Sodding woman, what have you done?"
The Anvil of the Void
The cavern they now entered had lyrium veins running at its walls and a molten lava running somewhere below them. Lenya could see the red glow of it. Oghren had been right and there really was no other way out of this cavern than from where they had come in.
Nothing in cavern itself could distract Lenya from the fact that there were golems standing on both sides of them and one larger than others standing ahead of them. It was like the golems on the side formed a corridor that lead to a larger one, but unlike the others they had encountered in the maze, these were not hostile.
When they approached the largest of the golems it moved its head to look at Lenya, "My name is Caridin," The golem said, "Once, longer ago than I care to think, I was a Paragon to the dwarves of Orzammar," It continued. Now that was something Lenya had not expected.
"Caridin? The Paragon smith? Alive?" Shale said like the whole thing was unbelievable. Well, it was pretty unbelievable.
"Ah, there is a voice I recognize," Caridin said and its voice sounded proud, "Shayle of the house of Cadash, step forward."
"You... know my name?" Shale asked and its voice was unsure, "Is it you that forged me, then? Is it you that gave me my name?"
"Have you forgotten, then?" Caridin asked and then sighed, "It has been so long," It added and then continued to explain, "I made you into the golem you are now, Shayle, but before that you were a dwarf... just as I was. The finest warrior to serve the king Valtor, and the only woman to volunteer," Oddly that made more sense than Lenya would have thought it would. Something in Shale had always struck her as a feminine. It... no, not it, her fascination for gems and then there were the crystals, "So, what do you think? They don't make me look any wider do they, because I think I'm wide enough already?" Shale had asked from Lenya, when she'd given her those crystals she had embedded on her rocky skin even now.
To Shale this revelation was more of an shock than it was for Lenya, "The only... woman? A dwarf?" Shale said and she sounded incredulous and a more than a bit worried.
"I laid you on the Anvil of the Void, here in this very room, and put you into the form you now possess," Caridin said.
"Anvil of the Void... that is what we seek," Shale said and turned to look at Lenya. Caridin did so as well and when he spoke he addressed his words to her.
"If you seek the Anvil, then you must care about my story, or be doomed to relive it," Caridin said.
Lenya lifted her eyes until she was looking at the eyes of the golem. It didn't matter to her, that his eyes were two glowing lights. There was a need there. Something he wanted from her. That really shouldn't come as a surprise anymore, but it was still damn annoying that everyone seemed to want something from her. Although, at this point she probably wouldn't trust anyone who just offered their help without asking something from her first.
"So you want something. Everyone does," Lenya said.
"I do," Caridin replied. Well, at least he was honest in that, "I lived to ensure that the Anvil was never used again. Now it never shall be," He added, "It allowed me to forge a man of steel or stone, as flexible and clever as any soldier. As an army, they were invincible. But I told no one the cost," He continued and as he spoke his voice gained a regretful tone, "No mere smith, however skilled, has the power to create life. To make my golems live, I had to take the lives from elsewhere."
Lenya started to see where this was going. Lives had to come from somewhere. From volunteers, like Shale, but she doubted that had lasted for long. From what she'd seen of dwarven politics and how they treated their own people. Someone, probably the King had decided to force his own people, probably his enemies, to the golem forms. Which would then explain the control rods, "A dire shortcut. Was it worth it?" Lenya asked from the ancient Paragon. She already knew the answer, but wanted to hear him say it.
"So said my King. I had only intended to use volunteers, but he was not satisfied..." Carridin replied. Of course he wasn't, "...and soon a river of blood flowed from this place."
"Not a surprise that," Lenya shrugged, "From what I've seen of the dwarven politics it was just a matter of time," She continued, but the golem Paragon did not seem to be listening.
"Finally, it was too much. I refused," Caridin said, "And so Valtor had me put on the Anvil, next."
"So... what now?" Lenya asked looking at the golem, "Do you want revenge?" She wouldn't blame him for that, but vengeful golem was something she really didn't need at the moment.
The golem Paragon surprised her when he replied, "Not revenge. The blow of the hammer opened my eyes," There was deep feeling of regret coming from him now as he continued to speak, "My apprentices knew enough to make me as I am, but not enough to fashion a control rod. I retained my mind."
Lenya studied the Paragon and thought about what he was saying. She felt sorry for him. He had wanted to save his homeland from darkspawn, only to have his noble intentions twisted by a power hungry King that wanted to enslave those who opposed him. And people wondered why Lenya distrusted those in power.
"You were amongst the most loyal, Shayle. You remained at my side throughout, and at the end I send you away out of mercy," Caridin said to Shale.
"I... do not remember," Shale said and there was odd distress in her voice. It was clear, that the fact, that she couldn't remember bothered and frustrated her.
"We have remained entombed here ever since, and I have sought a way to destroy the Anvil," Caridin said and it started to become clear what the ancient Paragon wanted from her, "Alas, I cannot do it myself. No golem can touch it," That explained why he hadn't done it already.
She could do it, but that would mean, that she would lose an army like no other. But... only way she could even consider of saving the damn thing would be if you could somehow ensure that you only took volunteers. As her thoughts got to that point they were interrupted by a yell that pretty much told her that it was an impossible dream, "No! The Anvil is mine! No one can take it from me!" Yelling madly Branka ran into the room.
"Shayle... you fought to destroy the Anvil once! Do not allow it to fall into unthinking hands again!" Caridin said as soon as Branka entered the room.
"You speak of things I do not remember," Shale said and there was odd seriousness in her tone, "You say we fought... did you use our control rods to command us to do so?" She asked and fixed her eyes on Caridin's.
"I destroyed the rods!" Caridin said. That was bit odd, since Shale had a control rod. Rod that the mage Wilhelm had abused and used to make Shale no more than a puppet. Now that Lenya knew Shale had once been a dwarf, the notion that Shale had crushed the mage made her happy, "Perhaps my apprentices eventually learned to replace the rods, I do not know, but if so, then all they need is the Anvil to make all the slaves they need!" She could sense Caridin's desperation of the thought that his invention would be used again. Shale looked distressed and indecisive so Caridin turned to look at her, "You! Please... help me destroy the Anvil! Do not let it enslave more souls than it already has!" He pleaded.
Lenya was back on the decision she had been thinking when Branka interrupted them. Again Branka interrupted her thoughts, "Don't listen! He's been trapped here for a thousand year, stewing in his own madness. Help me claim the Anvil and you will have an army like you've never seen!" Branka yelled and when Lenya turned to look at the Paragon. Madness she'd seen in Branka's eyes when they had seen her the first time was still there.
"Branka, you mad, bleeding nug-tail. Does this thing mean so much to you that you can't even see what you've lost to get it?" Oghren asked, giving Lenya more time to think.
"Look around," Branka said to Oghren, "Is this how our empire should look like? A grumbling tunnel filled with darkspawn spume? The Anvil let us take back our glory," She continued and there it was. Glory. Why did everyone always want back their glory days or gain some glory at the cost of the men and women who served them.
No, dwarves could not be trusted by something like the Anvil. Lenya doubted anyone could be trusted to have power like this. She could see the temptation even in herself. It would be so easy to just build a golem army and reclaim what her people had lost and then punish the Shems for their crimes.
Lenya closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. Images of Hespith and Laryn flickered in her sight. There was no way she would leave the Anvil to a mad woman who fed her whole house to darkspawn and planned to make a broodmother out of her lover.
"No!" Lenya said and opened her eyes, "There is no way I am leaving the Anvil to someone who fed her clan to the darkspawn and tried to make a broodmother out of her own lover. This world doesn't need anymore powerful crazy people than it already has."
"So, it fights with Caridin? Good. That seems right," Shale said and that was more than enough proof that she'd done the right thing. For a momentarily she wondered if she would have made different decision if Branka would have been sane. She wanted to believe she would have done the same thing, but she couldn't be sure of that. Whatever it took to defeat the Blight.
"Thank you, stranger. Your compassion shames me," Caridin said and that strengthened the feeling that she was doing the right thing.
"No! You will not take it! Not while I still live!" Branka screamed and madness in her eyes grew more visible.
"Branka! Don't throw your life away for this!" Oghren tried to get through to his wives madness, but there was no change in Branka at all.
"I'm sorry, Oghren, but she is dangerous," Lenya said.
"Just give her the blasted thing! She's confused... maybe once she's calmed down we can talk to her!" Oghren said and there was a pleading tone in his voice.
"She fed her house to the darkspawn, Oghren," Lenya pointed out and unsheathed her swords, "She made Laryn a broodmother and intended the same fate for Hespith. I am sorry, Oghren, but your wife died a long ago," Oghren stared at her and then he sighed. A lonely tear formed in his eyes and then he grabbed his axe from his back, before he turned to face his wife.
"Bah! You are not the only master smith here, Caridin! Golems, obey me! Attack!" Branka said and waved a rod in front of her. Four of the golems started to move after her words.
"Damn!" Lenya muttered. Their swords were hardly ideal against the golems. Only her swords could cut the rocky skin of the golems without losing their edge. After this she would really get some maces or war hammers to their armaments. Alistair had cursed the fact that his sword already needed to be sharpen.
"A control rod! but... my friend, you must help me! I cannot stop her alone!" Caridin pleaded. He seemed to be rooted in place. Fighting the orders of the rod Branka was holding up. He would be no use in the fight like that.
Like Caridin, not all the golems obeyed Branka. They would be no help in the fight either, but at least they wouldn't need to fight against them.
"Shale, take one of the golems," Lenya ordered, "I'll take one. Oghren and Sten, you take the other two. Morrigan and Wynne assist when you can. Rest of you deal with Branka," She had wanted to kill Branka herself, she'd promised that to Hespith and Laryn, but it seemed she would not get the opportunity.
Lenya engaged her chosen golem and started to wear it down. There was no easy way to kill golems as she'd discovered earlier in the maze. You pretty much had to hack them into pieces or run a sword down to the body from the neck. Which was not as easily done as it was for the soft and squishy things, like Shale had put it. First of all you had to climb at the back of the golem and that was not so easily done. Then she would need to strike the tip of her sword in the seam where the head met the rest of the body and push her sword through the rocky skin. That pretty much killed the golem. So of course they did not like it at all when someone tried to climb at their back.
After a little while Lenya found an opening when she dodged the golems hit and its hand buried itself on the ground. Using the hand as a jumping point she hurled herself at the shoulder of the damn thing and drove her sword down on its neck. Shudder went through the thing and then it collapsed, like the strings that had kept it up had been severed.
When she turned to see how others were doing she saw that Oghren was just about to finish his golem, Sten was nearly finished his as well and Shale had already won her battle. That left only Branka standing. She might be just a smith, but she certainly knew how to fight and she seemed to be keeping Zevran and Alistair at bay. Maybe it was the madness that made her able to stand against those two.
Then Branka got a shot in and nicked Zevran's arm with her mace. Lenya saw the assassin fall back and holding his arm. Pain visible in his face. Wynne was already casting a spell on him, but that left Alistair fighting Branka alone and there was no telling how that would end.
"It is not him you want to kill, Branka," Lenya said and stepped closer to the on going fight, "It is me and only me, who prevents you from getting the Anvil."
"No, Lenya!" Alistair yelled and shielded himself from the onslaught the mad woman was giving him. He took a step backwards and almost lost his balance on a debris that was littered all around the room.
Lenya stepped into the fight and blocked a blow that would have hit Alistair's side, "What have I said about focusing in the battle?" She asked from Alistair as she drove Branka backwards with series of fast strikes.
"That I should keep my mind on the fight, no matter what I see or hear," Alistair said, ashamed and joined back in the fight.
"Good boy," Lenya said to him, smiling a little as she cut Branka's shield in half, "I promised Hespith and Laryn that you will pay for what you did, Branka. There is no forgiveness for what you did. Only justice," Then she launched herself in a series of attacks that struck the mace out of the mad Paragon's hand and ran her through with her other sword. As the sword pierced the heart of the Paragon, her eyes seemed to clear from the madness and there was gratefulness in them. Like she was thanking Lenya for releasing her from the madness.
"Branka!" Oghren yelled and ran to them. He catched the body of his wife as she started to fall down, "You bleeding nug-tails!" He muttered to her and closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Oghren," Lenya said and wiped the blood off from her sword.
"Don't..." Oghren said without turning to look at her. He lowered Branka's body to the ground and placed her hands to cover the wound that had killed her.
Lenya just nodded at the dwarf and turned to look at Caridin. He was staring at Branka as well. "Another life lost because of my invention," He said, voice heavy with regret, "I wish no mention of it had made it into history."
"Yeah, you ain't kidding," Oghren said behind her, "Stupid woman! Always knew the Anvil would kill her," He continued, sounding angry and resigned.
"How is it that the woman was not able to disable me as she did you, Caridin?" Shale asked, her whole being seemed to be puzzled.
"I do not know. Have you been altered?" Caridin asked.
"I once had pathetic little mage of a master. He... did something to me. Experimented on me. And then I killed him and it rendered me paralyzed," Shale replied. There was a disgust in her voice. She understood well the reason for that. Since Shale had been a living being before she'd been made a golem, what Wilhelm had done to her, must have been true invasion to her privacy and she had been unable to prevent it.
"Hmm, perhaps he was bringing forth old memories? And caused you to remember the time when... you fought by my side," Caridin mused, "The paralysis you speak of always resulted when the master perished. As for your free will... you were always a strong woman, Shayle. I am pleased to see you remained as such," He continued, his voice proud.
"I don't know what to say," Shale said and she looked a bit unsure. She was still unaccustomed to compliments, "Thank you," She added after a little pause.
Caridin let out a deep sigh, "Do not thank me. All of this... this is my doing, my legacy," He said, regret was back in his voice. He turned to look at Lenya, "But at least it ends here. I thank you for standing with me, stranger. The Anvil waits there for you to shatter it."
"It is a shame we can't trust anyone to use it right," Lenya sighed. Temptation to save it was even stronger now, but she pushed that aside. She could not trust herself with the Anvil, let alone anyone else.
"Aye, that was my great pride, and soon enough, my shame," Caridin said, "Is there any boon I can grant you for your aid? A final favor before I'm freed of my burden?" He asked then.
That question surprised Lenya. It was unexpected, as she had not expected anything. She turned to look at her companions who just shrugged. It was up to her to decide. Then her eyes stopped at Oghren who was still kneeling beside Branka's body, "Oghren, you lost Branka to this. What do you want?" She asked. It was only fitting that he decided. She owed him that.
Oghren touched Branka's hands one more time and then got up, "Don't suppose you can bring Branka back? Maybe make her a golem, like you?" His voice was hopeful.
"I would not do such a thing to her even if I could," Caridin said.
"Somehow I didn't think so. Then I don't want anything that would remind me of... this," Oghren motioned his hand towards the fallen, "Best it's just done," He added, but then he turned to look at Lenya, "There... is still the matter of election. I mean... we still need a Paragon to get the Assemblys's support, right?" He asked and with that Lenya's respect for him got to a new level. She had caused the death of the woman he loved and had been looking for two years and still he was committed to her cause. He wasn't just a drunk, everyone in Orzammar, seemed to think he was. There was more to him than that.
"For the aid you've given me, I shall put hammer to steel one last time, and give you a crown for the king of your choice," Caridin said and turned to walk towards the Anvil.
As she watched Caridin to start working on the crown, Lenya sat on a rock and removed her gloves. She turned them in her hands. They were dented and full of scrapes. And covered in darkspawn blood. Her whole armor was like that. She was lucky that she'd found enough water to clean the broodmother vomit from her face and skin, but her armor would need more thorough cleaning than just splashing some water on it.
She turned to look at the rest of her companions and same wear and tear was clearly visible on them. It was worst for Alistair and Sten who both wore plate armor as well. They would need several days to get their gear in order again and there was no telling how much that would cost.
Flowery scent interrupted her thoughts as Leliana sat beside her. How she still smelled of flowers, after so long in the Deep Roads, was a mystery to Lenya, but she welcomed that scent. It always made her feel better.
"How are you holding up?" Leliana asked.
"I'm..." Lenya started and lifted her eyes to hers. She had been about to say that she was fine, but there was no need to hide the truth from Leliana, "I'm exhausted. Even though I can now sleep better, this constant fighting is starting to get to me. Being underground really does not help at that," She replied, "I really don't understand how the dwarves can stand this."
"I'm sure they think the same way about how we live," Leliana smiled. She looked absolutely radiant when she did that.
"They can think our way is nuts, as much as they like, but they are still crazy," Lenya said and tried to focus on something else than Leliana's lips, "I still want out of here as fast as possible."
"I agree completely," Leliana said, "I want to see the sun again and the stars at night."
"And you don't have to tell me anymore stories to keep me functioning," Lenya said and even she could hear the disappointment on her own voice. She'd grown to like and even expect Leliana's stories when they settled down for the night. Leliana had kept her sane and her fear of being underground in check. And maybe even kept the taint nightmares at bay. That one might had been just her overly tired mind going nuts though.
"I don't mind continuing to tell you stories," Leliana said and then she looked a bit unsure, "Unless you don't want me to do that anymore?"
"No, I don't mind and I have enjoyed your stories a lot. It's like listening Haren Paivel at home, only you have much more attractive voice," Lenya said and then her brains catched up with her mouth and she blushed.
"Thank you, lethallan," Leliana said and put her hand over Lenya's, making her heart skip a beat. By the Creators - Lenya thought and turned her eyes away so Leliana couldn't see her blushing and she didn't trust herself anymore for not to just kiss her there and now.
She was stopped from doing just that by Oghren, "Caridin has finished the crown."
"Good," Lenya managed to say and stood up and turned to look at the ancient Paragon, "It is done?"
"There. It is done. Give it to whom you will," Caridin said and gave a golden crown to her, "I do not wish to hear their names, nor anything more of them. I have already lived far beyond my time. I have no place here."
"But... where will you go? You don't mean to...?" Shale asked and there was a concern and worry in her voice.
"I do. I lived to ensure that the Anvil was never used again. Now it never shall be," Caridin said, "We all must have an end, Shayle. May yours be one of your own choosing," He added and turned to look at her. Lenya passed the crown to Alistair and then turned to look at the Anvil.
When Lenya got closer to the Anvil she started to feel things. Beyond was close here. Not a surprise that, considering what had happen here. She could also feel the pain and anguish of the victims of the Anvil all around her. That feeling grew stronger the closer she got to the Anvil and when her hand touched the hammer the whispering of the dead grew silent. Like they knew what was coming and welcomed it. The end.
Lenya struck the Anvil with all her strength, shattering it to tiny pieces that scattered all around her and fell to the lava river that flowed below. Whispering and all the feelings seized the moment Anvil broke. They were now at peace.
Lenya turned to look at Caridin. The ancient Paragon was also at peace now, "You have my eternal thanks, stranger. Atrast nal tunsha... may you always find your way in the dark," He said and walked at the edge of the lava pit. Then, slowly he fell forward and disappear in the lava below.
Lenya looked at the hammer in her hand and threw it in the lava as well. The Anvil of the Void was destroyed.
"Let's leave this place," Lenya said.
A/N: And there it is, chapter 21 and also end of the search for the Paragon.
Obviously I have no idea how the swords seem to work against the golems in the game and not get dull or breaking. So I made up a way to kill golems with swords or Shale might have had a hard time to kill all the golems, Branka commands, all by herself. I also left those golems who help you in that fight away or kept them paralyzed since if Branka could make Caridin to stay put then why the rest weren't obeying her. Shale is different after all.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Reviews, good or bad, are welcome.