From the author: Some of these strategies adept from 'The romance of three kingdoms': the classic Chinese's story.
Collide
It's for Ferelden's sake, Maric knew it. But why it still sting in his heart, like something went wrong?
He has Rowan; the daughter of Arl Rendorn Guerrin who lead Moira's rebel as his betrothed. He got more army, more allies and more power but…why it still felt…wrong?
Maybe it's because Shadow. After his engaged she never appears except when she has to. She didn't stay with him in those nights. Instead, she and her blood sister spend their times with Cousland and his love. Every time he came near, she would have some business to attend and disappear.
However, the Orlesian's troop marched from the north could be the good distraction. The outlaw prince and his advisor have to lead the rebel to battle, even his heart not ready.
Loghain's strategy not too complicated. Maric and his small troop would lure the Orlesian general and his men to the trap. Only thing he must do was gallop his war horse to the meeting spot. In this point, the soldiers in hiding would light the fuse's bomb to destroy the cliff. The rocks would block those enemies in the narrow path, caged them like the rodent in snare.
But accident always happens…
Just one or two yards before the prince would pass the mouth of the trap, his war horse has been shot and fell down. If that not bad enough, the black beast stumbled and overlay its master.
When the death came near, first thing he think was his bodyguard. Shadow always appears in the right time, she would come to save him.
But where is she now?
The Orlesian General smirked; even soldiers over the creek would pound them with the range weapon repeatedly. A man on war horse's back blown his war horn, long and loud like he was calling something.
However, something has gone terrible wrong. He seemed shock and repeat his call several times. After the rebel help Maric climb up from the creek, the general was still blowing until the massacres began.
The outlaw prince watched those enemies were slaughtered until the last one. Despite an hour passed, Shadow still missing. The question in his heart started to sting again and again, he couldn't bear it anymore.
"Where's Shadow?" This was the first sentence he said after the battle.
None could answer even Loghain or Bryce Cousland who seems so close with his jewel. The silent between them drove Maric mad, he stormed to only place he knew Shadow would stay when she need peace. Her lonely and faraway sanctuary that kept her privacy from the rest of company: Shadow's tent.
Somehow, before he would go far. The Mystic beauty appeared from the air, her cloak damped and hued with crimson liquid.
She didn't say a thing, just gazed at her master silently. Those golden orbs glossed with concerning, even though the answer from Maric was horrible.
He slapped her!
A petite figure lurched by the rudely force, she might fell to the ground if Eleanor and Sha-riya didn't lunge to support her. Shadow was utterly weary but the prince was blinded because of his rage.
The Dalish was looking in her blood sister's eyes while the outlaw prince reviled the Fade Walker with those horrible words. She saw utterly painfulness in that face, which could burn her heart as well.
Her hands reached to her daggers, but Shadow stopped them.
"Are you done yet, master?" Lady in the red hood asked coldly. Her head still high, although she has to support herself with both friends. "I had done with you now. My oath expires when you don't need me anymore."
Maric lost all words, those trapped in his throat.
"I bag your pardon, but I need some rest. After that, my sis and I will go. You will never see us again." She bowed and turned away to her tent, with friends at both sides.
Something in his chest told him to stop her, to apologize and bag her to stay. However, he couldn't do such a thing. The fear in his mind ate away his trust, fell his world down.
Regardless time and place, Maric sat on the ground and lost in thought until Bryce told him something.
"Your highness…I think you should see this."
"What? Anything else, there's another false friendship in my life?" The prince asked sarcastically.
"I can't say. You must consider it yourself." The mighty Cousland replied.
Bryce Cousland was one of his friends who always reasonable, he must have something important to tell him. So Maric followed his friend to another side of the battlefield. The advisor walked along by his side.
This place use to be the glade, nice for penetrate from the river if the stream doesn't so swift and too shallows for the large ship. Even Loghain didn't think about this place until Cousland guy bring it up.
Now, they couldn't see the glade anymore. Only thing they saw was the killing-field. More than the ruined boats in the shore there're the thousand of fresh flesh and parts those used to be human bodies scattered all over the place such as they has seen before. These were Shadow's work, no doubt.
Loghain's face paled down, he never prepare for double cross trap. If those men could do their mission, the rebel must be destroyed.
"She doesn't want me to tell you this, your highness." Bryce said. "But I have to tell the true. Shadow asked me to keep my eyes on you while she takes care of 'General mistake'. She never abandons you, ever."
The picture of weary woman back to Maric's thought. What the hell he just done? These men must be the back up of the Orlesian's armies, whom were summoned by the war horn. Shadow risked her live by fought them alone, used most of her power for saved his head but he returned her kindness with abuse and rudely words.
What the bastard he is?
Anyhow, his friend still talks. "She didn't tell you or anyone about the big hole in Loghain's plan because she thinks of him as her little brother. Shadow did it to cover him and…your back. If there's anyone has to blamed, it's me. You almost die because I can't keep my promise."
"No." the prince replied sadly. "This is my fault. I should ask her before…I must talk to her."
And then, he began running. He has to catch Shadow before it too late.
Because his heart went to Fade Walker, Maric didn't hear the argument of two men behind.
As fast as human's lags could cooperate, the outlaw prince brought himself to the Fade Walker's domain. He found Eleanor sat by the fire in middle of small glade, brewing potion.
"Your highness…" Bryce's lover stood up to stop him. She knew that emotion in his eyes and what he intended to do. "Shadow need rest, please don't disturb her.
"What that potion for?" Maric asked. "If Shadow sleeping, I don't think she will need any of these. Aren't you telling me you brew it for yourself, in front of the other's tent?"
The female rogue couldn't find the right words to retort, so she tried to avoid the question. "Not the other's tent, Shadow is my friend. After so many things be had been through, we share the friendship and trust. She let me use her equipment to do anything."
As she hit his weak spot, the prince bit his lip in shame.
However, another woman stepped forward and gave him more sorrow.
"Are you still not content? Don't you want to hurt my sis more than you already do?" Sha-riya asked. She carried a big pack, seemed eagerly to go. "Go back by the way you came, shemlen. She doesn't want to see you again."
"I…come to apologize." Maric tried to polite. "Please, if she still…"
The painfulness scream came from the tent. All shocked of that sound but the prince moved fastest. He invaded in the canvas and saw his former bodyguard was writhing in her bedroll, screaming in pain.
The Dalish thrown her pack away before ran to the pot and poured that thing inside to a glass bottle. She feed the potion to Shadow. The creepy dark-violet liquid still fuming when it'd spilt from those full lips.
"She didn't swallow it!" The rogue exclaimed. "Don't choke her."
"But she will hurt more if she doesn't drink it. The beast within her trying to escape every time she unconscious, it will do anything to release itself. This potion is her only hope." The elf explained.
Looking his jewel tortured is hurt than he could bear, Maric rushed to screaming woman and commanded. "Give that bottle to me."
"What do you suggest to?" Sha-riya asked, still hold the bottle tighten.
"I will feed her, with my mouth."
"But…" She refused. "It's hot, terrible hot and toxic. Mortal couldn't…"
Didn't listen, Maric snatched that potion from the elf's hands and poured the liquid inside to his mouth. It hotter than he thought and has terrible taste, he have to used all will he have to feed it to a woman in his arms.
It wasn't easy, Shadow resisted for awhile before parted her lips slightly. Let the potion and Maric's tongue pass through.
Unbelievable, just a quarter of second their lips touched, all those pain and unpleasant flavor have completely gone, only exotic aroma and softly touch remind. The prince lost himself and kept kissing her deeply, careless about two women beside them.
"Maker…" Eleanor swore and spun away.
Instead of embarrassed, the Dalish furious and tried to take Maric off her sis. But he fell to the ground, was lying unconscious beside the Fade Walker.
