Day 20

Oghren is pretty much our lead now. After copying the maps from Branka's journal, he kept searching for her marks on the stone. It was like following bread crumbs almost. Even then, it was going to take a while to get to the Dead Trenches. From what the markers told us, it would take us a good week or more to get there. At this point, I'm not even sure how much time we've been down here. At least in the Diamond Quarter I was able to keep track of the days.

Derek made sure we were hauling ass. Without the wagon, it was all walking/jogging. Even though Derek and Oghren were dwarves, they could easily outrun me. Finally Eren convinced them that running us ragged would be bad if we were too tired to fight.

My feet are killing me.

"At this point I'm going to need new padding for my boots." I said.

"You aren't the only the only one." Leliana said.

"At least be thankful that we're not meeting a lot of darkspawn in the roads." Alistair said. I"ll have to admit that was the only saving grace on this mission. The bad thing about it was that all the darkspawn we weren't meeting here, were up on the surface.

"I do not understand. The Deep Roads are the home for darkspawn. Why are we not meeting more?" Sten asked.

"They come out en masse during a Blight. Instead of staying down here, they dig upwards, led by the Archdemon." Eren explained. "The Darkspawn were already gathering in a massive horde in Ostagar by the time we fled to Lothering. I'm surprised that they haven't run over the country over by now."

"Winter is keeping them in check. Duncan told me that they are sensitive to the cold." Derek said.

"So by the end of winter, they're going to completely destroy Ferelden?" Talen asked.

"Most likely." Derek said.

"So that gives us about 4 more months to get all our allies and convince the nobles to fight the darkspawn instead of each other? No pressure guys." I said.

"Well if it's a long winter like last year, we might have a bit more time on our hands." Eren said.

"Which is why we need to get to Branka as soon as possible. The sooner we can get the dwarves on our back, the better." Derek said. I began to hum under my breath. I couldn't take my ocarina this time since the noise would probably attract darkspawn or other animals.

"Singing again mi niña?"

"Humming. I can't really sing since Derek is not allowing me to."

"We can't have monsters chasing after us with your singing."

"But I'm so bored! All we're doing is walking."

"I'm starting to wonder how your husband handled you." Derek mumbled. I started to snicker.

"You have your mind in the gutter again, don't you?" Leliana said.

"Sorry, but it makes life more fun. Anyway, I was always doing something back home. There was always something to preoccupy me. I can't help it. I get bored easily."

"Quit your yammering. The only thing you should be focused on, is-"

"Getting to Branka, I get it."

"Don't you sass me girl."

"This girl has a name. It's Nia."

"Whatever you say girly." I stuck my tongue at Oghren when he turned around.

"Children behave." Morrigan said.

"How are you feeling Morrigan?" I asked.

"There is no need to concern yourself about my well-being."

"Geez, I'm just asking."

"How about you recite poetry?" Zevran said.

"Poetry? Really?"

"Really there is nothing else to do besides playing I spy." Alistair said. I huffed.

"If it would pass the time I guess."

"Good, I am first. Her beautiful skin was velvet to my touch/ Her lips as succulent as the ripest fruit/ The feeling in my lower body becoming too much/ As her body came closer-"

"Zevran, really? I know it's probably been a while since you had it, but can we at least keep the poetry to something less perverted?"

"Ah, your loss mi niña. Your turn."

"There are many things to fear/ But know that I am always at your side/ As the time flies year after year/ You will be my joy and my pride."

"The sky twinkles with the light of stars/ The twins moons in their forever dance/ This beautiful world is eternally ours/ Even for a small fleeting glance."

"Not bad Leliana. Thinking about someone?" I gave her a small playful nudge. Leliana giggled.

"You may think what you like. You are thinking of your children aren't you?"

"Yep. And close your mouth Zevran, we all know what you're thinking about."

Day 23

We should be getting close to the Deep Trenches now. The Deep Roads became harder to travel. Well, if you can even call them Roads now. It was more like a cave system if anything.

"The walls are becoming less noticeable now." Oghren said.

"You are still able to follow the path, are you not?" Sten asked.

"Of course I am! Branka's my wife! I can follow her to here all the way to Kal' Sharok if need be."

"Aww, you still love her don't you?" Leliana said.

"I still care for her! I'm the only one in the sodding city that still does! No one cares that she's been missing for 2 sodding years!"

"Oghren, you're drunk aren't you?" I said.

"Of course I am! Can you see me making this trip without a drink?"

"Where is he getting all this liquor anyway?" Alistair mumbled.

"Do you really want to know?" Morrigan said.

"Forget I asked."

-/-

We rested for a good second. Everyone was really tired by this point. We only stopped for the occasional bathroom break. Our supplies are getting low as well. I was able to cook up some of the deepstalkers that we killed on the way. They tasted very gamy and disgusting, but they were the only thing that was edible in the Deep Roads.

"We're going to have to be careful hunting these down. I can tell from the walls that the corruption is starting to spread." Eren said.

"Would explain the taste…" Oghren said. I was writing as usual with Alfred curled up at my side. Talen was looking over Wynne. She had sprained her ankle when her foot stepped on a portion of weak road. It went through and her ankle was caught.

"You never stop writing don't you girly?"

"My name is Nia, Oghren."

"What you writing in there?"

"My sanity."

"Your what?"

"She's from out of town I guess you can say. She writes in it to make sure she doesn't go crazy." Alistair said.

"Thanks for summing that up Alistair."

"I do my best."

"Out of town huh? What are you an Antivan?"

"Not exactly."

"Definitely not an Orlesian…Rivain!"

"Nope."

"Nevarran? The Free Marches? The Anderfels! I thought your eyes looked weird."

"No to all three."

"Then where are you sodding from?"

"Beyond the fade. I'm not from this world." Oghren looked at me for a good second before laughing his ass off.

"Good one girly! Hey pass me some of that cheese kid!"

"But…this is my ration…" I rolled my eyes and scratched Alfred behind the ears. He gave me a happy groan. One by one, all of us started to go into our tents. Eren stayed by the fire. I wasn't that tired though so I stayed up with him.

"I can't wait until we get this over with. I'm starting to miss the sky."

"You and me both. It's gonna be such a pain once we get outside. It's full on winter now. Snowy and cold."

"You can always come into my tent to get warm."

"Oh my gosh, have you been listening to Zevran again?" Eren chuckled.

"Even if you did come in there, I wouldn't do anything if you didn't want to."

"Eren…"

"I know. I know, but you really don't miss it?" I got up and sat next to him instead.

"Truthfully, I really do." I whispered and he chuckled silently.

"I don't see why you don't take up Zevran's offer. It seems that you like him."

"Zevran is good to look at but not to touch. After being with the same person for almost 5 years makes you yearn for that emotional side when doing it. I can't just get a one night stand or something."

"So you would do it out of love instead of personal satisfaction?"

"Basically. You're the opposite though. I'm surprised you haven't jumped on Leliana or Morrigan. Well technically you already did with Morrigan."

"We didn't do anything that one time. All we did was…touch."

"And you haven't done anything else? Wow Eren, you sure you ok? You were a ladies man back in Highever."

"That was in the past. If you haven't noticed, we have been trying to save the country. There really isn't any time for romance or personal pleasure."

"Zevran hasn't quite made that distinction yet." Eren chuckled.

"That is true. I don't know. I guess…well my feelings for you are still there. I still see you every day. It will be hard trying not to be in love with you." I pinched his cheek. "Ow!"

"I love you too Eren, but not in that way. If you need me to remind you of that constantly, you can only ask." He just gave me a small smile and rubbed where I pinched him.

"No. I think the more I say it, the more I can come to terms that you are unattainable. Eventually I will find someone for me. Whether it will be soon or not is the question. You better get some sleep. You know how Derek and Oghren are running us hard."

"Oh yeah. Alright then." Eren grabbed my hand and kissed it.

"Good Night Nia."

"Night Eren."

Wow, long entry. Time to go to sleep.

Day 26

I was in the fade again. I haven't been here since the incident with the demon. I was more wary than last time. The floating island I was on didn't seem that different from last time. I didn't want to start walking, especially now that I knew that a demon has me in its sights. I didn't know what to do with myself during this time. So I decided to just sit down and meditate. If I was going to do anything productive, I might as well try to get a handle on this power.

I took in a deep breath and let it out. I closed my eyes and focused on the power in my stomach. The best I could describe it was a giant ball. Not as big as a bowling ball but much smaller and denser. It felt hot the moment I felt it spread in my body. I opened my eyes, gasped, and stood up from the shock. That's when I saw it. When Leliana and Talen describe my skin cracking with light, they weren't joking.

It was as if my skin was concrete with light going through the cracks. They ran all over my skin down to my fingertips. Then it ebbed away. I could only touch that ball of power for an instant before it became overwhelming.

I sat down and tried again. Deep breaths and concentration. I imagined my hand touching that power. Only a second with my finger touching it and a spark of power made my skin extremely hot. I opened my eyes again, but it was full of light. My eyes were probably shining again.

"It seems to me that you have improved." I gasped and felt that power grow before it became unbearable again. I knew that voice. It was Morrigan. I hunched on the ground. The power was about to burst again. "Listen to my voice. Take deep breaths. One after the other. Concentrate on the power you have now. Control it. Do not let it control you."

My body was under excruciating pain. I felt needles poking out of every single pore. My eyes threatening to spill out as soon as I opened my eyelids. My bones felt like fire. It was hard but I did simple steps. Breath. One in, two out. In and out. That was all I could think about. Then I slowly felt it ebb away like last time. I gasped for breath and soon the fade went away.

I woke up sweating and my muscles cramping. My eyelids felt heavy. The only thing about going into the fade that I didn't like, was that I feel like I stayed up all night. Oh man, finally finished writing all of this down. Leliana was still sleeping and I felt so tired. Well, let's get some shut eye.

-/-

We are nearing the Dead Trenches. The walls are coated with this sticky black stuff. The taint corrupts the land almost like radioactivity. It's better if you don't get any on your face or touch it with your bare hands.

"We should be nearing a big canyon. From that bridge on, is the Dead Trenches." Oghren said.

"Need I remind everyone that getting darkspawn blood on you is bad? No? Good!" Alistair said.

I'll end this here. Derek and Oghren are not letting us stop for nothing.

Day 27

So we are in the Dead Trenches. Also Morrigan actually congratulated me on controlling the power that I had, somewhat. Anyway we're at the canyon where that whole cut scene with the Archdemon came, except we are resting before we cross the bridge.

We saw the armies marching down in the canyon. The Archdemon flew by us and roared which caused all the GWs to faint.

"Do you think they'll wake up anytime soon?" Leliana asked me.

"I'm not sure. Having the Archdemon nearby probably caused them to hear something in their thoughts. Give them a minute."

"Why don't we just crush all the darkspawn down there with rocks? Wynne you can do your little earth trick can't you?" Oghren asked.

"If I did summon an earthquake, we would also suffer the consequences of having boulders crush us to death. You wouldn't want that would you?" Oghren grunted.

"The saarebas is awakening."

I looked over and, sure enough, Talen was the first one waking up. He groaned and coughed. Leliana went by his side. Talen hunched over, grabbing his stomach.

Now that he was awake, I will end things here. I hope we can get through the Deep Trenches without any incident.


The next few chapters are probably some of my favorite ones. I'm still trying to catch up on my back up chapters...two more to go!

Shout out to Lucy's Echo and Creative Lunatic for favoriting and following this story! :D

EG: Of course I will, this is my favorite story to write :3
ZA: I think you're the only one religiously sticking to that pairing lol
shinedown: Yummy! Delicious cyber marshmallow! I know, I know, Eren. lol
Spawnhunter: I can't reveal anything about Shale because of plot things. Sorry no spoilers x3

We're finally at the Dead Trenches! You wanna read how we beat that broodmother in the face? Review! :D