Chapter 52 – The Beginning of the End
Alyx had just barely fallen asleep when she felt Nate's hand on her shoulder shaking her awake.
"More darkspawn on the move," he said in a low voice so as to not wake anyone else nearby. She could barely see more than his outline in the darkened room but could still feel the frenetic energy that lay just below the surface of his typical cool façade. She touched his arm and his gaze softened as he briefly squeezed her hand, gray eyes meeting blue in a brief exchange of words they didn't dare voice with so many people surrounding them.
With a nod she collected her gear and they walked together to the chantry doors. Anders and Sigrun were already awake and waiting, both looking groggy yet determined.
"What time is it anyway?" Anders asked around a lengthy yawn.
"Late…or early, depending on which way you look at it," Nat replied. "We still have some time before dawn breaks."
"Wonderful," the mage grumbled. "Let's just get this over with, shall we?
When they walked out of the chantry Garavel, his men and the remaining city guard were waiting…along with a surprising number of refugees.
"What's all this?" Alyx asked as she approached the Captain.
"Apparently some of the refugees got together to form a militia of sorts. They plan to fight with us," Garavel replied.
"But…none of these men are trained. They couldn't possibly know what they would be facing!"
"They know well enough, Commander, and Constable Aiden has supplied them with as many weapons and armor as they could afford. I say if the city folk wish to defend themselves why not let them? We could certainly use the assistance."
"He does have a point," Nate said next to her ear. "I hate the idea of civilians fighting too but we can't really afford to turn them away."
Alyx sighed and nodded in understanding. Without another moment to lose she called for everyone's attention.
"Soldiers of the Vigil and citizens of Amaranthine…we have all suffered a great deal of loss these last few days. Those who have survived will never forget the tragedy that has befallen the city or its people, but before we can mourn and rebuild we have one more task still ahead of us. Even as we speak more darkspawn press our borders, threatening to take all that remains. It is time that we stand together to show them once and for all what Amaranthians are made of. It will not be easy…but for all of you that can hear my voice I promise that I will be at the forefront leading the charge with one final message for the soulless bastards as we rid them from this Maker-forsaken world. This is our home, our city, and we will defend it with our lives. This ends today!" Alyx yelled as she raised her sword high above her head, eliciting a roar from the crowd.
First the darkspawn…then the Mother. No more games, Alyx promised silently as she called for her makeshift army to move out.
As the sun rose over the hills to the east a light drizzle began to fall over the city, its streets once again quiet, only this time in peace. The exhausted group of defenders, smaller in numbers than those that had set out, arrived back at the chantry to a cheering crowd of relieved and grateful refugees. Amaranthine was hard won but it was theirs.
Amidst the post-battle celebration the Warden Commander stood off to the side, watching silently with a heavy heart. Not everyone had come back in triumph that day and she mourned the brave souls of the men who'd risked everything for the chance to see their homes and family secured.
One battle won, her thoughts turned to the future. For until they killed the Mother none of them would truly be safe. They had to finish this…for all of their sakes.
"Commander, my men have finished sweeping the city and I'm happy to report there are no remaining darkspawn in the area," Garavel informed.
"That's good to hear, Captain. Any news of the Vigil?" Alyx asked.
"Very little and none of it promising," he replied hesitantly. "Should I prepare for the men to move out?"
"As soon as they're able, Garavel…the wardens and I, however, will not be joining you."
"Commander?"
"The Architect's Messenger was able to supply us with the location of the Mother. If there's to be any end to this we need to kill her before it's too late."
"And what about this 'Architect?'"
"He wants the Mother dead too, though whether that makes us allies remains to be seen. Something tells me we will know soon enough."
"Then I wish you good hunting, M'Lady. Maker be with you."
"And you, Captain," she replied.
"So we're really going to do this?" Anders asked. Alyx looked up to see him and the other wardens standing in front of her with varying expressions of expectancy. She wondered how long they'd been there without her noticing.
"It's time," she said with grim determination.
"Rather risky with just the four of us, don't you think?"
"We can't afford to go back for the others. Besides, they will have their hands full at the Vigil if what Garavel says is true."
"Just another day in the life of a warden, right boss?" Sigrun chirped. "I've been ready for this since day one. Let's get rid of the bitch once and for all."
"Do we even know what we're up against?" Anders pressed. Alyx looked at him sideways, unsure as to why he was so suddenly set against proceeding.
"No, but we hardly have a choice in the matter. We've known this was coming from the beginning, Anders. Why the sudden concern?" Alyx asked.
"Aren't you at all suspicious about the fact that the Architect's Messenger just so happened to show up at the right time and the right place…not only to warn us about the Vigil but to pin point the Mother's exact location? If the Architect wanted her dead so badly why hasn't he taken care of her himself? And why should we trust this information when it's coming not just from a darkspawn but a scarily intelligent one at that? It doesn't sit right with me, Falcon."
"Do you trust me?"
"…What?"
"Do you trust me, Anders?"
"What a ridiculous—"
"Just answer the question!"
"Yes…of course I do. You shouldn't even have to ask," Anders muttered.
"And do you think if there was any other way I would take it?'
Anders mouth snapped shut at that.
"I don't have the answers you seek. I can't predict what will happen or what odds we're up against. I can only tell you that we need to be united in this. Forget about what's happened between you and me…me and Nate…none of that will matter if we cannot work together. I can't do this without you, Anders," Alyx said, her eyes burning with some indecipherable emotion.
The mage colored, opened his mouth again as if to say something but seemed to think better of it and only nodded.
"Good. Collect your gear, we move out in twenty."
"Commander…you never said where it was that we were going?" Sigrun asked.
Alyx simply smiled in response.
Drake's Fall.
Nathaniel Remembered learning in his youth of Tevinter Ruins deep within the Dragonbone Wastes…a place that was said dragons of the ancient world used to go to die. At the time it had been nothing more to him than an old legend. He never thought to see the day he would intentionally be traveling there.
The small group was mostly quiet through the long trek, each of them caught up in their own thoughts preparing for whatever was to come. Nate could only think of Alyx and kept a steady eye on her should there be any signs of the panic he'd briefly seen on her face in Amaranthine. He knew once they arrived at their destination she would be all business, but until then he worried the past would be weighing heavily on her mind.
Despite his concerns Alyx seemed to be calmer than he'd anticipated which he could not say for himself. She was ethereal whereas he found himself still emotionally reeling from her confession of love. Even with their new-found intimacy Nate had had his doubts about the strength of her regard compared to his own. Overcoming Alistair's hold on her heart had seemed like an impossible feat, but he'd been willing to be patient; to take whatever time he had with her even if it resulted in eventual heartbreak. Without knowing he'd already been preparing himself for the worst. The realization he needn't have bothered tore through him wish such heady relief that he felt like he might sprout wings and fly off with his Falcon before anyone else noticed.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Alyx asked, her cerulean eyes dancing with a secret mirth. Nate could feel himself color and cleared his throat nervously.
"I was merely thinking of what we might do when this is over," he replied, then winced when he realized how that might sound.
"A hot meal and a bath would be a nice start. After that I think we deserve some R&R don't you?"
So long as it includes you and I alone naked in a bed together, Nate's mind supplied.
"Absolutely," he said out loud.
Alyx chuckled huskily and shot him a look that told him she knew exactly what he was thinking. Inwardly he groaned, wishing they were anywhere else than trotting down a murky lane towards impending danger.
"I'm sure Oghren and Anders will demand a party to celebrate, with lots of booze of course. I dare say even Velanna will stop brooding long enough to make an appearance if it means no more traipsing around in darkspawn infested ruins for awhile," she continued. "After what I'm sure will be an epic hangover…well then, I'm sure we'll come up with something."
"So long as it's with you, I could care less what we do," he said.
"There will be time just for the two of us," Alyx replied softly and his heart leapt inside his chest.
I'll make sure of it, he promised silently, all the more determined to see them both through this alive. Alyx had given him a precious gift; something fundamental he hadn't even known had been missing. For the first time since he could remember he had a future…a future filled with possibilities that until now had felt like little more than fantasies. He would not stand by and let some twisted nightmare of a creature like the Mother take it away from him. They would win this thing, ascertain losses, bury their dead…and then finally when it was all said and done he would spend a solid week making love to his woman, the rest of the Vigil and the wardens be damned.
*Author's Note: Hey guys! I know this chapter is short and mostly filler but I felt it was still a necessary step to transition into end game material. Next up…epic boss fight! Wish me luck…xo Prose
