Grim- Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately if Duncan lived no story. Sorry. Kanta48- Thanks for the encouragement. Yep for the rest. Stay safe also Judy- Here is a single red rose for the continued commenting
I glanced at the man sitting and staring at the fire refusing to speak. Or maybe not finding anything adequate to say in the situation.
He had a haggard look about him. Especially noticeable as he was without armor and clothes sitting in a blanket draped around him like a dress with the end thrown over his shoulder.
His washed leathers were hanging out on a makeshift line to dry. The massive amount of blood that was on them had glued the garments to his body. Hiding the two wounds either he'd received before the Ogre attack or during our trek through the wilds.
It had been four days since the disaster of a battle with the Darkspawn. And two since that fateful morning in the trees.
Everyone but he and I died. All gave their lives just so Cailan Theirin could live and gotten to safety. Their bravery and sacrifice had striped the king of the notion of a glorious war. Now he was a defeated man staring at the fire wondering how things went wrong.
We had made it to the old grey warden ruins pursued by a group of ten darkspawn. Or rather hunted by them. I felt as if they were toying with us.
There were several times they could have overtaken us. Supporting the King and throwing fireballs didn't work. And there was no place to leave him so I could fight that he wouldn't be attacked. And he seamed to be getting weaker.
Often, they didn't retreat farther than the range of my fireballs.
Somewhere after second day of the cat and mouse game I started asking for miracles from the Maker or Andraste. I would have prayed to any gods at that moment. Or maybe I did. I don't remember.
And someone answered. I didn't care who. I just said a quick thank you to whoever helped. And accepted the new companion. A black and grey a mabari who killed three of the genlocks as he joined us.
Cailan leaned on him for a time while I put the fear of the Maker into the other Darkspawn.
That was the first time I had created an electrical storm. It hadn't killed all of them as much as I wished it had. But with the electric bolts, fire balls and ice blast I was able to rid us of a total of four.
We had to deal with three of them still harassing us all the way to the chasind hut. Or just outside of the magical wards.
The closer we got the farther back the darkspawn hung. These were two apostate mages I was grateful the Templars didn't get.
I felt the line of demarcation as we passed through the magic the Witch of the Wilds protected her home with.
I had called out to her. But no answer. I had guided the king over to one of the two cots laid out. He hadn't looked too good. I had no doubt he would have died if we'd continued much longer.
But the Maker or whoever had answered my last prayer must have still been looking out for us. Because as I had been searching for Flemeth or her daughter Morrigan I found two vials of purple liquid lying on the table. Almost as if they had been left for me.
I had given the king both in rapid succession and then pushed him down on the cot with the command to sleep.
Speaking quietly to the Mabari I told him he was a good dog. I had wanted to reward him with a crunch but didn't have any. I treated his wounds with water and a healing balm.
I had a few of my own wounds needing care. But I was in better shape than most of my companions as I was constantly chewing on elf root as others needed the refined potions to survive.
I had removed the two arrows. Tears streaming down my face as I pulled the barbed wood from my hip, and calf. It took a half a day to recuperate.
I had been right when I thought they were toying with us. The location of the wound told me that. I was grateful that they did but they should have just killed us and been done with it. Now behind the wards we were safe. Until Flemeth returned.
Which led me to this moment. His Majesty asked what happened for the third time. Each time he asked about something different.
His last question was about the Regent and why he didn't join the battle. He had gotten angry and told me I didn't know what I was talking about, when I said the man was a traitor. Loghain would never quit the field.
He made excuses for the Regent trying to convince himself that Teyrn Loghain didn't see the signal on the tower. He didn't speak again after I told him about Morien and his sacrifice or Duncan's death.
After getting the potions I was able to heal his Majesty without the Witch's help. Which led me to wonder exactly how long we should stay here. I didn't want to overstay hospitality especially with someone powerful enough to make wards to keep Darkspawn out. While the King slept, I left the hound with him and went hunting.
It was a disaster. Even with both Duncan's and Aedan's help it wasn't a skill I learned. I came back with two half burned rabbits which I only caught by throwing wild fireballs at. Which somehow, I was going to figure out how to make a stew with.
