A light sprinkling of rain had begun to fall as the two young recruits walk together toward the main encampment, the only sound between them being the occasional chink from pieces of Alistair's plate metal hitting together as he walked. He forces himself to look ahead for fear of her catching him staring and berate him for gawking at her. He turns in the direction Duncan indicated only to find himself walking alone. His brows furrow and he swivels around, finding her walking in the opposite direction.
"Ana!" He calls, jogging after her. He touches her arm and she stops abruptly and he almost collides with her. She glares at him as she snatches her arm away. "What?"
"The gorge is the other way." He says, motioning off in the opposite direction. "Duncan said we don't have much time to dawdle."
"I'm not dawdling." She mutters, beginning to walk once more. "I'm going to get my mabari. I've already lost everything I hold dear. I'm not going to lose him too." She starts to jog and Alistair lets out an exasperated sigh before setting off after her.
As they approach the marabi pens, Ana calls out for her hound as she looks around the hounds and warriors bustling about in preparation. "Much!" She calls again. This time she hears a sharp bark a short distance away and takes off in the direction of it. She calls and receives a bark in response until she finally finds him. "Much!" She exclaims, rushing over to his pen. She kneels before it and sticks her hands through the woven bars, smiling as he licks her hand happily. She sees the red markings all over his body and frowns as she rises. "What's happened to you?" She asks. She places her hand on the gate when a man with red war paint on his face and arms yells at her to step away. He sneers at her as he gets between her and Much.
"What do you think yer doin', Lass?" He hisses. "That ain't no lap dog yer messing with." His eyes take in her appearance and blue and silver tabard. "You should run along. Yer commander should be waiting for ya on the frontlines."
"I'm not leaving without my dog." She hisses. "Step aside."
Alistair steps up, earning a challenging glance. "Forgive us. Duncan gave us special orders."
"I doubt those orders included stealing one of the king's mabari." The man sneers. "Move along."
Just as he says this, a couple shouts sound at the far side of the ruin where everyone seemed to be gathering. The man doesn't move.
"I said, move." Ana growls. "Move or I swear to the Maker-"
A loud shriek in the distance makes everyone turn to look. Ana's blood runs cold. "What the hell was that?" She asks, echoing the thought of both men.
"Hurry! It's happening!" A soldier calls as they run through the ruins, searching for anybody still getting ready. "They're coming! Get in your places!"
"Ana." Alistair hisses. "We need to go now!"
"Not without Much!" The desperation makes its way through her voice but before she could do anything, Alistair grabs her hand, pulling her away.
"No!" She screams. "Much!"
Much barks helplessly at his owner as she's pulled away. Ana tries to pull away from her brother-warden but his grip is like a vice. "Let go! I need to get Much!" She exclaims, tears streaming down her face. "Alistair!"
"We don't have time!" He quickly whirls around and lifts her over his shoulder, muttering an apology as he sprints toward the bridge. He feels her kicking and hitting as she makes various threats but he doesn't stop.
The man's shouts can be heard through the ruins as Duncan and the king moves through the crowd to the front lines. Cailan grimaces as he motions one of his guard to him. "Find whoever that is and get him to be quiet." He hisses. "We don't need an outbreak of mass hysteria right before the battle!" The guard nods and quickly moves back through the crowd
"The plan will work, Your Majesty." Duncan says, striding beside him. "As long as everything is done accordingly."
Cailan waves his words away dismissively. "I know it will!" He grins. "This battle is my destiny, Duncan. The Blight ends here, and I will go down in history as the king who bravely ended it in a glorious battle alongside the famous Grey Wardens!"
Duncan sighs, casting a glance over his shoulder. Through a small opening between the ruins, he can just barely make out the top of the Tower of Ishal, stark white against the darkened sky. I hope they're safe.
His thoughts are interrupted as the whispers begin to creep into his subconscious. It's soft at first as gasps ripple around them. Duncan looks up as what looks like millions of torches begin to glow. The Korcari Wilds are mostly dark and concealed mostly by its usual thick blanket of mist but the lights silhouette the contorted bodies as they slowly emerge, stopping right at the edge. Duncan's hands ball at his sides.
Darkspawn of all shapes and sizes emerge and wait, their blank stares peering across the battlefield as they open their jagged maws to let out a frightening cry. Taking in the sharp, jagged swords and spiked armor along with the rotting flesh of the monsters, one of the King's honor guard standing a few feet ahead of him slowly backs up and jumps as Duncan touches the lad's shoulder. The soldier's eyes are wide and full of fear as they stare at Duncan who simply frowns, shaking his head.
"Maker's breath." Cailan mutters under his breath. He could feel himself shaking but raised his chin defiantly as giant horned creatures emerge from the mists along with a stocky darkspawn in full, crude armor. Cailan's brows furrow as his gaze sweeps down the rather long line of darkspawn eagerly awaiting to tear into their foes. "Why aren't they doing anything?" He hisses, casting a quick glance at Duncan. Before he can answer, the darkspawn in the stocky armor motions forward with a roar that seemed to echo throughout the valley. With a loud cacophony of shrieks and roars the line is broken as the darkspawn begin to sprint at them.
Fear grips at Cailan's heart as he watches the incoming horde and raises his gauntleted hand. "Archers!" He calls out. "Ready your arrows!"
Duncan turns as rows upon rows of archers from behind them nock their arrows as others rush by and set them alight with torches. Cailan's eyes narrow as the force gets closer. "Steady!" He calls as the rain, which had since progressed toward a full downpour, soaked his hair, plastering the pale blond strands to the side of his face as he waited. Once a third of the way down the field, Cailan motions forward. "Fire!" He yells. A wall of flaming arrows fly up into the sky before coming down in a blanket of death. Darkspawn left and right scream in agony as they're set ablaze or shot multiple times. Those who managed to survive the assault trample over their dead comrades with no remorse as they continued with increased fervor.
"Archers! Ready yourselves once more!" Cailan calls. "Ballista make ready to take out the flanks."
Once more, arrows arch through the sky, taking out the majority of the incoming wave before the ballistas cut through the flanks. Like before, the darkspawn seemed unfazed by their kind being cut down before them as they continued to funnel through the valley. The distance between them and the king's forces begins to shrink dramatically with each passing second. Cailan swallows. He turns and signals toward the leader of the ash warriors standing beside his kaddis painted war hound beside him. The man nods. "Hounds!' The man calls out.
They watch as the hounds are released. Cheers sound behind the king as the dogs cut through the horde, tackling some to the ground. The darkspawn shriek in agony and outrage until the yelps of hounds cut through the valley as the jagged blades sink into the short, muscular bodies.
Ash warrior cry out and have to be held back as they watch their hounds being torn apart before them. Duncan looks up at the king who watches in horror at the bloodshed happening before his eyes. He then reaches for his sword and raises it high. "For Ferelden!" He yells earning cheers in return as the charge begins.
"Let me go!" Ana screams, hitting Alistair square in the jaw with her elbow. Stopping just before the bridge, he sets her down and doubles over to catch his breath. She tries to take off back the way they came but Alistair snatches his hand out and grabs her wrist. She fights him as tears stream down her face. "Let go!"
"Ana!" He says breathlessly. "We don't have time! The king-"
She stops fighting. "But… but Much." She mutters, her eyes bright with tears.
"I'm sorry." Alistair frowns, straightening. "But he's a war hound. I'm sure he'll be fine."
A large boom sounds from the gorge below and they both look around as soldiers and servants scurry across the bridge toward them, their eyes wide with fear.
"What was that?" Ana asks.
Alistair shrugs. "No idea but we need to go. Come on!"
Ana looks reluctantly back in the direction they came and Alistair quickly grabs her hand, pulling her along. Together they run, dodging other people quickly escaping. Alistair holds Ana's hand tight as he pushes the people aside. "Move! Move aside!" He calls. Ahead of them, a huge flaming boulder arcs across the sky and hits a couple unsuspecting people and taking out a portion of the railing of the bridge. The bridge shakes from impact and Ana stops.
"Come on!" Alistair calls, pulling her. "We need to move fast."
Frightened, Ana nods and follows him. More flaming boulders hit the bridge in quick succession, punching whole portions out before them. Nearing one of the holes, the bridge beneath Ana's feet gives way. She screams as she falls, barely managing to grab the ledge with one hand. "Help!" She cries as Alistair continues on, unknowingly. Hearing her voice, Alistair turns, his eyes widening.
"Hold on!" He calls as he rushes back, jumping over bodies and debris on his way. Ana's grip begins to slip.
"Hurry!"
Alistair's breastplate sparks as he jumps and slides belly first to the edge. He grabs her arm as he reaches for her other hand. "Reach for my other hand!" He calls, sweat pouring down his face. "I've got you!"
She reaches for him frantically, missing the first time then finally grabbing his hand. Another hit to the bridge makes it shake, earning a cry from Ana. "Help!"
"I got you!" Alistair says through clenched teeth. "Come on. Try to pull yourself up."
With a fair amount of struggle, he manages to pull her up as another fireball whizzes past. He pulls her to her feet, urging her on. As they make it to the other side, something hits a nearby tower. It breaks apart and the larger part slowly begins to fall toward them. Pulling Ana, they manage to barely jump out of the way as the pieces collides with the side of the bridge and breaking into little pieces and crushing the railing before descending into the gorge below. The two wardens pick themselves back up and dust themselves off before taking off toward the tower.
Alistair's brow draw together as they near the surprisingly unmanned giant wooden gate. They slow to a stop, the sounds of catapulted fire echoing through the ruins behind them. "Where are the guards?" He wonders aloud, walking around and checking under scaffolds and in the small lookout room.
"Maybe they had the sense to flee." Ana offers from behind him. "Or they joined the battle."
Alistair shakes his head. "They should have still been here to open the gate for us. Hello!" He calls out. "We're the Grey Wardens who are here to light the beacon!" Receiving no answer, Alistair places his hands on his hips, his lips cast downward in a frown. "Something isn't right." He mutters. He turns on his heel. "We need to find a way in. It's the only way to the tower."
Just as he says this, the doors burst open, almost hitting him in the process. He jumps back as a frightened looking soldier emerges, glancing around frantically. Seeing Ana, he rushes over to her. "Miss!"
She stiffens as he grabs her arms roughly, his expression wild. "Miss, you're a Grey Warden!"
She opens her mouth to reply but fear constricts her throat. Receiving no response, he shakes her. "Are you not?"
"Release her!" Alistair calls, jogging over. As the man releases her, Alistair motions her behind him as he gets between them. "Calm down, man. What's happened?"
The man's eyes widen even more. "T-the tower! It's been invaded!"
Alistair's brows draw together as he looks down to see the Theirin crest on the man's bloodied armor. "You're part of the royal army." He mutters, glancing up to meet the man's gaze. "What do you mean the tower has been invaded? By whom?"
"Darkspawn!" He exclaims. "They came up from somewhere in the depths of the lower levels." He glances off in the distance as though watching a replay of it in his mind's eye. "They slaughtered all my men. I... I was the only one who managed to escape."
Alistair turns slightly to exchange a helpless glance with Ana who shrugs. He turns back. "We'll have to hurry then. Did you see any of the Teyrn's men in there?"
The man shakes his head. "No. They might be in the upper levels. I just had to get out!"
Alistair nods, waving for him to go before turning to face his sister-warden. "If they are further up than where he was, we might be able to warn them." He begins to turn but stops as Ana speaks.
"What if they aren't there?" She asks. "Then what?"
He looks back, his expression grim. "Then we'll have to light the beacon ourselves."
Making their way up the slanted walkway to the tower, Alistair readies his sword and shield. He stops before the door and glances over. "Ready?" He asks as Ana fumbles nervously with her small Warden shield and short sword. Swallowing, she nods.
"Do you remember what I taught you?"
"We'll find out." She mutters miserably. He nods and pushes the door open.
The inside of the tower is quiet like a tomb. The only sound that can be heard are their boots, Alistair's plate mail armor and the flickering of the torches on the walls leading into the inner chamber. Weapons drawn, they round the corner and enter the center only to find splintered wood, racks of weapons and crates of food stacked around the pillars circulating the center of the room.
Moving quickly yet cautiously up the levels, they peer into each room only to find them devoid of soldiers and monster alike.
"We should be near the top." Alistair says, breathlessly as he pushes open yet another door. He pauses, a quiet whisper tugging at the back of his mind.
"What is it?" Ana asks.
He listens for a moment, shaking his head. "There's something nearby."
"Darkspawn?" She asks, her eyes wide. "How close?"
He listens and shrugs. "I have no idea. I could be sensing them from below us getting closer or I could be sensing some within the next couple levels." He frowns. "I'm not sure the exact direction. I just know it's close. We should be careful."
They quickly enter, scanning the place for potential threats only to hear sharp whines from the cages that lined the walls. Sheathing her sword, Ana rushes over and kneels before a cage at the far end of a row where a lone mabari paws at the door of its cage. "Poor thing!" Ana frowns. "Who would abandon such a helpless creature?" She looks up. "We need to do something. We can't just leave him here at the mercy of those...things!"
Alistair's about to argue but one look at Ana and the mabari, he relents. "You're right." He nods, glancing around. "There's got to be a ring of keys or something around here. Help me look; It'll go quicker."
As they looked about the room, something hits the tower, cracking the wall and sending both Wardens to the floor. They clamber back to their feet.
"I'll check these rooms." Ana offers, motioning the small hallway linking up to a set of stairs. She opens the door and lets out a blood-curdling scream that alerts both Alistair and the two hurlocks within the barracks, mid-feeding. Ana spots the torn remains of what she assumes to be the soldiers they were looking for sitting piles among the destroyed beds and other furniture scattered about. She sees the wide eyes look of terror on the face of a man who's inners were the only thing holding him as he hung over the side of one of the upper bunks that are surprisingly still in tact. Setting down their meals, the hurlocks roar, their jagged, scarred maws still dripping with fresh blood before rushing toward her. Frozen in place, her hands shake as she tries to lift her shorts word.
"Watch out!"
Alistair thrusts his shield in front of her just in time as one of the Hurlocks reaches out at her with its razor sharp claws. He pushes her out of the way to block another attack which breaks her from her trance. She backs up, her grip sweaty as she tries to determine what she should do. Then it comes to her. The mabari!
Racing back to the room, the hound barks as it senses activity.
"Ana!" Alistair calls. "Come back!"
"Hold on!" She exclaims, looking under tables and behind crates. "I'm getting some help!"
"Hurry!"
Her heart pounds loudly in her chest and she can just barely make out the sounds of clashing metal and the barking of the hound over the rushing of blood in her ears. Come on, Ana. Think!
She looks around, forcing herself to focus until she sees it. Smiling to herself, she rushes over as Alistair calls for her once more.
"Hold on!" She calls, wiping her hands on her tabard before grasping the leveler in the far corner. She struggles as she tries to pull it with little result. Putting her weight into it, the level slowly begins to move. "Almost got it!" She jumps and pulls down on it with her full weight and it finally moves completely. She hears the cage nearby open and looks upward to see the marabi escape its cage and rush toward Alistair. She flips over just in time to see Alistair get knocked back. His sword gets knocked from his hand but just as the last Hurlock lunges at him, its intercepted by the mabari who tackles it to the floor. The Hurlock screeches as it tries to fight the hound off while Alistair takes advantage of the distraction. He quickly gets back to his feet and grabs his sword. "Come on!" He calls, waving her over. "Let's go before any others show up!"
She scrambles to her feet and runs after him, pausing as he continues up the stairs. "Wait! The mabari!"
The Hurlock's screams halt and they watch as the mabari, soaked in black ichor trots happily up to them.
"Good dog." Alistair smiles, taking Ana's hand once more. "Come on."
Together they run up the spiral steps to the very top. Alistair's hand drops from her own as he sprints over to the giant open window. "The battle is still going!" He reports, waving her over.
The mabari trots over as Ana takes a moment to catch her breath and look around at the elaborate stone and stained-glass dome of Tevinter workmanship overhead. It was surprising that most of the windows had even survived this long. She starts over to Alistair and peers down at the battle in the valley below.
"Which one is our forces?" She asks, hoping that it's the massive horde of armor still pouring out of the trees.
"There." Alistair points at the mass near the ruins. He glances up. "There! There's the signal." He grins, pointing at a small, single light arcing through the sky. "Good! We didn't miss it!"
Ana remains by the window watching as Alistair retrieves a torch from one of the holders on the wall. He looks around him before walking over to what looks like a giant fireplace and kneels before it. "For Ferelden." He whispers, thrusting the torch into the debris filled space.