So…This weekend I was accused of plagiarism if you guys haven't all ready read my Three Levels fic…That's was fun.
So far no admin has messaged me or had the story removed so I think the anonymous reviewer either lied about reporting me, or there was lack of evidence of me plagiarizing anything so the FF people are letting me keep the story up.
Wow, it's been a long time since I received flaming like that, first time had to be this atrocious pirate story I started so many years ago when I first joined. It had some serious issues yo and I recall one person being totally cool with blowing there top and calling my story crap or something…I think there was an insult about me mixed in there somewhere, but meh. That was years ago and I long since got rid of it.
Anyways~ off to the story~
Long worn stones, towered and cracked around the party in what Aria could only describe as fallen and forgotten buildings on long ago. The one that still towered in half collapsed towers or domes cast ragged shadows over them and made the all ready growing darkness darker. Night was falling and the witch, Morrigan, was still leading them farther and farther to her mothers' home hidden in the forest swamp.
She could tell without even looking that the men around her were uncomfortable with the predicament they'd found themselves in. Or in the fact they had left the decision to follow the darkly clad woman in the hands of an elf fresh out the Circle who didn't know the meaning of 'Stranger Danger'.
For this, she felt the need to ask the question the three men have, in her mind, been deemed utterly unhelpful. Even Alistair had strayed just a tad closer to her during their little excursion. She would have blushed awkwardly if it wasn't such a silly thing to do when Morrigan was completely honest to them from the start. There was no need to fear such a helpful person.
"Erm, Morrigan?"
"What is it."
"They would like to know if we will arrive at your home soon." Aria pointed behind her shoulder to the three paling men.
Beside her, Alistair jumped in shock she even had the gall to ask. Morrigan must have rolled her eyes before turning to Aria to stare at her on curious expression.
"We will arrive…momentarily."
"Thank you."
"Whatever for you silly girl?" Morrigan looked oddly taken aback by the smaller girls jester.
"You're showing us to your home for the treaties we were tasked to bring. Without your help we would have had to come back in failure." She pointed out.
"…Uh…Greetings mother." The witch suddenly said as the sound of a creaking door from an old cabin indicated an old woman with graying hair coming out. Her sharp, unusual eyes traveled from Morrigan's to then fall upon Aria. Brown eyes furrowed before a feeling like her stomach left her to leave an empty feeling in her body over came her. It was such a feeling that it left her scared yet overcome with vague familiarity.
Why was that?
Brown eyes shifted nervously to the others around her, but from their expressions she could guess they felt something, but nothing like what she had just gone through at the sight of the woman. The feeling of familiarity lingered.
"I bring before you four Grey Wardens who—"
"I see them girl." Was the sharp tongued reply. Alistair flinched as her sharp eyes scruntinized Aria and the other Warden recruits before lingering on her and Alistair once more.
"Mmm…it is as I expected." She grunted and crossed her arms. The blond man by her side scowled.
"Are we supposed to believe you were expecting us?"
Morrigan's mother scoffed as the younger witch seemed to be trying very hard not to roll her eyes.
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shut one's eyes tight, or open ones arms wide—either way…ones a fool."
"She's a witch I tell you…" Mr. Shifty Eyes muttered behind Aria. "We shouldn't be talking to her in the first place. Aria wanted to sigh in annoyance, it felt like he was insulting her. But the oldest of the recruits spoke up first, finally a little reasoning…
"Quiet Daveth! If she really is a witch, do you want to make her mad?"
"There is a smart boy." The woman chuckled before a frown marred her face. "Sadly irrelevant in the scheme of things, but it is not I who decides. Believe what you will." She put an end to that conversation to start a new one as she walked up to Aria, the witch woman was a good head taller than her.
"So, what of you? Does your woman's mind give you a different view point? Or do you believe what these boys do?"
Lips pursed as all eyes on her side turned to her, she has apparently been tasked with keeping their hides alive. Odd seeing as the men were the ones with the pointy swords and daggers.
The elf didn't really understand the fear these men had for the two women, but shook her head nonetheless.
"I don't know what to believe in to be honest."
The woman chuckled.
"A statement that possesses more wisdom than it applies. Be always aware….or is it oblivious? I can never remember…" the witch shrugged. Aria looked up curiously at the woman with a raised brow.
"So much about you is uncertain…yet I believe too? I wonder why that is…"
"Huh?" Aria blinked.
"Never you mind child, wait here, I have your documents."
"Sooo…This is a dreaded Witch of the Wilds…?" Alistair muttered unsurely.
"Ahh, Witch of the Wilds, how Morrigan fancies those tales," Another dark chuckle from the witch erupted as she came back with a hand full of yellowed and old scrolls. Morrigan sighed with a her hand connecting with her forehead.
"Mother…" the dark haired woman groaned. "They did not come here to listen to your wild tales."
"Of course they didn't girl!" her mother huffed before handing Aria the parchments.
"And before that silly puppy of yours starts barking accusations once more, your precious seals wore of long ago."
Alistair looked honestly affronted.
"Hey!" And then he realized what he had admitted to being. "Hey!"
"'Tis true boy and don't deny it. I can see your tail wagging already."
Aria giggled awkwardly. This was swell and all, but she wanted to go now.
"Thank you…for protecting these." Aria dipped her head slightly
"Of course, now take them and tell them this Blight is far more than it seems."
"What do you mean? Is there something the Grey Wardens have missed?" Alistair asked tensely.
"Oh don't mind me…Just the ramblings of an old woman. Now, Morrigan, since these are your guests, why don't you see them out to the edge of the Wilds?"
"Ugh…Yes mother…"
Aria eyed the old woman through her bangs as they turned to head back to Ostagar. The woman's yellow eyes never left hers.
"Hello again." Aria walked up to a leather clad man. The moans and barks of Mabari came from the tall wooden fence that kept them at bay from running amuck.
Seeing her arrival, the man in charge of the Mabari's care grinned down at her.
"Hey there yourself, heard your party just got back from the Wilds, even found one of our arriving caravans.
"Is sira Cousland ok? He had a lot of wounds from that attack by darkspawn?"
"After the mage's got a hold of him he's as good as new. If a little sore." The soldier shrugged. He made himself comfortable as he leaned an arm on the wooden fence, a mabari barked; he beckoned her over to do the same.
"So what do I owe this visit for?"
Aria smiled as she handed him the pouch that had been buckled to her hip.
"I think you were looking for this."
With brows raised curiously, he took the pouch from her, opened it, then proceded to give her the most thankful smile she'd ever been given. A gloved hand pulled out the flowers he'd mentioned to her.
"This is exactly what I've been looking for, wonderful. I got to go make that ointment."
"Glad I could help."
Being the last to make for the bonfire Duncan waited by Aria waved a small hand to his direction. She welcomed the warmth of the fire against the chilly night and the warden's pursed look.
"I see now that everyone is gathered it is safe to say you all made it back, if a little worse for wear." Duncan eyed the petite woman, more specifically her new attire hiding the burnt and hardened flesh where she was certain it would leave a lasting scar.
"…It doesn't hurt as much." The elf looked guiltily up at her savior. "Really…I-I can still fight."
Duncan gave her a stern look, she thought he would be about to say something when he shook his head and nodded in acceptance. Aria hid a pained look by turning to examine the ground. It still burned.
The salve Alistair had given her just after the attack had dried and flaked off. She noted it must not have been very well made, or imbued with magic for it to last such a short time. The arm that took most of the impact still lay stiffly at her side. She had made it a point not to move it, if she did she could feel her skin peel and crack. It made her sick, just as the fighting had.
"Alistair told me what happened." That was the end of that topic. "I've also handed the blood you've gathered to the mages to prepare it. We can begin the Joining immediately."
Did I really find this so fascinating?
I don't even know what the ritual entails.
Nonetheless, Aria simply pursed her lips and nodded. Duncan lead them away from the fire and across the camp to one of the many ruined buildings, this one looked like it could have been from some long forgotten temple. They walked to a raised, circular platform with no ceiling of any kind to block the view of the strange night, unwrapped from the hold the grey clouds had had on the sky all day. She glanced up longingly at the freeness of it all. The star studded inky blackness that stretched until she could no longer tell where it began or ended. It was the same sight she got to witness the night she left the Circle for good.
This time however, that feeling of freedom and wander was not washing over her. That late afternoon after realization dawned on her after making that first kill any notion of joining the Grey Wardens just to bolster their numbers for this possible Blight left a sour taste in her mouth. She was still flattered Duncan thinks she had it in her to become something so great…But now, she just wanted to run from the fact she was no longer a student on the arcane arts any more. She was a conscript. A soldier. And she didn't think she would be able to raise her staff to kill another creature, demon or darkspawn.
Alistair cleared his throght and brought her out of her morbid thoughts to trail her brown gaze over the stone table in the middle of the platform where a singular, larger silver chalice sat. Its surface shimmered in the moonlight. Aria guessed it must have diamond dust mixed into the silver as well, the little rainbow flashes across the metal armor of the men and her tunic every so often caught her attention.
"So what exactly is this Joining think you've knotted us up into?" Mr. Swifty Eyed Daveth asked.
The senior Warden's voice was grave.
"I will not lie, we Warden's pay a heavy price to become what we are. Fate may decree you pay your price now rather than later."
"Is that way you have it so deep in secrets?" Aria spoke. As Duncan looked down at her she could see the tiny, minute flinch she caused him. Her eyes must have shown the truth of her thoughts. He did not seem to be able to give her any condolences. How could he? He was the one who brought her here, a silly little Circle mage who only was only eighteen and didn't know a thief from an upstanding citizen. Duncan seemed to recover from her sorrowful gaze by his next comment.
Maybe she could hold onto that little bit of hope and naiveté?
"You would not have been chosen if I did not think you had a chance to survive."
These were words the mage had to trust. Because she couldn't run, there would be no place for her. And nothing but execution for her crimes to wait for her.
The other recruits found some comfort in his words too as they spoke their eagerness to begin the ritual.
"Maybe we'll all die either way." Daveth shrugged.
"Let us begin then." Duncan spoke as he stepped towards the table and chalice.
"The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Wardens drank darkspawn blood and mastered their taint."
And then everything in Aria's stomach promptly disappeared, leaving a gaping hole and feeling of emptiness. Emptiness and realization at what Duncan brought forth. The foreboding liquid that rippled on the very edge of the silver truth the man held in his hands. And Aria was now definitely sure she was going to die tonight.
The red haired knight seemed to more openly show his repulsion than her. She had heard his gasp before the two Wardens had time to look.
"We're….we're going to drink blood from those…..those creatures?!"
It was hard to stomach the truth when someone states in out loud. The mage's returning stomach quietly gurgled in distress as she felt bile burning her insides.
"As the first Grey Warden's did before us, as we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory." Duncan's voice was gravely yet unpleasantly even.
"Those who survive become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon." Alistair alleged, trying to uplift the steadily growing heavy atmosphere. It sadly didn't help, Aria didn't miss the little detail of: 'those who survive'. Someone, or all of them were going to lose their lives. Aria had no choice in the matter, she could do nothing but accept this offer now. She knew the hidden secret of the Grey Wardens and she was sure, even though he had been so kind to her, Duncan would not let her go with a slap on the wrist. Even if she promised not to tell.
"It is also why the Joining is a secret, those who survive are forever changed. It is the price we pay to save the innocent." Duncan solemnly whispered.
"We only speak a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first."
Alistair cleared his throat.
"Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant."
Aria saw the knight begin to sweat.
"Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be foresworn."
Her small head lowered, eyes falling on the shimmering chalice. She also noticed the knights hands itch towards the hilt of his blade.
She paled.
"And should you parish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day…we shall join you."
Aria saw red even before the middle aged knight tried to back away. The glint of his own blade falling from the risen temple floor and into the shadows of foliage below. Duncan had ended the man's life before he could protest anymore. She and Alistair looked away. She never asked the man his name, guilt and terror came over her.
"I am sorry…But there is no turning back."
In the end, Daveth died too. The taint took him. Aria watched with wide, frightened eyes as she witnesses the blood in him darken, his veins became visible while his skin turned sallow. The screams will haunt her forever.
And then, he fell to the ground in a convulsing heap until the movements stopped. Alistair gulped and turned to the elf, she decided to ignore the man since Duncan was all ready reaching out his hands to hand her the fancy container of blood.
"…Duncan?" she murmured almost inaudibly, she took the chalice into her hands. It was cold and weight surprisingly little except for the blood.
"Yes Aria?"
"….If I die, can you apologize to First Enchanter Irving for me?" she smiled ruefully.
"Whatever for, my girl?"
"I lied remember? Please, return the stone if you survive this terrible thing happening to our home." The blue creation of nature she had brought was still with her, she put it in the same pouch she'd stored the flowered for the mabari keeper. Duncan nodded.
"Whatever you wish."
Aria stared at him for just a moment more before tilting her head back and letting the vile taint burn her from the inside out. The shriek she let escape from her lips was like nothing she had ever heard from her mouth. Aria fell to her knees and let tears flood over her eye lids as her vision blurred and focused on things that could not possibly be there.
Blood.
Monsters.
Poison.
Death.
The last vision to hit her before there was no more, was the image of a creature that could never be described in books with scales covering its body head to toe in an inky blackness that only hinted at crimson head in the dull flashing light of her mind. Its large protruding fangs hung from its roaring maw in jagged, haphazard rows and its beady ebony eyes glared down at her as if she were nothing.
And when she had finally had enough, her body gave out and she was void of any color, sound, or feeling.
This was a bit of a struggle to write actually...dunno why, just wasn't feeling it. I kinda wanted to put in the battle of Ostagar here, but decided it would be better as its own chapter. It was short, but meh~
I'd like to see a few reviews to be perfectly honest, I wanna know what you guys are thinking about this story, anything you haven't liked so far? My character, the pace, whatchu thinkin'? (^ ^)/