Chapter Three, The Witch of the Wilds
Morning rose over the ruins of Ostagar, after last night's sleep and the meeting with his brother Aedan felt a little lighter on his feet. Later that morning, Duncan came into his tent and placed upon the ground a chainmail and gambeson armor, he greeted Duncan with a smile. "Are you well Duncan?"
"Yes, thank you, you can lead this armor for the todays joining you'll need it"
"Thank you," he said.
"I have high hopes for you Aedan, your the very reason why I came to Highever, I had remember your skill in the tourney during at the king birthday"
"I'm honored, but honestly I was a little disappointed with myself, I didn't get all the way"
"You were against someone older and wiser, you fought well and got far for someone so young, well in any case, when you're ready, meet me near the fortress east gate" Duncan said, Aedan dawn the gambeson and chainmail that he received.
When he got up to the fortress east gate, there was Duran, Solona, Lyrn, waiting but there were also three others who he didn't recognize, as he approached, Duncan gestured to him. "And this is Aedan Cousland, and with that everyone is here"
"Greetings" he said sizing up the group as Duncan introduced to him the three he did not know. " This is Daveth who has been drafted by Alister, the man was dressed in gambeson armor and round shield, spear and arming sword, and Sir Jory, a volunteer who has come from Redcliff, had a great sword as big as him and lasty.
"and this is Alister, he is a Gray Warden and will be your leader and guide in your quest, speaking of which, Alister I've overheard reports that you've been harassing mages?" asked Duncan, as the question was asked, he rolled his eyes; Alister is a handsome man, fair skin man, with short blonde hair and blue eyes, he wore the same armor as Duncan did, the armor of the gray wardens.
""Oh please, he was just being an ass, I was ambush by the revered mother and was told to deliver a message, she not the kind of person you can just turned down, so I did as asked, he was the one start off all hostile"
"And suppose the revered mother also forced you to sas the mage did she?"
"No," he said, looking away from Duncan.
"Please try to keep any sassy comment to yourself next time, we do not need to give people more reason to hate us"
"Yes Duncan," he said with a sigh.
"Right now for your mission, Alister here will lead to an old ruin which used to belong to the gray wardens. The ruin was due to a decay in manpower, within that ruin are scrolls which are a magical seal within a chest. We need to recover them while performing this task, I also want you to each take a glass potion bottle and dagger given to you by Alister and collect the blood of the darkspawn you killed within the wilds.
"Collect the blood of those creatures!'' Solona said, her nose wrinkling in disgusted
"If they're so important, why did they leave them behind?'' Duran asked.
"They weren't important at the time, its recent events have changed things," Duncan explained.
"What are these scrolls?" Asked Aedan.
"Treaty made to the warden long ago promising support, promises that these days have likely been long forgotten, if we do fail here we need those treaties to gather a new army," once all the questions were answered the group of them made their way through the east gate and down into the wilds, loosely walking together, with Aedan sticking right near Alister.
"What was that about everyone hating the warden, how could anyone hate the wardens when they fight the darkspawn?"
"If only it were that simple, mostly it just comes down to not understanding we need to fight to darkspawn and kill the archdemon just want to get rid of us because we're too much trouble for them or don't like that they can't control us, for the only thing we severe is ourselves.
"How do gray wardens kill the archdemon?" he asked
"I'm somewhat of a newbie myself so I have no idea, but I couldn't tell you even if I did know" heading down into the depths of the wilds, Aedan eyes shift among the shrubbery and trees, keeping his eyes peeled for any beast or Darkspawn, not long into the wilds, they came across a horrible sight.
Dozens of dead body's both human and darkspawn Covered the forest floor, blood was everyone, Aedan walked forward and knelt before one of the darkspawn. He looked down upon a Harlock, there were just as Duran described, they reminded him of corpse, and their razor sharp teeth sent a chill down his spine.
"Prefect, let's just collect the blood of these already slain beasts and be done with it" said Solona.
"No, you must collect the blood of a darkspawn you have slain as a group, this is all part of the joining" Alister warns.
"This is madness, this was an entire portal, ambush and slain, what chance have we got?, there were more of them than us" Sir Jory said, looking around in horror at the sight before him.
"Fear not sir, Sir Jory, no darkspawn will ambush us with me here, I can sense them coming and avoid them."
"And just what is that meant to mean?, you sense them?" ask Sir Jory
"Here there's one alive!" said Daveth, interrupted before Alister could respond.
Daveth placed the soldier against a nearby tree, as most of the group gathered around, the soldier recognized Aedan immediately. "Mi Lord, wha…" he grunted in pain as he clung the wound upon his belly. Aedan took off the helmet of the warrior and recognized the face, he was a soldier he had spoken with a few times
"Adam wasn't it?" Aedan asked, the soldier smiled, then caught up blood upon his armor.
"Darkspawn ambushed us, I won" he said with a pain ridden laugh, Aedan smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Good man, you did you Highever proud" Aedan said with the brightest smile he could muster, as Adam returning the smile, the life left his eyes and his body slumber again the tree, Aedan shut the warrior's eyes and took in deep breath as he risen to his feet, "Let's keep moving" he said somberly as they continued to move through the wilds, it was full of more ruins overwhelm by the trees or sinking into marshland, he wonder if they used to be apart of a larger Ostagar, or outer fortification.
"Alister, is it? Is that a Templar crest upon your shield" Solona asked, Alister sighed.
"Yes, I used to be a templar before I was taken into the warden '' Alistair said, seemingly wanting to move on from the subject.
"Kill man magi have you?" Solona asked coldly, Alister ignored the question but Aedan looked over to her.
"Mind your manners Solona, whatever he was, he's a gray warden now!" he said sternly.
"It's easy for you to say, you've not seen how monsters treated us!" she continued.
"I do not think this is the time or place for us to argue!" Duran said, keeping a keen eye on the woodlands around him, Solona whispered to herself as she fell silent.
"Thank you" Alister whispered, as they continued onwards, Daveth strolled up to Aedan.
"So, what brings a nobleman to the wardens, you're far away from the easy life you could be having?" he asked
"I'd rather not go into the details, this was the only option left to me, I got nothing to go back to, what about you?"
"Fair, I didn't have much of a choice either It was this or death, they caught me trying to desert from the army, they were going hang me, but Alister here took pity and brought me into the wardens, I couldn't be more grateful " Daveth said, not long after there band was brought to a halt. Soldiers strung up and hung from the ruins, while most of them had their decapitated heads placed upon pointy sticks, while the rest of the bodys were mostly eaten, Aedan turned away in order to stop himself from throwing up.
"You ok?" Alister asked, patting him on the back.
Yeah, it's just hard to look at…" he said after composing himself, meanwhile the knight Sir Jory did throw up.
"I never dream of anything, could be this evil" the knight said, recovering from throwing up.
"The monster deserves death!" said Daveth as he kicked down one of the pointy stick along with the head upon it, meanwhile Duran didn't seem fazed at all while Solona turn her gaze away from the horror sight, while Lyrn had move a good distance away, Alister went over to her.
Aedan had a feeling he was being watched, that made him uneasy and he couldn't shake it. His eyes scanned the surrounding, the woodlands, the hills, the marshes and distant mountains but he saw nothing but the crows flying above them.
During the rest of the journey, Alister changes the route they were taking a number of times as he tries to avoid the larger group of darkspawn. When they eventually got to their destination they saw that a slightly larger band of darkspawn had made camp within the ruin, they watched on hidden behind some rocks as they scout out the ruin.
" This makes things easier, I was going to go darkspawn hunting last but now we can get the blood and the scrolls all in one go. You think they would just let us take their blood if we asked nicely?" Alister asked Aedan with a smirk.
"You can ask if you like, I wouldn't put money on it" Aedan said, they made their way back to the other and reported what they saw to them.
"What's the plan?" asked Duran.
"Well, we formed up and make a slow advance then stopped before we reached them, then see if we could lure them down from the ruin, there were not too many of them" '' said Alister .
"I think I would be better off if I found somewhere that would oversee the battle and shoot at them from afar, I could see about taking out their bowmen," said lyrn.
"Fair enough, I'll hang back and guard the Solona while she supports us with her spells" said Alister as the word left his mouth the pair of them shared a wordless gaze but there was no objection.
The group of them formed up as the elf made its way up to a high vantage point and hindered behind some rocks. They slowly marched forward, upon spotting them one of the Harlock blew a horn as and then the arrows began shooting through the air towards them, Solona raised her magic staff.
The arrows flew into a flickering blue shield of magic spread out before the warriors, blocking the arrows as they continued their advances. More of the creatures came out from the ruin, helmetless with wearing crude armor, all but one, who was a large Harlock, with horns coming out of its helmet, with one hand was a large mighty waraxe.
The Elf risen up from cover and made aim for harlock bowmen, finding her mark with the first shot, as the first of them fell. The lead harlock signal for the charge, followed by the unintelligible grunt and roar in front of the creatures.
"We can take them!" Barked Aedan, the flickering blue shield disappeared before them, and stout warriors ready themselves, as a bolt of magical energy slammed into the lead Harlock knocking him to the floor.
The sight of the creatures sent a chill down his spine, fear gripped his heart, he took fear and used it. He bellows out a war cry of pure adrenaline and slammed his shield into the face of the fist Harlock to reach them, the filthy beast will not have him!.
Aedan and Daveth fended off the creature together while Duran and Sir Jory watched the flanks. Alister was kept by Solona as she sent another Harlock flying with a bolt of magic, meanwhile lyrn was in the lone rangers combat with the harlock bowmen.
The Harlock number quickly began to thin, but the lead Harlock was up once more, his mighty war axe ready to strike as he charged them. Aedan threw himself in front of daveth and in the way of the beast, his Heater shield caught the blow of the war axe.
Stepping forward, the war axe siding down from his shield, he lunged his exposed neck under the helmet, but the blade missed block by the helmet, he fell back a few steps, as the Harlock came swinging at them once more with long sweeping strikes,
One of the overhead strikes slammed into a flickering blue shield, the creature staggered back. The shield faded away. Aedan dropped his shield and charged the creature. Lunging and slashing at the creature, aggressively, giving him no quarter.
A bolt of magic slammed into his head, violently knocking him to the floor, Aedan descended down upon and finished him off while Sir Jory watched his back. When the last of the Harlock would finish off and the battle was over. Aedan fail to one knee desperately trying to catch his breath, Alister off him a hand up and he took it.
"You did well," Alister said, patting him on the shoulder.
"It was nothing, I think Solona did most of the heavy lifting" he said, gesturing to her.
"Your welcome" she said with smug grin they regrouped and made their way up and into the ruin.
When they got within the ruin, a crow landed before them, and transformed into a beautiful woman; she had yellow eyes and silky raven hair peeking out from under her hood attached to her burgundy top, with a golden necklace along a second around her neck. The top was sleeveless and nothing left didn't leave much to the imagination showing most of the chest upper belly. Below her waist she wore black knee length black leather skirt on top black trousers and boots. Her right arm fashion a black arm sleeve top by fathers, the other, had a leather arm band around her top arm and black fingerless glove within which held a magical staff.
"A witch!" said Solona pointing her staff towards her.
"Try it girl, I dare you!" warned the witch in a calm confident tone, Sir Jory stepped away from her, his lips stammering, also stepping back, stepping behind Alister. Alisters eyes scanned the ruins around them as if looking for something, as Aedan gaze lay fixed upon the witch, "what wrong, fear barbarian may swoop down upon you, I would not need their help to dispatch you!" she said with a giggle.
"Do you want something?, or have you just come to see us off?" asked Aedan, taking one step forward, her gaze fixed to him.
"By what I've seen it is you who wants something handsome lad, do you seek something that used to be within this ruin?"
"Used to be? Have you stolen something from here, you sneaky witch thief" said Alister, stepping forward by Aedan side.
"Funny, how does one steal from an abandoned ruin full of deadmen?" she said glaring at Alister.
"Quite easily I imagine" Alister whispered under his breath, just louder enough for Aedan to hear.
"Are you referring to the scrolls that were stored here?" Aedan asked.
"Come now, all done is bombed me with questions, and have't as much as told me your name?" she said with a smirk.
"I am Aedan Cousland, please meet you" he said humoring her, she giggled.
"I like you" she said with smile, "I'm Morrigan, and since you are being so (pilot), I'll tell you that the scroll where taken by my mother, for there protection"
"And why would a pair of illegal mages, protect gray warden property?" asked Alister
"Keep it up, and I'll turn you into a frog, '' she said irritably.
Aedan wasn't sure if that was a joke, but he didn't want to test it. He gestured for Alister to be at ease and walked close toward her, both hands free and away from his weapon.
"Could you take us to your mother?" he asked with his best smile, she smiled back.
"I'll take you, the rest of you can stay here!" she said spitefully.
"Your fool for that are you?" Alister said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"If she wanted to attack us, she could have done so from hiding and we need those scrolls don't we?"
"I still don't like it, people like her are dangerous" Alister said, his eyes narrowing toward Morrigan, Aedan sized up Morrigan, and who did nothing but smile.
"Do you wish to fight a witch with unknown powers, because that is what we will need to do if we can't get them to scroll back diplomatically!" Aedan said.
"Are you coming or not?" she asked.
"Coming" he said to her , "I be alright" he whispered back to Alister.
"I'll bring him back here, do not move from this location and do not follow me!" she warned as he made his way over to her, she led the way out of the ruin as they both left the Alister and the other behind.
"Any particular reason why the other can't come?" Aedan as they left the ruin.
"You mean apart from the fact that almost all of them either immediately feared me, hated me or insulted me, well I am an illegal mage as your friend puts it, I would like for them to not see where I live" she said, with a tone of irritation.
"Well some might argue that, they rightly fear you"
"If I were to attack, I would have done so, I was going to tell the lot of you where the scroll where straight away, but everyone broke into hysteric and started point there weapons" she said, she lead him to a humble two store home was made of wood and stood next to the remains of a ruined tower, mostly surrounded by a lake save for one strip of land. He waited outside as Morrigan went to get her and came back with her elder mother.
"Greeting, about time you got here," said the elderly woman as if she expected him.
"Greetings" he said
"Here your scrolls the magical seals wore off a while ago"
"Thank you"
"Oh, such manners, you're most welcome, now Morrigan escorts our guest and the others you told me about out of the wilds" her mother said.
"Alright then" she said with a heavy sigh, when he returned to the others, he gave Alister the scroll, got his part of the darkspawn blood and let Morrigan take them out of the woods.
Her shortcut got them out far sooner than he would have expected, she then left them as they returned to Ostagar through the east gate by afternoon, Duncan waited for them, while reading a book.
"It's good to see you all safe and sound" he said, closing his book and standing up, Alister passed him the scrolls.
"The scroll where taken by a pair of mages likely to be apostates that claimed to be protecting them"
"They gave them back and that all that matters, you're not a Templar anymore Alister, a pair of illegal mages is not your problem" Duncan warned.
"Yes Duncan"
"What happens next?" asked Duran.
"Just one last part to go but I won't lie, some of you will not survive the coming trial" Duncan informed them.
"I didn't not expect there to be so many trials, can I just back out, I take my chances with the army" said Sir Jory
"I'm sorry but there no backing out once, the joining began, you will do or die, now take rest and I'll send alister to find you when the time comes" by nightfall they each had a hot meal and Duncan was ready and each of them was summon gathered up by alister and taken to the old temple of Ostagar, they arrived together and waited the arrival Duncan, the knight passed up and down, visible anxious.
"I can't believe this, haven't we all proven our worth by now, why should we be asked to risk our lives and to force us to take part against our will is immoral and what is with all the secrets!"
"Would you just stop complain, the gray wardens are a order of elite warriors who were created to end blights and kill archdemons , did you really think you could just show up and you would just get accepted like that"
"I have a wife and a child on the way, if they had just told me the joining where be this risky, I would have never joined"
"Well maybe that why they don't tell us, is cuz of people like you expecting to simply be accepted into the gray wardens, without issue or trial, I own the gray warden my life, if joining them kills me, so be it"
"Clam down the both of you" alister yelled before the knight could muster a response, at that monument, Duncan arrived with a large goblet within his hands.