The sound of marching feet, accompanied by a series of terrifying roars and growls, filled the air as the Darkspawn horde approached the narrow valley. Even from afar, the soldiers could hear the enemy draw closer to their position. Ash Warriors and Mabari Handlers kept a hold tight on their hounds who grew restless. Growling and snarling at the darkness they faced.
In the distance, Aedan could see the first few Darkspawn emerge from the treeline. More followed them and he saw the Darkspawn came in all shapes and sizes. Some resembled humans in size and shape while others were short and stocky like a dwarf. They wore armor and wielded weapons that didn't look to be well-maintained but that was expected considering what these creatures are. His eyes widened when they gazed upon a massive horned Darkspawn that towered over every other Darkspawn in the horde.
The Teyrn heard a gasp and looked to a soldier who took a step back. He didn't blame him from wanting to flee. The soldier behind him placed a hand on the quivering man's shoulder and stopped him from taking another step back. He muttered something only the two could hear and the first soldier returned to formation.
"Maker's breath."
Aedan turned his head to glance at Dairren who looked at the horde with wide eyes. He saw fear in his Second's eyes but the young man shook his head and steeled himself yet Aedan could see the young man was shaking though it was barely noticeable. He looked back to the horde and saw them standing there. Gathering for an assault no doubt.
The two forces were in a standoff and waited to see who would make the first move. Moments later, a heavily armored Darkspawn raised it's battle axe in the air and roared. The other Darkspawn roared as well before running down the hill towards the vanguard.
"Archers!" Aedan heard the King yell. "Ignite!"
"IGNITE!"
Sixty archers set the tips of their arrows aflame.
"Draw!"
"DRAW!"
The missile infantry drew their arrows back and aimed high in the sky. Aedan couldn't help but think that the storm above them would hinder the archers. Not just their arrows but the state of their bows as well. He remembered mother telling him something about that when he was younger though he never was any good with archery.
"Loose!"
Dozens of fire arrows sailed over the vanguard as the archers let loose a volley towards the horde of Darkspawn. Many of the horrid creatures fell before the volley yet it proved ineffective in stopping their momentum.
"Loose!"
Volley after volley was let loose at the approaching horde yet the Darkspawn remain unhindered. It was at this time that the Darkspawn let loose a volley of their own. Targeting the vanguard.
"Shields! Shields!"
"Raise shields!"
Many soldiers managed to raise their shields in time but some weren't as lucky. Those who weren't screamed as they were shot down by arrows. If they had survived, they wouldn't have lived long unless they were brought to a healer. The Darkspawn coated their arrows with filth, their blood and other viscera. Not to mention that they were barbed as well. Wounds received from Darkspawn arrows were painful. If they survived, they would have succumbed to Blight Sickness later.
Meanwhile, the King and the Warden-Commander stood tall and unafraid when the Darkspawn arrows rained down on them. The two did not carry shields and so were protected by the King's retinue of knights who formed a shell of shields over their King and the Grey Warden.
"Release the hounds!" King Cailan bellowed form inside the shield formation.
The Ash Warriors and Mabari Handlers let go of their hounds and watched as the Mabari charged towards the Darkspawn. They lunged at the enemy and many were successful in taking them down but others were ruthlessly cut down. It was a good thing that Aedan didn't allow William to be placed alongside the other hounds and left him to guard the Highever encampment back in the ruins. Otherwise, he would have been forced to watch as his faithful hound was cut down by monsters.
Aedan noticed something in the sky and his eyes widened when he looked up to see two- no three! Three incendiaries sailing over their heads. One smashed into rear of the vanguard while other two struck the ruins and sent debris down on the soldiers. A few were unable to get away in time and were crushed by the debris.
In response, the King ordered their artillery to strike back and launched their own flaming projectiles at the horde of Darkspawn.
As the Darkspawn approached, the King raised his greatsword and pointed his blade at the enemy.
"FOR FERELDEN!"
The King pushed past the others and sprinted towards the horde. The Grey Wardens and the King's retinue of knights followed after the King as King Cailan led a countercharge towards the Darkspawn. The vanguard let out a war cry of their own and ran towards the Darkspawn.
The two sides clashed in a bloody melee with the King of Ferelden dealing the first blow.
King Cailan swung his blade down and cut a Genlock in two while Duncan stabbed a Hurlock in the abdomen and proceeded to behead the Darkspawn before it could attack the King from behind. The other Grey Wardens soon joined them and Aedan witnessed as the Wardens cut down the Darkspawn with ease. Seeing the Wardens in action first hand proved that the King's praises and admiration of the Order was not unfounded.
They fought together. Side-by-side. Even with so few of them, they managed to cut down more Darkspawn than the average soldier or knight.
Aedan was snapped away from his thoughts as his instincts screamed at him and he barely avoided getting his head lobbed off by a Hurlock. He parried the Darkspawn's next attack and cut the Hurlock on the hip to force it down on knee before smashing the face of his shield repeatedly into his opponent's face. He struck the Darkspawn one last time and sent it flying to the ground on it's back.
Before the Teyrn could finish it off, something struck his shield hard enough to nearly throw him off balance. He turned his attention towards his attacker and saw a Hurlock wielding a crossbow. Said Darkspawn was in the middle of loading another bolt and Aedan quickly closed the distance. He smashed the Hurlock across the face with his shield hard enough that the Darkspawn spun on it's heel and now had it's back to Aedan. The young Teyrn quickly impaled the Hurlock through the back before kicking it off his blade and into the ground.
Aedan was suddenly tackled to the ground by a Hurlock and found himself fighting for his life as the Darkspawn tried to drive it's rusted blade down Aedan's throat. Baring his teeth, Aedan pushed his strength into it and managed to drive the blade away from his throat and bury the tip of the blade into the muddy ground beside his head. He then punched the Hurlock twice across the face before kicking it off of him.
The young Teyrn quickly grabbed his weapon and turned back to his adversary just in time to see it swinging down an axe towards him. Aedan blocked the attack with his sword and proceeded to do the same to the next two attacks before swinging his blade at the Darkspawn's ankle. Causing the Hurlock to fall next to him.
Aedan moved to roll to his left and get back up his feet but a Genlock rushed him with it's dagger poised to strike him down but he proved to be faster as he impaled the Darkspawn in the flank before snatching the dagger from it's grasp as he got up on one knee and drove the weapon deep into it's skull. He got back up to his feet and gripped the middle of his sword with his left hand before running towards a Hurlock and thrusting the blade up it's open mouth. The tip of his blade bursting out from the top of the Darkspawn's head.
He heard a voice cry out in pain and looked over his shoulder to see a young soldier on the ground with a Hurlock standing over him. The soldier glared up at the Darkspawn while backing away from the approaching creature. The young Teyrn removed his blade from the dead Darkspawn and ran towards the Hurlock while holding his weapon inverted and by the blade.
Aedan closed the distance before swinging his weapon once he got close enough to the Darkspawn who had raised it's sword and was about to strike the soldier down. The sword parried the killing blow and Aedan used the momentum to swing again and bury the crossguard struck in the Hurlock's temple. The young Teyrn pulled his weapon free from the now dead Darkspawn and grabbed the soldier by the arm before dragging him up to his feet and placing the sword into the young man's hands.
"Are you alright? What's your name, soldier?"
"I'm fine. I'm Carver Hawke."
Aedan's eyes widened as he stared at the soldier in front of him. Unfortunately, this left him open and a Hurlock rushed the unaware Teyrn while his back was turned.
Carver saw this and grabbed Aedan without warning then threw him to the side before blocking the sword that would have split Aedan's head in two. He grit his teeth and glared at the Darkspawn as the two of them locked blades and battled for dominance.
Aedan was brought back to reality and quickly unsheathed the Cousland Family Sword before rushing the occupied Darkspawn and impaled it through the side. Allowing Carver to overpower the Hurlock and behead the Darkspawn with one swing of his sword. He looked towards Carver and nodded to the soldier.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Just making us even."
They didn't have time to say anything else as the two were immediately engaged by the Darkspawn.
(Line Break)
"Oh you gotta be shitting me!"
Kallian stared incredulously at the massive horned Darkspawn that was currently feeding on the corpses of the soldiers stationed at the top of the Tower of Ishal. It looked over it's shoulder and it's eyes stared straight into Kallian's own but her gaze, however, was firmly set on the arm hanging off it's mouth.
The Darkspawn Ogre growled and stood to it's full height as it turned to face them. Dropping the mangled corpse it held in it's hands before letting out a terrifying roar that echoed throughout the chamber.
She and the others just climbed up three floors to reach the top of this shitty tower, fighting numerous Darkspawn along the way, and now this big ugly bastard is waiting for them at the top. Maker, throw them a fucking bone here. All they had to do was just light a stupid beacon. What the fuck!
Kallian was so done with this shit.
"Hey, mage!" She called out. "Throw some fireballs or whatever at that thing. And keep your distance from it. Alistair. You and this guy distract it. Keep it's attention on you. Oh. And I'll be taking that."
Kallian snatched the crossbow and quiver of bolts from the soldier before loading it and shooting the Ogre right in the head. She hit it dead center but this proved to only set the big bastard off and it roared in rage.
Alistair and the soldier ran towards the Ogre and engaged it in melee or more accurately, they stabbed and cut at it while trying to avoid getting crushed by it's fist or foot. The Grey Warden holding his own very well but the same cannot be said to the soldier who was barely able to dodge the Ogre's fist. More than once did Alistair had to push the soldier out of the way.
Meanwhile, Kallian and the mage shot bolts and hurled spells at it from a distance. No matter how many times she shot it, she felt like she wasn't really doing any damage to the big bastard. Even the mage was having trouble considering he looked like he was gonna pass out.
The Ogre eventually decided it had enough after a couple of fireballs to the face and managed to smack Alistair away then grabbed the soldier before he could run away.
"Help me!"
Kallian could only watch in horror and disgust as the Ogre bit off the head and part of the soldier's torso before throwing the headless corpse at the mage who screamed bloody murder as he tried to push the corpse off of him. Kallian's eyes widened as she saw the Ogre dropped into a stance before charging towards her. Horns first.
"Oh fuck!"
She barely managed to get out of the beast's path and fumbled to reload her crossbow as the Ogre smashed into a wall. Stunning it for the moment.
"Come on. Come on. Come on!"
Meanwhile, Alistair had just recovered from the Ogre's attack and removed the remains of the dead soldier from the mage. Said mage quickly threw a fireball at the Ogre while Kallian shot another bolt aimed at it's head. The bolt struck the beast in the temple and was followed by a fireball to fhe head that knocked it to the floor.
Another spell was thrown at the Ogre but it proved to be the last the mage could do before he was spent. By now, Kallian had emptied her quiver and more than a dozen bolts were stuck to the Ogre's thick skin and Alistair had cut the beast numerous times across it's body yet it was still alive. It's wounds were ever so slowly healing though it was barely noticeable. Proving that the Ogre was more durable than they had thought. Soon, the Ogre decided to retaliate against the three after their assault by grabbing a slab of debris from the floor and threw it at the mage with tremendous strength. The mage couldn't get out of the way in time as the debris hurled towards him and was crushed into a bloody pulp.
This left Alistair and Kallian to face the Ogre alone.
"So what's the plan now?" Alistair asked as he dropped into a defensive stance.
Kallian didn't have an answer for him yet and frantically looked around their surroundings for something. Anything. She looked over her shoulder and her eyes landed on the part of the tower with the missing wall. She looked back and forth between the Ogre and ledge before turning towards Alistair.
"I have a plan but I need to get it's attention first. Hey!"
The Elven Grey Warden whistled at the Ogre and unsheathed a dagger before waving the blade at the beast.
"Over here, you ugly lump of shit!"
"What in Maker's name are you doing?!"
Alistair stared incredulously at his fellow Grey Warden. Unsure of what the Elf was planning.
"Just trust me. I have a plan." She tried her best to sound reassuring but even she doubted her plan would work. Still. It was better than nothing.
"This plan of yours better work." Alistair muttered before smashing the flat of his blade on the outside of his shield. "Over here, ugly! Come on!"
The Ogre roared and beat it's chest before lowering itself slightly in preparation for it's charge at the two.
'Perfect.'
Kallian thought before looking at Alistair and giving him a sheepish grin.
"Sorry about this."
"What are you- "
Without warning, Kallian kicked Alistair out of the path of the Ogre just as it charged towards them. She steeled herself and broke into a sprint towards the charging beast. Dropping the crossbow and unsheathed her other blade along the way. Making it appear as if she was about to throw herself at the beast. Just as they were only a few feet apart, Kallian dropped to the floor into a slide and passed underneath the Ogre at the last second.
Kallian slid past the Ogre and watched as the beast wasn't able to stop itself in time and charge out into the edge . The only thing it could do was roar and flail it's massive arms about as it plummeted to the ground.
The Elven Grey Warden rolled to her front and stared wide-eyed at the ledge. She let out a choked laugh before running her hand through her hair.
"I can't believe that fucking worked." She muttered.
"I can't believe someone as small as you can kick that hard."
Kallian grinned as she looked up at Alistair who offered his hand to her. She grabbed the offered appendage and pulled herself up to her feet before dusting herself off.
"I am never going to do that again."
Alistair shook his head in amusement before looking at the beacon.
"Let's just light the signal and get this over with. We've had a very long day."
"Agreed."
Kallian grabbed a pair of torches and handed one to Alistair. The latter grabbed the oil and chucked it into the firewood before the two threw their torches into the beacon. Watching as the signal burned bright brightly into the night.
"There's absolutely no way in the Void is anyone gonna miss this." Kallian muttered.
(Line Break)
A Genlock staggered backwards after Aedan sliced open it's chest and bashed it with his shield towards Carver who brought his greatsword down and split the Darkspawn in two.
The two of them had been fighting side by side against countless Darkspawn and it was obvious the battle was taking it's toll on them. Their bodies were slowing down. They could see it in the others around them as well. The beacon on the top of the Tower of Ishal burned brightly and yet-
"Where in the Void is our reinforcements?" Carver yelled as he fought off two Hurlocks that ganged up on him.
"I. Don't. Know." Aedan replied through gritted teeth as he locked blades with a Hurlock before kicking it in the shin then smacked it across the face with his elbow. Knocking the Darkspawn to the ground.
The Teyrn of Highever switched to a reverse grip and brought his blade down into the Hurlock's head. He ripped the sword violently from the Darkspawn's corpse and looked to the tower.
"But they should've been here by now."
"Doesn't the Teyrn know that it's not polite to keep the King waiting?" Carver snarked. At least they managed to earn themselves a small moment of respite from the battle.
"Heh. Bad time for Teyrn Loghain to decide to be fashionably late." Aedan joked.
"Your Lordship!"
Aedan heard the cry of a familiar voice and turned to see Dairren running towards him and Carver. His armor was stained with blood though he didn't appear to have any injuries. Dairren almost slipped from the mud but Aedan caught him in time and looked at his Second in the eye.
"Dairren, what's wrong?"
"Teyrn Loghain is pulling his forces from the battlefield. His retreating!"
"WHAT?!"
The three looked towards the hill where Loghain's forces were supposed to be waiting but saw the light of their torches moving away from the valley and the battlefield. Aedan looked around him yet no one seemed to notice the Teyrn of Gwaren departing the battlefield. They couldn't stay here any longer or else they would all be slaughtered.
"We have to fall back." Aedan stated and looked to the other two. "We're too exposed out here. You two. Rally as many as you can and fall back to the arch. We'll hold them from there. If anyone asks, tell them it's a direct order from the Teyrn of Highever. I'll find the King and get him to safety. Now move!"
"Fall back!" Dairren immediately yelled. "Fall back!"
"Retreat! Gather at the arch!"
While Dairren and Carver yelled for a retreat, Aedan searched frantically around the battlefield for any sign of the King. Fighting off any Darkspawn that stood in his way or avoiding them to prevent himself from getting cornered. He witnessed a Grey Warden wielding a maul and standing atop a growing pile of Darkspawn yell war cries at the enemy only to be struck from behind by three crossbow bolts and was rushed by three Hurlocks who stabbed him in the flanks and abdomen. Causing him to fall on his knees before a Genlock stabbed the Grey Warden in the back.
As he searched for the King, Aedan could see that their numbers were slowly dwindling. No matter how many they kill, more Darkspawn show up. They were faced with what appeared to be a never-ending tide of Darkspawn. The more he looked for the King, the less he saw of the Grey Wardens in the battlefield. At least ones that are still alive. Many lay dead surrounded by Darkspawn corpses. Those alive were separated by the Darkspawn from their fellow Wardens and were swarmed.
The Teyrn of Highever eventually found the King alongside Warden-Commander Duncan and the two were fighting off against dozens of Darkspawn that were trying to surround them.
Aedan ran towards the King as fast as hw could. Hoping to join them and convince the King to retreat back to the arch. He was stopped, however, by a Hurlock who swung it's blade down at Aedan but he grabbed the Darkspawn by the forearm and stopped it's attack before throwing a strong punch directly into it's face. Causing the Darkspawn to stagger back before he swung the family sword high and severed the Hurlock's head from it's body.
The young Teyrn grabbed a sword from the ground and held it in his left hand before dodging a swing from a Hurlock and countered with a swing of his own. Slicing open the Darkspawn's throat. He then blocked another blade from a Hurlock with the sword on his left before throwing a punch at the Darkspawn's face with the hand holding the family sword. The weapon's crossguard buried itself into the Darkspawn's eye socket and Aedan kicked the Hurlock back before continuing on his way towards the King.
No matter how many Darkspawn he killed, more appear and prevented him from reaching the King. Still. He was so close. He was almost there. He could reach the-
A loud roar interrupted his thoughts and his eyes locked onto the massive Ogre that backhanded Warden-Commander Duncan into a broken down pillar. It set it's sights on King Cailan and the King rushed the beast only to be caught by the Ogre's hand and lifted him off the ground like he weighed nothing.
Aedan could only watch as the monster roared at King Cailan before crushing the King's body into a pulp and threw him aside.
"NO!!"
The young Teyrn ran towards the King just as Duncan managed to crawl towards King Cailan's body as well. Aedan dropped to his knees beside the King and turned his body over only to fall into despair once he saw the extend of the damage and the pair of lifeless eyes staring into nothing. There was no point in denying it. The King was dead.
Aedan looked towards Duncan and saw a look of rage upon the older man's face before he grabbed his sword and unsheathed his dagger. The Warden-Commander found his second wind as he jumped to his feet and ran towards the Ogre. Bellowing out a war cry as he rushed the Darkspawn and lunged into the beast's torso. Burying his blades deep into it's skin.
The young Teyrn watched as Duncan scaled up the Ogre's torso using his blades. Each stab caused the beast to roar in pain and rage. Once he reached the Ogre's neck, Duncan buried his sword in the large Darkspawn's throat before twisting it to inflict as much pain as he can. He then plunged his dagger into the beast's eye before pulling the blade out and stabbing it in the neck again. The Ogre roared and grabbed Duncan before throwing him to the ground but the Warden-Commander rolled on the ground before recovering quickly and turned to face the Ogre once more.
Breathing heavily, Duncan glared at the beast before running towards the Ogre who swung it's massive fist at the Grey Warden. Duncan dodged the attack as well as the follow up before literally throwing himself at the Ogre and stabbing both blades into it's chest. His momentum knocked the beast into the ground and Duncan ripped his blades free before holding them in a reverse grip then plunged the weapons into the Ogre's heart.
The Ogre struggled for a few more seconds as it clinged to it's life before it's arms suddenly fell limp and the Ogre let out it's final death throes.
Duncan removed himself from the beast and tried to stand only to fall on one knee then hold his abdomen in pain. With the last of his strength, the Warden-Commander willed himself to rise to his feet and jumped down the dead Ogre only to almost fall face first into the ground.
Aedan quickly ran to his side and helped him up before taking him to King Cailan's body. He gently set the Warden-Commander down beside the dead King who looked at Cailan with sadness and regret.
"Loghain has abandoned us." Aedan stated. "I've... I've ordered the others to fall back to the arch. I thought we could still salvage the battle but with the King dead... Come on, Warden-Commander. I'll get you out of here. We'll gather whatever remains of the army and get out of Ostagar."
He moved to help the Warden-Commander but Duncan held up his hand and stopped the young Teyrn.
"No... I will only slow you down. Leave me here."
"No. We can still make it." Aedan tried to help but was once more rejected. "Please, Duncan. Let me help!"
"I'm afraid I'm not long for this world, Your Lordship; and I would only slow you down even if I wasn't. Please. Go. Save yourself before it's too late."
Aedan looked around him and saw the Darkspawn were overrunning what few soldiers remained in the battlefield before looking back at Duncan.The young Teyrn didn't want to leave the Warden-Commander and drag him back to the others but he knew Duncan was right. Even if he had managed to get Duncan to safety, his wounds were too severe. Aedan also saw something in the older man's eyes.
Acceptance. Resignation. Duncan had done all he can in this world and he was ready to welcome death.
'I will not forget you.'
Reluctant to leave Duncan but knowing there was no other option lest they both die here, Aedan gave the man his blade before grabbing the family sword and ran back to the arch. Rallying anyone he came upon and telling them to follow him in their retreat.
"Fall back!" He yelled. "The battle is lost. Fall back!"
The young Teyrn spared one last look over his shoulder just in time to see Duncan kill off one last Darkspawn who stabbed him in the abdomen with a sword before a Hurlock Alpha raised it's battle axe and struck down the Warden-Commander from behind.
Aedan arrived at the arch where soldiers carrying tower shields had formed a shield wall which parted to allow him and the remainder of the vanguard through. Once there, he ordered the troops to retreat to the camp and to get as far away from Ostagar as possible. He was immediately assaulted by questions from the men. Those who weren't at the vanguard demanded why while others demanded the whereabouts of the King. The soldiers looked to him for answers and he steeled himself before looking them all in the eye.
"The King is dead. The Grey Wardens are dead. Loghain pulled his troops back even after the signal was lit."
"Lies! The Teyrn would never abandon the King!"
"I saw it for myself." Dairren spoke up in his defense. "Teyrn Loghain turned his army back and left the battlefield."
The soldiers at the vanguard voiced their own accounts. All of them saw that the Teyrn of Gwaren had turned his back on the King by leaving him and the others to die to the Darkspawn. There were those, however, who were vehemently defending Loghain and finding reasons for his decision.
"He abandoned us! Abandoned the King!"
"Liars!"
"Cowards!"
Arguments broke out within the ranks and it would have devolved into fighting had they not silenced by the Teyrn of Highever's voice.
"ENOUGH!!"
The soldiers fell silent and all eyes fell on the young Teyrn once more. His voice taking on a commanding tone that he only used a handful of times.
"Teyrn Loghain pulled his army back and abandoned the King. I know not his reasoning but his choice led to the death of King Cailan and many of our brothers and sisters in arms. The Darkspawn are too many. Without Teyrn Loghain's men, they outnumber us ten to one. The more time we waste here arguing, the less time we have in getting back to the ruins and leaving Ostagar before the horde cuts us all down. We must- "
"Darkspawn!"
Aedan's gaze turned to the voice and saw a young redheaded Elf, Pick if he remembered correctly, running towards them while pointing back at the path leadeing back to the ruins.
"Darkspawn at the camp! They came from the Tower of Ishal. They're killing everyone!"
The young Teyrn's eyes widened and he knew there was no time to waste.
"Fall back to the camp. Now!"
No one argued and the remaining soldiers made a beeline up the path back to their camp. The horde hot on their heels as they made their way back up the camp.
The scene that greeted them when they got back at the ruins was one they would never forget. The ground was strewn with dead bodies and the Darkspawn running rampant across their camp. Killing anyone they came across but some were spotted dragging people away. Mostly women and a few men.
The Teyrn of Highever immediately rushed the closest Darkspawn and killed it before it could strike down a wounded soldier on the ground. The rest of the soldiers and knights followed suit and cut down any Darkspawn they encountered.
Aedan finished off another Darkspawn and yelled for Dairren who quickly ran to his liege lord's side.
"Take our men and get back to our camp. Get them out. Get them all out of Ostagar!"
Dairren nodded and was about to leave but stopped at the last second and looked back at Aedan.
"Wait. But what about you, Your Lordship?"
The young Teyrn grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him out of the way of a Hurlock's axe. Aedan got a good look at the Darkspawn and realized it was the same one that killed Duncan.
"I'll catch up with you soon." He told his Second. "Now go!"
Aedan pushed Dairren towards the direction of their camp before leaning back to avoid the Hurlock Alpha's battle axe. He dodged it's attacks twice before parrying the third and smashing his forearm against the Darkspawn's head with enough force to knock it's horned helmet off. It staggered a bit but not for long and threw itself at Aedan once more. Swinging it's axe high and almost cut him across the cheek. While he did avoid it's attack, he lost his footing in the process and fell on his back to the ground.
The young Teyrn quickly rolled out of the way and managed to avoid getting his head split in two by his enemy. He grabbed a discarded dagger from the ground next to a dead Genlock and rose to one knee before crossing his blades and parrying the Darkspawn's battle axe. As the Hurlock Alpha staggered back, Aedan surged forward and stabbed the Darkspawn in the abdomen with the dagger. He got up to his feet and kicked the Hurlock Alpha back to create some distance. Causing his enemy to drop the battle axe to the ground.
The Darkspawn growled angrily at Aedan and grabbed the dagger in it's gut before yanking it out. It stared at Aedan in the eye and brought the dagger up to it's face before licking the blood off the blade. The Darkspawn's eyes showed sadistic pleasure upon seeing the disgusted look on the young Teyrn's face.
A soldier ran towards the Hurlock Alpha and swung her sword at the Darkspawn only for said Darkspawn to catch the wrist of her sword arm before turning it's head towards her. Without warning, the Hurlock Alpha sank it's teeth down the soldier's neck and proceeded to tear her throat open. Cutting off her screams as the Hurlock ripped a chunk of her flesh from her neck.
The Darkspawn chewed the flesh it ripped from the soldier and dropped her body unceremoniously to the ground before looking at Aedan in the eye. It swallowed slowly then suddenly threw the dagger at Aedan who barely managed to dodge the blade in time. At the same time, the Hurlock Alpha ran towards Aedan.
The Hurlock Alpha attempted to tackle Aedan to the ground but he held his own pulled the Darkspawn in a headlock. He smashed his elbow on the back of his opponent multiple times while the Hurlock tried to grab the back of his leg to throw him down but he did his best to prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, he tripped over a corpse and was knocked to the ground. Still. Aedan refused to release his headlock before spotting a dagger to his side and reached for it with his free hand.
"Come on!"
The young Teyrn screamed as he reached for the weapon until his fingers finally reached the dagger and his hand wrapped around the handle. He made a risky gamble and released his hold on the Darkspawn who immediately grabbed Aedan by the coat of his armor and moved to punch the young Teyrn in the face. He didn't give the Darkspawn's fist a chance to connect and jammed the dagger in the side of the Hurlock's neck. He then impaled the Darkspawn through the gut with his family sword and twisted the latter.
After a few moments of struggling, the Darkspawn limped and fell on top of Aedan who pushed the body off of him and backpedalled before retrieving the family sword and getting back up his feet. Aedan looked around him and saw the arrival of more Darkspawn in the ruins. His gaze landed on the retreating backs of the soldiers and camp followers in the distance. Among them was Dairren and Iona with his Mabari by their side. The former being helped up by a knight as they made to flee Ostagar with the remainder of the army.
Aedan knew it was over and only a few of them remained in the ruins so he yelled for the remaining soldiers around him to retreat before running across the bridge. They followed after the young Teyrn and ran for their lives as the horde swept through Ostagar like a tide. Some were unfortunate enough to be caught by the waves of Darkspawn and mercilessly slaughtered or were dragged back deep into the Korcari Wilds to be subjected to a fate much worse than death.
Unseen by the fleeing soldiers and the Darkspawn that pursued them, a massive winged creature flew through the storm towards the Tower of Ishal. It left the tower as quick as it came. Flying over Ostagar unnoticed by the ones below. Carrying in it's grasp was the last of Ferelden's Grey Wardens and Thedas' last hope against the coming darkness.
