Chapter Twenty-Seven

Deep Roads

(A/N: Not smut, but... very open talks)

A courier arrived the next morning – Bhelen had sent the map to Caridins' Cross to me using Vartag. We decided that Lyna, Wynne and Zevran would all stay behind. I was leaving Sin with them – I didn't want to risk him getting the taint… this prompted the bird to offer Alistair a feather.

"What… he still hasn't offered you one, though…" Alistair flushed as the bird offered his wing while sitting on Alistairs shoulder.

"He knows I don't need it. Dragons are immune to fire – real dragons, not just those with Dragon blood."

"Oh… I guess that makes sense…" Alistair replied as he plucked a single feather. The bird puffed his chest in pride.

Leliana giggled, "He has only offered feathers to those you have shown an interest in, Tara!"

"Not true. I'd have taken you to bed in heartbeat. He's only offered feathers to those I'm… I mean, ahem. I know the common factor."

Almost everyone looked at me curiously – but surprisingly, it was Zev who figured it out, "You love them both – but how? With Cullen…"

"So… the Wardens all know that I knew everything there is to know about Thedas before coming here. I… I already knew Cullen. He didn't know me, obviously. But… I was a strange one. I obsessed over what I thought was a fictional character in a story. I guess… I guess it was more than obsession, if Cinder offered him a feather so early. Phoenixes that are bound, like Sin is to me, can sense the emotions of their owners."

"So Zev is right – it's love that is the common factor between the two men?" Lyna asked.

I flushed, "Perhaps. Regardless, we must get going."

When we got to the Deep Roads entrance, we were stopped by a 4'7 red-haired dwarf with a highly detailed braid in his beard though his actual chin only held stubble. His eyes were a pale green.

"So… you were serious when you said you wanted to help Branka, huh?"

I shook my head, "I never said I wanted to help her. I want to help you."

He looked confused, but shook himself, "I'm Oghren. Wasn't sure if you'd remember me. People seem to forget about me these days; or ignore – I forget which. But not everyone hates me. There's enough people who know I'm interested – they make sure I know if anyone is looking for her. They say Bhelen's giving up on his scouts and sending you. But they haven't found Branka herself, and that means that whatever they got… it ain't enough. Not if you don't know what she was looking for. If we pool our knowledge…"

I cut him off, "I know what she was looking for, Oghren. I know where to go for the most part. But I won't stop you from coming with us. I have a map to Caridins Cross. If you're coming, let's get this show on the road."

He looked stunned, "You know… how?"

"Oh a bit of this, and a bit of that. I'm a seer with several blessings from various gods. You know how these things go."

"Right – then let's go. Branka is not gonna find herself." No truer words, my friend.

I knew we were given a deadline of 2 months – it would take us 3 weeks to get there with all the killing, and 3 weeks to get back though a cleared path… add 2 weeks as a side-trip to Cadash Thaig, and we were golden on time.

I handed Oghren the Beard Flask I had gotten him a few months ago. He looked startled, but accepted it.

When we reached Caridins Cross, Oghren let out a whistle, "I can't believe Bhelen actually tracked this place down. This used to be one of the biggest crossroads in the old empire – you could get anywhere from here; including Ortan Thaig."

I glanced at him, "Ortan – the home of Caridin; the Paragon who made the Anvil of the Void. He was an Ortan before founding his own house – though he still spent most of his time in his childhood Thaig rather than his own."

Oghren looked me over, "Yeah – how do you know so much, topsider?"

"I'm a Goddess." I said drily. Half my companions snorted. Oghren chuckled, "And I thought I had the good stuff. Tell me, what's your plan when we find her?"

"I plan to side with Caridin, not her. She's gone completely nuts – not like the girl you once knew, I'm afraid."

His eyes widened, "No – that's not possible!"

"You will see. For now, let's go."

I was getting real sick of Deepstalkers and Darkspawn. As it was, I'd had Inas get me a package of foodstuffs and drinks – no way was I going to eat a deepstalker. I didn't want to risk the taint.

Halfway between the Cross and Ortan, Aedan shouted, "I can't take it anymore! How do you do it, Commander? First you introduce us to daily bathing, then… we come down here and somehow, you're the only one staying clean. How? After months of doing it your way, I can't stand the dirt and grime."

I giggled before realizing Oghren and Alistair (who already knew) were the only ones uninterested in the answer. "Me? I use the elements to extract water from the lava – leaving fire and earth within it, makes hot coals, essentially. I use the rocks around us to make a tub first, then, using the hot water I've pulled from the lava, I have a nice hot bath. It's very relaxing. Occasionally, I'll also pull the hot coals and have a heat therapy session – also very relaxing. Hot rocks on ones bare back can help to relieve tension and promote better sleep. So, baths and heat have been a saving grace down here."

Alistair was flushed as he looked away. Leli pouted, "We've all been dirty and you haven't shared with us?"

"I shared with Alistair, obviously – but you guys never asked for a bath, so I thought you were okay."

Oghren snorted, "Baths aren't necessary."

"True, Oghren – but they are a luxury I refuse to live without. I even have scented soaps for everyone. Like I said, you guys never asked."

Daylen groaned, "We're asking now."

I shrugged as we started to make camp, "How about a big communal bath. Everyone gets naked and we all get clean together. No better way to bond and conserve our resources."

Alistair looked horrified, but everyone else agreed… even Oghren, though I knew he just wanted to see all the naked women.

So I called on earth to make a huge tub before pulling the water from the Lava in a river of it next to our camp. Once the steaming bath was made, I was the first one in – though it was close. Everyone but Oghren was eager to get clean and Alistair was just embarrassed. Looked like he didn't need to be – other than Sten, he had the biggest dick in the group but half an inch. Apparently, at least in this little focus group, the average size in Thedas was 7 and a half to 8 as an even middle ground. And this was, of course, based on rough estimates. They were almost all hard – being around pretty women like Leliana, Morrigan and Sereda would do that. Sten was not interested in that.

I heard groans of happiness as people sank into the water. Alistair was the only one with a red face – though everyone was red from heat of the water.

I was more amused by the fact that everyone had taken at least a peak at Alistair – hard not to wonder what your commander was getting, after all. Poor guy had noticed too. I sat in front of him and said, "You promised me a massage…?"

He hadn't but I think he was just glad to be blocked from view – he went to work at once.

Leliana was looking over my tattoos as she sat beside us, "So what's this one for?"

I twisted my head to look at the one she was pointing to, "Oh – that. It was the birth of my sons. I got that one to honor them, thinking I would never truly get to know them. Only took 4,000 years to prove me wrong, huh?"

She smiled at me, "You said scented soaps?"

I chuckled and leaned my back into Alistairs' chest so I could reach the soaps. "Let's see… I have Andrastes' Grace scented for Leliana and Aedan; Daylen and Morrigan get Embrium ones; Stens is unscented; Alistair and I get Roses; Sereda gets Lyrium – don't give me that look, I saw you sniff the potions; Oghren you get Honey Ale scent."

Each couple or person sniffed their respective scents and Oghren cried out, "By my Ancestors – I'd fall into the whole bathing scheme to smell like this all the time!"

I smirked, "That's exactly why I did it. I debated Cloves – in honor of your homebrew – but I couldn't get any."

"Wait – the soaps are scented with the actual thing?" Leli asked.

"Mostly, yes. The Lyrium one is not – that would have been a bad idea. Instead, I used a mix of Elfroot, candied sugar and shavings from a Volcanic Arum ingot I bought in Denerim. They also have health benefits. They will help each of you recover from stiff muscles."

As I spoke, Alistair had been rubbing soap into my hair; he was a sweetheart who loved to help me. Sereda actually spoke up, "You know, Commander – he's actually kinda… sweet, isn't he?"

"Oh, yes. You'd be surprised how attentive and caring he can get. Even as innocent as was, I still can't quite believe it."

"Oh? Do tell," Leli grinned wickedly. Alistair groaned from behind me, "IS that really necessary?"

I chuckled, "It's what girls talk about. I know how Aedan is in bed since Leli talks with me. Daylen… well, I can guess by the fact that Morrigan still lets him share a tent. Girl talk is a universal thing."

Aedan was bright red, "You tell her those things?"

Leli giggled, "Of course! It's only fair, since she does the same. How else do girls bond?"

Alistair sighed, "Why?"

"No – seriously, it's a girl thing. Morrigan would likely tell me if I asked, but I know better. Guys talk about swords and such, girls talk about sex. It's ironic, isn't it? Women are meant to be so pure and chaste around guys but we're the ones who do everything."

"What do you mean, Kadan?"

"Guys need to think they made the first move, when in reality – it's always the woman. We will purposely drop something to give a guy a reason to run after us and start talking. It's been this way as long as courting has existed. The man rarely chooses his mate when women have been manipulating it the whole time. Look at Cullen as a prime example; back when I was at Kinlock hold the first time – before Ostagar – I purposely answered the door naked when he brought the crafting supplies to the door. Sure, I'm not that attractive compared to Daylen – Cullens' former crush – but I was enough to stick in his mind. From there he was thinking of me. I pushed it farther by holding his arm while he took me to Irvings' office. Contact with someone builds a relationship – it could have ended in friendship if I hadn't been so active."

"Wait – you were after Cullen from the moment you met him?" Daylen laughed. I nodded as I rinsed my hair. "Oh yeah. Leli, how did you chase Aedan without chasing him?"

"I… may have played a bit more fragile than I really was about the stuff with Marjoline."

"Morrigan?" she chuckled, "I have no need for games – I told him my tent was cold and he offered to warm me."

"Sereda – how did you get Gorim?" she flushed, "I tripped on purpose while he was the only one around to catch me."

Alistair looked stumped, "What about me?"

"You were too shy for games. I had to be direct – telling you I'd take you to my bed when we first met. Granted, I didn't intend for us to actually ever be together – I really thought you would hold your ground or end up with Sereda."

He looked smug, "So I was outside the normal?"

Leli giggled, "It is rare to find a man who doesn't act as you expect him to."

I looked at Leli, "Should have seen him when I took him to bed with Bela – now that was unexpected. Damn, Leli; there was a reason she asked to share him."

"She also asked to keep you, Tara." Sereda laughed.

"I know how to use my tongue – and so does Alistair. But he is also quite good with his hands. I swear, he didn't even need to be male to please us. Hell, I've named him an honorary lesbian."

Leli and Sereda looked impressed as they looked to Alistair. He was bright red, "They don't… ahem… they really don't need to know this."

Sereda swore, "Was he like that the first time too?"

"Oh, there was a learning curve – but he's so eager to please that he learns quick."

Sten looked me over, "What is the point of Coupling without male to female penetration?"

"Relaxation, lower blood pressure, healthier heart, improved self-esteem, pain relief, sleep-aid – the list goes on." Sten looked stunned but thoughtful.

Daylen asked, "Why are we talking about any of this, anyway?"

"Well… why not? When you can be open with those you trust your back to, it makes it safer and easier."

Sten was the one to speak, "There is no Taboo subject to be discussed among the Qun. Knowledge is there to be learned so long as one knows their role."

"So you've said..." Alistair commented.

"Alright – I'm calling it bed time." I smiled.

"Wait! How is he – really?" Sereda asked glancing over my former Templar.

I smirked, "In 10,000 years, I have never found a man so damn good in bed."

Alistair flushed again but looked really proud too. "And the other 500 years?" Morrigan asked with a smirk.

"There was maybe… one or two. But I mean, there were 4000 years of only women in my bed, so who knows about missed opportunities?"

"Well, there is that…" Leli giggled. I shot her a wink. Aedan asked, "So he's better than Hawke – the man with the magic…ahem."

"Oh – I didn't say that. But with Hawke was different. I'd never had a male with magic before. What he did… oh, I could talk about it for years."

Daylen cursed, "I don't really want to ask, but… what did he do?"

Alistair looked curious, "Was it what you call sex magic?"

Everyone stilled. I nodded, "Oh yeah. Only he did it in a way I hadn't before. Outputting frost and heat from his cock. Talk about temperature play. Damn…"

Alistair sighed, "I can't compete with that."

"No – but you're better with your hands and… well, turns out size does matter."

Sereda shook her head, "No way he's bigger!"

"Half an inch." I grinned and dragged Alistair to our tent before anything else could be said.

When we got to Ortan Thaig, I made sure to grab the records for Orta. We also met with Ruck – who insisted I tell his mother of his death. The Deepstalkers had been avoiding us since I'd decided to let me Dragon Aura loose – meaning that, to them, a dragon was roaming the halls.

When we got to Brankas' Journal, I read it aloud, "We've found evidence today that the Anvil of the Void was not built in Ortan Thaig. We have to go south – to the Dead Trenches. The Anvil is somewhere beyond. My soldiers tell me I am mad; that the Dead Trenches are crawling with Darkspawn; that we will surely die before we find the Anvil… if we find it. I leave this here in case they are right. If I die in the Trenches, perhaps someone can yet walk past my corpse and retrieve the Anvil; for if it remains, then do we all. If I have not returned and Oghren yet lives… tell him… no, what I have to say is for his ears alone. This is my farewell."

"Branka was thinking about me – I knew she still cared. Looks like the Dead Trenches are our next stop."

Aedan looked amused, "Shame we don't have Hawke – you said he could lead us through safely, right commander?"

"You think I can't, Cousland?"

"I didn't… I mean it's what you…"

Leli giggled, "Poor Aedan – shouldn't have said anything."

I grinned at her with a wink.

The Trenches were quite warm – too warm for hot rocks, at least. We saw the marching horde and the Archdemon on the bridge turned to look at us – more to the point, it looked at me.

When it flew off, Alistair asked, "What… was that?"

"It's a challenge – one Dovah to another. It essentially said 'stop me if you can' and ran off."

"Did it… expect you to follow?" Aedan asked hesitantly.

"No – he knows I'm waiting. He's taunting me to get a rise, but it won't work."

I saw the fight with the Legion begin and ran forward to help – everyone hot on my heels as we heard one of them yell, "Stone-blind beasts! You're no nightmare to us!"

When the first wave was dead, the same dwarf, Kardol, shouted, "Let them come – it saves us the walk to their lair."

Kardol was 4'7 with a shaved head, brown beard, brown eyes, tan skin and extensive face tatts.

I sighed and let out my wings, jumping into the air. I looked down at the now stunned Darkspawn and shouted, "Yol-Toor-Shul!" fire burst from my chest and I decided Flemeth was right – the smell of burning darkspawn did nothing for the appetite.

When I landed, the Legion detachment was watching in stunned silence.

I glanced at Kardol and he said, "Atrast Vala, Warden – I've never seen one of yours in the deeps before."

I smirked, "I'm not a true Warden, but then – a fighter of Darkspawn would recognize another. It has a way of marking you."

He nodded, "It's why we I the Legion of the Dead abandon our lives; so we can face them without fear."

"Allow introductions, for a moment. I am Lady Atarah Stormlight – current commander of the Grey, though I am not an actual warden. Alistair, Aedan, Daylen, and Sereda Aeducan are my people. I have one more but she stayed I Orzammar for me."

"I'm Kardol. What are you lot doing here?"

"Collecting a Paragon – and before you ask about who put that idea there, I know for a fact there is one over there. I'm a seer."

He snorted, "The Deep Lords in the Assembly can't make up their minds, is that it?"

"They chose me to come on down here in the middle of a fucking Blight because I have ties to a former Dwarf King from another land – my uncle, the Diamond Dwarf, Magni Bronzebeard. Honestly, you'd think that he could pick – being a Dwarf made of fucking Diamond and all – but No, they want a Paragon they know!"

Kardol sighed, "If I hadn't seen your display a moment ago, I'd call you nuts for that comment."

I grinned, "What's stopping ya? I'm totally insane, you know?"

Aedan coughed. Alistair chuckled, "So you keep saying – but Crazy doesn't know it's crazy… right?"

"Usually. But admit it, my love – I must be crazy to do half the shit I do. Not to mention… there's always the whole 'I'm crazy for you' argument."

He flushed, "As always, you have a point."

Kardol laughed, "So what are you – no normal elf has purple hair or wings."

"You're right – but you're also the first to call me on it, believe it or not. I'm from another lad called Azeroth. Purple hair is usually for the Night Elves – they also have purple skin. I'm a half blood. My pale skin comes from my mothers' family – the Bloodline elves. I'm also a Dragon, hence the wings."

He laughed, "I'm really the first to call you on that?"

"Well… the hair yes. I didn't feel like fighting all those spawn – I completely regret that though. The smell does nothing for a hungry tummy except make it churn."

Daylen shrugged, "I don't smell it…"

"I'm a Dragon – I can tell you each apart by smell alone if I need to, Amell."

He flushed, "Right."

"Look – I want a bath. You and your men are welcome to join us to get clean, Kardol."

I heard excited shuffling from several men. He lifted an eyebrow, "How you gonna do that, topsider?"

"Magic, of course. Rock bath with Water from the Lava… it's heavenly." I smiled.

"Sure; you make a bath appear and we call all enjoy a soak." Oooh, he did not believe!

I made a large bath and my group all started stripping. I'd anticipated this, so I had three times more soap in each scent than anyone really needed. Most opted for the Ale or Lyrium ones, but Kardol chose the unscented.

As was normal now, I sat in front of Alistair. He was no longer quite as shy now that he was secure and used to it, but he did like playing with my hair and soaping up my back. I wasn't going to complain – he was magic with his hands as he soaped.

We called it a night after plenty of laughter and small talk.

The next morning, we set off and… only when we were getting ready to set camp again, did I hear the poem begin. We were too far for the others to hear – at least two hours away from her. It made me sick.

I was right; two hours after setting off the next day, we reached Hespith. Her poem was now loud enough for the others to hear.

First day, they come and catch everyone.

Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat.

Third day, the men are all gnawed on again.

Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate.

Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn.

Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams.

Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew.

Eighth day, we hated as she is violated.

Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin.

Now she does feast, as she's become the beast.

Now you lay and wait, for their screams will haunt you in your dreams.

The others mostly looked sick as they figured out what the poem involved. Leli whispered, "That is how they make Broodmothers?"

I nodded with my eyes closed. Hespith sounded so… lost. I told them her name and nothing more.

We approached her with caution. She was 4'4 with pale and blotchy skin – her eyes were completely white.

"What is this? An Elf? Unlikely; feeding time brings only kin and clan. I am cruel to myself. You are a dream of strangers' faces and open doors."

Leli spoke, "We are no dream – we can help you…"

She shook her head, "No – no, you can't. There is nothing left. There is body and hope but both are turning… they come. They… they vomit, violate, and chant. They scream – oh, how they scream. Then the change comes. All I could do was wish Laryn went first. I wished it upon her so I would be spared. But I had to watch; I had to see the change. How do you endure that? How did Branka endure?"

Oghren cried out, "Branka! Where is she?"

"D-do not talk of Branka, of what she did. Ancestors' preserve us, forgive me. I was her captain, and I did not stop her. Her lover and I could not turn her. Forgive her… but no, she cannot be forgiven. Not for what she did. Not for what she has become."

I couldn't say anything – not a single word as the others took over. Aedan asked, "What did she do, Hespith? What did Branka do?"

"I will not speak of her! Of what she did, of what we have become! I will not turn! I will not become what I have seen – not Laryn; not Branka."

She ran. We followed, but she was gone. Everyone watched me. I shook my head and started for the doors I saw past an Ogre. There were two of them. I used Moonfire. We heard Hespith speaking.

"She became… obsessed. That is the word, but it is not strong enough. Blessed Stone, there was nothing left in her but the Anvil. We tried to escape, but they found us… took us… turned us."

When we came out of the crypt – Bownammar – we heard her again. "The men, they kill – they are merciful. But the women… they want. They want to touch, mold, and change… until you are filled with them… They took Laryn. Made her eat the others, our friends. She tore off her husbands' face, and drink his blood…"

Even Morrigan looked ill at the descriptive words.

I found the Amulet for the Shaper proving the Legion to be noble just as Hespith spoke again, "And while she ate, she grew. She swelled and turned grey… and she smelled like them. They remade her in their image. Then… she made more of them… Broodmother."

We came around the corner – Leli threw up and Daylen wasn't far behind her. I pulled the string back on my bow, whispering a prayer for the dead in Darnassian. My arrow severed the head from Laryns neck even as Genlocks flooded the chamber. Even Shale looked a bit… distressed.

When they were dead, we saw Hespith again; on a ledge behind Laryns body.

"That's where they come from; that's why they need us… why they hate us… take us… feed us. But the true abomination is not that it occurred, but that it was allowed. Branka… my love… The stone has punished me, dream friend. I am dying of something worse than death – betrayal."

I closed my eyes as she walked off. I heard her jump… and less than 2 seconds later, I heard her squish to stone flooring. I threw up after explaining why I cried out.