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Chapter 21: The Battle of Denerim

We have gathered all the forces we can. The darkspawn horde is sure to reach the capital before us, and so we must race to Denerim as quickly as we can. The lives of many thousands hang in the balance. We must not forsake them. You have gathered an army to replace the one lost at Ostagar. Let us pray that it will be enough.

Malcolm and Alistair are at the very front of the army, and as they climb a hill, they can see smoke rising from the capital and the archdemon flying over it. Malcolm and look at each other before Alistair climbs the steps of the nearby windmill and addresses his army. "Before us stands the might of the darkspawn horde!" He holds his arm up, pointing at Denerim. "Gaze upon them now, but fear them not!" Malcolm walks up the steps as Halia joins him. "The man and woman beside me here have risen to the ranks of the Grey Wardens, one a native of Ferelden and the other one of the Dalish elves. They are proof that glory is within reach of us all!" They join Alistair as he continues. "They have survived despite the odds, and without them, none of us would be here!" Alistair walks down the stairs to stand at the front of the armies, with Malcolm and Halia beside him. "Today, we save Denerim! Today, we avenge the death of my brother, King Cailan!" He draws his shield and Malcolm does the same. "But most of all, today we show the Grey Wardens that we remember and honor their sacrifice!" He draws his sword and turns while pointing it at Denerim. "For Ferelden! For the Grey Wardens!" Malcolm, Halia and the army all draw their weapons as the four Wardens and their group lead the charge to the capital.

The army charges at the darkspawn outside of the gates, the initial clash as the two armies meet resulting in an immediate loss of lives on both sides with most of the losses afterwards being the darkspawn. Over the small battle, the archdemon roars and the darkspawn start running inside and Riordan gives off a battle cry which is reciprocated by the others. Malcolm leads the army through the gates into the courtyard and he looks at the darkspawn that are gathering. The army waits behind him as he closes his eyes and brings his bloodied blade in front of his face. A burst of flame erupts from the crossguard and travel up his blade before he lowers it and slowly opens his eyes, the blue mist slowly escaping his eyes. He takes one step then another, and another before he starts charging at the darkspawn giving off a loud battle cry and is followed by the army. He shield bashes a Genlock onto the ground while parrying an attack from a Hurlock Alpha before throwing a bolt of lightning at it with enough power and force to launch it backwards dead. He turns his head as a different Hurlock Alpha charges with greatsword, which he uses his shield to deflect the blow and uses the opening to stab it in the chest. He pulls the sword out and inverts his grip and as lightning coils down the blade he thrusts it behind him, getting a Genlock in the face. He gets launched off his feet, letting go of his sword, by yet another Hurlock Alpha. He stands up and blocks the next blow with his shield before jumping back some and sending a wave of lighting at it and other darkspawn that were close to it, killing them. He turns to look for his sword before finding it, but before he can head towards it, a firebolt flies in front of his face. He stumbles backwards and turns to the side and sees the Genlock Emissary. It throws another firebolt and Malcolm raises his shield and the impact causes him to take a few steps back. He brings his hands together to his side and throws them forward, unleashing a big ball of lightning, which travels at the Emissary. It spins its arms around in a circle in front of it, creating a sort of magical see-through field, which causes the ball to dissipate when it hits. Malcolm curses under his breath before he turns and dashes for his sword then he slides the last of it to dodge another firebolt. He quickly stands up before grabbing one of his daggers on his waists and throws it, it impaling the Genlock in the head. He pulls out his sword and slices the head off of a normal Hurlock.

Halia pulls her string back and lets off an arrow, it goes through a Hurlock's head. Next to her, Leliana is doing the same thing, the two archers working together hitting far off targets that are running to join the fighting. Eventually the fighting ends and the army spreads out to make sure the area is clear while Malcolm and the group gather together, and Riordan approaches them. "Good, you are all here. We're doing better than I hoped."

Sten sticks Asala's tip into the ground. "That will change quickly."

Oghren holds his greatsword on his shoulder. "Bloody nug runners! We're outnumbered three to one!"

Wynne looks a little worn out as she pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "What are we to do now, Riordan? You have a plan, I assume?"

He nods. "The army will not last long, so we'll need to move quickly to reach the archdemon." He looks at Alistair, Halia and Malcolm. "I suggest you three go and take no more than two others into the city. Everyone else can remain here to prevent more darkspawn from entering Denerim on our tails."

Malcolm nods as he adjusts his grips on his sword and shield. "How are we going to fight a flying dragon?"

"We're going to need to reach a high point in the city…" He turns his head and looks at the tall tower that's deeper in the city. "I'm thinking the top of Fort Drakon might work."

"The top of…?" Alistair shakes his head. "You want to draw the dragon's attention?"

Riordan looks down before looking back at the group. "We have little choice, though I warn you that as soon as we engage the beast, it will call all its generals to help it." He looks deeper into the city for a while. "I can sense two generals in Denerim. You may wish to seek them out before going to Fort Drakon."

Leliana nods as she checks her arrows before putting them in her quiver. "I'm sure that if we did slay those generals, it would stop the darkspawn in the city from doing a lot of harm."

Riordan crosses his arms. "It may also waste resources trying to find them. The decision is up to you."

Malcolm looks into the city. "Do you know where these generals are? I'm just starting to sense the darkspawn, I think."

He shakes his head. "Neither of them are near Fort Drakon currently, but there are too many darkspawn here to tell you more. Who do you wish to take with you?"

Malcolm turns and looks at everyone. "As much as I would like to take you all… Alistair, Halia, Leliana and Morrigan will come."

They all nod as Malcolm looks back at Riordan, who then nods as well. "Anyone else will need to remain here and assist in keeping more darkspawn from coming in the gates behind us. Who will lead them?"

Malcolm looks over his shoulder. "Sten, keep them out and our forces alive."

Sten gives his head a little bow. "Very well, Kadan."

Riordan nods. "Good." He looks at the younger Wardens. "Nothing you have done has prepared you for what you face now. May the Maker watch over you, brothers and sister." He turns and runs off into the city.

Malcolm turns to the group and Wynne speaks up. "So this is it then. All that we've been through has led up to this." She looks at Halia and Malcolm. "Whatever happens now… to any of us, know that I am proud-infinitely proud-to have called you both friends. Farewell, and may the Maker watch over you two." Halia and Malcolm smile before she heads off to watch the gates.

Oghren adjusts his sword. "So. This is it."

Malcolm nods as he looks at the dwarf. "It has been an honor to fight with you, Oghren."

He leans his head forward and tilts it a little. "Honor?" He smiles as he moves his head back. "Nobody's looked at me and seen honor in a long time, Warden. You took in a drunken disgrace of an Orzammar warrior. You gave me a reason to fight and the will to keep going. You helped me find the one woman in the sodding world who might put up with me, and you helped me get past Branka so I could have someone new. I owe you a lot, Warden. I consider it a fine honor to die for you and your cause."

Malcolm smiles and holds out his arm for him. "The honor is mine, my friend."

Oghren smiles and clasps his arm. "Let the stone run red from the blood of heroes. Today I will be the warrior you taught me to be." Oghren gives his arm a small shake before letting go and heads off towards the gate.

Shale rolls her shoulders. "So the archdemon is next, is it? Part of me is glad that it has decided to leave me here at the gate, but the other part is… apprehensive? I would almost say that I feel concern for something other than myself, even maybe for a soft, squishy companion… but that would be silly, wouldn't it?"

She walks away from the group but stops closer to Malcolm as he chuckles. "Thank you, Shale. I appreciate the thought."

"And… do try not to get swallowed whole. If the beast were to fly about afterwards and poop it out, irony would dictate that it would land on me. I couldn't take it." She turns towards the gates and looks over her shoulder. "Well, then. I suppose this is it? Have fun storming the castle." She walks off.

Goliath walks up to Malcolm and whines worrying as he sits down at his feet. Malcolm smiles and kneels down, putting his sword on the ground as he slowly rubs Goliath's head. "Don't worry, boy. I'll be back, I swear." Goliath barks happily and nuzzles his head against Malcolm's hand before he heads off towards Oghren.

Sten pulls his sword up onto his shoulder as Malcolm stands up. "Are you ready? We have reached the battlefield at last."

Malcolm nods. "Thank you, Sten."

"I have done nothing." He points at Malcolm. "You have carried us this far. Do not doubt that." Malcolm nods before Sten walks off.

Zevran puts his swords on his back and crosses his arms. "So here we part ways. You do not wish me to stand beside you, in the end?"

Malcolm smiles. "Not this time, my friend."

Zevran nods. "Let me wish you well, then. And may we shake hands again in victory when all of this is done." He reaches up and pulls out his swords before heading towards the gates.

Morrigan walks past Malcolm, stopping near him. "So we head into the city together. As it should be." She looks at him. "Once this is done, no matter how it turns out I will be gone. You are aware of this, yes?"

Malcolm looks down before looking at her. "Then let me thank you now, for what you've done."

She sighs and looks down. "Allow me to say only one thing before we go." She looks up at Malcolm, visibly worried and concerned for him. "I knew nothing of friendship before we met. And I will always consider you such. Live well, my friend. Live gloriously." She shakes her head before returning to her normal look. "Now let us see this finally done. The archdemon awaits." They both nod before she walks away towards the city and waits for the others.

Leliana walks up to Malcolm, putting her bow on her back. "So, this is it… this is the end. We've come so far. It's strange knowing that all our fates will be decided in a matter of hours. We stand on the precipice, before the greatest battle of our age… I wonder if the heroes of old ever felt like this."

Malcolm puts his shield on his back and stabs his sword in the ground, in the cracks between the stones, before gently grabbing her hands and he looks into her eyes. "Are you afraid? You don't have to come if you don't want to."

She smiles before shaking her head and moves one of her hands to his cheek. "I am not afraid, Mal. We go to fight for a good cause and there is nowhere else I would rather be than at your side. You are my dearest friend and my love; you lit my path through darkness and I will stand with you, to whatever end."

Malcolm smiles and leans his head closer to hers as his free hand reaches up and slowly rubs her cheek. "No matter what happens, I just want you to know. Je t'aime de tout mon coeur."

She smiles before leaning in and kisses him deeply for a bit before pulling back a little. "This day, we will forge a legend of our own."

She pulls away and heads towards Morrigan while Malcolm watches her for a while before he grabs his sword and pulls his shield off his back and Alistair looks between Malcolm and Halia. "Before we head after the archdemon, I want to say something." He looks down for a bit before looking back up. "Either we all die trying to kill it, or one of us dies making the final blow. Either way, all three of us aren't walking out of here. So I just want you both to know that it's been an honor fighting by your sides."

Malcolm smiles and holds out his arm. "I feel the same. You've been a good friend."

Alistair smiles and grabs his arm, giving it a small shake before looking at Halia, letting go. "Halia… I…"

She reaches up and kisses him deeply, cutting him off. After a bit she pulls back. "I love you."

"I love you too."

She looks at Malcolm and Alistair. "I never thought that I would call one human a brother, and another my love. Thank you both for helping me get over my anger for humans."

Alistair smiles before looking at the two. "Now, let's find this archdemon, then, and kick its ass."

Malcolm nods before the three meets with Morrigan and Leliana before they head off. They first stop off at the market area and deal with the darkspawn there, including one of the two generals. They are on the bridge heading into the alienage when a roar from above causes them to look up and see the archdemon flying towards them. Malcolm pushes Leliana towards the alienage while yelling, "Run!" The other start running with Malcolm behind them and the archdemon swoops in. Malcolm dives at the last second as the archdemon destroys the bridge then starts flying away. Malcolm gets up with the help of Leliana. "Damn, that was close." The group helps Shianni and the elves kill the darkspawn and the general in the alienage. The group then starts the long trek toward the Palace District. When they arrive, they hear the roar of the archdemon as it flies low and they lose sight of it before they watch it fly higher. They watch as it slows down in the air before diving back down towards the city and hits its back on a ruined tower or building on purpose. Malcolm realizes that Riordan might be on it, trying to kill it as it flies higher towards top of the fort, part of its wing tears open and a faint object falls while the archdemon 'lands' on the top of the tower of Fort Drakon.

Malcolm closes his eyes and looks away, while Alistair looks at him. "Don't tell me that was…"

Malcolm slowly opens his eyes as he looks back at the fort. "It had to be Riordan…"

"Then…"

He looks at the group. "Then it is up to us." He turns back and leads the group into the palace district before heading to the fort, clearing all the darkspawn in their path. Eventually they stop at the doors to Fort Drakon and Malcolm shakes his head. "Never thought I would come back here." He lifts up a boot and kicks the door open before leading them inside. They take their time clearing the fort before they stand at the doors to the roof. Malcolm takes a deep breath before kicking those doors open and the group rush down the tunnel. As they near the end, they could hear the archdemon roaring and they see a man flying before hitting the ground hard enough to leave blood splats. They get out on the roof and look over to see the archdemon and soldiers, some with swords and shields and others with bows. The archdemon swipes and kills some soldiers while the archers shoot arrows at it, causing it grab one in its mouth and knocking a second down. It squeezes the one in its mouth for a bit before throwing him off the tower. It then slams its claws onto the archer on the ground, killing him before bellowing its purple fire at the others, setting them all on fire. It then looks at the group, particularly the Wardens and roars and unfurls its wings, showing the massive tear in its right wing.

Malcolm readies himself before darkspawn starts swarming out of the other doorways. He looks behind him at the group, nodding to them while internally praying to the Maker that Morrigan's ritual works as she says. He turns back to face the archdemon before he starts running, yelling "Keep them off me." Alistair twirls his sword before charging at the darkspawn while Leliana pulls out her daggers and runs at a different group, spinning and dancing around the darkspawn as she kills them. Halia uses her arrows to pick off the more dangerous Alphas and Emissaries while Morrigan uses her staff to hit those that are close enough and uses her magic on others.

Malcolm slices and shocks his way through the forces in front of him. One Hurlock Alpha grabs his shield, and he lets go as his sword plunges into the head. He pulls his sword out before charging the archdemon, sending out a lightning ball to interrupt its attempt of setting him on fire. It raises its head before reaching down to try and grab him, but he jumps to the side then jumps and grabs onto the dragon's neck. He does a series of light slashes, unable to put more power into it as he's more focused on holding on while the archdemon tries to throw him off. He waits for a bit before inverting his grip on his sword then he plunges it up to the crossguard into its neck. The archdemon roars in pain and furiously tries to shake him off. He manages to hold on for a while before a very violent shake causes him to hit his head on the scales, which loosened his grips enough to get thrown off and leave his sword in the neck. He braces himself as he lands and rolls on the floor and he slowly tries to get up, his arms shaking as they lift him up. He pants as he gets up to a knee before he looks over at the archdemon, which is currently slumped down on the floor, possibly due to him hitting a vital spot by luck. Malcolm stands up and pants some more before he clenches his fists and narrows his eyes. He starts charging with renew energy and without stopping he pulls out a greatsword that was impaled in a body. The archdemon raises its head and pulls it back before thrusting it forward in a final attempt to kill him. Malcolm slides underneath while using the greatsword to slice down its neck and while it roars in pain, he gets up and out of the way of the falling head. He breaths heavily as he looks down at it before reversing the greatsword and raises it up above his head, letting out blue mist from his eyes and a loud yell. As the blade plunges into the head, a bright beam of light shoots out into the sky and both Malcolm's and the archdemon's body start glowing. Malcolm's body shakes as he lets out a yell of pain up into the air. He tries to focus and starts pulling the greatsword out before an explosion and colored shockwave throws him back.