Prologue: Betrayal
Chapter 3: The birth of the Shadow Warden
"So, are you going to tell me your story whilst we rest, shem?" Lyna asked the Warden who was currently watching the affect the wind had on the green scenery.
"There is nothing to say." He replied in his usual growl. This caused his companion to chuckle.
She shook her head at him, "Everyone has some form of story. If you do not wish to tell me the story of your entire life, why not just tell me about how you became a Grey Warden?"
He turned his gaze from the scenery and stared at the Elf behind the cover of his helmet. The red orbs that were his eyes visible in the darkness behind the helmet.
"Most of us do not come from great backgrounds, but if it will sate your seemingly unending appetite for my past, so be it." He growled at her.
It began four years ago, in the Deeproads. My friend since birth and I were wandering down there because we had taken a bounty for some lost treasure. We were not going to pass up the opportunity for an easy three thousand gold. We hated the Deeproads, it was everything we didn't like. Dark, closed in, Darkspawn-filled, if you could walk five feet without running into some form of danger you could consider yourself blessed by the Maker himself.
We were nothing but peasants in the eyes of rich folk and warriors alike. We wore simple clothes, fought with chipped and cheap swords. The sons of farmers. It was no surprise to us when we met the Dwarf we worked for that he laughed at us and said we had four days until he decided we were dead. The bastard didn't even have our money ready, and I figured as much. The entire deal seemed off but my friend demanded we take it.
We had been wandering the Deeproads for well over four days, we never found the damned Thaig he was talking about. It was beginning to look more and more like a set up, but who would go to such lengths to set up two peasants? We came to a crossroads, and something felt off. The air was as cold as ice, and something about it seemed to be choking us. Leeching our lives away slowly each moment we took a breath.
"Well this place seems sinister." Henry stated. Like me at the time, he didn't have any real training aside from the hard work of farming. Our bodies were strong, but they were nothing compared to a true warrior's. He had long black hair and a patchy beard. I always told him that look didn't suit him, he was more of a short hair, no beard kind of guy.
I sighed as I walked in the middle of the crossroads, evidence of a recent battle was everywhere, "Yeah, really? I had no idea. It's not like there are corpses of Darkspawn, Dwarves, and Humans alike. Keep an eye out, either the Darkspawn are killing each other, or we've something bigger than Darkspawn on our hands. The wounds are too violent even for Darkspawn - prolonged, and there are humans down here. Something is off."
"Oh sod off, Logan." My friend said with a laugh as he walked up to my side.
Before we could move on, a bright purple flame bursted to life right in front of us. A tall, mostly nude woman with hair of bright purple flames appeared from the fire and walked towards me. I've heard of demons, and was certain that this was one of them. Something about her, however, sucked me in - ensnared me.
"Oh my dear Logan…" She said seductively, her form changing into that of tall, beautiful blonde woman. "Don't you remember me from when we were young?" She asked.
"N-No, I don't. I am sorry, my lady." I replied as I unknowingly stepped closer to her.
My friend tried to stop me, but I didn't notice him. No, I was too focused on this enchanting woman in front of my very eyes. I reached out to touch her when I heard my friend's voice break through what ever spell this woman put me under.
"Logan! She's a bloody demon! Don't do something you'll regret!" He warned.
I protested, "She's no demon, Henry, look at her! She's beautiful…" Saying that earned me a long, passionate kiss from the lady.
"She's got a tail, hooves, horns, fire-hair… I'm pretty sure she's a damn demon mate!" He shouted at me, what I thought was my new lover looked me in the eyes.
As tears poured down her face, she asked me to kill the one who was offending her. I turned around facing Henry, knowing now that the woman, or rather that the demon was trying to cast a spell on me. I readied my sword, and I could feel the demon's sinister smile, it thought it had succeeded in enchanting me into doing it's bidding. Oh, how it was wrong. Whether or not it sensed my magical nature, I did not know. However, it was caught off guard when my flaming sword went right through its chest. It let out a gasp, wrapping its arms around me.
"Well… done… you are not like the others…" The feminine voice whispered in my ear before I felt her body slip from my blade.
I looked over to see Henry frowning, "Damn it… Logan, this isn't going to look good." He said with worry in his voice.
I slowly turned around and looked down at the body. I felt a wave of panic and fear slam into me like an Ogre's fist. The corpse of a Dwarf woman was laying on the ground where the demon would be, a hole in her chest with scorch marks all around and inside it.
"No. That's not possible - Dwarves don't live in fear of demons or magic. They are immune to it. That's what I was always told!" I said, panic thick in my voice.
It wasn't long before we heard the sounds of clanking armor, accompanied by the voice of our employer, "There they are! Just like they told me they would be! Get them!" he shouted.
I turned around and saw the large group of charging Dwarves. Both me and Henry had the same reaction - we dropped our weapons and got to our knees. We saw no mercy from the Dwarves. It wasn't long until I saw Henry get killed, an axe decapitated him. I screamed loudly, until my throat and lungs ached, it was my time. I felt a sharp pain enter my chest, and what happened next, I do not know. Darkness devoured my vision.
I woke up in a dark part of the Deeproads, if it was even the Deeproads I do not know to this day. All I can say was it was underground. My eyes slowly opened, they were heavy as if someone placed anvils on top of them.
"Good, you awaken." I heard that familiar feminine voice say, "You showed me I cannot possess you, yet you are strong. I've decided to take you as my champion. Against others of my kind, as well as the inhabitants of your world. Rise, and I will train you in the forbidden arts, together we will be powerful!"
I sighed as I slowly got to my feet. "I will not fight you, as long as you promise me the power to destroy the entirety of Orzammar." I growled, clenching my fists tightly. The betrayal of the Dwarves still fresh in my mind.
"Oh yes… and more… No one will stand in your way, Logan. You and I will become conquerors! Rulers of Thedas. Of the world! Of the Fade!" The Demon offered, causing me to laugh maniacally.
"Good. You know a way up to the surface without having to deal with those bearded empty headed creatures?" I asked her curiously.
"Mmhmm… we're in the tunnel right now, my dear." She responded.
I looked around the room now, trying to find the location of my new master. Soon I saw a small cat shift into the demon I saw once before, and defeated. I grumbled quietly to myself, how did she… or it do that?
"What you see before you is my… 'real' form. Otherwise, I can show any mortal what they want to see. Don't bother keeping secrets from me, or shy away from asking me questions. I know your mind, and through our connection I can read everything you think, feel. Though do not worry, as much as you are mine… I am yours…" She said in that seductive voice of her's as she approached me slowly.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I'd be lying if I said being that close to her didn't spark a hunger from deep inside of me. "Let us go to the surface to find me a suitable body. Then, my dear, we can begin everything. Find a Templar, get his armor, infiltrate that tower in the middle of the lake and find me a body you like, yet a body that is strong and capable." She said, licking my neck before vanishing from my sight.
'Was that real?' I thought to myself quietly, looking down at the scar upon my bare chest. 'As real as death.' She responded, the fact it seemed she was in my head worried me. However, I simply shrugged it off as I made my way to the surface.
'You know, you haven't said as much as a word to me for the past few days.' The Demon said in my mind, sounding rather unamused. I sighed and kept on walking, but it was no use. She kept on persisting, not leaving me alone to the glorious silence I once was able to retreat to. 'That's probably because I have nothing to speak about, Vanessa.' I thought back, anger growing within me.
We came to the small village next to the castle of Redcliffe. It was no surprise I felt a power drawing me towards this location - many apostates head to Redcliffe when they leave the Circle Tower. It made me curious what the world would label me as if they knew my position. I was a mage who managed to evade the Chantry and their pet dogs, having been able to hide my magic at a young age. On top of that, right now I currently had a demon who constantly liked pestering me. Whether it be in my mind, or outside of it, Vanessa loved being everything but silent.
The village was a fair size, though I have seen larger. Like Lothering, though that was surrounded by countless farms. The source of power was acting like a beacon to me, I knew exactly where in the village it was. The tavern. Who would have thought? I saw a mouse scurry by my feet.
"Squeak, squeak." It said in it's high-pitched voice, stopping to gaze up at me. I shook my head at it.
With a sigh I continued walking, "You're not fooling me, Vanessa. Let's get you your precious body and get on with our lives." I grumbled. I knew it was her, because most mice do not usually want to be found by larger, more scarier beings than themselves.
I opened the wooden door to the tavern and was instantly greeted by the sight of a woman trying to hide herself in a corner table. 'Well, she's not suspicious at all.' I thought to myself with a grin as I slowly approached her. She saw that she had caught my interest and instantly stood up, preparing to attack. She must have thought me to be an agent of the Templars, or something of that sort. The door slammed shut, and was frozen solid by a thick layer of ice. No one would be getting in or out as long as that spell was active.
The other patrons of the tavern were panicking at this point, trying to find a way out. They would find none. 'Release your rage, my love...' Vanessa said, 'Just do not release too much, I want to have fun with you too.' I can't even remember what day it was since we left the Deeproads that she had taken to calling me her 'love' when in truth I was far from it. I unsheathed my newly acquired sword that a bandit so willingly gave me. Flames ignited on the blade and those with weapons, one man, charged in to defend the others. The brave soul was met with a fiery sword piercing his heart.
I grew annoyed by the screaming and cries of the peasants. Without warning I set them all ablaze, walking over to my target as their screams of agony died off one by one. She tried to resist what I was doing to her, what Vanessa was doing to her, but I…
"But you what?" Lyna asked him as he stopped the story suddenly. She had been captivated by the tale, it interested her greatly. It was far more better than her own petty conscription tale.
Shadow shook his head, "What do you think? She was possessed, that girl died because of my foolishness. I let emotions control me and I ended up slaughtering many women and children because of that dreaded wench." He growled, anger filling his voice for the first time since Lyna had met him. "I killed her eventually before I was arrested for being what I am. A monster - nothing but darkness. Before they could take me in for either my execution or slow rot in a prison, the Grey Wardens invoked the Rite of Conscription on me. Happy? You have my story. Let's move, daylight is burning."
Lyna nodded and quickly gathered her things, ready to walk in a minute's time. Her curiosity was satisfied, at least for now. She knew more about the Shadow that she followed. It made her feel accomplished, yet at the same time made her feel sad for the man. Perhaps she could talk to him more about it as they grow to know each other and help him. Only time would tell.
Author's Note: Well pretties, after so long I finally got around to finishing and polishing up this beauty. What originally was supposed to be the Mage Origins, well... as you can see it turned out to be half of Shadow's instead. Been working hard lately, finally got around to this and am feeling rather accomplished. I think next time will be either the Mage or the City Elf Origins, so be prepared for that. However, don't hold your breath. I've no clue when it will be released, and if takes as long as this one did, you'd be long gone. I don't want that and I don't think you do either.
In other news, I plan on starting another Fanfiction I've had in the works for awhile now. Well, I've had two in the works for awhile now. I had a test series set in F.E.A.R., but now that I got my format and style down, I am thinking I will remake that. The new story (don't worry this one will be just as active as the other), will be either taking place in the F.E.A.R., or Lord of the Rings universes. If you're interested in either of those universes, keep watch. Who knows when they'll pop up!
Thank you for reading and making it this far. We've such a long journey ahead of us, and I don't know about you guys, but I'm excited to get to know our Exiles more. See ya in the next chapter!