Battle at Denerim

Content:
Rating: Teen
Flavor: Adventure/Drama
Language: yes
Violence: yes
Nudity: no
Sex: no
Other: none

Author's Notes:

Quick, run from Denerim to Redcliffe to get your army so you can... run right back to Denerim! ARGH!

Recap:

Yeah, that about sums it up.

Battle at Denerim

==#==

The last couple of miles of the forced march were taken at a jog. Not by any centralized order, but because the soldiers could see the pall of black smoke hanging over the city of Denerim. Outside the city, it was nearly black as night. With sunset approaching, it would only get darker. Weariness was replaced by the adrenaline-driven need to hurry.

A ragged band of city guards met the army vanguard outside the southern gate, reporting to the Wardens and commanders. Bannon threw a map onto the ground and hunkered down. The commanders of each contingent gathered around, looking.

"The breach in the wall is here, ser." The guardsman pointed to a spot almost due south of the Denerim Estate.

Why hadn't they broken through the gate? Bannon guessed you didn't need to when you had a huge mad Tainted pissed-off dragon on your side. He could only pray the Alienage wall held up better.

"All right, listen up. We need to try to get ahead of them, turn them around and drive them back. Now I want a contingent of royal guards with every unit, soldiers who know the city.

"One will take the Dalish and dwarves up to Arghest Bridge." He pointed at a bridge crossing the middle of the Drakon river, west of the Alienage and Denerim Estate. "Sweep east to the Marketplace. There is an open area, your archers -" he nodded to Dakorien-" will have clear shots."

The Dalish Hunter nodded once.

To Kardol, Bannon said, "Take the dwarves south from the market, across this bridge, and into the alienage. Help the elves there."

"Shouldn't the Dalish fight alongside the elves?" Alistair asked quietly by his side.

Bannon just shook his head. He knew there would be racial tension between the elves and humans, but sending the Dalish into the alienage...? No, the 'flat ears' and 'leaf ears' would not get along smoothly. Dwarves didn't care about elves, one way or the other, and vice versa. Besides, the dwarves only had infantry, and the city elves were best versed with bow and arrow.

"The human troops, go straight up towards the alienage south wall. Hopefully, that will slow them down. Push towards the southeast. Mages and Templars will accompany them."

Irving said, "We will need a place to set up a healing circle."

"You can use the Denerim Estate. It has its own walls, and it's central to the south side, the alienage, and the market."

"Where will the Grey Wardens be?" Greagoir asked.

Bannon looked up, stood. He turned towards the city as if tracing the beacon of a lighthouse. "The Grey Wardens will be hunting the Archdemon."

==#==

The leaders dispersed to give orders. Bannon stopped Teagan for a moment and asked him to send Anselm from his troops. The Redcliffe elf could be his personal runner and messenger. Then Bannon and Alistair met with Riordan and their motley crew.

"All right, Sten, this is the moment you've been waiting so patiently for. Go out into the thick of the horde and start killing."

Sten hefted his sword. "Asala is thirsty for darkspawn blood." The qunari actually looked... excited?

"Shale, see if you can keep up with him."

"Keep up? Pah. I shall surpass him easily."

"Leliana?"

"I will liaise with the Dalish."

Bannon nodded. The Bearer of the Twig was the only human with some pull, there. He turned to his mage. "Wynne?"

"You will need me for healing and support."

Bannon glanced at Alistair. The knight pursed his lips. The elf said to Wynne. "We'll be moving too fast. Stay with the mages."

"Very well." She turned to Morrigan.

"I will go with the Wardens."

Bannon clenched his jaw. "Is that... safe?" he managed. If she got herself killed, that would negate this whole... quickened seed trap within her.

She shrugged icily. "If not, I can always fly away."

"Fine. Oghren?"

"Where's the most fighting gonna be?"

"South side, with the human troops."

"All right. I'll show Horny and Rocky whose score is the biggest." He fondled his axe.

Bannon shook his head, then glanced at his partner in crime. Zevran winked at him. Yes, they were a good influence. Alistair just rolled his eyes heavenwards.

"All right, this is it." Bannon looked at each of his companions. "What we've been working towards. Good luck, and godspeed."

Leliana added, "Andraste's blessing on us all."

"Amen."

They dispersed. Bannon trotted to where Riordan stood, staring off across the city skyline. The old Warden trembled. Bannon realized he himself was tensing to avoid showing tremors.

"We're heading in with the troops aiming for the alienage," he said.

"Yes," Riordan responded. "We will want to find high ground." He blinked and turned to them. "Go to your people. I will strike the killing blow, as promised." His dark eyes met theirs in a silent farewell.

Bannon was about to open his mouth and tell him about Morrigan's plan to save him from the Slayer's Fate, but he all-too-clearly realized she could be lying about the whole thing. He didn't have the heart to get Riordan's hopes up.

Alistair said, "We will remember. Ferelden will remember your sacrifice."

A sad smile pulled at the corners of Riordan's mouth. "Join me, Brothers."

"In kicking some ass!" Bannon made up his own impromptu response.

That prompted a laugh. "Just so, mes amis!"

==#==

They made good time, and met very few darkspawn on their roundabout route to the market. They did find several clusters of refugees fleeing the city, and diverted them to the western gate.

The Archdemon circled north in a long figure eight. Bannon's heart leapt into his throat as it swooped over the alienage, but it waited to unleash its fiery breath on the south quarter.

That part of the city was the poorer district. Many homes had wood construction, and soon the grey dark clouds were lit up by the blaze.

"Are you sure we should have split up?" Alistair wondered.

"The mages can handle fire."

A bellow from ahead caught their attention. Standing across the bridge was a giant horned darkspawn.

"Troll!" Bannon yelled at the same time Alistair yelled, "Ogre!" The knight glanced at him. "It's an ogre."

"Whatever! Fall back," the elf called out to the troops, "and split up! Do not get in front of it! Wait for it to charge."

He and Alistair dashed forward to bait the thing into their trap.

"You remember how this goes?"

"Yeah, just like the Tower of Ishal."

"Hopefully better!"

The Wardens mock-charged into the bridge, then fled as the beast lowered its head and charged. They ran through the gauntlet they had set up, and the ogre was cut and smashed along its legs, fletched with feathers along its neck and shoulders.

The creature suddenly stopped, reared with a bellow, clawing at the sky. It teetered as everyone drew back further, then began to topple backwards.

Zevran vaulted over its horns, riding down on its chest. With barely a bobble, he trotted down its torso and lightly jumped to the ground. "And that," he said with a twirl of his blades, "is how you kill an ogre!"

"Wow!" said Anselm.

"Do not encourage him," Morrigan grumbled.

The troops quickly crossed the bridge and turned east. They met more panicked refugees. "Ogres!" they yelled. "There's ogres in the marketplace!"

"Goldana!" Alistair yelped. "Is she with you? Has anyone seen the laundress?"

But the refugees streamed by, with no answers.

"Let's go," the Templar snapped, and began jogging.

"Maybe," Morrigan opined, "you should have brought some taller warriors." The dwarves gave her the stink-eye. "With bigger weapons than arrows." The Dalish frowned.

Bannon turned to Anselm. "Go to the south quarter and find Sten and Shale. Tell them there are ogres in the market. -Better yet, tell them each one is worth ten points."

The youth nodded and took off back the way they'd come.

"We have blades," Dakorien was grumbling to Morrigan. He shot a venomous look at Bannon as well.

"The fight will be won, by all or none," Leliana said. "Morrigan speaks plainly, not to offend, but to point out truths."

Bannon reminded everyone, "Just stay out from in front of the ogres. And don't come up behind them - they kick. Stick to the flanks."

They ran to catch up with Alistair, then hurriedly split into squads to separate and slay the band of ogres.

"How did they get here?" Alistair wondered aloud. Bannon kept his fears of the horde breaking the alienage wall and storming through his home to himself. Right now, they had this mess in front of them to deal with.

==X==