9:30 Guardian 2nd
Spiders. Who's idea was it to include GIANT ASS SPIDERS in Dragon Age? Seriously. Seriously.
I'm going to have nightmares for weeks.
We had to trek through a forest path, diverging our path away from the tower and toward Soldier's Peak. As such, a group of us scouted up front in case there were any bandits ahead of us. It consisted of Sten, Alistair, Leliana, Alfred, Eren, and I. We had a good pace going. Most of the trees were pine trees and were still mostly green even in winter. As such, the ground wasn't as wet as it was in the plains.
It was still creepy though. Every now and then I would see some wildlife, fennec foxes scurrying about, some small hares creeping here and then, and Alfred found tracks to a pack of wolves. Leliana had her bow and arrows out in case she found a clear shot at any wildlife.
"If only there was a clean shot…" Leliana mumbled.
"We are here to scout not to hunt." Sten stated.
"There's no harm in doing both at the same time." Alistair chuckled. Sten grumbled at that. I saw something twinkle on the path that wasn't snow or water. I went up to the group and stopped Eren. I crouched down and noticed a clear wire.
"Traps. That means an ambush is waiting ahead." Eren deduced. I got my dagger and cleanly cut the wire. Nothing triggered and I let out a sigh of relief. We continued on and found footsteps clearly marked past the trees. We all took out our weapons and Eren ordered Alfred to go back and warn the others.
We followed the footsteps to the beginning of a bandit camp. Only there weren't any bandits anywhere. Their tents were smashed, fire was put out all of a sudden, and we found a dismembered body. We put our weapons away since we had no one to fight.
"There was something that got rid of everyone. A bear maybe?" Alistair wondered, looking at the camp.
"Bears are giant creatures and would have left their mark on the ground but there are no such marks." Sten said.
"But there are marks on the ground." Leliana hummed. I did see something glint on a tree. Curiosity killed the cat. I got closer to it and realized what I was seeing. Then I heard a hissing noise and looked up. I fucking screamed. That alerted the others as well as dropping more giant spiders around us. I backed up into a tree, still screaming my head off.
I was breathing erratically. I felt faint and dizzy. One spider noticed my distressed and scurried closer to me. I couldn't stop screaming and my throat was starting to seriously hurt me. Sten came up and squished its abdomen with his sword and guts went everywhere. It took everything I had not to faint. Then I saw fireballs and lightning shot in the battle and all the spiders were dead on the ground. Eren came over and helped me up. My knees were weak and I felt like vomiting. Eren rubbed his face.
"We really need to work on your fear of spiders." Eren said.
"I can't help it!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. "I just…ugh! I hate spiders…" I moaned.
"Missy we're going to fight more spiders, you're going to have to get used to them." Derek said. I moaned and shook my head.
"Morrigan, I'm going to need you for mental training." Eren said to her as she focused on a cup of jewels around the camp.
"What?!" We both shouted.
"You heard me. Think of it as strength training." Eren smirked.
"Why do I have to train a frightened child with an ability that is so rare that most cannot even learn it? Tis foolish." Morrigan huffed.
"Because 'this,'" He waved to all of me. "Is not what we want in a battle. She will only hinder us." Eren explained.
"Wow, thank you so much for that confidence boost." I deadpanned.
"On the next camp, I will oversee your training." Eren said. I moaned and hit my head on the trunk of the tree.
We scanned through the camp and found weapons, valuables, and coin. We trade what we found with Levi and Bodahn for coin. Morrigan seemed to keep most of her jewelry. At least this gave us some good bartering items. Sten found a small painting he seemed to take a great measure of interest in. Wynne found some alchemical ingredients for stronger potions. Alistair found a better sword and Talen some enchanted runes that we could use. Zevran found another leather suit of armor that had leggings and preferred to change out of his own outfit for a warmer experience. Derek didn't want anything besides a rare bottle of alcohol we found.
After clearing what we could from the camp, we left what we couldn't carry and got back on the road. I was left out of the scouting party and back in the wagon with Wynne who forced me to drink some elfroot tea. It tasted differently from a potion. Instead of tasting like honey and grass, it tasted slightly like sourgrass with a hint of mint.
"That should ease your throat for now. I recommend not speaking for a few days though to calm it. You really did cause some tearing." Wynne said.
"Why are you so afraid of spiders anyway? I get that they're creepy but the way you acted, it was like it nearly killed you one time." Talen wondered.
"There have been events were giant spiders have strayed into human civilization but most tend to stay in deep ruins or the deep roads where the fade is weaker than usual." Morrigan mentioned while keeping an eye on her grimoire. All the mages were in the wagon. Funny.
"It was a childhood fear. I found a huge one when I was going to the bathroom." I explained.
"At your weakest." Talen nodded.
"Then as I was taking a bath, it was on my scrubby and it crawled up my arm." I went further into detail.
"And so the fear has stayed on your soul. Now I have the pleasure of training you past it." Morrigan said sarcastically.
"It's not something I'm looking forward to either." I said, drinking the last of my elfroot tea. We continued traveling well into the night and Leliana managed to snag two hares for our dinner. I didn't help prepare it though. Instead, Eren took Morrigan and I into a clearing near the camp.
"In order to avoid what happened earlier in the future, I will force you to move beyond your fear." Eren said.
"But why before dinner?" I said. I was hungry.
"So you don't vomit." Eren stated. He had a point. Morrigan scoffed as he stared at her and her body shined and formed into a giant spider. Adrenaline surged through my body, automatically making me go into flight mode. Eren stood behind me and grabbed me in place.
"Hey!" I struggled.
"You won't get any better unless you do this." Eren had me in an iron grip as spider Morrigan came ever closer, hissing, her mouth moving, those disgusting appendages moving ever closer and those fucking eyes!
"No! I can't do this! Let me go please!" I pleaded and thrashed. Eren would not let me go and Morrigan was only a few feet away now. "No! NO!" I made myself dead weight which surprised Eren. He let me go. I grabbed his arm and nearly threw him on top of Morrigan. She narrowly avoided and skittered toward me.
Fight or flight. I actually fought. I took out my daggers, threw one, and landed a punch right on top of the head of Morrigan. She immediately shapeshifted back and winced in pain, grabbing her head.
"Holy Jesus Christ, I am so sorry." I squeaked out, reaching for her. Morrigan slapped my hand away, grabbed her staff, and struck Eren in the chest. He landed and breathed for air.
"Now you see how idiotic this is!?" Morrigan scoffed and went back to camp.
"Not…exactly the…way I thought you would react but…better than screaming your head off." Eren laughed. I looked down at him on the ground as I became angry. "Please don't hurt me." Eren stood up. I tripped him and he groaned in pain.
"I hate you." I growled, going back to camp and sitting down to finally eat.
"So…how did-" Derek started.
"One more word and I swear I will chop off that beard." I glared.
"I'm guessing not too well." Alistair laughed.
"Do not worry! You can always come into my tent and I will-" Zevran said.
"Up yours Zevran."
9:30 Guardian 3rd
Not much happened today. We didn't run into bandits, spiders, or darkspawn. We did find a few more caravans traveling though. They were fleeing to the Bannorn and some were going farther to Amaranthine or Highever to catch a boat to the Free Marches.
It hurt to see their despair stricken faces. We made sure to keep the Grey Wardens in the wagon though. People would go through desperate measures to keep themselves safe. We couldn't afford them getting recognized in the crowd.
Eventually our paths forked but we did end up traveling with a few travelers. Most kept to themselves. I saw a few kids with their parents. It tore me apart. Trying to even think about my kids in the same scenario…It was hard.
Leliana, Wynne, and I were walking this time. Wynne made sure to use her staff as a walking stick. We can't have a panic of mages around us. It was tense traveling with everyone in more ways than one. Leliana was humming under her breath. Wynne was going over our healing supplies. I sighed, wanting to be free of the travelers.
"Are you going to fight the darkspawn?" A young girl came up to me. Her mother quickly gathered her. It made me wonder about my own daughter. Does she look like me more now that she was older? How big has she grown? How does she get along with her brother? I wish I could fade dream again to see them.
"I wonder how they would react if they knew." Wynne wondered.
"Not good if they believe what Loghain has been spreading." I replied.
"Perhaps but sometimes you must have faith in others." Leliana mentioned.
9:30 Guardian 4th
Since we didn't rest nearly as much as the others, we plowed ahead. We rested at a riverbank and allowed Derek to take care of Bodahn's mule and horse. Eren had me and Morrigan in a separate clearing yet again. Morrigan and I weren't happy at all.
"Why are we doing this again?" Morrigan huffed.
"I get there is a therapy where they make you get used to things by constantly making you see it, but this is way too much." I commented.
"Until you are able to fight against your fear, then we'll stop." Eren said.
"And if she deals a fatal blow?" Morrigan asked.
"I need her to fight back not kill." Eren mentioned.
"Ugh." I moaned.
"This is trivial!" Morrigan huffed.
"By my orders-" Eren started.
"You do not order me. Order her as much as you want but I follow no one." Morrigan stalked off. "Tame a spider if you have to but I will not play these silly games." Eren groaned and rubbed his face.
"You probably want to apologize to her." I said.
"If something like that happens again-" Eren started.
"And it will happen. Again and again and again. There are a lot of giant spiders out there but this is only causing me to have nightmares and making Morrigan mad. If anything goes wrong, then it's on me. Stop trying to force us into something that will only make the team dynamic worse." I sighed, going back to the camp. Eren took my advice and followed Morrigan instead which was the good thing. I'm not sure what he told her but she was in a slightly better mood when we started to travel again.
9:30 Guardian 5th
Mountain trails suck.
My legs are killing me.
We had to go up a steep mountain path which didn't even lead to Soldier's Peak. It would only lead us to the cave system that then would lead us into Soldier's Peak. I was fine walking for the most part but going up a mountain? Late into the afternoon, I was ready to plop on the ground and wait for death. And because of the steep hill, no one was allowed on either the cart or wagon. We all went ahead as a group.
"Ugh, why must Ferelden be a mountainous country? It would better if you had plains filled with long grasses and flowers as far as the eye can see." Zevran explained wistfully.
"You sound homesick." Leliana chuckled.
"Yes Antiva was a beautiful gem and the gem that shined most bright was Antiva City." Zevran sighed.
"How do you think I feel with all this steep hill nonsense? The most I did was go through caves or stairs, nothing like this." Derek grunted.
"I feel so bad for you in all that armor." I chuckled.
"Fuh, strength training missy! Strength training! Ain't that right big guy!?" Derek chortled. Sten huffed.
"I have heard of Qunari's well-toned physique. Is there any way I can help you relieve you of those tensions you carry?" Morrigan flirted.
"There is no need." Sten stated.
"You sure you want to even think about that? I'm pretty sure he'll crush you." Talen chuckled.
"Talen…" Wynne gave her warning tone.
"Oh please, I do not need that image in my head." Alistair fake gagged.
"You are just displeased because I do not even consider you a man." Morrigan chuckled.
"Savage." I stated.
"They are two adults. What they do in their own tent, is their own business." Eren shrugged his shoulders.
"But this is Morrigan we're talking about." Alistair whispered.
"I can hear you quite clearly you dunce." Morrigan scoffed.
"You should not antagonize her Alistair or what she prefers to do in the night." Wynne added to that last part.
"Apply burn heal to burn spot." I mumbled.
"What are you talking about?" Zevran wondered.
"Oh sorry that's just what you say back in my world when someone does a really good insult comeback." I explained.
"At least someone here is content with the way I am." Morrigan huffed with pride.
"I try to find the good in everyone." I shrugged.
"You're telling me you see actual good in Morrigan?" Alistair asked. I looked at her and she gave me a mild sneer.
"Yep."
9:30 Guardian 6th
We found the cave system but it was already getting dark by the time we found it. Levi was busy going over his map, mumbling to himself and fixing some of the paths too. We were all nestled in the forest, eating a few nugs that seemed to find their way outside from the cave system. Derek was the one that killed them and brought them to us. Leliana was so horrified she refused to eat it. She instead focused on her rations.
"It's feet are so weird." I said, poking at the roasted nug over the fire with a stick. They almost looked like human hands.
"Pickled nug feet was a delicacy back in Dust Town. Delicious." Derek laughed.
"That's disgusting." Talen's face scrunched up.
"Don't knock it until you try it priss." Derek laughed.
"I've never had pickled feet but I did eat pig feet with my hominy soup back home. So tender." I slightly drooled.
"Pig feet?" Talen looked at me horrified.
"And cow tongue! Oh so delicious and we also took the skin off the pig and fried it to make chicharrones. Oh they were the best with the meat still on it." I explained.
"You're a woman after my own heart missy." Derek laughed.
"Why do you look so horrified Talen? I'm pretty sure you'll have to get used to the things we hunt." Alistair described.
"I…I think piglets are cute." Talen blushed.
"That is so cute." Leliana giggled.
"I'm not cute." Talen huffed and looked away, crossing his arms.
"Give it a few more years and you'll look manlier. As much as an elf can at least." Eren chuckled.
"Now, now, give the teasing a rest." Wynne chuckled.
"You know I do have a dish that resembles what you've described." Zevran said, sitting next to me after he went off to take care of his business.
"Really?" I wondered.
"Pozole no?" Zevran said. I gasped.
"Oh my God, you do have it!" I giggled.
"It is a very popular dish back in Antiva. The kernels can be dried and be used later in the wintertime." Zevran explained.
"Oh I would kill for some pozole with some chile and limon." I sighed.
I missed the food from back home. I missed my husband's food. Don't look at me, I cooked for a living. I only cooked soup back home. Challenging marital stereotypes for the win. We had some talk about food before the roasting was done. Bodahn and Derek worked with some of the meat and started to smoke it away from the group so we would have some meat rations. Got to give it to Bodahn, having a merchant around with salt was pretty nifty.
Hopefully we can clear Soldier's Peak without much fuss and get back to our own journey. It shouldn't be too hard to clear it. Just some undead, a very long living mage, and Sophia Dryden's corpse walking around. All in all, with our mini army, I had a good feeling about this.
Beta'd by FearaNightmare and Syutaku
I'm so sorry I uploaded a day late guys! Work is starting to get hectic now that we're in the fall months. Oct-Dec are some of our busiest months so I'm pulling a few 10 hour shifts which leave me exhausted that I fall asleep very quickly. But I was able to at least get this through! Anyway so we are finally getting into Soldier's Peak! Those of you who remember the first one, it's not going to be good. Those who are new, get ready to get your mind blown!
Thank you whitewolf25276 for following! Thank you Chimera Spyke and Guest for reviewing! Please Review!