Chapter 5: The Betrayal at Ostagar
Duncan woke Alim early the next morning; it seemed that the King had requested the elven mage's presence at a strategy session with Teyrn Loghain. Alim sighed heavily as he dressed; he wasn't sure why the King would ask for him, he was no soldier and certainly no strategist.
He would have preferred a good night's sleep, not that he had found one, the dreams from the joining still haunted the young elf. Alistair informed him that this was normal, but that did not make it any easier to endure.
Alim arrived to find the King and an elder dark haired knight arguing, Alim assumed that this was the Teyrn Loghain that he had been hearing so much about. The man had the look of a seasoned warrior. His piercing blue eyes and beak like nose gave the man a very avian appearance; he looked every bit the predator that the Orlesians had come to fear decades ago.
The session began shortly after Alim's arrival, though it seemed no one had much desire to discuss the upcoming battle.
Alim shook his head; the King seemed more interested in battling his own general than the darkspawn this morning.
The King's meeting turned out to be more of a pissing contest than a discussion of strategy. Teyrn Loghain was very much against the King standing with the wardens in the coming battle, and made no bones about it to Cailan.
The King responded arrogantly to the older man's concerns, he was the King of Ferelden and he would do as he pleased, it was best if the Teyrn remembered that.
Alim shook his head; a crown did not make you immortal, or all knowing.
Once things had finally settled down the Teyrn outlined his plan for the battle, The Grey warden would draw the bulk of the darkspawn horde, into charging their main lines, meanwhile the Teyrn and his armies would charge from cover once the King signaled them, using a fire atop the great tower of Ishal. The creatures would be flanked, and with luck the horde would break under the strength of their tactics.
Alim shrugged, the plan could work he supposed, but after having fought the darkspawn in the wilds he doubted that the creatures would be daunted so easily, the darkspawn would no doubt continue the attack until they were all slain.
It was then that the discussion turned to who would handle lighting the signal that would summon the Teyrn's men, Loghain suggested some of his troops, but Cailan would not hear of it, he chose Alistair and Alim to see to this vital task.
The elf was shocked, the King had only met him a few days ago and now he wanted to trust the safety of the army to him and Alistair?
It seemed like a vast waste of their talents, Alistair was a skilled warrior, and the King had yet to see what Alim could truly do.
He could feel the storm coming, the rain on his skin, the wind in his hair.
Alim longed to bring the full might of the storm down upon the darkspawn's heads, in the past he had always had to check himself, for fear that he might hurt those around him, but with the darkspawn, he did not have to hold back around those foul creatures.
He longed for such a release.
"You depend on these Grey Wardens too much," Loghain cautioned him, "Are you certain this is wise Cailan?"
"Enough of your conspiracy theories Loghain," the King replied, "Grey wardens battle the Blight no matter where they are from."
"Your Majesty," Duncan cautioned the King, "We must be prepared if the Archdemon appears as well."
Loghain shook his head dismissively, "There have been no sign of any dragons in the wilds."
"Is that not what your men are here for Duncan," Cailan inquired.
"I…yes…Your Majesty," the warden commander said with a quick bow.
Alim could not help but roll his eyes, did the King not understand what was at stake here, this was about much more than his own personal glory.
This was not some game for Cailan to play hero in, this was a war, Alim had walked through the medical tent this morning, he had seen the wounded there, many of whom were suffering a slow lingering death thanks to the taint.
Those people had not given their lives so that Cailan Theirin could earn his place in history.
The elf sighed.
Sadly there was nothing that he could do, the King had made his decision, the elf just hoped that he had not doomed them all with his choices.
IOI
Alistair was not happy that he would not be in the battle, not that Alim blamed him.
"This is not your decision," Duncan reminded the young warrior, "If the King says that Grey Wardens will insure the beacon is lit then Grey Wardens will be there. We must do whatever we can to destroy the darkspawn…exciting or no."
"I get it. I get it," Alistair sighed, "Just so you know, should the King decide that I should put on a dress and dance the remigold, I'm drawing the line, Darkspawn or no."
"It would be a great distraction," Alim admitted.
"Sure," Alistair chuckled, "Me shimmying up and down the darkspawn lines. We could kill them all while they roll around laughing."
"Might I suggest a gold colored dress," the elf grinned, "It would match your hair."
Duncan glared at the two men, "Hmmm," he grumbled.
Both of the junior wardens fell silent.
Duncan gave them their final orders before heading out to join their fellows.
Alim shook his head, it seemed that they had some running to do.
"It is not a dangerous task, but it is vital," the Teyrn had said.
"Let's just get to the tower," Alistair sighed, "it may not be the most glamorous job, but we best not dawdle."
Alim nodded, over head the storm had finally reached Ostagar, the first drops of rain fell on the wide brim of his traveling hat.
Even without the battle, it appeared that they were all in for a very wild night.
IOI
From one of the trees overlooking the battlefield, Morrigan watched the gathering army with curiosity. Not that anyone would recognize the young witch, she now wore the form of a raven. She tilted her head, and squawked as the first drops of rain fell on her.
T'was truly an amazing sight, but she had seen the advancing darkspawn horde, its numbers were at least three times the army here.
If the Ferelden King was not careful, he was looking at a possible massacre.
The darkspawn emerged from the mists, hurlocks, genlocks, shrieks, and even a few ogres. The creatures paused before the army assembled to stop them, they growled with fury. A massive hurlock alpha stepped forward; it raised its ax, roaring into the pouring rain, as one the horde answered the creature, clearly the vanguard commanding the massive host.
The alpha pointed his ax at the Ferelden army, as one the horde charged, a massive wall of tainted warriors.
The human king called down arrows on the advancing monsters, dozens fell, but still they came, six replacing everyone who had fallen.
Next came the hounds, they slammed into the spawn like a ballista bolt. More spawn fell, but still the horde was not slowed.
The Ferelden King raised his blade, a horn blared, and the charge was sounded.
On the rain swept field the two armies slammed into each other. Screams of fury mingled with the cries of the dying, the clash of steel and the crackle of magic filled the air.
Morrigan took flight she flew up to the bridge overlooking the battle field. That is where she saw them, the elf Alim, and that Templar fool, they made their way quickly across the bridge. Morrigan followed after them, why were they not down below with their fellows.
The two wardens made for the tower of Ishal, they were met by two of the tower guard, apparently the darkspawn had managed to breach the tower.
It now belonged to the darkspawn.
The wardens and their new allies made for the tower. The elf called out to the wind, asking it to defend them, to keep the spawn from denying them their mission.
The wind responded, it flung the darkspawn warriors into trees and stone pillars, the creatures died by the dozens, but sadly there were always more.
Morrigan squawked, heading back towards the safety of the wilds.
She needed to talk to her Mother.
If she intended to gain the wardens aid she would likely have to hurry.
The darkspawn were not interested in taking prisoners, not even Grey Wardens.
Lightning flashed overhead, the battle continued.
IOI
"I hope you're satisfied," Alim complained.
Alistair did not respond; he was too bust striking down a genlock. The two Ferelden soldiers that had come with them fought better than Alim would have expected, they were only one floor from the top of the tower once there they would be able to light the beacon.
"Why should I be satisfied," the Templar asked.
"You wanted to fight," Alim reminded him, "well you're fighting."
"Hey you're right," Alistair chuckled, "I guess there is a silver lining to all of this."
Alim rolled his eyes, Maker save him, he would never understand Alistair.
They managed to fight their way to the top of the tower, many darkspawn lay dead or dying in their wake. Alistair kicked open the door and…
Alim gasped…it was….it was the biggest darkpawn he had ever seen, ten feet tall easy, with horns longer than his arm. It mottled blue skin looked purple in the light of the torches. The creature was leaning over, the smacking and crunching wounds meant that it was eating something…or someone.
The elven mage shuddered,
"What is it Alistair," he asked.
"That would be an ogre Alim," he responded.
"Oh…um…okay," the elf said with a shrug, just so long as they were clear.
The ogre turned to them and their companions, the huge darkpawn roared a challenge, then…without any warning…the creature charged.
The wardens managed to jump free, but one of their allies was not so lucky, the ogre literally ran the power man over, blood splattered its massive legs.
The creature roared in victory.
Alim fired bolts of electricity at the creature, while Alistair and their remaining guard engaged the beast up close. Outside the storm responded to the elf's fear and anger, but that did little good in here. The elf was forced to stick with standard magics, electricity and ice flew from his fingertips. Alistair distracted the creature while the surviving solider, tried to drive his sword into the creature's lower back...
For the most part their plan seemed to be working; the darkspawn was not sure who to attack first, its hesitation worked entirely to the wardens' favor.
Despite the distraction, the ogre's angry gaze finally fell on Alim; it roared angrily and charged the young elf.
He darted out of the way as quick as possible casting as he moved. A sheet of ice now cover the floor before the ogre, the creature slipped slamming hard into one of the pillars supporting the roof. The creature fell dazed from the hard impact.
But it would not be down long, they needed to deal with the creature quickly.
Alistair leapt atop the ogre's chest, he leaned forward on the creature's neck, forcing it back down, then…then he plunged his sword into the monster's eye. The ogre squealed, it tried to shake Alistair off, but it was not use.
The darkspawn collapsed, finally succumbing to its injuries.
Alim sighed, that had been far too close.
"The beacon is over here," Alistair said scooping up a torch, "We have surely missed the signal, let's light it before it is too late."
The former Templar plunged a flaming torch into the signal fire, the flames exploded outward, signaling the Teyrn's men to charge.
Alim looked out one of the small windows, it over looked the battlefield far below. He watched, waiting for the Teyrn's army to coming charging down into the valley.
He waited and waited…
The Teyrn never charged.
Come one…come on!
IOI
On the battlefield far below, Cailan Theirin looked up to the Tower of Ishal, he could see the signal blazing bright at its top, and yet, Loghain's men were nowhere to be seen.
A second wave of darkspawn flooded the field, all around them, men were dying, his men, the grey wardens, everyone.
No…it cannot end like this, I'm Cailan Theirin, he thought. I'm the son of Maric the Savior, the grandson of Moira the Rebel Queen, Loghain…he can't do this…he can't!
An ogre roared as it charged towards him, Cailan tried to fight back, but he was so weary, the creature seized him in its meaty fist.
The ogre brought him to its face, its pale tainted eyes glared hatefully at him.
This could not be happening; he was this King of Ferelden!
This was nothing like in the tales!
IOI
Alistair," Alim shouted at his fellow warden, "Something is wrong! THE BLOODY TEYRN WON"T CHARGE!"
"What," Alistair's eyes widened in shock, "That could not be? He has to charge! Cailan needs him! Duncan needs him!"
They had sealed the door behind them when they had entered, but a fresh wave of darkspawn shattered it to splinters. The tower guard who had accompanied them was overwhelmed the spawn washed over him like a flood.
Alim fired lightning from his staff, killing the first few, but three arrows struck him, one in the shoulder, one in the gut, and one in the upper chest.
The elf fell.
AS the world faded away, he heard Alistair roar a battle cry, as he slammed into the advancing darkspawn. The sound of a loud explosion shook the tower, followed by a roar of a dragon…
The Archdemon Alim wondered, though by this point he was too far gone to see.
Everything faded from the elf mage then…
He fell into darkness.