Chapter 34: The Fallen

"Down Leliana!"

The bard complied; she ducked as Alim said a powerful lightning bolt arching over her head. The strike made her skin tingle, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

The deep roads lit up like a summer afternoon, Darkspawn squealed and fell dead as the lightning ended their tainted existence.

A genlock dove into the fray, the creature rand straight for Leliana.

The sister shook her head.

It had been like this for hours now.

The darkspawn continued their attacks, every so often Alim's ears would twitch, his darkspawn sense detecting more of the foul creatures. They would draw their weapons and meet the beasts head on.

To be honest, Leliana was not sure what they were thinking, if they though at all. The attacks were the same every time; they tried to use numbers to overwhelm the warden and his companions.

Plus, the creatures seemed to have an obsession with her; in every engagement they tried to isolate her from the others. One had even tried to knock her out during the last attack.

Why would the darkspawn do this? She thought, I thought they did not take prisoners?

It was a question that she did not really want to know the answer to.

Leliana pulled an arrow, she did not have time to fire, the darkspawn was too close.

She took the shaft in her hand and drove it forward.

The arrow pierced the spawn's eye, the genlock squealed in agony.

She withdrew it, the creature staggered backward, before it had a chance to recover, she loaded her bow and fired close range.

The spawn flew back, the arrow pierced through its chest plate and went deep into the darkspawn's chest.

It was dead before it hit the ground.

Leliana did not take the time to celebrate. More of the foul creatures continued to swarm around them.

Sten and Shale seemed to be enjoying the carnage, the two leapt into each engagement with their own distinctive battle cries. Oghren was a whirlwind of death, either his ax or his hammer battered their enemies, sending the flying with caved in chests or crushed skulls. She could see why some in Orzammar said that Oghren was one of the finest warriors of his generation

The dwarf knew how to fight darkspawn; that was for certain.

Bandit stayed close to Alim, his muzzle covered in black ichor, the darkspawn had quickly learned to give the dog the respect it deserved.

Then…there was Alim himself.

Leliana shivered.

The elven mage was a terror, lightning crackled from his fingertips as he blasted away the spawn around him. He whirled back and forth using spellbinder and his staff to keep any of the creatures from getting too close. Every once and a while, a breeze could be felt down here, Alim used that as a weapon, his stormbreaker powers turned these gentle gusts into a gale. They sent darkspawn crashing into the rock walls around them.

Leliana's eyes were drawn to him. Alim was…he was likely one of the most powerful men she had ever met. In the old days, back when she had been a bard in Orlais, his power would have drawn her like a moth to a flame.

We could use such an ally my pretty thing. Be nice to him, bring him into out fold.

Marjolaine would have wanted someone like Alim on her side, and she would have had no qualms about using her apprentice to lure him in.

The sister frowned; it was yet another reason why she should keep her distance. Alim intrigued her sure, but…when she was with him, when she was around him.

All those dark impulses that had ruled her in her youth came screaming back. She…she was not that person anymore; she did not want to be that person anymore.

For her sake and for Alim's she needed to stay away.

They were allies, at most they could be friends, beyond that…

She could not be more than that, for both their sakes.

There was a monster within her, she recognized that.

She intended to keep it caged.

I will not become what I once was, I will not!

Once again the deep roads fell silent; the darkspawn lay dead at their feet. Alim went from companion to companion checking for any serious injuries.

Finally, he came to her.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," she said putting on a merry smile, "The Maker was kind to us again it seems."

Alim's ears twitched.

"If he was kind to us we would not be down here in the first place, Sister," the mage shook his head, he sheathed his sword, "How much farther to the Aeducan Thaig, Oghren?"

"Not entirely sure warden," the dwarf replied, "Roads are not the best 'round here. Cave-ins and the like, couple more hours…maybe."

She heard Alim sigh; she knew that he intended to make camp in the more secure Thaig, according to Bhelen, the Thaig's old defenses still worked in some places. The mage intended to use those defenses so they could all get some rest.

Leliana suppressed a tired sigh, she was no longer sure how long they had been down here, time had no meaning in this dark place. Had it been only a few hours, or a few days?

She…she could no longer say for certain.

Alim led the way, his staff shining brightly, its light letting them see where the natural lava pools did not show them what they needed.

Their much was tense, the shadows seemed to close in around them. Leliana whispered a prayer, hoping that the Maker would watch over them.

Minutes passed, or perhaps it was an hour…maybe two…

Alim's ears twitched, he cursed under his breath!

"Weapons out!" he cried.

Leliana sighed.

Shale let out a booming laugh.

"More fun," the golem cheered.

Darkspawn emerged from a side tunnel. The creatures snarled with rage, four broke off, trying to isolate Leliana.

She threw a fire flask; it hit a hurlock in the chest.

The creature squealed with agony!

"DEATH TO ALL PIGEONS!" Shale roared as it dove into the center of the darkspawn formation, its hammer-like fists pummeling their enemy.

Leliana sent an arrow flying into a genlock emissary; the creature fell without a sound.

Yet another battle had begun.

Their road of damnation continued.

IOI

Alim was not sure how long it took them to reach Aeducan Thaig, but finally…after what seemed like an eternity of fighting, they stood before an old dwarven barrier door.

Oghren approached it; he read the runes carved into the stone.

Alim was personally surprised that the dwarf knew how to read. He was not exactly the scholarly type.

"We're here," Oghren said with a grin, "Welcome to Aeducan Thaig warden."

Alim nodded, it was about bloody time!

He moved for the entrance.

"Stop."

Leliana's voice was as hard as steel, it made even the elven mage pause.

She stepped in front of them, her fingers inspecting the door and the surrounding floor.

"What's going on?" Oghren asked, "You wanted to get here, we're here…"

Leliana shot Alim a look.

The elf glared at Oghren, it silenced him quickly enough.

After travelling with the sister, he knew when she sensed trouble.

"Let her work," he informed the dwarf.

Leliana muttered under her breath as she carefully disable a cleverly concealed tripwire, a few steps ahead there was a small leg trap, it would not have effected Shale, but had Oghren or Alim stepped on it.

Her eyes narrowed.

She returned to the others.

"The whole entrance is rigged with traps," she informed the elf.

Alim cursed.

"Can you disable them?"

"With time," she admitted, "but do we really want that, these will keep the spawn out as well, no? I can find us a safe path, I think. If everyone steps where I step, and follows the markings I have made, we should be fine, if we go single file that is."

The elven mage nodded, made sense to him.

"Follow Leliana everyone," he ordered, "Touch nothing and step where she steps."

He gave her a grateful smile.

"Lead on, sister," he said.

She blushed slightly and led them all forward.

Shale had a bit of a problem avoiding the traps, but fortunately, the golem was clever enough to step over things when it could not follow the bard's markings. Oghren cursed, all this careful crap annoyed him, but he understood the value of it. Sten remained silent; he admired the woman's skills, though he did not entirely understand what she was doing here.

Women did not fight; it said so in the Qun.

Leliana was an anomaly, or perhaps not a woman at all, he would ask her about it later.

Slowly they made their way into the Aeducan Thaig. Alim reached out with his warden senses, no darkspawn were in the immediate area.

The elf sighed with relief; perhaps they had found a spot to rest after all.

Soon they had cleared the line of traps. The ruined buildings of Aeducan Thaig stood before them, a slight breeze whistled through the abandoned windows.

Alim felt a sense of melancholy, this place had been lost long ago to the darkspawn, but even here, the echo of that destruction remained.

It…it was hard not to feel a sense of loss in this place, one the dwarves had been a grand people, rulers of a mighty empire. Now, they huddled in their remaining cities and hung on to what traditions they could, even if those would lead to their deaths.

It…it was truly a sad thing.

Leliana motioned for him to come closer, she wished to speak to him without the others overhearing, the elf obeyed.

Leliana had a grim look on her pretty face.

It made him uneasy.

"We are not alone," she whispered.

Alim reached out with his warden senses again, he felt nothing.

"I don't feel anything," he informed her.

"Some of those traps were new," she told him, "they were not covered in the filth like the old Thaig defenses, someone placed them there…recently I think."

"Branka?" he asked.

"I don't think so," the bard replied, "Possibly assassins from Orzammar, maybe scavengers, either could be a good possibility."

Alim shook his head again.

Shit!

"Should we move on?" he asked.

"We should be fine if we stay together," she advised, "No wandering off, and stay away from the buildings," she gave their surroundings a quick glance.

"We should stay away from those ballistae as well," she said pointing.

Alim followed her gaze, there was indeed an old ballista sitting in the courtyard, surprisingly, it faced inward towards the square, not outward towards the doors.

He was started to agree with Leliana, they were clearly, not alone.

"We'll set up camp, but follow your advice," he promised.

The bard nodded, pleased that he had listened to her. Something about this place made her shiver, she had a definite feeling they were all being watched.

The only question was now, by whom?

Alim got everyone moving, according to Bhelen, there was an old underground river that fed fresh water into the Thaig; they would need that water to replenish their stores. They would make camp near there.

Shale took first watch while the others set up camp.

After the last few days of fighting, they could all use a little rest.

IOI

A lone figure watched them from the ruins of an old estate, its eyes narrowed in frustration.

Who were these people? How did they make it passed the traps? They looked too well armed to be common salvagers, and they had a golem with them, that suggested dwarven military.

Assassins then highly paid, likely looking to finish the job.

That would not happen.

The figure moved like a shadow, whoever these people were, they were a threat.

It was time to make them short one member, and then…then more would become clear.

IOI

Leliana left the safety of their little camp; she made for the underground river, eager to refill her water skin.

She smiled slightly, she might not be a warden, but she knew when she was being watched, and when she was being stalked.

Whoever it was had made a very big mistake.

She was no one's prey.

She leaned down to fill her skin, she had to admit, whoever was here was good, they knew a bit about stealth, moving only when the sounds of the Thaig obscured their movements.

They were good; they were very, very good…

But she…she was better.

She hummed a merry tune, while her prey moved in for the kill.

Hunter and prey, prey and hunter, Leliana felt her heartbeat quicken.

She loved this part. Once…she had lived for this part.

It was time.

The bard swept out her leg, it caught her would be attacker completely flat footed. The dwarf fell with a clatter of armor.

Leliana was on her feet in a second, her short sword and dagger at the ready. Whoever this was, was good, the bard had had no opportunity to leap and end this fight quickly.

Very good indeed.

She stood face to face with a dwarven woman, her blond hair caked with dirt, mud, and cobwebs, the armor she wore was mismatched, stuff scavenged from the Thaig most likely.

She wielded a wicked looking darkspawn sword; its blade was stained with the blood of the creatures.

Leliana did not underestimate the dwarf, whoever she was; she had survived down here alone that said something of her strength.

"Alim, Sten, Shale over here," she cried out, "We have an intruder!"

The dirty dwarven woman laughed, her blue eyes reflected cruel amusement.

"I was here first human," she snarled with a cultured voice, "You were the ones who bypassed my traps, did you not understand that they meant for you not come in here?

Alim and the others arrived quickly; he gave Leliana a worried look, the bard nodded to him, assuring him that she was fine.

Good he thought, if this dwarven bitch had hurt her…

The dwarf tried to escape, but realized quickly that she was surrounded.

She cursed under her breath.

"Did my brother send you assassins?" she asked, "Didn't count on the deep roads to kill me? Wise of him, I did not think he had it in him."

Alim's ears twitched.

Assassins?

The woman…no a girl…just a dwarven girl looked around quickly, her eyes darting for any chance to escape.

She glared at Oghren.

"Finally got Bhelen to listen to you old drunk," she growled, "What did he offer you?"

"Weeell," Oghren chuckled, "Look who it is? How the mighty have fallen eh, Princess?"

Her glare turned venomous.

"Come a little closer Oghren," she purred, "I will finish what Ser Gorim should have done last year."

"Still got some spirit I see," the red haired dwarf laughed, "Good."

"Oghren," Alim said pleasantly, "Would you like to introduce us to your friend?"

The warrior chuckled.

"Warden, everyone," he began, "Say hello to the Lady Sereda, oh wait," he cackled, "the former Lady Sereda, Commander in the dwarven army, Kinslayer, and sister to our good Prince Bhelen. Say hi princess."

Sereda sneered at him.

"Go screw a nug, Oghren," she spat.

"Love you to Princess," he replied.

Alim's eyes narrowed. Bhelen's sister, he…he had thought she had been killed long ago, how had she survived this long?

It was an interesting question he realized, one that would likely require answering.

Whatever had happened, one thing was certain.

Things had just gotten a lot more complicated.