Chapter 40: The Dead Fortress
The Fortress of Bownammer was worse than anything Leliana could have expected.
The darkspawn had done more than simply conquer this place; they had quite literally made it over in their image. The statues of honored warriors had been defaced, the darkspawn had added their foul corruption, or ripped parts off. The tombs containing the body of fallen legionnaires had been ripped open, the bones and armor parts used for decoration, and everywhere they looked those pink and black sacks of pure corruption grew from the walls like a fungus.
Sereda regarded this place with a look of pure sadness. She had believed in the greatness of the dwarves. That one day places like Bownammer could be reclaimed for the dwarven people.
The dwarven woman cringed at what her people would find if they ever reclaimed this place.
Leliana's heart went out to her, but she felt worse for Alim.
The warden had become…unsettled since his meeting with the Archdemon, unsettled and angry.
Darkspawn charged down the tainted tunnels only to be savaged by lightning. Gale force winds slammed into shrieks sending them tumbling down black shafts to their deaths.
The elf glared hatefully at the foul creatures. He seemed angrier than she had ever seen him, even more than after Belle had died.
She worried about him, his power was not infinite. Alim was pale and sweating, he looked exhausted. Every once and a while he would pull out a flask of lyrium, down at it, and continue on.
It may have allowed him to keep casting, but it was clearly having an effect on his body as well.
They blasted their way into a large chamber, it might have been beautiful once, some kind of temple perhaps. The coffins of fallen legionnaires rested in vaults set into the wall.
A massive chamber had been carved out on one side, within the darkspawn had set up a series of forges, melting down legion relics to make new armor and weapons for their army.
Alim summoned a great tempest down upon the forges; winds blew dousing the flames and super cooling the hot metal. Darkspawn within squealed, they charged out trying to attack the warden and his companions.
Shale, Sereda, Oghren, and Sten formed a line, the darkspawn crashed against them. Many were cut down before they had a chance to fight back.
A few managed to make it around, but those were stopped by Leliana's arrows and Bandit's teeth and claws.
A genlock carrying a massive hammer tried to engage Sereda. The former princess moved too quickly for the creature's massive weapon. She almost danced as the monster grew more and more frustrated; finally it tried to get it with a wild swing of its hammer.
She ducked under its blade and lunged forward.
The genlock's head came away from its body, rolling out of sight into the shadows.
A tall hurlock in robes strode forward; shimmering shield protected him from the wind and cold.
He gestured, a fireball leapt from his fingers, exploding in the middle of the warriors.
Oghren flew backward, cursing and patting at the flames on his armor. Sten stumbled but did not leave his feet. Shale had literally been knocked down by the force of the blow.
The hurlock emissary gestured, its phlegmy voice filled the shadows, making them seen to grow darker.
The coffins began to creak, the sound of hissing and moaning filled the air.
Alim began to call on the power of his magic. He glared hatefully at the necromancer. He would match the creature spell for spell if need be…
He would show the creature who the true mage was here.
The emissary snarled, its voice challenging, it was…
An arrow pierced its eye; the creature fell without a sound. The bodies fell silent in their graves,
Alim's eyes widened, why…why had she?
He spun on Leliana.
"I had him!" the elf shouted.
"Of course you did," she replied, she glanced around the chamber for any sign of darkspawn. Finding none she turned to the others.
"This is a good spot; we should stop here, rest for a bit."
The elf glared at her.
"I thought I was leader," he said.
"You are," she said, "But you are exhausted and in no shape to continue. You need rest. We need rest; we might as well stop while we have the chance."
"Leliana," he growled.
"No Alim," she said flatly, "You need to rest. We are stopping here."
Her tone of voice brooked no discussion.
IOI
Alim looked to the others, he was hoping for a little support.
He found none.
"She is right warden, Sereda said wiping darkspawn blood from her blade, "We're getting sloppy, that emissary could have killed one of us."
Oghren plopped down on the nearest boulder, he pulled out a small him flask.
"I could use a drink," He said.
"That is news," Alim said dryly.
Oghren belched loudly, causing the elf to roll his eyes.
Bandit whimpered he was covered tail to muzzle with darkspawn ichor; he lay down next to Leliana's feet, clearly in support of her idea.
Traitor, the elf thought.
The clanking of armor drew his attention, he looked up to see Sten approaching.
"We have secured this location," the Qunari reported, he had just returned from scouting the now abandoned darkspawn forge. "It would be prudent to set up camp, until we are ready to move on."
Shale snorted.
"Mortal creatures and your need for rest, humph. I do not get tired. I could continue on for…"
Alim let out a shuddering breath. He wanted to push forward, but…
"No."
He looked down at his hands, they were shaking from all the lyrium he had drank. His skin was pale and soaked with sweat. He…he did not dare go into battle again without rest, or another lyrium potion.
But if he took another draught and he would likely be bleeding from his eyes and nose.
The elf sighed.
He did not like it, but Leliana was right. They should stop.
He reached out with his warden senses. He could sense the darkspawn faintly, if they were going to find any rest…now would be the time.
"Forget the tents," he ordered pulling out his bedroll, "If we are attacked we will have to get out of here quick. Find a comfortable spot and try to rest. We will start up again after we get some sleep.
Shale and Sereda volunteered to take the first watch. Leliana insisted that Alim at least try and get some sleep.
The elf did not think it was necessary, but was too tired to argue with her.
He just needed to lie down for a minute, and then he would be ready to get back into the action.
He lay his head down, pulling his hat down over his eyes.
He was asleep seconds later.
IOI
He awoke with a start.
The dim light of the old temple threw shadows along the wall. He could make out Shale standing sentinel nearby, and he thought he could make out Sten.
Oghren snored loudly where he had collapsed.
Suddenly feeling annoyed Alim chucked a small stone at the dwarf, it struck him on the breast plate.
He farted, rolled over and went back to sleep.
"Charming," Alim grumbled.
"Are you okay?"
The sweet sound of Leliana's accent relaxed him slightly. He glanced over in her direction. He could not see the bard, only the highlights of her red hair, a slight flicker of light on her blue eyes.
Elves had excellent night vision; it must be really dark in here if he could not see her clearly.
"I'm…I'm fine," he mumbled.
She tilted her head.
"Bad dreams? I…I heard you…"
Alim frowned.
A bad dream was a bit of an understatement.
He could still feel the Archdemon's claw digging into his back. He could still smell its foul breath, the sword-like teeth inches from his throat.
Yes…he had had a bad dream.
The elf sighed.
"This is pointless," he growled.
"What is?" she asked.
"Branka," he sighed, "We're never going to find her down here. It is more likely the spawn had her for dinner if she made it this far."
"She had a whole house with her," Leliana reminded him, "a small army, if Bhelen and Harrowmont are to be believed. It would have been hard to kill so many."
Alim shook his head.
"I…I just don't want to lose anyone for a lost cause," he grumbled, "We very well might be chasing a corpse here."
"That would make it easy for us," she shrugged, "We bring the body back and use it to get the throne for whoever we desire. No convincing, no fuss."
Alim glared at her.
"You do not give up hope easily do you?"
Leliana laughed.
"There is always hope Alim. When I…when I found myself in Ferelden, I had nothing. No allies, no coin, just the weapons and clothes on my back," she shuddered slightly. She remembered how lonely she had felt when the others had left and Dorethea had returned to Orlais.
She had had no idea how she was going to survive in Lothering. The town was a blot in the middle of nowhere, nothing like the wondrous world of Val Royeaux. She had felt so lost; the knowledge that she would never see Orlais again had almost broken her heart.
A hint of a smile played across her lips.
She had only started to discover her faith then. It had helped her get through some very dark nights.
She smiled at their leader.
"I have faith in you Alim. You will see us through this."
The elf snorted, he removed his hat, another hole had been added, likely by a genlock arrow.
He smiled wistfully.
"I'm glad at least one of us has faith in me Leliana," he replied, "I'm not so sure myself."
The bard snorted.
"Smart ass," she groaned.
He tipped his hat to her.
"At your service Milady," he answered.
She chuckled lightly.
"Why do you wear that thing anyway?" she asked gesturing to his hat.
"You don't like it?" he asked.
"It is good in the rain I'm sure," she said, "But I see no use for it down here."
"Oh it has many uses, he said jovially, "It gives me an extra foot of height and it hides my lovely wing span," his elven ears twitched with amusement, "You would not want me taking flight now would you?"
She giggled.
"I think you are fine the way you are," she said grinning, "And as for your…wing span," she smiled jovially, "I think your ears suit you, they are quite nice…cute even."
He blinked.
"Cute?" he repeated.
Even in the dark he thought he could see her blushing.
"Oh Maker, did…did I just say that? Um…pay it no mind…"
Part of him wanted to tease her for her little slip, but another part of him felt warmed.
Cute…she thinks my ears are cute.
He shook his head, Maker…was…was she actually flirting with him?
Well, two could play that game.
"Well," he grinned, "We all can't be beauties from the courts of Orlais, but we all try to get by."
Leliana's blush darkened.
"You…you think…you think me…beautiful?"
Now he blushed slightly.
"Did I just say that?" he smirked, "Pay it no mind."
She glared at him.
"Oh…oh you…"
"If I could vomit, I would right now."
The two jumped, neither had heard Shale approach. For a living statue it could be quite silent when it wanted to be.
The elf glared at the golem.
"Do you need something?" he asked it.
"It is its turn to stand watch," the golem said, "Unless it wishes for us to get underway again?"
Alim thought about it. He had slept but did not feel much rested, but at least his heart was not pounding in his ears anymore. The lyrium had worked its way out of his system, or at least the worst of the side effects had.
"We will give the others another hour or so," he replied, "Then we shall move on."
"As it says," Shale said in a snarky voice. The golem walked away.
Alim glanced at Leliana, she bowed her head shyly.
You are wasting your time that cynical part of him said; what could a woman like her want with someone like you?
He hated that part of himself, but sadly it was right most of the time.
She was just scared, that was the only reason they were talking like this. Once they left the deep roads everything would go back to the way it was before.
Alim sighed heavily.
Surprisingly, he was not looking forward to that.
IOI
Once they had eaten they started out again.
Once again the darkspawn moved in to stop them.
Alim was better for the rest; his spells did not exhaust him like they had before they stopped. He had single-handedly swept about ten shrieks off a bridge before the creatures had a chance to engage them.
Yet for all their success, they had still found no sign of Branka.
It was disheartening.
They passed into a new chamber; this one had clearly been dug by the spawn. They moved through silently.
That…is when they heard it. A voice low and tortured, it…it sounded almost like the person was either laughing or crying…maybe both.
It was a voice that would haunt them all to their dying day.
First day, they come and catch everyone.
Alim motioned them forward, his weapons at the ready.
Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat.
Leliana shivered, the voice seemed to be coming from everywhere.
Third day, the men are all gnawed on again.
The group moved towards the voice.
Leliana asked for the Maker's protection, though she feared that he had abandoned this place long ago.
Here there was only darkness…and death.