Chapter 96: The Enemy
The attack came just as the group was a few miles outside of Highever.
Alim had been distracted; it was not a hard thing to understand considering all they had been through. The business with brother Genitivi, the death of Marjolaine, and now Leliana's coolness towards him, it was understandable that he was not at his best when their enemies came upon them.
It was nearly a fatal mistake.
The group had been making their way down the north road. They had not seen any Loghain patrols in days, perhaps because the civil war was raging again, drawing more men and women to the fronts.
The sound of charging heavy horse was unmistakable, the sound of armor and raised voices filled the air.
The wardens and their allies readied to defend themselves.
It was a large group of enemies, at least fifty in all, powerful war chargers carried heavily armored knights armed with lances and long spears. The elven mage did not see any archers or mages, but that did not mean that they were not there, the hill that the riders had appeared over could yet still hide more reinforcements.
The elf's eyes narrowed as he drew spellbinder, thunder rumbled overhead.
Fergus glared at the shields the men carried, some bearing the sigil of Highever others that of House Howe.
He had heard the Teyrn Loghain had named Howe the Teyrn of Highever, that the soldiers that now carried the banners of his home were merely conscripts from Amaranthine, or mercenaries bribed by the man who had murdered his family.
Such men did not deserve Highever colors. The Cousland family had safeguarded their home for generations.
Seeing Howe men carry that symbol, it was like putting silk hat on a pig.
One of the knights, clad in full plate with a bright green plume on his helmet directed the riders to surround the party.
Alim directed his people to form a protective square around the wagon, it would serve a purpose here, keep the knights from simply riding over them from behind. Bodahn and Sandal took cover in the back, as the last of the enemy riders completed their circle.
Spears and lances lowered, as the knights prepared to charge.
Their leader stopped them, raising a single hand.
Alim glanced at this new arrival; the armor was small, suggesting a youth perhaps…
…or a young woman?
One of the knights next to the leader raised his visor; he glared at the surrounded party. When he spoke his voice was cold and strong…
…Both a herald and a soldier apparently.
"In the name of His Grace, Teyrn Rendon Howe of Highever, I demand that you state your business!"
Alim shot Fergus a look; he could see the anger in the man's eyes, the desire to punish these servants of the usurper who murdered his kin.
They clearly did not know who they had caught…yet.
That might just work to our advantage, the elf thought.
He stepped forward, he lowered his weapons slightly, not enough that he couldn't defend himself, but enough to put the men surrounding them at ease.
"We're a mercenary company," the elf called out, "This merchant paid us a small fortune to help him get his goods back to Orzammar."
Alim took a step forward, his smile cold.
"We're not the type of people that fail in what we are hired to do. Please let us past unhindered and we shall do the same to you."
The herald blanched, unsure of what to do next, he turned to the smaller knight.
"A rather unusual company you travel with ser," the leader said.
The highness of the voice suggested that it was a woman he was addressing, not, that that was surprising, female knights were not unheard of in Ferelden. Loghain's captain had been a woman, Alim had met her during the planning session in Ostagar, Cauth…something or other.
The elf tried to put his best foot forward.
"A lot of dangerous people on the roads these days," he continued, "You find help where you can, this motley crew was between jobs, they needed the coin, I needed the bodies, their hirelings all, but good ones, trust me."
He wasn't sure, but the girl, he was pretty sure it was now a girl chuckled.
"You are either quite brave or very foolish," she said.
Alim smirked at her.
""You're welcome to see for yourself."
Leliana made her way to his side, an arrow notched and ready.
"They are going to attack," she murmured.
Alim regarded both the herald, and his mistress, they likely did not know who they were dealing with, a little of the unknown might just save them from bloodshed.
They were still surrounded after all, he, Morrigan and Wynne might manage to break that up, but the chance of losing people here were quite high.
No, he was determined to bluff his way out of this, if he could.
The female knight with the green plume moved forward slightly, not enough to get in the way of her men, but enough to get a better view of Alim and the rest of his group.
Her eyes fell on Shayle.
"I heard an interesting story a few months ago," she purred, "A group of the Regents men returned empty handed from a visit to Orzammar. They told a story about a group of Grey Wardens trying to gain access to the city.
Green plume chuckled again.
"They mentioned the wardens had a small golem travelling with them."
Shayle huffed.
"The shiny woman likes to talk," the golem called out, "Perhaps I shall squish it inside its armor, I wonder if the shiny woman will continue to talk then. It would be interesting to see what leaks out."
The knights tensed; again green plume raised her hand.
"They are feisty ones aren't they lads, I'm sure…"
"MILADY!" the herald shouted.
Green plume sighed.
"Yes."
That man hiding near the back, the one in the heavy chain…"
Alim glanced back, Fergus was not exactly hiding but his hood was down and…
Oh shit!
Green plume pointed in his direction.
"You there," she shouted, "step forward!"
Alim glanced at Leliana; he could see her fingers curling tighter around her bowstring.
"They are going to attack," she whispered again.
The elf's brow furrowed.
He hated to admit, but he feared she was right.
They would have to do this fast.
"Take out the leader," he murmured, "I'll try to give us some room to maneuver."
She gave him a slight nod, after so many months of fighting together, the group knew their jobs when faced by a superior enemy. They all knew each other jobs quite well.
Fergus stepped forward still not making eye contact.
Green plume's hand drifted to her sword.
"Yes ser," Fergus said.
"Milady," the herald murmured, "That looks like Fergus Cousland!"
"Do I?" the noble man said in a deeper voice, "I never heard that before."
Alim was watching green plume very closely.
If she did not buy what they were selling they…
Green plume lowered her head, she might have chuckled again. Alim could not be sure.
When she finally spoke there was amusement in her voice…
…Amusement…and hate.
"Your shoulder plate is still loose Fergus," she growled, "You should have had it fixed before you left Highever."
Something in her voice made him look up, right into Green plume's face.
"What?" he gasped.
"It is him," Green plume purred.
Alim sighed.
Here we go!
Green plume shouted.
"KILL…"
Thunder rumbled overhead, the wind gusted.
Lightning struck the ground between the wardens and the Arl's men.
The battle had begun.
IOI
The winds spoiled the knights' charge, the lightning, so close and so bright, startled the horses.
Morrigan cast a chain lightning spell, its fury leapt from warrior to warrior. Shayle bounded forward, crashing into several horses unseating their riders.
Leliana fired a quick shot at Green plume, the woman brought up her shield. The sigil of Highever caught the arrow before it ever touched the knight.
The warrior woman charged.
Alim raised his staff.
Green Plume was ready.
She dipped into her belt, drawing a small black pouch.
She flung the contents at the elf causing him to sputter; she turned her horse suddenly, trying to bring her sword down on the temporarily blinded mage.
Leliana pushed him out of the way. The two of them fell in a tangle of arms and legs.
Green plume was not dissuaded she adjusted her charge, her swing at Alim adjusted quickly to a defensive stance…
Here was a woman well trained in combat.
She turned her recovery into a new charge, this one directed at Fergus.
She was going to ride him down!
Alim raised his hand intent on sending a lightning bolt into the woman's back, not honorable perhaps, but this was life or death.
He would not let a friend die. He…
The lightning sputtered on his fingertips, it faded with barely a spark. The winds ceased blowing; no lightning or rain fell from the sky.
Alim gasped, a loud buzzing filled his ears.
"Alim?" he heard Leliana but could not respond, he gasped trying to clear his head, trying to breathe.
He slumped over, unable to move!
"ALIM!"
Her heard her cries, but could do nothing about it. He…he was not sure what was going on?! What had…?
He felt himself be jerked out of the way; his head nearly crushed by a horse's stampeding hooves.
He could hear Leliana and Alistair shouting, but could do nothing to help.
He could not cast. He could not even move.
He was paralyzed.
IOI
Green plumed charged right at Fergus Cousland, battle raged all around them, yet the leader had only eyes for him.
It was likely the only thing that saved his life.
So intent on her prey, the warrior woman did not see the female elf racing across the battlefield.
Kally slid to a stop near Fergus she swept out with her longsword.
The blade caught Green Plume's mount in the legs.
The horse flipped throwing its rider. Fergus had enough to time get out of the way, but only barely.
Green plume landed, but not as hard as he she could have, she turned her fall into a roll, she was likely hurting, but she was back on her feet sword and shield in hand.
She now faced both Fergus and Kally, both had their weapons drawn.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Kally hissed.
Green Plume glared at her.
"You will pay for that you knife-eared bitch!"
Fergus dropped into fighting crouch.
"Not today woman."
Green plume laughed, to Fergus it sounded strangely familiar.
"We have you outnumbered."
"Are you so sure of that?" Kally asked.
Green plume carefully checked the field.
Many of her knights had lost their mounts with the first lightning strike. Shayle still continued to wade into the ones that had not, preventing them from mounting a decent charge. More than a few bodies littered the field of battle, all of them wearing the colors of her men.
It likely did not look good.
Fergus heard Leliana shouting to Alistair, the knight rushed to Alim's side, Fergus did not see the elf take a hit but…
He heard Green plume laugh again.
"So…that is the famed elven warden. The Teyrn did not tell me that he was so formidable. The lightning was a nice touch, but as you can see. I came prepared."
Kally and Fergus charged her, one on the right one on the left.
She blocked the elf with her shield while jabbing at the nobleman. She shoved him back and spun on her smaller opponent. Kally was faster, but her eye patch left her vulnerable.
She slashed viciously at the elf the warrior woman's sword clipped the elf's helmet.
She cried out as she fell grasping her head, she blocked some of the blow, but…
Blood flowed from the severed tip of an elven ear.
Fergus howled and attacked anew, intent on avenging his friend, or at the least protecting her.
He rained down blows on Green Plume, but was unable to breach her defenses. His father had trained him well; the Cousland master of arms had trained him well, and yet…
He could not break through this woman's defenses.
"You are too slow Fergus," the warrior woman taunted, "You have always been too slow!"
He pushed harder, something in that voice…it sounded familiar, but he had never heard such scorn such cruelty.
The warrior laughed again.
"Too many long nights with Oriana I suppose, though you don't have to worry about that anymore…do you?"
"WHO ARE YOU!" he snarled.
She blocked his latest flurry, the flat of her blade came down hard on his shield arm, breaking his wrist, and the weapon fell away. She caught his blade with her shield and kicked him hard in the groin dropping him to his knees.
She stood over him triumphantly, battle still raged around them, but for that moment it was just then.
Green Plume raised her sword for the killing stroke.
"I'm the rightful heir of Highever Fergus, or I should be," the woman snarled.
His eyes widened, he now understood, he recognized the stance, the form the fighting discipline, so like his own, but refined, refined by long hours of addition training and preparation.
When she spoke again, her voice sounded slightly regretful.
"You should have died at Ostagar Fergus. Why could you have not been a good little boy and just died?"
He did not answer, he did not need to. Only one word came to his lips, a word that was filled with shock and realization, a word that shattered his entire world apart.
A word.
A name.
One he had never thought to say again, not to her face anyway.
He sighed brokenly, refusing to meet her gaze.
She was no longer worthy of it, slayer of her own kin.
He spoke the name.
"Elissa."