Chapter 160: The Battle Plan
Kally could only watch as another volley of arrows darkened the crimson sky.
The elf stood at the head of the Ferelden reserves, soldiers and cavalry left behind to defend the archers and trebuchets that were even now pounding the darkspawn horde's left wing.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched the horde shift and reform under their attack.
We have good position, she thought, the terrain around Denerim is perfect for pinning an army and hammering it, especially an army of this size. Of course, the size of the army is also the problem.
She frowned.
We don't have enough to break them.
She tried not to pace, tried not to think of what was happening to the bulk of their forces. The army had cut into the darkspawn ranks like a hot knife through butter. The cavalry opening a path that the army could flow into, trying to break the horde in half, once that had been accomplished their heavy horse had turned into the darkspawn right wing, They harried the monsters, stopping them from wheeling around and surrounding the Ferelden army. The horde seemed confused, but with each attack, you could see their strategy starting to change, adapt.
Again the archers launched their arrows, and again the trebuchets fired.
The battle continued.
Both the cavalry and the archers and trebuchets had one mission, to prevent the darkspawn from encircling and destroying the bulk of their forces, and so far, the plan was working.
Kally clenched her fists.
It was working, but it would not last.
Too many darkspawn.
Sooner or later their losses would take its toll.
The wardens needed to kill the Archdemon, if they did not…
…the army would fall.
Her eyes were once again drawn to the main army. Her vision was still a little blurry in her bad eye, yet she had decided to leave her patch behind, if the darkspawn fell upon them she had desire for some shriek to sneak up on her blindside.
The army had reached the gates, yet the spawn had yet to give, their line continued to bow back, allowing the sides to try and close in, perhaps trying to trap the Ferelden attackers. Lightning flashed overhead, occasionally striking either on the left or right, keeping the monsters off balance.
Alim's work, she did not doubt it.
Her hand went to the hilt of her sword.
I should be down there, she thought. I should be down there with the others…with Fergus.
She cursed under her breath.
She should never have told him about the child.
Her hand went to belly, still flat and hard, but it would not be in a month or so.
The elf shook her head.
She was still not sure what to make of all this. She believed Fergus when he said he would see their child's safety, but at the same time.
She found herself thinking of her father, he had so wanted grandchildren, family gatherings and the like.
What would he say about his elf blooded human grandchild? Would he be disappointed in her? Would he feel betrayed? He was down there right now with the rest of her family, in danger, and she was up here. She felt…like she was betraying them. She…she…
Kally shook her head.
She tried not to think about it.
"HA!"
She turned; a tough looking officer stood watching the battle through a battered spyglass. The commander of one of the trebuchet crew, the old soldier stood a good head above her, with a face like toughed leather.
Yet, for the moment he was smiling.
"What is it?" she asked.
"The army just broke their line," he said, the gates are clear."
He looked through again.
"Our people are entering the city!" he called out.
A cheer went up from the Ferelden archers and trebuchet crews.
It was good news, Kally knew, even she was smiling.
The others should be among them, she knew. The wardens all agreed that the path to victory led through the city. The Archdemon was too high up for any of their weapons to have effect from the ground, but from the top of some tower, maybe even from Fort Drakon, there would be a chance.
Her eyes fell upon the monster, its lazy, unhurried flight around the city; so far it had done nothing to aid its soldiers. Of course, by doing nothing, it was helping. The spawn outnumbered the Fereldans, perhaps five to one or more.
All the monster had to do was stay out of range, and battle was won.
It was the wardens' job to change that.
The commander's glee shifted however as he got a good look at the darkspawn left wing.
He frowned.
"Bloody bastards," he shouted pointing to the left, "Turn the trebuchets on those ogres. Don't let the ugly bastards break our defensive line. Archers! Give those monsters another volley, don't let them form up!"
Kally turned again, she could see now. The darkspawn line was reforming. Eight or nine ogres were driving for the front, trying to reinforce the darkspawns' shattered left wing.
The darkspawn surged forward, like a tidal wave, or soldier ants. No fear and no hesitation could be seen, at least not from back here.
The Ferelden army formed a protective square, the gates would need to be held, if the spawn did encircle them, they would need to fall back into the city.
Again the trebuchets fired, and again arrows rained down on the darkspawn horde. Though this time, the monsters seemed to be extending their line, despite their losses.
Kally swallowed hard.
If the horde didn't try to encircle the army, they might just try to attack the archers and trebuchets, which would put her in the thick of the battle. It would weaken the spawn's attack on the main body, but if they managed to scatter the archers and take out the trebuchets…?
She looked over at the commander, he pulled out a small gold chain from around his neck, a small pendant bearing the sigil of the chantry, and the man kissed it.
"If you pray to any gods lass," he said to her, "You might want to start asking them for help."
Kally's eyes narrowed. The horde was drawing closer.
Her hand tightened on the hilt of her sword.
"We will hold," she said grimly, "We have to."
The old soldier snorted.
"I hope your right."
IOI
The Denerim marketplace was a field of fire.
Alim spun and slashed at any darkspawn who dared to try and bar his path. Around him his fellow wardens were equally engaged. Alistair and Elissa slashing at anything that moved. Theron darted in and out of the darkspawns' field of vision, his attacks as precise as they were brutal. Jowan stayed close to Leliana, shielding her from the worst of the monsters' attack. She had complained about this at first, but the elf had accepted no arguments.
If she is going to be here, he thought, she is going to be protected.
Bandit lunged at a genlock knocking the creature down and tearing out its throat. Carver screamed a battle as he engaged a heavily armored hurlock. Morrigan, taking a page out of his book attacked with wave after wave of chain lightning, dealing with any darkspawn formation before it could become a threat. Seri and Zev waded into the wounded survivors, taking out any before they had a chance to recover. Shayle lunged at an ogre, knocking it into a burning silk vendor's stand. Wynne aided the golem by summoning fire of her own. The flames offered no problem for Shayle, but any darkspawn trying to engage found it most troubling.
The elf grinned manically.
We are doing it, he thought.
We are driving them back.
Of course, that was not the only goal. They needed to find the spawn leading this group. He needed to be taken out. Once that was done, they would be free to move on.
One step closer to the Archdemon.
One more step.
The plan had been Riordan's he had sensed three darkspawn generals currently leading the sack of Denerim. When they did finally engage the Archdemon, any one of these commanders could cause trouble for the wardens and their allies.
They needed to be taken out first.
Riordan had slipped off after they had first entered the city. He claimed to have an idea how they might tempt the Archdemon down. The elven mage could only guess what that idea might be. If it worked it would give them the shot they needed.
Hopefully, it would work.
As he cut down a shriek with spellbinder, he looked up briefly, checking on Leliana. His lover had sheathed her bow, and switched to her dagger and short sword. She zipped around Carver like an arrow cutting down any wounded spawn that he had not yet finished.
Again Alim was left breathless by his love's speed and grace. They had travelled so far together, yet even now she could impress him. He…
A hiss drew his attention back to the now. A genlock rogue pounced from the shadows. The elven warden sidestepped and brought his sword down as the monster's daggers slipped past his side. The blade caught the monster in the wrists severing both its hands. It squealed and tried to retreat. A reverse slash by spellbinder took its head.
One less spawn to bother us, he thought. Yet at the same time he realized the danger of his brief moment of distraction. This was not simply another spawn raiding party.
Now was not the time to get sloppy, not when they were so close to the end.
He shot a quick glance at the way they had come; so far, no more darkspawn had managed to follow them.
He had left Sten and Oghren behind to hold the gates. The Qunari knew how to command men, and the dwarf knew how to pull things from the jaws of chaos with sheer anger and will. The two made a unique team, but he had come to see the value of it in the long months of their travels.
If anyone could hold the gates of Denerim, it would be them.
As for Fergus, he had taken command of the cavalry. It had done the lords and knights good to see Bryce Cousland's son and heir standing with them. The new Teyrn slipped easily back into the role of command, and had ensured the wardens that the darkspawn's right wing would not envelop the army. Kally had stayed behind, aiding in the defense of their trebuchets and archers, and to protect Fergus' unborn child, not that that was common knowledge at the moment.
Alim frowned, and again risked a quick glance at Leliana, Leliana and Morrigan both.
If the witch was right, then he also had unborn children at risk. He could have asked them to stay back, but neither woman was Kallian.
He would have more luck sitting on the Maker's golden throne than telling them to stay back from this.
Thunder rumbled overhead, he reached out to the lightning, but it did not respond. They were so close to the Archdemon now, the taint made reaching out to the forces of nature here difficult.
The soldiers that had breached the city with them did their part to clear the destroyed marketplace of darkspawn. Ferelden heavy infantry, dwarven soldiers, Dalish hunters, even a few mages from the circle accompanied them. The last group behind led by Solona Amell of all people.
He had smiled when he saw his old rival turned friend.
It was good that she was here. She might have preferred the safety of her books, but she had a talent for chaos on the battlefield.
Such a talent was welcome in these dark times.
An ogre smashed through several burning merchants' stalls; it roared a challenge and swung wreckage at Shayle and Wynne. The golem swatted most of debris away while Wynne raised a defensive shield.
Alim's ears lowered as the taint sent a shiver down his spine.
They had found the first of the generals.
He raised spellbinder and let out a war cry. As one he and his allies fell on the monster.
"For Ferelden!" he heard Carver shout as he ducked beneath the monster's swing to slash at its unshielded legs. The ogre bellowed in rage and pain, a bellow cut short by a blast of lightning from Morrigan's fingertips.
Alim grinned wickedly.
We're not easy prey monster, he thought as he charged.
Here…let us show you why.
The battle for Ferelden continued.