ACT II: Wasted Warden Warnings
You know. When Envy fabricated that memory of the Inquisition taking over a city, I didn't think it would be real.
It had taken us two weeks, even with horses and caravans, to get to Crestwood. Most of my personal crew had come with me, leaving Cole, Cassandra and The Hydra behind (Varric was avoiding the Seeker like the plague). Vivienne had taken up with directing the coordination between soldiers and supplies, Solas and Varric disappeared to find Hawke, and Sera stayed to man the bowmen and borders of our camp. Which left a Warden, a Qunari, and Tevinter mage.
Bad joke incoming.
From there, it was another day or two to split up people and get scouting parties out and around to secure our entry. A snake's slither of tents was winding down through the main road into Crestwood as we figured out a battle plan. Inquisition forces mingled with the might of The Bull's Chargers, a brute force meant to clear out the worse of what Crestwood had to offer.
"So we have another infestation of dead to deal with, Harding?" I asked with my eyes shut against the rain. My dwarven scout was before me with the rain pattering off the metal of her armor. The Iron Bull stood at my back, not close enough to touch, but nearly close enough to feel his heat. Blackwall was off to my left side, and Dorian stood stiff at my right.
"I'm afraid so, Your Worship, and much worse." She agreed, shifting in the mud. A shiver of quiet laughter came up through me at the sound of a slow sluuurp! as her boot fought the soggy earth beneath it.
"What could be worse than an ill-timed family reunion?" Dorian piped up next to me, sinking a few inches into the mud by my side. I peeked in time to see a grimace flash across his face. Another set of footsteps reached us with Krem popping up next to Dorian and slipping next to Harding.
"A dead one." I quipped and snagged a laugh from him. I grinned into the rain and down at Harding, who resisted the urge to roll her eyes at us. My shoulders straightened and I cleared my throat, nodding with a silent continue on my lips.
"What's worse is that we have bandits and Wardens in the area." Harding added. "Caer Bronach houses at least fifty strong from what we've gathered, and the Wardens are just ghosts coming and going as they please."
"Are the Wardens doing anything to aide Crestwood with those bandits?" I asked, pushing my loose hair back from my face, the rain gluing it to my skin. Bull shifted carefully behind me, doing his best to keep from sinking into the earth. Blackwall accepted his fate readily and merely closed his eyes as his weight dipped briefly.
Krem shook his head, "No. We sent Skinner out with the forward party. She reports they've refused to help and only step in when there's immediate danger."
"... is immediate danger not the infestation of the living dead and bandits?" I asked my audience with confusion. Dorian gave a delicate snort next to me and Blackwall sighed heavily at my left. I turned to my Warden, seeking answers. He sensed my attention and his mouth winced under his beard.
"I don't know what orders they could be following that would have them actively ignore civilians in need. That's not how we're supposed to work." He answered darkly, glaring at me under his heavy brow. "Trust me, I am just as confused as you are, Inquisitor."
My attention snapped to Krem, "Where is Skinner now?"
"She came back at dusk. The forward party is still out scouting." Krem replied, Harding's nod adding to his report. "Do you need her to be sent back out? She'll find the Wardens quick enough."
"No, have her stay home." I shook my head and tapped under my chin with my knuckles in thought, what's going on? Why aren't the Wardens helping? "Krem, have the Chargers geared up and ready for a march."
"Aye, Your Worship." Krem nodded with a salute before he trudged off back toward the camping area for the forces. A silence settled over my group, the rain continued to bounce off our bodies as the rest of them waited for me. Something is going on, if they're still here, they haven't found Stroud, or Hawke is making it hard to do so.
I glanced off into the distance. Beyond the fog and dense rain stood a fort, waiting in the darkness. If I can't deal with the lake and the dead coming from it, we're going to need a base here. My gaze turned toward the hills. But setting up a base is no good if there's no villagers to protect or merchants to buy supplies.
"Harding." I shifted slightly to face her, my scout perked at her name. "Have another party scout the fort. Give me all the ins and outs. Make sure Krem gets them, set up a battle plan." Harding's eyebrows rose sharply, but a smirk touched her lips as she saluted.
"Aye, Your Worship. We'll have it ready when you come back." Harding glanced off to the side, toward the lake that fenced off the rest of Crestwood. "... what are you going to do about that?" A sigh escaped me as I made my way toward the edge of the cliff, the vicious green glow of a rift hovered over the water, sparking and electrifying the waters around it, gurgling with every spurt of energy.
"Anyone got a working boat?" I grumbled with my hands on my hips.
"Not with anyone willing to row your ass out there." Bull replied, stepping closer to the edge than I dared. He snorted, the steam flowing from his nose in wisps. "We'll have to find another way."
"The Mayor may know something." Blackwall suggested, keeping a healthy distance from the ledge. "We should find him and ask."
"Agreed." I nodded and turned to Dorian. "Alright, dandelion, ready to go?"
Dorian flashed me a winning smile, "Pet names already? My, you do move quick. Lead on, Inquisitor, I will have the immense pleasure of covering your rear."
"Fucking right, you will." I laughed and shouldered my maul into its holster. With a salute to Harding, we three strapped up our boots against the inhaling and grasping mud. A very sour and dower Blackwall followed up on my left, and Bull took a hefty step to come up nearly to my ass, forcing Dorian to my right.
The mage shot Bull a smug smirk over my shoulder and I raised an eyebrow at him; the hell are you nutballs doing? Children, honestly. Well, I suspected that no one was going to be pleased with my decision to bring the newbie, least of all because he was not only a mage, but a Tevinter mage. Well, y'all are going to have to get along as far as I'm concerned.
"Boss." Bull called from over my head. "Shouldn't we be bringing a bit more of the guys with us?"
"Aye." Blackwall grumbled from my right.
"Uh. No?" I asked, confused. My gaze shot over my shoulder to the Qunari. "It's better if they wait for us at the tents. Varric left with Solas to go find Hawke and Sera stays with the bowmen since Varric is gone." The unsaid 'did you want Vivienne instead of Dorian with us' went cold amongst my group. Bull snorted again, quiet and obedient.
I frowned; that was weird.
The path wound away from our people and passed the lake's shore nearby. There the water lapped up against the gravel, licking at the broken boats and cracked decking of the small dock. Thunder gave a dull roar overhead, rolling over our heads and shoulders with a passing rumble. The rain came down on us with a steady pattern, keeping us soggy as we trekked up through the East Side Hills.
"What's that?" Dorian pulled up next to me, his staff hidden at his side. Peering through the rain, there were two figures kneeling by the stone fencing of the path, huddle around a third figure. Eyes narrowed and shoulders tense, we wandered closer.
"Wardens." Blackwall warned me quietly. "Their armor gives them away."
"Here for Hawke or his friend, most likely." Dorian murmured in reply. "Shall we distract them?"
"Let's." I answered with a nod. We made our way up toward the group, Bull changing his pace to make his footfalls louder, the rocks crunched together and scraped under his boots as we drew closer. The Wardens' heads shot up at our approach, their hands on their pommels. Dorian drew behind us, careful to keep his staff hidden, Blackwall and Bull remained close to me at the ready if needed.
"Hail there, Wardens." I called through the rain. "Fancy seeing you lot here."
"The same could be said for you, Inquisition." One of them replied, pulling out quick in front of their partner and the third person. Spying around them, it looked to be a young elf, huddled over a knee, holding it tight. Hurt? Keep it civil until we can get to them. Don't know if these Wardens are enemies yet.
"The Inquisition does its best to answer any calls for help." I kept my voice firm, the rain dripping down against my lips and chin. "Last I heard, the Wardens had disappeared, so imagine our surprise to find them here." Both Wardens hesitated, the young elf behind them had been brought to their feet and shooed away. Black hair, copper vest, green tunic, green leggings, my mind jotted down the information to find the young elf later.
"We're here on official orders." The closest one answered, voice deep against the metal helmet they wore. "A Warden named Stroud is wanted for questioning." The second Warden shot the first one a sharp look, their hooded face pinched tight with concern before they looked back to us.
"Oh?" My innocence answered. "I thought Wardens were accustomed to working independently?"
"In most cases. In others, we do answer to a higher authority." The first Warden answered, helmet tilted toward me. "We heard he'd passed through here, but the villagers knew nothing. They have troubles enough."
"I imagine so." I answered, and then pointed to the shambles of a decapitated zombie behind them. "What with the dead coming back to haunt them." Shame touched their shoulders, dripping them under their cloaks for a brief moment. That must have been what they saved the elf from, I can see limbs scattered in the grass.
"It is curious," the second one stepped closer, hood heavy under the rain, "that the Inquisition shows up not long after those rumors come through."
"Coincidence." I shot back, lacing my words with boredom. I'm getting better at this. "Your rogue Warden may have shown up because he still has some sense of justice for people weaker than he." The jab hit true and they both stepped back, shoulders drawn tight to their spines. Fuck you, you don't get to insinuate shit without a smack back, asshole.
"Our apologies." The first one bowed their head. "We meant no insult. It's been a desperate search for him. If you would happen to know anything…?"
"What could you tell me about him? I couldn't tell one Warden from the next." I answered readily, deflecting the prod for information.
"Not much." The second shook his head. "Warden-Commander Clarel ordered his capture. We can say no more than that." I shrugged under my oil-slick armor, the water rolling from my leathers and coat with heavy droplets. You've given me enough.
"I hope Ser Stroud comes with us peacefully." The first Warden murmured pointedly. "I trained under him for a time. He's a good man, I'm sure of that." Remorse colored their words and they shifted under their armor. Shame, maybe? It's gotta be tough hunting down your mentor. Vividly, Dorian's presence behind us gave my Mark a sharp stab. Ah, he is listening.
"I take it that means you won't be staying to fight the undead here?" I replied softly. I felt for them, because turning on someone you respected wasn't easy (my memories with Leliana were harsh reminders of that). That doesn't excuse you going through a battlezone and not assisting when it's your job to do so.
The second one shook their head again, "No. Our orders forbid it. Crestwood was only a detour."
"Is that all the aid we can offer these people?" The first one turned to their partner. The second was firm and shook their head once, silent. The first one turned their helmet to us, their voice pleading, "If the Inquisition can help, I beg you to do what you can. The villagers have already lost too many."
"Safe travels, Wardens." I said after a pause, stepping out of the path to let them pass. Both of them cast looks over my group as they trailed away, relaxing once they were out of earshot. My group huddled around me, curious gazes focused on the retreating Wardens' backs.
"Good job, Boss." Bull tipped his head, grinning. "We know a bit more now than before."
"Do we?" Blackwall asked, skeptical. "We already knew Stroud was being hunted."
"They want him alive." Dorian answered, leaning close to my right side, arms folded against his chest, skin slick with rain. "Capture is very different from hunt to kill. I wonder why."
"Information." My voice echoed with Bull's as we answered. I shot him an amused look and he grinned at me with a shake of his horns. I sighed, "Stroud may have taken something from them, or knows something they don't. They need him alive."
"One Warden is hard to find." Blackwall countered, his hand scratching at his beard. "If the villagers haven't seen him, I can't imagine the tricks he's pulling to cover his tracks."
"We'll find him." I answered, brushing my hair behind my ears. "I have Varric, which means I also have a very useful hawk on loan." Bull chuckled and lightly jabbed my side. Affectionately, I smacked his fingers away with a reflexive swing of my palm, missing as he pulled away, and turned back toward the road.
"Besides," Bull interjected as he followed behind me, "none of those Wardens mentioned a new leader. They may not be a part of Corypheus' plot to seize The Order."
"I don't think so, either." I replied over my shoulder, watching the rocks under my feet. "The infiltration in their ranks may be subtle. We'll need to keep our eyes open." We trudged through the rain, my head hung low against my neck and clavicle with the water pouring down my neck and into my clothes. No avoiding it. This is almost worse than the Storm Coast.
"There's a home." Blackwall called out. We looked up and found a small cabin home coming up from the ground. Grass and foliage smothered it, the vines gripped the roof and woodwork with tangled fingers and with the rain, it appeared to do its best to level the cabin back into the ground. Careful, I scurried up toward the door and knocked. My armor shook as I spooked when the door flew open immediately.
"Inquisition!" It was the elf, bright eyed and dripping wet despite being inside. "You did come!"
"We did?" I answered, utterly blindsided. "We were expected, but I — I'm sorry, who are you?"
"Jana!" A grin flashed over their soft face. I leaned back on the steps slightly, bowed by the enthusiasm. She matches the description, black hair, green tunic, copper vest, all of it. She pulled her hair back and squeezed it, watering draining down her arms.
"Good morning, then, Jana." I gave her a brief nod. "Would you mind if my friends and I came in for a chat?" I hadn't even finished my sentence before the door swung open the rest of the way and she stepped back to allow us entry. With a grateful nod, my crew and I stumbled in from the rain. Bull was the last, ducking sideways to keep his horns from clipping the doorframe.
"This is exciting." Jana burst once the door was shut. "Did you see how the Grey Wardens saved me from those corpses? They're amazing!"
My brow rose. "I hadn't seen it, actually. It's why I wanted to find you, to check on you."
"Oh!" A flush broke out over her face and reached her ears, the grin now shy. "You didn't need to, but I appreciate the fuss."
"Of course," I smiled with a nod, but it slipped from my lips a moment later. "Jana, could I ask — what were you doing out so close to the water?"
"Looking for the Grey Wardens." Jana was a quick shot, a quiet exhale of embarrassment left her. "I was going to see if they were looking for recruits, but then…"
"The dead can take anyone unawares, darling." Dorian soothed. "Show up when we least expect them." Concerned at the wording, I shot him a twisted side-glare of what the fuck is that about? but the mage ignored it in favor of the elf.
"I suppose so, but it didn't set a very good impression, I'm afraid." Jana chuckled and nervously tugged at the tips of her fingers. "They told me they hadn't the time."
"Nonsense." Blackwall groused from the back, closer to the entrance. "The Grey Wardens are a noble cause. They would be happy to take anyone willing to serve." At that, Bull graced me with a quick, skeptical look and with a quiet tip of my chin, I agreed: maybe now isn't the right time.
Instead to Jana I said, "The world needs people like you, Jana. You could focus on what you can do for your people here, instead." The elf contemplated my words for all of a second before the smile on her face told me I hadn't convinced her.
"Perhaps, but the Wardens are heroes. They saved me from those demons, Your Worship." She paused, her hands slowing from their nervous twitching. "With all that's happening, I'd like to help people the same way."
"Grey Warden or no, the world needs that courage." Blackwall murmured from the back. I sighed, realizing I wasn't going to win this fight on two fronts. Joining the Wardens now could be a disaster, since we don't know what's going on with them. I don't want to add to their flock. We left Jana to her contemplation and planning. Worry gnawed at my neck, but there was nothing I could do to stop her.
The Village of Crestwood wasn't far from Jana's cabin. The path cut between a few dilapidated homes and broken walls. Old cabins and storage sheds leaned into the mud, shattered fencing groaned with the thunder and swayed against the rain. The world was bleak and the demons and dead could walk freely in the fog of its depression.
"Shamblers." Bull cautioned. "Up there, by the main gate. I see guards, too."
"Hi-ho, then, boys." I replied, slipping my maul from its holster. It felt like ages since I had last held the weapon in my hands. The handle was slick with rain, but the leather at the head of the maul and at the pommel gave me grip, the weight felt like a reassurance in my palms. It was alarming, almost, how much I missed the feel of it and the adrenaline that burst in my veins from the sensation.
The first shambler never turned quick enough to see me coming. With no archers in my current crew, speed was key. Bull kept pace behind me with Blackwall at his right flank. Dorian watched us go, his staff whirling in his grip. I slammed into the first one, the stretched skin and crumbling bones cracked and splintered under my weapon. Bull's came down next from overhead, driving through the ribcage of the next one. A Sloth crept up from the grass, hissing as it rose up and lunged for Blackwall. The Warden's shield brandished in front of him, prepared for the blow.
Dorian wasn't Solas, there was no barrier that dropped over our heads, but the shambler I didn't take down with my first swing glowed purple and blue, its sockets flashed white for a moment before its attention turned from me with a screech, the bow and arrow in its grip rose and released, stunning the Sloth before it reached Blackwall.
"What in the fucking Jesus!" I shouted, leaping away from the shambler as it raised its bow again to take another potshot at the Sloth. Blackwall shuddered with a hard restart, catching his bearings quick enough to shield bash the Sloth into the line of fire. Bull growled and circled around, blocking my sight of Dorian and keeping himself planted between the Sloth and shambler.
"Sorry, dove!" Dorian hollered from somewhere in the downpour. Another spell howled past us, behind my back and caught an approaching demon up through its maw. The Rage demon roared, scraping its claws at its mangled mouth, howling from pain as its face contorted, its body turning purple.
I raised my maul to catch it in a swing, but its limbs dropped, the fire of its rage dampened and cooled before blackening in the rain. A loud, alarming growl rumbled up behind me as Bull twisted around, his arm in full release and the maul swinging with its weight onto the creature's head. The skull split with a wet sounding kiss from the maul, the flaming essence sputtering as it struggled to regain control before it popped into the air.
My body froze, stunned. The fucking hell was that! The guards had been given the advantage with two less to deal with and pressed forward, their swords singing through the rain as they cut down the zombies closest to them. I lunged off of Bull, my hand at his hip to leverage myself into a toss to clear a leap next to another skeleton. My maul came up from the ground in an underhanded swing and took the legs out from it.
"Overhead!" Dorian shouted. No sense in looking up! With a shove of my heels into the ground, I drove into a roll as a handful of arrows speared the earth. Bull stormed past me, his body rolling into a twist, both hands on his maul as he crashed into the pack of archers. Blackwall had backed up with the guards, fending off another Rage that had come close.
Dorian came up to me, his hand held out to assist. Hesitation held me in place for half a second before I took his hand and he brought me up to my feet. The smirk I was growing familiar with was firm on his lips, but there was a twitch of concern around his eyes.
"That's not normal, even for magic." I muttered to him, keeping my voice low as the noise of battle died out behind me. Blackwall and Bull could handle the situation as it was, but I needed to come to grips with this new surprise. Is that necromancy? Raising the dead should not be that easy. Where did he get magic like that?
"No, I don't suppose it is. No one thinks to use the dead when there's so many around us." He said it candidly, though the lowly tint of defensiveness flavored his words. A moment paused between us and we stood together, assessing the other. The dead should stay dead, I wanted to say. The idea that he could control them unnerved me to my core.
But what do I know of magic? It was something I would have to deal with eventually, and that eventually would have to be Skyhold.
"Does it only work on the dead?" I asked carefully, my voice gently quiet. Dorian eyed me heavily in an attempt to deduce my line of logic.
"Yes." He finally answered, relaxing in my gaze. "I haven't quite learned to make the living obey, but who can?" The Mark warmed in my palm, the unrelenting relief echoed through me and I smiled at the feeling. He was scared. How cute.
"For now, let's keep it that way." I sighed, rubbing at my temple. "Thank you for being honest."
"You don't know that I was." Dorian countered happily. I paused, surprised. Does he not know…? No. Of course he doesn't, why would he? He doesn't know the Mark gives me that kind of insight. A gentle, mischievous smile touched my lips.
"Dandelion." I clued him in and placed my Marked hand on his arm. "I absolutely know." I took the small satisfaction of watching his eyes grow wide and flicker down to his arm, watching the Mark glow against his skin before I let go. Bull and Blackwall hadn't approached and when I turned to find out why, I spotted them both with their arms crossed and scowling at us.
"Lord hallelujah, isn't that a sight?" I grumped, scratching at my forehead. Dorian snorted with laughter. If it wasn't any other situation, I would have been extremely pleased with the sight, but a pair of pissed off warriors is not a good deal for me.
"I am in full agreement, my darling. Look at those scowling faces. Rippling muscles." He teased gracefully, nudging my shoulder. My eyes rolled with a quiet chuckle and I started my way on over. Qunari and Warden had their eyes pinned to Dorian, but the man in question dignified them with a high brow and stiff upper lip.
"I'm gonna say it now, and I'm gonna say it once," I told my group, mindful of the worried guards not far from us, "all comments, questions, or concerns about any magic usage during this trip will wait until Skyhold."
"Boss —" Bull started in. I raised my hand and placed it on his chest, as if my strength was enough to hold him back. He stared at me, his one eye dark with distrust and the corner of it twitched before he rumbled with a quiet snort, glaring at Dorian before relaxing into disinterest.
"Dear me, you are far more obedient a Tal-Vashoth than I thought." Dorian joked lightly from behind me, clearing his staff over his shoulder and latching it into its holster. Bull tensed under my hand for no more than a split second, his muscles quivering before he relaxed again.
"Do not push it, Vint." Bull growled lowly. "As long as she likes you, I tolerate you. Hear?"
"Heard." Dorian grinned, immensely pleased. "Pity for you I've swept her off her feet, isn't it?"
"Gentlemen." I clapped my hands, drawing attention to myself. "Civility, please, or I send you all home. All of you."
"Why me?" Blackwall croaked just beside Bull, standing partially in the Qunari's shadow with his arms crossed behind his shield.
"Because you're certainly not stopping them, are you?" I griped. A sigh ripped up my throat and I waved them off my back as I walked away toward the guards. Honestly, if I thought y'all were gonna be fucking childish about this, I would have just come out myself.
