Chapter 2: Shadow of the former
Author's note: Hi, so it has been soo long and I revised this chapter because I felt that it needed it so finally I have returned with chapter two.
Dragon Age: Origins and all its content belong to Bioware, I only own my character Marian and her back story.
Marian and Duncan had been walking for a few days now, and he said they were close to the small town of Lothering and that it was only about a day's worth of walking between Lothering and Ostagar. Marian had felt like shit for the past few days her wounds had become more and more infected as they walked, but she tried not to whine about it to Duncan as he had an enough to worry about.
As Marian and Duncan were walking past a large expanse of lush forest, Duncan was telling Marian stories and legends about the Brecilian Forest she was entranced by them until she heard sounds coming out from the dense wall of trees and brush. Marian pointed towards the sound to alert Duncan of it as well they both crouched behind a large shrub and peered out from behind it to see a pack of wolves fighting with a group of bandits. Marian looked at Duncan he nodded and pulled out his longsword and dagger then he moved around the bandits, so he was on one side and she was on the other.
Marian then slowly pulled out her two iron knives that Duncan had bought of a traveling caravan, she held them firmly as she scoped out each bandit there were about six of them they had killed the wolf pack already this made Marian's blood boil and her eyes welled up with rage. She nodded over at Duncan signaling he would take three, and she would take three then she moved to the closet bandit crouched low she slid her way behind him. As he laughed at something, Marian took the opportunity to slit his throat, hearing his blood gurgle at the back of his throat she then flipped over to the bandit by the fire. Marian brought her leg up and swung it straight across his head slamming him to the ground then proceeded to stab him through the heart; she saw her last bandit he looked at her with fear consuming him even more with each step she took. The bandit held his sword up in defense towards her; Marian grinned at this seeing that his grip was weak and loose.
Marian brought one of her daggers down upon the sword knocking it swiftly out of his hands. She heard him whimper then she ran up close to him and grabbed him by his collar looking deep into his eyes Marian poured all her rage into him then like a feather landing she softly slit his throat then dropped him onto the forest floor.
Marian turned wiping her daggers off on her newer brown leather pants that were covered in light chain mail along with the rest of her body. Duncan had just finished his fight when he to came over to her "I'll check my guys if you check yours." she said with a light smile looking at him "Sure." he replied with a slight grin then he turned back to the dead bodies.
Marian was standing up from one of the dead bandits when she heard a small whine escaped from over in the bushes and took a few steps over near it listening to see if she could hear it again. She then heard the sound again as she pushed aside the leaves and sticks Marian uncovered a small black wolf pup hidden under the root of a tree, Marian's eyes looked into the pup's black ones and felt herself become very attached to the small being even after knowing for only a few moments. Marian reached her hands down to the pup cradling her in her hands, she looked down at her again as the pup jumped up and licked her face. Marian giggled then turned to walk back to Duncan who was tapping his foot impatiently then noticed her walk up cradling something.
Marian grinned at Duncan and showed him the small pup
"Isn't she gorgeous," Marian said as she looked between Duncan and the pup
"She is quite cute," Duncan said with a small smile
"I think I am going to name her Andruil after the elven goddess of the hunt." Marian said while looking down at the pup, "how do you know of Andruil, you aren't Dalish?" Duncan said with a confused tone "well I use to be extremely fascinated with goddesses whether they were human or Elven." she said messing with Andruil's ear. Duncan nodded, and they soon were back on the road walking towards Lothering, Marian placed Andruil next to her as she followed her pace very carefully.
Lothering was soon on the horizon line as Marian scooped Andruil up, Marian and Duncan began picking up their pace. "Once we get to Lothering I want you trying to find us a room and food, I will replenish our supplies also try and keep your wolf covered I don't want any locals getting all worked up," he said quickly, she nodded at him as they began to walk through one of the entrances of Lothering that led onto a stone pathway that had stairs that led down into a large farmland then the small town of Lothering sat next to it. Duncan had wandered off somewhere; Marian found a small tavern she opened the door and saw a full ring of tables then a flight of stairs that led to what looked like rooms. Before Marian walked over to the owner she made sure Andruil was well covered in Marina's scarf that acted as a holder, Marian made her way over to the main man" Uh sir do you have any rooms?" Marian asked the man looked at her "Yeah, 12 silver for one room." He said Marian rummaged around in her bag then pulled out the 12 silver placing it on the table between themselves. The man nodded at her then pointed to her room.
She headed up the stairs and went to the room reaching for the doorknob, but it was locked, but then a woman walked over and pushed Marian out of the way unlocking the door then handing the key to her after that she left. Marian huffed, stuffing the key in her pocket then walked in the room, it was small with one window and a queen size hay filled bed with softly tattered furs on it, there was a small table next to the bed she set her bag down there. Then pulled Andruil from out of her scarf, Andruil began licking Marina's face as she placed her down on the bed. Marian walked over near her bag and pulled out a few small pieces of dried meat, and an old roll of bread then walked back over to Andruil taking a seat on the bed next to her. Marian held out a piece of dried meat to Andruil she nipped at the piece then climbed onto Marian's lap.
As she ate the roll of stale bread, Marian brought her free hand down to Andruil's head and scratched behind her ears. Marian picked Andruil up and placed her on the floor as she stood up and grabbed her pack flinging it over her shoulder then put Andruil back into the scarf cradle Marian walked out the door of the room locking the door behind them they exited the tavern and set out to find Duncan.
As her and Andruil left the inn, Marian, spotted Duncan leaving the Chantry area she walked over to him and smiled "I found a room Duncan do you want to rest a few hours then go or go now?" She asked him, Duncan looked off for a second and thought then replied: "I believe that we should keep moving I still have more places to go to for recruits after we get back to Ostagar." Marian nodded and looked down at Andruil who looked up at her with happy eyes while wagging her tail; Marian looked up as they began to walk toward the second entrance to the stone highway that led towards Ostagar.
Marian began to spot the stone figures that stood in the distance that was shadowed in thick fog that consumed the tip of the tower of Ishal; Marian smiled at the very welcome site as the walk from lothering took longer than expected. She looked down at Andruil who was large enough to keep up with Duncan's walking now. Marian placed her hand down on Andruil's head and rubbed behind her ears as they walked; Duncan was a few paces ahead.
They reached the front gate of Ostagar, and she noticed that King Cailan and his guards were waiting for them. Marian looked down at her grimy blood covered leather armor then felt her hair, though it was in two long braids it still looked a mess and dirty, she felt the blood rush to her cheeks as they got closer. Anduril sensed Marian's nervousness and felt her come closer, Marian rubbed her furry ear. Duncan greeted the king first as the King talked to him about heroic fantasies Marian snuck past them and jogged down and about half way across the bridge.
She and Andruil were both extremely exhausted, and Marian needed some medical attention for her wounds, her eye was still tender, and her arm and shoulder injury were not doing too well. There was no time to dilly dally with kings and formalities not that she was good at them in the first place. As they crossed the bridge, she spotted a stone ramp that some Chantry sisters were walking up and decided to go and look up there.
Marian found a sister, tapping her on the shoulder lightly "Excuse me, Sister but I was hoping that I could get someone to tend to my wounds?" she asked timidly showing the sister her shoulder, arm, and then her eye "Yes, right away." the sister said bringing her over to one of the empty cots Marian took a seat, Andruil sat between her legs.
Marian placed a hand on Andruil's snout petting it slowly while the sister grabbed some supplies and a new change of clothes, Marian looked around at all the people that hustled by it was cold here, not as cold as Denerim but still the cold seeped into her bones all the same. She noticed a training yard positioned next to the medical area, there were men out training she saw one man dueling with another, and she watched him closely his shirt was off, and his skin was lightly tanned showing off his hard muscular chest and arms. His golden blonde hair was flipped up in a messy way; her eyes moved down to his face he looked focused and motivated. His gaze caught her for a second before turning back to his training partner; he quickly looked back again his mouth open slightly, his amber gold eyes met her icy turquoise orbs. It felt like ice and fire were raging through her body as their gazes were locked until a wooden sword whacked him on the side of his arm just as the sister came back taking both of their attentions away from each other. Marian tried to look past the sister to see him again, but it seemed he was already gone.
Marian sighed and scratched behind Andruil's ear until the sister told her to take off her soiled clothes, Marian slipped out of her shirt and pants sitting there in her small clothes she wrapped her arms around herself, she saw a few men with lingering eyes and quickly tensed up. The sister began cleaning her wounds as Marian sat there in pure embarrassment and genuine discomfort, the sister, wrapped the white linen around her clean wounds then handed her some ordinary looking clothes to wear until she found new armor. Marian figured it would be best if after she had got dressed, she went to find Duncan, she quickly put on the short linen dress, and the pair of brown leather leggings and small leather boots. Marian thanked the sister, gratefully giving her a few copper then walked down the ramp they came up, and she scanned her eyes across the area and spotted Duncan sitting by a large bonfire it looked like he was reading.
She waltzed up next to him "Hello Duncan, sorry for running off before Kings make me nervous." she said leaning up against a pillar.
He looked up at her and smiled "Well, you certainly know how to take care of yourself and no worries I would have done the same if given the chance but, the King means well." he said with a hearty chuckle Marian smiled at him.
"Back to seriousness I need you to seek out our junior member of the order, Alistar, I think he should either be eating at the Warden quarters or down at the training yard if you can't find him just ask around," Duncan said With a plain face Marian nodded then, she and Andruil walked off to find this Alistar that Duncan spoke of Marian had no idea what Alistair looked like so she decided to ask around.
She walked up to a small food stand and asked the vendor "Excuse me, sir, I was wondering if you knew of a Grey Warden named Alistair?" the man looked at her and chuckled a warm laugh "Yes I know him, should be over near the training yard," he said pointing toward a stone ramp that led directly to dirt yard. She smiled at him, and before leaving bought some meat for Andruil, she turned to leave thanking the man quickly.
Marian walked up the ramp she noticed the blonde man from before standing and talking to an older looking Grey Warden, Marian asked one of the soldiers who was standing around watching his partner fight, where Alistar was the man pointed to the blonde guy, she nodded and walked off towards him. Marian tapped on Alistar's armored shoulder he turned around "Yes?" his deep voice rang out to her, her breath hitched for a moment when she meets his eyes forgetting to address him formally.
She spoke, "Uhh … yes sorry, I am Marian Felspar, the newest Grey Warden recruit Duncan sent me to find you." Her voice was full of nervousness; he smiled at her "Ahh yes I remember Duncan mentioned you in his letters, ma' lady." he said jokingly bowing to her, she giggled and felt her anxiousness dissipate "Who is this you have with you ?" Alistair asked her as he knelt down to Andruil holding a hand out for her to sniff "This is Andruil." Marian said placing her hand behind one of her ears scratching it slowly, "Andruil, that's a lovely name." He said with a smile Andruil licked his face as thanks for the compliment. "She is a wolf that Duncan and I rescued out from the outskirts of The Brecilian Forest she was only a puppy then her pack was slaughtered, but we found her." Marian said as she looked down at Andruil "She is a charming wolf." Alistair said looking up at Marian; she flushed a bit "Should we find Duncan." she said quickly giving him a hand to help get him up off the ground, "Thanks." he said as they began to walk back to Duncan. Marian called out his name, and he looked back around to them "Duncan, found Alistar. " she said.
"Great, now that you two have become equated I want you and Alistar to start training, I must take leave again tomorrow for three more recruits than we can make way on the ritual, but in the meantime, you two get to know each other and train as much as you can." Marian nodded in agreement as did Alistar whose eyes stayed fixed on Duncan like a son taking orders from a doting father.
"It's getting dark Alistar, please show Marian her sleeping quarters and maybe have her meet some of the others for the time being," Duncan said as he turned to face the roaring fire.
Alistair explained to Marian that about how Grey Wardens can sense Darkspawn When he told her she looked sort of amazed not scared like he would have expected. She just smiled at him, she had such beautiful smile he thought to himself. Why did he think that he barely knew her? He went silent, Marian broke the silence "You can call me Marie, that's what people back in Denerim called me for short." she said as she glanced at him quickly but then looked ahead. He liked her not just for her looks which she had a lot of, but the way she joked with him treated him like an ordinary person she was so easy and the way she was shy around him when she looked so confident. Even if he only knew her for a few hours she was lovely, Alistair shook his head he barely knew Marie he can't get attached he had to remind himself that.
Alistair pushed open the door to the small room, a twin size bed was pushed up against one side of the room with a small wooden table positioned next to it and a similar bed was opposite this bed.
"This bed here will be yours, for the time being, your roommate Lauren is a recruit just like yourself, and if you get hungry, there is food down in the mess hall. I'll leave you to get situated we start training tomorrow so use this time to be comfortable, I'll be down in the tavern if you need anything." Alistair smiled and quickly departed before any questions could be asked. She stood there a moment looking around at the room enjoying the privacy of the four walls and door.
She threw her bag onto the far bed and laid down with Andruil curled by her side before she knew it her breath turned shallow and slow, the fog of sleep had settled upon her.
Black figures skipped across the stones of the dank alley, the echoes of their footsteps reverberated unnaturally down the alley.
"Hey there girl." the slurred breath of a man slithered its way across her neck
"It's a little dangerous for a beautiful girl like yourself to be out alone." His hands moved to her side trying to corral her defensive movements,
"I'm fine, thanks." she pushed him away with no avail this only encouraged his efforts it seemed. Her eyes peered up at the man but his face was missing, an endless black void replaced it, toxic black smoke oozed out from it. Panic set in as his body continued to be consumed by the void, the skin around his face turned dark and purple with small veins appearing all over his skin. Marian felt a scream escaped her as she fought to loosen his death like grip around her arm and waist.
A ray of pure yellow light fell upon her waist, shining upon her dagger, the man before her let go suddenly. Marian stared at the man waiting for him to do something but he just watched her. The light still shone on her dagger glinting slightly when a strange compulsion came over her as she watched as her hand moved to unsheathe the blade. A fearful tightness spread through her chest as she was not the one to pull it from its sheath, her body had been frozen in place only her eyes were able to move and fearfully watch the foreign dagger suspended in her possessed hand.
"You are the one."A dark whisper mused, she felt a cold sweat on her forehead
"Who.. are you?!" her voice croaked, no reply, her arm began to move again the blade now pointing at the area right between her breasts. "I am your death." the voiced mocked, in one swift movement a gurgling sound emanated from her lips, the blade was plunged deep into her chest.
Her body collapsed onto the cobblestone; blood pooled into the cracks staining the stones a dark crimson. The hold the monster had on her had released she moved her hand gingerly to the blade protruding out of her chest. A small whimper left her as her hand touched the blade, hot tears silently rolled down her cheek.
"No… please, why? Who are you?" she pleaded her vision began to get spotty, the moonlight that reflected off the dewy cobblestone soon faded to black, her breathing shallow and labored.
Marian awoke, her body shot up in a frantic motion gasping for air she moved a hand between her breast searching for any sign that the nightmare was real. She took a deep breath trying to calm her frantic breathing, a sound from the doorway caught her attention a tall, muscular woman stood in front of the door her hands full of food and a piece of bread hanging from her mouth. The woman who Marian guessed was her roommate looked surprised to see her there, "uh… hello? Who are you?" the woman said the piece of bread falling out of her mouth into her hand. She had long dark brown hair that silhouetted her slender boney face.
"I am the new recruit, Marian Felspar your new roommate for the time being," I responded,
"Ohh yeah I remember now, Duncan mentioned you I'm Lauren Mav I am new to the order as well, took my joining just last week." She said her voice going quiet when she mentioned the joining, she sat down on her bed and started eating some of the food she had brought up.
"So where you from kid? Myself I'm from Redcliff Village." she announced, as she stuffed her mouth full of bread and cheese, Marian giggled "From Denerim, just lived off the streets, got in some trouble Duncan saw me saved me from being thrown in jail, now I'm here."
"Well damn, I joined by winning a duel competition, was the only woman to enter." she boasted, smiling triumphantly to herself, Marian smiled with her feeling the nightmare slip away for the moment and feeling more at ease, 'I think I've made a new friend.' she thought to herself.
She finished unpacking there wasn't much to unpack, so it didn't take long she mainly talked to Lauren and continued to get to know her, "Well no, my mom she always thought my fighting style was too "masculine" she said "a lady kills with poison and charm only, balls to that I said and decided to take up shield and sword, she was less than pleased but what can you do." Lauren shrugged, sweeping off the bread crumbs that covered her chest then pushed herself up from the bed, "Well I'll see you later tonight, I'm heading to the chantry for a nightly session." Lauren stated before quickly leaving out of the room, Marian cocked her head Lauren didn't seem like the chantry type but each to his own.
The night crept on her slowly her eyes began to get heavy, she climbed up into bed wrapping herself in the velvety deer pelt that laid over top the bed the warmth enveloped her body quickly, she felt a weight lay down next to her leg and heard the soft snoring of Andruil echo through the room. The sound was comforting and soon lulled Marian to sleep.
She woke to the bright, warm rays of sunlight shining in through the cracked wooden window, she rolled over slowly and felt a growl emanate from her stomach groaning she pushed up out of bed. Lauren was strewn out over her bed, her clothes from the night before still on, she must of come home late Marian thought to herself.
Marian pulled on a pair of tan leather leggings, threw a dark fawn tunic on and slid on her buckskin boots. She quickly grabbed her pack and gave Andruil the last of the dried meat from the day before then slipped the pack on and left the room swiftly.
The mess hall was already packed and bustling, the hall was filled with wardens, circle mages, Chantry sisters and a bunch of other smaller bands of warriors and soldiers. Marian quickly grabbed a plate with fried eggs, a few slices of cured meat and a slightly stale piece of bread. She smiled at the meal feeling her stomach growl with anticipation. Scanning the room, she quickly found a table with only a few individual people at it.
Marian pulled the pieces of meat off her plate and fed them to a drooling Andruil you waited patiently underneath the table
"Didn't your mother every teach you not to feed the dog at the dinner table." a familiar sarcastic voice said, Marian jumped and felt a wave of relief when she saw it was Alistair, the junior warden from before.
He smiled sheepishly at her "Is this seat taken?" he asked, a heaping plate of steaming food in hand.
Marian smiled softly " Nope, it's all yours." Alistair placed the plate down and began to ravenously eat his food, Marian grinned at him and took a bite of her eggs.
"You eat like a pig."Marian giggled,
"Well, that's not very nice!" Alistair retorted, his mouth slightly greasy and full of food.
"I just point out the prominent traits in people," she smirked and gave one of her eggs to Andruil,
"Yeah well rude, anyway are you ready for training today?" he grinned evilly.
Marian leered at him "Oh you bet I am."
For a moment they looked at each other glaring before they both burst out in laughter, they continued to jest with one another and simultaneously finish their breakfast.
The training yard was a bustling menagerie of soldiers training on straw dummies, some were at archery section firing arrows at large round hay targets along with humanoid wooden targets with bits of random armor, as well there was a big sparring area with pairs of soldiers fighting against each other practicing different moves and techniques. Marian and Alistair took to the sparing area, he began telling her about various forms and movement patterns and how in battle working together is a major part of survival.
The day dragged on for what seemed like an eternity, they had continuously gone through every fighting technique that Alastair had in his knowledge. Marian's body was dripping in sweat despite the winter air, her breath shook with exhaustion as the desperately tried to keep the loose strands of hair from sticking to her face and neck. As the sun was slowly approaching its horizon line, Marian looked at Alistair his body too covered in a layer of sweat and his chest heaving for air but not as drastic as she had been. His skin glistened under the setting sun's golden rays as did his eyes that reflected the light making it look as though he had flecks of gold leaf floating in his iris. She felt her breath be taken away, even more, she shook her head clearing her head of these thoughts and smiled at him, he returned it and offered her a hand off the ground.
"Let's call it a day." he said calmly, they walked back to the warden quarter in a comfortable silence, the sweat slowly dried as the cold winter air brushed over their bodies.
"Be ready for another day like today Marie." Alistair said breaking the silence, Marian smiled and looked at him "I think I can get used to this." Marian stated, she meant it today despite being hard, and challenging was one of the best days she had had in a long time, she enjoyed it greatly. They reached the point where they split ways, "Alistair, thank you." Marian said quickly her eyes fixed everywhere but his face, she turned and started walking down the hallway to her room. Alistair looked after her he could hear his heartbeat as he watched her slowly disappear into the darkness of the hallway, "Maker's breath, you are beautiful." he whispered to himself before turning away and down his own hallway.