Chapter Four

Caridin's Cross was interesting. We arrived late and left early so I didn't get the chance I wanted to see everything but it looked nothing so like a permanent fair. Most of the building looked temporary but there were a few permanent structures, the inn being one.

Arwen, for now we were allowed to call her that, seemed fully recovered in the morning. She was rather gruff at breakfast, so we proceeded in silence down the road. She did say that Bownammar wasn't terribly far but that we would be making a stop along the way to check out a thaig that was supposed to be overrun with Darkspawn.

We walked the rest of the day and most of the next in silence. The pace was a bit faster than before and that discouraged any real conversation. The next morning provided a change of pace.

The dwarves had stone refreshment stations every so often along the road where you could obtain fresh water, relieve yourself and otherwise take care of personal needs in privacy. Most of the ones we had seen up until now were functional but had obviously been repaired at some point.

Starting around mid morning we came across a destroyed station . None of us were feeling any trace of taint.

"This was repaired last time I came through here." She said, finally. "All of this was done in the last fortnight."

The stone work was so thoroughly demolished that the trickle of fresh water poured into the waste channel. The seats were completely smashed.

We walked on. The next station was smashed as well, as were all the stations we saw for the rest of the day.

Late in the day we reached the turn off for Gavorn Thaig. We went a small distance down the tunnel and made camp. All of us could sense Darkspawn further in. They were far away, but present in force. I spent a tense watch staying alert, but nothing happened through the night. They neither came closer nor went away. When Palin relieved me I fell into a worried sleep. My dreams were jumbled and confused and filled with Darkspawn.

Early the next day we broke camp. There was a large mass ahead of us and I began to detect traces coming from behind.

Arwen said "We'll continue forward. This tunnel loops back to the main road. The actual road to the thaig is ahead at a T intersection. Even if they come from behind, we shouldn't be trapped. We'll stop at the T and see what our situation is."

Gervais asked "How will we handle so many? I've never sensed such a large number."

Arwen replied "And they have emissaries and alphas. I have a few tricks left that should help."

I think we all remembered then that this was the woman who defeated the Blight and rescued Amaranthine.

She obviously read something in our faces as she continued "If there are too many, we'll head back to the main road and wait for reinforcements."

"How long will that take?" I asked.

"We should see someone in a short while, the road isn't all that deserted. If they are headed to Bownammar, there's help to be had there. Likewise at Caridin's Cross. So, not long. For now, let's move forward and be quiet about it."

That was easier said than done. Arwen in her leathers was quiet enough. Gervais and myself were in mail so we jingled. Palin positively clanked as we moved. She took lead and we followed making as little noise as we could.

At the intersection I could feel the mass of Darkspawn down the road to the thaig. They seemed to be milling around rather than all heading in one direction so I didn't think they had detected us yet.

Arwen set Palin to looking at the approach behind us, myself to looking down towards Gavorn Thaig and Gervais forward down the road. I couldn't see anything. The main road had been well, if dimly lit. This passage was more what I had initially expected from the Deep Roads. The ceiling was just above my head. The only light was provided by Arwen's staff. The air was close, musty and tainted.

Then at once I could feel Darkspawn coming up the passage from my left. They were following us, whether they knew that or not. What made no sense was how they could possibly have been behind us. I had sensed them faintly earlier. But the roads had been taint free our entire journey. We should have sensed their passage if they had left by this tunnel.

"Commander." Gervais' voice was low and tense. "I think some are coming this way as well."

"I agree. Well this is awkward. I sense a huge mass at the thaig, a smaller band coming from where we did and a much smaller band ahead. Fighting one group will likely draw the rest. I may be able to handle most of them if we can draw all of them to us."

"How?" Gervais wanted to know. "we have four blades. We can not kill them fast enough."

"You're going to use magic." Palin said.

"Right in one." She agreed. "I'm going to boil them in their own skins. But they need to be closer."

She drew a figure on the ground with her staff. The stone glowed white where the point had been. Then she drew a circle around it.

"Stay inside the circle."

She then drew another figure inside a circle overlaying the first set.

My eyes had wandered from my approach. She noticed.

"Eyes front, please. And draw blades."

I flushed and resumed peering into the dark. I heard three swords drawn as one.

Because of that I did not see what she did next. I felt it though. A wave of taint, darkspawn sense, pressure, I did not know what, moved through us and went towards the mass of the enemy. They now knew we were here. I could feel the after effects rippling away from us in all directions. All of them knew we were here.

"Now we wait. When they get within range I will be committed to the spell. It's tricky, so I need to concentrate. You three need to keep them away from me as best you can. Each of you keep watch on your approach and we should be fine."

Still looking down my road, I asked, in a normal voice because silence seemed silly, "What was that?"

"A trick I learned from a very old Grey Warden. It's mostly tied to the taint, but there's some small magic in there as well."

The Darkspawn were definitely approaching from all three directions. Arwen's trick was working. They were all about the same distance away. I began to hear faint movement down my road.

The light suddenly grew much brighter. I could see further down the road. There were shapes in the distance. I heard hooting from every direction.

Arwen made a small sound. Then the hooting stopped. The Darkspawn stopped their approach. I strained to hear better. Were they whimpering?

From behind me I heard "You've cut yourself."

"Yes, I know, it doesn't matter. Watch your approach. This is trickier than it looks."

"Maleficar!"

I heard the sound of a blade going through leather, then flesh and then as quickly withdrawn. The light died. I hear the thump of a body hitting stone. I spun around, but my eyes were still adjusting from the change so I saw nothing.

Behind me, in front of me and to the side I heard the whimpers change to howls of rage.

Palin yelled "Run!"

Gervais said, "But the Commander..."

Palin grabbed both of us and dragged us away from her body and towards the smallest group. We were committed now. Our only hope was to cut our way through before the other two groups could join the fray.