Chapter 2

Tainted Blood

The deep roads, it felt like it never ended, Zevran said they passed Ortan Thaig a couple miles back, but Augustus couldn't tell the difference between Ortan Thaig and those two rocks that Bran kept pointing out.

"Where are we even going?" Augustus asked "I thought we were just looking for fallen soldiers gear"

"We have to go deeper, where the darkspawn are more prevalent, that's where our warriors would have fallen, where your precious cargo is" Lolinar hissed back at him

"I didn't realize we would have to fight darkspawn…"

"Don't worry my friend, that is why we have this large qunari man and all these nice dwarves, big strong men ready to protect us beautiful people" Zevran joined in

As they continued they heard fighting in the distance, darskpawn screeches and blades clashing, the ground shook as they got closer.

"An Ogre…" Zevran whispered

"Who is fighting?" Augustus asked

"It could be the legion of the dead" Sullan said "They are heroes of the deep roads, fighting down here to protect us all"

"Sounds like suicide" Ellenora chimed in

"Let us find out" Zevran said

They began to sneak around the corridor, as they made it into a large tunnel, seemingly carved into the walls of rock, the fighting got louder. Darkspawn corpses littered the floor. The ground still shaking, they made it into a large clearing and in front of them, this was the battle they were seeking.

"Grey Wardens!" Augustus blurted out

He saw a squadron of the legendary heroes, slaughtering darkspawn, slicing them down with mighty blows, as if this was practice. As his party gawked at the mighty warriors, one turned towards them. A dwarf, with bright red hair and a long braided beard, he was stout and strong, throwing around a great blade as if it was a short sword.

"Ancestors tits! Zevran is that you?!" the dwarf exclaimed

"It is my friend, would you like some assistance?" he replied

"You know this dwarf Zevran?" Augustus exclaimed

Lolinar looked at Augustus unimpressed

"Everybody knows that dwarf, the Grey Warden Oghren, a drunken idiot who just so happened to help stop the blight." he said

"Oh, be nice Lolinar, he did help you decide your king after all" Zevran jested

As they spoke Marass began to run into the battle, throwing darkspawn out of his way, Elenora's magic was burning and freezing the beasts in seconds, while the three dwarves fought their way through giant groups of the monsters. Augustus pulled out his bow and began to take aim, flinging arrows into their skulls, he scanned the battlefield, everyone was doing fine, he could see a couple injured grey wardens still fighting. They must not feel it at all or, they were just mad. Then he saw the Ogre, charging into the fray, throwing darkspawn and warden alike. Oghren and Zevran took a familiar battle stance and Zevran quickly jumped and slashed around the dwarf's wild heavy swings.

Augustus aimed at the Ogre and shot an arrow directly into his eye, the monster turned to look at him and began to charge. His heart pounding as the beast got closer, he couldn't move, paralyzed by fear. Just as the beast was about to hit him, its eyes became lifeless and his enormous body fell right at Augustus' feet. Slamming into the ground shaking everything, and breaking rocks. On its back was a warden, a dark-haired woman, she appeared very beautiful, but her face was full of rage. Hopefully, Augustus thought, that was just her battle face. Her staff jammed into the back of the Ogres head, she ripped it out and started slinging her magic back into the fray.

"If you're not going to be of any help, get out of the way!" she yelled

After a few minutes all the darkspawn were slain, they had a moment to catch their breaths and Oghren brought the other two wardens over, the rest had been defeated, who knows how long they were fighting for before we showed up, Augustus thought.

"Oghren I didn't realize you were a grey warden now" Zevran said

"Oh yeah, The Hero of Fereldan had some trouble when everyone else left, so I helped her and became a mighty warden HAHAH" Oghren shouted

"Another thing to thank the Hero for" The dark-haired woman added sarcastically

"Why are you here?" A third warden appeared, he was much older, his hair grey and tattered

"We are on a scavenging mission, all legal" Lolinar said while pulling out the papers

"Scavenging in the deep roads, are you working for Bodhan?" Oghren laughed

"Yes…I owe him a favour for getting the crows off my back about some stolen goods" Zevran admitted

"HAHAHA glorious, back into these blasted deep roads, as long as I don't see any more disgusting brood mothers I won't regret the trip!" Oghren said

"I am Bethany Hawke, it is nice to meet you Zevran, you saved my homeland you know" The dark-haired woman said

"My home as well, no need for praise…okay maybe a little, you are The Champions sister yes? I met your brother in Kirkwall." he inquired

"Yes, my brother has become quite famous, hasn't he? Not like me, doomed to die in these blasted caves"

"Why are the grey wardens here?" Augustus asked

"Finally," Ellenora sighed

"A party of Grey Wardens came down here, to fight their final battle…but they saw something that made them come back. Something unbelievable." Bethany said

Augustus didn't like how secretive the grey wardens were, he couldn't believe a talkative man like Zevran had worked with them.

"A small party for something Unbelievable" Bran said

"There is another party taking an alternative route, we took as many pros as possible, and the rest are older wardens, here for the calling, to fight the deadlier opponents" Bethany said

"Me and Bethany here were some of the only wardens to actually fight down here, we saw some crazy stuff Zevran, but she almost died, and fought a tevinter magister darkspawn thing!" Oghren said

"Yes, my life is quite a story, especially the terrifying, scarring parts." Bethany hissed out "I hate to ask this but Zevran would you consider joining us? You and Oghren know the path to Caridans Cross better than most people, and we have lost a lot of wardens."

"I do not like the idea of seeing more ghastly beasts, however the farther we go, the rarer treasures we find and the more money we will make, a tempting offer yes." He responded

Augustus couldn't imagine the idea of working with the Wardens, he came down here to make a quick buck, not fight darkspawn…but if the wardens told his family of his deeds, he would be able to go back home, maybe back to his life in the chantry.

"We will not risk our lives that far into the deep roads, we have led you onto the path, we are returning to Orzammar now" Lolinar said while he packed up his things "Ancestors guide you"

The three dwarves began to head back on their journey, as they rested Zevran debated the wardens offer

"What do you think?" he asked the group

"You're asking us?" Augustus exclaimed

"If I get to fight more beasts and make more coin I will fight for you elf" Marass stated

"Ill stay" Ellenora said

"Well…I can't be the only person to say no, as you said, more treasures" Augustus added laughing

Zevran went to talk to the three remaining wardens, their simple mission to collect treasure had gotten them entangled with legendary warriors, Augustus thought. Apparently tomorrow was going to be an exciting day, it was time to rest. Who knows...maybe he would be a warden at the end of this, or maybe darkspawn food, either way…