Chapter 12
A dozen or more darkspawn, including an ogre, charged toward Beth and the elf. Beth looked at the elf, "A truce. We need to work together to get out of here," and she darted toward the ogre.
The elf shook her head, "Foolish Shem," but she began casting a spell. Soon the earth heaved around the darkspawn, throwing many off their feet. Roots from plants emerged from the ground, entangling other darkspawn.
Beth ducked behind the ogre and sliced the back of its legs with her blades. It roared and dropped to the ground on its knees. Beth took the opportunity to jump onto the creature's back and plunged her blades into the softer flesh of its neck. She jumped free as it toppled to the ground, lifeless.
The elf was surrounded by darkspawn. A larger creature shouted, "No kill. Architect wants."
Beth looked at the speaking darkspawn in shock. She darted away from an attack and charged it. Sensing magic, she began to chant a silence spell, but felt the effects of the spell before she could finish. She saw the elf crumple to the ground as she fell into darkness.
...
Margaret whirled and hacked another branch off the attacking tree. She and Ohgren were battling with a very large oak tree and it was winning. Anders sent a fireball their way and the tree became engulfed in flames. That didn't slow it down. It was still swinging its many branches around and now it was dropping flaming leaves and bark on top of the two Wardens.
Nate had switched from his bow to his short sword and was fighting a tall pine with the two soldiers. The tree lifted a huge root like a foot and stomped on one of the soldiers, who cried out in pain. Nate swung his sword and chopped off branches that were trying to skewer him.
Anders rushed to the fallen soldier and pulled him away from the fight and was frantically casting a healing spell. A third tree was rushing at him and he barely shot off a fire spell before it suddenly crashed to the ground.
Nate heard the noise and glanced over his shoulder to see the tree fall before it reached Anders and the wounded soldier. He quickly turned his attention back to the pine that was teetering and he jumped out of the way as it crashed to the ground.
The next second another huge crash sounded as the giant oak also toppled to the ground. The group stood breathing heavily and looking around.
"What happened?" Margaret asked.
"The Commander must have caught the elf and made her cancel the spell." Anders responded as he worked frantically over the soldier.
"How is he?" Nate asked, concerned.
"Not good." Anders responded grimly. "I'm doing the best I can. Is anyone else hurt?"
The wounded soldier sat up, "I'll be alright." Then he groaned and collapsed back to the ground.
They all looked at each other. "I think we'll be okay. Robert," Margaret said turning toward the other soldier, "help Anders get Stephen back to the Keep. Nate, Ohgren and I will go after the Commander."
"Who put you in charge?" grumbled Anders, but he and Robert helped Stephen to his feet and they began to slowly head back toward the road.
Nate watched them go and turned to follow Margaret and Ohgren in the direction they had last seen Beth.
...
Beth slowly opened her eyes. She realized that she was strapped down and there was a tall shadow over her. A soft male voice was speaking. "I am sorry we had to meet this way, Commander of the Grey. I had hoped we could become allies in the battle against the Blights."
Beth struggled against her bonds but couldn't move. "Where am I?" she asked. "Who are you?"
The man moved into her field of vision. He was very tall and not human. His face was distorted by scars and mutated features. He spoke in a kind, gentle voice, "I am the Architect. I have been researching ways to resolve the issues between humans and darkspawn. I am afraid that all of my experiments have not been successful, however, I hold great hope in you. You were there when the old god was vanquished and I may yet be able to discover the key to prevent more Blights. Now, just rest." He passed a hand over her eyes and Beth couldn't stay awake.
...
Nate grew more anxious the further into the woods they went. "Are you sure she went this far?" he asked.
Margaret nodded, "I think I see a clearing ahead."
They entered the clearing and stood silently for a moment. Nate tried to make sense of what he saw. Signs of battle, dead darkspawn and a dead ogre. Margaret hesitated and motioned toward an old chapel. "It looks like they went in there."
Ohgren shook his head. "I can't believe I missed a sodding ogre fight!"
Margaret stood up and looked at Nate and Ohgren worriedly. "Something went wrong," she said and held up Beth's daggers. "We've got to find her," and hurried toward the old chapel.
...
Beth awoke on the cold floor. She sat up slowly, her head still throbbing. She was in a small cell with a dirt floor. The elf was sitting in a corner, watching her. "How long was I out?" Beth asked.
"Not too long, Shem." The elf answered.
"My name is Beth," Beth corrected her as she stood up and dusted off her armor. "Let's get out of here." She pulled a lockpick out of her waistband and began to work the lock.
"My name is Velanna." The elf said as she approached.
A click sounded as the chambers in the lock aligned and Beth opened the door. Cautiously, the two women walked into the dark stone hallway. They reached a door and just as Beth was about to put her ear to it, the handle turned. Beth crouched, ready to attack as the door opened. She grabbed the figure that entered and wrapped her arm around the neck of a woman.
"Wait!" the woman cried out.
"Seranni?" Velanna asked.
"Velanna. I have come to help you get out." Beth released the young elf girl and saw the resemblance as the two elves embraced.
"I've been looking all over for you. Where have you been?" Velanna asked.
"Not now, sister. You must get out before my Master returns." Seranni responded. "Follow me," and she led the way through the door.
...
Nate was getting more frustrated by the minute. The door into the old chapel was locked and even though he was very good at lock picking, he couldn't get the door open. Ohgren had given up waiting and was looking for another way in.
"Hey!" Ohgren yelled, "Over here!"
Margaret and Nate left the front of the building and followed the sound of Ohgren's voice down the hill to a rocky stone face. Ohgren was pulling branches away from a concealed door as the door opened on its own.
Beth, Velanna and Seranni stepped into the sunshine and saw anxious faces brandishing weapons.
"Beth! Are you alright?" Nate asked coming up to her.
"Yes, I believe so." She looked at the three Wardens. "What happened? Where's Anders and the two soldiers?"
"Stephen was wounded, so Robert and Anders took him back to the Keep while we looked for you." Margaret responded. She looked at the two elves. "Who are your friends?"
"Velanna and Seranni." Beth answered and turned to the elves. "You are welcome to come back to the Keep."
Seranni looked at Velanna sadly, "I am sorry sister, but I wish to stay with my Master." She turned to go back into the tunnel.
"Wait!" Velanna said, "I left everything to come and find you! You can't go with that darkspawn!"
Seranni smiled softly and said, "Yes I can." She turned to Beth, "Do not search for my Master. I am sure he will abandon this building when I tell him of your escape." She began walking into the tunnel.
Velanna called, "Seranni! No! Come back with me!"
"No sister. Go with the Wardens, be safe. There is a battle coming and you must be safe." Seranni called back as she slipped into the shadows.
Velanna raced after her, but couldn't see where she went.
"Velanna, come back. You'll just get lost in those tunnels." Beth called after her.
Slowly, Velanna turned back. She exited the tunnels and looked at Beth. "The stories of the Grey Wardens are often told among my people. You can fight darkspawn without becoming sick and you accept all people equally." She took a deep breath, "I wish to become a Warden so I may be better able to save my sister."
Beth took Velanna's hand. "I'm sorry that she left you like this. I would be honored to have you join the Grey Wardens." Beth looked at the others, who had been quietly standing nearby. "Let's get back to the Keep."
...
Beth shuddered awake, the edges of the nightmare fading quickly. She looked around the battlement that had become her place to rest. All was quiet in the dawning day, Bear was snoring loudly next to her. She felt uneasy but wasn't sure why. The sky was overcast and threatening. Beth stood up, her muscles complaining and sore from the previous days' exertions. Her left arm hurt and she took off her gauntlet to examine it. There was a cut that was scabbed over surrounded by a large dark purple bruise. What had that darkspawn done to her? She carefully pulled her gauntlet back on and decided to work out her emotions in the sparring ring testing the soldiers.
Bear got to all fours and wagged his stump of a tail at her. Beth reached down and scratched behind his ears. "Come on boy, let's see what these soldiers can do."
...
Nate woke and stretched. His muscles had stiffened during the night and he slowly worked all the kinks out. He was going to have to work out more if this was what life as a Grey Warden was like, so he got up, donned his armor and headed for the sparring ring.
As he arrived, he saw Beth already working out with Anders, Velanna and several soldiers. "Why do we have to learn to fight magic? Darkspawn don't have magic," one of the soldiers was arguing.
Beth looked at the man angrily, "Actually, there are some darkspawn who are very powerful mages. If you don't learn to defend against magic, your career as a Grey Warden will be very short."
Nate rolled his eyes, he was amazed at the soldier's bravado to stand there and argue with his Commander. Margaret walked up and whispered to Nate, "Who's the idiot?"
Nate shrugged, "I don't know, but I have the feeling he isn't going to be a Grey Warden."
Margaret smiled and watched as Ohgren joined them. They stood quietly as Beth instructed the ever growing group of soldiers. Varel approached and motioned to Beth. "Alright, break up into groups. Anders and Velanna, continue to work with everyone on their skills." Beth said as she left the ring and wiping the sweat off her face, looked at Varel and asked, "Do you need me?"
"Yes, we have a small situation that needs your attention in the main hall," he said grinning mysteriously.
Beth raised her eyebrow and nodded, "Margaret, Nate, Ohgren. Join in the training. I want to weed out three or four potential Wardens for a joining ceremony tonight." The three separated and joined the trainees.
Beth turned and followed Varel into the main hall. "You are the only one who can resolve this situation." Varel said, smirking as they approached a very angry looking man with Bear standing next to him. "This is Grayson. He is the kennel master in Denerim..."
"Yes and your hound has been visiting my females." Grayson interrupted. "I have two that are now pregnant with his pups. You need to control him better." Grayson fumed.
Beth burst out laughing. "So, that's what you've been up to." She said to Bear, rubbing his head and trying to control herself.
"This is no laughing matter Commander!" Grayson said, "Breeding must be done by a strict schedule and I'll not have some stray wander into my kennels upsetting my dogs."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make light of the matter." She hesitated and looked at Grayson, "You know, he's a tremendous warrior. You couldn't ask for better bloodlines to rebuild the kennels." She looked down at Bear, "What do you say, boy? Want to join the Denerim kennels and retire from fighting?" Bear cocked his head and wagged his tail.
Grayson looked at her. "You want me to keep him in my kennels?"
"Well, it will resolve your problem. If I tell him to obey you, he will." She looked at Bear, saddened for a moment. "I won't have to worry about him either. If he gets out of hand, either bring him back here or give him to Teyrn Fergus."
Grayson considered. "Yes. I believe that is a satisfactory solution."
Beth got down on one knee and hugged Bear. "You be good and obey Grayson. I'll come visit you and your puppies."
Bear barked and gave her a big sloppy dog kiss. She laughed and watched as Bear happily bounded after Grayson.
"Now that's the kind of retirement I want." Varel said, smiling.