I actually submitted something here! Yay! It's been like, what, a few years? W00T!
So anyways, this is a yaoi fanfic for Dragon age...I'm going to stay with the story line a lot and although you will recognize dialogue, I will be changing the story a great deal. You'll just have to wait and see how! Also feedback on my battle scenes would be much appreciated. I've been studying my Tolkien and really want to get better at writing them for future publishing. Actually, any commentary would be good.
I will actually probably finish this one. I have all the chapters outlined so all I have to do now is actually write them.
Thanks as always for readying my not really that good writing!
Chapter 1
"It is finished. Welcome."
"How do you feel?" Duncan asked him. 'How am I supposed to feel?' Lariel had left his clan to save himself, to become a Grey Warden. He had watched one man die in the Joining and another murdered. Yet he did nothing to help them. He could have at least tried to calm Jory down enough to drink the blood. But he was the one who passed the test. He was the one who survived, knowing that three men now had died and he could do nothing to help them. Him. The Grey Warden.
"It's over. I'm fine." And although mentally it was a lie, he could feel the sickness from the mirror leave his body. Duncan was right in that regard at least.
"Did you have dreams?' Alistair said, "I had terrible dream after my Joining..."
"Such dreams come when you begin to sense the Darkspawn, as we all do." Duncan explained patiently. "That and many other things can be explained in the months to come."
"Before I forget, there is one more part to your joining." Alistair said, taking out an amulet from inside some unseen pouch, "We take some of the blood and put it in a pendent. Something to remind us...of those who didn't make it this far." He handed Lariel the amulet and who put it on. It consisted of a simple silver medallion with a red gem in the medallion. Only this gem swirled around and was an odd deep crimson, darker than any normal blood.
"Take some time." Duncan said, showing some concern, "When you are ready, I'd like you to accompany me to a meeting with the king."
"Very well." Lariel said still in shock from the events that occurred.
"The meeting is to the west down the stairs. Please attend as soon as you are ready."
They left then leaving him to his own vices. He watched them walk away, his mind in conflict with itself. He shook his head, to clear it, having a few other matters to attend to. Walking down and back into camp, Lariel ventured over to the guard whom he promised the wilds flower. On the way he spotted the mage, Wynn. He smiled little to himself while she mediated, sending a silent prayer to Ghil'an nain for her safety.
"Oh, hello again. The mabari is stable for now, but not improving. Unless I get that herb I told you about there's not much hope." Lariel fished around in his pack a bit.
"Is this the flower you're looking for?" He said handing him a pale yellow flower with orange tips.
"Yes that's exactly it! Give me just one moment to make an ointment..." The guard turned around and crushed the flowers with a mortar and pedestal, adding some different roots and liquids in with it. Opening the cage, fed it to the dying dog who only whimpered in response. He muzzled the dog and came back over to me.
"He looks better already. I'm sure he would thank you if he could."
"How long before there's an improvement?" Lariel asked. He felt concerned for the poor animal, the way all those of the Dales did.
"A day maybe two." He said, "There's enough ointment for a full recovery. Why not come back after the battle? Perhaps we can see about him imprinting on you."
"You think that's possible?"
"Maybe. He probably understands that you've helped cure him. Mabari's are at least as smart as the average tax collector." He chuckled, "Come back after the battle. We'll see about it then."
"Very well. I will come see you then." Lariel said, walking away. He had one last thing to do before he joined Duncan and the King.
He walked just past the infirmary where a man was locked in a cage. There was a guard standing next to him. The he and the prisoner had talked early. He was a deserter, and for that they had refused to feed him. He sat in the cage there still, incredibly thin with hollowed cheeks and dirt and grime covering his body. Lariel felt a familiar twist inside his body at the pathetic sight.
"Don't expect you had an enlightening conversation." The guard said. Lariel scowled at him for just a moment before refiguring his composure.
"He asked for some food and water." He told the guard trying to speak as politely as he could.
"Did he now?" The soldier crossed his arms looking at Lariel, "Since nobody sends me nothing to feed him with the only way he'd get some is if he had some of mine!"
"So you'll miss one meal!-This man could be hanged soon!" Lariel said. He looked at the guard intently searching his eyes. The guard was silent for a moment before he uncrossed his arms and sighed.
"Alright, alright. I guess the poor fella deserves to have a full belly before he hangs." The guard said giving Lariel his leftover food and water. "But I had nothing to do with it, though! If anyone comes askin' why he's burpin' I'll say it was you!"
"Thank you very much!" Lariel said, smiling at him. He rubbed his nose a little and grunted. Lariel walked over to the prisoner.
"So...? Brought me some food, have you...? I'm so hungry I could faint dead." the prisoner said to me.
"Here's some food." Lariel said smiling at him and handing him the guard's leftovers.
"Much obliged! You're a kind soul, you are! May Andraste rain blessings upon you!" He obviously didn't know Lariel was dalish, but it didn't bother the elf at all. A prayer was a prayer, after all, no matter who was saying it or who was receiving it.
Lariel looked over his shoulder once while he left, seeing the prisoner scarf down the food and drink as fast as possible. He smiled to himself before joining Duncan and Alistair at the War council. They were standing on the far side of the table, opposite of Loghain and King Cailin. Loghain and Cailin were shouting at one another and Lariel could hear them even as he approached.
"Loghain, my decision is final." Cailin said to his advisor. "I will stand by the Grey Wardens in this assault."
"You risk too much Cailin." He retorted, although not too rudely, "The Darkspawn horde is too dangerous for you to be playing hero on the frontlines." Lariel stood next to Duncan who gave me a slight nod as he took his place at the Warden's side. He nodded back and looked onto the fight in front of him.
"If that's the case perhaps we should wait for the Orlesian forces to join us after all." Cailin said with a smirk.
"I must repeat my protest to your fool notion that we need the Orlesians to defend ourselves." Loghain turned and walked away a bit obviously trying to control his anger in front of the king.
"It is not a fool notion." Lariel could see fire in King Cailin's eyes and knew immediately why he was such an effective king; his passion for what he believed in made Lariel side with him without even knowing what he was siding for. "Our arguments with the Orlesians are a thing of the past. And you will remember who is king." There were daggers hidden behind his words, subtle, yet coated in venom.
"How fortunate Meric did not live to see his son ready to hand Ferelden over to those who enslaved us for a century." Loghain looked at Cailin over his shoulder.
"Then our current forces will have to suffice. Won't they?" And, again, there was subtlety hidden in his words; that their conversation was over. He turned away from Loghain to look at the three Wardens across the table. "Duncan, are your men ready for battle?"
"They are your majesty."
"And this is the recruit I met earlier on the road?" He looked at Lariel, smiling a bit. "I understand congratulations are in order.
"Thank you your majesty." Lariel said bowing his head ever so slightly in respect.
"Every Grey Warden is needed now. You should be honored to join their ranks."
"Your fascination with glory and legends will be your undoing, Cailin. We must attend to reality." Loghain practically spit out the words, angry from being cut off before he had finished getting his say in the strategic matters at hand.
"Fine! Speak your strategy!" Cailin said bending over the table to look at the map placed there. "The Grey Wardens and I draw the Darkspawn into charging our lines. And then?" Loghain joined Cailin at the map.
"You will alert the tower to light the beacon signaling my men to charge from cover-"
"To fight the Darkspawn. I remember." Cailin interrupted, though not to be rude. "This is the tower of Ishal in the ruins, yes? Well who shall light this beacon?"
"I have a few men stationed there." Loghain said, "It is too a dangerous task but it is vital."
"Then we should send our best. Send Alistair and the new Grey Warden to see that it's done." Cailin looked up from his position.
"I'll do my best your majesty." It was all Lariel could think to say, but seemed to be the appropriate response.
"You rely on the Wardens too much. Is that truly wise?" Loghain asked the king. Lariel noticed more subtlety, but couldn't quite make out what was really being said.
"Enough of your conspiracy theories Loghain. Grey Wardens battle the Blight no matter where they're from." Then he understood and wished Loghain had been looking his way. Lariel sent a glare to the older man that could've stopped the man's heart in a second.
"Eh, your majesty." Duncan said, interjecting. "You should consider the possibility of the Archdenmon appearing..."
"There have been no signs of any dragons in the Wilds." Loghain countered, still looking at Cailin. It was kind of creepy.
"Isn't that what your men are here for Duncan?"
"I..." Duncan paused caught off guard, "Yes, your majesty..."
"Your majesty," A bald man in grey and red robes came forth, "The tower and its beacon are unnecessary. The circle of magi-"
"We will not trust our lives to your spells mage." An older woman in yellow and red robes interrupted the wizard. She glared at him and I could see him shutter. "Save them for the Darkspawn." Words, again, coated in venom.
"Enough!" Loghain ended the arguing. "The Grey Wardens will light the beacon."
"Thank you Loghain." Cailin said giving a salute for the strategist to leave. "I cannot wait for that glorious moment. The Grey Wardens battle beside the king of Ferelden to stem the tide of evil."
"Yes, Cailin. Glorious moment for us all." Loghain said before he left for good. Everything about that phrase set off alarms in Lariel's mind, but the task at hand was too great for him to be thinking about the true meaning behind his words. It was too confusing and a battle he would ultimately lose anyway.
We left to formulate our part of the plan, meeting now by a bonfire in the main camp. Lariel could hear its crackle and feel its warmth, even standing away from it as he was. It reminded him of festival days of the clan, and sitting by the fire at night telling stories to the children. A wave of nostalgia hit him as Duncan began to talk.
"You heard the plan. You and Alistair will go to the tower of Ishal and ensure the beacon is lit." Thunder crackled faintly somewhere in the distance and although Lariel could hear it, he wasn't sure if the other two could.
"What?" Alistair exclaimed, "I won't be in the battle?"
"This is by the King's personal request, Alistair. If the beacon is not lit Teryn Logahn's men won't know when to charge." Duncan explained calmly.
"So he needs two Grey Warden's up there holding the torch just in case, right?" Alistair said, vastly disappointed, not getting a chance to be in the fight.
"I agree with Alistair." Lariel said, "We should fight in the battle. Logahn's men will be able to do the job of lighting the beacon."
"That is not your choice." Duncan said, a little impatiently. "If King Cailin wishes for you to light the beacon that is where you'll be. We will do whatever it takes to defeat the Darkspawn, exciting or no."
"I get it, I get it. Just so you know if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no." Alistair said sarcastically.
"I don't know..." Lariel said trying to add a bit more humor to the serious conversation, "That would be a good distraction."
"Me shimmying down the Darkspawn line?" He said chuckling a bit. "Sure, we could kill them all while they were laughing." Duncan sighed ignoring us.
"You'll need to cross the gorge and head through the gate and up to the tower entrance." He explained, "From the top you'll overlook the entire valley."
"When do we light the beacon?" Lariel asked back to seriousness.
"We will signal you when the time is right. Alistair will know what to look for." Duncan said.
"I know what I have to do." I said with a nod.
"Then I must join with the others. From here you two are on your own. Remember, you are both Grey Wardens. I expect you to be worthy of that title." Duncan said, only the tiniest bit of scolding in his voice.
"Duncan...may the Maker watch over you..." Alistair said.
"May he watch over us all." It was the words spoken by Duncan before he left, calmly walking off to join Cailin and the armies.
Lightening now filled the sky and thunder cracked and shattered above our heads. Rain blew in torrents sideways. They ran through the camp trying to hurry to the Tower. As they ran to cross the Lariel looked over the side and was stopped dead in his tracks. The vastness of the Darkspawn army waiting to attack loomed ahead of him. Shuttering visions of the dragon Archdenmon filled his mind, like the flashes of lightening in the sky. He felt Alistair tug his arm.
"Come on! Let's cross the bridge and get to the Tower!" He shouted over the howling wind, thunder, and rain. I took one last look over my shoulder to see the army one last time.
Archers were lined up on the bridge and were shooting arrows at an incredible speed. A flaming rock smacked just shy of Alistair and exploded, knocking him to the ground. It was my turn to pick him up. I grabbed him by the shoulders and hoisted him up, not bothering to ask if he was okay before running off to get to the Tower.
As we finally got to the end of the bridge, a mage and a guard came running from the gate.
"Help me, they are everywhere!" The guard shouted. "The tower is taken!"
"Taken! Taken how!" Alistair shouted.
"They came up through the lower chambers. They are everywhere, most of my men are dead." The guard told him.
"Well, we've got to get in that tower! Come on!" He said leading the charge into the tower. He ignored the Darkspawn outside wreaking havoc. Running past them, he only took notice of them as they tried to attack him. He would simply block them and continue running not even bothering to slash out at them. Lariel did that work for him, running behind him, decapitating the Darkspawn who attacked. The guard and the mage stayed behind, but close, only striking out when it was absolutely necessary.
As they reached the door Alistair swung it open for the three of them. As they ran in, he shut it quickly and threw a bookshelf in front of it as the scent of rotten flesh and new blood filled Lariel's nostrils. The he and the guard found other things to barricade the door with, Lariel a long, heavy bench and the guard a few candlesticks which he put into the handles.
"Well, that didn't go to badly." Alistair said nodding his head. "Come on. Let's get to the top. Try doing the same thing, only this time up steps." I rolled my eyes as he led the way, not in any mood to laugh. We came into a barricaded open floor. We ran to the beginning of the short maze-like structure they had.
"Be careful! Tripwire ahead!" I called out just i time for Alistair to jump over the trap. I was next then the mage. The guard must not of heard me, however, for he tripped the trap and set of an explosion knocking him back against the wall.
"Alistair, take the mage and go!" I called and ran back for the guard. I grabbed his arm and hoisted him up. He had no visible injuries, but he hit his head hard and was having trouble standing. I poured a poultice from my belt onto his head.
"Wake human! We need you!" I shouted at him. He came to his senses in a blur.
"My eyes! I can hardly see!" He cried out at me shaking his head back and forth.
"Damn your eyes, we have to move!" I half carried him as we went. Alistair joined us out of nowhere, blocking arrows with his shield. Somehow, he managed to hit all of them from our bodies.
"I thought I said to get up to the top!" I shouted at him trying to get the blinded man out of the clear space. We reached the door where the circle mage was battling with a Hurlock spellcaster.
"I thought Duncan said to be worthy of our title!" The mage's staff had been broken in two, but still he defended himself. He shot out an explosion on fire, frying the spellcaster he was battling and clearing the way for us. We made our way into a hallway running as fast as possible on the right where the staircase to the second level would be, all the while Alistair still maintained blocking arrows.
The room we were looking for had an enormous hole in it explaining the Darkspawn. More Genlock were in the room but we crossed the short distance to the door leading to the staircase. It lead to another room with still more Darkspawn in it.
"There are too many of them!" Lariel called to Alistair, taking a knife in his spare hand and defending the guard and himself from oncoming Darkspawn attacks.
"Let me go here!" The guard said throwing himself from my grasp. "I will distract them! Get to the top and light the beacon!" I looked at him for a moment before running around him, the mage and Alistair following closely. We went through the door at the top not daring to look back at the martyr who lay there now. We put a long wooden plank over the door, locking it in place.
"Maker's breath! What are those Darkspawn doing in front of the rest of the horde? There wasn't supposed to be any resistance here!" Alistair said as we continued to make our way through the halls.
"You could try telling them they are in the wrong place." Lariel said checking a door only to find a dead end room with two Darkspawn. He closed it quickly bracing it with a torch and a few barrels.
"Oh, of course, because this is all one big misunderstanding. We'll laugh about it later!" Alistair parlied.
In the main hallway, two ballista lay pointed towards a group of Hurlock. Lariel motioned for Alistair to launch one and he did so while the mage shot out a bolt of energy effectively killing those in their path. More burst out from behind them and Lariel shoved the mage out in front of them to lead while he and Alistair guarded against the attackers. opening another door the mage blocked an oncoming sword just in time.
More Darkspawn were in the room and, again, they were closed into an entry way. The mage shot forth a burst of flames again, killing two Genlock, but leaving several more in the room.
"Get up to the top level now!" He shouted at them, "I might as well die here like that poor sap down stairs!" He said it comically, but neither Lariel nor Alistair registered the comedy. They ran the steps two at a time and opened and closed the door faster than either thought possible. They barred the door this time with a poised statue that it took both of them to move and blocked the whole door.
"Logahn better be ready with his men. The king is depending on it!" Alistair said as they made their way into the next room. Darkspawn were met them, but they ignored the attackers heading directly into the next room. Three hounds were locked in there and Lariel flipped a switch as he and Alistair ran along letting the hounds out of their cages. They immediately attacked they captors and provided the distraction needed to go onto the final floor. The room the staircase was located had only three Darkspawn watching it. Running into the room, Lariel dodged the first one's blow and forced his knife up into the jugular, almost fully decapitating its head. Alistair blocked a blow of the next and, countering, cut it across the torso spraying him with blood. They both took out the last one, an archer, Lariel by throwing a knife, Alistair by jumping into the air at it. Both hit simultaneously and while Alistair removed his blade from the Genlock's heart, Lariel removed his knife from its eye.
They raced up the steps closing the last door, Alistair pushed a stone slab into place, locking the door. As they ran into the open room a roar slide them to a halt.
"By Mythal! What is that thing!" Lariel stared wide-eyed at the monstrosity before them.
"It is an Ogre!" Alistair called back. "A Quinapril Darkspawn!"
The Ogre wiped its mouth from whatever it was eating and roared at them throwing spit and blood before it. They ran in different directions Lariel to the left and Alistair to the right. The Ogre ran after Alistair and he backed away slightly. It brought down both its fists at once and Alistair rolled away to dodge the attack. He slashed at its legs while the heavy beast recovered from its failed clubbing. It came in for a swing which Alistair tried to block with his shield. He when rocketing across the room.
Lariel sent out a dalish scream before jumping onto the Ogre's back. The monster turned around and around trying to reach him, but its bulky arms couldn't reach far enough back. It continued to spin and flail around, trying to shake him off. He gripped the beast's horns trying to maintain balance long enough for Alistair to do some more damage to the beast.
Alistair got up from his fallen position, his left arm aching painfully, probably broken. He charged the beast anyway, releasing a cry and forcing his sword into the Ogre's stomach with a sickening sound. The beast roared and bucked, causing Lariel to lose his grip and fall backwards. It charged at Alistair, who barely dodged the attack, and had just enough time to deliver a sickening slash to the side of its neck. It knocked him back with its left on, and not blocking this time he felt the full force of the blow as he rolled across the floor.
Lariel jumped to his feet as the beast went barreling after Alistair. Picking him up like a rag doll, it started crushing his body. Alistair screamed in pain as Lariel climbed up the back of its body, this time landing his knife into the Ogre's right eye. He jumped off catching Alistair before his head hit the ground and putting him down gently. He quickly opened the man's mouth and shoved in a poultice, before turning around and facing the flailing, half blinded monster. He charged the beast and as it made to hit him, he slashed it across the face, stunning the creature. Taking advantage of the moment, he slashed in an uppercut motion just under its chin, the force of the impact knocking the creature up into a venerable position. He took a step back and dived at it with both knives, struck the Ogre where its neck and chest meet. They both fell back Lariel holding onto his knives for support as the beast, now slain, collapsed.
He yanked his knives out from the Ogres body, now completely covered in the beast's blood. With one final motion, Lariel threw one knife aside took the other in both hands and impaled his knife through the beast's mouth, killing it once and for all. His lungs burned as he ran to Alistair, already picking himself up from the ground.
"Ignore me! The beacon is over there! We've surely missed the signal! Light it before it's too late!" He cried to me. Taking a branch from the blaze not far away I threw it into the chimney setting the blaze afire immediately, exploding upward in a mass of fire and smoke. I went to Alistair, helping him stand up right as he held his side with his right hand, his left hanging limply from his body.
"I just hope we made it in time..." He said quietly.
"We did, and don't ever doubt it." Lariel responded. The door burst open, then, as Darkspawn flooded in with a rain of arrows. Lariel instinctively threw his body in front of Alistair's as several arrows flew at him. They drove into Lariel instead, and the pain, too much for the elf after the exhausting battle to the top of the tower, blacked out.
Lariel woke up later, amidst mixed dreams of fire and Darkspawn, to blankets covering his mostly nude body. He was lying in a very soft bed, in a cabin, and by the call of the birds outside, it was just past mid-morning.
"Ah your eyes are open. Mother shall be pleased!" A girl with jet black hair and a garment that would insult any dalish elf on sight walked up to me. I sat up, making sure the blanket still covered my body.
"I remember you: The girl from the Wilds."
"I am Morrigan, lest you have forgotten, and we are in the Wilds where I am bandaging your wounds." Her voice was smooth as a cat's and just as untrustworthy. " You are welcome, by the way. How does your memory fair? Do you remember mother's rescue?"
"I remember being overwhelmed by Darkspawn..." Lariel said.
"Mother managed to save you and your friend though t'was a close call." She informed me. "What is important is that you both live. The man who was to respond to your signal quite the field. The Darkspawn won the battle. Those he abandoned were massacred. Your friend...he is not taking it well..."
"But..." Lariel said his mind racing, "What happened to the king? And the other Grey Wardens?"
"All dead. Your friend is veered between denial and grief since mother told him." Morrigan said bluntly. "He is outside by the fire. Mother asked to see you when you awoke."
"Thank you Morrigan." He told her.
"I...you are welcome, though must did most of the work, I am no healer."
"I will go then..."
"I will stay and make something to eat." She turned around and walked over to the fire putting a pot full of water over it. He quickly gathered up his underclothes and armor running a check over his body for injuries. Arrow wounds covered his chest leaving little blotches here and there, but were mostly healed up from magic. His body was lithe as any elf's, but completely built of strong muscle from living in the Forests. He clothed himself and put on his leather armor, rushing a bit before Morrigan turned back around. He rebraided two strips of his cedar hair so they dangled beside his eyes. Looking in a mirror that stood in the corner of the hut, he saw forest green eyes staring back at him. Satisfied, he made to leave, but paused thinking of something Morrigan should probably know.
"Morrigan." He said wanting her attention.
"Hmm?" She looked up from the pot.
"Whenever a person should see a dalish nude that person is one of two things. A lover of the highest regard, a Anetham, something you shems might call a soul mate. Or a dead man walking. And you are no lover of mine. It was your mother who undressed me, correct?" I saw her pale for just a moment before she laughed.
"You may slay her if you wish, but know this; she is very hard to kill." He nodded and went out the door.
Morrigan's mother stood just a pace from Alistair looking towards the door. Alistair himself stood close to the water's edge by some cattails.
"See?" Flemeth said looking towards Alistair, "Here is your fellow Grey Warden. You worry too much young man."
"You...You're alive..." He chuckled a bit, "I thought you were dead for sure..."
"I'm not thanks to Morrigan's Mother..." Lariel said in reply looking at the elderly woman.
"Oh, this doesn't seem real...if it weren't for Morrigan's mother we'd be dead atop that tower." Alistair said.
"Do not talk about me as if I am not present, lad." She told him.
"I-I didn't mean...W-w-what do I call you...? Y-you never told us your name..." He stuttered.
"Names are privy, but useless. The Chasiand folk call me Flemeth. I suppose it will do." Flemeth said.
"The Flemeth...? From the legends? Daveth was right...You're the witch of the Wilds aren't you?" Alistair said mesmerized.
"And what does that mean?" Flemeth said, "I know bit of magic and it has served you both well, has it not?"
"Who cares what she is? We need to do something now." Lariel said intently.
"We need to bring Loghain to judgment." Alistair said, "Why would he do this?"
"Now that is a good question. Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature. Perhaps the he thinks the Blight is an army he can outmaneuver. Perhaps he does not see that the evil behind it is the true threat..."
"The Archdenmon." Alistair agreed.
"Will you help us fight the blight Flemeth?" Lariel asked her.
"Me?" She said, "I am just an old woman who lived in the Wilds. I know nothing of Blights and Darkspawn."
"Well...Whatever Loghain's insanity, he obviously thinks the Darkspawn are the minor threat. We must warn everyone this isn't the case." Alistair replied.
"And who would believe you?" Flemeth jokingly questioned. "Unless you think to convince this Logahn of his mistake."
"He just betrayed his king!" Alistair declared. "If Arl Eamon knew what happened at Ostagar he would be the first one to call for his execution!"
"Perhaps we could go to him then." Lariel suggested.
"I suppose..." he said, " Arl Eamon wasn't at Ostagar, he still has all his men, and he was Cailin's uncle. I know him! he was a good man and respect in the Landsmeet. Of course! We could go to Redcliffe and appeal to him for help!"
"That sounds like an excellent idea!" Lariel said, nodding his head.
"Such devotion!" Flemeth laughed, "How intriguing."
"I still don't know if Arl Eamon's help will be enough. He can't defeat the Darkspawn horde all by himself..."
"Surely there are other allies we can call." Lariel said.
"Of course! The treaties! Grey Wardens can demand aid from dwarves, elves, mages, and other places. they are obligated to help us during the blight!"
"I may be old, but dwarves, elves, mages, this Arl Eamon, and who knows what else." Flemeth inquired. "This sounds like an army to me."
"So can we do this? Go to Redcliffe and these other places and build an army?" Alistair looked at me expectantly.
"Why not? Isn't that what Grey Wardens do?" Lariel said with only a hint of humor.
"So you are set then, ready to be Grey Wardens?" Flemeth asked.
"Yes. Thank you for everything Flemeth." Lariel thanked her.
"No, no. Thank you. You are the Grey Warden here. But, I have one more thing to offer..."
"The stew is bubbling mother dear." Morrigan came from the cottage walking up to the group to stand next to her mother. "Should we have to guests for the eve, or none?"
"The Grey Wardens are leaving shortly girl, and you will be joining them." Flemeth told her.
"Such a shame..." Morrigan started before her mother's words made sense. She whipped her head around to face Flemeth. "What?"
"You heard me girl, the last time I looked you had ears." Flemeth laughed.
"I think it's an excellent idea." Lariel said, trying to be polite but not actually wanting Morrigan to join.
"Have I no say in this?" Morrigan said looking between Lariel and her mother.
"You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for years, here is your chance." Flemeth looked back to the Lariel and Alistair. "As for you Wardens, consider this repayment for your lives."
"Very well, we'll take her along." Lariel cursed Fen' Heral for his trickery.
"Not to...look a gift horse in the mouth, but won't this add to our problems?" Alistair asked, trying to be polite. "Out of the Wilds, she's an apostate."
"If you do not wish help from us illegal mages, young man, perhaps I should have left you on that tower!" Flemeth glared into his eyes. Alistair looked down.
"Point...taken..." He muttered.
"Mother..." Morrigan said drawing Flemeth's attention. Lariel saw Alistair send a silent pray. "This is not how I wanted this. I'm not eve ready."
"You must be ready. Alone, this two must unite Ferelden against the Darkspawn. They need you, Morrigan. Without you they will surely fail. And all will perish under the blight." She paused only for a bit and Lariel could swear he saw her shudder. "Even I..."
"I...Understand..." Morrigan replied.
"And you Wardens? Do you understand? I give you what I value above all in this world. I do this because you must succeed." Flemeth said.
"Allow me to get my things if you please." Morrigan walked off back into the house. An awkward silence ensued which neither Alistair or Lariel wanted to break for fear of Flemeth's reaction. It only took Morrigan a few moments before she returned. "I am at your disposal, Grey Wardens I suggest a village north of the Wilds is our first destination. Tis not far, but you will find much you need there. Or if you prefer :I will simply be your silent guide. The choice is yours."
"No, I'd prefer if you speak." Lariel told her, still wanting to be kind to the woman.
"Hahaha, you will regret saying that."
"Dear, sweet mother, you are so kind to cast me out like this. How fondly I shall remember this moment." Morrigan said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Well I always said, if you want something done, do it yourself...or hear about it for a decade or two afterwards..."
"I just..." Alistair started, "Do you really want to take her along because her mother says so?"
"We need all the help we can get..." He sighed.
"I guess your right..." Alistair admitted. "The Grey Wardens have always taken allies where they could find them..."
"I am so pleased to have your approval." Morrigan said to Alistair.
"Let's just get underway..." Lariel said.
"Farewell mother. Do not forget the stew on the fire. I would hate to come back to a burned down hut."
"Bah! It is far more likely you will return to see this entire area, along with my hut, swallowed up by the Blight!"
"I-I..."Morrigan said feeling guilty, "A-all I meant was..."
"Yes I know." Flemeth said with something like kindness in her voice. "Do try to have fun dear, hmm?" She kissed Morrigan on the forehead and then went inside. Silently, they left then, heading for some small town, Morrigan leading the way.