Varel met him in the hall. "Commander. Many of the lords have gathered. The darkspawn have fielded armies—and the nobles want to know how you will protect them. Shall I assemble them? Or do you need more time to strategies?"

He needed fewer nobles pestering him. "Assemble the men. We're going to war." They'd made good use of their time, but it appeared the darkspawn had as well for it was then that were outnumbered.

"I will send messengers at once."

Lord Eddelbrek stood up. "We've waited enough. Those who are late will just have to be filled in."

"Lord Eddelbrek, this is the Commander of the Grey's council, not yours."

Eddelbrek shook his head. "I am fearful for the villages on the plains. There's a darkspawn army—army—in the field. And with the soldiers returning to the Vigil..."

"The enemy is out of hiding," said Faren. "We must find them and strike." Under the command of the intelligent darkspawn, a group that size was as dangerous as a horde. It was the beginnings of a new Blight and Ferelden had barely recovered from the last one, they need to stop this before it got out of hand.

"This is no—"

A messenger came rushing in. "Commander, Commander."

"What is it, girl?" Varel asked.

"A darkspawn army is within sight of Amaranthine."

Eddelbrek nearly staggered. "Maker protect us. They're attacking the city?"

Garevel shook his head. "Some of the Vigil's soldiers are still there. She won't fall easily."

Varel sighed. "Our forces cannot move quickly enough. But a small band might make it in time."

Lord Eddelbrek shook his head. "But that's… suicide."

"We must try."

This is what Wardens did, after all. "Then I will rally the city's defenders." What few of them there were. As much is it pained him, he could not strip the vigil bare, not with the force still in the valley. And they'd need the Vigil as a fall back point for the people on the plains.

Sigrun grinned. "Fighting a horde of darkspawn with almost certain death awaiting? Don't even think of leaving me here."

"Who do you want to take with you, Commander?"

"Sigrun, Justice, Nathaniel, and Anders, you're with me. Velanna, organise an infirmary, there will be wounded. Varel, I'll trust you to organise incoming soldier's and start moving them out. Oghren, keep the Vigil's gate secure."

Justice clenched his fists. "Our foes will pay heavily for their transgressions. This I swear."

"And so it is decided," Varel said.

Oghren nodded. "I'll make sure the Vigil's ale supply is safe. Leave a few darkspawn skulls for me to kick in, right?"

"May the wind be ever at your back, Commader," said Velanna.

Varel nodded. "The rest of us will stay here. Maker protect you and hold you close, Commander."

His Wardens fell into step behind him as the nobles watched them leave.

Nathaniel looked at Faren. "What's the plan, Commander?"

"I'm going to need you to focus your arrows on the casters. Anders, weaken their lines, keep them off balance. Try to give us openings. Justice, Sigrun, you're with me. Looks like we are going to need to cut ourselves a path."

The soldiers were trying, but they were outmanned. And then Ander's spells started to fall. The darkspawn were slowed, tangled as the grass beneath them grabbed at their legs. Nathaniel's arrow shot true, dropping an emissary that was starting to gather a counter spell. And then the Wardens were within the darkspawn lines, carving through them.

A cry went up among the soldiers, and they renewed their attacks, standing between the refugees and the spawn. And they held.

The gates were theirs.

One of the refugees walked towards them. "Please, Grey Warden! Save my family! My family's in the city!"

Constable Aidan rushed over. "Please, calm yourselves, while I speak to the Warden-Commander." He drew a deep breath, and approached Faren. Nathaniel thought he looked like a man heading to his own execution. He glanced at the city Aidan had been charged with protecting.

"Warden Commander. I am glad you arrive when you did, but I fear there is little that can be done now."

"What happened?"

"A couple nights ago, a swarm of… of gruesome creatures emerged from beneath the city. They spread pestilence and destroyed everything they touched. Then, at dawn, the other darkspawn attacked." He shook his head. "Warden-Commander… it's too late. Amaranthine is lost."

Nathaniel felt a chill. If the warning had come two nights ago… The man might be right. Faren's voice was calm, controlled. "The city still stands. It is not lost."

"Their corruption is so virulent… At least a quarter of the city succumbed within the first day." Aidan shook his head and opened his mouth to say something else.

"Constable! There is a darkspawn approaching, alone!"

Aidan turned to the soldiers. "Archers! Take him down!"

The darkspawn held up its hands. "Peace! Do not be killing! Only talk! Architect has a message, for Grey Warden!"

Faren glared down at the darkspawn. "What message?"

The darkspawn continued forward to meet them. "The Mother's army, it marches to Vigil's Keep. She attacks now! The Architect, he sends me to warn you!" The thing gestured urgently. "You must save the keep, then finish the Mother in her lair!"

"Why were you sent to warn us?" Faren asked.

"The Architect wishes to have the Grey Wardens' trust. He does not wish to see the Mother succeed."

Garevel stepped forward. "If we leave now, we may be able to make it back to the Vigil in time to save it."

"And what about the darkspawn here?" Aidan asked.

The darkspawn gestured. "Soon, they will go to Vigil's Keep as well. The Mother, she wants the keep destroyed utterly."

Garevel grunted. "The darkspawn has a point. We cannot leave with this other army hot on our heels. The constable says the city is lost. I say we destroy it. Burn it, and all the darkspawn within."

"I'm not giving up on Amaranthine," said Faren firmly.

"Warden-Commander, we have already lost Amaranthine. We can't lost the Vigil as well."

Nathaniel found himself agreeing with the Captain, as much as he hated the notion. But Faren shook his head. "I have faith in the fortress and its defenders."

Nathaniel sighed. "Commander, we can't save Amaranthine if it's already lost. We can still save the Vigil."

Sigrun clenched her fists. "I stand with the commander. We must try to save Amaranthine. That's what Grey Wardens do. We protect people."

He shook his head. "I don't want to see fire ravage these streets." He'd grown up here. "But it may be our only chance."

Faren looked torn between trying to save the people inside the city and defending the Vigil.

"Then maybe we can help," said a fierce female voice.

They all turned and stared, because in front of them was Daylen Amell, Theron Mahariel and Sereda Aeducan and behind them was a small army of mages, Dalish elves and dwarfs.

"We fought you could use some help," said Theron.

"We rallied as many people as we could," said Daylen.

"We'll save the city while you go to the Keep," said Sereda.

Faren just stared, speechless. "I can't thank you enough."

"You can thank us by killing the darkspawn that are attacking your fortress," said Theron.

"Commander, we need to leave now," said Garevel.

Faren approached Sereda. "Before I leave I want to give you this, it may help you in this battle."

He then handed her a finely crafted sword with the dragons head for a hilt. "What's this?" Sereda asked speechless.

"It's called Vigilance, Wade made it and I think you can put it to better use than me."

Sereda took the blade. "You certainly know how to spoil girl," she smiled.

Faren smiled and then turned on them. "We move out, to the Keep and pray to the Ancestors that were in time."

Sereda watched as she saw Faren leading his Grey Wardens and the captain away. She had never been so proud of him in all her life.

"We need to eliminate the darkspawn leadership, we can then go about finding survivors," Theron advised.

"Good luck to you, and Maker watch over us all," said the constable.

Sereda drew out her sword and shield. Theron poured out his blades and Dayeln raised his staff.

"Charge!" she commanded.

Then their small army stormed into the city.

As they fought their way through the streets, more soldiers rallied to them. By the time they were past the market, they had dozens. A few weren't soldiers, but men and women armed with whatever they had at hand. The darkspawn, the one that had called itself the messenger, fought at their side.

At the top of the stairs, an emissary started to cast. Theron paused and drew out his bow and fired an arrow that landed in its throat. Sereda set his shield, and charged, knocking darkspawn away and slicing them apart with her new sword. Daylen downed a lyrium potion, then cast. The weapons of Amaranthine's defenders suddenly burst into flame, searing the darkspawn.

Sereda saw the ogre set itself, and came in low. As it started to move, she severed the tendons in its leg. Theron jumped onto its back and drove his swords into its spine caused it to roar in pain. It then went very still and collapsed onto the ground.

She smiled, and headed for the next group of darkspawn.

The streets were clear. Somehow, they'd done it. The streets were clear. Civilians were setting up barricades, giving the soldier's time to rest.

An old woman handed her a cup of water, then hugged her. Theron came to stand beside him. Sereda sighed. "So many dead."

"And so many yet live." He put a gauntleted hand on her shoulder. "We have made a difference here."

"Yeah. We did." He smiled. "We did."

"Commander, we've received word of another wave of darkspawn approaching the city. They will be here within the day."

Sereda nodded. "Then we must prepare."

"Most of the survivors are taking refuge in the chantry. The militia has set up a base of operations there." The guard commander gestured. "You and your army can rest and resupply there. In the meantime, my men and I will search for survivors."

"I better send word to the keep by hawk," said Theron.

"They already know the city is under attack," said Sereda.

"Not about the attack, it's about the Architect, I found some information that Faren needs to know about. I had planned to tell in person, but with all this going on I never had the chance."

Sereda nodded. "Then go."

She then turned and looked at Daylen. "You better help the healers, the going to need some help with tending to the wounded."

"Of course," said Daylen.

"C-Commander! Come quickly. The darkspawn are still breaking through!"

"Breaking through where?"

"The inn! They're coming from the inn, somehow!"

She nodded. "I'm heading to the inn. Keep your soldiers here, hold the chantry." He called over his shoulder. "Let's move."

"Maker bless you, Commander!"

They came out of the Chantry fighting. Larger children were invading the streets. She signalled Theron to the left, and she took charge of the right. Daylen began to gather his magic to him, retaining the high ground advantage of the chantry courtyard.

The general started to cast a spell. It was times like this that Sereda wished she had either Alistair or Faren, but there seem to be little need for Theron moved so quick that she didn't notice the knife sticking in the general before it fell to the ground.

"How do they get into the city without us knowing?" Sereda asked.

"Smuggler tunnels," Theron guessed.

"You would have thought they would have locked the blighted door, wouldn't you?" Daylen grumbled as he blasted a shriek.

"Let's just get down there and stop more darkspawn coming through," said Sereda as she sliced off a genlock's head, and then bent to open the trapdoor.

Daylen blinked at the hole in the floor. "And who is going into the scary unlit tunnel first?"

"I will," said Theron. "I've got a longer range than either you to and I am the most agile of us."

"Then go," said Sereda.

He jumped down, and she followed a step behind and Daylen brought up the rear.

The second of the generals came at her, swinging wildly with its staff as it tried to get a spell off. It was so focused on her, it didn't even notice Theron until he Starfang through its chest.

Daylen used the heights to devastating advantage. He sent a barrage of spells slamming into the darkspawn ranks, taking out most of them before they even had a chance to close with Sereda and Theron.

"Commander?"

"Follow the tunnel outside the city. That will bring us up in the darkspawn lines. If we hit the last of the leadership, the soldiers will be able to hold the city."

"After you," Theron offered.

Theron had pulled out his bow and was focusing his arrows on the hurlocks when he saw the fully armoured ogre come charging up the path towards the gate. "Sereda?"

"I see it." She glanced over his shoulder. "Daylen, hold the tunnel and Theron provide me support."

Theron grabbed his second quiver and continued firing. He saw Sereda try to hit with all her might, but between its sheer size and the armour, she didn't appear to have much luck. Then, to his surprise, Sereda sheathed her sword, and tossed her shield away, and suddenly jumped on the back of the ogre, levering herself up by grabbing the back of its breastplate. He climbed it, and then almost immediately jumped off the top of it. The dwarf rolled and continued moving, ducking behind a low stone wall.

She was moving in to try to give them help when there was suddenly a loud noise. The ogre seemed to almost liquefy inside the armour, which bulged out strangely. It splattered to the ground. Sereda smirked. "Glad that worked," she said. She then, leaped the fence, and hit the surprised darkspawn general while it was still staring at the remains of its bodyguard.

An arrow nocked, and she looked around for another target. And found… nothing. She checked her senses. What darkspawn remained were fleeing. From the city, and what remained of the camp, she heard a cheer start to go up.

"We… won?" said Daylen relieved.

"We won." He stared at the city walls, the defenders holding their bows over their heads triumphantly. "We won."

Constable Aidan came out of the gates. "Commander, the darkspawn are retreating."

"And the survivors?" Sereda asked.

"They are being tended to. By the Maker's mercy, only a few were infected by the darkspawn." He sounding relieved.

"What news from the keep?"

"We haven't heard much, but the Warden-Commander and the other Wardens appeared to have just saved it and are now tracking the darkspawn forces towards the Mother's lair."

Sereda was wondering if they could join up with them to provide them with more backup.

"We'd never get there in time," said Theron, as if reading her mind. "The best we can do is head to the keep and see where things go from there."

Sereda didn't like it, but he was right. "Then we're off to the keep."

"Yes, sir." He glanced at the creature again. "Commander, what should we do with the messenger?"

"Kill him."

"It shall be as you say. Maker watch over you, Commander."

"Let us hope that Faren and his new Wardens can defeat the Mother and end this madness," said Daylen.

"I have every confidence in him," said Sereda as they began to head out towards the keep. "That's I why recommend him as Commander."