Lana sighed in dismay as she looked down at herself, utterly drenched, "Of course it rains today."
"Try not to slide around in the mud too much, you'll distract the men." Fergus grinned at her.
Lana slapped his arm and he chuckled at her.
Highever's forces were one of several from the Bannorn who were supporting the wardens and the king in engaging the darkspawn head on. They were positioned to the upper west of the field their archers on the hill behind them, their soldiers around them, both Couslands were standing with their brothers and sisters in arms. The soldiers of course were delighted and empowered at the sight of Kaylana being there to shed blood with them, that both scions of the Couslands were showing their hearts for the country over personal revenge.
The battle nerves flamed higher at movement approaching from the other end of the valley.
"Best get with the archers Pup." Fergus tapped the back of her helmet affectionately.
"You die and I'm hunting you down in the Beyond and kicking your arse!" she punched him in the shoulder lightly, grinning up at him though her eyes were deadly serious.
"Same to you sis." He nodded and thumbed over his shoulder for her to get moving.
Lana and Sahera were both armed with Dalish longbows. Lana was nowhere near as good as Sahera with a bow but she was skilful enough to be a menace so they thought a Cousland with the front ranks and a Cousland with the ranged ranks would be needed when everything went to the void as it did in battle.
"May the Creators guide your path and your bow bring their wrath upon your foes." Lana smiled and bowed her head to Sahera.
Sahera returned the smile, "Yours as well worthy warrior and Keeper."
The darkspawn were gathering in greater numbers than anyone had predicted. A mighty roar rose up in their ranks as a massive hurlock raised its sword.
Ferelden soldiers began to cower at the tainted beasts howling at them.
"Oh void no!" Lana growled, "FOR FERELDEN!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.
"FERELDEN! FERELDEN! FERELDEN!" The soldiers of Highever joined in her warcry.
It sent a spark through the Ferelden forces that quickly caught aflame as the army joined in and raised their voice as one against the cry of the darkspawn.
The darkspawn charged.
"Archers to the ready!" Lana bellowed, her voice carrying clearly through the din. Her keen eyes sought out Cailan and her warden friends, she wanted to keep track of them as much as possible.
The archers notched their arrows and took their positions.
The fear was momentarily overridden as commanders bellowed orders at their troops, holding the lines and igniting the bloodlust of battle.
"Draw!" Lana was watching the oncoming line of savage, tainted monsters with their demonic faces twisted in animal rage, she was waiting for them to reach a certain point... "Loose!" she released her arrow and didn't bother waiting to see if it hit something, "Draw!" she bellowed and as soon as the archers around her were ready she bellowed again, "Loose!"
The front lines of the darkspawn crumpled but those behind didn't care for the fallen, all that they were focused on was destruction.
Fergus was never prouder of his sister as her confident voice bolstered not just the men but him as well.
"Release the hounds!" Cailan yelled at the kennel master.
The hounds bayed with blood lust and raced towards the approaching darkspawn, massive mounds of muscle, teeth and claw ripped through the tainted flesh.
The mages began to unleash magical fury in the form of fireballs, lightning, ice and other powerful primal elements.
"For Ferelden!" Cailan bellowed one last time, lowering his sword towards the enemy.
"FERELDEN!" The soldiers and wardens bellowed and charged into the fray.
Ashana nervously chewed on her bottom lip as she and Alistair looked down on the fight from above on the bridge that led to the tower. Ballistae were thundering along the bridge and archers shot down from their vantage point but there were so many darkspawn, there seemed to be no end to the charging horde.
"Come on, we'd best light the beacon." Alistair grumbled, he'd wanted to be by Duncan's side but there was no arguing with orders from the King.
Ashana nodded and followed him, "Is Lana right?" she asked softly.
"About what?" Alistair glanced down at her, she was still in her blue apprentice robes though he'd seen for himself that she was no mere apprentice.
"That the darkspawn won't be pushed back with one stand like this?" Ashana was scared, scared about the darkspawn, scared about her friends down in the midst of the fight and she felt guilty that she wasn't there with them.
Alistair sighed but before he could answer a couple terrified soldiers ran towards them.
"Are you the gray wardens?" One of them gasped.
Alistair frowned, "Yes, what is it?"
"Darkspawn, in the tower." the other pointed back behind them breathlessly.
"What! How!" Alistair picked up the pace immediately.
"They dug up through the floor of the lower chambers. They're everywhere!"
"Holy Maker! If we don't light the signal Loghain won't charge and everyone in the Valley will die!" Alistair broke out into a run, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Ashana had to sprint to keep up with him but it wasn't far. Already whispering words of power at the first sight of the creatures lightning arced from her fingertips. A moment later the trembling darkspawn's head was hacked off by the soldier fighting it.
The soldier looked around in surprise and nodded at the sight of the young mage who'd just saved his life. He quickly turned to aid a fellow soldier.
Alistair bellowed and threw himself at another vile creature, his sword cleaving through its sword arm. Before his eyes it suddenly froze from the ground up. With all his strength he rammed it with his shield and it simply shattered. Wide eyed he looked back to Ashana who was grinning and already casting another spell. Another darkspawn froze and he did the same thing, it scattered in pieces to the ground. "Alright!" He grinned.
Together the mage and almost templar fought their way through the darkspawn infested tower, finding and saving at least a dozen soldiers who helped them. They even found a half dozen Mabari hounds that had still been locked up, releasing them was very satisfying as they tore through the darkspawn alongside them.
One of the Mabari, a black one almost as big as a small horse was wounded defending Ashana. Quickly Ashana dashed to its side and spoke a healing spell into the wound, blue light flowing from her fingertips and gently restoring the torn flesh. The dog wuffed in appreciation, its intelligent eyes taking in the elven woman. It sniffed her quickly before returning to the fight.
"Atta boy." Ashana grinned as it ripped a genlock apart.
Fighting their way to the top of the tower they came to a startled halt at the sight of a massive ogre gorging on the dead bodies that littered the floor around it.
Ashana had done remarkably well up till this point. She'd zapped darkspawn, fried darskpawn, frozen darkspawn, thrown darkspawn, crushed darkspawn. Now she was exhausted and faced with the biggest, ugliest, meanest creature she had ever laid eyes on.
The monstrous brute towered over them, its gray skin was mottled black with taint, its beady black eyes burned with hatred as it turned slowly to look at them. At first it didn't seem at all bothered by the intrusion, it simply lifted one body to its mouth and bit off its head, blood, bones and brain matter crunching and squelching in its jaws.
"I'm gonna..." Ashana turned, hand to her mouth and dashed to the side before emptying her stomach contents.
It then proceeded to bellow at them, saliva, blood and chunks of flesh spraying from its mouth, the ground trembling almost as much as the soldiers staring at the monstrosity.
Alistair shook himself, "You there!" he shouted at a couple of swordsmen, "Flank it and go for the legs, archers go for the face," he looked to a couple lighter armoured and faster moving soldiers, "You three distract it, keep it occupied, I'll take the front. Ashana do what you can." he managed to yell out before the beast charged.
The soldiers moved quickly with the barked orders to follow.
Ashana found a waterskin shoved in her face and she quickly washed out her mouth before downing a vial of lyrium. Taking a deep breath she drew on reserves she never knew she had. She didn't dare use fire or lightning spells in case she hit one of their own people, instead she tried freezing it. It didn't quite freeze the creature but it certainly slowed it down.
Alistair recognized it, "Ashana do that again!" he yelled over his shoulder, slamming his shield into the beasts leg and only serving to piss it off. He barely managed to dive out of the way of one of the massive fists.
Ashana concentrated, her throat was scratchy from all the spell casting but she refused to back down now. She put everything she had left into the spell.
This time its legs actually froze. It roared in pain and almost fell as it was suddenly unable to move.
"The legs! Go for the legs!" Alistair threw himself at one.
The soldiers closest saw the crack develop at his assault, were deafened by the roar of pain and they followed suit. Together they brought the beast down then converged on its head and torso stabbing and slashing until finally it stopped moving.
The mabari that had followed Ashana up whined beside her as she collapsed in total exhaustion.
The soldiers cheered in triumph at their victory.
Alistair grinned from ear to ear as he jumped down from on top of the beast. Looking around for Ashana his grin vanished, "Ashana!" he called and dashed over to her.
"I'll be fine, just drained." she assured him softly, her voice barely more than a whisper and trembling.
"You were incredible, we couldn't have taken that thing down without you." Alistair smiled, reaching down and gently taking hold of her slender shoulder.
She blushed at the praise.
"Come on, let's light this beacon, we've surely missed the signal by now." He moved to pick her up.
The dog growled at him and stood over her possessively.
"Oh hey now easy big guy." Alistair held up his hands in submission.
Ashana was also a little intimidated, the dog was nearly as tall as she was and far, far bulkier. "It's okay, he's just going to help me over there, you can come if you want, make sure he doesn't drop me." she reassured the big animal.
He huffed and allowed it.
"I think he's imprinted on you Ashana." Alistair grinned as he picked her up with ease even though his arms were burning like they were on fire, she was just so little.
"What's that mean?" she asked curiously.
"It means he's claimed you as his mistress and will follow you around for life." Alistair carried her over to the beacon and gently sat her down by the window. Quickly moving to the burning fire he pulled out a torch then threw it on the already prepared bonfire. It caught alight explosively to be seen for miles around.
A sense of accomplishment passed through both wardens, their task had been accomplished.
Alistair joined her at the window to watch, "Now we wait."
While the fight for the tower had been underway the troops on the field were being overwhelmed by the sheer number of darkspawn.
Cullen fought ferociously to defend Lucia as did Kallian for they both knew if the darkspawn got close to Lucia she was done for.
All the wardens fought with heightened strength and senses due to the shared taint that was boiling in them. The shared taint also brought the heaviest concentration of darkspawn on their position.
Lana recognized this though she didn't know about the shared taint and swore, Cailan was with the wardens. "HIGHEVER cover the wardens!" she roared over the din of battle.
Those around her quickly took up her call and soon a torrent of arrows were sailing towards the warden position, thinning out the darkspawn around them as much as possible.
Duncan was surprised as arrows fell around them and looked back to see Lana's troops had redirected their aim, he saluted her in gratitude between swings and beheading darkspawn.
"To the right!" Sahera suddenly called to Lana as darkspawn had managed to carve their way through the forces of South Reach that were on their right.
Lana swore and dropped her bow as a darkspawn rushed her. In a flash she had her swords drawn and met its charge by melting out of reach and slashing at it from the side. It roared in pain and swung back on her only to hit air as she danced aside again. "We cannot let them flank us nor can we abandon the wardens or king. Temerly split the archers down the center, those on the left are under your command, keep them on the wardens." she yelled as she decapitated a second darkspawn, ducking the blood spray.
Temerly was a broad shouldered man who looked more comfortable with a massive broadsword than a bow that looked like a child's toy in his hands. "Highever left flank on me. Protect the king!" he bellowed.
"Highever right flank on me! Cover South Reach!" Lana roared, dancing into the path of a pair of darkspawn as their numbers began to increase.
It was chaos all around the field, all except for the wardens and Highever. Fergus was holding the line miraculously as the hardened soldiers of Highever fought not just against the darkspawn but to get back to their families and free them from Howe.
Watching from above Loghain felt remorse for what he was about to do at the sight of the courage and tenacity of Highever's troops, they were the only ones still holding firm under the dual command of Fergus and Kaylana. All over the field men had fallen from their lines and were fighting with desperation, fighting a losing battle.
There was a sudden spark of light as the towers beacon burst into flame.
Ser Cauthrien readied herself to issue the command to surge down the flanks to protect the king, she only waited for the order from her Lord.
"Sound... the retreat." Loghain growled.
Cauthrien did a double take, "But sir, what about the King?" she blurted in shock, not sure she'd heard right, they were just going to abandon the King? Without them he would die! All the soldiers in the valley would.
Loghain turned on her, grabbing her painfully by the arm, "I gave you an order! Sound the retreat, now." he snarled, glaring at her like a man possessed.
Cauthrien swallowed the shame, "Yes my lord." she bowed her head. Her heart turning to stone in her chest at the bitter words she was about to issue.
Watching on from her place in the trees Morrigan squawked in dismay as the main force of the army began to pull away not charge like they were supposed to!
At the lighting of the beacon the forces in the valley picked up with hope, help would be coming soon. That was the signal for Loghain, any minute now his troops would surge over the hills to their rescue.
But the minutes dragged on and there was no sign of rescue.
Lana cried out in surprise as a bird squawked and struck her helmet, "What in the void?" she muttered, her helmet had already been lose from having already received a blow to the head and it fell off.
A woman suddenly appeared, a beautiful woman scantily clad in what appeared to be something a Chasind would wear, "You must retreat, your other force pulls out as we speak! You cannot die Lana Cousland." she grabbed Lana by the shoulder with one hand and turned her to the hills while with the other she lashed out with a fierce bolt of lightning at the enclosing darkspawn.
Lana's eyes widened as indeed Loghain's force was pulling out! "Shit!" she looked back to the king just in time to see him grabbed by an ogre, "Cailan!" she screamed and began running for him. But she was too far away. Before her very eyes the beast crushed the life out of her best friend and king then tossed him aside. "No! No, no, no!" she screamed, her knees going weak.
Morrigan chased her and grabbed the back of her armour, "This battle is lost, you must retreat!" she yelled at the infuriating woman.
Lana nodded, "Fergus! Fergus!" she looked for her brother.
Fergus heard his sisters screams for him and ran to her, "Lana I'm here!" he fought his way to her side.
"Cailan is dead, Loghain's retreating we must pull out now." she yelled as she cut down another beast.
"What!" Fergus looked and indeed, there was no rescue coming, no troops surging towards them only away.
"Get the troops to Lothering, I've got to get the wardens, we cannot lose all the wardens!" Lana turned to try and find the woman who'd given her the warning but she was gone.
"HIGHEVER retreat! Sound the retreat!" Fergus nodded and swiftly began pulling their people back.
Kallian was so tired, her arms were burning, her legs were burning, her chest was burning, there were spots in her eyes and all she could see was darkspawn. She cried out as she was thrown to the ground, a huge hurlock towering over her. Suddenly it was thrown aside, its head falling from its body and another figure was looming over her.
Lana reached down and dragged the elf to her feet, the three youngest wardens had been cut off from their fellows and she couldn't see any more through the sea of darkspawn. "We've got to go!" she yelled at them.
"What about the King?" Cullen called over his shoulder.
"He's DEAD, Loghain's not coming, we're pulling out now move it!" she yelled at them, shoving Kallian before her, shielding her with her blades.
In the chaos and confusion they fled. There was no time to stop, no time to look back, no time to save injured comrades. Anyone who couldn't run was abandoned, left for the darkspawn or left to rot.
Up in the tower Alistair and Ashana could only watch in horror, "We have to get down there!" he cried.
"And do what exactly?" Ashana grabbed his hand as he went to pull away, "What can the two of us do? I've got nothing left..." her head suddenly whipped around to the door as cries of warning came up the stairs.
Darkspawn suddenly surged into the towers uppermost floor, the beacon having drawn them up to it.
"Maker..." Alistair raised his shield to try and protect himself and Ashana from the rain of arrows that was suddenly upon them.
But they were quickly overwhelmed.