CHAPTER 5
It was over.
At least, Nathaniel hoped it was over. He looked over at his companions, trudging wearily away from the Dragonbone Wastes. All of them were covered in blood. Most of it was from the darkspawn, but there was plenty of their own blood on them too.
I hope we don't come across too many stragglers. Everybody looks tired, and I don't think Anders has the reserves to keep us all alive right now. Especially after Elissa was nearly crushed that last time. I hope the Architect keeps his word and gets the rest of the darkspawn away from here and fast.
The fight with the Mother was not as bad as Nathaniel had expected, but he had noticed that seeing and talking to her had been particularly unnerving for Elissa. Actually, she seemed to have been distressed when they had killed the other broodmothers in Kal'Hirol as well, although they had been lucky enough to not have to engage them directly. He caught up with her and asked her quietly, "What is it about broodmothers that bothers you so much?"
Elissa did not look up, instead preferring to concentrate on her own steps as she thought a moment before answering. "You know how most people who are infected with the darkspawn taint become ghouls?"
"Yes."
"Well, some of the women don't. If they are captured, and survive being tainted, they … change. Into those things. Depending on their race before they become broodmothers, they birth a different type of darkspawn. The Mother – did you notice that besides the children, we saw an awful lot of hurlocks?"
"I had noticed that, yes."
"Well, between that and her appearance, I think she had been human before she changed." Elissa barely suppressed a shudder. "That is not a fate I would wish on anyone. And I imagine that all female wardens, if they don't make it to the Deep Roads in time or become captured instead of dying there, can face the same fate. I had thought... " Elissa stopped a moment, then started again. "I had thought for a while, that when it was my time, that I would go with Alistair and he would make sure that I died instead of changing, but now … " she shrugged. "When my time comes, I am not entirely sure that I will go to the Deep Roads. I might have to take care of matters another way to ensure I don't end up contributing to the Warden problem."
"No." Nathaniel's voice was harsh. "We're not that far behind you for time left. When it's your time, I will do everything in my power to go with you and make sure that it doesn't happen. That's the very least I can do as your friend." Anders and Oghren nodded their assent. "You won't be alone."
Elissa looked up at Nathaniel, surprised. Then she smiled and placed her hand on his arm. "Thank you." She looked over at Oghren and then Anders. "Thank you all. It's good to be reminded that you have friends." She straightened up a little and her pace picked up a bit. "We need to get back to the keep. I know we prepared as best we could, but I'm really worried about the attack."