"Drink the wine, my darling, you said
Take your time, consume all of it
But the roses were only to drain my inspiration
The promises were spoiled before they left your lips and...
I breathe you in again just to feel you
Underneath my skin, holding on to
The sweet escape is always laced with a familiar taste of poison"
"How are you feeling?" Eshne sat between Melia and Nennet, handing them skins of water.
"I'm quite alright, Eshne. Thank you." Melia said quietly, barely able to see through her clouded eyes. Red sores had begun to form on her neck, but she remained seemingly indifferent.
"Nicolai is over by the kennels, he was quite enthused." Eshne said to Nennet.
"Oh?" Nennet looked up from cleaning her rapier.
"He said he's hoping to see if he might imprint."
Nennet sighed, "I doubt we have time to care for a dog."
"We're Fereldens, there's always time." Eshne laughed.
After a few moments of silence, Melia looked at the ground, "Why do they stare at me?" She asked.
Nennet looked around, glaring at the people who walked by, "Could be the vallaslin…"
"I see many shems wearing markings upon their face," Melia said, "Though I doubt it is to their Andraste."
"Well…" Eshne thought for a moment, "Not many humans are used to seeing a Dalish elf. particularly one so alluring."
Melia scoffed, "If they think anything of my appearance, it is that I resemble a darkspawn."
"Nonsense." Eshne shrugged it off, "Once the Joining is over, you'll take one look at them with those pretty green eyes and they'll fall to their knees. I would."
"Your confidence in my ability to survive...I find it astounding."
"I'm an optimist, what can I say?" Eshne smirked, "Speaking of the Joining…"
Nicolai and Nani came over to the others.
"Alistair asked us to call for you." Nani said, "They're ready."
"Can you stand?" Eshne asked Melia, offering her hand.
"I am not a cripple." Melia got to her feet, defiantly making her way to the old temple where Alistair stood in wait.
Thackery was already there, steeling himself through the pain as much as he could. Melia gave him a reassuring smile.
"So when does the orgy start?" Eshne asked, making Nani laugh.
Daveth looked at a scowling Jory, "After my own heart, that one."
Melia sighed, "Fenedhis...Just sit quietly until Duncan gets here."
While they all waited for Duncan, Jory started to pace.
"The more I hear about this Joining, the less I like it." He admitted.
"Are you blubbering, again?" Nennet rolled her eyes.
"Have I not earned my place? Why must we go through all these damned tests?" Jory rung his hands.
"Maybe they're just trying to annoy you." Daveth said sarcastically.
"Gentlemen, please," Nani sighed, "I swear it's like you both just dropped your balls in the Wilds."
Nicolai glanced at them, "Listen. There's no point in fretting over it. What's done is done, and there's no going back." He told the others.
"My wife is in Highever with a child on the way!" Jory said, "It just...doesn't seem fair."
Melia turned red with rage, Thackery set his hand on her shoulder.
"That's pretty presumptuous to say that none of us haven't sacrificed a great deal ourselves." Thackery spat.
"I-" Jory started.
Daveth scoffed, "And would you have come if they told you the risks? The Wardens do what they must, right?"
"Including sacrifice?" Jory asked.
"I would sacrifice a lot more if I knew it would end the Blight." Daveth said bitterly, "You saw what those darkspawn did, ser knight, wouldn't you die to protect that pretty wife of yours?"
"I…" Jory sighed.
"Maybe you'll die. Maybe we'll all die. But if nobody stops the darkspawn, we'll all die for sure." Daveth threw up his hands.
"I've just never faced a foe I could not engage with my blade." Jory shook his head.
They all sat in an uncomfortable silence, waiting for Duncan. There were a few times Nicolai felt like she would have to help Thackery Melia stand, for they looked like they were getting worse every second that passed.
Finally, Duncan appeared, breaking the thick tension.
"At last, we come to the Joining." He said, walking to a table with a large chalice, "The Grey Wardens were founded during the First Blight, when humanity stood on the brink of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Wardens drank of darkspawn blood, and mastered their taint." He turned to the recruits.
"Holy shit…" Nennet whispered.
"We're going to drink their blood?" Jory seemed dumbstruck.
"As the first Grey Wardens did before us, and we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory." Duncan explained.
"Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint. We can sense the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon." Alistair said.
"Let's do this then." Nani crossed her arms.
"We speak only a few words before the Joining, these words have been said since the first." Duncan said, "Alistair, if you would?"
Alistair bowed his head, "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and that one day we shall join you."
Duncan took the silver chalice from the table, turning to Nicolai..
"Step forward." He told him.
If Nicolai had been afraid he hadn't shown it. He took a sip of the blood and handed the chalice back to Duncan.
A burning pain raced through his body, a white hot fire pulsing in his veins. He began to sweat, his eyes turning white as the exhaustion caused him to fall to the ground.
Nennet was about to pounce when Duncan announced he would live. Duncan then turned to Daveth with the chalice.
Daveth readily took it from Duncan's hands, taking a sip from the cup. He handed it back to Duncan, seemingly unaffected.
Eshne was about to give a sigh of relief when Daveth started to choke up his own spit and the blood. He started to scream. Eshne held Nani's arm as Daveth fell to the ground, seemingly suffocating.
"Maker's breath." Jory backed away.
"I am sorry, Daveth." Duncan said sadly, "Step forward, Jory."
Jory backed away even further.
"No...I have a wife. A child! had I known…"
"There is no turning back." Duncan glared.
"There is no glory in this!" Jory said wildly, his hand on his sword, ready to fight.
Duncan set the chalice down, then reached for his dagger. Jory tried to fight him off, by Duncan came in close, his dagger making contact with Jory's chest. Eshne gasped when Jory fell to the ground, dead.
"I am sorry…" Duncan said sadly, sheathing his dagger.
Taking the chalice back up, he looked at Melia.
"The Joining is not yet complete." He said.
Melia took a deep breath, stepping forward to take the chalice, emotionless and resolute.
"You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good." Duncan said.
Melia took a sip of the blood, ignoring the burning in her throat as it travelled to her stomach.
Immediately she felt as if she was going to double over and vomit. Instead, she stood, trying to keep her balance, fighting the pain.
"Oh my God, Mel…" Thackery watched his cousin friend fall to her knees, wincing and trying to not scream.
Melia held her head, her eyes turned completely white, the black veins in her neck seemed to flush themselves of the unnatural color, and she finally fell over from exhaustion.
Melia stood upon a precipice. Everything around her was dark, and the sky above her was a sickly green and red. Her hair was falling out of it's bun, being thrown around by a violent wind. She looked all around her, but all she saw was the coming darkness.
Rising from the depths, a great dragon flew past her and up into the sky. She watched as it spewed a great inferno from it's twisted mouth. The dragon looked at Melia and roared. An electric fear ran through her veins, and she could not move. The dragon started coming towards her, it's eyes burning. Melia closed her eyes, ready for it to take her.
She awoke, seeing that she was in a tent. Cold sweat ran down her back.
For a moment, she felt as if she were back with her clan, and she calmed.
It quickly faded when she heard the sound of soldiers outside.
She got to her feet, feeling that all her sickness had gone. She saw she was dressed in her regular attire, a simple olive green kirtle that went to her knees, and her clean pair of beige trousers. Her feet were still adorned with her barefoot sandals.
Melia put her long white hair up into her usual bun, then opened the door to the tent and saw that it was still nighttime.
"Thank the Creators you're awake." Thackery ran up to her, dressed now in his warden's armor, "I was worried you were dead."
"Oh, lethallin." Melia teared up, holding him close, "I thought it was a dream."
"I know, Melly." Thackery, "I know."
"Is everyone-"
"Everyone else is fine. We just lost Daveth and Jory."
"Bless the Creators above." Melia sighed, then asked, "How long was I asleep?"
"Just a few hours. Nennet took the time to get you cleaned up, and I even managed to get you your new armor." He handed Melia a bundle.
Melia felt a force push at her side, seeing Eshne hugging her tightly.
"You're awake!" She cried happily.
"So it seems." Melia smiled at her.
"I was supposed to come wake you if you weren't already awake. The King summoned you and Nennet." Eshne said.
"Why?" Melia asked.
"'Dunno. Duncan said meet him at the war table when you're awake." Eshne smiled.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"You just...look better is all." Eshne hugged her, "I'll be over with Nani getting some food, thackery, want to join?"
"Let me check on the wolves and I'll be over soon." Thackery said to her.
"Excellent!" Eshne skipped away.
Melia sighed, "I better change."
"Meet us over for food when you're done," Thackery said to her, then added, "And you do look better."
"So do you."
Melia, now dressed in her warden's armor, followed the path to where the King's council stood arguing about the Orlesians. Nennet sighed with relief. Going over to Melia.
"They've been at it for hours." She said quietly, "I think Duncan told the King we were the ones to talk to."
"Why?"
Melia didn't get her answer. The King turned around, seemingly bright eyed when he saw the two, "Ah! The recruits I met earlier on the road. I understand congratulations are in order."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Melia said calmly.
Nennet gave a curt nod.
"Every Grey Warden is needed now. You should be honored to join their ranks." The King said happily.
The older man who had been scowling beside Cailan became angry, "Your fascination with glory and legends will be your undoing, Cailan! We must attend to reality."
Nennet raised her brow, but bit her tongue.
"Fine!" Cailan became exasperated, "Speak your strategy, Loghain. The Grey Wardens and I will draw out the darkspawn into our charging lines. And then?"
Loghain looked at the map before them and pointed, "You will light the beacon, signalling for my men to charge from cover."
"To flank the darkspawn, I remember," Cailan said, "This is the Tower of Ishal in the ruins? Who will light the beacon?"
"I've a few men stationed there. It's not a dangerous job, but it is vital." Loghain said.
"The we shall send our best." Cailan looked up at Melia and Nennet, "Send Alistair and whomever you see fit."
"What?" Melia said incredulously.
Loghain scoffed, "You rely on these Grey Wardens too much, Cailan. Is that truly wise?"
Cailan groaned, "Enough of your conspiracy theories, Loghain. Grey Wardens battle the Blight, no matter where they're from."
Duncan interrupted, "Your Majesty, we should consider the possibility of the archdemon appearing."
"There have been no dragon sightings in the Wilds." Loghain said.
"Isn't that what your men are here for, Duncan?" Cailan smiled.
"I…" Duncan sighed, "Yes your Majesty."
"Your Majesty," A Circle mage interjected, "The Tower and it's beacon are unnecessary." He said, "The Circle of Magi-"
"We will not trust any lives to your spells, Mage. Save them for the darkspawn." A Chantry mother cut him off.
"Oh she did not…" Nennet gritted her teeth, Melia held her back.
"Enough!" Loghain quieted everyone, "This plan will suffice. The Wardens will light the beacon."
"Thank you, Loghain," The King grinned, "I cannot wait for that glorious moment! The Grey Wardens battle alongside the king of Ferelden to stem the tide of evil!"
Loghain sighed, "Yes, Cailan. A glorious moment for us all."
The next night, the new wardens were to meet Alistair and Duncan at the Grey Warden tent. Everyone around them was preparing to fight the darkspawn, apart from orders being shouted at each other, most of the soldiers were quiet.
Melia had spent most of the day with Duncan discussing their strategies for the coming evening. They hadn't come to an agreement until Nennet stepped in to settle their disputes.
Nennet and Melia had been walking to the tents when came upon a heated argument between Alistair and Duncan. Thackery and Eshne had been whispering quietly to each other, ignoring Nani who was forming ice in her hands to pass the time. Nicolai cleared his throat to try and catch everyones attention, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Remember. You will go to the Tower of Ishal to make sure the beacon is lit." Duncan said, "I have already discussed this. It will be you, Melia, Na'Nalia, and Eshne going to the tower. The rest are to keep darkspawn at bay from the second front."
"Wait you cannot just separate-" Melia started.
"Lethallin, it's fine." Thackery snapped at her.
"I can-" Duncan started.
Alistair stopped him, "So I just, won't be in the battle. At all?" He furrowed his brow.
"It is by the King's personal request." Duncan said, "If the beacon is not lit, the Teryn's men will not know when to charge."
"Right and he needs how many Grey Wardens to do that?" Alistair crossed his arms.
"I must agree," Melia said, standing next to Alistair, "Is it not our duty as Wardens to fight darkspawn? He would be better sending someone else."
Alistair was about to say something else, but for once his words seemed caught in his mouth. It was the first time he had seen Melia without her sickness, and for the moment he felt lost in her silent glare.
"It is not our choice," Duncan broke the trance, "If the King wishes the Grey Wardens to be at the tower, then the Grey Wardens will be there."
"I get it, I get it." Alistair sighed, but then he gave a scoff, "But just so you know, if the King asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no."
Melia smirked, "I would certainly like to see that."
"For you, maybe," Alistair looked at Melia, "But it has to be a pretty dress."
"I'll do it if you won't." Eshne piped up, Nani and Thackery snickering.
Duncan sighed.
"The Tower of Ishal is on the other side of the gorge, where we first came in." He told them, "You'll need to cross the gorge and head through the gate and up to the tower entrance. You can overlook the whole valley from the top."
"Sounds relatively easy to me." Melia shrugged.
"We will signal you when the time is right. Alistair will know what to look for."
"Let's not waste time then." Nennet said.
"I must join the others. From here, you are on your own. And remember. You are Grey Wardens now, I expect you to be worthy of that title."
"Duncan…" Alistair started, "May the Maker watch over you."
"May he watch over us all…" Duncan departed.
Four Wardens stood by the edge of the bridge. All was quiet on the battlefield. Melia stood apart from the others, watching the tree-line intently.
Eshne had gone back to her tent and had packed her remaining apple tree saplings carefully in her satchel, hoping to find a place for at least one. Without thinking, she put her stuffed halla in as well, thinking that maybe it would bring her luck in the coming battle, should she fight.
She took up her staff and walked back towards Nani. It had started to rain when she stopped and noticed Alistair kept glancing over at Melia, who was still watching the battlefield. She decided not to interrupt, and instead hid behind a column and listened to Alistair.
"So...you're...different." He began.
"Oh no." Eshne sighed.
Melia shot a glance over at Alistair, "Because I am an elf?"
"No!" Alistair's eyes widened, "No, not that! I mean yes you are an elf. But...what I meant was you look...I don't know. Better? You know, now that you're not ill."
"Thank you?" Melia raised her brow.
"Is he even trying?" Nani asked Eshne.
Eshne shook her head, "Piss poor job, mate." She mumbled.
"Are you feeling any better though?" Alistair asked, "I mean. You can look better but can still feel rotten, right?"
"I am fine." Melia said, turning back to watch the valley below.
"Maker…" Alistair put his head in his hands.
Eshne and Nani decided to sit next to him.
"That hurt me. I actually felt my stomach knot up." Eshne said.
"It's like you don't even want this." Nani shook her head.
"I don't want to talk about it." Alistair mumbled.
"If you say so." Eshne shook her head, "I'm not going to be a friend and not tell you that she really likes flowers."
Alistair lifted his head, "I thought you just met her?"
Eshne shrugged, "Believe it or not, some mages had lives before the tower. I was in her clan before the templars took me. No other clan had room for another mage...but that's not my point." She shook her head, "Mel likes flowers. And if I remember an odd fondness for bees…"
"Bees?"
"Or you could eat her out." Eshne suggested.
"Remember the alphabet." Nani added.
"Why would that help?" Alistair's face went red.
"Oh." Eshne and Nani groaned.
"Something's happening." Melia called over.
Alistair, Nani, and Eshne went over to Melia.
The whole valley was silent. They could see the thick tension building in the ranks. Soldiers moved uncomfortably, watching the trees.
A fog began to set in, coming from the forest.
Melia tilted her head and squinted her eyes. Hushed whispers emanated from the fog. Figures started to form in the fog, coming from the woods.
"Look at all of them…" Eshne said quietly.
"Creators, I hope thackery is not with them." Melia held her hand to her chest.
The four watched as darkspawn started to come out of the forest. They all stopped at a certain point, looking at the King's soldiers and making inhuman noises. Some of them started to get restless, roaring at the army, and slightly lunging forward with weapons drawn.
All at once they charged forward, growling and screeching as they ran.
The King called for the archers, who volleyed and felled many darkspawn, but still they charged. Next, the King sent forth the mabari. The hounds became wild and tore into the darkspawn. Melia felt sick when so many were slaughtered.
Cailan cried, "For Ferelden!" And the army charged for the oncoming darkspawn.
Out from the woods, catapults sent forth flaming mounds that hit the ruins. Eshne couldn't believe her eyes.
"We have to go." Alistair said.
The four of them raced across the bridge, narrowly missing a few missiles as they whipped by.
Once they got safely to the other side, Eshne had to stop. Her lungs had been burning, and her breathing had become ragged and harsh. Nani's eyes flashed.
"Go on ahead." She told the others, "I'll be alright."
"You could have an attack." Nani said.
"We need to get to the tower." Alistair told her.
"Go." Eshne waved her away.
Before Nani could argue, she started to hear whispers in her head. She turned around and saw three men running for them.
"Darkspawn!" One yelled, "They've taken the tower!"
"What are you talking about?" Alistair said.
"They came up from the ground, started slaughtering everyone." The other man said, "It's a massacre."
"We need to move." Alistair turned back towards the girls.
Nani took the collar of the closest man, "You watch her," She pointed to Eshne, "Darkspawn are nothing compared to what I'll do if she dies."
"Yes, ma'am." The man said, sweat pouring from his forehead.
Nani released him and motioned for the other two to follow, "Let's get to the tower. We need to find survivors if we can."
They ran towards the tower, seeing a group of scattered soldiers fighting off an overwhelming number of darkspawn. Melia didn't waste another second before taking out her daggers and rushing for them.
She was fearless, pouncing on hurlocks and slicing their throats before attacking the next with a flurry. Alistair was not far behind her, bashing into a group of genlocks. Nani summoned a the winds to freeze over all in her path.
The three Wardens fought tirelessly, killing the remaining darkspawn that surrounded the tower with ease. They regrouped with the two men and a few surviving soldiers.
"Do you know how many are in the tower?" Melia quickly asked.
"We're not sure, miss," One of them said, "It was all too sudden."
"Looks like we're lighting the beacon ourselves." Alistair said.
"Let us not waste time then," Melia said, "You two are with us, the rest of you make sure nothing else gets into the tower. Understand?"
They quickly nodded.
Melia motioned for Nani and Alistair to follow her. And the disappeared inside the darkspawn infested tower.
It was eerily silent once they closed the door. Everything was turned over and burning. Melia presumed it was the darkspawns way of a hello. Two of them men that were outside followed them in, secretly hoping to see the Grey Wardens in action.
Once they reached the end of the hall, the tower opened up into a large circular room, where tables and chair were piled up and burning. A few darkspawn had been wildly dancing around it and screaming. An emissary spotted the group and roared.
Nani froze three of them in place, giving Melia time to use her daggers to shatter their frozen bodies.
The few darkspawn that were left on that level had been killed by the others. The group came back together and moved on to the next floor.
Alistair looked at Melia, "There wasn't supposed to be any resistance here," he said, "What are they doing ahead of the rest of the horde?"
"Weren't you complaining you weren't going to get to fight?" Melia raised her brow.
"I'm certainly much happier now that I've killed something." Nani threw a charred darkspawn corpse to the ground.
Alistair gave a curt laugh, "Silver linings, right? At any rate, we need to get to the top and light the signal fire in time, otherwise the Teryn won't know when to charge."
When they reached the next level, they could see the bodies of soldiers and darkspawn alike strewn all over the floor. Their bodies broken, bloody, and even burning.
"Maker's breath…" One of the men said.
Again, they fought off the darkspawn. There were many more this time, and some darkspawn that had been in other rooms had heard the commotion and came out to see who was fighting.
Melia had been distracted and was fighting off two genlocks, she didn't notice a hurlock charging for her with sword and shield. When she did see, she tried dodging but was hit in the shoulder. The blow sent her reeling backwards, falling to the ground. Her arm felt like it was on fire, but thankfully nothing had been broken. She rolled over and picked up her dagger, slicing the hurlocks ankles. When it fell to the ground she scrambled to her feet and stabbed into the darkspawn. She picked up her other dagger and fought off another that had been coming towards her.
Nani tried to get over to her to use a healing spell, but was caught up in dealing with another mess of hurlocks that strayed from a side room.
Eventually the group managed to kill the remaining darkspawn. They searched the remaining rooms to make sure there were no others, and then they moved on to the next floor.
Alistair killed off the two genlocks that were by the door as soon as they came up the stairs, throwing one down so that it's neck broke.
They came into a smaller room where there were more genlocks. Nani sent bolts of lightning, sending two hurlocks across the room. Melia managed to stab two at one time, while Alistair bashed his shield into another.
"You really are Grey Wardens." One of the men said in awe.
Nani, covered in blood and bruises, gave a small curtsy before moving on to the next room.
This room was filled with caged mabari, who were barking at the darkspawn. Alistair, Melia and the two soldiers fought them off so Nani could release the cages. Once she did, the hounds wildly attacked the creatures, snarling and howling as they descended upon the darkspawn.
Hearing the commotion, other darkspawn came from the back three rooms.
Melia fought off a hurlock alpha, quickly dodging its blows with a large maul. It hit the ground, shattering the ground below. Before she could move again, the maul hit her in the side. She was flown back, yelping in pain as she heard a rib crack.
Alistair yelled for her, but was kept back by two genlocks.
The hurlock raised its maul, poised to strike the killing blow. Melia closed her eyes, but nothing happened.
She opened one eye, seeing the hurlock had been frozen in place. In an instant it was hit with a large ball of earth and shattered.
Melia looked where the ball came from and saw Eshne, covered in rock armor, eyes glowing bright green before they returned to their normal violet color.
She ran to Melia, knocking back darkspawn with her staff, burning the others.
"Are you alright?" She asked as she shot off bursts of lightning.
"Yes." Melia answered, getting to her feet, her whole side felt like it had been set aflame.
Once the darkspawn were killed, Alistair ran over to the two. He picked up Melia's daggers, handing them to her.
"Thank you." She winced.
"Are you able to move?" He asked her, receiving a curt nod, "Let's go."
The group ran to the next level, racing up the stairs to the top of the tower.
Bodies of soldiers littered the floor. By a large fire at the opposite side of the room, a large ogre was bent down, eating the head off of one of the dead men.
"Shit." Nani said.
The ogre caught their scent, looking over at them and standing up at full height. It roared, blood and saliva pouring from it's lips.
Eshne readied her staff, "Hello, beautiful."
She hurled a fireball at it, making the ogre lose it's balance for a moment. Melia seized the opportunity to run at it, both daggers poised for its legs. She slid under it, cutting at both ankles. The ogre cried out, falling to it's knees.
When the others came to fight it, the ogre angrily swiped away one of the men. He flew against the wall, cracking his skull against the stone.
Nani sent forth a stream of electricity at the beast, making it pause in place. The others backed away while it was being electrocuted.
Once it disappeared however, the ogre became enraged, managing to pick up the other soldier and ripping his head off, tossing the body to the side like a doll.
Melia jumped onto it's back, using her daggers to climb up to the creature's neck. The ogre whipped her around, but she held on, stabbing into it's grey skin. Her dagger caught on it's tough skin, and as she tried pulling it out the ogre flung her from it's neck. She fell to the ground, rolling away just before it could stomp on her.
Nani froze one of it's legs and as it tried to escape Alistair shattered it with his sword. The ogre fell to the ground, roaring as Alistair ran for it's head, slicing straight through it's neck.
"We need to light the beacon, we missed the signal by now." He told Eshne.
He ran to Melia, who was writhing in pain. Her pupils were dilated, and her head swayed back and forth.
"Melia…" Alistair said quietly, cradling her.
Eshne shot a burst of fire to light the beacon. Once it was lit she went to Alistair.
Melia looked at him, her pale pink lips curling into a smile.
"Tamlen." She said quietly.
Nani sighed, "She needs healing." She started to bend down to help pick Melia up, but was knocked to the ground when a large arrow hit her shoulder.
Alistair turned to see a hurlock swinging a maul at him.
Thackery charged for the line of darkspawn, giving little time for the others to register what was going on.
Before the darkspawn could conjure something, Thackery was upon it, tackling the creature to the floor and stabbing his dagger into its grisly mouth.
He pulled it out with ease, fighting off the next darkspawn that came for him. Both wolves were with him, pouncing atop the closest emissary to tear it to pieces.
Nennet pushed a genlock away from her, giving her enough room to rush an attack with her rapier.
Nicolai picked a hurlock up by it's armor, slamming into the nearest tree. His dagger found its way across the creature's throat. Black blood spat out on Nicolai's face and the body fell over. He went over to check Nennet, then Thackery.
The three had been fighting off darkspawn nonstop since the battle began. Taking advantage of the lull, Thackery fed herbs to the wolves to keep them from ingesting the poison blood.
"We can't keep this up, Nicolai." Nennet said, "We should regroup with the others."
Nicolai looked around, noticing now that the grounds were eerily quiet.
"Where did they all go?"
"Fenedhis!" Thackery suddenly cried.
Nennet and Nicolai looked up to where Thackery was pointing. The Tower of Ishal was a great distance away, but they could see its beacon burning brightly.
"Where are the reinforcements?" Nennet looked around, "They should be marching through."
"Mel's in that tower." Thackery turned back to them.
"Well she clearly lit the beacon-"
"It took forever!" Thackery said hysterically, "What if it wasn't her?"
His hysterics were broken by the sound of a large explosion. Thackery rounded, looking up at the top of the tower to see a great black mass.
It moved away from the tower, flying away northwards.
Thackery began to run after it, the wolves ahead of him.
"What is he doing?" Nennet asked Nicolai.
Nicolai didn't answer. Instead he ran after Thackery. Nennet groaned, racing after the other two.
Thackery followed the black mass far into the Korcari wilds. There was a moment where he thought he lost it through the dense trees. But once he saw footprints on the ground he picked the trail back up and ran.
Nennet was going to call to them, mentioning that their surroundings had become familiar. She was about to yell when they came upon a familiar little hut.
The front door opened, and before Nicolai could stop him Thackery ran inside.