Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.


Chapter Nine: Swooping is Good

The Korcari Wilds – Fereldan

Aedan was rudely awoken when someone slapped his face. As he reluctantly woke up he realised that that someone had in fact been him, much to Alistair's amusement who was leaning over him holding the feather he had used to tickle his ear.

Aedan felt himself mumble some non-intelligible nonsense before pulling the blanket up over his head and rolling over back to sleep.

Alistair ripped the blanket off.

"ALISTAIR!"

Outside Daveth and Ser Jory laughed at the scream.

"It would seem that your fellow recruit is not a morning person." Alistair commented innocently as he hastily exited the tent with the blanket in his arms.

Both were still laughing when Aedan exited the tent re-buckling his armour. "I hate you so much!" He growled glaring at Alistair.

"Why? Are all noblemen such sleepyheads?" Alistair teased a sweet and innocent expression plastered on his face.

Aedan merely grunted and grabbed a share of the porridge that Ser Jory had made for breakfast. "What's the plan?" He asked as the porridge managed to make him feel more human.

"The missionary hasn't been back in days by the looks of things." Daveth commented. "I think we should strip the camp of anything of use before we move on."

Alistair looked uncomfortable about looting the camp so Aedan jumped in. "Sounds good, but just stuff we can fit in our packs. Leave the big stuff like the tents here as we have to travel light in case we run into more Darkspawn."

Daveth nodded and moved off. Alistair looked over in thanks, the supplies would come in useful but the Chantry had instilled 'do not steal' to a ridiculous degree. Aedan nodded in acknowledgement before continuing.

"We should reach the tower by mid morning." He noted pushing the map towards Alistair. "Its almost a straight line due south west from here but we're going to have to take this circular route to avoid the worst of the marshes.

Alistair nodded blankly. I was never this knowledgeable, Aedan has probably read more books than I have ever seen! How he can take this drawing on parchment and turn it into a route in the real world when there are almost no landmarks and no clearly defined towns and streets is amazing. Still I've got something to challenge him with this time. "It seems to be the same route the chasind trail we've been following since yesterday has been going."

Aedan looked around in surprise. "Where?"

Alistair chuckled gently and pointed out the markers as they set off commenting on how templars had been trained to follow trails to better track apostates and maleficar. In return Aedan tried to show Alistair how to use a map, the first lesson he had been taught as the future General of Highever's armies.

Several hours of walking later the three recruits and their Grey Warden chaperone had reached a bridge that marked the beginning of the tower hill. The bridge was the only way across a slow flowing but deep river that fed the marshes and unfortunately it was crawling with Darkspawn, Genlocks and Hurlocks were everywhere and one that stood in the centre of the bridge with a staff and a feather fan attached to the back of its head.

Probably to show it's status to the other Darkspawn Aedan mused. "Alistair what is that?"

"Dam. Its an Emissary, a magic wielding Darkspawn." Alistair explained after receiving three blank stares.

Ser Jory paled as Daveth started to creep back down the slope, both had a an ingrained fear of magic fed by the Chantry's preaching that mages were all powerful so they needed to be watched every second of their lives. Alistair noted that Aedan had tightened his grip on his daggers but actually shifted forwards. He shot a questioning look at the younger man.

"There was a mage among Arl Howe's men." Aedan explained. "She killed a couple of soldiers with fire but died easily once I closed the distance. Robes can't stand up to much of a physical beating."

Alistair nodded grateful someone else knew the first rule of survival when engaging a magic user without a mage of your own for support.

Close the distance. Fast.

Alistair motioned them back down the slope to plan the fight. "Right, there are a lot of them and they have that dam emissary so our best bet is to draw their attention so the grunts will charge us and we can take them down with our bows. Once the Emissary starts casting we switch to blades and Daveth and Aedan slip through any Darkspawn and kill it before coming back to help me and Jory."

The others nodded but Aedan looked conflicted. "Aedan?" Alistair questioned.

Aedan simply got up and walked to the sedge of the clearing. Alistair and the others watched stunned as the young man began to circle his hands just in front of his neck and chant in elvish. White and green magic span from a pendant on his chest like strings of a spiders web to form a ball between his hands.

With a cry of "Vhen'alas!" The chant finished, Aedan flung his arms wide, the white and green ball exploded into hundreds of fluid strands and a wolf came charging out of the wilds. Stopping at Aedan it gently sniffed and then licked his hand.

"Magic! He's an apostate!" Ser Jory cried.

Aedan closed his eyes and turned to face Alistair, dreading what he would find. He opened them to find the former templar hand his hand on his sword but had not drawn it. His eyes however demanded an explanation. Now.

"It's an elven skill." Aedan explained. "I learnt it from a Dalish clan that stopped near Highever for a time, the magic is contained within this pendant and the chant draws it out summoning the nearest battle capable animal to the caster. The elves with these pendants are known as Rangers."

"The magic is in the pendant?" Alistair questioned, still suspicious.

"Absolutely, anyone who learns the chant and movements can use it." Aedan replied.

"That's why you don't like templars." Alistair realized releasing his grip on his sword.

"Its an elven skill so they would likely never have seen it before." Aedan confirmed. "Templars aren't likely to listen to reason either, if they catch an adult doing something that even looks like magic outside the tower they kill without even asking questions."

Alistair took one last deep look with his aura sight, a skill he had not used since his time as a templar, and confirmed Aedan's story. The pendant is magic but Aedan isn't. He could shield himself from detection if he was both powerful and skilled enough but that would have hidden the pendant from me as well.

"He's not an apostate Jory." Alistair confirmed.

"But.."

"You doubt the word of a former templar?"

"No…Warden."

Alistair gave Aedan a weak smile. It was clear that this was going to take him a bit of getting used to but he wanted to reassure his first and only friend that it wasn't going to change anything. "So same plan as before except Aedan sends the wolf after the Emissary and we battle through to it together. You can do that right?"

Aedan nodded as everyone unslung their bows and notched arrows.

"Right then. Here we go."

The wolf let out a blood curdling howl and the Wardens charged.


Former Grey Warden Watchtower, Korcari Wilds – Fereldan

Battered, sore and covered in blood the four men finally crossed the threshold of the ruined Grey Warden outpost. After defeating the Darkspawn at the bridge they had found the chasind cache before heading up the hill. Daveth had wanted to scatter some ashes they found on a pile or rocks to summon a demon and claim an ancient reward.

Aedan and Alistair had both been very vocal about how bad an idea that was. Daveth's ears were still ringing from Aedan's sarcastic explanation pointing out how it was almost certainly a trap, and once he'd finished Alistair had started on how even if it wasn't dealing with demons never ended well.

Crisis averted the group had carried on up the hill to find yet another group of Darkspawn blocking their way. Thankfully there were no emissaries with this group but there were a type Alistair identified as 'Alpha' a small group leader considerably tougher than the regular Darkspawn. The maker was obviously smiling on them though as even if the Alphas were stronger they were still as stupid as all the other Darkspawn were without the direction of the Archdemon or one of its generals. Aedan summoned another wolf and at Aedan's suggestion Daveth was dispatched to a small rise so he could continue to use a bow when the rest were forced to switch to blades.

The fight was tough but manageable. Several healing poultice's later the four of them shuffled across the threshold of the watchtower.

Ouch ouch ouch. Aedan thought to himself as they crossed the threshold. He had taken an arrow to the left shoulder, a sword to the back of his knees and a charging Darkspawn to the stomach. Though his armour had deflected the worst of the blades blow and a healing poultice had mostly healed the arrow wound he was still very sore, as were the others from their various injuries.

Stopping in what had once been the main chamber he looked around at the watchtower. "It seems almost Tevinter in design. The Grey Wardens must have taken it over and simply restored it and made a few modifications."

Daveth and Ser Jory looked pityingly at Aedan making him flush with shame at actually being intelligent and well red. Alistair however looked fascinated and was clearly having to restrain himself from immediately peppering Aedan with questions. Aedan shot him a small smile of thanks.

Seeing a flushing Aedan smiling at him seemed to make all of Alistair's aches and pains disappear. "The old documents vault should be at the base of the old tower." Alistair explained pointing through a collapsed door to the back of the ruined outpost. "You'll have to tell me more about the Tevinter Imperium and their time here on the way back to camp." Alistair said to Aedan as they clambered through the partially collapsed structure. "I'd like to know more about them, the Chantry just teaches that they were evil mages that met their just end and that's it."

"I'd love to." Aedan replied with a dazzling grin as they forced their way into the records vault. The grin soon disappeared as they took stock. There were plenty of documents in cubbyholes in the walls but the chest that contained the treaties they had come here for stood on its pedestal in the centre of the vault. Broken and empty.

"Dam." Alistair spat in disappointment.

Aedan crouched down to investigate the chest in more detail, hoping against hope that there was a false bottom or some other last line of defence that meant that the treaties were still secure.

"Well, well, what have we here?" A raven haired young woman said from the entrance to the vault making everyone draw their blades and spin around. "Are you a scavenger I wonder? Come like a vulture to one who's bones were long since cleaned? Or are you merely an intruder into my Darkspawn infested wilds? What say you, hmmm? Scavenger or intruder?"

Aedan stepped forward, Alistair tried to stop him but Aedan brushed his hand off. I am the son of the Teyrn of Highever, I am the best choice to negotiate and try and get us out of here without bloodshed. First she seems to think of this place as hers and either scavenger or intruder will not be the answer she is looking for. "We are neither. We are Grey Wardens and the owners of this tower." Aedan answered confidently, his voice of command and political mask both firmly in place.

"Tis a tower no longer." The woman commented fixing Aedan with a penetrating stare. It was clear she had not expected that answer. "The wilds have long since claimed this desiccated corpse. I have watched your progress for some time. Where do they go? I wondered Why are they here?"

"Don't answer her." Alistair shot tensely from behind Aedan. He was scanning for other entrances and ready for battle. "She looks Chasind, and that means that others may be nearby."

"Ah!" The woman commented, clearly amused. "You fear that barbarians will swoop down upon you!"

"Yes. Swooping is bad." Alistair muttered.

Aedan tried to defuse the rising tension. "I don't know Alistair, I think swooping is good. I've always wanted a handsome Prince to swoop in and claim me as his own."

Alistair promptly made a strangled sound.

Aedan's grin vanished. "Are you alright Alistair?"

"Fine!" Alistair answered quickly still sounding as if he was being strangled.

Dam that woman! I want to find out what's bothering Alistair but I can't ignore her.

"You there, handsome lad." The woman spoke up as if sensing Aedan's thoughts. "Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine. Let us be civilised."

Flattery and politeness is the best approach on women of any rank. "I am Aedan. A pleasure to meet you."

"Now that is a proper greeting, even here in the wilds. You may call me Morrigan." The woman answered. "Shall I guess your purpose? You sought something in that chest, something that is here no longer?"

"Here no longer? You stole them, didn't you? You're some kind of..sneaky..witch-thief!" Alistair jumped in.

'witch-theif' Aedan mouthed at Alistair trying not to laugh. Alistair blushed but carried on.

"Those documents are Grey Warden property. I suggest you return them."

Morrigan treated him to a cool gaze. "I will not for it was not I who removed them."

"Could you please tell us who removed them." Aedan jumped in before Alistair made things worse.

"Twas my mother in fact." Morrigan answered.

"Could you take us to her please?" Aedan asked.

"Now there is a sensible request. I like you." Morrigan replied with a smile.

"I'd be careful." Alistair muttered. "First its 'I like you!' but then Zap! Frog time."

Aedan nearly doubled over trying not to laugh and even Morrigan seemed amused. However Daveth and Ser Jory were still petrified.

"She'll put us all in the pot she will." Daveth muttered as the Wardens followed Morrigan deeper into the wilds.

"If the pots warmer than this forest it'll be a nice change!" Jory shot back.

"Sneaky witch-theif?" Aedan whispered to Alistair

Alistair blushed bright scarlet and settled for punching the laughing Aedan on the shoulder as they left the tower behind.


Vhen'alas: Elvish for 'the land its self/the ground'

Review if you want me to continue! Tell me what you like and what you don't and what particular play through you would like to see in the next chapter. Obviously this is Ostagar so there are no options atm but the principle stands for later chapters.