And now the actions begins. As always thank you everyone for reading. It amazes me how popular this is.

If anyone notices typos, please tell me. Can't have them can we! Just PM me or something.

Bioware owns the place, I own Abby.

Stumbling Would Be Bad

"Easy now," I breathed. "Just one more step."

It was not happening; the deer had obviously heard something. I hoped it was not me.

I had been hunting this buck all morning. He was an old, pathetic thing, but game had been scarce lately. But boy could he hide! All he had to do was find a lake to swim across and we would cap off every habitat in the area. I had been soaked and covered in mud up to my waist, plus I was tired. This deer had to die.

Just as I was about to let go of the string, the deer bucked at the sound of metal on metal.

"Damn it!" I swore loudly as I watched his tail wave at me through the bush as a cruel reminder of my failed hunting skills. I was about to go after him when the crashing sounds became much louder. Raw savage cries tore through the forest. I frowned in confusion. The Chasind didn't come up this far north yet, it was too early in the year.

"The one time Lodan doesn't come with me…" I hesitated. If I got hurt I would never hear the end of it, but what if someone was in trouble? My curiosity won out.

I crept up a hill in the hope of a good vantage point. After a brief struggle to find a way around a giant fern patch without giving away that the fighters were not alone, I found my perfect spot.

I looked down in horror. A dark skinned and black haired man in silver armour was completely surrounded by a swarm of humanoid monsters. Their skin was brown and looked like it was in the process of rotting off. Their faces were filled by their abnormally large black eyes and teeth that curved up in a terrifying smile.

The man, even though he was outnumbered, was doing extremely well. His dagger and short sword never missing a beat, making contact with every enemy that came to close. I still figured he needed a hand.

I hid behind a tree and knocked an arrow. I picked a short, fat monster with disturbingly familiar ears that pointed back. After he fell with a satisfying thud to the forest floor, I went crazy.

Three more experienced the same fate before the archers of the group pin-pointed my location and retaliated with their own arrows. I was playing this dangerous game of hide-and-go-seek and there was no other way to go about it. I finally realized why in the movies the hero never did just go in screaming expecting success.

The man however, must of noticed some of the fallen with arrows protruding out of the fallen heads or backs. He started to move against the archers himself until the rest were composed of human like fiends.

That's when I switched my bow for my sword. "Here goes nothing. Hope you're ready for combat." I was talking to the sword, but it was really meant for me.

I ran down the hill at semi-full speed, trying not to stumble. The first of my enemies met me half way up the hill. It threw a swing at me of which I blocked and proceeded to shove my weapon into its chest. The others were the same, mindless beings that only attempted slow attacks at me, then had a limb separated from them. The only learning curve that was forced at me was when one came at me with an axe.

The sixth on fell and I realized that I was staring with my "crazy eyes" at no one. I have killed something, I thought. I was not bothered by it. They had been worse than animals.

"Skills with a bow and a sword, very impressive. However, I must say that the sword work was not the best I have ever seen."

I turned around to meet this stranger. His eyes were dark, just like his skin, and he had a full beard. The armour he was wearing was obviously made for someone who had the gold. It didn't take a nerd to know that.

"Yes, I have not been learning long, and I have had the sword for even a shorter amount of time. Got it this winter. This has been the first real action I have seen with it."

He raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yes Ser." I was proud of myself. I hadn't even wet my pants. I don't think I even had time to be scared.

He looked at me thoughtfully. "My apologies. My name is Duncan. Do you happen to be aware of the location of an elf named Lodan?"

"Good to meet you Duncan. My name is Abigail," I said politely. "I happen to live with the person in question."

Duncan looked like he was trying to understand something. "If you would be so kind as to show me the way?"

"Of course, this way Duncan." I started to walk up the hill. "If I may ask though, what are these things?" I pointed to the one that had met me half way the hill.

His face darkened, "They are called darkspawn, the scourge of Thedas."

Darkspawn! The word kept echoing in my mind, and it scared me. Tanin had told me about them. They were creatures that ransacked villages and dragged those that survived the brutal attacks down back to the tunnels called the Deep Roads. They meant that a Blight was coming, destroying the very ground they touched, controlled by an Old God, a dragon, that the Tevinter Imperium Empire once worshipped, now possessed by the blood of the darkspawn.

"That's why we have Grey Wardens. The fight the beasts with precision. Every story ends with a Grey Warden making the final blow against the archdemon," he had explained.

I wondered then if that meant that this man was a Grey Warden.

After an hour of trudging in silence, the shack appeared. Lodan must have seen me coming through the bush and ran out to greet me.

"No luck? I thought you had gotten lost…"he stared at my new companion. "Duncan? Is that you old friend?" The elf's face broke into a wild grin.

"Lodan, I cannot tell you how much it makes me happy to see you again. It has been too long." The two men gave a warm hand shake.

"Abigail," Lodan was ecstatic. "This is Duncan, Warden Commander of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden."

So he is a Grey Warden. I thought. I brought my arms across my chest and bowed in the formal greeting that showed respect. "We've met."

"Yes, your friend found me battling darkspawn and took it upon herself to come to my aid. She was very brave, and considering her skill with her sword, almost had the air of a experienced warrior." Duncan praised.

"Did she now?" Lodan smile grew wider, amazingly. I, however, looked at my boots in embarrassment.

"In fact, she told me that she has only had the sword since the winter. That must not be possible."

"No, Abigail is not lying," Lodan shook his head. "She has been an incredible student. Even though she has a long way to go, she would rival many dalish apprentices."

"I believe it."

"Okay," I said exasperated. "Duncan wanted to talk to you Lodan, and I'm pretty sure it was not about me."

"Yes, you said you encountered darkspawn?" Lodan inquired.

Duncan nodded. "That is why I am here. I need to get back to Ostagar with another recruit before the next battle begins. I have already missed one."

"Battle? At Ostagar? Does…that mean?" Lodan's smile slowly turned to a fearful expression. The question hung in the air for a very tense moment before Duncan nodded once.

"By the Creators," Lodan breathed, his eyes wide. I was terrified now. If Lodan was scared, that was not to be ignored.

"Lodan," Duncan's voice was suddenly all business. "I need you to do something for me."

The elf licked his lips, incredibly pale. "Anything for you old friend."

"You need to leave. The horde has been successfully kept back at Ostagar by the Kings army, but because of what just happened to me and Abigail, they must be moving out, or even around. Secondly, I need to know if any dalish clans are in the area."

"Leave my home?" he looked back at the cabin he had built so long ago.

I couldn't imagine what he was feeling at that moment. This had been his only home when he had been exiled. It had been my home too. What are we going to do now?

"You must Lodan. For your safety, and Abigail's," Duncan said gently.

Lodan sighed, and for a heartbeat he did nothing, then he sprang into action. "Abby, go into the cellar and grab enough light food for a six days journey. Grab all the belongings we can carry. I have extra arrows made under my bed, and grab my bow and knife as well. Hurry girl, we leave as soon as we can. Duncan, come with me."

I ran into the cabin, grabbing two backpacks, and ran to the cellar. I tried to strategically stuff the best food I could into one of the bags. After determining I had enough I ran back into the shack, going under beds for weapons and clothes, going into cupboards for pots and plates and other important things. I came to the last cupboard and I found the remains of my cell phone. The battery, in the powder form it had been in, had been thrown into a fire, and the screen and most of the covering was still cracked, but it had been holding together well. I ran my hand over the screen and sighed.

"Abigail," I jumped. I turned to see Duncan equipped with a map. "I take my leave."

"So soon?" I surprised myself on how calm I sounded.

"I must," he replied. "Thank you for helping me back in the forest. I hope to repay you someday."

"I'm sure you could have handled all of the darkspawn by yourself."

"Perhaps, but I am grateful all the same. Take care of Lodan, and remember not to hesitate if you see darkspawn."

I looked back at my phone as he closed the door to the cabin. I almost put it back in the cupboard, but instead put in my bag.

I wasn't ready to let go just quite yet.