I'll try to keep doing this weekly. I'm so glad everyone like Abby. Now for action!

Bioware owns the world, I'm looking in from the outside.

Deep into the Forest

We met Duncan at the fire where I had seen him earlier.

"I'll go fetch the others," Alistair offered, and he left us to each other's company.

I was staring at the fire when I noticed Duncan watching me. I looked around dramatically.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I was just admiring your choice of attire. It is a good choice for now, because of your skills with a bow. Just remember, as you get better with your sword, you will want to run into battle more often. That means you may want to switch to more heavier armours."

"Thank you for the advice. I need every bit I can get."

"You seem to be doing very well on your own," he said. "Do not underestimate yourself Abigail. You have great potential within you."

We both stayed silent then. I thought about what he had said. What did he see in me that I could not?

"Here we all are." Alistair announced. Two human men followed him. One was tall, bald, and had a great sword strapped to his back. The other had dark hair and a bow. Both, once again had the facial hair, the tall one, a red goatee. The dark haired one was consistent with the "barely there" look.

"Abigail, this is Ser Jory," Duncan waved at the sword bearing man, "and Daveth."

"Hello," Daveth cheerfully greeted.

"How do you do my lady?" Ser Jory asked politely.

"Fine, thank you. Nice to meet you gentlemen."

"I think we are ready to begin," Duncan said, "If you are done rifling up mages?" The commander looked at Alistair.

"What can I say. The Revered Mother ambushed me. The way that woman wields guilt they should put her in the army," the defendant answered.

"She forced you to sass the mage did she? We cannot afford to antagonize our allies," Duncan chastised.

"My apologizes Duncan. It won't happen again."

Satisfied with his response, Duncan continued, "Now, the three of you will be going into the Wilds to acquire a vial of darkspawn for each of you. Also, there is an old Grey Warden post not far from here. In it there are old treaties that were left there when the outpost was abandoned."

"Why has no one gone to get them?" Jory inquired.

"The Grey Wardens do not have the numbers they once had in Ferelden. No one has been able to get there before now."

"What about the horde. I really don't feel like walking straight into it," I said grimly.

"That's why I'm coming with you," Alistair answered.

"Oh, well, I feel stupid." Daveth smiled at my blushing face.

"Good luck," Duncan said, looking a lot older all of the sudden.

Through the camp gate we went, and as we made our way down the hill, I asked Daveth about how he met Duncan. He told me that he picked pockets in Denerim for a living, and just happened to be stealing from the wrong person one day. Duncan to be precise.

"Old bugger can run! He recruited me as soon as the guards caught me. Gave them the finger as we were leaving. You should have seen their faces!"

I couldn't stop laughing. Compared to how I joined the Grey Wardens, his story was great. Thankfully, he didn't ask about it.

At the bottom of the hill, we were attacked by wolves, to my surprise.

"It's because of the taint," Alistair explained. He winced as I dislodged an arrow from one of the dead animals, "Usually animals leave, or they get infected."

"That's horrible," I murmured. I stroked the wolfs fur. It just seemed so peaceful compared to just moments ago.

The first group of darkspawn ambushed us by springing out of the ground. I was so surprised I just grabbed my sword and started hacking blindly. I didn't stop to think until each monster was on the ground bleeding.

"Is she crazy?" I heard Daveth whisper as I filled my vial with the goo.

I whipped my head around with a frown. "Don't scare the shit outta me. I don't cope well."

"I'll try to remember that," Alistair smirked.

We met a few other groups of darkspawn. Nothing that popped out of the ground though. Ser Jory ran into one group and flew back after being attacked by what Alistair called an emissary. The magic users of the darkspawn horde. If Daveth had not taken it out with his bow, I might have screamed from discomfort. My head felt like it was about to explode.

What is wrong with me? The headaches were starting to wear on me. How much longer would I have to put up with this?

When we did get to the outpost, we found it crawling with darkspawn.

"Let's create our own ambush," I whispered.

"What did you have in mind?" Jory asked.

I looked at Alistair but he was staring back at me expectantly. I guessed we were supposed to figure this out ourselves.

"Daveth, can you lead Jory up close to that bush," I pointed to the other side of the outpost.

He smiled. "Depends if he can be quiet enough."

"I'll try my best," the knight snorted.

Daveth grabbed my arm. "You won't be able to get close enough on the other side. Alistair's shield."

"What are you talking about? My bows a long bow if you didn't notice."

The rogue rolled his eyes. "That's not the problem. For this to work, we have to shoot first right? Take out all the archers while these two try to get close enough to attack without being turned into a walking target. Let the both of them come with me. It'll be easier that way."

It made sense. I still wanted to argue against it, but that could get us killed. Really, I just didn't want to go alone. I was terrified of being found. Nonetheless I wasn't about to admit that.

"Alright," I caved. "Let's go."

The way to the hide out bush was stressful, to say the least. Painfully slow too. Every branch creaking or breaking sounded like a gun shot in my ears. The darkspawn didn't hear a thing, but I still froze like a scared rabbit each time I made noise. Even after all that, I still had to wait for the boys to get to their spot.

Only woman in the Grey Wardens. I thought grimly. Geez.

I carefully pulled my bow and peeked out from my hiding spot. The shorter ones, the genlocks, had make shift arrows strapped to their backs. They were going down first.

I saw Daveth stand up and shoot an arrow. I didn't wait to see if it hit its victim. I loosed my own arrow.

It was mass confusion. The darkspawn ran in different directions to find the attackers. By the time they had done anything constructive-stop running around crazily-few archers remained.

I saw Alistair attack one of the unsuspecting genlocks, but I had no time to help. Four of the monsters had pin-pointed my position. They were incredibly fast, and I had to switch weapons quickly.

The first swung his blade at me clumsily, and I parried and then severed his arm. It roared and I kicked it desperately into the next one, shoving my sword into the both of them. The third one tripped, and I took advantage by taking its head off. The fourth was not as easily disposed.

I knew it was different. It had full armour compared to the others-rotted out-protection. It stopped before me and gurgle-laughed.

This is not good.

It swung its axe at me and I dodged, so it changed the course of the weapon mid-air. I was pretty sure that was not possible. I barely deflected it.

The next swing was so powerful it brought me to me knees when my sword met the attack. I let out a gasp and the beast laughed again.

"Help!" I yelled, rolling away from the next blow. I brought my sword awkwardly around to its feet and got it lodged in its leg. I got the desired effect. The darkspawn fell with a jarring thud.

The second one had gotten up, I obviously had not hit it hard enough the first time. There I was, trying to dislodge my sword from a flailing darkspawn, looking stupidly at this hurlock. To my immense relief, it fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from its back.

I ripped my sword from the monsters leg and stabbed it. It moved no more.

I was happy to find the battle over. Jory was cleaning his sword, while Alistair was sitting over someone.

"Daveth," I breathed.

I ran over, jumping over bodies, not caring if I got injured from a upturned weapon.

"Is he okay?" I asked, my voice breaking.

Alistair nodded. "He just dislocated his shoulder. He got hit with a maul when he was shooting at the darkspawn that was attacking you. He just passed out when I relocated it."

"Did not," Daveth muttered groggily. "Did I scare you my good lady?"

"Now, now children," Alistair chuckled seeing my red face. "Let's get those treaties.

"Don't kid about that please," I warned. My heart had almost stopped when I saw him lying there.

Daveth smiled. "Very well, my lady."