Elisa twisted to side to avoid getting knocked to the ground by her attacker's shield, before she could counter-attack her opponent's sword swished towards her head, forcing her to lean forward. Falling shoulder-first into the dirt she rolled away to assume a battle stance as her attacker attempted to strike her with his shield once more. Elisa plunged Blood into the ground and dodged into her attacker's arms, from there she swept his feet out from under him and went down on her knees beside him. She snatched a dagger and held it to Alistair's throat. She looked up at the Warden Master at arms "How was that?" He nodded to someone behind her.
Elisa grabbed Alistair's sword and flipped it backward to parry the stab of the warden behind her and quickly spun in a maneuver that brought her to her feet and knocked the warden off-balance, using the situation to her advantage she touched Alistair's sword to the warden's side. "Stuck" yelled the Master at arms just as two greatswords swung towards her. Dropping to her knees before rolling backwards to Blood she grabbed her weapon and touched it to the back of the neck of the warden who had been slower to turn around. Stepping away from the swing of the other, she stepped within his reach and pressed Blood to his throat.
"Very good" said the Master at arms and Elisa relaxed for half a second before parrying a dagger meant for her spine. Turning around she saw three wardens; one wielded a pair of daggers, the second a sword and shield and the third a greatsword. Elisa threw a pouch of sand she kept on her belt into the face of the dagger-wielding warden, touching her blade to his heart she grabbed one of his daggers and moved to the greatsword wielding one, ducking his swing she touched the dagger to his heart and then flipping Blood to touch the femoral artery of the last warden.
"If I had a hundred of you, we'd have the dead trenches cleared out in a week" Said the Master at arms "As it is I think I'm going to be demoted, where did you learn to fight like that?"
Elisa shrugged "I've always had a fascination with weapons, not only their use but how they came into being and the tactics behind their use. Up until a few years ago I was unable to decide which type of weapon I liked the most so I studied all of them with considerable diligence, that and my natural talent gave me some skill with all of them."
"Some skill? From what I just saw and the weapons displays I put you through earlier I'd say you have a mastery of all of them. What happened a few years ago?"
"I designed Blood; she's a modified glaive whose long blade and mid-length pole make her suitable for anything from the open field to a tight corridor combat. After I got my hands of some starsteel I convinced my parents to fund her forging and had her crafted by Master Wade in Denerim."
"Master Wade? He's the best smith in Ferelden, that must of cost a fortune"
"Nah, once I showed him the starsteel and the design he said he'd do the work for free. We spent the entire hundred-sovereign budget on materials, heartwood staff, all the best enchantments, you name it we bought it. I eventually wound up giving Harren forty sovereigns so he would stop whining but that was out of my own pocket."
He shook his head "A hundred and forty sovereigns for that beauty? What a bargain." He turned to leave "The king asked me to work with him and some of his personal guard so I better go do that." He called over his shoulder as he walked away. "You are in no dire need of training so you're free to go"
Elisa grinned "Thanks!" She called out before heading over to where Neira and Solona were watching.
Solona was watching with open-mouthed astonishment "That was amazing!" she gasped "You took out seven wardens in less than two minutes! No wonder Alistair was so quick to recruit you!"
Neira was watching her slyly "Maybe you should try not cheating" she teased "It would be the honorable thing to do."
Elisa grinned at the honour comment, knowing Neira's opinion of mixing honour and combat was somewhere along the lines of "it makes it easier to kill the idiots". "But I cheat so well" she shot back "why would I ever fight fair?"
"Maybe so poor sods like me don't look so bad when we're taken apart by your second move?" Alistair quipped as he approached.
"That just reminds you that you need to work on your sword work, keeps you alive" she smiled at Alistair.
"Fair enough, how do you block a move like that anyways?"
"Lower your shield and bring your sword across your chest, that way you can swing out as the approach and if they manage to duck you can bash them with your shield."
"Sounds awkward"
"It is and you won't do much damage but it forces them back and prevents you from winding up flat on your back with a dagger in your throat."
"Fair enough"
"Anyways I've got to talk to the Warden's Second about you guys. See you in a bit." Alistair wandered off, heading towards the Warden's main tent.
"Could I see Blood?" Neira asked "I've never seen a weapon like it."
"Sure" Elisa unclipped Blood from its harness across her back and handed it to Neira. Neira looked the weapon over for about half a minute before running her hand along the pole, where she touched Blood it glowed, revealing a considerable amount of runes; some red, some blue. Neira raised her eyebrow at Elisa. Elisa mirrored the movement.
"It's a fascinating weapon" Neira said "Where'd you find the materials for the staff?"
"Wonders of Thedas, there's no better place to get a staff"
"I must admit some surprise than, I cannot imagine they would help make a weapon like this."
"Why not?" Asked Solona "Wonders of Thedas is often more than willing to help make enchanted weapons, here let me see" She reached for Blood, when she touched it her eyes went wide "Oh, yea they would never have help with this." She said, staring at Elisa as if she'd never seen her before.
"The staff I purchased was capable of holding more enchantment then it had." Elisa explained "I used several enchantments that I had acquired during a trip to Tevinter a year before that. Not to mention the blade itself was capable of holding several enchantments."
"What about you two?" Elisa asked, changing the subject "What sort of magic do you guys work?"
"Neira works with spirit, entropy and a little bit of creation; she's also one of the best spirit healers the circle has ever seen." Solona answered "I work with primal and creation but I'm nowhere near Neira in raw power."
"What Solona fails to say is that her endurance allows her to cast spells far longer than any of the other mages in the circle, I may be able to hammer my opponent into the dust in a few minutes if not less but Solona just keeps coming, I've never actually see her run out of mana." Neira added. "Anyways I see Alistair's returning, let's see what he wants."
"Hey, we just got word from the Warden-Commander, Duncan that he'll be here in a few days with two new recruits, one of whom is your sister Elisa" Alistair said as he walked up
Elisa's breath caught "My sister! She's alive? Do you know what happened to my parents?" The questions came out in a rush, especially quick for Elisa.
"Alice is alive in well, though she's been recruited into the grey wardens. Your parents did not escape the castle however, I'm sorry"
Elisa smiled sadly "I thought I'd lost them all and I'd have to tell Fergus how our entire family is dead because I couldn't hold a doorway. Alice alive is better than I'd hoped and I'd like to think my parents died happy knowing all their children survived."
"Well Duncan sent this message from Denerim and they're heading straight here after investigating a possible darkspawn infestation in the Brecilian forest. They should be three days away at this point. You'll get to see your sister in four days' time. We'll also be getting two new recruits with the wardens that are coming in tomorrow, two dwarves. In the meantime King Cailan wants to meet the new recruits, especially since two of you are mages and the other took out seven wardens, be warned Elisa, he'll probably want to spar with you; try to take him down easy."
A/N I lied, it'll only take four days for everyone to get here. Next chapter- a skirmish with the darkspawn and we finally introduce Theron. Duran and Natia might arrive in Ostagar, I haven't decided yet. This chapter is the first that didn't just flow onto the page and I'm kinda wondering if it showed, I'd appreciate it if anyone could let me know
And as always, please R&R, thanks