Chapter 5: The Fade Beast

A young elf boy in dark blue mage robes goes running into the yard with his stuffed soldier teddy bear, his long black hair tied back in a braid and his pale skin hidden from the sun's harmful ray as he played.

From the open doorway, a Magister comes walking out wearing nobility clothes with his short grey hair pushed back. The magister seemed to be in his fifty's yet he somehow kept himself fit, the mage was the cruelest master any slave wished gone. All the slaves he had wished him gone except one little boy in which took a shine to the magister, the boy was different from the other children since he liked to play alone and away from the others.

The little boy would quickly run from one corner of the yard to the other with his toy and tried jumping high, his little arms reaching up to try and grab the edge while the master studied the boy's methods. The little boy stopped to look over as he smiled and waved, "Hi Papa!" he said loudly before turning back to try and jump high.

"Necromancer, I told you many times not to call me "Papa". I am not your father, I am your Master" The Magister spoke with annoyance in his voice, trying to teach the boy.

"Calling you Papa is better than Master, after all…" the boy's giggly little voice changed to a serious tone when he turned his head to look at the mage, "You raised me from an infant, right. I am not going to hide every time you arrive, I am different… well from other 10yr olds" he chuckled and walked over to stand in front of his master.

"That is true. If it wasn't for me, you would have died." The mage spoke softly, placing his hand on the boy's head and rewarded him with a sideways grin. The boy's worried expression slowly changed to a kind smile when he was rewarded with a pat on the head, the magister knew full well that the boy would now do anything to be praised by him and he was ready to take advantage.

The magister promised himself to take care of the boy in secret and slowly teach him everything he knew, the mage just hoped he would not be caught since many young blood mages looked up to him.

Necromancer could remember everything he learned from his first master, he was a rare elf and he knew The Tevinter Mages would to anything to have him in their service. They would even kill each other to get me the elf thought as he slowly lifts his head to glare at the mage in front of him, his body tensing up slowly.

"So what do you say, Necromancer. Would you like to return home?" The mage spoke with a calm and charming voice, trying to win the elf's trust.

"My home was destroyed when you Blood Mages killed my Papa!" Necromancer yelled in anger, quickly reaching up with one hand and grabs a hold of the mage's neck. Duncan took this as an opportunity to attack the other mages, duty was first above all and Duncan knew this well.

Before the other mages could attack the grey warden, they all witnessed a horrifying scene of what Necromancer's strength could do when he grabbed each of the mage's shoulder and ripped them clean off. Leaving the mage to scream in agonizing pain, the elf glared at him with an insanely smile when he kicked the mage down and stepped on his stomach with one foot. Again he pulled and ripped both of the mage's legs off, loving the howling scream of pain echo his ears as the other mages fought with the grey warden.

If You Go Out In the Woods Today,

You're sure of a Big Surprise,

The ground begins to rumble and shack around them, Duncan keeps his footing as he continued to fight and the mages try shooting their ice spikes at him.

If you go out in the woods today,

You'd better go in disguise.

The clouds darken with each passing moment and the sound of harsh winds began to blow when the grey warden dodged a fireball and runs for cover, Duncan could now smell a fuel stench of rotting flesh and corpses.

If you go out in the woods today,

You'd better not go alone.

Standing above the mage corpse and holding the mage heart stood a tall werewolf like beast with long skeletal fingers and sharp claws, Duncan could not see it well but he could see the beast's jagged teeth and large fangs. Two big glowing green eyes glared at the remaining mages and a wide wicked smile grow when it got on all fours, ready to attack when it grew a few more inches taller.

It's lovely out in the woods today,

But safer to stay at home

The remaining blood mages watched carefully as they slowly backed away in fear, they were prepared to capture a rogue elf with unknown powers but they were not prepared for this. The beast growled loudly, making the ground rumble and shake while Duncan stayed hidden just so he would not have to deal with a monster.

Beneath the trees, where nobody sees,

They'll Scream and Run as long as they live…

The beast roared loudly at the mages and growls, moving in a slow circle around its prey and watching the mages huddle up close to each other in fear of being eaten alive.

"Em'ma Fen'Harel" the large beast hissed, blood rain begins to fall as he approached the mages. "Emma shem'nan, Shemlen" it growled when it came closer to one mage with fangs ready.

"Is it speaking in…The Dalish tongue" Duncan quietly whispered as he slowly sneaks off to let the beast feed, "I must find the dalish… and soon" the warden muttered as he goes off into the forest.

After Duncan left the scene, the mages were left to their doom by the very beast they created. One by one the mages were torn to pieces, ripped from limb to limb as they screamed in horror. Blood pools were made and guts pulled out for the ravens to feast upon, the only thing left that was eaten was their hearts and the beast was not going to stop until every one of them were dead. Including the Grey Warden…

Today's the day the beast has a feast,

In the lovely woods today

After the blood shell was done, the beast would look around with fresh blood dripping down from its mouth as it took to steps forward and sniffed the air. The beast caught the scent of the warden but yet the scent seemed different.

The giant monster was about to go hunt for the warden when it was stopped by yet another group of Darkspawn, it growled and roared in warning but the creatures did not move when the leader of their group stepped forward and showed no fear.

"We sensed you and the power you hold! Join us and you will be free to slaughter as much of these insects as you want." The Hurlock hissed as it spoke, sheathing its weapon while the others remained with their weapons drawn

The beast looked upon the creature with great disapproval that it did not bow before him, "Len'alas Lath'din!" the beast roared as it stomped down hard, making the ground rumble and made the darkspawn stumble back a bit. "Ar'..." the beast cleared its throat and changed it so the creature before him could understand, "I do not serve neither you nor any other! I serve only myself and I alone can do what you cannot, now LEAVE!" the beast roared loudly with as much strength in his voice as he could.

The Hurlock did not take the rejection so easily when it unsheathed its blade and called upon its fellow darkspawn to attack, both the beast and darkspawn charged towarded each other with full strength.

Meanwhile, Duncan made his way through the forest to try and find the Dalish camp in which he had no clue of finding. Knowing full well that the Dalish would not stay in one spot for long and in his case, he needed to find them and ask for their keeper's help but little did he know the monster was searching for him. The warden ran passed through some trees when he was stopped by some Dalish scouts with bows drawn.

"Halt, Shemlen!" One scout ordered when Duncan stopped in his trail, panting from the long run. He needed to warn these scouts but if he approached them without warning, he could be shot and if he did not say anything. They could be slaughtered by the creature.

"I Am Duncan of the Grey Wardens; I wish to speak with your Keeper. Its urgent that I warn your Keeper of the danger coming this way" Duncan kept himself calm though deep down he worried if they do not heed his warning, they all could risk their lives and be torn to pieces.

One of the Dalish scouts with short black hair looked at the warden with narrow eyes for a moment before he lowered his bow and looked at his partner with concern, "Brother, I believe he is telling the truth" he spoke in their Dalish language

The other Dalish scout with long braided brown hair looked at him with disbelief, "How do you know if he is telling the truth, he could be a thief lying about being a Grey Warden" he protested while keeping his bow ready

"Would a thief wear armor like his" he pointed at the man's armor, "I say, we take him to our Keeper and she will decide if he is worthy of not killing" he reached out and lowered his partner's bow before he approached the warden. "Follow me, I will take you to our Keeper but if you show disrespect or attack. We will kill you" he glared at the warden for a moment before turning to lead the man to their camp, his partner followed them.

On their way to their camp, the scouts and Duncan paused in shock when they saw their camp destroyed. The ground and trees were covered in fire, blood and torn up wagons as their hallas were ripped to shreds and their people murdered. Not even the children were spared when the scout with brown braids ran passed them, looking for his family and friends in hope that they got away but as he suspected. They too were killed, the scout with black short hair looked at the warden with sorrow in his eyes. "You knew…" he muttered before turning his head to the ruin camp as he walked along the bloody path, his leather boots a foot inch in pools of blood from both his kin and their hallas.

Duncan felt responsible for the death caused by the one he called his recruit but yet he sensed that it was not his recruit's doing, "Darkspawn…" he whispered as he unsheathed his sword and dagger, ready to fight if the darkspawn decided to return.

Each face the man passed, he could recognise seeing them before but now they laid dead and when he approached the two scouts. He saw them both kneeled down by the Dalish Keeper, she too seemed to have battled to the very end by the open wounds on her body and severed head. Duncan wanted to show sympathy for the two boys that were not yet old enough, still in their teenage years when the warden's thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise coming from the forest near them. Duncan quickly stood in front of the two boys and was ready to attack when a cloaked figure came stumbling out of the forest, the boys looked and stood up quick to draw out their bows when the three saw an elf fall out of the darkness and into the firelight.

"Necromancer" Duncan was surprised to see the elf back in his mortal form but it soon faded away when he sensed the taint in the elf, the two scouts looked at the warden with questioning eyes when they watched the warden run over to the wounded elf drifter.

"Necromancer, what happened?" Duncan questioned as he kneeled down to help the young man up, lifting one arm over his shoulders and held onto his side as he walked him over to a fallen tree.

"Do not ask what you already know…" the elf grimaced as he sat on the fallen log and held his side, panting lightly while trying to get comfortable.

"I know full well that you are no mage and yet you refuse to tell me anything of what happened and why you have the darkspawn plague" Duncan slightly poked the elf on the log, not happy that the young man refused to speak with him.

The two scouts looked at the other elf with disapproval of his respect for the warden when the Dalish with brown braids pointed his bow at him, ready to shoot. "Answer the warden, seth'lin" he insults the wounded elf in his language, unaware that Necromancer understood him and growled.

"Elvhen'alas! Leave me alone and go back to your filthy home!" Necromancer insulted the scout as he winched in pain, leaning forward to try and ease his pain when Duncan shook his head and smacked the boy on the back of his head.

"Enough! I will not allow you to insult them in such language" the warden went over and picked up Necromancer, holding him over his shoulder as he began to walk. The Dalish scouts followed though they were mourning for the loss of their clan and wanted to wish it all away as a nightmare.

"Hey! Put me down, you big brooding human!" Necromancer yelled as he struggled to break free from Duncan's hold, trying to kick him and bite but he was powerless due to the amount of energy he used and the darkspawn plague that got him weak.

"Am I the brooding one, you always complain about each mage you see and how much you hated them" Duncan explained with a sarcastic tune in his voice, "I believe you're going to be the first brooding grey warden"

"Wha... Oh shut up and keep walking old man" Necromancer tried his best to when the argument he started, crossing his arms and grimaced.

"Lazy!" With Duncan's last word, he knew he just won this round though he knew it might not be his last argument with the boy before he becomes a grey warden, hopefully.

The two scouts followed them and listened to their argument in silence as the brown haired Dalish slightly leaned close to his partner, "Do you think… they are lovers by the way they fight each other or are they bitter enemies?" he whispered while walking.

The other glanced at him and tried not to laugh, "I bet you that they are lovers and are bad at acting as bitter enemies" he whispered back while the two spoke in their language, avoiding Necromancer's glaring eyes when he overheard their conversation about them but he could not lie and yet he questioned himself about his and Duncan's little relationship.

Duncan seemed content with it and showed no sign of regret but Necromancer wondered if it was safe for them to even have a relationship, he needed to ask the warden about it when they get to the grey warden keep or if he ever survives that long.

Dalish words you might know:

Emma (I am)

Fen (Wolf)

Harel (Dreaded)

Threats:

Emma shem'nan (You should fear me)

Shemlen (Human)

Insults:

Len'alas Lath'din (Dirty child no one loves)

Ar (I, Me)

Elvhen'alas (Dirty elves)

Seth'lin (Thin blood)

Note:I hope this helps you understand a little about what some characters are saying, I also wanted to re-write this chapter because I wanted to give it a little more gory and sorrow... or something like that, I do not know whom reads this story but I hope you are enjoying so far. I will be writing chapter 6 soon and if you have any questions or want more romance scenes, please feel free to leave a comment or pm me. thank you for reading:)