Salem

"Salem!" Leliana sounded frantic. "The dragon is descending! We cannot fight it!"

"I do not think we have much choice in the matter." Sten spoke, the only calm voice among us.

The dragon roared and I felt a wash of heat against my face.

"It's breathing fire!" Morrigan shrieked. For the first time, I sensed fear in the witch.

Maker, you would choose a dragon to guard your Bride.

I smiled, even in the hopelessness of the situation. We had no chance of survival. In fact, I felt certain most of us would not leave this battle alive. But it was a fight we could not escape; a situation I could not talk my way out of.

"Keep your wits!" I shouted, becoming the woman they needed me to be. Harsh, cold, sure of victory in spite of all odds. "Wynne, Morrigan, Leliana, stay back and fire everything you have. Sten, Oghren, and Zevran, go for its legs; keep it off balance."

Burrow barked, displeased with having been given no orders. "I'm going for its neck, boy." I patted his head. "Keep its teeth away from me."

Another bark; an agreement.

I gripped my swords. I'm so sorry, Alistair, I apologized to my brother warden, even though he would never hear it. Please forgive me.

"It will not stand there forever, Salem!" Morrigan shouted. "Do something!"

I wanted to say farewell to Leliana. I wanted to hold her in my arms and kiss her once more. But there was no time for that. Keep her safe, I prayed as I rushed forward, listening for any change in the dragon's movement.

Burrow remained by my side, a true mabari, steadfast even in the face of certain death. "Keep safe!" Zevran shouted as he darted past me.

You as well. I smiled again, thankful that I had been given such strong companions. Burrow barked in warning and I stepped to the side. Sulfuric breath assaulted my senses as the dragon's teeth snapped not a foot away from me. I reached out with my blades, trying to catch the tender skin under its neck, one of the few places a dragon could be pierced.

Flames spewed from its mouth. A whorl of fire kissed along my cheek, leaving sharp pain in its wake.

"Damn it!" I swore, rolling under its neck, striking out. Steel clanged, usesless, against the dragon's scales.

"Warden," Sten called, "your left!"

I darted to the right, slammed to the ground by the force of the dragon's jaw as it snapped at me again.

I heard Oghren swear as the dragon lashed out at him. The dwarf's armor tangled with mine as our bodies collided.

I do not think a single one of us will survive.

"Oghren!" I yelled. "On your feet! Now!"

He swore and fought his way up from the ground as Burrow deflected the dragon's head. Suddenly, I could not feel the sun. The wings pounded down and the earth groaned as the dragon's weight left it.

"He's going for the mages!" Zevran screamed.

Leliana!

I bounded to my feet and ran for the high ground, knowing I would not get there before the dragon did.

I will kill this thing, I swore. If it touches one hair on her head I will flay it alive, even if I must die from it.

The dragon's landing forced me to collapse to my knees, so hard I could feel them bruise through my armor. What good is this heavy plate if it does not stop injury from being caused? I questioned, dodging the dragon's spined back leg as it kicked out at me like a horse would swat an annoying fly. Not far enough...I winced as its talons collided against my armor on my right side. Metal shrieked as the dragon's talons sliced through it.

This should hurt. I realized, finding myself once more on the ground. I do not even know if any damage is done. On your feet, Salem.

Again, I found my balance. I heard the others behind me, harrying the dragon, trying to wound its soft underbelly. I did not even know if we had made the creature bleed yet.

"Leliana!" I cried, begging her to answer me as I avoided the dragon's constant shifting and the swipes of its talons.

An arrow whistled past my ear in answer. She's alive. I felt dizzy and my shoulder throbbed. "Drive it back!" I shouted the order.

"It's not moving!" Zevran replied.

The dragon growled deep in its belly and I knew what it meant to do. "Wynne, Morrigan, shields!" I called, hoping they would hear.

Flame burst from the dragon's mouth and I staggered back from the wash of heat. Taking advantage of the dragon's distracted state, I plunged upward with my swords, feeling them pierce through its skin. I stepped back, pulling them with me, trying to disembowel the beast.

Not good enough!

The dragon reared on its hind legs, wrenching itself off of my swords. I ducked as it crashed back down, going to my knees once again. Hot, acidic dragon's blood dripped onto my armor, melting the metal. I cried out as I felt my back begin burning.

I clawed my way out from under the dragon, swearing. "Everything...about...this...fucking...dragon...is...lethal!" I muttered.

And if my armor is melted by its blood, then my swords are too. Damn it!

I left my blades on the ground, knowing they were useless. Almost as useless as a blind warden.

The dragon's head swooped around. Burrow whimpered as he tried to deflect it and was cast aside, a high yelp echoing through the mountains as he was struck. I tried to get to my feet and failed. The dragon lifted me in its mouth, teeth grating against armor. I felt nothing but calm.

Father, Mother, I smiled, it will be good to see them again. Forgive me, Leliana. I tried.

An arrow shrieked past my ear and buried itself somewhere in the dragon's head. The creature wailed and my ears went numb. Weightless, floating sensation...the dragon had tossed me from its mouth. Dead one way or another.

I landed, feeling the breath forced from my lungs. I lay there, gasping as the ground moved beneath me. Nothing broken? I wondered. How am I still alive...wait...I must be on the dragon's back! I have one chance.

Maker, give me strength.