Dragon Age: War of Gods
Thanks for reading and for your reviews, everyone. Please keep reviewing. I love your feedback! Enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 5
The Dark Flames of Passion
Silwen looked at the corpses of the Darkspawn that lay upon the grounds of Redcliffe. Black blood stained the dirt of the beautiful village as the fires spread from building to building. She had checked the houses for survivors. Thankfully, all of them seemed to have fled to either the castle or into the wilderness. She sighed bitterly. If only they had gotten there sooner….
"This was almost too easy," Alistair pondered as he walked up to the love of his life.
Silwen looked up at him and smiled, nodding in agreement. Something was off. The Darkspawn were too few and too easily killed. She thought there would be more. Much more. The thought of there being another large horde chilled her to her bones, but her face did not reflect their emotions.
"Maybe they decided to give up?" She asked hopefully.
"What? And miss burning and hacking things?" Alistair smiled, "If I'm not mistaken, that's the Darkspawn idea of night out."
Silwen couldn't help but giggle a little. She loved his sense of humor, even this was incredibly bad time to be making jokes. Still, she took delight that he could make her smile in the darkest of times. Immediately after her giggle, Silwen spotted a graceful raven coming towards her. The raven landed in front of her and took to the shape of a beautiful dark haired woman.
"Morrigan," Silwen said slowly as they looked deeply into each other's eyes, attempting to guess their thoughts, "is there anything to report?"
"No," Morrigan said quietly, as she would do when she pondered, "I searched the skies after you slew your last Darkspawn. I saw no dragon. Perhaps the main horde is slower moving?"
"That would make sense," a beautiful redhead called as she came from around another building, "Darkspawn do delight in destroying everything the touch. It could be that the Archdemon is taking his time."
"Then nothing is certain…" Silwen said quietly.
"Except for death," Morrigan responded.
Leliana glared at Morrigan as she voiced her pessimism. She opened her mouth to retort but was only silenced by the look that Silwen gave her. Leliana sighed but nodded as Alistair put his hand comfortingly on her shoulder.
"And what of our friends that went scouting?" Silwen asked.
"Your friends," Morrigan answered, "are safe. I saw them on the return not but a short while ago. But I would place my concern on the only two who are able to end this Blight."
Silwen frowned at Morrigan but didn't argue with her. She knew better than to argue with Morrigan about something. Unfortunately, however, Leliana would not stand for Morrigan insulting her friends.
"They are people too, you know," Leliana stated, "and they have helped our Grey Wardens as much in this war as you. Do not think so little of them when they are as endearing to our friend as you are."
Surprisingly, Leliana got Morrigan to back down. It was rare when Morrigan would willingly admit she was wrong, but she did now, and Leliana accepted apology. Silwen couldn't help but smile a little. Leliana had such a good and strong heart. No wonder she felt such an attraction to the beautiful Chantry girl. However, Silwen had more to think of than Leliana's kindness and grace.
"Alistair, are the castle grounds cleared?" Silwen asked.
"Yes," Alistair replied in relief, "and I can certainly say that Eamon's soldiers were more than happy to see us. The Arl wants a word with us, I hear."
"I guess as the future king and queen, we shouldn't refuse an audience with our dear lord," Silwen smiled teasingly at Alistair.
"Maker," Alistair swore, "I'm never going to get used to being called king!"
Silwen smiled triumphantly. She would never get over teasing him with his newfound title. And the fact that he hated being called "king" made her teasing all the more funny whenever he would pout about it. But he would make an excellent king. She knew that with all her heart.
"Don't worry, my dear," Silwen smirked, "You'll always be a Grey Warden in bed."
Leliana giggled as Alistair blushed crimson red and Morrigan scoffed loudly, but her eyebrows also raised in curiosity for but a moment. And Silwen took notice of it. However, she quickly shrugged off her thoughts of why Morrigan would be interested in Alistair's performance in bed and led her friends to Castle Redcliffe, where Arl Eamon waited for his future king and queen. Quickly they came to the castle, and quickly they entered the main hall. If the Archdemon was truly on its way to Redcliffe, they had to be ready for it. With Eamon stood the Orlesean Grey Warden, Riordan, who Silwen and Alistair had saved from the clutches of Arl Howe days earlier. At first it simply a civil war that she and her love were fighting. Now it was the Blight itself. And the shadows of war seemed to grow ever darker on Silwen's heart as she meditated ever more on what it meant to slay the Archdemon. The supposed Old God from a darker age in the world. And for some reason, she felt that there was a darkness in the Blight that was far worse than all else. What that could be, Silwen did not know, but it haunted her very soul.
"It's a relief to see you unharmed," Riordan said blankly, always with the grimness of a Grey Warden, "and you as well, Alistair… or shall I say 'your majesty?'"
"Uh, no," Alistair replied hastily, "no, I wouldn't say that…. Not yet, anyway."
"The Darkspawn that attacked Redcliffe were few in number, I'm afraid," Riordan said after a small nod to Alistair, "The horde is not coming for Redcliffe, as I fear, but somewhere much worse."
"How much worse?" Silwen asked curiously, displaying little emotion.
"The worst we could expect," Eamon replied, "The horde moves for Denerim. They will be there in two days."
"What?!" Alistair cried, "Are you sure? If it's true…."
"I heard them speaking," Riordan said, "After a while, a Grey Warden can understand Darkspawn and the Archdemon. There is no doubt in my mind that they intend to destroy Fereldan at its very heart."
"How can we be so certain?" Silwen asked.
"The Darkspawn line is wide and innumerable," Riordan explained grimly, "and there are many that roam away from the main horde to destroy anything they see. For now, the largest break away from the horde has been seen here in the west."
"Though I suppose being too busy killing each other has helped us much," Alistair joked humorlessly, "Why worry about some silly Darkspawn horde?"
"That's not the worst part," Riordan added, "The Archdemon has at last come forth. He leads the horde to Denerim."
"Maker, help us," Teagan muttered as all within the room shared looks of worry.
"I suppose we can't reach Denerim in a couple days on griffon back, could we?" Alistair asked hopefully.
"No," Eamon replied, "It's too far. We must gather what strength we have and begin a forced march to Denerim. The capital must be defended at all costs."
"And what of Redcliffe?" Silwen asked, "If the fortress falls, the western and southern halves of Fereldan are lost."
"Redcliffe should hold if we leave a few hundred men behind," Teagan answered, "The Darkspawn shall not have her!"
"Then I would ask you to stay here and guard the fortress until I return," Eamon commanded Teagan.
"Defeating the horde is a priority," Riordan explained, "but the dragon is our true target, and that is only a task for a Grey Warden. We must go, and we must go now."
"Then we march," Alistair commanded, "and hope that we have enough strength to defeat the Blight. Arl Eamon, how early can we set out?"
"At the sun's first light, your majesty," Eamon answered.
"Then let's get ready," Alistair said, "I won't let those people die without a fighting chance."
"Why do I have feeling this is a suicide trap?" Silwen muttered.
"I don't think we have much of a choice about where we make our stand," Alistair retorted.
"Trap or no, this may be our only chance to face the Archdemon," Riordan explained, "The Blight must be stopped now and here before it can have a chance to spread."
"I'll give the orders," Eamon said, "We will be ready at daybreak."
"Thank you, Arl Eamon," Alistair said.
"Before you and Alistair retire," Riordain said to Silwen, "we have Grey Warden business to discuss."
"I'll have someone show you to your rooms," Eamon said, "We'll all need it."
Silwen made a slight, respectful bow before walking with Alistair and Riordan to the old Warden's chambers. She had a sudden feeling of dread fall upon her, as if an unspeakable weight crashed upon her and threatened to destroy her. The Taint in her blood felt like the weight she endured, ever wanting her to fall prey to the Blight but powerless to do anything but give to her the allure of death. Such was the burden of the Wardens that they might die a hero's one day soon. However, Silwen resolved that death would not find her tonight. She had to be strong for those that followed her, for Alistair, and for herself. As they entered Riordan's chambers, he turned around after the door closed and his face turned sorrowful.
"Shit, more bad news," Silwen thought.
"As I said, we have business here tonight," Riordan said, "You are both new to the Grey Wardens, so I do not know if you know how the dragon is slain. Do you know how?"
"So it isn't as easy as just chopping off its head?" Alistair asked, "Great."
"So Duncan hasn't told you," Riordan muttered, "I had assumed otherwise…. Tell me, have you ever wondered why the Grey Wardens are necessary in defeating the Blight?"
"I assumed it had something to do with the Taint," Silwen pondered.
"Yes," Riordan chuckled as he slowly paced around the pair, "You are more right than you realize. The Archdemon can be slain by anyone, its body utterly cast down and destroyed, but should the hand that kills the dragon be any hand but a Warden's it won't be enough. Should the Archdemon be slain by a hand other than a Grey Warden then the soul of the beast will flee to the nearest Darkspawn, and that Darkspawn shall turn into the Archdemon. The dragon is all but immortal. But, if a Warden delivers the killing blow to the dragon, its soul will travel into the body of the Warden instead."
"And what?" Silwen frowned, "The dragon just dies?"
"No," Riordan shook his head, "A Darkspawn is a soulless creature, but a Grey Warden is not. The souls clash when the Archdemon enters a Grey Warden body, destroying both the dragon and the Warden."
"So… the Warden that kills the Archdemon… dies?" Alistair gulped as he thought of Silwen possibly making the killing blow.
"Yes," Riordan explains, "And without an Archdemon, the Blight will end. It is the only way."
"If that's true, then why keep it a secret?" Silwen asked.
"People don't want to join what they know only has one outcome," Riordan explained, "We keep it secret for the same reason we keep the Joining a secret. There must be Grey Wardens. There is no hope of defeating the Blight without us."
"So who does the deed?" Silwen asked.
"The task is mine because I am the senior Warden," Riordan answered, "But if I fall, you both must be ready to deliver the killing blow. The Blight must be stopped now, or Fereldan will fall before the rest of Wardens can assemble to fight. But, enough of such unhappy thoughts. You both must rest, we have a long march ahead of us."
"Then we will make ready," Alistair said, "I suppose this ends soon, one way or another."
"Yes," Riordan replied grimly, "That it does, my friend."
Silwen watched Alistair leave the chamber. He looked like a lost puppy that was abandoned and wounded. Then again, she understood how he felt. If Riordan failed to strike down the Archdemon, then she would never be able to see her love again. Had she known that, she may have convinced Alistair to spare Loghain's life. But no, something had to go wrong again. Something always went wrong in the end. In her heart she cursed the Archdemon, the Blight, and this curse that made the Wardens who they are. She also began to hate whatever god decided to create the Blight in the first place, whether that be the Maker, the Old Gods, or Elven gods. She hated them because the man she loved could very well be torn away from her. Morrigan was right: "only death is certain." However, Silwen could have also said of Morrigan that it was certain that her Witch of Wilds would always show up in strange places, and that was exactly what had happened when Silwen opened the door to her chamber.
"Do not be alarmed," Morrigan said ominously, sensing the arrival of her only friend, "It is only I, Morrigan…."
"What are you doing here, Morrigan?" Silwen asked, confused, "Is everything alright?"
"I am well. It is you who are in danger. I have plan, you see," Morrigan explained as she turned from the roaring fire in front of her and walked towards Silwen, "A way out: the loop in your hole. I know what happens when the Archdemon dies. I know a Warden must be sacrificed, and… that sacrifice could be you. This does not need to be."
"And how do you know this?" Silwen asked as a dark suspicion grew upon her.
"I know a great many things," Morrigan smirked in her own brilliance as a fountain of true knowledge and wisdom, "but how I know is not as important as what I am offering you now. And what I offer is a way out, a way out for all Grey Wardens. There no longer need be a sacrifice. What I propose is this: a ritual, performed on the eve of battle in the dark of night."
"What kind of ritual?" Silwen asked as she felt a cold wind at her back, the memory of forgotten things coming to dance tonight.
"It is old magic," Morrigan claimed, "From a time before the Circle of Magi. Some may claim it to be blood magic, but that is but a name. There is far more to fear in this world than names."
"And how do you know of this kind of magic?" Silwen asked, already expecting what Morrigan's answer would be.
"From Flemeth, of course," Morrigan answered, "I have known about it for some time. I have also known about the sacrifice that a Warden has to make to slay the Archdemon. Would you have believed me if I told you?"
"Considering who your mother is, I would probably believe a lot coming from you," Silwen answered, "You are a true and loyal friend. You have followed and guided me faithfully."
Morrigan looked at Silwen with surprise for a moment, and Silwen thought she even saw a love in friendship for a moment in the witch's eyes. However, just as quickly as the look had come, it had gone. Morrigan was silent for a moment, but she nodded her head.
"I have my doubts that you would have believed me," Morrigan said quietly.
"Nothing is without a price," Silwen responded, nodding in though, "Though, I do have to admit that I didn't think much on the possibility of a Grey Warden dying to be able to slay the archdemon once and for all. Still, as dangerous as I already know the dragon to be, just killing it always seemed strangely easy."
"That, I don't doubt," Morrigan said sadly, "There is always a price when it comes of demons and magic. Some less obvious than other."
Morrigan sighed and began a slow walk towards the bed before sitting on and looking into Silwen's eyes. Morrigan had always looked at everyone and everything directly in the eyes, even when she knew that death could easily take her then and there, but this time was different. Morrigan kept her eye contact, but she found it difficult to keep it as she spoke.
"What I propose is this," Morrigan began," convince Alistair to lay with me tonight, and from this ritual a child will be conceived within me. The child will bear the taint, and when the archdemon is slain, its essence will seek the child like a beacon. At this early stage, the child can absorb the essence and not perish. The archdemon is still destroyed, with no Grey Warden dying the process."
Silwen stood flabbergasted as she stared at Morrigan. What madness had driven Morrigan to ask such a thing? Could the Blight even be stopped by such of ritual? And even then, what would Morrigan help to gain by this foolhardy experiment? It seemed too strange and easy, as if there would be dire consequences if this were to be accepted.
"So the child becomes a darkspawn?" Silwen asked with doubt.
"No." Morrigan answered plainly, "Not at all. It will become something different: a child born with the soul of an old god. After this is done, however, you allow me to walk away…and you do not follow. Ever. The child will be mine to raise as I wish."
"Why Alistair?" Silwen asked. "Why not Riordan?"
"The taint has not been long inside Alistair," Morrigan answered. "While it is true that the taint… sterilizes Grey Wardens, it does not happen immediately. The taint is a slow poison as a rule. But, it corrupts a woman's ability to have a child faster than a man's, and I have not shown you the secrets of this ritual. It must be me. I must be Alistair. And… it must be tonight."
"You really think Alistair will agree to this?" Silwen asked with a grim laugh, thinking of Alistair's Templar training and his hatred of blood magic.
"If you care for him as you seem to, you will convince him," Morrigan stated matter-o-factly, "Consider this: do you really think Alistair will fail to do his duty as the future king and save his country? And if you take the final blow instead, he loses the woman he loves. How do you think he would feel about that? I think you have many good reasons to tell him to save his life. Not just his, yours. Consider this carefully."
"Will the child become evil?" Silwen asked carefully.
"I seek the essence of the old god," Morrigan smiled mischievously, "not the dark force that corrupted it. There are some things… some secrets… that are worth preserving in this world. The child, to say the least, will represent freedom for an ancient power, a chance to be reborn apart from the taint. Is that not reason enough? I will raise the child apart from society and teach it to respect that from it came from. All I ask for in return is that neither you nor Alistair come looking for me and the child. It is mine to raise on my own. Neither of you shall see it."
Silwen looked at Morrigan for many long seconds before sighing and nodding her consent. Morrigan smiled and a flame sprung in her eyes as she stood.
"A wise decision." Morrigan said, pleased, "I shall wait here while you speak with Alistair. I urge you to be… convincing."
Silwen sighed and nodded as she slowly made her way to Alistair's bedroom. This was bound to be a long and hard night for her. Secretly, she was very pleased that she could share her life with Alistair forever, but she couldn't help but wonder if this child Morrigan wanted to make was truly worth it. Silwen was sure, however, that if the Blight did begin again with this child, she would know who to blame and kill. But Silwen knew that if she did have to kill Morrigan, she would weep. She trusted Morrigan with her life. And now she had to trust Morrigan with much more. Silwen knocked on Alistair's door as he put on more comfortable clothes.
"Come in!" Alistair called as he fitted his shirt. He smiled when he saw his future queen. "I see you can't sleep either. I also Morrigan outside your room ealier. She and I had a strange talk… and the look she gave me? That was icy, even for her. Is something up?"
"Yeah…. Morrigan talked to me too." Silwen said slowly and nervously, "Alistair, we need to talk."
"Oh." Alistair nodded. "I guess whatever Morrigan had to say, it's big. This is what I get for becoming king. Everyone always bringing you the bad news. So what is it, then? Rats running amok? Cheese supply running low? I can take it."
"You know I love you, right?" Silwen asked quietly despite Alistair's joke.
"You could you make it sound more ominous?" Alistair joked nervously. "Tell me already."
"What if I told you that there is a way to avoid dying tomorrow?" Silwen asked, regaining her composer.
"I assume you mean with the archdemon, right?" Alistair asked back. "If you mean by running away, I can't do that. But you don't mean that, do you? What is this about?"
"You need to sleep with Morrigan." Silwen said nervously again. "As part of a magic ritual."
"Cute." Alistair laughed. "This is payback, right? For all the jokes?"
Silwen gave Alistair a serious look as he registered what Silwen had told him.
"But… you're not joking…." Alistair frowned as his playful tone went away. "You're actually serious."
He walked around in circles for a moment before looking back at Silwen.
"Wow." He said slowly before laughing grimly. "Be killed by the archdemon or sleep with Morrigan…. How does anyone make that kind of choice? You're not actually asking me this, are you? What kind of ritual is this, anyway?"
"Ancient magic." Silwen answered. "Flemeth's, probably."
"Well that's reassuring," Alistair said sarcastically. "Wait, no it isn't!"
He sighed and walked towards his desk as Silwen followed.
"Look," Alistair started, "even if I was willing to entertain this idea… and I'm not saying I am… is this really what you want me to do? Are you sure?"
"Please, Alistair," Silwen said quietly, "you need to trust me. Trust us."
"I do trust you!" Alistair exclaimed. "I do trust us. I just don't know if I trust Morrigan…. If this is what you think is best… I'll do it."
He looked down for a moment and his face turned white. He looked back up at his beautiful Elven bride to be and shook his head.
"Ugh. Where is she?" Alistair groaned. "Let's go and get this over with before I change my mind!"
And so Silwen took Alistair before Morrigan and the Witch of the Wilds took Silwen's king to bed. The next morning, under the orders of King Alistair and Queen Silwen, they marched to Denerim, and there Queen Silwen, with the help of her allies, stuck down the archdemon against all odds, thus ending the Blight. The Grey Wardens stood redeemed in Fereldan and true to her word, Morrigan disappeared. Silwen became a legend throughout Fereldan, saving the country from the remnants of the Blight and giving Alistair his first son, Eldasar, and she kept her word to Morrigan to leave her in peace.
But, Silwen, two years after the Blight, went back on her word and found Morrigan. It was there that Morrigan warned Silwen of a coming change, though Morrigan did not know if that change be good or evil. And so Silwen went back to Vigil's Keep, the stronghold of the Grey Wardens of Fereldan, and spoke to Oghren of her plans to search for answers to the taint that cursed the Grey Wardens, of which she and Alistair were a part of and the taint that her only child inherited from her blood. But, she also set out on a darker journey, for in her dreams was a terror that she could not speak of, and it whispered to her and Alistair ceaselessly in the dark of the moonless night.
And Oghren became the commander of the Grey Wardens and the commander of the armies of Fereldan, becoming the left hand of King Alistair and champion of Fereldan, only second in military rank to Queen Silween, the Hero of Fereldan. And there was ever a great friendship between Fereldan and the Dwarves of Orzammar. Thus, upon hearing the rumors of war to the west, Alistair called upon Oghren to be Fereldan's diplomat to Orzammar, to stand with Fereldan in defense its home. And at Orzammar Oghren met Romian, and the darkness grew in the west even as they spoke.
"So," Oghren said after he span his long tale, "we need your mother because she may know the meaning of Queen Silwen's dreams. And she is the strongest mage we know aside from Silwen and Flemeth herself. But Flemeth is… or was… dead. If she is alive, we know not where she might be."
"My mother is dead," Romian said to Oghren as he said to Bhelen, "but I might be able to find more answers by coming with you. I want to visit the Circle of Magi."
"And I will let you go there if you promise to help me with these sodding giants!" Oghren smiled. "And maybe you will find answers with my king if you come with me as well."
"I will," Romian answered, "and I will go to Denerim before the Circle. For I have many questions. And I want my vengeance."
Oghren laughed and they shook hands, sealing their alliance to help Bhelen destroy the giants of the Frostback Moutains.
Hey, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always, please review! I love feedback and I promise that I will try to have another chapter up as soon as I can! Have fun!