Dragons and Thrones: Final War – Doom Upon All The World
Chapter 9 of my crossover story, enjoy.
Finally, ever since I started this series I've been looking for a way to include my favourite song from Dragon Age in this and now, I have :) If you can, try to find a video or audio of the song and listen to it while it's being sung in the story.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin, Dragon Age belongs to Bioware.
Daenerys
As she stirred, Daenerys could feel she was lying on a bed, a warm fur pelt covered her, the last thing she remembered was the attack, the magical communication device being shattered and then she too was attacked, after that, all she knew was darkness. Now, she was waking up, she could hear people, arguing.
"Morale has plummeted, look at everyone." A voice she recognized as Cullen's was saying. "For all we know, our allies have fallen and we are fighting a losing battle."
Then Gendry's voice cut in. "We can't just give up. Morale will fall even more if people see their leaders in such a state. We need to show them our strength."
"That can't come from nowhere!"
"He didn't say it could!" Arya snapped.
Then Jon's voice broke in. "Enough, this arguing is getting us nowhere!"
"Well, we're agreed on that much at least!" Cullen shot back.
By now, Daenerys had sat up and could see them, Cullen stalked away, stopping by one of the command tents. Shaking his head, Jon moved over to a nearby table, reviewing battle plans. Gendry sat down on a nearby chair while Arya sat on the ground next to him, all of them looked despondent.
From where she was she could see others too; Eddard Stark by the entrance to the tent she was, Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy were kneeling by a wounded Northern soldier. Staying by his side in his last moments.
She could see Mace Tyrell, Oberyn Martell, Edmure Tully, Yohn Royce, Jaime Lannister, Asha Greyjoy, all commanders of the armies, all looking broken.
She couldn't blame them, she felt hope waning herself; the argument she just heard added fuel to that.
"Shhh, rest...your injuries." A soft voice next to her said.
She turned and saw Mother Giselle.
Daenerys shook her head. "They've been at it for hours."
She had lain there, fading in and out of consciousness, hearing various arguments as they happened. Now it was night, now the attack would be coming soon, and they were broken.
"Fear turns to doubt and doubt, becomes blame." Mother Giselle stated. "But what the people look too, what they strive for in these times, is a strong beacon of hope...You must be that hope, Daenerys Targaryen."
Dany sighed. "I can't...look at them all; think about, what could possibly already have happened. We face battle, knowing that even if we win, a single loss elsewhere will spell our end."
She had risen to her feet by now and shook her head sadly.
"You say I must be a beacon of hope. But I cannot be, I have never been anything...except through my dragons. They are the ones who forged my so called legend, not me." She said despondently.
Mother Giselle shook her head. "But without you, those dragons would have been no more than mindless beasts, you made them into something more. Seeing you alive, will help restore some hope and I am sure, you can restore more."
Dany couldn't see it; and vocalized it.
"What hope is left?"
She began to exit the tent; her faith wavering.
Stepping past Eddard who looked to her sadly; she walked further out until she stopped. She surveyed her surroundings, so much sorrow, with their enemy approaching and even she couldn't bring herself to believe they still had a chance. Then she heard Mother Giselle's voice again, she was, singing.
"Shadows fall, and hope has fled.
Steel your heart, the dawn will come."
Daenerys turned to her surprised, Giselle had left the tent too and was walking up to stand next to her. Others were lifting their heads, all looking to Giselle. Since the arrival of people from Thedas, that song had been heard by them and was becoming more known.
"The night is long, and the path is dark.
Look to the sky, for one day soon.
The Dawn will come."
At this point, Arya who Dany remembered had actually been to Thedas and likely heard the song first hand, joined in.
"The Shepherd's lost, and his home is far."
By now, Dany noticed, everyone, even those who only knew the song in passing, were joining in.
"Keep to the Stars, the Dawn will come.
The night is long, and the path is dark.
Look to the sky, for one day soon.
The Dawn will come."
The change was remarkable; now practically everybody had come up to her and Mother Giselle; overcoming the despair through sheer force of will as they continued singing.
"Bare your blade and raise it high.
Stand your ground, the dawn will come.
The night is long, and the path is dark.
Look to the sky, for one day soon.
The Dawn Will Come."
Even as the song faded away, renewed hope remained.
Dany blinked back the tears in her eyes as she turned to Mother Giselle.
The woman smiled softly to her. "Even in the bleakest of times, so long as a single light remains, there is hope."
With that she turned and made her way back to the tent with the healers. Daenerys smiled, she finally understood; maybe they had a chance after all, maybe their allies did. Even if that was not the case, they would still fight. If Corypheus wanted his Godhood and their destruction so badly, he'd have to really fight for it.
"Your Grace, may I have a word in private."
She turned startled; it was the Elf who had been with the Starks, Solas.
"Oh, of course." She replied, noting his concerned expression.
He looked over. "I need to speak to the Starks as well, this concerns them."
Nodding Dany turned and called out. "Lord Eddard, Lord Robb, Lady Arya, Ser Gendry, come with me please."
They hurried over and they all followed Solas to a small area, separate from the rest of the army, with a single torch brazier standing in it. Solas quickly lit it with a spell, bathing the area in the light of a blue flame.
He looked them all over seriously.
"One factor we never truly discussed. There are three battlefields, three commanders for three armies...but which battlefield is going to be the one Corypheus himself appears on." He explained.
Dany tensed, she realized this was true; the Starks looked worried as well and Dany couldn't help but wonder.
Solas nodded. "Hawke is in commander of the forces at Slaver's Bay, I would have said he'd go there, to get revenge on Hawke. But...After the more recent insult paid to him...I think he'll come here."
It was Arya who replied, likely confirming her family's thoughts. "The Temple of Mythal; he wants revenge for that."
Solas nodded again. "Yes, he will be here, with his dragon...The only thing I can say that is in anyway positive, is it is not an Archdemon, rather it is a High Dragon, fused with Red Lyrium."
"Then we just have to hope that my Dragons can match it." Dany replied.
Solas agreed and; seeing no other way but to warn everybody and to try and keep them encouraged, they returned, ready for the final preparations, the battle was due to begin.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it; read and review please.
Well, things are finally all set, the next 20 chapters will cover the three battles between the heroes and Corypheus' forces, just to help clarify some things, to avoid confusions, keep an eye on the chapter titles to know which battle we are facing, details below:
Battle of the Wall POV characters: Jon, Eddard, Cullen, Daenerys
Battle of Slavers Bay POV characters: Hawke, Fenris, Leliana
Battle of the Arbor Wilds POV characters: Alistair, Morrigan, Briala
Also, Corypheus' order of battle for each battlefield:
The Wall: Predominantly a Darkspawn and Wight/Others force, backed up by some corrupted Grey Wardens, led by the Night King.
Slavers Bay: Predominantly a Red Templar force, backed up by some Venatori and corrupted Grey Wardens, led by Samson.
Arbor Wilds: Predominantly a Venatori force, backed up by some Red Templars, led by Magister Erimond.