Authors Note: Thank you to my reviewers and followers, you guys are the best!
Chapter 10 - The Arrival
The next few days were a relentless monotony of riding all day and camping at night. Serena, however, had never traveled this far south in her life, and found the rapidly changing foliage interesting.
The coasts of Highever were mostly scrub trees and palms, with the woods near the castle filled with more lush vines and plump leafy trees. As they moved further south, she noticed the trees became much taller and more evergreen. Pine trees and colossal oaks stood rooted near the Imperial Highway as they made their way to Ostagar.
Duncan had taught her a few useful skills on the road as well. The second evening, he'd shown her how to set traps so they would have a rabbit or two waiting for them in the morning.
He had also shown her the proper way to skin and prepare them over the fire, while still keeping the coat in good enough condition to tan as they rode. Serena hoped to make a pair of rabbit fur insoles for her boots before long, as the weather cooled considerably the further south they went.
On the fifth day, Duncan announced that they were nearing Ostagar. Serena saw an enormous tower rise up in the distance, popping up out of the foggy valley in which Duncan pointed.
"That is the Tower of Ishal," he explained. "Beyond is the bridge that leads to the King's camp. There are only a few Grey Wardens in Ferelden at the moment, but they will all be here, as well."
Serena felt nervousness set in as they jockeyed their horses down the steep road to the tower. The fog was thick against her skin, and she could barely see Duncan ahead of her, relying mostly on the steady clip-clop sound Kyber's horseshoes made.
"This fog will burn off by midday," Duncan called, his voice carrying back to her. "You will barely notice it by the time we cross the bridge." The tower loomed ever closer as Serena guided the plump gray pony down the path.
"Warden-Commander!" A young man in shiny silver armor ran up the path, waving excitedly. "The King is just beyond, ser, waiting at the tower. He sent me ahead to take your horses."
Serena dismounted and handed Pepper's reins to the man. She noticed his armor distinguished him as one of the Chantry's templars. Where there were templars, surely there were mages... Serena wondered if she would be permitted to explore the camp and perhaps speak to one.
"Thank you, MacNall," Duncan was saying, handing his own reins over. He beckoned to Serena and they headed towards the tower. Ahead, Serena spotted a group of men standing and as they approached she recognized the golden armor of King Cailan himself.
"Ho there, Duncan!" The blonde king raised one hand in greeting to the pair and Serena realized the men with him were his guards. Of course they wouldn't allow the King to just wander around on his own in a forest filled with darkspawn, Serena thought.
"King Cailan- I wasn't expecting..."
"A royal welcome?" King Cailan said with a laugh, his whole face lighting up with pleasure. "I was beginning to think you'd miss all the fun!"
"Not if I could help it, your Majesty," Duncan said. "It took us a few days to ride from Highever." The king, however, didn't appear to be listening.
"I am so pleased I'll have the mighty Duncan at my side in battle, after all," Cailan went on. "Absolutely glorious! The other Wardens told me you've found a promising recruit, as well. I take it this is she?" The King nodded his head to Serena, who dipped to one knee in salute.
"Allow me to introduce you, your Majesty..." Duncan began.
"No need, Duncan!" Cailan looked Serena up and down, nodding politely. "You are Bryce's youngest, are you not? I don't think we've ever formally met."
"Yes, your Majesty," Serena said softly. "My name is Serena."
"Wonderful to finally met you, of course. Your brother has already arrived, of course, and now here I find myself with a matched Cousland set. How grand." He grinned broadly. "Fergus is off with the Highever men, scouting in the Wilds, but we are still awaiting your father."
Serena blanched, she had thought this might come up. "I... my father..." She stopped, turning to Duncan for help.
"Teyrn Cousland and his wife are dead, your Majesty," Duncan said gravely. "Arl Howe has shown himself a traitor, and overtaken Highever castle." He looked to Serena, his eyes sad. "Had we not escaped, he would have killed us as well and told you any story he wished."
For his part, the king looked absolutely stricken. "I... can scarcely believe it! How can he think he would get away with such treachery? Bryce and Eleanor... Maker's breath..." He paused, looking seriously at Serena. "As soon as we are done here, I will turn my army north and bring Howe to justice. You have my word."
"Thank you, your Majesty," Serena said with another low bow. "You have my entire family's thanks."
King Cailan nodded, his good mood all but evaporated at the news. "I have no doubt you wish to see your brother, but like I mentioned, he is out scouting with his men."
"Do you know when he might return?" Serena tried to keep her voice light, so as not to embarrass herself in front of the King by sounding overly anxious.
"I fear it won't be until after the battle," Cailian replied. "I apologize, I wouldn't have sent him out had I known, but... I'm very sorry. There is nothing I can do. All I can suggest is you vent your grief against the darkspawn for the time being."
He turned, regarding Duncan. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I should return to my tent. Loghain waits eagerly to bore me with more strategies, I'm sure." He smiled again, although it was a shadow of it former brilliance.
"Your uncle sends his greetings," Duncan added. "He wanted me to remind you that Redcliffe forces could be here in less than a week, if needed."
"Ha! Eamon wants in on the glory, I see!" The king clapped a gauntleted hand against his thigh. "We've won three battles against these monsters and the coming battle should be no different."
"I didn't realize things were... going so well," Serena remarked. "Have there not been a lot of raids?"
"Your Majesty, I'm not certain this Blight can be ended quite as... quickly... as you might wish," Duncan said carefully.
King Cailan laughed. "I'm not even sure this is a true Blight, Duncan. There are plenty of darkspawn on the field, of course, but alas, we've seen no sign at all of an archdemon."
"You sound disappointed, your Majesty," Duncan replied, a small smile showing.
"I'd hoped for a war like in the tales!" A king riding with the fabled Grey Wardens against a tainted god!" Cailan sighed dramatically. "But I suppose this will have to do for now." He looked around at his guards, who appeared rather antsy. Cailan looked back at Duncan and Serena. "I must go before Loghain sends out a search party. Farewell, Grey Wardens!"
With a final wave, the king turned and disappeared back down the bridge into the camp. Duncan motioned to Serena to go ahead.
"What the king said is true, they've won several battles against the darkspawn here," Duncan said, walking beside her.
"Yet you don't sound very reassured," Serena said, snapping her fingers. Peanut barked from near a tree and ran up, now keeping pace at her side.
"Well, despite those victories, the darkspawn horde grows larger everyday. By now, they look to outnumber us." Duncan looked out from the bridge at the valley below, and even though it was lifting even as they spoke, the fog was still too thick to see anything but a few tall pines sticking up here and there. "I know there is an archdemon behind this," Duncan said quietly. "But I cannot ask the king to act solely on my feeling."
"Then perhaps we should move quickly," Serena remarked.
"Indeed. Our numbers in Ferelden are too few, and we must do what we can and look to Teyrn Loghain to make up the difference." Duncan sighed, and Serena thought he looked very tired. "To that end, we should proceed with the Joining ritual as soon as we can."
"Although a hot meal might be nice, first, maybe?" Serena said hopefully.
"I agree!" Duncan said, a deep laugh rumbling from him. "We have time, certainly. The ritual itself is brief, but there are some preparations to be made."
"Am I the only recruit?" she asked.
"No, there are two others here already. They have been waiting for us to arrive." Duncan gestured to the entrance to the camp at the end of bridge. "Feel free to explore the camp a bit, but I do ask that you don't leave it for the time being."
"There is another Grey Warden in the camp by the name of Alistair. When you are ready, simply find him and tell him to summon the other recruits." Duncan motioned to Peanut. "Your hound can stay with me while I attend to some business. If you need directions, the guard posted just down the way can help." With that, Duncan nodded and strolling into the camp, Peanut trotting happily along behind him.
"Traitor," Serena muttered, rolling her eyes after her hound. She crossed the rest of the bridge and nodded to the guard, preferring to find her own way rather than ask him for directions.
She secured her knapsack to her back and headed into the camp. "Now, if I were a tent filled with delicious food, where would I be?" she said. Huge colored tents rose up to her immediate right and Serena could see bright waves of light moving beyond them.
Despite the persistent growling in her stomach, Serena found herself moving closer to the tents. Two templars stood on either side of the entrance into the middle of the clearing, and Serena could see what had to be Circle mages performing... something. She watched as they chanted in unison, the colored lights moving about. She thought she could almost see something in the smoke...
"Excuse me, but you cannot move any closer," one of the templars said, holding out a hand to block her way. "The mages need complete concentration while scrying for the coming battle."
Serena backed up hurriedly. "Uh, of course, my apologies," she said. "I just saw the lights... sorry." She glanced back at the mages again before moving around the side of the large tent, still transfixed by the scene.
"Welcome, young woman," said a flat voice nearby.
Serena turned, startled. There was a man standing just beside her now, facing away from the mages tent. His dark hair was neat and tidy, and in the middle of his forehead was a strange symbol Serena thought she recognized.
"I wasn't going to go in or anything-" Serena started. She paused, focusing on his forehead. That symbol was... burned into his skin. "Wait. Who are you?"
"I am one of the Tranquil, my friend," the man replied, his voice just as flat as before.
"Tranquil?" Serena tested the word. "Tranquil. What does that mean?"
"Those with magical talent attract demons and spirits. We can be possessed easily, and thus become abominations. Because of this, mages are considered dangerous. It is our curse." The man paused, and his dark eyes seemed to focus on something Serena couldn't see. "Thus, I was made tranquil. Stripped of emotions and talent, I am no longer dangerous."
Serena found the man's monotone voice was equal parts calming and creepy. Did he never smile? Did he even blink? She felt a shiver go up her spine that wasn't from the cold.
"So... if you can't do magic..." Serena motioned to the mages in the tent clearing. "What do you do?"
"The Tranquil are masters of working with raw lyrium to enchant objects and weapons for the Circle of Magi," the man replied. "Despite our lack of magic, the Tranquil serve a valuable purpose to the Circle. It is a time-consuming process, but it provides the Circle its wealth. Certainly, we would not get by on charity."
"No, I suppose you wouldn't," Serena said, her uneasiness around the man lessening a bit. "The Tranquil. So there are more of you?"
"Yes." He pointed to his forehead, to the symbol Serena had noticed earlier. "We are branded with magic, which stills our talent and mind. The process is irreversible, as far as I am aware."
"Well, that's..." Serena searched for the right word. "Uh, that's... so they brand you like… like cattle? I'm sorry, but that just sounds horrible."
"It might seem such to you," the Tranquil man replied, his dark eyes blank. "But I feel no horror. I am content to serve in my role."
"But... do you know anything else? When did they make you tranquil?"
"When a mage fails their Harrowing, or is deemed too dangerous or susceptible to influences in the Fade, they are made Tranquil. I was eighteen. But my existence is quite peaceful. I am alive, productive, and no danger to anyone."
"Yes, well..." Serena looked about, feeling uncomfortable. "I should go."
"Goodbye," the man intoned. Serena backed up quickly, hoping she wasn't being too rude.
"I doubt if he'd even notice if I was rude," she mumbled to herself. She looked around her, unsure of where to go next. The ruins themselves were interesting, and she thought she could hear barking, so the kennels must be nearby, but...
A white-haired older woman touched Serena shoulder lightly. "May I be of some assistance?" Serena noticed her robes bared the same symbol that was burned in the tranquil man's forehead. Was she a Circle mage then?
"I- I was just... are you a mage?"
The woman smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Yes, child. My name is Wynne. I'm one of the senior enchanters with the Circle of Magi. We were summoned by the king to help in the upcoming battle."
"I'm Serena. I'm... well, I'm going to be a Grey Warden. Maker willing, of course." She shrugged. "I haven't gone through the Joining yet, so I'm not really much of anything at the moment."
"A Grey Warden?" Wynne seemed to consider this for a moment. "That is a big responsibility, and for someone so young... but I suppose sometimes our path is chosen for us, is it not?"
"You could say that," Serena said dryly. "Will you be fighting alongside the king?"
"Not precisely," the old mage answered. "The Grey Wardens will be on the front lines, not the mages. Still, we have our parts to play... mostly in elemental magic and healing spells."
"Is that what you specialize in?" Serena paused, unsure. "Do mages specialize? I'm afraid I don't know much about magic. I've never really met a mage before."
"I am especially good at healing, yes, although I know quite a few different spells," replied Wynne. "Although no amount of magical healing can help those who have been tainted by the darkspawn. We can only try to ease their suffering." Wynne shook her head, as if the topic was a prickly one. There was an awkward pause before she spoke again.
"I wonder... how much do you know of the connection between darkspawn and the Fade?"
Serena bit her lip. She didn't want to appear completely ignorant. "I... know the Fade is where you go when you dream. And that mages can... maneuver about in it."
"Yes," answered Wynne, smiling. "Any time your spirit leaves your earthly body, whether it is to dream, or to die, it passes into the realm we call the Fade." Serena thought Wynne must be a teacher or mentor, her tone reminded her so much of Aldous. "It's home to many spirits, some benevolent, others... far less so. At the heart of the Fade lies the Black City."
Serena frowned. "The huge black tower? I see it sometimes, in my dreams." Serena thought of her conversation with her nephew... had that really only been a few days ago?
"Yes, some say the Black City was once the seat of the Maker. But when mages from the Tevinter Imperium found a way into the City, it was tainted with their sin." The lines around Wynne's eyes became more pronounced as she spoke. "That taint transformed those men, turning them into twisted reflections of their own hearts. And the Maker cast them back to the earth, where they became the first darkspawn." She paused. "At least, that's what the Chant of Light says."
"I've had to copy lines about that, I think," Serena said. "Do you think it's true?"
"It may be allegory," Wynne replied evenly. "Meant to teach us that our own evil causes human suffering. Or it may be true. It is as good an explanation as any, for now."
"I hate to bother you further-" Serena began. "But do you know where I might find a man named Alistair? He's a Grey Warden."
"It's no trouble, child," replied Wynne. "I think I may know the young man you speak of, actually. He's blondish, with hair that sort of does this." She held up her hand to her forehead, the fingers extended out into points. Serena couldn't help but laugh at the impression.
"I would assume he would be in the Grey Warden camp, or at the very least, one of them would know where he was right now." Wynne pointed to a small collection of tents up a staircase behind her. "Their camp, or rather, your camp, is just beyond there. I wish you well, young Warden."
"Thank you, Wynne," Serena said, curtsying politely to the old woman. "I hope I will see you again soon." She smiled, her first true smile since she'd arrived at Ostagar, and headed in the direction the mage had indicated in search of the young man named Alistair.