An overturned cart and a dead cow told us the darkspawn were already here.
"It's... it's you! The Grey Wardens!" A man met us by the bridge, and I felt a moment of deja vu. It was awfully similar to the first time we'd entered the village. "Andraste's mercy that you got here when you did! I thought for sure these monsters were going to get me!"
"What's happened? Where is everyone?"
"They all fled to the castle this morning, before the darkspawn arrived. I thought I could make it to my home and back before they got here, but it took me too long to get down here. What a relief you arrived!"
"You should get to safety." I signaled the others that we would be going in as stealthy as possible.
"I'm going to get out of here before any more of those things arrive! Thank you again!"
"I don't think he used the word 'arrive' enough." the witch said dryly.
Sten and the dwarves charged ahead. Zevran, Morrigan, and I lagged behind a ways, ready to pick off the ones that somehow made it past the warriors. We only really had to deal with the wolves. Tainted wolves. The three of them didn't leave much for us to handle.
"Stone preserve us..." I glanced in the direction of Natia and saw what she was looking at.
Men were hanging from the roof of the windmill.
The buildings leading up to main part of the village were burning, even the tavern.
The shaking of the ground was the only warning we had before the ogre came in to view, running toward us.
"I got this!" I called out, and we spread out.
The ogre managed to grab hold of my pack and swung me around like a doll. Knowing I didn't want to end up smashed against a wall or window, I held on best I could. When it had become apparent that I was not going anywhere, the beast raised me to its face and blew out hot breath on me. I made a face and pushed it back with a mental shove. It waved its arms around and, instead of dropping me, tried using me as a counterweight. It didn't work.
It fell and landed on its back, me on top of its chest. I used the chance to stab through the eye.
"That got a little dicey." I panted as I got to my feet.
"A little? I thought we'd be scraping you off the side of a house." Duran chuckled.
We cleaned house with the few strays the others hadn't yet gotten to.
"Shall we go to the castle?"
I nodded and rolled my shoulders, starting to feel the soreness. "Eamon's probably waiting for us."
Sten regarded me in that way he had-that stare that made me think he knew I was putting up a front. That I was more shaken that I was letting on. I offered him a slight smile before we walked the distance to Redcliffe castle.
Of course, the courtyard had been overrun, and the soldiers were fighting darkspawn. It looked like they were struggling, but there were more dead hurlocks than humans. One of those really big hurlocks stood in our way, and it took longer to deal with it, on top of the emissaries. I hadn't realized it wasn't just a genlock thing. Hurlocks, too.
No sooner had we killed everything, when the next wave came up from the path toward Redcliffe. An ogre was hot on their heels, but it was easily dealt with, when my efforts were aided by archers from the arl.
"My lady! You're here! Thank goodness!" one of the soldiers ran up to me, joyful.
My lady? Weird. "What happened here?"
"I don't rightly know. Riordan of the Grey Wardens arrived this morning, just ahead of the darkspawn. I was told that he has urgent news, and to send out patrols to watch for your arrival. Then, we were attacked..."
"Take us inside. There can be no more delays!"
He saluted me, which was also weird, "I should take you to the hall right away, my lady. They'll be waiting for you there."
The trip to the Great Hall was eventful, soldiers running this way and that. We had to dodge them, since the majority couldn't see around what they were carrying.
"It's a relief to see you unharmed." Riordan spoke when we'd barely even crossed the threshold. "The darkspawn that attacked Redcliffe were relatively few in number, I'm afraid. It was assumed the horde was marching in this direction... but that is not true." He had been the reason we were here, instead of Denerim.
"Riordan tells us that the bulk of the horde is, in face, heading towards Denerim." I knew it. Eamon continued. "They are perhaps two days away from the capital."
"What? Are we sure about that? I mean... if that's true..." Duran frowned, rubbing his chin.
"I ventured quite close enough to 'listen in,' as it were. I am quite certain."
"Then we need to march back at once." I was slightly annoyed that we were standing here, talking about it.
"There is, I'm afraid, one other piece of news that is of even greater concern." The Warden stared in to the fire, "The archdemon has shown itself. The dragon is at the head of the horde."
"Maker, preserve us!" Teagan cursed.
"We cannot reach Denerim within two days, can we? Tis too far." Morrigan leveled a look at the Warden's back.
"We must begin a forced march to the capital immediately, with what we have. Denerim must be defended at all costs." Eamon said sternly.
"The archdemon is what's important." I reminded him.
"And only the Grey Wardens can defeat the archdemon. That is why we must go." Had I argued? No. So, why was Riordan looking at me all judgmental and stuff?
"Then we march, and hope the army you've collected here gives us the chance we need." A new voice joined the discussion.
Neria, Solana, and... I didn't stop to think, I just flew in to his arms.
"Duncan! I was worried, when you weren't in Denerim with the elves." I exclaimed.
He squeezed me gently, chuckling, but addressed Eamon, "Arl Eamon, how long before the army can set out?"
"By daybreak..." the arl looked like he'd seen a ghost. Everyone was probably still under the impression that he was dead. I doubt he'd gone around, telling people.
I pulled away and cleared my throat, "Then let's get them ready. We can't let all those people die, without giving them a chance. Even with the troops the king has still within the city."
"Then we're off to war. Let's do it!" Natia shouted, giddy at the prospect of killing more darkspawn.
"I will give the orders at once, and will notify you the moment we are ready to march." Arl Eamon motioned to me.
"That would be appreciated." I said, trying to hide my disappointment. I understood why we had to wait, but that didn't mean I had to like it.
"Then, if you and the other Wardens could meet me before you retire, we have Grey Warden business to discuss." Riordan kept his eyes from Duncan, and it was obvious to us all.
"I will have someone show you to your rooms. I suggest you all get some rest, while you can. We will need it."
Turning around to follow the servants, I noticed the dwarves. Orzammar had sent their troops. I wondered briefly if the Dalish had gone to Denerim.
Zevran, Morrigan, and Sten all stayed in their rooms, while the rest of us joined Riordan in his for his talk. I had a sinking feeling I already knew what he was going to say.
"You are all here. Good." He nodded to us. Duncan was the last one in the room, and he stayed by the door. Watching. "You are new to the Grey Wardens, and you may not have been told how an archdemon is slain. I need to know if that is so."
"You mean there's more to it than just, say, chopping off its head?" Natia frowned, raising an eyebrow.
"So it is true. Duncan has not yet told you. I had simply assumed..."
"We die." I stated.
His eyes widened, but I didn't let him speak. I continued, over the gasps of everyone gathered.
"That's our secret, isn't it? That a Grey Warden dies when the archdemon is slain? It's the only logical reason why we're needed at all. The thing I don't understand is what causes our death."
"The essence of the beast will pass through the taint to the nearest darkspawn and will be reborn anew in that body. The dragon is thus all but immortal. But if the archdemon is slain by a Grey Warden... its essence travels in to the Grey Warden, instead."
"What happens to the Grey Warden?" Solana asked solemnly.
"A darkspawn is an empty, soulless vessel, but a Grey Warden is not. The essence of the archdemon is destroyed... and so is the Grey Warden."
"So, one of us has to die." the elven mage looked to me, "You were right..."
"Yes. Without the archdemon, the Blight ends. It is the only way."
"So, it's up to us to kill it." I waved it away, "That's not a problem."
"We're not afraid of dying." Duran agreed.
Duncan finally spoke up, "In Blights past, when the time came, the eldest of the Grey Wardens would decide which amongst them would take that final blow."
"If possible, the final blow should be mine to make." Riordan asserted. "The taint will not spare me much longer."
Oh, right. The short lifespan thing.
"But if he fails, the deed falls on to us all." my recruiter added, "The Blight must be stopped now, or it will destroy all of Ferelden before the rest of the Grey Wardens can assemble. Remember that."
"But enough. There will be much to do tomorrow and little enough time to rest before it. I will let you return to your rooms." The two of them stared at each other as we exited, seemingly caught up in their own world. I closed the door behind me.
I went to my room, deep in thought, completely unaware that Morrigan was standing by the fireplace across from the door.
"Do not be alarmed." I jumped anyway, "It is only I."
"Morrigan? Is everything alright?"
"I am well. 'Tis you who are in danger." She knew. She'd known. Was that why she'd wanted to accompany us so bad? Looking back on it, her words indicated the answer to be yes. "I have a plan, you see. A way out. The loop in your hole. I know what happens when the archdemon dies. I know a Grey Warden must be sacrificed, and that sacrifice could be you. I have come to tell you this does not need to be."
I approached her slowly, erring on the side of caution. "I have no intention of sacrificing myself." I lied. We both knew I would, if I had the chance.
"And can you guarantee that another will survive the battle that is to come? That they will be there to take that blow? No, you cannot. So, your choices are then to either flee as a coward or face the possibility that you may die. I offer another alternative. A ritual... performed on the eve of battle, in the dark of night."
"Just what sort of ritual is this?" I asked, curiously optimistic.
"It is old magic, from the time before the Circle of Magi was created." My eyebrows shot up. "Some would call it blood magic, but I think that means little to one like you."
"Then tell me more." I crossed my arms, trying to appear stern. The curiosity was killing me.
"What I propose is this: convince one of your fellow Wardens to lay with me. Here, tonight. And from our joining, a child will be conceived. The child will bear the taint, and when the archdemon is slain, its essence will seek the child like a beacon." I covered my mouth in shock, my eyes wide, "At this early stage, the child can absorb that essence and not perish. The archdemon is still destroyed, with no Grey Warden dying in the process."
"Would the child be a darkspawn?" I didn't understand.
"Not at all. It will become something different: a child born with the soul of an Old God. After this is done, you allow me to walk away... and you do not follow. Ever. The child will be mind to raise as I wish."
"Duncan, Duran, Riordan... Alistair." I was really struggling with this information. I had no idea what to do. It felt like my brain was about to explode.
And then it did.
"Maker! What in the name of-" Alistair was shouting, and I was holding my head. And Morrigan was looking around in mild surprise.
"Your Highness, is everything all right?" someone called out from the other side of the door.
"Y-yeah. I, uh, saw a shadow. Sorry." He hissed at us, "What are you doing here? How did you even get in? What is she doing in here, is the better question?"
"I..." I held up my hands helplessly, "I guess it's you?"
"What? What do you mean?"
"What I think she is trying to say, is that her magic has shown you to be the one I must do the ritual with." the witch said unhelpfully.
"Did you know that the archdemon has to be slain by one of us, because a Warden has to die? There's a ritual. And that the reason behind us dying is because we have souls and darkspawn don't? I need you to lay with Morrigan tonight. I can't believe no one told me sooner!" I said it all in one breath, just to get it out before my throat closed with the fear he'd say no.
"WHAT?" we all flinched, "What? What do you... You're not serious... Maker..." the expression on my face must have said it all, "You're serious... You're actually serious. Wow, be killed by the archdemon or sleep with Morrigan. How does someone make that kind of choice?" he'd begun pacing. That wasn't a good sign. "You're not actually asking me this, are you? What kind of ritual is this, anyway?"
"It's some kind of ancient magic. Flemeth's, probably."
"Well, that's reassuring. Wait, no it isn't." Oh, the sarcastic quips. Ouch. "Look, even if I was willing to entertain this idea... and I'm not saying I am... is this really what I should do? Are you sure...?"
"You need to trust me." I watched as he sat on the edge of his bed. I walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "I was thinking that I didn't know which male Warden to ask, and then we were here. That has to mean something, right?"
"I do trust you. If this is what needs to happen... I'll do it." He groaned, dropping his head in to his hands, "Let's get this over with before I... change my mind."
"It would seem your talk is done." the witch announced from her place by the entrance.
"Great. So, this isn't a dream, after all." Alistair gripped.
"We will go through with the ritual, I presume? Unless I missed something."
"You know, dinner would have been nice... maybe a bit of wine? Or you could knock me out, first..." he joked nervously.
"Tempting. Still, I am glad to see that is has been done. Let us be alone, Anastasia."
Before she had finished saying my name, I was back in my room. Alone. Whoa. I waited a sufficient amount of time-four hours-and just as I was about to try willing her back to Redcliffe, she appeared by the fire. Fully dressed, an expectant look on her face.
"Ah. I was wondering if I would have to stay there and wait until your return."
"Uh, no. No, you're here. Uh, did it work?" I didn't know what to say.
"Yes." she gave me a smile, the first genuine one I'd seen from her. "I can feel the magic working its, well... magic."
I snorted, trying to keep the giggles at bay, "That's... good. Now, no one will die from killing the archdemon."
"Exactly so."
"Thank you." I murmured, rubbing my eyes.
"Little Ana, you look tired. We will need you at your best for the coming battle. Why don't you get some rest?"
I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow.