Torph's Origins – Part 2
Leske was pacing once more. Torph lay on his back, against the stone floor of the cell, trying to get a comfortable as possible. It was aching against his back, but it wasn't like he could ask for a pillow.
They were back with Beraht. The bastard was going to be pissed. All because Leske had been too busy gawking to tie up Everd. He wanted to curse his friend's stupidity, but was too worn out too at this point.
"You know... This cell has a lot more bloodstains than I'm used to..." Leske said wearily.
"It's Beraht's," Torph sighed.
Leske whimpered. Torph grimaced, because yes, this was bad. Really, really bad. Torph opened his eyes as the door to the prison creaked open, Jarvia strolling her way over. She glared at him through the bars, while Torph greeted her with a wave.
"You two made a mockery of us today," Jarvia scolded. "Because of you, Beraht lost his bet to Lord Vollney. The Proving had been declared invalid. Even worse because the Princess has been there to witness it it."
"It was a mess to begin with," Torph argued. "Beraht betted on a drunk."
"Yeah, Everd would have lost to a dead man!" Leske said.
"Save it!" Jarvia shook her head. "You've risked exposing him to the entire Warrior Caste. Your incident opened up an investigation. You're just lucky the boss likes you, Torph. Your death will be quick. Your buddy though? Not so much. Neither will your mother's and sister's."
"Leave Rica and the old bat out of this. They ain't done nothing wrong," Torph hissed.
"Too late, Torph. You screwed up and badly this time. Not even Beraht can salvage you this time." Jarvia almost looked sad. "Enjoy your last night together. Torph will be dead after it."
Torph waited five minutes. Immediately he grabbed a rock and tossed it across the room, startling to guard who had gotten his head beaten in way too many times. If it had just been him and Leske, Torph might not have cared so much. Killing them was business. But Beraht was going after Rica. Rica who had always been gentle and kind. Who gave up food for him to eat when he had been nothing but a tiny thing. Who had tried to protect him from their old batty mother's beatings.
So he had to get out and save her. No matter what.
With the guard distracted he yanked out an old pick he planted in the cell and began unlocking it. He was almost finished when an explosion rattled the floor. The door to the prison crashed into the opposite wall, and a familiar blonde strolled in, a brunette by her side.
"You can't just go and try recruit people by yourself, Lawrien," the brunette scolded, lunging at their guard, cutting him down with a quick cut across the throat. "You're a junior Grey Warden. Not the Commander!"
"But Ciara, I don't see the point in waiting around," Lawrien complained, but grinned when their eyes met. "Bald dwarf guy!"
"I highly doubt that's his name," the brunette sighed.
Torph smirked, shoving open the cell door. "How do you know?"
"If it is then I seriously worry about your mother's naming skills," Ciara said, tossing over a set of keys.
Torph unlocked Leske's cell, tossing the keys idly between his hands. Lawrien cupped her hands, grinning eagerly at him, so he tossed them her way. The kid scrambled to catch them, before tossing them back.
He was playing fucking catch with a Grey Warden.
"Well, now what? Go home?" Torph raised an eyebrow.
"If we wanna get away with this we can't leave one man alive to tell Beraht what we've done," Leske said sternly.
"Okay!" The kid nodded. "Tell me who to hit, and I'll start launching some fire balls at them."
"By Andraste's..." Ciara groaned. "Lawrien, we're not here to take on the damned Carta. We aren't even supposed to be here."
"I want to help Torph."
"Now you remember his name?"
Leske leaned close to him, eyes wide. "Torph, what the hell did you say to the Grey Warden earlier?"
"I have no idea." Torph winced.
Together they cut their way through the base. Leske watching with wide eyes the entire time. Torph kept having to drag him forward until they finally got to the last room. The way to the smith's shop. So far they hadn't run into Beraht, and Torph wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
"...If that brother of hers' can't keep his head down then I have no use for precious Rica either. I'm cutting the whore free."
That was Beraht.
"Rica?" One of Beraht's thugs asked, sounding eager. "That the one you got all done up in lace? Ooh, I've been wanting to get my hands on that!"
The other guard's chuckling cut his thoughts off though. "Heh, I know what you mean."
"She's yours if you want her boys." Beraht offered. "And let me tell ya, tastes as good as it looks."
Torph froze. He and Leske looked at each other, Leske's eyes wide with concern. Lawrien stepped up, hand lighting up with fire, eyeing Torph, who shook his head. He grabbed one of the old explosive oils from his belt, the one that would go up the moment a flame touched it.
Torph kicked open the door. Throwing the glass vial at the three standing before him. Beraht's cursed, but it was too late. The oil got him as the glass shattered over the floor. Lawrien stepped up beside him, hands on fire.
"So, which one of you wanted a shot of my sister again?" Torph asked. It was a struggle to sound disinterested.
He was pissed.
"Dammit, brat-" Beraht growled. "Alright. You can stop. You've cost me a lot and you know what the punishment is for that, but you're good. Too good. I'll let you live. You can work for me again. Just like old times-"
"Liar," Lawrien said, blinking down at him. "But Torph already knows that. He knows you and you know him."
Beraht would kill him the moment he thought Torph had turned docile. It was just the way of things. He had failed his job and it had cost Beraht a lot. It would also cost Torph a lot too.
He was an ass though and asses dragged others down with them.
"As soon as I step out of here I'm gonna get swarmed by the nobles' pet guards up there," Torph chortled. "I know how this shit ends, but fuck it. I won't go down alone. So how about you go first, boss?"
"You little shit. You managed to get Grey Wardens in your pockets! How? You're dirt poor-"
"He has skills," Ciara said. "Skills required to be a Grey Warden. It's wasted on just working for the Carta."
"Holy shit, Duster!" Leske blanched.
Beraht choked. "What the hell, Torph?"
Torph blanked at the idea. Him of all people as a Grey Warden was insane. He was from dust town. He was no 'real' dwarf-
"You're real enough to me," Lawrien said, smiling.
He had no idea what was going on. He didn't get why two Grey Wardens were trying to offer him a place within their order. But hearing that was actually nice. Only Rica was ever that kind to him.
"As touching as this is..." Ciara cut in, tilting her head. "We're kind of in the middle of something."
"True!" Lawrien grinned. "Torph?"
"Do it."
The thugs tried to protest, Beraht shouted his name, but Lawrien struck. A wave of her hand shot out a wave of fire. It struck oil, and the space before them lit up.
Torph wasn't sure if he'd ever forget the screams of his boss dying. He wasn't sure what to think. In the end, Torph just felt tired. He had been with Beraht for years as a tiny thing. Now he was turning to ashes. Beraht used to feed him, and Torph used to protect him.
They had been friends, in their odd way.
But Rica would always be more important to him. Rica was Torph's top priority.
Whoever threatened her had to die.
Torph paused when he saw the blond beginning to go through Beraht's stuff. She added them to her bag, whistling happily to herself. The brunette joined in, going through chests and drawers without shame. He and Leske couldn't help but stare at them.
"Are they looting Beraht's stuff?" Leske blinked, he looked just about done with today.
Torph nodded. "I think they are... Huh... Alright. We need outta here. I need to make sure Beraht didn't do anything to Rica and the old bat back home."
"True." Leske grinned but it was weaker than usual. "And I'd love to get an eyeful of Rica!"
"Three guys just got burned alive because they wanted Rica," Torph reminded him, but there was no threat to it.
Rica would kick Leske's ass if he ever tried anything.
"True," Leske grimaced. "Least it would be a lovely sight before my death."
Torph snorted. "I'd just prefer a nap to be honest." He then glanced over at the kid who was pocketing some money. "Oi, kid! How did you find me anyway?"
"I felt you," the kid replied and he and Leske shared a look.
"Felt me? Y'know that sounds wrong right."
Lawrien frowned thoughtfully. "I'm what people call an empath. I can basically feel you're emotions so I just followed you."
"It was not as simple as that!" the brunette sighed heavily. "You had to run back and forth all over the place before you could even feel his presence."
"Still did it though." Lawrien stuck out her tongue.
"Alright," Torph said. "I just want to go home now. Can we go home now?"
Leske grinned. "Well fortunately if Beraht's got the guards trained the way he has, it should be a good long while before any of them show up."
"I hope you didn't just jinx that, Duster." Torph grunted as he began to head out the tunnel, Leske on his heels and the Grey Wardens following behind.
.::.
"There they are! Seize the fugitives!"
Barely even a step out of the damn door and they were caught.
"Dammit, Leske!" Torph cursed, ignoring the kid's laughter from behind him.
"Drop your weapons and walk down slowly. We will use force if you resist," the Proving Master growled, before eyeing Lawrien and Ciara, baffled. "Wardens?"
"Hi!" Lawrien waved.
"Greetings again, ser." Ciara bowed her head.
Torph had no idea why they were so calm about all this. They were surrounded by angry guards. He could see Rica and the Grey Warden-Commander in the crowd. Rica terrified and anxious. It was difficult to ignore her.
"I got bloody kidnapped y'know," Torph complained instead, scratching his ear. "Me and my buddy."
"Quiet! You do not speak until the Shapers have judged you!" the Proving Master barked.
"One moment, my friend," the dark haired guy armed to the teeth approached, voice warm and soothing. "Did you not suggest that this Beraht might have arrange their convenient escape?"
"Regardless, the penalty for impersonating a higher caste is death."
"Fuck," Torph cursed.
"If this Beraht is as influential as you say, perhaps he also masterminded Everd's impersonation?" the Commander of the Grey Wardens suggested.
"Well then it might come as relief to you that Beraht is dead," Ciara said smoothly as she strolled easily down the stairs. "Your fugitive executed him."
"Well really I-" Lawrien began, but Ciara stomped on her foot, earning a strangled yelp.
Torph shook his head. Especially when Lawrien yanked at Ciara's hair, earning a curse. He had no idea what was up with those two, and honestly, he probably didn't want to know.
"The casteless killed him?" The Proving Master balked. "But he had many powerful allies-"
"Berhat would have butchered us if we hadn't killed him first!" Leske protested, stepping up to his side.
"Once again your friend has demonstrated his courage," the man nodded approvingly.
"Or insanity," Torph muttered under his breath.
The man continued. "We Grey Wardens travel far and wide in search of those with the potential to join our ranks. It would also seem that I've found one here, in Orzammar."
"Uh, what are you saying?" Torph blinked.
"That I have found what I was sought out." The man smiled warmly. "Let me make my offer formal then. I, Duncan of the Grey Wardens, invite you to join our order."
Torph choked.
The Proving Master went red with anger. "This man is wanted for treason! You can't do this!"
"I can and I am," Duncan said, eyes back on him. "It would mean leaving for the surface world and thus leaving your people, but it does offer you the chance to strike a blow against the Darkspawn and the Blight that is beginning in Ferelden."
"Curse those nasty Blights," Lawrien chuckled, but choked when the brunette, Ciara, elbowed her in the ribs.
"What's the trick?" Torph asked suspiciously, knowing this deal was too fucking good to be true.
"It's not a trick, but it is a dangerous life. I cannot guarantee your safety nor anything in return in these hazardous conditions. In joining us, you leave behind all you've known," Duncan said.
He couldn't help but respect the guy for that honesty. It was a nice change.
"Well, it's either take a chance with you and maybe live longer or die down here and lose most of my body parts during their 'justice'," Torph mused. "Fuck it. I'm in Warden."
Duncan chuckled at that. "Then before all these witnesses, I hereby recruit you into the Grey Wardens. Know that you are most welcome within our ranks."
"Look at you, you Duster. A Grey Warden! And to think we met when stealing bread together!" Leske laughed, clapping him on the back.
"You gonna be okay down here, Lesk'?"
"Aye I'm good. Don't be too sentimental now, you'll bring tears to my eyes." Leske smirked at him. "And don't you worry. I'll look after Rica for ya."
"And that's what I'm worried about," Torph grunted before wincing as Rica dived for him, locking him into an embrace. "Rica! You're gonna get covered in blood-"
"I can't believe you're leaving! Oh, I wanted to kill you when I heard about what you did at the Proving, but it's turned out for the best thankfully," Rica cried out in relief. "I almost fell over when Ser Duncan said he wished to recruit you."
"Will you be safe if I leave, Rica?" Torph asked, staring straight into his big sister's eyes, desperate for some relief for her sake.
"This has been a lucky day for both of us." Rica beamed, her cheeks flushing. "I spent the afternoon with my patron. If everything turns out I might be able to greet you as an equal if you return."
"This the guy you spoke of earlier? He won't let you starve?"
"He calls me his 'ember rose', isn't that sweet? He has a voice like a poet," she said. She hadn't looked this relaxed in such a long time. "And don't worry, he has already promised to move Mother and me into better lodging, where he can find me more quickly when he wants me."
"You're gonna be happy with this?"
"I am. If I can bare a son who makes his House proud that's all I can ask," Rica said, stroking her hand over his cheek. "Now go. I'll tell Mother you said goodbye. She's too busy being passed out drunk right now."
"Typical," Torph snorted, kissing her brow and heading for Duncan's side.
"Said your goodbyes?"
"Yeah, I'm good." Torph nodded.
"Right then, Ciara, will you take our newest recruit to go get fitted for proper armour?"
"Of course, Commander." Ciara smirked, jerking her head. "Follow me, Torph. I bet we can get something nice for you."
"That'll be a sight," Torph sniggered, following after the brunette. "Holy shit. I'm a Grey Warden."
Ciara chuckled. "Well, life isn't written in stone. The most unexpected thing could come and take you by surprise at any moment."
"That sounds about right." Torph shook his head.
He couldn't believe it. He was a Grey Warden. A casteless piece of scum was an honoured Grey Warden. He cackled, delighted by the horrified looks he got from the 'real dwarves' in return as he and Ciara made their way down the street.