The Ruins
"They have breached the ruins!" Swiftrunner yelled. "Fall back, protect the Lady!"
He charged them. Epona raised her bow, ready to strike, but Lawrien gasped. A white wolf jumped down, right in between them and Swiftrunner. Their eyes met, hers and the white wolf's and Epona froze. Everything clicked into place. A void that was missing filled, bursting to the brim and Epona couldn't wrap her head around it. The wolf stared her down, but then softened, and bowed his head. Epona reached out, she didn't know why, or what she wanted to do, but Witherfang was here-
They were enemies. They were friends.
Why were they friends?
"Who are you?" she breathed out.
"Epona?" Faren called, but he sounded so far away.
She saw emerald coloured armour covering her arm out of the corner of her eyes. Her outstretched hand was gloved by more of the green armour. Swiftrunner snarled, startling Epona out of whatever held her in its foggy embrace. The white wolf startled out of it too. He howled and ran away, Swiftrunner on his heels.
The green armour was gone.
"Epona!" Lawrien was shaking her shoulder.
Epona shook her head. "My apologies. I don't know what came over me."
Cobian beamed. "Visions? The forest has so much history and magic-"
"My head is not clear enough for you to go on a ramble, noble." Epona scowled.
Cobian already had that blasted notebook out, and Epona could see her page of study was growing larger by the day. Faren laughed, shaking his head as Cobian scribbled furiously into it.
"He's going to need a new notebook soon." Faren grinned.
"I already have more," Cobian said, tapping his bag. "Must have plenty of study material."
Faren winced. "You're carrying notebooks with you? How many?"
"Plenty." Cobian grinned. "This so much in this world to see and remember, all the wonder and beauty, darkness and light. I wish to look back upon my books one day and remember all the adventures I went on, and all the knowledge I gathered."
Faren smiled fondly. "I suppose you will be able to as long as we defeat an Archdemon."
"Perhaps the noble can tell it all his knowledge and drive it back into the Deep Roads," Epona huffed.
"Would that work?" Cobian gasped. "That would be amazing!"
"We're not trying it!" Epona bristled.
Lawrien laughed. "It's a good back up plan."
.::.
Lawrien kicked an undead head across the room, throwing a wave of fire at another group charging her way. Faren screeched as some of the undead hobbled his way, while Cobian marvelled over them. Morrigan was bashing one away with her staff, setting it on fire once it was safely back while Leliana retreated, shaking her head.
"This isn't right!" Leliana cried. "All these undead-"
Meanwhile Epona groaned. Of course none of the shemlens (and city elf) had dealt with undead before, except probably Morrigan, and Lawrien. Yes, Lawrien and Duncan had been in those ruins murdering the walking corpses, so that made sense.
Cobian caught the head Lawrien booted, beaming. "It's still moving!" he said gleefully.
"Stop admiring them!" Epona spat, shooting down another.
"It touched my hair!" Faren cried, running away. "Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross! It's slimy!"
"This is fascinating-" Cobian gasped, his eyes gleaming. "Just as much as the sylvan!"
"I don't know how to feel," Lawrien admitted. "Cobian's so happy, but Leliana and Faren keep freaking out. I usually find them cool to fight."
Calenhad walked by, and Epona swore there was a leg in his mouth. She breathed in deeply, counted to ten, tried everything she could to keep calm and not shoot her own comrades. By Mythal, she missed her clan. Not even for their company at this point, no, but for their sanity.
Faren shook his head. "I didn't sign up for this!"
"You didn't sign up at all. You were conscripted," Epona sighed.
"I'm supposed to be fighting darkspawn! Not the undead." Faren threw his hands up, then yelped and ducked beneath a swipe of a clawed hand. "And not flaming undead either!"
Ah, yes, because Lawrien had set them all of fire. Now they had flaming undead scrambling against them. Great. Just great. Then a glyth appeared on the wall and all the undead were flung into it, shattering their bodies off the wall. Their bones scattered, and Faren groaned.
"I could handle the angry trees of death that want to murder us," Faren huffed. "I could handle a talking tree that likes poems, I can even handle werewolves that have been stories told since I was a kid. This though? This I don't want to handle ever again!"
Lawrien laughed.
"And of course you're amused by all this," Faren groaned.
"I wonder why the head still moves." Cobian was poking at the undead head's teeth. Of course it tried to bite Cobian's finger off, but Cobian wore armour, so it just bit into the metal instead.
Epona sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Magic." Lawrien grinned.
"Magic is always so interesting," Cobian marvelled.
"It doesn't scare you?" Morrigan snorted. "I'm surprised. I believed all you Chantry types hated magic on principle."
"I don't." Leliana frowned.
Cobian smiled. "I don't actually believe in the Maker, or the Chantry's teaching. I believe in facts, and studying, and what I can see with my own eyes." He poked the head again. "I love to learn new things. Studying new ideas can bring about new purposes in life. New ideals. New information. Progress can be nurtured!"
Epona groaned, shaking her head. "You got him all excited now."
"There's a carving on the wall," Lawrien said suddenly, startling them.
"I think there are many elvish carving here, Lawrien," Leliana pointed out.
"Yes, but this one is in the King's Common." Lawrien pointed at it.
In big, messy scratches, the words 'DRAGON' were carved into the wall. Epona prayed for patience. Because this wasn't fair. None of this was fair. Why was a dragon down here in these ruins?
"Oh we're not gonna die in the forest!" Faren laughed, but it wasn't a happy laugh, it sounded like he was ready to have a meltdown. "We're gonna die in these ruins. Either to a dragon, werewolves, ghosts or skeletons!"
Morrigan smirked. "Don't fret too much, Faren, you are much too small to make a fulfilling meal."
"Yey. That's great news. Thank you, Morrigan," Faren groaned.
Morrigan's smirk kept up. "Yes, the dragon will probably just use you as entertainment instead. Bat you around, claw at you. Keep itself amused."
"I wish I had gone to Redcliffe instead. I bet Torph's having a easier time of it. Probably just sleeping on the job or robbing some rich guys. No offence, Cobian," Faren complained before yelping when they all heard a loud roar echo across the large hall they just entered.
"Andraste guide us!" Leliana prayed.
"This is training for the Archdemon!" Lawrien cheered.
"Yes!" Cobian grinned. "Training for such a fight is highly valuable."
Epona sighed.
.::.
Lawrien was way too happy to find a dragon. Faren wanted to retire. The damn dragon made him want to retire in his very short Grey Warden career, but who could blame him? IT WAS A BLOODY DRAGON!
Cobian had already set out a plan thankfully. He told Epona and Leliana to shoot at its eyes and the underbelly that wasn't protected by scales. Morrigan was to attack from one side (from a distance of course) to keep it distracted, while Lawrien hit the other. Faren and Calenhad were to flank it and get it from behind, while Cobian did the most dangerous part and attacked its face.
Thank the Maker Cobian's shield seemed to hold some kind of magical resistance, because it should have long since melted.
Faren slipped beneath the dragon, slicing its belly open, but he had to dodge its leg when it swiped at him, driving him back. Lawrien's glyph appeared beneath his feet, throwing him further back when the dragon's tail moved, nearly tossing him off his feet.
Morrigan's lightning hit the dragon's back, electrocuting it.
"It's not doing enough damage due to the scales depth," Cobian noted, rolling beneath a swipe of claws. "Morrigan, get behind me and fire your lightning into its mouth when it's about to set me on fire!"
Morrigan smirked. "I see."
"You're going to set yourself on fire?" Epona scowled. "Dammit, noble!"
"It's more like I'm going to leave myself vulnerable with an opening!" Cobian cut at its hand, bashing its face with his shield. "Then Morrigan will hopefully not hit me and get the dragon!"
"You better duck!" Morrigan ran round them, lightning crackling from her hands.
"I hope they time that right..." Faren said, retreating back to Lawrien's side.
Lawrien grinned. "I'll help." Her hands sparked, and he stepped back.
"Please don't kill Cobian," Faren begged.
Lawrien laughed.
Cobian lowered his shield, a subtle touch, one probably only Faren, Epona and Leliana would notice. Their eyes trained to seek out small weakness and minor details. The dragon attacked immediately, fire gathering in its breath. Cobian ducked down, and Morrigan threw her lightning into its mouth. Lawrien attacked too, her lightning striking its belly at it stumbled back, howling.
But the fire still grew within its mouth. Morrigan stumbled back, cursing, while Cobian leapt, throwing himself at her. A blast of fire consumed them, just as Faren charged.
.::.
Lawrien winced. Cobian was in pain. Morrigan shocked. Calenhad barked, and charged Cobian's way the moment the fire stopped, right as Faren climbed the dragon, throwing himself at the dragon's head. Blades gleaming.
Faren buried his daggers into the dragon's head, tearing through burnt scales and twisting the blades. The dragon cried out, struggled, but Faren held on until the dragon went limp and collapsed on to the floor.
"Cobian! Morrigan!" Epona raced over, throwing herself down from her perch.
Epona had climbed up out of the way on to a pillar, but now she jumped off, tucked into a roll and ran their way. Cobian pushed himself off Morrigan who looked shocked, her eyes wide, skin pale.
"Aha!" Cobian beamed, then coughed. "T-The Cousland shield is magical."
Lawrien laughed. "We could have told you that without lighting yourself on fire."
"Y-Yes, but Morrigan didn't have time to move." Cobian coughed again, Calenhad licking his cheek, wiping away ash from his face.
"You could have gotten yourself killed." Morrigan's brow furrowed, and she looked oddly unsure for a moment there, before her expression smoothed out.
"P-Perhaps, but we're both fine," Cobian said shakily, clearing his throat roughly. "W-Water would be appreciated though."
Epona passed her water skin immediately. Cobian took small sips, grimacing each time, but slowly his coughs settled. Faren paused when Lawrien suddenly whacked his back, nearly knocking Faren over.
"You jumped on a dragon!" Lawrien laughed.
"Indeed, that was rather reckless, da'len," Epona chided.
"So is both of you throwing yourself into head on attacks to protect someone!" Faren complained, staring pointedly at Cobian and Lawrien.
"We just shrug it off," Lawrien teased, grinning brightly at Cobian as she headed to his side. "Right, Cobian?"
Cobian beamed. "Exactly! Besides, I have now discovered for sure that the Cousland shield is magical. Now I just need to see about the sword-"
"No!" Epona slapped his head, earning a yelp. "You people need to stop endangering yourselves. I do not wish to be the one to explain to our fellow Grey Wardens why I'm missing half of us."
"To be fair, Ciara did get stuck with the dwarves," Faren pointed out.
"So?" Epona arched a brow.
"Well, Torph is a thief, and Narascha is reckless," Faren said dryly. "Torph will probably be caught robbing someone sooner or later, while Narascha will be so blunt that she offends someone sooner or later."
Epona sighed. "Great... So they'll both be executed by an angry shemlen noble."
"Highly likely."
Lawrien laughed.
"Narascha will most likely beat up the guards if they try execute her," Cobian said mildly.
Leliana groaned. "I remember the tales of Grey Wardens being valiant and charming..."
Morrigan snorted. "This lot will have ruined your expectations no doubt."
"Completely and utterly."
"Yeah!" Lawrien grinned.
"That's not a good thing," Faren pointed out.
"Expect the unexpected!" Lawrien insisted. "We'll keep everyone on their toes, and that way nobody will ever catch us, and that Archdemon voice in Epona's head won't ever understand our plans!"
Epona twitched.
"That is still a rather big concern..." Leliana said.
"You're one to talk. You apparently hear the Maker," Epona scoffed.
"The Maker isn't an Archdemon-"
"He's certainly as murderous."
"No he is not!"
Cobian blinked. "I agree with Epona on this one. The Maker tends to be murderous."
Leliana gasped. "Not you too!" She spun on her heel, facing Faren. "You at least believe in the Maker, yes?"
Faren grimaced. "Uh, kinda?"
Leliana deflated. Morrigan's smirk only grew.
"You might want to chat with Ciara and Alistair," Cobian offered. "I believe they are the only ones who have faith in the Maker."
.::.
"Look at all this gold!" Faren cheered.
Cobian blinked. One moment Lawrien was standing by him, the next she was gone, by Faren's side. They both stared, eyes bright and full of wonder at the gold and jewels piled before them.
Epona groaned. "Really?"
"It's so beautiful!" Faren knelt down, running his hands over the jewels. "Lawrien, how much can you carry?"
"It's not the same as robbing people," Lawrien admitted, already cheerfully pocketing the gold and jewels. "But this is still amazing!"
"Seriously this could feed the whole Alienage for a month," Faren marvelled. "Maybe even for longer!"
Leliana smiled. "It must be lovely in the Alienage, you're all so close."
"Yes, herded like farm animals," Morrigan crooned.
"That's not-" Leliana protested, looking startled.
Faren sniggered. "I know, Leliana, she is right though. We are herded in there."
Epona frowned. "Unlike us, we are free to do as we wish."
"Yeah well I wasn't 'lucky' enough to be born Dalish." Faren rolled his eyes.
"T'is not luck. T'would be more lucky to be a noble with riches instead." Morrigan smirked.
"My entire family might be dead after we got betrayed by my uncle," Cobian offered.
Morrigan stared blankly at him.
Lawrien winced.
"That can't be a common thing, right?" Morrigan asked, almost hesitantly.
"Oh yes. It's very common in Orlais. Not so much here, but it appears my uncle decided he'd bring new traditions home."
Faren shifted. "You're... You're taking this awfully well..."
"If I break down and cry I won't stop," Cobian admitted. "Emotional response difficult, especially during wartime, sympathetic, yes, but mourning, I can not afford to mourn just yet. Mourn later. Much later. Archdemon to kill first."
Calenhad licked his face, earning a smile.
"Besides, I have Calenhad," Cobian said, petting him. "Calenhad is a great comfort."
Faren wrinkled his nose. "Orlesians sound mean."
"Hey!" Leliana protested.
"You're nice though."
"Maybe it is the Ferelden part within her," Epona grumbled.
Leliana scowled, crossing her arms, even as Lawrien smothered down a laugh with her fist.
.::.
Epona saw a flash of green and red out of the corner of her eye. The same green armour from earlier, but the figure had already disappeared down the hall. It left her uneasy, and sad. She had no idea why she was sad though. It felt as if she had lost something.
"Mamae!"
Leliana gasped. There was a child, a young, elven child, running by them. Lawrien's shoulders slumped, while Leliana called for the child. The boy sounded so scared.
"It's alright," Leliana soothed. "Are you looking for your mother?"
"It's a ghost." Morrigan crossed her arms.
"This place is haunted," Epona said sadly. "Like many ruins of my people. When a great tragedy happens the ruins and spirits lingering tend to remember and bring such things back."
Leliana flinched as the boy's screams grew hysterical. Epona winced as well, because her heart ached, and she wished she could help. "So there's nothing we can do?"
Figures surrounded the boy, surrounded them, but Epona saw another flash of green. Saw a female figure charge at them. Their face was a blur. The figure got between the ghostly figures and the boy, swords and red hair, tied into a high pony tail like her own, swinging. The boy ran, bolted towards the door, crying.
Lawrien let out a strangled gasp.
Epona turned round to see her, but Lawrien was staring right at her, eyes wide, face pale. An arrow pierced the warrior's chest, but the warrior kept fighting. The warrior killed another invader, but they were stabbed from behind, and another arrow pierced their body. The warrior swung round, cut open another invader's throat, and charged the archer.
"A last stand...?" Cobian asked hesitantly, approaching her side quietly.
"I suppose many such things have happened over the course of history," Epona said softly. "The Dalish during the shemlen's march, the dwarves during the darkspawn invasion, even now it's probably happening, Ferelden trying to protect their own, sacrificing their lives for the sake of others."
"As what happened in Ostagar..." Leliana said, muttering a prayer beneath her breath.
Epona's sight blurred, and her leather gloves turned into green gauntlets. Green, bloody gauntlets. An arrow was stuck in her chest, piercing the green leaf centre piece.
A hand snatched her own. Lawrien stared hard at her, and when Epona looked back down the armour and blood were gone. She was back in her original Dalish leathers. She squeezed Lawrien's hand tight, and snarled.
"What is going on, Lawrien?"
"I don't know," Lawrien said softly. "But they fell and you're falling and she wants to see you again and this forest was never the same when they died. When we all died..." Lawrien shook her head. "Something isn't right for either of us, Epona. Our blood isn't the same."
Epona almost groaned when she saw Cobian's notebook was wide open and he was scribbling into it furiously.
"Didn't the Keeper say something was different about you two?" Morrigan reminded them. "That you are of old bloodlines, that when come together, are here to protect the world from a terrible force."
"Something like that," Faren said, shrugging helplessly.
"This is all so interesting..." Cobian mused. "I wonder how many bloodlines are affected by this."
"I guess that would be a hard thing to guess," Faren said, frowning. "And it's not just to one entire race either since the Amell name was mentioned."
"Narascha blood also sings," Lawrien said cheerily.
Epona saw everyone pause.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Faren groaned.
"I don't know. She's kinda weird like Epona and Leliana are-"
Epona sighed.
"I'm not weird!" Leliana complained.
"You hear the Maker." Morrigan smirked.
"He shows me visions, not exactly speaks to me."
"Ah, right, now you see visions." Morrigan snorted.
"Morrigan," Epona said sharply, startling her. "Your mother said she once saved me and my mother."
"Mother and I-" Cobian corrected.
"Shut up, noble." Epona scowled, not even glancing at him. "Did she ever say anything in relations to Clan Mahariel?"
Morrigan paused thoughtfully, her brow furrowing, but in the end she shook her head. "Nothing that I can think of I'm afraid."
Epona shook her head. "I don't understand what is going on, but we can't focus on that now. Strange bloodlines in this world are nothing compared to the Blight and the darkspawn. We have to get to Witherfang and sort this mess out with Keeper Zathrian's clan to gain my people's help against the darkspawn."
Lawrien grinned. "Well said. We'll sort out all the weird stuff later."
Cobian's shoulders slumped, his face falling, but Faren patted his shoulder. "Don't worry," he soothed. "I'm sure more weird things will come along that you can study."
Cobian perked up. "True."