Chapter. 5
For those about to Blight, we salute you!
When Jaune came to, both Duncan and Alistair were kneeling above him.
After a disoriented moment, Jaune shot up, eyes wide, looking for Kali.
Said woman was currently clutching her head like she was reeling form the worst hangover to ever burden a living being. Sighing in relief, Jaune shakily stood and traipsed over to Kali's hunched form, before plopping down next to her.
"That… sucked." Jaune groaned.
"Mmhmm." Agreed Kali.
"Did… did you have a weird dream too?" Jaune asked.
"Yeah… 'bout a… dragon." Kali answered. "You?"
"A… woman?"
Kali turned to look at Jaune. "A woman?"
"Yeah, but… she looked like the Grimm."
"Grimm?"
"Oh, yeah, their… like the darkspawn where I'm from."
Kali made a sound of understanding, before collapsing onto Jaune's form, using the taller man as a pseudo body pillow. Jaune leaned onto Kali in turn.
As the two were basking in each others shared misery, Duncan approached. "When you two are ready, the King has requested both my presence, along with the two of you."
"Why… us…?" Jaune panted.
"It seems you two made quite the impression."
Duncan left the two to recuperate, and made his way for the King's War Room.
-{O}-
After a while, the pair made their way to the King's War Room, now dressed in the armor of the Grey Wardens.
Kali was dressed in black trousers – that were held up by a brown leather belt – that missed it's left leg, with the remaining leg tucked into brown leather knee-high boots – that also covered her knees – and a dark blue quilted padded bolero style jacket – with steel reinforcement studs in the center of each quilted section – with brown leather fingerless gloves and vambraces with attached elbow armor, along with a feminine style breastplate under her padded jacket, that showed off her black shirt, with an attached dark blue hood. She had twin curved, single edged, short swords sheathed upon her back.
Jaune was dressed in black trousers, held up by a brown leather belt, that were tucked into brown leather knee-high boots – that were covered by steel greaves – and a blue quilted, high collared, padded jacket – with steel reinforcement studs in the center of each quilted section – with brown leather fingerless gloves. He wears a steel breastplate that covers most of his upper abdomen with steel vambraces and gauntlets with two steel pauldrons. He had his new sword and Crocea Mors' shield strapped to his back, on a special made baldric, so he could remove both sword and sheath in one fluid motion.
As they made their way to the War Room, the pair couldn't help but over hear the King and Loghain arguing. And after a heated debate, the pair were given the order to protect and light the beacon that resided in the Old Tower to the north of the camp, alongside Alistair.
Said man didn't take that quite so well. "Are you saying I won't be fighting alongside you and the King?"
"No, you won't." Duncan replied. "Both myself and the King need the three of you to light and protect the beacon, less Loghain's men not know when to attack."
"But I-"
"Alistair." Interrupted Duncan. "This is a task of utmost importance, I need you to do this, for every living thing, for the King… for me."
"I… yes, Duncan."
"Alistair, be careful."
"You too, Duncan." Replied Alistair. "Maker protect you."
"May he protect us all."
With their pieces said, Duncan and his wards parted ways… unknowingly for the last time.
-{O}-
The trio of Grey Wardens make it to the bridge, just in time to see an archer get annihilated by a giant, fuck off, flaming rock.
"Maker's Breath!" Alistair swore.
Jaune stood, frozen, for a moment as his mind transported him back to the Fall of Beacon, before shaking out of it with fire blazing in his eyes. "Come on! We need to get to the tower!"
Jaune's shout shook the other two out of their own trances, the three Wardens then charge across the bridge, narrowly avoiding the hurling flaming boulders.
Making it to the tower was relatively easy, minus the few darkspawn that harassed their journey, joining with and losing two fellow soldiers along the way.
Stopping in front of the tower, Jaune gazed upon it with a furred brow. "If there's a witch or a dragon up there, I swear…"
The trio made their way through and up the tower, slaughtering darkspawn all the while, until they made it to the highest floor.
Waiting for them, was the hunched form of an ogre devouring the corpses of it's last victims, before the beast stood and turned to them with a shrill, demonic, howl.
"Oh, isn't that just lovely!" Alistair snarked at the sight of the ogre.
The trio rush toward the ogre, with Jaune stopping half way to shield toss Kali over and behind the ogre. Kali slid down the monsters back, like a pirate to a ship's sail, while Alistair hacked at the monsters ankle and Jaune sliced through the other. Kali rushed to the ogres stabilizing hand and slashed through it's flesh to the connecting bones beneath. With the monster down to one arm and poised for a killing blow, Jaune rushed in to finish it. The ogre tried to squash the puny human in front of it, only for Jaune to quite literally disarm it, before removing the ogre's head from it's shoulders.
After a moment's rest, Jaune grabs and tosses a torch to Kali. "Go! Light the beacon!"
Kali nods as she catches the torch, before rushing towards the beacon and tossing the torch into it.
The trio then approach the owning to see the results of the battle, but after a moment, they notice Loghain's men are no where to be seen.
"What's happening?" Questioned Alistair. "Why aren't Loghain's men charging in?"
Before another question could be asked, a veritable horde of darkspawn charge through the floors lone door. One fires an arrow at Kali, striking her in the shoulder and taking her to the ground, while Jaune and Alistair fight off the rest of the darkspawn.
Just as it looks that they're about to be over run, a sound of giant flapping wings could be heard, causing to Jaune to look up.
Seeing the sight in front of him, Jaune let's out. "Oh, come on!"
-{O}-
Jaune was slumped against a rock, overlooking the lake near Morrigan's cabin with a thousand yard stare. "Another dragon… another witch… and yet another tower…"
Beside him, was Alistair, besides himself with worry. "What was that?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing, just… remembering, things…" Answered Jaune, who continued after a moment's silence. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"About what?"
"Duncan."
"Oh."
"If you don't, that's fine, but someone once told me it's better to let your emotions out then to let them fester."
Alistair sighed. "I know it sounds stupid, but I…"
"Wish you were with him?"
"Yes… like I said, it's stupid, I mean, I'd be dead… but I just…"
"Feel like you should have been there for him?"
"Yeah."
"That's normal, I believe, and understandable, from what I've gathered in our short time together, he was like a father to you."
Alistair was silent for a few minutes. "I'd like to bury him, and the others, I… don't know if he had any family, I… I know he was from Highever, though."
Jaune stood and clasped a hand onto Alistair's shoulder. "He had you."
Alistair smiled softly and patted Jaune's hand. "Thank you… have… have you lost… anyone?"
Jaune smiled sadly and looked over the lake once more. "In a way… everyone and… everything I ever knew."
"Oh Maker, I'm… I'm sorry." Apologized Alistair. "Here I am complaining about Duncan and you and Kali-"
"Hey!" Interrupted Jaune. "Just because Kali and I might've had it worse, doesn't mean any pain you feel is invalid, got it?"
"Y-Yeah, I got it." Surrendered Alistair.
Before either of them could continue with their pity party, a shriek is heard from the cabin, followed shortly by an embarrassed looking Kali and an amused looking Morrigan.
After a very worried and relieved greeting from Alistair, and a bone crushing bear hug from Jaune, Morrigan's Mother, who's name is Flemeth, explained that she saved them, and that she had one more thing she could offer them, it was at this moment that Morrigan joined them.
"The stew is bubbling, Mother dear." Morrigan announced. "Shall we have three quests for the eve or none?"
"The Grey Wardens are leaving shortly, girl." Replied Flemeth. "And you will be joining them."
"Such a shame- What?"
"You heard me, girl. The last time I looked, you had ears!" Laughed Flemeth.
"I think that's an excellent idea." Kali added.
"Have I no say in this?" Asked Morrigan.
"You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for years." Replied Flemeth. "Here is your chance." She turns to the Wardens. "As for you, Wardens, consider this repayment for your lives."
"Okay, we'll take her with us." Jaune replied.
"Not to… look a gift horse in the mouth, but won't this add to our problems?" Asked Alistair. "Out f the Wilds, she's an apostate."
"If you do not wish help from us illegal mages, young man, perhaps I should have left you on that tower." Flemeth shot back.
"Point taken." Alistair conceded.
"Mother… this is not how I wanted this." Morrigan explained. "I am not even ready-"
"You must be ready. Alone, these three must unite Ferelden against the darkspawn." Explained Flemeth. "They need you, Morrigan. Without you, they will surely fail, and all will perish under the Blight. Even I."
"I… understand." Sighed Morrigan.
"And you, Wardens? Do you understand?" Flemeth asked pointedly. "I give you that which I value above all in this world. I do this because you must succeed."
"She won't come to harm with us, Arc's word." Jaune swore.
"Allow me to get my things, if you please." Morrigan said before departing toward the cabin.
Returning to the assembled group, Morrigan turns to the Wardens. "I am at your disposal, Grey Wardens, I suggest a village north of the Wilds as our first destination. 'Tis not far and you will find much you need there."
"Or, if you prefer, I shall simply be your silent guide." Morrigan said. "The choice is yours."
"No, I prefer you speak your mind." Replied Jaune.
"You will regret saying that." Laughed Flemeth.
"Dear, sweet mother, you are so kind to cast me out like this." Snarked Morrigan. "How fondly I shall remember this moment."
"Well, I always said if you want something done, do it yourself, or hear about it for a decade or two afterwards." Flemeth replied.
"I just… do you two really want to take her along because her mother says so?" Asked Alistair.
"Oh, get over yourself, Alistair." Sighed Kali.
"If you worry that I will summon demons and transform into an abomination, I assure you I will at least wait until you are not looking." Snarked Morrigan.
"I feel better already." Deadpanned Alistair.
Jaune sighed in relief. "Well… let's get going, shall we?"
And so, the newly formed party leave for the town to the North.
A little down the path, Jaune turned to Morrigan. "So… what is this place we're going to?"
"'Tis a small place of little consequence called Lothering. No more than a stop along your Imperial Highway where travelers purchase goods from local farms and smiths. I would go more often were it not for the town's chantry. It makes the village particularly intolerant and unpleasant for a stranger such as I."
"Fair enough."
As they walked long the Imperial Highway, they ran into the very same Mabari War Hound that Jaune and Kali healed from it's injuries back at the King's camp.
Kali let out a gasp of joy, at the sight of the running hound. "Doggy!"
Morrigan made a sound of disgust. "Please tell me we aren't keeping that… flea ridden mongrel."
"I don't know." Replied Alistair. "I kind of like him, for some reason."
Jaune laid a comforting hand upon Morrigan's shoulder as Kali gushed over the bestest of boys, that was until a pack of darkspawn came charging from the trees.
The group jumped into action, and within seconds the darkspawn were no more.
"Oh, we are so keeping you!" Kali cooed the Hound.
Jaune patted a distraught Morrigan on the back, while Alistair laughed. Eventually, they made it to the outskirts of Lothering, with both Jaune and Kali looking fed up with both Morrigan and Alistair's bitching.
Jaune sighed heavily as Morrigan and Alistair fought about something or another in the background. "Please, Oum, make it stop!"
"Maker please, take my hearing." Agreed Kali.
Whilst Jaune and Kali wallowed in their shared misery, the group came upon a group of highwaymen harassing a dwarven caravan.
The lead highwayman looked up to them as they approached. "Oi! You there, yer gonna have ta-ack!"
The highwayman didn't get to finish his "proposal" as a thoroughly done with everything Jaune grabbed him by the neck, and whilst holding him up with only one hand, continued to walk as if he was as bothered by them as anyone would be by a mosquito.
The rest of the bandits looked to one another.
"I-I think I'm… I'm done bein' a bandit, what about you two?"
"Y-Yeah…"
"I-I'm g-good with that."
The foursome – followed by the dwarven merchants, who give them some long cloaks to conceal their armor, after they're warned about their new statues as wanted criminals – pass by the demoralized highwaymen and enter the town of Lothering.