The month before, Vigil's Keep, Month 7 - Solis.
Late in the night south of the Free Marches, Amaranthine was holding an emergency meeting in the throne room going over what to do with Kristoff, Warden of the Grey. The man was deceased, a walking corpse that defied logic.
Deedo was unsure how to approach. She felt very uncomfortable. Her hand delicately placed under her sensitive nose, she looked at the man. Man, loosely referring to him as a whole. The decade's flesh was Justice, the spirit who inhabited the Warden. With what Lili'Enyel, Nathaniel and Anders spoke of, it was no wonder Justice came to the land beyond the veil.
"Justice?"
"Yes, my Lady?" He questioned back.
The Arlessa Commander shuddered, holding a finger up to gather her thoughts. Gooseflesh tingled wildly as she tried desperately to look him in the eye, to be civil. And in reality, she wanted to hide. "Lili, my dear? I cannot handle undead frogloks. You thought I now brave enough for this?" She whispered harshly. Hearing the ranger giggle, she rolled her eyes. "Justice? Uh… forgive me… By the Goddess, I cannot." She turned her back. Deedo shook her hands. This made her extremely uncomfortable. "Varel. What should we do about this? He has been gone for months and perished. Who knows how long exactly?"
Before the man could speak, Justice shared a thought. "These mortals have aided me in my task without question. The help lay to rest the injustice of the former inhabitants of Blackmarsh. I am here, in this body of.. A grey Warden. Pardon memories within this poor man's mind. Thoughts, hard to see… Slain by the Darkspawn, one called the First?"
"He was, creature that had trapped us in the Fade, by order of 'The Mother'." Lili stated, her companions agreed.
Justice recalled how he met with them. "Your pursuit when you were tricked into the Fade. Ah. This is what this body was. I understand now."
Deedo swallowed. "Yes, trained to fight the Darkspawn." His hallowing eyes fogged with death looked back at her. Deedo must muster her courage to at the very least remain in eye contact. If she looked nowhere else, like his sunken cheeks and pale skin, she could do… She shuddered once again.
"The memories I have are few with this Grey Warden. As I know nothing of this world, I admit, I do not wish to die. Can you advise me?"
Deedo looked up from rubbing her head. "You… Ah. You are a spirit. Could you die? A second time? Nevermind. What do your memories tell you?"
Justice stood silent for a moment. In thought, he saw in his new mind what happened exactly in Kristoff's last moments. "It was the darkspawn that murdered this mortal most ignobly. The ones that command it yet live. To avenge his death.. Yes, that would be a purpose." Resolute, he nodded. "I will join you, if you will have me, to avenge this mortal. Join your cause."
"We will.. Hmm?"
"What is it, mother?"
"His appearance. I must do something about it." Deedo had an idea. A glamor, temporary, would need to be replenished daily, but it will do for now. At least then she could look at him. "I'll return in a moment. Please do not move an inch." Deedo hurried to her room and quickly made a charm with a necklace for him to wear to restore the appearance of his former self. She prayed it would work. Others need not know that the dead walk amongst them, just her, Varel, and the three that went looking for him. In the morning, it should help him look a little more human.
Two days after Kristoff, Justice's return, a pleasantly warm morning greeted with many people, some emergent, some tearful. Nothing seemed urgent to the Arlessa until she witnessed a young woman fleeing out of the gates.
"Justice. What has happened?" Concerned, the elder mage was for the Spirit.
Justice turned to her, and he was in thought. "My memories of that woman were one of great love. I spoke the truth. Her husband is no more."
"Ah." was what the Arlessa could say that moment. "Is there anything you need?"
"To avenge this man. To bring solace to his wife, I feel I have done her a great disservice."
"You did nothing of the sort. We will come to a solution together. Is that alright?" Deedo placed a hand on his shoulder. Seeing the Spirit nod, Deedo left to speak with Varel.
As Deedo headed to her study, Varel came from the grand hall. He briefly explained what the situation was. "Yes, gather them. I need to hear what they say. Get Nathaniel and the others as well." With a nod, the seneschal was issuing orders.
Two of the guards were immediately scurrying, gathering all persons of importance into the hall.
What was this about? Had there been an overlook from when she had been away? It was something in her stomach that did not settle well. She called for her cousin in a moment as she sat in her office outside the hall. "Cousin, are you busy?"
"No, is there anything you need?" He answered immediately.
"I feel uneasy. I cannot explain it. Or maybe it was what happened a moment ago."
"Care to explain?" He was standing in the office looking her in the eye.
Deedo sighed as she went to say there was a knock on her door. "Enter."
"They have gathered." Varel greeted Xellexes as he gestured to the hall.
The Lord who was in the Arlessa's corner was visibly frustrated. "We have waited enough! Oh, well, now that the Arlessa is here, anyone who isn't we will inform after." He rubbed his forehead.
"Lord Eddelbrek, it is the Commander of the Grey's council, not yours." Varel stated.
"My apologies…" The older man stopped his pacing.
Deedo placed a hand on his arm. "You need not apologize. Now you have brought an army to my door. What is the matter?"
"You say army, and it is just that." Seeing that the Arlessa looked confused, the man continued. "I and others have lost villages to the army of Darkspawn. We fled here as fast as we could." The group murmured in agreement.
They looked exhausted, and Deedo gestured for them to bring food and drink in the hall quickly. "No, they are hiding. I hold your best interest in heart. Please, I will go personally to wipe them from your lands."
Lord Eddelbrek shook his head. "This is no-"
The room turned to the sound of a loud bang as the door was flung open and a small elven messenger came barreling in. The girl tripped on the carpet. Deedo reached to catch her before she fell to the stone floor. "My girl, are you well?"
"Dark- darkspawn… Army… Within sight… Of the city." She breathed hard.
"Maker, are they attacking the city?" Eddelbrek gasped. The others grew anxious.
Her guard captain cursed. "They have been under-manned for weeks. She may not last long."
Deedo looked up at them, frowning. She had sent men to the city for protection, then she cursed to herself. When she was gone, it was Bann Esmerelle who sent them away. Handing the young elf off to a guard, she stood tall. "'Kristoff', go to your wife and bring her back here now. Lili, she would not have made it far, go with haste."
"Yes, mother." She was gone with Justice in an instant.
Varel was calling young guards to scout the lands. "Our forces cannot move quickly enough. Though, Your Grace, just now, a small band can."
Lord Eddelbrek was filled with mortification. "That is suicide!" he gasped.
"Maybe, but what should I do instead?" With a nod, she issued more orders. "Velanna, when we leave, I would like for you to barricade the castle. Xellexes stay here and guard everything else." They left to make preparations as ordered. Deedo then turned to Nathaniel.
"I will stay here." He said. Deedo nodded. "I as well." Oghren stated.
Sigrun offered her a hand. "I killed them for years. Take me with you."
Deedo pointed for her to go outside. "Anders, come with me. I need your healing. We will catch up with Lili and Justice." She cast levitation on Anders, who was now floating awkwardly, swimming in the air to the room's surprise.
As Deedo grabbed the mage's wrist, they watched as she flew from the room. Once out the double doors, she shouted as she sent others out to relay the message she received. "Silver Order! Keep vigil, I sense an unease, Xellexes will be here along with my best defense. I will return with good news." She cast levitation on the eager dwarf with a shriek of surprise, then tugged along and was through the gate, just as Lili and Justice were bringing Kristoff's wife back. "Follow the other women and children, please. Let's go, you two." Deedo ordered the widowed wife. Lili'Enyel cast her Spirit of wolf as Deedo cast levitation on Justice. Spells poured from fingertips in the grand multitude as a barrier was now humming around the castle with thick brambles covering the walls, creeping to where they stood hovering. "Good girl. Hurry!"
At the castle, Nathaniel gathered everyone to the building that was designed for an impending attack. He was ushering the men to gather the women and children who were with them. Making sure baskets for food and blankets were available for them as well.
Xellexes watched the young man, and in the middle of the scurry he paused the boy. "You have a strong resemblance to our Kal'an."
Nate nodded. "He was a great man."
"Is. I am sending you to the city. Fight by my cousin's side. I have everything under control. Gather your horse." Xellexes smirked.
Doing as told, he hurried to the stables. In a blink, he was on the path just several feet behind the others. "Ya!" The steed was off in a heartbeat.
The City of Amaranthine gates.
Deedo came speeding through to a halt at the city gates. Firing off spells, weaving, crackling, immobilizing any darkspawn in her path.
Lili was taking down the Darkspawn within her line of sight one after the other, grabbing a flailing Anders and Sigrun as she grounded them, checking to see if they were well. Sigrun and Justice charged into the fray with a gleeful bellow, cutting through the two Hurlock commanders fighting the ill prepared city guard.
Anders healed as fast as he could feel the subtle strain on his power, unable to keep up. Deedo cast Gift of Magic, and Clarity, Anders felt his mind open, his fingers tingled, he smirked, casting spell after spell, healing and haste to the guard, massive boulders to the darkspawn taking them off of their feet.
Deedo had had enough. "Boon… Of the… Garou." An ear-splitting howl invoked fear in the darkspawn and humans. Her joints cracked, ached, skin stretched as they adjusted to her rapidly shifting form. Her skin growing thick with midnight black fur, her legs snapped, knees now bent oddly. She screamed, hunched over, pounding her fists on the ground. Her beautiful face elongated to sharp teeth, drooling, biting, snapping in pain. Claws sharp and thick, ready to tear into the flesh of her enemies.
"Scatter, she is not of her mind!" Lili called over the din of the sword clash.
Nathaniel dismounted as he saw the transformation of Arlessa Deedolit Swiftleaf. Saw her launch herself high into the air. An Ogre, armored, was helpless as she ripped the armor from his head and his throat out, blood pouring from the wound, its body fell with a thud to the hard ground. The other smaller darkspawn was no longer. Torn in two, one by one, fell. Black cloudburst of blood rained down, trailed behind her like liquid threads of inky shadow before she was off to her next target.
The whole main gate was a scene of torn bodies and an angry werewolf. Another howl needed more to hunt. The others looked on in a stupor at the once Arlessa Commander. She was smiling? A sharp, toothy smile as she surveyed the damage. More, she wanted more. Turned panting to see the humans standing about gaping at her.
"Damn, no… Mother, Mother. Do not come here. Run into the city, fight them off. I will slow her! They did as told. Lili'Enyel shot an arrow in her mother's direction, causing a snarl. "By the Goddess. Mother, no!" Lili forgot that her mother could still pin others. Rooted to the spot, Lili struggled to free her ankle.
A black blur sent her crashing to the ground. She opened her eyes to see Nathaniel on top of her, covering her head. Debris and dust coated them both. The sound of a growl alerted them. It jarred them so and with a glance Lili could just make out a huge clawed hand over his shoulder, readying to swipe. Shifting her hand around the archer, she pulled from her pouch a small bag, tossing it to hit her mother in the face before it could lay a sickening claw on them. Fitful growls, whimpers as the potion took effect.
Nathaniel rolled off of the ranger sitting up, looked as the werewolf thrashed, wiping her snout. "What did you do to her?"
"Aconite. A flower that repels the effects of werewolves. Wolfsbane." Lili'enyel got to her feet. "Mother, I know you can hear me. We have no time for this. The others are in the city fighting now."
Deedo shook her head, her lupine face wet with tears, and other bodily fluids as she suffered the effects of the plant. "Right. I know I ordered you to stay at the Keep." Deedo said through growls. She was in her mind once more.
Constable Aiden came running from the city gates. With several people behind him. "My Lady, the city is lost to us. A few nights ago some creatures burst from the ground, spreading taint and destroying all they touched, and no more than a few moments ago burst from the ground darkspawn. We got out as many people as we could days ago. There may still be more trapped within. The city needs to burn."
"No, we will save the city! That damned Esmerelle she has done enough to make me look bad!" The last of the spell was waning as Deedo stood to her height.
"Mother, if it is as he says, there is little we can do."
"Child you are having a jest, while we stand here chatting I could be in there ridding the city of darkspawn." She turned to face Nathaniel. "We save the city. My order. Think of your sister!"
"Commander, Constable! A darkspawn is approaching, alone." A city guard brought to their attention.
"Archers, take aim!" Aiden shouted, his arm raised in signal position.
"Peace! Do not be killing! Only talk! Architect sending a message for Grey Warden!"
Deedo stepped forward, a hand on the rigid arm of the Constable to lax. "Stand down. Speak." Deedo offered.
"The Mother army… army to your Keep. Architect sent to warn," he announced in his approach. "Finish The Mother off in her lair. The Architect wishes to have trusts. Help, he wishes not to see The Mother succeed."
"No..." Deedolit paled. She rooted to the spot, turned, looking at the city as black smoke bellowed from various spots. She collected her thoughts and issued her orders. "We save the city and you will help. Constable, take whatever men you can and put the fires out. Slay as many of those creatures as you can. No one else shall fall on this day." Then stepping over the makeshift barricade.
Nathaniel offered to go back to the city. The Darkspawn bore more ill news. "They will attack there once here finished." The creature spoke once more. "The Father has sent in others to assist with The Mother's defeat. Your Keep safe." He announced once he caught up with the others.
Deedo looked over her shoulder. "He kept his word… gather as much water as you can, put the fires out and save the people. Hurry! You hoist me high in the air!" She allowed the creature to touch her as she then formed a being of water, with several copies of herself. "Spread throughout the city." She called when she was launched high into the air, with her clones following with dripping wet trails. At the highest point, Deedo spun as with the duplicates. Waters rains down and several flashes along with it, bouncing from each copy in various city locations.
Those flashes, those were memorization spells. "She's stunning them! Hurry now into the city while she is holding them still. Go!" Lili ran ahead with the city guards in tow.
"Get the people you find to safety!" Nathaniel charged after the young ranger.
Blessed are they who stand before
The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter.
Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just.
Vigil's Keep main gate.
Once again spells flurries coating their skin. With much haste, they sped along the path, cutting through the wood. As quickly as they could muster, the group saw the darkspawn the creature mentioned shambling or running back into the woods coated in flames.
The bramble thorns still held up. "Cousin, we have arrived. Bring down the runes."
Several of the Silver Order stood about the courtyard to make sure no more darkspawn of a threat were present. Three came from the gate to greet the Arlessa.
"Your Grace, we did it!" They cheered, sporting wide grins. "None broke through. Everyone is well! You should have seen it. There were blades and spells…"
Deedo smiled at them, relieved. Ahead, Xellexes came stepping through the gate with a broad smile and a guest at his side. Her eyes could not believe what they were seeing. "Is that-?"
The ranger followed her beloved mother's line of sight. "Brother!" Lili'Enyel ungraciously burst out into a full sprint, throwing herself into the tall man's arms. Sobbing as she clung to him. "Brother, how?" she would say nothing more as she hugged him tighter.
Deedo saw him there, standing with them, a smile of laughter on his face as he held the weeping girl.
"My lady, are you well?" Nathaniel steered his horse close to her, dismounting. He reached out to hold her elbow to keep her upright.
Gripping tight to Nathaniel's arm. "My son." Tears welled and trickled. "My Ikal'antúlien." She took steps forward. Her older children met her midway. Her hands trembled and went to cup his cheeks.
"Mother, I have missed you." His deep timber resonates in her heart. "I have missed you desperately."
Deedo pulled him to her in a warm embrace. His head resting on her breast, hearts thundering like stampeding horses. She trembled. His arms held her like a child lost and finally found. Sinking to the ground, they cried together. Blotting her eyes, she chuckled with a laugh. "My baby, oh my precious child." Deedolit sniffled as she kissed the top of his head.
Far off in the distance, the Architect watched the group before he himself turned to leave... For good.