The Battle For Ostagar
Rain pelted down, soaking them all to the bone. Epona watched the clearing, a strange whisper in her ears just as a fog began to swarm over the over side of the battlefield. The older Grey Wardens all seemed to grow wary, stiff and agitated, only the recruits seemed to not hear the whisper. Lawrien's eyes caught hers, and Epona paused at the startled look in them.
"You can sense them already." Lawrien grimaced.
Yegrettie, the only other mage in the Ferelden Wardens, startled from her thoughts, looking over them both questioningly. "You shouldn't be able to sense them so quickly. It's meant to take time."
"Maybe the taint developed faster considering Epona had it before," Ciara suggested, the shemlen stared out towards the forest, and winced. "We might have time to look into it later. If we survive this first."
"There is a lot more than anticipated," Yegrettie agreed. "But it doesn't matter. We lure them out and then Teyrn Loghain will charge in from behind."
"It won't work if there's too many," Narascha interrupted, gritting her teeth.
"Wait, what happens then?" Torph frowned.
"We all become overwhelmed," Narascha said gravely. "Can you sense how many there are?"
Ciara winced. "In a way. We can't tell exactly how many there are exactly, but the whispers grow louder."
"Whispers?"
"It is the way the Grey Wardens can tell when the darkspawn are about," Yegrettie said. "And right now, there are a lot of them."
Narascha growled. "More than the scouts estimated?"
"I think so."
"That's bad. That's really bad."
Torph shifted. "So, the plan won't work?"
"No. It'll be a slaughter."
Torph paled. "Well shit."
"We need to make use of the traps we have in place effectively. That should buy us time," Narascha said. "And while that happens, we have to hope the Teyrn, or anybody, comes up with a good plan."
The darkspawn stalked out of the forest, growling and hissing. The shemlen soldiers grew anxious, some stepping away, terrified, only to be coaxed back into place by their fellow warriors. It was the Shem-King's reaction that made her frown, the growing horror in his eyes which he swiftly covered up. She heard Narascha curse, or what she presumed was a curse considering she said it in the dwarven tongue.
"Recruits, stay close, do not wander too far into the battlefield," Yegrettie ordered, gripping her staff tightly while Ciara drew her daggers. "And if the Archdemon shows do not engage! Let the Senior Wardens handle it."
"I'm fine with that," Torph said instantly. No hesitation whatsoever.
Faren snorted.
"ARCHERS!" The Shem-King bellowed, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
Epona raised her bow high and took aim. The rain of arrows pelted down and slaughtered the first wave of darkspawn. It hardly made a difference. She fired again and again while Yegrettie raised her hands. Clouds began to gather above her, the clouds sparking with lightning as they moved away, right towards the darkspawn. Lawrien raised her hands, fire flaring with the lightning.
"Steady." Yegrettie gritted her teeth.
"My magic isn't steady," Lawrien hissed.
"Keep it under control then!"
"You're stressing out and its stressing me out. So quit it!" Lawrien snapped.
The clouds gathered and the winds grew stronger, quickly moving away while Epona fired off more arrows, using the growing wind as her guide. More mages joined in from the shemlen's Circle of Magi, adding to the growing storm.
The storm gave one more spark, and then death rained down upon the darkspawn.
Lightning, ice and fire fell, exploding among the Darkspawn, scattering their ranks and taking a whole number of the monstrous creatures down. More replaced them as the storm faded and Epona swore she saw Duncan tense even further. Torph grinned though and pressed something on his belt. The ground below the darkspawn exploded. The explosions erupted across the field, taking out hundreds more darkspawn, tossing bits of them back into their own swarm. But the scattered darkspawn were quickly replaced by more of the swarm.
"Ha! Eat that shit heads!" Torph laughed before calling back. "That's all my bombs gone."
"HOUNDS!" Shem-King yelled in response.
The mabari charged, barking and howling as they went off as one. They tore deep into the Darkspawn ranks, the hounds circling back round to charge in again, though many didn't emerge from the darkspawn flank. The Shem-King raised his sword and screamed out a battle cry, pointing his sword at the charging mass.
"FOR FERELDEN!"
Everyone charged, the King and Duncan being the exception, they spoke briefly while Epona decided to remain on her perch, firing off more arrows. The others charged off, even Yegrettie, all screaming their own battle cries and curses as they charged. A large stone fist slammed into the darkspawn's front line and Epona swore she could feel Lawrien's grin as the soldiers met the beasts head on.
The battle for Ostagar had begun.
.::.
"That is a lot of darkspawn," Alistair noted. He barely managed to keep himself calm. He wanted to scream, but no. They would win this. They had to. They had a whole army here.
Alistair nodded. "Okay, lets go and get this beacon lit, Cobian-" he said, turning to Cobian, but the spot where the rookie had stood had no human there.
Calenhad barked happily at him, tail wagging.
"Uh..." Alistair looked around frantically. There was no sign of Cobian. "Where is Cobian?"
Calenhad looked out to the battlefield and barked.
Alistair groaned. "He's disobeying orders, huh?"
Another bark.
"Dammit. And he left you with me?"
Calenhad's tail wagged.
"Well. Shit." Alistair paused. "So, I'm watching over you then?"
Calenhad growled softly.
"Wait, no? You're watching over me?"
Calenhad barked happily.
"Oh..." Alistair deflated. "Really? Fine, I suppose we'll just have to keep an eye on each other then?"
Calenhad seemed to dismiss him, because the mabari huffed and walked away. He just got dismissed by a dog. By the Maker...
He couldn't let Ciara find out about this. She'd tease him forever.
.::.
Ciara slipped in behind, slicing a Hurlock's neck before rolling underneath a swing of a Genlock's blade. She threw her dagger, hitting its shoulder and rushed the darkspawn. Ciara twirled round it and stabbed the back of its head, yanking both her daggers back out of it as it fell. It was relentless, she couldn't see an end to the darkspawn army and the whispering in the back of her head only kept growing louder.
"Keep it up!" Narascha bellowed. "We can do this!"
The soldiers grew more confident which each encouragement she cried out. They leapt into battle, echoing their own cries while Ciara risked a quick glance around, heading for Narascha who charged into another wave of darkspawn, her axe swiping the three down and cutting into them.
"Narascha!" Ciara tossed out a dagger, flaming sparks flying off the rune as it hit a darkspawn, the flames erupting into an explosion. "How are we doing? Honestly now!"
Narascha threw her a grave look. "We're dying out too quickly. We've hardly made a dent in their forces. I fear Loghain's force will not be enough anymore."
"The beacon hasn't been lit either," Ciara agreed, yanking her explosive dagger out the charred darkspawn as Narascha blocked a blow, twisting round and cutting into the darkspawn's back with a snarl.
A few darkspawn went flying overhead, Lawrien was surrounded, fire and force magic flying out of her staff, slaughtering through the darkspawn around her as if they were made of butter. Lawrien showed no mercy. An arrow went flying into one trying to charge Lawrien, Epona still shooting away from her perch.
"He can't charge in this. Not without being overrun." Narascha shook her head. "I may not understand a horse charge, but this army is too big for our men and Teyrn Loghain's."
"Then we must speak to the King." Ciara searched about, trying to spot the golden armour, or at least even Duncan or the Kings guard. "Epona! Can you see the King?"
"Your Shem-King fights a fair distance away!" Epona pointed in the direction, whirling round to stab a hurlock in the neck with an arrow, shooting another charging hurlock down with another.
"Thank you!" Ciara bolted, taking off in the direction Epona pointed too, Narascha and Lawrien on her heels.
"Duncan!" Lawrien yelled as they got closer and closer, the three of them taking down any darkspawn in their way.
"Lawrien, are you alright?" Duncan called out, tearing his sword out of a darkspawn's chest, kicking the corpse back.
"There's too many darkspawn. They haven't even gotten out of the trees yet!" Lawrien cried out.
"The tower hasn't even been lit yet either," Ciara noted.
King Cailan winced. "I was sent word on that regard. There are darkspawn inside the tower."
Alistair was up there. Ciara shook off the thought. This was no time to be distracted, not by him, especially not by him. They were in the middle of a battlefield. Narascha cut down another darkspawn that got past the blockade of Kings guard.
King Cailan slumped. "Cobian... I never should have sent him up there... I should have sent him off with Loghain..."
"He'll be alright, Your Majesty," Duncan tried to reassure him.
"I hope so," King Cailan whispered, shaking his head, ridding himself of any hint of distress. "The darkspawn..."
"They're too co-ordinated," Duncan replied, grimacing. "There must be a Vanguard here."
"Bloody Generals," Narascha spat. "If there are too many of them here we're screwed!"
"Send a message to Loghain, I need to know what he plans to do, if we must call for a retreat or not," King Cailan said.
"LOOK OUT!" A soldier screamed and Narascha cursed loudly.
An Ogre charged them, but Lawrien beamed. "Narascha! I have an idea. Let me throw you at it!"
Ciara had expected a complete and utter denial, but no. The dwarf was insane. Narascha grinned and nodded, taking a stance.
"Do it!"
Lawrien gathered her force magic around Narascha and sent her flying at the Ogre. Ciara heard Duncan curse, but ignored it in favour of watching Narascha fly through the air, and swing her axe. That boost made her faster than the Ogre's reaction time. Narascha slammed right into him, axe buried in his face. Lawrien cheered as the Ogre went crashing into the ground. Narascha however kept slicing her axe into it, scattering blood. But Ciara realised that the dwarven noble would know how deadly an Ogre's healing speed could be.
Narascha was making sure it wouldn't get back up to surprise them later.
"Why would you do that?" Duncan cried. "Why did you chuck her at an Ogre?"
"She said I could?" Lawrien winced.
"How many times do I have to tell you NO!"
Lawrien laughed nervously.
"Keep fighting men!" King Cailan cried out, though he looked so exhausted, struggling to hide behind his mask anymore. "We can do this!"
"Lawrien! Lyrium!" Ciara threw a bottle her way, wincing when Lawrien gulped it down eagerly. They had to use it though, this battle would be too difficult otherwise.
Their backs pressed against one another and fire erupted from Lawrien's hands, the fire burning any darkspawn that charged towards her into a crisp. Ciara tore into whichever darkspawn came near her, always returning to Lawrien's back to keep it protected.
"Where are Faren and Torph?" Duncan asked.
Lawrien grimaced. "Too many voices. I don't know."
Ciara shrugged helplessly. She hadn't seen them since the charge. They could be anywhere.
.::.
The messenger finally arrived back with news from Loghain but it wasn't good. King Cailan blanched before cursing lightly and Narascha knew immediately what had happened. Loghain was calling for a retreat. He wouldn't charge. There were far too many darkspawn. The beacon had been lit, but there hadn't been any point, no matter how people began to cheer, expecting the reinforcements to arrive to save them.
"Sound the retreat!" Cailan yelled, shoving his startled men back towards shelter. "Get everyone back now!"
Narascha cut down a couple of genlocks and locked blades with a hurlock. She kicked out, booting it in the shin before swiping low, driving it back. Ciara slipped in behind it and sliced its neck open, immediately pouncing on the next darkspawn. Her arms were constantly in motion, not a single movement wasted and Narascha matched it. They had to get everyone back-
The retreat signals flared brightly against the walls of Ostagar as Narascha smashed a genlock across the face with the back of her gauntlet. "Move! Get going. Back into the ruins of Ostagar. Go!" Narascha yelled.
She was thrown off her feet though by an explosive that sent a wave of darkspawn scattering. Torph was by her side immediately, yanking her back up to her feet and cursing loudly. "You alright?"
"I'm fine!" she yelled, her ears rang and her entire body ached. Her back was worse though, it felt like it was burning from a sharp, tearing pain.
"Sorry, that was a bit too close." He tugged at her. "C'mon, let's go!"
"There's still far too many men in the thick of the fight!" Narascha replied.
"And the retreats' been called!" Torph hissed.
Narascha cursed. She didn't want to leave them behind but they were getting overrun. She nodded and raced after Torph, the pair fighting through the darkspawn. They began to head for the archway where the gates were, seeing the soldiers pouring through it to get to relative safety. It was a bolt of energy crashing into the archway that made her stop, yanking Torph backwards as the archway collapsed, crushing so many men and woman trying to flee. It wasn't too big of a block thankfully but it slowed things down, people now leaping over the rubble to flee. It was getting overcrowded though, way too quickly.
Narascha whirled round, spotting the emissary laughing. A large ball of fire hit it though, Lawrien's flames growing brighter and brighter around her. She looked like a beacon, darkspawn being thrown around as fire and lightning poured out of her staff. Ciara slipped around each strike, laying her own on the darkspawn, keeping them off Lawrien's back but more and more charged towards them.
"Epona! Get them out of here!" Duncan yelled, Narascha could see him fighting a hurlock, decapitating it with a hard swing. Duncan was pointing at her and Torph. "To the forest!"
Epona was suddenly at their side, pushing them that way. "Move!"
"How is it any better in there?" Torph hissed.
"More cover," Narascha agreed, shoving him along. "So move it!"
Somebody yelled for the King. Narascha froze, glanced back, and yelled. A Vanguard mage burned the Kings guard alive with a fireball, and the blast had thrown the King and Duncan to the ground. Narascha raced forward, Torph and Epona yelling. An arrow flew by, but the mage threw up a shield, sending it flying. Epona released another as Narascha sprinted. Duncan shakily tried to stand, and the mage threw another fireball at him and Cailan.
A man leapt in the way, his shield pointed down, and the blast hit the ground instead.
Narascha didn't have time to be impressed. No, she had to dodge a bloodied, battered Faren who hit the ground in front of her, white as a sheet, and she swore his shoulder was out of place.
"Kid!" Torph cried out.
"Stay back!"
Faren leapt to his feet, just as Narascha turned to face his foe. She paled, and realised who exactly it was that tossed Faren at her.
It was a hurlock Vanguard.
.::.
Duncan sprang forth to reach Cailan. He had to save him. For Maric. Maric's son! But he never made it time, no, a familiar bloodied figure threw himself in the way, his shield pointed down. The shield knocked the fireball to the ground, somehow, and Duncan did not miss the glow that shimmered across the shield.
The Cousland shield was enchanted.
It was enchanted by someone powerful enough to block a Vanguard's magic.
Cobian slammed his shield off the mage, knocking it back. The darkspawn leered, sending a bolt of lighting, but Cobian rolled out the way and swiped at its legs.
"Cobian!" Cailan yelled, coughing up blood, gasping. "No, get out of here!"
Cailan was wounded. He was wounded and badly, a massive burn on his side, melted right into the armour. Duncan could see the shard of it embedded in Cailan's skin. Blood gushed from the wound, staining his armour and the ground beneath him.
Duncan bit back a cry. He had failed. He had failed Maric and Cailan and Alistair.
Cobian ignored him, face grim. "You are the King of Ferelden. Countless men and women will die to keep you seated upon that throne. You cannot die here."
"My life is forfeit-"
"Not if you get to a healer."
"Cobian, get back!" Duncan ordered, but gritted his teeth again the pain. His entire body ached, his ribs most of all.
He must have broken them, more than one, considering the pain.
Cobian ducked beneath another wave of fire, then tilted his shield down and blocked lightning. Not an accident. He wasn't just lucky with the way he was aiming his shield. It was Alistair's technique. Duncan didn't know if Alistair was dead or alive. Alistair... No, he had to live, the beacon was lit. He had to be safe.
He couldn't fail Maric again. Not again. Please.
He tried to get to Cailan, but Cailan was struggling to try get to Cobian, shaking and white, but still trying nevertheless. Cobian was locked in on his fight, and for once the hyper intensity that usually had Cobian rambling was gone. Instead there was a calm focus, and Duncan had no idea what that meant. Only that Cobian was driving back the Vanguard mage with vicious swipes of his sword and shield. And he was studying the Vanguard's every move, but in turn the Vanguard was studying him too.
A wave of fire sprang between Cobian and the Vanguard. Lawrien shoved the Vanguard back with her force magic, sending it flying through the air and hitting some genlocks. Cobian and Lawrien shared a look, and Cobian turned on his heel and rushed to Cailan's side.
Ciara marched up to her side, eyeing the pair. "The King..."
"He has no time left to be healed..." Lawrien whispered. "Cobian knows it too, but he won't let Cailan die alone. So I'll give them some time for a goodbye."
Duncan painfully forced himself to his feet. He had failed. He had failed Maric again. But a goodbye, if he had to die for that to happen then die he would. Lawrien nodded at him, and gathered up her magic as the Vanguard mage hurled a fireball at them.
Lawrien caught it with her own fireball, the pair exploding into a large ball of flames. She grinned wolfishly. "I see you like fire too."
Her favourite element, and someone had dared challenged her with it. Duncan grimaced. Well, if the forest burned down around them, it might just kill enough darkspawn for this battle to be a somewhat victory.
.::.
Cobian pulled Cailan up against him, earning a choked gasp.
"I'm sorry," he said weakly. "I couldn't save you-"
Cailan smiled shakily. "You already did. C-Cobian, y-you shouldn't be here. Y-You should have been safe..."
Cobian cupped his hand when it rose to hold his cheek. He held Cailan's hand, even as his gaze began to grow distant. Cobian saw the blood spread, staining the grass, and bit back a cry.
"I love you," Cobian said. "You've always been a good brother to me, so please, please don't go. Not like this."
Cailan smiled, teeth bloody. "I-I love you too... S-So this time... T-This time you will obey me. L-Live. Live for me."
"Cobian!" Ciara yelled.
More and more darkspawn poured out of the woods, the mages were fighting, magic flying everywhere. Lawrien caught some kind of fire storm and forced it back, changing its directions with her force magic. But she was growing weary. Cobian bit his lip, but nodded, and squeezed Cailan's hand one last time.
"Cailan?"
Cailan didn't answer. He still smiled, but his eyes were blank, no life or loved left within them. Cobian choked down a cry, and gently placed Cailan down, pushing his eyes shut.
"Goodbye, Cailan." Cobian climbed to his feet, and swiftly cut down a genlock rushing at him.
.::.
Narascha caught the blow just in time. She barely paid Faren any mind, no, instead she twisted her axe against the Vanguard's, pushing him back. He dodged her swing, blocked the next and kicked at her. Narascha spun from the blow, sweeping a cut at his legs, but again he dodged.
She grinned sharply.
Now this was a fight. A fight that would break or make her. Narascha howled, feeling the tip of the axe slicing her cheek, while hers bit his leg. A rush of adrenaline hit her, her body sang, and Narascha savoured the thrill. They traded blows, dancing through the fury of motions. Narascha grinned, her blood on fire, song alight in her heart. It was glorious.
"You're enjoying this?" Torph screeched. "You lunatic!"
Faren leapt on the Vanguard's back, stabbing his daggers into the darkspawn's face. It got an eye. The Vanguard roared, grabbed him and yanked him down hard, swinging his axe, but Narascha blocked it again, catching the blade with her own. Faren rolled free, stabbing the Vanguard's wrist and leapt to his feet. The Vanguard laughed, circling them both.
It seemed the Vanguard was enjoying this fight too then.
Faren grimaced. "This thing is seriously fast. And we're bleeding a lot. I'm actually starting to feel dizzy..."
"It's exciting, isn't it?" Narascha grinned sharply.
"I wouldn't call it that!"
An arrow pierced its armour, then another. Faren cradled his arm and grimaced.
"We can't keep this up. Epona's running out of arrows, Torph's a trapper and can't use so many explosives with our allies running about, and we're both hurt."
"Not unless one of us plays a distraction," Narascha said grimly. "And let's the others escape."
Faren paled. "Whoever stays will die."
"Yeah, so you better get running."
"Narascha, you're a dwarven warrior. You have far more use than another rogue."
"In that case, let's feed Torph to it." Narascha smirked.
Faren laughed. "You're lucky he can't hear us."
"Oh yes, he'd complain." Narascha hardened her stance. "I can hold it back far longer than you, Faren. We both know I won't go down easily."
"Do we?" He shot her a nervous look.
She smiled. "Yes."
They startled when a sudden cloud of magical landed in front of them. Yegrettie leapt from it, attacking the Vanguard, a wave of lighting struck it, throwing it back. The Vanguard took a while to steady itself, and Yegrettie screamed, pushing more magic into the attack. She looked bad though. Claw marks had torn open her back, torn in deep, and so much blood-
She wouldn't survive fighting a Vanguard, not in her state. Narascha gritted her teeth. A dark feathered bird swept past them, clawing at the Vanguard and screeching.
"Yegrettie!" Faren gasped. "You're hurt."
"Duncan gave you an order. Epona, get them out of here!" Yegrettie yelled.
"But you won't survive-" Narascha clenched her teeth.
"We're buying you time! All the old Grey Wardens will lay down their lives to give the rest of you time, so use it well!"
Epona gritted her teeth and nodded. "All of you to the forest, now!"
Narascha pushed Faren back, and he obediently ran towards Epona, and Narascha reluctantly followed behind. She didn't like leaving Yegrettie like this, but she was right. It had to be done. The dwarven warriors had done this too, to protect another squad from the darkspawn horde.
Leaving a comrade behind always killed a little piece of her inside. But it had to be done.
And those alive had to keep going.
.::.
Ciara collapsed to her knees, shaking. The mage's corpse, her daggers sticking into its back, fell down beside her. Duncan trembled at her side, even as Lawrien threw more darkspawn back from them, sweating and bloodied, but angry. Cobian knelt at her side, gasping for breath, blood running down his head sluggishly.
The Vanguard mage was finally dead. It had taken all four of them, and spent their strength entirely. Only Lawrien's sheer stubbornness and overdosing on lyrium kept her on her feet. A familiar figure was thrown at Lawrien though, and the pair hit the ground hard. Cobian put himself between them and the hurlock, shaking on his feet, but standing nonetheless.
"Yegrettie!" Duncan gasped.
The hurlock general, bloodied, an eye missing and its armour and skin burnt marched their way. It held Yegrettie's staff, and Yegrettie laid limp in Lawrien's arms. Lawrien gritted her teeth, just as Duncan shakily rose to his feet again. A familiar bird cawed weakly, and Yegrettie's raven flew down, landing wobbly on to Yegrettie.
The darkspawn around them laughed. The Grey Wardens were the only ones still in the thick of battle, but Ciara could see the exhaustion and the swarms of darkspawn taking their toll. They would all be dead soon.
"Ciara, get to Lawrien!" Duncan limped towards the Vanguard, yelling as he took off into a run.
She saw the armoured hurlock swing its axe, getting Duncan across the side and throwing him away. Ciara cursed but leapt to her feet and ran to Lawrien's side. Yegrettie shifted, still a bit of life in her then, but Ciara could see the axe wound torn straight through her chest.
She could see the bones-
"Y-You have to go!" Yegrettie choked out, raising a shaky hand.
"No-" Lawrien gasped.
But one second they were surrounded by death, screams and blood, then the world blurred by. A sudden silence greeted them, sending Ciara reeling, baffled by the change. They stood alone in the forest, her, Cobian and Lawrien, and Lawrien's lap was stained with so much blood.
Yegrettie was dead. She must have died from that last spell. There was no way she survived that.
Lawrien buried her head in her hands. "She wrapped her magic around us. Sent us away!"
Yegrettie had just saved their lives at the cost of her own. Ciara closed her eyes and prayed, prayed for the Maker to take Yegrettie safely to his side. To protect her from any further harm. Her and Duncan both.
Cobian's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed into the dirt. Ciara didn't even have enough time to brace him, only watch as he hit the ground. That was when Lawrien screamed.
.::.
Yegrettie smiled and closed her eyes. "They're out, Duncan."
She could hear Duncan's laboured breaths, heavy and panting, but when she opened her eyes, she could see his relieved smile. He was on his knees before the Vanguard, just as said Vanguard raised its axe.
"Thank you, Yegrettie."
The axe swung, and Yegrettie pushed herself up to sit. She petted Raven who cawed despairingly.
"You should have left me when I told you too..." she said weakly, watching as the Vanguard turned to her, its axe dripping with Duncan's blood. Her best friend. Her brother. Her Commander. Their friends screamed, her brothers and sisters. They all called for Duncan, and screamed in rage and despair.
Yegrettie dipped deep into her blood, her magic, her history. The Vanguard slowly walked her way, almost lazily, and it would be the last mistake it would ever make. She gathered up the last of her magic, held Raven close, because she still refused to leave, and Yegrettie unleashed one last blast of energy.
She hoped it would be enough to avenge Duncan.
.::.
They were going out. Flickering with life one moment, before going dark. Snapped out like candle light. Her Grey Wardens, her friends, her family.
They had lost the battle. Lawrien could feel the Grey Wardens getting cut down, one by one even from deep within the forest. It made her sob, clamping her hand over her mouth to muffle her cries. She felt them all cry out for Duncan and felt Yegrettie's one, last outburst of magic before her connection to them died off.
They had lost the battle for Ostagar. The darkspawn had won.
They were probably the last of the Grey Wardens.
Lawrien screamed.