Chapter 64
No one had managed to get more than a few hours of sleep, but the short rest had refreshed the group enough to keep going and finish the mission. Aedan had once more tried to talk to Emma, but she'd managed to avoid his questions by saying she was too tired; consequently, he was now like a bear with a sore head.
"Are you okay?" Alistair asked as he threw a sideways glance at the grumpy Grey Warden. Aedan blew out a long, frustrated breath. "Just trying to figure a few things out."
"Hmm, I noticed that Emma has been avoiding you since that incident at the Legionnaire's altar."
Aedan gave a short nod and Alistair rubbed a hand over his face as he tried to frame his words as diplomatically as possible. "I get that you're worried about her, but…," he scratched the back of his neck in a gesture that practically screamed his discomfort, "…but you really need to pull your head out your ass."
There was a slight spluttering sound from somewhere behind the two Grey Wardens and Alistair turned his head slightly in time to see Wynne turn red and cover her mouth as if to muffle any further sounds. She made a shooing gesture at him and he sighed, turning his attention back to Aedan, only to find that his friend had stopped moving and was staring at him with a quizzical look. Alistair quickly backtracked and cleared his throat. "What I meant was…"
Aedan held up a hand, stopping any further words and stared for a brief moment. Alistair started to fidget as that cool stare seemed to look right into him, and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. Aedan's lips twitched, then he laughed outright. "Oh, Maker! Alistair, you really do have a way with words." Aedan slapped his fellow Grey Warden on the shoulder as he started walking again and Alistair breathed out a sigh of relief that his friend had such a good sense of humour. "You're right, I need to put my other problems on hold until we're back on the surface. Thanks for getting my head back in the game."
Alistair smiled. "It was nothing."
"Oh, and thank Wynne for me too," Aedan added with a chuckle. Alistair flushed and turned to Wynne, giving her a dirty look. She shrugged and smiled innocently.
As they exited a narrow tunnel, thick sheets of metal sprung up and effectively blocked their exit. Everyone looked around the large empty cavern, but Emma turned to look up at a ledge and waited for Branka to appear. She didn't have to wait long.
"Let me be blunt with you. After all this time, my tolerance for social graces is fairly limited. That doesn't bother you, I hope."
Oghren's face lit up as he caught sight of his wife. "Well, shave my back and call me an elf! By the Stone, I barely recognised you!"
Branka looked less than impressed and replied in a flat tone. "Oghren. It figures you'd eventually find your way here. Hopefully, you can find your way back more easily." Her small black eyes turned to Aedan. "And how shall I address you? Hired sword of the latest lordling to come looking for me? Or just the only one who didn't mind Oghren's ale-breath?"
Aedan's eyebrow shot up at the insult. "What were you a Paragon of again? Because it certainly wasn't manners."
Emma chuckled but then caught the look in Branka's eyes; there was a manic glow that caused Emma to suddenly lose the urge to laugh. Branka ignored Aedan's comment and told them of her dilemma about getting past Caridin's traps. She saw the belligerent glint in Aedan's eyes and explained with a smug grin that he and his companions had no choice in the matter, as the only direction they could go was forward.
The Paragon moved out of sight, and with a resigned sigh, Aedan led his team into the next set of tunnels, which soon opened out into another spacious area. A quick glance around showed that Branka had barricaded herself on higher ground, leaving them to battle the swarm of darkspawn that poured out from yet another tunnel. They fought, and then they fought some more; the darkspawn seemed never-ending and it was as if every type had been thrown into the mix – from ogre to necromancer. Wynne was throwing out buffs and healing to keep everyone in tip-top condition until at long last the combat was over. They all decided to rest for a while before tackling the remainder of the traps that lay ahead of them.
"What are you doing? You need to keep moving!" Emma glanced up to see Branka leaning over the barricade, her face red as she shouted and pointed to the tunnel entrance. She snarled, "Oh, shut up! We're doing your damn dirty work here, lady! So just give it a rest and let us catch our breath in peace." The female dwarf glared at Emma before storming off to sulk.
They reached a room where thick green noxious gas hung heavy in the air. Zevran eyed the fumes with a wary eye. "There is a faint smell of deathroot, so we really don't want to linger. Perhaps we could do a sprint across the room?"
Emma shook her head. "Unfortunately, as soon as we reach those four golems in the centre, they're going to attack us, and if we don't kill them, the door on the other side remains locked."
"This Caridin has an evil mind. I like it!" Zevran exclaimed with a grin. Emma chuckled and then continued, "There are four valves next to each golem. Once those have been turned off, the gas will dissipate quickly and we can fight unhindered."
Shale moved forward. "It must be terrible to be so fragile and squishy. I can close the valves."
The golem reached the first wheel and quickly spun it; there was an ominous cracking sound and Emma suddenly remembered that each golem would activate once the valve nearest to them was closed. "Shale, move quickly! The golems are starting up." A boulder crashed inches from Shale's head and she shouted back, "Yes, thank you for that belated warning." Within seconds the green gas had disappeared, and the rest of the companions charged into the room to help.
Slowly but surely, they worked their way through the traps and Emma realised how much easier the task was when the whole group was involved; the rotating head puzzle was dealt with at a much more rapid pace when there were two people stood at each anvil to activate it and fight the ghostly dwarves simultaneously. Eventually, they reached a large chamber, and there, at the top of a slope, sat the Anvil of the Void. However, standing between them and the Anvil was a massive golem. It stepped forward and spoke in a deep, booming voice, "My name is Caridin. Once, longer ago than I care to think, I was a Paragon to the dwarves of Orzammar."
Shale peered intently at the wide golem. "Cardin? The Paragon smith? Alive?"
Caridin turned his head quickly. "Ah, there is a voice I recognise. Shayle of House Cadash, step forward."
Shale looked both surprised and confused. "You… know my name? Is it you that forged me then? Is it you that gave me my name?"
There was a sigh from Caridin. "Have you forgotten, then? It has been so long. I made you into the golem you are now, Shayle, but before that, you were a dwarf… just as I was. The finest warrior to serve King Valtor, and the only woman to volunteer."
"The only… woman? A dwarf?!"
Emma guessed that if blood had flowed in Shale's veins, she would have passed out at that point. The Paragon explained how he'd put Shale into the form she now possessed and then went on to tell the story of the Anvil and how it had led to his own transformation into a golem. Just as Caridin finished his request for Aedan's help in destroying the Anvil, Branka burst into the chamber. "No! The Anvil is mine! No one will take it from me!"
Emma realised she had no idea which of the two Paragons Aedan would choose to help. Shit! She'd been so intent on avoiding any talk about what had happened to her, that she'd forgotten to have a chat with him about the consequences of this important decision!
