Chapter 56
Having passed Caridin's Cross they were heading towards Emma's worst nightmare - Ortan Thaig. Why did it have to be spiders? Or, if it had to be spiders, why couldn't they be smaller? Maybe something like the size of a coin, a really small coin. But no, they had to be the size of a damn bronto! She looked around nervously when she recognised the area; they were getting close to the fight between the darkspawn and the spiders.
Five minutes later, the passage opened into a large cavern and a scene of carnage. An ogre was beset by four massive spiders - the poisonous type. Great! Just when you thought nothing could be worse than gigantic spiders, you meet a poisonous gigantic spider. Emma couldn't suppress the shiver that crawled along her spine as the ogre grabbed a spider and lifted it. The eight-legged beast loosed an awful squealing noise as it fought back by biting and slashing at the ogre with sharp pincers. The cavern shook as the hugevhorned darkspawn gave a mighty roar as it tore the arachnid in half. Emma swallowed past a lump and fought valiantly to keep her breakfast down as bloodied chunks of flesh flew in all directions. "Sweet Maker, that's just nasty."
Unfortunately, the ogre had made one fatal mistake - it had forgotten the three other spiders. These horrendous creatures sank vicious fangs into the ogre's thick legs, injecting poison with each bite. The creature staggered back a step, but then with a massive bellow, it lowered its head and charged. The spiders dodged with disturbing ease, and as the ogre turned to face them it swayed, looking disorientated. Emma felt a stab of pity as it fell to its knees before dropping face-first to the floor. She looked away as the spiders swarmed over the body; that wasn't an image she wanted in her brain.
"Heads up, people. They've spotted us," Aedan called out. Pulling in a deep breath, Emma grabbed her staff and moved back, allowing the rogues and warriors to step forward and take the brunt of the attack. The three mages spread out along the passage entrance and threw out spells, some destructive, some healing, and a few buffs for good measure. Leliana leapt onto a nearby ledge that jutted out from the stone and rained down arrows from her superior height. With the first wave of spiders taken care of, they moved further into the cavern and watched the darkspawn fight off an attack from the arachnids. When the odds had evened out somewhat, Aedan and his team joined in the fight, striking down both darkspawn and spiders alike.
By the time the combat was over, corpses littered the ground and everyone started to put away their weapons. "Wait," Emma said, turning to a dark, shadowed corner of the cave. "We have a few more to deal with." Her eyes met those of the Alpha shriek guarding a chest. It tipped back its head and let out an ear-piercing scream that Emma felt in her bones, and then it charged forward. Just as it reached them, three more shrieks appeared out of thin air, their razor-sharp talons slashing at Aedan and his group. The fight was ferocious but short, the Alpha giving them the most difficulty. However, it finally fell and the group took a well-earned rest. After wandering around the cave and looting all the useful items, they set off once more for Ortan Thaig.
Upon reaching the lost thaig, Emma made a beeline for the chest that contained the records for Orta and put them in her pack. She jumped when a loud shout echoed off the rough, damp walls, and turned in time to see Ruck run down a side tunnel. She joined Aedan and the others as they followed the panicked dwarf. "Who are you?" Aedan asked. The dwarf babbled nonsensical words, then a familiar hiss from the rear of the group made everyone spin around, and draw their weapons in readiness.
The seemingly never-ending supply of spiders surged forward once more. Working as a team, Aedan and the others rapidly cut through them until the area was clear. Emma's eyes darted to and fro, looking for more spiders and her skin crawled at the thought of how close the nearest one might be to her. She was starting to feel more and more nervous with each arachnid they encountered and drew in a fortifying breath; it's okay, you can do this Emma, not much further to go and you'll be past Ortan Thaig.
"How are you holding up, Angel?"
She looked up into concerned eyes and forced a smile to her lips. "I'm all right. Thanks for checking though."
He brushed a kiss to her lips and gave her one more appraising stare before taking the tunnel that Ruck had run into. They found the addled dwarf amidst the remains of a camp. Oghren examined the walls and nodded. "Yep, this is one of Branka's camps. Don't know what this nuglicker is doing here though."
Emma smacked the warrior on the back of the head. "He's not deaf so perhaps keep the nasty comments to yourself." She approached Ruck and smiled, even though the stench emanating from him made her wish for a can of air freshener. "I've met your mother, Filda, and she's worried about you."
Ruck waved his hands frantically and babbled. "No! No mother, no warm blanket and stew. Ruck doesn't deserve good memories."
She held up placating hands. "It's okay, Ruck. Would you like me to tell her that you're dead? She deserves some closure."
He nodded and curled his hands into his chest. "Pretty lady is kind. It not so bad down here once you eat... once you take in the darkness... you not miss the light so much." His small eyes peered closely at her. "You know, do you not? Ruck sees..." He stopped abruptly and leaned in even closer, sniffing at her. His eyes flew to Aedan and he took a tentative sniff at the air around him too, before moving to Alistair and repeating the process. He shambled back to Emma. "You all have a light in your darkness. Ruck not seen that before."
The three Grey Wardens exchanged puzzled glances. "Ruck not mean to offend," the dwarf said cowering away from them.
"It's fine, Ruck. No offence taken," Emma said. They traded goods with the tainted dwarf before leaving him to his solitary life. As they walked back the way they'd come, Alistair moved up beside Emma. "So, any idea what that crazy dwarf was talking about, and I don't mean Oghren."
"I heard that, you nug-humper!"
Alistair grinned before turning his attention back to Emma, who met his questioning gaze with a look of confusion. "I'm not sure. He didn't say what I was expecting him to say." She kept scanning overhead and around the walls, anticipating the reappearance of more spiders. The mystery of Ruck's words would have to wait until she'd left behind Ortan Thaig.
They exited the tunnel and their next battle awaited; golems and ghosts. Ah, well. At least there were no spiders this time. Shale went toe to toe with the first golem and seemed to be enjoying herself as she yelled and pummelled at it. The rest of the group moved past and took on the ghostly dwarves. Emma kept her attention split between the battle going on in front of her and Shale's fight behind her. However, she needn't have worried because right then, Shale delivered a powerful uppercut and the enemy golem fell.
She stomped past Emma wearing what could only be described as a smug look. "These golems are very inferior. Such poor workmanship."
Emma chuckled and followed Shale over the bridge, catching up with the others as they moved to take on the remaining golem and ghosts. With another fight out of the way, they took a break to rest their sore muscles and have something to eat and drink.
Emma's gaze kept sliding over to the dark passageway which led to their next destination. She closed her eyes and attempted to find her calm but horrifying visions of spiders crawling over every inch of the tunnels traumatised her mind. Her eyelids snapped open just in time to see everyone prepare to leave. Desperately, Emma fought to keep her arachnophobia under control, but as they entered the passage, her ragged breathing and shaky legs told their own tale.
Only a few steps into the tunnel, the first spider crawled up its thin web and curled up into the ceiling. Emma's muscles tightened with nerves as she approached the spot where the spider had disappeared; her mind kept replaying a scene where its large, grotesque body would fall on her. Her eyes became glued to the ceiling, watching for a movement, waiting for it to reappear. She couldn't move. Fear had sunk its claws into her, and she didn't know how to get away from it.