Chapter 70

The group set off early, intent on reaching Redcliffe as soon as possible. However, as they reached the edge of the Brecillian Forest, Emma tripped. She climbed to her feet, looked back, and realised she'd fallen over an unconscious man. "Blimey, you never know what you're going to find lying around in the grass," she muttered. Everyone gathered around, looking at the severely injured man. Wynne's healing magic flared but Emma put a hand on her arm. "It's too late for him."
Wynne looked closer at the wounds. "It might not be…" She looked up at Emma's implacable expression. "Ah, this is something you already know about?"
Before Emma could answer, Alistair said in a surprised tone. "I know him. If I remember correctly, he was at Ostagar, one of King Cailan's honour guards."
The man coughed and blood splattered his mouth as he regained consciousness. He grabbed Emma's wrist. "I failed in my duty; I failed King Cailan. Please, help me set things right."
Emma knew they were talking to Elric Maraigne, and soon they'd be back at Ostagar. She loved the story because of the sentimentality. Now she could ensure King Cailan got a proper funeral, and also Duncan. Although that hadn't been in the DLC, she would make damn sure his body would be laid to rest, too. She looked at the man as his bloodied hand tightened. "I know what needs to be done, Elric," she said, squeezing his hand. "I promise you, his armour will be recovered and he will be laid to rest."
The man smiled. "Thank you." His grasp slackened and Emma lowered his hand to his chest while Wynne closed the man's eyes, now glazed with death.

Aedan raised a brow. "I'm guessing we're going to have a detour?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah, we're going back to Ostagar."
Sten growled. "Is this delay really necessary?"
"It is, especially for those of us who were at Ostagar."
"Perhaps we could bury this poor fellow whilst we discuss who's going where," Wynne said. Deeming themselves the two strongest, Shale and Sten set about digging a grave. Aedan beckoned to Emma. "Will the four of us manage in Ostagar?"
"Technically, it's five as Revek will be joining us." The dog thumped his tail as though confirming his attendance. "But yes, we'll manage. There are some tricky fights but nothing we can't handle."
"We left too many darkspawn alive," Alistair said, gripping his sword, his expression solemn.
Wynne's eyes narrowed. "The events at Ostagar still haunt me. It's time we got some closure."
Aedan clapped his hands. "All right, everyone else head for Denerim and send word to Arl Eamon that we'll be ready for the Landsmeet soon.
"Will there be darkspawn at Ostagar?" Sten asked.
"Ah, yeah, there'll be quite a few," Emma replied.
"Then I will also be coming along."
Zev and Leliana looked at each other and gave an emphatic nod. "We'll be there too."
Shale sighed. "I suppose I must protect the squishy things."
Oghren shrugged. "I'm easy either way."
Morrigan flicked back a lock of dark hair. "Of course, I'm coming too. The Korkari Wilds were once my home. I owe those disgusting creatures."
They buried Elric, and Leliana said a prayer. Then Aedan growled. "Let's go kill some darkspawn!"

-x-

Crisp, glittering snow covered the ground and shrouded the statues and pillars, giving a false sense of cleanliness, but Emma could sense the darkspawn's taint nearby. The three wardens drew their weapons, and everyone followed suit. With snarls and growls, the darkspawn charged. Alistair, spotting a hurlock wearing a piece of Cailan's armour, roared his anger and attacked. When all the darkspawn lay dead, Alistair recovered the greaves and replaced his sabatons with the golden armour. "I won't leave a piece of his armour to be mauled over by the stinking darkspawn."
Aedan patted him on the shoulder. "Understood. Now, where do we go next? This snow has me all turned around."
Emma pointed towards the stone ramp. "That's where… well, you'll see."

The snow crunched underfoot, and Emma looked around for the Joining cup. Blimey, it seemed so long ago since she'd suddenly appeared in Ostagar. What she'd first mistaken for a dream had turned out to be a new start… a new life for her. Even with all the fighting and the pressure of ending the blight, she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Aedan's voice cut into her thoughts.
"Oh Maker, is that the cup?" Aedan jogged over to a large silver goblet glinting in the pale sun. He held it up and peered closely. "Alistair, is this it?"
The young grey warden nodded and briefly touched the cold metal. "I'm glad we found this. Something to remember Duncan by." The goblet was reverently laid in Aedan's pack, and they continued through the camp. The Quartermaster's corner had been ransacked, with chests broken and upturned. The Mages enclosure had suffered too. Torn tents flapped in the cold wind like a flag waving in surrender. Emma's skull itched and she grabbed her staff just as Aedan and Alistair reached for their weapons.
Sten ran past Emma aiming his massive two-handed sword at a genlock. His slash cut the creature in half. His lips curled in a smile. "I'm glad I came."
Emma managed a lopsided smile but she'd caught sight of Duncan's campfire desecrated by the darkspawn. Channelling her rage, she let loose a lightning storm over a group of darkspawn racing towards them. Their corpses fell to the ground jittering and smoking. The same anger could be seen in Aedan's lethal strikes, and Wynne's devastating spells, whilst Alistair's shield hit with unrelenting force.

Alistair recovered Cailan's gauntlets from another hurlock and switched them with his gloves. They moved past the kennels where they'd helped the sick mabari. Emma walked over, running her hand along the wooden fencing. "How did you do, big guy? I hope you're running free."
Then they were at Duncan's campfire. Alistair groaned as he looked at the filth and strange totems piled over the stone cold bonfire. Aedan and Emma stood on either side of him, the three wardens united in their grief for the Warden Commander. Emma's eyes glinted as an idea came to her. "Stand back."
She closed her eyes and drew on her mana until a fireball shimmered into existence.
"Oh yes, I like this idea," Wynne said and she cast the same spell. Morrigan soon joined until all three mages held large globes of swirling flames.
"NOW!"
At Emma's command, the three fireballs hit the pile and the conflagration shot in the air. The fire cleansed the area and for a moment, Emma could see Duncan standing there. She blinked and he'd gone, but it felt like he approved.
"You do realise every darkspawn will see that?" Oghren complained.
Emma smirked. "I'm well aware. Let them come!"
Aedan grinned. "I see you're feeling feisty today, love." He slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her hard. "I'm right there with you."
Alistair waved a hand. "Same, though I'll forego the kiss."
A piercing howl announced the arrival of a pack of blighted wolves. Emma couldn't help but remember her first fight in Thedas where she'd had to use her staff as a club to fight off the wolves. How things had changed. Hearing the heavy pad of paws, Emma spun to face the attack but found herself staring at a massive white mabari. It flew past her and pounced on a wolf, taking it down with a ferocious attack of teeth and claws.
When the fight had ended, Emma approached the mabari but stopped when it backed away, teeth on display. Emma knelt and held out her hand. "It's all right, fella. Do you remember us? We helped you when you were sick."
Revek moved to Emma's side and laid down, panting happily, his stubby tail jumping from side to side.
"Are you sure?" Aedan asked.
"Mhm, it has a brown patch on its right leg that looks like Lake Calenhad."

Slowly, the mabari crept forward until it could sniff her. She kept her eyes down, repressing a shiver as its cold nose tickled the sensitive skin on the top of her hand. A warm wet tongue slithered across her knuckles followed by the push of a large muzzle. Emma gently stroked the dog's head until it leaned forward and licked her face. Chuckling, Emma rubbed the dog's ear. "Good lad."
It barked and rolled on its stomach. "Oh, not a lad, got it. Good girl." The stumpy tail wagged.

"Do we have a new addition to the group? Alistair asked.
Emma stood up and stretched out the kinks from kneeling. "That's up to the mabari."
They set off towards the King's Enclosure and sure enough, the mabari followed, albeit at a distance.