Blood spilled all over the ground. Crimson red on the light gray stone. Jory's eyes bulged out of his head as he outstretched his arm towards Linn; his eyes shone bright with anger… resentment. The sword that pierced through him glinted in the moonlight as he staggered toward her with a guttural moan. He couldn't speak, but his meaning was obvious: "How are you the one who passed the test, witch?"

Linn awoke with a flinch and stared at the ceiling for a few moments. The slightest bit of light came through the window and told her that the others were lighting torches and preparing for the battle to come. With a sigh, she slowly sat up. She had passed the test… Jory and Daveth… they had not. Even now, she could remember the call of that tainted blood… As she had drunk that nasty mixture, the mark had seemed to be soothed.

After stretching her arms, Linn got out of the bed and started to get ready. She tried to push the nightmares from her mind as she put on her clothes. At least the ones about the other recruits were less frightening than the ones about the darkspawn. After drinking the blood, she had passed out. Apparently, that was normal as Alistair and Duncan hadn't been surprised… but she wondered if the dreams about the darkspawn were also normal. Chills went up her spine at the memory.

"Enough," Linn muttered to herself.

The battle was today, and she needed her wits if she was going to survive. After the ceremony, Duncan and the King had revealed their plan. They would go to meet the darkspawn in battle, and Alistair and Linn would be in charge of lighting the beacon in the tower. Alistair hadn't been thrilled, but Linn felt reassured that they wouldn't be in the main fray. The sound of shouting from outside made her quickly grab her staff and bag. She left her room and ran down the hall. There were sounds of screaming in the distance. She opened the hallway door to see flames and arrows littering the ground.

"Hey!" Alistair's voice came from the distance, and Linn rushed toward the sound.

As she made it to him, there was a large explosion, and Linn looked over to the bridge to see sections of the stone walls crumbling all around the bridge.

"We need to get to the tower!" Alistair shouted, and Linn gave him a quick nod.

Linn and Alastair started running over the bridge as explosions knocked back a group of archers. Upon reaching the steps on the other side of the bridge, another explosion hit the bridge, and Linn heard Alistair yell as the explosion shook the bridge. Linn turned to see Alistair on the ground and ran back. She quickly helped him up, and they raced for the tower. The sounds of screams filled Linn's ears, but the tower in the distance gave her something to focus on.

As they approached the tower, the sight of darkspawn made them pause. Alistair looked at the tower with grim determination before charging into the fray. Linn quickly cast a quick barrier spell on him as the darkspawn charged him. Keeping her distance, Linn cast bolts of lightning at the darkspawn. After the darkspawn fell, Linn looked to the remaining soldiers. There were about six soldiers that had survived the skirmish. Alistair looked to the tower with despair in his eyes.

"Come on!" Linn shouted, and Alistair looked at her. "We were told to light that damn fire, so let's light that damn fire!"

The soldiers let out a shout of support, and Alistair led them into the tower. Waves of darkspawn came at them as they fought their way through the tower. Each floor was teeming with the monsters. By the time they made it to the final stairway, they had already lost three men in the struggle. The doorway felt ominous as they approached it. Alistair turned to Linn with fear in his eyes. She could feel it too. The same feeling of… wrongness. There was a darkspawn behind that door, and it was strong. Alistair turned back to the door and opened it. Linn quickly followed behind him and the soldiers, sizing up the room. There was a large creature bent over on the other side of the room.

The monster slowly stood up to its full size and turned around to look at the soldiers. Large horns framed its face, and it let out a roar as one of the soldiers rushed forward. The soldier's blade barely pierced the creature before being knocked out of the soldier's hand and across the room. The ogre-like creature grabbed the man by his waist before quickly biting off the soldier's head. Blood dripped from the creature's maw as it looked at them with something close to amusement.

Linn gripped her staff and concentrated on pooling her magic. Outstretching her hand, she summoned flames out of the air. The darkspawn was engulfed by flames for a moment before it lunged forward at her, dropping the soldier's body in its haste. Linn staggered back quickly, but soon she was blocked from the ogre's view. Alistair leapt in front of her and swung his blade at the creature.

A loud shriek pierced the air. The ogre's face now dripped with more than just the soldier's blood. The other soldiers quickly charged the ogre as well. As their blades drew the ogre's attention, Linn once again concentrated before unleashing more fire at the monster. The simultaneous attacks made it hard for the ogre to concentrate on just one person. The ogre brought down a fist at Alistair, who caught the blow with his shield. The impact sent Alistair flying back. Now the ogre had a clear view of Linn. Its face twisted with a snarl before it charged at her.

On instinct, Linn quickly let go of her staff and threw up her hands to create a barrier. The ogre's fists slammed on the magical barrier. While her barrier held against the assault, Linn could feel the building pressure. The creature slammed once again on the barrier. The impact broke the ward and sent Linn flying back to the other side of the room. Alistair charged the creature but was sent flying back again. The ogre had finally decided who to attack.

Linn prepared herself as her hand touched the guard of a sword. The darkspawn ran at Linn, but the soldiers plunged their swords through the ogre's legs as it ran away from them. With a roar of outrage, it fell to the ground in front of Linn. She picked up the fallen sword with both hands and plunged it deep into the ogre's face. The monster let out another scream as it gripped the sword. Linn jumped to her feet and ran around the ogre to pick up her staff. Alistair raced to get in front of her as the ogre climbed onto its feet.

Another scream of rage echoed through the tower as it ripped the sword from its face. Linn let out a bolt of lightning, hoping to stun the monster. Her attack only enraged the beast. One of the soldiers ran at the ogre. The monster grabbed him off the ground as the blade pierced the monster's side. Alistair charged forward and leapt into the air. His blade struck the ogre in the chest. With one final scream, the ogre fell to the ground, and blood began to pool beneath the monster.

"The beacon!" Alistair shouted, and Linn quickly used her magic to light the beacon.

Linn quickly walked over to the window, hoping that they had made it in time. She could hear distant fighting down below, but it was too dark to see anything. Alistair soon joined her to look. His face told her that he couldn't see any better than she could. The sound of loud footsteps made them look at each other in horror.

More darkspawn charged into the room. The soldier closest to the door was killed immediately by the onslaught. Linn quickly let loose a blast of fire to buy the other soldier time to get closer to her and Alistair. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough time. Linn watched in horror as the mob cut the man down. She used the staff to attack the closest darkspawn, but she knew that she and Alistair couldn't defeat this group alone. As Alistair was hit, he fell right in front of her. Linn put up her barrier as the darkspawn charged. Their attacks weren't as strong as the ogre's, but what they lacked in power, they made up for in numbers.

Linn looked down at Alistair to see blood leaking through his armor. She turned her attention back to the horde. The mark seemed to buzz with anticipation. Linn gathered up the dark magic; it almost seemed to be alive as she wrestled to make it obey her commands.

Glaring at the beasts, she whispered her heart's desire with one word, "Burn."

Dark green fire surged from her as the barrier crashed down. The flames quickly consumed the closest darkspawn before spreading to the others. If the darkspawn had been smarter, they would have run as the firestorm consumed their brethren.

Linn fell to the ground as the mark burned. She clasped it with her hand. No doubt that wasn't enough to kill them all. However, when they killed her, she'd be back… and stronger. Linn quickly made a deal to herself that if they should kill her, then when she rose… she'd kill every last one of them.

Darkness crept into her vision as she collapsed on the ground. At least, she didn't have to worry about Dean getting hurt trying to protect her. As she fell into darkness, she heard a strange sound… like the flapping of large wings.

A door closing made her jump as she awoke. A bed… she was lying in a bed… in her undergarments. Bloodied bandages were set to the side, and Linn looked at her wounds to see that they were mostly healed. Before she had time to consider the possibilities, a familiar voice caught her attention.

"Ah, your eyes finally open. Mother will be pleased."

"What-" Linn began to ask, but the sudden movement made her wince in pain. "Where are the darkspawn? What happened?"

"You were injured, and then Mother rescued you. Do you not remember?" Morrigan asked as she came closer.

"I remember darkspawn trying to bludgeon me to death… then it's a blank."

"Mother managed to save you and your friend, though it was a close call. What is important is that you both live," Morrigan explained before hesitating slightly. "The man who was to respond to your signal quit the field. The darkspawn won your battle. Those he abandoned were massacred. Your friend… he is not taking it well."

Linn looked at her in confusion before she suddenly realized that meant that someone had survived.

"Alistair's alive?"

"I know not his name," Morrigan said dismissively. "The suspicious dim-witted one who was with you before, yes. He is outside by the fire. Mother asked to see you when you awoke."

Linn quickly threw on her robes. They had a couple of holes in the sides, but it was better than nothing. Her hand was on the door when she turned back to Morrigan.

"Thank you for helping me, Morrigan."

Morrigan froze for a moment as though flustered and replied, "I… you are welcome, though Mother did most of the work. I am no healer."

Linn gave her a small smile before heading out of the door. Alistair paced by the murky water. Morrigan's mother was watching him with amusement and irritation before her attention focused on Linn. With a glance back at Alistair, Linn closed the door behind her before heading to him. Alistair looked toward the hut and took a step back as he saw her.

"You… you're alive! I thought you were dead for sure," Alistair said with a smile at her recovery.

"It takes more than a few darkspawn to kill me… How are you holding up?"

Alistair's smile fell off of his face as he replied, "Duncan's dead. The Grey Wardens, even the king… They're all dead. This doesn't seem real. If it weren't for Morrigan's mother, we'd be dead on top of that tower."

"Don't talk about me as if I am not present, lad," Morrigan's mother said as she approached the two of them.

Alistair's hand went straight to the back of his neck as he stammered, "I didn't mean… but what do we call you? You never told us your name."

"Names are pretty but useless. The Chasind folk call me Flemeth. I suppose it will do."

Alistair's eyes showed his recognition of the name. "The Flemeth from the legends? Daveth was right. You're the Witch of the Wilds, aren't you?"

"And what does that mean? I know a bit of magic, and it has served you both well, has it not?"

"It has," Linn quickly spoke up. "Thank you, Flemeth. You saved our skins and bought us some time to figure out what to do next."

"We need to bring Loghain to judgment! Why would he do this?"

Flemeth mused with a meaningful look at Linn, "Now that is a good question. Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature. Perhaps he believes the Blight is an army he can outmaneuver. Perhaps he does not see that the evil behind it is the true threat."

Alistair muttered, "The archdemon."

Linn sighed in frustration but said, "Then we need to find this archdemon and find some way to kill it."

Alistair's eyes widened. "By ourselves? No Grey Warden has ever defeated a Blight without the army of a half-dozen nations at his back. Not to mention, I don't know how."

Flemeth spoke up, "How to kill the archdemon? Or how to raise an army? It seems to me those are two different questions, hmm? Have the Wardens no allies these days?"

"I… I don't know," Alistair muttered. "Duncan said that the Grey Wardens of Orlais had been called. And Arl Eamon would never stand for this, surely."

"The treaties!" Linn shouted before rushing back inside the hut. She ran back out with her bag and said excitedly, "Duncan never took them from me… He was busy setting up the test."

Hope lit up Alistair's eyes as he asked, "So can we do this? Go to Redcliffe, and these other places and… build an army?"

"We can certainly try."

"So you're set then?" Flemeth asked. "Ready to be Grey Wardens?"

"Yes… and I really do appreciate what you've done for us. Thank you."

"No, no, thank you. You are the Grey Wardens here, not I. Now before you go, there is one more thing I can offer you."

Morrigan stepped out of the house and started to ask if Alistair and Linn were staying for dinner when Flemeth continued, "The Grey Wardens are leaving shortly, girl. And you will be joining them."

"Such a shame," Morrigan started before she suddenly looked at her mother with surprise. "What?!"

Linn quickly spoke up, "Thank you, but if Morrigan doesn't want to come with us…"

"Have I no say in this?" Morrigan asked with fury.

"You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for years. Here is your chance. As for you, Wardens, consider this repayment for your lives."

Alistair quickly countered, "Not to… look a gift horse in the mouth, but won't this add to our problems? Out of the Wilds, she's an apostate."

Flemeth countered back, "If you do not wish help from us illegal mages, young man, perhaps I should have left you on that tower."

"Point taken," Alistair said, and Linn quickly held his arm and steered him away as they let the mother and daughter argue.

Finally, Morrigan went into the hut and came back out with a bag.

"Lead the way then," Morrigan said as she threw her mother a dirty look.

"Just… fantastic," Alistair muttered as Linn took the lead.