Chapter 2
Harpers Ford, south of Castle Cousland
She was drifting in and out of consciousness, the embers of orange on the horizon a grim reminder.
They were moving, but not on foot. She'd been slung over Duncan's horse. Not quite galloping away, as that would attract too much attention.
Besides, Tristan would not be able to keep pace.
Elissa was only vaguely aware of his whining, then warmth and wetness on her limp hand.
Between the blow she suffered, and the pure battle fatigue, Elissa surrended to oblivion again...
7 years ago
Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
The arena was very rugged, and plain. The frost was lingering in the air. Several members of the tribe, in ornaments of bone and gold, were watching the spectacle. Several tents and huts dotted their surroundings.
A vicious cut, and her work was done. Blood sprayed on the ground.
"It is done!" a grizzled Avvar announced.
The Thane of the hold nodded to the Arena Master. "So be it. This young lowlander shall receive the guidance of our Augur."
It was a very close thing.
Elissa was panting, struggling to hold herself up. It wasn't really a fair fight, all things considered. A thirteen year old girl fighting an eighteen year old Avvar youth? Still, a win was a win. She wiped the blood from her chin.
But something told her this wasn't over yet.
Agnarr laid on his back, shamed and furious. The gash on his chest was shallow and not fatal, but was starting to stain his furs. He struggled to his feet.
"I will not accept this! You would give this lowlander a sacred honor reserved for our great warriors?!"
"I have spoken, Agnarr." The Thane was losing his patience. "You had one chance to dispute the Augurs choice, and Hakkon has favored the young girl in battle."
The arrogant youth gritted his teeth.
"Stand down, boy!" the Arena Master warned him.
Elissa knew it would be no use.
She anticipated the axe head flying at her, and dove inwards for a shoulder tackle to push him back. Enraged, he yelled again, charging foward.
Instinctively, she walked backwards this time, extending her sword arm out to create distance...
...or so that would have done, had Agnarr actually heeded the danger of a metal blade in his path.
Elissa gasped.
Agnarr dropped his axe, and absently looked down at his belly.
Elissa immediately let go of her sword and raised her hands in the air. The Thane rose from his seat.
"Foolish boy..."
Agnarr collapsed to the ground on his side, as the blade portruding out of his back prevented him from rolling over. He spat out some blood, gazing hatefully at his killer, before they gazed over and froze permanently.
"I...I didn't mean to..."
She doubled over and immediately retched.
"Andraste... forgive me."
A few pairs of footsteps crunched into the snow.
"Your Prophetess has no power here, little girl." the Thane looked over her with interest "This must be your first kill. Well done. A pity that it had to be one of our aspirants. Still, none can deny that you defended yourself. Go with the Augur. I am impatient to fulfill the oath I made to your Father."
The elder shaman gently guided her out of the arena, and to one of her huts.
Out of earshot, the Thane spoke to one of his captains:
"When the shaman has done her work, that girl is to gather her things and return home. I cannot guarantee her safety. Blood has been shed. The Augur will grant her blessing, my debt to Bryce Cousland will be paid, and she will leave our lands."
Elissa entered the tent. A bright, blue light flashed before her, and the dream dissipated.
The Present: 9:30
Morning
Duncan was preparing a meal by the campfire.
Tristan had ran off, presumably to hunt rabbits or squirrels.
He smiled. Mabaris were such intelligent creatures.
His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of charging footsteps and a war scream. The Warden Commander shifted his arm reflexively before being tackled to the ground.
Elissa placed her blade at his throat.
"How could you?! HOW COULD YOU?! Those were my parents, Duncan! We left them to die!"
"Elissa, put the blade down-"
"You took me from my home! You made me into a Grey Warden!"
"Elissa, please listen to me very carefully." Duncan's words were deadly calm. "Put down the blade."
She felt something dig at her ribs. Looking down, the Warden Commander had a clear shot at her heart with one of his daggers.
"You think I care? After what we just saw, you think I care that I take us both out?!"
"I think you do." he contradicted her. "Because if you kill me, I will kill you. And then your brother will never learn of Howe's treachery. How long before he's waylaid by assassins in Ostagar?"
Her face was twisted with emotion. The sword hand relaxed. It was all the opening he needed.
Duncan easily wrest the sword out of her hands, rolled on top of her and pinned her to the ground.
"Do it." Elissa croaked, feeling his dagger at her chin. "Do it!"
That earned a shock from him, but his face hardened "I must relieve you of your weapons until such time you can be trusted with them again."
She was not bound or gagged. The weapons were placed on the saddle of his horse.
They didn't speak for hours. Not that he could talk to her if he tried. She simply sobbed into the dirt.
"Mama...papa..." her fingers raked into the earth, her eyes red "...I'm so sorry...I failed..."
Duncan closed his eyes. He'd done a terrible thing to her. There could be no doubt. Another dark deed that the Maker would judge him for in the hereafter.
And yet, he knew it was the right choice.
For years, word had spread of her impressive swordplay. This noble daughter had been one of his recruitment prospects for some time. Others from Circle of Magi, the Alienage, Orzammar, and even the Dalish had been scouted and brought to Ostagar. But this one stood out.
And now, he had seen it with his own eyes. Whatever powers she possessed were of a magical nature, but nothing that had ever been witnessed in standard Circle spells. Such might was necessary to confront the darkspawn. And for all of her pitiable current state, there was a strength of character. A resolve. A force of will.
Elissa Cousland was needed.
Tristan had returned with a fresh kill. A hare.
The meat was cooked, and a plate was offered to the girl. As expected, she didn't even move.
"Try to eat something."
No response.
Tristan nuzzled her, whining softly.
After a few moments, Elissa finally moved her arm, picked off a piece, and fed it to her faithful war dog.
Duncan knelt down across from her.
"You have every reason to be angry with me."
Her eyes flicked upwards at him. There was malice, but no energy.
"I don't expect you to forgive what I've done." he offered "Nothing I can say or do can ease your grief. But know this, Elissa: I chose you for a reason. After what I witnessed today, we both know what that reason is."
She looked away, but he pressed on.
"Do you know why Blights last decades, or even centuries? Most kingdoms would like to forget the Blights even existed. Yet once an Archdemon rises, the darkspawn rise in numbers, and the world is brought to the brink of ruin. And every time, the response to act has been disastrously slow. Precious time is wasted. Resources are squandered. And the Grey Wardens are not given what they need to stop the bloodshed."
He paused, letting her think on that.
"And I understand why. What we ask of others is great. The burden. The responsibility. The sacrifice. Yet without Grey Wardens, this world would have fallen long ago. Wardens are needed. You, are needed. So I'd prefer not to kill you, whether in self-defense, or at your request."
She took off another piece and offered it to Tristan, but he merely sniffed it, clearly full.
"I'm truly sorry, Elissa. Your parents were good people, and they did not deserve to die. I'm sorry. For all of it. If I had the strength to save them, I would have. And if I did not need you in the Wardens, we would not be here now."
She looked up and stared at him. The malice was withering. She was frowning. Eventually, she decided to take a piece of the cooked hare and pop it into her mouth.
"As we've come to the subject of you, can you tell me about this power of yours?"
Elissa didn't answer. She simply continue to divide her attention between Tristan and breakfast. The silence hung between them for long enough, that Duncan considered dropping the matter.
"Very well."
He continued to watch her for a time.
Trying to eat her food, her thoughts turned inward.
It was all gone. Her family was gone. Her brother was in Ostagar, and he could be dead.
Rendon had stolen everything from her...everything! And what he didn't steal, Duncan had taken.
The plate was in her hands...if it were cracked...jagged...
She could kill him here. In the woods. With no body to find for weeks, maybe months, everyone would assume he died at Highever. Burning his body might make it possible that the Wardens never learn hes dead, or how.
They might, at best, question her, maybe suspect her. But there would be no proof. No proof of her Conscription.
Murder wasn't something to relish in, but it wasn't the first time she'd taken a life outside of the bounds of the law. Surely there were other Grey Wardens who could hold the title of Commander?
It was taking all of her nerve to prepare herself for the plan. He was too smart to be caught unawares at night. Duncan would make sure she fell asleep first. Tristan would have to help...
It could be done...
It could be...
And then she immediately thought of her parents. Of Oriana and Oren.
Here she was, trying to plan the murder of an innocent man. What would her family think of her? Her parents would be deeply ashamed. Elissa imagined Oriana's shock, Orens sad expression, not able to understand why. Her mothers angry, bitter dissappointment. And her fathers crestfallen expression, mixed with duty and judgement.
Elissa was filled with deep regret, and shame.
The young woman went to her roll, and curled up into a ball, trying not to cry. Trying to find any measure of solace in this.
Fergus, please be alive.
Fergus! I need you brother, more than you possibly know.
Fergus, don't leave me in this world alone!
Fergus...I'm sorry.