Disclaimer: We do not own Dragon Age or Elder Scrolls series.
Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23
Perilous Battles
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Marcus had become adept at fighting all manner of opponents, from Darkspawn to demons, for all the warnings he and the others got about the Thalmor, he imagined the greatest threat they posed was their ability to plot and manipulate. He had not taken into account their martial prowess given how they needed to act in the shadows and use agents in their stead.
He was quickly learning the elves, immensely tall yet not as physical strong, were still very talented fighters who fought with both weapon and magic. Their longer limbs allowed for greater reach, and fought usually with one-handed weapons as to allow the other to cast spells on the fly. They fought with a refined style that would have taken a human a lifetime to hone, but if the altmer were as long lived as the Tamriels had explained, and then they had far longer than any human to improve their abilities.
The Cousland was knocked back against a wall with a burst of magic, the enchantments in his armor protecting him from the most harmful damage magic could induce on him, but the impact still rattled him. A golden blade came for his head, and he quickly moved out of the way, letting the sword bury itself on the wall. He took this chance to strike, but a quick flare of magic formed a barrier on the altmer, making his prized family sword bounce back harmlessly.
Within moments the barrier faded as flames coated the elf's hand. Marcus ducked and dodged just barely from the fire balls sent his way. His opponent did not relent as he charged bringing down his sword with grace and skill Orlesian Chevaliers wished they had. His Engeram along with his ebony sword became his shield to block and parry the Thalmor's strikes.
Around them his comrades, faithful mabari, and Dremora ally were also having a daunting challenge with their respected enemies. Their element of surprise that benefited them at the start had faded quickly.
Arcane energy flared through the dwarven ruins, Sarya felt sweat bead off her face shielding herself from several strikes of lightning and ice spike. Near her Neria and Morrigan interchanged from offense and defense while protecting the other from quick attacks from Thedosian elves with daggers eager to strike them. And more than a few had drawn blood as both mages wore several cuts on their limbs.
Not being the best place to use her bow, Leliana had gone for her daggers dodging fire and a spear from Thedosian elf and Altmer mage. The smaller elf fully versed in the weapon in her hand used it expertly to keep the former Bard at bay. While her Thalmor master flung fire and lightning at the redhead keeping her moving unable to use any offense.
Sereda and Faren fought beside the faithful Mabari who were not fairing any better from an onslaught of bladed weapons and magics sent in their direction. The former princess had been able to shield Loke and Bran from receiving fatal cuts or stabs, though it put her body in range of the attacks. While her armor held, a few blades pierced through the leathers and into her skin.
Sten grit his teeth as he parried away the blow from a tall armored altmer. Bringing his sword in a sweeping strike, the elf quickly casted a burst of telekinetic energy which forced the qunari down. Sten soon shouted as arcs of electricity struck him, the enchantments of his armor blocking most of the damage but doing little to ease the pain.
Oryrn quickly came to his rescue, conjuring an aedric spear and firing it straight at the altmer. The projectile shattered upon the altmer and sent him flying back. But he had made himself open, a thedosian elf snuck in, stabbing through a joint in his leg armor. The templar grunted in pain, legs buckling. He swung his blade wildly, but the elf dodged and brought up his daggers to his head.
A swarming mass of earth struck the agent from the side, and sent him flying towards the Sten's opponent who was just starting to get up, making the two bodies collide. Oryrn watched as Neria stepped in, casting a quick healing spell on him. The altmer swore in his own tongue as he stood up, forcing the other elf to do the same. But it was not in aid, no, the altmer casted a hex upon the agent. Magic flooded the elf's being to the bursting point, making his eyes boil as veins shined darkly with daedric magic. He threw the living bomb towards the others, seeking to end them in one fell swoop.
Neria spun her staff and struck the ground, raising a shield of earth in front of her, Oryrn and Sten's form. The elf exploded with a burst of violet magic and viscera, rackling the stone. Then with a thrust of her hand, the stone fragment into sharp projectiles, flying straight for the Thalmor who was quickly impaled by multiple stakes and fell down dead.
"Sten!" Neria called out in worry as she quickly rushed to help him, casting a spell to regenerate health and stamina. The qunari grunting and nodding was all the thanks he gave.
Theron hissed ignoring the pain in his side from a gash while defending against several hard strikes from two Thedosian elves. "Ma banal las halamshir var vhen!" One of the elves declared in hateful spite. "Na din'an sahlin!"
The warrior ignored the words bringing his sword against his opponents. "Dalish," another spat parrying Theron's strike; "You're nothing but wandering decadent pariahs compared to our masters!"
"Mala Harel," Theron growled back deflecting the attack.
"So says the great Dalish, your people hiding in the forests while the rest of us had suffered!"
Xel'Karr roared kicking away a Thalmor after severing his head from his neck before turning his sights to aid the dalish warrior. He brought down his greatsword with unnatural strength spreading apart the two elves attacking Theron, now leaving his with only one to deal with. "Finally some worthy prey!" The Dremora declared smiling viciously as the battle around brought true thrill to him.
Sofie roared, her axes cutting the air as she brought them down upon Ondolemar, although the former Justicar did not possess the martial prowess for a head on confrontation with the Dragonforged, his skill at magic was such that he kept her at bay. Quickly formed barriers to endure her blows, bursts of elemental magic which had reduced damaged on the nord for her own innate resistance to cold and her dragon blood protecting her against fire.
"Part of me should thank you!" The nord called out. "Never thought I'd get to kill you sons of whores myself one day!"
"Such barbarism, truly you are a child of Skyrim" The Thalmor said in a tone which managed to be both calm and polite and insulting at the same time.
He warped out of the way from a double strike of her axes shrouded in flames, striking the ground with a wave of heat. "What are you planning to do here?!"
"The machinations of our goals elude your primitive mind" Ondolemar derided imperiously. "Also, why would I tell the enemy? How foolish do you think we are?"
Sofie stood up, panting and rolling her shoulders. "You picked a fight with my mom, back in the day" She pointed one axe at him, "So you tell me"
The Thalmor fell silent, looking at his side for the moment as though he was hearing something she could not. "Evacuations are almost done, retreat!" Conjuring a sphere of energy in his hands, he let out a burst of blinding light.
Sofie cried out as she covered her eyes, around the battlefield the agents and Thalmor warriors disengaged, proceeding to slow down their enemies instead of actively engaging them once more. They fled deeper into the ruins as they run through the great dwarven halls.
"We can't let them get away!" Sarya shouted, "Move it!"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Rage burned in Sofie's eyes as she and the others charged after Ondolemar with his agents and fellow Thalmor. Despite the exhaustion and soreness in their limbs they pressed on through the vast Dwarven halls. Loke and Bran proved their pedigree as mabari as they followed the scent of their prey with the others following.
"Sodding bastards can put up a fight," Sereda remarked ignoring the pain of her wounds.
Marcus grunted; "Not what I was expecting."
"Never underestimate an opponent," Sarya reproached sternly; "Especially ones who had centuries worth more experience than you!"
"Less talking, more running!" Oryrn declared as they all turned a corner following their Mabari hounds.
Further ahead Ondolemar was at the head of his retreating forces as they neared the evacuation chamber. "They are on our heels!" He bellowed as Thalmor gathering in the area grew tense
Save Elenwen who felt the fire of rage burn in her heart; "At last..."
"You caused this didn't you?!" The former Justicar accused running up to her; "Your damnable lust for revenge clouded your judgement! Now Miara's children and their comrades found us! Are you happy!?"
"Be silent! We're the last ones to leave anyway!" The elven woman turned to their spell casters who were weaving arcane sigils in the air, channeling the spatial magics that would quickly transport them to another of their bases. "How long now?!"
"T-There's something wrong, my lady!" One of the mages replied in alarm. "Something's blocking the signal!"
"What?" The Thalmor superior balked in alarm. "What do you mean something's blocking the signal?!"
"It's on the other side of the transportation ritual; it just now began interfering with our casting!"
What could possibly be causing that? The question was left adrift in her mind as the running footsteps and sounds of barking hounds grew close. Her hair swayed wildly as she turned her head to stare at the long passage where the interlopers approached. No, not now. Not when they were so close!
"Activate the wards!" She ordered, and the remaining mages not tasked with teleporting them activated multiple sigils enchanted into the stonework, creating a multiple layered barrier that shielded the transport chamber.
She saw the only male of the Dragonborn's children conjure an Aedric Spear and hurl it the moment they were in sight, the attack shattered against the barrier, this one holding without issue.
"Oblivion damn it all..." The eldest of Miara's children gasped out in shock at the sight of the woman who stood in the middle of the conglomeration of altmer and thedosian elves. "Fucking Elenwen..." Her voice seethed.
Oryrn's eyes widened, "Oblivion and Aetherius..."
"No way" Sarya slowly shook her head.
Rage boiled at the sight of the damnable dunmer's progeny. "That is Illustress Elenwen to you, disgusting mixed bloods"
The sheer magical power radiating off that Altmeri woman drew the attention of Neria and Morrigan. That was indeed a very old, very powerful mage.
Loke and Bran growled with fury waiting for the next battle Near Leliana. Marcus held both his blades ready for anything beside Sereda and Sten. Theron held his sword tightly while Faren twirled his daggers.
Xel'Karr stood at Sofie and Twin's sides as he sneered; "So the wretched Thalmor witch lives."
"I will not die until I see Miara dead at my feet! And you three burning in fires of the Dead Lands!"
A low whistle escaped Faren's lips; "That is one hateful woman."
"Whatever plans you have for my nation," Marcus addressed in a firm tone; "They will be stopped."
Ondolemar glared at the human while earning a glance from Elenwen; "Your backwater nation of illiterate simpletons can't even govern themselves," she uttered with pure disdain. "You tear at each other while the Darkspawn ravage your land and kill your people. Typical human filth. We will uplift Thedas and give it the true masters it needs"
Sofie growls peering over to her sister; "Can you take down that damn barrier?"
"Working on it..."
Elenwen sneered as fire glowed from her hand; "I wonder how that wretched abomination that is your mother would react if I kill all three of you."
"Are you mad!?" Ondolemar quipped; "We need to leave now!"
"Yes. You do..." A new voice rang out throughout the area.
Almost in a blink every Altmer and Thedosian agent grew still and frightened. Even Elenwen's expression of fury turned to pure fear as an ethereal image of an Altmeri man in Thalmor hooded robes appeared in front of the other Thalmor. At that same moment the barrier grew larger and more refined.
"You endangered our plans with your petty schemes of revenge Elenwen..." The man spoke with an ever calm but maliciously deep tone with his hands behind his back. He kept his hooded gaze focused on the intruders. "You went against my orders."
"My lord" It was beyond odd to see the haughty woman so easily bend over in fear. "I was just-"
"Silence" His words had an immediate effect. "I have a half a mind to leave you to these barbarians"
Ondolemar cautiously approached the projection. "My lord, the teleportation spell is being blocked, we can't escape"
"Oh I am aware, I am blocking it"
The Thalmor could only stare aghast. "You, what?"
"Like I said, I am contemplating in leaving Elenwen to die here for defying my orders." The hooded elf said with an even, if albeit slightly bored tone. Like an aristocrat complaining about a bad dished served to him. "You dying with her here is just an... unfortunate sacrifice"
It didn't sound like he was too bothered about the prospect. The other Thalmor were a completely different story.
Elenwen tried to find a way to defend herself, anything she could say to save her life. "If they get their hands on us, they might discover our operations!"
"Says the woman who already exposed them" The hooded projection replied with irritation. "And are you telling me you are so weak you would talk?"
"N-No, of course not!" She quickly held up her hands. "But the Redoran mage among them" She pointed at said dunmer who was trying to bring down the barrier. "She has no qualms about using magic to penetrate the mind, or even bring it back from undead thralls"
Her words actually seemed to make the hooded elf ponder on his words, weighting the risks and consequences.
"Almost got it!" Sarya called out as Morrigan and Neria assisted her, the barrier weakening by the second.
Ondolemar looked on with growing panic, "My lord!"
The projection let out a long breath. "Oh very well. I can't have the empire getting information on our activities" The spectral elf raised a hand.
The barrier shimmered, and it strengthened instantly, the mages' work had been undone in a but a moment. Sarya could only stare in shock as her own magic was stopped right before her eyes, "What in the-"
Then, a blast of raw arcane power sent them all flying back from the barrier.
Within moments Elenwen and the others ran towards the teleportation circle and vanished as the said circle burned away. Marcus and company cried out upon slamming onto the ground with immense force. It was also like being hit by the unrelenting force Sofie mentally mused before screaming hitting a wall and falling.
The barrier vanished as the astral figure remained; "This blunder was quite unfortunate. But it will not impede our plans. You have a Blight and civil war to quell after all"
Despite the pain in her ribs, Neria willed herself up before the others with the help of her staff; "Who are you!?" she demanded.
The Thalmor gazed at the young Thedosian elf with barely mild interest before slowly vanishing; "Lord Naarifin." And as he had appeared he vanished just as quickly. "Do give the Dragonborn my regards."
A loud hiss escaped Faren's lips as he rose to stand; "Think my ribs are broke. And did we just lose?"
"What do you think dwarf?" Morrigan snapped holding her arm as she sat up.
"We lost..."
"Brilliant deduction."
Rising to his feet, the dremora warrior extended a hand towards Sten to help him up. Though hesitant the man took it as he growled standing holding his wounded leg. "We underestimated our opponent." The Qunari muttered grabbing his sword. He turned his gazed towards the sound of yelping coming from Loke and Bran; "the hounds are also injured."
Neria wasted no time in healing their allies, starting with their faithful mabari. "Sh-sh-sh-shhhh" She eased their pain and quickly brought an end to their whimpering as they slowly got up to sniff around. "That mage... he was outstandingly powerful"
"Given how he swat away Sarya's magic like that" Marcus groaned as he nursed bruises. "I didn't think that was possible"
"Neither did I..." The youngest daughter of Miara replied, it sounded like her pride was far more wounded than her body as Xel'Karr aided her to stand.
"He called himself 'Lord Naarifin'" Theron spoke up, looking at Sofie. "You were familiar with the other Thalmor; do you know that one as well?"
"I only knew Ondolemar and Elenwen because I met them before" The muscular woman shrugged with Leliana coming to help her. "I don't know who that man was"
"He was an altmer general who died in the First Great War" Oryrn spoke up, drawing upon the holy light to ease his pain. "I read reports and accounts. Supposedly, despite the Dominion's stance at the time, he used plenty of daedric aid to bolster his forces. The rest are scattered accounts, some say he was hanged from the White-Gold Tower, and that his corpse was snatched by a flying daedra" He hummed as he brow furrowed in thought. "There is actually not much of him, almost leads me to believe his role in the war was either small compared to other players, or it was actively downplayed"
"It was sixty years ago" Sarya pointed out.
"Yes; and still here he was. Alive. And he dispelled your magic from who knows how far away"
That along sparked a great deal of worry among the group. Outside of her mothers, Sarya was their greatest mage within their party. And Naarifin swatted her away like she was a novice. Even Theron wore strong concern on his face; "We should return to Redcliffe and report back."
"Not before I tend to everyone's wounds," Neria remarked sternly going around and using healing arts on her comrades. "I need some dressing cloth."
Marcus groaned as he took a seat on a large stone. Oryrn soon came to his side; "We overestimated these guys didn't we?" The Cousland's question met with a nod from the Tamriel Templar.
"Perhaps we were overconfident given our strong successes."
It felt like that, damn it; he could just hear his father's scolding from his younger days in training. He hand a hand down his face; "We should tell your Empire about this Naarifin."
"I agree," Oryrn conceded; "But first we rest and then return back."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Hiding their horses a good distance away, Miara and the others slowly made their way towards the ruins of Ostagar once more. Odahviing's roar shook the very earth as he swooped through the ancient Tiventer guard post letting loose dragon fire. The Darkspawn cried out as they were set ablaze by the furious dovah who cursed at them; "Ag wah oblivion hi sunvaar!"
Alistair only stared wide eyed; "He sounds really angry."
"He isn't the only one," Gin muttered at his side glancing over to the dragonborn.
The elven fire Ada practically looked murderous as she stomped towards the snowy ruins. Learning of the Thalmor still existing, and Flemeth escaping from her. Miara's mood was not serene at present.
Perhaps killing a few abominations and testing her new sword would ease her mood, if only slightly.
There was much less Darkspawn than they expected, certainly not the numbers of the Horde present all the way back during the first battle at the fortress. They knew the 'Spawn' were already spreading their numbers and continued their invasion of southern Ferelden, but the fact they had crossed through the land without major encounters aside from a few stray parties was a disturbing occurrence. It hinted at the horde either having advanced north further than they had anticipated or the bulk had retreated back to the Deep Roads so they could continue their assault on Ferelden from different points.
After this matter was dealt with, they needed to secure aid from Orzammar at once.
Alistair watched as Odahviing finished circling through the fortress, setting the surrounding fields ablaze but leaving the battlements intact. "I guess this is as much of a burial as these soldiers will ever get" He said with a forlorn voice, keenly aware that his Warden brothers and sisters, particularly Duncan, fell here. If the Darkspawn hadn't defiled their bodies, at least whatever remained was set alight in a pyre of dragon fire.
"Is cremation the funerary practice for Fereldans?" Serana asked.
"In most of Thedas, it is" Brianna replied. "Less of a chance for demons to find hosts in corpses and create undead. Then you have Nevarra but, well, they're their own flavor of weird..."
The group reached what remained of the former encampment of the king's and warden's forces. Many of the tents were torn and covered in dense snow; "Where was that box hidden at?" Miara questioned.
"Cailan's tent," Alistair murmured quietly walking ahead remembering the way.
Following the former Templar they came to the tattered remains of Cailan's tent. In replace of the regal canopy stool horrific totems with jagged edges. Blood and bones drench every inch of the structure. "Reminds me of the things we saw in the Soul Carin," Serana faintly shuddered.
Gin cocked a brow; "Where?"
"An evil Oblivion realm of the undead," Miara clarified before using a fire spell to melt away the snow. Odahviing came to perch himself on one of the giant stone pillars observing his thur's work.
Wynne's eyes were disheartened turning her gaze around the ruins; "So many lives lost..."
"Because of Loghain," Brianna growled with bitterness while Shale curiously roamed about.
Crossing his arms, Gin closed his eyes; "Was more than just him abandoning us. We took too long in lighting the beacon."
Gin was right, as much as Alistair wanted to refute it. They had severely underestimated the size of the horde that came at them all those months ago. They were not prepared for the numbers that charged their forces, and it all became a slaughter. But it did not excuse Loghain's actions, especially now... Cailan, Duncan, and everyone else here died because of him...
The Dragonborn's hand glowed as she used the detect enchantment spell to hunt for the buried object they were searching for. As she was told that the buried box held numerous magical sigils to protect it, finding it would be easier using this old spell her father taught her. Her feet came to a stop near the Darkspawn totem seeing an ethereal glow from below the ground. Kneeling down she started reaching into the dirt.
"As I flew, I saw those creatures roaming through one of the towers briinah," Odahviing addressed pointing with one of his winged arms across the bridge. The place where he specified flooded Brianna, Gin, and Alistair with strong memories. It was the very same tower where they lit the beacon to signal Loghain.
Zevran rubbed the back of his neck; "So do we clear it my goddess?" he asked Miara standing at her side with Serana.
Her dirt covered hands pulled out a small well-crafted strong box from the ground; "First we see what was in here." She rose to stand as she brought the box over to Alistair who held out the key for it. "Let's see what was so important to come back here for."
Turning the key in the lock, it opened with a metallic click. He brushed the dirt from the lid and opened it, revealing multiple stacks of paper, a few nearly tied with a string while others were piled in much less organized piles.
"I suppose the king was not the tidy sort" Gin quipped with a low tone.
Alistair pulled out the papers and spread them evenly throughout the group. He almost gave one to Shale when he remembered, right, golem. Said construct did not look at all interested in their activities and instead choose to stand still over the snow, no doubt thankful for the lack of birds. "Here, we need to find what these say" He proceeded to read over the first paper in his hand. "Hmm, this is correspondence between him and other arls, mostly coordinating troops to be drafted to Ostagar"
"This is one appears to be the agreement between Empress Celene and King Cailan for the chevalier reinforcements along with the Orlesian Wardens" Wynne noted from the letter in her hand, looking over the imperial Orlesian seal. "I do not like to cast suspicion without proof, but I am very curious as to why said reinforcements never arrived..." Had the chevaliers gotten here in time, maybe the battle could have gone differently.
"Either Orlais had no intention of sending aid in the first place, or Loghain locked up the border by the time they arrived" The Dragonborn wagered.
Serana's eyes read over the letter sent to Cailan by Eamon, her gaze stopping at a certain line and reading it over to see she had not misunderstood. "Well... now this is something"
"What did you find?" Alistair asked, looking up from the letter in his hand.
"Apparently Eamon voiced concern over Anora not siring a child yet" She slowly replied. "And even encouraged Cailan to look for another wife who could"
That got a wince from several people. "Well, who knew the beloved arl could be so cold" Zevran said as he crossed his arms.
"Because it's always the woman's fault, isn't it?" Brianna darkly muttered.
"Well, it seems Cailan did not like his proposal" Serana commented the letter's content. "The two did not part ways kindly after that, and yet Eamon had the gall to once more telling him to leave Anora again here" Miara rolled her eyes, hoping the arl they were working to save would not be quick to forget whom he owed his life to.
Alistair's mouth opened slightly his gaze shifting as he processed that information. The Eamon he knew wouldn't usually say something so… cold.
Brianna shook his head and instead focused on her task, shifting through the letters she was given. "Hmm, another letter from Empress Celene to the king" She frowned. "No official seal, just a simple signature"
That drew everyone's attention. "A personal letter?" Wynne asked in surprise and confusion. "What does it say?"
Brianna read it out loud. "Cailan, the visit to Ferelden will be postponed indefinitely, due to the darkspawn problem. You understand, of course? The darkspawn have odd timing, don't they? Let us deal with them first. Once that is done, we can further discuss a permanent alliance between Orlais and Ferelden." She shrugged as she finished. "That's all she wrote. Monarchs are not supposed to be that familiar and friendly with each other right?"
"Hmm, a scandalous tryst between the monarchs perhaps." Zevran quipped innocently with a small smirk.
A few chuckles and snorts escaped the lips of the party of the jest. Till a slow dawning realization crawled into the minds of the group; "Do you think… Loghain may have read these?" Wynne questioned in a wary tone.
The realization cemented and turned to horrifying dread. No, did that man's paranoia and hatred for Ferelden's former conquerors burn so strongly that upon possibly reading these... "Did Loghain assume Cailan was…" Brianna quietly muttered turning to Alistair and Miara.
"Oh by the fucking divines," Serana growled rubbing her eyes with irritation.
"Loghain must have read Eamon's letter and then Celene's more personal one," Miara frowned deeply; "Likely assumed Cailan was arranging something with Celene and going to divorce Anora for her, and thus Orlais would have Ferelden again..."
Shock etched in the eyes of everyone upon the dunmer's words. "He wouldn't be THAT paranoid would he?" Gin spoke up with some disbelief in his tone.
Miara gave him an even stare; "You find a letter of someone politely calling your daughter barren and a letter from another woman being affectionate in her tone, who also happens to rule the nation who ruled over your own for decades and hate them beyond reason?"
"...Loghain would assume Cailan was going to give Orlais Ferelden by marrying Celene"
"From something like this?!" Alistair exclaimed, furious at the thought that Loghain would have done so many horrible things based on what amounted to be political gossip. Dangerous gossip perhaps, but this was absurd. "This is proof of nothing!"
"If Loghain did indeed read Cailan's correspondence, then his mind filled in the blanks" Wynne said, though she was much more composed there was no mistaking the edge in her gaze. She was just as furious at the Teyrn's actions. "I've always heard how much he hates Orlais, but I would not have believed he was actually this... unstable"
"That is a very, very deep seated and burning hate then" Miara muttered, almost to herself. "I know a thing or two of such hate"
"Do the reasons matter?" Gin rhetorically asked. "He abandoned the king, left us to die, and blamed us for his crime. That damn shem lord needs to go down, damn why he did it"
"Oh nobody is questioning that" Alistair agreed with his friend without hesitation. "But... I guess I can understand why we needed to find these. Finding answers is always important"
"Can we really be sure we found the answers?" Brianna brought up. "This is all conjecture on our part"
"Maybe, maybe not" Serana shrugged. "The point is, we found royal documents that should not have been left for anyone to find, Darkspawn or not. What do we do with them?"
They all looked at the senior Warden, awaiting his answer. Right, he was next in line for the throne; the choice was his wasn't it? Part of him wanted to throw this in Loghain's face, call it evidence of his baseless betrayal. But it could very well incite the most like-minded lords to fully switch to his side. And this letter from Eamon... he never thought the man who took care of him would act in such a way. It would reflect badly on him if it ever got out.
All of this could backfire on them.
Alistair finally decided. "We burn them"
"Burn them?!" Brianna exclaimed in surprise.
"We have to," Alistair conceded; "As much as this could be proven this against Loghain and his actions. It could also against us, Eamon's and Celene's especially given what was brought up."
"Then we hide those two," Gin remarked.
Miara shook her head; "No. If Loghain saw these, he would bring up Eamon's words about Anora and Celene's wanting to meet Cailan. We have to destroy these papers. If anyone outside of our group found these, the regent could sway more people to his side by showing Cailan as a traitor."
"Miara's right. And the Arl's reputation would also be tarnished as he called Anora barren. If politics here are like back home, declaring such a thing against a royal would be bad."
Bri felt the bile rise in her throat; "So as much as we could use these against Loghain. He could turn it around and use it against us. Fucking brilliant!"
The dunmeri woman extended her hand; "Give me the letters." Slowly everyone obeyed and soon ignited them in flames within her hand.
"Well, I am glad to see this long sojourn was for nothing" Shale spoke for the first time in a while, the cracks and shifting stone on the golem's face forming into a slight frown, clearly irritated.
"We found some truths" Wynne, ever the teacher, sagely said. "That alone is worth it. And we also came to lay our comrades to rest"
Gin let out a soft breath from his nose. "Hard to think Ostagar was just little over half a year ago, so much happened here..."
"Feels like ages away now, don't it?" Brianna said to her fellow Warden, understanding visible in her eyes. "It all began here, our path. I don't think any of us could have ever believed it would turn to this"
"I believed him, you know." Alistair said distantly as he stood up, looking at the great tower over yonder. "That it would be a glorious battle, that we would win..."
"I did too" The Senior Enchanter softly followed. "Maybe we were all a bit younger last time we were here"
"Some of us here have different views on what 'young' is" The dunmer added with a wry grin, choosing to ease the forlorn ambient that had suddenly hanged over their heads with some humor.
Her words received some chuckles before Odahviing roared; "Thuri!" The dragonborn's head shot up her scaly friend who growled towards the bridge. A dozen or so Darkspawn were running down from the path from the tower to the bridge. "Boziik fah raan," the great dragon snarled with renewed fury.
Soon the others quickly turned to see the sight of the blighters of Hurlocks and Genlocks led by a rather large Genlock draped in jagged armor and robes. In its hand was a crude looking staff with a human skull on its top with a sword strapped to it back. The twisted beast roared in defiance at the dragon before turning its gaze to Alistair and the others. It roared once more raising its staff as foul dark magic glowed from the skull.
Dread bloomed on the faces of the group as another group followed the spawn... Their movements slow and sluggish, like marionettes tugged on strings. Their armors broken and mangled like their bodies, decomposing flesh hanging upon visible bone. All dragging various weapons in some skeletal, others flesh covered hands.
"By the fucking gods..." Gin gasped out in terror.
The fallen dead, their comrades who fought beside them. Now walked as undead slaves to the blighters. At the head of them much to Alistair's anguish and sorrow, was Duncan along with the other fallen wardens. His body having been stitched back together in a horrid macabre display as if to parade him and the wardens. As if showing the defenders against the Blight had failed and was nothing but the darkspawn's puppets now.
"Duncan," the former templar shuddered.
Miara's first instinct was to draw Dawnbreaker, but Serana was here, instead she chooses to only unveil Starfang. The mystical weapon's shining lines came to life as the weapon was brought to bear. "They are not your comrades anymore" Miara said strongly, though not without sympathy. "Their bodies are being used, profaned, turned against their own brothers and sisters... Set them free"
Locking his jaw, Alistair stopped his quivering lips, but not the tear that ran down his cheek. He turned his grief into anger, to be wielded against the monster who would torture them like this, to finally put Duncan and the others to rest. He brandished his shield and his blade, barely waiting for Wynne to cast a barrier on him, shouting a war cry full of rage and sorrow.
The battle was joined, as spells and arrows were fired overhead. Serana turned into a cloud of bats and moved ahead over one of the broken pillars, gaining a better vantage points to fire her spells. Brianna set her staff ablaze, raining down fire upon their enemies, as Wynne casted Haste on Gin and the city elf moved with the swiftness of the wind, whirling between undead and Darkspawn in a flurry of blades. Shale once more proved what a powerful walking siege engine it was, by shrugging the blows of blades and arrows like they were barely an insect's bite, blows from stone fists making heads explode and shattering bodies with such ease it was like breaking twigs.
Here, Miara used the greatest weapon she had ever forged for the first time. Starfang cut through the air with a soft mystical melody, leaving behind a trail of soft blue light which dissipated as it traveled. The star metal cut through jagged armor and dark flesh as if it were tissue, its magical starlight leaving shining blue gashes upon the wounds, burning them with the fire and light and the cosmos.
But its light was not the only element dwelling in the blade, for it had been forged in the Throat of the World, and so the great mountain's icy breath was imbued upon its creation. Miara swung the blade upon a few archers in the distance, wind and frost were called upon, even colder than the snow around them, the gale so strong it threw the archers back, falling to their deaths down into the field bellow.
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw a few darkspawn flee the field for the watch tower. But her concerns were the Hurlocks charging her with weapons raised. She dodged the first strike and parried the other before spinning on her heels and beheading both monsters in one stroke.
As Wynne's spell begun to fade, Gin kept on the pressure slicing through the blighters. However he cried out as an arrow from one the undead struck him from its bow. Zevran was quick to his side parring several strikes from the spawn around his fellow elf; "You alright!?"
Gin snarled pulling out the arrow from his shoulder; "Let's take these guys out!"
The round ebony shield of Alistair slammed into the face of a Hurlock before having to quickly parry one the swords held by the undead Duncan. However the young man for split moment forgotten that the late commander used two swords. But soon hissed as the second blade stuck through the side of his armor and into his gut. A low growl came from Duncan as he stared blankly.
"D..Duncan..."
A wheezing, dry gasp emanated from his long dead throat. And Alistair saw there was no light in his eyes, no humanity left in any of his features, the stitched gash upon his skull the evidence of how he had lost his life. This was not the man who had given him a life of his own choosing, who looked at him as more than just the bastard child of the king, the man who let him just be 'Alistair' instead of what everyone else expected of him.
Duncan was dead, the corpse behind him was an insult to the man.
Alistair fought through the horrible pain in his gut, raising his blade and driving it through Duncan's chest, the magic in his blade's enchantment severing the connection between the necromancer and thrall. The undead let out a dry heave, its last sound before the limbs fell limply at the side. Duncan's body fell to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Alistair fell to his knees, more out of grief than from the pain of the short sword still lodged in his gut. Mourning the Warden Commander as he was finally lead to rest.
"Alistair!" Wynne quickly came to his side, and he removed the dagger from his side with a long suffering groan. The Senior Enchanter quickly began to work, pouring healing magic into the wound and closing it quickly. She soon gasped when the Genlock necromancer approached, holding its skull-tipped stuff while also brandishing a longsword of dwarven made style, with sickly yellow runes glowing over its edge.
The genlock slammed his staff on the ground, and conjured a wave of entropy and darkness, corroding everything on its path. Alistair was too weak to move out of the way, so Wynne quickly casted a barrier before them.
The foul magics hit it like a tidal wave, making Wynne's knees buckle. Alistair raised a hand to the mage, but stopped the moment he saw her eyes shine, a newly found determination clear on her face as she spoke with more than one voice. "Let your darkness be gone, wretch!"
The barrier expanded, glowing with white light as it spread, pushing the miasma-like magic back, and momentarily stunning the genlock.
Wynne suddenly fainted, and fell on Alistair's arms.
While all eyes swiftly turned to their unconscious comrade Brianna kept his gaze on the genlock emissary who quickly recovered by Wynne's barrier. Purple arcane magics glowed in the brunette's free hand with a bound ethereal daedric sword appeared. The Amell charged at the blighter with both staff and blade. The Genlock growled with primal fury parrying the blade with its staff and sword while deflecting several fire spells
"Get Wynne off the bridge," Miara yelled Kicking a Hurlock over the bridge. Her sharp ears heard a roar coming from the tower before growing at the sight of a towering Alpha Hurlock in black armor followed by several of the blasted blighters. Starfang glowed in the elven woman's hand. "I'll handle those bastards!" The Dragonborn rushed to the other side of the bridge to face down the Alpha and its group.
Alistair painfully grunted ran back towards Odahviing with the senior enchanter in his arms.
A Genlock shrieked as Serana's katana sliced through its shoulder, down to its waist. "Relentless little bastards!" Her gaze went to her lover who was dispatching the lesser spawn while the Alpha observed her holding a jagged war hammer. "Well our day got more fun!"
Brianna payed no attention to the vampire, she focused entirely on the Darkspawn mage. For such a stout creature it handled that blade surprisingly well. The blade's runes glowed with unholy power, a corruption from its current wielder no doubt. Brianna howled as she stomped her staff upon the ground, creating a blast of magic. But the genlock was quick to defend itself Fade stepping through the Amell.
Brianna staggered, hit by a presence of sudden coldness from the creature's spell. The turned around in time to intercept a swing of the necromancer's sword. But the creature did not stop there; the skull-tipped staff glowed with purple magic, summoning skeletal hands from the ground which grasped unto Brianna's heels.
The mage stumbled, falling to the floor as more skeletal limbs were invoked to hold her down. The genlock advanced, looming over her with a growling sound, raising both sword and staff and igniting them with dark magics. Brianna was trapped, desperately seeking a way to save herself she remembered the only type of spells she could use in this situation, she Fade Stepped without a clear direction, phasing through the skeletal hands as the blade buried itself on the ground.
When she reformed, she rolled over the ground and found herself weaponless, her conjured sword was dispelled and her staff was several feet away. The genlock snarled at her and charged. Brianna backed away for a second, but realizes that she was never truly unarmed, she was a mage after all, the staff was just a focus for her power, and it was never its source.
The Amell stepped forward to meet the genlock head on, barriers formed around her hands in such concentration they were pretty much solid. Imbuing in them the raw powers of Force magic, spell craft at its rawest. Each swing from the Darkspawn, each blast of spells, she deflected with a swipe of her shielded hands, making the creature stagger and stumble with the bursts of sheer telekinetic force.
The use of Force magic was not a brute's tool, it requires great precision to cast such raw strength, and Brianna had more than enough control. Her teachers liked to call her hotheaded, too impulsive. But they mistook passion in spirit for a lack of focus. Brianna considered herself the most talented battle mage of the Circle Tower, and she showed just why such thoughts were not hubris if she could back them up with actions.
And so she did, pummeling the Genlock away with a display of raw powerful magic, blasting him away with shockwave that rend the sword and staff from its hands. Brianna called upon the elements, making the rock keep the creature in place while drawing upon the snow and frost around them, and fortified it even further with her own magic. As she didn't need to waste mana by conjuring that element, she could instead focus on guiding it with a firm hand, coalescing all that cold into a single point of her choosing.
The genlock shivered and try to break free, cracking noises were heard as he extended an arm and tried to conjured his undead servants to release him. But the magic died in his hand before it could even be conjured, his limbs frozen solid.
With the last shreds of his life, the creature gave the mage a hateful glare. Brianna saw such disgust, loathing, the genlock hated her, it was a primal type of hate, and he hated her because she, as a living being, existed only to die. The Darkspawn were creatures driven by malice and an endless hunger for destruction, malevolence incarnate, but it was at least something she could understand.
What she could not grasp however, was what happened next.
"You..." The genlock snarled through chattering teeth. "Will... all... burn" its voice guttural and raspy.
Brianna stood stunned for a moment... before she casted a flare of magic, and shattered the genlock to hundred pieces.
Upon the beast's death its undead thralls collapsed onto the bridge ground like fallen puppets. Observing the sight from the corner of her eye Miara drew Dawnbreaker together with Starfang. Furious holy fire radiating together with star light and ice. "Luft hin dinok!" The elf declared cutting through the tainted monsters who cried out in pain being cut by the holy swords.
Her blades moved like a graceful and brutal whirlwind with the singing hymn of her divine weapon bringing death to her enemies.
The Alpha Hurlock growled lifting its massive hammer to strike down the wretched elf as she finished off the last lesser spawn that burned to ashes from Dawnbreaker's wrath. And dashed straight for him; it roared bringing down his weapon. Miara glared side stepping the attack but forced to dodge as the best was fast, shifting his hands to turn the hammer for a side sweep.
Brianna wasted no movement quickly grabbing the blade the Genlock held, her magics purifying the corruption before swinging down on a blighter. Her free hand blasted a wave of fire reaching Gin and Zevran; "Not many left!"
The Alpha growled savagely brings down his hammer in an overhead arc. Starfang shined, and the blade cut through the shaft, the end of the hammer falling heavily upon the ground. The great Darkspawn barely had time to react when the shining gold blade buried itself in his throat, instantly igniting black blood and tainted flesh.
And so the last of the Darkspawn fell, cut down by the Wardens and their allies.
This time, there was victory at Ostagar.
As they caught their breaths, they quickly gathered around Alistair who held Wynne in his arms. The Senior Enchanter's face twisted as she groaned, coming to consciousness once more.
"Are you alright?" Brianna asked in concern.
"I... thought this was it" The mage said as the others helped her and Alistair stands up. "The end"
"Eyes up, Enchanter" Serana said, "You're not dead yet"
Wynne had this strange look on her eyes but did not reply.
"So... this was it then" Gin spoke up, rubbing his neck while Miara healed him once coming over. "We're done here"
Alistair's gaze went to the bridge, his eyes momentarily widening before he frowned with sadness. "Not yet" The group followed after him, seeing the source of his concern. Duncan's body, Alistair looked down at the fallen Commander with, kneeling with reverence as he joined the man's hands together, muttering a soft prayer to the Maker under his lips.
The former Templar closed the man's eyes, one last time. "Thank you Duncan... for everything"
The others hang their heads low, Gin and Brianna internally thanked the man who had saved their lives.
"He's not the only one who must be tended to" Wynne said distantly, and she did not mean the other Wardens.
There, hang up like a macabre trophy, was Cailan on the other side of the bridge on spikes. His body wounded and sundered, but rot had not set. Perhaps a product of the necromancer's magic, for all to recognize and see what they made of the king. That the Blight would come for them all, those high and low.
"They just left him up here" The Warden said with disgust as he shook his head.
"Are you alright?" Miara softly asked.
"It's... strange. I'm sad, yeah. But I'm honestly more distraught over what happened to Duncan" Alistair confessed. "I... barely even knew Cailan. I know he was my brother, but I can't honestly really think of him as such. Even though I should..."
"You were not given the chance to be his brother" Miara said, "But you honor him by taking up your father's throne, and seeking to save this land"
"He was a good man" Alistair said with firmness. "Who hoped for too much and died too young. He deserves what little honor we can grant him"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
It did not take long for the group to build a large pyre for their fallen comrades. Cailan and Duncan were at the center, with the others around them. Alistair held a small torch with the others keeping their respectful silence. "None of you will be forgotten. We will stop the Blight and save Ferelden." He gazed at Cailan and Duncan along with all the fallen Wardens and soldiers. "This will be made right." He tossed the into the pyre that quickly set ablaze.
All bowed their heads save Shale who looked on with indifference. And Odahviing who observed silently.
Once a final show of respect was given in a small prayer from each, Brianna looked to the sword she took from the necromancer in her hand; "Never seen a sword like this before." She also glanced to her staff for a moment before tossing it into the pyre.
A few looked surprised by her action; "Won't you need that?" Zevran questioned.
"That staff belonged to a different person. And that person died here. All that is left is Warden Amell, mage and spell sword." She soon gave one final nod to the burning fallen before walking away gazing at the sword.
Wynne observed her before looking back to Bri's burning staff. "Her last tie to Kinloch Hold..." The senior enchanter closed her eyes before walking away herself. But not before sensing someone following. Opening her eyes she glanced to see Miara following her; "Making sure I'm alright?"
"You did give us quite the scare," the elf remarked coming to the elderly woman's side walking with her.
"My apologies. I... have a certain condition I should have explained before" The two walked near the edge of the ruins, looking over the snowy landscape, the crisp winds making Wynne tighten her cloak before warming herself with a spell.
"Are you ill?"
"No" Wynne shook her head. "But neither do I believe I have long"
The two stopped, just at the edge of the battlements, their gazes towards the horizon. "Will you tell Neria and Brianna?"
"I will wait until the two are together. I also believe I will inform our comrades, it is only fair they know of my condition"
"Perhaps I can be of some help" Miara said with a small inclination of her head.
Wynne chuckled slightly. "I do not believe this is something that can be remedied"
"Even death is not beyond the grasp of the great powers"
The Senior Enchanter slowly lost her smile, mulling over the dunmer's words. "Right... your 'parentage', am I right?"
"My mother's a god, Azura of the Dawn and Dusk, who tends to the threads of fate. My father's... mortal I guess, the mightiest mortal there is, unaging perhaps. But a man still" Miara clicked her tongue. "My other Father though, he's a god as well"
"I'm sorry?" Wynne turned in confusion. "You have... two fathers?"
"One sired me with my mother, the other he... made my soul, the dragon soul. Akatosh the Time Dragon, Lord of Light and the Outer Fire" She raised her hand and pointed at the horizon, at the great orb of light in the distance. "There he is, dear old Dad"
"The sun..." Wynne breathed out.
"It is alright if you don't believe, but know I have no reason to deceive. Think of me as a madwoman if you want, I do admit I am quite touched in the head... all gods are really, some more than others"
"...What" The elder mage stopped herself, before looking for the right words. "What lies beyond this life?"
Red eyes looked at her, "Do you really want to know?"
"I need to know that all this was not for naught" She shook her head, "All the people who died in this battlefield. The mages and Templars who fell prey to Uldred's machinations. All this bloodshed and pain... tell me there is some solace to take from all this death"
She wanted comfort, to know that all this pain stopped at this life.
"Such as water comes from the heavens, to dry up and go to the sky again, only to fall down once more... Such you could call the cycle of souls. Many go to a stream, the Dreamsleeve, their essence joins the great beyond, the soul is purified, it changes with the experiences in this life, and then is born once more as new life"
Wynne pursed her lips. "So, we die only to start over?"
"Part of the soul does, the other part may go to one of the many realms of the afterlife"
"...What are they like?"
"It depends on the person you were, on what you believed and what you desired. Some find endless fields of golden grass, silver rivers and air that smell of perfume. Others seek gentle sands and infinite oasis. Yet others find beauty in eternal violence and struggle, just like the type they strived for in life"
For a moment, the two fell silent.
"I never doubted before, in my faith" Wynne softly spoke.
"I am sorry I brought you so many doubts"
"You were not the true cause, Miara" The senior enchanter replied. "It was what happened to me... I died and came back, but I remember nothing. No light, no smell of perfume, no sand under my feet, nor the sounds of violence in my ears"
Miara said nothing.
"I'm not sure how long I have left, or what truly awaits me... But I want to understand more, perhaps so I can finally understand what happened to me, and will come after"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX