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Beginning Our Forever	By : TheDeathRae Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 1691 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age or any of its expansions, nor do I own any of the characters. I make no money from publishing this FanFiction.

Chapter List
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Chapter 3 – Denerim

Finally we’d made it to the top of Fort Drakon. The archdemon circled above us, spitting flames in every direction. We kept getting swarmed by waves of darkspawn. After some time, the archdemon landed on the Fort and the ground shook beneath our feet.
“Come on!” I shouted, charging at the beast.
Alistair was the one who got the final blow, and as he cut off its head, the dragon exploded and sent Alistair flying back.
The soldiers and I huzzahed, for we didn’t know what had happened.
I looked around until I found Alistair lying face-down. He wasn’t moving.
“Alistair?”
Nothing.
“Now is not the time for games, love.”
No response.
Tears flooded my eyes and my body shook all over. I could no longer see clearly because the tears blinded me. When I stood up and wiped the tears, I searched the battlefield for Morrigan. She was but a few feet away with her mouth wide open.
“YOU!” I growled, charging towards her. “You promised this wouldn’t happen! You lying, deceitful, selfish bitch!”
“I—I thought it would work…” she stammered. “Flemeth said—”
“—She lied, obviously!” I was enraged. “And we killed her because you just had to be rid of her! What if Flemeth had some part in this ritual that she didn’t tell you?!”
Morrigan’s eyes dropped to her feet. “I… I am sorry.”
“Sorry? I’ll show you just how sorry you are!”

)-(
I sat up with a start, gasping for air and covered in sweat.
“A dream, then?” I asked aloud, still catching my breath. I slowed my heart rate by breathing deeply, using the “cool down” method Oghren taught me months ago. After I could hear my thoughts, I slipped on a robe and quietly tiptoed to the room down the hall. I pressed my ear against the door.
Nothing.
How late… or early… is it? I wondered.
Not wanting to see whatever grisly scene resided within, I walked back to my room and crawled back in bed.
Just a dream…

)-(
I awoke a few hours later. Though I was exhausted (must’ve been the Grey Warden dreams), I got up, braided my hair, and donned the Blood Dragon armor. I put on my helmet and picked up Starfang, my two-handed blade, in my right hand. She glittered from the lyrium embedded in the starmetal. Though she was heavy, I lifted her with ease with just one hand. If I wanted to, I could wield her with a shield: I was strong enough. But I was most effective swinging her with both arms.
I began swinging her in large arcs in front of me, dancing in perfect form across the room. Though I was not tired, I let my sword hang down beside me. I was now near my door and I faced the large fire in my room. The flames licking at the wood mesmerized me.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Startled, I immediately swung Starfang around and held her pointed straight in front of me.
“Do you plan on decapitating me?” Alistair teased. “That would certainly interfere with our wedding plans.” He used his fingers to push the blade away from the nape of his neck.
Embarrassed, I sheathed my blade on my back. “Sorry, I didn’t hear the door open. I’m a little jumpy, I guess.”
“Bad dreams?”
I nodded and removed my helmet. “I dreamt we were in Denerim on Fort Drakon…” My forehead creased and I opened my mouth to speak again but closed it. He didn’t need to know the rest of my dream.
“Something the matter?” He leaned against the door frame. He had donned the late King Cailan’s armor which we had recovered at Ostagar several months ago.
He looks just like Cailan, I thought. “Nope. Everything’s fine,” I lied.
“You are a terrible liar.” He sighed. “You forget that I can tell what you’re thinking, sometimes. If this is about last night, I didn’t—”
“It’s not about last night,” I interrupted.
“I just want you to know that the only way I got through last night was to imagine I was with you.” Alistair took two long strides and was in front of me. At 6’1” he towered over my 5’4” figure. I had to strain my neck to see his eyes. He bent his knees so I could see him more easily, and I laughed. Our height difference had always been a joke between us.
He grinned. “See? Not so bad.” After a few seconds of staring into each other’s eyes, he whispered, “I love you,” and leaned in to kiss me.
Shivers travelled down my spine. I closed my eyes and kissed him back. He had always kissed me softly and gently. As our lips intertwined, I wrapped my arms around him and he pulled me up and stood to his full height. (My feet were off the ground now.)
“Arl Eamon’s got ‘is pants in a knot lookin’ fer yeh two.”
We quickly separated and I wiped my mouth dry.
“Yer worse ‘an a couple o’ nugs in heat. C’mon, Eamon says it’s time to march,” Oghren grunted.
Alistair and I grabbed our helms, made sure we had our weapons, and followed Oghren out. As we ran down the stairs Alistair, who was in front of me, came to a hard stop and I ran straight into him.
“Ha! I knew it would work!”
I pushed him and growled which made him laugh as we continued down the stairs. We heard Oghren muttering something about nug humpers, and we both laughed now.
My stomach growled. “I’m getting something to eat!”
Alistair and I stopped in the dining room and each grabbed two rolls and a piece of fruit: I an orange, and he an apple. We continued to the main hall. Everyone seemed to be there, waiting: Lanaya, Irving, the Dwarven commanders, my companions. Alistair and I had already devoured our food and I was still hungry. However, I listened to Arl Eamon as he gave us some final instructions before we headed to Denerim.
“We have gathered all the forces we can,” he began. “The darkspawn horde is sure to reach the capital before us, and so we must race to Denerim as quickly as we can. The lives of many thousands hang in the balance. We must not forsake them. You, Alayna, have gathered an army to replace the one lost at Ostagar. Let us pray that it will be enough.”
We set out immediately afterward, with Arl Eamon, Teagan, Riordan, Alistair, and I leading the armies of dwarves, elves, and mages.

)-(
All of Denerim was aflame.
I turned around and saw the fear on the soldiers’ faces. Alistair noticed it, too. He ran up the remnants of a tower’s steps, gathering everyone’s attention immediately.
“Before us stand the might of the darkspawn horde!” he called out in his mightiest voice.
Maker, he’s hot, I thought to myself as I listened to him encourage the men.
He pointed towards Denerim. “Gaze upon them now, but fear them not.” He motioned for me to join him, and I did. “This woman is a native of Fereldan, now risen to the ranks of the Grey Wardens! She is proof that glory is within reach of us all! She has survived despite the odds, and without her, none of us would be here!”
I flushed slightly.
Alistair walked down the steps and I followed. “Today, we save Denerim! Today, we avenge the death of my brother, King Cailan!” He stood directly in front of the army, now. “But most of all, today we show the Grey Wardens that we remember and honor their sacrifice!” Alistair unsheathed his blade and held it up for the men to see then pointed it at Denerim. “For Fereldan! For the Grey Wardens!” he cried.
The men and women huzzahed and we charged at Denerim.
As we drew near, I felt the corruption stir in my blood. As suspected, the gates were overrun by darkspawn. I ran around, trying to help whichever man needed another arm the most. Unable to run quickly enough, I called loudly and taunted the darkspawn to attack me. I was surrounded in seconds, but I swung Starfang around and decapitated most of the genlocks. Hurlocks still standing were shot down by Leliana’s arrows. Sten and Shale followed my lead and drew as many darkspawn to them as they could. Wynne was running around healing as many wounded soldiers as she could, and Alistair remained by her side, defending her from any darkspawn that came her way. I looked around. There were just a few darkspawn left. I need to find Riordan and discuss how we will—
Thump.
The ground shook and I nearly lost my balance.
Thump.
“Sweet Andraste, is that…?”
An ogre burst through a nearby wall and charged straight for me. I dropped my blade and dove to the left. My hip crashed into the ground and I couldn’t get up. My ears were ringing and I didn’t hear anything until—crunch!
“AHHH!” I screamed in pain. The ogre had smashed my left leg. My head pounded uncontrollably. Now I really can’t get up, I thought. With dizzy vision, I saw it come at me again but slowed to a stop, covered in frost.
Thank the Maker for Morrigan. Zevran jumped on the back of the massive beast and stabbed it with both his blades, causing it to shatter. Oghren returned, still huffing from his last rage: he had taken on an ogre by himself and was rather bruised and bloody.
My ears were still ringing, but I heard a muffled, trembling voice call: “Alayna!” Footsteps approached quickly and my head was lifted, my helmet removed. My eyes flashed up to the blood-covered, handsome man who looked like he might cry.
I tried to smile but coughed up some blood instead. “Alist—” My voice gave out and I coughed some more.
“Oh, holy Maker. Wynne! Get over here, now!”
My left greave was removed and I cried out in pain.
“Lie still, child,” Wynne’s soothing voice said. When she tried to set the bone back in place, I blacked out.

)-(
My eyes fluttered open several minutes later and I gasped.
“Oh, thank the Maker,” Alistair said.
I screamed in pain again. “Holy… shit! Maker, please!” I yelled.
“There. The bone is set.” Wynne’s grey hair was in a toppled mess, and she looked tired from exerting herself.
I tried to sit up and Alistair supported me. My leg was swollen but the internal bleeding had stopped. My boot fit snugly now, but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. Alistair helped me stand up.
“I got it, thanks,” I said to Alistair. Looking at Wynne, I said, “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, dear.” She smiled and wrinkles pulled all over her face.
I looked around. “Where is everyone?”
“Another wave of darkspawn came,” Alistair replied. “We stayed with you.”
I happed a few yards to the right, picked up Starfang, and sheathed her on my back. Slowly, my companions trickled back into the gates.
Leliana ran up and hugged me. “I was so worried about you!”
She was practically crushing me. “… Can’t… breathe.”
“Oh, sorry!” She released me and took a step back.
“If an ogre had killed you when I wasn’t able to…” Zevran’s Antivan accent began, “… well, that would have made me the worst assassin in existence.”
I laughed, which hurt my chest. “Thanks, Zev.”
“We must press on,” Riordan commanded. “Who will you lead with you into the city? I suggest taking Alistair and no more than two others.”
Riordan had a point. With Alistair by my side, we’d be stronger and able to sense the darkspawn more easily. “Morrigan, Leliana, Alistair – you’re with me. Sten, I want you to lead the defense here, at the gates. Everyone else, follow his lead, and don’t give him any trouble.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” Wynne asked. “Your leg—”
“Morrigan has learned enough to keep me going. You’ll be more useful healing the rest of the soldiers.”
“Very well,” she said firmly.
My mabari warhound, Barkspawn, begged to come, but I told him to be good and listen to Sten. He barked and wagged his tail happily.
“I can sense two darkspawn generals in the city,” Riordan told me. “If you want to have any chance of beating the archdemon, you’ll need to take them out so they can’t come when the dragon calls to them.”
“Understood. Where will you be?”
“I’ll go alone. Hopefully, I can find the archdemon and take it down before it finds you. Remember – the two of you will be able to sense darkspawn better together, but they’ll be able to sense you, too. Maker help us all.”
Alistair and I nodded, and Riordan took off down some alleys.
I concentrated. “Alistair… the generals are in the Market District and the Alienage.”
“Let’s go!” he yelled.
The men cheered as we entered the city, and I hoped we would not disappoint them.

)-(
Darkspawn littered the streets, and the entire Market looked like it had been overturned. No shops were in their places and many buildings had been burnt down already. As we ventured further in, I sensed the general nearby, and Morrigan could tell that it wasn’t an emissary. We snuck along a walled area and when we came to its opening, I held up my fist so they knew to stop.
“All right,” I whispered, “Alistair, on my right flank. I want whatever’s hiding behind those walls to see me first. Morrigan, Leliana, hang back a little. I don’t need you getting cut to pieces. Understood?”
Everyone nodded. I made sure Starfang was sure in my hand, took a deep breath, and burst around the corner. After slaughtering the first darkspawn I saw, an arrow was shot into my left bicep.
“Agh! MORRIGAN!”
She cast a long-distance healing spell and Leliana killed the darkspawn that shot me with a single arrow. Once the archers were down, killing the general seemed a breeze.
I took a few deep breaths to focus my energy and bring my heart rate down.
“Are you all right?” Leliana asked.
“Fine.” I have to be. “Let’s go.”
The Alienage was our next stop. There weren’t any darkspawn at its entry, but I knew they were here. Shianna was running around hysterically, half-crying and unable to speak coherently. I can’t let any more innocents die today. I told her to find any remaining elves and get them out of Denerim. She nodded and obeyed my request.
As we continued walking, I told my companions to wait behind the Vhenadahl for my signal. I stepped beyond the tree and before I could get to the wall, my blood shifted a little and I froze in place. I felt myself choking and unable to breathe. Blood magic!
The others quickly realized what was going on, and Morrigan paralyzed the darkspawn emissary and released me from his grasp. I dropped to the ground and my leg throbbed horribly. But I wiggled my fingers around Starfang and charged into the swarm of darkspawn. Alistair was in the front line alone, sorely wounded; and in a rage I slew every darkspawn in sight. Morrigan healed him and we pressed on.
“Ser!” A man ran to me from behind and caught his breath.
I turned around and received a message that the gates were secure.
“Sten’s done it!” Leliana cried.
“Thank the Maker,” I replied.
A terrible shriek made my ears ring and I saw the archdemon circle overhead. As it neared a tower, a figure jumped on top of the dragon.
“Look there!” I called to Alistair. We paused our run and watched the battle between Riordan and the archdemon ensue. A gleam of silver flashed and the dragon shrieked. It flew ever higher and tried to throw Riordan from its back but to no avail. Suddenly, it dove down.
“Oh, no…” said Leliana.
The archdemon pulled up and veered right, smashing into a tower. It attempted to shake Riordan off… and succeeded, but not before another silver gleam flashed and travelled down the center of the dragon’s wing.
“Riordan!” Alistair cried.
“He cannot hear you,” retorted Morrigan.
Alistair glared at her.
“We don’t have time for this,” Leliana said softly.
“There!” I yelled. The archdemon spun and crashed atop Fort Drakon. “Riordan must have slit its wing. It’s not going anywhere. Come on!”
We marched onward. Soon we were within Fort Drakon. I wondered why this place looked so familiar, but then it hit me. I was held prisoner here. Ser Cauthrien had captured and locked me up in here just before the Landsmeet. After receiving a few nosebleeds and rape threats from my cell guard, I had heard a commotion outside, and in burst Alistair and Leliana. Alistair had blushed when he saw me in my smallclothes, but I had just been happy to see them.
“At what are you gaping? Come on!” Morrigan yelled.
I blinked a couple of times and snapped out of my daze. I caught up with them in a few seconds.
We had to fight numerous groups of darkspawn and we exhausted most of our supplies before we reached the top.
I crouched down and looked in my pack. “Damn it. We’re nearly out of bandages.”
Morrigan looked tired. “No more lyrium potions, here.”
“And I’m nearly out of arrows,” Leliana piped in.
“Maker help us,” I said. “Use your daggers for now. Hopefully, we’ll find a crate with supplies before we get to the archdemon.”
“We must not dally here,” Alistair said. “The archdemon’s not just gonna wait for us to catch our breath.”
“He’s right.” I groaned as I stood up, for I had used my left leg to support my weight instead of my right. “Let’s go.”
The next room was an interesting sight. Darkspawn remains were strewn upon the ground… all around Sandal.
“Isn’t that Bodahn’s boy?” Alistair asked.
“’Tis indeed,” Morrigan replied.
“Sandal! Do you have any of your father’s wares to sell?” I begged.
“Enchantment!” he yelled.
I traded some gems and useless arms for lyrium vials, bandages, and arrows. I also gave him some runes ‘just for fun.’
“I think those stairs lead to the top,” Leliana said, taking in a deep breath. “I can feel the open air under the door.”
“Let’s be on our way, then.”
As we approached the door, I instructed Morrigan and Leliana to hang back so Alistair and I could check out the top. The last thing we need is for Morrigan to die, I thought.
“There’s a lot of darkspawn up here, Alistair. Are you ready?”
He nodded. Alistair and I threw the double doors open and drew the monsters’ attention. After we’d slaughtered a few dozen, I summoned Leliana and she notched as many arrows as she could and aimed them at a new wave of enemy reinforcements, waiting for my signal. I also blew my horn, calling any soldiers who remained to make their way to Fort Drakon.
“NOW!” I commanded.
She loosed her darts and shot down nearly every darkspawn in sight.
The archdemon crawled out on all four legs from behind a corner and spit purple fire at us. Morrigan felt the shift in magic and counteracted it with a wall of ice.
The archdemon leapt into the sky and landed atop an inaccessible echelon of the tower and spewed fire violently. Leliana ran up to a nearby ballista and speared the demon. Alistair and I switched to our bows and aimed as best we could. Alistair had more luck than I, and after some time, the archdemon let out an ear-splitting shriek.
I crouched down in pain from its cry, as did the men with me. After I could stand up again, it leapt into the air but its wing did not allow it to fly far: it crashed several yards to my right. I dropped the bow and withdrew Starfang again and charged the beast with Alistair at my side. Morrigan cast a hex on the archdemon and Leliana carefully aimed her arrows at its lower neck where it was most vulnerable. I slashed violently and unremittingly. My leg throbbed with my ever-increasing heart rate and gave me a severe headache.
After a few minutes of battle, the archdemon lay nearly dead; its blood covered me from head to toe.
I groaned. Can’t it be anywhere but in my hair?!
Just when I thought I could strike a final blow, the dragon used what little strength it had left to flap its wings, pushing back Alistair and me. In the chaos, Starfang fell from my hand and flew away from me, clattering on the ground far away. I landed on my back and my head was thrown back on the stone.
That’s going to bruise. When I got up, I was dizzy, and Alistair was searching for his sword. Looking around, I saw hundreds of darkspawn still pouring in, and the men from Redcliffe could only kill so many. I reached for the nearest blade I could find and ran as fast as I could at the archdemon. It reared its neck and held out its arm to smash me, but I slid underneath it, slicing its throat open. Covered in blood, I tumbled and stepped atop its head and cut it off. When the archdemon’s head was severed a yellow column of light burst from its body, which caused all of us to shield our eyes. My blood shifted and I felt the corruption stir in my veins, but it was painful. Suddenly, the archdemon exploded, making the stone walls and floor to crack and tremble. I was thrown into the air and flew backwards. My sword arm smashed into a stone wall and I fell back on the ground, landing on my left hip again. My vision disappeared briefly and when I could see again, everything was blurry. Above me, a large section of stone fell loose from the wall and dropped down toward me.
“Alayna!” was the last cry I heard.
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Beginning Our Forever