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Blood Promise	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4559 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Flight

“No...” Jordan stared at her burning home, the house her father built, the house that had finally given her family a place they could call home. The flames had completely consumed it, turning her once beautiful house into a glowing red inferno. “I... failed.”
“You bet your sodding ass you failed!” Carver screamed next to her. “I can't believe I listened to you. I actually followed you to that stupid cellar already knowing what we'd find!”
“Carver... now is not the time.”
“No, now is the perfect time! I'm tired of following you! I'm tired of being stuck in your shadow! We could have been here to protect them. We could have been gone by now, away from Lothering and these retched darkspawn! But no, you just had to be yourself and go check on something that was useless. Enough is enough, Jordan!”
“Carver, please. I know how you feel about me, but I also know how I feel about you and I'm sick of your attitude. So now we need to put aside our differences and work together to get out of here. You can yell at me all you want when we're safe.”
“Right, the only reason you want to stick together is because I have a sword while you have nothing.” Carver brandished the sword he had taken from the hurlock next to Dane's Refuge, making him smile. “I think it's time you followed me, Sister.”
Jordan frowned at him. Even though she preferred fighting with her two daggers, she was more than capable of handling herself without them. She was trained in stealth, speed, and accuracy. A deadly rogue that was more potent close to her target than far away. She knew exactly where to hit and how hard. She felt heading off on her own would be no trouble, but she couldn't leave Carver. Mother wouldn't have wanted that. Jordan had to swallow her pride. In this situation it was probably best to let her brother think he was in charge.
“Alright, Carver, lead the... sod it.”
Coming down the path, Jordan spotted a whole group of darkspawn coming right for them. It was a large group of hurlocks, maybe even the same ones that had burned down their house. Carver went to move out of their sight, but it was already too late. The darkspawn had spotted them.
Jordan prepared herself as a hurlock raced right at her. It's sword swinging wildly and mouth gaping, showing off it's rotten teeth. She rolled, wrapping her legs around the hurlock's ankles and bringing it down on it's face. She kicked it in the side, knocking the darkspawn's weapon away before jumping up and snapping it's neck. More hurlock's came after her and she saw Carver fighting off others as they went after him. He swung the crude greatsword in wide arches, cutting down several darkspawn at once. Jordan continued defending herself, knocking the hurlocks to the ground with her feet, but she could only do so much. They were beginning to become overwhelmed. Jordan wanted to flee, knowing there was no sense staying and trying to fight them all, but getting Carver to move was harder than killing them. He was stubborn, determined to kill every last one. It was the same thing that nearly got him killed at Ostagar.
“Carver, we need to run!” Jordan screamed at him. “We need to get outta here!”
“No, I'm not running this time!” he yelled back. “We're going to kill all of them for what they did!”
“Carver!” Jordan knocked down a hurlock before making her way to her brother. He was completely surrounded, swinging his sword wildly to keep all the darkspawn away. Ramming her shoulder into a hurlock's back, it knocked the darkspawn down, taking several others with it. This allowed her to reach her brother, standing by his side and forcing him to back away. “Seriously, we need to get out of here. Now!”
“You're not in charge this time, Jordan.” Carver pointed the sword out, keeping the advancing darkspawn at bay the length of the sword. They both backed up toward the trees. The darkspawn were beginning to surround them again.
“Now is not the time for you to try and be a hero, Carver. Bethany and Mother would not want us to die like this.”
“We're not going to die.”
“We will if we don't run.”
“Jordan, no-”
“Jordan! Carver! Get down!”
They obeyed the command, dropping to the ground just as a fireball flew over their heads from the trees. It exploded on impact, setting the darkspawn aflame and flaring in every direction. Jordan looked to the trees to see the shape of Bethany with her father's staff, preparing to fire another one if the darkspawn dared to come closer.
“Jordan, Carver! Get up!”
“Bethany?” Carver said as both he and Jordan stood and ran to their sister. “Is that really you?”
“Of course it is, now come on!” She lead them into the tree line, firing one more fireball behind them to keep the darkspawn from following. When they reached a clearing, there they found their mother along with Jordan's mabari. Chance barked excitedly when he saw his mistress, running and jumping up to try and lick her face.
“Hey, boy,” Jordan said scratching behind his ears. “Were you here protecting Mother?”
“Thank the Maker you two are alive,” Leandra said grabbing both Jordan and Carver and bringing them into a tight hug. “I thought I'd never see you again.”
“We thought the same thing,” said Jordan. “When we reached the house, it was already burning.”
“We thought we didn't make it,” Carver added.
“Well thanks to your sister, we were able to make it out of the house in time.”
“I thought I felt something foul in the air,” said Bethany. “So I went outside to see if something was wrong and saw the darkspawn coming out of the Wilds. That's when I ran back into the house and grabbed Mother. I didn't know where you two were, but I knew I needed to get her to safety.”
“And you did a good job, Bethie,” Jordan smiled. “Good thing Mother gave you that staff when she did.”
“Oh, and yes, speaking of weapons,” Bethany said as she made her way to a patch of tall grass in the clearing. “We weren't able to save much, as I'm sure you saw the cart, but I was able to grab both of your weapons just in case you made it back to us.” Bethany picked up Carver's greatsword and Jordan's two daggers and handed them over.
Carver threw down the crude darkspawn one and took his own, happy to finally have his proper weapon in hand. Jordan was also glad to finally have her own weapons again. Especially the dagger her father gave her. It was made of a rare material called blue steel, giving it a bluish gray color. It was a strong metal that had served both Jordan and her father well. The dagger was called Edge, and it used to be at the end of Malcolm's staff. When the staff broke, Malcolm broke off the blade part and gave it to his oldest child, forming it to fit her perfectly. And it did, but maybe too much. She always had trouble fitting it with another dagger, always having to trade out other weapons to see if she could find that perfect match again. It was why the other dagger, which she held in her left hand, was nothing more than a simple Ferelden issued regulatory blade. She didn't like it very much, but it was the best she had at the moment. Edge was one full piece, the blade sharp and slightly wider in the middle. The hand guards small and winged, coming to keen points. The hilt, a deeper blue than the blade, was wrapped in fine black leather, giving Jordan an easy grip. In all, it was an impressive weapon, one that Jordan valued greatly.
“Alright, we need to get moving,” she said placing her two daggers on her back. It felt good to have them again. “The darkspawn aren't going to just ignore us, we need to get to the Imperial Highway and to Gwaren as fast as we can.”
“So we're still going to Kirkwall?” asked Bethany. There was disappointment in her voice and Jordan could even see it on her face. Kirkwall was not a place she wanted to go, even if they did have family there. She was a mage and Kirkwall was filled with templars, and its Circle was known for its brutality.
“Yes, we're still going, Bethany. Unfortunately it's the only option we have right now. Everywhere else in Ferelden is going to be packed with refugees. It's best we get out of Ferelden now, anyway. If the Blight isn't stopped here, then it'll spread past Ferelden eventually.”
“I understand,” Bethany said. She was still troubled by the idea, but she knew Jordan spoke the truth.
“Right, then we need to start heading northwest,” said Carver. “It'll get us-”
“No,” Jordan interrupted. “We need to head northeast. Going toward the west will take us too far past the highway and make us backtrack.”
“But going west is the safest route,” Carver argued. “From what I saw, the darkspawn are heading northeast. You want to follow the horde?”
“I'm trying to get us to Gwaren the fastest and safest way.”
“And that's not it!”
“Jordan, Carver, stop this right now,” Leandra said getting in between her two children. They were beginning to get close to one another, anger on their faces. “I don't want to see you two fighting like this, especially now. We need to work together. So Carver, please... listen to your sister.”
Carver took a step back from his mother, looking slightly beaten. He clenched his fists but eventually relented. “Fine,” he said in a small, harsh voice. His time to finally prove himself was taken away once again.
“Okay, so this is what we're going to do,” Jordan continued. “We need to go northeast, staying on the edge of the village to avoid the horde the best we can. Once we reach the highway, we'll travel along it until we reach Gwaren then take a ship to Kirkwall. Carver, you take the rear while I'll be in front and Bethany will be in the middle. Mother, you stick close to Bethany and stay with her no matter what happens. If we get attacked, I want you to stay out of the fight. Bethany, protect her.”
“You know you can count on me, Sister,” said Bethany.
Jordan nodded. “And Chance,” she said to the mabari at her feet. “You can stick with me.” The large hound barked and licked her hand. “Good, if we're all ready, then let's go. I want to get going before the darkspawn realize we're still here.”
Jordan lead them through the trees, all the way to a path that lead to the farm fields. They were all burnt now, destroyed and smoking from the still hot embers. It was a scene of sadness seeing the once beautiful fields now nothing but piles of ash and bone. Far beyond they could see the Imperial Highway clouded by the black smoke that came from the village of Lothering. Faintly on the wind they could hear the screams of terror from the people still there, trying to fight the darkspawn, trying to get away with their lives. They wondered how many would survive, how many would be able to get away. They wondered if they would be able to do it themselves.
***
They kept to the outskirts, Jordan leading them down the worn paths outside the burning fields. They occasionally had to stop and fight darkspawn they came across. Small groups that liked to break away from the main horde to pilferage and scavenge. With Jordan and Carver at the lead, the darkspawn were easy to kill, but Jordan worked hard to keep them away from her sister and mother. Bethany, however, proved very useful against the darkspawn, able to keep them at bay with her fire and ice spells. Jordan actually spent more of her time saving Carver. He had a bad habit of letting himself get surrounded by the darkspawn, and Jordan had to come in several times to keep him from getting a knife in his back. Never did he seem to notice nor did he thank her for saving him.
“You need to stop being stupid, Carver,” Jordan said after a particularly hard fight. “This isn't Ostagar with tons of soldiers around you. Quit letting yourself be surrounded!”
“I can handle myself just fine, Jordan,” Carver said back. “I don't need you watching my back every time. Pay more attention to yourself, maybe.”
“Myself? Are you serious?”
“Alright, stop this right now, you two,” Leandra said getting in between her two children once again. “We don't need your bickering right now. We just need to get out of here as a family.”
Carver backed down from his mother's words, but Jordan could still see a fire beyond his blue eyes. He was reaching a breaking point, and she wondered how long he would stay with them. Jordan's own hazel eyes studied him as he turned away from her and slowly walked in the opposite direction.
Something then caught Jordan's attention on the wind. It was the sound of a struggle. Carver heard it as well, and it sent the both of them toward the source.
When they topped a hill, they saw at the bottom two warriors, one woman, one man, surrounded by darkspawn, fighting for their lives. The woman only fought with a sword while the man had both sword and shield. They watched as he cut a hurlock down but only to back up into another one that lanced him fully across the back. He screamed from the sudden blow, sending him forward to the ground and losing his shield. Jordan nearly screamed for him to look out as the hurlock went to finish him off, but the woman beat her to it. She collided with the darkspawn, sending it to the ground where she climbed on top and began striking it with her fists.
“You will not have him!” she screamed as she grabbed her sword and sliced it across the darkspawn's throat. With it dead, she quickly jumped off, grabbing the man's shield and helping him to his feet. “They will not have you,” she said to him. “Not while I breathe.”
They backed up as the darkspawn began to surround them again, giving them no way to escape. Jordan couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed her daggers and ran down the hill, Carver close behind her.
They collided with the hurlocks, Jordan sending both her daggers into one of their backs, lifting up and slicing diagonally across it's spine. Carver swung in a wide arch, sending three hurlocks into the air at once. The woman, seeing the new arrivals, dropped her companion on the ground and smashed her shield into two darkspawn. She pushed forward, sending them straight to the ground where she jabbed her sword into their chests. She then renewed her attack by swinging her shield, hitting the legs of a hurlock and her sword cut those of another one.
Jordan worked fast, slicing through the armor of one hurlock, hitting all the weak points before she was able to stick Edge into the hurlock's chest. She twisted to another one, ducking it's blow and ramming her other dagger into it's jaw. The blade went through it's skull, and she ripped it out, taring the lower jaw off. More darkspawn came, but they were quickly extinguished by one of Bethany's fireballs. More froze from her ice spells, stopping one in mid swing that would have taken Carver's head off. Turning in a circle with his sword out, Carver shattered all the frozen darkspawn, eliminating the rest of them.
When it was over, the woman ran back to the man, helping him to stand. “Stop squirming,” she said. “You're just making it worse.”
“Sorry, love, but I have to do this.”
“Wesley, no!”
Jordan noticed as he stood, he looked determined as he stared over at her sister. It was only then that she noticed the armor he was wearing. He was a templar, and was obviously keen on Bethany despite what they had just done for him.
“Apostate, stay right there,” he said.
Bethany stopped short on her way down the hill. “Well, the Maker has a sense of humor. Darkspawn and now a templar.”
“Wesley, no, you don't need to do this right now,” the woman said trying to calm him. He moved forward to Bethany even with his injury.
“The darkspawn are clear in their intent, but a mage is always unknown. The order dictates.”
“Wesley...”
“That woman is an apostate. The order dictates...”
Jordan put herself right in between the templar and her sister, staring him down. She studied his right arm, the one that looked as if it no longer worked. His shoulder had been split from the back, causing his arm to go limp. She noticed he would have been easy to take down even if it wasn't for his injury. But the woman came right beside him, and Jordan knew she would have a tougher time with her. Luckily, the woman did not seem to want to fight.
“Dear, they saved us,” she said trying to pull him back. “The Maker understands.”
He backed down, her touch and gentle voice bringing him back. Jordan, however, stayed where she was, keeping her hardened eyes fixed on him.
“Please excuse my husband,” said the woman. “He sometimes forgets that he's more than a templar.”
“Understandable,” said Jordan. “But I don't take too kindly to anyone threatening my family.”
“Yes, which is why I think we should start over. Allow me to get us on the right track. I am Aveline Vallen and this is my husband, Ser Wesley.”
“Well met. I am Jordan Hawke. This is my brother Carver, sister Bethany, and mother Leandra.”
“Well met indeed. Perhaps if we wish to hate each other later, we can do it after we're safely away from the horde.”
“Ah, yes, speaking of which,” Jordan said trying to lighten the mood. “What are you two doing out here anyway? And why didn't he leave with the others? I thought all the templars left Lothering long ago.”
“They did, but I wasn't stationed here,” Wesley explained. “I was traveling to Denerim on business for the Order, but turned south when I heard of Ostagar. I had to make sure she was all right.”
“I was at Ostagar,” said Aveline. “After what happened, I ran to Lothering where we came together.”
“You were at Ostagar as well?” Carver asked.
Aveline nodded.
“See, Carver,” said Jordan. “We weren't the only ones that ran. Both me and my brother were there, under Captain Varel. Once I saw there was no flanking attack when the signal went up, I knew something was wrong. So I found my brother and we ran back home.”
“You were fortunate then to have escaped as you did,” Aveline said. “Perhaps instead of fighting each other, maybe we can work together to get out of this mess alive.”
Jordan raised an eyebrow. “You're quick to offer your allegiance.”
“Another blade between us an the darkspawn?” Carver said happy. “Yes, please.”
Jordan ignored him. “How do I know I can trust you? Not after what your husband nearly tried to do.”
“I am... sorry,” Wesley said looking away from her. “That is my duty no matter the circumstances. But I suppose they can wait for now.”
“They will wait forever if I have my way of it,” Jordan whispered. “But alright, if you can keep up with us, then I don't see why we can't work together to get to our destination. Where are you two headed anyway?”
“We were heading north, just to escape the horde,” Aveline answered. “But unfortunately the entire way is blocked. There's no way to get to the highway.”
“You're serious?” said Carver. “You mean south is the only way we can go? But that's no way out, the Wilds are to the south!”
Jordan rolled her eyes at him. “Carver, please. The Wilds aren't that bad. Besides, if the options are south or die, I'll take my chances with south.” She didn't let him protest as she made her way past the others, leading them in the opposite direction. Jordan quickly took the lead and was soon joined at the head of the group by Aveline.
“I think I know you,” the warrior said. “Are you the one they called 'The Hawke'?”
Jordan laughed. “I always found it funny that they take my sire name and place the word 'the' at the beginning to make a nickname. But yes, that's what they called me.”
“I thought so. They say you are fast, a blur on the battlefield. I would have to say they were right, after seeing you fight those darkspawn just now. Thanks for that.”
“Of course. I wasn't going to let anyone die from the darkspawn, whether they were templars or not. Course, if I knew your husband was a templar and he was going to go after my sister immediately afterwards, I might've gone down the hill slower.”
“As much as I can understand how you may feel, he is still my husband.”
“Right, right.” Jordan cleared her throat. “So where were the two of you headed?”
“At the moment, our main goal was just to get out of Lothering,” said Aveline. “After that, I'm not sure. We may head to Denerim. Wesley was suppose to head there before he heard of Ostagar. Is that where you were going?”
“Actually we were going to Gwaren, then take a ship and sail to Kirkwall. We have family there, and thought it was better to get away from this Blight as far as we could.”
Aveline took a look back at their group. “That does sound like a good plan, although if this Blight spreads past the Ferelden boarder, will you keep moving north?”
“I will do whatever it takes to keep my family safe. If I have to move them all the way to the north pole, then that's what I'll do.”
“You do what you need.”
They walked in silence for a moment. Chance walked along side Jordan on her other side, sniffing the ground and occasionally whimpering as they went forward.
“So... Aveline...” Jordan said nonchalantly. “That name reminds me of something...”
“If it reminds of you an Orlesian knight, then you can stop right there,” Aveline said narrowing her eyes. “I've heard it plenty of times before.”
“What? Oh no!” Jordan said shaking her head. “I was going to say it reminded me of a buck-toothed barmaid that worked in the tavern in Lothering. I think she had the same name.”
“They also said you had a certain charm,” Aveline quirked. “But yes, if you really must know, I was named after the Orlesian knight, Ser Aveline, and that's as far as I would like to discuss it.”
“Fair enough.”
They continued making their way before they finally reached the Wilds. It was swampy with an eerie mist that lingered over the ground. There was also a chill in the air that clung to their bones and only seemed to be present within the mist. Jordan knew her way around, she had played in the Wilds as a child with her siblings, but not even that could keep fear from racing up her spine as they made their way through.
“Maybe you should let me take a look at that,” Bethany said to Wesley. Jordan looked back to see he was falling behind, his injury slowing him down more than she liked. “That is, of course, if you don't mind.”
“Oh, well... I don't condemn magic all together,” Wesley said. “Spirit healing does have its benefits. It would be nice if you could take a look, but that all depends on if your sister allows us to take a break.”
“Yes, I think we should stop for a moment,” Aveline put in. “Let Bethany do what she can, then we can move on.”
Jordan stopped and looked over at her sister. It didn't surprise her one bit that Bethany was offering to help the templar. That was how she was, and Jordan didn't expect any less. Bethany had always tried to help everyone the best she could, even if it meant risking exposing what she was. And with Wesley, who just recently had threatened to take her in, Bethany completely ignored that fact, and focused more on trying to help him with his injury.
Jordan also looked around at the others. She noticed they were all fairly tired and needed some type of rest. Especially her mother, who wasn't used to so much walking and fighting. She worried for her, and wanted to get all of them out as soon as possible, but she also knew she couldn't push them too hard.
“Alright, we can stop and rest for a little while,” said Jordan. “But we can't stay for long. After Bethany's done, then we need to get moving again.” Everyone looked relieved and found themselves looking for a proper place to sit. Carver was the only one that didn't.
“Sit, relax, Carver,” Jordan said. “You're going to need all your energy until we at least get to Gwaren.”
“I'm fine, Jordan,” he said staring away from her. “We shouldn't be sitting like this anyway.”
“It's not going to be for long. Just until-”
“And that's another thing,” he interrupted her. “I find it funny how we pick up two new people and they just happen to start following you. One even knows who you are.”
“Oh, not this again, Carver...”
“No, I won't get into it. I'll just stay behind in your shadow, as always, and follow like the 'Little Hawke' I am.”
“Little Hawke?”
“That was my nickname once they found out I was your little brother. Just one more thing to put me under your rein.”
Jordan pinched the skin between her eyes. “You know, that's not my fault.”
“I know,” he sighed heavy. “I just... ugh. I'm just going to go and see what's ahead.”
“You do that, then. Chance, go with him.” Jordan nodded her head to her mabari. Chance sprang forward to Carver who excepted the hound with a smile. Even though Chance had actually imprinted on Jordan, the mabari still listened to Carver and could be seen at his side just as much as Jordan's.
“Come on, boy,” Carver said. “Let's go see what's up ahead.”
Carver and Chance turned a corner and disappeared behind a large boulder. Jordan stood in place for a moment, looking at the spot where her brother had disappeared before turning around and seeing everyone behind her. Leandra was on a log, massaging her feet with Aveline sitting next to her, talking. On the opposite side of them was Bethany and Wesley. Jordan could see the purplish glow of Bethany's magic as it worked on Wesley's injured shoulder. She noticed an uneased look on her sister's face, which told Jordan something might have been wrong. Jordan began making her way over there but stopped when she felt the ground shake. It shook again, this time everyone feeling it and standing fast.
“What is that?” Leandra asked.
“I don't-” Jordan turned back around, hearing Carver screaming as he turned the corner, Chance at his heels.
“Move it! Get everyone out of here!” he screamed at them.
“Damn it! What did you do now, Carver?”
Before anyone had any time to react, an ogre skidded around the boulder. It roared and smashed it's fists on the ground before lowering it's massive horns and propelling itself forward. Everyone jumped out of the way in different directions. Aveline grabbed Wesley and flew into the bushes while Carver pulled his mother with him. Jordan and Bethany leaped to the opposite side, the ogre stopping in the middle, separating the four.
“Mother! Carver!” Bethany yelled.
“Bethany, stay back!” Jordan grabbed her sister's wrist, keeping her from running straight at the ogre. The huge darkspawn, hearing Jordan's plea turned it's attention on them. It roared, raising it's hand to strike down on them.
“You soulless bastard!” Carver screamed as he stood and raised his own sword. “Stay away from my sisters!”
“Carver, don't!”
He struck down on the ogre's other arm, but it's armor protected it from the blow. The ogre turned it's attention on him instead, reaching down with speed no one thought it could have. It grabbed Carver around the waist and squeezed him tight enough to make him drop his sword.
“Carver!” all three of them screamed at once.
Bellowing in his face, the ogre slammed Carver down on the ground several times before throwing him. Carver's body skidded before being stopped by a jagged rock. Leandra ran over to him, ignoring the ogre as it went to grab her.
“No you don't!” Jordan yelled as she flung herself forward. Edge was clenched tightly in her right hand, her left pulled back and ready to swing as she rolled under the ogre's arm and planted both daggers in it's leg. It went to grab her but was stopped by a shield as Aveline slammed into the darkspawn with her entire body. It stumbled backwards from the blow as well as the pain in it's leg. Jordan ripped out her daggers and rounded on it, planting them in it's lower back. The ogre spun to get at her, but a fireball in the face caused it to lose the ability to see. It roared and smashed the ground as it searched for the two women it was after. Aveline went to the ogre's side and bashed it with her shield before driving her longsword through a weak point in it's armor. The ogre reached down to grab her, but she moved out of the way just in time, only to come back and cut her sword across it's hand.
Seeing her opportunity, as the ogre was distracted by Aveline, Jordan made her way to it's front. She leaped on it's chest, ducking it's slow hand motions, which had become slow from ice forming around them, and drove Edge straight into it's heart. Her other dagger went across it's throat, bringing the ogre down for good.
When it was over, Leandra was still at Carver's side, trying to wake him. “Carver, wake up. The battle's over. We're fine.” She shook him gently, wanting to get some reaction out of him, but there was nothing. Everyone walked over to them solemnly, not wanting to accept the fact.
“I'm sorry, Mistress,” Aveline said crouching next to Leandra. “But your son is gone.”
“No! These things will not take Carver!” Leandra bent over him with tears in her eyes, not wanting to let go.
“Mother,” Jordan said softly. “I'm sorry, but... maybe we should grieve when we're safe.”
“Don't speak to me of grief!” Leandra snapped. “This is your fault! How could you let him charge off like that? Your little brother! My little boy!”
Jordan lowered her head from her mother's harsh words. Even before Leandra had said them, Jordan felt responsible for Carver's death. She was the oldest, the one in charge. She should have acted faster. She knew she could've. It was her responsibility for everyone's safety.
“I'm sorry, Mother,” Jordan said not looking at her. “But we do need to keep moving.” She hated saying it, but if she was going to keep the others safe, then they had to leave quickly.
“Please, Mother,” Bethany also pleaded. She also had tears in her eyes, but she understood what Jordan was trying to do. “We can't stay here. Carver wouldn't want his sacrifice to be meaningless.”
Leandra finally looked up at her two daughters, seeing the hurt in their eyes but also the reality that they needed to keep moving. “I know... but I don't like...”
“Allow me to commend your son's soul to the Maker, Mistress,” Wesley said. He stood next to Carver the best he could and placed his hand over the boy's face. “Ashes we were, and ashes we become. Maker give this young man a place at your side. Let us take comfort in the peace he has found in eternity.”
Leandra took Carver's head and placed it down on the ground, bending over him and kissing his forehead. “I will never forget you, Carver.” She then stood, reluctant, and turned to Jordan. “I'm sorry, but you're right. We need to keep moving.”
“He won't be alone, Mother,” said Jordan. “Father's waiting for him.”
“Yes.” But Leandra didn't seem comforted by the thought.
Jordan looked at her brother's corpse one last time, really wishing they could have brought him with them, or at least gave him a burial. There was no way they could. Not in the Wilds, and not while trying to run from the Blight.
Jordan went to take the lead again, but when she turned around, she came face to face with several darkspawn. They came out of the mist, coming to investigate the battle that had happened only moments before.
“Flames, we're too late,” said Aveline as she pulled out her sword. “This is not good.”
“There's no end to them...” Bethany spun around, seeing darkspawn coming from all sides. They were surrounded and more and more darkspawn kept coming. “What are we going to do?”
“We're going to fight, is what we're going to do,” said Jordan. She turned to Bethany. “Bethany, when I say so, take Mother and run as fast as you can and don't stop.”
“Jordan, we're not leaving you! Do you really think Mother wants to lose both you and Carver?”
“I know she doesn't, but I'm sure she wouldn't want us all to die. Aveline, I want you and Wesley to run with them.”
“I can understand you wanting to get your family out,” Aveline commented. “But you don't need to worry about Wesley and I. When it comes to us, I'll worry about it.”
“Right.” Jordan gripped Edge and took a step forward. A hurlock came out of the group surrounding them to meet her challenge. It snarled with a gaping mouth and brandished it's sword. Jordan was tired of this, tired of fighting and running from these things. If she could only get Bethany and Mother out, then her promise wouldn't be completely broken.
She went after the hurlock first, running at it before falling to the ground, rolling under it's sword and planting Edge in it's back. The hurlock went down immediately, but Jordan couldn't rest as she used her other dagger to block a swing from another hurlock. Close to her Aveline pushed two darkspawn down with her shield then decapitated another. Bethany used her fireballs to keep most of the darkspawn at bay, taking out as many as she could with one spell. But no matter how many she took out, or how many Jordan and Aveline killed, more kept coming. There really was no end to them, and Jordan was starting to get desperate. She could not find a single time that would allow for her sister and mother to escape.
There was a screech, something Jordan had never heard before. It was loud and ominous and sounded like it belonged to something big. Everyone looked over their shoulders when they heard it, looking up at the cliff that loomed over them. There sitting on the edge was a dragon. Large and dangerous looking, giant horns stretched backwards out of it's head. The dragon spread it's wings, and with another cry, leaped off the cliff and flew right toward them. Everyone jumped to the ground right as it passed over, fire jetting from it's mouth. The darkspawn ignited from the flames, and the dragon swept through the large group, grabbing several in it's hands and mouth. It dropped many to the ground before it landed, crushing more under it's great weight. The darkspawn fled from it. The dragon produced more fire, ripped several in half with it's tail and claws. It then reared on it's hind legs, still holding a dead darkspawn in it's claw. It looked at Jordan, their eyes meeting. There was something about those eyes Jordan saw. Something about them that almost seemed human.
A bright light then surrounded the dragon, swirling around it and seeming to shrink. When it was done, everyone saw a woman standing where the dragon had been. She wore magenta robes, armor clad, and her hair was pure white, held up in the same way the dragon's horns were. She still clutched the darkspawn in her hand as she gracefully walked up to them through her own fire. As she got closer, Jordan could still see her eyes were the same. Almost human.
“Well, well,” the woman said with curiosity. “What have we here?” She dropped the darkspawn as she stopped and stared at Jordan. “It used to be we never got visitors to the Wilds, but now it seems they arrive in hordes.”
Jordan took the opportunity and walked to her. Chance was at her side, growling at the woman while Bethany stayed close behind her. Leandra went back over to Carver's corpse, protecting it like she was afraid this woman would harm it. In the corner of her eye, Jordan noticed Aveline help Wesley to the ground. He apparently was getting worse. Bethany didn't have the chance to heal him all the way.
It was then that Jordan realized the irony of the entire situation and found it somewhat funny. “Nice trick,” she said to the woman. “Where'd you learn how to turn into a dragon?”
“Perhaps I am a dragon,” the woman smiled. “One that has learned to become human.”
“Why would you want to become human?”
“Indeed. But if so, count yourself lucky. The smell of burning darkspawn does nothing for the appetite.”
“You can say that again.” Jordan waved the air in front of her nose.
“So what brings you here to the Wilds?” the woman asked. “If you are trying to flee the darkspawn, you should know you are heading in the wrong direction.”
“Then I suppose every direction is wrong,” said Jordan. “Because we've already tried all the others.”
“Are you so sure? Did you try going up? Or down?”
“Teach me how to be a dragon and going up might work.”
This made the woman laugh. “Clever child, you could never be a dragon. But you are skilled. I spotted a most curious sight: a mighty ogre, vanquished! Who could perform such a feat?”
“I was surprised I could even do it myself,” said Jordan. “Is that why you saved us? Because you say me take down an ogre?”
“I was curious to see who could do such a thing. I've seen it done before but only by those who... have a certain sense. Something you lack. But now my curiosity it sated, and you are safe... for the moment.”
“So... are you just going to leave us here?” Bethany asked.
“Can I not? You seemed to be doing just fine until you were overwhelmed. Was saving you from that large group not enough?”
“We just need to get out of the Wilds. We're going to Kirkwall in the Free Marches.”
“Kirkwall? My, but that is quite the voyage you plan.” The woman paused and studied them. Her inhuman eyes scanning over them all. “Hurtled into the chaos, you fight... and the world will shape before you. Hmm, is it fate or chance? I can never decide.” She focused back on Jordan. “It appears fortune smiles on us both today. I may be able to help you yet.”
“Really? Just like that?” Jordan said raising an eyebrow. “There must be a catch.”
“There is always a catch. Life is a catch! I suggest you catch it while you can!” The woman laughed at her own joke, a cynical laugh that also didn't sound human either.
“I don't like this,” Bethany whispered to Jordan. “Maybe we shouldn't trust her. I don't even know what she is.”
“I do,” said Aveline. “She's the Witch of the Wilds. The very Chasind legend of old.”
“Some call me that,” the woman said flicking it off. “Also Flemeth. Asha'bellanar. An 'old hag who talks too much'! Ha! But does it matter? I offer you this: I will get your group past the horde and out of the Wilds in exchange for a simple deliver to a place not far out of your way. Would you do this for a 'Witch of the Wilds'?”
Jordan thought as she stared at the woman: Flemeth. She knew that legend well. She heard it all the time from the Chasind in the village who would speak it to any who wished to hear. She was a witch, old and powerful who liked to steal children. It was a legend Jordan didn't actually believe, or at least not all of it. But yet here Flemeth was, right in front of her. And if looking into those strange eyes didn't convince her, nothing would.
“Why is it you need me to deliver something?” Jordan asked. “You would go through all this trouble just for that? Why not go yourself?”
“I have... other matters that need my attention,” Flemeth said. “Besides, it is far more convenient this way. Happily, you're not without your own needs.”
“Is this going to cause us any trouble?”
“About as much trouble as my saving your lives not five minutes ago.”
“Hmm, good point.”
Flemeth chuckled. “If you knew my daughter, you'd know how seldom I hear that.”
“Okay.” Jordan turned to the others. “What do the rest of you think? Should we trust her?”
“I'm behind whatever you decide, Sister,” said Bethany.
“I think we need to do what we can,” said Aveline. “Wesley is injured and getting worse. I don't think we'll be able to escape the darkspawn on our own.”
“If you need to, leave me behind,” Wesley said. His voice was getting weaker, and even though they had had blows at the beginning, Jordan hated the thought of leaving him behind.
“No!” Aveline nearly yelled. “I said I would drag you out if I had to, and I meant it!”
“Alright,” Jordan said facing back to Flemeth. “Roast a few more darkspawn and I'll do anything you want.”
Flemeth half smiled at her. “Sadly, my charity is at an end when it comes to that. But as for your task, I need you to find a clan of Dalish elves. They should be near the city of Kirkwall. Deliver this amulet to their Keeper, Marethari. Do as she asks with it and any debt between us is paid in full.”
Jordan took the amulet Flemeth handed to her. It was made of gold with a yellow gem in the center. There was a strange pulse coming from the gem, but Jordan pocketed it, not wanting to know what it really was. “Consider it done.”
“Good. But before I take you anywhere, however, there is another matter...” Flemeth turned her attention on Wesley, who coughed hard while Aveline patted his back. She then noticed the witch eying her husband and glared at her.
“No! Leave him alone! You may be an apostate, but Wesley has done nothing to you.”
“That is not what I speak of,” Flemeth spoke solemn. “What has been done to your man is within his blood already.”
“You lie!”
“No, Aveline, she's right,” Wesley said as he gripped her shoulder. “I can feel the corruption inside me.”
“The corruption?” Jordan said shocked. “You mean the darkspawn corruption?”
“Yes,” Wesley breathed. “I knew... when it happened. All that blood.”
“I could feel it within him,” said Bethany. “When I was healing him. But I wasn't sure.”
Aveline looked stricken. She touched Wesley's face, seeing the dark lines beginning to show. “Then how much time before you...?”
“Not long now, if I am any judge,” spoke Flemeth.
“There's no way of curing it?” Jordan asked.
“The only cure is to become a Grey Warden,” Flemeth mused.
“And most of them died at Ostagar. Course there were those three I saw who were on the run. Maybe they could-”
“They are beyond your reach,” Flemeth interrupted. “Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to help even if they weren't.”
“Aveline, listen to me,” Wesley said as he stared into his wife's eyes. “I need you to help me. Please.”
Aveline shook her head. “You can't ask me to do it. I won't.”
“Please. The corruption is a slow death. I can't...” He lowered his head and closed his eyes. Pain could clearly be seen across his face.
Jordan went over to Aveline and placed her hand on the warrior's shoulder. “It's up to you, Aveline. As your husband, only you can decide his fate.”
“I...” Aveline clenched Wesley's armor, holding back.
“Be strong... my love.” Wesley took his knife and handed it to her. Aveline looked at it before taking it from him. He nodded and began removing his breastplate. He then took her hand with the knife and placed it over his heart. “I will always love you.”
“And I will always love you.” With a strong push, Aveline drove the knife into Wesley's heart. He cringed from the pain but soon drifted away. A look of peace replaced the pain.
When Aveline stood, she dropped the knife and stared down at her husband.
“Without an end, there can be no peace,” said Flemeth. “It gets no easier. Your struggles have only just begun.”
“I don't need your sympathy right now, Witch.”
“Of course not, but allow me to do this at least. For both corpses you leave in the Wilds, I will give them a burial as you make your journey to Kirkwall. Would that make it better?”
“You would do that?” Aveline asked surprised. “Why?”
“And why not?”
“Because Wesley would not want you touching his body, that's why.”
“And you think he would rather have his body mangled and defiled by the darkspawn? Would you want your brother's corpse to meet the same fate?” Flemeth looked to Jordan and Bethany.
“What would you do?” Leandra asked.
“Just give them what you would call a proper good-bye.”
“Then you may,” Leandra allowed. “I don't like the thought of leaving Carver in your hands, but thinking of the darkspawn taring at his body is even worse.”
“Then we have an accord.”
“So how are you going to get us out of here?” Jordan asked.
“Simple. Follow the bluebird and you will be safe. Do not linger from it's path or you may join your lost loved ones sooner than you wish.”
***
It didn't take long for them to leave the Wilds. They followed the bluebird Flemeth told them to, and eventually they came out of the Wilds and right to the Imperial Highway. From there they took the West Road to South Reach and followed down the Brecilian Passage to Gwaren. When they reached the city, they found it to be crowded with people like them, refugees trying to escape the Blight and take a ship out of the country.
Finding a ship to take them to Kirkwall was the next hardest thing. They had barely any money and many of the ships taking refugees would not allow them aboard without the proper coin. But Jordan was determined she'd get her family on one of those ships.
“Alright, we're going to need to split up,” she said. “Try and find us a ship that will take all four of us with only four sovereigns to our name.”
“Maybe it would be easier if only the three of you tried to find a ship,” said Aveline. “I'm not apart of your family.”
“You might as well be,” said Bethany. “You've been traveling with us for this long, you can't just leave us now.”
“That's right,” Leandra put in. “You're staying with us.”
“I appreciate it,” said Aveline. “But I still think it would be easier...”
“We're still looking for four slots,” said Jordan. “So let's go ahead and split up now. Hopefully we'll be setting sail tonight.”
Jordan knew she was probably being over optimistic, and it became more clear as she went from ship to ship, only to be turned down because she didn't have the coin. Four sovereigns wasn't nearly enough for four people and a dog. It might have been able to get one of them to Kirkwall, but not all. She was beginning to get frustrated and it was starting to create a new headache.
“Jordan, you need to relax,” said Bethany as she healed her sister in a side alley, away from prying eyes. “We'll find something, I'm sure.”
“You don't need to worry too much about it, Bethany. I'll do that.”
“Yes, and then I have to worry about you over exerting yourself.” Bethany finished and stared at her sister. “You don't need to take the entire burden on your shoulders, you know.”
Jordan smiled at her. “I know. I just... can't help it sometimes. But thanks, Bethie. I promise I won't have you heal another headache of mine in the next twenty-four hours.”
“Jordan!”
“What? Come on. There are still a few ships out there we need to check.”
Leaving the alley, Jordan directed her sister to check the ships next to the fishery while she checked the ones close to the market. There Jordan spotted what looked like a captain as he ordered his men around as they loaded a ship. It was a merchant ship and looked as if it would have room.
“Excuse me, ser,” Jordan said to him. “Are you sailing to Kirkwall by chance?”
“What? Oh, as a matter of fact I am,” he said. “Why? Are you looking for passage?”
“If you would let me and my family board your ship. We have coin to pay you.”
“Really? How much?”
“Four sovereigns.”
“Well, four sovereigns each is more than most refugees have been offering me. I think I could allow you and your family aboard for that.”
“No, I meant... four sovereigns all together. For four of us.”
The captain did have a big smile, but it dropped quickly. “You seriously think only one sovereign per person would be enough? Sailing to Kirkwall from here is not an easy ride, sweetheart. You need to be able to pay for it.”
“Unfortunately four sovereigns is all we have.”
“Don't preach it to me, I've heard it all. So if you don't have anything else to offer, then you're out of luck.” He turned away from her, going back to giving orders to his men.
“Look, ser,” Jordan said not wanting to give up just yet. “I really need to get my family out of Ferelden. Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”
The captain turned back to her and looked Jordan up and down. He then looked beyond her and she saw a creepy smile cross his face. “Maybe we could make out a deal,” he said. “I'll take your four sovereigns along with a few nights with that black-haired beauty over there. It gets awful lonely out at sea sometimes.”
Jordan turned to see who he was looking at to see Bethany a few feet behind her, talking to another sailor. Instantly her willingness to work with him was gone. “How dare you,” she growled. “You seriously think I'm going to allow you to touch my sister?”
“That's my offer. Take it or leave it,” the captain smiled.
“I'm not doing it. We'll find another ship.”
“Good luck, sweetheart.”
She wanted to hit him, kill him if she could, but Jordan couldn't risk it. Instead she clenched her fists and stormed away from him. If that's what it took to get a ship to Kirkwall, she wasn't going to pay it. But as the day stretched on, it seemed less and less likely they would ever find a ship. It was always the same answer: No coin, no ride. She would try to bargain, but that wouldn't work either. The others didn't have any better luck, also getting the same answer no matter how hard they tried. Jordan didn't like the thought of going back to that captain, but so far he was the only one who would let them board his ship... but for a price.
Eventually Jordan found herself back at his ship. He was still on the dock, looking over his shipping orders. When he saw her, he looked up from his papers and smiled. “Well, I was wondering when you were coming back. Are you ready to take my offer?”
“No,” Jordan said flatly. “
“No? Then why are you here?”
Jordan wasted no time, she grabbed Edge and pressed the captain up against some crates. Her blade went right to his throat. “Now you listen, I don't like you, and I hate that I'm even thinking this, but I might just take up your offer but with a few changes.”
“You really think threatening me like this is going to get me to let you on my ship?” he said seeming not afraid of her.
“If you want those nights, then you can have them, but not with my sister. They will be with me.”
“Oh, I see.” Jordan slowly let him go, but kept her dagger in hand. The captain looked her over once more, looking as if he liked what he saw. “You're willing to give yourself instead? What a noble sister you are.”
“Will you take it?”
“I will indeed. You said there were four people? I'll take your four sovereigns and how about... four nights. And they will be any nights I choose.”
“Fine, but there's one condition: you are the only one I'm to be with. I will not be passed around to your men. And they are to stay away from my family. Got that?”
“Actually, that's two conditions, but yeah, I got it. Course, you are going to make my men jealous that they can't have anything either. But fine, I will give you that, at least. Now, we leave here in an hour. I suggest you go get your family and give me my sovereigns.”
“Right, here,” Jordan said as she dropped the coins in his hands.
“Thank you, sweetheart. And welcome aboard.”

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age 2
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