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Blood Bond	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 63
- 64
- 65
The Dead Trenches

After further exploration of Ortan Thaig, they found Branka and her house had gone west. Oghren was sure he could follow their trail, as they had no map of where Bownammar was or any clue. They followed Oghren blind, hoping he would lead them in the right direction and not get lost. Rylen began drawing his own map once they left, not only to use in order to get back to Orzammar, but to also use if they did happen to find the Dead Trenches, so they would know where it was.
They're trek was long, and they knew they had been gone for several days, but they stopped asking Rylen and Oghren after a while. The group only stopped and camped for a short time, only long enough to allow everyone to get some rest before moving on. Occasionally Morrigan would scry Wynne so she would know their group was safe and to get updates on what was going on in Orzammar. So far no king had been voted upon, as the Assembly had stopped meeting after one of the members was killed in a fight that had started between two deshyrs. Sora had even announced that Bhelen had tried to hire her to assassinate Harrowmont, but she had declined due to Rica's pleading. Orzammar was in complete disarray as fights broke out all over the Commons. The guard was having a hard time keeping things in order and had even asked for Sten's help in dealing with the matter.
As they went further into the Deep Roads, they came across more and more darkspawn. This told them they were probably on the right path as the black growth was also becoming thicker with strange, grotesque growths coming out of it. They were fleshy and pulsed as if they were alive or had something alive within them. At one point they broke one of the flesh pods open to find nothing but a smelly goo spill out of it. They didn't touch anymore after that.
The tunnels they went through also seemed to change. They became more dwarf-made instead of natural. Streets lead them to large caverns which lead to more tunnels and crossroads. Bridges, both broken and whole, crossed over rivers of magma which lent them light. Oghren and Rylen were sure they had entered a thaig, but they did not know which one it could be. They knew it wasn't Bownammar, however, as Oghren couldn't find any signs that Branka had been there or had stayed for very long.
The Deep Roads had now become a maze of bridges and tunnels, crossroads giving them several paths to choose from. Still they followed Oghren as he would announce Branka had gone a certain way. They all hoped soon that they would find this place and that they were getting closer as the taint was beginning to thicken within Arawin, Zelda, and Alistair's minds. The others were even beginning to feel it, making them worry that the taint might be starting to affect them.
It wasn't long before they entered another natural tunnel when Zelda and Arawin began to hear something, a hum and with it murmurs and whispers. They both stopped short, feeling a dark and powerful presence that swept across their being like a shadow. Alistair briefly felt it too and stopped to look back at the two women frozen in place.
“What is it? What's wrong?” Leliana asked seeing the three Grey Wardens. “Are darkspawn close?”
“Very close,” said Alistair.
“Thousands, millions,” Zelda breathed.
“The archdemon,” swallowed Arawin. Together the two women began running down a small cave in the wall of the tunnel. The others followed them, puzzled by their behavior. The cave was tiny and hard to get through, but it soon opened up to a large cavern that stretched far on either side. The loud hum came from the deep gorge below them. Zelda and Arawin went to the side and looked down to see an entire army of darkspawn marching forward. Everywhere they looked they could see genlocks, hurlocks, shrieks, and ogres as they moved together through the gorge and to the place Arawin and Zelda knew to be the exit to the surface. They didn't even notice when the others joined them, staring down into the gorge just as they were.
It was then that they heard the song, that light and beautiful song that haunted their dreams and brought their eyes up to see perched on a bridge that went over the gorge the great dragon and leader of the darkspawn.
They screamed as the song got louder, covering their ears as the dragon roared and spread his wings. Fire jetted from his mouth and the song emitting from his throat intensified. An urge soon came over them. They wanted to join him, serve him, jump into the gorge and follow his army to the surface. He was so beautiful, even more so in real life than in a dream. Far below them the darkspawn kept moving, unaware of their presence.
The archdemon then lifted up and flew down the gorge, the girth wide enough to accommodate him. He continued down the line, emitting his song and flying past the small group, that had hidden themselves behind boulders. It wasn't until he turned a corner and went out of sight that the song drifted away and Arawin and Zelda found themselves wrapped tightly within strong arms. They were unaware they had been moved, brought far away from the edge where the humming was still coming from.
“Zelda! What just happened?” Alistair took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. “Zelda!”
“Alistair, stop! I... I'm fine.”
“No you're not. Both you and Arawin were screaming and about ready to jump off the edge!”
Zelda stared at him, unsure what to say. She looked over at Arawin and saw her being held tightly by Zevran who was looking at her with concern.
“Arawin?” he whispered in her ear.
“I don't know,” she said softly. “That was... horrible.”
“What happened?”
“The song. Why is it so beautiful? We can't help it.”
Zevran put his head on her shoulders, her back to his chest. “Please, don't scare me like that again.”
Arawin was too shaken up to fully respond, to understand why it scared him so much.
“Both of you are more susceptible,” said Morrigan. “You can feel it more, can't you?”
“What, the taint?” said Alistair.
“His presence. The archdemon, Urthemiel, he affects them more than you, and it appears he may know it.”
Neither Zelda nor Arawin looked up from the ground, they knew Morrigan spoke the truth.
“Zelda? Why didn't you tell me?” Alistair gently squeezed her arm but didn't force her to look at him.
“What is there you can do about it? That anything can be done? Arawin and I just have to fight it the best we can. You can't help us with this, Alistair.”
“None of you can,” Arawin added.
Zevran was just as disturbed by the information as Alistair was, but he kept his face buried in Arawin's shoulder.
“I don't believe that,” said Alistair. “I can't.”
“You're going to have to,” said Zelda as she stood up. “Now come on, we need to keep moving and away from the horde of darkspawn down there before they realize we're here.”
Alistair probably would have argued with her further, but knew that they did need to get back on track. They would have to deal with the situation later as well as the horde below their feet.
They all went back through the small cave and back to the large cavern. Oghren went back to his investigating of the walls to find Branka's trail. Once he found it, they followed him across a bridge and into another large corridor. As they walked, Arawin and Zelda still felt the pulse of adrenaline rushing through their veins. It seemed to make them more alert and as they looked around at the black growth, they noticed it was glowing, emitting a light they never noticed before. Whispers and murmurings also attacked their ears and something then began to stir around them. They both stopped simultaneously.
...First day, they come and catch everyone...
“Do you hear that?” Zelda asked.
“Hear what?” said Alistair confused and concerned yet again.
“The whisper,” said Arawin. “There's something ahead of us. Someone.”
...Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat...
“If there's anything ahead of us it's darkspawn,” Oghren heaved. “Which means we're going to have to prepare ourselves again.”
“Not darkspawn,” said Zelda. “Something...”
“...This way!” Arawin yelled.
...Third day, the men are all gnawed on again...
Zelda and Arawin ran up ahead, passing everyone and going straight down a hallway perpendicular to the one they were just in.
“Are they off their rockers?” Oghren yelled as they ran. “Blasted women, what in the sodding Stone is wrong with them?”
“I'm not sure,” said Alistair. “But I know it has something to do with these damn Roads.”
...Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate...
They ran through the hall, past what looked to be tombs. Bones scattered the ground and crunched under their heavy feet. Another turn brought them to a hole in the wall, leading into a darkspawn made cavern. They went inside.
...Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn...
“Zelda, wait!” Alistair cried. “I... I can hear it too!” He started hearing it as soon as he crossed the threshold. A low whisper that he heard, not with his ears, but from within the taint itself.
...Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams...
“Hear what?” Leliana asked breathlessly. “I hear nothing but that annoying humming.”
“They're Grey Wardens,” said Rylen. “Just follow them and make sure you don't lose sight.”
...Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew...
“Zelda, where are we going?” Arawin asked.
“I don't know, just follow the whisper.”
...Eighth day, we hated as she is violated...
They turned corner after corner, going through the maze created by the darkspawn. Soon they found themselves in another large cavern. The bridge to their right broken.
...Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin...
They slowed as they came to a door on the far side of the cavern. Arawin and Zelda stopped and stared at it, knowing what ever it was that was calling them was right behind the door.
...Now she does feast, as she's become the beast...
Together they opened the door to find the room behind to be completely covered in growth with the flesh pods all around. In the center of the room was a small being, a dwarf, female, crouched on the floor and eating the black jelly that spilled onto the floor from an open pod. She gorged herself while also repeating the chant over and over again. Arawin and Zelda cautiously walked over to her, not knowing what she was, as they could feel her through the taint.
When they came close to her, she stopped and stayed still before slowly turning around. She then erected herself the best she could, hunched over but head turning up to stare at them. They gasped when they fully saw her; skin pale with black blotches everywhere. Her eyes were milky and clouded, only a small patch of a darker shade showed where her pupil should have been. She looked sweaty and her thin, wiry brown hair clung to her soaked face. Her gaze sent shivers down their spines as she stood there, perfectly still and unrelenting.
“What's this?” she said in a somewhat natural voice. It was shaky and slightly full of pain and fear, but otherwise sounded normal, which surprised them. “Why is it that I see two but yet feel one? Oh, but wait... I see now. There are two, you're just fussed together, inseparable.”
“We can split ourselves,” said Arawin.
“Unlikely. But you're union is unnatural. Human, bland and stale. Elf, exotic and wild. You two are different yet the same.”
“Who are you?” Zelda asked.
“One that must suffer. One that must make things fantasy in order to understand better. First day, they come and catch everyone. Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat. Third day, the men are all gnawed on again. Fourth day...”
“Wait, stop,” Zelda said crouching down to the dwarf's level. “What is this chant you keep repeating?”
Her eyes bored into Zelda's. “It’s what I’ve seen. What I will become. I force it into verse so it is fantasy, unreal. That’s the only place I can hide, because they make me... they make me eat. And then...”
“The darkspawn?” said Arawin. “They make you eat this filth?” She gestured toward the flesh pod, but the dwarf did not move her eyes from Zelda.
“Eat... eat... eat...”
By this time the others had finally joined them. Their presence startled the dwarf somewhat.
“More? But how is it possible? Feeding time brings only kin and clan. I am cruel to myself. You are a dream of strangers’ faces and open doors.”
“Hespith?” said Oghren when he saw her. “Hespith is that really you?”
“You know her, Oghren?” Zelda asked.
“Yeah, she was apart of our house. Branka's close friend.”
“Branka, no...” Hespith whispered. “We were closer. Much closer then she was with her husband.”
“What?” Oghren yelped. “Wait a sec... are you saying Branka was into... that sort of thing? Well, if that was the case she could've told me. I would've made some adjustments.”
“You could have,” said Arawin. “But it's too late for that now.” She lowered herself to Hespith's level like Zelda. “Hespith, where are the others? Where is Branka?”
Hespith's eyes soon found their way to Arawin's, locking. “The men's wounds festered and their minds left. They were like dogs, marching ahead, first to die and left us behind. Women, defenseless and struggling, they came, took us. Laryn, me, they fed, giving us friends and flesh and blood and bile and... and... All I could do was wish Laryn went first. I wished it upon her so that I would be spared. But I had to watch. I had to see the change. How do you endure that? How did Branka endure?”
“Yes, Branka, where is she? What happened to her?”
“Branka...” Hespith said slowly. “There is too much darkness here. The Anvil, it is the darkness, surrounded by it, pulling Branka in. No... I swore not to speak of it, not to think of it. La-la-la-la-la. I will not hear any more about Branka.”
“Please, Hespith,” Zelda pleaded. “Help us. We need to find her.”
“No, it is too much. What she did, what she's become. I will not follow. I will not become what I have seen. What they want me to become. I will not, I refuse! Laryn, Branka, both are monsters, vile and unyielding.” Hespith then within the taint brushed against Zelda and Arawin. Be cautious. You are powerful, and they will take you and make you a monster if given the chance.
“Hespith, please,” Zelda said feeling frightened. “What do you mean?”
“You will see.” She then sped off, running faster than they thought she could, off and through a door on the other side of the room.
“What was that?” Rylen said. “Was she corrupted?”
Zelda and Arawin both stood. “Yes, but it was different,” said Arawin.
“Very different.”
“What did she mean when she said you would become monsters as well?” Alistair asked.
Zelda stared after him. “You heard her?”
“I'm beginning to hear lots of things now. The Deep Roads... they amplify everything.”
“Yeah... they do.”
“Well what are we waiting for?” said Oghren. “Let's follow her. She talked about Branka as if she's still alive. Maybe she's trying to lead us to her. Come on!”
Oghren ran after Hespith and even though no one else wanted to follow him, they did anyway. When they entered the new cavern, they saw it was the entrance to a city. A bridge, similar to the one in Orzammar leading to the Proving Grounds, laid broken before them with a giant statue toppled over upon it. The bridge was keeping the statue from fully going into the magma below, but it looked that eventually it would be unable to hold its heavy burden.
“This is... this is Bownammar,” Rylen awed as he looked at the vast, but broken and corrupted city. “We really found it.”
“Branka found it first,” said Oghren who had stopped with everyone else when he realized where they were. “I knew she could do it. She's too stubborn not to fail.”
“This is incredible,” Leliana said placing her hands over her mouth. “Who would think we would be privileged enough to glimpse this wonder?”
“We've been granted to witness many glorious things,” said Morrigan.
“Now where did she go?” Oghren began looking around, trying to find any sign of Hespith or of Branka, but he was finding none. “There's got to be something.”
“Relax, Oghren,” said Zelda. “We'll find her.” She then looked over at Alistair and saw he was not looking very well. “How are you feeling?”
“Not good,” he said. “I don't like this. I can feel everything now. I could even hear Hespith within the taint. It's... it's not really something I enjoyed.”
“We don't enjoy it either, but it's been helping us actually. We just need to hang on a little longer, okay?” She could tell he wasn't used to it the way she and Arawin were. It seemed weird to her since he had been a Grey Warden longer then they had, but he wasn't connected like they were. Arawin, we need to find Hespith. She can lead us to Branka.
I know, but how?
Through the taint.
Together they stood still and searched while everyone around them either marveled at the city before them or looked for any clues to Branka. Together Arawin and Zelda did something they had never done before, searched through the taint before they finally found her.
***
Hespith, you need to help us.
They felt the dwarf stiffen, surprised at their presence. Why?
Because we need Branka.
We need to find her.
Branka doesn't want to be found. She doesn't want to go back. She is...
Hespith, please!
The dwarf slowly relented. If you must, then I will show you. I will take you to the edge, but you must listen. She is this way...
“Oghren!” shouted Arawin. “Come on, if you want to find Branka, follow us.”
“How do you know where she is?” he asked.
“Just come, all of you,” said Zelda. Alistair was beside her, feeling and hearing everything she did. He was uncomfortable but willing to let it in so they could find what they sought.
They all moved out, the three Grey Wardens in the lead as everyone else followed. Confusion as well as concern was on most of their faces, especially Zevran and Leliana's, while Morrigan was the only one that didn't seem to think they were acting strange. As they went, Hespith's voice whispered to them, showing them the way.
...She became obsessed... That is the word, but it is not strong enough. Blessed stone, there was nothing left in her but the Anvil...
...First day, they come and catch everyone... We tried to escape, but they found us. They took us all, turned us...
...Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat... Chewing, ripping, biting, crunching, then spewing to make her bed...
...Third day, the men are all gnawed on again... The men, they kill... they’re merciful, feasting mostly on them...
...Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate... It goes on and on, on and on... No stopping, no relenting... and Branka watches...
...Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn... The women, they want to touch, to mold, to change until you are filled with them...
...Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams... They took Laryn. She screamed so loud, I can still hear her... her frozen cry...
...Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew... They made her eat the others, our friends. I watched as she torn off her husbands face and drank his blood...
...Eighth day, we hated as she is violated... They do more than just feed... They fill every orifice, stuffing you with them, filling you until you cannot be filled no more... then they do it again... and again... and again...
...Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin... And while she ate, she grew. She swelled and turned gray and she smelled like them. They remade her in their image. Then she made more of them...
...Now she does feast, as she's become the beast... Broodmother...
***
They found themselves in yet another maze of darkspawn made tunnels, winding and twisting, filled with growth and pods. There were large bonfires built, burning in small alcoves, providing light. They walked on, listening to Hespith and feeling around every corner before their feet hit something that was not stone. The floor squished and felt wet and slimy, making them all stop and stare at their feet.
“Ew, what is this stuff?” Oghren lifted up his booted foot and stared at the purplish mush that had attached to the bottom. “Bleh, and it smells horrible.”
“No one asked you to stick your nose in it,” Rylen said even as he did the same thing. “But you are right.”
“It's darkspawn spew,” said Zelda.
“Uh, that's disgusting.” Rylen nearly added to the floor. “Is there a reason why we have to walk on it?”
“Because it's the only way,” Arawin answered.
The floor continuously became more and more squishy, the smell wafted up from the ground with every step. It wasn't long before they reached a corner and heard grunting from something large. The three Grey Wardens stopped everyone as they felt something massive and horrible just around the corner. Slowly everyone rounded the corner, hiding so they could see what was on the other side.
It was a sight no one expected. The floor was nothing but darkspawn regurgitation, purple and green and red. A large creature was in the middle of the room, pink and bulging with layers upon layers of fat. In the front of each layer was a set of grotesque breasts that hung low with nipples that dripped a black bile. The creature's arms were short, only really able to reach half way down it's body while it's head was round and bald, teeth jagged and yellow. Tentacle-like structures came out from under it's body and looked to be growing into the floor. Two tentacles were sentinel to the creature, coming up from the floor, one on either side of it's body, flipping slightly.
“Broodmother,” Zelda and Arawin whispered together.
“What's a broodmother?” asked Oghren.
“That thing, obviously,” said Leliana. “I think I even heard of them before, but no one has ever seen one. They're a mystery.”
“Not anymore,” said Zevran.
As they watched, the broodmother grunted. She wiggled around, but did not move anywhere. Her grunts intensified and soon the folds of fat touching the ground began to slowly rise. Then with one last terrible grunt, a large ball of mucus popped out of the folds and rolled in the spew. Everyone looked on, horrified at the disgusting blob, not realizing what it was until it started to move.
At first it was an oval, egg shaped, but then it began to pulse. Arms broke through the mucus membrane followed by legs then a head. The new genlock, naked and dirty, discarded the membrane by devouring it. It then tried to stand, legs wobbly and unsteady. The broodmother watched it, studying it's moves. The genlock continued to stagger, making it's way over to the creature that just birthed it, before it finally fell over. They soon noticed the reason why as they looked and saw one of it's legs was deformed. Before they could see anything else, the tentacle closest to the genlock shook then whipped out and snatched the darkspawn up. It squeezed and the genlock howled. The tentacle brought the darkspawn up to the broodmother who with her stubby hands grabbed it and brought it's head to her mouth. With one bite, she took off the genlock's head, then began to drink it's blood. Once she was finished, the tentacle threw the body across the room and into a pile of rotting darkspawn corpses. They all appeared to be headless.
Everyone looked away after that, unwilling to witness anymore.
“So our plan is to sneak past that thing, yes?” said Zevran.
“You're kidding, right?” Arawin asked looking at him funny.
“I don't see why we couldn't,” said Leliana, sharing Zevran's feelings. “It can't move, so it should be easy to get past it.”
“We could get past it, yes,” said Zelda. “But I'm afraid we can't just let this creature live. It's making darkspawn, and as Grey Wardens, it's our duty to kill it.”
“You're duty, but not ours,” said Oghren.
“No, everyone's duty,” Morrigan snipped. “You knew what you were getting yourself into when you decided to join Grey Wardens. You all did.”
“That's true,” said Leliana. “And I'm not going to take it back now.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Arawin said as she pulled out her weapons. “Let's go kill ourselves a broodmother. She can't move and her arms are stubby so she shouldn't be that hard to kill.”
“I don't know,” Zelda said as she peered around the corner again. “There are no guards or anything that looks like protection except for those tentacles. There might be something we're not seeing. I don't see why they would leave her unguarded. Not unless she didn't need it.”
“Or there are guards but they aren't here right now. Perhaps out gathering more vomit for her bed maybe? Which if that's the case, now is the best time to strike.”
“That I do agree with.”
“Then let's do this quickly!”
“Arawin, wait!” But it was no use, even with their bond Arawin was still how she was, annoying Zelda as she ran out from around the corner, wanting to strike without making a plan. There was no other choice after that, with Arawin's cry and exposure, soon everyone followed her.
The broodmother, hearing Arawin's cry stared up as they all came around the corner and roared. It was a cry that sounded more like a pigs squeal as her upper body flopped around in anger. The tentacle that had grabbed the genlock shot out from where it was, straight toward Arawin. She jumped over it as it barely missed her foot. She then struck with Dar'Misaan first, hitting the broodmother in the lowest layer of fat, but the blade only bounced off and the electric bolts didn't seem to have any effect.
Arawin scurried away from the broodmother just as the second tentacle tried to grab her. Everyone else was soon by her side, weapons out and ready to go in for the attack. The broodmother stared at them, grunts coming from her throat. The floor they stood upon was nothing but mush as their boots sank in. Something then began to stir below their feet. The ground rumbled and as they all stared down. They then jumped into the air right as the floor burst open and many more tentacles popped out from the ground.
They all scattered as several tentacles went after each of them. Arawin found herself backing away from the broodmother, fighting two tentacles as they whipped at her from both sides. Zelda was pushed closer to the creature, smashing her shield on the tentacles attacking her then striking and cutting. The tentacles then receded back into the ground, bleeding dark red blood. Zelda then turned her attention on the broodmother whose dark eyes were fixed on her and yellow teeth clenched together. For a moment Zelda couldn't move as she looked at her, seeing a creature far within the taint. A creature that could easily be her.
With a loud roar, the broodmother brought Zelda back out of her trance. She moved forward and swung, Silverbrand hitting the outstretched hand of the broodmother. The blade cut right through it, slicing the creature's hand in half, between the middle and ring fingers. The broodmother squealed as she pulled her hand away, her thumb the only digit that was able to move. She then released an angry cry like a tantrum. More rumbling came below Zelda's feet and before she could move a tentacle shot out from the mush and wrapped itself around her middle and up off the ground. It squeezed tightly, forcing her to drop Silverbrand and her shield. She screamed as ribs cracked and a sharp pain shot through her arms. Arawin screamed as well as she felt it, dropping Fang and Dar'Misaan. Quickly she cut Zelda off and fell to her knees, breathing heavily as the pain subsided in her chest and arms.
“Zelda!” Alistair cried as he forced his way through the tentacles. When he got to the one holding her, he hacked away at the base, his determination to get her down being forced into each thrust. “Let her go!”
“Alistair, no!” Arawin shouted, but he couldn't hear her. The tentacle holding Zelda began to sway, snapping her back and forth before Alistair gave one last swipe and the tentacle released Zelda, hurtling her toward the back.
Zevran looked up just in time as he heard Zelda's scream but was not fast enough to get out of the way. Zelda collided with him, sending them both into the wall of solid rock. Zevran's head cracked against the wall as his chest was crushed by Zelda's body. The impact sent a sickening thud sound throughout the whole chamber.
Arawin stood and stared horrified as Zevran slid down the wall leaving a red trail. She wanted to run over to him, but was forced back when a tentacle attempted to grab her again. She could feel Zelda, knowing she was in bad shape but still alive. Arawin saw as Zelda rolled off Zevran and coughed violently. She laid on her side and looked over at him.
“Z-Zev?” she said weakly.
Zevran moaned and his head flopped before his eyes fluttered open. “Zelda, dear... If you wanted me to catch you, you should've warned me first.” His voice was faint, but Arawin could still hear him. He then attempted a smile, but he could only do half of one. Arawin wasn't sure how bad he was, but if he could joke then she knew he could hang on just a little longer. Long enough for her to deal with the broodmother.
After getting out of the way of another tentacle, Arawin looked around to see where everyone was. She spotted Alistair making his way toward Zelda, fighting and bashing the tentacles as he went.
“Alistair, she's alive!” Arawin shouted at the top of her lungs. He stopped and looked over at her, but she saw there was nothing that was going to stop him from getting to Zelda. He was just relieved that she was alive and not dead.
Looking around more, Arawin saw both Oghren and Rylen at the broodmother's base. They had placed themselves on her left side, the one with the sliced hand. Oghren struck at the broodmother's fat, hacking away at her folds. His axe was able to cut through but not by much. Rylen's maul, however, was useless against the broodmother. His maul would only bounce off the creature's folds when he struck, but he found it was useful against the tentacles. Abandoning the broodmother, Rylen began defending Oghren against the tentacles, which he could smash and knock away.
Morrigan and Leliana had stayed back in the area they had came from, standing on the one piece of solid ground that the tentacles couldn't get through. Morrigan shot spell after spell at the broodmother, but none of them seemed to have a huge affect on her. Arawin wondered if it had to do with the fact that at one point the broodmother had been a dwarf. They were immune to magic, or at least able to resist it better than most. Leliana's arrows didn't seem to be doing much good, either. Some only bounced off the broodmother's fat, and the ones that did find their way in, only penetrated an inch or so.
Arawin looked around for Fang and Dar'Misaan, wanting to get back in the fray, but they were no where to be seen. Through the struggle and thrashing of tentacles, they had been knocked somewhere. Arawin didn't have time to look for them, instead grabbing Far Song and joining next to Leliana and Morrigan.
She began firing arrows as fast as she could at the broodmother and her tentacles. She wasn't nearly as accurate as Leliana, but she had gotten better since leaving the Dalish. Zevran had actually proven to be a good teacher, even if during the lessons he made fun of her a lot. Arawin only hoped he would be able to make fun of her again, as she was afraid to look back at him. She could feel Zelda and knew that she was alive, but with Zevran there was nothing but fear that she wouldn't be able to end this in time to help him.
“Morrigan, is there anyway you can get to Zevran and Zelda?” Arawin asked hoping the mage would be able to. “They're both hurt very badly.”
“I'll try,” Morrigan said as she froze a tentacle in place that nearly had her. “But it's not going to be easy.” The tentacle broke free of the ice and snapped at her. Morrigan dived out of the way and it smashed between Leliana and Arawin, forcing them to jump off the solid ground.
“Damn it, enough of this!” Arawin cried. She stood and notched an arrow and aimed for the broodmother's head. She released it and it flew through the air, speeding past tentacles before embedding itself in the broodmother's left eye. The arrow went straight in through the pupil and Arawin cheered at the excellent bullseye she just had. She knew if Zevran hadn't been half-conscious, if he even was, then he would more than likely be laughing at her for her excitement. Hang on Zev, this will be over with soon.
He's... he's... hurt, Arawin... Hurt bad... Zelda's presence was very weak but Arawin could sense she had a lot of fight left.
You hang on too, Zelda. Morrigan's on her way.
The broodmother shook her head, then with her good hand, felt the shaft of the arrow sticking out of her eye. She gripped it and yanked, ripping it out of her socket with the whole eyeball still attached, connective tissue being pulled behind it. Arawin watched stunned as the creature stared at her own eyeball. She then bellowed and threw the arrow plus eyeball at Arawin. Arawin lifted up her hands as the arrow bounced off Far Song and onto the floor. She looked down at the eyeball, disgusted by it as mucus oozed out of where the arrow had entered. A sudden memory of eating a hard, round lens came to mind and Arawin nearly vomited all over.
A war cry took her eyes away from the eyeball and Arawin saw Oghren, with much rage and furry, swing his axe, hitting the hole he had made in the broodmother's side. His axe went deep and the broodmother screamed. All her tentacles then receded back into the ground.
“Morrigan, now! Go now!” Arawin screamed at her. The witch nodded and began making her way over to Zelda and Zevran, but Arawin felt it even before it happened.
There was barely a rumble before the tentacles exploded from the ground, their numbers even greater than before. Arawin was able to jump out of the way as they shot straight for her, but Morrigan and Leliana weren't so lucky. Two tentacles hit Morrigan in the abdomen, sending her flying toward the back. One snapped and hit Leliana in the face and she fell into the mushy ground. Alistair had lifted up his shield, defending Zelda and Zevran from the tentacles as they tried to attack them. The tentacles hit Alistair's shield with great force, knocking him down. Oghren and Rylen were the only ones that hadn't been hit, being close to the broodmother. Oghren went back to hacking at the hole he was creating while Rylen also went back to smashing tentacles and even attempting to hit the broodmother's head. He was too short to reach her, but seeing him gave Arawin an idea. She just needed a blade.
During the chaos, Arawin had dropped Far Song. She saw the bow had been tossed to the edge of the battlefield and next to it, embedded in a tentacle was Fang. Seeing the hilt, Arawin ran forward and evaded several tentacles before reaching the one with her blade. Grabbing the hilt, she sliced it through the tentacle, splitting it open. Having Fang back in her hand, she ran toward the broodmother. She didn't stop when she got to her, only kept going, using the creature's folds as foot holds. The broodmother tried to grab her with her sliced hand but Arawin swung Fang and the dagger cut off what was left. She then placed herself behind the broodmother's head, her other arm trying to reach her, but Arawin swung Fang again, cutting it off as well. She then took Fang and jammed it down on the back of the broobmother's neck. She hit the spine, but was unable to press down any further. Arawin used all of her strength, even pressing down with her whole body but Fang would not go any deeper.
Zelda! Please, I need your help! She hated asking for it, knowing Zelda was already weak enough, but she could not do it on her own.
I'll try. Zelda had been laying on her side, but rolled onto her knees and straightened herself the best she could. Closing her eyes, she pressed herself toward Arawin, focusing on the blade within the elf's hand.
Arawin felt the sudden union as Zelda's strength soaked into her muscles. She felt stronger, fuller, but at the same time, the pain in her chest grew. She felt cracked ribs and her right arm burned from possible broken bones. It was hard to breath and what felt like fluid filled her lungs, making her want to cough. Arawin ignored the pain the best she could as she took Zelda's strength and used it to press down on Fang. This time the dagger moved, slicing right down and severing the spinal cord. With a great cry, Arawin pushed Fang down all the way to the hilt before the broodmother went completely limp, her tentacles as well flopping down on the mushy, spew covered floor.
Once it was over, Arawin pulled Fang out and felt Zelda recede from her. The pain and strength leaving, making her feel weaker than she was before. She slide down the broodmother's folds, taking deep breaths as she hit the ground, her legs barely able to keep her on her feet.
“Do you understand now?”
Arawin wasn't startled by Hespith's voice. She only looked at the dwarf, her blood and sweat soaked hair clinging to her forehead.
“That’s where they come from. That’s why they hate us... that’s why they need us. That’s why they take us... that’s why they feed us.” Hespith's cloudy eyes never blinking as she stared. Body slumped over and crocked. “But the true abomination... is not that it occurred, but that it was allowed. Branka... my love...” She closed her eyes and looked away. “The Stone has punished me, dream-friend. I am dying of something worse than death. Betrayal.” She then turned away from Arawin and walked toward the edge of the precipice. Arawin hadn't even noticed they were at the edge of a cliff.
“Hespith... we can help you.”
The dwarf turned around and stared at her once more. “Nothing can help me now. Good-bye, dream-friend.” She then took another step and dropped down, disappearing into the darkness at the bottom of the gorge.
Arawin sighed, feeling sorry for the poor dwarf but knowing that her suffering was finally over. She could no longer feel her through the taint. “Zevran...” she whispered as she remembered him. Running through the mush, she came to him. He was lying on his side, barely moving. Arawin carefully touched him, removing the hair from his eyes. She noticed the pool of blood at the base of his head and looked at the back of it to see his hair was as bright a red as hers was.
“Zevran? Can you hear me?”
He moaned and his eyes fluttered open. “A-Arawin?” he said strained as he tried to look at her.
“Yeah, it's me, I'm here.” She carefully took his head and placed it in her lap. “It'll be all right. Does it hurt much?”
Zevran encircled his arms around her waist and buried his face in her lap. “Not anymore.”
Arawin stroked his forehead, taking strains of hair and placing them behind his ear. “Just stay awake for me, okay? Open your eyes, Zev. Can you do this for me?”
He felt comfortable in her lap, glad to feel her warmth. He opened his eyes at her sweet voice. He was facing her stomach and slowly brought his eyes up to her face. She was covered in blood and gore, but not her own. Her eyes were extremely bright to him for some reason, glowing against her flushed skin. She at that moment was more beautiful to him than she ever had been before. Not even the concerned and worried look could tarnish her features.
He soon became confused. Why was she looking at him like that? Why was she worried? Because he was badly hurt? It seemed strange to him the way she was acting. He wasn't used to this. This was not what they did in the Crows. If one got hurt as badly as he was, then they would leave him behind. It was a cutthroat business, and in a situation like this, that's probably what they would have done.
“Morrigan, please hurry,” Arawin said as she reluctantly looked away from Zevran. She saw Morrigan coming to them, the witch holding her right arm close to her body. Next to her, Zelda was on her knees, holding her chest and coughing. Bloody froth came from her mouth and onto the floor with each set of hacks. Alistair was in front of her, panicking as he was unsure on what to do.
“Morrigan!”
“Hold on, I'm coming,” she said. “I'm not very useful to you with a broken arm, so please let me finish.” She hovered her good arm over her right as she chanted the healing spell. Once she was done, she went over to Zelda first, but Zelda shook her head.
“No... Zevran first...” she said right before going into another fit of violent coughs. Morrigan analyzed her first, but then went over to Zevran and looked him over.
“Oh, not good,” she said. “He's lost a lot of blood, but if I close the wound in his head, then he should recover. Arawin, hold him steady and make sure he doesn't fall asleep.”
“Right. Zev, did you hear her? Stay awake for us, please.” Arawin gently took his head and turned it, exposing the large gash just within his hairline.
Zevran didn't say anything, just squeezed Arawin tighter. He was having a hard time staying awake, but he was already beginning to feel stronger with Arawin holding him. He felt as if he never wanted to let go of her.
“Are they going to be all right?” Leliana asked. Half of her face was covered in blood, but otherwise she was fine. She had made her way next to Alistair who was now holding Zelda on her side so she could spit out more blood.
“I hope so,” said Alistair. “We really should've brought Wynne as well.”
“Then we wouldn't've had any communication.”
“So why didn't Morrigan stay instead?”
“Stop it, Alistair,” Zelda choked. “She's a good healer.”
“Oh man, that was brutal,” said Oghren as he and Rylen joined everyone. Neither of them appeared to have any major injuries, only covered in gore.
“That was more than brutal, that was idiotic!” said Alistair. “We should have tried to sneak past that thing. Look what happened to everyone!”
“It's what happens,” Zelda said weakly.
Alistair growled. “Morrigan! Please hurry!”
Morrigan grumbled as Arawin shot Alistair a nasty look. “Let her at least get Zev stable. Zelda may be in bad shape, but I can sense she'll be fine for awhile.”
“Alright, that should do it for now,” said Morrigan as she took her hands away from Zevran's head. “Put this on any cuts he may have and also force him to drink this. Afterwards, if he wants to fall asleep, then he can, but not before!”
“Right.” Arawin took the balm and the potion from Morrigan and carefully tilted Zevran's head up. “Here, drink this, Zev. You have to.”
Zevran would gladly do anything she asked him. He opened his mouth and felt the liquid flood in and drain down his throat. He coughed but soon drank it all down. Warmth began to spread from his belly as the potion began to take affect.
“You can sleep now, if you want,” Arawin said sweetly. “Don't worry, I'll take care of you.”
Another thing Zevran wasn't used to. Why was she treating him so well? He couldn't understand it, but he knew he liked it.
Re-encircling his arms around her, Zevran was able to place his head on her chest, feeling her soft exposed skin against his as well as the warmth and safety he felt just being near her. He closed his eyes and let the potion do what it needed to do. Arawin's hands went about his body, rubbing a cool balm on hot parts of his skin. It felt so right for him to be like this, but at the same time, it also felt wrong. Soon he allowed sleep to take him as he listened to the lullaby of Arawin's heart.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins
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Blood Bond