Chapters The Unicorn and the Blight
Chapter One: The Pull of Fate
I am a unicorn, one of the few to be trained outside of the Circle of Magi, whether that has ben a blessing or a curse I haven't decided yet. I was born in Denerim, or at least that's where I assume I was born because it's where my earliest memories are from. Living on the streets I learned to keep my head, and my horn, down. I had heard all of the stories of the Circle of Magi and their tower, and very few of them were good, so I hid from the sight of the chantry. Though at times I was tempted to turn myself in just so I could have a dry place to sleep and warm food waiting in the morning.
Then, I met Starshine. When I first saw her, with her deep hood shadowing her face but her horn plainly visible I was afraid. She was an Apostate, and they were all supposed to be the puppets of Demons and sought to cause pain and suffering wherever they went. How I ronic looking back, that I myself was an Apostate and yet I still believed every ghost story about them. Although, maybe it was because I was an Apostate that I feared the stories so much, that I could become the things in the sailors' tales.
"Calm down, I do not plan to hurt you." She said.
Yeah right, that's what they all say right before they stick a knife in your gut.
We Stared at each other for several long moments after that. Is tood ready to Gallop away if she took another step closer to me in that dark back alley. The silence was finally broken when my stomach growled, and she laughed. To this day I still perfectly remember that laugh, the way it rang like chimes in the wind.
"I see that you're hungry." She managed to stay when her laughter stopped. "Come with me my little colt, and we'll see if we can fix that."
Normally, not even the promise of a warm meal would have been enough to coax me into following a stranger, but I did anyway.
Over time I grew to know the silver coated mare with the glowing star cutie mark. I learned that she was once part of the Orlesian Circle. Which would definitely explain her acent. She used her Circle training to teach me about my powers I had always thought were a curse, the cause of my need to always hide, but eventuallyshe made me come to think of them as a gift.
Eventually, under her tutelage I obtained my cutie mark, and much to my surprise and chargrin it was a blue sword crackling with lightning. It was the last thing I had expected, I had always wanted a mark like Starshine's so that I could be more like the mare who had taught me so much. Eventually however, I acepted it. Admitedly there were worse things one could have for a cutie mark than a lightning sword.
I continued my days traveling with my mentor, the names and the places always changed but Starshine was the constant in my life, my "North Star".
I had never cried so much as when she left.
She told me that she had family issues to deal with back in orlais and she had to return to deal with them. I begged to let me come with her, that it was dangerous because she was still an Apostate, but I knew she could handle herself. I was just afraid of losing her. Despite all my pleas she told me that she needed to do this by herself.
And with that, she was gone.
I was alone again. I had thought I had learned to cope with the feeling after my long years of living on the streets, but when she left it was more painfull than I had ever remembered.
It was barely a month after she had left when I found myself plodding along that long dirt road in the Hinterlands. I had just passed Redcliffe the day before and I was watching the clear night sky, and I ignored it when I first heard it, taking it for the far off cry of a nocturnal creature. Then I heard it again.
I suddenly realised that somepony was crying out for help, even if I couldn't make out the words the fear in the voice was evident. With a moment of hesitation I broke off into a gallop towards the noise. Every sensible part of me screamed that I could be charging into my grave, but I ignored it.
What good was all of my magic and training if I couldn't even work up the courage to work up the courage to investigate a cry for help. Luckily, I didn't have long to dwell on it as I soon found myself staring into the mouth of a cave. I felt the darkness stare into me as I pleaded to Celestia that the cries for help weren't coming from inside.
"Luna save me!" came a mare's voice laced with terror from within the cave.
I casted a light spell from my horn to illuminate the cave as I slowly entered. As I walked deeper into the cave I felt an unnatural sense of dread, and the light from my horn seemed to get dimmer the further I went.
I fought the urge to bolt out of the cave with every step I took, the steady pace of my hooves echoing loudly throughout the cave.
I kept walking, but the absence of cries for help filled me with dread as to what might have happened, and what might be laying in wait further in the cave. Up ahead I began to see a soft blue glow coming from up ahead.
Lyrium.
The magical mineral used by mages and enchanters for it's magical qualities. In it's raw form it was a very dangerous material. It's affects so potent that it can kill a mage outright if they aren't carefull, and the walls of this cave were lined with it.
I carefully avoided any contact with the glowing blue stone and made my way into a large central chamber, and I recoiled with horror. I saw Diamond Dog stonework, similar to what I had seen on my trips that took me past Orsimar. I instantly realised that I had wandered my way into the Deep Roads. The lair of the Darkspawn, the things of every Colt and filly's nightmares.
The corrupted beings which come to the surface during a blight to wreak havoc and slaughter all who stand int heir way. Only returning to the deep roads after the Arch-Demon had been killed. So far there had been four previous Blights and while they had all been stopped, they had all caused the world to be pushed to the brink of disastor before they were stooped.
I was paralysed as I realised I faced the very real prospect of being torn limb from limb by Darkspawn. I forced myself to move a leg forward, trying to remember the courage that Starshine had tried to teach me, but I felt like that small Colt by the side of the road cowering at the shadow of every passerby.
I saw that there were three paths that had once been carved into the stone, The paths leading forward and right had long since been sealed by rubble from centuries of neglect. Seeing as the left was the only path left for me to take I began following it further into the Deep Roads.
My eyes darted around, trying to look for anything that might want to tear me to pieces. As I did this I noticed signs that this path might have seen some recent travelers. There were subtle signs of somepony passing through here. Looking more closely I could see that it definitely not just one pony who had come through here recently, from the way the area looked there had been quite a few.
I continued down the road for what seemed like an eternity of looking over my shoulder and jumping at shadows I came upon a path diverging off to the right. It wasn't built by Diamond dogs, it was a natural cave that appeared had been opened up when this section of wall had collapsed. The collapse wasn't out of the ordinary, I had seen several similar areas as I had walked down the road. What made this one special was that there was somepony's blood splattered along the wall.
The sight of it filled me with dread, my mind instantly assuming that this was all that remained of the poor mare who had cried out for help, and that I should turn back. Despite that voice in my head I gathered what courage I had and pressed onward into the unknown.
It felt as though the walls of the cave itself would tear me to shreads as my mind began to create whispers in my ears. Every time I heard it I would turn around and try to find the source but every time I saw nothing there, and that only served to feed my dread.
I was on the verge of babbling incoherently when I found myself stumbling into an enormous cavern. I felt my eyes widen as I saw a veritable army of darkspawn were camped in the crevice below. So many together could only mean a blight, but that was impossible. The Blights were supposed to have been ended when the last Arch-Demon was killed.
I heard a laugh come from behind me, the complete opposite of Starshine's soothing laugh. This was the sound of a jagged blade dragging across metal. I turned around to find myself face to face with a Genlock, one of the more numerous of the Darkspawn, and it held a wicked bladed dagger in it's grinning mouth.
I had barely enough time to use my arcane shield to protect myself before it began hacking wildly at me with it's dagger. I dodged to the side, my shield aiding me against the Genlocks attacks and I focused my mind and casted lightning from my horn. Sending the Genlock flying back into the stone wall.
I had foolishly hoped that the spell would be enough to kill the creature but as I saw it begin to get back to it's stubby spike hooved legs I knew that ina few moments it would be at my throat again in a few moments.
I fired a basic electrically charged bolt of magic at it while it tried to regain it's senses, feeling glad that I had bought that Lightning horn ring while I had been in RedCliffe. After several more shots from my horn the creature grew still on the cold stone floor.
Where the hell did that thing come from?! I thought to myself in a panic.
While I had managed to escape from this enounter unscathed I doubted I would be able to do so a second time. I very nearly ran out of the Deep Roads then and there but I pressed onward. I couldn't simply run while somepony is at the mercy of these creatures.
I pressed onward, scating along the edge of the crevice, the fall from this height would be more likely to kill me than any Darkspawn. So I carefully moved forward, the sinister voices having been dispeled by the adrenaline from the fight with the Genlock.
I eventually made my way away from the crevice and found myself in what looked to have once been a Darkspawn camp of some kind, with horrific remenants of the Darkspawn themselves as well as their victims. Although thankfully there was no sign of any Darkspawn being here currently as I forced myself to avoid looking for fear of losing my last meal the smell from it alone was pressing my stomach against my throat.
I looked past the camp to find another tunnel that led away from the area, and was marked with a trail of fresh blood. Looking similar to the splatter of blood that had led me to the crevice, if a little more recent. The thought of the frightened mare trapped down in the Deep Roads forced me to press onward.
I noted while I followed the path that while the blood I had found earlier was a splatter on the wall, this was a constant trail like what an injured Pony would leave. I followed it at a steady trot so as to not tire myself out in case I encountered more Darkspawn on my search.
"NO! Stay away from me!" I was just passing a broken Diamond Dog signpost when I heard the same frightened voice cry out.
The sound of the voice spurred me into a full gallop hoping to Luna that I would be able to get there in time to save the mare from whatever it was that was after her.
My hopes were dashed across the wall just as the Mare's lifeblood had been.
I charged into the room as I saw two Genlocks and a Hurlock, the Genlock's stronger and taller cousin, Standing over the lifeless body of a teal colored mare with a deep blue mane, I couldn't see her cutie mark through the blood.
I immeadietly felt like a foolish Colt, thinking I could be the hero dashing to the rescue. I now found myself the new target of these blood thirsty creatures and was glad that I had kept my Arcane Shield up, as they began to charge at me.
The biggest threat that I could see was the Hurlock standing at about my height carrying a blood splattered battleaxe in it's mouth as it charged at me, the two Genlocks appeared to have saddle mounted crossbows as they hung back and began to take aim at me.
I prayed to Celestia that my shield would be enough to deal with the Genlock's bolts as I aimed my horn at the Hurlock and fired my lightning spell at it. It struck it square in the chest but it didn't falter in it's charge as it got even closer to me.
I felt one bolt fly past me and strike against the wall behind me as the second was luckily deflected by my barrier, I doubted I would be so lucky a second time. Although the bolts may be the least of my worries as the Hurlock was now within striking distance with it's axe and I desperately tried to use my horn ring to defend myself with a bolt on electrical energy as the axe cleaved toward at me.
The desperate move faltered the Hurlock enough that I was able to avoid a fatal wound by doging to the side, but the axe still cut deeply into my left side and I cried out in pain as I began to feel blood seep from the wound.
I felt that was the end, laying on the ground, begining to feel my blood seep onto the cold stone floor. I shakily got to my hooves as my vision began to sway and I felt a burning sensation spreading from teh wound. Taint I knew, would kill me just as easily as the Hurlock's axe so I decided if I was going to die I wasn't going to let this damn thing be able to enjoy it.
As the Hurlock looked at me with it's skeletal face, it's mouth clecnhed around the axe that would end my life I abandoned every lesson that Starshine had ever taught me and I blindly charged at the Hurlock with my horn.
The The Hurlock faltered with surprise at my charge, having clearly thought me as good as dea already from it's first strike. I rammed my head into it's chest, driving my horn through the creature's scavenged armor. I felt it's blood begin to seep out around my horn as I punctured it's heart.
I pulled my horn out as the Hurlock began to sink to the ground, I vaguely remember sounds coming from the room where the mare died but I couldn't make them out and my vision was begining to fade. The last thing I remember was the sight of somepony in gleaming armor as my vision slowly faded to black.
The Unicorn and the Blight
Chapter Two: To be a Grey Warden
When I awoke I found myself laying on a sleeping mat. The first thing I noticed was the pain in my side from the Darkspawn axe that had struck me, and while it didn't hurt nearly as much as I had expected it to the pain was still there. I also noticed that the wound was now bandaged, somepony had obviously treated me while I had been unconcious
I cracked my eyes open and saw the cooling embers of a slowly dying fire. It was early mornign and the Sun was just begining to peak over the Frostback mountains. I craned my head to look around and saw that the area was rocky with dray grass spattered around, so I was probobly still somewhere in the Hinterlands at least.
As I looked around I tried to find the Pony who had rescued me in the Deep Roads, remembering the Armored figure from when I was losing conciousness, but he was nowhere in sight. I did however notice the sound of steel on a whetstone as a blade was being sharpened somewhere to my right, but whatever was making the noice was blocked from my vision by several large rocks.
I got to my shaky hooves and began to make my way towards the sound, assuming it to be my rescuer. I walked for a few minutes still shaky from my fight with the Darkspawn in the Deep Roads. Eventually I rounded a particuarly large boulder and a Stallion in gleaming armor entered my vision. I instantly knew what he was, the White Griffon on his armor giving it away.
He was a Grey Warden.
"In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice. " is their motto. They were the ones to stop the first Blight when it seemed that all of Thedas would be onsumed by the onslaught of the Darkspawn. The Blight was ended when the Arch-Demon was slain, and ever since the Grey Wardens have been the ones to stop each Blight that followed in the same way. They were even said to be able to sense the Darkspawn somehow.
The Wardens' influence had wained in Ferelden in recent years. In the past four centuries there had been no Blight, and many on the surface had chosen to believe that the Darkspawn had been defeated forever, despite the fact that they still pressed on the Diamond Dogs' doors constantly.
The Light Grey Stallion quickly stopped sharpening his word and turned his head to look at me. His Dark Green Eyes unnerved me as I had been sure that he hadn't seen me aproach and there was no way he could have heard me coming, and yet he instantly knew that I was there.
"Ah, I see you're awake." He called out to me in an even voice. "I came out here to sharpen my sword so as to not wake you."
"Yeah, thanks for rescuing me." I looked to my bandaged side and winced adding, "I don't think I would have survived if you ahdn't shown up."
Tehe Warden sheathed his sword and began to walk towards me saying, "You know that the wound in your side is the least of your worries right now don't you?"
"No, I don't" I lied, trying unsuccessfully to push the burning sensation of the Taint spreading it's way through my blood from the wound.
"I think you do" He said with a calm certainty, "The feeling of Taint is unmistakeable and impossible to ignore."
My breathing began to grow eratic as I felt the truth in his words. Taint was a Death sentence, and not a quick and painless one either. It would eventually destroy your mind and everything you once were, leaving you nothing but a crazed monstrosity. If you survived that lost that is. I felt despair begin to set in, I was going to die.
"You talk like you know what it feels like." I said with venom in my voice.
"I do know what it feels like." the Warden said when he had closed the distanc ebetween us to a few feet. "I know because all Grey Wardens know the Taint. We have the Taint inside of us and it is what allows us to sense the Darkspawn, and all creatures with taint."
I strangely felt the truth in his words, it explained how he had known I was there without seeing or hearing me. He had felt the Taint in me. Then I realised that he had the taint was was still alive and very much in control of his mind. That meant there was a way to survive the Taint and that possibility sparked a glimmer of hope in me.
"Do you know why I rescued you?" He asked me, snapping me out of my reverie.
"Because that's what Grey Wardens do isn't it? You save Ponies from the Darkspawn." I asked rasing an eyebrow at his question, I hadn't yet considered why this Stallion would not only save my life and drag me from the Deep Roads but also tend to my wounds.
The Stallion slowly shook his head before saying, "No, that is not why I saved you. I could feel that the Taint was in you, and in most cases that would be cause for a mercy killing."
My eyes grew wide as I recoiled in horror, that he would kill a pony as an act of mercy if they were infected with the Taint even though he knew there was a cure for it.
Seeing the look in my eyes he added "The only way to survive the Taint is to become a Grey Warden" He continued, "And that is not something that everypony can become."
"So you think that I'd make a good Grey Warden?!" I exclaimed as I realised what his words implied. I had never once considered joining the Grey Wardens even though I knew that even an Apostate wouldn't have to fear being dragged off to the Circle if they were a part of the Wardens. There was just so much that nopony knew about them, and they tended to live short lives if the rumors were true.
"Yes, I do." He stated with certainty. "You not only entered entered the Deep Roads to awnser a lone Mare's cry for help, but you even continued after you had encountered Darkspawn. I found the body of the Genlock you killed when I dragged you out. That is what we look for in a recruit, someone with the courage to face the Darkspawn against all odds." He paused for a moment before adding, "And we need every Warden we can gfet during a Blight."
My mind was reeling, I was faced with an impossible choice. If I didn't become a Grey Warden I would most likely lose my mind and die a painfull death, and if I became a Grey Warden I would have to fight to stop the Blight and still very likely die a very painfull death.
Silence held between us for what seemed like an eternity as my mind fought over what to do. I was no warrior, that much was sure after how I had ended up down in the Deep Roads and I doubted I'd be able to survive an army of Darkspawn. It was then that I heard Starlight's voice ring in my mind as I remembered something she told me just after we had first met, "Always remember, no matter how dark things may seem, as long as you're alive there is hope for the future."
My mind was filled with a sudden clarity. If I didn't become a Grey Warden I would assuredly die but if I became a Grey Warden I at least had hope for the future.
"I-I'll do it." I said in a shaky voice. "I will become a Grey Warden." With each word my resolve grew stronger, and with the last word there was no doubt left in my mind. I would become a Grey Warden, I had given up on life once down in the Deep Roads, and I didn't intend to do so a second time.
"Ahha! I knew it!" The Stallion startled me as he lifted his forelegs into the air, "Ah, I am so glad that's decided. I didn't think I could keep up that act for much longer. The Commander said that I had to be serious when taking in a new recruit." He said as he baffled me with a huge grin.
The stoic Grey Warden in gleaming armor had turned into a boisterous stallion in less than a second.
"Well then my name is Veneer what's yours?" He suddenly asked me.
"B-Blue Streak." I said, the words stumbling out of my mouth as my mind reeled from Veneer's sudden change in personality.
"Well then Blue, we best go and see Commander Austere so we can put you through initation. We wouldn't want to miss all the fun after all." He said as he satrted off in a happy trott back towards the camp where I had awoke.
I stood there mouth agape before I finally managed to follow after his stumbling over my own hooves as I tried to keep up with him as I called out, "Where are we going!?"
"We are off to go fight an army of Darkspawn at the ruins of Ostagar." Veneer called out over his shoulder without breaking stride. He laughed as he added, "Oh you are gonna have a blast, I can feel it."
This Pony baffled me, he had been the epitome of calm wisdom and now he was saying I was going to have a blast fighting for my life againt Darkspaw! I only hoped that I wouldn't be dragged around at his pace for the entire trip
The cynical side of me remarked at the way I was being dragged around. At how I was no longer in control o fmy own life and things were going to get alot worse. The rest of me told it to shut up.
So I was left to my thoughts as I followed Veneer back to the camp before we prepared to head to Ostagar and wonder at the direction my life had suddenly turned to. I could laready feel that I had a long and hard road ahead of me.
The Unicorn and the Blight
The Calm before the Storm
Chapter Three: The Calm before the Storm
The thing that stood out about Ostagar is the tower of Ishal, desbite the ages that had past since it's construction the it still stood tall and towered above the landscape.
While Veneer was anything but ordinary he was definitely an interesting pony to travel with. I had a hard time getting a grasp on him, his personality just seemed so chaotic. His appearance leads you to believe that he would be a collected type of pony but he acts like a hyper active colt. Although his two faced grey mask for a cutie mark gave you a slight clue I suppose.
During the long trek south to Ostagar he pointed out things that I would normally overlook. A crooked signpost along the road, a scarecrow in an awkward position in a nearby field, little things like that. The only time he wasn't talking about something was when he slept, and even then he snored.
Despite his quirks I still enjoyed his company during the trip, even though I knew we were walking towards a battlefield. It was comforting to be traveling with somepony again, the loney unguided days of travel after Startshine had left were very difficult.
The trip also gave me time to ponder my fate, when Veneer wasn't asking me something that is. It gave me time to think, get my thoughts in order. There were worse things than being a Grey Warden I mused, most of the stories about them the bards told were usually ones of heroic endeavors afer all. Although they seemed to involve alot more sacrifice than I would have liked.When we finally arrived at Ostagar I felt that I would be able to face the coming storm with a brave face at least.
If only I had known how bad the storm would really be.
The Great fortress of Ostagar, built by the Tevinter Imperium to defend against the barbarians living in the Kokari wilds. It now stood crumbling, after having been sacked and abandoned in the wake of the First Blight it had been left to ruin. Now it was where King Sanguine was mustering the army of Ferelden to fight against the blight with the aid of the Grey Wardens.
As Veneer took the lead and began making his way to the guarded gate to gain us entry I took a moment to look around at the looming spires of Ostagar. Constructed by the Tevinter Imperium, a once mighty empire ruled by Unicorns called Magisters. They used their prowess with magic to carve out an Empire that once stretched across Thedas, but was toppled during the First Blight.
It was an unfamiliar concept to me, that Unicorns would be the ones to rule. I had spent my entire life living with my head down, hoping to evade notice, but in Tevinter the unicorns were in charge, weilding their magic with pride. I had even played with the thought of traveling there when Starshine first left, but Decided against it. I couldn't get over the fact that the Tevinter practiced slavery enough to go there.
"Greetings, I am the Grey Warden Veneer with the Warden Recruit Blue Streak and we ask for entry into the encampment." Veneer said, his personality shifting from it's bubbly state it had been in during the trip was now replaced with the stoic Grey Warden I had first met.
The Guardspony nods his helmeted head as he replies, "Yeah, you're not the first to arrive recently. Grey Wardens have been arriving in Ostagar from all over Ferelden. Most have camped down in the valley with the main army but I think that Commander Austere is currently with King Sanguine."
Veneer Returns his nod and gestures for me to follow him as he began to walk through the gate.
All around I could see Ponies running around, and I heard the hustle and bustle of an army preparing for war. It was the first time I fully realised the scope of what was going on. I understood that a Blight was a major event and that entire kingdoms could be swallowed by them, but to actually see the reaction it caused was another thing entirely.
I walked past the many soldiers and knights preparing for battle. Swords being sharpened, armor being polished. The sheer magnitude of the situation amazed me. I saw crests from nobility from all across Ferelden, I even recognised a few faces from my travels.
We walked through the heart of the command area, and I had never felt so exposed. My entire life I had avoided being out in the open, always trying to stay out of sight. Now here I was, parading very openly in the heart of a military encampment. Life certainly have unexpected turns for us.
Thankfully it didn't take us long before we reached what could only be King Sanguine's tent. The amount of guards and the size of it made that very obvious. Outside it I could see three ponies talking with one another. One was wearing finely crafted golden armor, another was wearing a similar suit of sttel armor, and the third was wearing a rather unique set of armor crafted from fine metal and obviously allowed for speed and mobility.
The three momentarily paused as they saw our aproach, and I felt myself shrink under their gaze. These were very obviously some of the most importanat people in all of Ferelden and I felt very weak and vulnerable.
"Commander Austere, I have arrived with a new recruit." I heard Veneer's measured voice call out next to me.
I saw the Pony wearing the unique set of armor turn to fully face us as he was adressed. "Ah, Veneer, I am glad to see you arrive safely." Turning to look at me more closely he added, "And I see that you certainly have brought a new recruit, and it couldn't be at a better time. our numbers always need bolstering in the wake of a Blight."
As he spoke I took in the details of not only him but the other two ponies there. Austere was a chestnut collored Black maned Stallion with a Grey longsword crossed diagonally by a Dagger of the same color. The Pony with the golden armor I assumed to be King Sanguine was a light blue Stallion with a Blonde mane. The final pony with the dark grey coat and black mane unnerved me the most, his gaze seeming to throw daggers at me.
"So what is your name then my friend?" Called out Austere's voice causing me to jump slightly.
"My name is Blue Streak." I replied quickly, hoping that he would lose interest in me quickly and was disapointed.
He turned his head toward Veneer and asked, "Where did you find him Veneer?"
"I found him while scouting out an enterance to the Deep Roads I located in the Hinterlands. He was about to be killed by several Genlocks after taking down a Hurlock Alpha while investigating a cry for help, unfortunately we both arrived too late to save the Mare.." Veneer replied in a measured voice.
I felt he was severely distorting what had happened. I didn't know exactly what a Hurlock "alhpa" was at the time but me taking it down was an overstatement, I had baely managed to survive it's attack.
Austere looked toward me with slight approval in his eyes as. I didn't know whether to feel proud or uncomfortable at the look so I decided on a mixture of both.
I heard a different voice speak up at this point as King Sanguine spoke up for the first time saying, "So he has already seen battle against them, that's good for you isn't it Austere to have a recruit who already has some experience dealing with the Darkspawn."
"Oh please," The Dark grey Stallion said disdainfully "From the look of him I doubt he'd be any more good in a fight than a beggar off the street." I was thankfull that somepony was finally saying my thoughts on the situation, even if it wasn't exactly I would have put it.
"It doesn't matter how he appears Absinthian, the Grey Wardnes don't pick just anyone to recruit. The fact that he has been selected means that he is exceptional." King Sanguine counted, elicited a snort from Abstinthian.
Exceptional wasn't exactly the word I would have used to describe dying in a pool of your own blood.
Austere turned to face the bickering pair and said, "I hope that we can continue our conversation later, I have some business to attend to before the day ends." Bringing to my attention to the sun begining it's final decent in the late afternoon sky.
Sanguine nodded with understanding before saying, "Yes of course, I can see that you will have to attend to your new recruit. I won't keep you from it then. I have a few things I would like to do to prepare myself for tommorow as well." As he began to walk into his tent.
Absinthian cast a spitfull glare towards us before going to his own tent without saying a word. It was quickly becoming apparent to me how he felt towards the Grey Wardens.
"Come with me" Austere said after the two had both entered their tents and began to walk toward one of the ruined buildings away from the hustle and bustle of the main camp.
I followed after him, hearing Veneer begin to follow behind me as well. I found it hard to explain but Austere had a certain air about him that even the King had lacked, it was the kind of feeling a person gives off that makes you want to trust them.
"Time is short, we expect the Darkspawn to attack by tommorow and will not be able to go about the normal procedure for recruitment." Austere explained, "Although luckily you have already faced the Darkspawn."
I wouldn't have thought of the experience as lucky myself.
Austere entered the building and I found myself inside of a mostly intact collumed room. I noticed a chalice sitting on a table in the center of it.
"Unfortunately you are the only recruit to have been brought to Ostagar and will have to go through the joining alone" Austere continued.
"the Joining?" I asked him
"Yes, it is something that all Wardens go through. We drink the blood of the Darkspawn and willingly take in the Taint, and that is what gives us our abilities." He explained.
It wasn't all that surprising at this point. I mean I had already found out that all Wardens have taint within them from Veneer and that was what allowed them to sense the Darkspawn so I had expected something along the lines of this. Although the thought of drinking Darkspawn blood still made me feel queasy.
"The Grey Wardnes were founded during the First Blight" Austre said when he reached the table with the Chalice. "So it was that the Grey Wardens drank of Darkspawn blood and mastered their taint. As the First Grey Wardens did before us, and as we did before you, this is the source of our power. Not all who drink the blood survive, and those who do are forever changed, this is why the joining is a secret."
Austere slowly picked up the chalice as he continued, "We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Veneer, if you may?" He asked as he looked toward Veneer.
Veneer Nodded and stepped forward before reciting, "Join us Brothers and sisters, Join us in the shadows in the shadows where we stand vigilant, join us as we carry out the duty that cannot be foresworn, and if you perish know that your sacrifice shall not be foregotten, and that one day we shall join you."
Austere stood solemly as Veneer finished before looking toward me and saying, "Blue Streak, step forward. You are called upon to submit youself to the taint for the greater good."
I felt my throat tighten as I recalled is voice saying "Not all those who drink the blood survive." but I forced myself to step forward. I knew that if I didn't take this chance I would most certainly die anyway.I felt the cold chalice in my hooves as Austere handed it to me, and I looked into it and say the swirling darkspawn blood within it. For once in my life I did not hesitate and lifted the chalice to my mouth and felt the blood flow into my mouth.
"From this moment forth you are a Grey Warden."
I felt the blood burn it's way down my throat. The burning was followed by a sensation to this very day I cannot describe, I felt myself being torn apart and I saw a vision of a dragon. A great and powerfull tainted Dragon, it roared at me and I was filled me with a greater sense of dread than even when I felt certain I was to die.
Then there was nothing, and I felt myself colapse to the floor before losing conciousness completely.
The Unicorn and the Blight
Chapter four: A Beacon in the Night
"It is finished. Welcome" Were the first words I heard as I opened my eyes for the first time as a Grey Warden. I saw Veneer and Austere looking at me as I lay on the cold stone floor. The sun was already in the sky behind them, I wondered how long I had been unconcious.
As I began to get to my hooves I heard Veneer add, "Well it looks like you survived, good. I would've hated to have saved you just to have you die during the joining."
When I finally got to my hooves I was still a little shaky, but I felt that I could manage. Truthfully I didn't feel all that different, sure the lingering pain from the joining was there but I didn't feel any sudden surge of power or confidence. Alll that I could feel was a sudden desire to find a place where I could fill my stomach, but that was hardly out of the ordinary for me.
"How do you feel?" I heard Austere ask me.
"Fine, just a little shaky is all."
"Good, you will have to be ready very soon for the battle that is to come."
Oh yeah, there was that. In the wake of making a decision that would change my life forever the battle against a horde of Darkspawn had slipped my mind.
"Wait," I said. "The battle is today? I thought it was tommorow?
I saw Veneer lift a foreleg and noticed a small metal pendant as he said, "Here is the last part of the joining, we take some of the blood and put it in a pendant. To remind us, of those who didn't make it this far."
The pendant was wrapped in a blue glow as I used my magic to lift it out of Veneer's grasp and place it around my neck. Putting it on I felt a strange sense of belonging as I noticed that Austere and Veneer both wore similar pendants. I had never belonged to any group before, the only pony I had ever really known on a personal basis was Starshine. The thought warmed me as I began to realise that if I survived this ordeal I would have somewhere I belonged.
"Now then," I heard Austere say once the pendant was around my neck. "I would like you to acompany me to a meeting, it is about what I had been discussing with King Sanguine and Absinthian. While you were unconcious he sent a messenger requesting your presence at the meeting, I am unsure of his reasns however."
What reason could the King have to want me to attend a meeting? I didn't think that I had made much of an imperssion during our meeting, so I didn't see why he would want me there. It probobly wouldn't be the wisest choice to ignore a king's summons however so I nodded my head in aceptance.
Austere turned his head and looked at Veneer, "Veneer, I would like you to go find Grenolyn and have her meet us at my tent when we return."
"Go be the messenger colt, got it." He said as he trotted off. His mood swings were quickly becoming more of the norm for me.
Austere waited for Veneer to leave the building before looking back toward me and saying, "Well, let us not keep the King waiting now shall we?"
I followed him as he began to walk toward another of Ostagar's ruined building. The one we were headed toward seemed to be in better condition than the one the joining had taken place in. I assumed Austere had chosen one of the more out of the way ruins so that the Joining would remain a secret, and that the one we were heading toward was where the meeting was going to take place.
The sound of arguing ponies could be heard well before one entered the building, the two voices belonging to Absinthian and the King. I followed Austere inside and saw a table with battle plans laid out on it.
"Absinthian my decision is final, I will stand with the Grey Wardens in the battle." King Sanguine said
Austere and I took our place at the table as the two continued.
"You risk too much Sanguine, the darkspawn horde is too dangerous for you to be playing hero on the front line."
"Alright, if you feel so badly about our chances maybe we should wait for the Orlesian forces to join us after all."
"I must repeat my protest to you about your foolish notion that we need the Orlesians to defend ourselves."
"Our arguments with the Orlesians are in the past, and it is I who is king, not you Absinthian."
"I am glad that your father is not alive to see you ready to hand over Ferelden over to those who enslaved us."
"Then we will just have to make due with the forces we currently have." Sanguine turned to face us and asked, "Austere, are your men ready for battle?"
Austere nodded his head and said, "Yes they are your majesty."
Sanguine turned his attention to me before saying, "Ah, and this is the new recruit I met earlier. I understand that congratulations are in order."
"Thank you your majesty." I said as I nodded my head sheepishly.
"I am glad to see somepony join the Grey Wardens. You should be proud to be a part of their order."
I was opening my mouth to reply as Absinthian said, "You fascination with glory and legends will be your undoing Sanguine. We have to deal with reality, we don't have time to humor your fantasies."
"I don't see what the problem is, the plan is fairly simple." sanguine said as he waved a foreleg over the table. "The Grey Wardens and i will draw the Darkspawn into charging our lines, and then we use the tower to signal you to lead the flanking charge."
"Yes, you must light the tower of Ishal in the ruins once the Darkspawn have fully commited themselves, I have men stationed at the tower to light the beacon. It shouldn't be dangerous but it is vital."
"Then we shouldn't take any chances." Sanguine said as he looked to Austere, "Would you be able to spare some of your Grey Wardens to ensure that the beacon is lit."
"Of course I can your majesty, the Grey Wardens will not fail you." Austere looked at me for a moment before adding, "I even have a few in mind already that could do so."
Perfect, I already knew what he meant by that and I didn't enjoy the idea, but I suppose it would probobly be safer than fighting on the front lines.
Absinthain turned toward Sanguine and said, "You rely on these Grey Wardens too much, I don't think that is wise."
"I have had enough of your conspiracy theories." Sanguine said with frustration in his voice. "Grey Wardens battle the Blight, and they have not failed yet."
"I'm not even sure that this truly is a Blight your majesty, there haven't been any dragons sighted in the wilds and history says that the Arch-Demon always takes the form of a dragon."
"I can assure you that this is truly a blight. I have seen for myself that the Arch-Demon is coming." Austere interjected.
"Oh, and I suppose all we have to go off of is your dreams? Excuse me if I'm skeptical." Absinthian shakes his head angrily. "Enough, this plan will sufice. The Grey Wardens will light the beacon."
"Thank you Absinthian." Sanguine said gratefully, "I cannot wait for that moment, the Grey Wardens will fight beside the King of Ferelden to stem the tide of the Blight."
"Yes Sanguine, a glorious moment for us all. Now if you will excuse me." Absinthian said as he began to move away from the table.
The meeting ended soon after that and Austere and I made our way back to his tent. Outside of it I saw Veneer standing beside a Diamond Dog. It surprised me ebcause I hadn't even considered that there would be Diamond Dogs here, I knew that Grey Wardens took members from any race but...
Veneer waved a foreleg at us as we aproached, "Ah, I see you two are still in one piece. I take it the meeting went well then?" Veneer's sense of humor was very endearing at times.
"Yes, it did." Austere replied.
"Greeting Commander." I heard the Diamond Dog standing next to Veneer say in a feminine voice. She had a light brown coat and wore leather armor, strapped to her back I could see a pair of longswords.
"It is good to see you Grenolyn, I am glad that you were able to make it." Austere said to her.
"Yes, I only wish that we had more time for the rest of the Wardens to arrive. I fear that our numbers will be too few to beat the Darkspawn." She didn't sound like some of the surface Diamond Dogs I had met in my travels, his way of speaking seemed more... refined.
"Although," She continued while looking at me "I am glad to see that we have a new recruit at the very least. From what Veneer has told me he met you while you were fighting Darkspawn in the Deep Roads."
"Yes we did." I said, "but I wouldn't have called it fighting so much as trying desperately to stay alive."
Grenolyn let out a chuckle at that, "Yes, I could see how you might have felt that way. Regardless of what you might think, anyone who has the courage to brave the Deep Roads is worthy of respect."
That surprised me. I had never thought of myself as anyone worthy of respect. I mean me, the Unicorn who was always jumping at shadows and had spent a month sulking when my mentor left. Although, I was a Grey Warden now, and I had "braved" the Deep Roads before, maybe I really was becoming somepony who was worthy of respect.
"Now then, I have something I would like to ask of all of you." Austere said. "The coming battle depends on the beacon at the Tower of Ishal being lit, and I would like the three of you to ensure that it gets done."
"And where will you be Commander?" I heard Grenolyn ask.
"I will be at the King's side during the battle, we will be relying on you three to light the signal for the flanking charge."
"I understand." I heard Grenolyn say, I thought I heard a bit of sadness in her voice as she said that, but it was probobly nothing.
"I will be with the king preparing the army, I would like you three to be at the beacon when the battle begins. Remember, only light the beacon once the Darkspawn have fully commited themselves. Not a moment sooner."
I felt myself nod in understanding along with Grenolyn and Veneer.
We had a little time before night fell and we all decided we should use that time to prepare. Grenolyn told me that some of the Circle was here and they would probobly be willing to sell me some supplies. At first I had been somewhat afraid, I had lived my life hiding from the Circle and their Templar fuards my entire life after all. Grenolyn reasured me however that as a grey Warden I would have nothing to fear.
I decided I would go see them later, I had had a long trip and the Joinin ghad taken alot out of me. I felt that I needed some time to rest. Veneer and Grenolyn both understood and Veneer told me that Austere would probobly be fine with me using his tent for awhile.
The probobly didn't really comfort me but I guessed Austere would be with the king for most of the day so I gussed it didn't matter. After the two of them had left to go about their own business I made my way inside the tent and found it almost nearly bare. It wasn't as large as the king's tent and it had little more than the sleeping mat on the ground. I did however see that Austere had a standing mirror so I took a moment to look at myself.
It was very obvious that I had spent a long time traveling recently from my appearance. My light blue coat and black mane were both covered in the grime from my travels. I took a moment to look at my bandaged side and say that it was healing up well, it would leave a scar to be sure but that would be covered up when my coat grew back in. It was then I noticed it, my Cutie Mark had changed.
Before it had been a blue sword, charged with lightning, but now it had turned grey. Not only that, but extending from the hilt now was a pair of White wings that were nearly identical to the ones on the symbol of the Grey Wardens. That was when I fully realised how much of a change becoming a Grey Warden really was. A cutie mark is an expession of who you are, and a cutie mark changing weant that what you were had been changed as well.
the cain part of me wasn't too upset. It didn't look all that bad and in a way the new color and wings made it look noble. At the same time however I felt a fear of losing who I was. I imagined for a moment Starshine returning and not even recognising who I was.
The thought filled me with sorrow but I quickly realised that it was a foalish one. Just because I was a Grey Warden didn't mean I had to change completely, I was still Blue Streak. I would be who I made myself to be.
I turned away from the mirror, my eyelids were heavy and I didn't want to dwell on the thought any further. I simply wanted to lie down and find peace in sleep.
I was disapointed.
In my dreams I was haunted by the sight of thousands of marching Darkspawn, seeing them I felt dismayed. Against so many we had no hope of stopping them, even with all of the ponies defending Ostagar and all the preperations it seemed hopeless.
I heard a far off roar, one I had heard before. I remembered it from my joining, after I had fallen unconcious. It was the same Dragon I had seen, the Dragon I now knew to be the Arch-Demon. It circled above the horde of Dark-Spawn, spuring them forward and driving them to slaughter everything in their path.
Eventually however the scene began to fade, and was replaced witha dreamless sleep.
"Well now, you really weren'y kidding when you said you were tired were you?" I heard Veneer's voice say, waking me from my sleep.
i could see the sun flooding into the tent from behind him as he held it open with his foreleg. It was much lower in the sky and I could see that it was late evening.
"Yeah, you're telling me." I said as I rubbed my eyes with a foreleg. "Thanks for waking me though, I still have some supplies I want to get from the circle."
"Yeah, I was just checking in on you. I already finished what I needed to and I saw Grenolyn already head to the tower earlier." His face broke into a wide grin, "Make sure you're not late okay? I wouldn't want to take all the glory of lighting a pile of sticks on fire."
With that h left the tent behind and headed towards the tower. As I stretched I heard final preperations being made outside, and as I lifted the tent's flap I saw many ponies putting up last minute fortifcations.
I saw the working of Magic behind some of the nearby tents and I assumed that was where the Circle was. I exited the tent and made my way there, as I got closer the unicorns performing the magic came into view, as well as their Templar guards.
"Halt, none may interupt the Unicorns, their minds are in the Fade." One of the armor clad ponies said to me. The red sword on his armor marking him as a templar.
The Fade. Something that every Unicorn knew of. It was the place of dreams, and the land where Demons and Spirits resided. It was the unicorn's connection to the Fade that gave them their magic and it was also whee they wer emost vulnerable. Unicorns are the only ones who are able to travel with their minds into the fade, but while they were there they were vulnerable to the Demons that resided there. The Demons sought to use the Mage as a bridge to this world, and in doing so they take control of the Unicorn's body and turn them into an abomination.
A fate that every Unicorn fears.
"I wanted to buy some supplies though." I told the Templar.
"If you want to buy supplies go talk to the Tranquil. He's over there." He said as he pointed a foreleg to where a pony stood.
Tranquil. That was one of the things that detered me from being taken into the circle. The Templars have a way of seperating unicorns from the fade, taking away their magic. When they do so however they also break the mage's mind, rendering them husks f their former selves. The Tranquil are the ones who enchant weapons and armor and often serve as vendors for magic supplies.
I made my way over to the Tranquil, I clearly saw the mark of tranquility, a blazing sun centered around his horn.
"Ah, hello. Is there something you need of me?" He said, his voice completely devoid of any emotion sending shivers down my spine.
"Yes," I replied. "I was hoping to buy some supplies for the upcoming battle. I would like two lyrium potions and a horn Ring that utilises electricity if you have one."
"I have the potions that you require, however I do not have a horn ring that utilises electricity."
"Alright then, I'll just take the two potions,"
"Very well, that will be fifty silvers for what you require." He said as he placed the two potions onto his table.
I lifted the coins out of my pouch with magic. It felt liberating to use my magic so openly, within sight of the Templars even! Although my elation was somewhat dimmed by the fact that I barely had one soverign left after my purchase.
"Thank you," He said as I floated the coins over to him and picked up the two potions. "I hope you are satisfied with them."
I was glad when I left the Tranquil behind. The sight of him had unnerved me that a unicorn could be turned into that emotionless husk. I didn't see how the Templars saw that as a better choice than death.
Leaving behind the Command area I made my way across the bridge leading to the tower of Ishal. Ponies were preparing several balista along it, ready to fire them when the Darkspawn attacked. Below I could see the ponies putting the final touches on the defenses where the King's forces would face the Darkspawn.
I nodded to the guards Absinthian had said would be at the tower as I passed them. There were quite a few ponies there I noted. It seemed like a waste to me, I mean this was supposed to behind the battle lines and while it was a vital job I didn't see how it warented taking all of these ponies away from the battle.
What did I know about the art of battle. The ones who had decided these ponies whould be here were far more experienced than myself and who was I to question them.
I made my way to the top floor of the tower and saw Grenolyn and Veneer were already there.
"Ah, I see you made it." Veneer said as he noticed my arrival. "None of the guards wanted to stay up herw with us so I guess we'll just have to decide between the three of us who'll be the one to light the beacon."
"Is it really important who lights it?" I asked.
"Of course it is, the one who does can say 'I was the one who sat back in the safe tower and lit the beacon as everypony else fought against the Darkspawn.'"
"Stop it you two." Grenolyn said, "We don't have long before the battle begins and we need to be ready to light the beacon when the time comes."
I nodded and made my way over to the window and looked out onto the battlefield below, the sun in it's final descent as it fell below the horizon. The battle ast Ostagar was about to begin.
The Unicorn and the Blight
Chapter Five: An Unanswered Call
Night imposed itself over the valley, bathing Ostagar in the Moon's glow. A light rain had begun to fall as I looked out from that window in the Tower of Ishal. I could see all of the Ponies with their swords and shields and armor laid out like pieces on a playing board.
This was no game I knew however. I could see the Darkspawn horde begin to edge ever closer from the wilds, like a wave of wild fire that would consume all of Ferelden if it wasn't stopped here.
They first began to arrive like ghosts appearing out of the mist. They shambled out of the trees to face the King's forces. The Darkspawn soon broke their ghostly silence however as they began to cry out with savage and guttural noises. I could see some of the ponies down in the battle lines begin to waver, but were bolstered by their comrades standing next to them.
So stood the soldiers of Ferelden, standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to face the carnage of the Blight head on.
I saw a Hurlock step to the fore of the Darkspawn horde, and it paused to look first at the Darkspawn that had assembled behind it. Then it turned to look down upon the assembled Ponies who stood in the Blight's path. The creature heaved it's sword in it's forelegs letting out a roar, and it had begun.
The Darkspawn flooded over the landscape, an unending tide of darkness.
"ARCHERS!" I heard Sanguine's distance voice cry out.
I saw the Ponies armed with bows awnser their king's command and readied their arrows alight with flame. I saw the Lieutenat raise his foreleg into the air, and as the Darkspawn surged closer he gave the order for the arrows to be let loose upon them. The hiss of flying arrows permeated the air as they flew toward the Darkspawn horde and I saw many Darkspawn fall to them as the arrows reached them.
"HOUNDS!" Sanguine's voice cried out again as the Darkspawn horde surged forward, ignoring their losses.
The barks of the Mabari could be heard as their handlers let them loose. The Mabari war dogs charged loyally at the Darkspawn and tore at them with tooth and nail. I had to turn my head away as I heard their yelps of pain as they were slain by Darkspawn blades.
"FOR FERELDEN!" Sanguine's voice cried out for the final time.
The ponies of Ferelden surged forward to meet the Darkspawn horde. Letting loose their cries of war as they charged forward. The army met the Darkspawn with a clash of steel and flesh as the battle had begun in full. So we waited, with the Darkspawn's balista and catapults sending flaming projectiles flying through the air at the ancient walls of Ostagar.
"Now all we have to do is light the beacon, sounds easy enough." I heard Veneer say from the window next to mine.
I nodded, unable to say anything in the wake of the conflict below. I shook my head, forcing myself to look away as I walked over toward the center of the circular room at the top of the tower.
While I had turned my eyes away from the fighting I could still hear the cries of the ponies falling in battle against the Darkspawn... Wait a moment. The cries weren't coming in from the windows.
They were echoing up the stairs.
"Grenolyn, Veneer!" I called out, "I think there's fighting going on below us!"
The two having been focused on the battle going on outside hadn't noticed the sounds coming from below us and they turned toward me in surprise.
"What are you talking about Blue," I heard Veneer ask "We're behind the battle lines there's no way there could be fighting going on below us."
"No, listen. He is right." Grenolyn said. I thought for a moment I saw her with tears in her eyes as she turned around but with more pressing matters at hand I ignored it.
Now that we were all focused on it the sounds of fighting going on below us were easy to make out. The guttural roars of the Darkspawn acompanied by the cries of pain from falling Guardsponies.
"Get to the top of the Tower!" I heard a pony's voice make its way up the single winding staircase.
The voice was closer than the sounds of the fighting and it was soon acompanied by the sound of hooves on stone as several ponies made their way up the stairs.
I heard both Grenolyn and Veneer draw their swords from behind me. Grenolyn gripping a sword in each paw while Veneer gripped his larger sword in both forelegs. I had no weapon to draw but I readied the magic within my horn as the hoofsteps got closer.
We saw half a dozen of the guardsponies that had been guarding the lower levels of the tower appear from the stairwell and enter the circuar room.
One mare stepped to the fore, an officer, and said, "Wardens, Darkspawn have gotten into the tower. We're not sure how but they just started flooding in out of nowhere. I don't think anypony else is left down there."
"Darkspawn or not, we will hold the beacon until the time comes to light it." I heard Grenolyn's voice reply. "Or die trying."
I really hoped we wouldn't have to do the second part.
I saw the mare nod her head, "We will stand by you Warden, we barricaded the door behind us before we came up but it's only a matter of time before they get in."
"Well, at least now this will be a better story to tell later," Veneer's playfull voice call out, " 'I was the one who defended the beacon against the Darkspawn' sounds alot better than being the pony who stood behind the batle lines safe and sound."
The officer's face turned to confusion at Veneer's statement. Even I had been surprised at Veneer's statement given the given situation.
Our talking was cut off however by the sound of a door being broken down and Darkspawn pouring through the opening. The trained soldiers and the battle hardened warden acted quickly. Grenolyn and Veneer joined the guardsponies with meele weapons while the guardsponies with bows joined me further back.
We didn't have long to prepare as the Darkspawn surged forward and clashed against the ponies and Diamond Dog guarding the stairwell. I saw jagged Darkspawn swords clash against shields and arrows fly past my head before they struck Darkspawn.
I concentrated and prepared one of my most practiced spells, then unleashed the lightning bolt at a Hurlock weilding a mace. The blast sent in flying back and tumbled down the stairs.
I hope it broke it's neck on the way down.
I saw Veneer's blade sweep in wide arcs against the small army of genlocks pressing against him, and Grenolyn evaded the Darkspawn's attacks before stabbing and slashing with her blades. I kept using my horn ring to fire bolts of electricity at the Darkspawn.
I summoned my spell wisp, granting a boost my my spellpower. the released another lightning bolt at a Genlock, but it dodged to the side and avoided being nocked down the stairs. Although it's eforts were in vain as a Guardspony's mace smashed into it's face and sent it tumbling anyway.
At this point the rough half-circle that had been formed around the stairs was broken and the meele had turned into a savage brawl with everyony for themselves. More and More Darkspawn were flooding into the room every second, and while Veneer and Grenolyn were holding their own two of the guardsponies, one having taken a darkspawn bolt into the visor of his helmet and the officer mare had died to a Darkspawn blade sinking into her chest.
It was then some of the Darkspawn had gotten fed up with being pelted with arrows and electricity as a pair of Hurlocks and four Genlocks broke off from the meele and charged towards the archers and I.
I prepared by putting up my arcane shield as the archer ponies drew their shortswords, but it was obvious they weren't nearly as good with them as they were their bows.
I recalled how woefully inadequate my arcane shield had been down in the Deep Roads and I also casted Rock Armor to increase my resilience as I faced down the charging Darkspawn.
I smiled in satisfaction as I casted a lightning bolt at one of the Genlocks and killed it outright but the others were unfazed as they surged forwards.
One of the Hurlocks and a Genlock faced against me while the rest began fighting the Archers. I had no time to worry about them as I tried to duck and avoid the Darkspawn attacks, and any that I was unable to avoid were deflected by my protective spells.
I retaliated with a spell I had been waiting to use but was too concerned with hitting my allies to use earlier. I casted my shock spell, the blast of electricity arcing outward in a cone at my foes. The Genlock stumbled and while the Hurlock was fazed it managed to keep it's balance.
It swung at me again, this time landing a lucky blow and it's mace bruised my left foreleg I had used to block the blow. It hurt badly but it didn't feel like the bone had been broken thankfully.
I struck back quickly with my Lightning Bolt spell and it's smoking from fell and lay still on the cold stone floor. I had forgotten about the Genlock however, and in my haste to finish off the Hurlock had left myself open and I felt it's dagger pierce my side, it wasn't a mortal wound but it wasn't one easily shrugged off either.
I slammed into it with my shoulder and managed to knock it off it's feet and fired a Arcane Bolt at it while it was still on the ground. I tdidn't get up again.
I looked around and saw that not only had the Archers finished off the other Genlocks it looked like the meele fight was dying down as well.
The last Darkspawn fell when Grenolyn had driven both of her swords into the Hurlock's back as it was facing off against Veneer. I tallied up who was left and saw that one guardspony with an axe and shield and two of the archers had survived.
I saw Grenolyn run over to one of the windows once she had pulled her blades out of the Darkspawn's corpse and she looked outside. After looking over the battle that was going on outside she looked over to me and commanded, "Blue Streak, light the beacon now!"
I realised that I was the one standing closest to it as I quickly went to obey her command as I scrambled to the pile of woods that would light the beacon.
I was interupted however when the floor below me suddenly shook, causing me to lose my balance. At first I had assumed that oneof the Darkspawn's catapults had hit the tower but it was something much worse.
I craned my head toward the stairs and I saw Veneer and the guardspony begin to back away as an Orge marched it's way up the stairs. The gargantuan was unlike any of the other Darkspawn I had come across so far. While all of the others had been roughly pony shaped the Orge possesed two arms and two legs, with huge horns coming out of it's head.
The creature had no weapons but it didn't need any because it's fists were large enough to crush a pony.
It's footfalls thundered around the room as it let out a bloodcurdling roar and charged toward the Guardspony with the axe. Against the creatures charge the mare didn't stand a chance as she was swatted aside with one arm and flew against the wall and fell to the floor unmoving.
The to archers had out their bows again and were now firing arrows at the Orge as Veneer and Grenolyn moved to engage it. I fired off a Lightning Bolt spell at the creature but it didn't have nearly the same effect as it had on the smaller Darkspawn.
The fight against the Orge was a wild and desperate one, it seemed to shrug off all of our blows like they were nothing while it was able to throw us around like rag dolls. I continued to fire spell after spell at it while Veneer and Grenolyn continued to hack at it's lower body.
It slammed it's fists against the ground and sent the two of them flying backwards and it took the opportunity to pick up a piece of debris from a collapsed wall and threw it at the two archer ponies. The large hunk of stone flew easily through the air and the two of them tried desperately to scramble out of the wat but were too slow. The projectile settled on the ground with the two archers beneath it and blood was begining to well out from beneath it.
It shifted it's monstrous eyes toward me and let out a roar as it charged at me. I felt my eyes go wide as I ducked to the side and saw the Ogre's body fly past me and slam into the wall. It's horns were stuck into the stone for a few moments as it tried to pull itself free.
I Casted my Shock spell again at it's back just as it pulled itself free from the wall's grasp. The Ogre was bleeding from many wounds, had the feathered ends of arrows sticking out of it, and was singed from where my spells had struck it. The beast was falling but I could tell that it was still fully able to crush the life from me.
I tried to fire off another spell, but my reserves were depleted and my eyes widened as I saw it raise it's fist at me and was about to bring it down and end my life as I heard clawed paws running along the stone floor behind me and I saw Grenolyn jump at the Ogre.
Her twin blades sunk deep into it's chest witht he force of her jump, and the creature fell with it's back to the wall as she continued to hack at it, and under her flurry of blows the creature finally grew still.
Grenolyn detached herself from the creature's still form as she panted, "Streak, light the beacon."
I quickly turned around, and moved as fast as my injured leg would let me as I went to light the beacon. On my way there I saw that Veneer was alive but was also badly injured as he had to prop himself up against the wall.
I finally reached the point where I would light the beacon and I rested my horn against the cold wood, and it soon was alight with flame and the blaze soon spread onward to light the beacon, and signal Absinthain to make the flanking charge.
I let out a sigh as I collapsed to the floor, I was battered and magically spent but I had done it. I had made sure the beacon was lit. There had been many ponies who had lost their lives so that it could happen but at least it wasn't in vain.
"LOOK OUT!" I heard Veneer's voice call out from behind me, and I turned around just in time to see Darkspawn bolts flying towards me and sink into my side.
I felt myself fall to the floor with a thud as Veneer and Grenolyn both experienced something similar and I felt a deep sadness begin to wash over me. Even after all that I was still going to die. I felt an odd contentedness at the same time however, I had at least made sure that the blight would be ended.
and that would be enough... right?
I thought as the Darkness finished overtaking my vision.
The Unicorn and the Blight
Chapter Six: A Long Path Ahead
I woke to the surprise of being alive. It was a feeling I was becoming much more used to than I would like.
I knew I was alive because I could feel the bandages wraping much of my body, and beneath them I could feel the closed holes from where the bolts had pierced my flesh. Somepony had obviously tended to my wounds, but who it could have been I had no clue. There shouldn't have been anypony able to rescue me and...
Veneer and Grenolyn!
I thought in sudden realisation. I had survived the battle and I dearly hoped that my two new friends had survived as well. As I pulled my head off of the pillow it had been resting on I pondered for a moment that I already considered them friends. Was it because they were Grey Wardens like me, or was it that we had fought and shed blood together? It was probobly a combination of the two.
I felt the warm blanket that had been draped over me slide off as I lifted myself up to get a better look around. I saw that I was definitely no longer in Ostagar, the building I was in was costructed of wood and while it was old it looked well maintained. I saw a warm fire kindled nearby heating the room so I knew whoever had tended my wounds couldn't be far seeing as the fire looked like had been started recently.
I brought a hoof up to feel the wounds I had taken by the Darkspawn bolts and found them almost completely healed. That meant I had either been unconcious for quite some time or that whoever had tended my wounds had done so with magic before wrapping them in bandages.
I shrugged off what either of those things could imply as I pulled myself out of the bed. I noticed that the building I was in had only one door that I assumed lead outside. I found my cloak, battered and sainted with blood from the battle in the tower but it appeared it had been washed and mended.
I put the cloak on, pulling it over my back so that it draped down my sides. I also covered my head with the cloak's hood out of habit as I made my way over to the door that led outside and turned the doorknob with my hoof.
I was quickly welcomed by the cold dank smell of a marsh as I took my first breath of the air outside. The area was nothing but pools of water broken up by small patches off land, it was on one of those patches of land that the house I walked out of was built on.
"Ah, your friend awakes it seems." I heard an old mare's voice say as I stepped out into the damp air.
She had a greying mane and a stark white coat, her cutie mark was a black upsidedown crescent moon.
"Blue!" I heard Veneer's voice call out as I saw him standing there with Grenolyn at his side. The sight of the two of them relieved my worries greatly as he continued, "You really had us worried there, it's been two weeks and we were starting to thing you'd never wake up."
I looked in shock to Grenolyn and she nodded in confirmation. I had been unconcious for two weeks, it was startling that two weks could pass by just like that.
"Yes, hello. Your friends have told me that your name is Blue Streak," The Old Mare said "My name is Flemeth and my daughter Morrigan and I were the ones who rescued you in the tower."
Something about what she said bothered me. I was gratefull for her saving my life of course, but... it just felt like I was forgetting something. Her name... Flemeth...
That was it! Flemeth was the name of a witch of the wilds, or so I had heard on my travels. A witch of the wilds was said to be a horror and something that could make one's heart stop with just a look. Although those stories were most likely exagerated.
Looking at this elderly mare however I couldn't make myself think of her as some monstrosity, she seemed like any other pony I had ever met. Even if she picked an odd place to make her home.
She must have seem my expression when I realised where I had heard her name before because she let out a chuckle and said, "Oh child, if I had wanted you to come to harm I would have simply left you in that tower, let alone nurse you back to health in my home."
Well... That did make sense, but why would she go through the trouble to-
"After all, we can't have all of the Grey-Wardens dying off now."
Oh... That's why.
"While I'm thankfull for your health Flemeth, what do you mean by that?" I asked.
"It's simple child, the Blight is a threat to us all and Grey Wardens are the only ones who can stop the Blight."
"Much good three Grey-Wardens are against a horde of DarkSpawn." I heard Grenolyn's voice sullenly say. "It takes an army to stop a Blight witch and we've just lost the only one we have."
I finally noticed how Grenolyn carried herself with a slump, much different to her pridefull stride I had known her to carry herself with. She looked as though while she had survived at Ostagar physically her spirit was broken.
I turned to Veneer and saw that he showed similar signs of hopeless-ness even if they weren't as pronounced as they were with Grenolyn.
"Surely there is hope?" I croaked. "Aren't Grey Wardens able to call upon aid from groups against a Blight?" I remembered from the tales I had heard of Grey Wardens.
"Yes, if my memory serves me Grey Wardens call call upon aid from Unicorns, Diamond Dogs, and Zebras. That sounds like the making of an army to me." Flemeth spoke up.
"Yes, and not all of Ferelden's forces were at Ostagar, and I know that not all of the grey-Wardens had arrived at Ostagar yet." Veneer chimed in hopefully while looking at Grenolyn.
She appeared to ponder what we had said for a few moments, seeming to churn through the possibilities. Eventually however, I saw the familiar determined fire in her eyes begin to re-kindle. Not what it had been at Ostagar admitedly but it was better than the hopelessness that had been there before.
"I think- I think you might be right." Grenolyn finaly said. "It is our duty as Wardens to do whatever we can."
I breathed a sigh of relief, I had not known Grenolyn for long, but I don't think I would be able to do what we had to without her.
Wait a moment.. we... I had already begun to think of myself as a Grey Warden. I didn't know how to feel about that just yet, but I knew that Grey Wardens were needed now.
Putting my thoughts of who I was becoming aside for a moment I looked around at those around me, and noticed that they were all looking at me expectantly.
"Wh-why're you all looking at me like that?"
"Because Blue," Veneer said with his familiar irritating grin returning "How could we ever move onward without our leader?"
"WHAT!" I exclaimed, sincerely hoping that he was making one of his stupid jokes.
"Yes Blue," Grenolyn said calmly "You shamed me when you had kept hope when I had all but given up. I may be the senior member here but I doubt I could lead anyone in my current state of mind."
"Yeah! And we al know that I would just make a terrible leader, meaning that just leaves you for the job my friend." Veneer laughed.
I felt the blood drain from my face when I realised that they were serious about this, did they really want me to do it? why!? I could barely muster the courage to stand up straight in a crowd.
"Well then my young Warden," Flemeth finaly spoke up. "You have a long road ahead of you, and you shouldn't keep the Blight waiting."
I tried to speak up but found myself unable to make the words leave my throat. I looked around on efinal time in an atempt to see if Veneer or Grenolyn might change their minds about this insanity, but I found nothing of the sort.
"I-I don't know why oyu would want me to lead, but I'll trust your judgement." I was finally able to say "Lets get trotting before I decide to find a hole to hide in."
I tried to keep my thoughts of gloom and doom under control as I began to move my hooves to take me out of this swampy land and head toward what seemed to be an impossible task. I needed to assemble an army, and defeat the Blight. I really wished they had found a better pony for the job.
"Good luck to you Warden, you will need it." I heard Flemeth's old voice call out from behind me.
