197 réponses à ce sujet

[LadyAly]

It was much more creepy to write about - really. To describe the horror to met the Broodmother was  a pretty hard challenge for a non-native english speaker.
 If I interpret your comments in the right way  - it was a success
Thank you both

Modifié par LadyAly, 05 juillet 2010 - 06:12 .

[Schratty]

I've been reading this for awhile now, but have neglected to comment. Allow me to rectify that now: you are a gifted writer! The fact that you've written this in a secondary language makes it all the more impressive.

Eine schöne Story. Ausgezeichnet

Modifié par Schratty, 05 juillet 2010 - 11:23 .

[LadyAly]

 You're a sweetheart - Thank you ! 

[LadyAly]

(( I appologize for the short chapter - but not much time to write atm. ))


So - there was my dilemma - Morrigan's and my abilities to heal Zevran are to low. Obviously the poultice and bandages we had with us barely hold him alive.
I felt a deep regret that I had refused Wynne's help - my thoughts were racing, what should I do ?

*NaChaya, my friend, let us wait some hours. The others should be near. Then we will find a solution*
Morrigans voice was cool as ever, but I noticed the hint of concern in her eyes.
Oghren muttered low * We need this Stone Pet you have, I agree we should wait*



We had not to wait very long, I guess the fight with the Broodmother was longer as I thought or felt in my memory.
Leliana let out a low cry as she spotted Zevran.
My eyes were searching for Alistair - he went over and pulled me in his arms.
* He lives ? *
*Yes, Alistair, barely* I nodded to the corpse of the Broodmother.
*The smell is incredible ugly - as this monster was*
Alistair said as he followed my gaze.
I removed his arms slowly from me and raised my hand to speak.

* Zevran is .. barely alive. Morrigan or I ..* I swallowed the lumb in my throat back * We aren't able to heal him *
Morrigan furrowed her brows in thoughts
* I see a possibility. Someone should go out of the Deep Roads and head to the Circle. This old school mistress named Wynne is a healing mage - and she was eager to follow you my friend.*
*But this will take some times ...* My gaze rested on Zevran's face, I tried hard to fight back the tears.
Again Morrigan was the one who answered - cool minded.
*Tis is true, but you could take two others with you. I will watch him, keep him alive - even if I'm not sure this assassin is it worth. Let Leliana take the Dog and let her run to the Circle...*

Now this was a option. I was thankfully for Morrigans coolness - cause my thoughts were run in circles - like a mouse in a maze - cruel and without to find a solution.
Leliana gave me a sweet, concerned smile.
*I'm very fast on my feets NaChaya. Let me grab some supplies and I go immediatly*

*Alistair, Shale would you both come with me and Oghren to find Branka - we are near I suppose*
My heart was sagging in fear to leave Zevran behind - but had I another choice ?
Sten raised his deep voice as his violet eyes stared in my face.
*I'll watch over the witch and the Assassin with my life, Kadan*
Morrigan opened her mouth.. hesitated and shut it again without saying anything.
For a brief moment I closed my eyes
*Good lets move on with all quickly. Be carefully and fast Leliana.*
Slipping down at Zevran's side I kissed his cheeks
* Don't dare to die yet. I promise I follow you into the fade to kill you there completly - for your foolery*
My whisper was mixed with some hard, dry sobs. Then I stood up - giving Shale, Alistair and Oghren a nod for leaving *Ready .. ?*
A grunt from Oghren followed *Sure thing, always.*

With a heavy heart I gave Morrigan a light hug, what gave her the hint of a smile on her face. Then I raised on my tiptoes to pat Sten's shoulder *Watch over both Sten*

Leliana and Dog approached us both, ready for leaving. I gave her some maps, so she should find back fast - and hopefully safe. * No worries NaChaya - I will run with the shadows - and avoid fights. Zevran's life is at stake * She kissed my cheeks and her embrace was warm, then she turned and was away before I could say anything.

*Let's go find this damn Paragon or the Anvil or whatever its needed...*


 

[Gilgamesh1138]

Short or long happy to see another chapter LadyAly! YAY!

[Goblin1405]

Absolut fantastisch ! Ech genial was für eine Mühe Du Dir da gemacht hast. Wunderschön echt ...ganz dickes Lob So ein Talent wie Dich könnte ich gut für unser CRPG brauchen, falls Du auch deutsch schreiben könntest?



Absolutely fantastic. Really very good. I like what I see, you have really given you much trouble.



Best regards, Goblin

[LadyAly]

Gilgamesh I just love you dear   

@Goblin Aber sicher schreibe ich deutsch. Vielen Dank für das Kompliment. Ja die Mühe die ich mir mache - nun - es ist mehr Freude und Spaß. Die Idee Bilder zu der Geschicht zu addieren scheint jedenfalls zu funktionieren :happy:

[Gilgamesh1138]

Ah, was Goblin hast gesacht meinen fruenden! Und du bist meinen hartz.

[Slim Warden]

Very nice chapter Aly, it was an enjoyable read.

Modifié par Slim Warden, 11 juillet 2010 - 01:04 .

[LadyAly]

Thank you Slim I'm a bit sad I have not much time for writing - Life is busy atm

[LadyAly]

After a while of silent walking Shale starts to speak with her gnarled deep stone voice.
*I have watched a lot of humans in my time. It should be aware that I have decided that it is ... not much like any of them.*
My thoughts were clinging on Zevran, so I needed a second to realize Shale was speaking to me.
*Er... but I AM human.*
*Technically, perhaps, but according to the many years I spent observing the average human in Honnleath, I doubt it has much in common with THEM. 
Surely it must come from superior lineage, yes? Some breed of flesh creature that has decided to elevate its genetic stock above its natural shortcomings?*
I lifted a brow at that, Alistair blew out a quiet chuckle - Oghren was to far ahead and busy with scouting to hear this.
*ärm... well ... I am a mage ...*
She sounded satisfied
*Oh? Then that must be it. I knew there had to be some reason, it being a human and all. I would appreciate if it didn't spread around that I said anything. Humans might start to get the wrong idea. They might start thinking their race is not completely hopeless.*



Alistair was looking straight forward - but I could see that he barely holded back a laughter. I tried to stay very serious, too, wasn't very hard with Zevran in my heavy heart.
*And we wouldn't want that Shale!*
Her enormous stone hand patted softly my shoulder
*Indeed. Can it imagine the horror?* the Golem shuddered
*Now let us crush something into a fine paste before it starts to think I have gone all soft. Perish the thought*
she said appointed.
I gave her a nod - in that moment the wall behind us crumbled down, blocking the way back with a thunderous noise.

Oghren widened his eyes *What was that ??*
I saw above us on a rock a female dwarf, there were pure madness in her eyes, her face marked from the deep roads.
Oghren exclaimed nearly the next words
*Shave my back and call me an elf!! Branka? By the Stone, I barely recognized you!*
She gave us a cold gaze out of her gleeming eyes, answering with a raspy voice.
*Oghren. It figures you'd eventually find your way here. Hopefully, you can find your way back more easily.*
She stared now down in my face
*And how shall I address you? Hired sword of the latest lordling to come looking for me? Or just the only one who didn't mind Oghren's ale breath?*

Oghren intervene her speech resentful and immediately 
*Be respectful, woman !! You're talking to a Grey Warden!*

She folded her arms over her plated breast
*Ah, so an important errand girl, then. I suppose something serious has happened. Is Endrin dead? That seems most likely. He was on the old and wheezy side.*



Now I raised for the first time my voice harshly
*He is dead, yes, and the Assembly is deadlocked.*

*Then what is your involvement in this? Why would a surfacer be interested in dwarven politics?*
She interrupted me - pondering, chewing on her lower lip
*You must have a patron. A highly-placed patron. And they must want something in particular. Now, what might that be?*
she paused shortly then speak up with her raspy voice
*I don't care if the Assembly puts a drunken monkey on the throne. Because our protector, our great invention, the thing that once made our armies the envy of the world, is lost to the very darkspawn it should be fighting.*
Sharp and full of lunacy was her speaking now
*The Anvil of the Void. The means by which the ancients forged their army of Golems and held off the first archdemon ever to rise. It's here. So close... I can taste it.*

She narrowed her eyes to stare at Shale - but before she could ask anything I used the chance to distract her 
*But of course there is a catch.*

* Pah... The Anvil lies on the other side of a gauntlet of traps designed by Caridin himself. My people and I have given body and soul to unlocking its secrets.
THIS is what's important. THIS has lasting meaning. If I succeed, the dwarven people benefit. Kings, politics ... all that is transitory.
I've given up everything and would sacrifice ANYTHING to get the Anvil of the Void.*

Cold and clear cut my voice through her sermon
*Does that include Hespith and the others of your house?*
This woman was nuts, so absolutely nuts

*Enough questions!* She growled at me
*If you wish me to get involved with this imbecilic election, I must first have the Anvil.*
another pause
*There is only one way out, Warden. Forward. Through Caridin's maze and out to where the Anvil waits.*

I cursed insight - so we had to solve for her the - most likely - vicious quests she couldn't do at her own.

*What has this place done to you? I remember marrying a girl you could talk to for one minute and see her brilliance.* Oghren was stunned.

She turned toward the deeper cave, speaking careless over her shoulder, brazen and cold

* I ... am your Paragon *
 

Modifié par LadyAly, 12 juillet 2010 - 09:01 .

[Slim Warden]

Branka is just such a cheery person, but anyway can't wait for the next installment LadyAly. Good Work.

[Gilgamesh1138]

YAY! Another chapter! Ohhh I never did like that Branka. I always kill her. Thanks for another great read LadyAly!

[LadyAly]

thanks you both !

Yesh - Branka is a real *Bright* spot. But army out of golems might be intriguing ;P

[Lynn01]

Nicely done I dislike Branka too. I cannot stand to think about letting her live. I always play a little game too during that fight. How many Lyrium veins can I use before Branka wants to use one. I always need one or two when I see her running over to one I didn't get yet

[LadyAly]

There were some very quiet moments - we could think of nothing to say.
We all were in thoughts about her impertinence.
Alistair murmured something in a huffed tune.
Oghren looked up with a puzzled gaze - evidently this wasn't the Branka he had expected.



*Ah.. well. We'll help her get the Anvil, and then she'll come home and everything will be better.*
He let out a growling small chuckle
*Heh... Good ol' Branka. She's a bit - uh - abrasive, isn't she? Guess I forgot that part about her screeching in my ear every sodding day.*
Lifting a brow I couldn't resist to add
* I thought this is common dwarfen behaviour ...*
Oghren made a face, then he raised his flask and took a a big swig
*Let us go NaChaya - to stand around and discuss the character of dwarves is rather useless*
Alistairs voice was comforting as always, his lips parted in a insightfully smile.
Shale started immediately to stomp deeper into the tunnel.

We heard Brankas voice from anywhere above us
*I needed people to test Caridin's traps. There is no way to break through expect by trial and error. I sent them in...
They were all mine, pledged to my house, and they didn't want to help. They tried to leave me, even my Hespith ....*

*No wonder - but she was al ready lost and you have your blood, pain and doom on your dirty hands Branka!* I yelled into the thick air, angrily about her ignorance.

She seems not to hear it, untouched from my breakout she spoke further, whilst we followed the tunnel, alert and tensed.

*But even she couldn't understand that when you reach for greatness, there are sacrifices. As many sacrifices as are needed.*

Reaching a big destroyed hall I noticed a lot of Lyrium veins from the corner of my eyes - just enough to mark the spots in my mind, before the first wave of darkspawn creatures attacked us from a hidden place.
Shale was indeed impressive - she stomped like a plough though our enemies - nothing behind her then crashed bodies.
I saw Branka standing above us, watching the fight with an odd gaze - and as we finished the last creature she started her sermon again.
*There was no other choice. Most of them were dying of the taint already, but some .... some of the women were ... transforming.*

So she had heard me, at least this .. and her speech was nothing more then the helpless attempt to let out her sense of guilt I supposed.

* I knew what they would become. There would be an endless supply, fresh darkspawn to test the traps. They could still serve me, let me find the Anvil. It was the only way ....*

By Andraste and the Maker - a icy shower was running down my spine. Branka wasn't only mad, she was cold, calculating and selfish ... she simple moaned about her fail, not the loss of her companions and her lover.

Another wave of Shrieks - along with a stinky Ogre - attacked us - but Branka just watched and babbled.

*You have no idea how they carried on, holding my hand and begging to die. They have pledged me their loyalty! They had no right to fight me.
They say your order is renowned for its wits as well as its brawn. Perhaps you will do better than my poor clansmen*

Oghren growled under his breath *I wish you would shut up Branka...*

*There's something about this place ... it makes people despair.*

I could only shook my head and think this was a normal reaction with such a crazy and deraged leader as Branka. Cold hate overwhelmed me as I swore to myself to kill Branka with my own hands if Zevran dies - she was responsible for the Broodmother ...

Crossing the hall we saw another tunnel - I was sure it would direct us to the next trap.
After a short while I could see a open door - a strange poisoned scent filled the air.
There were Golems... and the air waft greenish, we could hear noises from streaming gas.



*It should let me go in and try to find anything - maybe I can stop the poisoned gas, I should be immune to it* Shale asked me quiet.
I gave a with furrowed brows a short nod. Alistair, Oghren and I readied our weapons to attack the Golems if they would make any attempt to attack Shale.
I was again impressed how fast Shale could run, stomp her way through the dim light, searching.
We hard a scratching noise, then another, she has found obviously a lever to move.
The hostile Golems awoke - we covered our faces with cloth and helmets and attacked them, to gave Shale the room to stop the still streaming poison gas.

I couldn't hear the noise from a moved lever any more - I was to focused to stun and cage the Golems. Alistair and Oghren got their hands full to avoid the vicious attacks. The air becomes suddenly clear and much fresher - Shale let out a bonecrushing cry, throwing rocks on the Golems.
Alistair could barely jump out of the way as one of the Golems got hit and fell forward in his direction.

The second trap was mastered - and it was a relief nothing to see or hear from Branka. But I had no doubt the next trap would be become more challenging- if not nearly unresolvable, or Branka had could bypass it by herself.
We reached the entrance to a large chamber, Lyrium veins overall, it gave a mysterious blue light. A column reached down in the middle of the cavern - it had four faces on it. The eyes glowing in the same blue as the Lyrium veins.



In front of all four faces we saw anvils, matching up to the faces.
I let out a moan * Always this damn riddles ...*
Then it starts - the column summoned spirits , four of them, one in front of each Anvil.
I can't remember how long it takes for us to find out about the mechanism of this spirit apparatus - if we got hurt by the spilled blood damage from he eyes. we hid behind the corner of the chamber to recover our strength. We figured soon that the glowing anvils damaging the face in front if we touched them, but the damn thing rotated and summoned then stronger spirits.
Shale and my skills made the difference - I would say a poor fighter army - well no chance.



Still we need hours and hours - fight, kill the spirit, hit the anvil to let them attack a face, recover out of sight... cumbersome, hard and it sucks our strength out of the bones.
I was really tempted to cry out a Hooray as the last face died and all went silent, but there were nothing left in me - much to much effort to speak even a word.
We gave each other weak smiles instead, still proud ones, before we sat down. 

Was it over now ? Was this the last pitfall ? And if not - how many challenging traps laying still before us until we finally reach the Anvil ?
This questions came up in my exhausted, blurred mind - then I fell asleep for a short while.
 

Modifié par LadyAly, 18 juillet 2010 - 10:21 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

YAY another chapter! Oh those traps especially the last one, UGH!!!! Thanks for more story LadyAly!

[Slim Warden]

Very nice LadyAly, I always hated those traps, but anyway well done.

[LadyAly]

I'm glad the deep roads now soonish over *lol*

thx to you both for the always kind comments

[LadyAly]

Our rest last only a very short time, I was to restless.
My thoughts clung on Zevran and the hope Lelianna had reached Wynne already ... in fact it was my only hope.
So we marched on, quiet, tired and exhausted. Tunnels come and go - then we saw a golden shimmer before us -



The cave was huge - Lava was streaming down the walls, diving all in a nonnatural gold-red light, making sizzling noises.
Golems - Lyrium veins - and in front a huge form of a metallic Golem I haven't seen before.

Carefully we approached him, prepared to defend us.
I had to look up at him and before I could say anything the huge Golem started to speak with a gravely deep voice.



*My name is Caridin. Once, longer ago than I care to think, I was paragon to the dwarves of Orzammar.*

Shale gasped - which was a comical noise -
*Caridin? The Paragon smith? Alive?*

*Ah, there is a voice I recognize. Shayle of the House of Cadash, step forward.*

Shale gasped again - her raspy voice full of surprise
*You...know my name? Is it you that forged me, then ? Is it you that gave me my name?*

Caridin sighed *Have you forgotten then? It has been so long. I made you into the golem you are now, Shayle, but before that you were a dwarf ... just as I was. The finest warrior to serve King Valtor, and the only woman volunteer.*

*The only ... woman ??? A dwarf ?*



Caridin gave her a light motion of his massive head
*I laid you on the Anvil of the Void, here in this very room, and put you into the form you now possess.*

My thoughts raced at this moment - by Andraste - this damn Paragon has took living creatures and hammered them to death or much more worse - to living war machines.
Shale seems very puzzled
*The.. Anvil of the Void ... that is what we seek.*

*If you seek the Anvil, then you must care about my story, or be doomed to relive it.*

Now I raised my voice * You made the anvil, I take it ?*
He explained to me that he had created the Anvil, but for what a cost he had told no one...
*No mere smith, however skilled, has the  power to create life. To make my Golems live I had to take their lives from elsewhere.*

Narrowing my eyes I replied rather coldly
*A dire shortcut. Was it worth it ?*

*So said my king. I had only intended to use volunteers, but he was not satisfied ... adn soon a river of blood flowed out of this place. Finally it was too much. I refused. And so Valtor had me put on the Anvil, next.*

Well I guess he deserved not a better treatment, but I started to dislike dwarves more and more...
*What now? Do you want revenge?*

He shook his head slightly
*Not revenge. The blow of the hammer opened my eyes. My apprentices knew enough to mnake me as I am, but not enough to fashion a control rod. I retained my mind.
You were amongst the most loyal, Shayle. You remained at my side throughout, and at the end I sent you away out of mercy.*

*I... do not remember* Shale stated quietly

*We have remained entombed here ever since,and I have sought a way to destroy the Anvil. Alas, I cannot do it myself. No Golem can touch it.*

A loud cry - full of insanity filled the air, coming from behind us.
*NO! The Anvil is mine! No one will take it from me!*

Caridin focused on Shayle *Shayle ... you fought to destroy the Anvil once! Do not allow it to fall into unthinking hands again!*

Poor Shale was completely lost *You speak of things I do not remember. You say we fought .. did you use our control rods to command us to do so?*

Carigins voice showed some sort of panic * I destroyed teh rods! Perhaps my apprentices eventually learned to replace the rods, I do not know, but if so, then all they need is the Anvil to make all the slaves they need.*
He turned his hidden eyes to me *YOU! Please ... help me to destroy the Anvil! Do net let it enslave more souls than it already has!*

*You were a Paragon. I'll help you if you support a new king Caridin.*

Again Branka's piercing voice cut's through the air
*Don't listen! He's been trapped here for a thousand years, stewing in his own madness. Help me claim the Anvil, and you will have an army like you've never seen!*



Oghren grumbled a huffed answer *Branka, you mad, bleeding nug-tail. Does this thing mean so much to you that you can't even see what you've lost to get it ?*

She lowered her head - then motioning with a wide gesture around *Look around. Is this what our empire should look like? A crumbling tunnel filled with darkspawn spume? The Anvil will let us take back our glory!*

I whispered to Alistar and Shale * What you both think - a armee of Golem's - helpfully against the darkspawn, a intriguing thought. But can we do that for Makers sake ? Every golem means to torture and kill a living soul!*
Alistair simple shook his head with a hard gaze.
Shale looked at me -*I will leave it ...*
With a move from my hand I interrupted Shale before she could say more.
*Branka, the Anvil enslaves living souls! It must be destroyed.*

Shales stoney fingers touched my shoulder * So it fights wiht Caridin? Good. That seems right*

Turning again my gaze searched Caridins metal mask as he spoke
*Thank you, stranger. You compassion shames me.*

Branka yelled *NO! You will not take it! Not while I still live!*
*Branka! Don't throw your life away for this!* Barked Oghren back



*We have to destroy the Anvil, Branka*
Oghren whispered to me *Just give her the blasted thing! She's confused... maybe once she calms down, we can talk to her!*
I shook slowly my had *She's obsessed, beyond redemption Oghren.*

Branka raised suddenly a control rod *BAH! You are not the only master smith here, Caridin! Golems obey me! ATTACK!* Her war cry filled the air and the golems started to crack her body's.



Caridin yelled now, too - horror-stricken.
*A control rod! But.... my friend, you MUST help me! I cannot stop her alone!*

And so begun a fight I wished I had could avoid.
Branka was a fierce warrior, a maniac anyway.
Only two Golems seems to fight on our side, Caridin was immobilized. Probably from the control rod...
I was glad to have Lyrium veins around me, I concentrated on paralyse Branka as often I could, shapeshifting into a swarm of insects and back.
Alistair lead the final blow on her - whilst Oghren still fought on Shale's side one of the Golem's.

Then it was quiet, so quiet ...
 

Modifié par LadyAly, 25 juillet 2010 - 01:34 .

[LadyAly]

We stand there, our gaze tacked on Branka's dead body ...
Caridin broke the silence with his deep voice
*Another life lost because of my invention. I wish no mention of it had made it to history*

Oghren mumbled without looking up *Yeah, you ain't kidding. Stupid woman!. Always knew the Anvil would kill her.* 

*How is it that the woman was not able to disable me as she did you, Caridin?* Shales rumbling voice was quiet and thoughtful.

*I do not know. Have you been altered?*

*I once had a pathetic little mage of a master. He ... did something to me. Experimented on me. And then I killed him and it rendered me paralyzed*

Caridin seems to ponder a short moment, whilst I was still listening the talk my thoughts starting to wander off - to Zevran. My heart has a hard beating and the thought to lose him took my breath away - before I tried to listen again Shale and Caridin. There were still some loose ends and a task ...

*Hmm. Perhaps he was bringing forth old memories? And caused you to remember the time when ... you fought at my side.
The paralyzis you speak of always resulted when the master perished. As for your free will... you were always a strong woman,Shayle. I am pleased to see you remained such*

Sure - she was a woman and a dwarf ... so what else others then strong should she be ? 
Men are stupid - even if they are turned into a Golem.

Shale seems to be a little bit bashful as she answered Caridin and I bet if she would be able to do she would have blushed cheeks.
*I don't know what to say. Thank you.*

A sigh escaped Caridin's huge metal chest. *Do not thank me. All of this...* he gestured to all teh dead corpses *this is my doing, my legacy. But at least it ends here. I thank you for standing with me, sranger, woman. The Anvil waits there for you to shatter it.*
He turned toward a gallery and I followed his gaze. There was it - golden, shimmering, powerful - the Anvil of the Void.



Caridin bend his head down to look me into the eyes *Is there any boon I can grant for your aid? A final favor before I am freed from my burden?*

What the... a favor .. I ?? He couldn't help Zevran - and not much others I wished for the moment. But...

*Oghren? You lost Branka to this. What do you want?*

His gaze was surprised and after a moment he grumbled full of sorrow
*Huh. Don't suppose you can bring Branka back? Maybe make her a golem, like you ?*

Caridin shook his massive head slowly
I would not do such a thing to her even if I could*

*Somehow I didn't think so. Then I don't want anything that would remind me of ... this. Best it's just done.*
Oghren's green eyes rested for a second on my face
*There is ... is still the matter of the election. I mean... we still need a Paragon to get the Assembly's support, right?*

Caridin raised his mighty voice
*For the aid you've given me, I shall put the hammer to steel one last time, and give you a crown for the king of your choice.*

With this words he went  majestic and slow to the Anvil, stroking with his hands a last time over the hammer and started to make a crown.



The others took a rest in the meanwhile - sitting around, closing the eyes. I watched the progress - he was indeed a mastersmith.

Hours later - I was fallen in a restless slumber, he came down to us, holding a exquisite crown in his mighty hands.
*There. It is done. Give it to whom you will. I do not wish to hear their names, nor anything more of them. I have already lived far beyond my time. I have no place here.*



Giving him a stern gaze I took the crown - passed them to Oghren.

*I will destroy the Anvil, as agreed*

Caridin watched me as I approached the simmering Anvil
*That would please me, human.*
Without hesitating I took the hammer in my hands ... with all my strength I forced the hammer on the Anvil ...he burst asunder under the blow.



Like a ritual I laid the hammer beside the destroyed Anvil, moving slowly back to Caridin.
If he had could show me a smile - it had not been nicer as his final words.
 He reached the cliff, deep underneath streaming Lava - the hot breeze filled the air ...
*You have my eternal thanks, stranger.
Atrast nal tunsha .... may you always find your way in the dark.*

His mighty form was falling, falling - without a sound - the Lava embraced him .. took him .. devour him.
I hoped he had found his peace yet.
 

Modifié par LadyAly, 29 juillet 2010 - 10:06 .

[yasuraka.hakkyou]

Final moments, like Caridin's, always get to me emotionally.

[LadyAly]

Yes - the same here. So I hope I can at least transport this feelings to the story.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw, this part always got me. I too ask Oghren to ask for a boon. Loved this chapter LadyAly! Danke Schoen!

[LadyAly]

Oghren was this time the first who broke the silence-
*Well, that pretty much beat the sod out of how I imagined it.You ready to heat back yet and share the news?*
Followed with a dip from my head my answer was low and thoughtfully
*Lets go back - but I will take a look on this stone tablet there in the corner ... and then back to Zev... our friends*

Oghren let out a snoring noise and gave me a wink
* Sure thing - hopefully your assassin is still alive to see you and the glorious crown you got - No need to hurry back to the damn Assembly...*

Alistair furrowed his brows, glaring at Oghrens back and pushed him hard with his gloves.
*dwarves are so sensitive ...*

Oghren grinned broadly * Anything wrong with the truth ?*
Alistair rolled his eyes and made a face before following me to the stone tablet.



I was examining the runes closely - it was written in dwarven and seems to be a long list of names, with the stamp of the houses next to them. I could recognize some names.
At the bottom of the list I could read this words
"We honor those who have made this sacrifice, let their names be remembered."
The carvings seeming still pretty deep - maybe I could make a tracing ?
*Oghren what is this? Can you tell?*

He stepped at my side
*Huh.Named. A long list of dwarves. Err... hold on ..."We honor those who have made this sacrifice, let their names be remembered." Fart me a lullaby !! It's a memorial... of all the dwarves who became golems! Has to be! If there was some way of getting this back to the Shaperate in Orzammar, I'd bet they'd brown there trousers! And pay good gold for it! Probably both.*

Alistair mumbled something about his foul-mouthed speaking
Looking over my shoulder I spoke to Shale
*Do you recognize this at all?*



*No. perhaps it thinks I should? It may have something to do with Caridin's words. If there is some way to make a copy of these runes, I am willing to study them. Perhaps there is something to be gleaned from them, I know not.*

I had always some paper at hand - to draw maps and making lists along with carbon - so I started to make a tracing from the tablet.



Carefully I stored the papers in a ancient book - evenly distributed between the sides to prevent them from smearing.

Now I went really silent and my heart beats hard and fast again my chest as we reached one last tunnel before the camp should be.
What if .. No I forbid myself to think about.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat and took a shaky deep breath before I set my feet into the cave.

My eyes searched and .. there was Leliana ... and Wynne .. 
Morrigan looked up with raised brows
*He lives my friend and is already nearly maddening as before ...*
I wasn't able to say anything, only my feet were dragging me suddenly faster to the kneeling Wynne. She looked up with a soft smile.
*Its fine child - he will live. His inner wounds were severe - but I'm a old mage and healer.*



The relief overwhelmed me like a wave, made my knees into a unstable mass.
Zevran seems to sleep, peacefully. I sank on this useless knees at his side down - only to stare at his pale face.
*Maker - this is ...* My voice broke and I rested very carefully my hand on Zevran's chest to feel his heart beating. Suddenly he grabbed my hand with a fast reflex, putting it to his lips to place a kiss on my knuckles
* Stupid Antiva Crow is soon back in bussines..* he opened his eyes and grinned * ... and in your bed if you wish my dear grey warden*

My vision was a bit blurred - and I realized suddenly that tears were streaming down my cheeks. With a harsh gesture I wiped with one hand over my face.
*Good to see you alive stupid Crow ...* Then I bent down and whispered in his ears *don't think I love you Zevran ... nor  that I was worried...*
He smiled faintly and I placed a kiss on his lips before I stood up and looked into the faces around me.

*There is not much to say then - beside - Thank you all ?*
Oghren grumbled *Let's go back to Orzammar as quickly as we can.*



Still blinking the damn tears away I nodded
*Let's go while a new king can be still be of use for us. - Wynne ? Is Zevran able to walk on his own feet?*

* He will be in a few hours, give him time to recover, lets say one day ?*

* Good - Oghren, Shale, Alistair - you three should come with me. I need probably eye witnesses for what happened. The others should follow a day later - we will met outside Orzammar's gates.*

Morrigan placed her cool hand on my shoulder - before she turned to pack some supplies for us.
It was time to give the crown to a king ...
 

Modifié par LadyAly, 29 août 2010 - 10:39 .