Dragon Age: A Bard's Love
Chapter O11
Solidarity
Another day spent being soaked from head to toe in rain. There was little that they could really do. The massive rain clouds that chased them over the Frostback Mountains had finally devoured them. All the clothing they had to cover themselves from the never-ending rain was so soaked it was better not to have it over the supplies and the group. Anything they really didn’t want wet was poorly strapped under the wagon, including Leone’s body. The Deauvin Flats was exactly what its named described it; flat. The type of plants growing on the flats was nothing really. Just several patches of shrubs every few yards in random patterns.
Cogdale was exhausted just from being drenched in the Orlesian rains for 2 days straight. Him, Leliana, and Helena would take turns guiding the oxen through the random paths that Leliana had scribbled around on their map. Why this zigzag of a movement on the land with flat in its name Cogdale didn’t really know. But one good thing about the Deauvin Flats was that the trip through it was extremely fast even with the rain and the wet soil.
The loneliness he felt out in the wilderness was so odd. Not even The Fade could give him this sensation. He looked over to Leliana sitting next to him. She looked back with the wet map in hand. He could definitely tell she was regretting letting her hair grow out with the weather as it was. She had Helena braid her a ponytail and she did the same to Helena so that their wet hair didn’t get in the way of their faces. Cogdale felt his hair and returned his palm to his gaze to see it covered in water and sighed from thinking his hair would be some how miraculously dry.
He reached for a small towel cloth that he tried to keep dry by sitting on top of it. He struggled holding the reigns and wiping his hair wet with it. Leliana took the cloth from his hands and dried his hair for him as he returned his free hand back to the reigns. He closed his eyes for a few moments as she rustled the clothing around his head. He could hear her giggle quietly while doing so which gave him plenty of relaxation from the constant downpour.
A wave of massive sounds of thunder shook everybody in their boots for the few seconds that the loud rumbling of the sky got their full attention. The thunder made controlling the oxen even more difficult as they bucked and swayed the carriage more times then 1. The oxens bucked one last time kicking up hidden rocks at Cogdale and Leliana. Cogdale leaped in front of Leliana to make sure she didn’t get injured. He took several rocks but he still had his cuirass still covering his chest so the rocks just deflected off his chest. They laughed nervously when both him and Leliana realized how close of a call that was when Cogdale wiped away the blood from a small scratch on his forehead from one the rocks. But the tension quickly subsided and they were back to a calm ride to Chateau Marjoram.
They had notice several rainbows painted across the sky in the direction of the sun. Which everyone pointed out whenever a new one suddenly appeared. One party member who wasn’t with them anymore was Aeronwy. She had left the day they began to step on the Deauvin Flats. She said her goodbyes to the group and gave Leone’s corpse a Qunari funeral passage of sorts and was on her way to where ever she may have been heading originally.
Ehmric seemingly was enjoying the rain. A dwarf usually hated rain whether they were a surfacer or just stepping out of Orzammar. So seeing a dwarf smile while rain pelted his beard was a new experience for Cogdale. The dwarf’s smile was very infectious even if no one could clearly see all of it under his blonde beard. Garrden not wanting to succumb to boredom decided to do his best in sleeping the trip entirely away by hiding his head under a leather shield that the wagon already had before the group claimed it.
No one could tell if he was actually successful in falling asleep under it though. Ever since childhood Cogdale could fall asleep to the sound of rain. The constant chiming of it pattering on mortar and rock some how gave his mind comfort and so it could quickly fall into the fade to dream.
Leliana finally stopped trying to dry his head and tried her best to get what was left dry on the cloth to dry her hair. After a few laps over her head she gave up after wringing it out for the 4th time. She placed it under herself to try and dry it like Cogdale had. “Ugh, I can’t wait to truly be clean and dry once we get to the Chateau.” Leliana said tilting her stare to Cogdale. He caught her off the corner of his eye while still trying to stay focus on guiding the oxen through the flats.
“They have baths there?” Helena asked ecstatically leaping between the 2 of them to get the scoop on the chateau’s many services and luxuries. “Oh not just baths!” Leliana squeaked. “It even has hot springs!” She said jumping in her seat. A large grin grew across Helena’s face after hearing that.
“What else is there?” Cogdale asked trying his best to be apart of their conversation. “Oh they even have some exotic fruit plants there…. Lets see… the Chateau has a pretty good sized library if you want to check that out Cog.” Leliana answered. Cogdale became intrigued as well after hearing about the library. But his excitement soon died after realizing that the library’s contents were all mostly in orlesian.
“Oh their pastries are to die for!” Leliana exclaimed. Everyone soon followed with a sigh of ecstasy from just hearing her state it even Garrden under his shield umbrella. “I don’t want to spoil it all for you guys so I’ll keep my lips sealed.” She said motioning her fingers creasing her lips with a small smile. Helena kicked her feet repetitively with anticipation even to the point of telling Cogdale to speed up the oxen.
Cogdale did indeed speed them up quite a bit after hearing some of Chateau Marjoram’s innumerable and exquisite features. They still didn’t forget that Marjolaine herself may be there as well and that the confrontation could possibly destroy the entire location all together. Marjolaine had gained amazing amount of wealth and power from her meddling between Orlais and Ferelden. She had her own mages to do her bidding and several rows of guards. But this was just what she knew Marjolaine had when they were still together. Who knows how much more after the events of the 5th Blight and Alistair as the new king of Ferelden.
Small formations of rocks that steadily grew in size were slowly appearing. Leliana nodded her head when Cogdale looked to see if he was still heading the right way to the Chateau. The oxen groaned when the rocks became large hills that rolled up and down. The rapid change of ascent and descent had their muscles working extra hard then add in the rain making the traction on the hills and rocks worse.
Cogdale built up a sweat keeping the 2 oxen from breaking off. Leliana tried to help him by reaching for the reigns but he shrugged her off and just told her to sit there for him. “Keep that towel dry for us! Your our only hope!” he jokingly shouted having everyone laugh. By the grace of Andraste their luck even got better when the rain finally stopped after going nonstop for 2 days straight. Everyone began to cheer when it did go away. Birds began to appear in the sky which was also a very good sign for them giving Cogdale confidence to see this tough terrain through.
“By the stone! My armor is riding up my legs with a fierce vengeance!” Ehmric uncharacteristically shouted. Cogdale almost though Oghren was with them. “Just a few more miles Ehmric and this will all be over. Leliana explained to him. “Then you can shove your armor down far enough that it isn’t literally cutting you in half down there I promise.” She said laughing. They began to be caught between 2 tall rock walls on either side of them. It was awkward that he never saw these hills and walls of stone from the fields of the flats. Let alone that this was out in the Deauvin flats? Perhaps that’s why the Chateau was hidden so well, no one would expect a fortress out in open fields of nothing.
“Are we close?” Cogdale asked looking around for anything that showed signs of civilization. Leliana told him to be quiet and pointed to follow the path. She then told the rest of the group to be quiet also. “Don’t have to tell me twice!” Garrden shouted from under the shield. Leliana smacked the shield making Garrden’s head rattle.
The slow ascent up what seemed like a spiral path took forever, as was Leliana’s stare. Cogdale knew that in moments they would either be accepted into the Chateau by uninformed bards or have Marjolaine’s bow shove arrows into their ribcages. Several trees greeted them making the final turn. But it just wasn’t a couple of trees it was a hidden forest that he couldn’t imagine ever being there.
Leliana stole the reigns from Cogdale and halted the oxen instantly. Cogdale with his hands still poised to be holding the reigns slowly put them down after being startled by Leliana. “Alright this is where the ride ends and the trek begins.” Leliana said pointing into the forest. Cogdale turned to see if everyone was getting off. Everyone except Garrden was off as he was still trying to sleep under his flimsy shield. Helena grunted in annoyance. The apostate climbed back up onto the wagon and kicked the lazy elf off.
“Hey!” Garrden said looking at the mud that was now stuck to his legs and abdomen. “You could’ve just pulled me off mage!” But before Helena could hit him with just an innocent fire spell, Leliana smacked Garrden across the back of his head. “Shut it!” she whispered through her gritted teeth.
It had been nearly half an hour ago when the rain was beating them into a pulp, but now all that was visible was beautiful and clear blue skies. Which made the distant sounds of thunder even more peculiar. Cogdale turned to ask Leliana why the weather had done a complete turn around but she was already running a fast pace into the forest. Cogdale shrugged and followed the bard. He didn’t mind following her though as any man following a very attractive and curvy woman wouldn’t. Although he did catch the drying cloth was still stuck to her butt.
“Leliana!” Cogdale silently shouted trying to get her attention. But she didn’t hear him as she ran through the forest with the slenderness of a snake making her path through rocks and plants to her next prey. Cogdale looked behind him to see the others were slow to follow. He was at odds if he should keep pace with Leliana or fall back so the rest of the group could follow and use his knowledge of hunting animals via their tracks to reach Leliana again. He chose to follow her with his speed. He never truly was right behind her. He could only catch the sight of her feet and sometimes the cloth on her butt.
He didn’t have the spare breath to laugh at the sight so he smiled instead. The forest was ridiculously deep, something didn’t seem right at all like jumping into a puddle and finding an ocean underneath.
“Leliana! Wait!” Cogdale shouted. But his shout was unheard and was greeted by an attack by several demons. Cogdale was caught completely off guard. It didn’t help that he was missing most of his armor. “RAAUUGH!! PUNY MORTAL!!” The magma bleeding monstrosities screamed at him. Cogdale dodged and leaped away from the walls of fire that the rage demons threw at him. He could only hope that the others could catch up to help subdue the anger.
“YOU PATHETIC WEAKLING!” Their voices in unison in their taunts at him. The heat from the demons had almost all the water that had soaked Cogdale turn into steam. Cogdale found himself jumping and flipping ways he thought were impossible for his physique while the rage demons quit with their ranged attacks and began to burn the ground rushing the warden at full speed. Cogdale could only run in an opposite direction.
But when he looked back the rage demons had disappeared. Cogdale was now absolutely confused and aggravated by all the strange things he had been noticing recently. Helena and the others finally caught up to him once he finally came to his senses.
“What is it? Where is Leliana?” Helena asked looking him over. “I don’t know I was just ambushed by rage demons not just 2 seconds ago and now they’re gone.” He said motioning to the area in front of them where he had just been running for his life. “Leliana?” Helena asked again. “Way ahead of us I presume.” Cogdale replied not knowing. “Great now we lost our only guide to the hot springs!” Garrden whined.
“Hold your tongue elf.” Cogdale ordered as he slowly approached the scorch marks the rage demons had made when they crawled out of the ground. Cogdale carefully crossed the threshold he believed alarmed the demons. Nothing, no living embodiment of rage appeared. What was going on? Cogdale shook it off and began following the path he believed Leliana took with the others in tow.
The 2 stone walls appeared yet again closing the forest into itself for the last time as it ended just like it had begun. But he was on the right path as the cloth that had been stuck to her behind was lying in the dirt. He looked back to see they were still following him but one other person was hiding in the shadows behind them. “Do you guys see that?” He asked pointing back to the forest.
“Nope.” Garrden shrugged.
“I don’t see anything.” Helena remarked scratching her head. Cogdale could still see the figure staring back at him under one of the trees. But as he approached the man, the subject faded away. Likewise when he stepped away the silhouette would become darker. It was a trick. It then hit him. The past hour or more had all been a mind game with him and the others. They were under the spell of someone or something. He tried smacking his face a few times but that did nothing at all. He noticed the others looked as if he had gone drake **** insane. He gathered his composure, let out one big sigh to help with said composure. “We’re under a spell right now.” He explained. “If things have seemed for you guys recently it’s because while we were approaching the Chateau out in the flats we were put under some sort of spell.” He continued.
“Helena… do you have any experience with this sort of sorcery?” He asked. She only shook her head. “We aren’t totally crazy as of right now just bits and pieces are hitting us and the closer to the chateau the more delusions we get. Cogdale thought out loud.
“So should we even try to get closer to the fortress?” Ehmric asked approaching Cogdale. “I am, if any of you guys think you don’t want to deal with this just let me know.” Only silence followed.
“Good looks like we’ll be able to still find Leliana if we all stick together and we don’t go fade humping crazy.” Cogdale began running in the direction he felt Leliana had gone. While along the way more and more illusions plagued his vision. Even his dead family members watched as he ran through the closed walls of cold rock.
The path was almost linear now and also absolutely impossible. He finally reached what seemed to be the entrance to the Chateau. An elegant door decorated in carvings that could only be made to idolize Marjolaine. The Chateau itself wasn’t the door however. The fortress was several stories high with windows lining every tower that was visible at ground level. If anything the mansion could’ve been as large as Denerim if the size of the forest was any means for comparison. Just to add more strangeness to the surroundings and its moments. The Chateau was left unguarded. Cogdale looked around but nothing was there. When looked back Helena was right behind him and gave him a dirty look. He constantly became confused of his surroundings as everything wasn’t what it should be.
He was hit by a strong urge to look back at the Chateau, as if someone was whispering in his ear to do so. When he did the Chateau was gone. It had completely disappeared. But before he could even think Leliana approached him knife to her gullet. Behind her was Marjolaine with a monster’s smile. Teeth as sharp as any High Dragon’s and jaws wider then any Calenhad big mouth salmon. Cogdale reached for Leliana but his movements were slowed down like he had been buried in mud.
Just as the avatar of Marjolaine slid her blade across Leliana’s neck spraying Cogdale with blood. He finally realized that he had been in the fade from the start. Leliana’s blood began to burn and sear his skin he screamed for someone to wake him up to no avail. He was desperate to wake up he tried choking himself, breaking his face by slamming his face into the earth, even trying but failing to snap his own neck.
“Cogdale!”…. “Wake up!” …. “Come on you sodding fool wake up!”
“Damnit! You pile of halla spit! You killed a sloth demon that created things worse then this! You can break free of anything! NOW DO IT!” Cogdale couldn’t shake it. The hard he tried to wake himself up the more stuck he got in the dream. It didn’t help that the mud hole he was stuck in was now filled with the fake Leliana’s acid blood and was burning his legs like fire would naturally.
Suddenly rain was falling again and at a unimaginable speed washed away the blood in Cogdale’s snare. The Fade wasn’t trying to fool him anymore as the sky turned green and the Black City floated on its demonic isle in Cogdale’s view. The water continued to flow washing away all the bodies that had built up. Helena stood still over Cogdale with a dull lifeless stare her eyes weren’t accompanied by any pupils either. She bent down and reached out her hand to Cogdale however. Cogdale hesitated in grabbing the Helena Fade’s hand but finally did.
With tremendous strength she threw Cogdale into the humid sky and just as Cogdale began to fall back to the ground it turned into water and he splashed into nothingness.
His gasp for air was so large he startled everyone in the room. “Oh thank the maker!” a female voice ringed in his ear. His vision was all a blur but slowly coming to. He looked around to an unfamiliar setting. The room was lit by tens of candles and the smell of spices and lavender enriched the air he could finally breath.
“My Cogdale are you okay? Please be alright!” a worried voice exclaimed. He felt warm hands hold his face and stroke his other cheek. “I’m…. I’m okay I think.” He said holding his head from letting the room spin on him. “What happened… to me?” He coughed. “As a matter of fact… where am I?” His head was throbbing the soft hands still firmly holding his face.
“You were hit in the heat by a large rock when the ox was acting rather strange. You’ve been knocked unconscious for nearly 5 hours now.”
A male voice explained. “ I still can’t see anything.” Cogdale said squinting as hard as he could to see anything at all. “That seems a bit normal, from a blow to the head that hard I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t get your vision back for a few more days.” The man explained.
“And my location?” Cogdale asked again still struggling with his vision to fix itself to no avail. “We’re at the Chateau love.” The female said. By now Cogdale had to guess that it was Leliana. “So I’m guessing Marjolaine isn’t here?” Cogdale asked.
“No she hasn’t been here in months.” The man answered. “So they let us in?” Cogdale asked extremely confused by what was going on.
“They didn’t let you in I did.” The man corrected Cogdale. His accent was that of Ferelden. His blur Cogdale could make out was of green armor. “Who are you then if you don’t mind me asking?” Cogdale asked. Both Leliana and the man answered at the same time.
“Silas” He continued “Silas Corthwaite.”
Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 21 juillet 2012 - 12:42 .
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