Аннотация: The beginning of the Battle of Ostagar. Elissa and Alistair reach Ishala Tower.
Chapter 9.1 The Battle of Ostagar
Grey Guardian Elissa sat on the observation deck, leaning against the wall and letting the cold wind blow over her face. My head was still on fire. She didn't know exactly how long she had been unconscious, it seemed like forever.
The darkness was overwhelming. Elissa resisted, and the more painfully everything was torn inside. Voices and insinuating whispers called her there, into the darkness, promised peace, just give in, accept. At some point, Elissa got tired of fighting, and at the same moment she was dragged into the depths of the abyss. It was dark, but Elissa felt someone's presence, heard growling, and even seemed to see huge, faintly glittering eyes and thousands of shadows behind them. They were all looking at her, they saw right through her, which made her feel cold inside. It was scary. It was so scary that I wanted to run away, defend myself, anything to get out of this abyss and see the light again.
Coming to her senses, Elissa felt drops on her face-it was starting to rain. The girl lifted her eyelids, not realizing where she was or what was happening. Two pairs of brown eyes stared at her.
"It's over," Duncan said. "Welcome."
Alistair gave her his hand and helped her up. Elissa looked uncertainly back to where she had last seen the bodies of her comrades. There were none. Jory's blood was still drenched on the flagstones, but it had been dusted with earth, too. Elissa would never forget the sight of their deaths anyway. She looked at Duncan warily.
"Coming to terms with death is never easy, especially when it comes in such a monstrous form," he said. "Almost the memory of your comrades, but don't forget that we have to move on. We must always move on."
Elissa was sitting against the wall, twirling a pendant in her hands. The red center looked like a cloudy stone, but it was blood. Alistair said it was another Guardian tradition. They put the blood they drank at the Dedication into the pendant to remember those who left earlier. He wore the same one around his neck. At his Initiation, he also saw death.
It was several hours before dawn. Silhouettes with torches flashed in the semi-darkness of the camp. There was an un-nocturnal bustling hubbub. The soldiers knew that a new battle was coming and were preparing to fight. The Darkspawn will arrive after dark, and there will be many more of them than two days ago, as if they have finally decided to attack in earnest. They need to be stopped. Here. Today. Otherwise it is impossible. The wind began to howl again, and a nearby thunderstorm through thick clouds promised to bring downpour on Ostagar.
The last military council was held in raised tones. The churchmen argued with the magicians and hinted that they were only required to unleash sorcery on the creatures of darkness under the supervision of the templars. The magicians considered it a humiliation to be held as a tool. When King Kaylan arrived, everyone fell silent, but he soon began to argue loudly with Loghain. The King insisted on going into battle with the Grey Guards. Teyrn was against it and again accused the king of being too dreamy. When it came to waiting for the Orlesians, things got even worse. Loghain was adamant.
"Our feud with Orlais is already in the past," Kaylan retorted. "And you should remember who the king is here."
Loghain didn't care about the king's status, he just sighed heavily.
"It is fortunate that Maric did not live to see the day when his son is ready to give Ferelden to those who held him in slavery for almost a century."
"Okay, if that's the case, are we strong enough? Duncan, are your men ready to fight?"
"Ready, Your Majesty."
"You rely too much on legends, Kaylan. We need to stand firm on the ground, otherwise we will all die!"
"Tell me your plan, Loghain," the king ignored Thairn's words and bent over the map. "With the Grey Guards and half the army, we'll lure the darkspawn into an attack, and then..." Thairn Mac Tir slumped his shoulders and also came to the table.
"...You will give a sign to light a lighthouse on the tower. At this signal, my men will strike the darkspawn's flank from cover." A gauntleted hand moved across the map between the valley under the bridge and the hills to the west of Ostagar, from which the tall towers were clearly visible. "I ordered the closure of Ishala Tower before the battle. My soldiers are guarding her now. They'll light the fire. It's not dangerous, but it's extremely important."
"If that's the case, then we'll entrust him to the best," said the king. "Have the Grey Guards Alistair and Elissa light the lighthouse."
"That's the plan," Duncan concluded, standing by the campfire in front of the two younger Guards.
"What? Am I not going to fight?" Alistair was displeased.
"He's right. We should too!"
Elissa, as before, hoped that the fight would distract her from her heavy thoughts about her brother. Besides, she came here to fight, not to light lighthouses.
"It's not up to you to decide. If the King wants the Grey Guards to take care of the signal light, the Grey Guards will take care of it. We have to do everything to win, whether we like it or not."
"Okay, I get it," Alistair grumbled. "But know this, if the king asks me to dress up and dance a remigold, I'll pass. And I don't care if it puts an end to the Plague or not."
"You have strange ideas about the king," Elissa raised an eyebrow.
"Do you think it's that impossible? Imagine, I'm dancing in front of the creatures of darkness - they're all falling down laughing, and meanwhile we're hitting them. What's wrong with strategy?"
Elissa turned away, hiding a giggle. Duncan sighed loudly and closed his eyes. Behind him, the orange flames of a tall bonfire flickered and the sky darkened. The Commander looked back at his Guards.
I'm going to the king. From now on, you're alone. Remember, you are both Grey Wardens. I hope you will be worthy of this title.
"Duncan..." Alistair looked earnestly into his mentor's eyes. "May the Creator look after you."
"May he look after us all."
Alistair shook Duncan's hand and sadly watched him leave. Elissa understood Alistair's feelings well... too well.
"He's stronger than both of us," she said softly.
"Yes, that's right... let's go to the tower. This may not be the most honorable task, but it needs to be done."
"Alistair..."
Elissa didn't know how to ask. She looked at the fire, where only a few hours ago there were four of them, and now there are only two left.
"Don't you feel anything because they died? I mean, even if it wasn't for long, you..."
"I knew the dangers of Initiation, so deep down I was ready and tried not to get attached to them. To be honest, I'm glad that at least one of you managed to survive this. Duncan is right, we need to move on."
Elissa nodded,
"Then let's go."
There are still too many deaths.
The western part of the camp is almost empty. The slanting rain hit along with the violent wind and hit the eyes, extinguishing the lights. Braziers for igniting arrows and projectiles were covered with awnings. It was light - branching lightning now and then cut through the clouds and illuminated the valley. A golden river flowed through the dense thicket of Korkari to Ostagar. Thousands of torches. The creatures of darkness also used fire, but they didn't need light, but its destructive power. The fire illuminated their approach even before the sound of heavy footsteps reached the defenders of the fortress.
The pale, disfigured faces of the Garlocks glittered with fierce eyes with almost white pupils. The predatory mouths of the Genlocks grinned, baring their fangs. As they approached, they let out roars and growls like wild animals ready to pounce on their prey. Darkspawn in gilded armor and horned helmets could be seen among them, fiercely brandishing huge axes. Other creatures of darkness clutched feathered stick branches in their hands, sparks of flame leaping from them. The enemies looked ferocious and much scarier than in the previous battle. They were ready. They came to kill.
"The plan will work, Your Majesty," Duncan replied softly from behind the king.
"Of course it will work. The plague will be over." Kaylan replied enthusiastically.
The roar of thunder and the wild roar of the enemies made one soldier in the front row flinch and take a step back. An outstretched hand pressed against his back.
Don't you dare back down. Fight!
The soldier nodded and tightened his grip on his sword.
With a new clap of thunder, as if by someone's invisible will, the creatures of darkness rushed to attack. The defenders responded with heavy silence and watched as the enemies rushed at them in a ferocious wave. King Kaylan commanded the archers. A flock of arrows shot up into the sky and swooped down on the first enemy lines. The wind blew some of the arrows aside, but the first ranks of the darkspawn thinned. Those following them, without slowing down, rushed forward, jumping over the dead bodies. They were confronted by war dogs that tore the enemies apart with claws and teeth. The formation of dark creatures mixed up.
"For Ferelden!"
The defenders rushed into a battle that would change the fate of the era. From the bridge, the valley looked filled with small lights that, like fireflies, moved chaotically in the dark. War cries and the clang of weapons filled the space and rose to the skies, shouting above the thunder. The rain thudded against his armor. The fire projectiles launched from the wall flew far to the very edge of the forest into the ranks of the creatures of darkness. The archers on the bridge cheered and cheered their comrades in the valley, as if they could hear them. ...Until a retaliatory shell from the enemies shattered two ballistae into splinters, killing almost all the defenders standing nearby. Another one flew into a dilapidated tower on the opposite side of the bridge, showering people in the valley with a hail of stones. The third crashed into a huge statue of a warrior right behind the crouching Elissa. Fragments of the majestic base remained.
"I didn't know that the darkspawn had throwing machines!" She threw to Alistair, shouting over the rain and the noise of battle, and in a moment of respite from the shells, ran further across the bridge.
"And these are not cars!" he shouted. "Watch out!"
Alistair bent her down so that the burning debris wouldn't touch her. Chase, run ahead! Elissa ordered the wolfhound, and she hurried to leave the firing line as soon as possible and move to the east side of the camp.
Right in front of her, another shell hit three archers. One of them clutched at an almost severed arm and rolled on the floor screaming, the other two did not move, their blood covered the stone slabs. With an effort, Elissa pushed all thoughts away and focused on one thing: they had to get to the tower and light the lighthouse.
Ishala Tower sparkled from afar. There were fires in all the windows, as if it were inhabited, even though it wasn't supposed to be opened until now. Screams were heard from the courtyard of the tower, and then a magician and a soldier ran out, fighting off the creatures of darkness. A flash of magic hit Genlock, and he fell backward, dropping his axe. Garlock jumped out from behind him, but was immediately killed by Aleister.
"You're... you're the Grey Guards, aren't you?" The soldier began, catching his breath. "The tower has been captured."
"What are you talking about? How is it "captured"?!"
"The creatures of darkness entered through the underground halls. All our people who were there were killed. Now it's crawling with these creatures."
Elissa and Alistair exchanged glances.
"We have to light the beacon, otherwise Loghain won't know when to attack."
"Listen to the order," Elissa said to the soldier. "Go to the valley, find the king and the commander of the Guards. Tell them about the tower and tell them that we will light the signal, but it will take time. Let them hold on. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes, my lady," the soldier was confused.
"Say it again!" Elissa said imperiously.
"Find the King and the Guardian Commander," The soldier replied slowly but steadily. "To say that the tower has been captured and it takes time for the signal. Let them hold on."
"Go," Kusland nodded. "May the Creator protect you. And you," She turned to the young magician, whose chin was just touched by the first stubble, "You're coming with us. You will help. Did they teach you this in the Circle of Magicians?"
"Yes, the Grey Guardian."
Elissa nodded again and rushed into the courtyard. It was already littered with the corpses of soldiers and darkspawn. The surviving Garlocks and Genlocks strolled between them and brandished swords. As soon as Alistair and Elissa stepped through the gate, the enemies bristled and charged. The magician had just shouted to the Guards to make way, when a wave of flame burst from his hands and scorched the creatures of darkness. They stopped and growled, trying to beat down the fire, but were defeated by the swords of the Gray Guards.
"Great," Elissa turned to the magician. "What's your name?"
"Ah..." the magician wanted to answer, but only managed to shout. "Oh, careful!"
Elissa jumped away from the lightning flying at her, the magician managed to hide behind the boxes. The squat genlock came from nowhere and swung his crooked staff again, preparing to unleash a fire spell on the Guards, but the pommel of his weapon suddenly went out from the scattering of magic, and a huge wolfhound grabbed him by the throat.
"I think you'll get to know each other later," Alistair replied with a grin.
"I'm being polite," Elissa replied dryly.
"And then there's the templar," the mage muttered.