Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 26: The Tower of Ishal

Alistair and Solana reached the stone bridge that connects either side of the gorge. The battle had started much sooner than previously expected. Alistair had to protect Solana as one of the darkspawn's fireballs came crashing into the nearby ruin overhead. After the shower of pebbles was over, she grunted and threw the oversized man from her back. He was still surprised by how strong she had gotten. Was she like that before the Joining?

They looked to the forests down below and saw it lite ablaze as if all of Thedas was on fire. The two Wardens stood shell shock, being pushed and shoved from every direction as shoulders ran past them towards the bridge. Solana was trying to somehow make sense over what was happening.

"Let's cross the bridge and get to the Tower of Ishal," Alistair called out between all the noise. Solana watched her companion hold out his hand to her. Her eyes jumped back to the red fire below and then settled on the pair of golden eyes before her. She reached out and took the hand.

"Yes, let's hurry!"

They began a mad dash across the bridge. The men were shouting as they shot the ballista they armed. Solana watched as the men took turns: one man would gather arrows, whilst another would man the large crossbow for firing. It was all a blur to Solana. She was almost across when she heard a shout. It was Alistair, but before she could turn to see him she watched a massive ball of fire hit the bridge only inches from her. She felt the singe, and smelled the burnt stench of her flesh as she was catapulted into the air.

Solana was pushed by the blast only a few feet away. Alistair ran to her and held her body up in his arms. "Solana! You need to get up before another one comes," he shouted as he shook her small shoulders with a vengeance. He let a breath out that he had not realized he held when those glass eyes stared back up at him.

"What happened?"

"A fire ball," he explained as he helped the elf to her feet. "No time to explain now, we need to get across."

Solana nodded and they ran across the bridge to safety. Alistair noticed the reddening around her neck as it crept up to her left ear. He was surprised how the woman made no inclination to the obvious pain she must be enduring. His respect for Solana grew more in that moment. She was born to be a Grey Warden; he was certain of it.

Ahead, Solana made out two hazy silhouettes between the on slot of rain. "You have to help me," called one. "They are everywhere! They have taken the tower!"

"Are you kidding?" The smaller voice sounded young, too young to be in a war. "That is a death wish. I'm... I'm not strong enough for this!"

The two men became clearer as Alistair and Solana became close. "Kip! Your alive!"

Alistair watched the two share a hug. He felt his heart thump hard in his chest. The man from earlier reached down to investigate the burn on the elven woman's neck. Solana quickly stopped him before he could go further. "It's fine, Kip. What's happened to the tower?"

"Yeah," the senior Grey Warden narrowed his eyes at the solider. "Why aren't you at your post?"

The man seemed to catch on to Alistair's secret meaning. The glare the two shared was undoubtable one that sparked a question. A question that Alistair wasn't sure why he wanted to ask himself yet. Not amiss a battle, that was for sure, for this was not the time. He was not about to let Solana get hurt again if he could help it.

The man's mouth twitch downward. "I left to get help."

"You... You're Grey Wardens, aren't you," the sacred boy wearing robs said. Solana had been right in assuming the boy's age. He was a young man, hardly eighteen she was sure of it. "The tower," he cried, "it's been taken!"