Dragon Age: The Silences Song

Chapter 10

"We haven't found a single darkspawn," Cullen muttered as he sat down near their makeshift camp, poking at the fire with the end of his sword. His brows were furrowed, a deep unease settling in his gut.

"This is strange," Oghren grunted, his usual gruff tone tinged with confusion. He sat on a rock, staring into the darkness. "Usually, the sodding creatures would be piling up your arse by now."

"At least we can sleep peacefully tonight," Elizabeth chimed in.

"Until one of those deepstalker creatures chews up your face," La'el added, fear creeping into her voice. She huddled closer to the fire, her eyes darting nervously into the shadows. Elizabeth, noticing the young elf's anxiety, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering a soft, reassuring smile.

Cullen's eyes flicked toward Oghren. "What was she like?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Oghren raised an eyebrow. "You'll have to be more specific, Curly. I've met plenty of lasses in my time.".

"The Hero of Fereldan," Cullen clarified.

Oghren's expression shifted, the usual drunken bravado replaced by something deeper, more sincere. He looked down at his boots, his face clouded by old memories. "Ah," he said, voice thick with grief. "She was one of the bravest humans I ever met. Tough as nails and damn powerful too. Boy, could that lass work magic." A faint smile crossed his face as he looked back into the fire, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "And she could hold her ale better than most dwarves I've known. Took our brews like a proper warrior."

His smile faded slightly, a shadow passing over him. "If only she'd listened to that stupid witch. But no, stubborn as a stone. Always had to do things her way."

Cullen watched him closely. "What happened?"

Oghren's shoulders slumped. "She made a choice... one that cost her. Maybe she could have lived, but she chose Thedas over herself. That's who she was. Always thinking about everyone else." He sighed deeply. "But damn if I don't wish she'd been a little more selfish."

The silence that followed was thick, the weight of Oghren's grief hanging heavy in the air. The fire crackled softly as the group sat there, the darkness of the Deep Roads seeming even more oppressive.

"She saved us all," Oghren muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But Branka knows, do I miss her."

"It sounds like you were close," Elizabeth whispered gently, her eyes softening as she watched Oghren wrestle with his emotions.

Oghren let out a harsh laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Close? Ha! When we first met, I couldn't care less about her. That guard back in Orzammar was right—my intentions weren't pure. I was a selfish bastard, only in it for the ale." He winked but then paused, his eyes distant as if seeing the past flash before him. "But she... she showed me something different. Gave me a new perspective, a reason to live that wasn't just about-" his voice fell. "About my wife."

Elizabeth's lips parted as if to say something, her empathy evident in her expression. "I—" she began, wanting to offer comfort.

But before she could continue, a sharp voice rang out, cutting through the stillness of the cave.

"Halt! Who goes there?" A figure emerged from the shadows.

Cullen instinctively reached for his sword, his eyes narrowing. Oghren gripped his axe tighter, though a flicker of recognition crossed his face as he sized up the newcomers.

"Well, I'll be damned. Perfect timing, little pike-twirler," Oghren chuckled, his voice booming as he welcomed the approaching group of Grey Wardens.

Cullen's tension eased the moment he saw who Oghren was addressing. From the shadows, a familiar face emerged—a tall man with sandy hair and a well-worn Warden's armor, his eyes bright with recognition.

"Alistair," Cullen said with a wide smile, getting up to greet the veteran Warden. The two clasped hands firmly.

"Cullen," Alistair responded, his grin just as wide. "What brings the Inquisition all the way down here into the Deep Roads? Decided to take up spelunking, or is this some new trend of yours?"

Cullen chuckled, shaking his head. "You know me—couldn't resist getting my boots covered in Darkspawn guts again."

Alistair's face shifted from playful to curious. "We didn't get word of any Inquisition involvement down here. What's really going on?"

"We're investigating the disappearance of Darkspawn," Cullen explained. "Haven't seen a single one so far. Something doesn't add up."

Alistair's frown deepened as he glanced over the group. "We know. We've been down here, doing research, trying to find a cure for the Calling." He paused. "But none of us—none of the Wardens—have heard the song. Not even faintly. It's why we stayed down here, risking whatever this silence means. A cure for the Calling is the dream of every Warden. But this... feels wrong."

Elizabeth exchanged a glance with La'el, her expression troubled. "If there's no Calling, and the Darkspawn are gone... what's down here, Alistair?"

"We're still trying to figure that out," he admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "Whatever it is, it's dangerous. I don't like the idea of walking into something we can't hear or feel coming."
Oghren, still leaning on his axe, grumbled. "Silence ain't usually a bad thing when it comes to Darkspawn, but this? Yeah, it's enough to give even a drunk dwarf the shivers."

La'el stepped forward. "What do we do now, then?"

Alistair met her eyes, his expression serious. "We keep going. Deeper, until we find out what's really lurking down here."

"I suggest we split up," Cullen said. "Alistair, you and your team head east. We'll take the west. These tunnels are too deep and unpredictable for us to be traveling in one large group."

Alistair nodded. "Agreed. We'll cover more ground that way." He looked at the rest of Cullen's team, his expression softening. "You all be safe, alright? These roads have a way of playing tricks on the mind."

Alistair gave a small smile.. "Good luck to you all. Let's hope we find answers before whatever's down here finds us."

With a final nod between commanders, Alistair's team disappeared into the shadowed east tunnel. Cullen motioned for his group to move