Mythal's Favour: A Dragon Age Origins Fan Fiction

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Lothering

The small group walked along for the better part of an hour. Alistair and Morrigan kept shooting each other glares as they walked in steely silence. Ayu ignored them until they began bickering loudly between each other.

“Will you two give it a rest!” Ayu stopped walking and whipped around to look at them. “I will not have this constant picking at each other. I expect we're going to be together for a very long time so get used to it.”

Alistair looked at Ayu sheepishly and muttered an apology to her. He crossed his arms and stood there not looking at either woman. Morrigan looked away, but said nothing. Ayu shook her head, sighing, and turned again to keep walking. Alistair and Morrigan followed behind her in silence.

They had emerged from the Wilds now and were beginning to walk into open fields and farmland. The road curved around a gentle corner and as they approached, they heard excited barking and the sound of something running toward them. Ayu paused, waiting to see what was coming at them. A pair of genlocks came rushing toward them, a large brown mass running behind them. Alistair drew his sword and ran one of them through. Morrigan caught the other with a paralyzing spell, and a great mabari war dog knocked the genlock to the ground. The mabari killed the monster laying under its great paws and looked at Ayu, its tail wagging happily.

“A mabari? Where could he have come from?” Alistair wondered aloud.

“Alistair, look! He has a scar across his muzzle! This is the mabari we freed from the tower!” Ayu pointed to the thin scar running from left to right on top of the dog's nose.

The mabari barked happily and jumped around Ayu's feet.

“You remember me, don't you boy?” Ayu knelt on one knee and pet the dog affectionately.

The dog barked excitedly and placed a great paw on Ayu's other knee, looking at her with big brown eyes.

“I think he's chosen you Ayu. Mabari war dogs are bred to work for one master at a time. This one probably lost his and has decided to be yours now. They're very smart you know.” Alistair said matter-of-factly.

“Is that true boy? Have you decided to help me on my journey?” Ayu laughed as she scratched the great beast's head.

The mabari barked happily, wagging his short tail vigorously.

“Well, that's settled then. Welcome my friend.” Ayu stood up, a smile on her lips. “Now I just have to give you a name. Let's see . . .”

Ayu thought for a few moments, the mabari looking up at her expectantly. He was very excited to hear his name. He was wagging his tail so hard his hindquarters were beginning to move side to side.

“Beren. I think that shall be your name.”

“Beren? I've never that name before” Alistair looked at Ayu.

“It means 'Bold' in elvish.” Ayu said with a smile.

The mabari jumped and barked happily before nuzzling his large head against her leg.

“Well that's settled. Beren it is.”

“Wonderful. Now we have a great smelly beast to follow us around . . . and a dog.” Morrigan said coolly, “and somehow the dog is still the smarter one of the two.”

“Hey!” Alistair exclaimed.

“Now Morrigan, that is quite enough.” Ayu said sharply.

“Yeah don't make her mad witch! She's really scary when she's mad . . . really scary.” Alistair warned Morrigan.