The Dalish Commander (The Daughters of Thedas Book 2)

13: The Blackmarsh

Soundtrack:

Marsh of the Undead ~ Adrian von Ziegler  (The Blackmarsh)

The Blackmarsh was very ominous and earned its name. I could feel the taint here but there was something else here as well. Something dark and evil.

"They say this marsh was once inhabited until one day everyone just disappeared," Nathaniel said.

"Just like that?" Anders asked. "No trace?"

"No trace. Or that's how the story goes."

An old sign that was faded and covered with moss and vines and looked like it would fall at the slightest touch stood at the entrance. I think it said something along the lines of the Backmarsh being haunted, but I couldn't quite make every word out, although I could make out "Black", "aun" and "ed". Several crows took flight and I heard such a screech behind me that I jumped and spun around, drawing my belt knife, thinking that we were being surprised by Shrieks. Tristan's fur stood on end and his teeth were bared, the end of Anders's staff was glowing and Nathaniel had an arrow nocked and halfway drawn.

Oghren was the only one weaponless. "I thought I saw a...," Oghren trailed off once he saw the four of us looking at him with our weapons drawn and ready. "I mean... Ahem."

"By the Dread Wolf, Oghren!" I returned my knife to its place.

Nathaniel gave Oghren a dirty look and Anders looked like he was trying not to laugh. Tristan grumbled before snorting and returning to his place at my side.

"My father used to tell me stories of the Blackmarsh when I was young," Nathaniel said. "He said evil magic killed everyone here. This was just before the rebellion, a great mystery at the time."

"Did he tell you anything else about this place?" Nathaniel was from the area, after all, and was truly my best source of information.

"They never found out what happened here. Once the monsters appeared, the marsh was abandoned." He suddenly gave a small chuckle. "I used to dream of coming to the Blackmarsh and setting things right. Little boy dreams."

I smiled and looked at him. "You're doing it now, aren't you?"

Nathaniel laughed. "So I am. If someone had told me I'd end up here, I would have laughed at them. But times change."

"Indeed. I would have done the same had someone told me I'd be Commander of the Grey and wandering around a haunted marsh."

He smiled. "When I was in Kirkwall, I thought I would return to Ferelden to take command of my father's garrison. Now here I am, a Grey Warden and fighting both Darkspawn and demons. Interesting."

"Welcome to my world," I said with a laugh. "Stick around. This happens all the time."

"And the fun never ends, I suppose? Good to know." He motioned to the marsh. "Anyway, the haunted marsh awaits."

We approached the ruins of the village and found a dead Darkspawn in what was once the street. Oghren shoved it with his axe.

"Dead," I said. "Kristoff's doing maybe?"

"That answers that, I suppose," Anders said. "The Darkspawn are definitely here."

"I sensed as much when we arrived," I said. "The taint is here." I motioned to the north. "Most of it is that direction."