The Golden City Blackened

Chapter 1: On The Run

Faint light tore through the sky, like outstretched cracks, like weathered glass. It left white stains across the ground. It seemed to become moe dull as I rode on, thankful for it nonetheless. It has to be atleast past midnight, the moon has begun to shift downwards. Maker, how long has it been. I must have been riding for hours- even the horse is wary on it's feet from exhaustion. As I continued to rock back and forth from his gallop, I swept my hand across it's mane in apology. We couldnt stop or we would lose our advantage and be killed. Or, well, I would be killed. I would be captured, tortured, then killed. It has been so long, since I have been on the run. Surely, I thought I would never feel this anxiety filling my veins and exhaustion keeping me from actually sleeping. When I joined the Warden- in her righteous duty, I considered myself cleansed, and most of all; free. Yet, I was unprepared and barely managed a horse when my suitors made their advance. I had no Warden, no guards, nothing. I only bare my bard's uprising and Lay Sister calling; Sister Nightengale.

The tavern was desolate; though such things are, considering it was early in the morning and most of whom visited the tavern at night didn't reprieve from their drunkard state until later in the evening, giving us such advantage. Though, of course, the barmaid seemed as likely as to joined the festivities last night. The woman's gown was ruffled and her hair strewn across her face in attempt to look decent as she saw me come in. Though, also took a point to become wary of my shadowed figure, hooded and all.

"How can I help you, my lady?" Her voice was gruff, obviously from just being woken up.

At this, I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath even in my exhausted state. Only such things are humorous, it would be a waste not to laugh. "What town is this, yes?" I gruffed myself, forgetting I havent used my voice much either.

She marvelled at my question for a moment, "I guess the best answer for you is; not far from the Orlesian border. Because this isnt much a big town." She answered, and motioned behind her, indicating the direction of the border.

She had an Orlesian accent, yes of course. How could I have missed that? I am rusty. Oh, Maker. Yet I am expecting myself to actually manage to get myself out of this situation and find Tabris. May the Maker watch over me.

-

What has it been, days? Hours? Weeks? Even the horse cant manage to gallop. More of just a trudging walk, exhausted from supporting my weight. My vision seemed to be slowed and my reflexes impaired. So much that the light blurred everything into one glob. I should rest, but what if they are only a short hour behind? I would lost likely set into an exhausted sleep and they could just slit my throat and be done with it. A few more long minutes later and the ideal of it being over seemed so much more likely. My head seemed to bob even further on my chest, with the swaying movement of the horse's trod. The light seemed to reflect off a piece of metal, in long spread out pieces, a cross in, a beak? Wings? A griffon... The wardens- Tabris.

My body launched off the horse as it finally settled in it's exhaustion and laid down. There was no strength in my body to heave myself up and rise. Instead, I let my head bury into the sand and gaze up at gazing light for a few moments until I let myself settle into exhaustion.

-

"Ma'am?.." The voice faded with the heavy wind. It went too fast, and suddenly I was being jerked.

The man was- well. His hair was matted with blood and other assortion of fluids and bits, while his face was covered in angry scars that scattered across his face. Even then, he had a childish grin to his face that seemed to expand even wider when he took into account that I was awake. As I began to lean upwards, he turned his attention to behind us and yelled.

"Arathas- she's awake!" His voice seemed to rattle me further, grasping my head at his voice. Making me ignore the fact that there would be more people coming- I was on the run, but my head is pounding so awfully. I grasped my head in sympathy before looking up to greet the foot steps.

A mage- quite obvious too. She was tall, staff veered off behind her shoulder without skitting against the wooden floors. Even the knitted robes were an easy indication as it was. She was thin- an elf obviously from the gentle bone structure and the points of her ears jutting out from her fresh, snow fallen hair. The woman's face held composure as she gazed at me. There was another woman beside her, a contrast to her elven form. The other woman was short- with wild, unkempt hair from her hand running through it. A dwarf? Maybe. Though not as stocky. She was a warrior, leather straps held the weighted pieces of metal in variations of patterns. Her face, as neutral as it was, still held a grin... Maker, who are these people?

"Your head hurt, yeah? I told Ara to just use a damned spell. Courtesy is bullshit." The shorter one chuckled and motioned to the woman aside her.

"Courtesy has kept me out of fights, unlike some people." The elf countered easily to her compainion as if this were a daily thing.

"Ah, yes. Bite ya' tongue if you'd like- for the sake of courtesy, but what about the sake of not puttin' up with bull-"

I interrupted.

"As much as I'd love to hear how much courtesy is important or not, I would like to know what the hell is going on." I snapped impatiently. How could they manage to banter while a complete stranger is in their care. Shouldn't they be worried if I were dangerous or no?

The elven woman decided to relieve me, from the fact she turned aside her to pick up and hand me my pack that was on a nearby table.

"We were on our way to Orlais when we found you face first in the dirt next to your horse: you were dehydrated and exhausted. Now, if it wasnt for Tav recognizing you from one of her books, we probably would have left you, but we didnt. Also, to answer your initial question, we are in a local tavern in Orlais. Sorry for no specifics." She finished quickly, taking a step back to let me take in the new information.

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A/N:

Hello! Quick notes here. This story is a collaboration between my friend and I. We just one day decided to start it and it's been going pretty well so far. We have already written quite a bit, but failed to edit and upload. The elf (Arathas) is based on me and Tav is based on her. As clarification, I should explain that this was Leliana running. A few more characters will make appearances and a second chapter will be uploaded with this. I apologize for the lack of explaination, but all will be known soon, my lovelies! <3