Dragon Age Origins: I Am Cousland

Chapter 20: Orzammar

Chapter 20: Orzammar

I rubbed my temples as we walked further into the earth, walking past several dwarves and humans that just shot us strange glares.

We walked for a short time before finally the tunnels began to expand and open into a large cavern, massive gates stood on the far side, I pushed through the gates and into a large room. Pillars lined down the sides of the room, engraved with gold and bronze and geometric carvings.

It was amazing, I had never seen anything like it. I puffed out air and walked through the cavern bursting through yet another gate, this one more beautiful than any of the others.

The city was enormous, and everything seemed to surround a large building in the center of the mountain. The building was carving into the stone and fire spat out of the dwarven structures.

"What do you want?" A voice spat at us, I furrowed my eyebrows and looked down to meet a dwarf's hard glare. "We're Grey Wardens," I explained, the dwarf crossed his arms. "We have enough troubles of our own without humans dragging theirs in." He said sternly, not taking his dark eyes off me.

I glared back, "Is there someone we can speak to?" I asked, scoffing slightly. "The King is dead." He spat, "We're having a battle over the throne currently." He began pacing, "Bhelen is the King's son and believes he has a right to the throne, but Harrowmont believes he is not suited for the throne and has challenged him. Speak to one of them." He said turning away and heading for the centerpiece of the city.

I sighed and looked over to Alistair who was rubbing his eyes, "What did I tell you?" I joked, elbowing him and smiling warmly and moving towards a map of the city that was laid into the ground.

"We need to go to the noble quarter," I said, pointing to a gate on the far right, through the market. We walked through the bustling market, being asked all sorts of strange and unorthodox questions and finally made it through the gate to the noble quarter.

We moved through the small alleys of the quarter and to a large, ornately carved, building. 'Harrowmont' was chiseled in above the door in gold.

"Lord Harrowmont is busy at the moment and will not see visitors." A servant walked over to us putting his hand up to stop us. "We want to speak with him," I said quickly, looking over his shoulder to a locked room at the far end of the home.

"Prove that you wish to work with him and he may grant you an audience," The servant spat out quickly, "Like what?" I growled, glaring at the dwarf. He scowled, "There is a proving occurring in honor of Bhelen or Harrowmont, stop Bhelen's fighters and enter as Harrowmont's." He said quickly and gestured to the door, "I will meet you in the arena." He growled and walked away.

I scoffed and walked out the door, "Shall we begin?" Morrigan rolled off her tongue and headed for the gate out of the noble quarter.

"Oghren!" A guard shouted and a stout, red headed dwarf with a braided mustache who was sprawled out on the ground. "Huh, what?" The dwarf growled and stumbled up to his feet. The guard sighed and glared at him.

"You cannot just lie around in the streets," The guard scoffed, Oghren puffed out air and stumbled away out of the noble district, mumbling something under his breath.

"Dwarves," Morrigan growled, "If anyone is in need of me, I will be at the tavern, trying to find some quiet corner." She sighed, "I'll come too!" Leliana bounced after Morrigan.

I rolled my eyes and walked back through the iron doors into the commons, "So all we have to do is enter and win a proving." I laughed, Alistair smiled at the corner of his mouth, "It's always so easy," I fluttered my arms and walked to the large building that was the center of Orzammar, I would've thought it was the palace.