Mythal's Favour: A Dragon Age Origins Fan Fiction

Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – The Surface

Ayu could see the light at the end of the tunnel – literally. The gates of Orzammar lay open several hundred steps ahead, and she could not be happier. It was all the Warden could do not to run headlong into the light. Her companions mirrored her relief at returning to the surface. The party was dirty and weary from travel.

 After leaving the Anvil chamber, the party moved steadily back to Orzammar. In the weeks that followed, they were only harassed by the occasional spider den, or other creature of the dark. The darkspawn had all but retreated to the surface for the Blight, only a few stragglers had been left behind.

On one afternoon, Ayu had noticed a stone cairn placed close to a wall near a dwarven ruin. Against Wynne's command to leave it be, the elf pressed closer and began to move the stones away. Something urged her on, and after moving a few stones aside, she spied a small bronze plaque. The words had been beaten almost into obliteration, but there was one name that stood out clearly.

Astyth.

Fueled by some need to see her once fallen body, Ayu wrenched the stones free from the cairn. However, there were no bones – nothing – when she opened the tomb. Astyth was gone. The stones had been burned black, some cracked and mixed with ash, but there was no body remaining. Ayu had been somehow disappointed, and yet, strangely curious at the discovery.

 Oghren, especially, had been relieved to leave the remains of the Anvil behind. It reminded him too much of Branka and of the evil force that she had become. On quiet nights, Ayu and Oghren would speak of her and the Warden would reaffirm that killing Branka was better for Orzammar. The dwarven woman would have destroyed her own people if given half a chance, all to create her golem army. By the time that the party had reached Orzammar, Oghren had decided to remain with the Warden, if she would have him. Ayu readily accepted.

 Stepping into the light of the dwarven city, the party was forced to shield their eyes. It was here that Wynne noticed the true toll of the Roads on Ayu's body. The elf was ashen, her skin almost grey. She was nearly black around both eyes from exhaustion and her hair was limp on her skull. Her various scars and bruises were beginning to show beneath her near-translucent skin. Wynne moved toward Ayu, but the elf had other plans.

Ayu moved quickly from the gate to the Roads, heading for the main entrance to the city. It took all her willpower not to run and draw more attention to herself, but she could still hear the whispers as she passed: 'look, it's the Warden!', 'The Warden has returned', 'They were gone so long, I thought them lost to the Deep Roads'. Ayu kept moving. She could see the heavy doors before her and she pressed on. She needed to feel the wind on her face and the sun on her skin. Ayu had no idea what time it was in the day, afternoon – early evening perhaps. She didn't care. The nightmare of the Deep Roads was over and she would not have to ever return.

The Warden threw herself through the doors and ran the few steps to the railing that ran along the stairs. The air was crisp and it chilled her to her bones. It stung her lungs, but Ayu could not get enough. She dragged lungful after lungful into her body. She fell to her knees in the fluffy white snow, leaving her arms resting on the stone railing. Relief washed over her as she rested on the landing. She was finally free of the dark. Ayu heard crunching footsteps in the snow behind her. She lifted her head only slightly as the dwarven guard rested his gauntleted hand on her shoulder.

“You okay Warden?” he asked in his gruff voice. “You don't look so hot.”

“She will be fine.” a voice purred from her other side. “It was tough for her to be underground for so long. Now that she is back in the city, she will perk up.” Zevran placed his hands under her arms and helped her to stand.