Into the Woods (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

The Beast

Shortly afterward, although none of the combatants could have said exactly how long it took, the forest floor shook as the thunderous feet of the great monster pounded toward them. Even Flemeth noticed it, and the battle ceased for several seconds as she turned her head, lifting it to listen intently for the approaching enemy. It was the perfect opening, but they were all too tired to take it, instead using those precious seconds to breathe, to wipe sweat off the hilts of their swords and out of their eyes, to look for each other and take stock of who still stood.

Then the dragon gave a squeal of rage and renewed the combat, more angrily than ever. She charged Fergus, catching him in her sharp teeth. His armor saved his shoulder from being completely crushed, but even at that, his shield arm would be useless until time or magic healed it. Isabela leaped for the dragon's back again, but a blast of flame from the quickly turned mouth caught her as she flew, setting the ends of her hair on fire and throwing off her trajectory so she tumbled out of the air. As she skidded across the ground, the dirt put out the fire, but not before the whipping strands left burn marks on her face and shoulders. The force of the landing knocked the breath out of her, and she tried to get up but fell back as pain stabbed through her leg, the knee buckling.

Wulfric fit another spear into the atlatl. If they could only hold, he thought desperately. He was familiar with the beast's gait—it was moving at top speed toward them. But would it arrive in time? Flemeth was in a frenzy, madly biting the air where Morrigan hovered. His wife's wings kept her out of the way of the predatory teeth, but her movement was slowing, her dodges growing sluggish. If Flemeth took Morrigan ... Wulfric felt a cold band of fear tighten around his heart. It didn't bear thinking of, not personally, not globally. It would be a catastrophe for Thedas if Morrigan were taken out of Flemeth's way. In their long nights deep in the forest, Morrigan had whispered to him many secrets, always looking over her shoulder, never certain even the rocks weren't listening, and he had an ever-deepening respect for Flemeth and her long, long plans for the world around her. Could they kill her now? They had tried before and failed. Morrigan said no, that pieces of Flemeth lay all over Thedas and could reconstitute her at any time ... but to buy Arthur even a few years, to allow the little boy time to live and to develop his powers—that was worth any effort. If it took his own life, Wulfric would save his son's.

The heavy footsteps were louder now, almost here. Morrigan, high above the ground, kept her attack fierce, her wings buffeting the dragon's face in an attempt to blind Flemeth to what was coming. Foolish, she admitted to herself, because Flemeth was always prepared ... but Flemeth, to the best of Morrigan's knowledge, had never been to the Tirashan before and knew nothing of the creatures who made the forest their home. If only that could make the difference this time. Morrigan heard the deep roar of the great slavering creature who approached and she rose into the air, turning to face it, knowing that Arthur, safe in Oghren's care, was seeing what she saw. Let him see the creature who came to fight for him; let him see the threat against his life defeated. Please, she thought, directing her plea toward whatever powers stronger than Flemeth might have influence here, let Flemeth be defeated.

The giant creature burst through the trees with a cracking and splintering of branches, gazing around as if to determine who had called it and to what purpose. Its little arms flapped in front of it; saliva that reeked of decayed flesh dripped from its mouth. The combat ceased for a moment, each of the fighters holding their breath, waiting to see what it would do. Then it sighted the dragon, a creature of nearly its own size there in the midst of the forest where it believed it reigned supreme, and the roar that issued from its mouth was unmistakable in its challenge.

That the dragon was reluctant was obvious to all, but it was equally clear that she had no choice; the time it took to change shape would make her vulnerable, and they were all prepared for it now, watching her closely. To retreat as a dragon into the unfamiliar forest would leave Flemeth vulnerable to the great creature that loomed before her. With a squawk of triumph, Morrigan swooped in and pecked Flemeth sharply in the back of the dragon's long neck. For her moment of impulsiveness, she was rewarded with a savagely quick twist of the dragon's head and a sharp tooth that raked along her wing. Morrigan tumbled to the ground, lying there half-stunned as Wulfric scrambled toward her fallen form, screaming her name.

Flemeth the dragon had no further chance at retaliation, because the great creature was upon her and she must fight with tooth and tail and claw and blast of flaming breath. The monster had size over her, and its teeth were sharp, its tail as ponderous and heavy, but its arms were no match for her claws, and soon it was dancing away out of reach of them, howling in pain from the long scrapes across its chest.

But while Flemeth was holding her own against the monster, she couldn't fight all the other fronts at the same time. Fenris and Fergus had renewed their attacks, and Jennie's arrows and the spears from Wulfric's atlatl flew through the air. Flemeth was losing blood quickly. And the giant creature, used to lording it over the forest, was enraged that this rival had dared to attack it—the sounds of its anger shook the forest, and its teeth flashed as it battered its body against the dragon with surprising agility.

Varric, straining his ears for every sound, was the first to hear the soft patter of two of the small, swift creatures approaching, and a smile broke over his face. That could only mean Flash had made it to the Driazi camp and back, and had brought Sunshine with him. For all that she was more like midnight than daylight now, she would stand with them against Flemeth; he knew her too well to think otherwise.

Zev dismounted as soon as the beast came to a stop, taking in the battle with one sharp glance. He pointed Bethany in Isabela's direction first, thinking the mage would be best used bringing the fighters back to full strength. Then, as her healing light began to shine over the pirate's head, paler in hue than Anders's, more muted than Wynne's, he remembered that Bethany was not primarily a healer, and he shouted to her to turn her attentions toward the dragon. Let magic fight magic, he thought. Yes. He resisted the urge to turn toward the tent to check on Varric and instead threw himself into the fray, his poisoned daggers scoring the dragon's flanks.

Slowly but surely, the tide of battle began to turn. The dragon gave ground under the refreshed attacks, its own movements slowing as its energy ebbed with the blood that seeped from its numerous wounds. Its head bowed lower and lower, until at last it appeared to be all but defeated. The giant beast, giving a roar of triumph, attacked, its teeth gleaming with saliva as it swooped in to take the final bite that would destroy the creature that opposed it once and for all. As its jaws closed, a flash of light burst between them and the dragon disappeared, leaving a very small human shape caught between the creature's teeth. Startled, it dropped its prize, leaving Flemeth lying in the dirt at its feet while it sniffed around, looking for the vanished dragon.

Morrigan, returned to her human form, dragged herself to her feet, moving slowly and painfully toward Flemeth's fallen body. With her good arm, Morrigan drew a twisted black dagger from her clothing and knelt over her mother.

Flemeth's eyes were clear, despite her broken body and the blood that stained her lips. "This is not the end. I will be back for him," she whispered hoarsely.

"I will be waiting." Morrigan plunged the dagger into Flemeth's heart, twisting it until she was certain life could not be restored to the body as it lay.

She rose to her feet, taking stock of her companions, most of whom had collapsed onto the ground where they were standing once the dragon had vanished. They lay or sat, panting and sweaty and covered in dirt and blood, and Morrigan found unaccustomed words rising to her lips. "Thank you. Thank you all."