Nothing New

Kallian crouched down and pressed her back against a wall, straining to see through the shimmering fog of dirt and lyrium dust that filled the chamber. She could feel her Warden companions around the room and knew the others were nearby. Leliana was muttering a prayer to Andraste, Sigrun was talking to the dogs, who were panting heavily, and Zevran was by Kallian's side, having just tied a kerchief around her face to help filter the dust. She was exhausted, every part of her body felt as though it was on fire from the paces she had been through, and she wanted this to end. Her confidence was waning.

What should have been a five five-minute walk at best down the hall had become a struggle for survival and this supposed breeding chamber was no different. Their every step had been dogged by darkspawn, grubs, and the broodmothers' tentacles, the walls and floor exploding as tentacles burst through, writhing about, searching for them. If they stood in one place too long, they risked getting hit or grabbed, crushed, or thrown against a wall, and most of the party members were running out of energy. Anders and Velanna, however, had hit their stride and exceeded it, their powers magnified by the very air around them. Bursts of fire and lightning illuminated the cloud of lyrium particles, making the entire room shimmer.

"Ah ha!" Anders shouted with nearly maniacal glee.

Velanna shrieked and Kallian thought she heard rocks falling into a deep hole. She stood up and moved forward cautiously. There was indeed a large pit in the center of the room, and Velanna had almost walked into it, but Nathaniel caught her arm just in time.

"Look out, my lady." Nathaniel's deep voice rose above the din. "There is a well in the middle of the room."

"Let go of me. I'm fine." Velanna protested. Kallian noticed the usually prickly mage didn't put much distance between herself and Nathaniel in spite of her objection to his help.

The rest of the party gravitated toward the hole to look into the well. It easier to see here, and far below them, they saw three broodmothers writhing in a horrid looking muck. Justice was unaffected, but the living members of the party stepped back, gagging at the stench that drifted up from below. The foul creatures were living in their own waste. Even with the handkerchief over her nose and mouth, Kallian struggled to keep the contents of her stomach down.

"Oh, Maker!" she gasped, moving back further.

As she did, she saw a large chain nearby that hung down from the ceiling into the hole in the floor. Risking the stench and broodmothers, she darted forward and looked down into the pit. There were four chains in all, one at each corner of the hole, and at the end of each was what appeared to be an enormous orb of lyrium.

"Look!" she shouted, a new energy surging through her. "Warriors, mages, break the chains! Archers, Sigrun, Zev, use poisoned arrows and bombs on those beasts. Lucius, Rosa, watch our backs."

Her newfound strength energized the others and they shifted to do as she ordered. Anders hit the chain links nearest to him with alternating freezing spells and outright attacks with his sword; Oghren and Justice attacked a second chain, each taking turns swinging their blades at it. Leliana and Nathaniel began sending a barrage of arrows covered with concentrated deathroot into the pit below them; Sigrun, Zevran, and Kallian each tossed a bomb at the broodmothers. With the stone floor of the chamber now completely compromised by the broodmothers themselves, Velanna was able to summon tree roots into the well to stab and claw at the beasts.

With a mighty roar, Oghren swung his battle axe, finally breaking a chain link. The orb it held plummeted into into the pit below where it shattered, sending shards in every direction. The broodmothers screamed with rage, their injuries slowing them down. Excitement and new hope flooded the weary companions and they focussed their efforts on the remaining chain links. Mere moments earlier, Kallian had doubted their chances, but now she could see the end in sight. A second chain broke, and finally a third, and as the sound of shattering lyrium and shrieking faded, the only noise they could hear was their labored breathing.

They were silent for several minutes as they caught their breath. Dust and debris settled and Kallian took a moment to ensure everyone was okay. Aside from bruises, cuts, scrapes, and sore muscles too numerous to count, it didn't appear that anyone was seriously injured.

Sigrun was the first to speak. "We did it. If the rest of the Legion were alive, I know...I know they'd honor you in some way."

Kallian put her hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "I'm sorry so many had to die."

Sigrun nodded, a sad expression on her face. "I used to wish I could get away from the others. Now I'm all alone and I just want them back. Silly, isn't it?" She shook off the melancholy and frowned. "What's strange is that we seem to be caught between two factions of darkspawn. I've never heard of such a thing. The darkspawn are vicious and are always fighting amongst themselves, but for there to be two organized factions...this is something else."

Kallian frowned, thinking back on all that had happened over the past few days. "I noticed that, too, and it worries me."

"Good, so it isn't just me. Something has changed with the darkspawn and I don't think I like it." Sigrun began dusting herself off. "Well, it's something to ponder, especially when you need to be reminded impending doom is always right around the corner."

Kallian got the impression Sigrun was getting ready to leave, the way she was adjusting her armor and weapons. "What will you do now, Sigrun?"

The dwarf replied with a cheer that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, probably disappear into the bowels of the Deep Roads never to be seen again. One of the good things about the Deep Roads is you never run out of darkspawn to fight."

"Why don't you consider coming with me?" Kallian offered. The other Wardens were nodding their approval.

"Go with you? But that would go against my vow...and my plan to disappear into the deep, unmourned and forgotten."

Kallian couldn't help letting out a short laugh. "I'm recruiting Grey Wardens. Join us."

Sigrun looked at Oghren. "Be a Grey Warden? Is that even allowed? Can you be part of the Legion and be a Grey Warden?"

He shrugged. "Eh, you'll still fight darkspawn and probably die doin' it."

Sigrun considered the possibilities. "And I'd be more effective at killing darkspawn, wouldn't I? Ha! How can I say no to this?" Her eyes sparkled again, and she looked resolved. "I will follow you. You seem an all right sort, and I'm better off with you at my back than alone. Let's go, then. The darkspawn await!"

They needed to rest, but thinking back on Anders's warning about exposure to lyrium, Kallian agreed that leaving Kal'Hirol immediately was the best course of action. Nathaniel pointed across the room to another doorway where they could see a flight of stairs.

"Commander, that looks to be a way out."

Kallian made sure the others were ready, concern for her mages renewed. Flickers of lightning danced along Anders's armor and Velanna all but vibrated with energy, whips of hair stirring about her face as though she stood in a draft. Both mages seemed too alert, too jumpy. Their excess mana would be put to use healing soon enough, but she knew they would quickly tire. It was definitely time to go.

xXx

6 Haring, 9:30

They resurfaced within an hour and were greeted with cloudy skies and light rain. Kallian guessed it to be early morning, which meant they'd spent roughly a day and a half underground. It would take that much time again to return to Vigil's keep. She looked for Anders and Velanna and saw that they were starting to look more weary than the others. Nathaniel was walking close to Velanna, ready to offer a hand each time she stumbled, which was happening more often as time went on, and Anders was lagging behind the group.

"We'll stop at the farmhouse to rest," she announced. No one voiced any objections and the group continued on to the main road.

The farmhouse was as they had left it and in spite of how tired they were, everyone set to a task. Before too long, they had water to wash with, rabbits and root vegetables to cook, a pot of tea, and a fire to warm the house. After they had all washed up, Zevran and Leliana made stew and the others cleaned their armor and weapons. Finally, they all sat down together to eat. Weariness kept the chatter to a minimum.

Something felt different to Kallian, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She closed her eyes as she inhaled the fragrant steam of her tea, trying to relax. The buzzing in her veins wasn't as strong now as it had been in the depths of Kal'Hirol, a pleasant thing indeed, and she realized that this was what was bothering her. It felt as though the darkspawn were moving away, but she didn't think they were going far. She opened her eyes and looked around the kitchen.

"Wardens, does it feel as though the darkspawn are retreating?" The others exchanged glances and the room went still.

Nathaniel nodded slowly. "Retreating to regroup, no doubt."

The others mumbled in agreement, and Kallian knew he was right. The darkspawn would be back, and she wondered how long it would take them to recover from this blow. How deeply did we cut them with our victory? How large is their army?

xXx

Kallian and Zevran took the uppermost room in the house once again, dropping their bags at the foot of the bed.

"Why don't you get ready for bed, while I build a small fire," Zevran suggested, motioning to the bed.

Kallian sat and started running through a list of things to do upon returning to the keep. Prepare a Joining ceremony for Sigrun and arrange accommodations for her, check in with the new recruits, get caught up with Varel, Mistress Woolsey, and Captain Garevel, deal with the prisoners...no, Nathaniel will handle that. That brought her thoughts to Bann Esmerelle and the injury to her ear. Her hand drifted up to touch the new dressings Anders had put on in Kal'Hirol. He told her she could remove them entirely in another day or two. Kallian hadn't given her ear much consideration at all while battle kept her so overwhelmingly preoccupied, and much to her surprise her emotions weren't as raw when she did finally think of it again. What's done is done.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as the fire jumped to life, and she watched Zevran fan the flames. His muscles flexed and a familiar longing rushed through her. He pushed a lock of hair behind his ear and her pulse quickened. Kallian slid off the bed and crouched behind him, running her hands up his back and over his shoulders. The feel of him beneath her hands, strong, alive, and so warm, filled her with desire and she sighed.

"Oh? What is this?" he asked her with a grin as he settled back against her body.

"Mmm. Foreplay." Kallian traced his ear with her tongue, delighting in the way he sucked in his breath and reached a hand back to slide his fingers into her hair.

Zevran's touch sent another thrill of pleasure through Kallian and she shivered with anticipation. "Been ... too ... long," she whispered between kisses down his neck.

He moved suddenly, turning and pulling her up to her feet, his arms wrapping around her as he kissed her. His hands grasped her behind, pressing her to him, and she could feel his arousal building. She shifted her hips against him, imagining their naked bodies pressed together and her excitement continued to build. They became a tangle of limbs, pushing and pulling at each other's clothing, until they collapsed onto the bed, naked and laughing.

The horrors of the past few days were quickly forgotten as Kallian immersed herself in the moment. Zevran smelled of leather and steel, soap and sweat. These were the scents she had come to associate with him, and even now, in this strange farmhouse full of its own odors, she felt at home, secure. She took him in her mouth, groaning with pleasure at the familiar sweet and salty tang of his flesh, and gave herself to him fully. They made love slowly, gently, and fell asleep in each others' arms.

xXx

Anger filled her, drove her deeper into madness, and she screamed with rage. The Father was to blame; he had taken Kal'Hirol. But all was not lost, mother had her tricks.

Kallian sat upright, gasping for breath. Zevran stirred, reaching out to rest a hand on her back and she could hear Lucius snoring softly in the corner. The coals in the fireplace were still glowing faintly, and the familiar smell of sex lingered in the room. Still in the grips of her nightmare, Kallian found little comfort in these things.

"What is it, tesora?" Zevran asked, his voice groggy with sleep.

She shook her head, as though that would clear away the images that still haunted her. "Darkspawn." Who is the Father, the Architect? Two factions, one led by the Mother, and the other...by the Architect?" Nothing new." Even as she said it, she didn't believe it. Anxiety pooled in her belly.

"Come," he commanded, pulling her back down to his side. "Try to sleep."

She did as he asked, curling herself around him, but getting back to sleep was difficult. Something was about to happen and not knowing what or when was frustrating.

A/N: My thanks to Bioware for letting me play, and to my readers for being so patient! As always, my beta, Mille Libri gets kudos, Zute and Zevgirl get a shout out for being my "Plussers" and providing so much support, and I owe a special nod to Kainen-no-Kitsune for the little kick in the pants a while back! Thank you to reviewers "Guest", Kalikastorm, and Xxalissaamaranthxx. Please do read and review; you know I love to hear from you!

You might notice that this chapter is shorter than most. If you're following me in particular, you'll see I've been writing up a Mass Effect storm. That project started as an experiment in writing shorter chapters and posting more often, and it certainly worked there. Hopefully, that will translate into more posting here, too. Thank you for stopping in. Cheers, Biff