No Rest for the Warden.

[Rawen Thredith]

"And if it is working, what then?" Rawen said coyly, but her smile rather sheepish. She was fairly dense when it came to flirting, seeing as she really hadn't done it much when she was back home. Nor had any elven men made moves on her, that she could notice anyways. But she did pick up a few things here and there, though she wasn't sure when was a good time to say such things.

She crinkled her nose in disgust as Arley explained that those who are left behind in the Deep Roads would eat dead Darkspawn. The only perk from that seemed to be that Darkspawn left you alone. "That's disgusting! How could someone do that?" Rawen gasped, shaking her head in disbelief.

The Dalish Warden listened quietly as Arley went on about Denirm and Orleasians. "They sound like very unpleasant people...I don't think I want to meet someone from Orlais." She said with a little laugh. "Is Denerim made up of Orleasians then? Why do they choose to live in Ferelden? It makes no sense." Rawen said, entirely bewildered.

"Fifty miles? That is so far away!" She said, surprised. She had known it was far, but it would take a few days to reach the farm. Well, she wasn't complaining. "Why would we have a problem? Surely the dwarves wouldn't be an issue would they?" She asked as she followed after Arley out of the city.

Rawen felt more relaxed now that they were out of the city, and she even cheered up a little more. Though she was itching to go out hunting. Perhaps when the two settled down for the night she would go out and bring back some fresh meat. She smiled at the thought. "Do you think we'll be able to track down the Darkspawn once we reach the farm? The trail will be very cold by then." Rawen asked, somewhat doubtful.

[Arley Voegeli]

Arley smiled at her flirt, "Well that is up to you isn't it?" Arley questioned with a slight giggle, he was like a little kid! As he told her about the Deep Roads he was amused at seeing her nose crinkle, it was cute. "They do it to survive, and they take some females and make then Broodmothers, horrifying creatures, its also how they breed." Arley shivered at the thought, he had only seen one once and it haunted his nightmares for weeks.

"Not all Orlesians are bad, but most of the ones I met were very rude and unplesant, and no Denerim has a lot of Fereldans of course, but there is a big Orlesian population, I wish they would just go back to where they came. I have no idea why they come here." Arley admitted, maybe they liked it here he didn't know. "Yes we have quite a journey, but we are just sent to investigate, and if the Dwarves are there it will make it harder to do that, they are very stubborn, but I hope it is Legionarres; they have much respect for us."

Arley looked at her, she was right, and that puzzled him. "I don't know, but once we get there and take a look around we may be able to, if it was a Darkspawn attack, and no one sent any soldiers, we should expect them to come find us when we get close. The whole being able to sense them isn't convinent when we are investigating, and camping in the area." Arley said dryly, he hoped the trail wasn't cold, but they had fifty miles of traveling to do. "It is a ways, and I expect that we will be attacked by darkspawn, when they attack us, we follow our Warden sense. Sound like a half-way, non-well put together plan?" Arley joked, he figured it would be best to keep up morale.

[Rawen Thredith]

"I suppose it is, now isn't it?" She giggled, flashing Arley a little mischievous grin. It was silly to see two Wardens being so...well, childish. Surely the Wardens shouldn't be so deadly serious all the time. Besides, Rawen was hardly an adult herself anyways, so it was only natural she still retained a child like mannerism. Being a young Dalish elf only made her seem more childish than what she really was.

A look of horror crossed her features as Arley explained that females would often be taken and be made to breed other Darkspawn. She crossed her arms around herself tightly, shivering at the thought. If she was ever taken by Darkspawn, she prayed they would simply slay her, rather than use her the create more of those monstrous beasts, "That's horrible! Those poor females!" She said, utterly horrified.

She listened as best as she could as Arley went on about Orelesians being here in Ferelden. Seeing as she knew little about either, she couldn't really contribute to the conversation. "Ah, yes I hear dwarves are indeed stubborn...it will be most unfortunate if we come across them. I hear they really don't care for people like me." She said with a little frown. Well, dwarves didn't care much for elves or humans really, but dwarves and elves really seemed to go at it the most when the two races are brought together. This puzzled Rawen very much so.

"I suppose all we can do is hope and pray there is something for us to follow." She said quietly, a small sigh passing her lips. The elven woman flashed another little grin at Arley's attempt at a joke. "Well, that's all we have as a plan for the moment...though it wouldn't hurt to add on to the plan, no?" She said with a small laugh. "Well, the one upside to a long journey is the exercise. And the lovely sights." Rawen said in a slight sing-song voice. "Well...lovely until Darkspawn decide they want to try and kill us." She said with a slight frown. She wasn't exactly anxious to meet any Darkspawn, but, it was unavoidable. Eventually she would see one, and she was dreading it, and the nightmares that would follow after it.

[Arley Voegeli]

Arley returned her smile, it seemed that this would be a nice trip, besides: the bandits, wolves, bears, great bears, possibly braserkarn, or blight wolves, and spiders. But if they where careful they would have minimal issues. "Oh yes, it is horrible, but thats why we are Grey Wardens right? To make sure that doesn't happen to anyone ever again. But dont worry we aren't going to the Deep Roads. By the way, have you ever been there? I don't blame you if you haven't its not a very scenic destination. Not a place to take vacations that is." Arley laughed sarcastically, he hated the Deep Roads.

It seemed she didn't really know what to say, but that wasn't suprising, Dalish elves had a tendency to stay elusive, and away from human culture. "Well, they have to like you, you are a Grey Warden. They may not like an Elf, but they will respect a Warden." Arley reassured her, though they both seemed to doubt that it was Dwarven doing. We are talking about a whole farmstead, the size of a small estate.

"Yes, I agree with you, though surley there will be bodies with injuries, maybe even some arrows, if their is arrows, then we will have an easier time, Darkspawn make their own weapons and they are easy to distinguish." Arley told her.

"Oh yes, exercise, and we will get to see some sights, abondoned villages, and the like. Should be an interesting trip. Well atleast they can't sneak up on us, while we sit and eat in the moonlight, alone, in the middle of nowhere." Arley smirked at her, another feeble attempt to flirt with her, he had been a Warden for so long it seemed, he didn't know how to act anyother way. As they started walking he looked at the lake, the Mage Tower was still visible from so far away. "We will be going for some time around the lake, so we can fish, do Dalish fish? I didn't see any fishing poles last time I was in a Dalish camp?" Arley asked curiously, "if not, then I will teach you," He smiled at her. It wasn't hard to make a fishing pole and tie a string to it. Make sure you use some food and use it as bait, or find worms. He assumed that they knew how to though, it would make sense that is. They are the masters of the forest.

[Rawen Thredith]

"I suppose that is true. We are here to protect and serve no?" She said with a small smile. Though as honorable as being a Gray Warden was, she always felt guilt for her reasons into joining the order. Yes, it was a wonderful ideal to protect others from creatures such as the Darkspawn, and to protect the country with pride. But, her original reason for joining was foolish, as well as selfish. She joined the Wardens to escape her past basically. It wasn't right, and she often regretted her choice. All because she felt it was her fault that her father had been killed, that the humans who killed him had killed others of the Clan as well. She had lead them to the Clan by mistake after all. Rawen frowned, and let out a small sigh.

"I've never been to the Deep Roads, but I've heard stories about it. Is it truly as bad as everyone says it is?" She asked curiously, looking up at her companion.

"I certainly hope they would respect a Warden." She said, only half paying attention to her own words as she looked around her. "I suppose we will have our answer once we arrive there. Oh Creators it sounds like it's going to be a horrible mess." Rawen said with a flustered sigh.

"Are there really that many abandoned villages?" She wondered aloud. Of course there would be many ravaged villages, thanks to the Blight that happened over a decade ago. Of course, Rawen had only been a small child when the Blight occurred, and her Clan had been nestled by the wilderness in Orlais at the time.

She snapped her attention back to Arley as he continued speaking, and a little grin appeared on her face. "Well, I've spent my entire life in the middle of no where, so this is nothing new for me. Well, except that I have you with me, so I think the trip will be rather enjoyable." She said with a sheepish smile, playfully nudging her companion's arm.

Rawen looked out to the lake, admiring how beautiful it was. The sight of the Circle bewildered Rawen though. Why was there a tower in the lake? "Arley? What is that?" She asked, pointing to the tower. The elf felt like she was asking far too many questions, but she couldn't help it. She was a curious individual, and knew nothing outside of Dalish life.

"Oooh fishing! I've only fished a few times in my life...when I was really little though. We use to live by a rather large lake when I was a young da'len. Of course...this was many years ago and I fear I don't know anymore." She said with an embarrassed smile. "I know how to hunt though, so I'm not totally useless." Rawen said, beaming proudly before giggling some. "Perhaps we can trade then? You teach me to fish, and if you don't already know how to hunt, I can teach you to hunt. Does that sound fair?" Rawen said, smiling before looking back out to the lake. At least they would have a pretty view for a time...before they came upon the farmstead.

[Arley Voegeli]

"Yes, we are here to protect and serve, but figure that means we he everyone, not just against a Blight." he said, he couldn't understand why some Wardens though they were to just fight Darkspawn, there wasn't always a blight, what were they supposed to do in the mean time? 'Arley gave her a serious look, "The Deep Roads....they are worse, its the most inhospitable place I've ever been, have you ever fought a Darkspawn?" Arley asked.

Arley was but a child at the last Blight, but it was very scary, "Yes, there a lots abandoned villages, and they are normally hideouts for bandits and other undisireables. Most of Ferelden hasn't faired well after the Blight. Especially the countryside, it's very sad.." He trailed off, "I spent my life in the city mostly, but I have spent sometime in the Deep Roads, was not a great time in my life." he told her, the Deep Roads was one of the nastiest places on Thedas.


"Don't worry they will respect you, and you are right it will be a big mess, it already is, look at the witness we met. He was basically insane, and barely coherent. Not only that, we had to be escorted out by one of the brothers of the Chantry. He felt the nudge, "It should be a great trip, I hope we don't encounter much resistance." Arley hoped, though it was unlikely, he then saw her mesmerization at the Circle tower. "That is the Tower of the Circle of Magi, it is where the Mages live, most don't ever leave, and it is heavily guarded by Templars, they watch the Mages everymove. Well then I can teach you again," Arley said smiling

"Well...I do know how to hunt just not well, that and I use serrated arrows, damages the meat I guess. But yes that is a fair trade. I haven't had to go out and hunt for a long time, I am told that in Dalish Culture, you don't become an adult untill you kill your first animal, and don't you have to bring back the pelt," Arley said.

[Rawen Thredith]

Rawen frowned as Arley spoke about the horrors of the Deep Roads. She was glad that she had never ventured into such a place. And she hoped that she would never have to enter its depths. "I've never fought Darkspawn either...but I hear stories about them as well." She said with another frown.

"Why did you need to be in the Deep Roads? Were you looking for something?" Hm...she felt like she asked this question already...had she? Rawen frowned and shook her head. She was so forgetful sometimes. It was downright embarrassing. She felt a pang of sadness when Arley spoke about the damage the Blight had caused here. Rawen had already seen a small portion of it, and it saddened her greatly. There was so much suffering here.

"I am a little frightened to see this place. I am ashamed for feeling that way." She said with a flustered sigh. She was a Warden now for Creator's sake! She needed to be brave, and to get over terrible things such as this.

Rawen looked out to the tower again, which Arley explained as a keep for mages. Realization dawned on her then. "Ahh, yes I heard of this place. Only a few times though. It is sad they take away mages and lock them up. We've never had that issue though as far as I know. Our Keeper knows magic, as does his First. Magic is a special thing to have." She rambled, staring out at the tower.

"Oh good! It will be nice to re-learn a useful thing. It is quite...boring though honestly. I prefer hunting to be truthful." She said nodding. Fishing...all you did was sit there. Hunting, you got to track your prey, and you had to be sneaky. It took a lot of patience with hunting too though, but it was well worth the wait if you brought home something good. Rawen grinned proudly and looked back at Arley. "Yes, that is true what you have heard. I became a full hunter when I was about sixteen or seventeen. My first kill had been a stag. I managed to shoot it in the chest, but it didn't die right away and it escaped me for a while. I tracked it for nearly a mile before I found it dead. I feel horrible I could not end its suffering quickly. But, I learned to be more effective. And since I couldn't carry it home by myself, I took one of it's antlers to prove I had killed it." She said with a little smile. She had needed help bringing home to stag though, seeing as it was far too big for her to carry on her own. She had been proud of it though, and was proud to be counted in her Clan as a skilled huntress.

"Don't worry, I will teach you in no time." Rawen said with a mischievous grin before momentarily walking away from Arley towards the lake, feeling rather thirsty now. She crouched down, cupping the water in her hands and drinking. It was cool and refreshing, and very much reminded her of the stream that ran along the land where her Clan had been. She felt half tempted to jump in for a swim, but decided against it seeing as Arley was here. Perhaps at a later point she would. Rawen stood back up, but stayed where she was, staring out over the lake in wonder. "It's so pretty here. One would think the Blight never even touched this place." She mused aloud before turning and slowly walking back towards Arley.

[Arley Voegeli]

Arley saw her frown, "No you shouldn't be sad about that, the time will come, you took the Joining it is inevitable, you will either find them, or they will come to you. It is really a drag, but I find a way to deal with it, and they all die too so I guess thats good." Arley tried to reassure her but he went on and started talking more.

"Hey, don't frown," Arley smiled, "I went to the Deep Roads, well as a test. It's hard to explain, but basically I went with Delphine because I wanted to help her in the Deep Roads. But I didn't know she why she was going, I figured she wanted to test me to see if I would be a good Grey Warden. Obviously I was wrong, it was her time and she was hearing the Calling, I went because I insisted. She died I had to run for my life, only thing left now are the daggers I now carry. It was a hard time in my life, soon after that I went to Vigil's Keep, took my Joining in her memory and now here I am." Arley explained, he felt comfortable talking to already, which was strange as most people got annoyed.

"Yes they do lock Mages up, I heard that Keepers are very powerful. I read that they are mostly healers, but if they have to fight they are vicious enemies. I know a little about the Dalish," Arley boasted half-heartedly. He had been to a camp once, and read a lot of books but that didn't mean much. "It is a very special thing to have, but the Chantry is right about one thing, it should help the mage not rule over him, or her." Arley chuckled, but he hated admitting when the Chantry was right about something like that, but this time it actually made sense, just not enough to imprison people at will.

"Your people's ways are very different, and interesting. When I was growing up if we where hungry we would just go hunt, or we would buy it from the butcher. You didn't have to be trusted or anything." Arley said he didn't really know how it was but it was an interesting life. "Fishing is very boring, I wont lie, but just tie some rope to an arrow and shoot the fish. Well thank you, for offereing to teach me, or well help me brush up on my skills." Arley grinned at her, "Yes, but once we get further in to the hinterlands you will be able to see evidence of the Blight." Arley said as he kept walking, observing the horizon, he didn't know what it was, but something didn't feel right.

[Rawen Thredith]

"Ah. That sounds quite lovely." Rawen said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She was not eager to meet and battle the things she seen in her new found nightmares. But, like Arley said, it was going to happen, whether she liked it or not. Arley continued to speak, and Rawen listened quietly, looking out over to the lake periodically. Rawen immediately smiled when Arley told her to not frown, an almost involuntary action She looked back at him, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "I've heard you mention this..."Calling" a few times now...what is it?" Rawen felt like she knew the answer, but didn't understand it. It didn't sound cheery in any sense, rather, it sent a chill down her spine.

"It is nice you joined in the memory of your companion. Honorable.". She nodded, another small faltering frown on her face. It was a far more noble reason than her own.

"I think it is rather silly they lock mages away. They haven't done anything wrong except being who they are. My Keeper is a wise, noble man, and yes, a wonderful healer. Though he could have quite the temper when he wanted to." Rawen said with a little laugh, a wistful smile on her face.

"Well, it is nice to know at least we aren't going to starve out here, or die of thirst." The Elven Warden said cheerily, looking back out to the lake. Arley could fish, she could hunt, and they could teach each other how to do what they do. It was beneficial, and would help in the future.

Despite her new found cheer, Rawen felt a small, cold lump form in her stomach. She felt like there was something...off. Maybe she was just paranoid, or overly worried. After all, a great deal of their talk so far had been about the Darkspawn, and the horrible damage they caused.

[Arley Voegeli]

He stopped where he was when she asked about the Calling, he was suprised that he hadn't heard of it before. "Well, as you know being a Grey Warden means a shortened life-span, you and I have about 30 years to live. At the end of that time we 'hear' something called the Calling, I have heard some hear it, some just find themselves in the Deep Roads for one last glorious battle with the Darkspawn. Either way you will die in the Deep Roads, as it is your job to fight Darkspawn, though I think we are ment for more than just fighting Darkspawn. Seeing as their isn't always a Blight or Darkspawn attacks, what are we Wardens supposed to do in the meantime?" Arley took a breath, he had been talking for a while, but he figured that they would be talking most of the time seeing as they have a long journey ahead.

"Not often do people choose this life, we can't have children, or ever lead any kind of normal life. But we can still love, and we are still free, that is enough for me. Most people think I am crazy for Joining by choice, and I knew what I was walking into too, I knew that I may not survive, Delphine told me of the Joining before she died. I did it in memory, and well I have no family, and the Grey Wardens gave me the opportunity to gain back what I had lost." He had felt a stress leave his body as he said those words, it seemed that he was finially at peace with his past and Delphines death, and it had taken a long time but he felt better now.

"Well some Mages are evil, I have seen that, but I have also seen that most of the Templars I have met are worse, and it is not wise to make a Mage angry, the nice ones are the most dangerous." He said half-jokingly, though in his experience that was the truth. Mage who is a real stand up fella can be one of the most dangerous enemies to face, and they weren't possessed, or using Blood Magic. But they were also older, 40's and up, but very kind and humble. The Keeper he met was like that, he didn't call him Shem, and didn't eye him suspiciously. He was just a nice man who was a great healer. "No we won't, sort of the reason I took this job in the first place, there is still life here." Arley chuckled.

They soon came up on the horizon, and Arley's feeling got worse. "Darkspawn." Arley whispered, he stopped in his tracks and looked around. Then he heard it a dreadful howl, two Blight Wolves and two Hurlocks stepped out into view. The Spawn's gaping maw was just jagged, yellow spikes, and it drooled on the floor looking at the two as if they where food, but they could sense them. The hurlocks where hesitant, but their wolves weren't. One of the wolves lunged at Arley, mouth wide, ready to bite, he stepped to the side and threw a leg up in the air. The wolf whined but got up quickly, but Arley's daggers were already out, and he was already in presuing the wolf. It tried snapping at him as he got close, but he just moved out of the way. He lunged foward stabbing his daggers into its neck like a snake biting its prey. The black blood of the creature flowed out, and Arley turned but before he could get to the other wolf, it was after Rawen.

[Rawen Thredith]

Rawen listened quietly as Arley explained about the Calling. She frowned as he spoke, and a cold lump seemed to have formed inside her stomach. Shortened life-span? She was already young as it was...and if thirty years was all she had, she wouldn't even make it to fifty years old. Sure, that was old to many, but it was only middle aged. Rawen was starting to regret her choice to become a Warden even further.

"That is...that is terrible." Rawen said quietly, unable to push her voice up to normal speaking level. Then the thought of never having any children was a bit discouraging. Children were such a miraculous part of life, and she had always dreamed of having children of her own. But, within the Clan, she did not find a potential mate. She even had very little friends within the clan due to her becoming more and more isolated for every day that passed. Well, she had no hopes of having children anyways. Not that it matters now. At least there was still a chance to love, like Arley said.

"At least you had a far better reason than I did for joining." She said with a small, fabricated smile. He did it to honor someone. Her? She did it to run away from her past. She sighed to herself, and brushed away those thoughts. Now wasn't the time to be wallowing in her own self-pity.

"That is true I suppose." She agreed with a small shrug. "And yes, for the most part, it is the nice ones that are the most dangerous...but that doesn't always apply to just mages." The elf said with a wry grin. "You better watch yourself." She said in a little sing song voice, her grin widening a bit.

Her grin vanished entirely a few moments later as she felt a sudden cold sense of dread inside her. What was that?

Darkspawn. She heard Arley whisper, and she looked up to find two pairs of horrifying looking creatures. One pair resembled up twisted, corrupted wolves, while the other two, she assumed to be the same Darkspawn that haunted her nightmares. A sense of fear ran through Rawen's mind, and before she could register what was in front of her, the wolves struck, rushing down at them with an unnatural speed. The first went for Arley, but he managed to fend it off just fine. The second, was after her. Move! She commanded herself. It was already too late to snatch her bow from off her back, so instead she grabbed the two elven daggers she had strapped to her hips. Just as Rawen drew the blades up, the wolf lunged at her, colliding into her. She felt a sharp sensation flood her shoulder with pain, and she cried out from it. Her blades at that point though, had met their mark as well. The daggers pierced up into the blight wolf's chest and striking the heart. It went limp on top of her, it's vice like bite loosening on her shoulder. With a furious growl, she rolled the wolf of of her, pushing herself up to her feet with blood trickling down her left shoulder.

Rawen looked to Arley for only a moment before she pulled out her bow and slung an arrow on the string. She took aim of the hurlock on the left, who was now coming after the Wardens along with his companion. She pulled back the string, held her breath, and released the arrow, sending it flying down with a furious speed towards the hurlock, sticking it in the throat. The vile creature gurgled as blood spilled out from the wound, causing it to fall over, dying. Rawen slung another arrow onto the string of her bow, ready to fire at the next hurlock should Arley need the assistance.

[Arley Voegeli]

"Yes, it is terrible, though I look at it like this; atleast we are doing something worth while, something...amazing!" Arley laughed, though it wasn't really a joke, or atleast it wasn't something to joke about. "My reason does seem rather noble, doesn't it? But I really joined because I was running away, I still am running really from my past." Arley confided in her, it was refreshing to talk about these things. What she said next was true, and he agreed with her. "You are correct, for all I know you could be trying to kill me," Arley smirked, "But I do need to watch myself, might get in trouble."

Arley stopped for a moment after he saw Rawen dispatch the wolf but with an injury, "Are you okay?" Arley asked, but he had to turn his attention as more darkspawn came into the opening. He ran quickly toward the hurlock, jumping he stabbed the spawn through the shoulders, and the black ichor spurted out of the horrid creature. It covered Arley's face, and it tasted bad. He fell back as the Darkspawn moved in, he spat the blood out as he got closer to Rawen. There was alot of them and he began to panic, he didn't know what to do. Then he remembered that he had his pack on him.

"I know this is scary, but don't worry. I have a plan," Arley took out a grenade out of his pack, "This should do the trick," Arley said, then he threw the grenade at the group of advancing genlocks, it exploded and set the creatures on fire. "Now, we should tread carefully, there may be more stragglers. If there is, this will be a long trek."