The Herald and the Hero

[LeoLion98]

Falon looked around quickly, the sudden burst of screams and the bell filling his ears. He followed Cassandra to the gates were all of his advisors had been standing. He soon caught a glimpse of Krishna running to the group. Falon turned to look at her, panic filled his face, however not a single word escaped his mouth.




"Cullen?" Cassandra said, looking to the commander for answers.




"One watch guard reported, a massive force." He gestured the the snowy mountains behind him. "The bulk over the mountain."




"Under what banner?" Josephine asked.




"None."




"None?"




Suddenly the gates began to tremble, below a bright light could be seen between the slits of the large doors. A voice was heard from the other side.




"I can't come in unless you open!" The voice called out.



Everyone looked to one another, uncertain what to do. After a moment's hesitation, a guard moved forward to open the gates. The Commander, the Herald, and the Hero of Ferelden all rushed out to see who had called to them. The man they saw was large and imposing, adorned in full metal armor. He carried a large battleaxe in his right hand. Before he even took a step forward, he lurched. A strangled gasp slipping out of his mouth before he collapsed, dead, at the feet of the true speaker.


He was slight and lightly armored. He wore a large hat that hid his face, though when he looked up, shaggy blonde hair did well the same. But from what could be seen, the man was no more than a boy. But, he was a boy that had taken down a heavily armed foe with no more than a dagger.


"I'm Cole," he said, a slight panic evident in his voice. "I came to warn you. To help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know."

 

[Radsattack]

The Herald's eyes grew wide as the boy spoke, his adrenaline rushing through his body. Falon looked around at the bodies at his feet. "What is this? What's going on?" He cried.


"The Templars are coming to kill you." Cole said, an eerie tone in his voice.


Suddenly, Cullen jumped into the conversation. Cole stumbled backwards as the Commander approached. "Templars?" He began, astonished. "Is this the Order's response to our talk with the Mages? Attacking Blindly?"


Cole jumped back in. "The Red Templars went to the Elder One. You know him?" He asked the two, recieving a nod from Falon. "He knows you. You took his Mages."


"There." Cole pointed to the mountain behind them. The mountain was filled with torches, on top there stood two men, one looking nothing like a man, but what could almost be described as a beast born from the nightmare-like Fade and the other dressed in Templar armor.

 

[LeoLion98]

"I know that man... but this Elder One..." Cullen trailed off as he stared up at the monster on the hillside.


Krishna stared openly, knowing she would much prefer a bow at the moment. Distance was exactly what she wanted from this thing. The creature put her in the mind of darkspawn, a corrupt thing hellbent on destroying humanity. The blackened skin and twisted figure certainly fit. It reminded her of the Architect, an intelligent emissary who once tried to employ her aid in ending all Blights. She had been too smart to fall for his trick and killed him on sight. The Warden had a feeling that this thing was less interested in talking.


The two leaders of the coming army moved forward, leering down at the village they were about to obliterate. The soldiers moved too.


"He's very angry that you took his mages," Cole said looking over his shoulder.


"Cullen, plan," Krishna said.


"Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle." He drew his sword. "Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can!"


As he turned to address the mages and soldiers, one of the scouts ran up to the Hero of Ferelden, holding her bow and quiver.


"Ma'am, your daughter instructed me to deliver this to you."


The elf took the weapon from her, the familiar weight of it comforting her. The runes on the side seemed to come alive at her touch, flashing quickly enough that it could have simply been a trick of the light. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

 

[Radsattack]

"Mages! You-you have sanction to engage them! That is Sampson. He will not make it easy!" Cullen called to the mages, his sword raised above his head. "Inquisition! With the Herald! And the Hero of Ferelden! For your lives."


He placed his sword in the air towards the large hill, lite by bleak lanterns and Red Templars. The crowd behind them erupted with support and all prepared to fight.


This time, Falon wouldn't back down, and this time, he would be a hero. Gathering a group of a few of his trusted Companions, including Iron Bull, Dorian, and the Hero herself Krishna. He took a deep breath, and led the group to the large catapult, surrounded by heaps of red.