The Warden-Commander could barely stand, his beaten and battered body weighing him down with each passing second. All he could do was use the last of his strength in keeping himself up, while his haggard breath was the only sound he could utter. A sudden, violent shove, coming from the darkness that surrounded him tossed him backward and into the flat surface of a wall.
Crimson droplets of blood began to cover the commander's lips as he coughed continuously, both from his injuries as well as from the horrid stench of the heavy breathing that washed over him like a plague. Not even the decaying remains of a darkspawn could produce such an odor, burning his nostrils and making it nearly impossible to breath as the acrid stench filled his lungs. Where the breathing came from, all the Warden could see was a black, empty abyss. Marring it, was an even blacker silhouette, as though the empty darkness already surrounding him was lesser compared to it.
Attempting to step forward, to defend himself until the bitter, inevitable end, the commander was struck back once again. The physical blow rattled his brain and nearly cleaved his head from his shoulders with an unnatural force.
Now, there was no fight left in the Warden, barely able to move. There was nothing more than the last vestiges of his own willpower that managed to simply keep him on his feet.
The opponent against the Warden continued to loom over him. Its heavy breathing never ceasing, it sounded pained and difficult to continue itself, despite the Warden doing no harm to it. But it wasn't just a silent attacker, it spoke. Every word, every syllable it uttered, burned both the commander's ears and mind. Even as he could hear it ringing through his ears right next to him, the creature's echoing voice forced itself into his mind, mixing in with his own thoughts and taking over to where there was nothing but the corrupted noise, inside and out.
“Where... is his song? The clarion call... of the beautiful one? What... have you done with it?! No dulcet order... No... beckoning melody... Only silence... like the others.” The darkness gained a faint glow of brilliant blue, separating into four separate lights. It solidified and formed into four blades, each perfectly paralleled to the other. Before the Warden could react, terrible pain wracked his body as the blades were plunged into his chest. Blood splashed onto the ground in great puddles as the blades dug deeply through his flesh. “I shall be free... I shall hear the call again!”
Completely helpless, the commander cried out in unimaginable pain, feeling his very soul being rent from his body.
Commander Cousland lurched upward, gasping sharply for air and choking on his first conscious breath of the new day.
Frantically, his hands ran across his body, searching it for any fatal wounds. Finding nothing there, it soon dawned on him what had happened. “It was just... just a nightmare...” he murmured, as though he were trying to calm his own mind with the realization. As his heavy breathing began to lessen, the Warden wiped the cold sweat from his face and stared off into his surroundings.
The library greeted him indifferently, looking the same as the night before. But his detailed examination of the chamber was halted as a sudden pain shot into his head. Groaning miserably, the human rubbed his temple tenderly in an attempt to stave off the rushing aches going through his skull.
Inquiries arose within his thoughts as to what the cause of such grief was. Before any other thought could come to him, the Warden became surprised as felt a bottle pressed against the side of his head. It was the bottle from the previous night, still clutched tightly in his hand, having been emptied by him before finally resting. It then hit him that he had just gained the answer to his question as he set the glass bottle aside.
With the repercussions of his night of merriment being noted, the Warden-Commander tried his best to ignore the self-inflicted pains as he tried to piece together what exactly had happened during the night. All he could think of was a faint screaming, echoing at the latest hour. But he couldn't remember anything following it, pushing it away as creation of his own imagination.
A silent murmur alerted the Warden, causing his gaze to travel downward. There, everything became clear to him as he saw Twilight lying on the floor beside him, barely a foot away. The unicorn was still lost in her own sleep, resting on her side as her body shifted itself slightly to become more comfortable.
Smiling softly, the commander simply sat in silence as he waited for his grogginess to dissipate. Watching the scholar beside him sleep, there was an odd feeling of being compelled felt by him. Unable to help himself, the warden hesitantly reached out his hand toward the helpless mare. Being as quiet as possible, the commander's hand lowered and he began to scratch the lavender pony just behind the ear.
Twilight's ear fidgeted at the touch for a moment, but a delighted smile formed on her face. Then, to the commander's surprise, her hind leg began to shake in a light kick. The Warden-Commander clamped his free hand over his mouth, smothering the coming laugh that would surely wake the mare. Amusing memories came to him as he thought on his mabari hound that was back home, most likely causing problems for the Wardens at the keep. Retracting his hand, he stood up and made his way toward the door, stepping lightly as to not disturb the other occupant.
With nowhere better to go, the Warden decided to go back to the banquet hall. As the morning light flooded the hallways through their massive windows, his sensitive eyes began to burn, forcing him to walk blinded as he continuously rubbed them while, his punishing headache returning as well. It made his trip through the castle all the more cumbersome, but he managed to find his way and enter the large chamber.
The commander sat himself down at the dining table, bringing his elbows to the surface and resting his head in his hands. There was little noise to be heard around him, save for the light echoing sound of hooves striking the tiled floors while the servants made their morning rounds, each clop rattling in his own mind like the beating of drums.
One of the passing servants noticed the human's condition, offering a cup of Equestrian coffee to help ease him. It wasn't much, tasting far too sweet for to what he was used to back home, but he drank it without complaint. Time itself seemed to stand still as the Warden sat idle and sipped his steaming drink, it nearly made him jump as a servant polity cleared her throat to gain his attention.
“Hm?” he questioned, eying the pony with a half-lidded gaze.
The mare looked troubled and hesitant as she approached the human and began speaking. “I... um, I-I think there's something wrong with your friend.” She tilted her head off toward the far end of the chamber. Following her direction, the Warden-Commander noticed a familiar form at the tables far end.
Oghren was lying on top of the table, unmoving on his back while his limbs were sprawled out in all directions. The whites of his eyes were all that were seen while his mouth hung open, releasing a foul odor that could make a rotting corpse gag. Several bottles were strewn around him, all as dry as a bone. With his armor still worn on his body, it was impossible to see the steady rise and fall of his breathing chest. The dwarf appeared dead, at least to those who didn't know him.
Giving a hearty chuckle, the commander turned to the servant and said, “Don't worry about him, that's just how he sleeps.” The mare grimaced noticeably at the reply, but said nothing as she returned to her work, taking care to keep a healthy distance away from the sleeping dwarf.
As the world once again became lost to the Warden, his solitude was broken a second time as he heard the pronounced thud of footsteps coming toward him. Not bothering to turn and look who they belonged to, he continued to drink his coffee as he waited for his company to make itself known.
The identity was soon had as the familiar voice of Alistair rang into his ears. “I trust you had an enjoyable night,” he said, his tone sounding muffled and cross.
“Perhaps I did,” the commander toyed, turning to face his friend. “Not all joys in life are had through the bottle, you should- Maker's breath!” The Warden was startled as he laid eyes on his fellow Grey Warden. Alistair's eyes were heavily sunken, with faded black circles running around them and noticeable bags drooping down below. “What happened to you? Did you not sleep last night?”
Alistair flinched at the question, his throat bulging for a moment as he swallowed hard. “Of course I did,” he said quickly. “Like a baby. Just still, a little drowsy from the night before is all. I'm fine. Nothing's wrong.” The king's appearance and tone said otherwise, but the Warden didn't argue with him, knowing it would go nowhere. It was Alistair's way to avoid everything until absolutely necessary, using his sense of sarcasm to help in that effect.
The Warden-King sat down next to his friend while the commander returned his attention to his drink. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Alistair's posture looking fidgety and his eyes appeared wide, almost unblinking. Before he could bring the behavior into question, Alistair decided to speak first. “Do you know what we're going to do now?”
Thinking on the question, the commander gestured with a simple shrug. “Wait and see if the unicorns can do anything with the Eluvian shards I guess,” he answered simply. “I think Twilight's going back to Ponyville today, figured I'd go with her and introduce us to the locals.”
Nodding his head, Alistair appeared as though he was simply waiting for the answer to be said, rather then wanting to know what it was. “Right... right... Uh, you think I could... head off with you guys too?”
“You sure?” the commander questioned, raising an eyebrow toward his peculiar friend. “I figured you'd want to stay here. To check up on the progress on our way back home. Plus I'm sure you'd rather spend your time with fellow royalty for a change.”
“No!” Alistair blurted out quickly, immediately becoming tight-lipped over his sudden outburst. “I-I mean... no. I think we'd all be better off if we stay together. We just found everyone, it wouldn't be good to separate again.”
Though still wary about his friend's attitude, but the commander pushed his concern aside, figuring that if it was important enough he would learn it eventually. Giving an accepting nod, the Warden returned to his drink, trying to rid himself of the throbbing in his skull. Once again however, the sound of hooves growing steadily louder caught his attention quickly.
Becoming irritated by the lack of peace he was trying to obtain, the commander turned toward the source to see Princess Luna approaching them, her eyes set on Alistair. The king himself seemed to turn to stone as he too noticed the nightly princess, his body stiffening to rival Shale's rocky exterior.
“Morning, Princess Luna,” Commander Cousland greeted with a halfhearted wave of his hand.
Luna regarded the human for a moment, but quickly returned her gaze toward the only other royal within the room. “I hope the castle has been a comfortable stay for you and your companions,” she said. Her gaze then drifted toward the unconscious dwarf using the table as his bed, her regal face of indifference faltering slightly into a scowl before disappearing.
“It's... it's been nice,” Alistair replied, unable to hide a subtle quiver in his voice. There was an apparent uneasiness about the king, made especially obvious as he avoided looking the azure pony in the eyes.
“That's... good to hear,” Luna responded, noticing the Warden-King's behavior but choosing to ignore it. “I just came by because I feel as though I have been... unpleasant, toward both you and your companions.” Though the princess had noticed Alistair's strange ways, she failed to see the deadpanned expression written on the commander's face as he listened to her speak as though he wasn't there at all. “My behavior should have been more befitting a princess of my station, but I failed in that regard and you have my apologies.”
Sweat began to form on the king's brow as he was silently begging for the princess to leave. “That... that's good t-to hear,” he stammered out. “No problem and uh... thanks.”
Luna smiled slightly at the reply, at least glad to have her apology accepted so quickly. “Good day then, human,” Luna said, turning back toward the door and walking away to fulfill whatever royal duties she has. As she exited the chamber, the princess didn't make it far, as her voice carried back into the room for the two Grey Wardens to hear. “Oh, greetings, sister. It is certainly a beautiful morning you have brought us today, as you do everyday.”
A pleasant laugh was given by a familiar voice as she spoke. “Thank you, Luna. And good morning to you as well.” It was Celestia, her voice easily distinguishable. The sound of her hoofsteps then came as her approach seemed imminent.
There was a sudden gasp as Alistair shot upward, his eyes becoming wild as he looked about the room in a haste. “You never saw me! I wasn't here!” he shouted to his fellow Grey Warden. Just as the commander was about to speak his growing confusion, Alistair dived underneath of the table, hiding in the shadowy world that was shrouded by the tablecloth.
As the commander's brain was having trouble processing the strange event, a presence could be felt just behind him. With his own body stiffening in a similar fashion to Alistair's, the Warden turned and jumped slightly as he noticed Princess Celestia standing before him.
“Oh!” the Warden-Commander started, his forced smile growing painfully wide. “P-Princess Celestia, uh... how are you?” She wore her usual soft smile, but to the Warden it appeared weak, as though there was something troubling her.
“I am fine,” the princess replied casually. Staying silent for a moment, Celestia's gaze traveled about the room, taking in the area in a single glance. “Have you, by chance, seen your friend Alistair recently? He seems to have disappeared.”
“A-Alistair?” the commander questioned, using every fiber of his willpower to not allow his eyes to drift downward and betray his friend's location. It made things all the more difficult as he was terrible at bluffing. “Uh.. well, you just missed him actually. He left not too long ago, I think he was muttering something about... taking a stroll through the castle gardens.”
“Alright then,” Celestia replied, her gaze lingering on the Warden for several moments. “Farewell.” With that, the princess departed from the banquet hall, while the commander had an idea as to where she was headed.
As minutes began to tick by in tense silence, Alistair finally rejoined his fellow Warden and climbed out from underneath the table. For a long time, the commander simply stared at his king, not saying a word. All the while, Alistair's expression shifted into an unnerved state that appeared as though he was about to have a panic attack.
Just as the silence was becoming too much to bear, the Warden-Commander heaved an agitated sigh and rubbed his eyes thoroughly. “You know what? I really don't want to know what that was all about,” he dismissed adamantly. It was a fact that held no doubt within his mind.
Having made his point clear, the commander returned his attention to his coffee, determined to finish it and find some semblance of peace. But as though there was a higher power working against him, a heavy thud mimicking the pace of footsteps slowly approached them. A loud groan left him as the unique sound already clued him in on who was coming, catching the gaze of Shale as he turned around.
“I see it have finally awoken from its necessary slumber,” Shale said somberly, addressing the commander before turning its sights to Alistair. “And the dull-witted king has shown its face as well. I am curious, what caused its rather loud session of screams during the night? They sounded quite terrified.”
“Screams?” the Warden questioned, eying his friend quizzically.
Alistair's cheeks brightened to a reddened tone while the rest of his face paled. “It was nothing!” he quickly said. “Just... just a bad dream, that's all!”
“It sounded much worse than that,” Shale went on, its glowing eyes locked onto the king's worsening expression. “Very distressful and terrified, it must have been something bad. I am curious as to what exactly.”
“I said it was nothing! Now shut it!” Alistair growled, shooting a leering stare at the golem, his cheeks beginning to look as though they could burst into flames at any moment.
“Is that blood rushing to its face?” Shale inquired, almost in a teasing manner. “That is when you biological creatures experience loving feelings and embarrassment, isn't it? It must have been a terrible event last night, with your face nearly as red as a freshly crushed pigeon.”
“I said shut up, Shale!” Alistair snapped, his voice rising with the flush of anger on his reddened face. It looked as though he was about to challenge the golem. “I swear, if you don't keep quiet, I'll use my sword as a chisel and chip you down to the size of the dwarf you once were!”
Shale said nothing however, made no move against the sudden threat that the Warden-King had issued to it. Instead, the construct simply stood there, eying Alistair silently. Though to the commander, he could swear that he saw the makings of a smile making its way onto the stony mouth, or at least the closest thing to a smile that it could form.
The tension flowing between the two was suddenly shattered as Oghren's sleeping form decided to roll over, causing the dwarf to tumble off the side of the table and crash onto the floor. Being roused awake by the hard pounding of the floor, he jumped up onto his knees and began shouting. “I told ya to not touch my junk!” he cried belligerently. Grabbing his ax, he threw it wildly, sending it across the room before collapsing back onto the floor in a dead sleep.
A startled cry erupted through the chamber as the large ax stuck itself into the far wall, nearly striking a poor, unsuspecting servant as she was passing by. Terror was written onto the mare's face as she stared wide-eyed at the weapon, seeing her life flash before her eyes before she fainted on the spot. Alistair and the commander both looked at the display with shock, realizing that they were better off away from the castle, lest the end up killing one of the poor creatures.