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peopleofthedas2011-01-02 10:57 pm
valiasedai) wrote in peopleofthedas2011-01-02 10:57 pm
Entry tags:
Where We Stand - Chapter 11
Holy shit, this was hard to get out. Though it IS still Sunday where I am. Half a week with family and getting mild frostbite sapped my energy!
Chapter: 11 - Those Left Behind
Words: 760ish
Characters: Erise Caron, Varel
Summary: The Vigil struggles to hold.
Over at FF.net
"Archers, to the eastern wall!" Sergeant Maverlies' voice was faint above the clash of metal.
Varel withdrew his sword from a shriek and glanced at the wall. The archers were quickly scurrying out of sight. There was no indication the horde was lessening.
He swung at a hurlock as it rushed him, elbows threatening to give under the force of impact. His blade cut at the creature messily, and it slumped to the ground with a heavy, wet thud. His head was foggy and his body felt as though it was on the verge of collapse, but the courtyard was once again clear of darkspawn.
The arch above the gate shook as a group of genlocks squirmed through the half-collapsed structure. Sigrun rushed forward and half a dozen men stumbled after her. She laughed as her daggers flashed. The darkspawn fell under their blades, and the men and women of the Vigil gave a small cheer.
Their joy was cut short when the unhinged gate shuddered under a blow and began to fall. Varel felt his stomach leap to his throat. "Sigrun! Move!"
She didn't hear him as she pried a dagger from a genlock's chest. He started towards her, but the stone archway suddenly collapsed. The metal gate groaned under the weight and caved in on itself. Sigrun and her men disappeared beneath iron and stone.
Varel took a step forward as the dust began to clear. "Sigrun?" Silence. He called again, louder. "Sigrun!"
Nothing moved.
There was a brief moment of shocked silence in the courtyard before the quiet was shattered by the loud, guttural roar of an ogre. Varel lifted his sword, suddenly energized by anger and adrenaline. "Forward! The Vigil will not fall!"
His cry was echoed by dozens of voices cheering for Amaranthine, for the Vigil, for the Wardens, and for the first time in days, Varel had hope.
*******
Erise limped backwards and drew her sword. "No." She shook her head. "I will not allow this."
The Architect frowned. "I was afraid you would not listen to reason." A glow surrounded the Architect and he sighed. "You must forgive me for fighting."
Fire began to rain down, heating the air until every breath burned. Erise rushed forward, swinging her sword in a low arc. The blade met a magic barrier and Erise staggered backwards.
Something hit her, hard, and she went down with a pained grunt. Utha was on top of her, and the dwarf's fist connected with her jaw with a loud crack. Her vision cleared in time to see the other woman raise her hand again. Erise tried to block, but bone suddenly gave way beneath the fist, and a blinding sharpness took her breath away.
Another hit sent pain searing through her cheek and something inside Erise broke. She let out a scream of rage and bucked her hips. The dwarf almost toppled off before rocking her full weight to one side. In the brief distraction, Erise managed to catch one of Utha's wrists.
A small, strong hand suddenly closed around her neck. Dead grey eyes stared into hers and Erise kicked at the ground frantically. The pressure only increased and the edges of her vision began to grow black. Erise swung an arm blindly until her hand found the dwarf's leg. She groped her way up the woman's armor. Fingernails stung at her skin when her hand found Utha's throat. The dwarf tried to lean away, but couldn't quite escape the other's reach. The grip on Erise loosened a split second before tightening again. She pushed against the dwarf's neck, but as soon as the other woman began to choke, the hand against her own throat pressed harder.
Moments passed and as much as Erise was the larger and stronger, she was at the end of her endurance. Utha began pressing harder as her own grip loosened and the other woman smiled the moment Erise's hand slipped.
A flash of metal was the only warning Erise had. Justice's shield slammed into the dwarf. Erise gulped in air.
Anders bent by her side. "Are you alright?" His looked bright and feverish.
She nodded once. "Yes."
His eyes flicked to her neck, but he said nothing.
As he helped her to her feet, Erise took a slow, deep breath. Her heart was racing. "We're almost done."
The others nodded once.
She stooped and picked up her sword, kissing the pommel lightly. One more battle.
********
AN: I know, I know, Utha has a sword and shield in-game. Silent sisters are supposed to be unarmed fighters, the Calling backs this up and… well, she's more of a bad-ass this way :D Thanks, as always, todecantate for the beta
Chapter: 11 - Those Left Behind
Words: 760ish
Characters: Erise Caron, Varel
Summary: The Vigil struggles to hold.
Over at FF.net
"Archers, to the eastern wall!" Sergeant Maverlies' voice was faint above the clash of metal.
Varel withdrew his sword from a shriek and glanced at the wall. The archers were quickly scurrying out of sight. There was no indication the horde was lessening.
He swung at a hurlock as it rushed him, elbows threatening to give under the force of impact. His blade cut at the creature messily, and it slumped to the ground with a heavy, wet thud. His head was foggy and his body felt as though it was on the verge of collapse, but the courtyard was once again clear of darkspawn.
The arch above the gate shook as a group of genlocks squirmed through the half-collapsed structure. Sigrun rushed forward and half a dozen men stumbled after her. She laughed as her daggers flashed. The darkspawn fell under their blades, and the men and women of the Vigil gave a small cheer.
Their joy was cut short when the unhinged gate shuddered under a blow and began to fall. Varel felt his stomach leap to his throat. "Sigrun! Move!"
She didn't hear him as she pried a dagger from a genlock's chest. He started towards her, but the stone archway suddenly collapsed. The metal gate groaned under the weight and caved in on itself. Sigrun and her men disappeared beneath iron and stone.
Varel took a step forward as the dust began to clear. "Sigrun?" Silence. He called again, louder. "Sigrun!"
Nothing moved.
There was a brief moment of shocked silence in the courtyard before the quiet was shattered by the loud, guttural roar of an ogre. Varel lifted his sword, suddenly energized by anger and adrenaline. "Forward! The Vigil will not fall!"
His cry was echoed by dozens of voices cheering for Amaranthine, for the Vigil, for the Wardens, and for the first time in days, Varel had hope.
*******
Erise limped backwards and drew her sword. "No." She shook her head. "I will not allow this."
The Architect frowned. "I was afraid you would not listen to reason." A glow surrounded the Architect and he sighed. "You must forgive me for fighting."
Fire began to rain down, heating the air until every breath burned. Erise rushed forward, swinging her sword in a low arc. The blade met a magic barrier and Erise staggered backwards.
Something hit her, hard, and she went down with a pained grunt. Utha was on top of her, and the dwarf's fist connected with her jaw with a loud crack. Her vision cleared in time to see the other woman raise her hand again. Erise tried to block, but bone suddenly gave way beneath the fist, and a blinding sharpness took her breath away.
Another hit sent pain searing through her cheek and something inside Erise broke. She let out a scream of rage and bucked her hips. The dwarf almost toppled off before rocking her full weight to one side. In the brief distraction, Erise managed to catch one of Utha's wrists.
A small, strong hand suddenly closed around her neck. Dead grey eyes stared into hers and Erise kicked at the ground frantically. The pressure only increased and the edges of her vision began to grow black. Erise swung an arm blindly until her hand found the dwarf's leg. She groped her way up the woman's armor. Fingernails stung at her skin when her hand found Utha's throat. The dwarf tried to lean away, but couldn't quite escape the other's reach. The grip on Erise loosened a split second before tightening again. She pushed against the dwarf's neck, but as soon as the other woman began to choke, the hand against her own throat pressed harder.
Moments passed and as much as Erise was the larger and stronger, she was at the end of her endurance. Utha began pressing harder as her own grip loosened and the other woman smiled the moment Erise's hand slipped.
A flash of metal was the only warning Erise had. Justice's shield slammed into the dwarf. Erise gulped in air.
Anders bent by her side. "Are you alright?" His looked bright and feverish.
She nodded once. "Yes."
His eyes flicked to her neck, but he said nothing.
As he helped her to her feet, Erise took a slow, deep breath. Her heart was racing. "We're almost done."
The others nodded once.
She stooped and picked up her sword, kissing the pommel lightly. One more battle.
********
AN: I know, I know, Utha has a sword and shield in-game. Silent sisters are supposed to be unarmed fighters, the Calling backs this up and… well, she's more of a bad-ass this way :D Thanks, as always, to
decantate for the beta