Soundtrack:

Requiem for a Dream ~ Clint Mansell (The Battle of Denerim)

We went to the Market District first.

"Incoming!" Several ogres raced towards us. Along with a group of Redcliffe knights. "Don't let them grab you!"

We hacked and slashed at them. A Darkspawn tried to surprise me from behind and I spun around and beheaded him. And saw the ogre charging towards us, horns down. I charged it, leaping into the air at the last minute. I sailed over it, bringing my blades down into the back of its neck. I pulled them free and twisted around so I would land on my feet. I slid a few feet as the ogre fell and moved no more. I launched myself forward and used its body as a springboard, landing on top of another ogre. My blades found its neck just before it found my leg and threw me into a building.

"That's going to be sore later."

A Darkspawn came after me while I was still down. I held my swords up so it would impale itself on them. Alistair charged it, knocking it back then beheading it while it was still stunned. I catapulted to my feet and charged at another ogre. I danced with it, giving it deep wounds while avoiding its feet and arms. It rammed me and I went sliding several feet away from the others. I catapulted to my feet again as it came towards me. I slashed down, then up and the ogre staggered backward. I ran and leapt up, my blades going through its throat. It fell backward. I pulled my blades free. I was on my knees on its chest. I raised one sword and brought it down with all my strength. The blade passed cleanly through its throat. I pulled my blade free, stood, and jumped backward off of it. Alistair was jumping off another ogre and Morrigan was bashing an Emissary across the back of the head. She walked away like she wasn't in a battle and it exploded behind her.

"That was interesting."

"A little trick I had up my sleeve, so to speak."

Sten and Alistair walked towards us.

"A good start," Sten said, his sword over his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Alistair asked.

"We still haven't found either general," I said, ignoring him. "And they could be anywhere between here and Fort Drakon."

"The Warden did tell us they weren't near the Fort," Sten said.

"Hate to interrupt," Morrigan said, her staff at the ready. "But we have company."

Two ogres and an unusually large Darkspawn were running towards us.

"Anyone want to guess that's the general?" I said.

We raced forward, Sten and the knights distracting the ogres while Alistair and I went after the general. He was armed with a very large axe and swung it wildly at us. A few of the knights came to our aid. I slipped behind it to stab it in the back but it spun around and caught my shoulder. I staggered backward. He swung again and I brought my swords up to block. The blow knocked me backward and I lost my balance, and my left sword. I rolled and looked around for my sword. It was out of reach and the general was bearing down on me. I switched hands and activated the hidden blade mechanism Genitivi had given me. I charged forward, ducking the blow aimed at my head. I gave a cry when my wounded shoulder rammed into its abdomen. We tumbled to the ground. My foot came down on the wrist holding the axe. I punched downward, the blade slipping into its face. I pulled back and did the same to its throat. I shoved my sword into its chest for good measure. I retrieved my lost sword and went after the remaining ogre. Alistair was staggering to his feet and I realized an ogre had thrown him aside to protect the general. Which explained why the general was focusing only on me. After the ogre fell, I could sense no more in our immediate vicinity.

"Sense any more in the market, Alistair?"

He shook his head. He could sense which direction they were, having been a Grey Warden longer than I. "There's quite a few in the Alienage."

"Let's move. Maybe the other general is there?"

We ran through the Alienage, meeting no one.

"Are we too late?" Alistair asked.

We rounded the huge tree and found Shianni, Soris, Kyrie, and several more Elves with bows. Kyrie was the only one that didn't have a bow, but two daggers. Shianni turned when she heard us approach, already drawing the string back, Kyrie spinning her daggers around and looking ready to charge and protect her cousin. Shianni brightened when she saw us and relaxed her bow. Kyrie relaxed a moment later once she realized we weren't Darkspawn.

"Y-you!" Shianni cried. "It's you! The Maker sure gave you the gift of good timing, didn't he? There's a large group of Darkspawn approaching and the gate won't hold! We need your help!"

"That's our job," Alistair said.

"I need you to fight with me!" I said. "We can't do this alone!"

"Fight? B-but we have no armor and only simple weapons. We'll be slaughtered!"

"You know how to use that bow?"

"Of course."

"Then give us cover. You can fight like Elves or die helpless. Your choice."

"I say we fight!" Soris cried.

"I agree," Kyrie smirked. "Mother didn't teach me how to use these for them to sit useless in a chest."

I nodded at them.

"Yes, if we can hold them back, it'll give others a chance to escape." Shianni turned back to me, her former fear gone and the fire I'd seen in her when we first met had replaced it. "Tell us what to do and we'll fight for as long as we can."

"Defend the gate! Keep them from getting through!"

"You heard what the lady said!" Shianni called to the others. "Come on!" We raced to the gates.

"They're upon us!" Soris cried.

An ogre was pounding on the gate. I drew my bow and aimed at the gate, Shianni stood on one side of me, her bow as taunt as mine.

"Steady!"

Bam!

Morrigan stood on the other side, the end of her staff glowing.

Bam!

Alistair stood a few feet ahead of me, his shield in front of him and sword at the ready. Kyrie stood next to him, her daggers in front of her.

"Steady!"

Bam!

Sten looked a little too eager for the first Darkspawn to come through that gate.

Bam!

Creators, guide my arrows straight and let me show the enemy what it is to know fear! I said the quick prayer and drew my bow as taunt as it would go.

"When they come through, hold the line!"

Bam! Crash!

The gate shattered open.

"Release!"

I released the arrow and it found its mark in the ogre's forehead as a rain of arrows followed mine. Darkspawn swarmed towards us. I loosed a few more arrows at them before switching to my swords. With a cry, I charged forward, Alistair, Sten, and Kyrie right behind me. I beheaded various Darkspawn in passing and Sten and I took on an ogre. We bested it and I turned and blocked a Darkspawn axe that had been aimed at my back. It was rewarded with a blade to its chest. I went towards a pair of Darkspawn archers. Something blindsided me and sent me rolling and tumbling through a large puddle and into one of the Elves. I shook my head and looked up to see another unusually large Darkspawn heading towards me.

"Oh crap," I scrambled to my feet and darted to the left. "I think I found the other general."

Alistair spun around.

"Try not to get tossed by an ogre this time."

"You're hilarious."

We both rushed the general. Alistair kept its attention while I attacked from behind. The general spun around and I defended and Alistair attacked. The general decided the Alistair was the bigger threat and turned full on him, landing blow after blow with its axe. He couldn't get a hit in. I slashed the back of the general's legs. He spun around and swung at me. I ducked, dropped my left sword, released the hidden blade, and punched upward, the blade passing through its chin. I did it a few more times, before retreating back a step, spinning around and taking its head. I retracted the blade and picked up my sword.

"Show off."

"I was not. That's called getting the job done. You should do it more often."

"Ha ha. Very funny."

Shianni ran towards us. "We did it!" she cried. "I... I didn't think it was possible! You've given us a chance to get to safety. We will never be able to thank you enough. We have to go. May the Maker watch over you." She, Soris, and Kyrie led the surviving Elves to safety and we ran in the opposite direction.

We went across the bridge leading out of the Alienage and heard a roar. We turned to see the Archdemon flying towards us. And it looked pissed. It swooped low and roared.

"Look out!" A column of flame shot from its mouth and we pitched forward to avoid them. The fire completely took out the bridge. All we could do was watch it fly away.

"Everyone alright?" I asked. Everyone confirmed they were unharmed. "He's really starting to piss me off."