The Dragonborn Comes

Tags: Fantasy, fan fiction, Dragon Age, Dragonborn,

Tagline: The Dragonborn finds a diamond in the rough.

Dust Town was a shithole. In fact, calling Dust Town a shithole would be an insult to any other shithole that might exist on Thedas. To say I was also immediately disgusted by the dwarves, or at least the rulers who allowed such poverty and destitution to be prevalent, cannot be underestimated. I got on my soapbox about one or two things I saw. Sereda was by my side, having given me plenty of advice before entering the slum, and she listened to me yammer until I was done.

"This is our society, for better or worse, Ragnar," she finally argued, "I know enough to have heard of the alienages elves are kept in. And major human cities still have slums where the poor and desperate reside."

I didn't really have a retort to that. "I've never seen an alienage, but I know a thing or two about poverty myself. But not when it seems so... deliberate. I've heard mention of caste, but now I truly understand what it means to be casteless."

We agreed to disagree but I shut up. I guess I didn't know enough yet to criticise so harshly, and it wasn't her fault personally. So we walked forward carefully, and it was little surprise that our presence attracted attention. Walking down a dark, narrow alley, I heard someone whistle. I came to a stop, looking left and right, hearing a whistle again, the sort of whistle to gain attention, before a feminine voice whispered, "To your right, the alley. You, the tall one."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Alistair muttered.

"You really think a dwarf will try and do me over?" I glanced at Sereda. "No offence."

"None taken. Just be careful. No-one in this place will do us any favours without compensation."

I kept my hand on the hilt of my sword as I cautiously stepped into the gloom. Letting my eyes adjust to the dark, I sensed a presence ahead. "I'm not going to attack," the rather attractive feminine voice whispered, "Come closer though."

My eyes had adjusted enough that I could see a dwarf crouching in what were the ruins of a house. I could barely see her, only the white of her eyes shining in the darkness. Crouching down myself, I asked politely, "What do you want?"

"Well, firstly, what the hell are you doing in Dust Town? Trying to get yourselves killed?"

"We've been sent in to deal with the Carta."

"You have? Why would a bunch of humans give a shit about the Carta?"

"Prince Bhelen does... sort of..."

The dwarf remained silent for a moment before I felt her face very close to mine. "And what do you think?" she whispered.

"It seems like the right thing to do. So what about you? Why attract my attention?"

"Because you looked like a warrior, and considering how fuckin' big you seem to be, I was going to ask for your help. And now that you've told me what you're here for, we can kill two birds with one stone."

"You want to take on the Carta too?"

"Let's just say I have a bone to pick with them."

"How would you like to join the Wardens?"

"You're a Grey Warden?"

I shook my head, figuring she might just see it. "I'm not, but a couple of my colleagues are. I help you, you help me. Plus, it'll get you out of here."

"Sign me up."

"Come on then, I'll introduce you around." I felt her presence follow me out of the ruin, exiting the gloom and outside seemed rather bright. Glancing behind, the dwarf appeared. I'll admit the first thing I thought was that she did need a bit of a wash. She was a brunette with a pair of brown eyes that... Well, I'm obviously a sucker for voices, eyes, legs and... I'm just a sucker for women. "This is..." I gestured, realising I hadn't even asked her name.

"Natia Brosca. Most people just call me Brosca."

"I'm Ragnar," I replied, offering my hand. She seemed surprised by the gesture, and I think was grateful I had even offered. The smile was almost shy, which was a real surprise, considering I think she could have killed all my colleagues without wasting a breath. I then introduced my colleagues.

"You're casteless," Sereda stated, not asked.

"And you are?" Brosca retorted.

"Just like you now, I guess."

"Okay, who were you?"

"The daughter of the king."

I think Brosca wanted to laugh. Instead, she made do with a shrug. "Oh well, shit happens, I guess."

"Yeah, it does. So, what did you want?"

"His help," Brosca replied, gesturing towards me, "And yours now. We have a common enemy, and you're going to need my help."

"And why is that?" Leliana wondered.

"Because I used to be a member of the Carta. Now I want them destroyed."

I had a feeling there was a much longer story, but that could wait for the time being. So I asked what Brosca knew, and the information she had was going to make finding the Carta, and possibly wiping them out, much easier. But first we had to bust into their headquarters, and that was going to be the hardest thing. Dust Town had a town square of sorts, and we were an immediate attraction to the working girls, offering themselves for nothing more than a little food, or perhaps a few coins. Alistair was immediately uncomfortable, while Brosca started shoving them away from me. "Back off. The big one is mine."

Leliana started to laugh, as I just looked at down at Brosca. "I'm yours, am I?"

The look she returned... Well, wipe the dirt away and I'd probably have a new friend. "Help me with this and then get me out of Dust Town? I can't even begin to describe what I'd do."

"Ragnar?"

"Yes, Leliana?"

"It would appear I was right."

I looked at Brosca. "I don't expect anything like that just for helping you, except your word to join the Wardens."

She looked at me, the smile sweet and sultry all at once. "Trust me, I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. Why do you think I wanted your attention? One, to help me. Two, because I've never met a human like you."

"How many humans have you met?"

"More than you'd imagine, actually. Quite a few Wardens have been through here over the years, looking for recruits. Others come looking for... other reasons." I didn't ask what other reasons. No doubt they'd be awful. She grabbed my forearm and finally led us away. "Don't look to your left, but the door we need is there. We will need to move fast once I see who I know has a key. We will have to move fast once we're inside, otherwise who you'll want dead will make their escape."

The stake out of the door was boring, but it was amazing what people would give us for a few silvers. Soon we were dotted around the square, all of us wearing filthy, stinking coats, hoods used to cover our faces. I was sure my size alone would make me obvious, but I managed to make myself small as I sat on the ground. Brosca was nearest the door, waiting for the mark.

As I said, it was boring, and I was lucky not to fall asleep, but when it happened, Brosca moved so fast, so silently, it took me a few seconds to realise the mark was already dead and she was at the door, gesturing for us to move. Once we were all inside, we wasted little time wiping out the Carta.

I'll give them credit, they fought hard. But they were fighting for their lives, and anyone staring death in the face will fight with desperation. At least dwarves don't practice magic, so we didn't have to worry about that, and with Morrigan and Solona with us, we certainly spread fear through the Carta ranks. Being in such confined spaces, we didn't have to worry about bows and arrows.

That meant it was all hand to hand, or blade to blade fighting, to be more accurate. Cerys, Alistair and I led from the front. While I was distracted by killing dwarves, I did take a moment or two to watch our new colleagues work when allowed. Sereda was good, very good. It was obvious she'd had years of training. But Brosca fought with a ferocity that was chilling, appearing to take great delight in killing anyone wearing a Carta uniform. The two mages helped out, but as we were moving through such small areas, their spells would hit us more often than not too. But they could still assist when and where they could.

Running into qunari mercenaries was certainly a surprise, wondering if Sten could have explained their presence. I'd have to ask him about it afterwards. They were probably the toughest nuts to crack, though due to their smaller size but greater speed, the two dwarves helped bring them down to size.

I'm not sure how long we fought for. It was long, it was brutal, and it was bloody. None of us made it to the end without a wound. Thankfully Solona was capable of healing magic. Even after all this time on Thedas, I still wasn't exactly used to it. On Tamriel, I'd always knocked back a potion and waited for its effects. That's not to say I didn't appreciate the immediacy of healing when Solona sealed a large wound along my forearm.

Brosca eventually brought us to a stop before a large set of double doors. "She'll be waiting for us here."

"Who?"

"Jarvia. She's the... leader of the Carta. She'll be flanked by her best people."

"What should we expect?"

"She'll call me a traitor then try and persuade you to hand me over." She looked at me, and the desperation was obvious. "You won't, will you?"

"Don't worry. We're here to end the Carta, not help them."

Brosca had been right. Jarvia tried negotiating first. Brosca barely paid attention, her eyes on someone else by her side. She muttered a name, which I didn't quite catch, but I could feel hatred ooze from her. But not just hatred, also sadness, if not heartbreak. None of that mattered when Jarvia finally realised we were there to end them.

Brosca only had eyes for Jarvia, while demanding we keep the other dwarf alive, who she yelled out was Leske. Alistair went straight for him, using his size and strength to eventually overpower and hold him. The rest of the mercenaries and Carta agents fell to our blades, with a few taken down by magic spells. Again, the mages were constrained in how they could operate, though Morrigan still managed to cause flames, lighting a few of them on fire, making them easy picking for the rest of us.

With Leske held by Alistair, the rest of them dead, we all turned to watch Brosca and Jarvia. Any calls to assist were roundly denied, Brosca yelling us to 'stay the fuck back, the bitch was hers.' Jarvia tried taunting her, and while it probably angered her, it merely fuelled the fire burning within Brosca. She was surprisingly graceful to watch, her footwork magnificent, the way she wielded her blades suggested training, though I wondered if it wasn't just a craft honed through years of fighting to survive.

Jarvia died eventually. Brosca made it quicker than I thought, a dagger through her neck, the sword through her gut. She muttered something to Jarvia as she died, before simply allowing her body to drop to the ground. She then turned immediately to Leske. A dagger at his throat, she asked a simple, one-word question. "Why?"

"Because she was better. She had the ideas. She was going to help us."

"You were wrong," she replied flatly. The sword through his gut obviously caught him by surprise, perhaps believing he'd survive. Unlike Jarvia, she held onto his body until his final breath, before gently laying it on the ground. I received a couple of looks, so cautiously approached as she kneeled next to his body.

"Were you close?"

"Not like you might think. He was my best friend, if one can have a best friend in Dust Town. They always say you'd be stupid to trust anyone in Dust Town, but I thought he was worthy of mine. I never thought..." She stood up, wiping her hands on her armour. "It doesn't matter. Your friends should look around. They might find a few things."

"Um, now might not be the time, but Bhelen wanted her head," Cerys admitted. I looked at her and returned a nod.

We didn't waste time leaving the carnage behind, eventually exiting into Orzammar itself. There were a couple of chuckles when we realised the tunnels must have run under the entire city. Little wonder Bhelen wanted them taken care of. Heading to the royal palace, the guards immediately tried to halt us upon entering, pointing their weapons at Brosca. It took some threats and intimidation from most of us to make them move out of the way.

Bhelen was happy to hear the news, though noticeably blanched when we wanted to hand him the head, muttering he wasn't completely serious. It was thrown in a nearby fire and quickly forgotten about. He still ignored Sereda, recognised Brosca as casteless, but at least he thanked her for the assistance. He also gave no opinion when mentioning we would be recruiting her too.

Our group split up again as Brosca pulled me aside. "Is there any chance I could have some clean clothes? I know my brethren won't give me anything, but I'm hoping..."

"What would you like and we'll go buy it?"

"A dress. I'm twenty-one years old and I've never worn one. But I'll only put it on after a bath."

So that's what we did, heading to the merchants. One or two muttered things about her being casteless, but the fact she was standing next to me, and the fact I was offering coin, quickly shut up their mutters. I went all out in the end, buying her a couple of dresses, but also new leather armour, and a new short blade. The dagger she had was surprisingly exquisite. I think I overwhelmed her as we walked back to the palace as her chatter quieted down to almost nothing.

"Want to join me?" she asked, standing at the door to the thermal baths. You could feel the heat and humidity from inside.

"As I said, I did this because I wanted to. And I don't expect... Well, let's just say I don't expect anything in return. You needed new things, and you also wanted a little something. I was happy getting them."

"And I'll put it like this. I want you with me because I want your company." Her eyes spoke volumes when she added, "Make of that what you will."

I wandered out to grab each of us a towel and some soap before heading back to re-join her. At the door upon my return was Leliana. She simply kissed me on the cheek, whispered for me to have fun, then walked away. I could only stare after her as she turned back and blew me a kiss.

I asked one of the servants to watch the door for us, and try not to have use interrupted. I wasn't anticipating anything untoward, I just wanted privacy. Brosca wasted no time undressing. The scars were no real surprise, and she appeared to wear them with pride. She was rather thin, but with muscle definition across her stomach and her legs. She was tall for a dwarf or so it seemed, maybe around five foot, an inch or two taller perhaps. She turned to face me stark naked. "Well?" she asked, gesturing up and down my body. Once I was naked, she smiled. "Got plenty of scars too. Perhaps we can share some stories later?"

I just smiled as she turned and gasped upon dipping a foot in the water. I couldn't help watch her arse disappear underneath before I quickly joined her. It was as relaxing as I remembered, feeling any lingering tension from the fight slowly disappearing. Brosca dipped her head under the water, her long hair slicked back, which made her even more stunning. Remove the dirt, and I was left wondering...

Handing her the soap, she shook her head and smiled. Since inviting me in, I'd expected it. Getting down on my knees, so our heights were at least similar, I took great delight in running my hands up and down her body. Her kiss, when it came, was softer than I expected though. I continued washing her. She wasn't exactly layered in dirt, but after a good scrub, there was an obvious change. Then I washed her hair and face. The tattoo remained, one I knew all casteless received. She saw me looking at it.

"That's what makes me ugly," she whispered. Gone was the Brosca of Dust Town. She was out of her comfort zone. She still had confidence, but there was also a fragility she had probably rarely if ever showed.

I purposely kissed it. "No, a mark doesn't define you. Doesn't make you who you are in there," I said, placing my hand on her chest. "I don't exactly know who you are yet. But what I have learned about you so far? Well, you are someone who will readily trust someone in the worst of circumstances. Someone who will show loyalty and expect it in return. Someone who will demand justice for having their life destroyed. Someone who shows courage in the face of death. Someone who will give their word and follow through with it."

"You've learned all that in the few hours since we met?"

"Of course. You're still here with me now, are you not?"

"Before we do anything, those other women. Who are they to you?"

"My girlfriends. I have two at the moment. I may have more, depending on what happens. I may also share myself with other people."

"They don't mind?" I shook my head. "That's... unusual, isn't it?"

"Probably, but I'm here for a good time, not a long time." That made her laugh. "Why do you ask?"

She gave me a look which I couldn't misinterpret, but she still vocalised her thought. "Because I obviously want to fuck you, so just wanted to know where you stood."

I played the game. "You want to fuck me after only a few hours?"

She laughed. "Have you seen yourself?" I shrugged. I'd heard similar questions and statements before. "Surely you've been told before?"

"Once or twice," I replied modestly.

"Bullshit! I saw how that redhead..."

"Leliana."

"Yeah, her. I saw how she looks at you. And that young mage..."

"Solona."

"Her too."

"Okay, I have a history we can discuss later. What about you?"

I could see the question, though innocent, stung as she looked away. "You do what you have to do to survive," she said quietly. I think there was a lot more she had to say, but I certainly didn't feel comfortable asking about it. I wasn't sure if I should even hug her. Then she called me an idiot and told me to hug her. So I did.

The mood had changed in an instant, so I simply held onto her, running my hand up and down her back. One thing I'd definitely learned was that she was tough. Hard as nails. I doubt she ever showed much emotion, or opened up to anyone. Not if life in Dust Town was as I imagined, where any sign of weakness would be used against you. She was probably exhausted of life already at a young age.

Grabbing her hand, I led her out of the bath and I helped dry her off. She was still rather quiet; I think her mind in turmoil. "Sorry for asking," I whispered.

She blinked at me in surprise. "No, it's not just that. I'm thinking about a lot of things. You're the first man I've ever met who has wanted to help me without wanting something in return."

"Not quite, but I'm assuming most wanted something..." I trailed off and she nodded. So I just cocooned her in the towel and continued to hold her. "You might not believe me yet, but you can trust me. One thing I am is unfailingly honest, even if it's to my detriment. I try and live a mostly honourable life."

She eventually mentioned about wanting to try on one of her dresses, so I quickly dried myself off and left her to it, letting her know where I would be. Wandering back to my room, Leliana and Solona were not around, so I dressed in some regular clothing for once, enjoying just wearing normal shoes instead of my armoured boots. Most of the group was in the sitting room, some gathered around the fire, others at the large table. Sereda was busy talking to Leliana and Solona, all three glancing my way with a smile. The men of the group were in a semi-circle near the fireplace, talking about something or other. I sat with the girls, listening to them talk about Sereda and her life in the palace. There was no missing the fact she was still bitter about things, but thankful to us that we'd helped her.

Brosca appeared through the doorway around half an hour later, and the silence that descended spoke volumes. Leliana nudged me to get up, so I slowly approached Brosca. The dress she wore showed off her figure perfectly. If she was going for feminine beauty, she couldn't have done a better job. "Who helped with your hair?" I asked, referencing the plats to either side, and the ring around her head. Everything she'd done framed her face perfectly, highlighting her brown eyes perfectly.