A/N: Narration switches to different characters from chapter to chapter. Each chapter will have the narrator's name underlined at the beginning of each chapter.

Edited chapter one and broke it into 2 separate chapters, sorry if this caused any confusion for any of you.

Kirielle

We made our way up the cliffs that surrounded the village and castle of Redcliff; it seemed eerily picturesque without all of the undead walking around this time. I was still uneasy about human settlements though and was not thrilled about being back here. This time our little party had grown; several mages, the First Enchanter Irving, and a raunchy assassin had joined us since the last time. We made our way past the windmill that overlooked the peaceful village on our way up to the castle, mages in tow, to banish the demon possessing the Arl's son.

"Hmm… Anyone up for a little bit of naked cliff diving? No?" Zevran said with a sly smile, the newest member of our little group was standing there grinning ear to ear. After his failed attempt to kill us I thought it would be a great idea to bring him along with us for some reason, and after only three days I was already regretting it.

Both Alistair and I shot him a terrible look. Since deciding to spare him and accept his offer to join us he had said almost nothing but raunchy comments or advances on anyone who would listen to him, and even those who did not want to listen to him.

"None of you are any fun" scowled Zevran.

"And not everyone is as shameless as you" growled Alistair. Zevran shrugged unapologetically.

We made our way up the remaining path to the castle and into the courtyard. The guards nodded solemnly at us and open the massive doors that lead into the castle's main hall as we approached.

"You're back! Thank the Maker!" cried Isolde, the Arl's wife and the mother of the possessed boy Connor.

"Where is the boy?" asked Irving. Isolde gestured to the throne dais where Connor stood. Irving motioned to one of the mages "Hold him still" he directed. The mage nodded and quickly worked to put Connor under a paralysis spell. Irving then motioned to the rest of the mages and without any more orders they set to work drawing out an elaborate ritual circle and runes. "Who shall enter the Fade and confront the demon?" asked Irving.

"I will" I declared.

"You are not a mage, I'm sorry but you can't".

I looked up at Morrigan hoping that she might volunteer, she scowled back. "T'was not my decision to interfere here".

"I will" came another voice, it was Wynne. "You unselfishly helped the tower, I will do what I can to help you". I looked at Wynne. We only met her a few days ago, but I liked her, she reminded me of keeper Marethari from my clan. Wynne was caring and concerned for everyone, like Marethari was, and she was motherly or maybe closer to grandmotherly at her age.

"You don't have to do this Wynne".

"No, I do. I will not have you come this close to saving this boy only to stop here because no one is willing to risk themselves."

Irving nodded "Very well then. Wynne, stand there" he gestured to the circle "and someone bring the boy".

Wynne entered the circle and one of the guards placed Connor in the circle. The rest of the mages surrounded the circle and softly began to chant. It was surreal and was giving me the creeps after seeing the power of magic first hand when we drove the demons out of the circle tower just days before.

The mages finished their chant and everything grew still. Wynne stood frozen in time, her eyes were clouded over.

"Now we wait" said Irving.

"For what?" I asked nervously.

"To see if one of them or both of them wake up".

What seemed like hours passed, though I never moved from my spot. I didn't like this, that someone else was put in danger. Alistair took his usual place next to me and gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder in an attempt to calm me and kissed the top of my head.

Eventually Wynne blinked and shook her head. After she shook off the foggy feeling from being in the Fade she assured me that she was alright and recounted the desire demon that had been possessing Connor. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that both her and Connor were safe. Initially I had considered just killing the boy, it would have been much easier than braving the tower, but Alistair and Leliana convinced me that saving him would have been better. I had also considered just going through with Jowan's ritual, though once more Alistair and Leliana were against that also.

Later in private Alistair asked me how I could be so calm about killing a child, and I told him the truth, that I would rather kill one child now than wait and allow a demon to run amuck and possible destroy a whole town. Alistair seemed concerned about my reasoning. He asked how I could be so heartless and how I could just decide who would live and who would die. I tried to explain to him I was doing what I could to save as many people as possible, that the life of one child, regardless of status, was not more valuable than a whole town. We stopped discussing it after that.

We said our goodbyes to Isolde, Connor, and Bann Teagan, the Arl's adviser, and left the castle after getting more supplies. Isolde had offered for us to stay the night in the castle, but I decline. I didn't like being in the castle, I didn't like being surrounded by servants, especially the elven servants. I didn't like how complacent they were with their situation, how content they were to live a life with no freedom. I tried talking to a few of them and they were just as curious about me as I was about them. They told me they were happy here, that it was better than living in an alienage. I asked them why they never decided to join up with the Dalish and they laughed and shook their heads. Why would we want to live like that? To always travel and live so primitively? I was surprised; I was shocked that they were happy to live like the shemlens instead of like their ancestors. It was then I learned that city elves were not like the Dalish, they were nearly human.