Chapter Two: Howe's Betrayal

"Maker, I should really get Gawain a muzzle," groaned Yvaine as she buried her head underneath her pillow, trying to ignore Gawain's persistent barks, but when they did not subside she pulled herself out of her warm bed and looked over to see Gawain standing at the door with his teeth bared and hair raised, a growl permeating deep within his chest. She knew he only took that stance whenever he heard a sound that was unfamiliar to the castle, something was definitely very wrong if Gawain was growling like he was now.

"Gawain, hush," whispered Yvaine as she stood up, reaching for her armor, "They'll hear you, and we don't want that, do we? Time to retreat."

Gawain stopped barking and looked at her when she said the command, whined slightly before going over and retrieving her pack from beside her writing desk, he dropped it at her feet just as she finished buckling her belt, "Thank you, Gawain, you're such a good dog." He whined happily and paced nervously around the room as she put her sword and shield on her back, not sure if she would really need her weapons but it was just in case. She grabbed her pack off of the floor and hurriedly put in some extra supplies that she stored in her nightstand for situations like this one. Just as she finished packing she heard movement and screams across the hall and she grabbed Gawain and pulled him to the corner furthest away from the door, silently commanding him to remain still which he obliged.

"That sweet little teyrness should be asleep right about now, eh?" she heard a male voice say just outside her door, "What do you say we, you know, tap the midnight still as the dwarves say?"

"Good idea," sniggered another voice, this one deeper than the first and Yvaine felt herself stiffen, she knew what was about to come yet she was still nervous. She heard the sounds of boots coming closer to the door, then the door opened slowly, Gawain started to growl but Yvaine again nonverbally commanded him to be silent.

"You want to go first?" asked the deep voice as it entered the room.

"Yeah, then I can say I deflowered the bitch, then let you have a go," hissed the nasally voice, and Yvaine felt her breath catch in her throat.

"Wait, where is she?" asked the deep voice, and Yvaine motioned for Gawain to attack and he did with great enthusiasm, lunging for the deep voiced man, clamping down on his throat. Yvaine charged with her sword bared, and before the nasally voiced man could react she plunged her sword deep into his chest and looked him in the eye, making sure the hate in her's were the last thing he saw before she twisted the blade which sliced his heart killing him instantly. Yvaine pulled her sword out of the man, spitting on his body before she pulled her cleaning cloth from her belt, wiping off her blade before replacing it in its leather home patting Gawain on the head afterwards. She heard more footsteps running towards her and she reached for the dagger that was holstered on her leg, she spun around ready to plunge it into the person when she saw it was her mother.

"Yvaine!" exclaimed Eleanor, Yvaine let out a heavy sigh of relief, "I'm so glad to see you unharmed." She looked down at the two men dead on Yvaine's floor, blood pooling around the lifeless bodies, then she looked at Gawain with his blood soaked muzzle and she knew immediately the dog had saved her daughter's life, "I guess I was wrong to think of sending you away."

Gawain barked happily, wagging his stump of a tail at the teyrna, Eleanor smiled down at him before turning back to her daughter.

"I heard screaming and came as quickly as I could," said Eleanor calmly, answering Yvaine's puzzled look, "Not quickly enough, it would appear."

"It's alright, Mother," said Yvaine, putting her dagger back in its home, "You're here and safe, that's all that matters."

"Do you know who these men are?" asked Eleanor sharply. Yvaine shook her head as her mother took a torch down from the wall and examined the bodies, dropping the torch in surprise.

"What is it, Mother?" asked Yvaine, not having looked to keep an eye out for any more men following behind.

"These are Howe's men!" growled Eleanor, "I recognize the markings on their shields, I guess this is what happened to his supposedly "late" troops!"

Yvaine suddenly remembered Oriana and Oren, alone in the room across from hers, "Mother, we need to check on Oriana! I think I heard screams from her room!"

Eleanor pushed Yvaine aside, her thoughts focused only on making sure her young grandson was alright, Yvaine chased after her not wanting to think of what was probably waiting for them on the other side of the door. She managed to get ahead of her mother and stood between her and the door, determined to prepare her mother for the worst before it was too late.

"Move aside, girl," said Eleanor roughly, "Let me in there!"

"Mother, what you might see in there will not be pleasant—" started Yvaine before her mother cut in.

"Do not lecture me!" snapped Eleanor, then when she saw the hurt in her daughter's face she continued, "Vaine, please, I know what might be in there. Just be there for me."

"I will be," said Yvaine calmly, she took a deep breath and opened the door quickly, her heartbreaking when she saw Oren's tiny little body thrown into a corner. She walked over to him as if in a daze, not seeing Oriana's naked body laying haphazardly on the torn up canopy bed, and she knelt beside Oren's body and pulled him into her lap. It was all she could do to not cry as she cradled the boy's body, remembering how he had felt in her arms earlier that day, now she wished she had not picked up his body his cold skin and limp appendages ruining her memories.

"Oh, my poor little Oren," Eleanor sobbed, she could not bring herself to touch him, the heartbreak was far too much for her to handle right now.

Yvaine stood up with Oren in her arms and she walked over to the bed, her steps slow and her heart heavy as she placed him beside his mother whom was now wrapped snuggly in her dressing gown.

"I couldn't leave her like that," said Eleanor from behind Yvaine, she moved to the end of the bed and stared at the bodies of her daughter-in-law and grandson, "I felt I had to give her some dignity, I hope you can forgive me for what I said—"

"Mother, I already have," whispered Yvaine as she smoothed Oren's red hair and pulled the blanket over his body, "Where's Father?"

Eleanor blinked a few times, still trying to process everything that was happening, "I. . .I don't know! He never came to bed! Oh Maker, we need to find him!"

Yvaine nodded and pulled her sword and shield out, ready to protect her mother until she saw her mother was in her old battle armor, but the sword and shield she had Yvaine recognized as her family's heirlooms. The three of them walked out of the room carefully, Gawain serving as a scout for them, neither one of the women sure what was around the next corner both hoping in their hearts that Bryce was somewhere safe and uninjured. They made it down to the atrium when they heard steel blades clashing against each other near the kitchen, Yvaine looked around the corner and saw some of the Highever soldiers fighting a few of Howe's men, it was four on seven and Yvaine charged forward not even thinking about her own safety.

"Die, you bastards, die!" she screamed as she ran a guard through with her blade, surprising both sets of troops for a brief moment before the fighting continued. Yvaine pulled her sword out of the soldier just in time to block a rogue's dagger from piercing her neck, she used her shield to knock it clean out of the his hands before slicing her sword across his exposed throat. She felt something against her back and she looked up to see Ser Gilmore guarding her from the rear, she smiled to herself as she brought her shield over her head then she plunged her blade into the weak point of the soldier's armor, bringing him to his knees. It did not take long for the rest of Howe's troops to fall, the Highever troops' morale having increased when they saw their teyrness fighting by their side. When the last one had fallen to the floor, Yvaine looked around at the damage, amazed that the worst damage done to one of her men was a deep gash in the cheek of one of the knights.

"Here, let me help you," said Yvaine soothingly as she pulled out a health poultice, and massaged the salve into the wound of the knight, who blushed when she tenderly touched his cheek.

"You're truly one of a kind, my lady," stammered the knight as she finished rubbing the poultice in the wound, Yvaine smiled as she closed the lid on the jar and put it back in her pack.

"She really is," said Ser Gilmore and Yvaine threw herself into his arms, glad to see that her dear friend was still alive and in one piece.

"Gil!" said Yvaine into his shoulder, "I'm so glad you're alright, I thought for sure—"

"What? You really thought Howe's men had bested me?" laughed Ser Gilmore, he stopped when he saw the look in her eyes, he decided now was the time to tell her the bad news, before it all went to hell again, "Vaine, you have to get out of here, as soon as possible. There are men at the gates, if they get through . . ." He could not complete the rest of his sentence, the thought of her being killed in cold blood by these disgusting men was too much for him to think about.

"I know, Gil," replied Yvaine quietly, "We have to find my father, do you know where he is, by chance?"

Ser Gilmore nodded his head slowly, "Yes, he's in the kitchen larder, or he was when Duncan ran off towards the northern part of the castle. I think he was injured, Duncan was practically carrying in there before he ran off."

"Oh Maker," moaned Eleanor and Yvaine's blood boiled in anger, this was too much, Arl Howe was going to pay for this betrayal.

"Please, Gil, come with us," implored Yvaine, and Ser Gilmore smiled at her weakly.

"Of course, Vaine," said Ser Gilmore and he released her, "Follow me, Teyrna, Vaine. I'll get you both to the Teyrn safely."

Yvaine felt a great deal of comfort as she followed Ser Gilmore to the kitchen larder, they did not run into anymore of the arl's troops though they could hear fighting off in the distance closer to the main gate. When they entered the kitchen, Yvaine breathed a sigh of relief, she did not see Nan's body in here and she hoped that the woman had found a way out of the castle and was scolding the soldiers for intruding. She almost laughed at the thought until she remembered the situation she and her family was in, and that it was unlikely that Nan had ever made it out of the castle.

"Here," said Ser Gilmore, opening the door to the larder, Yvaine rushed in with her mother at her heels both women stood in horror when they saw Bryce. The poor teyrn was lying in a pool of his own blood, Yvaine knew it was too late for her father, but she still wanted to save him despite her better judgement. She rushed to her father's side and knelt beside him, wiping the blood away from his face, her hands trembling the entire time.

"Oh pup, you're alright," said Bryce weakly, "I thought Howe's men had gotten you."

"They didn't know who they were messing with," said Yvaine smiling sadly at her father, wanting to keep the mood light but finding it almost impossible, "What happened to you, Father?"

"I was. . .in a meeting with Howe. . ." wheezed Bryce, "When he got word. . . .about his men. . .he stuck a dagger in me . . .left me to die . . ."

"Maker's breath, Bryce," said Eleanor, kneeling at her husband's head, placing it tenderly in his lap, "How did you manage to get here?"

"Duncan . . . found me," said Bryce, his voice getting weaker, "Dragged me here. . . went off to find you . . ."

"Which I now see was unnecessary," said Duncan as he entered, blood dripping from his armor, "The teyrness is quite the fighter, I saw her defending your own soldiers, not giving a second thought for her own safety."

Bryce laughed, though it pained him to do so, "That's my brave little girl. Pup, you must. . .go with Duncan. . . take your mother. . .and go with him to Ostagar. . . warn Fergus . . ."

"I will, Father," said Yvaine, gulping down a sob that threatened to escape her lips, "You have my word, Arl Howe will pay for this." She closed her eyes as tight as she could to stop the tears but they fell despite her best effort.

"I . . .know you will. . .make me proud," said Bryce smiling before looking up at his wife, "Darling. . . you must go now . . ."

"No," said Eleanor firmly, not looking at Yvaine as she spoke, "Bryce, I swore to always be by your side, and I'm not about to break that vow."

"Mother, please. . ." started Yvaine but her voice wavered as she looked at her mother's eyes, burning them into her memory forever.

"Vaine, it's up to you now," said Eleanor soothingly, she reached behind her and pulled off her large pack, "Here, take this, there are some things in there you might find useful in your journey."

Yvaine took the heavy bag, not daring to look in it yet, and slung it over her shoulder.

"Give me your blade and shield, Vaine," said Eleanor, Yvaine hesitated, "Vaine, give it to me now, do not disobey me." Yvaine pulled her sword and shield from her back and handed them to her mother only to have the legendary Cousland blade and shield into her arms, this was too much for her, she knew this was the end.

"Go, darling," said Eleanor encouragingly when she saw the look on her daughter's face, "Become a Grey Warden, live your life how you've always wanted to, you'll make a name for yourself that much is sure."

"I'll stay behind and protect them, Vaine," said Ser Gilmore bravely, "I'll do what I can to keep them safe for as long as I'm able."

Yvaine stood and embraced her best friend, kissing him softly on the lips to show her appreciation for his sacrifice, "Thank you, Gil, you have no idea what that means to me."

They heard a loud cracking sound and they knew the rest of the guards had made it into the castle, Duncan turned to the group, "Yvaine, if we're going to leave, we need to go now."

"You can use the servant's entrance, it leads to a tunnel that will get you past the castle," said Eleanor, indicating with her head the location of the small door, "Just get my daughter out of here, Duncan."

Yvaine wanted to object to this plan, drag her mother and father out of here, and all run away to Ostagar but she knew it could not happen the arl had certainly seen to that, instead she knelt back down and kissed her father's cheek and then her mother's, "I love both of you, with all of my heart and soul."

"And we love you, pup," sighed Bryce, his breathing now very labored, "Tell Fergus we love him too, now go!"

Duncan put his arm on her shoulder and she rose, not daring to look back at her parents and she followed Duncan and Gawain to the servant's entrance, this was the hardest thing she had ever had to do in her entire life.

"Vaine," called Ser Gilmore as she was about to leave, "May your blade be swift and true."

"And may your shield never break," replied Yvaine softly and she gave him a fleeting smile before closing the door behind her.


Duncan, Yvaine, and Gawain walked down the dark hallway water dripping down from the ceiling, a few drops hitting Yvaine every now and then though her head was hung down low.

"I know you're upset, Yvaine," said Duncan, his voice echoing, "but this is for the best, someday you'll see that."

"I hope so," said Yvaine in a low voice, "because right now, I feel like the worst daughter in all of Ferelden."

"I promise you this, Yvaine, Arl Howe will pay for his treachery," said Duncan in a low growl which surprised Yvaine a great deal, she had not expected this reasonable man to want vengeance as much as she did. They remained quiet the rest of the walk, Yvaine listening to the water as it fell into the puddles on the soft earth, she thought about what might be awaiting them once they arrived in Ostagar. Soon they were out of the tunnel, the moon the only light they had as Duncan brought her to where two horses were tied to a nearby tree, one a dark Arabian the other a light tan Palomino, Duncan handed her the reigns to the Arabian.

"You ride, I assume," said Duncan as he mounted his horse.

Yvaine hoisted herself onto the back of the Arabian, "Are darkspawn ugly?"

Duncan laughed as he began to walk his horse, Yvaine following beside him, Gawain running ahead of the horses as happy as he could be.

"How long until we reach Ostagar?" asked Yvaine, looking around at the shadows the trees made on the ground in front of her horse, amazed at how quiet it was.

"Two to three days, depending on the weather," said Duncan glancing at her as they rode along, avoiding the main roads for fear of being spotted by any lingering troops the arl might have stationed incase someone managed to make it out of the castle. He was amazed at her resilience, she had just been forced to abandon her family and off venture to war where she might lose her life, and she had not batted an eyelash. 'She really is Eleanor's daughter, a true battle maiden through and through,' thought Duncan as he watched her, she had proved herself a warrior tonight, and he knew she would not fall in battle easily if she were to fall at all.


"Are there many Grey Wardens?" asked Yvaine as Duncan handed her a chunk of bread and an apple from across their horses, after they left Highever, they had agreed to only stop at night for a few hours rest in order to make it to Ostagar in time.

"Currently there are about a dozen in Ferelden, including myself," replied Duncan before he washed his food down with water, when he finished he continued, "Orlais holds more, they are due to arrive in Ferelden sometime soon, or so King Cailan has told me."

"How old do you have to be to become a Grey Warden?" asked Yvaine, trying to keep the conversation going, she feared if she did not talk she would lose herself to her grief and never come out of it.

"There is no age limit," said Duncan, thinking about his youngest recruit, Alistair, "but there are no children in the Grey Wardens if that's what you mean."

Yvaine smiled, "If you allowed that, I might have joined when I was eleven instead of nineteen."

Duncan laughed, "You were probably just as good a soldier at eleven as you are now. Actually, we currently have a young recruit, well young by Grey Warden standards. His name's Alistair, he's been a Warden for about six or seven months now, I think you'll like him you and he share a love of dry wit."

"Though I'm sure I'm better at it," said Yvaine grinning.

"You are indeed, Lady Yvaine," said Duncan, glancing over at her, glad to see her smiling for the first time in the last couple of days. Soon they came to a road post with several different cities and how many miles between here and there, Yvaine looked and saw Ostagar was about a half day's ride from this point on, she was glad that this leg of her journey was about to be over, so the next part could begin and she could move past her family's tragedy.