Infinity's Child

by David Falkayn

Every journey begins with a small step. This is the beginning of Evelyn Cousland's journey through the multiverse. I've dropped the rating down to a T rating-I don't think there's anything in it so far that brings it to an M. Should the content rate an M, then I'll alter it accordingly. Now, Evelyn and her new friends face dangers in the Circle Tower.

7. Chapter 7

Infinity's Child

Part Seven

As they prepared to cross the bridge to their destination, the village of Redcliffe, Alistair pulled his fellow Warden aside. "Evelyn…can I talk to you for a moment. In private."

With a sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach, Evelyn replied with a false smile, "Sure, Alistair." Once the pair had moved far enough away where she was sure that they were out of earshot of the others, Evelyn took a deep breath, "Look, Alistair. I'm sorry…"

Quickly interrupting the former templar, spoke, "I should have told you this earlier and I'm sorry I didn't. There's something about me that you should know before we go into Redcliffe."

Feeling both relieved and embarrassed that Alistair was not going to talk to her about her powers, Evelyn sighed, "What, Alistair? What's wrong?"

"Remember when I told you I was an orphan?" As Evelyn nodded her head, Alistair continued, "Well…I never knew my mother, but she was a serving girl at Redcliffe castle…"

"So…you were born in service?" Evelyn interjected with a shrug of her shoulders, "Nothing wrong with that. Besides…you're a Warden now. Your previous station in life is immaterial."

"That's not it." Alistair shook his head. "My mother was a serving girl, but my father…my father was King Maric." As Evelyn's eyes widened at the news, the young former templar continued, "Maric was here and…"

"My father told me how Maric had problems keeping his trousers buttoned." Evelyn sighed, then, as Alistair's news sunk in, she exclaimed. "Wait a minute! Are you trying to say that…"

"Just so." Alistair nodded his head. "My mother and…others…were given a few sovereigns by Arl Eamon to keep it all quiet and the arl kept and raised me."

"I see…"

"It wasn't as if I received any preferential treatment." Alistair quickly declared with more than a slight note of resentment in his voice. "I was relegated to the stables and given menial jobs. Had I not been sent to the Chantry, odds are I'd have become a groom in the arl's service."

"So…why did Eamon pack you off to the Chantry to become a templar?" Evelyn inquired.

"Isolde." Alistair replied. "Eamon had just married the arlessa and I think she felt threatened by me. She felt that I was Eamon's bastard. So, she pushed the arl to have me sent to the Chantry."

"I think I understand." Evelyn murmured, "So…you blamed the arl."

"You're damn right I did!" Alistair replied angrily, "But I was young…and foolish." He said, his voice becoming more somber and regretful. "He gave me an amulet of my mother's once. I threw it against a wall and dashed it into pieces. After that…the arl stopped coming to see me."

"I'm sorry, Alistair." Evelyn whispered consolingly.

"Thanks, Evelyn." Alistair smiled, "I want you to understand though, this doesn't change a thing. I'm not claiming the throne and I don't want it. I'm a Warden now and the only things I want to do are kill Loghain for his treason and end the Blight."

Momentarily arching her eyebrows as she heard the order in which her fellow Warden listed his priorities, Evelyn placed a hand on Alistair's shoulder, "I promise, we'll get to the bottom of what's going on and put things to rights."

"Thank you." Alistair responded, "For now, though, let's get on to Redcliffe. I want to find out what's going on there."

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"Undead!" Evelyn sighed, "I did not need to hear that!"

"I know." Leliana replied, shaking her head sadly, "Those poor people."

"Undead probably also means blood magic." Alistair grumbled as Sten growled under his breath.

"If you would keep your saarebas under proper control, this would not happen."

"What would you recommend?" Morrigan retorted snippily. "Would you cut our tongues out and sew our mouths shut?"

"It works for us." Sten laconically replied.

"I'd like to see you try that with me." Morrigan tauntingly countered as the qunari seemed prepared to take the witch up on her words.

"Enough!" Evelyn exclaimed in a loud voice, silencing the others. "Blood magic is probably involved, but we don't know for sure. We do know that there are demons—that means either someone summoned them or there's another problem."

"A weakness or tear in the Veil between our world and the Fade would allow demons to cross without necessarily being summoned." Morrigan explained, "Although…something or someone would have had to cause the weakening or tear to begin with."

"That's something we can determine after we take care of the immediate problem." Evelyn declared.

"So…" Alistair drawled, "What now?"

"Leliana? You get that blacksmith on board." Evelyn directed, "Do whatever you have to do to convince him to start turning out proper armor for the militia. Take Sten along. He's great at looking menacing."

Growling, Sten bluntly declared, "He deserves death. He is willing to place his own selfish desires before that of the community. Typical of your people."

"He's emotionally distraught." Leliana countered, "And so not thinking properly."

"Exactly." Sten agreed, "His inability to control his emotions endangers everyone."

"He's the only blacksmith here capable enough of doing the repairs in the limited time we have." Evelyn pointed out, "We have to have him alive, in one piece, and on board. So…no killing and no breaking arms or legs."

"We'll bring him around." Leliana stated confidently.

Turning to Morrigan, Evelyn requested, "Morrigan? Check the stores and all. See if there's something we can use to rig up some makeshift defenses."

"What sort of things are you looking for?" The witch responded with an arched eyebrow.

"Oil…barricades…grease…acid…" Evelyn replied. "Anything that can serve as an obstacle or be used as a trap."

"Understood." The dark-haired mage acknowledged.

"What about us?" Alistair asked, pointing to Evelyn and himself.

"First, we go to Ser Perth and see what he needs. Then we rustle up that dwarf, Dwyn and get him to get his rear motivated." Turning her attention to the full group, Evelyn concluded, "We meet back here in front of the Chantry in…two hours. That should give us enough time to make final preparations before nightfall. Now…if there are no questions, let's move—we've got a lot to do and not much time to do it in."

A couple of hours later, they all returned to the front of the Chantry as Evelyn had instructed. "How did everyone make out?" Evelyn inquired.

"I got Owen, the blacksmith to repair the militia's armor and weapons." Leliana reported, "But I had to promise him that afterwards we'd go to the castle to rescue his daughter."

"She is most likely dead." Sten bluntly declared, "But the promise sufficed. No further coercion was necessary."

"Good." Evelyn nodded her head, "Sten's probably right…" The redheaded Warden remarked sadly, "She probably is dead. But, we're most likely going to have to go to the castle anyway after we secure the village, so, it wouldn't do any harm to look for her while we're there."

"Agreed." Leliana and Alistair affirmed in unison as they nodded their heads while Morrigan derisively rolled her eyes and Sten settled for a somber shake of his head.

"Morrigan? What did you find?"

"I found some barrels of oil and a sword." The apostate mage declared as she produced a finely smithed blade.

"Where did you find such a fine sword?" Evelyn inquired.

"Twas hidden by a boy." Morrigan responded. "I…convinced…him to part with it."

"You frightened him into it, you mean." Alistair interjected with a scowl.

"What does it matter what means I used to convince him." Morrigan retorted, "What matters is that we have the blade. It is enchanted and well made."

"And not ours." Evelyn declared as Leliana, Morrigan, and Sten all three nodded their heads in agreement.

"That blade is an extension of its owner's soul." Sten declared. "It most likely belonged to the boy's father."

"It did as a matter of fact." Morrigan interrupted with a shrug of her shoulders, "So what?"

"So…it is likely that the father intended to bequeath it to his son when he became old enough to wield it." Sten declared.

"Sten's right." Evelyn affirmed, "The blade belongs to the boy." Turning to Morrigan, the Warden instructed, "Return the sword to its owner. Izzy will go with you…right boy?" The mabari barked, nudging a reluctant Morrigan.

"All right, mongrel!" The witch huffed, "I will do your mistress's bidding."

As Morrigan and Izzy left, Evelyn turned to the others, "We'll send the barrels to Ser Perth. He'll know how to best utilize them. Dwyn's on board and he directed us to an elf named Berwick who—it just so happens—was a spy for Loghain."

"Oh?" Leliana interjected.

"Sent to observe goings on at the castle." Evelyn explained. "It appears that Loghain's plans ran far deeper than just a spur of the moment decision at Ostagar. Eamon was poisoned before he could mobilize the Redcliffe forces to go to Ostagar."

"Do we know anything about the poisoning?" Leliana asked.

"No." Evelyn shook her head. "Berwick was ordered to just observe and report back. However, he got stuck here when the undead started attacking."

"Serves him right." Alistair caustically remarked.

"Perhaps…" Evelyn responded, "Perhaps not. In any event, he's agreed to join in the defense along with the owner of the tavern…"

"After a bit of arm twisting on our part." Alistair interrupted.

"Just so." Evelyn nodded her head. "We also have to pick up some amulets from the Reverend Mother to give to Ser Perth and his men."

"Why?" Leliana inquired.

"He believes that the soldiers and knights will fight better if they think that Andraste and the Maker are protecting them." Evelyn answered back.

"But…" Leliana protested, "…that's giving those men false hope."

"That's what I said." Alistair sighed.

"False hope is better than no hope at all." Evelyn flatly declared. "Belief is a powerful thing. If they believe that the Maker and Andraste are helping them, then they might fight that little bit harder and that little bit might just be the edge we need to win this."

Shaking his head, Sten grumbled, "That is your weakness. You rely on superstition. But…if that superstition helps these people to fight, then you should use it."

"Fine. All right." Alistair sighed. "We'll deliver the amulets to Ser Perth and his men."

"Good, Alistair." Evelyn's lips turned up in a slight smile, "And thanks."

"Nightfall will be coming soon." Morrigan said, pointing to the setting sun. "How do you wish to proceed?"

"Morrigan? You and Leliana will help me and Ser Perth out. Sten, Alistair, and Izzy will help in the village." Evelyn directed, "Your magic is more oriented towards destruction than healing, so having you in the close confines of the village would be a waste of your talents. On the main battlefield, you can cut loose."

"Agreed." The dark haired witch nodded her head.

"And Sten, you're a natural leader. I'm placing you in command of the defense of the village. Try to give Murdock, the mayor, at least a show of deference—for diplomacy's sake if nothing else. But—make no mistake—I want you giving the orders." Turning to Alistair, Evelyn remarked apologetically, "Do you understand why I've placed Sten in charge and not you?"

"Yes." The ex-templar nodded his head, "I'd much prefer to follow than lead anyway."

Evelyn muttered softly to herself, "And that is why."

Nodding his head, the giant qunari, who had overheard Evelyn's whispers, rumbled in a soft, barely audible voice that only she could hear, "Very wise."

"And as for you, Leliana…" Evelyn explained, turning her attention to the red-headed archer, "We've got plenty of archers and light troops in the village. Ser Perth could use us to skirmish."

"Right." The other redhead responded as she checked her bow.

"Izzy…" Evelyn commanded as she petted her dog, "Go with Sten. Follow his orders during the battle, ok?"

As Izzy barked happily, Alistair turned to Leliana and whispered, "Ok? What does that mean?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Leliana replied, "I have no idea."

"I guess it's just another Evelynism." Alistair sighed as the redheaded Warden regarded her group.

"All right…Night'll be here soon, so take care of what you need to take care of and report to where you're supposed to be. And…" She concluded, her face etched with concern for her friends, "…take care of yourselves. I don't want to see any of you come back as undead."

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"There are too many!" Leliana cried out, pointing, as she and Evelyn darted in and out of the fray, slashing and stabbing at the undead. "The knights are about to be overrun and Morrigan is exhausted."

Looking in the direction her red-headed companion was pointing, Evelyn could see Ser Perth and his knights dangerously pressed as Dwyn the dwarf continued fighting, even though his two thugs had already fallen. She could also see Berwick firing arrows as rapidly as possible but, even though the majority of his arrows seemed to find their mark, the numbers of undead did not seem to diminish. Further back she could see Morrigan, her mana near depletion, leaning on her staff, catching a breath, after launching a fireball much weaker than its predecessors.

"I don't think we can last much longer." A tired Leliana gasped as a runner dashed to Evelyn.

"Milady! Warden Alistair sends this message: We need help now! We are about to be overrun." Pausing for a moment, the messenger added, "He also told me to tell you that if you have any tricks up your sleeve, now would be a good time to use them."

Sighing, Evelyn first addressed the messenger, "Tell Alistair help is on its way." As the runner departed, Evelyn turned to Leliana and stripped off her clothes.

"What are you doing?" A shocked Leliana cried out as the sounds of battle grew louder, "We don't have time for whatever it is you're doing. We should be in the fight."

"I'll explain everything later." Evelyn promised, giving herself over to her power as she ignored her companion's softly gasped, "Maker's breath!"

Feeling a surge of power as the now familiar golden aura surrounded her, Evelyn leaped up into the sky and quickly climbed up into the air, astonishing the Orlesian bard.

"I said I'd explain everything later! Now, get back to the fight!" Evelyn called down to Leliana. "I'll hit them from above, but I need you and Morrigan to help!"

Fighting down her fear, Leliana drew her bow and began launching arrows into the undead attackers as Morrigan, having quaffed down a lyrium potion, launched yet more fireballs. Looking down on the melee, Evelyn launched beams of light energy from her hands, disintegrating the undead as the light impacted. Looking up, one of the knights cried out, "Andraste herself has come to our rescue!" With a scream of "Andraste!" the Redcliffe knights surged forward, their blows felling the undead all around them as Evelyn continued her light barrage from on high.

"Damn." Evelyn swore in a soft voice as she heard Andraste's name being called out. "This I don't need." Noticing that the renewed vigor of the Redcliffe knights' defense was now pushing the undead back, Evelyn called down to Leliana, "Keep pushing at them. I'm going to the village to help Alistair and the others."

"One falls and another ten seem to take their place!" Tomas, one of the militia members, cried out as Izzy leaped up, saving the poor man from the undead creature that had nearly bashed in his skull.

"Keep fighting!" Sten barked out as he wielded his two-handed sword as a cleaver, cutting a wide swathe all around him.

"I hope Evelyn got our message." Alistair remarked grimly as he bashed an undead to the ground with his shield, following that up with a sword hack that removed the carrion's head from its body.

Just then, almost as if in answer to his prayer, a beam of light struck a cluster of undead gathered around Murdock who had been knocked senseless to the ground. Bathed in the golden light, the walking corpses disintegrated.

"What?" Alistair exclaimed his eyes looking up towards the origin point of the light beams. Spying the radiant figure of a young woman—and not just any young woman, but that of Evelyn—flying through the air, surrounded by a golden aura, the former templar could only stand in shocked disbelief until Evelyn's sharp voice combined with Izzy's rough nudging roused him from his stupor.

"I'll explain everything later!" Evelyn called down, "Right now, I need you and Sten to rally the villagers and help me push those walking corpses back."

Shaking himself back into reality, Alistair did as he was told. "Right everyone. Push now!" The ex-templar's sword and shield, combined with Sten's controlled swings, Izzy's ferocity, and Evelyn's beams of light turned the tide of battle.

Watching as the undead faded back towards the castle, Evelyn sighed with relief. "Meet me back at the camp." She ordered, "I'll fetch the others and then I'll explain everything."

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Seeing the others already waiting for her at the camp, Evelyn slowly descended to the ground. Allowing herself to change back into her normal form, the young redhead staggered momentarily, only to be caught by a concerned Alistair.

"Thank you, Alistair. Changing back and forth is getting easier, but it's still a bit of a strain." Holding out her hand, Evelyn asked, "Can I have my clothes back, Leliana."

"Sure." The Orlesian bard responded as she handed Evelyn's belted loincloth and top back to her.

"Thank you." Her lips turning up into a shaky smile, Evelyn explained, "One of the hassles about changing is that my light form burns my clothing, so I have to take it off."

Averting his eyes until Evelyn had finished dressing, Alistair then asked the questions that were on everyone's lips, "All right, Evelyn. What happened to you…who are you…what are you?"

"Who am I?" Evelyn repeated with pride in her voice, "I'm Evelyn Cousland, the adopted daughter of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland." Pausing for a moment, she then repeated the next questions, "As to what am I and what happened to me…that's going to take a bit longer to explain."

"We have time." Sten laconically observed. "Are you saarebas?"

"Am I a mage?" Evelyn responded as Sten nodded his head. "No." She replied, shaking her head vehemently. "And yes, I've been tested numerous times as a child. I have no magical aptitude."

"She is no mage." Morrigan concurred. "Such is obvious. Her abilities are not derived from mana or lyrium."

"What are you, then?" Alistair asked. "I don't know anyone who can make themselves glow and fly and shoot beams of light from their hands. Well…mages shoot lightning, fire, and frost from their hands, but I don't think that's what you're shooting."

"It isn't." Evelyn replied, shaking her head. Then, heaving a deep sigh, she tried to answer her fellow Warden's question. "It's kind of difficult to explain what I am."

"You are human…aren't you?" Alistair asked in a voice that was half kidding—half serious.

"Yes!" Evelyn emphatically responded, "Well…" She then qualified, "I guess you could say I'm mostly human."

"Mostly human?" Alistair exclaimed, arching his eyebrows.

"Yes." Evelyn replied in a low voice. "You see, my father was human, but my mother…" she rushed, "…wastheavatarofacosmicentitycalledInfinity."

"Huh?" Alistair interjected, "What? What do you mean avatar?"

"And do you mean by cosmic entity?" Leliana inquired, her eyes narrowing. "Are you claiming to be Andraste and from the Maker?"

"No." Evelyn shook her head vigorously. "I am NOT Andraste! And I most definitely WAS NOT sent by the Maker or a child of the Maker!"

"The Warden speaks the truth." Morrigan quietly, but firmly, stated. "My mother knew this to be so."

"What do you mean?" Alistair inquired, turning his attention to the dark-haired witch. "Are you saying that Flemeth knew all along about Evelyn, but didn't tell any of us?"

"That is exactly what I am saying." Morrigan tartly responded, "Are you deaf…or dumb as well? I know little myself…" Morrigan confessed, "Only what Mother has told me. But there are…forces and entities…in the cosmos that are far older and greater than Andraste and the Maker."

"Greater than the Maker?" Leliana laughed.

"Far greater." Morrigan responded with a grave face. "Mother told me the names of some of them: The One Above All who no one knows, The Three in One who judges all and answers only to The One and to whom all but The One answer, Infinity and Eternity who look after all of space and time, Chaos and Order locked in their endless war, and there are others such as the World Devourer and the Phoenix. They exist in one form or another in all of the multiverses and can cross over from one to another as we travel from Ferelden to Orlais…"

"Multiverses?" A quiet, until now, Sten, interrupted. "Explain further."

"I do not understand much myself." Morrigan again confessed, "I do not think even mother fully grasps the concept of multiverses." Sighing, the apostate mage knelt down on the ground, bidding the others to do likewise. "This will take some time." She explained, "So, you might as well make yourselves comfortable." Morrigan then attempted to explain, as much as she was able to find the words to do so, the concept of multiple Thedas and other worlds and dimensions.

"I think I have a headache." Alistair groaned dramatically as Morrigan finished her lecture.

"I'm not sure I can even hope to understand all this." Leliana added, her face reflecting a measure of skepticism.

"This is all contrary to the qun." Sten declared

"And yet…" Evelyn declared, "It's the truth. I've seen these other dimensions and worlds…"

"In your dreams…" Alistair interjected.

"Yes." Evelyn nodded her head, "In my dreams. It seems that one of my abilities is that I can travel through what Doctor Strange calls the astral plane."

"Doctor Strange?" Alistair chuckled.

"Stephen Strange." Evelyn replied her facial expression stony and serious. "He is a mage on his Earth—and a very powerful one from what little I saw. He said he was the Sorcerer Supreme of that Earth.

"So…what is he then, some sort of First First Enchanter?" Alistair inquired half-joking.

"I got the impression it's a bit more than that." Evelyn responded, "He told me that his job was to protect his Earth from mystical threats from that and other dimensions. Anyway, there are no Circles or templars where he comes from."

"No Circles…no templars?" Leliana exclaimed, "Assuming this is all true—and you have to admit…" The Orlesian bard pointed out, her face still reflecting her skepticism, "…you are asking us to accept an awful lot. For instance, how do they keep their mages under control?"

"I don't know much myself." Evelyn replied with a note of challenge in her voice, "But I'll tell you what he told me and you can decide what to believe or not to believe."

"Fair enough." Alistair responded, "Go ahead…we're listening."

Much…much…later, Alistair stood up and shook his head. "I don't know what to say." He declared, quickly raising a hand as he saw the angry look on Evelyn's face. "Now…now…don't get all glowy on us…please don't! I believe you believe what you say is true." The ex-templar sincerely stated, "It's just that a lot of what you said…are you sure it's not some demon trying to trick you?"

"That's what I'm thinking." Leliana interjected, adding, "I think you fully believe that you are telling the truth. But demons…"

"Demons can be persuasive." Sten interrupted. "Perhaps you are being misled."

"I'm not." Evelyn shook her head and sighed, "But I can see that you'll never believe me—and I guess it is asking a lot for you to do so. Worlds and universes full of miracles who fly, turn invisible, are stronger than a hundred men, who travel the distances between the stars as easily as we travel from one village to another…that is asking a lot for you to accept based on my word alone. I wish I could show you these people…these wonders. Then you would see just how…marvelous…it all is."

"I'm sorry, Evelyn…" Alistair replied, only to be cut off by a voice calling out to the group.

"Hello the camp! Permission to come closer?"

"That's Bann Teagan's voice!" Alistair declared. Raising his voice, the former templar called out, "Come closer, my lord! Be welcome!"

"My thanks." The bann replied as he drew closer to the where Evelyn and the others were gathered. "I wish to offer my thanks for your aid this night and to ask a boon of you."

"Anything, my lord." Alistair quickly answered, cutting off Evelyn's reply.

"I need to ask you to meet me tomorrow morning at the mill." The bann pleaded, "I must find out what is happening at the castle and I need your assistance."

"Why don't we go now?" Evelyn declared, "We're up to it."

"You might be, milady." Teagan replied, "But my knights are not. They have fought hard and have taken losses—although the losses could have been far worse without your help." Shaking his head, the bann remarked, "They also all bring strange tales of a marvel. Andraste Herself coming to their aid on angel's wings!"

"They were fighting hard and were scared and stressed." Evelyn smiled back, "It was probably just their imagination…"

"Just so." Teagan nodded his head in agreement. "People in dire straits will often look to the miraculous…"

"Such as ashes." Sten grumbled.

"Perhaps." Teagan sighed, "In any event…will you be at the mill tomorrow morning?"

"We will." Evelyn nodded her head, quickly hushing Sten as he looked like he was about to object. "We need to ascertain the condition of the arl and do what we can to aid him."

"My thanks, milady Cousland." Teagan politely bowed and then turned to leave, "Tomorrow then."

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"Can someone again explain to me why we're doing this?" Morrigan grumbled as the party emerged from the hidden passage underneath Redcliffe castle into what appeared to be the dungeon.

"We're here…" Evelyn sighed, "Because Teagan decided to be a dumbass and go alone into what is almost certainly a trap with Isolde."

"That's what I thought." Morrigan growled, "Now…explain to me why we are doing this when the fool is most likely already dead."

"Because we need to know what's going on." Evelyn replied very much as if she were lecturing a child, "And the best way to do that is to go along with Teagan's plan. Look…" The redheaded Warden sighed, "I know this is a stupid plan and there is a strong probability that Teagan is already dead. But…he might not be. Whoever or whatever controls the castle didn't kill Isolde. There's a good chance that he, she, or it has not killed Teagan. There also might be other survivors such as that blacksmith's daughter. We owe it to them to at least try to find out whether they're still alive or not."

"Your altruism is misplaced." Sten critiqued. "Redcliffe is a lost cause. Even though the village was saved, the survivors are no match for the darkspawn."

"I'm not so sure about that, Sten." Evelyn countered as the party, advancing cautiously, checked each of the cells as they passed them by. "We didn't lose many men either amongst the militia or the knights and morale is high."

"Because they thought Andraste came to their rescue." Alistair caustically remarked, "Wonder what they'd think if they discovered that she was some sort of…"

"Thing? Is that what you meant to say, Alistair?" Evelyn snapped, stopping the party's progress as she glared at her fellow Warden.

"I don't know!" Alistair responded, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "I don't know who…or what…you are. Morrigan insists that you're not a mage…"

"She isn't." The dark-haired apostate declared forcefully.

"So…what are you?" Alistair insisted, "An abomination of some sort?"

"What?" Evelyn cried out, resisting the urge to transform into her other form. "Are you saying I'm some sort of demon…or possessed by a demon?"

"Yes!" Alistair blurted out, "No!" He quickly amended, "I don't know! I don't know what to think."

Calming down, Evelyn replied in as measured a voice as possible, "Alistair…this is all new to me too. I'm trying to figure out who I am and what I can do myself. None of us…with the exception of Izzy and I…have known each other for very long." She said, addressing the entire group, "So, I know you don't have any reason to trust me, but I'm asking you to do so anyway. I promise you…no demon is possessing me. My thoughts and my soul are my own. I'm going ahead to find out what's going on in this castle, and then, once I sort things out here at Redcliffe, I'm going to fight this Blight and find some way to stop and kill the Archdemon. I'd like to have you with me, but if you don't feel that you can trust me, then I'll understand if you choose to leave. But…if you're going to leave…do it right now…before we go any further. The way back is clear and you can pick up your belongings at the camp and leave. I'm going ahead. Decide what you want to do."

Evelyn then began walking ahead. The first noise she heard was her loyal companion's paws on the floor as Izzy took his customary place beside her. Then, Evelyn heard the unmistakable sound of chainmail and Alistair's low voiced, "All right…all right." Then, she caught sight of Leliana's red hair as she took her position to the rear, readying her bow. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied Morrigan, also taking a position at the rear where she would be most effective. Finally, she heard Sten's heavy foot striking the pavement as he fell in behind her and Izzy and next to Alistair. Her lips turning up in a slight smile, the young Warden pressed forward, only to signal a halt as she heard a low voiced, plaintive cry.

"Someone help! Please!"

Approaching the cell where the call originated, Evelyn and the others spied a dark haired man wearing what appeared to be tattered mage's robes. At once spotting the tell-tale traces of lash marks on his back and the scars from hot irons on his arms and chest, the young Warden began to feel the power surge within her. "This man's been tortured." She said in a low, dangerous voice as she again barely managed to restrain herself.

"You are correct.' Morrigan observed. Turning to the man, she asked, "Why are you in there and why were they torturing you?"

"I poisoned the arl." The man confessed.

"Well that explains why he was being tortured." Alistair huffed in a caustic voice.

"That doesn't justify torture like this." Evelyn replied, "Try him and if found guilty, execute him—yes. But torture—no—never."

"You're too naïve." Morrigan chided, "Surely your father had torture cells in Highever's dungeon."

"As a matter of fact…" Evelyn turned back to the dark haired apostate, "No…he didn't. And believe me, I've been through every inch of that castle—including places that not even mother and father knew about. I can't speak for those who came before Father, but my father and mother never used torture—they didn't have to. Turning to the man, the young Warden began her interrogation. "Who are you and why did you poison the arl?"

"My name is Jowan." The imprisoned mage replied, "And I am an apostate from the Circle."

"One point in his favor already." Morrigan interjected sarcastically.

"Hush, Morrigan." Evelyn commanded, "All right, Jowan…why did you run away from the Circle and why did you poison the arl?"

"I had fled the Circle because it was discovered I was a blood mage." Jowan admitted.

"That's why he's an apostate." Alistair quipped.

"A close friend of mine tried to help me escape the Circle with Lily—an initiate. We had fallen in love with each other." Jowan began only to be interrupted by Leliana.

"Surely…" Leliana remarked, "If she were an initiate she would have taken her vows."

"She had." Jowan replied, his head hung low. "We wanted to run off together—to start a new life with just ourselves. We didn't want to hurt anyone! We were in love!"

"What happened?" Evelyn asked with a note of sympathy in her voice.

"We had nearly escaped with the help of a friend." Jowan answered back. "We'd destroyed my phylactery…"

"The templars would have used that to track him down." Alistair helpfully supplied.

Jowan continued, "…and we were almost out the door when we were stopped by Gregoir, the Knight Commander, and Irving, the First Enchanter." The despondent mage confessed, "It was a trap. They'd known all along. I lashed out…I wasn't thinking…I used blood magic. I escaped, but Lily and Alara…"

"Lily would be the initiate?" Evelyn queried.

"Yes." Jowan nodded his head, "Alara was my friend. Alara Surana. She'd just completed her Harrowing so she was now a full-fledged mage. She helped me because we'd known each other our entire lives and because she wanted to see me and Lily happy."

"This Alara…" The young Warden inquired again, her voice this time a mixture of compassion and foreboding, "Was she an elf? Did she have blonde hair and a tattoo on her face—around her eyes?"

"Yes." Jowan nodded his head, "Yes, she is an elf and yes she did have the tattoo you described. She got it on a dare when she was an apprentice. Did you know her? Do you know what happened to her? Please…if you know…tell me! I've been trying and trying and can't find out anything! Maybe they sent her to Aenor—the Chantry prison for mages and priests."

"I think I might know." Evelyn sighed as she addressed not just the imprisoned mage, but the others in her party. "Just before Arl Howe's attack on my home, I had a dream. I'm sorry, Jowan…" The young Warden looked kindly on the man standing behind the jail bars, "…in my dream, I saw a young elf fitting her description…she was about my age. She was surrounded by mages and templars and they were all chanting something in a low and solemn voice. Then one of the mages and one of the templars—I think they must be Irving and Gregoir—approached her. Irving looked kind of sad…Gregoir, on the other hand, had this grim look on his face. They each uttered some words and then placed their hands on her forehead. She cried out once and then…nothing. Then another templar. This one a young man with a sad look on his face..."

"That was probably Cullen." Jowan noted somberly. "He and Alara were…close. Gregoir and Irving might well have insisted on him being there as a punishment both to him and her."

"I don't know." Evelyn shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, he approached her with a branding iron. Gregoir and Irving again uttered some words and this Cullen branded her forehead…"

"They…" Jowan choked, "They made Alara Tranquil. They did to her what they had planned to do to me!"

"They cut off her connection to the Fade." Morrigan explained, the disgust on her face obvious.

"They probably did it because she aided a blood mage." Alistair replied, offering a weak defense.

"But she didn't know I was a blood mage at the time!" Jowan protested, "I didn't think anyone knew! But Irving knew and so did Gregoir. Why didn't they just come and get me? Why did they set a trap for her?"

"They were probably looking to catch other blood mages." Alistair sighed. Turning to Alara, he gave his fellow Warden an apologetic look, "I don't condone what they did…"

"I'm glad you don't." Evelyn snapped back, her lips drawn taut.

"But the danger that blood magic creates…" Alistair began only to be cut off by Morrigan.

"You do realize that the Wardens utilize blood magic—do you not? Whatever it takes." The apostate concluded.

"That might be the Warden's creed." Evelyn announced, "But that's not the way I'm going to do things." Turning her attention back to Jowan, Evelyn continued her interrogation, "Ok…once again…who ordered you to poison Arl Eamon?"

"Teyrn…I mean King…Loghain." Jowan answered back. "He said he would give the Circle more freedom and that the charges against me and Lily would be dismissed."

"Again calling himself King." Alistair grumbled only to once again be hushed by Evelyn.

"So…you poisoned the Arl. What caused the undead to rise here?" Evelyn inquired, "Surely not your poisoning of the arl."

"No." Jowan shook his head. "The arl's son…Connor…he possesses magical aptitude."

"Then he should have been taken to the Circle." Leliana observed.

"His mother didn't want to do that." Jowan replied. "Part of the reason…" He explained, "…was that she didn't want to let him go."

"Understandable for a mother to feel that way." Evelyn observed.

"But the other reason…" Jowan continued, "…was that she comes from a very pious and status conscious Orlesian family. She did not like the idea of the other noble families in Ferelden and Orlais thinking her family or the Guerrins were magically tainted."

"And now we hear the real reason." Morrigan tartly commented.

"Did Arl Eamon know about his son?" Leliana asked.

"No…at least he never spoke to me about it." Jowan replied.

"I'm sure he didn't." Alistair declared, coming to the aid of the man who had consigned him to a monastery as a boy.

"I'm sorry, Alistair." Evelyn shook her head. "But he had to have known. He would have been consulted about the hiring of Jowan and he would have spoken with him. Added to that…" Evelyn tapped her index finger against her chin, "…he didn't seem to do a very thorough background check on our mage here. Even the most cursory of investigations would have revealed Jowan as an apostate. Now…why would the arl of an important arling such as Redcliffe and belonging to one of the most prestigious families of Ferelden hire on a court mage without doing the most basic of reference checks?"

"He wouldn't want anyone to know he was hiring that mage." Leliana knowingly nodded her head. "You're right, Evelyn. He would have to have known about Connor having magic ability and Jowan being an apostate."

"So…" Evelyn queried, turning her attention back to Jowan. "Although, I've got a sinking feeling I know what your answer's going to be…tell me anyway. Exactly when did the undead begin to rise?"

"Almost immediately after Arl Eamon took ill." Jowan replied. "The arlessa thought I had brought about the attacks. So…she had me tortured. The tortures grew worse as I kept denying that I was causing the attacks."

"Then, it must be the boy." Sten concluded.

"I think so." Jowan nodded his head in agreement. "He might have made a deal with a demon for his father's life."

Sighing, Evelyn shook her head, "As if this couldn't get any worse. So…what do we do with you?"

"I know I don't deserve it." Jowan pleaded, "But if you give me the chance, I'd like to do something to make up…to atone…for what I have done."

"Like what?" Evelyn asked.

"I don't know." Jowan honestly replied, "But I'd like to help out in some way or another."

"Kill him." Alistair flatly declared. "He poisoned the arl and is at least partly responsible for what has happened here."

"No!" Leliana shook her head, "Can't you see that he wants to atone. Shouldn't he be allowed the opportunity to make up for what he has done."

Sensing that there was more to Leliana's entreaty than just a plea for mercy, Evelyn thought on the bard's words as well as her fellow Grey Warden's.

"Tis criminal to keep him caged up like this." Morrigan observed. "Free him or kill him—either way he would be released."

"This comes from not controlling your mages properly." Sten primly observed. "Do with him as you wish."

"Come with us, Jowan." Evelyn commanded. "Perhaps we can find a way for you to make up for what you have done."

As Jowan began to object to Evelyn's command, the Grey Warden cut him off, "Jowan! I'm offering you an opportunity here. If you insist on not going with us, then you'll either have to stay here locked up or I'll have to let Alistair have his way. I'd prefer that you accompany us. That way, you could perform some good. But—the choice is yours."

"Very well." The mage reluctantly agreed. "As I seem to have no choice, I shall accompany you."

"Good choice." Evelyn replied. "Now…" She commanded as she unlocked the door to Jowan's cell. "Let's get moving."

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"All right." Alistair quipped as the party, now accompanied by Ser Perth and his knights, neared the doors to the main hall of Redcliffe castle. "Why haven't you gone all glowy yet?"

"I almost have on more than one occasion." Evelyn replied. "Nearly let it happen in that fight against the revenant, but you managed to finish it off before I had to do it." Pausing for a moment, she explained, "I don't want to do it unless I absolutely have to. Besides being rough on my clothing, the fewer people who know—the better."

"I guess I can see that." Alistair nodded his head. "I'm still not sure myself…"

"Well…" Evelyn snapped, "You need to get sure. I need people with me who trust me and who I can trust. If you don't fall into either of those categories, better we go our separate ways now."

"I trust you!" Alistair protested, "And you can trust me. It's just that it's all so very…"

"New and more than a little frightening?" Evelyn interrupted, softening her voice tone, "Yeah…I know. If it's any relief to you, I feel the same." Reaching the oaken double doors, Evelyn took a deep breath, "Well…ready to meet whatever's on the other side?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Alistair responded, hefting sword and shield.

"Then…" Evelyn commanded as she opened the doors with a flourish, "Let's do it."

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Directing most of her ire at the recovering Teagan and Isolde standing next to him, Evelyn practically screamed at the nobles, "Idiots!" As Isolde took a breath to object, Evelyn hushed her with a glare, "Shut up! Not a Maker damned word out of you! Take a look around. See those men and women…" She made a sweeping gesture with her arms, pointing to the wounded being treated and the dead carried away. "You're responsible for this."

"No!" Isolde cried out, "It was the demon possessing Connor."

"No—it was you. You, Eamon, and Teagan. All three of you knew Connor was a mage and instead of sending him to the Circle where he could get the training he needed, you sent out for an apostate mage who just happened to be a wanted blood mage hired by Loghain to poison the arl. Smart thinking!" Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Now we have to clean up the mess."

"What is he doing here?" Isolde exclaimed, pointing at Jowan. "He was locked in the dungeon."

"We found him in the cell where you put him after you had him tortured." Evelyn answered back, glaring daggers at the arlessa. "He's here helping to clean up the mess. Now—shut up and let's hear what he has to say." Turning to the formerly imprisoned mage, Evelyn asked, "Jowan—you do know how to fix this—don't you?"

"There is only one logical solution." Sten interrupted.

"No!" Evelyn responded in a sharp voice. "No way am I going to be responsible for the murder of a child. Not going to happen—not on my watch."

"He's not a child anymore." Teagan countered, "He's been possessed. He's an abomination."

"He's my child!" Isolde cried out, "Please…don't!"

"We're not." Evelyn answered back, silencing all opposition with a glare. Turning to Jowan, she again asked, "Tell me you have a solution."

"Yes." The blood mage replied, "But you won't like it."

"No surprise there." Evelyn replied. "I haven't liked anything about this caper yet. So…lay it on me."

"What?" Jowan started, not understanding what Evelyn was saying.

Sighing, Evelyn rephrased her request, "Tell me what your plan is."

"Very well." Jowan took a deep breath. "It involves sending a mage into the Fade to persuade or force the demon possessing Connor to leave him. But…" The mage cautioned, "…there is a…sacrifice…involved. A great deal of life force in the form of blood is required to power the ritual."

"How much blood are we talking?" Evelyn asked, dreading the answer.

"A lot…all of it, I'm afraid." Jowan answered. "Someone will have to sacrifice their life in order to send a mage into the Fade."

"Let it be me." Isolde interjected, stepping forward to volunteer. "The Warden was right. I am responsible for what happened here. If I can free my son and at the same time atone for my actions, then I will gladly do so."

"No." Alistair shook his head. "There has to be another way."

"There must be an alternative." Leliana remarked, pleading with her eyes to Evelyn.

"The Circle." Alistair cried out. "Surely the mages at the Circle would know."

"It would take too long for help to arrive from there." Teagan shook his head dejectedly. "What if there's a delay and the demon possessing Connor should decide to again take over?"

"There is another solution." Evelyn took a deep breath. "I can go into the Fade and I can do it without a blood sacrifice or lyrium."

"You're no mage." Jowan looked askance at the young Warden. "How can you enter the Fade?"

"I can." Evelyn answered back, looking the blood mage square in the eyes. "And no one will have to die for me to do it."

"What is involved in this?" Jowan inquired, his curiosity aroused, "There has to be a magical component."

"There is." Evelyn admitted. "A mage told me about it. It normally does require a mage to carry it out, but a non-mage possessing certain…abilities…can do it."

"What sort of abilities?" Teagan inquired.

"I don't have time to explain now." Evelyn replied as she signaled for Sten to escort the two nobles and Jowan out of the chamber. "Right now, I have to go get Connor. Go with Sten, he'll see to it you're safe. Jowan…go with them."

"How do you intend to accomplish this task?" Teagan further inquired, "You say it involves no blood magic or lyrium—yet normally a mage carries out the ritual. What is this rite?"

"Explanations can wait." Evelyn curtly replied. "If you want Connor back, you need to do as I say now."

"What?!" An astounded Isolde gasped only to be silenced by Morrigan.

"Be silent now." The witch glared, "She can do as she says. As to whether she succeeds or not—that is another question."

Taking a deep breath, as Sten all but shoved the two nobles out of the chamber, Evelyn stripping off her clothing, transformed into her powered form and said the words that Doctor Strange had taught her, "May the All Seeing Eye of Agamotto guide me to where I must go. Take me to Connor and the demon possessing him." As a portal opened, Evelyn turned to Alistair and issued her orders, "I'm counting on you, Alistair. Give me the time I need to do what I have to do, but, if I fail, then you're going to have to be the one to lead the others. You can do it—just believe in yourself."

"All right, Evelyn.' The ex-templar sighed, "I'll do it. But please…come back."

"That's the plan." Evelyn smirked and then took a deep breath, "Time to do this."

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Crossing the portal, Evelyn remembered what Dr. Strange had told her not so long ago in a conversation in the astral plane at his Sanctum Sanctorum.

"Remember, Evelyn, if you are killed in the astral plane, there is a strong probability that your physical body might die as well."

"I noticed that I could use my powers and abilities here as well as in the real world."

"Yes, you can. Also, depending on how your powers work and other factors, your powers might be more or less effective here in the astral plane. But be warned…" He cautioned, "…your weaknesses could also be magnified."

"So…in other words, in some ways I might be stronger, but in other ways weaker?"

"Precisely. Best to always be on your guard."

"What are you? Where is my son?" A demanding voice called out to her.

Recognizing immediately the facial features of Arl Eamon, Evelyn replied, "I'm a friend. I'm here to find Connor and rescue him and you."

"You do not look human." Eamon answered back in a harsh voice, "Why should I trust you?"

"Because you don't have a choice." Evelyn replied, "I'm here to save your son and hopefully help get you out of this mess that you helped to create. Best thing for you to do is to just stay where you are and try not to make things worse. If I succeed, this nightmare will hopefully be over soon." She then took off in flight, cruising through the astral plane until she spotted what had to be the dream form of Connor standing in a facsimile of his room.

"You do not belong here. Leave this place now!" The possessed Connor demanded as Evelyn set down. "A fair bargain was reached. It is not for you to try to break it."

"I'm not going to just let you have this boy." Evelyn responded as light lanced from her hand, immediately dispelling the demon. "That was too easy." Evelyn said as she let out a breath. "I have a feeling it'll get rougher."

The way did prove more difficult for the superhero as she wended her way through the Fade, encountering demons and spirits until she reached her final goal—the desire demon who had taken possession of Connor's soul. Steeling herself for the final confrontation, Evelyn approached.

"If you're smart, demon, you'll get out of here now." Evelyn demanded as she landed in front of the demon

"You have no business here outsider." The demon responded. "This is my domain. But…we should not be so quick to fight. You are powerful—but so am I." The demon's lips then turned up in a lascivious grin, "Why don't we talk first. Surely there is some mutual accommodation that can be reached?"

"I don't think so." Evelyn answered back as she let loose with a light barrage, temporarily stunning the demon.

The demon recovered quickly though, freezing Evelyn. "Ah…a weakness." The desire demon purred as it readied its next spell, one that tore at the very fiber of Evelyn's being. Fighting the numbing cold and the tendrils pulling at her soul, Evelyn felt her strength literally sapping away. Feeling her life force ebbing away, Evelyn steeled herself for one final effort. Her body radiating hear and light, she felt the ice cocoon sealing her begin to melt. Concentrating, Evelyn put everything she had into one final effort, crying out as her cage shattered, the brilliant light emanating from her dispelling the dark force tendrils. Glaring at the now frightened desire demon, Evelyn cut loose with a stream of light missiles, shredding the evil spirit. As the last slivers of the demon slowly disappeared, Evelyn felt the tug of wakefulness.

Awakening, the young Warden looked to Alistair, "Did it work? Is Connor free?"

"Yes." Her fellow Grey Warden smiled. "He appears to be free of the demon's taint and is now resting. Whatever you did—it worked"

"Good." Evelyn replied in a weak voice. "Sleep now…for real this time."

"Rest easy, my friend…" Evelyn heard Leliana's soft voice, "You have earned it."

Sorry for the delay, but, as you can see, this was a long chapter and the next one might be just as long. I'm not going to go through all the quests in DA:O, just the ones that I think are most important for Evelyn's story. Next up will be the Circle where you'll see even more Marvel heroes making their appearance as Evelyn begins to find a few who strike a chord with her. Evelyn's journey is just beginning—I hope you all enjoy the ride.