I have my final final due tomorrow, and I'm just gonna destress with a new chapter, how bouts? I think so. Yes.


Crista stared at the battered and bloody body on the castle floor. She felt her body relax when she saw his chest rising and falling. A deep breath wheezed its way into her lungs.

"I just shield-bashed the shit outta Teagan!" she called, hoping Míriel had enough in her for a heal. She was encouraged by a half coughing laugh that stuttered its way out of Teagan's body.

"Barbaric trollop!" Isolde shrieked as she hurried to help—or at least look like she was helping. Míriel was doing all the legwork with her magic. "How dare you so crassly address a noble after assaulting—"

"Stow your bile, Orleasan slag." Crista growled earning an aghast gasp. Ban Teagan diffused the situation by standing up on his own power, though he looked more than a little disoriented.

"Teagan! Teagan, are you alright." She simpered. Crista couldn't help but wonder if Lady Isolde was the reason Teagan hadn't been at Redcliffe castle when all of this had happened. She only knew for certain that she preferred the hoards of angry corpses to this worthless fop.

"I am …better now. I think." Teagan seemed to steady himself before finishing. "My mind is my own again."

"Blessed Andraste." Lady Isolde whimpered. "I would never have forgiven myself if you'd died. Not after I brought you here. The fool I am." Her weary gaze turned towards the reassembled pack of Grey Wardens, seemingly forgetting about the shouting contest she forfeited. Then again, priorities. "Please… Connor's not responsible for this. There must be some way we can save him."

"I certainly don't see any way this can end happy." Crista sighed, her head suddenly feeling very heavy…her shoulders as well.

"This child is… an abomination." Ben half groaned. "I don't even…" He shook his head. "Is there a way to make this stop without….?"

"He is not always the demon you saw." Isolde was eager to counter argue, of course she would be. She was a mother. A desperate mother. "Connor is still inside him, and some times he breaks through. Please. I just want to protect him."

"Isn't that what started this?" Teagan reminded. "You hired the mage to teach Connor in secret. To protect him."

"If they discovered that Connor had magic…then…they'd take him away." Isolde said it as if it was obvious. As though she'd made the only choice she could have possibly made. As though thousands of mothers before her hadn't made that very choice, and most of them hadn't had the options that the Arlessa would have. "I thought if, he learned just enough to hide it..then…"

"What are our options here?" Crista asked. "I don't much care about motivations and the shoulda-coulda-woulda's. We have a situation, and no amount of justification or excuses can fix it. It falls to us. Now."

"I wouldn't normally suggest slaying a child, but…he's an abomination. I'm not sure there's any choice." Alistair was one big knot of wincing reproach. The templar training buried in there was relatively strict… Templar…hm. What would a Templar do? Smite first, ask questions later, no doubt.

"I do not like the idea of hurting the boy either, but…" Ben shook his head.

"Connor is my nephew." Teagan stated in a tone that was attempting to salvage some of its host's boldness. "But…" he wavered. "He is also possessed by a demon." His gaze held Isolde's desperate one. "Death would be…merciful."

"No! What-What about the mage? He could know something of this demon….if he still lives. We should speak to him."

"Not an option." Crista gruffed. "Besides, you tortured him already. Your obviously didn't trust him then."

"I would agree." Teagan interceded, which helped Crista relax. She was more than willing to take responsibility for that decision, but damn if they didn't need to focus right now. "Anything he told us would be of questionable value at best."

"Can we do nothing else?" Isolde's tone rang hollow.

"Killing the child is only the quickest course." Míriel's tiny voice seemed stronger with the armor of knowledge. "But to say that it's the only choice would be a lie."

"What…" Isolde's voice trembled with the pain of strangled hope.

"We can confront the demon in the fade, though… not easily." Míriel explained, drawing more towards the front of the group. All eyes were trained on her now, and she was getting much better at handling the weight of hungry gazes, if Crista had anything to say about it (and of course she did).

"What do you mean? The demon is within Connor, is it not?" Teagan's questions were completely legitimate. If Crista saw demons, she tended to think they were physical. After all, the Shades that they'd encountered were solid enough against her shield and sword.

"No. Not physically. It lies in the Fade. No doubt it approached him there and convinced him to make a deal…for his father, obviously. It controls the boy from there. We can follow that connection however, and do battle with its true form."

"So you can enter the Fade, and kill the demon without hurting my boy?" Isolde's question caused everyone to stare at Míriel again.

"Is it possible to?… yes." Míriel began, and Crista sensed a serious 'but' in there. "Are we able to… not at this juncture. Entering the fade requires lyrium as well as numerous mages to perform the ritual."

"Neither of which we have… I understand. Can we do nothing else?"

"Where is Arl Eamon?" It was Ben who asked, mildly concerned over not having the Arl close at hand to protect.

"Upstairs, in his room. I think the demon has been keeping him alive." Isolde murmured.

"So if we destroy the demon, then…?" Teagan ventured.

"Then my husband may perish, yes." Isolde seemed so tired.

"So…we could just accelerate his death, if we outright kill the demon?" Bral asked. When had she gotten back? Whelp. Crista could only assume the courtyard and knights therein had been informed at least.

"The Urn! The Urn of Sacred Ashes will save Eamon." Isolde cried.

"That… That's not something anyone even knows exits." Ben's voice was so laden with confusion, it was obvious he thought even trying for such a relic was ludicrous. How did one go from 'poison' to a search for a holy relic? Weren't there in-between steps? Certainly, there had to be healers…right?

"My husband funded the research of a scholar in Denerim. A brother Genitivi. He's been studying the inscriptions on Andraste's Birth rock. When Eamon fell ill, I sent the knights to speak to Genitivi. I had hoped that he had been able to locate the urn of sacred ashes itself. They were unable to locate Genitivi. In desperation, I sent more knights in search of the brother or some clue of the urn's location."

"Alright, this isn't that hard to figure out now. We're all aware of both problems, so let's focus on this one thing at a time, and make a plan from there." Crista said. "We have a boy possessed of a demon. The only way to safely remove this demon without harming the boy is to have a bunch of lyrium and mages…"

"You can find lyrium and mages at the Circle of Magi…if they would even do it." Alistair was the one to offer that tidbit.

"The Circle Tower is not far from here…" Míriel's voice trailed off as she stared at Alistair. He slowly turned to stare at her as well, something between their gazes igniting. It was as if you could see the idea blazing into existence in both of them at the same time.

"That…is an excellent point. One of the treaties is also for the Circle of Magi, after all."

"The tower is about a day's journey across the lake." Teagan rushed, a new hope lightning and hurrying his tone. "You could attempt to get the mages' help."

"Now… as to the Arl's condition." Crista sighed heavily, finding this to be a more worrisome task than dealing with the mages. She had every faith that Míriel's connection to the Circle would aid them with that… but this. "We have to consider that removing the demon from the equation will remove that protection from Eamon."

"We could always divide and conquer." Míriel suggested. Crista surveyed their tiny group of Wardens. She was nodding slowly as she began to understand where Míriel was going on this. "I have connections with the Circle."

"Connections?" Isolde surveyed her, her eyes making an obvious trek down her robes. It was as if the woman hadn't even noticed that Míriel was a mage until now.

"First Enchanter Irving was my mentor. I could take a contingent of our people to the tower while someone else leads a party to Denerim." Her eyes bounced first to Crista, but then quickly to Ben. Crista understood Míriel's distress. He had been so visceral in his hatred of Loghain that Míriel and Crista had both worried he would be very eager to take the fight to the man himself…

"That…doesn't sound safe." Ben began uneasy. Well, thank the Maker for that.

"I guess we'll have to take up the quest to find this relic." Crista said solemnly.

"No one else can." Teagan was practically grimacing with disappointment. "Even if I wished to do it myself, I cannot leave Redcliffe." Well, that would be obvious... Especially after seeing what happens to the place when Isolde is in charge of making the decisions. "Perhaps you could seek out the brother's home in Denerim and see if any clues remain on his whereabouts. It is the only place to begin the search, I think."

"We have to regroup with our party in the village…and I'm sure your knights will need more instruction." Crista's words were nearly an aside, a simple list of where to go first before setting off. She nodded, ideas cementing in her head. They really needed to address their party…

"But what will happen here? Connor will not remain passive forever!" Isolde reminded.

"That's a chance we'll have to take." Crista isn't willing to make this sacrifice. As much as she might resent Isolde…the idea of taking a child's life...She doesn't see how anyone could see that as anything but a last resort.

"I wish you luck, and may the Maker go with you." Teagan said with a determined nod.

It felt like a long trek back to Redcliffe, and there were many pit stops with people all vying for information. Crista tried to keep it simple. 'Stay as far away from the castle as you can. The Arl is sick an we're trying to fix it'. Short, simple, easily understood.

As they approached their companions, Ben's Tholly and Míriel's Fred charged out to greet them. The dogs didn't jump or bark, they only circled their chosen masters and trotted cheerfully by their sides. It was as if somehow the dogs knew that the air was too somber to convey any of their canine enthusiasm at the sight of their people. Void, maybe they were smart enough… Mabari. Almost unsettling intelligence.

"What news?" Leliana asked eagerly.

"We're going to have to split up." Míriel began. "We need a team to go to the Circle Tower and another team to discretely head to Denerim."

"Uh, if it's okay with you guys, I got some business to see to before we leave." Bral drawled, slinking away.

Ben stared after her and then to Crista. "Considering all the corpse grime she had to stealth through, I'm guessing she's gonna see about a bath."

"What's this about splitting our merry band, now?" Morrigan asked.

"I'm going to be taking a group to Denerim." Crista said. "Míriel's going to be leading a group to the Circle. I call Morrigan."

Míriel blinked in surprise, along with most everyone else. "Oh. Is that how we're doing this?"

"It seems the fastest way." Crista shrugged. "Besides, I really don't like the idea of Morrigan being near that tower. Too many Templars and not enough escape routes. No offense, Alistair."

"None. Taken."

"Right then." Míriel nodded. "I want Alistair." Grey Warden Mage returning to the tower with a Grey Warden Templar…good play there.

"Oh, you're so bold, Míriel." Crista hummed earning a wolfish smile from Morrigan, and a giggle from Leliana. Alistair actually blushed… dear man. Sometimes his naiveté was too adorable for words.

"What?" More owlish blinking from the sheltered circle mage and intinsified blushing from the sheltered templar recruit upon eye contact. Oh dear. This could be fun. "…I didn't…Never mind."

"Right. I'm calling Ben." Crista continued. "I suppose that means I'm taking Tholly as well. It'd be cruel and unusually not to."

"That's alright. I just assumed that Fred would be going wherever I was going." Míriel assured. "And I want Leliana on my team." A little more careful in her choice of wording now.

Crista nodded. "And I'm tapping Sten." She took a deep breath, trying to reason out what may lie ahead of them.

"That means I get Bral…wherever she is, I'm sure she's not pleased about that decision." Míriel said with a soft chuckle.

"Well, she's not here to bitch about it." Ben grumbled.

"It may do us good to try and rest for a few hours, and then set out under the cover of night." Míriel advised. "It's been a long day." She finished with a sigh. The group went their separate ways to see about lodging and beds. Crista was surprised to note Ben was walking back up the hill towards the windmill…no wait, he was going across that wooden bridge to a hut that was clinging to the cliff wall. Why bother braving that chasm? That wasn't an inn…just someone's home… Unless Ben knew something she didn't.

"Hey." Míriel's voice broke through her musings. "You alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Crista deflected, flinching back to reality.

"You said you came from Denerim." Was Míriel's only response. Crista nodded. "Are you worried about Loghain or getting through the city, or…"

"No. None of that. I know that city from it's high towers to it's grimy slums." Crista snorted softly. "Especially the slums." She shook her head, letting out a breath in hopes the slow seeping of air at a regulated pace would ease the tension in her chest and back. "I just…" she shook her head again, wishing she could just reset herself. "I wish I could see my family again." She explained.

"Why can't you? I'm technically going to see mine." Míriel bobbed her head back and forth as if to indicate a 'so-so' response. "Well… sort of."

Crista shook her head again, this time as a response. "The city's still dangerous. Even its underbelly won't be completely free from assjackles who want to make some coin off of Loghain's attempts to cover his flank." Crista felt like growling again. "Void. Remember Lothering?"

Míriel nodded remorsefully, her mouth flattening into an exaggerated line in distaste. "I suppose I see your point."

"And this quest for the ashes…it's too important to pussy-foot around with." Crista felt her resolve hardening, knowing what had to be done in spite of what she wanted. "Loghain won't always have the high ground." She reminded. "I'll just have to wait and check in on them later."

Míriel nodded. "I'm more worried about Ben and Morrigan."

"What? You think they won't get on well?" Crista asked. She'd seen no evidence of Ben being the least bit bothered by Morrigan. If anything he had gone out of his way to be a little more accommodating. Nothing too obvious, really. Otherwise, Morrigan probably would've tried to kill him with her eyes. But if you paid attention, you'd notice him making sure her fire would last through the night, or that her tent was properly covered and well insulated. Little things that just made the situation a tad more bearable….though…technically he did that for all of the women in their party. Crista had a thought and nearly laughed out loud. Maybe chivalry wasn't dead, it was just living on the lam.

"Not at all. They make quite a team once they get past themselves." Míriel assured. "But Morrigan stands out. It'll be harder to avert eyes. And Ben…" Míriel chewed her lip.

"What?"

"Well… I didn't want to say anything out of turn, but… that big sword that he carries? It carries the Cousland crest."

That certainly got Crista's attention. Her eyes snapped to Míriel's, not quite sure what that observation meant or what it ever was. Who were the Couslands, anyway? Obviously a noble family, but…they were important enough to have their own hereldry or whatever.

"The what now?"

"The open wreath engraved near the hilt of the blade? That sword is very old and very well made. It's… it's a family heirloom, and Ben guards it jealously."

It was true. Ben had that sword, which even Crista had been impressed with, along with a very well made dagger… but he preferred to use his bow more than anything. He wasn't a ranger either, his skill in tracking wasn't that good. Still, he knew his bow and nature well enough that his blades were secondary in any fight.

"So…what are you saying exactly?"

"I think Ben isn't just Ben. I think he's Benjamin Cousland." Míriel said softly, and Crista had to wrack her brain for the significance behind that name. Míriel finally took pity on her, supplying the connection without even teasing her over her lack of knowledge. "The second son of Teyrn Bryce Cousland of Highever."

"Oh... Oh!" Crista's gaze skittered around rapidly, making sure they were alone here. "Our little Ben, huh? I wonder how that happened."

"I don't know." Míriel murmured. "I've read about the Couslands, but Ben was at Ostagar before we were, and…well… Neither of us were in a position to receive news of anything significant enough that would cause an Arl's son to be conscripted." Míriel took in a deep breath. "We'll just have to wait until he's comfortable enough to tell everyone." She said shrugged.

"Yeah. It's what we're doing for everyone else…even us." Crista said cryptically. Míriel's eyes sharpened, narrowing just slightly as she reconsidered the words and whatever tidbit of knowledge she may not have initially perceived. "I still haven't told you everything about my conscription."

Míriel's eyebrows rose just slightly. It made her look less wounded. The mage's face always seemed so sad… But not now. Now she seemed open and yet resolute. "And you never have to." She smiled and thumped her staff against the edge of Crista's shield before sauntering towards the Chantry.

…That was the thing about Míriel. She made it easy to feel content.


Well that was fun :) I mean… Not for them or anything. But I got to type up 'Stow your bile, Orelasan slag', so I'm calling it a good day :3

EIDT: Much love to Judy for catching one of my errors here. In the first draft, I had written Míriel telling Crista, "The second son of Teyrn Bryce Cousland of Highever, who was recently killed by Arl Howe", but then I realized that there's no way that Míriel would know that Howe had killed the Couslands yet. So, I was going to take the latter part off and ended up getting rid of Cousland…and leaving Howe….. Like…whoa… Dyslexia working over time :| I even kept rereading it the way it was supposed to be instead of what I had accidentally put there...Anyway, thanks, Judy!