Missawesome 1213, you have my thanks for beta-ing my chapters! I'm glad to have someone correct my sometimes silly English sentences! I would also like to thank my readers, well, for reading basically! :) Enjoy the next chapter!
First Enchanter Irving promised to aid us with the Blight and help us fight Connor's demon in de Fade. He made sure he had all the mages to save Connor and left right away. Our party moved to camp to rest. The others were there as well, and I was pleased to be out of the Tower. Leliana made dinner that evening and while she was doing that, she was singing. - She has a beautiful voice! - We decided to head back to Redcliffe as soon as possible. Who knew what Connor had done while we were gone. We could only hope he didn't cause further damage. When we finished dinner, everybody went to do their own thing. I stood up and moved to the nearest lake. I walked back and forth, thinking about what happened at the Tower. About what I realized while we were there, in the Fade. If I went to sleep, I would automatically go back to the Fade. I did not want to have more of those dreams. They drove me crazy. I knew I was a Cousland. I remembered. Of course there was also the Archdemon. He, or rather it, haunted my dreams nearly every single night. I couldn't wait for it to stop. I sat down at the edge of the water and took some in my hands and splashed my face with it. - Maybe this can help me stay awake a bit longer. - as it was bright I could see every star in the sky. I looked up and smiled. - Maybe I will get my revenge. -
When we went back to Redcliffe we crossed the lands of Bann Loren. We were all quite cautious already when we heard some guards in the distance. We slowly moved up and stayed as quiet as possible. I moved forward a bit more to look over the edge what was happening. I could see a man in royal clothing standing amongst the guards. They were targeting him, pushing him around. One of the guards took his dagger out and roughly placed in his body a couple of times. The guards quickly left after that and our party rushed over to the man, who was now passed out on the floor. He already lost a lot of blood. Still, we tried to wake him to check what was going on. What would a person in royal clothes do in these lands? When we got him to wake he told us he was a friend of King Cailan. He was trusted with a key to the royal chest which was at Ostagar. He didn't have the key anymore though, so it meant we had to look for it. He remembered he hid it near a statue in Ostagar. Our next mission was set out for us. After Connor, we were to go to Ostagar and find this chest along with the body of King Cailan. He deserved more than being laid out in the middle of some abandoned battlefield. The man exhaled his last breath and went to rest. He was at the Makers side now. After paying him our respect, we moved on to Redcliffe.
I was now running. We were at Redcliffe Castle and no doubt the mages were already here. I pushed open the large doors of the Castle and came into the main hall. I was indeed right. First Enchanter Irving was standing there along with Bann Teagan, Isolde and a few other mages. They had already prepared for the ritual. I had taken along Morrigan, Wynne and Alistair with me on the last part of the journey. After checking with First Enchanter Irving what needed to be done I looked at Morrigan.
"Morrigan, could you please go into the Fade and kill this demon?" She nodded. She didn't seem too annoyed by my choice for her.
"Before you go... just... don't let this demon die too easily will you?" The mages, including Morrigan, started the ritual and it didn't take long for her body to collapse on the floor. Isolde was hanging on to Bann Teagan's arm and the mages were around Morrigan. They would stay there until she would wake up. Wynne and Alistair had taken their distance from the ritual while I was standing nearby. I just kept looking at Morrigan and wondered how her little kill-the-demon quest would go.
~o~
She didn't feel like taking too long for this mission to be completed. That pesky demon had to die, without too many games. She ignored Arl Eamon, who was standing there, yelling where his son was. She found the image of Connor a bit further away and confronted him.
"Do not play games with me demon, show yourself!" she said. The demon did not like her tone and transformed to its real form, immediately attacking her. She scoffed at the weakness of the demon as all it took to get rid of it was a lightning bolt. The demon was now gone and she moved back into the portal, which transferred her to where the demon now was again. She found Connor again, or rather the demon disquised as Connor, and confronted it one more time. This time it brought some companions, which she all froze and killed. Finally, after repeating this process two more times, she was facing the demon in its full form.
"All right. No more games. You see me in my true form now. What did you like to discuss mortal?" it said with an evil grin.
"Do not take me for a fool, demon! You are well aware you need to die for what you have done. The boy needs to be released." she said.
"Straight to the point, are we! I will not release the boy like that. We could make a deal however, I will stay away for a period of time, and will only come back long long after."
"We have no deal, demon. You nearly killed the Grey Warden. If you didn't know yet, we still need her!" Morrigan was now an inch away from the demon's face "For this alone, you'll need to die." She backed up and started casting a spell. The fight had begun. The demon disappeared every now and then and multiplied on all the platforms around Morrigan. She was easy to be found though as, as she multiplied, she left a glow around her actual self. The demon was now weak and it wouldn't take much for it to die. Morrigan rushed over and grabbed the demon by its neck.
"Ugh. I do not know why I'm taking the effort." she scoffed to herself. Slowly her hands started to glow with electricity, sending bolts in the demon. It screamed and tried to get away though it was useless. Morrigan had killed the demon and freed Connor.
~o~
Finally Morrigan woke up. It wasn't that she took her time to kill the demon, in fact she was quite fast, but everybody was eager to have it dead. Morrigan shot me a look when I helped her up. - She did what I asked? - I smiled in return and soon Isolde's voice interrupted.
"Is it over? Is my Connor free now?"
"He should be." Morrigan said. "We will have to go and see him to be certain though." With this everybody moved up to the room where Connor was. Connor was standing in Arl Eamon's room. He was standing at the wall, reading the names of the books standing there. Without a word, Isolde ran over to his side and hugged him. Connor started laughing, which we all took as a sign the demon was really gone.
"Thank you!" Isolde said. Bann Teagan explained that Connor would be going to the Tower for training once the Blight was over. He was relieved that Connor was his old self again. The only thing that was still wrong was Arl Eamon. He was still in comatose and killing the demon had not brought him back. We all agreed to continue the search of the Urn. That might be the only thing that could cure Arl Eamon. My companions had moved downstairs already when I made my way down there as well. When I came downstairs I saw Eamon's study. I decided to take a peak in there. Long live curiosity right? I noticed a bracelet with the holy symbol of Andraste on it. - This must be Alistair's. - I packed it up and moved towards the bookcase when I heard the door close. I turned around to find Bann Teagan standing against it. - Not again! -
"Lady Cousland." he started. He walked up towards me and I automatically moved back until I was standing against the wall.
"Yes, Bann Teagan?" I saw him smile and he was now very close to me. His hands were softly touching mine. I didn't want to look Bann Teagan in the eyes so I looked down.
"Your healing mage, Wynne I believe, said that your mind was cleared up again. I knew you must have remembered everything again as well. It must have been the shock of what happened which made you forget, my dear Lady." he whispered. I shook my head.
"Bann Teagan, I..." I tried to say while attempting to move away to the door. I wanted nothing more than escape from his reach. Bann Teagan stopped me however and put a finger on my lips to let me stop talking. I didn't dare to move away from him, and shot a look to the door.
"Say nothing more. You must remember as well that I always found you amazing. You being a Grey Warden does not change that. Surely you know that? We both have been flirting to each other during your visits here." Bann Teagan gently took my waist and pushed his against mine. I felt like I was sweating. I did not want this! I had feelings for Alistair, but not Bann Teagan. I remembered my acting during visits to Redcliffe in the past. I didn't know the outcome would be this though! I was young and ignorant. Bann Teagan started to kiss my neck.
"No..." I whispered. I knew he could hear it, but it didn't stop him. He closed whatever space there was between my body and the wall and I now really was stuck. Bann Teagan came up to my cheek with his kisses.
"Bann Teagan, stop. Please." I softly said. He put his forehead on mine, and I now had a desperate look on my face. Desperate to leave this room without a fuss. Who knew what would happen if I let him turn against me. I was afraid he wouldn't help us anymore when the time would come. We needed their help against the Archdemon, but I didn't want to do this in order to keep "peace".
"You don't have to worry. Nobody will come in when the door is closed. The servants know this." He continued what he was doing and I tried to get away from his touch. When he noticed me struggling he took both of my arms and put them against the wall. I could feel him harden against me. When he wanted to kiss me on my lips I moved my head away. He let one hand down and moved a bit away to attempt to put his hand in my pants. - ENOUGH! - I slapped Bann Teagan in his face and quickly moved away from him.
"I said No!" I yelled as loud as I could. Tears were now flowing out of my eyes and I ran out of the study as fast as I could. I ran past Alistair, Wynne and Morrigan, who were standing in the main hall at the fire. The guards were looking confused to each other and I ran passed them as well, through the huge front door. I nearly flew down over the stairs and ran past the gates. I kept on going and didn't stop until I nearly reached the camp. I didn't want to go in there either so I stayed near the so called river. I dropped on my knees and I felt myself shivering. - This is stupid. I nearly let him rape me. I didn't dare to move away from him. - Tears were flowing out of my eyes really fast now and I couldn't stop. I felt ashamed, scared and guilty. I could hear the other companions arriving in camp as well and chatter to each other. I tried to silence my sobbing and held my hand in front of my mouth. Finally tears had stopped flowing and I cleaned up my face. When I turned around I saw Leliana standing in front of me. I looked around to see if there were any others with her, but it appeared she was alone.
"What happened in Redcliffe, Aveline? The others told me they saw you run out of there after yelling something."
"I...well... What's the use? You probably think it's stupid anyway." I said while I turned around again.
"I promise I will not think it's stupid. It is clear that what happened affected you. You can talk to me, Aveline." she said reassuring. I sat down on the ground with my arms over my knees. - Maybe I could tell Leliana. -
"All right, but please do not tell the others what happened." she came sitting next to me and I saw her nodding.
"We saved Connor and everybody was in the main hall already when I came down. I noticed the Arl's study, and I was curious so I moved in. When I wanted to check on their bookcase I heard to door close behind me. Bann Teagan was in the room and he thought I was there to be alone with him or something. He started moving against me and starting kissing me in my neck. Eventually he pushed me against the wall and held me there. When he tried to get into my pants... I slapped him in his face and ran."
"Oh sweet Aveline! I am so sorry to hear that!" Leliana said while putting an arm around me.
"I told him several times to stop, but he just kept on going. And somehow I couldn't leave either. I was frozen in place until... he did the last thing I mentioned."
"Why would he do such a thing?" she wondered to herself. I shook my shoulders.
"All I remember from my visits to Redcliffe is that I just smiled to him. Maybe I shot him too many looks, because I do remember that even back then I found him a good looking man even though he was a bit too old for my taste. Maybe he took that as a sign that I liked him?" Leliana's arm tightened around me. "I don't even like him that way, I do not recall I ever did. The only one I like now is... well... Alistair." I blushed. "This is silly. We need their help against the Blight though I feel like I cannot set foot in there ever again!" I sighed. "Let's go back shall we? The others must wonder where we are." I stood up, as did Leliana.
"Everything is going to be just fine. Get some rest, Aveline. I promise I won't tell anyone this." We both walked towards the camp. When we were nearly there, I grabbed Leliana's arm.
"Thank you, Leli." I said with a warm smile. I gave her a hug and moved to my tent. I absolutely did not feel like seeing anyone. They could come and wake me when it was my turn to keep watch.
~o~
Alistair looked towards the river and noticed Leliana and Aveline coming up to camp. They stopped and Aveline hugged her before moving to her tent. Alistair quickly walked to Leliana.
"What is wrong? What happened?"
"Oh Alistair. I promised not to tell. I can tell you however, that she will need some time. When she is ready, she will tell you. I am sure!" she said.
"What? Why can you not tell me what happened in Redcliffe. We were all in there! We saw her running out with tears on her face. We ran straight after her ..."
"Alistair, your concern is touching, but please do not ask me to break a promise." With this Leliana left to her own tent. All he could do was wait. Wait until she was ready to tell what happened. He was really worried about her, however. She had won a place in his heart, and it was painful to see her like this. He thought it was strange for him to feel that way. Especially as they hadn't known each other for very long. She had accepted his rose, and he knew she felt that way too. She wouldn't accept it if that wasn't the case. He wanted to comfort her. Just sit with her, put his arms around her. Keep her safe... - I want to keep her safe. -
